Zombies Sold Separately

THIRTY-FOUR



Friday, December 31

Noon


Fear gripped my chest as we stared through the opening. It was like I was reliving the same emotions that I had when I was a youngling and saw my brother being taken through the portal.

For the first time I gave serious thought to the possibility that my brother could still be alive. I hadn’t wanted to build up any kind of hope, but here I was.

Then the image of him came to me, through Bryna’s essence. I saw my brother. I saw Tristan. And I was seeing him from her memories.

“He’s alive,” I whispered and Colin looked at me. “His body is a Host and his essence is in a stone, but he’s alive.”

“Who’s alive?” Colin asked.

The desire to run through the portal and find Tristan was so great that I started to run toward the portal. If I was in Drow form and Colin wasn’t a Dragon, he never would have caught me in time. But in Candace’s body I was slow, not to mention encumbered by the heavy winter clothing.

“Stop.” Colin grabbed my arm and pulled me around to face him. “You simply cannot charge through the portal without thought.”

“My brother’s alive.” My Host was breathing hard. “Tristan’s body and his essence are still alive.”

Colin frowned. “You can tell me what you are talking about after we get to where it’s safe. We need to get through this portal before it closes.”

“Right. You’re right.” I glanced around me at my team members in their various forms then looked through the portal. I pointed. “That rock outcropping. We’ll gather in the shaded area and then we’ll decide where to go from there.”

My team members—those I could see—acknowledged me with quick nods.

As if I might bolt through the entrance, Colin took me by my arm and led me to the opening. We paused one moment and then stepped through.

A gooey, gelatinous feeling overcame me, like I was sliding through mucus. Instinctively I held my breath, as if I might suck in some of what I felt coating my body.

Going through the portal was like walking against a current, through a river of goo, and into the wind.

My chest began to hurt with the need to breathe. If it weren’t for Bryna’s essence inside of me, I might have panicked. Thanks to her I knew we’d make it within steps.

Even as that knowledge came to me, Colin and I burst from the portal into warm sunshine. I no longer felt like I was covered in goo. I stared around me, surprise and fear mingling inside me.

A utopia. No wonder Desmond had talked about his home world with such sadness in his eyes. He had to miss this amazing place that was sharp and clear, even to the imperfect human eyes of the Host body I was in.

Lush green grass covered rolling hills between purple-hued mountains. I knew then what majestic really was. Huge trees and brilliantly colorful flowers sprung up in places throughout the landscape making the gorgeous scenery look like a patchwork quilt I’d seen in Olivia’s apartment.

In the distance was a huge manor that sprawled at least an acre wide, its pink stone walls sparkling in the sunlight. Large trees lined the front of the manor, offering shade to its many balconies and along its paths. I couldn’t see all of that detail but I could visualize it from Bryna’s memories.

If it wasn’t for Colin, I might have continued to stare in wonder at everything around me. Even coming from the Otherworld of all Otherworlds, I hadn’t been prepared for such beauty. The lavender streaks in the sky were especially lovely.

Then I remembered that this was the world Tristan had disappeared to and the sick feeling of his loss replaced the wonder.

My brother was truly alive? Was Angel somewhere around here? Would I be able to find all of their stones with their essences? I wished my Host mind had more details about him, but she knew enough that I had an idea where to start my search. It would be a matter of the right time to do it.

Colin dragged me toward the outcropping, out of sight of the manor, and I saw that my team members were waiting for me. The heat in my Host body’s cheeks surprised me as I realized I had to be blushing from my continued failure to pay attention to what our task was, and for my lack of focus. I wondered if that had anything to do with the Host I was in, or Bryna, a distractibility that was uncommon for me.

Regardless, that had to change and it had to change now.

I covered up my embarrassment by concentrating on putting the stone back into the pocket of my slacks, then focused on getting out of my coat. I’d started to sweat under its weight. Colin took the coat from me and stashed it in a small cove of the rock outcropping. I unwrapped the muffler from around my face and tossed it onto the coat.

After I pulled off my gloves, I handed them to Colin. I tugged off the wool cap, which he also took to add to the pile of discarded winter clothing. Static crackled in my hair. I shook my head, then flattened the strands with my palms.

When I was finished, I cleared my throat and looked at my team members. All of them were assembled around me now. Joshua, Meryl, and Ice in their human forms, and Mandisa and Penrod were now visible. Meryl sat on a boulder while Joshua knelt on the grass. Ice stood with his feet apart, his arms crossed over his chest, and Mandisa had one hand on her hip. Penrod reclined on the ground, his back up against a boulder.

