Below the Surface

Chapter Nine

Marcus instinctively shielded Tessa as he shot a blast of water from his fingertips and pushed a tremendous amount of psychic force at the sorcerer, neither of which did anything to the smiling evil floating above them. Instead, the attack passed through him, his image as transparent as the bay window glass over which he loomed.

“It’s not real,” Tessa whispered, staring at ‘Sin Garu in what looked like fascinated disgust. “Just an image of him.”

Marcus withdrew his waters and quickly recited another protection spell around Tessa, adrenaline surging though his system like a drug. How the hell had ‘Sin Garu penetrated the house’s shields?

“Good morrow, water bringer. And to your friend, how wonderful to finally meet her, face to face as it were.” The sorcerer turned his attention to Tessa, staring at her from powerful yet venomous dark blue eyes. “She’s truly unique. Beautiful,” he murmured and glanced at Marcus. “Too much for a commoner like you.”

“Commoner, my ass,” Tessa said angrily, surprising Marcus with her temper. “He’s a royal prince, what the hell are you?”

Marcus widened his stance in front of her, warmed by her defence, but conscious ‘Sin Garu was dangerous in any state he appeared. “What is it you want, sorcerer?” he asked calmly, prepared to withstand an attack at any moment.

“I just wanted to exchange greetings, Marcus. I keep missing Darius. I thought it most remiss on my part not to have greeted you sooner, so here I am. And I so wanted to meet you, Tessa.” He grinned, his smile showing sharp, white teeth. “Such passion. That fiery red hair, that creamy white skin. Such luscious breasts.” ‘Sin Garu’s nostrils flared and his eyes gleamed as he stared at her groin. “I’ll bet she tastes—”

“What do you want, sorcerer?” Marcus repeated softly, the icy threat clear in his tone.

“Your brother would have ripped my head off by now,” ‘Sin Garu chided. “You’re not as much fun. But I’ll bet she is.”

Marcus simply stared, aware of Tessa pressed against his back. She was tense, but thankfully, left the verbal sparring to him.

“Fine.” ‘Sin Garu sighed. “I sense I’m not welcome here. I’ll leave.” He eyed Tessa with hunger. “But before I go, I just wanted to say I’m glad you avoided a prison sentence. We have much to talk about, you and I.”

Marcus stared at the sorcerer, and suddenly wondered at the spell he’d overheard Aerolus practicing the other day. He murmured it under his breath and watched as a thin trickle of blood ran from the sorcerer’s nose.

With a confused frown, ‘Sin Garu wiped at his nose and stared, his blue gaze churning with both anger and pain.

“You’ll pay for that, Marcus.” He sneered, his threat muted by the gurgle of blood that suddenly flowed over his thin lips. ‘Sin Garu began flashing in and out, his projection choppy.

He shimmered and spoke one last time. “River Prince? The Djinn bedamned. You both belong to me, and no one else. When next we meet, your last broken breath will be at my feet, begging for mercy. And you, Tessa, you’ll be mine for as long as you can survive it.”

His threat hanging in the air like a dark cloud, he vanished.

Marcus stared at the ceiling, nonplused that the spell he’d used had worked, and that ‘Sin Garu had been there at all. He turned and glanced at Tessa.

“No, he was there. I saw him, plain as day.” She studied the ceiling, then focused on Marcus. “Explain to me what just happened here.” She swallowed loudly and he noted her hands trembling until she saw him staring and clenched her fists.

Damn, but she had strength. Trust Tessa Sheridan to handle wraiths, Storm Lords, and an impromptu visit from the leader of an evil army bent on death and destruction. A small smile curled his lips and seeing it, his Amazon exploded in temper.

As she ranted and raved about his stupid sense of humour, the right and wrong time to be brave, and denounced every other aspect of the male species in general, Marcus couldn’t help wondering how he, of all his brothers, had been gifted with such a woman.

This visit with ‘Sin Garu made him see that avoidance wasn’t the answer. Ready or not, Marcus would have to face his responsibilities, first here in this plane and then at home. Evil didn’t set schedules, and women, he thought as he studied the passionate female in a tirade before him, were just as dangerous to a man’s sense of order.

The more he watched her, the faster his heart beat. His internal temperature rose, and had he been capable of such, he would like to have channelled his churning energy through his living waters into steam. As it was, he transferred much of his pent-up energy to the lake beyond his house. Past Tessa’s form pacing in front of the bay window he could make out a crowd gathered around a raging water fountain that had no reason for being, but served as a place to release his pressing adrenaline rush.

