“Mhhuga!” I snarl, Darkness’ language spilling out of my lips. Neither one of us are happy about this. My body tenses as I realize what is happening, and I thank goodness that I have prepared for situations like this.
I always knew that it was a possibility, that she would do this again, that she would open the portal to Xeha...but never did I think she’d keep it open. Soraya does nothing that surprises me anymore. I should have killed her when I had the chance.
I pull out my cell phone from the back pocket of my pants, entering the number I’ve made sure to have memorized for situations like this. It’s been years since we’ve all been in the same place, and that’s good news. Whenever we reunite, it isn’t for a pleasant reason.
“How are they not getting in?” Haven asks, looking around. She pulls me from my own thoughts.
“The spell on Sanctuary. If they don’t have pure intentions, they can’t enter. We’re safe.”
“Yeah, we are dipshit, but they aren’t.” Haven points out to the people we can both see running, trying to escape but it’s no use. They’re fucked, and we all know it.
I place the phone to my ear and await as ringing fills my ears. It goes straight to voicemail, go figure. One of them is bound to call me soon after I leave a detailed message about what I’m seeing.
It’s time that the High Order commences. We have a duty, an obligation, a right.
Chapter 9
And in the end, all I learned was how to be strong alone. -d.j.
Haven
I can’t just sit in Sanctuary and watch this nightmare unfold around me. The people outside were innocent and couldn’t defend themselves even if they tried. I need to do something, and I need to be quick about it. Time is of the essence.
I turn from where I stand and quickly dash to Sapphire’s office. She is a cautious woman, keeping a stash arsenal nearby no matter where she is. She’s told me stories of her past about how no matter where she went, a poacher would show up shortly thereafter, wanting her fangs, her scales, or whatever they deemed valuable.
She needed to be able to protect herself, and this was her solution, the way to guarantee her safety. After all, the only person she can rely on is herself, and I completely understand that. I think I understand it more than most people.
I snag the key from the top drawer of her office desk and go to the trunk, unlocking it as I search for the specific weapon that I considered my own. It wasn’t really mine, and I am most likely going to steal it at some point, but Sapphire knows the bond I have with it, so I don’t think she will really mind if I take it out for a spin tonight.
I’m doing some selfless shit here, she’d better not complain. I grab my baby out of the trunk. It’s older than half the fuckers who come in here, so I always make sure that I handle it with care. The last thing I want is for it to break.
My weapon of choice is a cross-bow, and it is so magnificently crafted, made of centuries old redwood, that’s stained black. Symbols are engraved along the sides, I’m not quite sure of their meaning however it made me feel more powerful the longer it was in my grasp. I grab the quiver and start placing as many arrows as it can carry inside. This wasn’t any modern weapon, many years have passed, and it’s as brutal as the wars it’s been through.
When all is said and done, I walk over to one of the many shelves and randomly pick an urn she has placed there. She’s told me she puts ashes in them, they may or may not be ashes of a dead person, but oh well. I take the top off and dip my fingers inside, smearing the residue right under my eyes, there is no doubt in my mind. I am a total bad ass and now I’m ready to kick some. I don’t really know what those things are outside, but I am ready to throw down and show them who’s boss.
I place the quiver over my shoulder and latch the belt across my chest. I tug on it, making sure that it’s as secure as possible and not going anywhere. After I’m good to go, I take a step out of the office, but before I can get two feet out into the hallway, I’m barreling into someone’s hard chest.
“And where do you think you’re going?” Jett is standing in front of me, but Darkness’ voice is the one that comes out of his mouth. I can tell the difference. Jett’s voice is still deep and masculine, Darkness’ voice is raspy, gritty, and has a way of making goosebumps break out across my skin, almost like it comes straight from the depths of hell.
I look down at the ground, arms behind my back and point my toe to the ground, moving it back and forth like an innocent or shy child.
