“Nice redirect,” Cian commended. “Too bad it’s just goin’ t’ point him back to the fountain again.”
Kage glared down at the arrow, once again pointing back to the fountain as Cian had said. He nudged Cian and they returned. “I guess we are going to have to look in the fountain,” Kage concluded. He reached behind him into a back pocket and pulled out The Sorek Shackles.
I had hoped I’d seen the last of those, but this time, he secured them around Cian’s wrists in front of him, still holding the wooden bowl. I caught myself involuntary rubbing the pendant I’d repositioned back around my neck and quickly pushed it back into hiding beneath my shirt.
“He’s certainly more clever than I expected,” Cian divulged.
“Freakin’ evil, if ya ask me.”
“There. That should keep you subdued,” Kage declared and returned the Tartaros Blade to its sheath then carefully placed it back in the scabbard on his hip.
“No arguments here. Any ideas? Keep in mind, Aish . . . he’s as strong as I am. Same powers, same training. And I don’t know what other artifacts he might have stashed away waitin’ t’ be used. Not that a Supernatural killing blade isn’t enough.”
“I have this gut feelin’ the Lunar goddess was tryin’ t’ tell me something about this fountain and the Silver Moon, but I already have my power back. Though . . . Kage doesn’t know that.” My attention went to the water-filled basin and the reflection of the moon. It was nearly complete.
“Hey, Kage. I have a question,” I called above the sounds of the water cascading into the basin.
Kage cocked his head to the side and raised a curious eyebrow.
“What’s the deal with midnight?” I asked.
“I don’t follow?” he responded.
“You sent Doppelgänger Cian—James—to Dublin to deliver the message about the Silver Moon to me. So, I’m here. Tonight’s the Silver Moon, but we still have a bit before midnight. Why’s midnight important?”
Kage peered at me with squinted eyes and a creased forehead, he appeared genuinely confused. “I never sent you any such message. I didn’t even know about this Silver Moon situation until the last few days of overhearing about it.”
“Cian, do you believe him?” I glanced at Cian, the glow from the torches brightly lit his strange stare. “Cian?”
“Aye, I think he’s tellin’ the truth.” His voice sounded muffled in my mind. “I think this artifact is affecting my ability t’ connect with ya. Sounds like you’re in a tunnel.”
I nodded. It was meant for Cian, but Kage took it as my acceptance of his statement.
“Maybe I should let ya stick around until midnight, see what it’s all about?” Kage offered with a dark expression. One that gave the impression he hadn’t intended to let me stick around at all, but he might be curious enough to wait until midnight.
“Maybe we should find this stone first,” I countered, wanting to get this over with one way or another.
“I like the way you’re thinking, Aisling. Might be hope for you yet.” Kage took the bowl from Cian and began pacing around the perimeter of the fountain, studying the movement of the arrow. He stopped a few feet away from me—just far enough that I couldn’t grab the blade without lunging toward him. I needed him to get just a little closer.
“Aish, remember the Bulletproof Bubble trick I taught ya?” Cian’s voice was barely audible in my mind. The fact that I couldn’t communicate with Cian freely made me want to rush to him and get the shackles off. But there wouldn’t be time before Kage could stop me. And he was the one with the Tartaros Blade, not me.
I looked over to Cian. “Aye, I remember. Still need to test if it’s bulletproof.”
He rolled his eyes. “If ya can get the blade, use the bubble to protect yourself.”
“What about the stone? That stone in his hands can do more damage than the blade. Actually . . . I’m goin’ after the stone. If I’d known he was goin’ t’ do this, I’d have just kept it.”
“Aish! No! It... too dang... os.” Cian’s voice began cutting out. The Sorek Shackles were draining him. I was on my own.
I watched Kage closely as he twisted his body, positioning the arrow in different directions to home in on the stone. A frigid wind whipped through the garden as my focus darted to the pillar beneath the Moon Orb I’d placed earlier. One pillar stood between the stone’s hiding place and Kage. They both stood in my way. I was going to have to get wet to get to it before he did.
