by Plum Pascal
The movement of her lithe body is very graceful; she shows improvement each day. I feel myself swelling in my breeches as she tosses her hair out of her face and smiles at me over her shoulder. When she catches the look on my face, her eyes flood with black. I smell her hunger as if it were the scent of a campfire on the wind. I glance at the dark tendrils of hair that appear all over her head and I realize she’s leaning more and more toward the darkness. This isn’t good. Eilish needs to maintain her own internal balance. Fuck fucking Cambion to hell!
Eilish dodges Aima’s next attack and the latter drops her weapons, saying they’ve practiced enough for the day. They’re both panting and dirt stains their clothing and skin. Eilish nods and the two offer each other words of encouragement.
Aima disappears into the cottage as Eilish turns to face me. She smiles broadly and then runs right toward me. I catch her and whip her around, holding her in the air as I do so. When I set her down, she pushes me to the ground and then crawls on top of me. The scent of her need becomes even stronger.
I arch against her and she dips low to slide her tongue into my mouth. I nip her with my fangs. In unison, we moan, Eilish grinding her core against me. I reach down to slide my hand into her leggings and she gasps against my mouth. I feel her fingers wrap around my wrist as she eases my fingers toward the dripping center of her passion. I thrust my fingers inside her and she clenches around me.
“I want inside you now,” I groan against her.
She scrambles to unbuckle my belt and push open the buttons of my trousers. When her hand wraps around my length, stars dance behind my eyes. I lift her with one hand and force her leggings down with the other. She settles over me once more and slowly sinks down the rigid girth of my dick. I clench my eyes shut as I focus on the feel of her slick and tight passage.
“Fuck me,” I whisper.
She stills above me and I open my eyes at the same time that I sense the presence of another.
Dragan hovers in the shadows, watching us with the gaze of a predator, and I feel Eilish shiver. She stares at her gargoyle lover as I push into the succulent flesh between her thighs.
“Show off for him,” I whisper.
Her eyes don’t leave him. She’s nervous, I can tell. But he watches her with emotion that isn’t fully jealousy.
He comes closer. I’m not sure if it’s anger that burns in his eyes or desire. Maybe a mix of both. He fists his hands into her hair and yanks her head back before claiming her mouth in a kiss as he grips her breasts roughly. She moans and I feel her release almost as powerfully as if it were my own.
Something... happens then... Eilish acts as some sort of conduit between us, cycling power through our being, and I feel Dragan’s yearning for her. The gargoyle pulls away from the kiss and stares into her eyes.
My gaze locks onto them with rampant fascination.
“Do it again, Eilish,” Dragan growls. “I want to see you…”
She begins to ride me at a feverish pace and I thrust up into her, forcing her over the edge as she obeys Dragan’s softly spoken command. That coil of her magic blooms within my chest, and it only grows stronger as he and I whisper, “Beautiful,” in perfect unison.
Dragan releases her and opens the fly of his trousers with the speed of a shooting star. The splash of his seed against her lips triggers my own climax as she drinks him in like a starved creature before a feast. My back arches off the ground and I drench her heat in the evidence of my pleasure. Raw, gasping breaths explode from between my lips.
Dragan disappears into the shadows as Eilish collapses on top of me. I have the strange suspicion that the three of us needed that comfort in the absence of our companion.
Cambion must return.
As much as it pains me to believe it, we can’t complete our mission without him.
TWENTY-TWO
Flumph
The Veil
Now I seen some shit I can’t never not see again! My eyes near burned outta their fuckin’ sockets. How dare they start bangin’ their tender parts ‘gainst each other right in the open, like a bunch o’ fuckin’ animals? Savages. Filthy, nasty, savages who only thinks with they dicks.
Well... Pretty ain’t gots one o’ them from what I saw, but it don’t change nothin’. They ‘bout blind Noni like her master. Thank God Masky ain’t able to sees them, else he woulda been scarred for life like Noni an’ me.
