Sword of Darkness

by Kinley MacGregor

  As her mother drew near and her dizziness passed, she realized that she wasn't a little girl anymore. She was a woman full-grown.

  She was herself.

  Pausing in front of her, her mother brushed the hair back from her face and smiled sweetly at her before she kissed her brow. "You've changed much, my little treasure."

  A stinging wave of grief consumed her as she heard her mother's blessed voice again. Tears welled in her eyes. "I've missed you, Mama."

  Her mother's lips trembled. Unlike Seren, her mother was one of the most beautiful of women. Her hair was a darker shade of blond, with honey gold highlights. As a child, she'd spent hours brushing her mother's hair at night before her mother plaited it. Her hair had always smelled of spring flowers. It'd been softer than the best woven silk. Those precious memories flooded her now and made her ache to her very soul.

  "I have missed you, too, my Seren," her mother said in a tender voice. "I hear you whispering to me sometimes in the quiet haven where I stay." Her features showed her own pain and grief as she cupped Seren's cheek in her palm. "Many times, I've wanted to answer you, but couldn't. But you were never alone, my precious daughter. Never."

  A tear of joyful sorrow slid from the corner of her eye. "Why are you here now?"

  Her mother reached under the neckline of her golden gown to pull out a small medallion. It reminded her much of the one Kerrigan wore. It held the same star with a dragon. "It is past time for you to have this."

  Her mother placed it in the palm of her hand and closed her fist over it. She held Seren's fist in both of her hands. "Your great-great grandfather was the one who betrayed his king and set all of this into motion. He allowed evil to seduce him, and he made a fatal mistake that destroyed the fellowship of Arthur's Table. We are of the bloodline of Emrys Penmerlin, and the daughter you carry now will one day meet the same challenge as our progenitor. I don't know what she'll choose. But if she follows in his footsteps, the world will be forever lost to Morgen and her demons."

  Her mother wiped away the tear from her face. "Don't cry, Seren. Not for me. I'm at peace, child. I kept you safe until you were able to grow up, and now…your life is up to you. It will be what you make it."

  If only it were that simple, but Seren knew better. There was so much that wasn't in her control. "What of Kerrigan?"

  Her mother's gaze turned distant, as if she were hiding something from her. "His path is his own as well, and it's not for me to say. But you must be strong, child. Listen with your heart, and don't let others deceive you."

  "But how will I know if they're deceiving me?"

  "Seren?"

  She turned at the sound of a deep masculine voice. Her mother began to fade.

  "Mama, wait! Please don't leave me."

  But her mother vanished anyway.

  "Mama!" Seren woke up with tears in her eyes to find Blaise standing beside her bed.

  He blinked twice at her. "Sorry, Seren, I'm not female." He frowned. "Actually, I'm not sorry that I'm not a female, but I am sorry that I'm not your mother…Then again, I'm not really sorry about that, either. Basically, I'm not sorry at all, I just felt the need to say something."

  Irritated at him, Seren glanced about the room. There was no sign of her mother. No sign of her dream…at least not until she realized that there was something in her hand.

  Looking down, she found the medallion right where her mother had placed it. Her heart raced at the sight of her medallion, but she kept it from Blaise. She didn't know why. It just wasn't something she wanted to share.

  "Where's Kerrigan?"

  "He's in the hall, waiting for you." Blaise moved forward and handed her the scarlet tunic that she'd made for Kerrigan.

  Seren frowned.

  "He wants you to wear it. Just in case."

  Her frown melted into a smile at his thoughtfulness. "I'll be down in just a moment."

  Blaise nodded before he left her alone.

  Her thoughts churning over her dream, Seren scooted out of bed. There was a chill in the air. Or was it in her body? She couldn't really tell. All she knew was that it was frigid and eerie.

  Dismissing the feeling, she quickly fastened the necklace and donned her clothes, then joined the men downstairs.

  Unaware of her appearance in the great hall, Kerrigan was again dressed in his black armor while Blaise was dressed in a brown tunic and hose, with his white hair left free to hang down his back.

