Moonshine & Malice Read online

  Slade was in such shock he didn’t notice Agnes on the ground next to him until her hand grabbed his leg to stop him from going toward her. When he looked down, Agnes’s normally tightly curled hair was standing out on all ends like some kind of mad scientist. “Don’t,” she mouthed.

  Slade bent down and wrapped Agnes in his arms as they watched Zoey in wonder. Zoey strode forward, powerful white light surrounding her and the man Slade recognized. He should have known Alexander would send him. He was Slade’s own cousin, Edan. Edan had always beaten Slade in power games as children. But that changed when Slade had turned two hundred. Edan had never forgotten the brutal losses he suffered at Slade’s hand. The last time Slade had seen Edan, he’d become a powerful master. Slade had grown too, and so it was no surprise Alexander would know there was a chance Edan and Slade would come face to face.

  No matter how great their powers, neither of them were any match against the fifth element. Not unless Edan had learned dark magic. There were rumors of a black energy so strong that no power could stand up to it. And from the sputtering red flames coming from Edan’s hands, it was clear he didn’t have it.

  Slade could tell Edan knew the battle was lost. He looked up and their eyes connected. The energy swirled around him and then there was a blast of energy from Zoey and Edan was gone. Zoey’s hands dropped as the alley was covered once again in a blanket of pre-morning darkness.

  13

  “What the hell was that?”

  Slade and Agnes looked behind them at Luke standing in sweatpants and no shirt with a gun in his hand.

  “Zoey!” he cried, and Slade turned back to see Zoey take a stumbling step forward. Blood trickled from her nose and ears. Her face was deathly pale as she began to collapse. Uncaring of Luke’s presence, especially after everything he’d just witnessed, Slade used his powers to catch her. Zoey crumbled into Slade’s arms as Luke helped Agnes up and rushed toward them with Agnes leaning heavily on Luke’s arm.

  “It’s okay, sweetness. I have you.”

  Zoey met his eyes, and she gave a soft smile before her eyes closed and she went limp in his embrace.

  “I’ll call an ambulance,” Luke said. Slade looked up and found the lawman standing behind him, looking worriedly down at Zoey.

  “You’ll do no such thing,” Agnes said as she leaned on Luke’s arm for balance. “Take her inside.”

  Slade didn’t wait to be asked twice. He scooped Zoey into his arms, and, with a look to the door, he unlocked and opened it. Chance followed next to him as he let out little whines of worry for his caretaker.

  “Luke, get a washcloth and wipe her face.” Agnes wiggled her fingers and a glass with a straw in it appeared. It looked like a chocolate milkshake that had been melting for a couple minutes. “Slade, get her to drink this. She’s depleted all of her energy.” Agnes handed him the drink. Then she closed her eyes and held her hands in front of her face.

  “What are you doing?” Luke asked.

  “Calling for help,” Agnes answered as Vilma and a black cat with teal eyes Luke had seen around town popped into the kitchen.

  “What happened?”

  Slade saw Luke looking around to see who had spoken as the puzzle pieces began to fall into place for Slade. “Grand Mistress,” Slade said, bowing his head to the black cat with piercing teal eyes. “Alexander sent my cousin Edan to Moonshine. He attacked Agnes. He must have thought she was The One. Zoey stopped him.”

  “Where is he?” Grand Mistress Lauren asked the group telepathically.

  “He is gone,” Slade answered.

  “Is the cat talking? Am I the only one freaked out right now?” Luke asked with wide eyes. He set the bloody cloth on the floor and looked around. He was seconds from a breakdown. It was one of the reasons humans didn’t know of witches and other paranormal activity. Their brains couldn’t process something so far outside their known existence. Slade looked at Luke and narrowed his eyes. A second later Luke was gone.

  “What did you do to him?” Vilma accused as if Slade had hurt the man.

  “He’s asleep in his bed. He’ll wake up thinking he had the craziest dream,” Slade replied as he went back to dripping the drink into Zoey’s mouth.

  “What happened to her?” Vilma asked, kneeling next to Zoey. “And what happened to you?” She looked at Agnes.