I sees the Mother Heifer sneakin’ outta bed every once in a while when the others’re too busy to notice. She don’t cause no problems, but I still don’t likes seein’ her bein’ all creepy-like. The Mother Heifer watchin’ me ‘bout as much as she know I watchin’ her. I don’t gives a flyin’ fuck. She ain’t the boss o’ me. She just a bully with too many secrets. My little legs struggle to keep up as I walks beside her. Noni with me, but the Mother Heifer don’t know that ‘cause Noni be all invisibles an’ shit.
“What is it now, you pest?”
“I ain’t no pest. I’m a sprite.” Don’t she knows nothin’ by now? Fuckin’ twat. “Thought you was sick, anyhow? If youze wantin’ me to find you a way to open The Veil, you gotta stop actin’ all suspicious-like.” I flys up to her face an’ roll my eyes at her.
“You are useless! Cambion found a way out of The Veil, which means there’s more than one portal. You’ve had your chance, Fluff. I’m running out of patience. And you do not wish to find yourself on the wrong side of my anger,” she sneers. “One last time... What have you learned about The Veil, and how do I open it?”
“Nothin’. There ain’ no—” My eyes go dark for a second an’ I feel a sharp burn on my body. I hits the wall hard, feelin’ somethin’ rattlin’ ‘round in there that ain’t ‘pose to be. My poor wing feelin’ real painful an’ I slide down the wall to the floor. Can’t keep my eyes open no more, ‘cause the bitch slap me hard an’ I’m hurtin’.
I wakes up again with Noni starin’ down at me with them freaky-ass eyes o’ hers. She tryin’ to heal me an’ I notice Masky frownin’ at us with a real scary look in him’s eyes.
“What happened, Flumph? Why is Noni healing you?” he ask in that gravelly voice o’ his. He kneel down an’ picks me up. He inspect my wings an’ stuff, makin’ me feel real important-like.
“The fuckin’ Mother Heifer slap me right outta the air an’ I hits the wall real hard-like. Think my ass an’ spleen is broken, not to mention some ribs an’ shit.” My head spinnin’ like nobody business when Masky set me down an’ storm outta the room. Noni climb onto the table an’ keeps healin’ me. “I hope he peel the skin off her body,” I says.
“Oh! No, Mr. Flumph. ‘Member what Noni say about wishing ill on others? It not good for you.” The brownie can does whatever the fuck she feel like, but I ain’t that way. Mother Heifer gonna get what comin’ to her for this. Noni work real hard to get me better, but she ain’t able to heal everythin’. Once I able to walk again, we go back into the room to listen as the giants get into a real nasty fight over me. I feelin’ real fuckin’ special.
Masky stand near the foot o’ the bed while the Mother Heifer sittin’ near the window. He don’t look mad no more, but I know he is. He real protective o’ us little fae.
“Morrigan, you’ve laid a hand on a creature under my protection,” he snarls. “Any act of violence on a fae creature is strictly forbidden in my world.”
“These are indeed serious accusations, Pyre,” she say. “However, you will notice I have marks upon my arms from the creature’s abuse. He attacked me—I was simply defending myself.”
Go ahead an lie, you snivelin’ wench! I thinks ta myself. I wanna slap her right back, but Noni hold my hand an’ keeps me from doin’ it. The Mother Heifer stand up an’ pretend she all high an’ mighty, with her fuckin’ nose in the air.
“Flumph attacked you?” Masky ask.
###
Morrigan
I have the sprite exactly where I want him. The scars and marks upon my arms are of my own doing, but applied carefully to ens
ure it appears as though the sprite has disobeyed the necromancer’s rule of no violence just as much as I have. The shock on the silly little creature’s face is evident. “He accused me of treachery and flew toward my face. He was quite angry. I lifted my arms to protect myself and was attacked viciously for my efforts.”
“And why would he find reason to accuse you, let alone attack you?” Pyre asks.
I throw my arms into the air in exasperation. The sweat upon my face and the stench of sickness still wafts around me. Painting a portrait of a perfect victim takes time, and it will take effort for the others to see me as such. “How should I know? I’ve done nothing but try and get better, but I’m getting worse. It’s clear none of you are willing to help me.”
