by N M Thorn
Cole lifted his glass and took a small sip of the blood, putting effort to suppress his vampiric nature as much as he could. He placed the glass back down on a coaster and grabbed a napkin, dabbing his lips.
“You have amazing self-control, Mr. Adams,” Amaris said, putting his glass down. “Your fangs didn’t expand.”
“Well, thank you, Mr. Amaris.” Cole inclined his head in an elegant half-bow, his expression hardened for a brief moment. “I’m an old vampire. I know what I am and how to keep some parts of my nature under control.”
“You’re nothing like your older brother, though.” Amaris propped his elbow on the bar, making a steeple of his fingers. A flair of light bounced against a polished black stone embedded into the silver ring on the middle finger of his right hand. “He’s a bit rough around the edges, wouldn’t you agree? A little abrupt.”
“I can’t imagine why he would be a little abrupt.” Cole’s eyes narrowed slightly as he tilted his head. “You… Well, how can I put it delicately, without making you feel uncomfortable…” He glanced heavenwards, rubbing his chin. “Oh yes, you blackmailed him, forcing him to do something he most likely didn’t want to do. So, I’m sure he wasn’t in the mood for social pleasantries.” Then he smiled as charmingly as ever and added, “My apologies if I sounded a little vulgar, my lord.”
Amaris laughed, shaking his head slightly. “I do like you, Cole.” He took a pause. “May I call you Cole?”
“But of course, Mr. Amaris,” Cole replied with a dismissive wave of his hand. “After all, I am your prisoner. You can call me number five hundred twenty-six, for all I care.”
Amaris took another sip of his whisky. “When I spoke with your brother the last time, he made certain demands of me regarding your safety, Cole,” he started, his eyes shining with a dim, purple light through the slits of his mask. “But truth be told, I never contemplated anything harmful toward you.”
“What did he ask for?” Cole took another swig of blood, carefully watching Amaris’ every move.
“For some reason, he thought I was going to enslave you and use you as a captive fighter,” Amaris said, his voice calm and even. “It wasn’t even in my thoughts. Preposterous, if you ask me.”
“My brother loves me and is a bit overprotective.” Cole chuckled. “I’m a public figure—a rich entrepreneur, Arizona’s most eligible bachelor, and the King of the local Vampire Court.” He flicked his eyebrow at Amaris. “Putting a collar on my neck and throwing me into the octagon during one of your events would be a bit problematic for you, wouldn’t it?”
“Yes, you are quite a celebrity... and I can see why,” Amaris murmured. “You’re as clever as you’re suave, well-read and diplomatic. And I do agree with your brother—you’re an unmatched swordsman. This brings us to the subject I wanted to discuss.”
“Oh?” Cole raised his glass, drinking the rest of the blood. I was right. This evil bastard was watching me fight. “What can I do for you, Mr. Amaris?”
“What I asked your brother to do for me is not easy. It’ll take him a while.” Amaris got up, his mouth pressed into a tight line. He took a deep breath, tapping his fingers on the bar. Then he glanced at Cole, and the corners of his well-shaped lips turned up. “I thought, since you’re going to be my guest for at least a few weeks, why don’t we make this time mutually pleasant and beneficial for both of us.”
Cole met his strange, purple eyes without blinking. “I’m listening.”
“You were unarmed and alone, but it took you only a few minutes to kill three of my best slayers,” said Amaris, his fingers clutching the edge of the counter with hungry anticipation.
“They weren’t the real Sisterhood slayers.” Cole laughed softly. “We both know that. So, I’m wondering why you needed this”—he twirled his hand as if searching for a better word—“charade.”
Amaris nodded, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. “You’re right, Cole,” he said at length. “These women weren’t the real Sisterhood slayers, but they were powerful witches who were trained by an ex-slayer. You still disabled them in no time.” He thought a moment and added, “As far as why I needed this pretense, it’s complicated, but I’ll try to explain.”
He got up and refilled his glass with whisky, taking a large gulp. Then he pointed at Cole’s glass, offering him more blood, but Cole raised his hand, shaking his head.
