Chapter 66

Her mom’s ethereal hands clasped Lynda’s throat harder. Lynda thrashed, jerking and clawing to gain a sliver of air into her lungs. Darkness beat at the edge of her vision. All her life, she'd worried that her mom, drunk or high or both, would kill her. Now her worst terror was here.

Her lungs convulsed. Her vision faded. But at least Lynda would die knowing the truth about her mother so this bitch choking her couldn’t be her mom. That she hadn't done all the things in the past because she hated Lynda or life. But she was running from her power and from Boris and others who wanted to use her gifts. Her mother never found anyone to help her like Lynda had. Saddest of all, her mother had never found love. Not like she had with Mihnea, Andrei, or Pierre. Yet despite all her mother had done, Lynda still loved her.

It's okay, Mom, I forgive you.

The shade’s hands ripped from Lynda's throat. She gasped in sharp, cold air that stung her lungs. Choking, her sight returned but the image was murky like she was looking at something underwater. Her mother's spirit drifted close and Lynda scrambled up.

Her mom's dark eyes saddened with unshed tears. Put up the guardian, daughter. Seal the circle.

I can't. She covered her throat gently to try and ease the pain. Even swallowing hurt.

Behind her, more inky shapes drew closer. In another few seconds, they’d be inside. Instead of staying with Lynda, her mom turned away. I'll give you as much time as I can. Seal the circle.

Mom!

But her mom's dark form transformed into a white blinking light. She crashed into the other spirits. Their screams pounded in Lynda's ears.

I love you, Mom.

She inhaled past her throbbing throat. “Protector of the south, come and guard the circle.”

A blast of fire shot out at the shades.

Her mom's form twisted and shrieked.

“No!” She ran forward when a body grabbed her from behind. “Mom!”

She kicked against the force that trapped her in the circle.

“I may not be a witch,” Andrei’s voice filled her ears, “but I know enough not to cross a magical barrier.”

“Andrei!” She turned in his arms and clung to him, letting her tears flow.

He stroked her back and just held her. Once her body stopped shaking, she eased back to look at him. Was this a trick? He had the same brown hair, lighter and with a curl unlike his brothers’. Soft milk chocolate eyes and magnetic smile.

“H-how are you here?” The words scraped her raw throat.

“I'm not sure.” He shrugged. “I felt that you were here, whatever this place is.”

“But if you are truly here, then what does that mean?” A thought popped into her mind about what Ekaterina had said this place was. The waiting room for the dead so to speak. Souls, if not necromancers, that have one foot in the land of the living and one in the land of the dead came into this place. “Andrei, you shouldn't be here. It's too dangerous. Can you go back and help Pierre?”

He cupped her cheek, and she leaned into his touch. God, she missed him so desperately. All of them.

“Where’s Mihnea? Is he here too?” She glanced around.

“Sorry, I’ve not seen him or Pierre.” The muscle in his jaw twitched. “Are they in danger?”

Dread coiled in her gut. “Long story, but he's a Nosferatu now, and blood-lust drives him.”

He stiffened. “Is there a cure?”

“We’re hoping but we first need to break the curse on you.”

“Every time I try to return to my body and the living, I end up back here.”

“He’s right.” Ekaterina ran a hand through her hair. “You have to break the curse on him so his soul may return to his body.”

“Ekaterina?” Andrei pushed Lynda behind him. “Stand back witch or I will rip your limbs off.”

“No,” Lynda grasped his shoulder. “She's been helping me. And your father helped her way back when...Boris killed her, not Dracula.”

“What?” His brow furrowed like he didn't believe her.

“Trust me, it's true. And Boris isn't the good guy like we thought.”

“I found that out the hard way.” He cringed. “He and his posse of vamps and a few witches jumped me when I went to check an alarm that went off in your building.”

To keep up his façade, he’d silenced Andrei. And now her lover was in danger along with Mihnea if they couldn’t stop his blood-lust. Lynda squared her shoulders and faced her ancestor. “Okay, what do we need to do?”

“Lynda, what bargain did you make with this witch?” Andrei’s voice was a harsh whisper. “I don’t trust her.”

“We need Dracula to return with us and help fight Boris.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” He clasped his hand around her waist.

She sighed. “No, but it’s the best chance we have. He was one of the originals who had no limitations to the vampirism at first. Ekaterina will be able to loan him that status temporarily.” Lynda shifted her feet. “Boris will have both magic and no weaknesses. Our only hope is to work together with your father and finish this.” And pray that afterward, Dracula didn’t murder her.

In answer, Andrei kissed the top of her head. “Fine. I will dance with the devil himself to keep you safe.”

“It will take more than that,” Ekaterina said.

“Why?” A bad feeling like she’d be sick soon flooded Lynda. How much worse could things get?

“I can only keep the gateway to the living open for thirteen minutes. Any longer than that and we risk the underworld getting sucked up into the land of the living. If you don’t return and heal Andrei and Mihnea from the curse, both of their spirits will fade with the rising sun.”

“No!” Lynda’s gut clenched and she pressed a hand to her chest where a pain struck her with the thought of losing two of her men in this battle. There had to be another way. “We need more time. What if I can’t get my magic to work that fast?” What if her idea of giving Andrei her blood didn’t break the curse or what if more was needed that she didn’t know or understand?

“We’ve no more time.” Ekaterina strode to the center of the circle. Her long flowing dress was eerily still. She took out a silver dagger from her waistband and held it up over her head with the tip pointing to the gray, cloudless sky. “Guardian of spirit I call you to our circle. Bring to us the vampire, Vlad the Impaler…Dracula.” She lowered the knife and dragged the blood across her palm, then let the droplets hit the black earth.

“Your turn.” Ekaterina held the dagger out to her.

On numb legs, Lynda crept forward. Her gut twisted at what Dracula would do. Would he be happy to get rid of Boris? Or furious with her after everything that had happened? The blade was freezing-cold in her hand, but she gripped the hilt and cut a line across her palm, adding the drops of blood to her ancestor’s. “Protectors of spirit, hail and welcome. Bring Dracula to us now.”

A whoosh echoed around them, throwing them backward. Andrei dashed forward. His arms and body shielded Lynda from the impact.

“What the hell was that?” Lynda asked accepting Andrei’s help to stand.

There, in the center of the magic circle, stood Dracula in medieval clothing of a long black tunic complete with a long sword black trousers, and a red vest embroidered with gold dragons. When his gaze found Lynda, his eyes narrowed. A smug smile that promised death curled his lips.

Lynda backed up, bumping into Andrei.

“You dare to summon me, witch, like I’m some demon dog for you to command?” he snarled, unsheathing his weapon. “Time to see how much you can bleed.”