Rising Darkness

by Shannon Mayer

  I nodded. He’d never been in love before. Never trusted his heart to anyone.

  His fingers caressed the edge of my jaw. “Liam’s love for you is . . . infectious.”

  He took a step back and I drew in a breath that shuddered through my chest. It was an effort to get the words out. “What are you really up to?”

  Faris looked to the ceiling and then back to me, his eyes clear. “The only way to get you to see I am the best match for you is to prove it. The only way I can do that is to spend a great deal of time with you.”

  “You could die.”

  He shrugged. “Everyone dies, it’s just a matter of when.”

  Those were Liam’s words. Or close enough that I knew he was yet again influencing Faris. “So to everyone else—”

  “I would look weak if they knew the depth of my feelings for you. So it is best if they believe I am up to no good.” A grin tipped up one side of his lips and he winked at me. Another of Liam’s traits.

  Oh, this was not a good idea. Faris was gorgeous, temptation and desire wrapped into a rather irresistible package. But I’d never had a problem before, because he’d always been such an untrustworthy asshole.

  With Liam’s soul in him . . . this was going to be fucking impossible. I held up one finger. “No biting unless I give the okay.”

  He nodded.

  I lifted a second finger. “No kissing.”

  “Unless you ask me.”

  I snorted softly. “I’m not going to ask.”

  The slow spread of a smile on his lips, baring his fangs, sent a rush of heat through me. I held up a third finger. “You let Liam come through when I call his name.”

  That smile faltered, but he nodded. “And you will admit when you fall for me.”

  Right, like that was happening.

  I shook my head, and tried not to think about the way my body reacted to his presence. I knew it was because of Liam. Did that make the situation any easier?

  Nope.

  CHAPTER 8

  Rylee

  The blade stung as Doran cut just deep enough into my arm to hit the vein. Blood welled immediately and he turned my arm so the liquid ran into the wine decanter. “This takes me back.”

  I laughed, but it was hollow. “Yeah, if only we’d known then what we know now, maybe we could have avoided some of the shit we’ve seen.”

  His green eyes met mine. “I did know some of it, and I still couldn’t get you to go the easy route.”

  My jaw dropped open and from the table where the others sat, waiting, Will burst out laughing. “Right, like any of us could get her to see the best way isn’t always hers.”

  The group had a laugh at my expense and I ignored them as my blood filled the bottom of the decanter.

  They don’t understand how many times you’ve saved them. I do. So does Alex, Blaz said softly. They won’t understand until it is all done and they look back. Even now, they are too close to recognize every decision you’ve made was the best one at the time you made it, and that all your choices have brought you to this point. The strongest you’ve ever been in both body and mind.

  My building anger flowed away. Alex trotted to my side and flopped his head on my lap. “I loves you, Rylee.”

  I put my good hand on his head. “Love you too, buddy.”

  He tipped his head, a frown rippling over his expressive lips. “I hears someone.” Without another word he took off, claws digging into the floor, scrabbling. Everyone bolted after him except Doran who held me where I was.

  He gripped my arm. “Rylee, stop fighting me! We have to wrap your arm first, then you can fight another battle.”

  Alex let out a howl from the other room. “Millyyyyyyyyy!”

  I jerked my arm away from Doran. “No time.” Milly, how could it be? The image of her slumped on the floor, bled out from giving birth to Zane. Of Orion’s words that she hadn’t been quite dead. Damn, if Milly was here . . . then that meant she wasn’t really herself.

  Orion was here.

  “Fuck!” I yanked both blades from my back and sent out a thread to Track Alex. He was at the far end of the mansion, the den, fear and excitement running through him. I ran down the long hall, Doran beside me.

  “If it’s Milly,” Doran said and I nodded.

  “I know.”

  I would have to kill her, and hope I could take Orion out too. But how? How had this happened?

  There was time, before Liam closed the veil. Milly could have slipped through. Orion wouldn’t be here in the flesh, but he could be riding her hard, using her like a puppet. The bindings on her were strong enough that he could do that, even with the veil closed.

