Disclaimer: All Night World ideas, concepts and characters belong to LJS. The characters of Nova Harman-Redfern, Winter Redfern, Donavon Redfern, Azurite Dracho, Darcie Bloodthorne, Devi Darkthorn, Jorryn Nightshade and Martina Silverthorne belong to me. Please ask me first if you wish to use them. The title comes from a K's Choice song on their album Paradise in Me. (Track 7)
Summary: The final Wild Power has been discovered so Thierry has called a meeting of all the Daybreakers together. They have a solstice to celebrate, and a battle to prepare for. But the Night World are prepared too. They've brought back the Dragon Princess in a vain attempt to get the Wild Powers. If one of the new Night World recruits wasn't the Wild Power's soulmate, maybe there wouldn't be problems...
Part 1
The black candles burned, their flames creating eerie, twisting shadows. The woman in the black robes smiled in satisfaction as she completed her ritual. Her chanting reached a crescendo, and a blast of strange light filled the room.
When the light cleared, another person had appeared in the centre of the room. The new woman who appeared was tall and dark skinned, dressed in animal skins, looking like someone who had appeared from caveman times. Which was exactly who she was. Black hair cascaded around her, and red eyes glared at Nova Harman-Redfern.
"Hello Azurite Dracho," Nova said, a cruel smile growing over her face. "Welcome to the twentieth century."
The woman in the skins looked dazed and surprised, as if she didn't really understand what was going on. Well, who could blame her? The woman had been put to sleep by the witches thirty thousand years ago.
She had been the leader of the dragons in the times when shapeshifters had ruled the earth. And Nova had brought her back for a very special purpose. She had been a key player in the First Millennium battle, and had fought hard to banish the witches. Unfortunately, she had failed. But this time, if the Night World Council had a dragon on their side, then their chances of getting the final Wild Power increased.
Things were starting to look up for the bad guys.
* * *
Winter Redfern was not impressed. She followed the butler down the wide marble hallway to the office of the Daybreak leader, Thierry Descouedres. He was waiting for her, an eager smile on his face. Lady Hannah, his soulmate, stood with him, also smiling brightly.
"Winter Redfern, you can't understand what an honour it is to finally meet you," Thierry said, reaching out and taking her hands.
"We've been searching for so long, and now you're finally part of us!" Hannah said excitedly.
Winter just looked at them, managing a weak smile. Personally, she wasn't so sure what the big deal was. So she had some sort of special magic power they called Blue Fire. What was the point? She'd heard about the millennium prophecies, but personally, didn't believe they'd come true.
"Well," Hannah said brightly, "why don't you get yourself settled in then I'll introduce you to everyone."
"Great," Winter muttered, trying, and failing to sound interested. She followed Hannah out the door to a wide marble staircase where a tall, elegant lanky boy was leaning against the railing. His eyebrows raised as he saw Winter coming, and he gave her what must be his flirty smile. "Hi there," he said. "I'm Ash."
"Winter Redfern," she said. He reached out to take her hand, and started to bring it to his lips.
"Ash!"
He stopped then, looking over his shoulder at the girl who had appeared. She was only average height, dressed in jeans and a top with a pattern of moons and stars. Dark brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail and blue eyes glared furiously at Ash, who just looked back. His eyes changed colour from moment to moment, like the lights in a glacier. Redfern eyes. Winter wasn't impressed, hers were the same. He smiled apologetically at the girl. "Relax, Mare, I'm just being friendly," he said.
"You're too friendly," the girl said, sounding a little jealous as she glanced over at Winter.
"Lighten up Mare," Hannah said, still annoyingly bright. Winter wondered how she could sound so perky. "Winter this is Mary-Lynnette Carter, she and Ash are soulmates."
Winter felt a stab of her own jealously. "You're soulmates?" she said, a touch of wistfulness in her voice. Her thoughts strayed to her own, but she pushed it away before the memories could deepen.
Mary-Lynnette sighed. "Unfortunately." Her eyebrow raised. "On second thoughts, you want him?" Now she seemed eager to get rid of him.
"Thanks a lot," Ash muttered.
"I'm good," Winter said, a dry smile on her pale pink lips.
"Don't just stand there, Ash," Hannah said, "make yourself useful. Take Winter's bags."
Ash took Winter's two suitcases and accompanied her and Hannah up to one of the second floor bedrooms. Winter tuned out Hannah's bright, inane chatter. She didn't feel like being happy and perky. She saw several other heads stick out of doors as she passed. She felt their eyes follow her. She frowned, not really liking the feeling. It felt strange, invasive of her privacy.