  "Do I look like a woman?" Blaise asked Kerrigan, who was sitting in one of the chairs before the hearth.

  "Aye."

  Blaise looked completely offended by his quick response. "Excuse me?"

  "What?" Kerrigan gave him an innocent expression. "You want me to lie?"

  Blaise folded his arms over his chest in an angry gesture. "I don't look like a woman."

  "Then why did you ask me?"

  "Seren thought I was her mother when I went to wake her." He reached up and wrapped his hand in his hair. "Maybe I should cut this."

  "Wouldn't help. Then you'd just look like an ugly woman."

  Releasing his hair, Blaise glared at him. "Oh thank you, Lord Darkness. Do me a favor, never hire yourself out to work for a suicide hotline."

  "Suicide hotline?" Seren asked as she moved closer to them. "What is that?"

  Blaise turned to face her. "It's…" He paused and looked as if he were searching for a way to define it. "Never mind. It truly won't make any sense to you."

  She was beginning to wonder if they spoke in esoteric fashion on purpose just to confuse her. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, you don't look like a woman. Kerrigan does."

  Kerrigan snorted from his chair. "Hardly."

  Blaise considered that for a moment. "Only if the woman is tall, hairy, and bearded. Come to think of it, you do remind me of a hag who used to live in Camelot."

  Kerrigan narrowed his red eyes on the mandrake. "Shut up."

  Seren tsked at Kerrigan and the venom he was releasing. "He's in a mood, isn't he?" she asked Blaise.

  "Aye, and he's been like that all morning. What? Did you not share the blanket with him?"

  "I said enough."

  Seren scowled at Kerrigan's angry tone. He reminded her of the day she'd first met him. Blustering and threatening. Gone was the tenderness he'd shown her lately. "Did I do something wrong?"

  An unnamed emotion flitted across his face before he shook his head. He rose to his feet. "We have to meet the gargoyles soon. Before we do, I have to explain what's going to happen. When I drop the shield, I will have to feed from you immediately. You will have to submit to me. If you choose to fight, it could very well kill you. Do you understand?"

  Aye, she fully understood that. She didn't like it, but she understood it.

  She nodded.

  "It's going to hurt, Seren," Blaise said quietly. "Probably a lot."

  She swallowed at his grave tone. "How badly?"

  It was Kerrigan who answered. "Bad enough that you will want to run away, but if you do, I won't be able to control it. If I lose control…"

  She was dead, most like. Seren drew a ragged breath at the seriousness of their situation. "Very well. I shall endure whatever pain you cause."

  Blaise gave her a look of respect. "You're a braver man than I am."

  "Woman, you mean."

  He screwed his face up at her. "There you go again, calling me a woman." He met Kerrigan's gaze. "I swear, she's giving me a complex."

  Seren shook her head at his play, not that she understood that last bit exactly. But she had a good idea of the gist of it.

  Looking at Kerrigan, she sobered as she noticed that he lacked their humor.

  She approached him, only to have him move away. "Are you sure that you're all right, my lord?"

  "I am fine." His tone was sharp and clipped.

  Sighing, she nodded. "So when does the shield fall?"

  "As soon as we go outside." Kerrigan looked past her, to Blaise. "Once I have enough power, I'll transp
ort all of us from here into the future where Morgen won't be able to follow with her army. I figure the twentieth century should do."

  Blaise sighed. "Seren won't understand anything there."

  "Does it matter? At least there if a dragon or gargoyle pops through, they'll get shot down by the humans before they come near us. They may be fierce, but not even they can survive napalm or an armed missile. Once radar registers them, they'll be dealt with and they know it. It should keep them out of our way at least for a while."

  "What is the twentieth century?" Seren asked.

  Blaise let out a deep breath. "A world unlike anything you can imagine." He looked back at Kerrigan. "It'll mess with her sensibilities."

  "Can you think of someplace better?"

  "Not really. You're right about their weapons. But do you think that'll keep Morgen at bay?"

  "Nay. However, the Adoni will only be able to come through the portal two at a time without alerting the military. We should be able to handle that with little problem."

