The Crossing (Immortals) (18 page)

The Sidhe queen's rosy lips pressed into a thin, unattractive line. "Very well. The Council will proceed with
her interrogation." Her eyes narrowed. "It would be best
if you go now, Manannan. This will not be pleasant."

Alarm flashed through Artemis's eyes.

"No." Mac's voice was deadly calm. "I'm staying."

Wisely, Niniane didn't press the matter. Settling back
into her throne, she addressed Artemis with loud, slow
words, as if speaking to a small, stupid child.

"I will lift the mute spell so you may answer the Council's
questions truthfully and completely. Be warned, humanno lie may be spoken in the Sidhe Council chambers. If
you attempt to do so, it will be known instantly. The
penalty for falsehood is death." Her gaze flicked to Mac.
"And there is no recourse. Do you understand?"

Artemis nodded once.

Niniane raised a finger. Artemis let out a choking gasp,
as if a noose about her neck had suddenly been loosened.
She rubbed her unbound wrists.

"Now, then. Your name, human."

"Artemis Alexandria Black," she rasped.

"You are a witch?"

"Yes. I-"

Niniane silenced her with a frown. "You will answer
only the question posed, Miss Black. Now. I sense you are
mostly human. What other blood flows in your veins?"

Mac stifled a curse. This line of questioning certainly
wouldn't help Artemis's cause.

"Water spirit," Artemis began. "Norse Giantess. Shapeshifter." She swallowed. "Troll..."

Niniane's eyes narrowed. "And?"

Artemis's voice dipped to a whisper. "Demons. Several
different kinds."

Mac winced as a shocked murmur raced around the circle. Briac scowled deeply, his fingers steepled under his
pointed beard. Tadc shook his head in disgust. The three
sisters exchanged glances, then turned as one to stare at
Artemis. Only old Saraid's expression did not change.

Niniane's shudder was one of pure disgust. "It makes
me truly ill to consider the sex acts that produced this
creature." She peered at Artemis. "You are a disgusting
mongrel. Is there no Celtic blood in you at all?"

Artemis met the Sidhe queen's gaze squarely. "No.
There isn't."

"Thank the gods for that, at least! The thought of Celtic
magic mixing with that of demons and trolls..." She
glared at Mac. "I cannot believe you bedded this atrocity."

Mac stared back, stonily, until his mother huffed and
turned back to her prisoner. Damn it all to hell. For
Artemis's crime, there was only one sentence, other than
death or imprisonment, that the Council could hand
down. This archaeological expedition into Artemis's antecedents was uncalled for.

He wanted to jump up on the platform and wrap her in
his arms. Disturbingly, that emotion didn't have anything
to do with her possible pregnancy. It had to do with
Artemis alone.

He moved between Niniane and Saraid, physically
aligning himself with the circle of elders in a none-toosubtle reminder of his power among the Sidhe.

"Miss Black's ancestors are not on trial here," he said.
"The charge against her is simple. Nonlethal theft of
faerie life essence."

Niniane's green gaze bored into Artemis. "Is my son's
accusation true, human? Think carefully before you answer, and remember the penalty for lies."

Artemis's chin lifted. Her shoulders went back; her eyes
met Niniane's, coldly. Mac bit back a groan. A bit of groveling wouldn't come amiss right about now.

"It is true, Your Highness. But, if you please, I can explain. My need is great-"

"Your needs are no concern of ours."

Artemis stiffened, eyes flashing. "But you must hear me!
I demand-"

A shocked buzz zipped around the Council chamber.
Sidhe elders did not tolerate impertinence. Tadc shook his
head, Briac's scowl deepened. The sisters exchanged
glances. Saraid gave a sigh.

Niniane surged to her feet. "You are not in a position to
demand anything, whore!" Her hand rose, sparks of elfshot gathering angrily on her fingertips.

Mac moved quickly, blocking Niniane's view of
Artemis. "Stop, Mother. Stop now."