She wasn't all that important. She knew she was pretty, with her model's figure, long golden hair, and ever changing Redfern eyes, a face that was a sculptor's dream, and skin that was soft to touch, the palest of pinks. But being pretty wasn't everything, at least, it wasn't to her. But that wasn't why everyone was staring at her.
They were staring at her because she was the supposed final Wild Power. With her on their side, then they would successfully banish all the darkness at the millennium battle. She shuddered inwardly. The thought of battle scared her. She was no fighter.
She nodded her thanks to Ash and Hannah and was relieved to finally be alone.
* * *
Hannah frowned, wondering what was wrong. The new Wild Power didn't seem to be happy she was there. Thea looked up from her seat in the lounge when Hannah walked in, sitting down next to her. "What's up?" she asked, putting her magazine down. "We've got the new Wild Power, so why aren't you jumping for joy?"
"She's the Wild Power?" Mary-Lynnette asked as she came in then. She looked a little embarrassed. "Oops."
"Oops?" Thea asked. "What'd you do?"
"I sort of got mad at Ash flirting with her," she confessed. "I didn't realise she was the Wild Power.
"Ash flirts with every girl he meets, you know he doesn't mean anything by it," Hannah said dismissively. "He's nuts about you, anyone can see that."
Mary-Lynnette smiled a little. "What's her problem anyway?" she asked. "For a Wild Power she seemed kind of remote."
"That's what I wondered," Hannah said. She frowned, unsure why she lacked Thierry's joy at the discovery of the Wild Power. She was cold and unfriendly, distant. It made her wonder...
"Give her some time," Thea said. "Maybe she's just a little overwhelmed at sudden discoveries of her powers and being dragged into all of this."
"Maybe," Hannah said. She just hoped Thea was right. She wasn't sure why, but she seemed to find trusting Winter difficult. She had hardly said a word. Did the Night World know about her? Was she working with them in a plot to steal the others from under their noses? She was sure she was just being paranoid. Thea was right. Winter just needed time to adjust to her new surroundings. That was all. Wasn't it?
* * *
Winter sat on her window seat, her long legs tucked under her. She stared out at the bright blue sky outside, the lush landscape of the mansion. Obviously everything green must be artificially grown. In this desert climate growing plants would probably be impossible.
She had unpacked, but wasn't ready to go downstairs and be polite and happy and annoyingly perky like they all seemed. They were all probably very nice. But...they all had their soulmates there.
She could feel tears beading in her eyes, and since she was alone, allowed them to fall down her pale cheeks. She missed him so much. He was the one who had made her a Redfern, and after the wonderful discovery of their connection, and the joys it hadn't been forbidden, she had been willing to take the chance of being with him forever. Before her change into a vampire, she had been a shapeshifter, a hawk.
She still had the ability to shift, and nothing beat flying. She loved the feel of soaring through the air, the wind rushing through her feathers. The feeling was amazing, electrifying. She had discovered her soulmate in lamia vampire Donavon Blackthorn. Their love had bloomed and grown, up until the Night World had discovered them. Unfortunately for her, he had failed to mention he was one of their top ranking assassins.
The Night World wasn't the place for her, they were too cruel, too cold. She hadn't exactly thought of herself as Daybreak material. She was sort of in-between. Unable to pick sides, Night World had flat-out killed him in front of her.
She shoved the memories aside. She had kept them buried for so long. Now, though, fighting for Daybreak, there might be the chance to avenge him.
The other thing she wasn't sure about, were these new powers of hers. This Blue Fire that no one seemed to know much about. Discovering the powers had been completely accidental. As far as she knew, shapeshifters had no witch magic. She had spied a human girl being chased by vampire and had run to help out. She had fought and been injured, and then the blast had just - suddenly come out of her. It had just happened - like that. Some Daybreak agents had been in the area and seen the blast, and then they had insisted she come with them and be taken somewhere safe where the Night World wouldn't get her. Her family had been taken to a Daybreak safe-house, while she had gone to the main headquarters to meet the other Wild Powers.
She wasn't ready to meet them yet. Not yet. She would rather just be left alone. She couldn't fact explaining why she was so unhappy. Hell, right now, she'd rather just be dead.
* * *
Nova paced up and down in her office, while Azurite sat in her chair. She had improved in appearance, and seemed fascinated by the new century. And very eager for revenge against the witches who had put her to sleep.
