This is the Third Part of Maggie’s Point of View of the latest scheme from Luna and Maggie. If you’re trying to keep track, the first part was Newfound Depths by Luna, The Second was Unusual Depths by Maggie. The Third was Newfound Desires by Luna. The Fourth was Unusual Desires by Maggie. The fifth was Newfound Strength by Luna. Now comes Unusual Strength from this corner…notice a theme? LOL.

I hope you enjoy reading this as much as we are enjoying writing it!

HUGS!
Maggie

Disclaimer: Laurell K. Hamilton and the Berkley Publishing Group do not authorize this author. All characters that you recognize belong to Laurell K. Hamilton except for the ones created by the people in this group. This is solely for entertainment purposes.

Rating: R to be safe for strong language and minor violence

Special Thanks to Luna for being my most awesome beta and constant nag….er source of encouragement...yeah…yeah…that’s it. Thanks for the Peanut Butter cups…they are much better motivation that that whip. *smiles*

Author’s Note…the spell elements mentioned in this chapter are NOT intended to represent any real path of magic…it’s just a hodgepodge of ideas to carry the story so my apologies to any Wiccans in the group that know better. *blushes*

Unusual Strength

Driving down the road to our home on the outskirts of town, I broke every speeding law I had ever yelled at Luna to obey and then some. I just hoped that none of the St Louis traffic cops were behind quota and looking for an easy write-up. From what Raven had told me, I didn’t have the time to spare.

Apparently time could be moving at a different rate in whatever dimension Luna was trapped. She could have been waiting moments for me or for years. We had no way to know. If it was the latter, who knew what she could have suffered while I was busy trying to find a way to bring her home.

I looked over at the bag of supplies on the seat beside me. I hoped I could do this. I was a Gateway for the Dead and therefore somewhat psychically inclined. I had never tried a spell by myself before though, at least not one that would attempt to alter the fabric of reality. Smiling I mused, “well, I hadn’t in this lifetime anyway.”

Shaking my head, I let the vague memories of past lives drift away. It wouldn’t be wise to get the spirits most closely associated with this incarnation overly interested at the moment. I needed a secure open passageway to try to pull Luna through. I couldn’t do that if I wasn’t in control of my body.

The turn off to Haven was fast approaching. Haven was what my family of sorts and I had named the home we built to get away from it all. With Lija out of town and Luna lost to goddess knows where, the comfort of nearing home was sadly absent. Was our house really Haven without my lover and my soul sister there?

“NO YOU DON’T!” Tires squealed and gravel flew as I slammed on the brakes and pulled to the side of the road. Realizing that the thoughts that were seeping through my brain were not ones that I would voluntarily latch onto with the task at hand, I took a deep breath. My mental shields had been weakened probably because of some sort of overload.

I seemed to be overreacting to everything today. I needed to stop and focus on the task at hand. Centering myself, I re-fortified my mental shields, kicking one mischievous spirit out in the process. At least it had just been a dimensional hopper playing games and not one of the more powerful entities that demanded my allegiance from time to time.

“Three people made Haven what it is. As long as one of us is there to protect our sanctuary, Haven it will remain!” Not sure if I was trying to convince myself or any wandering spirits that might be in the vicinity, it still felt good to announce my resolve out loud. It made it more concrete somehow even if the echo of my voice in the car did hurt my ears a bit.

After checking for traffic, I slowly eased the car back onto the road. The private access way to Haven loomed ahead. No cars were within site when I turned off the highway. Stopping the car far enough down our lane to be safely hidden from the main road, I turned off the engine and sat there. My heart was pounding so loud it seemed I could hear it, my breath a shifting wind in the enclosed car with its natural ebb and flow.

I gripped the steering wheel tightly, unsure of what to do. If my earlier stunt with Jason had stirred up trouble, I might have company waiting for me outside the house. I knew they wouldn’t get in. Lija had put a state of the art security system in place and not even Jean Claude’s lackeys were stupid enough to enter our home without an invitation.

Still, what if they were waiting outside, preventing my passage to safety. I needed to do my spell at the scene where Luna left our universe and I needed to do it NOW. I rolled down the car window to get some air before my panic caused me to hyperventilate. I took a deep breath. Warm woods, the slightly grassy smell of underbrush, and the pungent odor of pine needles greeted me. I sniffed the air searching for some sign of trouble ahead. Snapping out of it, I wondered what I hoped to figure out from that. I wasn’t a lycanthrope after all. Sighing, I realized I really didn’t have a choice no matter what lay ahead.

If I got out of the car and tried to sneak into the house on foot, any of Jean Claude’s servants sent to apprehend me would hear me long before I heard them. Chances were they had heard my car turn onto the private drive and were already on their way to investigate. I wouldn’t stand a chance against them on foot. My best bet was to do the unexpected.

Reaching over into the glove compartment, I felt something cold and smooth to the touch. As I pulled out a small handgun left there in case of emergency I could have sworn I could smell Luna’s Rose scent encouraging me onward. I guessed this qualified as an emergency. Shaking hands made the short task of making sure it was loaded seem horribly long. Setting the gun on the seat next to my bag of supplies, I turned on the car, revved the engine and raced down the drive toward Haven hoping against hope that nothing would jump out at me before I got to the house.

