James’ absurd plan would fail. Which wouldn’t be much comfort
when I was dead. I considered the aura of her air elemental power, and
thought that me blocking that would be like… using one sandbag to dam up the
Mississippi river.
Even slightly shocking her with my power, as was the plan,
was clearly suicidal.
A few seconds had passed and no one had spoken, I gasped in
a breath, realizing I hadn’t been breathing at all.
James said in a friendly drawl, “Be reasonable Ceara, give
me back my city and leave.”
Ceara raised her eyebrow, “I don’t think so James. You
broke coven law, many of them, right under the nose of the council.
Surrender and I’ll be merciful, and judge each of your followers separately.”
I almost snorted, he wouldn’t care if all his followers
died, that wasn’t incentive for him to give up. The signal I was dreading
came, he lifted his right heel slightly. I grimaced, but didn’t have a
choice.
I reached out quickly for as much power as I could draw, the
elemental spirit magic flooded me as I reached out as far as I could. I
gasped in shock as tens of thousands of souls dragged my mind into a swirling
maelstrom of chaos. I could barely think, could barely breath, and I
wasn’t even sure who I was under the chaotic onslaught.
His compulsion hit me like a bat to the side of the head,
and my eyes widened in horror as spirit lightning shot out all around me.
My mind was too chaotic to focus the strike. Then darkness claimed me.
I groaned and looked up from the floor. I must have
been out for a just a short moment. I felt around and was relieved that
no one had actually died from my actions, my power had been too diffuse, too
undirected. However, Ceara’s three guards were knocked out, and so were
the weaker vampires on our side. All that remained standing were me,
James, Carly, Eustice, and Vince.
Ceara and the other woman hadn’t gotten off the couch yet,
and their eyes were on me and wide with surprise. I glanced over and
James looked livid with anger. I thought for a moment he was about to
kill me, but then I watched as his head exploded, like a sledgehammer hitting a
watermelon.
Ceara stood there, her hand and forearm coated with blood
and brain.
Eustice went down on one knee while Carly screamed in pain
and attacked Ceara. I actually felt pity for her, she’d truly loved him,
for what that was worth.
I chose to follow Eustice’s example, and dropped to my
knees.
Vince glared at me, “Do what you were told and help!” he
roared.
I almost laughed, did Vince really just tell me to
help? It was a gift from Inari.
I reached out just enough, maybe a hundred feet, and blasted
him with spirit lightning. It wasn’t enough power to kill, but it would
shock him. Probably not enough for James, and definitely not Ceara, but
enough power to make him freeze in shock for a split second.
Frozen long enough that he couldn’t dodge the dagger that
followed, pulled from my boot and flicked with my wrist. It took him
right in the eye.
I smiled grimly, ironically he’d have been completely safe
from me, if he hadn’t demanded my help. Even freed from James’ compulsion
at his death, I couldn’t have harmed Vince because of the tenets of Inari.
I hadn’t changed my posture to take out the evil bastard, I
was still kneeling on one knee. Ceara had ended Carly with ease. Is
it wrong that I was a little disappointed I hadn’t gotten to watch?
Probably, the blonde vampire had been bitchy, and jealous, but not evil.
I really was conflicted over the death.
I put my head down, wondering if I’d feel my death, or if
she would honor her promise of a trial.
“What are you,” Ceara asked.
I looked up and she was back sitting on the couch. She
looked curious, and very calm. Like she’d invited me by for tea and the
dead bodies were nothing more than spilt sugar. It was a little
intimidating. I wasn’t sure what to do, I
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