Destroy, Book 2, Whispers From the Bayou Read online

  “Be still, woman. I mean you no harm,” he said to her. Then he leaned in closer, scenting her. Her eyes flew to Carolena who said, “You are safe, I promise.”

  “It’s you he wants. He tried to take you, but couldn’t get through your protection cloak,” Lore explained.

  Destroy snarled, all trace of the beautiful creature he was, momentarily tainted.

  “My… my what?” Rowan rasped out.

  “You cloaked yourself — a means of protection. Very good, a very strong cloak indeed. I’m impressed,” Lore said.

  “I didn’t,” Rowan stammered, “I will not use magic. I didn’t do it.”

  Lore’s brow furrowed, and he leaned closer to Rowan, causing Destroy to rumble low in his chest and step closer to where Rowan sat.

  “Quiet, Goyle. If I’d wanted your woman, she’d be mine by now.” He leaned closer despite Destroy’s protest. Then a smile began to grow, slowly, but still there nonetheless. Still leaning toward Rowan, he turned his head toward Lily, “Lily, have you been playing with Rowan, dear?”

  Lily, munching on her breakfast, nodded her head.

  “What have you been playing, little one?” Lore asked.

  She shrugged as she pushed away the plate with eggs on it and reached for the peach cobbler her Papa had spooned out for her, placing a big bite in her mouth.

  “Can you show me?” Lore asked.

  Lily smiled at him and wiggled the fingers of her right hand at him. A purple mist immediately wafted from her fingertips, and Lore inhaled, scenting the magic that floated in the air. He let out a deep, rich, resonant laughter, “Very good, my sweet girl. Very good.”

  Carolena, not able to contain herself any longer, said, “Lore, what is going on? Who tried to take Rowan? What has Lily done?”

  Lore again held up a hand to still Carolena’s questions, “Lily, how did you know she’d need protection?”

  Destroy leaned closer to Rowan and whispered, “Carolena does that, too — raises a hand to make us quiet. I wonder who is imitating who?”

  Lore shot him a look, and he immediately shut his mouth.

  “Lily?” Lore pressed.

  Again Lily shrugged nonchalantly, not giving him her full attention as she devoured the sweet treat in front of her. Her Mama said she had to eat all her eggs first, but her Papa always sneaked her sweet treats. She chewed her sweet peach cobbler as she said, “Carrik say’d it.”

  Lore froze, but then recovered quickly, “Does Carrik speak to you often?”

  Lily nodded, but then lost interest and went back to her cobbler.

  “Lore?” Carolena prodded.

  “I’ll tell you. May I sit?” he asked.

  “You’re family, Lore, you need not even ask. Please, take a seat,” Carolena said.

  Carnage got up and went out to the deck to bring in the other chairs. He placed them both at the table. Lore sat in one and Carolena sat in the other after she finished placing the rest of the food on the table.

  “Ooo?” Carnage asked again.

  Lore looked right at him, “The Windigo.”

  Both Destroy and Carnage erupted in snarls and growls.

  Lore raised both his hands to quiet them, but it only helped slightly.

  Destroy raised a hand in the direction of Lore’s raised hands and said conspiratorily to Rowan, “See?”

  This time Lore ignored him as he began to speak, “Lily placed a protection cloak around Rowan. It’s Rowan that he wants. Somehow Lily knew that he’d come for her, so she placed a cloak around her, preventing anyone with evil thoughts from touching her. Anyone with pure thoughts, with love in their hearts, can touch her. Anyone bearing her ill will, will not be able to make contact with her person. That’s why she’s still with us this morning. He came here last night, but wasn’t able to take her away with him. I scented him right away. Just wasn’t sure who he tried to take.”

  Carolena was confused; she didn’t think the Windigo was a problem. Destroy had told her that they had one in Whispers. “I thought we had a Windigo here in Whispers.”

  “We do. And until now he’s kept to himself and never even attempted to approach any of Whispers’ inhabitants. But now, something about our new friend here has him becoming active in his own territory. They usually hunt elsewhere and dispose of their acquisitions before their return to their sanctuary, not hunt in their own backyards. It’s too easy to be detected. He had an understanding with Enthrall. Enthrall will have to speak with him.”

