Demon Dark

by Penelope Fletcher

  Breandan offered me his dagger hilt first, and when I clasped it, he held on, forcing me to look a question at him.

  You re sure you want to do this?

  Do you have another way to find Cael?

  I asked.

  If you do I ll take it.

  He shook his head sadly.

  Heart pounding, I untied the Cleric s bindings then ripped off their blindfolds. It took them a moment to adjust, and they all shrank back in fear and disgust as they looked around them.

  I thrust Breandan s dagger into the hand of the youngest one. I met his startled eyes.

  I was going to recommend that you start running. Then I was going to tell you to fight, but that seems cruel now, because those words would suggest I believe you ll actually be able to do something to defend yourselves against what s about to happen.

  Without another word, refusing to feel pity, I turned and started after Gwendolyn, feeling Breandan and Wasp follow.

  I misjudged you,

  Wasp said, nonchalant about the rising sounds of excitement floating over to us on stagnant air. Vampires hunting.

  I never thought you d do it.

  She paused.

  You re finally learning. Sacrifice the lives of few to save the lives of many.

  She patted my shoulder and chuckled when I shrugged her off.

  Devlin would be proud.

  Blinking back the sting in my eyes, I pressed my lips together, and kept walking.

  When the screaming started, I blocked my ears.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Gwendolyn pointed to a half collapsed stone building. Tilted at an odd angle, the roof slanted down until it ended in a pile of rubble, rocks, and glass. The building was entombed in darkness, and radiated a wrongness that made me want to turn tail and run the other direction.

  Gwendolyn nimbly jumped onto the ledge of the first storey, keeping to the side that retained its structure, and shimmied her way through a crack in the wall.

  Ready or not, I was about to come face to face with the he-witch.

  I turned to Wasp and opened my mouth.

  Don t even think about it,

  she said firmly.

  I stay with you. My oath calls for the death of two people, not one. I know how to be patient. I won t cause trouble now I know I m going to get what I want.

  She jumped after Gwendolyn before I could argue.

  Breandan gave me a look that said he didn t believe her. I shrugged. Better to have the crazy woman on our side then waiting for her to stab us in the backs.

  Breandan and I slipped through the crack into a dark and dank room. I was dubious. Cael did not appear to be the type to stay somewhere so poorly maintained there was a vanity about the he-witch that didn t suit this place.

  Breandan took my hand and navigated the dark after Gwendolyn.

  We passed through the building entirely and exited into a courtyard filled with slender trees. I was stunned, but when I thought on how Cael was half fairy, it made sense. He must feel the same urges I did to embrace nature. It might not tie him to the forests like it did a full-blooded fairy, but the need was strong enough to force him to cultivate a thicket in the middle of the city.

  Gwendolyn paused before the grass started and stared at it in distaste. A tall and dark figure came into view radiating black magic. She didn t look like what I had expected in a witch. I suppose I had imagined a sickly looking older woman, but the witch was just … ordinary.

  Round face ageless, she had long and straight brown hair. She wore a dark gray tunic and black leggings. Covered in a wool cloak that reached her ankles, there was an edgy disturbance in the atmosphere surrounding her.

  Her milky eyes touched on Gwendolyn first then on Wasp. They lingered on Breandan appreciatively and finally stopped on me. An eyebrow quirked, and she smiled beatifically. Turning on her heel, she beckoned us to follow.

  Gwendolyn lead us, and we trailed behind.

  That is Naomi,

  she said quietly.

  One of Cael s most powerful Daughters. He must know you re coming to send her to fetch us.

  Naomi silently led us through the woods until we came to a solid wall with a narrow opening. There was a faint swell of power here, a low hum that buzzed on a frequency I didn t entirely understand. Running along the outside of the opening engraved into the stone were runes of power. Naomi covered one of the runes with her cupped palm, and when she removed it, the marking was gone.

  She passed through the archway, and we followed unhindered. I wondered what would have happened if we had tried to pass through without her with us.

  The walls of the tunnel were smooth stone, and we headed underground ever so slightly. The passageway wasn t long because the orange glow of a fire shined at the other end. I held onto this, as memories of the last underground place I d been rushed back with alarming clarity.

  We stepped out into an enormous space and Breandan s only outward reaction was to stiffen.

  I gasped aloud and my jaw dropped.

  It was as if someone had taken the best of the seasons and merged them into a single paradise.

  It was a Wyld!

  The walls were covered with creeping moss and trailing vines dotted with bright purple flowers. Frozen in bloom, their delicate beauty glistened. Knee-high grass the colour of rose gold had lilac tipped wildflowers scattered amongst its shimmering strands. A rocky brook gushed across our path and small fish were seeing darting below the glinting water. Naomi waded through it and so did we, but I frowned when the water was warm. I had expected a refreshing coolness. The ceiling was made of glass and you could see the night sky when you looked up.