Grudgingly, Niniane lowered her hand. "Justice will be
served." Turning, she addressed the elders. "You have
heard the witch's confession. She is guilty of her crime.
Do any of you wish to question this creature further?"

A sudden ring of wood on stone sounded. All eyes
turned to Saraid, watching in silence as the most ancient
Sidhe used her staff to lever herself onto her feet.

She set her piercing blue gaze on Artemis. "Miss Black.
How many faeries have felt the effects of your death
magic?"

Artemis blinked. "I... I don't know."

"Your best estimate, if you please."

"I... about two hundred. But none were permanently
harmed."

"But they were harmed, I assume? Became ill? Lost their
joy for life?"

"Temporarily. Yes."

The elder moved closer. Leaning heavily on her staff, she made a slow, halting circuit around the accused, her
gaze traveling from Artemis's head to her toes several
times. Raising her gnarled hand, she pointed a long,
twisted finger. "You wear a charmed pendant."

Mac didn't miss the flash of raw fear in Artemis's eyes,
quickly suppressed.

"Yes."

Mac's attention sharpened. What was this? He didn't
remember Artemis wearing any pendant, magical or otherwise. She certainly hadn't been wearing it in bed.

"You will remove it. Now."

Artemis's hand went to her throat. "No, please, I-"

Saraid spoke a word; Artemis's hand dropped. The elder
hooked her forefinger beneath the chain at Artemis's
throat. The silver links separated.

A round pendant, about the size of a quail's egg, dangled from the elder's weathered fingers. The ornament
had an odd covering-a silk-platinum weave, Mac realized
with a start. No wonder he hadn't been aware of it. A silk
and platinum fabric, bespelled in just the right way,
blocked magical probing.

Old Saraid muttered a second spell. The pendant's
protective covering fluttered to the ground, revealing a
tear-shaped moonstone. Rays of white light shot from
the gem in all directions, giving the stone the aspect of a
star.

Shocked silence reigned. For once, even Niniane was
speechless.

As for Mac, he could only gape. Bloody, bloody hell.
Artemis hadn't sold the life essence she'd stolen. She'd
hoarded it. Every last drop of it, including his own, was
trapped within the gem. The energy packed into that tiny
rock boggled Mac's mind.

The faces of the councillors radiated sheer outrage.
Stolen life magic had only so many uses, and all of them
nasty. No human could be entrusted with such power.

Artemis stood rigid, her gaze fixed on the pendulum
swing of the moonstone. She looked up suddenly, directly
at him. The raw anguish in her dark eyes sliced the breath
from his lungs.

Gradually, he realized that the elders had shifted their
attention from Artemis to him. Seven pairs of eyes were
regarding him with profound disappointment.

Niniane rose, her body shaking. "Manannan. I cannot
believe you consorted with this criminal." She nodded at
Saraid. "Destroy the stone."

Artemis's eyes went wide. She lunged at the faerie queen,
stumbling to the edge of the platform. Saraid held her
back with a word.

Artemis sank to her knees, tears streaming from her eyes.

Niniane's color was high, her gaze pinning Artemis in
place. "Never, in all the centuries that I've lived, have I
witnessed such a blatant insult to the Celtic races. Nor do
I ever wish to see such a thing again. Saraid?"

The elder nodded gravely. Her lips parted; a single
word rolled off her tongue.

The moonstone flared with a brilliance that had even
Mac shielding his eyes. As if a floodgate had been opened,
thousands of sparks streamed upward, whirling like a
cloud of stars above the elders' heads.

"No! Oh gods, no!"

Artemis jumped up and stretched as high as she could,
as if she could pluck the stolen morsels of life from the
air. But it was too late-the bits of souls were already
seeking their sources. Mac felt a sizzle, and an accompanying flood of well-being, and knew the life essence
Artemis had taken from him had been restored. And the
rest-

Niniane waved a hand and the chamber door leading to
the human world opened. The dazzling cloud streamed
through it. In the space of two heartbeats, Artemis's entire
ill-gotten harvest had vanished.

