The witcher left just in time. Kalfu came back a few moments after, looked at Remi coldly, then grabbed something from a bag. Before he exited the house, he told her to "stay" as if she were some sort of pet.

It'd been difficult for Remi not to use Ayida-Weddo's borrowed power when she saw Kalfu again. Vengeance burned low in her belly. But it was best to wait. Chances were that she'd need help, even with her loa mother's magic singing through her veins.

Instead of following Kalfu and exacting her revenge, Remi picked her way over the debris on the floor. Ayida-Weddo and Gideon had helped her deal with the guilt, but later she knew so many other emotions would assault her. She had no time to deal with them presently. Instead, she concentrated on her dry mouth and throat. Surely there was something more than gunpowder laced rum in the house.

Coming to what was once a functioning kitchen, Remi went to the sink. There was likely no running water, but it was worth a try. With an unsteady hand, she reached for the tap. Its trembling was an outward manifestation of her inner turmoil. Fisting her fingers, she then unclenched them and gave them a shake.

Taking in a deep, steadying breath, Remi tried again. This time, her hand didn't tremble when she reached for the faucet handle. Sadly, her hunch had been correct. The house had no running water.

Making her way to a dirty, old fridge, Remi tried opening the door. It took some muscle, but finally, the hinges gave with a groan. Inside, she found rum on the shelves. Bottles and bottles of the stuff were stacked in neat rows.

Before Remi closed the door in defeat, she spotted a single, new container on its molded ledge. Grabbing the plastic bottle of water, Remi twisted its lid. A satisfying crack sounded in the kitchen as the seal broke. Taking a deep drink, she swallowed the much-needed liquid. It helped to soothe her parched throat and mouth. Unfortunately, she knew it'd have to be rationed. Who knew when she'd be rescued? Added to that, her continued hydration was the last thing on Kalfu's mind.

With the bottle clenched in her hand, Remi went back to the front room. A movement caught her eye, and she glanced out the filthy, cracked window. Shifting closer, she peered into the driveway. Kalfu was there with Whit.

The borrowed power from Ayida-Weddo gave Remi courage. With her nose practically pressed to the chilled window, she squinted her eyes. The werewolves were building something in the small driveway at Kaflu's direction.

Fighting the urge to clean the window with her coat's sleeve - Remi didn't want to draw unnecessary attention - her eyes narrowed further. The full moon's light washed over the driveway, but it was still hard to see. When one of the men lit a fire, the structure's details sprung to life.

With a gasp, Remi took a step back. She recognized what they were building from the ceremonies she went to with Memaw. It was a peristyle, complete with a low wall surrounding the structure. Inside the covered courtyard, she knew she'd find a square post at its center, the poteau-mitan. Spiral carvings representing Damballah and Ayida-Weddo would run its length. The fire must've been the Forge of Ogus, an eternal flame that symbolized cosmic sexual desire.

Shaking her head in denial, Remi backed away further. The completion of the peristyle meant only one thing. Kalfu was close to calling the loa to earth. More specifically, he was nearly ready to call forth Ayida-Weddo so she could enter Remi.

The racket of something being hammered into wood brought Remi back to herself. Kalfu was strongest during the full moon, but also at midnight. Hopefully, he'd wait until then to try to entrap Ayida-Weddo within her, giving her rescuers more time to find her. But she couldn't bank on an evil loa doing anything logical.

Returning to the center of the room, Remi closed her eyes. Focusing her thoughts on Gideon, she willed herself to appear before him. Time had run out, and she needed to warn her witcher that he needed to hurry up with his plans.

When Remi's eyes opened, she was met with a horse's nose. Gírin's nostrils flared, but he didn't have any other reaction to sensing her presence. It was likely because he was a fairy horse. Who knew what other weird stuff he'd been exposed to during his time there?

Remi was keeping pace with the racing horse, but she was gliding backward. As the scenery rushed past her peripheral, her stomach turned. They were crossing the bridge, nearing the western side of the lake.

Closing her eyes once more, Remi imagined herself atop Gírin, riding behind Gideon. When she opened them, she was happy to find that she was just behind the rougarou as she'd intended. Glancing around the werewolf, Remi found time had jumped. Her rescuer was now on the old highway and heading north.

"Gideon," Remi said softly.

"Remi?" her witcher asked, drawing a questioning look from Laris who rode by his side. When Gideon turned his upper torso in the saddle, she couldn't help but wince as his black, parka-encased shoulder passed through her face. Although she didn't feel anything, it was an eerie experience.

"Listen, Gideon," Remi told him quickly. "Kalfu is close to finishing preparations for his spell. You must hurry!"

