A Crown of Shadows and Secrets

by Sloane Murphy

  Roman pulls the pack from the corner where it was left last night and tips it out on the bed. I hit the pile of stuff first, grabbing a crop tee and my leather trousers, and duck back into the bathroom. I grab a quick shower, then blow out my hair and sort myself out while the others rotate through a quick shower.

  I dress and head back into the room, Roman is casual as ever, black hoodie unzipped, white tee and jeans, Kain is in his standard black on black suit, Creek in his black tee and jeans, his hair pulled back into a man-bun, and Levi in black trousers and a white shirt undone at the collar.

  “You're drooling,” Roman smirks, and I lift my hand to my mouth, before realizing then flip him the bird while I laugh. At least he's keeping my mood light.

  I open the door from the room to head out and find Luna, but come face to face with one of her lookalike bots.

  “Please follow me,” she says and heads round the corner, back down the stairs we came up last night. I look back at the guys and Creek shrugs. Fuck it. I head out and follow her, the guys at my back, as we descend the stairs. A wave of unease coats me and I try not to dwell on it. This place has been fucking with me since we got here.

  I almost miss Callie, the banshees and the Droken.

  The girl leads us down the hall where Luna disappeared last night, and it all looks so different in the light of day. Light pours in from outside, making it seem less doom and gloom, and more welcoming, but I keep my reservations, fate only knows what the hell is waiting for us today.

  We reach the dining room, with a table that could easily sit twenty people. Luna sits at the far end of the room at the head of the table, places set for each of us on one side of her, while her weird lookalikes fill the other side of the table.

  I head towards her, a smile on my face and sit beside her without a word. The guys take a seat, Levi beside me, as Kain, Creek and Roman sit down from him.

  “I trust you had a good night?” Luna says with a grin, undressing my guys with her eyes and I clench my fists under the table. She can eye fuck them, but if she lays a hand on them, I’m going to lose it.

  I run my hand over the dagger at my hip, concealed under my pants, and force myself to smile at her again. “It was fine.”

  “I'm glad to hear it. So, I understand you're searching for something. Maybe if you give me some details, I may be able to help.” She steeples her fingers under her chin, as she watches me. I debate not telling her a thing, because I trust her about as far as I could throw her, or well, a human could throw her. But I'm here for Fallon, and that is the only reason I start to speak.

  “I'm looking for my friend who was taken to the Shadow Realm against her wishes.” I tell her, not wanting to give too much information.

  “Who took her?” She asks flatly.

  “A Hunter dickhead who wants my help.”

  “A male used your friend against you for his own shortcomings. Typical,” she seethes. “Do you know which Demon has your friend?”

  I shake my head, “I know nothing more than I told you. She is being kept here, so I'm here to find her. I have no idea which level she's on or who has her.”

  “For all you know, I could have her,” she smiles deviously.

  “You could, but somehow, I don't see you working with a man.” I shrug. A young girl comes to the table and pours coffee for us all, as well as a glass of orange juice. How domestic for a Demon. I pick up the mug and take a sip hesitantly. Luna laughs and swallows down a mouthful of her own coffee.

  “You will meet no harm at my dining table, Hunter,” she tells me, so I take another sip before putting the mug back down.

  “You are right, I would never lower myself to work with a man, especially one who would kidnap a woman. Such filth.” She clenches her fist and her eyes glow. I don’t know what sort of Demon she is, but I can feel the power inside of her leaking out with her anger. It caresses my skin gently before she gets her emotions under control. I look to my guys who don't seem affected, so I guess she kept it from them.

  She smiles at me, and a shiver runs down my spine. “Maybe we can help each other.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Colt

  I watch on as Marie and her Witchy friends try to wake my brother and try not to let my frustration show. It was only hours ago we were at the school dealing with Archer's retaliation for taking Bauer from him. I don't want to think how he's going to react when he realizes that Remy is in the Shadow Realm, but I try not to focus on that.