Slamming the brakes, the car skidded to a halt near the front door. Grabbing the gun in one hand and the bag in the other, I jumped out, slamming the door so hard the windows rattled. I quickly ran up the front steps, watching for approaching trouble. As I keyed in the security code to get inside, a rustling caught my attention to the right. I quickly turned, gun aimed at my would-be assailant. Looking forward, there was nothing in my line of vision out of the ordinary. Slowly, I moved my view downward across the yard. There was a small brown bunny nibbling at the flowers in my front garden. He looked up at me then quickly turned to flee.

Shaking my head, that small of an animal couldn’t have been responsible for that much noise…. My thoughts were interrupted by the click that signaled the security system had been deactivated and I could safely enter.

Listening for signs of company as I entered the house, all I could hear was the clock ticking above the fireplace in the front room. I locked the door behind me and reactivated the security system. Breathing a sigh of relief, I was amazed at how easily I had reached safety. Perhaps Jean Claude had better things to worry about than whether his head medical researcher was still human or not.

Setting the gun on the table in the front hallway, I quietly moved through the house. My noise twitched as I sniffed the air heading toward the kitchen. All I could smell were the blueberry muffins on the counter in there. My grumbling stomach reminded me to grab one as I passed through heading upstairs.

The first stop was Luna’s room as I reached the top of the stairs. Raven said something personal of hers might help me connect to her better in whatever dimension she was lost in. Sitting on my sister’s canopy bed, I nibbled on my muffin as I looked around the room. Something personal, what would be something that would most closely associate with Luna? Too bad there wasn’t an empty bottle of Pepsi handy; I giggled nervously as I took the last bite of my snack.

TEDDY! Looking back at the pillows piled at the head of the bed, I saw what I was looking for, Luna’s teddy bear. She had once confided to me that the bear was something of a talisman to her. Well, confided might be putting it strongly. Truth was, I found it when I was cleaning her room once and was threatened at gunpoint to set Teddy down and back away when I joked about finding the bear a new home.

I reverently reached for the bear. I was almost afraid to touch it, expecting Luna to jump out at any minute to claim her companion. Smiling, I realized that would make my job too easy so Luna wasn’t likely to pop out of the closet, I grabbed the bear. I had never noticed how soft the texture of his body was before. It was as if each strand of fake fur was individually dancing across my skin. Shaking my head at my silly musings, I looked out the window at the post dusk sky. We were out of time. Looking down at the toy, I whispered, “Come on Teddy. It’s time to bring our favorite Crazy Cat home.”

Grabbing my bag of supplies off the bed, I slowly crept down the hallway to the spare bedroom. Pushing the door open, the sulfur of burnt candles and the metallic scent of old blood hit me once again. Shaking my head that I was imagining things, I quietly entered the room and set Teddy on a chair in the corner while I removed my supplies from the bag Raven gave me.

Taking the charcoal stick first I made sure that any smudged edges of Luna’s circle were cleaned and straightened. Four green candles were put at the axis to give light to the four corners of life. A small loaf of whole grain bread and a golden chalice I filled with wine with from a small flask were placed in the center of the circle. Looking down at my offerings, I hoped they would be enough. They were there as entreaty to my personal guide for protection and guidance through the ritual I was about to try.

Removing all but the last item from my bag, I grabbed Teddy and took a deep breath. I lit the small hanging golden incense pot. The air seemed to almost instantly fill with the pungent scent of the rosehip, lilac mix Raven had made for me. The scents were joined as Luna and my spirits were once joined and would be again.

Starting in the Eastern Quadrant I walked clockwise around the circle asking for aid from each corner as I lit the candles. A static charge soon formed around me. The voices, always a low murmur in the back of my mind, were quickly becoming a loud symphony. Taking a deep breath, I called out to the last Quadrant and closed the circle.

There was a flash of light in the center of the circle as the voices took form. A myriad of shadowy bodies surrounded the circle, moving closer. Panicking, I started to move back but stopped and looked down at the lines forming the circle around me. I had closed the Circle and I WAS the Gate. They would not pass without my permission and I was not giving it.

As my resolve became more concrete, the light spread out from the center of the circle to meet the candles at the edges. It formed a shield, separating me from the intruding spirits. A soft breeze gently touched my skin. Looking toward the center of the circle for the source, I saw a beautiful young woman. Confusion caused me to pause before I recognized her from my dreams and moved forward. This was not Arianna, the goddess who often demanded my service, as I first feared.

It was Cara, my childhood confidant, the one who always came to rescue me from my nightmares. I had always known on some level she was more than an imaginary friend to a lonely child. She was powerful spirit from the other side sent to teach those of us able to bridge the gap between dimensions. So I wasn’t too surprised that she would be my spirit guide through this ritual. She always had been there to protect me when I needed her.

She smiled as she looked around at the light surrounding the circle, “I see you have finally claimed your power my child.”

My face must have betrayed my doubt as she moved closer, the touch of her hand on my cheek warm and soothing.

