Page 92 of Of Blood and Smoke

I struggled to wake up, not wanting to leave the deep, comforting relaxation I’d entered. The voice repeated my name again, and I opened my eyes, finding myself surrounded by darkness.

“Who’s there?” I twisted and turned, not seeing anyone in the darkness. I could tell I was upright, but I didn’t feel anything under my feet. When I moved my arms, there was no air, no sensation of anything buoying me upright. My heart thudded in my ears, and I began to walk, not having any idea where I would go but not having any idea else what to do. Where was I?

FORTY-THREE

Josiah

The nature of my species was that we generally knew when another of us was around. The knowledge was instinctual, a ripple in the vibrations and frequencies of the atmosphere, and often coupled with scent. Mostly, it was an innate knowing.

Stealth was not on my side, especially since I’d failed to perform any cloaking spells strong enough to truly hide on my way into the Second Realm. My parents’ questioning left my mistakes in the forefront of my consciousness, and I halted in their gardens to clear my head before I continued on my way.

I’d neglected the magic-heavy side of my heritage for far too long. Della would suffer more than anyone, a victim of my own stubborn pride and my residual sense of duty toward the High Court. Relying on strength and fear had served me well and I’d had no idea I’d ever need anything more. I’d become accustomed to a lifestyle of sheer force and servitude to those who practiced magic for me. Nearly a thousand years of propaganda had taken root in my psyche, and it was no easy feat to try and tear it away, even if by my own hand.

At the edge of the property, I stilled and focused my concentration, altering my vision until I could see the invisible webs of the ether that surrounded every living thing.

Some practiced with chants and carefully worded poetry-style incantations. I had skipped all that and was taught how to command the ether to bend to my will through a mere thought specifically for combat. I was a force to be reckoned with. Why waste time with anything else, especially when there were others to do it for me if necessary? My training had been so narrow, but I felt confident the same lessons and talent could be honed for different results. I just needed the time to practice.

When the mist settled around me, fully shielding my presence, I continued. I’d be mistaken for someone else—not human, but not Josiah Ipomoea, either. I was testing the boundaries of the laws in the Second Realm and fighting my innate inclination toward the Court. I could only hope I hadn’t tripped any unseen alarms through my disobedience.

Micha had the foresight to cloak his own identity and scent before exiting the Third Realm and entering the Second, and I met him in a bar a few blocks away.

It was what one could call a “hole in the wall” style establishment, frequented by worn out soldiers and the less well-off citizens of the Realm, tucked away in a forgotten corner of the community. Upon entry, we were lost in the crowd of many different classes of people. I recognized some palace guards, and others who were in service to the Lords and the Collective. No one paid either of us much mind due to our altered visages.

I found my friend in a back corner booth and slid onto the bench opposite him. He motioned to a waitress who brought over a carafe and poured us both drinks. Once she was out of earshot, he spoke.

“Ezra placed her under a sleeping spell. As far as I know, no one’s touched her,” Micha told me. “She has no idea what is going on but kept asking where you were. Sounds like Jude led her to believe she was supposed to meet up with you.”

A burst of anger gripped the back of my neck. Why would she blindly leave the relative safety of home? How was she convinced to go?

“They must’ve used magic to cloud her mind,” Micha said, continuing to talk. “She’s not stupid.”

“No, she’s not. Was it your contact who told you this?” Micha kept in touch with someone in the inner circles of the High Court, but he’d never been willing to divulge who it was. I didn’t press him on the matter. He was entitled to some privacy if it was useful, and it seemed it had become so.

Between his mysterious infatuation with a human woman and his Court spy, the things he was keeping from me were piling up. Even now, I could sense he wasn’t going to answer me, but I wouldn’t force it.

Micha pulled his glass of blood closer and wrapped his hands around it, deep in thought. “Her and Ashley are always watching those ridiculous movies.” He shook his head. “Maybe she’ll be all right with the things she may see.”

I glared at him. I wasn’t certain that was how it worked, as if observing something from a distance and actively participating in the actions were the same thing. But then again, she’d witnessed Brett’s execution just fine and it’d even turned her on. However, that scene had been under my protective control.

“You and Ashley discuss movies?” Lifting my hand toward him, I said, “Never mind, I don’t want to hear it. If she’s asleep, I can get to her easily.”

He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and skimmed the screen. “Kiam says he may be able to assist if needed.”

More anger rolled through me, heating my blood. The situation was such that it was entirely my responsibility. I may have taken down Sem, but I should’ve dismantled the entire group and obliterated their outdated rules and laws and spared us the trouble we now faced.

I stood up and swung around the table. “Move over,” I growled at Micha.

He slid to the far end of the booth. No words were needed; he knew what I intended. I leaned back against his chest and shoulder, kicking a long leg up on the bench as he slid an arm around me. To passersby, it’d look as if I were inebriated or spell-drunk, as if I were being cared for by a friend or partner and under an enchantment.

“You do this and I can’t go in after you,” Micha warned. We couldn’t leave both our bodies here unattended in public.

Quickly, I patted my sides, checking for my blades, and then snatched my glass from the table and gulped down the remains of my beverage. “I’m getting her back,” I gritted out.

“The net won’t allow physical relocation, not without a massive surge of power,” he said pointlessly, since I could sense the restriction already. Ezra had left no room for error, no weaknesses in the web he’d cast. If I was discovered, the entire area would be under lockdown, no one allowed in or out of the palace.

“Are you ready now, to let us learn higher magic?” he asked, whispering in my ear. “You shouldn’t stifle it.”

Micha had brought it up once, several years ago and I’d soundly chastised him. “We’ll discuss this later; we don’t have time for this.” A thought occurred to me. “Have you started?”

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