“I run quite a few business operations that have nothing to do with the supernatural fighting pits,” Amaris continued, speaking lightly as if he were talking to his best friend during a social dinner event. “Some of them require assistance and the cooperation of vampires—local as well as from the other states. So, I need to have trained fighters who can hold their ground against the undead, just in case things go wrong for whatever reason. Until I met you, I thought I made all the right arrangements.”
Amaris chuckled, taking another sip of whisky. “How wrong was I… Wow!” He shook his head slowly. “To be completely honest, you took my breath away, Cole. I’ve never seen anyone move and fight like you, and I just couldn’t take my eyes off of you. Trust me, I’ve seen my fair share of fighters since I took over the Arizona House.”
Cole clenched his jaw, fighting the rising anger. “You took a huge gamble, Mr. Amaris. Your slayers could have killed me, and that would cause my abrupt brother to become even more unpleasant than before.”
“No, Cole, I would never take such a chance, and not because I’m afraid of your brother. All my slayers had strict orders not to kill you,” he said. “You have quite a reputation in the supernatural circles. I apologize, but my curiosity got the best of me. I wanted to see if all those crazy rumors were true.”
He leaned forward and touched Cole’s hand, his soft, warm fingers brushing over his knuckles. Cole stilled, staring at him with widened eyes, but Amaris pulled back as if nothing happened, relaxing on his stool.
“Please tell me what I can do for you, Mr. Amaris.” Cole shoved his hair away from his face, slipping him a curious glance. “The suspense is killing me.”
“Oh, Cole, something tells me you already know what I’m about to ask,” said Amaris, his lips quirking up in a playful grin. “Don’t disappoint me.”
“You want me to train your fake slayers,” said Cole, his face turning a shade paler.
“For now… Yes, that and a few of my captive fighters,” added Amaris. “While your brother is away, it’ll keep you occupied. Also, if you agree, I will provide you and your maker with different accommodations.” He gestured at Cole. “A lot more suitable for your status.”
Cole nodded, suppressing the deep shudder running through his body. “If I agree, will you allow me and Ruslan to move around your facility freely, or are we still going to be locked in our cell. I’m not fond of prison-like environments.”
“Not a cell, Cole,” Amaris objected, sounding almost reproachful. “More like a luxury suite. Are you suggesting that Ruslan will join you in training? I’m sure being as old as he is, he must be quite a mighty warrior.”
“Ruslan is the best warrior I’ve ever met,” replied Cole coldly. “He taught me everything I know. I believe I can persuade him to join me in training. After all, he spent three years strung up between two poles. He’ll welcome some physical exercise.”
Even if Amaris noticed some sarcasm in Cole’s voice, he didn’t flinch, his smile remaining as sweet as ever. “If both of you agree to train my people, I will gladly allow you some freedoms within the walls of this facility,” replied Amaris, excitement igniting brighter in his purple eyes. “Besides, I wouldn’t mind spending a few evenings in your company. You’re quite an entertaining conversationalist.”
Cole got up, pulling down his blood-splattered shirt. “Then you got yourself a deal, Mr. Amaris.”
Chapter 19
~ Damian Blake ~
For a short while, everything remained unchanged. The rune shone in midair, and Yaginya stood in front of it with her hand pressed to her chest. Then the air shi
mmered with soft, blue sparkles. They started to rotate, moving faster and faster with each passing second until the rune vanished, replaced by the large, whirling vortex of a portal.
A tall man walked out of the portal and halted, his bright blue eyes moving from one face to the next. His gaze lingered on Damian a moment too long, and his eyebrows drew together, his hand inching its way down to the pommel of his large sword. But no matter what his thoughts were, he didn’t act upon them.
Throwing his long, golden hair to his back, he turned to Yaginya. Without saying a word, he approached her and pulled her into a tight embrace. She rose on her tiptoes, encircling his neck with her arms, and placed her head on his chest. A quiet sigh that sounded almost like a moan escaped his lips as he lowered his cheek atop her head and closed his eyes, barely breathing.