"We're going as fast as we can," Gideon replied as he faced forward. A short time later, Gírin turned a corner at breakneck speed.

Closing her eyes, Remi willed them onto greater speeds. When she opened them, they were on a straight stretch of road. Looking behind, she didn't spot the hairpin turn. That's when she noted that Gideon and Laris weren't alone. Trailing behind were Keilynn, Jayna from the kitchen, Jason from the stables and a dozen or so others.

"Is Remi responsible for these time shifts?" Keys asked from behind. The witch was looking directly at her. "No need to look so surprised," she drawled. "My magic is with me this night, and I can see your astral form."

"Oh," Remi breathed. To her right, Laris muttered, "Freaky magic, making people talk to those not here."

"So, are you doing the time jumps?" Keys pressed.

"Maybe?" Remi answered. The borrowed power inside her seemed somewhat diminished. "Probably," she amended.

"If time is running out," Keys began, "may I suggest you do more?"

"We're still miles from you," Gideon added.

Repeating what she did before, Remi concentrated on their speed. This time, her eyes remained open. She watched as their mountainous surroundings and the road before them blurred. After several heartbeats, she was forced to let go.

"Kalfu is back," Remi announced. Then, reluctantly, she came back to her physical body. With a start, she found herself lying on the ruined floor. Above her stood Kalfu. The coldness in his eyes made her shiver as she straightened her limbs.

"It's time," Kalfu announced. Taking leaves from his pocket, he whispered familiar, foreign words into his palms. Remi now knew it was magic to control her with his touch.

Hopefully, I brought Gideon close enough, Remi thought. Then, free will and original thought were cut short as Kalfu grabbed her by the wrist. With a mighty yank, he brought her to her feet.

"Come," Kalfu ordered. Then, he pulled Remi out the front door. A few steps from the porch brought them to the peristyle's entryway. It was the only access point.

"See that we aren't disturbed," Kalfu ordered Whit, the new leader of Liam's old pack.

The hardpacked dirt beneath Remi's feet made little sound. That small noise was soon drowned out by a loud recording of a Voodoo ceremony. The ogan - a flattened bell without the clapper – was being struck by an iron rod and started the music. Soon, a triangle and drums joined into the fray. As the voices of the chorus began their chant, Kalfu backed her up to the squared post in the center of the peristyle.

"Whit come tie her," Kalfu ordered the alpha. The loa's hand was on Remi's neck, holding her in place and cutting off her air supply. She didn't notice, only reveled in his touch.

A rough rope was produced. Pulling Remi's arms tight behind her back, Whit wound it around her elbows and lashed it tightly. Then, he looped it around her forearms until he reached her wrists. Tying it off in a circulation inhibiting knot, he then put another rope around her chest and beneath her bound arms. He wound this one around her and the post, down to her ankles.

"Guard me," Kalfu darkly commanded when Whit finished. With a final, nasty look at Remi - the same one he'd given her when he interrupted them earlier - the werewolf went to stand outside of the peristyle. His form stopped just beside its single entrance.

Kalfu removed his air-stealing hold, and Remi came back to herself. "Soon," the loa murmured. It was hard to hear him over the loud Voodoo ceremony. "I will have everything I want."

Leaving Remi, Kalfu began pulling offerings from a sack. He produced milk, rice, and eggs. Ayida-Weddo liked white foods. The evil loa was going to play Houn'gan - priest - and call her forth.

"You can't believe Ayida-Weddo will stick around and stay with you," Remi taunted. She needed to try and distract Kalfu, buy time for Gideon and the others.

Black eyes rose from white foods. Piercing Remi, they glared. "I will see to it that she has no choice but to stay with me."

A snort came from Remi. "You're assuming she'll even show."

An evil smile spread across Kalfu's features. "Ayida-Weddo healed your injuries. She is close."

Damn, Remi thought. The bastard was far too observant and intelligent.

Just then, Whit announced, "The mutt is here for his worthless mate."

"You will stay where you are," Kalfu commanded the new alpha. Fighting could be heard over the chanting from the speakers. Gideon and his people were there.

With being secured to the post, Remi couldn't look behind her and catch sight of her rougarou. But through the magical bonds they'd formed, she sensed his emotions. Inside, he burned with a controlled rage.

Out of the corner of her eye, Remi watched Kalfu finish his preparations.

Wanting to know that Gideon was all right, Remi let her spirit leave her body. The ropes would hold her upright, aid her in hiding that she'd gone. The loa had yet to learn about the witch bond, or the new ability it gave her and her witcher.

When next Remi opened her eyes, she was on the road leading to the cabin at the top of the hill. She was standing in one of the werewolves battling Gideon. With her sudden appearance, her witcher's strike at his opponent landed weakly. The other man's blow hit.