  “Hunt? What do they hunt?” Carolena asked.

  Lore waved his hand about, “Oh, things… treasures, foods, animals, keepsakes, people.”

  “People? They hunt people?” Carolena asked.

  “Well, yes, sometimes. They hunt others that suffer from the same vices they did. They hope to find one worse than themselves and shift the Windigo curse to them.”

  Destroy said, “But Rowan does not have the same vices, why does he want Rowan?”

  “Perhaps she has something else he wants,” Lore answered mysteriously.

  Carolena, her head in her hands as she tried to take all this in, noticed that Lily was pretending to feed her imaginary friend.

  “Who is Carrik?” Carolena asked.

  Carnage nodded and pointed at Lily as though to say, ‘Yeah!’

  Carolena continued, “He’s Lily’s imaginary friend, but we thought that’s all it was. Is Carrik a real person?”

  Lore grimaced a bit, then said, “Not anymore.”

  “Not anymore?!” Carolena practically shouted. “I promised you, you could be in my daughter’s life, but if you are exposing her to danger…”

  Lore hurried to reassure her, “Carolena, dear, please understand. I will never allow Lily to come to harm of any type. She was gifted even before she was born. I have done little more than boost her gifts. Yes, I’ve taught her, and she’s learned well. I will continue to give her as much of my strength and power as she can master. But never more than she can control. And Carrik, he’s most likely been with her through the ages. I should have paid more attention, perhaps I’d have noticed.”

  “Who is Carrik? Is he dangerous?” Carolena asked, nearly losing her temper.

  “Yes, he is very dangerous. But never to Lily. And she’ll need all my strength when they eventually meet again to harness all the rage he has no doubt built with each passing century.”

  Carnage snarled, and Carolena nearly shouted, “Who is Carrik?!”

  Lore looked at Carolena as though he couldn’t understand her level of distress, “He’s a Dragon, dear. He’s Lily’s Dragon. But we have much more serious things to consider at the moment. We must prepare for the Windigo’s return. I’ve no doubt he’ll come back tonight,” Lore said.

  Carnage looked at his daughter, then at Lore. He slammed his fist down on the table while glaring at Lore.

  Lore placed his hand over Carnage’s where it sat on the table, “I’ve got this. Do you truly believe that I’d leave her exposed? I’ve loved her longer than either of you can fathom time spanning. She’s always been a part of my life in some form or another. I will not fail her. And Carrik will not harm her regardless. He loves her as well — so much so that he’s found a way to whisper in her ear despite the fact that he no longer lives.”

  Carolena sat stunned, her lip quivering, “Lily’s only three, Lore.”

  Lore snapped his eyes to Carolena, “In this life. And she is finally blessed with parents who adore her, who will allow her to achieve her full potential. She is your Lily, and yet she is also so much more. Do not stop her from becoming all that she can, Carolena. You know her better than any, love her better than any. Allow Lily to be all she was meant to be.”

  Carolena looked from Lore to her daughter, who was watching them intently. She smiled at her mom and wiggled her fingers at her, causing a slight mist to waft through the air again.

  Then she giggled, which made Carolena smile as she thought, Lily has a Dragon. Then it clicked, “The Dragon Tree? Is the D
ragon Tree Carrik?”

  Lore, Carnage, and Destroy were already deep in discussion of how to secure against the Windigo. Lore turned to Carolena, “Let us finish this discussion another day, Carolena. Lily is safe; she is more protected than you could ever guess. She is happy — look at her sweet face…” he indicated the child he so adored, happily shoving her mother’s peach cobbler into her mouth now that she’d finished her own, “now we must see to the safety of everyone else in this home.”