  The air smelt like the forest after rain, and a cool breeze drifted past and made everything rustle, as if we were outside.

  Beautiful as it all was, after my shock at unexpectedly seeing nature inside a building receded, my senses picked up on an unpleasant taint. The fakeness of it all was soon too much, and a cloying sweetness burned my nose. This beauty was not natural, and my nature recoiled from it.

  Naomi headed straight for the opposite end of the room dismissing the curious stares and low questioning of the other witches we passed.

  We stopped, and Gwendolyn bowed jerkily.

  Father, I

  No sooner had the first syllable left her mouth, a witch clenched her fist and Gwendolyn doubled over.

  My first instinct was to rush over to help her, but Breandan placed a hand on my stomach to steady me. Her groans of pain made me uncomfortable, even as I acknowledged she probably would have bitten my hand if I d tried to touch her.

  The witch muttered something and Gwendolyn was picked up by an invisible hand and slammed into the ceiling. She stayed there, plastered to it, the planes of glass around her body cracking from the pressure that pressed into her.

  Wasp made a humming noise of admiration that was disturbing in a whole new way.

  Seated in the midst of a group of witches who looked at the ceiling with expressions of glee, my brother sat with his chin in his hand, legs crossed, eyes staring at nothing. Naomi floated up gracefully and landed on the stone beside him, settling down on the cushions. She murmured in his ear, her eyes tracking back to Breandan and running over him covetously.

  Cael tapped his knee idly, and his gaze darted about before fixing on me. He blinked and smiled broadly.

  Rae!

  Inhaling deeply, I straightened my shoulders. I had a strong inkling I was about to rouse a mighty beast, but was unable to turn back.

  Hai, little brother.

  Cael tapped two fingers to his lips and smiled again. His eyes sparkled, and he laughed. Jumping down from where he reclined, he landed lightly on his feet.

  It took you long enough to get here.

  Chuckling, he waved his hand dismissively when Naomi stood. She slowly sat back down and glared at me. I didn t back down from her jealous stare, simply dismissed her as unimportant and switched my attention back to Cael who had stopped before me
.

  After all,

  he continued,

  I practically shouted it at you the last time we were together.

  When I d first seen Cael, I thought him beautiful. That reaction had been true. He reminded me of Conall around the eyes, and the shape of his mouth. That was it. He must take after his human father in all other features and body shape his torso was stouter than Conall s. Face heart-shaped, his soft brow was bordered by a high forehead and distinct widow s peak. His ears had the point of fairy though it was rounder than my own sharp ellipse, the elongation slighter. His hair was dark too though closer study revealed it was not black like mine or dark brown like our brother s, but a mysterious blonde streaked with glossy strands of ebony. Then when I looked again it was black with blonde streaks. I shook my head idly, amazed even his body played tricks on my mind. His irises were gold, a trait of our bloodline. Cryptic and bold they smoldered with banked power. His body was lean with skin that boasted the lustrous sheen of fairy.

  He wore a hooded cloak that was sleeveless. His chest was bare, and his cotton trousers were tucked into black boots. Leather cuffs encircled his wrists.

  Resplendent.

  Not quite fairy and nowhere near human.

  He was an oddity. He had been shunned and damned for it. This I could tell just from how my own nature reacted to him, unsure of where to place him or how to react.

  Regardless, he was my brother, an element of me that was distant yet connected.

  A part of me recognised you, I just didn t understand what I was sensing. It wasn t a strong feeling as it was with Conall, but my blood knew you.

  He tipped his chin back and regarded me coolly, a new unnamable expression flitting across his face before the jovial mask reappeared.

  What helped you figure it out?

  I held his gaze.

  Ana.

  A ripple of emotion passed over his expression.

  Oh. Her. She fades in and out of my reach, but recently I haven t been able to sense her at all. Is she dead?

  The question was asked carefully. He cared, but didn t want to. It was clear he tried to mislead himself into believing she was nothing.

  No,

  I said quickly.

  Maybe the power of the Wyld masks her from you.

  His eyes sparked with interest.

  It is powerful this Wyld Heart, isn t it?

  Sensing a growing interest that wasn t healthy, I diverted the conversation.

  When the hexed Clerics attacked the Wyld, I had to perform the counter spell, and it became clear. Why Ana was loyal to us, and why she had a natural resistance to the evil effects of witchcraft. Oh, and why she reminded me so much of myself. Then I remembered your gold eyes. Add that to why nobody wanted me to think or talk about other family I might have &.

  I slanted a look at Breandan. He stood with his back straight but looked wholly ashamed.

  After I touched you at Temple it just took me a while to acknowledge in my mind what I knew in my heart. And those who kept the truth from me heard exactly what I thought about their deception.

  I exhaled slowly. Getting distracted by anger was not clever at a moment such as this.

