The Balance

by C. L. Nelson

  “I love you too, my darling, to the Pit and back. Be safe.” She kissed my cheek right before I was sucked out of the dream.

  I woke up to Lachlan standing over me with an evil grin on his face. Oh fuck, this is going to be bad.

  Chapter 21

  Alaric

  Why haven’t they found it yet? I have tasked every guard and servant at my disposal with finding my queen’s immortal body. Anyone with leads is supposed to report back to me immediately, but I haven’t heard from a single soul in well over twenty-four hours.

  They just don’t want me to be happy. That’s it. They all just want to punish me for sending their loved ones to the Pit, but that’s my fucking right as King of the Reapers. I can do whatever I want to whoever I want, especially to my own underlings. If they are trying to subvert me, they will end up in the vilest recesses of the Pit.

  I should throw Kian in the Pit. I should throw all my bastard children in the Pit. If I wasn’t obligated by the Creators to have an heir, I would destroy Kian for his recent actions. How dare he think he can try to take my queen from me as if he would even know what to do with a female like Carina.

  He doesn’t even know she is a darkling. Only a handful of people are aware of her existence. Even human mythology doesn’t account for half ethereal/ half infernal offspring. The abominations were so terrible that even the idea of them was wiped out of existence. That’s why my queen is so special. She is literally one of a kind.

  That’s part of the reason that I want her. I want to possess this beautiful one-of-a-kind creature. No one else will have someone like her. I will be the envy of every male.

  For fuck’s sake! If no one comes back soon, I am going to lose my mind! Where is everyone?

  There is a knock on the door.

  “Get your ass in here!” I yelled.

  One of the cleaning servants steps in. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty,” she said, throwing herself at my feet.

  I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. I am having a hard time controlling my anger. “Do you have news for me or not? I would answer carefully if I were you.”

  She is trembling on the floor, too scared to look at me. “All the guards and servants have returned, my King. No one has seen or heard of any immortal body that is empty of its soul.” She started to sob. “Please don’t send me to the Pit.”

  “Why didn’t the others come to me with their reports? I asked, bending down to pat her head.

  She whimpered. “They are all afraid to give you bad news, Great One. They do not wish to upset you.”

  I grind my teeth. “But you were brave enough to report the bad news to me?”

  She continued to sob but didn’t respond.

  “ANSWER ME!” I yelled.

  “N N N No, my Liege. I lost the v v v vote,” she stuttered.

  I ripped out her soul without warning. I feel slightly better. She was a pathetic waste of space anyway.

  I called for the guard that I use for disposal. He arrived within a minute like he was afraid to keep me waiting.

  “How may I serve you, my King?” He asked while kneeling in front of me.

  I gave him the soul of the servant. “Take this trash to the Pit and while you are there, I need you to ask around about the empty immortal body. Perhaps the infernals know something about a surviving darkling.”

  I cringed at the thought that the infernals may have my queen’s immortal body. The very idea that they could be soiling her precious body makes me sick. I might as well let her soul destroy itself if that is the case.

  Infernals are disgusting beings. They love to rape, torture, mutilate, humiliate, torment, and traumatize. Their whole existence is about punishing the souls in the Pit and they love every second of it. A half ethereal body would be too good to pass up for them. If I don’t get her body back untouched, then there is no point in keeping her. I don’t want infernal leftovers.

  I thought for a moment before giving my next instructions to the guard. “If you find the body, bring it back to me. Time is of the essence,” I said. “If you don’t bring back her body, I will have you thrown in the Pit. If you bring back her body, but it’s too late, I will throw you in the Pit,” I added. “Are we clear?”

  He stood and bowed. “Crystal clear, my King.”

  I heard a noise coming from the slightly ajar door. “Did you hear that?” I asked the guard.

  “It is probably just the servants tripping over themselves, my King. You have everyone quite nervous.”

