I didn’t look back to see what had happened but instead completed the magic on the water elemental. He exploded in a downpour that soaked me-great, twice in one day-and I immediately turned to see what else had happened. The other gentry was distracted, squaring off with someone else: Roland.
Roland’s own athame was out in his left hand, and he was simply relying on the strength of his other fist-which was considerable-to sock the gentry in the face. The gentry was strong, though, and got a few good blows in on Roland. Seeing my stepfather take those punches kindled an anger in me. Rather than begin a banishing, I called to the air again, sucking it from around the gentry just as I had Ysabel. Eyes widening, he dropped the blade, his hands going to his throat in an instinctive gesture to draw breath. There was none to be had, though. I leapt on him, knocking him to the ground and delivering a solid punch to the face in exchange for what he’d done to Roland.
Around us, I felt the tingling of a banishing. Roland was opening up a hole to the Otherworld. He chanted the words and then snapped, “Eugenie, get away!”
I did, jerking backward lest I get sucked in with the choking gentry. Power crackled around him, and a moment later, he disappeared, shoved back to his own world.
Silence fell. I was sitting on the now-muddy ground, soaking wet with my heart pounding. Roland walked over and extended his hand to help me up. “What are you doing here?” I asked.
He snorted. “You can’t end a call like that and not expect me to show up.”
“True,” I said. I was weak and woozy from the combat and the magic, and my bare legs were skinned up from the fight. I’d need some soap and antiseptic. “Thanks.”
Roland shrugged, not needing my thanks. Even in the dimness, I could see the angry look in his eyes. “What the hell did you think you were doing?”
Seeing as I’d just done several things, I wasn’t entirely sure which he was referring to. “What do you mean?”
“That.” He pointed to the spot where we’d banished the gentry. “You were…you were using magic to choke him!”
“I was keeping him subdued while you banished him,” I growled, unwilling to admit I was kind of freaked out myself. It had all happened so fast. My only impulse had been to incapacitate the gentry. The means had just sort of happened. Realizing what I’d done-again-gave me a sick feeling. I’d sworn I’d never do it.
“Pinning him with the athame would have worked! Where the hell did you learn to do that?”
“I’ve picked up a few things here and there.”
Roland’s face was a mask of fury. “You have no business using that kind of magic, Eugenie. None.”
My own anger was growing. “In case you’ve forgotten, that magic is in my blood.”
“No,” he said softly. “I haven’t forgotten. Which is why it’s so important you don’t use it. What else can you do? How long have been using this kind of power?”
“It’s not important. I can do a few things-things that have kept me alive when assholes like this come try to rape me-and it’s not a problem. I can control it.”
“You need to stop this. You need to stay away from the gentry. You’re getting too involved with their world, with their magic….”
“It’s part of who I am. You can’t change that. And if you didn’t want me taking drastic steps, then why’d you break the wards?”
Roland frowned. “I didn’t. I thought that gentry had.”
“No, he crossed them, but his buddies were locked out-for a while, at least. Then I heard someone undoing them. It was our kind of magic. I thought it was you.”
“Why on earth would I do that?”
“Then some other shaman did.” The accusing tone in my voice provided no need for elaboration.
“Stop this. Art and Abigail aren’t out doing what you think. They certainly wouldn’t break the wards so gentry could attack you. You think they’re out in your neighborhood right now? One of the gentry must have done it. You were probably distracted.”
“Have you lost all faith in me? All you keep saying tonight is that I’m wrong, that I’m mistaken. Roland, I know what shamanic magic feels like. Just like I know what gentry magic feels like, especially considering-as you keep pointing out-I use it all the time.”
I’m not sure which part of my tirade did it, but I could tell he was done with the conversation. There was something weary in his face that made him look older than he was. “I’m not going to stand out here in the dark and argue with you, Eugenie. All I can ask is that if you can’t control yourself for my sake, then think of your mother. Otherwise, do what you want.”
“Roland…”
But he was already walking away into the night, and as I watched the man I’d always regarded as my father leave, I uneasily wondered whose daughter I truly was.
Chapter Twenty
Tim surfaced the next morning after some liaison or another, and I decided not to mention that our wards had been broken. He handled my array of paranormal activities fairly good-naturedly, but that was largely because they usually didn’t follow me home. So, I called the witch who’d originally laid the wards and asked her to come back and discreetly redo them, scheduling a time when I knew Tim would be out.
After that it was off to the first shamanic job I’d had in a while, fighting a nixie who’d taken up residence in some poor family’s swimming pool. The ease with which I dispatched her was a bit alarming. Earlier in the year, Dorian and I had fought off a group of them that Jasmine had sent. Dorian had done the fighting, and at the time, they’d seemed overwhelming. Now, with my magic becoming more and more instinctual, fighting a water creature like this was ridiculously simple. Admittedly, I still banished her the old-fashioned way, not wanting to rely on magic more than I had to. I didn’t agree with Roland about its use-though my fight with him still stung-but it was exhilarating recalling how easily I’d fought the water elemental. If I could only summon water creatures like Jasmine could, my life would be easier still.
And speaking of Jasmine, I summoned Volusian away from her later that evening. I was going to the Thorn Land shortly and felt confident that she wouldn’t get knocked up before then. Well, I hoped so, at least.
Volusian appeared in the darkest corner of my bedroom, scaring off one of the cats that had been sleeping on my bed. “My mistress calls,” he said in his monotone.
“I have a job for you.”
“Of course.”
“I need you to go to Yellow River and check out the house of a shaman there. Do not let him see you-or sense you, if you can help it.” My vibe from Art was that while he could fight Otherworldly creatures, he didn’t possess the same sensitivity I did.
“And what would my mistress like me to do once I am there?”
“Look around. Tell me if there’s anything suspicious going on-particularly in regard to any gentry girls. Make sense?”
Volusian’s look was scathing. “Certainly it makes sense. Do not confuse me with the other underlings who serve you.”
Once he had the address, he disappeared in that way of his, and I sighed. It might be worth enslaving another minion destined for the Underworld. It was easy enough for me, particularly if I got one who wasn’t too strong. I didn’t have a huge amount of respect for Volusian, but he’d been right about one thing. He was so powerful that his skills were better suited to protection and battle. A lesser spirit would suffice for all these errands I seemed to be sending him on lately.
That was a thought for another day. For now, it was back to the Thorn Land. I planned on spending the night there since I wanted to get an early start on our demon hunting. Kiyo had said he’d come at sunrise, and I didn’t want to miss a moment of being with him.
When I arrived at my castle, I was a bit surprised to see a party going on. Well, not a true party, but Shaya, Rurik, and a few of the other head servants were hanging out in one of the parlors, drinking wine and laughing. Girard was still around and had joined them. Even Ysabel was there, looking happy for a change. None of them seemed to have expected me that night and most leapt up like naughty children. Shaya started to stammer something like an apology, but I silenced her with a gesture.