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  The sizzle of oil and the smell of frying onions filled the silence.

  “I found Yima,” her mother said, suddenly.

  “One of the witches was trapped with you?”

  “Yes, the eldest. The one who helped you find your power.”

  Her mother did not say anything more, her shoulders shaking. Mira stood up and wrapped her arms around her mother’s slender frame. Secretly she was pleased. If anyone could help her mother work through some of her trauma it would be Yima. She remembered the strength and wisdom of the older witch and it overjoyed her she would see her again and be able to thank her in person.

  * * * * *

  Later that night Mira climbed the stairs to the attic. When her mother had talked about reconnecting with Yima it had filled Mira with a longing for Karnon. She fought the compulsion to Call him. Why put herself through the torture of seeing him when she couldn’t have him? After her mother went to bed, Mira with a bit of a wine buzz had to admit she missed him, and seeing him briefly, even under the influence of the Calling, was better than nothing.

  Standing in the attic, her cheeks flushed from the half-bottle of zinfandel, she whispered one of the first chants her mother had taught her. She sensed the spell settle into place like netting around the bare room. The enchantment would prevent the sights and sounds within from being seen or heard on the outside. Normally she was supposed to do it as a precaution, tonight she did it so her mother would not hear what would occur. She wasn’t sure how fragile her mother was and the last thing she wanted was to reawaken the trauma of Xander with lustful sounds of the Calling.

  She poured the salt into a pentagram. Tink’s spell book still sat on a shelf in the attic, forgotten by its owner, and Mira had no wish to return it. She retrieved the book and as she spoke the words, she marveled at how easily she performed the spell. She reveled in her power. Her mother’s training showed.

  The candles extinguished, leaving the room in darkness. Mira waited, cross-legged on the floor, breathing regularly. The sensation was different than she remembered, calmer. When the ball of light appeared, her heart beat quicker.

  The light faded and she smelled him before she saw him.

  “Karnon?” she whispered. Something was wrong. Her body didn’t react with overpowering lust.

  “Mira.”

  Her heart skipped a beat. It was he.

  “Yes, I am here.” She struck a match.

  He blinked in the sudden light.

  “What’s happening? Why aren’t we, you know?” she swallowed her question and giggled, the wine’s influence still present.

  His mouth quirked into the grin she remembered so well. She had an urge to lean forward and run her fingers over his full lips but she could control the urge. Instead she busied herself lighting candles.

  “Mira.”

  She looked up at him. His expression was gentle and maybe even sad. Did he pity her? What if he was too busy? Did he want to tell her she shouldn’t Call him? Was he more powerful now because of a new position? Why wasn’t he saying anything?

  He didn’t speak, simply looked at her. She stared back at him, unable to break the silence. The candlelight flickered over his body and she was glad she still wore clothes—at least a small protection for her vulnerability.

  His expression changed. Almost…fearful?

  “Mira,” he whispered and reached out a hand.

  She gasped. It wasn’t the candlelight. His body was flickering.

  “What’s happening?”

  He watched her, not responding.

  “Karnon! Are you leaving?”

  He shook his head.

  “Then why are you fading away?”

  The flickering subsided. He turned misty.

  “Karnon! What’s happening? What’s wrong?”

  He opened his mouth but no words came out.

  He let his hand fall. She rushed to him, arms outstretched but they went right through him. He had disappeared. Only the shadow of his eyes watched her.

  “No!” she screamed, grappling at the air.

  He was gone.

  “No.”

  She staggered and slipped to the floor, her cheek pressing against the salt, mixing with the tears welling from her eyes.

  “No.”

  Somehow she knew he hadn’t just returned back to Hell. What had she done? Why had she waited so long? Her pride? What did it matter if he had rejected her? At least he would have known before—before—a sob heaved from her—she couldn’t think it.

  “I love you, Karnon. Don’t leave me alone.”

  * * * * *

  Sunlight filtered through the window of the attic. Mira’s eyes were heavy and dry. She lifted herself off the cold floor. With salt sticking to her cheek and nose she sat with her head bowed. She had fallen asleep but she didn’t know how long she had lain there crying before she did.

  “Mira.”

  The sweet and joyful warmth flooded through her body. A hand stroked her shoulder. She looked up.

  Karnon smiled at her. “I love you too.”

  They leaned in, lips brushing. The kiss grew in intensity and he wrapped his arms around her. She relished in the moment, in amazement. He loved her too! He was here, with her, without a spell.

  He kissed her deeper. She welcomed it and returned the soft passion. Gently he laid her down on the ground, unbuttoning her shirt, tracing his fingertips over her naked skin, sending shivers through her. He flicked his tongue over her nipple, causing her to arch up. This wasn’t the Calling, it was more. He buried his face in her breasts. She stroked the muscles of his back, wrapping her legs around him. They pressed against each other, skin on skin. She shivered from the sensation.

