GAISCE (At Our Best, Book 3, Part 2 in Baile Series)

Chapter 9 Hell Risen

Callum

I had just thrown on a dry set of clothes when I sensed an ancient presence behind me. I dared not turn around, silently waiting for the monster to speak or act first.

"Look at me." Her voice was that of a young girl, considerably different to when I had last heard her haunting voice.

I slowly turned around, my eyes widening at the new body the creature had taken as host.

"What have you done?" My voice came out meek as I studied Charlotte Thomas' resurrected body, her soul corrupted by an unholy beast.

"Is this how you greet your maker?" She braced a hand on her hip, her eyes black pools of death. "I gave you your gift of life and death." She stalked forward and I stepped back. "You are my son."

"I am not your son." Even though my words were quiet, they were very audible in the silent room.

The temperature dropped and I felt her magic tapping into my dark powers beneath my skin as she crept ever closer to me.

"I made you who you are." She spoke slowly. "I was there for you when nobody wanted you, when you had no one. I gave you a chance to live and look at how you are wasting my gift." She made a sweeping gesture with her arm. "Prancing around in silk bathrobes with vermin." She reached out to touch the material of my kimono. "With your power you could burn this temple to the ground." Her voice darkened and for a moment I felt the floor shake beneath my feet.

"What are you doing here?" I changed the subject, uncomfortable with her proximity.

She tilted her head unnaturally, studying me with her dead eyes. "Have you forgotten who I am, my son?"

I swallowed deeply.

"I am Empusa, daughter Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft and necromancy. I am born to create chaos and wreck destruction and misery upon the mortal world." My bones shook with each word she spoke. "As it is your duty to follow my path."

"Why are you here? Why now?" I knew I was pushing it by continuing to ask questions.

She leaned in close to me, the stench of sulfur and brimstone invading my nostrils. "I pick a new host every hundred years or so. So imagine my surprise when a young Banshee practically offers me a body. Resurrections don't happen everyday, especially in this era." She suddenly gripped my chin in her hand, her nails puncturing my skin. I breathed erratically, terrified of her immense power and how it was affecting my own. "And don't get me started on the Shapeshifter."

My interest piqued. "Why are you interested in Isla?"

"She is the gateway." She spoke fast. "The gateway to the most powerful minds in this world and those connected to it."

"Isla is strong."

"Isla is weak." Empusa shut me down, her mouth close to my face. "In body and most certainly mind. She is still yet to acclaim all her full power and now that she has let me in her soul will be mine."

Urgency filled me and I knew I had to warn Isla before she was lost to Empusa forever.

"Isla! Is-!" My cries were cut short as Empusa wrapped her hand around my throat.

"You cannot save her." Empusa's power travelled through her hands and into my neck, the hound within me thrashing inside my human body.

"My. Friend." I choked out, trying helplessly to break free from her hold.

"You have no friends, you only have me." She squeezed tighter and my bones realigned against my will, fire bursting from the pores of my skin.

Isla