A Crown of Shadows and Secrets

by Sloane Murphy

  I try to move, pulling at the restraints keeping me in this stupid fucking chair, but between the exhaustion, the pain and the blood loss, I'm so weak I can barely keep my head up.

  Fuck him for making me feel so powerless.

  I close my eye and send a prayer to the fates that Remy finds me soon. I'd much rather have my magic, but with my options limited, I know Remy is pretty much my only hope.

  I almost thought that Deacon might let me go, but when he left, leaving me with Azriel, my hope left with him. Any remnants that might have clung with his departure left with each hit, or tear of my skin.

  “Oh goodie, you're awake.” I flinch at his voice and he laughs. It pisses me off, but it’s all I can do not to let my tears of frustration fall. I will not cry for him again.

  “Fuck you,” I spit and he laughs again.

  “Oh, breaking you is going to be such a sweet joy. Such fire from someone so breakable.” He grins at me and I just close my eyes.

  They fly open as he grips my jaw, so hard my eyes water. “You will watch every second of me breaking you, little Witch. And after, when I rebuild you, you will thank me for making you mine.”

  I try to pull from his grip, trying not to panic at his words, but it’s useless. I can't break free from him, but I don't let that stop me trying. I won't let him break me.

  He lets go of my jaw and pushes my head back. It cracks against the back of the chair, but I find relief if the fact that I didn't let him win. Not yet. Not ever if I had my way.

  “I will never be yours. You're going to regret ever making a deal with Archer Dotoro,” I hiss and he smirks at me.

  “Oh little Witch, are you hoping your little Shadow Walker is going to save you?” He whispers, crouch down in front of me. “I have a little secret for you. Even if she doesn't help Dotoro, if she tries to reach you here, I'll tear her apart, just as I'll tear you apart. I'll make you both mine. There are more nightmares on this level of the Shadow Realm than you could ever dream up.”

  “Which level are we even on?” I ask, not expecting him to answer.

  “Level six. Greed.” His eyes light up. “This is my level, and I do love to collect people.”

  I try not to react to his words, much as I'm surprised he answered me, it’s not like I can get word to Remy. The light inside me flickers, but I bite down on my resolve. No, he will not break me.

  “What do you even want with me?”

  “Oh little Witch, you were just a nice little topper on the deal. I never expected to get a Laveau Witch out of my bargain with the Hunter, he’s not even who I answer to, just a good little side deal, but it is a very welcome little surprise. He doesn't know I have no intention of giving you back, but then, he didn't mention that when he handed you over. He just asked me to keep you hidden. Foolish Hunter, not watching his words. Tip of the day, mind your words when dealing with Demons.”

  “I'll keep it in mind.” I roll my eyes, and he sighs.

  “Well, it’s no fun breaking you in this state is it?” He says with a frown. He flicks his hand, and all of the aches and pains in my body recede. I feel the swelling in my eye go down, and then I can see properly again. Once I feel back to myself he grins at me. “Much better.”

  He moves towards me again, and it takes every ounce of strength I have not to flinch and plead with him not to hurt me again.

  “We're going to have so much fun down here, until the Hunter finds a way to open his portal. And then, then I'll keep you when we head to Earth too. You can be my personal little plaything,” he says, running a finger down my cheek. I try to pull away from him, but the restraints hold me in place.

  I let out a growl of frustration and he laughs at me again.

  “Oh little Witch, I'll keep breaking you and this pretty little face and putting you back together until you see things my way. You should just give in. Things are so much better once you're with me. You'll see.”

  “Where is your Shadow Walker friend, little Witch?” Azriel asks me again, and I shake my head, my face already stained with my tears again. I didn't want to cry, but I couldn't stop them.

  “I don't know,” I sigh, my voice hoarse from the screams he's already pulled from me. I'm not even lying, but after Archer appeared again a few hours ago, screaming and shouting about Remy betraying him, betraying me, the question has been almost on repeat, and the pain has increased with each time I tell him I don't know.

  I want the pain to stop almost more than anything, but I can't tell him what I don't know.