  I hate feeling so useless. Like a spare part.

  I've already done everything I could do. All Hunters are on high alert, the other factions too, I've spoken to the council, told them what happened, what our next steps are here, but now, all I can do is wait.

  Wait for Archer’s next move.

  Wait for my brother to wake up.

  And it’s driving me fucking insane.

  I head out to the back yard to take out some of my frustration on the equipment my dad keeps out here, when I hear my dad’s voice. I look up as he comes out onto the porch.

  Well… if he’s here to see me, this probably isn’t going to a barrel of laughs.

  I’ve barely spoken to him since I accepted the position with the Elders, that conversation was brief and tense. Considering things were already tense after I ripped into him for Remy. Was I a dick to her? Yes, but I also tried to fight the council’s decision, while he did nothing before they brought Remy into that council chamber. Did I forgive her at the time? Hell no, but I didn’t want to see her dead.

  And when I started to understand everything, well, let’s just say things between Dad and I got heated after that conversation with Remy and her Angel about how she couldn’t be cast out. When it finally dawned on me how much of a hypocritical asshole I was being.

  “What’s up, Dad?” I call out, lowering my bow. He glares at me from the porch, obviously expecting me to go to him, but if he wants to talk, then he can come and talk to me. I’m sick of dropping everything when he calls. He might be my dad, but that doesn’t give him the right to be a complete asshole to me.

  He grumbles as he crosses the yard to where I’m stood, stopping and just watching me. Exasperated, I sigh. “Can I help you? Or are you just going to stand and scowl at me all day?”

  He still doesn’t say anything, so I turn my back and nock my arrow. “Don’t you turn your back on me, boy.”

  I roll my eyes at his growl, but pull the bow back and release it, hoping to send some of my growing anger with it. I take another deep breath before turning back to face him. “What do you want, Dad?”

  “I came to get an update on your brother.” He says and I cross my arms, more to make sure I don’t lash out at him at this point.

  “Of course you did.” I sigh. “You could have just asked Marie.”

  “Marie was busy,” he grunts and I roll my eyes.

  “That’s because she’s the one working on Bauer. I haven’t got anything new to tell you. So unless you’re here to apologize, you might as well leave.”

  “I have nothing to apologize for. You’re the one who needs to apologize,” he shouts, his facing turning red.

  “No Dad, I don’t. I forgave my sister for loving whoever she wants, because I get it. I fell in love with a Witch. I accepted a position offered to me by the guild. I don’t have to apologize for any of that.” I run a hand down my face, because honestly, I don’t think he’ll ever get it.

  “Your sister is a traitor! She always has been. I thought we’d managed to knock that nonsense out of her, but no, she’s just been lying to us all along. And now, the council, your council, is making her way of life the right way. They’re nothing but filthy animals that deserve to be put down.”

  “Dad, you’re nothing but a backward minded bigot. I honestly have no room in my life for such narrow-mindedness, so if you can’t get on board, get the fuck out,” I say, trying to keep my temper in check.

  “How fucking dare you,” he shouts rushing towards me. I brace mysel
f for the impact I know is coming and grunt when his fist connects with my face.

  “That’s the only fucking one you get for free, Dad. You hit me again, I’m going to show you exactly why I was voted to be an Elder.” I spit out the blood I can taste in my mouth and wipe the blood trickling from my nose. He rages before me, but he knows as well I do, that he’s old, and I’ll sit him on his ass in a heartbeat. He doesn’t want that blow to his ego, I know it, he knows it, chances are the Witches inside my house know it too.

  “You are a disgrace.” He spits at my feet and turns, storming from the yard, slamming the door as he enters the house. I know the only reason he’s not kicked us out of here yet, is because technically, this is my house. I brought it three life cycles ago, and we’ve all just lived here since. I’m not sure even Bauer and Remy know that, but he’d rather live elsewhere than admit he’s been living in my house. Especially now.

  I unstring the bow and put it away with the quiver of arrows, locking up the armory out here before heading back inside.