"So why do you not just kill them?" she asked, a frown on her face.
"We're getting to that," Nova said. She smiled, running her fingers through her mane of crimson coloured hair. She tapped long black nails on the wooden sideboard, waiting for her new team to arrive. For such a task, she had sent her favourite assassin Donavon Redfern to gather the most evil, most vicious Night People he could find.
Luckily for her, Donavon was having a slight problem with his memory - in that - he'd lost it. She had *not* been happy, discovering him with a wimpy little shapeshifter for his soulmate. She wanted her top assassin back. He was her favourite, one of the best. And this bitch would change him, she'd make him wussy like her, and they would both probably end up as damned Daybreakers dancing and singing about love and harmony and all that crap. No. No. No. That could *not* happen. Anyway, the whole thing had been taken care of. As far as the soulmate was concerned, he was long dead.
The problem was the soulmate, Winter Redfern, had now been discovered as the Fourth Wild Power. Informed sources inside Daybreak told her that all the Wild Powers and the important people had gathered together inside Thierry's Daybreak mansion.
Personally, Nova would have thought the better of Thierry. Having the most important Daybreak people all under one roof where it would be so easy to destroy them, blow them up in their sleep or something, it was ludicrous. All the more fun for the bad guys to play with them.
Finally the double doors open and a group of people dressed in dark clothing and black leather, with strange coloured hair and eyes walked in. They looked like a gone-wrong Eighties punk band. Nova looked over at Donavon leading the group, tall, blond, muscular, silver eyes meeting hers, a smile pulling at his lips as he saw the look on her face.
"This is it?" she asked.
"Yep, the best I could find," he said, sounding amused. He pointed at the first girl, fairly small, flowing red locks, eyes shining the colour of blood, dressed in a snake-print top, high boots, and a short skirt. "Darcie Bloodthorne, 1/2 witch, 1/2 vampire," he said. He sounded rather impressed. Nova wondered vaguely if he was sleeping with her. It wouldn't be all that surprising. He pointed to the girl who stood next to her. Tall, dressed in a long flowing black dress with a twisting design, slightly Gothic. Blue black hair surrounded her like a shawl, and murky green eyes stared at Nova with unfriendly hostility. "Devi Darkthorne. Witch."
"Darkthorne and Bloodthorne? Relations?" Nova asked.
"Cousins," Donavon said. He pointed at the guy behind the two girls. Again, tall and muscular in black from head to toe, everything, including eyes and hair, even his skin was dark, making him seem the essence of darkness. Now this was more like it. Nova was slightly more impressed with him. "Jorryn Nightshade. Lamia vampire. Over 500." Finally, he moved to the final girl. She was as tall as Jorryn, dressed in a black leather body suit, showing off her slender body, and all her curves. Purple hair fell to her shoulders and blue eyes shone with a mischievous glimmer. "Martina Silverthorne. Vampire. Over 600."
Nova looked at her new team, wondering if they were really up to the task she had for them. "Okay. Your task - bring me a Wild Power. Any one of them, we only need one of them to triumph. Four less one. Get the weakest one. Kill anyone else who tries to stop you. Do I make myself clear?"
They all grumbled and nodded.
Nova leaned against her sideboard. "Go away and get on with it. And," she paused before they all left. "Do *not* disappoint me. You don't want to see me upset."
"And she's not kidding," Donavon muttered as the team followed him out the door.
Azurite didn't look any more impressed with the group than Nova did. "Do you really think that bunch of social rejects could bring you the Wild Power?" she asked.
Nova shrugged. She was catching on fast. "We're gonna have to wait and see."
* * *
Winter still sat on her window seat, daydreaming of her lost love when there was a knock on the door. "Who is it?" she said, irritated.
"It's Ash," a male voice answered. The door opened and he came in without being invited. He joined her on the window seat. "Why so sad?" He noticed the silver picture frame in her hand, her one and only photograph of Donavon. "Who's that?"
Winter looked at the picture, her head tilted. "My soulmate," she said sadly. "He's dead. Night World killed him."
Ash looked sympathetic. "Look at it this way, in a couple of days when it's the battle you'll get your revenge when you blast them all with your blue fire," he offered, trying to cheer her up.
Winter studied him. "So, I see you've found your soulmate."
He smiled faintly. If he didn't have a soulmate, and if she still wasn't hung up on the loss of hers, she might have been attracted to him. "Yeah, she's the one that convinced me to join Daybreak,"
"How come?" Winter asked.
