We had finally made it back home the last few miles getting shorter. Vericus lead us until he suddenly picked up speed padding ahead of us.
'Ver?'
'Cora's with Raine.'
I growled through the link picking up speed as well. I knew I had no hope of keeping up with Vericus I only hoped he got there before anything happened. I don't care of Raine had declared a truce I still didn't trust her.
I found Vericus standing in the dark back in human form. I shifted pulling pants out of my bag just as I reached him.
"Ver what are you doing where's Cora?"
Before he could answer I heard Cora's voice.
"She kept some of my power safe from you."
I growled running passed Ver.
"CORA!"
They were standing next to a huge tree, Raine leaning against it a throwing knife in her hands. Grabbing Cora I pulled her away from Raine scowling at the she wolf as I passed.
"What the hell are you doing? You shouldn't be around her alone and definitely not in the middle of the night."
Cora groaned.
"Seriously Slo I'm not some weakling that always needs protection."
I sighed annoyed with myself.
"Look I'm not saying that your weak it's just this is Raine we're talking about. After what happened last time I don't want her any where near you."
Cora ripped her hand from mine.
"Stop it Slo stop treating me like a child. What I did was something I had to do. Rix save me from loosing apart of myself. I had to thank her for that even if there's a chance she couldn't hear me."
I stared at her how could she not see that Raine couldn't be trusted. I don't care if Rixs soul is inside her. Raine was the one in control she may be willing to work with us now but what happens when she reverts back to how she was in that cage. It would only take one thing to get her angry and she would take it out on all of us. Ver was an idiot for excepting her truce.
"Cora you can't tell me you trust her after everything that's happened. After everything that's she's done?"
"Slo I know you hate that she hurt me but I really believe that she did it for a good reason. Think about it if she hadn't stole my power if she hadn't used it to escape how many lives would she have taken to get away? By using me she saved the others from loosing their lives trying to stop her. Deep down I don't think she's a bad person, just someone who's had so many bad things done to her she doesn't know any different. Even still she chose the path with the least amount of casualties."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. She was actually defending Raine. Making excuses for what she had done. Was she really willing to forgive Raine? Cora stepped closer her hand grabbing mine.
"I don't expect you to trust her nor do I trust her myself. All I'm saying is give her a chance to prove that she can be trusted. She has been scorned by so many her whole life. Made to do things she didn't want to do then hated for it. I'm not saying I think what she did was right but I can just see it from her point of view."
I sighed pulling her against my chest.
"I don't know if I'll ever trust her but I get it. What she's been through is enough to tear anyone apart. I'm willing to give her a chance but you have to promise me no more visiting her in the middle of the night and definitely not alone."
She nodded smiling as she kissed me. What was it about a wolfs mate that made you give in to the most ridiculous things even when your whole body screamed against it?
"Come on we better get back."
I took her hand again and together we made our way back. We were almost out when I heard voices. Quickly I pulled Cora back. I don't know why I was hiding but something told me we shouldn't interrupt them. Ver and Raine were halfway across the yard. They seemed to be fighting about something then Raine went for her dagger. I was about to rush to help when Malix beat me to it. I hadn't even heard him approach.
"Slo why are we hiding?"
I covered her mouth.
"Do you want to interrupt them?"
She shook her head when I released her mouth.
"I guess not."
I concentrated on my hearing so that I could make out their voices. Malix had Stopped Raine from leaving. The way he talked to her and the way she hung on to every word he said. It was nothing like I'd ever seen. Malixs words were getting through to her. He was doing what I tried and failed to do when she was in that cage. I had a hard time believing Malix had the power to change Raine. Was Cora right about her? Was there really still something good inside her?
"What are you two doing?"
Cora almost screamed startled by the voice. I only just managed to cover her mouth before she was heard.
"You know it not nice to eavesdrop right?"
I sighed.
"It's not like I planned it, but I wasn't going out there with those three."
Owen chuckled.
"I suppose not. Come on Slo I'm sure Vericus wants you present for this."
I sighed hearing the nickname.
"Not you too."
Cora giggled beside me. Guess there was no stopping it. I'd better get used to the name Slo cause it didn't seem like it was going away. It could be worse I should be grateful it at least comes from my actual name.
We followed Owen into the house, Cora left to go to her room while Owen and I headed for the office. Just as we turned to go down the hall the door to the dining room swung open. Ty almost loosing a mountain of food all over us.
"Geez Ty do you ever stop eating?"
He even had a mouth full of dinner roll as he tried to talk around it. I reached up snapping the roll from his mouth.
"I can't help it some dumbarse sent me on an errand to which I only got half way to only to call me back."
I scowled at him. The dumbarse he was referring to was me. I stuffed the bun back in his mouth.
"On second thought eat all the food you want I hope you choke on it."
I could still hear his grumbling as he made his way upstairs to his room.
"Poor Ty he always gets the shit jobs."
"That's because the idiot always causes trouble when he's home. If I have to hear another female whine about how his sleeping around I'll kill myself."
Owen laughed closing the distance to vers office. Opening the door he let me ensure first then closed the door behind us. Raine was leaning against the wall furtherest she could get from Ver. Malix sat in the alcove of the window next to her. Roake in one of the chairs before Vers desk. The tension in the air seemed charged to maximum levels. Owen ever the calm collected type sat in the other chair before Ver leaving me to stand on the opposite wall from Raine and Malix.