  “That’s even worse.”

  The doorway to the den was open and I skidded to a stop in front of it. The group was clustered around the TV making it flicker and sputter. “What the hell is going on?”

  Berget waved me forward. “You’d better see this. Everyone, back up. We’re setting the idiot box off.”

  They did as asked, and Doran and I stepped forward so we could see. The TV was on a news channel, and filling the screen was a face I’d loved as a sister for most of my adult life. Her green eyes held a hint of something that was not her own, but otherwise, she was my friend. The friend I’d teased, the friend who’d helped me despite being tied to Orion. She was dressed in a business suit that dampened her natural sexuality, but she still looked stunning, her long chestnut hair wound up in a fancy coif.

  Her voice was clear on the airwaves. “Thank you for having me here. I am so pleased to bring you this information directly. We have found a cure for the small pox, and we’ll have enough for everyone in a few short days.” She paused and took a deep breath, her bust swelling. Still using her old techniques, at least that much hadn’t changed. “Our shipments will be coming in four days, and there will be enough for everyone. Orion Starling is the philanthropist behind the cure. A generous man, he used his own money to make this happen. He asks nothing in return, and only hopes he can save as many people as possible.”

  A tiny voice spoke up and a microphone was shoved into Milly’s face. “Can you tell us more about Mr. Starling? Where is he from, how did he manage to discover a cure?”

  Milly gave the speaker off screen a beatific smile. Staged was the first thought that came to my mind. The whole thing was staged. But of course it was. Propaganda using the humans’ airwaves and fear against them.

  “He’s an amazing man, and even though he is hunted continuously by terrorists, he has fought hard to make sure this cure could be available for everyone. It will be an airborne chemical. Caught on the air currents of the world it will spread to everyone within a matter of days.”

  Deanna gasped. “They’ll push the chemical with magic. That’s the only way to make it go that far that fast.”

  “It’s probably not even a chemical,” Doran said. “They’re just saying that to cover for the fact that Orion is in charge of the pox. He can stop it with a single word.”

  They continued to talk behind me, but I just stared that the screen. Milly looked good, her eyes bright and skin glowing. She lifted a hand. “Yes, there is something we can do to help Mr. Starling. These terrorists, they are, as I said earlier, actively hunting him. If they were to find and kill him as is their plans, then all his efforts will have been in vain.”

  A new microphone was pushed into her face. “What can we possibly do?”

  “If you see these terrorists, you can alert the proper authorities. They aren’t dangerous to you, only to Mr. Starling.”

  And then the pictures flashed on the screen. Perfectly drawn pictures of me. Doran. Alex, which got more than a few gasps from the audience. Berget. And then a nice long shot of me.

  “Why isn’t Pamela or Frank in that line-up?” Berget asked the question that had just begun to cross my mind. My heart sank. All eyes turned to me, the question hanging in the air. Right then, I knew no one else would say it. It was up to me. Alex let out a whimper and clutched at
my leg. “Oh no, Pamie.”

  “Because she’s not one of us anymore.” I closed my eyes and backed away from the TV and the den. Alex followed me, the click of his claws on the floor, a steady staccato. I slumped onto a bench halfway down the hall.

  “Shit.” I put my head into my hands. I should have taken her with me. I should have done more when I came back. Pamela had defected and it was my fault for not seeing the signs.

  Alex crawled up beside me and draped a fore leg across my shoulders. “Not your fault.”

  He’s right. The darkness has a claim on some souls. They have to fight it harder than others. Such was her path to make the decision.

  “That doesn’t mean I couldn’t have done more.” Suddenly I was very, very angry. Liam brought this on us, his stupid idea of chivalry. Or whatever the hell had gone through his pea-sized brain.

  I dropped my swords to the floor and strode into the den before I thought better of my actions. “Liam, get your ass here right now.”

  Faris glanced at me, his blue eyes fading to a deep burnished gold. “I know, this is my fault.”

  “Damn straight, you idiot!”