  I head to the stairs so I can clean up in the bathroom, and I kick off my boots. This might be my house, but I know my mom would scream at me from the beyond if I trod mud up the stairs. I grab onto the bannister when I hear Marie call my name.

  I turn back around, going back towards the sitting room. Marie’s face looks grave as I walk in and my heart sinks.

  “Are you okay?” She asks softly, and I nod.

  “I’ll be fine. How’s Bauer?” I ask, nervous because I really need the information inside his head.

  “We undid the spell, keeping him under, but I can’t tell you what sort of things he was going through while he was trapped inside himself. When he wakes, he might not be the Bauer you’re hoping for.”

  Shit.

  I swear, if I get my hands on Archer fucking Dotoro, I’m gonna tear his head clean from his body. What a fucking dickhead. All for what? I can’t think of anything so important that I’d betray everything I knew, everyone I loved.

  Though I could say the same for Bauer—I still have no idea why he did what he did. Why he worked with Archer. I just hope I get my brother back, and I get the chance to find out.

  “It’s going to take time, for him to wake fully, but there’s nothing more we can do. I’ve left some herbs for a tea. When he wakes, ensure he drinks it. It will help him settle back to this world, help him adjust. Just prepare yourself.” She smiles at me sadly.

  “Thank you, Marie. I appreciate it. If there’s anything I can do for you, anything you need.”

  “Hush, child. I watched you boys grow. You’re family. No payment is needed.” She pulls me in for a hug, and practically crushes me, but it’s everything I didn’t know I needed. I’ve gone from being a carefree guy with no worries, to having the weight of the world on my shoulders at warp speed. She’s as much a surrogate mom as Maddie has been, and I really needed this hug. “You call me if he wakes and the herbs don’t help.”

  “I will do.” I tell her and she releases me from her grip. Marie and her circle gather up their stuff and head out, leaving me in this big house alone once again, waiting for my brother to wake up.

  I take a seat in the chair opposite the sofa where Bauer is still laid and close my eyes. It’s been a long few fucking days and I’m exhausted.

  “Colt?”

  My eyes fly open and I find Bauer trying to sit up, his entire body trembling.

  “Hey big brother,” I say softly, standing and crossing the room to him slowly.

  “How did I get here? Is this real?” He asks, his voice still shaking.

  “It’s real. Had to kill a few people, and get some Witchy woo woo to break you free from whatever he did to you but you’re back.” I sit on the coffee table in front of the sofa, keeping a reasonable distance between us just in case.

  “I’m so sorry, Colt.” His voice catches as he speaks, and it shatters my heart. I can count on one hand the times I’ve seen Bauer break, and that’s exactly what’s happening. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am.”

  “It’ll be fine, big brother. I’m not saying I forgive you, because fucking hell, Bauer. But right now, we have bigger shit to deal with,” I say, not knowing what to do. Remy usually helps when this happens, but she’s not here. It’s just me.

  “What happened while I was out? What happened to your face?” He asks and I shake my head.

  “There’s time for that. Let’s get some food in you, and then get some real sleep.” Much as I want to bombard him with questions, he looks like shit. “Marie left some tea for you too. To help.”

  “Okay,” he sighs, his eyes sad and tired. I help him stand, his legs give out under him, so I sit him back down.

  “You wait here, I’ll get some food, and we can talk later,” I tell him, trying not to worry. I don’t know how long he’s been under like that, it could’ve been ever since he warned Remy, and that was weeks ago. A Hunter can survive without food and drink for a while, but it fucks us up royally.

  “Yeah, okay man.” I jog into the kitchen and pull one of the many Tupperware containers Maddie made up for Dad and chuck one of them in the microwave to heat while I heat some water for the tea Marie left for him.

  In the few minutes it takes to put together, Bauer is silent, and I try not to think too hard about what sort of punishment Archer dealt to him, trapped inside his own mind. God knows we’ve all got enough Demons to deal with normally.

