Part 19 (1/2)

Little white dots danced in front of my eyes. I clawed and pulled at Alex's hand. From out of nowhere, Paris tackled Alex, forcing him to release me. They fell into a heap on the floor with Jarod. I took a gasping breath. If it weren't for Ronan holding me around my waist, I would've fallen.

With a movement of Ronan's hand, Alex froze. Ronan was learning to control his new ability quickly, and I was impressed. If someone already has magickal abilities, they learn new abilities at a remarkable rate.

”The magick in Alex has to be bound. After that he will have to find someone to help him control his new powers,” I said in a raspy voice. That was twice in one d.a.m.n night someone had tried to choke me. My throat hurt and I knew I had already had a bruise. I mark up very easily. I could just imagine how my neck looked.

I stepped away from Ronan. I don't like feeling vulnerable. ”Okay, I'm going to need a white ribbon, a picture of Alex, and a white envelope,” I said, looking at Paris.

”Those items can be found in the library,” Ronan said.

Paris got to his feet and left the room. Ronan and Jarod got Alex into a chair. I whispered a sleep spell over him. I needed to keep him knocked out so I could complete the binding. Plus, I didn't want to worry about him trying to kill me. He tended to do that when he was awake.

”What can be expected after the binding? I mean, how long will it take for Alex to get back to normal?” Jarod asked. I appreciated him not pointing any fingers at me.

”It's immediate. I'm not sure how long the binding will last though. In theory it could last a lifetime, but there's no way to be sure,” I said.

I took a couple steps back. I needed a little s.p.a.ce between me and the man who kept attacking me. Just call me cautious. I adjusted my trench and wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans.

Ronan walked to me. ”You know, you can take the magick you gave Alex away and put it into someone else,” he said, face empty.

”And you know as well as I do that could kill him,” I snapped. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Before I could scold Ronan for the comment, Paris returned with the things I asked for. Ailin followed Paris into the room. He, like Ronan, didn't look any worse for wear, though they both looked weaker and paler than usual.

”Have you two fed recently?” I asked, but I already knew the answer. They didn't have their magickal glow about them. Not only that, but their magick frequency in my head felt weak.

”We will have to feed soon,” Ronan explained.

”I think you need to feed now. I may need your help with the binding. For the best possible result, you will have to be at full strength,” I said.

”She is correct,” Ailin added, looking at me.

”We shall return as quickly as possible,” Ronan said with a bow. He and Ailin pa.s.sed Lewis as they left the room. Lewis walked towards me.

”I thought you would like to know that the heart has been destroyed,” he said. ”And I'm taking the body to be destroyed right now.”

”Thanks for letting me know I really appreciate it. When the body is destroyed, you can give the amulet to Ronan,” I said with smile.

Lewis gave a slight bow of his head. The gesture looked out of place coming from him. He left the room, heading for the library. Paris walked towards me and stopped just shy of touching me. The surge had been quiet, but why tempt fate? Right.

”You know, I just thought. What about Frost and the Dracae?” Paris reminded me. ”What will they do now Palmira's dead?”

He was right: neither of them came here with her. It would be nice if they just cut their losses and left town. But, for the Dracae, I didn't think it would be that easy.

”I don't know if the creature can just go back to where it came from. It had to be summoned here by someone, so there must be a ritual to put it back,” I said.

I needed to contact the Keeper, who I hadn't seen for at least a day, maybe two. Lewis, with Connor's help, carried Palmira's body through. They had to go through the living room to take the body wherever it was going, and again I really didn't need to know the details.

”How long will Alex stay out?” Jarod asked, hovering around his King as he had all evening.

”I could keep him out for a few days if I had to,” I answered, thinking to myself that it might be a good idea to let him sleep for a month. Yeah, him and Sleeping Beauty.

Jarod looked a little relieved. He wouldn't have to wrestle with his King anymore tonight. Well, that's the theory anyways. From out of nowhere, I smelled the fragrance of lilacs. I love that smell.

”Witch, I wish to be put back into my slumber. I was awakened four thousand years too early,” the Dracae said in his now-familiar low voice. It was sad that I was getting used to people popping into my head to talk to me.

”Where and how?” I asked.

”One task at a time. When you are finished with a couple more duties, we will talk,” the creature said, and then he was gone.

”Was that the Dracae? I smell lilacs,” Paris said.

”Yeah, that was the creature. It wants me to put it back to where it came from. We need Caleb so he can help with the scrolls translation,” I said.

”I'll go check on Blaze, see Doc, and bring Caleb back with me,” Paris said.

”Great, thanks,” I said, a tired smile on my face.

Paris left the room. A second later Ronan and Ailin returned. The last body was being taken away, but the clean up was far from over, there was plenty of blood to be scrubbed up.

At least the binding wouldn't take long. Most binding of power spells are simple. But, you need to have a certain level of magick to be able to do it well, at least for it to hold for any amount of time. Unless the witch you're binding is extremely powerful, you don't have to break out the heavy-duty spells. But, working with a bear king, I needed a little extra fire power - hence the vashon power jump, if I needed it.

”Are you ready?” Ronan asked me.

”Yes. I want to release him from his torture,” I said, and that was exactly how I felt. I was single-handedly torturing Alex and I felt horrible about it.

I handed the small white envelope to Ronan. We moved to stand in front of Alex and I told Ronan what to say. We began to chant the spell. As usual when chanting a spell, it came faster and louder as we went on. While we chanted, I took the white ribbon and wrapped it around Alex's picture. The final stage was to seal the wrapped photo in the envelope.

”Now in theory, Alex will be back to normal. But just to be on the safe side, Jarod please stay close,” I said, a sinking feeling in my gut.

I took a couple of steps back and said another spell. Alex started coming around and I wanted to give him some room. He opened his incredible blue eyes. He looked around as if he wasn't sure of what was going on, but as soon as he saw me, he jumped up and started for me.

”I'll kill you!” Alex yelled, his eyes wild.

Jarod had to reach over the high back chair to hold on to him, and let me tell you, Jarod is no small man. Yet Alex was flinging him around like he was nothing. It couldn't have been easy to hold on to him. I whispered the sleep spell again. Alex's body went limp and he fell back into the chair.

”Well, I guess I'm going to have to pull out the big spells. His magick is like a powerful witch's,” I said. I looked at him, puzzled. I felt s.h.i.+tty that this was happening to him, but in the back of my head, I couldn't help think it served him right.

”I think you have to do a blood potion. I will have Ailin look for such a spell in the library. We may have to piggy-back it on binding spell,” Ronan suggested.

I rubbed my forehead. I was so getting a headache over this whole mess. Ailin glided to the corridor towards the library. I had a few minutes; so again, I decided to check on the wounded. Sometimes my worst quality was worrying about everyone around me.

”Jarod, stay with your King. I'll do my best to fix this,” I said in a low voice. There was no way I was going to promise; because I wasn't a hundred percent, sure I could fix this.

I gave Alex one last look and walked towards the corridor. It went deeper into the Realm, and to my brother. The hall was quiet, far from the chaotic living room. I got close to where Blaze lay sleeping. Usually the doors were kept closed. But, doors to two of those rooms were open.

One of those rooms was where Blaze lay. I walked to the doorway and looked in to find Doc checking on Blaze. Caleb and Paris stood back out of Doc's way. Doc tended to get a little p.i.s.sy if people kept getting in his way.

”How's he doing, Doc?” I asked, watching him.