Ash turned away and looked out the window. "I used to be bad, as bad as you can be. Your average badass Redfern vamp." He glanced over at her warily. She just looked at him. He looked away again. "I lived in an enclave with my three sisters, Rowan, Kestrel and Jade. Then one day they ran away, they wanted to see the human world. And I went after them. They hid in a small town where a distant relative used to live, and not only did I found them, I found Mary-Lynnette as well." He smiled faintly. "I started seeing things differently then. She made me realise there's more to humans than food and vermin." He looked a little ashamed. "I was determined to change for her. I rescued Gillian, a lost witch from a Night World club she wandered into, I met Hannah, an Old Soul, with soulmate problems of her own. She sorted her problems out, and I did mine."
Winter sighed. "That's all well and good for you, but it won't bring mine back," she said sadly.
Ash looked at her, an eyebrow raised. "You asked me." He studied her for a moment. "I came up here to invite you to the Solstice party tonight." He smiled suddenly, as if struck by something very funny.
Winter eyed him. "What?"
"Ironically, Winter Solstice," he said with that sexy lopsided grin. "The witches will do a brief ceremony, then it's party all night. Maybe that'll cheer you up. Think about it." He stood up then and left, shutting the door behind him.
Winter watched him go. Maybe he had a point. Maybe the party would cheer her up. Only one way to find out.
* * *
Winter left the privacy of her room to brave the Solstice celebration. She found the Daybreaks in a room, all sat in some sort of group, while she noticed a couple of witches in white robes, an iron cauldron, an alter set up with evergreen wood on either side, a circle of stones, dried leaves, candles of various sizes and colour waiting to be lit. Incense was burning creating a pleasant smell.
Winter took a seat next to Mary-Lynnette, Ash and Hannah. "Look who's decided to join the real world," Ash said.
Winter gave him a look. "Shut up," she said. "What's going on? I thought you said there was going to be a party."
"There will be," Hannah said. "But first Thea, Winnie and Iliana are going to do their Solstice ritual."
Winter had never seen an actual ritual being performed, and turned with renewed interest to the three girls in white robes standing around the cauldron. The leader, a girl with wise brown eyes, was holding a red candle. A gentle wash of power was blowing through the room. Winter could feel it caressing her skin like a warm summer wind. She watched the witches cast their circle. And then they began chanting:
"We sorrow not, though the world is wrapped in sleep,
We sorrow not, through the icy winds blast,
We sorrow not, though the snow falls hide and deep..."
"Snow?" Ash muttered under his breath. "Have they looked outside? It's desert. How the hell do you have to not sorrow for snow in the desert."
Mary-Lynnette kicked him. "Shut up and listen," she hissed.
Winter tried to hide a smile, and turned her attention back to the witches and their chants.
"We sorrow not, this shall soon be passed."
The girl with the gentle brown eyes blew on the candle, and the wick lit up, a flame dancing, shining with a bright golden glow. As the flames moved and swayed from side to side, they chanted again.
"We light this fire in your honour Mother Goddess,
You have created life from death, warmth from cold,
The Sun lives once again; the time of light is waxing,
Welcome ever returning God of the Sun!
Hail Mother of all!"
They began circling round the caldron, walking counter-clockwise, their eyes all fixed on the burning candle as the leader placed it inside the cauldron. The chanting continued.
"The wheel turns, the power burns."
They circled the coven, repeating this several times, eventually stopping, and sitting down around the cauldron in the lotus position. Winter was confused. "What's going on?" she whispered to Mary-Lynnette, who just shrugged, and watched on, equally fascinated.
"They're meditating, I think," Hannah explained softly.
The three witches stood up in a swift, graceful movement, smiles on their faces, eyes shining. They started circling the coven again, chanting a final incantation.
"Great God of the Sun,
We welcome your return.
May you shine brightly on the Goddess,
May you shine brightly on the Earth,
Scattering seeds and fertilising the land,
All blessings on you
Reborn one of the sun!"
Then they did some more things with the herbs and leaves. Winter didn't really know what was going on.
"Okay," the leader, Thea said cheerfully. "That's it, we're done."
"Finally," Ash muttered. He smiled brilliantly. "Now party, party, party."
Loud music came on and people spilt up into groups as the Solstice party got on the way. Winter blended in with the crowd, finding herself joining Jez and Morgead, and Keller and Nissa, who didn't seem all lovey-dovey and sickeningly happy.
Yet, while the celebrations continued, the Daybreakers were unaware of what lurked in the darkness around the mansion.