  I steep the tea and take a sip. Fuck me that’s bitter, but at least it’s not scalding. I grab a fork for the pasta whatever it is and take it through to where Bauer is sat where I left him, just staring at a wall.

  “Here you go man,” I say popping it all down on the coffee table, and sitting in the chair again, giving him some space. He seems like himself, but Marie wouldn’t have warned me without reason, so I’m going to be cautious until I know for certain that my brother is back and himself. I flick the TV on, and leave the football game on in the background while he eats slowly. That alone is enough to tell me he isn’t okay. But I wait and give him chance to eat and get his head back to where he needs it to be.

  He drains the tea in one go, wincing as the bitterness hits him, but he swallows before closing his eyes and leaning back on the sofa.

  “I saw it over and over again,” he says, his voice so quiet I barely heard him. “You, Remy, Dad. All of you, dying, at my hands. Your blood covering every inch of me. It didn’t matter what I did, no matter how hard I tried to change it, I killed you. All of you. Again and again.”

  “It wasn’t real,” I say, trying to reassure him, but he looks at me, and he’s so broken I know my words don’t matter.

  “It was real to me. I can’t even count how many times I killed you, or led you to your death, Colt. Over and over.” He takes in a shaky breath before meeting my eyes. “How long was I out?”

  “When did he do this to you?” I ask and he winces.

  “After I spoke to Remy…” he says quietly, looking down at the floor.

  “About three weeks,” I tell him softly, and his shoulders droop.

  “It felt like about six months, maybe longer. I don’t know. I lost count…”

  “Why did you do it, Bauer?” I ask, I know I said I’d let him rest, but I just can’t wrap my head around it. Family is everything to him. I imagine that’s why Archer tortured him the way he did, and it’s exactly why I can’t fathom a reason.

  “I loved him. Or I thought I did,” he says, his eyes pleading with me to understand, to not judge. Shock hits me, because in all our lives, I’d never suspected, he’d never even hinted…

  “But as time went on, he started getting more and more out of touch with why he first started his search. Then this thing with the Demons… I knew he wasn’t the man he used to be. I realized too late that I was in too deep. I tried to do what I could, to warn Remy, but then Dad got hurt, and I didn’t know what to do. It was a warning to me, he could see I was becoming hesitant, that I was pulling back from him.�
� He takes in a deep breath and I try to process everything he’s telling me.

  “I don’t know what to say to that…” I tell him honestly. “It has nothing to do with you loving him, though I mean, us Bennetts really seem to know how to pick ‘em.” I laugh dryly. “I just… it’s done, it’s in the past. We need your help; Archer is out of control. He took Fallon.”

  “He did what?” He gasps and his head droops. “I’m so sorry, Colt.”

  “Yeah, he has her trapped in the Shadow Realm. Remy is there now trying to get her back.”

  “She went there willingly?” He looks alarmed, and my heart races.

  “She went to get Fallon, rather than meet him to open the portal for Archer,” I tell him.

  “Fucking hell, this is so fucked up. That’s exactly what he wanted, Fallon’s powers don’t work down there, and I’m guessing that was their escape plan. He never wanted her to open the portal, at least not from here. I don’t understand the magic of it all, but it can be closed from here if it’s opened here. But if she opens it in the Shadow Realm… she can only close it from that side unless she has help… She’ll be trapped there.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Remy

  We finish eating, but that smug grin never leaves Luna’s face. “What do you mean, we could help each other?” I ask, watching her closely.

  “Well, you're looking for someone, and I can probably help with that. And well, you have... things that I would quite like in my toy collection.” I hold my fork so tight the metal bends beneath my fingers, and she laughs.

  She fucking laughs.

  “I think we'll be fine without your brand of help, and on that fun note, we'll be leaving,” I say through gritted teeth as I stand.

  “Well, you can leave at least.” She winks at me, steepling her fingers beneath her chin.

  “What, the fuck, does that mean?” I ask, quickly losing my patience.