  Rowan had listened, speechless, to the conversation at the breakfast table. Everything she feared, everything she made an intense conscious effort to avoid every single day of her life was alive and well here in Whispers. And apparently now, the worst of it was stalking her. Windigos could steal your body, your soul. All your possessions, your dreams, your hopes — even your fears and prayers. They usurped anything there was to take. Some even believed that they, in extreme cases, resorted to cannibalism in an effort to return the human flesh of their victims to their own bodies as they tried to become what they once were. They came into being when someone was so vilely jealous and covetous of anyone who had anything they themselves wanted, that the constant state of greed, and willingness to do anything to get what they wanted, turned them into a former shell, or skeleton of themselves. Eventually the demons of greed found them, offered them all their wildest desires in exchange for what remained of their soul, then left them with nothing more than the Windigo curse. They would forever roam the earth chasing a satisfaction that would never come. Their only chance at redemption was two-fold: find one more greedy and wanting than themselves and pass along the curse to them, or find a Witch. A natural Witch — one powerful enough that she could remove the curse, provide a cleansing spell, followed by a spell of protection which would allow the former Windigo enough time to prove that he was no longer the sad creature plagued by jealousy and greed. This was the creature hunting her.

  Rowan heard her name being called and came out of her reverie somewhat confused. “What? I’m sorry, I wasn’t listening.”

  “Have you done anything to reveal yourself to the Windigo?” Lore asked.

  She thought about it, “No. I have not. I keep such a tight hold on my magic that it’s virtually impossible to know that I have it.” She looked at Lore, “Unless it’s someone like you or Enthrall.”

  Lore thought about it. “You’ve not used it at all? Because it’s seeping from you, like a leaky faucet. It’s a very small amount, but it just never stops seeping from you.” He raised his hands, swirling them in the air, “It’s all around you!”

  She thought for a moment before slowly raising her eyes to his, “I’ve only used it once. One single time since I was a little child.”

  “When?” Lore asked quietly.

  She tried to take a deep breath and winced. “When Mr. Ashlar attacked me. Just before I thought I was to die,” she paused, cutting her eyes to Carolena, who was looking down into her own lap, “I whispered a quick curse.”

  Carolena’s head snapped up, “A curse?”

  Rowan ashamedly cast her eyes down, nodded.

  “What kind of curse?” Lore asked.

  “That the house of Ashlar and the man himself would live in misery forever and bear tenfold the pain he was causing me,” she whispered.

  Carolena’s face drew up in shock. She reached for Lily, pulling her into her lap — she was the house of Ashlar, as was Lily. “You cursed us?” Carolena asked shakily.

  Carnage had started a slow steady rumble and moved to place himself closer to his wife and child.

  Even Destroy was taken aback, and though he stood next to his female as she spoke, he looked down at her in surprise, and asked, “What?! You did what?! You can’t curse Carolena and Lily. Remove it! NOW!”

  Lore, having prodded them all to getting to the root of the problem, sat back and enjoyed the show, offering nothing to the conversation.

  “Noooowwww!” Carnage demanded on a bellow.

  Rowan, looking around at all of them glaring accusingly at her, started stammering, “I know! I’m sorry, I didn’t think. I was dying, and I just wanted him to suffer as I was. I didn’t have time to think Carolena was of his house. And I didn’t know that she had a daughter. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”

  Destroy, though outraged, was the least offensive toward her at the moment. So she raised her eyes to him, “Please understand, I didn’t mean anyone any harm, but Mr. Ashlar.”

  Destroy, his jaw still clenched and obviously still upset, knelt beside her chair, “Rowan, you have to remove the curse.”

  “But if I do, I’ll be using my magic, and if I use my magic, it always gets out of control. It’s why I don’t use it. I always do more damage than good. And won’t it bring that thing closer to me? Won’t I send out more of a sign that I’m here?”

  Lore smiled at her as he sat back in his seat. Then he said rather conversationally, “Yes. But you can have him come at you with friends to support you. Or you can have him come at you alone, out there,” he waved his hand toward the windows, “unprotected after we’ve cast you out.”

  A look of terror settled on Rowan’s face. “I want to remove it, but I’m afraid I’ll do more damage,” Rowan said.

  “Child, each time you’ve used your magic, you’ve been under duress. Your magic stepped forth and protected you, knowing you knew not how to manage it. It is time you learned to master your own, not have it master you,” Lore said.