“Knowledge from the Sentient that inhabited this body before me indicates that we need to go toward that manor.” Even though we couldn’t see it from behind the rock outcropping, I gestured toward the pink manor. “That’s where the Sorcerer Amory is.”

They focused on me as I continued. “According to Desmond, there’s absolutely nothing we can do to Amory here in Doran. He’s too powerful for us to take out or even capture, so this is entirely a recon mission. We must find out what his plans are.”

“Does the Sentient you’re sharing that body with tell you anything about his plans?” Meryl asked from her perch on the stone.

“Bryna knows that something big, really big is in the works,” I said. “But she doesn’t know what that might be. Amory had alluded to his plans before she left, but she hasn’t been in on anything since that time. I’m going to have to find Amory or figure out another way to get this information.”

I pointed to the team members as I gave them direction. “I want Shifters together on one team, and those who will go in glamour on the other team.”

They nodded as I continued, “Meryl, you’re with Joshua and Ice. Mandisa, you’ll be working with Colin and Penrod. As teams you’ll find out everything you can. In the meantime I will—”

“No damn way.” Ice’s voice cut through the air. “You’re not going alone, Nyx.”

“Ice is correct,” Colin said and everyone else nodded, frowns of disapproval on their faces.

“I’m going as Amory’s niece,” I said with protest in my tone. “I know what to do and say. I’m the one who’ll be fine.”

“What if he insists on sealing your Host, Nyx?” Colin spoke in a low, deliberate tone. “If that happens, it will not be easy for you to transfer back. You may not be able to if something happens to Desmond.”

“Are you so easily forgetting what the Vampires did to you?” Joshua said.

“This is different.” I shook my head. “I’ll be fine—”

“No.” Everyone on my team said the word at the same time. It was loud enough that I winced, afraid someone in this world might be nearby.

“Okay.” I held up my hands. “You’re right.”

“I’ll go with Nyx.” Colin met the gazes of Mandisa and Penrod. “The two of you will work well together in glamour.”

Mandisa glanced at Penrod, disdain on her features before she glanced back at me. She said nothing.

Penrod looked like he’d swallowed something rotten.

“Remember, we are here on reconnaissance. I am to gather information. You are to see and observe what you can and to protect each other, and if it comes to it, rescue each other,” I said.

“Shifters,” I continued, “you’ll take the grounds, Mandisa and Penrod, you’ll go around to the back.” I glanced at Colin. “Colin and I are going in.”

“Let’s do it,” Meryl said right before she shifted into an oriole and flew above our heads. She circled once before heading in the direction of the manor. At the same time Ice joined her as a pure white falcon and Joshua sped across the ground as a shadow.

Penrod had already vanished. Sprites are pretty much impossible even for paranorms to spot when they’re in glamour. Colin and Mandisa disappeared. Because I was in a human body I couldn’t see them. I hoped the Sorcerer wouldn’t be able to catch sight of any one of them.

Once everyone but Colin and I were off and running, I turned and headed around the outcropping, toward the manor.

The human body I was in was fortunately in good shape for a norm. It was a bit of a hike to the manor and the sunshine was warm as we traveled over the rolling hills.

My Host’s heart pounded harder and harder the closer we got to the manor and my throat was dry. I don’t know if I really felt Colin’s presence or I just knew he would be at my side. We’d been silent during our trek and I knew he was concerned about me.

On the way I’d thought about stopping the Sorcerer and finding out how we could do exactly that. My thoughts continually returned to my friends and my brother and my hope that I could help them all.

We finally reached the manor. An arched gate was in front of the entrance and a low wall of the same sparkling pink stone stretched out and around the circumference of the place that seemed almost palatial but not quite.

Guards stood to either side of the gate. The twins reminded me of Roman gladiators in their simple tunics and sandals. They both looked at me with questions in their eyes. Guards of the manor were used to Sentients returning in new Hosts, so they didn’t seem particularly alarmed.

“Good day, Pet. Theo.” I gave them each a nod as the action and their names came easily to me. “Do you know where my uncle is?”

“Bryna?” Theo said in surprise. “Is that you?”

I frowned. “Who else calls the Sorcerer ‘uncle’?”

“Of course.” Theo lowered his head in a deep nod. “My apologies.”

Pet said, “His lordship sent Una and Tieve to search for you.”

The scowl came just as easily as Bryna reacted. “Idiots. They left me to die.”