* * *
Notes: The solstice ritual Thea uses in this part comes from a suggestion in Scott Cunningham's a Wicca, a guide for the solitary practitioner. I thought using an actual ceremony would make it seem more realistic.
Summary: The final Wild Power has been discovered so Thierry has called a meeting of all the Daybreakers together. They have a solstice to celebrate, and a battle to prepare for. But the Night World are prepared too. They've brought back the Dragon Princess in a vain attempt to get the Wild Powers. If one of the new Night World recruits wasn't the Wild Power's soulmate, maybe there wouldn't be problems...
Part 1
The black candles burned, their flames creating eerie, twisting shadows. The woman in the black robes smiled in satisfaction as she completed her ritual. Her chanting reached a crescendo, and a blast of strange light filled the room.
When the light cleared, another person had appeared in the centre of the room. The new woman who appeared was tall and dark skinned, dressed in animal skins, looking like someone who had appeared from caveman times. Which was exactly who she was. Black hair cascaded around her, and red eyes glared at Nova Harman-Redfern.
"Hello Azurite Dracho," Nova said, a cruel smile growing over her face. "Welcome to the twentieth century."
The woman in the skins looked dazed and surprised, as if she didn't really understand what was going on. Well, who could blame her? The woman had been put to sleep by the witches thirty thousand years ago.
She had been the leader of the dragons in the times when shapeshifters had ruled the earth. And Nova had brought her back for a very special purpose. She had been a key player in the First Millennium battle, and had fought hard to banish the witches. Unfortunately, she had failed. But this time, if the Night World Council had a dragon on their side, then their chances of getting the final Wild Power increased.
Things were starting to look up for the bad guys.
* * *
Winter Redfern was not impressed. She followed the butler down the wide marble hallway to the office of the Daybreak leader, Thierry Descouedres. He was waiting for her, an eager smile on his face. Lady Hannah, his soulmate, stood with him, also smiling brightly.
"Winter Redfern, you can't understand what an honour it is to finally meet you," Thierry said, reaching out and taking her hands.
"We've been searching for so long, and now you're finally part of us!" Hannah said excitedly.
Winter just looked at them, managing a weak smile. Personally, she wasn't so sure what the big deal was. So she had some sort of special magic power they called Blue Fire. What was the point? She'd heard about the millennium prophecies, but personally, didn't believe they'd come true.
"Well," Hannah said brightly, "why don't you get yourself settled in then I'll introduce you to everyone."
"Great," Winter muttered, trying, and failing to sound interested. She followed Hannah out the door to a wide marble staircase where a tall, elegant lanky boy was leaning against the railing. His eyebrows raised as he saw Winter coming, and he gave her what must be his flirty smile. "Hi there," he said. "I'm Ash."
"Winter Redfern," she said. He reached out to take her hand, and started to bring it to his lips.
"Ash!"
He stopped then, looking over his shoulder at the girl who had appeared. She was only average height, dressed in jeans and a top with a pattern of moons and stars. Dark brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail and blue eyes glared furiously at Ash, who just looked back. His eyes changed colour from moment to moment, like the lights in a glacier. Redfern eyes. Winter wasn't impressed, hers were the same. He smiled apologetically at the girl. "Relax, Mare, I'm just being friendly," he said.
"You're too friendly," the girl said, sounding a little jealous as she glanced over at Winter.
"Lighten up Mare," Hannah said, still annoyingly bright. Winter wondered how she could sound so perky. "Winter this is Mary-Lynnette Carter, she and Ash are soulmates."
Winter felt a stab of her own jealously. "You're soulmates?" she said, a touch of wistfulness in her voice. Her thoughts strayed to her own, but she pushed it away before the memories could deepen.
Mary-Lynnette sighed. "Unfortunately." Her eyebrow raised. "On second thoughts, you want him?" Now she seemed eager to get rid of him.
"Thanks a lot," Ash muttered.
"I'm good," Winter said, a dry smile on her pale pink lips.
"Don't just stand there, Ash," Hannah said, "make yourself useful. Take Winter's bags."
Ash took Winter's two suitcases and accompanied her and Hannah up to one of the second floor bedrooms. Winter tuned out Hannah's bright, inane chatter. She didn't feel like being happy and perky. She saw several other heads stick out of doors as she passed. She felt their eyes follow her. She frowned, not really liking the feeling. It felt strange, invasive of her privacy.
