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“I’ll come back. We haven’t had our adventures yet.” Ash smiled and winked.
That made Dani laugh. “I’m not sure I can handle any more adventure.”
“Yeah, right, Indiana Jane.” Ash turned to her parents, who looked worried. Her expression told them she would take out whoever had dared to attack her people. “I love you both so much,” she said, hugging each in turn. “You know I have to do this, right?”
Melinda nodded and smiled through her tears. “I do, sweetheart. I just can’t help but worry. It’s a mom thing. I want to pack a bag and fly out with Dani.”
“Turning into a vampire couldn’t keep me away from my family, and I sure as hell am not letting those piece-of-shit Therians stop me. I will be back,” she assured her parents.
“My little warrior,” Brian squeezed his daughter. “I couldn’t be prouder of the woman you’ve become, even if you are a bit bloodthirsty.”
“I’ll come back. I promise.” Ash turned to Uuka and the rest of the panthers. They had become good friends, and they were all worried about her.
“Travel safely, Ashlynn,” Uuka told her. “We will keep your family safe. You protect our king.”
The rest of the warriors wished her luck and hugged her.
Eiko came back into the room. “It’s time.”
Conjuring portals was still new to Ash, but she was confident in Eiko’s skills. If the witch said Ash could accomplish it, she believed her. Eiko began chanting, and Ash joined her as she finished the spell and then repeated it. A ball of light formed between them, growing and stretching until it was big enough to step through. They stopped chanting, the purple light from the swirling portal illuminating their faces.
Ash looked at the others one last time before she stepped through.
Even sharing the burden, the wave of physical and mental exhaustion that hit them was staggering. Eiko fainted, and Ash struggled to remain conscious. Ash didn’t recognize anything in the immediate area, but she caught a glimpse of towers nestled among the mountain peaks high above.
After resting for a few minutes, Ash regained some of her strength. Eiko devoured a protein bar after she came to. Worried, Ash asked, “How are we going to get into the palace? I can’t just walk through the front door. If the battle hasn’t started yet, they will attack me on sight.”
Eiko smiled. “Silly child. We make portals, and the palace’s magical defenses are still down. There are no witches there to prevent us, and even if there were, I’m more powerful than most. My lineage goes back five thousand years, and we get stronger with each generation. There isn’t much they can do to stop me—well, provided I know the spell being used. I cast the portals in this palace, so I can tie into that magic without using my reserves.”
Ash slapped her forehead. “Duh. Sorry, I am a little on edge. If witches get stronger with every generation, will I be super strong, too?”
The older witch chuckled. “Not to worry, dear. Relax, I’ve got this portal. I have gotten my second wind. You need to save your energy. As for your strength, we don’t yet know how far back the witches in your family tree go, but we’ll look into it.”
Eiko easily opened the portal since the palace was so close. When Ash stepped through, she smelled Luca and looked around anxiously, hoping to see him. He wasn’t there, but they were inside the new palace.
“Between us, our senses should guide us around most of the enemies inside without being seen,” Eiko suggested. “I’m not as weak as I thought I would be.”
They made it through four halls without running into anyone, then sensed Viktorija coming around a corner and froze.
“Ash?” She looked stunned. “What the fuck are you doing here? They’ll think you’re attacking if you’re found!”
Ash brushed her concern aside. “This is more important. I had another vision, and it couldn’t wait. The palace is going to be overwhelmed.”
“What!” she exclaimed, shock raising the volume of her voice. “When? By whom?”
Eiko pulled them into an empty room, and Ash explained what she’d seen.
Viktorija paled when she heard about the rest of her family dying. “There’s no way around it. Luca needs to hear this now. That damned bloodsucking bitch must have formed an alliance with our scumbag slaver. Because the gifts just keep on fucking coming, she can make daywalkers now, so we can’t even count on the sun.”
Ash nodded. “We know she’s had scientists experimenting on vampire and Therian blood for years. It’s possible that was how she did it. I can’t imagine her having a witch as powerful as Eiko to work the magic for her.
Eiko cleared her throat. “No other witch can create a vampire since my ancestor created the spell, and she bound it with her blood. The only witch capable of turning a vampire into a daywalker is me, and only by using my blood. If she is walking in the sun, something else has happened.”
“Well, that’s damned comforting.” Viktorija snorted.
“Can you take me to Luca?” Ash asked the dragon warrior.
“Yes. You’ll be safer with my escort anyway. Let’s go.” She turned to Eiko. “Are you coming with us?”