Pet gave a slight bow. “I will locate Lord Amory for you.”

I waved him off. “I’ll find him myself. Likely he’s in the gardens.”

“Your new Host is an excellent choice,” Theo said, openly admiring Candace’s body.

“If you serve me well,” I said in Candace’s sultry voice, “I might give you the opportunity to get to know the new Bryna better.”

I touched Pet’s arm and he looked down at my hand. I lightly dug in my manicured nails before I gave them each a sensual look that made both men stare at me with hunger in their eyes.

Bryna had always enjoyed men, but because of the frailty of her former body she had been forced to abstain. Now that she was in a fit, strong, and beautiful Host, she wanted these two males—at the same time.

I had to mentally shake Bryna off. Down, girl.

“That would certainly be a pleasure.” Theo’s voice was husky as I walked closer. Both guards bowed again as they let me pass.

“Was that necessary?” Colin’s voice was close to my ear and I startled. He sounded almost jealous.

“Shush,” I said under my breath. “It’s how Bryna’s mind works. I’m simply being her. If I didn’t, it might be suspicious.”

The manor doors were open, letting in the sunshine along with the smell of flowers and the twitter of birds. As we walked further in, the recesses were cool, shadowy, and quiet. I caught the scent of exotic spices.

I stood for a moment inside the huge open area that had multiple doors leading from it and a staircase that spiraled up one side. I let my human eyes adjust to the dimness as I looked around.

Even though Bryna felt at home in this place, I needed to get a feel for it and I needed to stay on guard. I didn’t have my keen Drow senses to rely on in case someone was coming, my glamour to hide me, or my fighting skills if I needed them.

Colin touched my shoulder and I nodded at the opposite side of the large area we were in. We crossed the huge marble floor then entered a short hallway. At the end of the hallway was an arched doorway. Much cooler air flowed over me from the direction of the arch. Along with it came scents that were familiar. Maybe not to Candace, but to me and Bryna.

It smelled of old rock and earth and mineral-filled water, smells I was used to from my home belowground in Otherworld.

When we reached the room, we walked over the threshold. My lips parted in surprise. Steps led down into a huge cavern filled with hundreds of thousands of stones with hundreds of candles lit among them.

Due to the imprint of Bryna’s essence, I shouldn’t have been surprised at the immensity of the cavern, but for some reason I was. Seeing it for myself as opposed to her memories was like the difference between a dream and reality.

“Amory calls this the Room of Life.” My heart sank as I walked down the steps into the cavern. “How will we ever find Angel, Olivia, and Lawan here?” Or Tristan. What about my brother?

An overwhelming feeling of helplessness made my human body feel even weaker and more impotent than it already was. I glanced behind me and saw that Colin had dropped his glamour. His blond hair shown in the flickering light of the candles.

“For that matter,” I added, “what about the Paranorm Council members and anyone else we know? Bryna has no idea. How will we find them?”

Colin rested his hand on my shoulder and warmth from his palm caused a small shiver to run through me. “We’ll figure it out, Nyx,” he said in his deep, compelling voice.

“One way or another.” I responded with a firm nod, trying to add conviction to my tone.

Colin let his hand slide away from my shoulder as we walked through rows of stones and stones and more stones. I missed the warmth of his touch and had the entirely irrational desire for him to hold me.

My focus needed to shift completely to the job at hand. Why was I having such strange thoughts now? It must have been the Host body or Bryna making me feel that way.

Throughout the room the candles were too many to count. Their flames danced and bobbed and caused the stones to glitter like Christmas lights woven through tree branches in New York City.

I paused and started to pick up a stone before I snatched my hand back. “Don’t touch,” I said. “Bryna doesn’t think anything would happen, but she doesn’t know for sure.”

We both stared at the stone that I’d almost picked up. A well-built man who could have been an athlete was staring out at us. I wondered how long he’d been in the stone. Who he was. How he’d gotten there.

I tore my gaze away from the image of the man and Colin and I kept walking and looking. Some of the stones looked dark, empty.

“If the stone doesn’t have a face in it, that means the Host body died.” My voice echoed in the cavern. I felt a twist in my belly at the thought that maybe that had happened to one of my friends or Tristan, and Bryna just didn’t know about it.

My search through the room for stones with the essences of people I cared about grew more and more frantic. “Where are they?” I whispered to Colin. “How are we ever going to find anyone we know here?”

“We will be able to return and locate all of them.” Colin’s tone was so positive, so confident that I paused to look up at him. Determination was etched on his strong features.

