Chapter 13

Chapter13

Should have let me eat the witch.

For once, Garou had a point.

“I snapped her neck. How can she be alive?” Baptiste asked as he kicked at the bones on the ground.

“She’s been dabbling in some dark magic.” Daphne’s lips twisted. “Really dark stuff, to the point the Mother can’t penetrate it and Marissa stated she couldn’t access her full power.”

Bad place, Garou agreed.

“This place is all kinds of unhealthy. I recommend we get out of here ASAP before we start looking like those trees.”

“Any time you’re ready,” she replied dryly.

“Stand back from the bars while I weaken them with this acid.” He tried not to wonder why the witch had such potent stuff on hand as he knelt and poured the liquid in the jug around the welded joints. The fumes had Daphne covering her nose. He tried to be more masculine about it and let those nasal hairs burn.

As he began kicking the bars with his heavy boots, Marissa came around the cottage empty-handed. Not that it mattered. The bars snapped from the base and with a twisted yank, he managed to create a space large enough for the dryad to exit.

“Yay! You’re free.” Marissa clapped her hands.

“Now’s not the time to celebrate,” Daphne grumbled.

“What’s wrong?” asked the pink-haired witch.

“Circe’s still alive despite her snapped neck.” Baptiste filled her in.

Marissa’s mouth rounded. “How is that possible?”

“Because she’s found a way to heal major injuries. Should have taken her head,” Daphne huffed.

Decapitation tended to make death permanent.

“Sh-ee-it,” Marissa drawled. “You think she’s still close by?” She eyed the rotted trees around the cottage suspiciously.

“Most likely since this is a power hub for her. Which is why we need to take care of it,” Daphne said grimly.

“How?” Baptiste queried.

“She’s poisoned the land with her blood magic and sacrifices, but there’s one thing that cleanses.” Daphne moved to the cauldron and kicked it over, spilling its noxious contents on the ground. She then crouched by the fire pit with its glowing embers. She glanced at him over her shoulder. “We need to start a fire. A big one.”

He whistled. “If we get one going, this whole forest will burn down and possibly part of the town.”

“If we’re going to weaken Circe and cut her off from her power, we have no choice. She’s drawing strength from what she’s done here. It has to be released.”

Marissa bobbed her head. “She’s right. I can feel the wrongness. It’s sunk into everything around: trees, ground. It’s even permeating the air.”

“She had some bottles of cooking oil inside. We can soak some sheets with it and use them as wicks,” Baptiste suggested.

In short order, they’d gathered as many flammable items as they could find, including bottles of alcohol. They created a trail that started from the motorcycle and branched out into the forest and the cottage.

Baptiste eyed their work with satisfaction. “This should get a decent blaze going.”

“Your optimism is commendable considering the moist decay will resist our attempt to cleanse,” Daphne muttered.

“Here’s to hoping I make it to my bike before the flames,” Marissa chirped. “At least this time I can use the driveway and not cut through the woods.”

“You and Daphne should take the bike. I’m better equipped to run,” he offered. “Just take my clothes with you so I don’t end up riding naked once I get to the road.”

“Now that would a sight to see.” Marissa laughed.

“The fire won’t move that quickly,” Daphne huffed. “No one has to get naked.”

She’s jealous again! Garou exclaimed.

Marissa waggled her fingers. “Actually, while the offer is nice, I planned to stay behind so I can make sure the flames take proper hold.”

“What if Circe is nearby?” Baptiste countered. “Or the fire spreads faster than expected?”

“I don’t think she’s around. As for the other, I can shield myself from the worst of it and I am pretty fast on my feet. I used to run track.”

Daphne nodded. “She’s correct. Circe is no longer here. The ominous weight of this place lessened once she disappeared.”

“Shoo!” Marissa waved them off. “Let’s get this shithole burning before that changes. I’ll meet you on the road.”

“Ready?” he queried, seeing that Daphne appeared lost in thought.

She shook herself. “Yes.”