  “Zoey let her powers loose,” Agnes replied. “She saved me. The hunter caught me off guard.”

  Slade watched as Grand Mistress Lauren, who had been the former Grand Mistress’s second-in-command eyed him. He’d changed over the years, but then again, so had she. He just wondered if she would remember him and right now he wasn’t of a mind to remind her that they knew each other.

  “There’s something so familiar about you,” she purred as she placed one paw on Zoey’s chest. “But that is a discussion for another time.” Slade watched as she closed her teal eyes and the feeling of power and old, ancient energy filled the room. It was a shame she’d lost her power to transform back to her human self, but someday they’d find a way to help her.

  The little cat swayed and opened her eyes at the same time Zoey’s fluttered open. Slade reached with one hand to steady the cat, but when she hissed he had to remember she wasn’t really a cat. She was a Grand Mistress, and he essentially felt her up as he steadied her.

  “Sorry, Grand Mistress. It’s with all due respect I do this.” Slade picked her up and held her to his chest with one hand as he stroked Zoey’s hair. Her eyes had fallen back shut, but at least she was breathing normally again. Grand Mistress Lauren had given what little of her own powers she had left to Zoey, who was now resting comfortably. The Grand Mistress would need some time to replenish her powers, but the transfer would keep Zoey from losing so much she died.

  “I see the necklace,” he heard the Grand Mistress say slowly. “How did you get here?”

  “I felt her,” Slade admitted.

  The cat’s black head bobbed in understanding. “A true love match. It matches the prophecy. Zoey is The One and you two are soul mates. You have the power to do what I just did.”

  Slade knew he looked surprised. It had been so long since there had been true love matches he couldn’t remember what kind of power it produced. He only knew of rumors from past stories from the elders.

  Zoey drank more of the drink with her eyes closed before she sucked in a deep breath and sat up straight. “What happened? Where’d that guy go when I poofed him? Please tell me I didn’t inhale another one.”

  Slade smiled with relief as he hugged Zoey with Grand Mistress Lauren still in his arms. He felt the cat purr and decided she wasn’t too mad. “Grand Mistress, can I give you some of my power?”

  “That’s kind of you, Master Slade. I see your heart is good. You’re a healer like our ancestors. But it doesn’t work that way, as you know. You can only give energy if you’re the Grand Mistress or Grand Master, or between true loves. But, thank you. I’ll be fine as soon as Agnes makes me one of her special shakes. But for you, young mistress, you did very well this morning.”

  “He was hurting Agnes, and I lost it. I tried to do everything you’ve all taught me, but then it was like I was no longer in control. I just knew what to do and did it.”

  Slade saw Vilma and Agnes share a surprised look. Even the Grand Mistress seemed surprised. “Then it must be as I thought. You must have the blood of the Goddess in you. There’s no way an accidental witch could have that kind of power.”

  “Wait, what? What’s an accidental witch?” Slade asked as he kept his arm around Zoey’s shoulder while setting the cat on the ground.

  “Um, about that,” Zoey started, and he would have sworn the cat was laughing. “I might have inhaled the last hunter who came to Moonshine.”

  14

  Zoey made it through the explanation of accidently inhaling the powers of the hunter Agnes and Vilma had battled then held her breath, waiting for Slade’s reaction. He sat stone-faced as he stared at her, then turned his gaze
to Grand Mistress Lauren, Agnes, and Vilma.

  It started with the slightest twitch at the corner of his lips and evolved into a full body laugh. The women all looked at each other, clearly not expecting this reaction. “Oh, that’s priceless. Who was it? Please tell me it was Victor. I couldn’t stand that guy.”

  “You really are in exile,” Grand Mistress Lauren said with surprise. “I had thought you were a spy since I can’t find anything about you, except the barest of details.”

  Slade grinned in way that probably sent women into hormonal tizzies for centuries. By the way Grand Mistress Laruen purred, it was obvious she wasn’t immune to the move either. “As you said, that’s for another time. So, who was it?”

