Shadows and Sorcery: A Collection of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Novels

by Adkins, Heather Marie

"Let's hunt that bastard down."

  8

  Train Toward Your Goal

  Not for the first time this week, I was smeared across the training mat in the middle of the fighting ring. Sweat pooled underneath me as I tried to breathe in a way that wouldn't hurt me.

  "If I didn't know any better, I would think that you were losing on purpose." My father's smooth voice was chilling and coated over me like a physical thing. I peered up at him in his magnificent armor.

  King Thallen looked like he had been strolling along in a picnic all day or spending a lazy day lounging. The only reason anyone would know that he had spent the last countless hours training with me was the sword in his hand.

  Even his hair was perfect.

  I pushed myself up to a kneeling position, sitting back on my heels. I barely had enough strength to keep my head upright, and so I let it hang down, watching as my sweat poured from my forehead and onto the mat into a pool. I didn't bother with dignity anymore. I lost that sometime in the first hour of training today.

  King Thallen of the pristine armor and perfect hair walked in a circle around me. "Are you going to give up so soon, then?"

  Soon? This was the longest I had been able to train with him. For nearly a week straight, he had expected me to meet him on the mat before dawn.

  The first day, I had come excited and ready to rip out imaginary throats.

  I hadn't lasted an hour.

  The second day, I lasted just a bit longer, but it had taken until now for me to be able to last the entire morning with him.

  What made it worse was the fact that after I would be praying for death on the mat, he had gone about his normal routines unaffected by our training sessions. At least I had been given privacy to ask for comforting tonics and soothing baths while tears had streamed down my face.

  I thought I had trained for combat with the Helping Hands initiative. Boy was I wrong. This was nothing compared to that. My previous training had been the equivalent of an amusement park ride.

  But it wouldn't do to get mad. Or speak up. Or anything with King Thallen. He would just take that as an invitation to push even harder for me to yield.

  So, I focused what dignity I could muster and even though every muscle in my body ached and screamed at me to give up, I shook my head. "No. I just thought you needed a little breather, that's all."

  I rose to my feet, one painful step after the other, with only a slight grimace. I managed not to drop my sword out of my sweat-slicked hand this time. "Come on, old man. Show me what you've got."

  I managed to sidestep his first frontal assault, but I was too slow to step away from the feint and reverse roundhouse he leveled on me.

  I went down and stayed down this time, the tip of my father's blade at the hollow of my neck.

  "I suggest you stay down, Daughter." His words brooked no argument.

  I would never have let myself quit. The words I quit wouldn't have made it through my grit teeth. But King Thallen had enough foresight to institute a tap out system in our training.

  Maybe he had guessed that I could be a little bit stubborn. I didn't know for sure. But I did know that my heart would stop dead in my chest before I’d let myself say, “I quit.”

  Even though it was basically the same thing, I let my sweaty palm tap the surface of the mat in rapid succession.

  Immediately, King Thallen took the sword point away from my neck, placing it into its sheath with a flourish. He extended his hand toward me, and I was smart enough to bite my lip and take his hand.

  See, I wasn't completely stupid. Just stubborn. And there was no need to be stubborn now that I'd already tapped out.

  I wriggled out of my training gear. The cool air inside of the training room chilled my sweaty skin, a crop of goosebumps rolling over me. I dumped the top of the training suit on a nearby bench and sat down on the bench to wrestle me way out of the boots and leg wear.

  See, that was part of the problem. This gear was a lot heavier than what I was used to training in.

  I sat there on the bench in my camisole and underwear trying not to show how much better I felt without all that heavy gear on me.

  As I tried to tame my hair back into a long braid, I saw King Thallen regarding me like I was an interesting specimen to study.

  "What?" I said. That wasn't exactly an elegant to address my father let alone a king, but I wasn't feeling elegant.

  "Do you know how I beat you?"

  I rolled my eyes. Not this again. "Yeah, you're quicker, stronger, and more powerful than me." I tried not to sound too glum about it, but I couldn't help it.

  King Thallen didn't bother to hide his amusement. "Those things are true, but that is not the reason why I beat you."

  Now he had my attention. "Oh, so you get to tell me about some other failing I had? Please do tell." I did want to know how to get better to defeat the Wizard. I just didn't need to have my face rubbed in the fact that I would never last against him.

  Thankfully King Thallen ignored my petulance. I wasn't really angry at him, anyway, just angry at myself and my inability to be strong enough to fight against the Wizard.

  If the Wizard was a match to my father in strength, then there was no way that I'd be able to take him down. He must have been toying with me this entire time.

  Instead of answering me, King Thallen approached my bench, and despite how disgusting I was, sat beside me.

  "I was able to beat you not because of my superior strength or speed. There have been many stories of weaker heroes defeating stronger foes, if you recall. No, it wasn't anything that I've done. But it's something here." He tapped the middle of my forehead. "You have a lack of focus, child that has become your undoing."

  I fumed at the criticism. "Focus? The only thing I have is focus!"

  "Oh?" King Thallen replied, almost amused. "Do tell me of your superb focus, please. What exactly were you focused upon?"

