Abigail turned toward the sound and watched as a red mist moved between the trees toward the reception.
“Red wind,” she whispered.
His gaze shot to her once more. “You can see that?”
She nodded.
He turned back as well. “The Invictus are here. Dear Goddess help us this night.”
*** *** ***
“I will path you,” Gerrod said. “It’s the fastest way. Do you trust me?”
She blinked as though surprised. “Yes, of course.”
He didn’t exactly have time to explain. He slid his arm around her waist, dragged her against his side, lifted her off her feet, and sped back to the reception.
Her hand clutched his soft shirt, but other than a small, ‘oh,’ she didn’t offer a single protest.
Five seconds later, he took her to Augustus. “The Invictus are coming. See to everyone.”
“Yes, Mastyr.”
He turned to Abigail. “Go with Gus.”
She nodded in several quick bobs of her head.
He looked around, still holding her hand. There were at least three hundred realm-folk at the festivities, including the caterers and musicians.
He telepathed Jason. How far away are you?
Seven minutes.
Hurry. We’ve got Invictus sign.
He looked down at Abigail’s hand not understanding why he was so damn reluctant to let it go. He met her gaze and saw in her eyes so much compassion that he had to look away.
Finally, he released her hand. “Go to the castle with Gus. Go quickly.”
Again, she did nothing more than nod in agreement as though she understood. Well, she had been in and out of Merhaine for a year now and she had numerous realm friends. She would have heard many times about the Invictus. She would understand the trouble they faced.
“Go,” she said softly. “Do what you do best.”
He searched her gaze. Satisfied that she truly was all right, he turned on his heel and headed straight for the groom. He spoke swiftly to him. Gillet handed him the microphone.
He faced the people he knew so well. The red wind drew closer, flowing through the trees, brightening. He was always surprised that so few could see it.
“The Invictus are upon us. Please move into the castle with all due haste. Stay away from the forest. No one will be safe there. I will create a shield.”
He heard Gus calling out in a powerful voice, bidding the guests follow him. The wedding party began to move, a little slow at first, as though stunned. But soon, those closest to the castle were running.
Once the crowd was past him, he began spreading his power off to each side, high in the air, wider and wider, a barrier of protection. The Invictus would not be able to pass, but would be forced to do battle with him. As he had done for the past century and a half, since he had reached mastyr vampire status, he gathered his battling power.
And there they were, at least twenty powerful Invictus wraith pairs. Their mates came to do battle as well, some vampires, a couple of trolls, several fae, and one elf. But all were soldiers now. Most of the realm-folk that had made the decision to bond with a wraith, sported spiked hair and gold loops hanging from their ears. All were air-borne in a strong form of levitation. Apparently, pairing with a wraith to form Invictus sharpened all powers. Blades of varying kinds were the weapon of choice.
As though the numerous pairs acted as one, the blades began to spin and then fly toward him. The massive shield held, deflecting the blades, which made it possible for him to bring his battling power down his arms, readying at the tips of his fingers, the frequency vibrating strongly. Once he was warmed up, the same power would also fly in scattered blasts from his chest, shoulders and arms.
The real battle commenced as he released his frequency power in bursts of focused killing energy. He moved his arms and hands swiftly, aiming for the wraiths who had the greater battling skill. The wraiths, however, had their own frequency energy and began to answer his powerful strikes, so that soon he saw dozens of red streams of light flying toward him again and again.
Though his shield held and kept him safe, each hit weakened him in the depths of his battle energy. He wouldn’t be able to do this forever.
He hoped to hell that Jason arrived soon.
Chapter Two
Abigail trotted at the edge of the crowd, but saw something streak off to her left.
She glanced into the forest and saw a young troll child smile and dash behind a tree. The boy was playing.
She didn’t take even a second to assess the situation, but did the only thing she knew to do. She ran straight for him and tried to take his hand, but he drew back. “You’re human. I’m not supposed to speak to humans.”
He ran farther away, deeper into the forest, in the direction of the Invictus. She called to him, but he didn’t stop, not until she called out, “The Invictus are here, little one. Please come to me.”
At that the boy stopped and turned toward her, his eyes wide. “Invictus?”
She nodded. “Mastyr Gerrod wants everyone in the castle. Now. Come to the castle.”
He ran toward her, but again, she saw another streak of movement. This time, however, it was the red wind. “Oh, no.”
The boy ran into her arms and started to cry. He looked up and screamed. A wraith was close, maybe twenty feet away. She could feel Gerrod’s power, she could even see it a few feet away. It was a huge wall of shimmering blue energy. But the wraith had been exploring the same phenomenon and had found the outer reaches, right where she stood.
Gerrod, she pathed. I am west of you and I have a troll child with me. Can you shift your power another ten feet and cover us?
She pulled the boy against a tree and held him tight. She looked up once more.
The wraith was a fierce-looking creature, almost opaque, with small eyes, yellow fangs and dark lips. This one, a female, was covered in red gauze-like strips of fabric, sewn loosely together, but floating easily around her long thin legs. She was barefoot and in flight, which was a wraith’s preference most of the time.
She smiled, showing red gums.
Gerrod?
I’m trying Abigail, but I’m battling three Invictus. Can you reach a position where I can see you? Then I’ll know better what to do.
The wraith taunted her, shifting back and forth through the air. “A human caught in the forest. What am I to do?” She laughed, almost a cackle.
Abigail lifted her chin and stood up. She knew this could be the end of her life, but she had to do something. Still holding the boy against her legs, she moved a foot forward then another. “What do you want with a human, wraith? I am nothing to you.”