For a few seconds, they just stood like this, ignoring everything around them. Then Yaginya pulled away, her fingers brushing his face as she lowered her arms, regret reflected in her honey-colored eyes. She turned toward Damian and Jamie, her cheeks still slightly flushed.
“Allow me to introduce my husband.” She glanced at the brawny man with affection. “Veles, the god of the Three Realms, the Guardian of the Veil, the Dark deity who fights the Darkness, my one and only love.”
“Oh, my God,” Jamie exhaled, his eyes becoming round like two blue plates. He blanched and dropped to one knee, inclining his head.
Veles gave him a short nod, motioning for him to rise, and turned to Damian who inclined his head in a respectful bow but didn’t kneel. The Slavic deity folded his arms, the corners of his lips lifting beneath his thick, golden mustache.
“How about you, Enforcer?” he asked, his deep, rumbling voice filling every corner of the large room. “Aren’t you mine to command?” He raised his eyebrows, expecting Damian’s answer.
“Of course, my lord. I am yours to command,” Damian replied without blinking an eye. “But after years of being a Destiny Enforcer, I realized that carrying out your commands from a kneeling position is quite uncomfortable.”
Veles’ eyebrows rose dangerously close to his hairline. He threw a baffled glance at Yaginya and burst out laughing, slapping his massive hands on his thighs.
“Yaginya, my love,” he managed to say through bursts of laughter, “where did you find”—he waved at Damian—“this… him.”
“Take a wild guess.” Yaginya gestured with her thumb over Veles’ shoulder.
He glanced back and just now noticed Zabava. Warmth suffused his face as he turned to his daughter and hugged her tenderly, pulling her to his chest.
“Zabava, my little girl,” he whispered, kissing the top of her head. “You’re just as beautiful as your mother. I miss you so…” His voice shook and trailed off. With a deep sigh, he stepped back and jerked his chin toward Damian. “I remember when you were a little girl you used to bring home baby wyverns with broken wings. Now, you’re all grown up and bringing home a broken Destiny Enforcer?” He chuckled, patting her cheek gently.
“He’s not broken, Dad. He is just a little offbeat compared to the others of his kind.” Zabava paused, staring at the enormous sword sheathed at Veles’ hip. “But to be honest, if he wasn’t the way he is, I would never have brought him here, and Mother would never have summoned you to help him.”
“Really? Yaginya wants to help a Destiny Enforcer? That’s a first.” Veles looked back at Damian with a curiosity that hadn’t been there before. “And why would any Enforcer need the help of a Slavic god, anyway? Don’t you people work only with your own kind?”
“He’s a Shadow Enforcer to Lord Magnus, my love,” replied Yaginya before Damian could say a word. “He works alone… Well, not entirely true. He arrived with this young wizard, who doesn’t know his arse from his elbow, but is apparently ready to forfeit his life for him.” She threw a sarcastic gaze at Jamie that made him shrink and shift closer to Damian. “I’ve summoned you because I believe his mission is of extreme importance to all of us. Please hear him out.”
Veles pulled a chair and sat down, stretching his legs in front of him with a light flick of a wrist. “Speak.”
As concisely as possible, Damian told him everything without holding anything back. After he finished, the god of the Three Realms propped his elbow on the table, leaning against it, and didn’t say a word for a few long seconds. Then he stroked his long, thick beard, regarding Damian thoughtfully.
“Let me ask you, Enforcer,” he said, narrowing his eyes slightly. “If you were in a situation where your brother’s life was in grave peril, but at the same time, your entire city was about to perish. Who would you save? Your brother or the thousands of people of Blue Creek?”
Damian smiled, holding the deity’s heavy gaze without blinking. “I’ll let you know as soon as I am in that situation... my lord.”
Veles’ lips quirked up a little as he inclined his head. “It is a wise answer indeed, Enforcer. It’s hard to predict how one will act until one is in the described situation. But please, humor me. Give me the best answer you can.”
Damian dropped his head, his thoughts traveling back to his battle with Mara and Morok where he nearly lost his brother to save River Evans and the world by preventing two dark deities from ascending to their full power.