  I ignored him and went to check the hallway. I have sworn my guards and servants to secrecy. I don’t want anyone else to know about my queen’s origins until after I have her body and have restored her to her immortal glory. I looked down both sides of the hallway, but there was no one around.

  I dismissed the guard. Once I am alone, the aching returns. I have been away from my future lover for far too long. I hope the nymphs are keeping an eye on her. My naughty female is likely trying to figure out a way to escape. I’d be an idiot if I thought she would behave herself.

  Maybe I should go see how she is doing. I should also probably attempt to seduce her while I have the chance, just in case we fail to find her body in time. I don’t want to miss out on a chance to be inside her, even if it’s only inside of her imitation body.

  Chapter 22

  Emilia

  Holy cannoli! That was a close one. My phone started vibrating when I was listening outside of the door to my dear ol’ dad’s office. Astralocating in and out of the mansion is blocked for everyone except for reapers with royal blood, so I was able to disappear the instant my phone vibrated. That might be one of the very few benefits from my sperm donor father.

  I arrived back at my apartment with my heart beating wildly in my chest. It’s not beating fast out of fear though. I live for the thrill of being caught doing something or being somewhere I am not supposed to be. It makes me feel alive. And really, if you aren’t enjoying your life, then you are doing it wrong. When you live as long as I do as a reaper, you better figure out what you enjoy, or you are going to have a long miserable life.

  I turned on some music and start dancing around my apartment to release some of the built-up adrenaline. While I am singing and dancing, I decide to change my hair color again. I am not loving the teal anymore. I have been inspired to change my hair to royal purple! Get it? ‘Cause I am technically a royal princess. More like a royal pain in the ass. HAHA! I slay myself!

  Some folks might think I dye my hair with those human chemicals, but I will let you in on my little secret. I bartered with a witch. I got her ability to access magic and she got to keep her memories in her next incarnation. It would only be a minor advantage for her in her next life, but I get to keep the ability to perform minor magic forever.

  I mostly just use it to change my hair color on a whim. All I have to do is run my hands through my hair while mentally picturing the color I want. It’s really neat and it just tickles me pink that no one knows how I do it!

  Just as I finished changing my hair color, I remembered what I overheard my father say while ordering his guard around. Son of a biscuit! Charlie is a darkling, an abomination and my father is searching for her original immortal body.

  How could Charlie be a darkling? I have heard stories about the abominations. They were all supposed to be destroyed. Though from what I hear, Charlie doesn’t fit the description of an abomination. Jarrett described her as sweet, caring, and easy-going. Abominations were none of those things. However, he also said she lost her temper and attacked Kian. Abominations were nothing if not uncontrollably violent.

  If what my father said is true, Charlie would be a force to be reckoned with when she is put back into her immortal body. I have to go tell Kian and the others. This is vital information. Also, I have an idea as to where to look for her immortal body!

  I quickly changed out of my green camouflage catsuit. Yeah, yeah, I know I wasn’t sneaking around in nature, but when you are as good as I am,
you can wear whatever you want. I changed into a full-length floral skirt with a high-slit, a white off the shoulder crop top, and black strappy sandals.

  There is a good chance that Finlay is going to be with my brothers, so I want to look cute. I like him. I want to get in trouble with him so bad! I send a group text to my brothers to let them know that I have some crucial and urgent information.

  I was told to meet them at a house in New Orleans. I had to fight my urge to change my clothes. I love New Orleans so much, especially during Mardi Gras! I love to be around people having a good time.

  I astralocated to Bourbon Street, making sure I was in stealth mode, so the humans couldn’t see me arrive. I’m standing in front of a large two-story brick house with white doors and windows with black shutters. The second story has a three-sided ornate wrap around iron balcony overlooking New Orleans’s most famous street.

  Jarrett knew when I arrived, so he let me in the house without me having to knock. We have a twin telepathy type thing going on. We can sense when the other is nearby. Technically, we don’t even need to ask where the other one is. We were one soul split into two. We could find each other anywhere.