  The fact that I didn't roll my eyes was testament to my self-control, threadbare as it was. "I was focused on disarming you, of course. Why, what else should I be focused on?"

  "Winning."

  He said it so plainly that it left me speechless.

  "The exercise we were training for was winning. You need to train to win. Disarming me is a possible path to be sure, but it isn't the only path. Your focus was there, but it was focused on the wrong thing. It didn’t allow for any other possibility or flexibility. In effect, you were easily blindsided, and that was why you allowed yourself to be beaten."

  Well, King Thallen didn't pull his punches during training. Why would he do so now during his lessons?

  "I didn't say that to crush your spirit. Only to give you something to improve upon. If you go out with the Wild Hunt this way, you risk endangering yourself and not to mention, other hunters."

  He rose to his feet, and I hoped that I would be allowed to wallow in the healing tonic that his court medics have now kept fully in stock for me.

  "Come, get dressed in your normal attire."

  Talk about being blindsided, the switch of topics threw me for a loop. Normal attire? "Do you mean, clothes? As in what other mortals wear? Where we going?"

  Thallen captured me in his steely gaze. "To remind you of what you're fighting for."

  * * *

  I didn't linger when I washed up. Though I wanted nothing better to do than to stay under the hot drumming water, I didn't want to keep the king waiting. Even though he was my father, he was a king first, at least to me.

  Besides I had to get used to the fact that I had a father in the first place. All my life it had just been my mom and me. Then she disappeared, and I was left alone.

  Michael had been the only one to stick by me when the going got tough. I would never forget that.

  I waited for King Thallen in his study. This room was the most intimidating to me, probably because it reflected who he was the most. The rich, dark scents of wood and leather saturated the air. A whole library’s worth of books lined one far wall
. A catalog of rare artifacts were on display. Several archivists must have been employed to scour every bit of knowledge that could further the king's agenda and strengthen the Wild Hunt. They did a fine job of placing it all in matching bell jars and organizing the arcane knowledge accordingly.

  So many things that he had deemed important were placed with seeming care all around.

  These were the things that were most important to him.

  And I wasn’t in any of it.

  I tried not to let that bother me. The ache in my chest would just have to mix in with the other bruises and scrapes that have been part of my skin ever since I’d started training.

  At the thought of my body’s remembered pain, my eyes darted toward one of the jars that was just outside of reach.

  So, this was where all those tonics and unguents came from that were slathered over me. I peered closer to those things in bell jars, wondering what exactly their use was for.

  King Thallen entered the room, and took stock of my outfit. I had thrown on jeans and a top, nothing too eye-catching. I’d assumed I was supposed to blend in, wherever he wanted to show me. He seemed to approve with a nod.

  “I wouldn’t get too close to those. They might be contained in the glass, but sometimes the bound spells can get agitated.”

  Oh. Already, there was a captured lightning storm quickly growing inside one of the bell jars. I stepped away quickly and joined King Thallen at his desk. In the time that it took me to look away from him and back, he had changed into a sleek suit with a dark trench coat thrown over it.

  With his long black hair flowing around him, he looked like he was expected on the set of a magazine cover. I couldn’t blame my mom for going ga-ga over him.

  “Where we going?”

  Cold light shone in his eyes. “Can you not guess?”

  I snorted. “I figured we were going to the mortal world, but it’s kind of big.”

  He smiled in response and nodded. “When I said you needed to know what you were fighting for, I meant it,” he began. “You need to see what it is that others are experiencing thanks to Ryul. Or, the Wizard as you like to refer to him.”

  “It was what everyone at the facility called him. The Wizard. The man behind the curtain pulling all the strings. He was also the one who seemed to do the impossibility. Now I know why.” I crossed my arms over my chest, and tried not to feel queasy.

  Just thinking about the man, knowing that I was safe for now in Fairy, made me sick. The awful things he made me do…

  King Thallen’s voice broke me out of my reverie. “I wanted to give you something before we go on our quest.” He handed me a delicate looking flask. “Here, drink this.”

  I took the flask from him. “You know I’m supposed to at least be wary about drinking random vials of liquid?” I was only half-teasing. King Thallen had so far treated me well. Sure he was brusque and a little harsh, but I’d come to realize that came with the fact that he was a king.

  “This liquid will help protect your consciousness and connection. You are separated from your physical body now, and this will make sure that your body will remain in undisturbed rest once we crossover into the mortal world.”

  Michael had said that he was with my body before, keeping me safe. I wondered if that was the case now. I didn’t know how much time had slipped for him in the mortal world, since it flowed differently here in Fairy, but I hoped not too long.

  “So my body is safe?” I was almost afraid to ask.

  “Yes. I’d made sure it was warded and protected, ready for you once you are done training.”

  I ducked my head, not able to look at him, pretending to be inspecting the liquid. I couldn’t believe he would do that. That he would have the foresight and thought to make sure I was safe.

  Only Michael and my mom had ever done anything like that for me. With a bracing breath, I knocked the liquid down my throat like a shot. The liquid shimmered inside of me, cool and refreshing. I handed the vial back to King Thallen.