  And although it s uncomfortable for Ana to touch me, it s not as bad as when a total stranger does. She is kindred to me, I should have noticed that the first time she hugged me.

  Yes.

  He rocked back on his heels and tapped his fingers to his chin.

  My Ana is a tricky sort, isn t she? Hmm.

  He offered me his hand. It was almost effeminate in design, long and willowy.

  Come with me.

  Breandan pulled me behind him, wings flexing.

  You will not touch her.

  Cael rolled his eyes, and it was so Ana-like it stunned me.

  If I wanted to harm her you would know it.

  He offered his hand again.

  I clasped Breandan s hand in mine to keep him calm, and placed the other in Cael s.

  The moment I did, he shivered as I did.

  Yes, he was my brother.

  I looked him in the eyes. The more I did, the easier it became.

  You know why I m here.

  He smiled and pulled me across the room towards a roughly gouged out hole in the side of the wall. The witches standing by the exit hastily moved out the way.

  Gwendolyn was still struggling on the ceiling and Cael waved his hand at her. She dropped like a stone and landed with a loud crunch, a cloud of dust puffing out from beneath her.

  I winced because that just had to hurt.

  Wasp was behind us, but paused by Gwendolyn s body. After a tense pause, she smiled, and left the vampire to follow us. Two steps later, with a start, I realized Wasp had waited to check that Cael hadn t destroyed the Queen & she had checked to make sure she would still get to do the deed herself.

  Outside was just as beautiful and wrong as inside, and Cael walked at a frantic pace until we climbed to the top of an incline and could see far out into the city.

  He let go of me and flung out his arms.

  What do you see,

  he asked.

  The Northern City. Vampire territory.

  He made a noise of impatience.

  Yes, yes, and?

  I see nothing but a city, Cael. A place filled with demons you ve decided to terrorize and repress.

  He sighed.

  I see pain. I see anguish and despair. The entire world was filled with selfish, self-absorbed beings that when given the opportunity murdered and raped and took great pleasure in doing so. Still is if you look hard enough.

  He paused.

  Do you know why the vampires bow to me?

  I frowned.

  The answer I got from a vampire was vague. She said the oldest vampire in her Nest made a bargain with you and lost.

  His head bobbed from side to side.

  Almost. The vampire you speak of the Nest King was once my master. You see, he knew what I was. I may look human with glamour, but I smell fairy. I cannot rid myself of it, even with magic.

  Cael looked disgusted with himself for this apparent failing.

  He took me from my adoptive family and made me his … pet.

  Cael crossed his arms over his chest.

  He told me what I was. I didn t believe him, at first. But slowly, day after day he showed me what I was capable of.

  Then why

  Cael spoke over me with loathing,

  He also showed me what he was capable of. You see, I never had any protection, Rae. I didn t have anyone to watch my back, not even my own family.

  Conall couldn t have known that you….

  I trailed off as the words became a lie and bit my bottom lip. Conall had known. He was young when our mother broke the balance, but old enough to know what had happened.

  He was young, and angry. You can t place the burden of our failings as a family on his shoulders alone. How would he even know where to look for you?

  He searched for you. For nearly two centuries, he searched for you. The Rupture came and went and still he searched for his precious baby sister.

  Cael s face dared me to deny it.

  He left me to the whims of a deranged vampire who thought having a half-breed fairy-boy of royal descent as a plaything was great fun.

  He smiled without humor, a cruel thing meant to scare me, and I have no shame admitting it did.

  He passed me around a few of his friends. They do love to play games, vampires. They like the taste of fairy too, our blood sustains them physically longer than human blood, a tasty snack. To remain sane they need to feed on humans though, and that is why I was even more appealing. My mixed blood was a perfect blend to give them sanity and strength.

  He fingered his throat that was ragged with scars. I winced. Bite marks from vampires left permanent scars on our skin like iron did.

  But then you see one day I realized that I was stronger than him. I was more powerful than the oldest vampire known to this world. And not on
ly was I strong, but I had magic. The more I focused the easier it came to me. It was then I started to plot my revenge. It was all I had to hold onto, that one day I would make everyone who had ignored or hurt me suffer. Days passed into years, and I still did nothing. My spirit was broken, and I had become dependant on the affection of the King. That s when Eva found me. She sensed my magic, and came to investigate the presence of a he-witch that had not harkened to her. She was once the Coven Mother and my kind paid tithe to her.

  He smiled.

  They pay tithe to me now.

  But why would she claim you?

  I asked.

  You are fairy.

  You see, because of my human half my magic has the … tang … of a he-witche s casting. When she discovered what the vampires were doing to me, she attacked them, and gave me a choice.

  He gave me a hard look.

  Kill or be killed. She decimated the Nest. She was magnificent, her rage blinding, her magic brutal. She was glorious, and still is when I ask it of her. The King was too much for Eva to handle, of course, but seeing him feed on her … all the rage I d held back for so long exploded.