Page 26 of Elemental Hope
“You can’t stop me going out there,” Dominic muttered. “And why the heck am I talking to a cat?” He took a step forward. Shadow hissed then bared a fang. “Who knew a ball of fur could be so threatening?” Dominic chuckled, taking another step. Several points of fire ignited in his calf as Shadow sank a few claws into him.
“Hey! What was that for?” Dominic rubbed at his leg. “You don’t want me to go out there?” Shadow meowed in a way that Dominic translated as ‘of course not, dumb ass’. “Do you work for Gregory?” Another disdainful half-yowl followed that comment. “Fine.” Dominic accepted that he was never going to get past the cat without losing a limb. He took off his boots and that seemed to mollify the animal. He got purrs and a few head butts. Disheartened, he sat at the kitchen table. It would be several hours before either Gregory and Coryn, or Nathaniel arrived. He couldn’t just sit doing nothing.
Shadow jumped onto the table, brushing against him to get his attention. Dominic watched as the cat leapt from surface to surface, ending up at the bookcase where she sat, waiting.
“I can’t believe I’m letting myself be ordered around by a cat. I get enough of this from Evrain.” Dominic pushed his chair back then wandered across to the bookcase. “You want me to read something?” He touched each volume on the top shelf in turn. There were a mixture of Agatha’s books and few of his that he’d collected. The subjects were mainly plants and herbs, a few recipe books. He noted they needed a dust. Shadow tapped his finger with a paw, mercifully with talons sheathed. Dominic stopped then pulled it from the shelf. “Herb Lore & Magery. Don’t think I’ve ever read this one.” He blew dust from the spine. “Looks really old.” He took it across to one of the armchairs next to the fire. The fire wasn’t lit but even with the rain stillhammering down outside, the room wasn’t chilled. He sat and Shadow immediately jumped into his lap, kneaded his thighs for a while then collapsed in a contented, purring heap. Dominic shook his head. He was worried. Scared. Reading and stroking the cat might help take his mind off it for a short while.
The day passed at a crawl. Dominic stayed away from the windows, remaining by the fire, which he had lit for something to do. Outside the rain had slowed to a drizzle then stopped. The sun managed to break through the remaining clouds but there was little warmth in it and the inside of the cottage, with its thick stone walls, became chilled. Dominic hoisted a complaining Shadow from his lap then banked the fire. The cat immediately found a spot on the rug to stretch out on, stomach bared to the flames.
“You’re going to be a roasted cat if you stay there,” Dominic felt obliged to warn Shadow. The gaze he got in response was one of utter contempt. “Fine. But don’t come running to me when you singe your fur.” He made a mug of hot chocolate but didn’t bother with food because he had no appetite. He settled back in his chair. The herb lore book was absorbing even if he didn’t know what use reading it would be. He sighed. It shouldn’t be too much longer before the cavalry got to him.
The first indication Dominic had that either Gregory or Nathaniel had arrived was the terrifying sound of a violent crack of lightning. It was all the more shocking because the weather was still fine and as far as Dominic knew there had been no sign of a storm gathering. He was usually sensitive to the building pressure of thunderclouds but he hadn’t noted any change.
He got up slowly before making his way to the front door. Shadow didn’t try to stop him, which he took as a positive sign. He unlatched the door, opening it just a crack, wincing at the creak the hinges made. He was rewarded with the sight of a spectacular light show. The sky, darkened to a bruisedpurple, was being split asunder by fork after fork of vivid silver lightning. The ground seemed to vibrate with the noise and Dominic hesitated before opening the door a little wider. Each time the sky lit up he could see silhouettes of figures moving in the lane. The scene played out in front of his startled eyes as if a strobe light were suspended above the combatants. He caught intermittent glimpses of the action but never enough to truly determine what was going on. Curiosity overruled common sense as he stared at the staccato picture in front of him and he took a step outside. He could well imagine Gregory berating him for not staying within the relative safety of the cottage, but it was actually Coryn that reached him first, bundling him roughly back through the door and shoving it closed behind them.
“You young idiot! Are you trying to get yourself killed? One stray bolt and you would be fried like an overdone sausage, then Gregory and I would be equally roasted when Evrain got hold of us. I don’t think he would appreciate coming home to a charred boyfriend.” Coryn softened his words with a firm hug.
“Sorry,” Dominic felt obliged to apologize. “But you have to admit it was a spectacular show. It was hard to look away. What exactly is going on out there?”
“The two witches parked outside your gate proved to be a little stubborn. Gregory decided that some fireworks might persuade them to move, but they seem to be under some kind of compulsion spell to remain and he has had to resort to more persuasive tactics. Nathaniel is assisting.”
“What exactly do you mean by more persuasive?”
Coryn grinned in a way that reminded Dominic of wolves he’d seen on television documentaries. It wasn’t a pleasant smile and it made him shiver inside. “Gregory is very happy when he gets to employ brute force once in a while. He is usually restricted to work that requires more finesse. He says these brutal jobs keep his warlock muscles toned.”
“Is he channeling right now?” Dominic asked.
“Oh, yes,” Coryn replied.
“You don’t seem to experience much discomfort.”
“After all our years together, I barely notice anymore.”
“I think I’m jealous.” Dominic shivered. “I can only imagine what that kind of force involves. What is he up to?”
“He’s doing something to turn the compulsion in our favor. In layman’s terms it’s like stretching an elastic band too far. The spell will snap back into their minds and have a reverse effect so they will want to be anywhere but here.”
The sounds of a furious wind whipped around the cottage like a banshee in full voice, so loud that Dominic had to cover his ears. Then, just as suddenly as it had started, the wind ceased. The silence that followed was eerie and Dominic found that he was holding his breath, until the door opened and Gregory appeared around it with a grin. Nathaniel followed close on his heels. He had a similar expression on his face.
“That was fun.” Gregory’s eyes sparkled with mischief and Coryn shook his head in resignation.
“You two look like a pair of misbehaving schoolboys,” said Coryn.
Dominic wouldn’t have dared say such a thing. He hid his smile.
“You know you aren’t here to enjoy yourselves, don’t you?” Coryn scolded. “We are supposed to be working out how we can help Evrain.”
“I know, I know,” Gregory admitted. “But every now and again it feels good to flex the magical muscles.”
“It sure does,” Nathaniel agreed.
Dominic switched his gaze from one warlock to the other. “Thank you all for coming… I think. The more I see of warlocks in action, the more I realize just how out of my depth I am in this world of yours.”
Gregory smiled, more gently this time. “Sorry, lad, I got a bit carried away. Nathaniel and I don’t get the chance to work together very often. I haven’t forgotten why we’re here, I promise.”
Shadow wandered across the room, sat at Gregory’s feet then yowled at him. “It seems someone else is keen to remind me of my duty.” Gregory leaned down then scooped up the cat. “Wow, you’re…well fed.” Shadow tapped him with a paw, claws sheathed, then settled into his arms, purring with more decibels than could possibly be natural.
“She likes you,” Dominic said, somewhat surprised. “She’s been acting like my prison guard all day. Wouldn’t let me out the door.”