"Lawd, I need to get better at this," Remi said and stepped out of Kalfu's fighter.

Ignoring Remi's words, Gideon quickly took the other man out of the fight with a clawed hand. She was still unused to this new and brutal world, but she'd come to a sort of grudging acceptance. Not everyone was peaceful, and they only understood returned violence.

"Where are you?" Gideon asked shortly as he stepped over the other werewolf's prone form.

"Up the hill," Remi pointed in the peristyle's direction. "In the courtyard before the last house."

Eyes going to the structure Remi indicated, Gideon promised, "I'll see you soon."

One of Whit's men came rushing up behind Gideon. Before Remi could call out a warning, Laris cut him down. In his hands, the Viking held a replica sword of his people. It was deadly. When she'd wondered at his use of such an archaic weapon in these modern times, Gideon explained it was magical and attuned to its owner. It and its like were rare and highly sought-after.

Laris spun on the balls of his feet. The fallen man hadn't even hit the ground before the Viking werewolf engaged another enemy, a woman this time. Keilynn sidestepped around him, coming to join Remi and Gideon.

"I'm assuming you're here to tell us we are out of time?" the redhaired witch surmised. On her shoulder, she carried a weighted backpack.

"Yes," Remi began. "Kalfu has begun the ceremony to call Ayida-Weddo forth," she further explained as they picked their way up the hill.

Four of Kalfu's wolves brought them up short. Whit was one of them. He'd unwisely disobeyed the powerful loa.

"Finally, we will see our alpha's mission completed," Whit grunted as he changed into his half-form. The popping of dislocating joints echoed across the fights surrounding them and the loud rhythm of the pre-recorded Voodoo ceremony.

"As soon as I make a hole, you go through it, Keilynn," Gideon said low. Then in the next blink of an eye, his black parka and blue jeans clothed human body morphed into a silver wolf with a black face. With a mighty leap, he landed on two of Whit's men. Their throats were ripped out in seconds.

Skirting past the gory remains on the dirt road, Keys rushed forward. Whit must not have thought the witch the more significant threat because he paid her no heed. Instead, he attacked Gideon's wolf.

Remi wanted to stay and make sure Gideon didn't come to grave harm. But as she watched Keys rush to her body's location, she noted a glow of white in the shadow of the peristyle's wall. In the next blink of an eye, it disappeared.

With but a thought, Remi was around the four-foot-high wall. She came face-to-face with her loa mother. "You shouldn't be here," she warned.

"I cannot help it, child." Ayida-Weddo's voice was strained. After some struggle, she took another, reluctant step forward. "I gave you my power and am weakened. I was pulled from Ifé and cannot fight Carrefour's call," she explained using another of Kalfu's names. Then, haltingly, she took another step. "No matter how I try," she ended sourly.

Just then, Keilynn rounded the wall's corner. Remi knew the witch could see her but didn't think she could see the loa. "We have a plan," Remi told Ayida-Weddo quickly. "I need to watch over the witch," she finished. There was still a small amount of her loa's magic inside of her. It would have to be enough to protect Keilynn.

In the next heartbeat, Remi came back into her body. A few seconds later, she watched as the redhead ran into the peristyle. Keys rushed forward and fell to her knees. Skidding to a stop in front of the poteau-mitan, the witch used her elemental magic to cut the ropes that bound Remi.

"Stop Kalfu from interfering," Keys panted. Then, she began pulling items from her backpack.

"I will not be stopped," Kalfu announced. With renewed vigor, he refocused on his vile ritual.

Just the sound of Kalfu's voice made the hurt he caused, anger, and the thirst for revenge swell within Remi. With the last of the borrowed magic singing through her veins, she faced off with the evil loa who'd brought her so much pain and misery.

The best and perhaps the wisest thing for Remi to do would be to exit the peristyle. That way, Ayida-Weddo couldn't be shoved within her. But it wouldn't help Keilynn. It wouldn't banish Kalfu from his cheval. No, she'd stay and fight the evil son of a bitch.

"And I won't let you succeed," Remi promised her tormentor. The power she held within echoed throughout the vow.

With silent feet, Remi advanced on Kalfu. Secure in the knowledge that he was by far the superior being in the peristyle, he ignored her. When she reached out a hand and clasped his bared wrist, he turned his malicious black-eyed gaze on her.

Before Kalfu could speak, Remi used the last of Ayida-Weddo's magic. "You will not move," she ordered. Half expecting it not to work, a thrill shot through her when the loa froze. Not a single muscle moved.