The moment Kage started toward the pillar, I hopped over the stone wall and into the basin of the fountain. The water around me began to shimmer and flicker with an iridescent glow. Kage hurried his movements at the sight of my charge for the stone. I surged forward, reaching the pillar just seconds before Kage. I settled one foot on the side of the basin wall and pushed myself up, grabbing the top of the pillar to stabilize, weighed down by the water dripping from my clothes. I reached into the mouth of the spout and felt around for the stone. The sudden jerk of a hand clenching my jacket and yanking sent me off balance. My left hand began to slip from its hold around the base in which the Full Moon Orb above rested. I managed to reestablish my grip and kick out toward Kage, landing a blow that sent him stumbling back a step and shaking the pillar. The Moon Orb rattled around and was dislodged from the base, bounding down and plummeting into the water beneath. As I regained my balance, Cian—hands still bound and weak from the influence of The Sorek Shackles—charged into Kage with his shoulder to give me a fighting chance. They both stumbled into the fountain wall, nearly toppling into the water. Kage quickly recovered, whirling a strike to Cian’s nose with his elbow that sent Cian to the ground. With a smooth motion, Kage drew the Tartaros Blade and placed it ever so eloquently against the exposed skin of my side as I reached further into the spout and wrapped my fingers around the wet, velvet cloth I’d been searching for.
I eased the stone from its hiding place and held it tightly against my chest, still clinging to the iron spike atop the pillar to keep from falling. Cian struggled to his feet behind Kage, poised to go at him again, until he saw the blade perched at my side.
“I’m going to need you to hand that over,” Kage spat, malice dripping from every syllable. He was clearly pissed over the reluctance to go along with his plan to take over the world.
I hesitated, and that’s where I went wrong. The burden of the blade seared against my flesh as he pressed to make its presence known. I had a decision to make. Hand over the stone . . . or take my chances with the blade.
“Now Kage, you said yourself, we should both want to see the world a better place. So, of course I’m going to make sure that happens.” I moved my hand just slightly as though I were going to hand the stone over, then I winked at him, flashed him a gratified grin and plunged toward the water below.
Fire sliced through my side. The water muddied red around me. Looking up through the iridescent glow, I saw Kage as if he were moving in slow motion, raising his foot, readying himself to dive into the water after me . . . after the stone. Out of the darkness behind him, Cian emerged. He charged into Kage and the two flew over the edge of the fountain into the basin just as the world faded around me.
Thirty-Five
“Aisling, find the Full Moon Orb. Remember, it harnesses all of the powers of the other orbs: healing, protection, illumination, water manipulation, and so much more. If you are in tune with the lunar powers, your instincts will reveal what you need. The Silver Moon is peaking. Awaken, child, and complete your quest.”
My eyes shot open and immediately filled with moonwater. I exploded from beneath the surface, gasping for air. It took only a second to get my bearings and focus on the commotion of Kage and Cian grappling a few feet away. Confirmation that I’d only been unconscious for a few moments—just long enough to get the message. To my relief, the velvet wrapped stone remained in my grasp.
Pain seared through my side and I cringed as I moved through the waist-deep ba
sin. A blood-stained trail following me as I frantically searched for the Full Moon Orb. When another stab of heat detonated through my core, I stumbled and lost my footing, sinking under the water. But that’s when I caught the glimmer of it against the edge of the stone wall. Moving through the water more quickly underneath, I pushed my way to it and grabbed it with my free hand.
I emerged from the water just as Kage drew the dagger back, glowing red and seeking its own. Time didn’t stop, but I’d have sworn it slowed to a crawl. I heard myself scream Cian’s name, noticed the moonlight glint from the blade’s edge, watched the scene play out like a movie in slow motion as the Tartaros Blade fulfilled the vision I had dreaded. At once, a metallic tinge lingered on my tongue. I felt the water around me explode as a rush of adrenaline surged through my veins, energizing as it traveled my nerves like a superhighway until I was certain every cell in my body might erupt. And I aimed the entirety of that power at the man still standing before me.