The sense of urgency I felt only increased as I went up one aisle of stones and down another. My hip brushed a stand and the stones on it rocked. One of them threatened to roll off and I caught my breath.

As the stone came to a rest in an indentation of the granite stand, my breath left me in a rush. The face inside the stone was of a young woman with long blond hair and wide brown eyes, like she was perpetually surprised. I’d almost killed her with my carelessness in this Host body. Yes, Candace wasn’t graceful like the Elves, but that only meant I needed to be more careful.

It made my heart twist to see someone so young trapped like that. Unless we found her Host body, she would be inside the stone forever.

The prickling sensation behind my Host’s eyes was familiar, but then the sensation of something on my face made me pause. I touched my cheek. It was damp. In surprise I drew my hand away and looked at my fingertips. They glistened with moisture in the candlelight.

“A tear.” I looked up at Colin in shock. “I have tears.”

“You’re crying.” He reached up and brushed wetness across my opposite cheek with his thumb with concern in his eyes. “Are you all right?”

I gave a slow nod and touched my face again. “Dark Elves don’t have tear ducts. We can’t cry.”

“I think you can cry, Nyx.” Colin pushed hair behind my ear. “You simply cry without tears.”

“It’s not the same.” I wiped the moisture from beneath my eyes. “It feels almost freeing to be able to cry with tears.”

Colin gave me a gentle smile, then surprised me by kissing my forehead. He let his lips linger for a moment before he drew away. “Come.” He took my hand. “We should hurry if we are going to find your friends.”

Warmth from his hand spread throughout me and I still felt the imprint of his lips on my forehead. A tickle grew in my belly, a feeling of awareness of him not only as a friend, but as an entirely desirable male.

Keeping Adam out of my mind wasn’t easy at all. Just finding Colin attractive made me think about Adam.

I needed focus and I needed it now.

“I wish I had my Drow senses to search for them.” I released Colin’s hand. “And my command of the elements.”

“My Dragon senses will help.” Colin ran his gaze over the enormous cavern. “I’ve met Olivia, Lawan, and Angel, which will make it feasible.”

“Let’s split up,” I said and we started searching in earnest for my friends.

I wondered how impossible it might be to find my brother among the countless stones around us without my senses or magic on my side. I doubted Colin could find Tristan since they’d never met.

We must have been searching for over an hour when Colin caught my attention with a wave. “I think I found your partner.”

“Olivia?” I rushed toward Colin then had to slow down because my clumsy human Host body nearly knocked a couple of stones off their perches.

When I reached Colin, who was in a crouch, I knelt before the stone he was studying.

“You found Olivia.” My heart pounded and I stared at my friend whose face looked out from the stone. Not surprisingly, she looked pissed. For some reason that made me smile a little. As if that meant she was all right and that she’d be okay.

I dug in my pocket and pulled out one of the cloths Desmond had given me. I almost touched the stone, then remembered I was supposed to trap it in the cloth without touching it. I managed to do it and gripped it tight in my hand, so afraid to drop it that the fear was almost immobilizing.

“Thank you.” I tucked the stone into my pocket and then reached up and kissed Colin on the cheek. “Thank you for finding her.”

His skin was warm against my lips and I drew in the smoky sandalwood scent of him. My face went hot when I realized what I’d just done and I backed away. Colin was smiling and I turned away, hoping my Host’s face wasn’t too red.

We continued searching. And searching. And searching. Having found Olivia made me feel a little lighter in spirit, but really not much. We may have located her stone, but it was a long road to get her essence back into her own body, and to solve this whole Zombie mess.

At least an hour later, Colin said, “Here is Angel.” His voice had made my heart jump and I turned to see him beside a stand of several stones. I hurried to him and saw that it included one with Angel in it and her distinctive corkscrew curls around her face.

A huge measure of relief poured through me as I handed Colin a cloth. “Two. You found two.”

He eased the cloth over Angel’s stone, then wrapped the stone safely inside it. He slipped it into his pocket. I took Olivia’s out of my own pocket and handed it to him. “It’s too dangerous for Amory to catch his niece with stones belonging to Earth Otherworlders,” I said. He took it and put hers away, as well.

With more hope than I’d had before, I turned to continue looking.

Colin grabbed my upper arm and jerked me to a stop. “My Dragon senses tell me someone is coming,” he said as I brought my gaze around to look at him.

“It’s the Sorcerer Amory,” Colin added before he slipped into a glamour and faded away.