She wasn't all that important. She knew she was pretty, with her model's figure, long golden hair, and ever changing Redfern eyes, a face that was a sculptor's dream, and skin that was soft to touch, the palest of pinks. But being pretty wasn't everything, at least, it wasn't to her. But that wasn't why everyone was staring at her.
They were staring at her because she was the supposed final Wild Power. With her on their side, then they would successfully banish all the darkness at the millennium battle. She shuddered inwardly. The thought of battle scared her. She was no fighter.
She nodded her thanks to Ash and Hannah and was relieved to finally be alone.
* * *
Hannah frowned, wondering what was wrong. The new Wild Power didn't seem to be happy she was there. Thea looked up from her seat in the lounge when Hannah walked in, sitting down next to her. "What's up?" she asked, putting her magazine down. "We've got the new Wild Power, so why aren't you jumping for joy?"
"She's the Wild Power?" Mary-Lynnette asked as she came in then. She looked a little embarrassed. "Oops."
"Oops?" Thea asked. "What'd you do?"
"I sort of got mad at Ash flirting with her," she confessed. "I didn't realise she was the Wild Power.
"Ash flirts with every girl he meets, you know he doesn't mean anything by it," Hannah said dismissively. "He's nuts about you, anyone can see that."
Mary-Lynnette smiled a little. "What's her problem anyway?" she asked. "For a Wild Power she seemed kind of remote."
"That's what I wondered," Hannah said. She frowned, unsure why she lacked Thierry's joy at the discovery of the Wild Power. She was cold and unfriendly, distant. It made her wonder...
"Give her some time," Thea said. "Maybe she's just a little overwhelmed at sudden discoveries of her powers and being dragged into all of this."
"Maybe," Hannah said. She just hoped Thea was right. She wasn't sure why, but she seemed to find trusting Winter difficult. She had hardly said a word. Did the Night World know about her? Was she working with them in a plot to steal the others from under their noses? She was sure she was just being paranoid. Thea was right. Winter just needed time to adjust to her new surroundings. That was all. Wasn't it?
* * *
Winter sat on her window seat, her long legs tucked under her. She stared out at the bright blue sky outside, the lush landscape of the mansion. Obviously everything green must be artificially grown. In this desert climate growing plants would probably be impossible.
She had unpacked, but wasn't ready to go downstairs and be polite and happy and annoyingly perky like they all seemed. They were all probably very nice. But...they all had their soulmates there.
She could feel tears beading in her eyes, and since she was alone, allowed them to fall down her pale cheeks. She missed him so much. He was the one who had made her a Redfern, and after the wonderful discovery of their connection, and the joys it hadn't been forbidden, she had been willing to take the chance of being with him forever. Before her change into a vampire, she had been a shapeshifter, a hawk.
She still had the ability to shift, and nothing beat flying. She loved the feel of soaring through the air, the wind rushing through her feathers. The feeling was amazing, electrifying. She had discovered her soulmate in lamia vampire Donavon Blackthorn. Their love had bloomed and grown, up until the Night World had discovered them. Unfortunately for her, he had failed to mention he was one of their top ranking assassins.
The Night World wasn't the place for her, they were too cruel, too cold. She hadn't exactly thought of herself as Daybreak material. She was sort of in-between. Unable to pick sides, Night World had flat-out killed him in front of her.
She shoved the memories aside. She had kept them buried for so long. Now, though, fighting for Daybreak, there might be the chance to avenge him.
The other thing she wasn't sure about, were these new powers of hers. This Blue Fire that no one seemed to know much about. Discovering the powers had been completely accidental. As far as she knew, shapeshifters had no witch magic. She had spied a human girl being chased by vampire and had run to help out. She had fought and been injured, and then the blast had just - suddenly come out of her. It had just happened - like that. Some Daybreak agents had been in the area and seen the blast, and then they had insisted she come with them and be taken somewhere safe where the Night World wouldn't get her. Her family had been taken to a Daybreak safe-house, while she had gone to the main headquarters to meet the other Wild Powers.
She wasn't ready to meet them yet. Not yet. She would rather just be left alone. She couldn't fact explaining why she was so unhappy. Hell, right now, she'd rather just be dead.
* * *
Nova paced up and down in her office, while Azurite sat in her chair. She had improved in appearance, and seemed fascinated by the new century. And very eager for revenge against the witches who had put her to sleep.
"So why do you not just kill them?" she asked, a frown on her face.
"We're getting to that," Nova said. She smiled, running her fingers through her mane of crimson coloured hair. She tapped long black nails on the wooden sideboard, waiting for her new team to arrive. For such a task, she had sent her favourite assassin Donavon Redfern to gather the most evil, most vicious Night People he could find.