Baptiste led the way to the motorcycle and straddled it, knowing his bulk left but a tiny sliver of seat at his back. Daphne pursed her lips at the sight.

“Get on.” He grabbed the handles and the motor growled.

“There isn’t much room,” she noted.

“Not much I can do about that, Psycho, other than tell you to cuddle up close and hold on tight,” he advised.

“I do not cuddle,” she grumbled as she swung her leg over the bike. Her arms went around his wide middle, too wide for her hands to touch. It plastered her against his back. He enjoyed the closeness a little too much.

She fits just right.

Indeed, she did.

He put a hand over hers. “It’s going to be noisy and windy. Whatever you do, don’t let go.”

“I’m not an idiot.”

“I’m aware you’re not. But this is going to be a new experience for you. Just giving you some warning.”

Expecting a sassy retort, her “Thank you,” took him by surprise.

We will protect her with our life, Garou promised.

Indeed. “I won’t let anything happen to you.” An admission he’d not meant to speak aloud and to hide his embarrassment, he twisted the throttle. The motorcycle barely lurched and yet she squeezed tight, making him chuckle.

“Now that’s what I call a hug.”

“Shut up and drive.” Daphne rested her cheek against him, and he appreciated the trust as he had a feeling it wasn’t something she offered often. The ride up the driveway to the road ended all too soon, with him rolling to a stop beside Marissa’s vacant motorcycle.

When Daphne would have disembarked, he put a hand over hers, keeping her in place with her arms around him. “Stay on the bike in case we need to make a fast getaway.” Not the entire reason. He just liked having her close.

Together on the bike, they watched the forest hiding Circe’s cottage. At first, there was nothing to be seen. Then a curl of smoke appeared, quickly thickening above the canopy. The trees began to shiver.

“I wonder what’s making the trees move like that? Is it magic?” he mulled aloud.

“It’s because they’re reacting to the fire,” she murmured softly. “They are crying out.”

“Fuck me. I didn’t even think…” he stammered. “The fire… The trees… Are you okay with this?” How traumatizing this must be for her, given her dryad nature.

“I’ll be fine. It’s just difficult to hear. Despite these not being the sentient variety they are aware. For too long they’ve been suffering because of Circe’s actions. Now they are thankful that they are finally being given relief.”

“If you say so.” He wasn’t convinced.

“While some see fire as the ultimate destruction—and in some ways it is—it also paves the way for renewal and rebirth. The trees that die today will provide the nutrient-dense ash from which their seedlings will rise, reclaiming this land.”

The explanation eased his mind somewhat until he noticed another oddity: The lack of fleeing forest animals. Not a single squirrel emerged. No mice scurried. Even the sky remained empty of birds. It made him wonder how long it took Circe to destroy this area.

Centuries. And me too busy to notice, the Mother replied in his mind, startling him and Garou, who snapped, Keep your paws off my avatar.

“Um, your goddess just spoke to me.”

“I heard,” Daphne stated, irritation in her voice. “The Mother has much to answer for, starting with her not telling me Circe lived.”

Because I feared you’d be foolish in your pursuit if you knew the witch had found a way to extend her natural lifespan.

Again, the voice spoke, making Garou howl loud enough in his head that Baptiste almost missed Daphne’s reply.

“Instead of being forewarned, I fell into a trap. A trap you had me walk straight into,” Daphne accused. “You told me not to fight, to go along with my kidnapping.”

Some things must happen a certain way for other things to follow. The non-answer from the Mother had Daphne growling.

Baptiste understood her irritation and offered a commiserating, “Gods are annoying.”

“Agreed.”

Hey! Garou took offense.

A crackling noise drew their attention to a section of forest where the glow of flames made an appearance.

“Come on, Marissa, where are you?” he muttered. He might have just met her, but the witch seemed like the good sort who didn’t deserve to be toasted alive.

“You’re awfully concerned about her,” Daphne remarked sourly.

“She’s been a good ally who doesn’t deserve harm for helping me find you.”

“Only an ally?”

He patted her hand. “No need to be jealous.” He tested Garou’s theory.

