The Trouble With Slaying

The Trouble with Witches

We met up with Aria and Lissi just after sunset and worked out a plan of attack as Aria drove us to where Lissi led. Sawamura wiggled a little between me and Liam in the back seat as he added to the conversation.

"How high a level of magic are we talking here? If the Fae think this is a suicide mission and the Were's and Vamps won't touch her, then what sort of spells has she been tossing around to scare everybody shitless?"

Lissi answered from her perch on Aria's shoulder. "I was never there myself, and of course, none of the warriors made it back so we have no first hand accounts. The rumors range from her summoning demon lords to being a demon herself."

Liam snorted. "So how are we gonna play this Shaw? Going off alone sounds like a bad idea so stick close to a buddy, right? But a full frontal assault just sounds like a good way to get a fireball in our faces."

Shaw nodded. "I figured we would pair up. One full frontal team, one stealth, and one support."

Aria and Liam chimed at the same time. "Full frontal."

Sawamura chuckled when they glared at each other in the rear view mirror. "Lissi? Wanna do some stealth with me?" The Fairy blinked in surprise, then nodded.

Shaw twisted in his seat to look back at me. "Guess that makes us the support team."

I nodded. "What will we be doing?"

Liam looked around Sawamura at me. "Keep your heads down and drag our asses out of the fire if we go down. Preferably before the death blow. Not much else you can do with a broken arm and fractured ribs."

I glanced down at my bound up arm ruefully. Shaw huffed and smacked his own chest. "I'm healthy as a horse."

Liam snickered when everyone in the car gave the old man a worried look. Shaw grunted in irritation and sat back in his seat. Aria quirked a smile and took the next turn Lissi pointed out.

When we finally arrived, I studied the little run down house on stilts on the edge of swamp land in surprise. It was just so cliche. I hurried after everyone as Liam and Aria didn't bother to make a ready check and went shoving through the door. Sawamura and Lissi went next, disappearing into the darkened house. I followed on Shaw's heels.

I jumped when the door slammed behind me and cast us into utter darkness. Then I was blinking as torch light burst into being, illuminating a cavernous room that belonged in a castle out of myths and legends, not a little swamp hut in Florida.

Liam and Aria had paused in front of us, staring down the massive throne on the other end of the room. And I only knew it was huge because I could still see it at the other end of the mile long room. Shaw had stopped beside me, taking in the opulent and blatant show of sorcery with disdain. Lissi and Sawamura were nowhere to be seen.

Liam glanced at Aria. She nodded in return. They started walking, taking long strides to eat up the distance between us and the throne. Shaw and I followed. We were about half way there when a feminine figure stepped out from behind the throne. She was in a flowing red gown that hugged her curves and sparkled like rubies. Her jet black hair tumbled down her back in waves and curls.

"Who dares to intrude upon my abode?"

Her voice echoed in the room, reverberating. Liam roared back. "You've been causing trouble. The Fae want you dead. Care to explain yourself?"

The woman laughed. "What right do you have to question my actions? I do what I wish. And no insect, or even a swarm of them, is going to change that." She smiled as she stepped around the throne to stand in front of it and eye the four of us. "I won't be stopped by a pair of humans, a dog, and a bit of wind either. Not even if they bring in another insect and a half breed leech."