Luckily for her, Donavon was having a slight problem with his memory - in that - he'd lost it. She had *not* been happy, discovering him with a wimpy little shapeshifter for his soulmate. She wanted her top assassin back. He was her favourite, one of the best. And this bitch would change him, she'd make him wussy like her, and they would both probably end up as damned Daybreakers dancing and singing about love and harmony and all that crap. No. No. No. That could *not* happen. Anyway, the whole thing had been taken care of. As far as the soulmate was concerned, he was long dead.
The problem was the soulmate, Winter Redfern, had now been discovered as the Fourth Wild Power. Informed sources inside Daybreak told her that all the Wild Powers and the important people had gathered together inside Thierry's Daybreak mansion.
Personally, Nova would have thought the better of Thierry. Having the most important Daybreak people all under one roof where it would be so easy to destroy them, blow them up in their sleep or something, it was ludicrous. All the more fun for the bad guys to play with them.
Finally the double doors open and a group of people dressed in dark clothing and black leather, with strange coloured hair and eyes walked in. They looked like a gone-wrong Eighties punk band. Nova looked over at Donavon leading the group, tall, blond, muscular, silver eyes meeting hers, a smile pulling at his lips as he saw the look on her face.
"This is it?" she asked.
"Yep, the best I could find," he said, sounding amused. He pointed at the first girl, fairly small, flowing red locks, eyes shining the colour of blood, dressed in a snake-print top, high boots, and a short skirt. "Darcie Bloodthorne, 1/2 witch, 1/2 vampire," he said. He sounded rather impressed. Nova wondered vaguely if he was sleeping with her. It wouldn't be all that surprising. He pointed to the girl who stood next to her. Tall, dressed in a long flowing black dress with a twisting design, slightly Gothic. Blue black hair surrounded her like a shawl, and murky green eyes stared at Nova with unfriendly hostility. "Devi Darkthorne. Witch."
"Darkthorne and Bloodthorne? Relations?" Nova asked.
"Cousins," Donavon said. He pointed at the guy behind the two girls. Again, tall and muscular in black from head to toe, everything, including eyes and hair, even his skin was dark, making him seem the essence of darkness. Now this was more like it. Nova was slightly more impressed with him. "Jorryn Nightshade. Lamia vampire. Over 500." Finally, he moved to the final girl. She was as tall as Jorryn, dressed in a black leather body suit, showing off her slender body, and all her curves. Purple hair fell to her shoulders and blue eyes shone with a mischievous glimmer. "Martina Silverthorne. Vampire. Over 600."
Nova looked at her new team, wondering if they were really up to the task she had for them. "Okay. Your task - bring me a Wild Power. Any one of them, we only need one of them to triumph. Four less one. Get the weakest one. Kill anyone else who tries to stop you. Do I make myself clear?"
They all grumbled and nodded.
Nova leaned against her sideboard. "Go away and get on with it. And," she paused before they all left. "Do *not* disappoint me. You don't want to see me upset."
"And she's not kidding," Donavon muttered as the team followed him out the door.
Azurite didn't look any more impressed with the group than Nova did. "Do you really think that bunch of social rejects could bring you the Wild Power?" she asked.
Nova shrugged. She was catching on fast. "We're gonna have to wait and see."
* * *
Winter still sat on her window seat, daydreaming of her lost love when there was a knock on the door. "Who is it?" she said, irritated.
"It's Ash," a male voice answered. The door opened and he came in without being invited. He joined her on the window seat. "Why so sad?" He noticed the silver picture frame in her hand, her one and only photograph of Donavon. "Who's that?"
Winter looked at the picture, her head tilted. "My soulmate," she said sadly. "He's dead. Night World killed him."
Ash looked sympathetic. "Look at it this way, in a couple of days when it's the battle you'll get your revenge when you blast them all with your blue fire," he offered, trying to cheer her up.
Winter studied him. "So, I see you've found your soulmate."
He smiled faintly. If he didn't have a soulmate, and if she still wasn't hung up on the loss of hers, she might have been attracted to him. "Yeah, she's the one that convinced me to join Daybreak,"
"How come?" Winter asked.