“Are you even listening to me?” Tessa snarled and stepped forward, poking him in the chest.

“My affai,” he muttered in angry acceptance, staring into her irate gaze.

She paused, her mouth wide with surprise. Before she could ask him a thing, however, he shut her up with a kiss.

Desire raged within him, a tidal wave of need that swept him into branding her as his. His mouth conquered, demanded more from her than he’d ever asked of another woman. His tongue fought against hers, tangled and stroked as a helpless moan surged from Tessa’s soul. He cared nothing for propriety, for tenderness, but needed to enforce his hold on his woman—on his affai.

The primitive energies of the Storm Lords seethed in his blood, and in the dim corner of his mind he thought he heard his father’s encouragement. Water swept over the room like a burst dam, pushing and flowing between and through Marcus and Tessa until they were one with the element and with each other.

Marcus pressed his hands down her back to rest on her taut ass, pulling her into his thickening erection. Drinking her passion through a bruising kiss, he continued to fan both his and her excitement by rubbing against her mound, his cock heavy and throbbing, needing her like he needed his next breath. He rounded a hand to the snap of her jeans and would have progressed further when a loud voice interrupted them.

“Whoa, waterboy! Time out! That’s a plasma screen TV for Light’s sake!” Cadmus hissed in displeasure as he stared around the soaked room, stepping gingerly around a growing puddle.

Aerolus stood behind him, his mouth open in what had to be a first. Aerolus, stunned speechless?

Unfortunately, not, Marcus thought sourly as Aerolus closed his mouth and blinked as if waking from a dream.

“Sorry to intrude,” his brother said. Tessa tried to extricate herself from Marcus’ grip, obviously embarrassed, but he refused to let her go. Not now, not after his battle with his conscience that he’d finally won. “But what were you doing in here?”

With a wave of Marcus’ hand the water in the room vanished, leaving the room completely dry, Cadmus’ precious television in working order.

“Satisfied?” he asked dryly.

“More than are you at the moment,” Cadmus muttered, his crass comment causing Tessa to blush a most becoming shade of rose.

Aerolus broke the small silence, staring at the ceiling, his mouth tightening the longer he stared. “’Sin Garu was here.” He quickly glanced from Marcus to Tessa. “You’re alright? Both of you?” He eyed Marcus with a particular scowl.

Cadmus paled. “I was just outside in the yard, and you’re telling me ’Sin Garu was here? In our living room? In our protected house?” He shook his head in disbelief at Marcus. “What did he want?”

“He wanted Tessa.”

“He wanted you more,” Aerolus said in a vague voice as he again studied the ceiling. “He was dissociated across planes, an advanced and difficult spell even for a sorcerer of his calibre. Yet you defeated him. You defeated him,” he said again, in a puzzled tone.

The statement was more a question, and Marcus could see Aerolus’ frustration. His brother normally knew everything about everything, his otherworldly powers having grown exponentially while in this world. Yet now, curiously, Aerolus couldn’t read Marcus’ cast spell.

Interesting. “I sense some irritation, Aerolus,” Marcus said coolly, actually enjoying himself. For once he knew something his annoyingly uncanny brother didn’t.

“Irritation? No.” Aerolus took a deep breath and appeared the soul of calm, but Marcus sensed the agitation vibrating subtly along his brother’s spine.

“Marcus, just tell him what he wants to know.” Tessa sighed and practically slid into the couch. “Lord, my legs are like water,” she muttered, leaning her head back on the cushions.

Satisfaction filled him, knowing he’d put the weakness in her knees. “We were sitting here talking when he appeared, a full-sized image of ‘Sin Garu floating above the windows there.” Marcus pointed to the spot. “He threatened and said a few unpleasant things to Tessa.”

“You know how much he dislikes the people in this realm.” Aerolus stroked his chin. “He thinks they’re beneath him.”

“Like someone else we know,” Cadmus grumbled, giving Marcus a testy look. Marcus knew the insult for what it was, belated worry and disappointment that Marcus hadn’t called for help dealing with the evil sorcerer.

“You’re telling me he talked to her?” Aerolus studied his brother and Tessa both.

“Yes, he talked to her,” Tessa answered testily, her feet propped up on the coffee table, her head tilted back on the couch.