  Blaise nodded. "What about the gargoyles who are with us? They don't exactly blend during daylight hours."

  "Let them find a building to sit on. They're not my problem. All I promised them was an escape from Morgen. What they do after that is their business."

  Blaise looked at her. "Have you ever noticed that he really enjoys being evil?"

  "Aye." But the strangest part of all was that there was something about that that she found alluring, almost endearing. "What can I do to help in this?"

  "Don't die," they said in unison.

  "I can honestly say that I will do my best to stay alive."

  "Good," Blaise said as he walked over to the window to look outside. "Garafyn is leading them down the hill as he promised."

  Kerrigan was staring at her with an undefinable expression that tugged at her heart. There was something about it that reminded her of the boy she'd glimpsed the day before when they had shared their blood.

  He wasn't as cold toward her as he was pretending, and it was the man in him that set fire to her blood. There was something about being in his presence that made her ache to want to touch him.

  But they didn't have time for that now.

  Kerrigan turned his gaze away from Seren toward Blaise. "Remember that shifting us through time will weaken me even more, and I won't be able to recharge from Seren again. It'll be up to you and the gargoyles to fight whatever might follow us through."

  Blaise inclined his head. "Have no fear. We can handle it."

  Kerrigan removed his left gauntlet and tucked it into his belt. "Then let us get this over with."

  Blaise headed out first.

  Seren paused by Kerrigan's side. The sunlight played in the dark waves of his hair. His eyes were black now, restless, and she wondered at what was causing his dour mood. "I trust you, my lord. I know you won't hurt us in this."

  Kerrigan couldn't breathe as he stared down into those clear, trusting green eyes. God's blood, he couldn't remember ever being so naive. Even now he half expected Garafyn to betray them. It would be in the gargoyle's nature.

  Just as it was in his nature to destroy.

  Only he didn't want to destroy Seren. Frowning at her, he laid his hand to hers. She had more strength and courage than Morgen's entire army.

  He bent down to inhale the scent of her hair before he placed a tender kiss to her lips. She tasted of innate goodness, of sweet womanhood, and in truth he wanted more of her. He wanted to take her upstairs and spend the rest of the day making love to her.

  But he couldn't. They had a battle before them that wouldn't wait. He only hoped that he wouldn't fail her.

  Pulling away, Kerrigan led the way from the castle, out into the bailey where Blaise was waiting for them.

  He paused by the mandrake's side. "If I fall, take my medallion and get Seren out of here immediately. Hide her wherever you can."

  "I will do my best."

  "Good. Now let me go and do my worst."

  He saw Seren meet Blaise's cautious gaze before they followed him onto the old wooden drawbridge. Reaching out for his dwindling powers, he summoned the earth's mist to help blind their enemies. So-called dragon's breath, it was the same spell that Emrys Penmerlin had once summoned so that Uther could lie with Igraine and father King Arthur on the unsuspecting noblewoman.

  The thick fog rolled forward, and through its dampness, he could feel Morgen. She knew the source of the fog and she was livid. He sensed her gathering her army…

  She called the dragons down before they flew into each other and ordered the gargoyles to climb the hill.

  "Adoni! Ready your arrows!"

  But she would never order them to fire and he knew it. The chance of blindly striking Seren and killing her was too great.

  Now was the time.

  Taking a deep breath, he brought down the shield. The pain in his head ceased immediately. Grateful for that reprieve, he turned toward Seren. He spread his left hand out, only to pause as he met her open gaze.

  She trusted him.

  His heart stopped beating as he saw the tenderness in her gaze.

  Do it.

  This was their only chance to escape. He narrowed his gaze before he placed his hand in the valley between her breasts. He felt the instant surge of her life force as he drew it out. It was warm. Invigorating.

  But he'd barely started when Seren let out an agonized cry. Her eyes filled with tears as she bravely stood her ground. As promised, she made no move to pull away. No move to break his hold. She merely stood there with her lips trembling as her tears overran her eyes and fled down her cheeks.

  The pain was excruciating, and still she stood strong like an ancient Amazon.

  Kerrigan cursed as he snatched his hand away. He couldn't do this. Not to her. Not like this.

