by Lindsay Nall
“Who has summoned me!” It demanded shaking its black limbs of the earth as it stood. The red eyes it turned on the two made them both take a step backward.
“We have! I demand to know who sent you to attack us before!” The demon growled in another language then laughed.
“You have no power human!” Mari held Marclay out closer to the demon glad when it shrunk back in fear.
“Narisis, seventh demon of the seventeenth rank I demand an answer!” The demon let out a howl at the use of its name, it couldn’t refuse to answer Mari’s questions anymore. “Who sent you to attack us?”
“It was a hierarchy, third tier. It wants you…” The demon let out a horrible scream as a large clawed hand reached from the tear and grabbed it around the legs pulling it backward.
“I have control over this demon! You will release it!” She yelled into the tear hoping the much larger demon would abide. It didn’t. With a flick of its wrist it threw the summoned demon to the ground so hard the earth gave beneath it. “What was the name of the demon that sent you!?” She was panicking now if she didn’t get the answers she needed soon this demon was going to be killed.
“I’m bound not to say, but it knows you, it wants you.”
“Why me?”
“Flesh of my flesh…” With that final statement, the hand that held the demon slammed it into the ground one last time then pulled it through the tear sealing it behind them.
“No!” Mari reached for the tear knowing she couldn’t do anything if it was sealed but needing to know what the demon meant. “Dammit what the hell is going on!?” She yelled balking slightly when the demon dust the Witcher had put on Marclay seemed to melt off of her little chest. “Now what does that mean?”
“I believe it means the demon has been destroyed,” Marinique whispered. Something wasn’t right about the entire situation, somehow this felt wrong as if they were drawn here for a reason. “Mari…”
“I feel it too.” She looked around them from the abandoned barn in the distance to the path they had taken up to the tree. “The air…it’s tainted.”
“We need to get out of here fast.” He could smell the sulfur, see the demon smoke that was starting to escape the other tears around them. How could he have not noticed how many more tears were in this one area? That Witcher had either mislead them or these tears were created in the last few hours. “Can you move more than one person with your wind?” She didn’t know, she’d never tried.
“I’ll do my best.”
“Do it now.” Calling on the element she needed the wind whirled around them faster and faster until they were moving away from that empty field as fast as it would take them.
The two landed just outside the border of the neighboring town with a thud. Mari had never moved two people with her wind before and if she was going to do it again she needed to work on her landings. With a grunt, Marinique disentangled himself from his niece and stood to offer a hand to pull her to her feet.
“I have a feeling we should be turning this back on.” She whispered grabbing Marclay from her shoulder and turning her locator back on. “Yours too.” He nodded copying suit with the pin on his lapel. “I don’t even know where to go from here.”
“To an Inn, we need rest and to think.” He was moving before he even finished speaking causing Mari to have to jog to catch up. What in the hell had just happened? How had all of those tears appeared in that one area? Why had that demon been killed after they had summoned it and who had killed it? More importantly, why did it say that whoever had sent it was after her?
“Nyght! Vander! Reagan!” Karter’s voice came from both emblems at once and from Storm making the group that had been wandering from the train platform in Ipsburg to the neighboring town to halt. “They’re back on the grid.”
“Both of them? Where?”
“They’re back in Hidell.” Nyght picked up his pace at that information. She was so close to them; they would reach the town by nightfall if they hurried. Mari, what the hell is going on?
Mari and Marinique had checked into the Inn then quickly retreated to one of the two rooms to try and figure out what had just happened.
“We know the demon was sent by a hierarchy but the question is why?” Marinique had asked the same question multiple times over the last hour and a half they had been sitting there but it had become obvious he was no longer talking to her but rather musing to himself.
“Uncle… would it bother you if I asked to get some rest? All of this, my brain hurts.” He glanced at his niece easily seeing the exhaustion written all over her face and nodded. Placing a kiss on her forehead he told her not to worry about anything and left her to rest. She didn’t need rest though, she needed to dream.
“This is becoming a habit of yours.” Saran whispered taking a seat on the bed next to where Mari was lying. She sat up confused on why the room didn’t look like it had the last time she had called him to her but shrugged it off, it wasn’t what was important right now.
“I’m sorry but this is important…. I think.” As she recapped the events of the day and what the demon had said Saran seemed to look more and more worried.
“I can’t give you answers on why a demon has done what it has done but if a high-level demon has taken your name know that it won’t stop until it or you are destroyed.” She feared that answer but somewhere in the back of her mind already knew it.
“I figured that much already.” She twisted the sheet into knots wondering if she should ask her other question or if it was even worth it to voice her thoughts on it.
“What is it, child?” Gnawing on her lip she tossed the question back and forth in her head, if he couldn’t give her answers then she would be right where she was but if he could she wouldn’t have to talk to Nyght quite yet. She had seen the loophole not long after her last dream and the thought had refused to leave her since.
“You said one of my fractures belonged to a Deus clan member…”
“Finally figured that one out did you?” The smile on his face made her want to punch him.