Instinct invaded, and I surrendered to it. With the Moon Orb in one hand and the Kanna Stone in the other, my arms moved in a half-circular motion, as though summoning the water from behind me, and hurling it forcefully—and with impressive precision—at Kage’s chest. The intensity of the blow hurled Kage against the pillar behind him. I watched the Tartaros Blade tumble from his hand into the water and my instinct was to go after it and run him through. I rushed forward to grab the dagger before Kage could regain his bearings, trying to ignore Cian’s limp body floating nearby, but I couldn’t. Foregoing the Tartaros Blade, I stopped and placed a hand over the binding of The Sorek Shackles and concentrated my energy on the lock. It flew open and I quickly removed them and tossed them aside.
“Cian. Cian. Please answer me!” I pleaded. But he didn’t . . . he couldn’t. Without wasting another moment, I leaned over, kissed his forehead as he had kissed mine only hours before, and then returned my fury to the one who had taken him from me. Eyes narrowed; determination twisted within me.
Kage was just wrapping his hand around the hilt of the dagger when I pushed the hand holding the Kanna Stone forward, the cloth falling to the sides around my fingers, revealing the stone itself. A series of words I didn’t even recognize spilled from my lips and the blue shades of the Hébel Stone retreated as the Kanna Stone morphed into a deep shade of blood red. In that moment, I experienced the duality of the stone—the emotion of both brothers churned through me. A pulse emitted from the stone and slammed Kage’s arm back against the hard pillar behind him, forcing the dagger from his grasp. I shoved the Moon Orb into my pocket to free my hand and quickly moved to recover the dagger as I pinned Kage’s back to the pillar with my forearm.
He didn’t move a muscle as I studied the dagger in my hand. I was almost certain he was holding his breath. I rested the dagger against his neck and turned my attention to the Kanna Stone. “So, this is what Cian’s life was worth t’ you, is it? What an entire race of lives is worth, right?” My tone sliced through the air like I was imagining the dagger might slice through Kage. I angled my head and glared into his soul. Where his soul should have been, that is. He didn’t respond. “Nothing t’ say? Hmph. I halfway expected you’d have a soliloquy prepared,” I added sardonically. “Maybe you just need something t’ talk about? For instance, let’s discuss what happens when I place this stone int’ the hilt of this dagger.”
I slipped the stone into place, and a sinister smile emerged on his lips. I instantly found myself wondering why he looked so smug.
I didn’t wonder for long.
The Tartaros Blade began to vibrate in my hand. The stone fluctuated rapidly between shades of red and shades of blue. Rage tore through me. Everything in my vision flashed to crimson, and all I wanted was to watch the life fade from the being before me. I drew the Tartaros Blade back into attack position, prepared to thrust, and met the vile stare of malevolence as it glared back at me with satisfaction.
“Any last words?” I offered.
Arrogance spilled out when he began to speak. “There is anger within you, an uncontrollable madness. After all, you are your father’s daughter.”
“What do you know of my father?” I couldn’t help but ask.
“I know his downfall was your mother. Just has you have been Cian’s. It’s why she had to be removed from the equation. Her death was swift . . . maybe not painless, but swift.” Not even a hint of remorse or emotion surfaced with his declaration.
I was not so fortunate. The revelation stormed within. Kage had taken the life of my mother . . . and now Cian. I raised the Tartaros Blade high, letting out a guttural cry backed by years of bitterness and now emptiness. Just as I prepared to bring the blade down and serve the deserved justice, his words echoed in my mind.
“The one who will place the stone and wield the blade and face the choice between darkness and light. All you, Aish.”
Darkness would bring death. Choosing light would bring life. It didn’t matter that the life belonged to someone who didn’t deserve mercy. Choosing darkness would have meant my own death as well, the death of what is right, the death of who I am meant to be, the death of who my mother and Cian believed in. That was not the legacy I was meant to carry on. I slowly lowered the dagger, now radiating with blue luminance, but kept it pointed in Kage’s direction. The Sorek Shackles drifted into sight and I huffed a bemused sigh. “No such thing as coincidence,” I mumbled as I quickly grabbed them and secured them around Kage’s wrists, the dagger strategically trained on him until I was finished.
“There is a special place in hell for you, but I won’t be the one to send you there.”