  “Thank you, for keeping me safe.” And then, before I could chicken out, I added, “There are times that I wished that I grew up here, with you.”

  I met his gaze. It was the first time I saw him truly smile, with a special light that glowed from within his eyes. “I do as well.” He placed a hand on my shoulder. “Come, let’s keep the past behind us, and focus on the present.”

  I grinned up at him. “After you.”

  9

  Connect To The Marked One

  "Is this New York?" I questioned, following King Thallen out of the empty alley and into the busy streets of what I believed was New York City.

  This had always been one of those places that I wanted to visit when I was older. To be here with a group of friends, or even with Michael on New Year's Eve and watch the ball drop.

  The wishful thinking of living a normal adult life and not dealing with the constant up and down chase and the long distance relationship I continued with Michael.

  "Yes," King Thallen replied. "Have you not been here?"

  I had to walk double the speed to keep up with his fast pace, leaving me in a panting state. We hadn't even done a full block and I was already struggling. From the sight of other humans like me keeping up or moving even faster than my father made me wonder if I was out of shape or was this an accepted reality of the city that never sleeps.

  He looked over his shoulder, his expression showing his impatience, but he lowered his gaze to my feet. "You took your legs from your mother," he mumbled.

  "As if I had a choice," I panted.

  He slowed down then, going at a much more reasonable pace for me to walk and catch my breath. I didn't answer him until we reached a crossing sign, waiting for the light to change to all ways so we could cross diagonally to wherever we were going.

  "No. I've always wanted to be here, but I can't go sightseeing when the Wizard is chasing me down. Nice to finally see a hint of the city with my own two eyes and not through television or a magazine. It's really something," I explained, admiring the view of the tall buildings and the many flashing lights and screens showing many advertisements.

  "You're the one who brought us here," he muttered under his breath. I almost missed the words, leaving me in complete confusion, but the light changed.

  We began to cross with the hundreds of other individuals, crossing in the four main directions. Once we got the main street, King Thallen turned another alley, similar to ours but it was wide enough to fit at least three people in a row.

  I noticed two people who looked to be in their early adult years. On the left was a man who looked to be six feet tall. He had skinny build, wearing a black tracksuit. His hair was styled perfectly with a zigzag fade on the right side of his head. He was African-American and wore an extremely calm expression, as though he was deep in thought in a world of peace.

  The woman opposite him was distinctively Japanese, standing at five feet seven inches. She too wore casual clothes but had a bit of color in her black tights that had a white and pink line run up the side. She wore a fitted t-shirt and a leather jacket. She had long hair, or at least I presumed so, but I wouldn't know for sure because it was up in the tightest bun, only a few strands hanging on the left side of her face.

  She was slim as well, having a bit of curve to her shape, but she looked fit, or that's the vibe I got from her. Her cheeks had a pop of color against her pale, clear skin, and her lips were rosy pink, having a light coat of pink lip gloss.

  The two of them were leaning against the wall, focused on whatever conversation they were having. They seemed like two adults chilling amongst themselves, not caring about the busy streets, loud honks from the passing cards, or the simple liveliness of this city.

  They were in their own little world.

  There were two things that drew my attention, the first being the way they stared at one another. The connection, the pulsing attraction bouncing off between them.

  I had never met these two in my life, but o
ne look told me they loved one another. There was this strong bond, one that reminded me of the one I shared with Michael. Their gazes devoted to only one another and wondering about all the things they could be doing together, other than leaning against the dark, cool walls of the two buildings.

  The other thing that was beginning to bug me was the tugging feeling that pulled to me. These two were important. No, vital.

  Especially the girl.

  Just looking at her made me want to learn more. To get every detail of her past and help her become something better. She was strong.

  But she could be far stronger. A force that no one would be able to bring down once she achieves that potential hidden within.

  The boy wasn't as strong, or it could have been my own lack of judgment, but he wasn't one to discount. He had potential, and the skill set to go with it. All he needed was guidance, but the woman before him would lead the way.

  She was the key to it all.

  I hadn't realized I was walking towards them until a hand landed on my shoulder, stopping me.

  "Valerian," King Thallen's stern voice snapped me out of whatever trance I was in. Glancing to my left to give him a questioning look, he didn't waste any time explaining to me what just happened.

  "The reason why I questioned if you'd been here before, is because you brought us here. When we teleported, I allowed your energy to direct us, and thus, landing us here. I didn't think it would bring you to two of your future warriors, let alone a potential beta,"

  "Warriors? Beta?" I looked back to the two of them, debating whether to move from his hold or at least shake his hand off, but he gripped my shoulder a tad harder.

  "Do not fight. Those two sense your presence, but they cannot see or hear us. I've cloaked our presence, but I need physical contact to do so. This is not the time to reveal yourself. You must be stronger," he warned.

  I fought the urge to fight back and claim that I was strong.

  I hated that I wasn't good enough yet. If I was at the proper level of strength, knowledge, and skill, I'd be able to take these two out of whatever misery they were in.