  The house is ridiculously beautiful. The style has a mix of modern comforts, antique décor, and formal rooms. It’s also massive. I was told that it has seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a grand double parlor, a formal dining room, and a large gourmet kitchen. It has to be a multimillion-dollar house. Who the heck lives here?

  The house belongs to a werewolf named Jaxon. You might be wondering what a werewolf would be doing for work to make enough to afford a nearly three-million-dollar house in the French Quarter. I was too. Jarrett said the werewolf is a professional athlete, a linebacker for the New England Patriots. It’s a common occurrence for professional athletes to be a hybrid of some sort as they are typically stronger and faster than humans.

  Jarrett led me to the dining room where everyone was gathered to hear my news. I am fashionably late as usual. As I walked into the room, I immediately looked for Finlay. He was sitting at the head of the table and his eyes were clearly roaming my body. He smiled at me and I gave him a wink as I sat down in an empty chair.

  “Tell us about your urgent information,” Kian commanded.

  I hate it when he does that. “Well hello to you too, dear brother. It is wonderful to see you.”

  “Sorry Emilia, but we don’t have time for pleasantries. Please share your information with us,” he said with a softer tone.

  I smiled at him and he smiled back. “Charlie is a darkling,” I blurted, getting straight to the point.

  I looked around the table at their faces. There was a mix of shock and disbelief. “I overheard our father talking to his guard in his office. He is looking for her immortal body and it sounds like he needs to find it soon,” I elaborated.

  “That’s not possible. All of the abominations were destroyed after the Covenant,” Kian said.

  I shook my head and rolled my eyes. “Kian, how many impossible things have you experienced since you met Charlie?”

  He looked down at his hands that were resting on the table. He appeared to be thinking back on the past several days since he has met Charlie. He looked back up at me. “You’re right, Emilia. There have been quite a few unexplainable occurrences. The Ladies of the Waiting have no record of her existing. Charlie’s soul is impenetrable by both Destiny and me. She broke my nose when we first met, she burned my skin while punching me and she glimmered,” he said.

  Finlay broke out into laughter. “She broke your nose? That’s my girl!”

  I smiled. His laughter and joy making me happy.

  Kian glared at him but ignored his comment. “If Charlie is a darkling, then her soul wouldn’t be meant to be in a mortal body. That would correspond with what our evil father said about her soul burning its way out of the mortal body, destroying itself in the process.”

  “Shit, that means we have a bigger problem than we thought. We have to both find Charlie and her immortal body before her time runs out,” Jarrett said.

  The guys started strategizing and arguing over the best way to find information on finding Charlie and her body.

  I cleared my throat. “I think I know where to find her body,” I said. “Father had to have been looking for her body since it first disappeared, so I thought about the last place he would look for her body. Any guesses as to where he would never think to look?” I asked, looking around.

  “Come on, Em. Don’t make us guess. Charlie’s in danger,” Jarrett said.

  “Alright. Fine. Our father, being the terrible dad that he is, wouldn’t think that Charlie’s father has her body and has been keeping it safe for so long. It wouldn’t even occur to him that a father would love their children and want to protect them,” I explained.

  “But chances are her father is an infernal because most of the abominations were created when infernals raped ethereals. Infernals are nasty beings and I highly doubt her father would care what happened to his spawn,” Kian said.

  “Charlie is different than the stories about the abominations though, so it’s reasonable to think that her father might also be different than other infernals,” Finlay said.

  I stand up, walk around the table, and sit on Finlay’s lap. I sit diagonally, so I can still see everyone and also see Finlay when he talks.

  He hesitated for a moment, but then wrapped an arm around my waist.

  “Emilia, what are you doing?” Jarrett asked.

  “Finlay looked more comfortable than the seat I was sitting in, so I changed my seat.” I shrugged.

  “I support that decision,” Finlay said, grinning.