“Well you see… going wherever the FUCK I want to go. Or, wait. Did you want me to keep up that cute and innocent shit? No way, Sugar Tits. You’re coming along for the ride or you aren’t, pick. Hell, maybe I’ll give you a ride after. Either way, I’m blowing outta this joint. Now, are you gonna help or are you gonna run to the bathroom like a scared little bitch just like Jett did earlier?”
“You do realize we one in the same right, Haven? You’d better watch yourself, just because I’ve been a gentleman up until this point doesn’t mean that I’ll continue to be. I’m not afraid to redden your ass in front of all these people.” This time it’s Jett who is speaking to me. He’s just gonna have to get over it, I’m not changing my cheeky attitude, ever. I had to keep it bottled up for so many years, I’ll be damned if I hide who I am ever again.
“Anyways...wanna play another game?” I ask, pouting my lips and fluttering my lashes. As he opens his mouth to speak, I cut him off.
“Rules of the game, whoever kills more of those shadowy thinga-ma-jiggies wins. The winner gets this dope ass pussy, BYE!” I run past him, or maybe I should say them and book it, running towards the enemies I so greatly need to abolish.
It’s the distraction I need to get my mind off Jett, Darkness… Jarkness… no, Dett...Fuck, I’ll figure it out later.
I’ve got some bitches to destroy.
Chapter 10
You are terrifying, and strange, and beautiful, something not everyone knows how to love. -Warsan Shire
Darkness
While her personality ignites me like no other, it also makes me want to throw her up against the wall and show her exactly who’s boss…’cause it looks like she’s forgotten. I catch up with her quickly, making sure that I keep Jett’s body looking the same, but it’s me who holds the control right now.
Haven’s got another thing coming if she thinks that she can get away with what she just pulled. In fact, I think I’m going to do just that. I follow her closely, grab her by the elbow and slam her up against the wall. Thankfully, she hadn’t gotten too far from me.
“Listen here, little girl. You don’t have any idea what those are out there. I’ve been around a long time, and no way in Xeha am I going to let you go out into that mess and get your ass killed. Sit tight.”
“Hate to break it to you, but I’m not really the listening type.” She rolls her eyes at me, her brazen attitude continuing to come out full force.
“Haven, I’m not telling you. I’m warning you that if I so much as see you out there, you will be wishing you hadn’t stepped your foot out that door. Whatever they do to you is going to be a helluva lot nicer than what I will when I get my hands on you,” I growl, placing my mouth against her ear, I bite her harshly with my fangs, making sure she feels it.
“Fine!” she hisses, shoving me away, starting to walk away from me.
“I’m not kidding,” I warn her.
“Roger that, boss.” I watch as she rolls her eyes, swaying her hips from left to right until she disappears behind the bar. Now that I don’t think I have to worry about her, I can worry about the bigger threat. The demons that Soraya has no doubt unleashed from Xeha. I’ll need to be in tip top shape for this, I haven’t eaten in a few days...and while I’ve gone longer...there are hundreds of demons outside the door and I’ll need my strength. Haven doesn’t know how strong they are, or what they are capable of. I know.
I used to live with them all in Xeha before Soraya damned me to Jett’s body. If she went
out there and got herself killed I would feel at fault for that. Yet, it isn’t the guilt that would eat at me, it would be my own selfishness. I’ve just had her for the first time today, and I will not let her go.
My head pounds, signifying that my hunger is growing higher by the moment. If only I can find someone’s nightmares to feed on. I just have to search, someone is bound to be in here, with plenty of horrors to curb my appetite.
I wait for a few minutes, concentrating on the types of supernaturals in Sanctuary. Sometimes, I can feel the energy...the hurt that lays just past the surface. I look over, watching Haven grab glasses from under the bar before she fills them to the rim and hands them to patrons. Her eyes catch mine and she sticks her tongue out quickly, rolling her eyes in the process.
My head is pounding harder and heavier minute after minute. I know I need to be out there, it’s fucking eating at me. For I know what they are. Most of the demons from Xeha are rabid, unpredictable creatures.