Ash turned away and looked out the window. "I used to be bad, as bad as you can be. Your average badass Redfern vamp." He glanced over at her warily. She just looked at him. He looked away again. "I lived in an enclave with my three sisters, Rowan, Kestrel and Jade. Then one day they ran away, they wanted to see the human world. And I went after them. They hid in a small town where a distant relative used to live, and not only did I found them, I found Mary-Lynnette as well." He smiled faintly. "I started seeing things differently then. She made me realise there's more to humans than food and vermin." He looked a little ashamed. "I was determined to change for her. I rescued Gillian, a lost witch from a Night World club she wandered into, I met Hannah, an Old Soul, with soulmate problems of her own. She sorted her problems out, and I did mine."
Winter sighed. "That's all well and good for you, but it won't bring mine back," she said sadly.
Ash looked at her, an eyebrow raised. "You asked me." He studied her for a moment. "I came up here to invite you to the Solstice party tonight." He smiled suddenly, as if struck by something very funny.
Winter eyed him. "What?"
"Ironically, Winter Solstice," he said with that sexy lopsided grin. "The witches will do a brief ceremony, then it's party all night. Maybe that'll cheer you up. Think about it." He stood up then and left, shutting the door behind him.
Winter watched him go. Maybe he had a point. Maybe the party would cheer her up. Only one way to find out.
* * *
Winter left the privacy of her room to brave the Solstice celebration. She found the Daybreaks in a room, all sat in some sort of group, while she noticed a couple of witches in white robes, an iron cauldron, an alter set up with evergreen wood on either side, a circle of stones, dried leaves, candles of various sizes and colour waiting to be lit. Incense was burning creating a pleasant smell.
Winter took a seat next to Mary-Lynnette, Ash and Hannah. "Look who's decided to join the real world," Ash said.
Winter gave him a look. "Shut up," she said. "What's going on? I thought you said there was going to be a party."
"There will be," Hannah said. "But first Thea, Winnie and Iliana are going to do their Solstice ritual."
Winter had never seen an actual ritual being performed, and turned with renewed interest to the three girls in white robes standing around the cauldron. The leader, a girl with wise brown eyes, was holding a red candle. A gentle wash of power was blowing through the room. Winter could feel it caressing her skin like a warm summer wind. She watched the witches cast their circle. And then they began chanting:
"We sorrow not, though the world is wrapped in sleep,
We sorrow not, through the icy winds blast,
We sorrow not, though the snow falls hide and deep..."
"Snow?" Ash muttered under his breath. "Have they looked outside? It's desert. How the hell do you have to not sorrow for snow in the desert."
Mary-Lynnette kicked him. "Shut up and listen," she hissed.
Winter tried to hide a smile, and turned her attention back to the witches and their chants.
"We sorrow not, this shall soon be passed."
The girl with the gentle brown eyes blew on the candle, and the wick lit up, a flame dancing, shining with a bright golden glow. As the flames moved and swayed from side to side, they chanted again.
"We light this fire in your honour Mother Goddess,
You have created life from death, warmth from cold,
The Sun lives once again; the time of light is waxing,
Welcome ever returning God of the Sun!
Hail Mother of all!"
They began circling round the caldron, walking counter-clockwise, their eyes all fixed on the burning candle as the leader placed it inside the cauldron. The chanting continued.
"The wheel turns, the power burns."
They circled the coven, repeating this several times, eventually stopping, and sitting down around the cauldron in the lotus position. Winter was confused. "What's going on?" she whispered to Mary-Lynnette, who just shrugged, and watched on, equally fascinated.
"They're meditating, I think," Hannah explained softly.
The three witches stood up in a swift, graceful movement, smiles on their faces, eyes shining. They started circling the coven again, chanting a final incantation.
"Great God of the Sun,
We welcome your return.
May you shine brightly on the Goddess,
May you shine brightly on the Earth,
Scattering seeds and fertilising the land,
All blessings on you
Reborn one of the sun!"
Then they did some more things with the herbs and leaves. Winter didn't really know what was going on.
"Okay," the leader, Thea said cheerfully. "That's it, we're done."
"Finally," Ash muttered. He smiled brilliantly. "Now party, party, party."
Loud music came on and people spilt up into groups as the Solstice party got on the way. Winter blended in with the crowd, finding herself joining Jez and Morgead, and Keller and Nissa, who didn't seem all lovey-dovey and sickeningly happy.
Yet, while the celebrations continued, the Daybreakers were unaware of what lurked in the darkness around the mansion.
* * *
Notes: The solstice ritual Thea uses in this part comes from a suggestion in Scott Cunningham's a Wicca, a guide for the solitary practitioner. I thought using an actual ceremony would make it seem more realistic.