Marcus frowned. He didn’t like ‘Sin Garu’s familiarity with his affai either, but Aerolus’ interrogation made him see beneath the threat of ‘Sin Garu’s presence. Something more was going on here, something he needed to understand to protect Tessa from future harm.

“That spell you were working on last week,” Marcus said softly, now wondering just why he’d remembered that one spell among the multitude Aerolus practiced. “Something about its properties led me to believe it might help me in dealing with ‘Sin Garu.”

Marcus watched in astonishment as Aerolus’ eyes shifted from light grey to dark black. Never before had he seen his brother so close to losing control. Tessa blinked up at him, and even Cadmus swore in shock.

“You dared use an untried spell on the most dreaded wraith lord to ever descend upon our people? You could have wiped out half this block with an overload of power. You could have mismanaged the incantation and done more damage to yourself than him.” His voice was lethal for its quiet, his eyes pulsing with a strange, almost unholy light. “You could have been killed.”

“Uh, Aerolus?” Cadmus ventured. “You’re freaking me out.”

“Shut. Up.” Aerolus glared, his eyes swirling with power. Cadmus tried to respond but was suddenly struck mute. “And you,” Aerolus turned to Tessa, watching her quietly. Marcus sensed his brother was seeing a replay of the confrontation in her mind’s eye, a remnant of the magic impressed on her. “You tried baiting ‘Sin Garu. Are you losing what last bit of sense you have left?” His tone was biting. “As if sleeping with this jackass wasn’t enough of a mistake?” Furious, his adrenaline still full enough to lick good sense, Marcus’ blood iced. He narrowed his eyes and with a flick of his wrist, slammed Aerolus against the wall.

The spell holding Cadmus mute broke. Rubbing his throat, he swore in a mixture of several languages. “Damn it, Aerolus. You mute me again and I’ll turn you into rock bits.” He glared at his pinned brother, and coils of energy rattled the walls and the very space surrounding Cadmus.

Aerolus shook his head and tried to free himself from Marcus’ hold but found himself unable to. Marcus smirked, glad to be in control of his contained, ‘younger’ brother for once. The smirk sent the normally mild-mannered Aerolus into a tailspin.

He began murmuring, his eyes glowing, and Marcus quickly filled his mouth with water. Coughing and spitting, Aerolus actually glared as he tried unsuccessfully to free himself from his brother’s bonds.

“If you’re both finished?” Marcus asked his brothers in his haughtiest voice. Though they glared at him, he knew they would listen, Cadmus because he felt like it, Aerolus because he had no choice. “I defeated ‘Sin Garu for the moment. Leave it at that, Aerolus. I don’t normally pay attention to your sorcery, but something made me take notice of your spell. Think about that.”

Marcus knew his father had something to do with that, he felt it deep in his bones. So much for Faustus playing by the rules. “The point of all this is to determine how ‘Sin Garu slipped past our safeguards.” Something the sorcerer said bothered him. Releasing his hold on his now calm brother, he glanced down at Tessa and saw to his surprise she slept, her breathing soft and even.

“He mentioned something I should have thought of before.”

“What?” Cadmus and Aerolus asked at the same time, causing Cadmus to reluctantly grin and Aerolus’ eyes to lighten to grey.

“He said, ‘The Djinn bedamned’ before threatening to kill me without mercy. And he mentioned the possibility of Tessa going to jail.”

Cadmus swore. “Arim warned us the Djinn were here, but I didn’t think we’d have to worry about them confronting us head on. They normally do their damage behind the scenes.” Marcus knew he referred to the poisoning of the Storm Lords, in particular their father.

“Apparently the Djinn have grown bolder,” he said, more than disturbed by this revelation. “If ‘Sin Garu is this aware of Tessa’s recent problems at work, it stands to reason he’s got a spy at Tomanna, despite our efforts to shield ourselves.”

“Or he’s got a scrying portal in effect.”

Marcus shook his head. “No, I don’t think so. The way he worded it, The Djinn bedamned, made me think he’s getting his information from a Djinn source.”

“An internal spy at Tomanna.” Aerolus nodded, his face blank but his eyes burning bright.

“That’s the only answer that feels right.” Ice filled Marcus’ veins, anger and frustration building at the thought of having been vulnerable to the Djinn threat for so long.

Cadmus frowned. “But they hate the light of day. How do they know so much, and how could they have known about Tessa so quickly? It’s been what, three days since you and she, uh,” he paused, glancing from a sleeping Tessa to Marcus’ challenging stare. “Let’s just say you and she haven’t been too friendly with one another until recently.”

