First Thirst (Craving 1)

“What have ye done?” I asked, trying to pound on the transparent shield between m’self and m’home.

“Punished you. You can watch your estate fall into ruin as the years go by. You can think what your life would have been had you loved and stayed with me—taken me as your wife!” she snapped, and her face was drawn in rage.

I closed m’eyes. Allora’s witch had sent me to another realm where I would be able to see into m’world, m’home, m’land, but be unable to communicate with anyone in m’world, in any manner. M’eyes snapped open as I realized m’fate.

“I am sorry, My Lord,” the witch said. “She threatened my daughter.”

“Enough,” Allora shouted.

The witch broke free from Allora and started to chant, but Allora put a finger up and said, “Remember, I know where you sent your daughter.”

The witch stopped immediately and Allora pulled her against herself and sneered before saying, “Ah, but you need an introduction, you two. Devin, this wonderful witch, who has sealed your fate forever away from your precious life here in your precious human world, is Lisa MacForly. She is an immortal witch of stupendous power. She alone can lift the spell that keeps you on the other side, but you see, I don’t wish her to lift that spell…not ever.” So saying, she produced a sword and with one swift movement, she did the unthinkable and beheaded the poor woman in her grasp.

I watched, horrified, as the witch’s body sank in Allora’s hold. I was stunned immobile as Allora swung the head she had severed, just as she had done with m’bride a year before. I watched as blood poured onto the floor and screamed with the agony I felt. I emptied m’lungs as I did m’heart.

Allora continued to swing the witch’s head to and fro as she laughed and it was a maniacal sound. She stopped suddenly and came closer to the shield between us. “You know, don’t you? You know why I killed her. Because her kind is always doing the ‘right thing’.” Allora sneered. “I knew that as soon as I went off on one of my junkets, she would have returned here and undid the spell. I knew that. So I made that impossible.”

I said nothing.

Allora’s smile was hateful. She shrugged and eyed me. “You—D

evin, are the only one I have ever wanted…ever loved, and you hurt me. What reason could you have had to leave me for so long and then marry another? You could have played with other women. I am not unreasonable. Eternity is a long time. I would have allowed such as that. But you married her!” She gave me her back as though composing herself. “Well, you will live to regret it. You will live on the other side in another world. Only she—Lisa MacForly, can undo the spell, and she is gone. You are forever cursed. I knew she meant to free you. I knew it the moment she sent her daughter off to New York. She would have faced me down, and as she was the most powerful witch I have ever encountered, I couldn’t take the chance that she might have been able to outdo me. No. So I struck first. I caught her by surprise, didn’t I? She wasn’t expecting me to kill her. I outwitted a great Witch of the Light, because we all know White Witches think with their hearts. All I had to do was outthink her.” Allora arched a look at me. “Good is never ruthless.”

“You threatened her family to get her to do this,” I said resignedly, sick inside.

“Yes, of course.” She laughed and turned the witch Lisa MacForly’s head and body into ash even as she scorched away the blood from the floor. “People will wonder what became of you. No one can see or hear you on the other side. You will become a mystery of sorts as you suffer over the years.” She started to walk away, but apparently couldna resist as she turned back to me, and her lip lifted in a sneer. “No one defies me.”

I watched her go with only one thought in mind. I would escape and destroy her once and for always. I would hone in m’skills…and I would find a way out of here…

Allora dinnae know all there was to know about magic spells, light or dark. She dinnae realize that a witch with the power to enact such a spell, has a bloodline that can follow through. Och aye, but I knew it! M’studies, m’work looking for a cure for m’vampirism, had delivered me into the world of the occult. The poor witch had a daughter in the States. Aye then…hope was still alive, and I would find a way out of this realm and find Allora and finish her once and for always.

Allora also dinnae realize that m’darlin’ bride had an immortal warlock brother—Jeremy.

I bloody well would have m’revenge for m’bride’s murder and m’bride’s immortal warlock brother, Jeremy Ascot, would discover me and aid me in m’efforts.

Ye see, Jeremy, though he probably wouldna be able to free me, I knew he would try, and would still be able to speak with and see me. He was a supernatural. He would see the transparent wall and me on the other side immediately.

And Jeremy did come looking for me.

And Jeremy’s investigations to discover Lisa MacForly’s immortal daughter finally paid off, but too late. It had taken years because she had married and had another name and had somehow obscured the name MacForly from the records. No doubt when she heard of her mother’s disappearance. The poor woman was cruelly, freakishly killed in an accident…but her granddaughter, who calls herself by a boy’s name, Bobbie Skye, was alive and well.

Jeremy decided we had to get her here and see if she could help us and thus he made her an offer she could not refuse.

Which brings us to this day.

Bobbie Skye has arrived.

Would she be able to break me out of this realm? I have not seen her use much of her magic yet and cannae be certain she possesses her grandmother’s abilities.

However, after Jeremy’s phone conversation with her, he said that her magical aura was something he had felt even over the airwaves during their short conversation. He was sure that she owned the ability, if nae the knowledge, to free me.

But as I watched her happily bounce about her room, I realized she was an innocent.

Was I putting her in danger? Of course I was.

Also, she had nae been trained in the arts of her heritage. How could she have been when both grandmother and mother had been taken from her?

Jeremy said her aunt was a mortal witch with limited light powers. Was the lass equipped to stand up to Allora should Allora return here?