They only want one thing, a host...bloodlust. Xeha is a form of hell, or maybe a purgatory of sorts. I’m no angel, in fact, I’m as far from it as they come...but I have purpose behind my actions. These demons do it for shits and giggles, reveling in the chaos that they create.
I turn and walk towards the bathroom where Haven and I just had our rendezvous. Out of nowhere, I smell something so sweet...so much pain. The door to my right opens, and out pops a blonde woman with hair that goes down to the back of her knees. This is it, this is my one chance at feeding...getting the energy I so desperately need to fend off these low life demons.
I walk towards her, acting as if I’m going to speak but quickly plant my lips on hers. She falls back a tad, but I slide my arms around her and open the doorway that she just came from, taking us both behind closed doors. We’re in a small room with a set of stairs that lead down and up. I happen to wonder where exactly the stairs lead, however I have bigger things to focus on right now.
I lay her down on the stone that covers the floor and place my hands at her temples, focusing solely on the nightmares I so desperately seek. I can smell them on her, radiating through her skin. Fuck, she’s got them buried deep. I continue to focus, breathing slowly through my nose as I search the depths of her mind, until I find something.
***
“No!” She cowers under the bed, with someone to her right. The older boy that lays next to her covers his hand over her mouth, pulling her closer to him. Tears stream down her face as she fights off the urge to cry out. The boy only pulls her closer, wrapping his arms and legs around her.
“You have to say quiet, Sapph. They’ll hear us,” he whispers, into her ear. She nods, but not because she wants to, because it is her only choice.
Through her eyes I can see through a small cut in the wooden bedframe, there are four people standing in front of the fire, with two on the ground. Their hands are bound with chainmail, unable to move even if they tried.
A man in the front grabs the knife from his belt and brings it to the woman’s face, cutting off a slice of her skin as she screams out in utter agony. When the skin is brought to the light, I can see it in fact isn’t skin. It’s scales. She’s a dragon shifter, something so unique...almost extinct.
“I’m going to cut both of you alive if you don’t tell me where your kin are. If you tell me, I’ll let you all live...and if you don’t, well...I’m sure you can imagine what will happen.” The man snickers, returning the blade to the woman’s face and slices off another big portion, the scales shimmer against the fire. They were poachers, they had to be.
“We don’t have any kin! How many times do I have you tell you? My wife is barren. It is just us...it has always been just us.” The man who kneels on the ground next to the woman speaks. Tears roll down not only the girl’s face, but the boys as well. Their parents are being tortured in front of them, specifically their mother.
I understand why the woman would lie about having children. Poachers were not merciful. If they knew that they had children, they would take whatever was deemed valuable for Reckard and sell it, killing the lives of children in the process if it meant profitability.
I watch for many more minutes as her mother is constantly tortured in front of their father and the two children, the little girl being this now grown woman.
Her mother puts up a big fight, and once the poachers had ripped every scale from her body they went for her teeth, prying her mouth open and ripping out each one individually. Blood coated the wood floors below her, sounds of agony echoed through the room until they suddenly stopped. She was dead, and once the poachers realized that they went for the father, one of the men in the room took the mother’s body, gutting her like a fish, taking her organs right out of her corpse.
The children watched, saw every gory detail of their parents being tortured and ravaged. The poachers only left behind their bodies, completely unrecognizable.
***
Ever since that day, this girl has been hiding who she truly is. She has walls unlike I’ve ever seen, and her pain has filled me up, not leaving an ounce of hunger within my body. Honestly, I feel like the next time I get hungry I can come to her. That one memory was only the tip of the pain filled bucket that she has inside of her mind. I took the pain from her, but the memory will remain. She will remember the horrendous things that happened that day, but no longer will she associate agony with the memory, only acceptance.