“So am I right in what I think? Does that make me…” She stopped talking when Saran held up a hand.
“I honestly cannot tell you, only a Deus clan member could answer that question.”
“Well dammit.”
“Don’t run from him child, he is more important than you think.” That got her attention.
“You know about Nyght?” He nodded. “How is he so important? I mean other than being one of The Fourteen.”
“How much do you know of the prophecy you and your comrades are to fulfill?” She reiterated everything she knew but as she finished Saran shook his head. “There is much more to it and I believe you know where to find out about it.” Nyght, everything kept coming back to him right now but how could she even face him? How could she ever face him?
“I will try and seek my answers on my own for a while. Thank you, Saran.” He seemed almost startled by her statement but slowly a serene smile spread across his face.
“When you find your answers do not be afraid to call on me, our chats have become quite enlightening.” The pull of waking was close she could feel it in the back of her mind. Somehow this parting felt different than the others, as if when she saw him again she would be a completely different person. Would she be? Could finding the answers she was seeking change who she was?
Sixteen
Mari had been walking through town for the last hour but still felt as muzzled and confused as she had when she set out. Knowing her uncle wouldn’t let her out of his sight she made sure he was sleeping before leaving hoping a walk would clear the clutter from her mind. She had so many questions, so many worries but she couldn’t bring herself to make the call she needed to make. Would he even answer her if she did call? How angry was he with her? Would he even listen to what she had to say?
“Ugh!” She punched the railing along the bridge she stood on immediately regretting it. “Son of a…owe…owe…owe!” Shakin
g her hand she growled at the railing and kicked it then let a whole new slew of obscenities run from her mouth.
“I heard you had a potty mouth but wow…” She knew that voice, that deep wonderful voice she had missed so much but he couldn’t be here. Turning slowly she let her eyes lift from the floor to those silver eyes that always felt like they saw more than they should. He was here, he was really here standing only a few feet away from her but why? “You didn’t cause any permanent damage did you?” She blinked twice but couldn’t move. How could he be here? How could those eyes that had been full of so much pain the last time she saw him hold nothing but worry now? How could he be asking about whether she was okay and not screaming at her for what she had done? “Marisol?” This had to be an illusion, she had to still be sleeping.
Nyght wasn’t sure if she was in shock or preparing to run the way she was frozen, tense like a deer staring down a predator. Taking two steps towards her she didn’t move just kept staring him straight in the eye.
“Nyght?” Her voice was soft, quiet like the way a morning breeze barely touches you. “I don’t… why are you…”
“Vander and Reagan went to the Inn. Your uncle said you had disappeared and knowing you I figured you’d just be around town.” Great, Marinique knew she had wandered off, he was going to be a bowl of cherry’s when she got back. “Let’s go back and we can all sit down and talk.” And just like that, the coldness was back in his eyes. She followed a few feet behind him as he made his way through the town not saying another word, not even looking back to make sure she was still following him, just moving forward.
The group of five sat around a small table behind the Inn that was usually used for busy holidays and celebrations. They had needed somewhere private to discuss everything; somewhere prying ears would pay them no mind. The owner hadn’t been happy at the idea of more Shadows taking up residency in his Inn but at the amount of money Marinique shoved at him, he changed his mind in a hurry assigning them their own barmaid who Mari sent back inside much to her uncles’ dismay.
“You can be a hound dog later.” She had grumbled at him. Vander had let a snicker escape at the look on Mariniques face while he was being scolded but quickly went silent when Marinique threw one of his knives into the wall next to Vanders' head. He had not missed Marinique’s temper. “Uncle!” Mari pulled the knife out of the wall, whispered an apology to Vander then pocketed the knife.
“That’s mine…” Marinique went silent at the look she gave him. “Alright, what are you three doing here?”
“I think a better question is what the hell were you two thinking just disappearing like that?!” Nyght wasn’t just angry with them he had been worried.
“That’s a long story.” Mari whispered taking a seat on the steps that were next to the table. She didn’t want to sit next to anyone, didn’t want to risk accidentally catching someone’s eye as she told them about the demon who had disguised itself as a Muse and the Witcher they had gone in search of. As she told her story letting them all know about the encounter and their actions that they had decided not to share she could feel someone’s glare on the top of her head and knew exactly who it was. Nyght was not happy. As she continued telling them of what the Witcher had done and then their encounter with the demon and its destruction someone slammed their fist on the table causing everyone to jump.
Nyght had stood and was looming over Marinique with a look none of them had ever seen him wear before. “I thought you were supposed to be one of the elite! How could you be so stupid as to let her do all of that?! What if she couldn’t have gotten you two out of there?! What if all of those tears had opened?! You could have gotten her killed!” It was silent for a long time after his eruption. No one dared to speak in fear that Nyght’s anger would be turned upon them.
Marinique remained calm as he stood to look Nyght square in the eye. “I understand you care about her but never question my ability to keep her safe.” The two men stood staring each other down over the table for a few minutes more as everyone else sat frozen unsure of what to do. Slowly Nyght turned and knocking over his chair in his haste went back inside the Inn.