“That’s what has me bothered,” Aerolus added. “I agree with you, Marcus. It’s Djinn interference, and I have a bad feeling they’ve adapted to the light in this world. And worse, that they’ve adapted so well to this environment they’ve learned to mask their presence completely. You work mostly days, and you’ve never sensed them?” he asked Marcus.

Marcus shook his head.

“The more I think about it, the more I have to agree. The Djinn have infiltrated Tomanna Consulting, and most likely the bar as well, Cadmus.”

Cadmus scowled but didn’t disagree.

Marcus ran a weary hand through his hair, his adrenaline rush beginning to subside now that ‘Sin Garu had vanished and they were apparently safe, for the time being. “The Djinn are another problem, but ‘Sin Garu tops the list. What do we do about his recent visit here?”

“And how did he penetrate our defences?” Cadmus asked, his voice curiously neutral.

Aerolus tapped his lip in thought, his eyes alighting with the answer. “To project through the shield spells, ‘Sin Garu sent his image, not himself. Our shields were too strong for his physical presence. But he did lock in on you, Marcus, you or Tessa, that is,” he said in afterthought. Turning troublesome eyes on Tessa, he shook his head.

“The only way he could have worked around us and Arim was with the aid of a scrying stone, and to use that, he had to possess something personal from either you or Tessa.”

“If he had a Djinn infiltrator working under him, he could have stolen anything from mine or Tessa’s office at any time in the past six months.” Marcus cursed in disgust. “I can’t believe I let a Djinn get so close to me.”

“It’s not your fault.” Aerolus placed a hand on Marcus’ shoulder to hold him still. “None of us have sensed them, so the Djinn must have found a way to mask their presence. ‘Sin Garu is more powerful than any sorcerer I’ve ever seen, except for Arim. And Arim doesn’t have the power of the dark ones in his corner.”

Marcus’ tone was grim, but determined. “No, but Arim does have the Storm Lords. And I’ll be damned if I’ll let the Netharat and that evil bastard put one more putrid foot near Tessa or Tanselm again.”

Ending his impassioned speech, he noticed his brothers staring at him in surprise. He didn’t care. Marcus had as good as made a commitment to Tessa moments ago, and despite his insecurities about the future, he knew he would die before letting ‘Sin Garu soil anything more that he loved.

Aerolus stared hard at his brother, wondering if Marcus was aware of what he’d just said and what it meant. He’d put Tessa before Tanselm, and Marcus had never allowed any woman to come between his family and home, ever.

His normally cool and composed brother had practically admitted his feelings for the beautiful woman lying so peacefully on their couch.

Aerolus studied her, aware of Marcus’ concerned frown.

What was it about these earth women that pulled his brothers in different directions? Darius, the most stubborn of them, was now almost a tamed beast because of his affai. And Marcus, well, the aloof man had a spark in his eyes, a heat that churned whenever in Tessa’s presence.

No matter that Tessa had only recently become involved in Tanselm’s plight. Aerolus could sense her strength of will, her intelligence and integrity that were the core of her being.

He subtly nodded his approval, pleased his brother had found someone to care for, someone to help him heal the invisible wounds inflicted by his father’s death.

Much as Marcus tried to pretend he was better than everyone around him, Aerolus knew it was all an act. His ability to dreamwalk was growing, and what he’d witnessed in Marcus’ dreams was both worrisome and increasingly odd.

Bewildering images flared, a confusing jumble of thoughts and visions from the normally unflappable Storm brother. Since Marcus had met Tessa, his dreams had been strange, surreal.

Aerolus had seen Tessa both dressed in Tanselm’s fine silks and naked—by the Light, gloriously naked. He’d witnessed his dead father in muffled, long talks with Marcus while the two relaxed by the QuarenRiver. And he’d seen the monstrously large wall of responsibilities Marcus didn’t think he would ever conquer.

Aerolus glanced at his brother, concerned with the dark blue gaze that seemed so unsure about his role in Tanselm’s future, so uncertain he was worthy of the task set before them by their father and by fate. Only Tessa seemed to give him a moment’s peace.

Marcus lifted Tessa into his arms and took her up the stairs to his room. Watching them, Aerolus knew Tessa could help Marcus realise his potential as king of the southlands, and perhaps even as Tanselm’s overking. She certainly met his brother more than halfway. Finally, a woman Marcus wouldn’t be able to dominate.