  She reached for him, hungry to have him. After waiting for so long, she didn’t want to wait any longer. He responded to her request eagerly, pulling his body up and kissing her deeply. He entered her, and she both cried out with delight and love. They moved in rhythm, their bodies and souls united, until she released with a burst of pleasure.

  Epilogue

  The One

  “It’s a good thing you didn’t execute her. I would have been very angry with you.” Lady Gaia smiled at her lover.

  “How was I supposed to know she’s one of yours? She looks nothing like you,” Satan responded.

  “Her grandmother is my granddaughter. Don’t I look young for my age?”

  “You look beautiful, whatever age you show.”

  “Charmer, don’t change the point. The amount of power she wields should have been a clue to you that she wasn’t an ordinary blood-witch,” Gaia said.

  “My senses aren’t what they used to be. Whatever spell Xander used to poison me I am afraid it was more effective than anyone knew. I’ll have to step down soon.”

  “I’ll join you when I can.”

  “Are you ever going to tell her who you really are? What kind of name is that anyway, Tink?”

  “It’s my Earth name. And when I gave her that book, I did tell her, in a way. She just hasn’t figured it out yet. She still thinks I’m a human who dabbles in Wicca.”

  “A risky move, my love,” Satan said with a tender smile.

  “It was the only thing I could do. With Xander blocking all communication with you and his hideous spell preventing me from entering Hell, she was the only one still under his radar powerful enough to break through. Although to be honest I didn’t expect her to perform a Calling and connect with Karnon. I thought she would somehow reach Pharic.”

  “Why Pharic? Because he’s also your son?” Satan asked.

  “The only son I gave you. Yes, to quote, ‘Blood beckons blood.’ It would have been much simpler.”

  “You couldn’t have at least warned her? Trained her so she would have met with Pharic and known what to do?”

  “No, Xander would have recognized my influence. I couldn’t risk tainting her power with mine or she would have been blocked out like everyone else. That’s why her grandmother agreed to give up
magic. We knew enough by then that Mira had to go in blind to get around Xander’s shields. One hell of a sacrifice by her grandmother. The woman loved magic.” Gaia leaned back.

  Satan rolled to one side and propped his head on one hand. He looked weary and sad. “I think Xander may have killed his mother.”

  Tink stroked the space where the side of Satan’s torso and hips met. “I know,” she said softly. “That’s how he got enough power to trap the girls and keep us out.”

  “How did you know?”

  “After their mother passed on and I investigated, I had my suspicions.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I wasn’t sure and he was your son—and I was falling in love with you, plus I was pregnant with Pharic. I couldn’t say anything to risk you turning away from me, especially after the Betrayal. Both our sides needed our union of peace more than ever.”

  “So blind. I don’t know what to tell Karnon and Cronus.”

  “Let them be. Karnon is happy with Mira and Cronus will be a good replacement for you. They mourned their mother long ago.”

  “You know your son fears you.”

  “Pharic?”

  “Yes. He doesn’t know you are his mother.”

  Tink closed her eyes and rested her head on Satan’s shoulder. “I couldn’t reach him or you. It was awful.”

  He stroked her purple hair, the corners of his mouth lifting as he traced the swirling tattoos on her back. “He will learn to love you. I did.”

  “I hope so.”

  “I know so.”

  “And you have chosen Cronus to be your heir, so you can retire in peace.”

  “When will you retire, so we can be in peace together?”

  “Perhaps once Mira’s mother passes on. Then Mira will have the time to search for the truth.” Gaia stared into the distance.

  “Her mother won’t live the full blood-witch years?”

  “Not after what Xander did to her but Selena will have a full mortal life, and I think she will see passing on as a blessing. For now she has her daughter to be proud of, so I believe I will leave them be until then. But it’s all right, I don’t mind waiting to retire. It gives Mira time to enjoy just being with your son, as I will enjoy just being with you in the future.”

  “So she is your heir, the next Lady, the next Gaia?”

  “Yes, she is the one, my Satan.”

  About Mary C. Moore

  Mary is an offspring of the counter-culture mind-blown hippie movement that sprang up north of the Bay Area after the sixties. She roamed through the landscape with all the other half-feral, half-naked, half-educated children running wild in the hills and forests of Northern California. Like Titania's fairies roamed through the Grecian wood or Wendy’s lost boys roamed through Neverland, dancing through buttercups, oak leaves and wild strawberries.

  She continued to roam as she grew older, through Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas, finally landing again in California where she currently resides with three pesky roommates and two mellow cats. Armed with a BS in biology, she spent a few years working as a zookeeper until she graduated from Mills College, Oakland, with a MFA in Creative Writing and English.

  Mary has taken her love of adventure and biology and turned it to the pen to write about the strange, fabulous and unexpected in this world.

  Mary welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.

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  Blood Witch Inferno

  ISBN 9781419949715

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Blood Witch Inferno Copyright © 2014 Mary C. Moore

  Edited by Elizabeth London

  Cover design by Syneca

  Cover photography by Syneca, netfalls/shutterstock.com

  Model: Georgio

  Electronic book publication August 2014

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