Pulling her into his arms, Uzo took her by the hand and they stepped through from Summer and into Winter, shocking her by the transition.
"It's safer for Uzo," he said and she nodded.
She had to admit she was getting excited by the prospect of going home, though she wasn't as keen to be going back to the vampires and Epharis.
"Do you think we can try and rid me of the holds they have on me when we get back?" she asked Daemon as she released his hand and he looked at her.
"I will do whatever it takes to rid you of them all," he growled and she smiled.
Stepping away from him, her mind went to the phoenix and then to the Jiuwei Ho. She smiled as she tapped into that part of herself that would have her changing but then she staggered and she spun, indignant on the demon.
"I can't change form!" she cried and he laughed.
"No more kitty for Etani," he said mockingly, and she glared at him, blaming him, though it was irrational.
"When this is all over… I'm going to kill you a hundred times over," she growled and he laughed, ruffling her hair and leading the way into Winter.
***
They found the bird sleeping with its head under its wing several hours later, the tree it perched on scorched black and looked badly abused but the bird itself was magnificent.
It was a hypnotic black shot through with blues and greens that gave it a magical look. It was an eagle shape, huge and haughty looking with two long flexible feathers at the tail that moved like a cats as they approach, its head lifting at a scuff one of them made.
It was looking down at them and as she stepped forward, the bird cocked his head to the side.
Considering her, he made a deep squawking sound and his massive wings spread.
Fluttering down to the ground, the wind of his wings was enormous and she covered her face to protect it from twigs and snow.
As she lowered her hands, the bid was gone to be replaced by the most beautiful woman Etani had ever seen, all the more shocked for expecting to see a man.
Her skin was a stunning black, and her eyes were the eyes she herself had once owned.
Markings covered her perfect flesh in strange spirals and spots in the same blue and green that her feathers had held only a moment later.
Her hair was black streaked with that same blue and green.
"Hello Etania," the woman said in a voice that was like silk and Etani swallowed, closing the distance to the woman. "It has been some time since I saw you," she said and Etani frowned, surprised.
"You have seen me?" she asked.
The woman laughed softly, the sound high and warm.
"Of course, Gabriela was the love of my life. But alas she did not return my love and so I watched and ensured no harm came to her daughters," the woman said gently.
She swallowed, unsure of the woman but when the beauty embraced her, she hugged her back tightly.
"I have been monitoring your progress, you are a braver woman that any I have ever seen," the woman whispered in her ear.
"Thank you," she said gently, that kindness and softness digging into her heart.
Breaking away, the dark beauty tucked her fingers under Etani's jaw, and their lips met.
The kiss was soft and deep, not entirely for the magic they shared, it was one of love and admiration and she found herself melting into it, desperate for that kindness and affection.
Tears stung her eyes as the woman held her tight, squeezing her and the kiss deepened.
Daemon growled and the woman smiled against her lips, drawing away.
"Ah, there they are," she whispered and Etani blinked. "Those are the eyes I fell in love with."
Whether she was referring to Gabriela or herself, she didn't know but she longed to feel that warmth again. It was selfish and she felt cruel for wanting to abuse that love, but part of her was so desperately lonely and craving affection that the kindness of the woman had settled into her heart like acid.
"When you are ready, my beloved, come find me again," the woman said and smiled, her startlingly blue eyes were warm and Etani wanted nothing more than to go to her right then and there, but the woman had turned away and with a heavy gust of wind, she was a bird once more.
Turning back to Daemon and Uzo, Daemon cheered and Uzo looked relieved.
"You're starting to look like your old self," Uzo said and she smiled sadly, looking back to the bird who had settled herself down on the branch.
She allowed Uzo to take her into his arms, he took her by the chin, staring into her eyes and she could see them reflected in his.
They were her eyes, the lightning blue ones that seemed to glow from within, giving her an eerie magic about her.
He kissed her forehead gently and she smiled, relieved by his presence.
"Not long now," Daemon said.
She nodded, her cheek resting against Uzo's collarbone. "I want to rest for a while before we go on," she said and Daemon looked around, trying to decide where to take her.