The moonstone went dark. Saraid's fingers opened. The
gem fell, striking the floor with a solid ring of defeat.

"No... no... n-" Artemis swayed on her feet.

Her knees abruptly buckled. Damning Sidhe protocol
to hell, Mac leaped to catch her.

He was an instant too late.

A beam of elfshot leaped from Niniane's fingers, knocking
Mac clean off his feet as he stormed the platform. It was
the last thing Artemis saw before she crumpled to the
ground. For several long, gray moments, she fought to
stay conscious. She was far too petrified to faint.

Gradually, lucidity returned. A ball of green light hovered over her head, spilling sparks all around. The moonstone lay at the eldest Sidhe's feet, as cold and empty as a
broken promise.

She squinted through the twinkling cage. Mac was just
picking himself off the ground. She could hardly believe
his mother had dared strike him.

Niniane's voice rang clear. "This witch's crimes are
clear. What punishment shall we mete?"

Mac let out a growl. "Mother. Stop this."

"A vote has been called for, Manannan," Niniane
replied. "You cannot prevent the Council from speaking
its verdict now. As queen, I cast my vote first." She paused.
"Death."

"Mother-"

"Death," a second voice intoned.

Gods. This couldn't be happening.

"Death."

"Death."

"Death."

"Death."

"Death."

"No." Mac glowered at the Sidhe. "No. I will not permit it."

"Mac." Niniane's rebuke was sharp. "The Council has
spoken."

"I don't bloody care. I made it clear at the start of this
proceeding that I will not allow a verdict of death in
this case."

Niniane scowled at her son as if he were a recalcitrant
toddler. "Mac. This witch is a danger to our kind. You
know it's true. Her crimes are proven, and she shows not
one iota of remorse. Her power is beyond anything I've
ever sensed in a human. And if that's not enough, she's part
demon! If she's not executed, she'll likely use her magic for
ill again." She spread her hands. "Can you deny it?"

"No," Mac said tersely, his jaw working. "But death isn't
necessary to ensure her reform. Stripping her of her powers will be punishment enough."

His declaration struck like a punch to Artemis's gut.
"No," she gasped. "Mac, no! You can't let them-"

He rounded on her. His eyes reflected her own pain.
"Artemis. You've admitted your guilt before the Council.
The elders saw the life essence you hoarded with their
own eyes! How can you imagine you'll leave here untouched?" His fist clenched and unclenched. "At least
you'll be alive."

"As a mundane?" Artemis cried. "I'd rather be dead!"

"See, Mac?" Niniane cut in. "The witch agrees. She
wants to die. Why not let her? It'd be for the best."

A muscle in Mac's jaw twitched. "No. The Council will
cast the power-stripping spell. Now, while I watch. Afterward you'll release Artemis into my care."

It was like being in a cell, with the walls slowly caving
in, and no way out. Stripped of her powers? Artemis
couldn't imagine a worse fate. Without her magic, she'd never get to Zander. Her contract with Malachi might be
long expired and the moonstone useless, but as long as she
had her power, she wasn't completely without hope.

But first she needed out of this room. Out of this glittering green cage. The walls were getting thicker and
more opaque with every passing second. But how? Panic
spun in her mind. That was no help. It took every shred of
discipline she possessed to smother it.

Balance. She needed balance. Desperately.

Artemis closed her eyes and concentrated on her breathing. In, out. In, out. Outside voices faded. She conjured a
still pool of calm; a moment later, a possibility dropped
into it.

Her eyes popped open. Her pulse accelerated. It wasn't an
easy solution by any means. She wasn't even certain she
could pull it off; the walls of her prison were still too transparent. But if they thickened farther... it might work.

Of course, she could also easily end up dead. Or worse.
But it was the only chance she had. If she got the chance,
she would take it.

Somewhere on the other side of her glittering prison
wall, Niniane was an indistinct form. "Mackie. She should
die. You know she should."

"I know nothing of the sort," Mac replied. "The Council will proceed as I've instructed." His tone was laced with
unmistakable threat. "Does anyone wish to oppose me?"