  Destroy said, “Now, Rowan. We cannot wait.”

  She nodded, “I’ll try. But if I can’t control it…”

  “I am here,” Lore said, his meaning clear. He’d handle her if she couldn’t do it herself.

  Chapter 10

  Rowan closed her eyes and began whispering an ancient chant she’d heard her grandmother repeat time and again while summoning the elements to her to do her bidding. It was mere moments before the room darkened, the glassware and dishes began rattling, and Rowan’s hair began lifting in the breeze — the breeze inside the house.

  Lore watched, mesmerized. He’d had an idea of her strength, but was not expecting this. Several of the dishes fell from the cabinets and broke on the floor. Carnage wrapped his arms around Carolena and Lily and huddled them in his protective embrace as he glared at the female who’d unintentionally cursed them. Carolena was quietly watching the spectacle unfold, feeling safe, knowing that Carnage, Lore and even Destroy were here if need be. Lily, on the other hand, was fascinated, trying to twist and turn her way from her mother’s arms, so she could better see what was going on. Her eyes were bright, her smile brilliant as she made sure she missed nothing.

  Lore realized that perhaps he should have started this outside. “Rowan, let us go outside. Your strength is better suited there, and less damage will occur inside of the home.”

  Rowan nodded and with Destroy’s help stood and made her way outside. Once there she walked to the middle of the deck and sent Destroy back to stand with the others who’d curiously followed her outside. Only Lore stood with her, and she wasn’t sure honestly which she feared more, Lore, or her own powers. She turned her face to the sky, raised her arms above her head, and still chanting let loose the hold she’d kept on the very core of her nature since she was a small child. The winds became stronger, whipping at her clothing and hair — the trees around them rocked and bowed, the leaves blowing in the wind sounding like the surf on a beach. All manner of creature had taken shelter from the unexpected turn in weather as the sky turned angry and dark. lightning flashed, thunder rolled and a vortex of clouds spun right above Rowan. Her arms were spread above her head and her voice raised in chant as she commanded the elements, the original magics themselves, to cleanse her friends of the curses she’d unintentionally placed upon them. At the height of the storm, she turned toward Carolena and Lily, throwing her arms in their direction, where they stood sheltered in Carnage’s arms, sending a flash of light toward them. Carnage roared, Carolena screamed, and Lily shrieked with laughter
as she raised her own arms to welcome the light. Rowan smiled, realizing the curse had been lifted — washed clean by pure light from above. As the winds died down, she said, “It is done,” then seemingly in slow motion her legs went out from beneath her, and she slipped toward the deck. But Destroy was there before anyone realized what was happening and caught her in his arms.

  The winds died down, the trees stopped dancing, and the lightning and thunder rolled away until it was no more. Carnage hurried his family inside. Destroy carried Rowan inside. And Lore… Lore remained where he’d stood the entire time. Watching, his heart aching, yearning yet thankful for the momentary glimpse of his true family. The Ancients, as they’d come in their natural form in answer to Rowan’s call.

  It was moments later inside Carnage’s home that they realized that Lore still stood outside, facing the sky.

  “What is he doing?” Carolena asked.

  “I’m not sure,” Rowan answered. Then, “Carolena, please forgive me.”

  “It is done, Rowan. You didn’t realize what you were doing when it happened, and you’ve removed it. It’s done,” Carolena said. But she couldn’t resist, “But if you do it again, I’m going to sic my Gargoyle on you!”

  Carnage knew that Carolena was trying to lighten the mood by teasing, but if Rowan endangered his family again, even accidentally, he’d make sure she was no more. He glared at Rowan as he held his family close. Until Lily finally managed to escape the confines of her parents’ hold and dart to the window to watch Lore. Lore stood alone, still watching the receding clouds. He raised his arms above his head, and one single, slender, bolt of lightning touched his fingertips before disappearing into the sky. Lore stood there, watching as everything returned to normal. Finally, when there was nothing left to see, he turned, walking back into the house. His face was more corporeal, his hair dark with auburn tones, his eyes a deep purple — the colors of storm and lightning.