  But he doesn't believe me.

  “Maybe our friend Deacon can help?” Azriel smirks and steps back from me. I let out a sob, but catch myself before I start fully crying again, the sheer relief of him stepping back is enough to make me cry until I pass out.

  Not that he's let me pass out. Each time the pain got too much, he'd bring me back to consciousness, so I had to live each and every second of his joy at my pain.

  The door opens behind him, and I see Deacon, his face taut as he takes me in, but he doesn't show even a hint of concern for me.

  “You called for me, Az?” Deacon says, looking away from me.

  “I want you to get her to tell me where her Shadow Walker friend is. I know you know how.” Azriel winks at him, before kissing my cheek, and my stomach churns. It takes everything in me not to empty the contents of my stomach over him. He goes to leave the room, but stops and turns back to me. With a wave of his hand, my pain disappears again and I suck in a breath, taking the small relief. He smiles again and leaves the room, closing the door behind him.

  “Please get me out of here,” I whisper to Deacon, but he looks unaffected by my plea.

  “Where is your friend?” He asks and my heart sinks. It was foolish to think he was anything more than a Demon. Of course he isn't going to help me.

  “I already told him, I don't know,” I sigh, and he moves towards me, his hands raised. It takes every measure of strength I have not to flinch as his hands move to my temples.

  “This is probably going to hurt,” he says softly, so softly I almost think he might be sorry, but my thoughts are ripped away and pain unlike anything I've ever encountered rips through me and my screams fill the air.

  I curl up on myself in the corner of the room, having been freed from the restraints while I was passed out. I'm not sure which of them did it, but as Deacon tore into my mind, I know he saw what I'd seen when he'd shown me the ring of fire days before. At least I think it was days, I've lost track of time completely. My meals have gone back to nothing more than bread and water, another of Azriel's ways to break me I assume, but he has no idea just how stubborn I can be. I will never give him what he wants.

  Though, if Deacon can tear into my mind the way he did, I might not have a choice. I can still feel his claws on the edges of my mind. My body shakes as I sit, watching the door through the darkness of the room. The only light from the bottom of the door where it doesn't quite meet the floor.

  I close my eyes and try to slow my breathing, try to stop the shaking. It takes a while, but finally I still, my mind calmer, though fear still grips me. What Deacon did was worse than anything Azriel did. Hurting my body, that I can survive, but breaking into my mind. The violation is greater, and harder to recover from. While I'm grateful my body doesn't hurt right now, I'd rather take the pain to my body over my mind every single time.

  I have no idea what else he managed to get from my thoughts. I tried to shield myself against the onslaught, but even with every shield practice I've ever done with Mama, nothing has ever torn through me the way he did.

  I shudder at the thought of it.

  I never want to deal with that again.

  Footsteps approach my door and I go rigid. I hold my breath, and send a prayer to the goddess to protect me. I don't know if she can reach me here, if she can even hear me, but I cling to it. They stop at my door, the light broken by the feet of whoever is out there.

  “I'm sorry.” I only just hear the words, sa
id so faintly, I wonder if I imagined them before the person moves away from the door, and the footsteps grow quieter the further away they get. I let out the breath I was holding slowly, trying to hold on to my sanity, telling myself I didn't imagine it.

  I move so I'm lying on the ground, it’s hard and cold, but it’s still better than being trapped in that chair, and try to get comfortable. Closing my eyes, I try to drift off to sleep.

  I feel myself falling when I hear a scream, and my eyes spring open.

  Who the fuck was that?

  I scramble to my feet and move to the door as the screams get louder.

  “Please, please, just let me go,” the voice cries and my heart stops.

  That can't be Rebel.

  I won't believe it.

  There is no way Mama would have left her alone after I was taken. Colt wouldn't have let them get her. I pound my fist on the door and shout for Azriel, Deacon, anyone, but no-one comes, and her screams go on, filling my ears, breaking my heart, breaking me.

  Azriel might not have broken me, but I'd happily give myself over for my sister.

