Wicked Wind (Solsti Prophecy #1) (15 page)

“How about I make you a sandwich of your own.” Her eyes roamed his body in a lazy caress. “That way, you’ll be able to give me a repeat performance.”

He snaked an arm around her waist and gave her one quick, searing kiss. “You got yourself a deal.”

After they ate, they wound their way up the stairs to the concealed door of the safe house and stepped into the sunny clearing. They easily found their way back to the path. Rosa’s home would be another hour or two ahead, providing that nothing slowed them down along the way.

Being more familiar with the area they were hiking through today, Gunnar changed their course. It wouldn’t add any time to their journey, and there was something he wanted Nicole to see.

This route involved a little more climbing and he made her go first, in case she slipped on the trail. “It’s a good thing I’m in shape,” she muttered.

“You’re doing fine.”

“You just like looking at my ass.”

He grinned. She was right. “Just a little farther, I promise.”

He caught up to her as they crested a ridge. “Wow,” she whispered.

They stood at the top of a sheer rock wall overlooking a river. On the cliff opposite them, a waterfall cascaded hundreds of feet into the swirling current below. That alone was beautiful, but the creatures moving around and through the falls were the real treasure he wanted her to see.

Many water sprites made their home in the river. Beautiful and playful, they tempted males of all species to dally, and then divested them of valuables while they slept in a sprite-induced trance. But a rare sub-species lived here along with the common ones: sprites who spun rainbows with water and light and then wound their handiwork through the falls. As the water cascaded, it pulsed with bands of brilliant, shifting colors. The sprites also drew the rainbows back and forth across the current, so the river came alive with swirling rainbows and tiny dancing fairy-like creatures.

“It’s amazing,” she breathed.

“You had to see some of the ugliest things on Torth yesterday. I wanted you to see one of the prettiest as well.”

“You know, underneath that tough-guy exterior, you’re a big softie.”

“Don’t go telling anyone. I’ll deny every word.” He winked and flashed her a dimpled smile.

They followed the river’s edge for a couple of hours before moving back to the woods. After a water break and another mile, they arrived at a small clearing.

Nicole halted. “No way.”

He raised his eyebrows.

“This looks like a drawing from a fairy tale. Look, the chimney even has a perfect trail of white smoke coming out.”

“I guess that’s the look Rosa picked for today.”

She cocked her head to the side.

“It’s an illusion,” he explained. “It’s warded just like the safe house. The last time I saw Rosa, which was decades ago, her place looked like the homes in Englewood. And not the ones where Grandma tidied up the front porch.”

Nicole’s brows drew together. “What’s she like?”

“To answer your question, we may as well knock on her door. If we’re able to stand here and talk about her without getting zapped, then she already knows we’re here.”

“What do you mean, zapped?” Her fingers tightened on his biceps.

“I mean that Rosa is very powerful. No one bothers her. But don’t worry.” He dropped a swift kiss on top of her head. “I was serious when I said that she knows we’re here. She’s waiting for us. It’ll be okay.”

As if on cue, the top half of the square double-door opened and a petite figure called out, “Gunnar! Come here young man, and let me meet your friend!”

Nicole stared as they walked up the path. The home looked like a gingerbread cottage, minus the gumdrops on the roof. The top half of the door closed for a second, then both halves swung open together. The woman standing on the other side was tiny, just over five feet tall, with wide eyes as blue as a tropical sea. But her hair captured every ounce of Nicole’s attention. It was true silver, not gray or white or salt-and-pepper. She’d never seen anything like it. She recalled Gunnar saying that Rosa was ancient, but she couldn’t see even one tiny wrinkle on her porcelain complexion.

“Welcome, child,” the witch said to Nicole. “Do come in.” She wore a long gathered skirt in a shade of pale blue, and soft brown moccasins. A floral blouse topped with a beige cardigan completed her ensemble. She took Nicole’s hand and led her to a small kitchen with an old wood-burning stove. They passed a living room with a braided rug in front of a fireplace, and a comfortable looking couch draped with an afghan crocheted in a familiar pattern of colored squares.
All she needs is a cat
.

“Tea?” Rosa asked, indicating that they should sit at her kitchen table.

“Thank you.” Nicole was wary of this cozy illusion. For such a powerful being, Rosa had certainly chosen an innocuous setting. There was even a pot full of something that smelled delicious simmering on the stove.