“There are more sensitive matters we must attend to.”
“Like what? You’ve all done nothing but toss each other around a small circle and cast spells.”
“Training,” Pyre begins but I interrupt him.
“Call it training if you so wish, but I see it as a waste of precious time.”
The necromancer’s face is impassive as he lifts a hand to keep me from speaking further. “I don’t care about your opinion of our training. You owe us for your freedom, Morrigan. You are not a prisoner, but you are also not a guest—which means you have no right to harm anyone who sleeps beneath this roof.”
“But he attacked me—”
“Silence,” he growls. The depth and sheer power behind that voice gives me pause. “Heed this warning above all else, Morrigan. If I hear that you have laid a hand upon one of my charges again, I will see to it that you personally experience the full extent of my wrath. Do we have an understanding?”
I bite my tongue, swallow my pride, and dip my head in false surrender. Once Pyre takes his leave, I throw myself upon the bed and scream into the pillow. But as much as he angers me, I find myself intrigued even more about this enigmatic Guardian of The Veil. The others disappear for hours into the rooms of the house, places I cannot follow. There’s no telling just how knowledge is encased within this cottage while I’ve only been able to explore my own bedchamber, the great room, dining room, and kitchens.
But I hear whispers. I know Pyre and the others plan to stop the harvesting of the fae, but they do not understand that the fae’s sacrifice is an honorable one. I am giving their life purpose, a chance to help change the future. Their life forces will help the artificer create the talisman needed to complete the tasks ahead, tasks that will lead to the rise of a new god—a new god who will sit upon the throne. And I will be that holy power. I cannot let Pyre and the others stop the harvest.
Hours pass as I lay here, devising my plan. Aima calls me down to supper and I take my place at the foot of the table beside Eilish. She stinks of the vampire and... the gargoyle? I turn my gaze to those around me and sigh. “So, what will you call yourselves?” I ask humorously, trying to instill a sense of casualness in the room.
“What do you mean?” Eilish asks.
I shrug. “Every great band of warriors has a name. What shall yours be?”
They all stare at me in silence until the big brute of a satyr speaks up. “Fallen Honor.”
Revenant sends a biscuit sailing across the table. “Fuck off. We haven’t fallen yet. How about the Forsaken Kings? I think it’s quite fitting.”
“Not all of us were kings,” Aima argues.
“Rebel Lords?” Dragan suggests.
“Hmm,” the vampire responds and appears to approve of the moniker.
“The Rebel Lords of The Vindication?” Eilish asks.
Everyone at the table turns to look at her and an expression of approval appears upon their faces.
It is Dragan who speaks. “The Vindication. I like it.”
He lifts his glass to initiate a toast of honor. “Let us raise our glasses to the rise of the Rebel Lords of the Vindication. We shall ride against all who seek to oppress the Realms and fight in the name of those who aspire to bring peace and restoration to our worlds. May we one day pass through the gates of the afterlife and see the light of glory in the aftermath of our sacrifices.”
Each glass is raised high with the sounds of praise echoing the inspiring words of the gargoyle.
Over the next hour or so, they chat about their plans for the future, the great things they intend to accomplish once Cambion is dealt with, but they’re careful enough not to disclose the important details. The meal winds down with Revenant describing his time at the sea.
“You could travel to the ends of the map and back and still never discover everything in this hidden world. I intend to try my best to understand The Veil, but I wish to help it flourish instead of mastering it,” the vampire says with an air of wistfulness I normally do not associate with him. Pyre appears pleased.
“And that is why you are worthy to act as my successor,” Pyre responds as everyone around the table reveals their surprise.
So, this is what Revenant is training for. Pyre has already chosen someone to act in his stead, should he fall to the blade of another. I feel anger and resentment rise within me. This world and every other world tethered to it shall be mine to rule.
No one else's.
“Pyre’s successor, Revenant?” Eilish repeats.
The vampire faces her. “My name is Baron,” he says as Pyre nods as though proud.