I remove my hands from her temple and turn, opening the door and closing it behind me after I walk through. Sanctuary is packed, looking like a few more people made it through the doors before the demons got them. I walk towards the crowd and see something I don’t think is possible.
No.
She did not defy me.
I can’t help but think of the ways I’m going to ream her for this, that is, until I see her try to shoot her crossbow as a demon throws it onto the ground below her, knocking her flat on her ass in the process. I run to the door, opening it wide as she rises, jumping at the shadow figure. She whips her hand back and throws her fist into it full force and when it dissipates into thin air...I am nothing but shocked. This can’t be possible. No, it can be but there’s only one way that this is possible.
Suddenly, everything is starting to add up. The reason she smells like Xeha, how I can feel the fire running through her veins...
Haven is a fucking demon, she just doesn’t know it yet.
Chapter 11
Stars can’t shine without darkness.
-Anonymous
Haven
One minute I have my crossbow in hand, fighting like a goddamn super hero and the next thing I know my weapon is skidding across the asphalt. I see one of those black blobs head straight for this woman who was only trying to get out of the cross fire of chaos. It jumps into her body, and she looks towards me. Her eyes are completely filmed over in black haze and then she’s rushing me, and I just panic. I know this isn’t her, it’s the entity that’s taking hold of her body, like a parasite to a host.
I go to punch the fucker out of her body, it’s the only thing I can do since I suddenly don’t have my weapon. My hand goes right in this woman’s chest cavity and I’m pulling out the dark, creepy, shadow smoke that was just minutes before floating around in the air. I look down and see that it’s just wiggling and squirming in my hand, I can hear its squeals and I’m not going to lie: it’s freaking me the fuck out.
I look up and take notice of the woman standing before me, she’s in just as much shock as I am, but instead of the curiosity that I was feeling, hers was full of fear.
Yup, she was scared shitless.
Actually, I am one hundred percent sure she truly has shit herself.
I look down once again, thinking I have no idea what to do with this thing and just want it to go back where it came from and POOF, that son of a bitch is gone, it dissipates in my grip. I seriously didn’t know how I did it, I just knew I wanted to see if I could do it again. If I just killed one, it was pretty freaki
ng easy. I see a man dart towards the left of me, and I’m just about to grab him as I’m thrown over someone’s shoulder being carted off in the direction of Sanctuary.
Oh, hell no! I am so angry right now. I just figured out how much of a badass I really am, and this bitch is killing my vibes. There is no way I am going to let anyone take this away from me. Especially not Jett, or Darkness, or whoever was alert right now. Nope, I refused. He wouldn’t take this away from me. No way, and no how. Even if that said man is sexy as sin and has a great body that comes with both horns and fangs. I try my hardest not to get too entrapped in those thoughts.
I know that it’s him who carries me. No. Them.
I can smell it, he smells so good. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but there’s this scent that comes from him...it smells just like a campfire. There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s not good for my libido. I try to wiggle out of his embrace but he’s holding my thighs down tight, firmly against his chest.
I may regret this, but oh well, I take my left foot and bring it up a bit, slamming it home into his family jewels.
He is immediately brought down to his knees while I slide out of his grip and off his shoulders. He groans, cupping his goods and then he looks up giving me a glare that just might incinerate me where I stand. I just huff out a little laugh and take off to find my baby, my beloved crossbow.
“I get no call or text to join in on all the fun? Now that just tears me into up, Hav’.” I hear Sapphire tell me from the left. I had no idea she was even out here, then again, she always had a nifty way of sneaking up on people.
Sapphire and I walk side by side, my only objective being grabbing the crossbow. The last thing I want is for it to get damaged, or worse, for one of these shadow dwellers to steal what’s bound to be mine. Sapphire may not have given it to me quite yet, but let’s be real, it’s going to be mine. I spot it, just a few feet away from where I was originally. That shadow bitch may have knocked it out of my hands, but it just showed she was weak because it didn’t go far.
Darkness (Darkest Nightmares Book 1) Page 6