“Geeze…” Vander whispered looking from where Nyght had disappeared to inside and back to where Marinique still stood.
“I will be going to bed now.” Without another word, Marinique followed suit and left.
“I don’t think those two will ever get along…” Reagan whispered but a silent sigh caused him to cast his gaze to Mari. She still sat on the stairs with her head down staring at her hands.
“Mari?” Vander went over to sit next to her nudging her with his elbow. “Hey.” She shook her head with a smile.
“I wish he wouldn’t say things like that.” Vander cocked an eyebrow at her in question. “About how Nyght feels… it’s kind of awkward…”
“But it’s still how he feels. Honestly, I think he’s more upset that you turned off your locator than anything else.”
“Somehow I doubt that, after what we did to him…”
“You mean Tadum?” She nodded. “Those two already talked.” Her head shot up at that. They had talked? “He was the first person Nyght called when he wanted to find you. When he couldn’t help he tried to get Karter to send out a district-wide alert to find you, of course, Karter said no.”
“Why? He should be so angry…” She stopped talking when Vander shook his head.
“He talked to Alto. He renounced his place in the clan.”
“He did what?!” He couldn’t be serious! Nyght couldn’t have renounced his place, not when she had found the loophole they needed.
“Yeah, told Alto where to stick his opinion about his future and has been on a mission to find you ever since.” She let the information sink in both reveling in the feeling of being so loved that he would renounce his place and both furious at him for doing it.
“If you’ll excuse me I believe I need to go talk to someone.” She stood heading towards the door back into the Inn and hoping Nyght was in his room so she could give him a piece of her mind.
She had pounded on his door for the last two minutes but no one had answered. Either he was mad and didn’t want to see her or he had gone out somewhere to cool off. “Well dammit!” She hit the door one more time then turned to go downstairs and find him but the second she turned around there he was standing at the top of the stairs watching her with a guarded gaze.
“What is it with you and punching things lately?” He asked looking from her to his door and back.
“Pent up aggression I guess.” She shrugged. Opening the door to his room he waved her inside and closed the door behind her.
“Either there is a lot you haven’t told me or your uncle is starting to get under your skin.” She shrugged.
“Little of this, little of that.” Shaking her head she remembered why she had come up here. “Vander said you renounced your place in the clan.” He nodded with a firm set to his jaw.
“Would you expect me to stay with him especially after what he did to you?”
“Us.” It was a simple statement but one that made him freeze. “He didn’t just do it to me he did it to us.” Nyght nodded as he took a seat on the bed. Shifting from foot to foot for a second she tried to decide if it was worth it to go further in the room and risk getting distracted or to stay where she was so she could tell him everything she hadn’t told the others. “Nyght… I’ve been having these dreams…” He turned keeping his feet on the floor but angling his body towards her to lean on the footboard of the bed to face her. Damn those eyes she growled looking everywhere but at him. “My two fractures, one of them belonged to Alto’s ancestor…” The bed squeaked when Nyght stood up off of it.
“Are you sure?” She explained to him about Saran though she didn’t reveal his name, and about the visits and the conversations the two had had recently. “Mari, if this is true… if this is true it helps, a lot.”
“But you renounced…” He waved a hand making her stop her state
ment.
“He won’t let me go that easily but this… this could be exactly the thing we needed to make him leave the whole situation alone.”
“Nyght, I don’t want to come between the two of you. I’ve caused enough problems and even if I’m right about this it doesn’t change anything. I’m still a distraction and your duties will suffer and…” She was cut off when he grabbed her face and kissed her with more fire and passion than she ever thought imaginable. Backing her up against the wall he ran his hands down her neck to her shoulders then down her arms stopping to take her hands in his and pin them against the wall next to her head. His mouth was heated pressing against hers in a way that made her both want him to stop and continue. “Nyght.” She managed to choke when he broke the embrace to breathe.
“Sorry, just… sorry.” Her mind was a whirlwind as he stepped away from her. A yearning she had never felt before enveloped her body, it both scared her and excited her in its need to be pressed up against him again. Nyght had returned to sit on the bed staring at his hands looking almost lost in his own world. Without a second thought, she walked over to him kneeling in front of him to take his hands in hers.
“We’re like a sea storm.” She folded his hands in hers running her fingers across their backside. “We keep rising and falling so quickly…”
“I know.” Turning his hand he grabbed the finger she was using to trace out indiscernible patterns on his knuckles. “But I’m glad to be in it.” The smile on her face said everything he needed to hear. Everything she had done had been to protect him no matter the cost to herself and that cost had been grave. “I wish you would have come to me that day instead of going to Tadum.” The words were out before he even realized he had said them making her tense up. “It took me a few days to realize what had happened, that Alto had said anything to you but that first morning afterward, seeing Tadum open your door…” He shook his head trying to get rid of the feeling of jealousy that had started in the pit of his stomach again.