TWENTY-THREE
Eilish
The Veil
The large satyr swings his axe in an awe-inspiring arc and I nearly lose my head. Aima is next to jump out of the way of Kolvar’s brutal strength. He moves with a speed that belies his size. A smile breaks across my face as he appears perplexed by the show of dexterity with which I’m able to fight.
“Slippery little thing you are, eh? Like a serpent in the marsh.”
“Have you traveled all over the Realms, Kolvar?” I ask as I evade another blow that would leave me dead if not for my training. He nods and doubles his efforts, casting off the caution he’s used with me until this point. “Have you seen a glade within mountains to the east of Earlann?” I continue.
“Describe it.”
“A hovel beside a small pond and great trees that tower over everything. And... a field of lavender nearby.”
“You speak of the Delendren Glade.”
Delendren Glade. It sounds familiar. I just nod as he continues.
“There was once a healer named Maeline who lived in the Delendren Glade. Folks swore she were an angel, but I never saw no wings. Beautiful woman, though. Why do you ask?”
“She... Maeline was my mother. And she was an angel.”
Kolvar stops mid-swing and stares into my eyes with uncanny wisdom. “She were a lovely woman, your mum. Compassionate and charitable to all who sought her aid. By the way you speak of her, I assume she’s no longer with the living?”
“She and my sister were killed.”
“Young Solya is dead?” he gasps.
“Yes,” I answer.
“I… am very sorry to hear it.”
“Thank you.”
He nods and grows silent for a few seconds, dropping his gaze to the ground. He leaves himself open for attack but I don’t take the opportunity. When he looks back up at me, his eyes are sad.
“Your mother called you Ellie?”
“Yes,” I answer.
“Your father named you Eilish,” Kolvar continues.
I nod, unable to shield my amazement. He knew my mother and sister and by the sound of it, he knew me too! “She did call me Ellie... I didn’t know my father named me.”
He nods emphatically. “I’ve known you and your sister since you were no taller than my knee.” Kolvar moves forward and yanks me into a crushing hug. I want it to be comforting, but it only brings up more questions. Why wasn’t Kolvar there when they died? Did he know the man who killed them? I ask him as much but, sadly, he’s unable to offer me anything more. He was wandering with his clan when they were killed and doesn’t know the man who killed them. I look to Aima a
s if to draw courage from her, but she looks down at her feet with something akin to shame.
“I’m sorry they are gone, Eilish,” Kolvar says.
“I am too,” I say on a sigh as I pull away from him and try to control my emotions. He’s the first person I’ve met who knows my family. There’s just so much more I want to ask him, but then I wonder if I should. How much do I really want to know? How painful will the truth be?
Kolvar gives me a sympathetic pat on the shoulder and the sparring begins once more. I need to clear my mind, to escape from the constant coil of tension that lives in me. Aima and Kolvar seem to understand.
Aima kicks my dagger out of my hand, and I cast a shield of light to deflect Kolvar’s axe as Aima attacks me from the other side. She gets close to cleaving me in two with her sword, but I grab her arm and the veins beneath her skin begin to bulge, appearing red as they crawl across her flesh.
She jerks her arm back and stares at me in surprise. “How did you do that?”
“I didn’t mean to,” I hasten to say, afraid I’ve hurt her. “I only meant to stop you.”
“Eilish... that... what was going through your mind just then?” she asks, still in awe. She doesn’t appear to be hurt. More amazed.
“Protecting myself.”
She shakes her head. “You weren’t just protecting yourself. I couldn’t move my arm no matter how hard I tried,” she says. “It was like venom in my veins. I was paralyzed, but I... accepted it. I embraced the submission forced on me by your power.” She rubs the place on her arm where my hand had been. Something catches my attention. Kolvar’s attention, too, as he tilts his head and his ears twitch. I move to stand beside my companions. The roar of footsteps breaks through the forest as something or someone comes closer. We run for the cottage just as Pyre opens the door.
“There’s—” I start.
“I sensed their presence the second they stepped through the portal,” Pyre growls.
“Who is it?” I ask.
“The Unseelie army. At least one hundred soldiers march through The Veil Forest. And they have Cambion with them.”