Unable to stand the unholy promise in her torturer's eyes, Remi looked to Keys. The redhaired witch had a pair of cut 2x4's laid out in a cross. Beside it, she drew a vèvè - a sacred symbol - with flour. When she finished, she pulled a mason jar from the backpack. Then came a bottle of water. Opening it, the witch poured the clear liquid into the transparent vessel. Last, Keys took out a bottle of rum. After removing the cork, she used her teeth to take off the cap from a polished ox's horn. Next, she mixed its contents into the alcohol.

It was then that Remi knew what Keys planned. The horn held gunpowder. The witch was making an offering to Kalfu. Then, she'd entice the loa out of Trystan and into the jar, trapping him.

Watching as Keys placed the gunpowder-laced-rum in the middle of the boards, Remi gritted her teeth. "Hurry," she grunted. "I can't hold him for long." As she said the last, the silently struggling loa bled more of Ayida-Weddo's power away.

"Almost ready," Keilynn replied as she stood. Then, she unbuttoned her long, wool coat and removed it from her arms. Beneath, she wore an ankle-length red dress.

"I will make you and that little bitch pay," Kalfu promised through stiff lips.

As Keilynn started to sway and chant, Remi closed her eyes. She had to focus solely on keeping Kalfu still. Seconds ticked by, and her grip became less secure.

"I can't hold him much longer." Remi's warning came out strained.

Gideon's beast's ears picked up his destined's words. Only Whit was left between himself and Remi. Although he knew Kalfu was too powerful for him to take on, the need to protect her was tantamount.

Splitting his astral body as he did before, Gideon entered the courtyard as his wolf continued to fight Whit. "Remi bach, I'm near."

Amber and moss flecked eyes met Gideon's as Remi opened her lids. "Hold him as long as you can, Remi bach." Then, he went back to his wolf.

"He put his witch's mark on you?" Kalfu grunted. "Excellent," the loa continued in his strained, jaw-locked tone. "When you die, so will the mutt."

Renewing his efforts, Gideon went on the offensive. Whit was still in his half-form, towering over his wolf. But everyone within the races knew a fully transformed shifter was far more dangerous.

Lunging at Whit's knees, Gideon took one out with his teeth and the other with a claw on his rear foot. The towering monster toppled forward. As he fell, the other shifter tried to swipe at Gideon's back. Had it not been a clumsy blow, Whit would've taken out his spinal column. Weak as it was, it still left four shallow gouges in its wake.

Biting back a yelp of pain, Gideon turned about to face his opponent. From the dying sounds of fighting, it was likely that Whit was one of the last of the Snowdonia pack. Finally, he'd see justice for his mother, the member whose existence they'd made a living hell before she took her own life, and as they were bonded, his father's. This was for her, his da and himself, for the family they could've been.

With a growl, Gideon went for the toppled man's neck intent on decapitation. At the sound of his imminent demise, Whit turned his head. There was a snarl on his grotesque, human-beast blended snout. The pseudo-leader of the Snowdonia pack remained defiant to his end.

Snapping his teeth closed around Whit's poorly defended throat, Gideon didn't let up the pressure until he hit bone. His front paws pressed into the new leader's back, pinning him to the ground. Then, he bit down further, piercing his opponent's spinal column. The other shifter was dead before he fell from the wolf's blood-wettened, dripping maw.

Ignoring the gashes and pain at his back, Gideon put Whit and centuries of being hunted out of his mind as he raced the few feet to the courtyard's entrance. As soon as he entered, he was stopped. Kalfu's movement was back.

"Damn," Remi swore. The loa beneath her grip shook off her hold as if she were naught but a child. Cold, malevolent black eyes pinned her.

As if in slow motion, Remi helplessly watched as Kalfu raised his previously trapped hand. Flicking his fingers, he made everyone in the peristyle motionless. They couldn't even breathe.

"No more interruptions," Kalfu intoned. Then, he began to chant.

Behind Gideon's wolf form, Remi noted a flash of white low to the ground. It was the hem of Ayida-Weddo's gown. Another halting step brought her into view. The silent, beautiful loa's eyes revealed all she felt. They were wide, dewy. A tear slipped from the corner of one and slid down her cheek.

Remi's gaze switched to Gideon's. Her lungs burned from lack of oxygen. All too soon, she knew she'd be no more.

Suddenly, Keilynn exclaimed, "Ha!" Eyes shifting, Remi watched as the witch shook invisible dust from her limbs. "Fate bender for the win!" Then, she began to sway and chant with renewed vigor.

Remi's eyes went back to Gideon. They were cloudy, but through the shadow and haze, she made out his handsome face. It wasn't a bad last visual to have before one died.

I love you, Remi mouthed. Then, her eyesight dimmed further. She was moments away from passing out. It was highly unlikely she'd ever regain consciousness.