  Seren staggered back. He caught her against his chest as his heart thumped in sympathetic pain.

  "I'm sorry," he whispered softly.

  "Are you strong now?" Her words came out in ragged breaths.

  Nay, he wasn't. But he couldn't bring himself to hurt her again. He looked up and met Blaise's unblinking stare through the fog and realized that the mandrake knew what had happened.

  He knew that Kerrigan had backed down. But there was no scorn in that violet gaze. No hatred.

  If he didn't know better, he'd almost think that Blaise was proud of him.

  "Looks like we fight our way out then." Blaise instantly took dragon form.

  Drawing his sword, Kerrigan turned to find Garafyn and Anir nearing them. With a wave of the fog curling behind them, they flew in and landed before him. Their eerie yellow and red eyes glowed, and that was the only way he could really see them, since their gray bodies blended in almost perfectly with the fog.

  "Let's go," Garafyn said.

  Blaise tilted his head so that he could look with one eye at the gargoyle. "I thought there would be more of you?"

  "The others fell behind. Screw 'em. It's every rock for himself. We don't have time to wait."

  Blaise lowered his dragon's head to speak in a low tone. "We have a small problem."

  "No," Garafyn said sternly, "we don't. Let's go."

  Kerrigan shook his head. "We can't."

  "Why not?"

  Kerrigan braced himself to fight them. "I can't feed from her."

  A flap of Garafyn's wings parted the fog enough for him to see the angry look on the gargoyle's face. His eyes glowed eerily red in the mist. "Can't or won't?"

  "Can't."

  "Bullshit!" Garafyn growled. "You've killed people for what? Six hundred years or something like that? I've seen you do it countless times. Don't go getting…stupid on me now. Damn." He looked over his shoulder as he tried to peer into the fog. They could hear the others, but not see them. "We're about to become a driveway here, Kerrigan. Do something."

  Kerrigan snorted. "I thought you were going to be a countertop."

  "No, I just shafted the Queen Bitch who we both know isn't
real forgiving. I don't even rate a countertop at this point. Not unless you grow a ball and suck the juice from your pet here."

  Blaise moved toward the gargoyles. "I think you should just kill them, Kerrigan."

  Anir hissed at Blaise. "Then suck off the dragon," he said to Kerrigan. "He's a worthless piece of scale."

  Kerrigan sneered at them. "I don't suck energy off any male. Ever."

  Seren took Kerrigan's hand. Morgen's army was closing in on them and her heart pounded at the ferocious sound of creatures advancing. Their steps and grunts echoed around them. It stirred the mist and rebounded off the stone walls.

  They were coming closer and closer.

  Any second, they would be surrounded…

  Suddenly, Seren heard a voice whispering inside her head. Instinctively, she knew it was a spell like the ones Kerrigan had used in the past.

  It was her magic speaking to her, she realized. It was the powers that he had awakened the day before. Closing her eyes, she listened to it and repeated the words out loud. As she did so, the air around her seemed to sizzle and burn. Something crackled in the fog, sparking colors around them.

  "What is she doing?" Garafyn asked.

  "Getting us out of this." Kerrigan pulled her into his arms and began to chant with her.

  Seren followed his lead. She heard men screaming while the two of them combined their magic.

  One minute they were there on the drawbridge, and in the next, they were standing out in the middle of an open field. There was no sign of Morgen or her army.

  Opening her eyes, Seren looked around. They appeared to be in some kind of forest in broad daylight. She frowned as she saw something fly overhead. At first she thought it was a dragon, only its wings didn't move. It was huge and silver…

  "What is that?"

  Kerrigan looked up at what she was pointing to. "A plane."

  She frowned. "A what?"

  "Big. Silver. Bird," Garafyn said irritably, stressing each syllable as if she were simple-witted. "People climb into it and they fly from one place to another."

  Seren looked back up to see it again, but it was already gone. "Are you jesting?"

  "Nope."

  Unable to believe it, she wanted to see the plane again. But as she glanced around, she realized that Kerrigan didn't look well. His features were pinched and drawn.