“You look well, Rosa,” Gunnar said gruffly. He shifted in the wooden chair, which seemed frightfully small beneath his bulk.

“You haven’t come to see me in ages, my boy,” she chided.

“I’ve been working on Earth.”

“And now you’re here, courtesy of your Elder.” She poured tea from a kettle painted with yellow tulips. “What can I help you with?”

Nicole pulled the silver coin from her pocket. “I found this.”

Rosa took it and rubbed her thumb over the symbol on the front. “I haven’t seen one of these in years. Where did you come across it?”

“On...Earth,” Nicole started awkwardly. She had never before needed to use a
planet
to describe her location. “There was a fight...with some Skell demons.”

“And who else?”

Nicole swallowed. Would an ancient witch know about Chicago street gangs? Better to assume that the witch knew everything. “Some gang members.”

Turquoise eyes locked with hers as Nicole felt the sudden prick of a hundred tiny needles along her arms, swiftly followed by the sensation of soft caressing feathers. She shivered at the touch of Rosa’s power. “I won’t bite you, child. Go on.”

“My sister and I were involved. And two of Gunnar’s friends. That’s it.” Nicole kept her hands wrapped around her teacup, absorbing its warmth.

“Ah, your sister. She is like you.”

Nicole’s eyes widened. “How...”

“I have seen much, child. I know what you are.”

“So Rilan is right,” Gunnar said.

“Rilan is right,” Rosa agreed. “The Solsti have returned.”

“But why?” Nicole’s mind was overrun with an Alice-in-Wonderland feeling, and Rosa’s story book cottage only added to it.

“The Solsti come when they are needed.” The witch shrugged.

“But it’s just me and my two sisters. Rilan told us the Solsti were supposed to be four?”

“There
are
four of you.”

Rosa placed her hand on top of Nicole’s, bringing with it a fresh wave of power. “I cannot say who or where they are, my dear. I can simply tell from touching you that all four exist. The elemental circle is complete.”

Didn’t Rilan say something similar?
“So, somewhere in the world, there’s a woman like me and my sisters, but we have no idea how to find her. And together we’re supposed to prevent some great disaster?” She stared in confusion at Rosa. “I don’t know where to begin.”

“Ah, but you do, dear one. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be sitting in my house right now.” Her turquoise eyes flicked a knowing glance over to Gunnar, then back to Nicole. “And you wouldn’t have a Lash demon for a… travelling companion.”

Nicole stared at her tea, feeling as if the witch could see into her soul. And why shouldn’t she, if she was as ancient and powerful as Gunnar said? Her witchy skills probably included things that Nicole couldn’t even imagine, least of all picking up on the fact that she and Gunnar had been intimate. Unsure of what to say, she looked at Gunnar.

He chose to change the subject. “What can you tell us about the coin?”

“Oh yes. It’s ancient. See the symbol in the middle here? This is the mark of the Gar demons. This is an actual piece of the currency they used.”

“Gar demons,” he said. “They’re supposed to be a myth, too.”

“That’s because they haven’t existed for a millennia. They were all killed in a fierce battle with the Domu demons.”

“The Domu eliminated an entire species?”

“Yes, they had a lengthy war over territory. The Domu finally won and took everything the Gars possessed.” The witch turned the coin over in her palm. “These do not carry much value anymore. It belongs to a Domu. But why one would bother with this old coin, I can’t say.”

“But when Nicole found it, there were Skells involved. No other demons. Our assignment is to investigate Skell activity. They’ve been causing more trouble with the humans in our city. Maybe they’ve allied themselves with a Domu?”

The witch smoothed her silver hair. “You know Skells are always looking to partner with powerful allies. And, with the exception of the Lash, the Domu are as powerful as they come.”

“Couldn’t a Skell have randomly stolen this from the…Domu demon?” Nicole broke in.

“And walked away with its life? Not likely,” Gunnar replied. “The Skells are remarkably incompetent.”

“So you need to find yourselves a Domu demon. And you need to tread carefully. There are some demons you can never underestimate.” Rosa’s eyes pinned Gunnar with a look that made a muscle tick in his jaw. He swallowed hard, and Nicole made a mental note to later ask him what that was all about.

“Are you offering advice?” he asked.