“I am not jealous!” she huffed. “If you’re so worried about her, why don’t you go rescue her?”

“I am not leaving you alone.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“You can. But that doesn’t mean you should have to.”

Just then, movement on the driveway turned into a running Marissa, her long hair streaming behind as she sprinted.

“That shit is burning better than expected,” the witch exclaimed as she neared.

“The trees might be moist with rot on the outside, but within they were dried husks, and they wanted to burn,” Daphne solemnly stated.

Marissa stopped by her bike to look back at the inferno billowing smoke. “It’s burning all right. We should get out of here. I am getting this weird pressure-like feeling, as if something is about to blow.”

As if her words brought it to reality, an explosion caused the ground to rumble. A moment later, a shockwave rolled through them, knocking Marissa to her ass. Her bike hit the ground. Baptiste only barely kept his upright in the concussion, his hand once more over Daphne’s, holding her against him.

By the time the wave of force subsided, a good portion of the forest had toppled, and the fire burned harder than before.

A groaning Marissa picked herself up off the ground and brushed herself off. “I think whatever reservoir of power Circe built just released.”

The souls are now at peace, the Mother declared.

Marissa blinked. “Um, did anyone else hear that?”

Her expression led to Daphne snickering. “The Mother blesses you with her wisdom.”

“Don’t let Hekate hear that. She wouldn’t be happy if she thought your goddess was trying to poach.” Marissa grinned. “As if I’d ever change sides.”

Marissa used magic to stand her bike back up, and after she straddled it Baptiste asked, “Where to?”

“I’m going to head home right after I gas this baby and make a few calls to report the malfeasance in my office,” Marissa declared. “Once the coast is clear, I’ll give you a shout so you can come grab your truck. In the meantime, I’d recommend you hole up in a motel out of sight.”

“I need to find Circe,” a stubborn dryad stated.

“Obviously we need to find her. But given we just destroyed her base of power, I think we can hold off a day or two while I get shit cleared up and call in some reinforcements to help. It will be a lot easier if we have the CA working with us instead of against.”

“You think you can have those who worked with Circe removed that quickly?” Baptiste questioned.

“Seeing as how I was already working with somebody in Cryptid Special Investigations, I’m hoping we can move quickly. Our biggest problem is lack of concrete proof. I don’t know if just Daphne’s testimony will be enough so here’s to hoping I can dig up a paper trail or finagle some phone logs showing a connection to get the ball rolling. Meaning I need you to hang tight for at least a day before you go off witch hunting. Can you do that?” Marissa aimed the last at Daphne.

“Fine.” A begrudging agreement from the dryad.

Marissa waved as she gunned her motorcycle and headed out.

Baptiste glanced best he could over his shoulder. “Any preferences as to where we go?”

“I don’t suppose any of these hotels have a nice garden? That forest left a taint.”

“Actually, I saw just the place on the way in. Think you can hold on for thirty minutes or so?”

She clung tight to him as he returned to a sign he’d seen when he’d been racing to find Daphne. Cabins for rent.

Rustic, small, but surrounded by nature.

As for the fact they had only one bed?

Perfect. Garou approved.

Baptiste, however, would be fine sleeping on the floor so long as it kept him close to Daphne.

If he’d realized one thing when he’d been flying down the highway on his way to rescue her, it was that he might not have known the dryad long, but he felt something for her.

More than annoyance.

More than attraction.

Garou said it best. Mine.

The problem being, he had no idea how she felt about him.

The cabin he rented was the one furthest from the rest. Bathed in a late afternoon sun that filtered through healthy green trees, the A-frame didn’t have much room inside, not that Daphne cared.

She sat outside, lotus style on the picnic table. Eyes closed. Hands on her knees. Face uplifted to the sun. She looked peaceful.

Beautiful.

As she communed with nature, he kept watch from the porch. Guarding. Admiring. But nothing more.

He’d almost forgotten why he didn’t deserve pleasure.

He most certainly wasn’t worthy of someone like Daphne.

But that didn’t stop the yearning.