"Come on, we should go back to the human world. I'll come here and see if I can round some of them up," he said and they agreed silently.
Taking them back to the human world, they set up camp beside a river and the moment Uzo sat down, she had crawled into his lap and began to doze with the steady sound of his heartbeat in her ear.
"So why are you all burnt?" Uzo asked, the deep rumble of his voice soothing her deeper.
"The Ifrit lied to manipulate her. We don't have a week, Megara and Cecelia are holding them off for now. I killed him," Daemon growled and Uzo swore, clutching her tighter to him.
"We can't tell her," he said and Daemon growled his agreement.
"The Ifrit play the helpless but they are more demonic than even I. He used her compassion and fear against her."
She was lingering just above sleep, content in her little bubble of warmth that throbbed in time with Uzo's heart and she considered the spark of fire that was the phoenix inside her as she drifted down and fell asleep.
***
When she woke, she was confused by their moving again and she squinted into the darkness of night, her body encased in the warmth of Uzo's arms.
"Where are we?" she asked and Uzo looked down at her, fear on his face.
"Try to stay calm, we've been arrested," he whispered and she jerked awake.
Her hands had been encased and she looked around to find they had been surrounded by guards and were being taken to the most dreaded thing she knew, a ship.
An armoured face appeared before her and the group was called to a halt, the man gripping her by the cuffed arms and yanking her from Uzo's arms.
"She's awake!" the man called as she stumbled, looking around in confusion.
They appeared to be elves and similar humanoids, but she was totally lost on why they would have been arrested.
"Good morning, princess, it's a pleasure to finally meet you," a hissing voice whispered and she turned to see a Naga slithering towards her.
"Where are you taking us?" she demanded and he smiled.
"Well, since your demon refuses to help, we're taking you to The Underneath so we can get you back to Winter," he said, and for one terrible moment, all she could do was laugh.
It was so completely ridiculous that they had just left Winter and there Winter was, following after them and then Daemon refused to transport them.
Her laughter was only a little manic and the Naga exchanged a look with his companion.
"Really? Winter is transporting us by ship to Faerie? Are you fresh out of gate keepers?" she asked.
"Most of the gate keepers are dead," he growled and that shut her up.
She blinked at him, shocked by the news.
"The Creators are closing down all access to the human world in preparation. The Underneath is the only remaining gate in this area.
She stared at him in horror, unable to wrap her mind around the news that the Creators had come so far already.
She turned to look at Uzo who looked pained and she realised they had cuffed him in iron.
Daemon was unconscious on the back of a horse, limp and helpless.
Yanking the chain to get her attention, the Naga smiled at her but something odd about the men was keeping her attention.
Several of the men were wearing unusual clothing, covering them from neck to feet while the rest were dressed in more casual armour and there was something about it that bothered her.
The slap sent her staggering and she gasped, pain shooting through her body.
"Pay attention when you are being spoken to!" the Naga screamed at her and she looked up at him, her cheek blazing red.
"Hurry up, we have a ship to catch and Megara is impatient," he snapped and yanked on her chain.
Scuffles behind her told her that Uzo had gone furious at the blow but she let it slide that time.
The ship was enormous and the size of it made her feel only slightly less anxious at the prospect of sea travel. When they had been loaded, the oddly dressed men had joined them while the remainder of the men left and it left her even more suspicious of them.
But her suspicions were put on hold as she was taken to her room and she screamed in delight at the sight of a steaming bath.
She ignored the guard and ripped the shirt from her arms, jumping into the soapy heat and moaning at the feeling of finally getting clean.
He stayed with her, trying not to watch as she doused herself in oils and thick creams that left her smelling like a lavender plant.
Only once the water had gone cold did she get out and dried herself off, the chain long enough that she could do most of it on her own.
The clothes that had been left were suitable for her hands being cuffed too and she pulled on a long black dress with no frills or layers.
It was little more than a skirt with two strips of fabric that crossed over her breasts and tied at the back of her neck and she demanded the guard help her with the tie.
He did and she smiled up at him, finally feeling clean.
"Am I allowed to explore?" she asked and he nodded.