  Doran choked. “You . . . you really are Liam, aren’t you?”

  Faris nodded. “For the moment. Rylee, I already said I was wrong, I know it, you know it. We can’t change this.”

  I slapped him. Hard. Blood welled at his lip as he turned his face back to me. “This”—I waved at the TV where Milly continued to smile at the crowds—“is not what I’m worried about. Pamela is out there, and defecting because of everything that happened. This isn’t just your fault. It’s mine, too.”

  “And mine,” Deanna said softly. “I saw the signs that she was slipping and ignored them because we were so busy with the sick and dying. I could have tried harder to reach her.”

  Doran lifted his hands. “Everyone, calm down. Pamela isn’t lost to us. Not yet. How do we know she didn’t go to try and stop Milly? We don’t. Rylee has been her mentor and idol for almost a year. What would you do, Rylee, if you thought you could save your family?”

  The pounding in my head eased. “Anything.”

  Doran continued. “We don’t know that she has defected. And Frank is with her, isn’t he?”

  I pulled the note from my pocket and handed it to him. “Frank said she’s running away. And he’ll try to bring her back.”

  Faris shook his head and his eyes were once more blue. He put a hand to his jaw. “I didn’t do anything wrong, and I end up with the bruise.” He rubbed his face. “May I point out that Peta is also with her?”

  A sigh of relief slipped out of me. “That’s true.”

  She’s flown the nest, let her test her wings, Blaz said, and everyone nodded in agreement. Right now, she has to find her way through this on her own. If she’d chosen to stay, you could have helped her, but this is her choice. Respect it.

  “But she’s so damn young,” I whispered. “Younger even than Berget. Younger than I was when my abilities came on line.”

  And in many ways she is smarter than both of you. She’s studied the supernatural more than you have, and she is stronger than you both in her powers.

  “I’m not worried about her physical self. I’m worried about her soul.” I flicked the TV off. I couldn’t look at Milly anymore. I couldn’t look at her and wonder if Pamela was on a similar trajectory. The urge to go after her, to find her and bring her home, hit me in a wash that had me turning before I could stop myself.

  “We have bigger problems than Pamela defecting or however you want to look at it,” Faris said. “Milly gave us the timeline. Four days and Orion is going to be here. If we don’t find the Destroyer in that time period, we’re going to be sunk.”

  I hated that he was right, and for the first time in my life, I was letting go of someone in my family without a fight.

  Be safe, Pamela. Please be safe and in the end, I have to believe it will work out.

  “I agree with Doran,” Berget said.

  “Any idea where to start?” Doran asked.

  I physically had to change my view. I kept my back to the TV as if that would help make what we’d seen and realized go away.

  “The Destroyer is an elemental. She, and I believe it’s a woman, was punished for something and that’s why she’s hidden away. I don’t know much else than that.” It was all I had gleaned from the elemental I’d met . . . in the place I couldn’t even remember now.

  “That’s it?”

  I crossed my arms, holding myself tightly. “That’s it. Unless any of you have had dealings with elementals? I think that will be our first stop. Find one, pick their brain and hope to hell they want to play nice.”

  “A lot of ifs and maybes,” Faris pointed out, helpful as ever.

  Berget cleared her throat. “I could ask my parents. If Doran would be all right with that.”

  Doran’s jaw ticked. “Ask them.”

  Berget’s eyes went foggy, the blue fading until they were almost completely white. Even though she was my sister, it was damn creepy to watch. I wondered if that’s what happened when I Tracked.

  No, your eyes swirl, the colors spin like on a child’s toy top, Blaz said.

  Psychedelic. Awesome.

  We waited, the minutes ticking by, and then the blue of her eyes brightened until she was back, her eyes once more her own. “Good news and bad news.” She cleared her throat. “I don’t really know which is which to be honest. It’s a lot of information. They said the Destroyer was so dangerous, so deadly, that she was put away for her crimes. They didn’t know what those crimes were, only that they were serious. Once imprisoned, the other elementals willingly went under a type of mass hypnosis that struck the Destroyer’s real name, face, and deeds from the collective memory of their people.”