The sound of a faint groan spun me around to search my surroundings—only we were alone. When it rumbled again, it was slightly louder . . . and closer. I rushed to Cian, convinced it had been him. But he floated lifelessly in the water with no response.
“Your mind is playin’ tricks on ya, Aisling,” I uttered to myself and darted my attention back to Kage now noticeably weakened by The Sorek Shackles, contemplating what I needed to do with him—unwilling to leave Cian, but unable to carry him.
“Ya could just drag me t’ the side an’ hang me over,” the familiar snark sounded in my head.
I whipped back around expecting that I was still losing it. I stared at Cian’s body for a solid thirty seconds before I noticed the feeble rise and fall of his chest. I quickly waded through the water to his side.
“Cian? Please tell me I’m not imaginin’ things. Can you hear me?” I placed a hand under his head and pulled him over to the side of the basin, my back against the stone wall and Cian cradled to my chest.
“Nay, lass. I hear ya, an’ you’re no crazier than usual, I s’pose.” His voice was a symphony of comfort, even if it was only through our mental link.
“How are you not dead?” I planted a series of kisses on his face, holding the last one in place on his temple.
“I believe I can answer that,” an ethereal voice articulated clearly. I raised my head to meet her calm, reassuring smile. “You’ve had quite the day, Aisling.”
“Aye,” I agreed, glancing down at Cian and then back to the Lunar goddess. “Is he going t’ be okay?” I breathed shakily, my emotions finally catching up with me.
“He is, dear one. Darkness leads to death. Light brings life. You chose life. Of course, if one is going to attempt to defy a mortal wound, doing so in a fountain of moonwater with a healing moon orb nearby does not hurt one’s chances.” She offered an amiable wink and her warm brown eyes lit up with a brilliant smile. I couldn’t help smiling in return. “I’ve established a warm fire just there for the two of you to stay by while Cian recovers and you both dry out.” She pointed to the side of the fountain farthest away from the steps where a small stone pit and two benches had been placed. I wasn’t entirely sure it had been there before, but I wasn’t going to question it.
“And what about hi—” I looked toward Kage but stopped just short of completing the question.
My eyes widened. He was gone.
“He was warned,” she stated matter-of-factly. “He will be dealt with accordingly.”
Cian stirred a bit, his eyes fluttered open then closed again.
“He will regain his strength by midnight,” she assured me.
I looked up at the sky to gauge the time.
“Within the hour, dear one,” she clarified. “Take care, Aisling. I do hope we cross paths again.”
She disappeared as I tried to thank her for her help.
The moon was nearly directly overhead by the time Cian and I had fully dried out by the fire. I’d managed to use a little Fae magic to dry out Cian’s phone and call Uncle Lachlan for help. He, Darek, and even James—who had finally shed the Cian façade—came when I called.
James, as it turned out, wasn’t Davar Magén at all. The artifact Kage had given him containing a drop of Cian’s blood had not only outfitted him with Cian’s physical appearance, but also a soul block. James was, in fact, a rather kind Fae who had been under the impression that I was the bad guy bent on bringing evil into the world thanks to the story Kage had fed him.
Darek and James gathered the journals and items from the altar in the courtyard, and I had passed along the Tartaros Blade and the Stone of Two Brothers to Uncle Lachlan for safe keeping. It didn’t feel right to refer to it as one or the other of its individual names now that I knew they were one in the same. James had gone with them and left the keys to Kage’s SUV for me and Cian. They’d been gone nearly an hour.
I had decided to stay until midnight and Cian refused to leave without me. So . . . there we sat.
I pulled out the Moon Orb and rolled it around in my palm.
“Why didn’t ya send that back with Lachlan?” Cian asked, holding his hands up to the fire and rubbing them together.
“I meant t’ give it back t’ the Lunar goddess, but I was a little preoccupied when she showed up. Not t’ mention, I hadn’t expected her t’ show up. So, I guess I’ll just leave it at the entrance by the waterfall like I’d originally planned.”
Silver at Midnight: A Paranormal Romance Urban Fantasy (The Keepers of Knowledge Series Book 5) Page 26