“I understand you’re testing my morality, and it is a tough philosophical question, my lord,” he said, lifting his eyes. “But I have already been in this situation, and I chose plan C, so to speak. Both the city and my brother are still alive and well.”
“How so?” Veles leaned forward, the coldness in his eyes replaced with disbelief.
In general details, Damian outlined the gist of his confrontation with the dark gods and what he had to do to resolve the situation.
“Interesting,” murmured Veles. “So, you were no one, and you managed to capture the god of Lies. I’d heard the rumors, but I had a hard time believing them. Commendable… I know Morok is somewhere in the Destiny Council’s dungeons, but where is Mara?”
“I’ve spoken with Mara on a few occasions, and as shocking as it sounds, she helped me,” replied Damian, telling the god of his previous encounters with the Slavic goddess of Nightmares. “She’s partially stripped of her powers and tired of roaming the Yav alone. Now, all she wants is to come back home. She realizes that the path to the Prav is closed to her forever, but I wonder if you will accept her in the Dark Nav, my lord?”
“I feel like the world flipped upside down today,” murmured Veles, giving his wife a puzzled gaze. “Did a Destiny Enforcer just ask me to help a dark deity?”
Zabava chuckled, all but rolling her eyes. “I told you, Father. He’s not like the others. Meet Commander Damian Blake.”
“A Commander, eh?” Veles arched his brow, switching his attention back to Damian. “If you truly wish to help Mara, you have to speak with Chernobog, the King of the Dark Nav. These kinds of decisions are in his hands, not mine. But I must warn you…” He paused, darkness gathering in his eyes. “Chernobog can’t stand the Destiny Council, and for him, the only good Enforcer is a dead one.”
“Since I’m immortal, Chernobog is going to like me even less, but I guess I’ll take my chances with him.” Damian shrugged half-heartedly and paused for a moment, but since being disrespectful toward one of the most powerful Slavic deities wasn’t in his plans, he inclined his head and added, “Thank you for hearing me out, my lord.”
“Not like I had a choice in the matter,” muttered Veles, sending a veiled gaze to his wife. “Now…” He crossed his legs at the knee, leaning back in his chair. “Your current mission, however, is a different story. It’s not going to be easy to locate the Sacred Isle, but I believe I can help you with that. If my wife is willing to work with me, that is.”
He looked at Yaginya, and her face lit up with happiness, making her appear younger and breathtakingly beautiful. Instead of answering, she stepped closer to her husband and offered him her hands. He took them, her small, elegant fingers disappearing
in his massive palms, and got up to his feet. For a few seconds, they stood, silently gazing at each other, and even though they looked like any couple in love, Damian was sure they were communicating telepathically.
“Let’s do it then?” Veles asked at length, caressing her hands with his thumbs. She nodded. Veles turned toward Jamie and Damian and added, “I suggest you both close your eyes. Especially you, young wizard. Two gods are about to wield their full power.”
They channeled their power at the same time, and the magical energy field spiked around them with an incredible strength the likes of which Damian had never felt before. In one fluid motion, he seized Jamie and turned him around, shielding him with his body.
“Procedia Amnia,” Damian whispered, erecting a shield of basic protective magic around himself and Jamie. To make it stronger, he channeled his elemental power, infusing his shield with it. Then he wrapped his arm around the wizard and covered his eyes with his hand.
“Don’t open your eyes, Jamie,” he groaned, struggling to sustain his protective magic.
As the amount of magical energy spiked around him again, he felt as if his skin was set on fire, sweat dripping down his back. The light kept growing brighter and brighter, and soon, even though his eyelids were tightly shut, white and red spots started dancing in his vision. Veles’ and Yaginya’s voices became one as they chanted louder, but Damian couldn’t make out their words, blood pumping forcefully in his ears.
All of a sudden, everything ceased. The pressure on his shield vanished, and the brightness of the light dwindled to nothing. Removing his shield, Damian opened his eyes and blinked a few times to restore his vision. Carefully, he unlocked his arms, releasing Jamie, and turned around to find all three gods staring at them without hiding their amusement.