  “Holy shit balls,” Alex said, and I had to agree. The Destroyer sounded almost as bad as Orion.

  “Keep going.” I waved at her and then tucked my hand back under my arm.

  “Well, it seems there may be one person we can get information from. Most everyone who ever knew the Destroyer was an elemental. Except for one. The Great Wolf.”

  I felt more than saw Liam roar forward inside Faris. He was at my side in a split second, his hand on my hip.

  I didn’t look at him. The pressure of his hand was enough for me to know it was Liam. “Do you know who she means?”

  He grunted softly, fingers kneading my side. “Yes and no. I heard his voice more than once. He guided me when I wasn’t sure what the hell I was doing.”

  “So he’s one of the good guys?” Berget asked.

  He shrugged. “Maybe. Here, this is what I saw in my head when he spoke.” His fingers wrapped around mine and an image burst into light at the front of my brain. A large, black wolf with jet black eyes stared back at me. “He looks like you.”

  “A little, I suppose. See the scar on his shoulder?”

  I did, a streak of zigzagging white down his right shoulder. “Got it. I can Track him.”

  Faris snarled at me, his eyes flicking from gold to blue like a light switch. “You didn’t call him forward. Your wolf is starting to piss me off, Rylee.”

  I smiled up at him. “Not my fault. You invited him in, remember?” I flicked his arm, the one that had been missing until Liam helped him out in that department.

  Faris’s eyes glittered dangerously. “And now you have to Track the Great Wolf, yes?”

  I nodded. Crap. I forgot about that part. Faris undid the top two buttons of his shirt. “I don’t suppose you want witnesses for this.”

  Fucking hell.

  CHAPTER 9

  Rylee

  “I don’t want anyone leaving.” I pulled a knife from my boot. “Here, somewhere in your arm or wrist will do, I believe.” I knew the blood exchange didn’t have to be from the neck, though that was the preferred spot. But that was when it was between pairs who were doing it for the rush, for the sex that often followed.

  Kinky and all that shit,
I did not need. Faris took the knife reluctantly and nicked himself just below the crook of his elbow. I grabbed his arm, and put my mouth over the wound before I could think about what I was doing.

  Behind me, Alex started to whisper, “Growdy, growdy, gross.” A giggle, nerves, bubbled up and I had to fight to keep my mouth on the open cut and keep drinking down the blood. Warmth filled my mouth, and the faint hint of vanilla. Not what I expected.

  “It comes through as something you enjoy,” Doran said and I glanced at him over Faris’s arm, and raised my eyebrows. “Most people get chocolate.”

  I gave a slight shake of my head. I didn’t know how much to take, so after another few seconds I let go. “Enough, yes?”

  The vampires in the room nodded, and Faris reached for me, a dreamy look on his face. I sidestepped his hands. “Nope, not fucking happening.”

  I hate to interrupt, but we have a problem.

  “What now?” I stared at the ceiling as if I could see Blaz roosting there.

  Incoming demons. You’ve been Tracking enough on our way here that they pinpointed you again.

  “Time to go.” I strode from the room, picking up my swords from the hallway as I passed. “Berget, Alex, and Faris are with me.”

  “The sun is up, Faris and I can’t go anywhere,” Berget said, stopping me in my tracks.

  “Use the blackout curtains,” Deanna pointed back toward the library. “Wrap yourselves in them and then Blaz can carry you.”

  “Rather undignified,” Faris muttered.

  “It’s that or stay here and wait for the horde,” I snapped at him. Back in the library, I yanked down two of the curtains, the morning sun pouring in around me. Will worked on a third curtain beside me.

  “I’m sorry I was such an ass.” He gave the curtain a final yank and it fell to the ground.

  “Thanks, can we have this discussion another time?”

  “No discussion, I just wanted to apologize. Before anything else happens.” He gave me a weak smile and for a moment I wondered, not for the first time, what everyone else had faced while I’d been away. What they’d struggled with.