"Good now we're all here let's get started."
Ver looked to Raine who only scowled back.
"Since none of us have actually gone up against Driak we need to know every power that you've ever given him. We need to know what he's capable of if we have even the slightest chance of capturing him alive."
She scoffed at Vers words.
"It would be quicker to tell you what he can't do."
Her voice had an edge to it like she wanted so badly to see us as enemies but was trying to control that side of her. It was Malixs hand that reached for hers that made her voice softer. Taking a deep breath she started to list everyone of the powers and abilities she had collected only to hand them over to Driak. The list was long and took over an hour before she finally stopped.
No one said a word. It was like there was a heavy weight in the air that made it hard to breath. With everything that Raine had done to make Driak powerful it a wonder he didn't just out right kill us all. How can one man hold so much power. I doubt even Vericus could stop him with his new power to bend the forces of nature.
"Don't say I didn't warn you."
Ver was the first to answer.
"And you say when you saw him at the cabin he had the ability to drain Cora's power from you on his own with out you giving it to him?"
She inclined her head in answer.
"So it's safe to assume he has even more abilities that you haven't listed. He may have had that ability all along and was deceiving you this whole time. Who knows how powerful he really is."
Roake was next to voice his question.
"What about the druids did they not help you tap into a power that would revile even his?"
"Wait druids? What druids?"
To my surprise Ver told Raine everything that had happened to him even the part about the time difference while he was with the druids. When he was finished her face became pensive. Her voice a whisper meant for only herself but we all heard it.
"That explains the change."
She took another look at Ver as if she was seeing him in a new light. Ver ignored her words but smiled slightly enjoying that he'd thrown her off balance.
"To answer your question Roake I don't know if my power is stronger it not like I've been able to test it. It could be said that since all the power Driak has stolen are from sups created by the moon goddess and my power is also by the moon goddess they wouldn't have any effect on me but until I go up against him it's only a theory at best."
"What about Caho was she able to track where he went?"
Vers eyes met Owens shaking his head.
"No she said once she saved Raine and Malix it was like Driak just disappeared. Even her trees couldn't locate him. Whatever magic he's using to hide himself is even older then the wood nymphs themselves. The best we can do is wait for him to surface again."
I groaned in frustration.
"Great so in other words were one step forward two steps back."
Everyone went silent at my words. Suddenly Raine growled punching the wall in anger.
"So basically we have nothing. What was the point in coming here then?"
Her fists clenched by her side blood dripped from her knuckles. Quickly she pulled her mask down to cover her face. Malix reached for the hand that was bleeding but she pulled away taking a deep breath.
"What about Rix can your power free her from me?"
Her voice was muffled by the mask but seemed calmer. Ver ignored her outburst and answered her question.
"I don't know I could try but even if I did I don't know what would happen once she was out of your mind. Her body is gone if it was as simple as just putting her inside a new body it would have been done by now. Silan said that she spoke to you before she put her soul inside you. Do you remember what she said?"
Slowly Raine lifted her mask again her eyes met Vers confusion in her eyes.
"Silan? Who's that?"
"She's the siren who escaped with Rix. It's her power that Driak implanted inside you."
Raine glanced at Malix at a loss for words.
"I think we should first try to get back your memories from that day. There maybe something in what Rix told you that may help us with Driak. In any case it's something that I know i can definitely do without harming Rix or Raine."
Ver voiced his next question directly at Raine.
"Would you be willing to let me try? It would mean I would have to enter your mind."
For the first time ever I saw Raine cringe in fear at anything. She banished it quickly but we all saw it.
"I.. "
She glanced at Malix her lips forming a tight line. She didn't want to but she knew there was no other way. Squaring her shoulders she slowly nodded.
"Fine but you'll have to..."
She shivered.
"You'll have to tie me down."
Malix snapped to his feet grabbing Raine by the shoulders.
"Raine no!"
She pulled her mask back down hiding her face once again.
"It's the only way."
Malix shook his head wrapping his arms around her. Ver tensed at the intimacy between them. Malixs next words were aimed at Ver.
"Please Vericus there must be another way? You know what he did to her! You can't ask her to do this!"
Raine ripped out of his arms her fists clenching once more.
"Malix enough! Please just don't say another word."
They stared at each other sharing some silent communication the rest of us were oblivious to. Reluctantly Malixs head dropped in defeat as Raine spun back around mask still covering her face.
"We'll start tomorrow. Now if we're done here I'm going to bed."
She headed for the door not even caring if any of us agreed. Before the door closed I was sure I saw a tear drop from beneath her mask. Malix was hot on her heels seconds later.
Silence filled the room. That was intense. Who would have thought Raine had a weak side. She acted so tough like nothing bothered her yet now it was clear she was far more traumatised then anyone would've ever thought. I almost couldn't believe I somehow felt sorry for her. Maybe all this time the mass murderer Raine really was the victim in all this. We were so quick to condemn her, to blame her for what she had done. Not one person that feared her, feared what she could do and had done in her life bothered to take stock of what had been done to her.
I was beginning to understand her just from these last few moments. She was not a monster at all but someone who had been through a life time of torture. I life time of pain. It's no wonder she's treats everyone the way she does. How could
Anyone blame her for being that way. Hell no one else could go through what she did and come out the other end still sane. I know I couldn't. she is stronger then all of us combined.