  “Stop it!” I scream, pounding on the door again when I hear that insufferable chuckle on the other side of the door.

  “Hello little Witch, are you ready to give in yet?” Azriel's voice filters through the door and my knees almost give out.

  “Let me see her,” I plead.

  “Only once you agree to be mine,” he says and I can hear his smile.

  “Please, just let me see her, then I'll do whatever you want.” I beg, hating every word, but I'd give anything for my sister.

  “As you wish,” he says and the screams stop. I hear a shuffling and my door starts to open. Azriel strides into the room and stands in front of me. “Make one move, and I'll cut her throat. Slowly. Do you understand?”

  I nod my head and he grins again. “Don't look so glum, little Witch. You're going to enjoy life at my side. I'll make you immortal, and you'll be mine forever.”

  He moves to the side, and I see Rebel, being held up by two Demons, their pale skin glows against her dark skin, blood drips from her fingers and I clench my fists. “Send her home.”

  “Once you're mine. But for now, she can stay where I can keep an eye on her,” Azriel says and with a wave of his hand, the two Demons walk away and put her in a room down the hall from me.

  “How do I know you won't harm her anymore?” I glare at him. I might be willing to make this deal for her, but I'm not going to make it pleasant for him.

  “It's all in the wording sweetheart. Pick your terms carefully.”

  I take a deep breath, and prepare myself to sell my soul.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Remy

  “Holy shit,” I gasp as I steady myself. Caleb grins at me with a wink, not caring about the grumbling men at my back for a second.

  “Welcome back to the Shadow Palace, Mara. The place we call home.” Caleb says waving to the palace in front of us. Though, I'm not sure palace is the right word. The huge, beautiful building is cut out of the black rock halfway up what seems to be a mountain, with a river of lava at its base. Spires reach up as far as the eye can see, gold glitters across the palace at different doors and windows frames.

  A winding path leads from where we stand down the mountain, while in front of us is a gate of gold, carved with the most beautiful artwork I've ever seen of vines, flowers, and thorns, framed by a wall of black stone that seems to run the entire length of the palace.

  “Come on,” Caleb says and strolls towards the gate, not looking back to make sure we're following.

  “Are you sure we can trust him?” Kain asks, still taking in our surroundings.

  “He is the guy from my memory, so I'm going to say yes.”

  “I just wish he wasn't so... familiar with you already,” Creek grumbles. “Mara, pfft.”

  “I kind of want to know how he knew it was me.” I look at Levi who opens his mouth but is interrupted by Caleb.

  “Are you guys coming?” He shouts.

  “Come on, let’s get going. The sooner we're in, the sooner we can find Fallon,” I say, giving the four of them a reassuring smile before hiking up the path towards Caleb.

  “They don't trust me?” He says, that smirk still on his face when I reach him.

  “Would you if you were in their position?” I ask and he shakes his head.

  “Not a chance,” he laughs. “Come on, Morgan will punish me in the most delightful ways if I don't get you in there soon.”

  He grabs my hands and pulls me along with him, letting the guys catch up, Roman’s growls reaching us and just making him laugh harder.

  As he approaches the gates, they open, revealing a bridge made of the same black stone, with rushing water below. I follow its path and realize it moves towards a waterfall which leads straight to the lava below. I gulp at the sight, and make sure the guys are close behind.

  “No need to worry, Mara. I won't let them get swept away. Not yet anyway.” He winks at me and I roll my eyes.

  “You can call me Remy, you know. That’s my name now,” I say and he shrugs.

  “I could, but I won't. You've always been Mara to me.”

  “Okay then.” I laugh as he pulls me over the bridge, Levi a step behind us and the others with him.

  “I'll take you straight to Morgan, and then we'll worry about sleeping arrangements and the likes, but I'm sure considering your latest arrangement, she'll find somewhere suitable for you all,” Caleb tells me as we reach the other side of the bridge, and the dark ornate wooden doors to the palace shimmer as we pass through them as if they react to Caleb’s very presence and allow us entry.