  Agnes and Vilma shrugged.

  “It’s not like we stopped to ask him his name when he attacked us,” Agnes said snarkily.

  “What did he look like?” Slade asked, aiming the sexy smile at Agnes who unconsciously tried to pat down her hair that was sticking out in all directions and looked slightly burnt on the ends.

  “Tall, but not as tall as you. Blond hair, blue eyes. Had this long leather overcoat on over a leather vest and leather pants,” Vilma described before pausing. “What is it with Tenebris men and leather? Is it making up for a small wienie? Maybe cocktail franks instead of bratwurst? Give me a man in butt-hugging jeans any day,” Agnes told them.

  Zoey lost her battle to not laugh. “Why don’t we ask Slade? He loves leather.”

  “Sweetness, if you want to see what’s in my pants, all you have to do is ask.”

  Grand Mistress Lauren coughed to cover a laugh, but it came out sounding as if she were hacking up a hairball instead. Zoey knew her face was bright red, but that didn’t stop her eyes from zeroing in on his bratwurst.

  Slade raised his eyebrows in challenge as Grand Mistress Lauren gave up her fight and erupted with laughter. “Oh, I have missed men.” She laughed as she flicked her tail. She took a deep breath before managing to ask, “Does the man sound familiar?”

  “I think so,” Slade replied. “Did he wear a big diamond earring?”

  “Yes,” Vilma and Agnes answered.

  “Yeah, that was Victor. He always overestimated his powers. But, that’s now two hunters that showed up to Moonshine and died. There will be more next time. Especially since I think it was either Alexander or Ian by the creek, giving Edan the orders to find The One and kill all the other Claritase.” Slade paused as he tightened his grip on Zoey. “And I think we all know who The One is.”

  Even though she’d just lived through a battle with a powerful master, Zoey didn’t want to believe it. “I can’t be The One. I’m nobody. Just an accident.”

  “It’s clear there’s more to who you are than you know about. We have someone looking into you, but with only the Claritase records . . .” Grand Mistress Lauren flicked her tail as if shrugging.

  “Maybe I could help. With your permission of course,” Slade said.

  “How could you help?” Vilma asked.

  “With your permission, I think we should combine our resources. Your elders and records with mine. Your mistresses with my masters. I believe the elders who escaped Alexander’s rule with our records and the young masters we’ve trained would agree to this.”

  “Claritase and Tenebris together again?” Grand Mistress Lauren wondered out loud. She began to pace, and Zoey reached for Slade’s hand. This was no longer running a defensive game. This would be an offensive attack against Alexander and his men. It would change everything.

  “I think we should do it. They would never expect it. We could end this war once and for all,” Zoey said.

  “But I can’t forget what happened last time a Tenebris master asked the Claritase to meet. I’m sorry, Slade, but I can’t risk my people. I like you, and you haven’t given me a reason to distrust you, but I have to protect my people.” Grand Mistress Lauren jumped onto the counter and looked Slade in the eyes.

  Slade bowed his head. “I understand, Grand Mistress. With your permission then, may I act as the intermediary?”

  Grand Mistress Lauren thought for a moment. Zoey was afraid she’d turn him down, but in the end she agreed. “Yes, but I have a condition. You know who The One is, which is a very powerful secret. If anyone discovers Zoey’s power, there will be a target on her. You must swear, on your powers, that you will not divulge to anyone the identity of The One is and where we are.”

  Slade stood and held out his hand to Grand Mistress Lauren, who then put her paw in his hand. “I swear, upon my powers and my life, that I will never divulge any information about Zoey, you, or the Claritase to anyone without your permission. But, I don’t promise to stop trying to convince you to change your mind.”

  Zoey watched as Slade bent his head so his forehead touched the Grant Mistress’s paw in respect before standing back up. “Your oath is accepted. We will stay here with Mistress Zoey while she prepares for her day. You speak to your elders and see if they are agreeable for you to act as our intermediary.”

  “Yes, Grand Mistress. I will be back by the end of the day.”