“Ever skeptical of your fate, aren’t you? That you haven’t lost no matter how many lifetimes you pass through. It can be asset to you, but guard lest it become a stumbling block to embracing your future.”

Great! More riddles, why the hell can’t spirits ever give a simple explanation.

Heat rose on my cheeks as her melodic laughter echoed off the walls. I hadn’t realized I had voiced my complaint aloud.

She smiled at me, “Because life is never simple. Besides you never ask simple questions Precious, but I will solve this riddle since time is short. You are the Gate. You know this, yet you never stopped to question what that really means. The only power I ever used to protect you from your demons was yours to wield. I only provided the focus. It appears you can provide that focus on your own now.”

When I shook my head, she smiled and waved her hand at the circle of light surrounding us, “You provided this sanctuary not I. Come share my offering with me. You may need the sustenance before the night is through ” I set the incense holder down but kept the nearly empty supply bag and Teddy close at hand. Tearing off a chunk of the bread, I dipped it in the wine before eating it. As I swallowed, it seemed to warm my whole being and I felt somehow lighter. Shaking my head, I wondered what Raven had put in that wine.

“You haven’t been drugged though you may wish it before all is done. Now it is time for me to go.” I reached to grab her but her form was already becoming insubstantial and all I felt was a static charge as my hand passed through her arm. “The power is yours. I am ever near, but I cannot accompany you on the next leg of your journey.” Pointing at the bag, I was still holding, “A blood offering must be made to call your sister. That is a path I dare not tread. Trust in your gifts, both those born to you and those bought. We will meet again.”

Looking around the room, Cara was gone as quickly as she had arrived. Bright light continued to bath the circle. I caught a glimpse of a lovely woman in a nearby window. Magic seemed to dance along her snow-white skin. She had golden hair, with eyes that were a swirl of blue and silver. In her hand she had…. a teddy bear? Tilting my head, I realized I was looking at my own reflection in the glass. Why hadn’t I ever seen myself that way before?

Looking out the windows toward the forest, a starlit night reminded me time was short. Looking from the reflection to the circle surrounding me, I smiled. I could do this. In fact I would do it. Luna was as good as home.

I reached into the bag for the ceremonial dagger with my right hand. Dropping the bag, I clutched Teddy tight in my arms against my chest; I closed my eyes and focused on reaching out to Luna. Raven had said it didn’t matter what dimension she was in as long as we could get a solid contact. If she would focus on me as I called her, I could pull her out without having to do a complete portal spell.

My mind moved blindly through space, seeking the missing part of my soul. It was warm the humid air a suffocating blanket closing in on me. Hands seemed to reach out as I passed, leaving nothing but a cold static charge to remind me of their touch. I tried to scream for Luna, but the space was like a vacuum sucking out all sound.

Panicking, I was ready to give up when the heat reminded me of a dream. Blisters, suffocating heat, we had been here before. Was she still there? Taking a deep breath, I plunged for the hottest spot I could feel surrounding me. Roses, I could smell roses! I was on the right trail.

The passage way began to lighten on a hallway though I was still bathed in heat. It had become a second skin to me. Luna, I could see her! She just wasn’t looking my way. I tried to scream for her but she didn’t hear me. Desperately running closer, I tried to grab her from behind, my hands grazing her back as I almost floated into her.

She turned toward me, clearly in pain. Knowing she must see me now and I needed to get her out of there, I pulled back enough to focus on going through the mechanics of slicing my hand open with the dagger. I spoke aloud. “Luna, by blood were you taken from us. By blood I grant you passage back to the place nearest your heart.”

Unspeakable pain forced me to scream as I gasped for breath; I could hear Luna’s scream echo my own in my mind. Unable to see her or the hallway, the world started to spin. I opened my eyes to a flash of light closely followed by an unnatural wind that blew all my candles out. I could smell the blood flowing from my hand. It quietly dripped as it fell to the floor at the center of the circle.

I could feel the blood flow slowing down as the wound clotted but it must have been enough. I had reached for Luna. She must have reached back. Looking around the darkened room, I wondered where she was though. Feeling the furry teddy bear safely tucked under my arm, inspiration struck. I said she would go to the place closest to her heart. That wouldn’t be the spare bedroom. It would be her own room with all her precious treasures.

Hugging Teddy, I giggled and ran out of the room. There was a loud snap as the power of the circle discharged. Looking back, I remembered I was supposed to thank the guardians of the quarters and open the circle before I crossed any random lines. Guess it was too late now and Luna was HOME! I’d worry about it later.

Charging into my sister’s bedroom, I didn’t yell to warn her of my arrival. She wouldn’t need the warning and besides I was sort of hoping to surprise her. Looking around, she wasn’t here either. If she wasn’t here or in the circle, where would she have gone?

I tried to quiet my breathing and listen for any sounds in the house. There was nothing unusual but as my noise twitched, I realized there was a disturbance in the air currents behind me. Strong arms came around me as some sort of foul smelling rag covered my mouth. As shadowed figures came into view, I heard a low voice asking, “Did we get it all on tape?”