But Aerolus’ good humour at the situation faded as he understood what their love would mean to him. All too soon he would lose another brother to Tanselm. Another Storm Lord ‘freed’, only to be bound to home and hearth.

Much as Aerolus longed to return home, the thrill of learning new things and exploring new worlds filled him with excitement, and a longing for an existence he knew lay just out of reach. He was more resigned than accepting of his place as future ruler of Tanselm. A waste, to his thinking, that a sorcerer should be destined to be king.

He inwardly winced at the possibility of becoming Tanselm’s overking. If only he could immerse himself in study, in sorcery’s vast adventures of the mind.

He wondered if Arim knew how lucky he was.

Cadmus threw an arm around his neck, startling him from dreary, futile thoughts. “Don’t worry, bro.” Cadmus chuckled as he stared after Marcus and Tessa. “I’ll still be here with you.”

Apparently, Cadmus also knew Marcus had found his affai.

“That’s what I’m afraid of.” Aerolus couldn’t help a small sigh.

Cadmus laughed. “Very funny. Trust me when I say I don’t plan to marry, ever. So once Darius and Marcus have a brood of their own, we’re off the hook. And don’t try telling me you don’t miss Tanselm.” He looked around him and lowered his voice. “If anyone can get us back without finding an affai, it’s you.”

“Cadmus—”

“Come on, Aerolus. You don’t want to wed any more than I do.” Aerolus couldn’t argue with that. “So work your magic and find us a way home.” Curiously, Cadmus looked puzzled and almost, desperate? “I’m sick of this place, sick of Outpour.” He snarled the word. “I don’t know how Darius stood it, day after day. And now that Ellie’s coming back…”

Aerolus felt the hair on the back of his neck tingle at the name. How very strange. “Ellie?”

Cadmus opened his mouth to speak and stopped. He turned suddenly, looking around him.

“Cadmus?”

“Sorry.” He shoved a nervous hand through his hair and Aerolus couldn’t help but stare. The normally funny, self-effacing ‘youngest’ of the Tetrarch looked uneasy.

“If work’s bothering you, just quit,” Aerolus said slowly, watching Cadmus for signs of spell tampering. Despite his nerves, his brother looked fine, hell, he felt fine. But something was bothering him.

Sighing, Cadmus rubbed his eyes. “I can’t quit, not until I know,” he paused and shook his head. “Never mind. Look, I have a few hours until work. I need some rest before I go in tonight. I’ll talk to you later.”

Aerolus watched with concern as Cadmus vanished upstairs. Marcus and now Cadmus had issues he couldn’t see and didn’t know how to help, and his lack of control over the situation irritated him on a most basic level. He took a deep breath and centred himself.

If Aerolus was anything, he was in control.

He breathed out, calm once more, when a flash of light in the kitchen caught his eye. Already on his guard due to ‘Sin Garu’s inconceivable interruption, he automatically switched to warrior mode, teleporting into the room in a heartbeat. Ready for an otherworldly attack, he released a tense breath when he noted the blinking microwave.

Apparently one of his brothers had forgotten he’d prepared a cup of hot water.

With a sigh, he opened and slammed the microwave door shut to still the incessant blinking, allowing his frustration to the surface just this once. Tired and wishing he could be more than what royalty prescribed him to be, he sank down into a chair and stared at the pink-streaked sky through the kitchen window.

“I wish I had more time.” But he felt the clock ticking. Though he didn’t have Cadmus’ second sight, he knew it was only a matter of time before he found his own affai and returned to Tanselm.

He sighed again and wished for hopeless possibilities, weaving a small wind in the strands of magical energy he’d found waiting idly in this world. He wiggled his fingers and the energy pulsed, colours flaring and lights flashing like a private dance.

His deepest wish, to lose himself in the yawn of magical understanding, sat before him, symbolised by the garish, raw magic that swirled in a small pocket of life unexpected in a world devoid of magic.

He stared into the powerful breath of energy, wishing to rule not a kingdom, but his own mind, learning and teaching the streams of conscious and untapped magic of the esoteric world.

Dreams flickered and died before him as his command over the spurious energy faded. Tamping down the pointless fantasy, he shook his head and focused on what really mattered—his brothers and the future of Tanselm.

Focused on what he knew was the more important worry at the moment, he missed the flash of light by the hallway, monitoring his every move.