  I blink at the changes from the outside, in here, the walls and ceiling are all white, the curved ceilings making dozens of arches, the many pillars are stone men holding up the room, and I just hope it’s for decoration only rather than actual people trapped inside stone to hold up the walls of the palace. The room branches off into three directions, a hall each to the left and right of us, and one leading into what I'm assuming is the heart of the palace.

  “There you are! She's driving me nuts with her fussing.” A guy appears in the room, literally pops into existence before us and heads for us, before sweeping me off my feet in a hug. “It's good to see you again Mara.”

  “Dude, she has no idea who you are.” Caleb laughs, moving himself between me and my guys who look like they're about ready to tear the man's arms from his body. “Mara, you should tell your guys to stand down. Bryce will literally tear them to shreds with a thought.”

  I pull back from the guy who still has his arms around me and notice him eying the guys behind me, he almost looks protective of me.

  “Mara, these guys are with you?” Bryce asks, looking down at me, his face completely different now he looks at me. His eyes are warm and welcome.

  “Yeah, they're mine,” I tell him as he releases me from his grasp. “This is Levi, Creek, Kain, and Roman.” I tell Caleb and Bryce.

  “Of course she collected her own harem. Morgan is going to kill herself laughing.” Bryce says, his eyes crinkling with laughter. “Come on, let’s get to the throne room. You know how impatient she gets.”

  “Actually I have no idea,” I shrug and he laughs.

  “You really don't remember me, us?” He asks and I shake my head.

  “I had a memory of Caleb when we first entered the Shadow Realm, but before then, I've never had a memory from my life as Amantara. Not once in my existence as a Hunter as far as I can recall,” I tell him.

  “Interesting. I'm sure we'll have plenty of time to catch up when we find out why you're here. Come on.” Bryce snaps his fingers and darkness wraps around us again.

  It clears and I find us all in a huge hall, at the far end, raised on a Dias, a huge white throne, framed in gold with four smaller ones around it, two to each side. Upon the center throne is a petite woman with long dark hair that falls in waves down to her waist, dressed in a flowing bla
ck dress, that looks almost Grecian, a gold belt at her waist, and a slit in the skirt revealing her leg and the beautiful gold stilettos on her feet. Beside her, in two of the smaller thrones, sit two men who look beautifully menacing.

  “You found her!” She squeals and jumps from the throne, two men at her back as she hurries across the room coming straight for me.

  “Morgan, she doesn't remember us,” Bryce says softly.

  “Oh nonsense, we'll get that fixed right up,” she says waving him off as she reaches me and hugs me. Who would've thought the Queen of the Shadow Realm would be so... nice?

  “I've missed you so much, Mara! It has been far too long since I saw your beautiful face! You've not changed one bit in all these years!” She squeezes me tightly before pulling back from me. “I see you brought some friends,” she purrs winking at me as she takes in the guys, and one the men behind her huffs.

  “Oh now then Malik, you know I only have eyes for you four, but a girl can appreciate!” She laughs. “Mara, introduce me please.” She flutters her lashes and I can't help but laugh. I can see why we were friends so many years ago.

  Levi steps forward, his wings unfurling, and she chuckles as they appear. “I am Leviathan, your majesty,” he says with a bow. “This is Creek Winchester, Hunter, Roman Knight, Lycan, and Kain Michaels, Dracul.”

  “Oh none of that your majesty nonsense, any friend of Mara's is a friend of mine. Call me Morgan. You've obviously met Caleb and Bryce, these two behind me are Malik and Killian.” I take in her four men, and I've got to say, I can definitely appreciate. Each of them tall, obviously well built, and just so striking.

  “Now we're all introduced, I'd like to catch up with Mara, sort out those pesky memories,” Morgan says with a huge smile.

  “I do not think...” Levi starts but Morgan shoots him a look, showing us exactly why she is the Queen of the Shadow Realm. I nearly piss my pants and she doesn't even look at me.

  “She will be better equipped to navigate this realm if she remembers her visits here before. This is not a place to just stumble through. You have been lucky to this point,” she says firmly, her emerald eyes darkening.