  Slade turned to Zoey and smiled gently at her. His look was so contrary to his hard features, but it made Zoey want to curl up with him and never let go. “How do you feel?”

  “Better. Whatever drink Agnes made me, it’s perked me back up.” Zoey paused as she took a deep breath. “I don’t want to be The One. I don’t fully know what that means . . . except I’m guessing at some point Alexander and I will battle it out and only one of us will live.”

  Slade reached out and grabbed her hands in his. “You will live. I will teach you everything you need to know.”

  “I already have the best teachers,” Zoey said as she looked at Vilma, Agnes, and Grand Mistress Lauren.

  “And now you have me. I promise, Zoey, I will arm you with all you need, and I will be by your side the entire time. We will do this together.” Slade grinned suddenly. “Hold on. I’ll be right back.”

  15

  Zoey looked around at her sisters. Slade was gone. “Why doesn’t he have to wiggle his fingers?”

  “I was wondering that too,” Vilma said with narrowed eyes.

  “He must be very powerful. Only the strongest of witches can transport and command the space around them without having to funnel their energy into their hands,” Grand Mistress Lauren explained. “For instance, I don’t have to do that, but I’m an original. He can’t be . . .”

  “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Agnes asked and Grand Mistress Lauren nodded her black head.

  “And what’s that?” Zoey asked impatiently.

  “I know he’s not an original,” Agnes started. “But to have these powers he must be a child of two originals. Two very powerful originals.”

  “I’ll send a message to Neferu to search our birth records.”

  “Grand Mistress, it could be difficult. If he’s like us, he’s changed his name over time,” Vilma reminded her.

  “You’ve changed your names?” Zoey asked. “Why?”

  “Laurentina isn’t very common now a days. So, I updated it to Lauren.”

  Vilma nodded. “I was Vigdis, which was common in the Norse days, but would stick out now. During the Roman time I was Vibiana. In the Middle Ages it was Vulpine and now Vilma. ”

  “I was Ayvn, pronounced Hagne. Then I was Agathos during the third century and during the Middle Ages I became Agnes. Surprisingly it hasn’t really gone too far out of style. Of course, before then we didn’t really go by names. We went by meanings and locations. I was the field of healing. My small hut was in a field and I was known for healing.”

  Grand Mistress Lauren purred. “Those were the good old days. But, that’s a good point. Slade is most likely his more recent name, and not his birth name. I’ll have Neferu pull all male children of two originals and see if any start with an S or have meanings similar to from the valley. Can you watch Zoey for a minute? I’ll be right back.”

  “Of course,” V
ilma said, puffing up her chest at the idea she couldn’t keep an eye on her.

  The Grand Mistress poofed away, and Zoey took another deep breath. This was becoming overwhelming. She wanted to talk to her mom, but she knew it would be pointless. Her mother would put her in an asylum. Suddenly an owl flew through the open back door and the asylum idea became more enticing.

  When Zoey blinked, Polly was standing there with a smile on her face. “Good morning! I just wanted to let you know the Grand Mistress put me on patrol. I’ll be flying around if you need anything.” Suddenly Polly had her arms wrapped around her and Zoey felt like crying. “You did great. We’ve all heard about it. Edan was a prick. Back before the war, during the Renaissance, he’d try to lift all our skirts and would make our clothes disappear when we bathed in the waters together. So don’t feel bad about zapping him from existence. Let me know if you want to talk. I’ll be flying about.” Polly winked before poofing back into an owl.

  Yes, overwhelming. Zoey could almost forget witches lived for so long until they brought up things Zoey had only heard about in history classes—ancient history classes, for that matter. According to all the Claritase books she read, witches were immortal unless they chose to give up their powers and live a normal life. After a couple thousand years, many chose to do so and were reunited with the Goddess. There was some big process that witches went through do become human, but it seemed more paperwork than anything.

  “Fiddlesticks!” Agnes cried out, pulling Zoey from her thoughts. “You open in ten minutes and haven’t baked a thing.”

  “I see Luke Tanner peering in the front window,” Vilma called as she waved to the man who was probably very confused.