“I know of an item that will give you the means to defeat a powerful Domu. I can tell you where to find it…for a price.”

Nicole looked to Gunnar, eyes wide. She shouldn’t expect that any of these creatures would help them out of the kindness of their hearts. Raneiro had, but he and Gunnar were bonded through shared battles as well as decades of friendship.

“What price do you ask?”

Rosa turned her gaze to Nicole. “First, a lock of hair from your lovely Solsti.”

Nicole gulped. She didn’t know anything about witchcraft, but from what she had seen on TV and in movies, a person’s hair could be a powerful element in a spell. “My hair? What do you want with it?”

“Don’t worry child. I mean you no harm. I will simply hold on to it until the time is right.”

The witch had a point. She could have probably killed her a dozen different ways by now, if she had truly wanted to. Still, Nicole hesitated. In helping Gunnar, could she unwittingly put herself into a dangerous situation?

He seemed to be considering something also. “And the second?”

“You will bring your sisters to meet me.”

Uncertainty flooded Nicole’s veins. Despite her power, Rosa had been the picture of hospitality today. And who could blame her for wanting to meet the other Solsti, because they were apparently so very rare? Nicole looked to Gunnar.

Blue eyes twinkled and he nodded. “It’ll be okay.”

“It’s settled, then.” Rosa smiled, satisfied. “I knew I woke up feeling magnanimous this morning for a reason! Now then,” she continued. “You need to travel to the wood nymphs of Rivkin. They hold the ashes of a dead Domu. Bring this ash into contact with the owner of this coin, and it will render him helpless.”

“How did a group of wood nymphs acquire a weapon like that?” Gunnar asked incredulously. “They aren’t exactly known for their fierceness.”

“The ashes are not from just any Domu, but from Xarrek, the mage.”

Gunnar’s mouth opened and closed. “How–”

“Xarrek met his demise in the Rivkin Forest. The nymphs crept out after the other Domu left, and collected his ashes before the wind scattered them.”

“Um, can one of you fill me in on the details?” Nicole interrupted.

“Xarrek was exceptionally greedy for power,” Gunnar began. “He had the talent to cast basic spells, and he worked at building his skills. He wanted to achieve the sorcery level of a mage. He figured that if he could do that, he’d be invincible. But he wasn’t subtle about it, and when the other Domu realized that he was getting stronger, they stopped him. A large group of them followed him into the woods one day and attacked. He fought back using both his physical strength and his magic, but he was outnumbered. After they killed him, they set fire to his body to ensure he wouldn’t rise again.”

“Why did they leave his ashes?” Nicole asked.

“The Domu were unaware of the potential danger. Normally, ashes wouldn’t affect them. But since Xarrek had become a powerful mage, his physiology was altered.”

“And the nymphs knew this?” Gunnar asked.

“The nymphs made a shrewd and accurate guess.”

“So, a trace of him remains,” Nicole said.

“Indeed it does,” Rosa agreed. “And the nymphs will be happy to gain an ally like you. Both of you.” She produced a pair of silver scissors from her pocket and, leaning over, snipped a lock of Nicole’s blond hair. “Now then. You will eat with me. You’ll need sustenance. The forest is half a day’s journey from here.”

As if on cue, the pot on the stove bubbled vigorously. Rosa stood, tucked Nicole’s blond hair into a tiny silver box, and put the box back into her pocket. She pulled three large bowls from the cupboard and filled them with the contents of the pot. The delicious aroma that Nicole had noticed when they arrived intensified, making her mouth water.

“That smells divine,” she said.

“It’s my special recipe—rabbit stew.” The witch placed the bowls on the table
.
An ancient witch is serving us a home-cooked meal
. Nicole decided to stop thinking that things couldn’t get any weirder. Every time she did, she ended up in a situation she could never have imagined. So she simply smiled and thanked Rosa. “Mmm.” She breathed the steam in front of her.

After eating their fill, Gunnar and Nicole took their leave of Rosa and her tiny fairy tale home. The witch surprised her by giving both of them a warm embrace. As they left the clearing and entered the shade, Gunnar threw a huge arm across her shoulders and squeezed her into a hug. “Rosa really liked you.”

“I’m glad she did, but I didn’t do anything special. And she seemed so sweet. What were you talking about before? Can she really zap someone?”