  I smiled at him and wrapped one arm around his neck, cuddling into his chest.

  “Can we focus, please?” Kian said, massaging between his eyebrows. “Jarrett, text Jaxon and tell him to keep looking for Charlie. Then you, Finlay, and Emilia can split up to continue to search for Charlie. I’m going to the Pit to find Charlie’s father and hopefully return with her immortal body. Hopefully, we can save her before it is too late.”

  “We will, Kian. Charlie is a fighter. If anyone can survive this, it’s our girl,” Finlay said, his fingertips casually caressing the bare skin of my waist.

  I enjoy hearing the love he has for Charlie. It’s very noticeable in the tone he uses when he talks about her. I’m not the type of person that believes love has limits. Just because you love one person doesn’t mean you are suddenly incapable of loving another person. Everyone should love each other more and realize that someone’s love for another doesn’t diminish their love for you.

  “He’s right. Make sure you are respectful to her dad when you meet him. He could be your future father-in-law after all,” I said, grinning at Kian.

  He narrowed his eyes at me and shook his head as he got to his feet. “Behave yourself, Emilia. All of you stay out of trouble and keep looking for Charlie. I will be back as soon as I can.” He astralocated out of the room, leaving before we could say anything else.

  We all start laughing at the same time.

  “He’s got it so bad for Charlie. Poor bastard refuses to admit it to himself,” Jarrett said.

  “You’re one to talk, Jarrett. I have never heard you talk about a female the way you talk about her. It might be you that gains an infernal for a father-in-law,” I teased.

  He stood up suddenly like he was offended. “We’ve talked about this already, Em. I am almost certain that what I feel for Charlie isn’t natural, more like a compulsion.”

  “I’m only teasing you, dear brother. Have you lost your sense of humor while I was away?” I asked.

  “No. I’m sorry. It is just unnerving to feel this way. It’s even worse when I forget my apprehensions when I am around her,” he said, looking at the floor.

  “That’s interesting. I don’t feel that way about Charlie. Maybe it’s just you, or maybe it’s something about her being a darkling,” Finlay speculated.

  I sat up straight
and took my phone out. I called Rhett.

  He answered on the first ring as usual. “Hey, Emmy. What’s up in New Orleans?”

  “We are hunting darklings. Well, just one darkling,” I said.

  “Darklings don’t exist, Emmy. What are you really up to?” he said.

  “I’m serious, Rhett. We are like ninety-five percent sure that Charlie is a darkling.”

  “No kidding? How is that possible?” he asked.

  “We don’t know. Can you work your magic and find out whatever you can about darklings?”

  “Anything for you, Emmy. I will call you later.”

  “Thanks. Love you.”

  “Love you too.” He hung up.

  I put my phone away and smile at Jarrett and Finlay. “Well, if there is anything to know about darklings, Rhett will find it. Now we can focus on looking for Charlie.”

  Finlay wrapped his arms around me and pulled me tight to his body, resting his chin on the top of my head. “Okay, but now we have to split up,” he said, his voice sounding a little sad.

  “Good. I am sick of seeing you guys touch each other. I will take the northern third of the state, Em, search the middle, and Finlay, work your way up from here,” he decided for us before astralocating out of the house.

  As soon as my brother left, I pulled out of Finlay’s arms just enough to raise my head and brush my lips against his. He didn’t hesitate. He hooked a finger under my chin, lifting my head slightly for a better angle. He pressed his lips more firmly to mine and licked his tongue across my mouth, asking to be let in. I parted my lips, meeting his tongue with my own.

  I swivel my body around to completely straddle him, keeping our mouths locked together. I can feel that he is aroused, his hard length fighting to break free of his pants. I grind myself against him and he groans.

  Suddenly, he pulls away. We are both panting, trying to catch our breath. “As much as I want to continue this, and I really want to continue, we need to find Charlie,” he said, resting his forehead against mine.