Hidden In Darkness (A Seven Realms Book Book 1)

by S. J. Stewart

  Clutching his chest in mock hurt, he gasped dramatically. “I have other friends!”

  Had it been Ridhor or Melas who hadn’t included him, Orren was sure Andrei would be taking the rejection better. Ridhor was always telling him to shove off, and Melas was so guarded it wouldn’t hurt having her not trust his company.

  Being excluded by Zura was crushing.

  Orren imagined even he would feel the sting of the rejection.

  The front door opened and Andrei was immediately on his feet rushing forward.

  Cricket and Alette broke away from one another, their eyes on the door, waiting on bated breath.

  “Zura! Did you have fun?” Andrei’s voice got slightly higher as he dropped down into a squat close to the door.

  The little girl stepped past him, her tiny hand wrapped in Ridhor’s massive paw as they came into the cottage. Her gaze swept past Andrei, settling on Orren for a moment before meeting the eyes of the Pixies on the couch. Her jaw dropped, her eyes looking up at Ridhor with a gleam in them that made Orren instantly jealous. “Are those faeries?” She bounced on her feet before looking over at her mother. The excitement on her face was enough to make his heart leap.

  Melas lifted her shoulders, her eyes moving across the room to land on the two Pixies on the couch. He didn’t miss the way her gaze landed on him for a moment, taking him in. She must be as surprised as Zura, but her face remained blank as she looked to Ridhor to answer Zura’s question.

  Interesting.

  Another pang of jealousy hit him.

  It seemed Ridhor succeeded in building a relationship strong enough for her to turn to him for answers. Their exchange looked familiar. Comfortable.

  “They’re Pixies.” He told her, dropping his head in a nod of acknowledgement. “Cricket.”

  Her green eyes were just as wide as Zura’s as she got to her feet, Alette at her side. They both gasped. Even on their feet, they were half the height of Zura. “Impossible,” Cricket whispered.

  Alette’s wide eyes scanned Zura. “How can this be? A child? And she isn’t human?”

  Melas frowned. “That’s what everyone keeps telling us.” Her eyes met Orren’s for a moment. Accusation burned in her eyes. She dropped down before Zura to get her attention. “Jacket and shoes off. Then, go wash your hands.”

  She looked up at Ridhor. “Then, I can talk to the Pixies?” She turned away from him to look at her mother.

  “Yes. Then, you can talk to the Pixies.” Melas assured her.

  She didn’t waste time. Quickly kicking off her shoes, she flung her arms out of her jacket and hung it on the stand by the door. Running past Andrei without the slightest acknowledgement, she raced down the hall into the bathroom.

  Andrei groaned. “Why doesn’t she love me? I’m a loveable guy.”

  Ridhor shook his head, chuckling lightly as he stepped into the living room and sunk into a chair. “I will admit I am surprised Orren would bring anyone here.” Orren heard the complaint in his tone.

  He knew what his friend was thinking.

  None of them knew enough about Melas or Zura to know why they were in danger. They knew the danger was there. He also knew the last person who’d been brought into their lives had her barrier burned away.

  Bringing them here was risky.

  Protectiveness radiated off him as Melas stepped into the room. She stood beside his chair, looking over at the strangers. Her eyes giving away none of her thoughts.

  Cricket spoke first, surprising him. He would bet Melas would be the one to breaking the silence. “I don’t understand, Orren. What are they?”

  He lifted his shoulders. “We don’t know.”

  She frowned, her eyes darting over Melas suspiciously. “What do you mean you don’t know? How could you not know?” She inhaled again. “I’ve never smelled that scent before. It’s not human. She has a child. She must be human.”

  Alette shook her head. “No. There is magic there.” Her hands raised lightly as though she was feeling something in the air between them.

  “More than a ward or spell?” Orren asked, his curiosity getting the best of him. He couldn’t get attached to these two, not without answers. After their intimate night, he wanted even more space between them until he figured this out.

  She nodded. “It’s deeper than a spell or ward.”

  He knew it, she was magic. “Can you sense the magic?”

  Alette stayed where she was, obviously sensing the predatory aura radiating off Melas. Her brows shot up, realization dawning on her. “She marked Ela.”

  “Marked her?” Cricket’s brows shot up.

  Nodding, she looked at Cricket. “When Ela appeared in Thiriel’s tower she was without her barrier. She had a binding brand on her palm. It’s the same magic.”

  “Thiriel got Ela?” Andrei and Ridhor said in unison. Andrei’s eyes were wide while Ridhor’s wore the same mask of disinterest, a hand combing through his beard.

  “How?” Ridhor turned to look at him. “I thought she was with you and you gave her a ward of protection.”

  Another tone of accusation laced his words, he kept from grinding his teeth in reply. “Thiriel has enough beings with him for them to bypass my wards. I didn’t even know they had her. Andrei and I both thought she was called back to The Veil. She disappeared not too long after you left.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Orren bit down on the inside of his cheek to keep from sneering at his friend. “It wasn’t as though you were keeping contact enough for me to keep you in the loop for every little thing.” Ridhor only reached out to him a handful of times. It was unlike him to just disappear without checking in, and it caused him a good deal of stress not knowing what the hell was going on here.

  “Where is she now?”

  “Back in The Veil,” Cricket assured him. “She called to Fate. She reached out of The Veil herself. I’ve never seen anything like it. Thankfully, Thiriel was shocked enough I could get in and grab Alette without issue.”

  Alette smiled lightly at her, reaching up to gently caress her cheek before turning her attention to Orren. “This is why you asked me if Thiriel was asking for a what instead of a who? You think he is looking for these two?”

  He nodded. “It makes sense. We find them right around the time you’re searching for something, then he takes Ela shortly after.”

  Brow raised, she shook her head. “Wouldn’t they know if Thiriel was after them?”

  “Wouldn’t it be easier if you asked me yourself?” Melas’ voice interrupted them, clearly annoyed with being spoken about as though she weren’t there.

  A blush coloured Alette’s cheeks as Cricket scowled at Melas. A shimmering blade made of the same translucent material of Cricket’s wings appeared in her hands in warning. She was overly protective, especially after losing Alette to Thiriel.

  A blade flew from Melas’ hand, smaller than Ridhor’s blade, knocking the blade from Cricket’s. It was quick and effortless, as though she were swatting a fly instead of throwing a knife with deadly accuracy. Cricket’s eyes flew open in surprise before a slow smile spread over the small assassin’s face. “I like her.” She grinned.

  “I’m back!” Zura burst into the room. She crossed the living room quickly before stopping on the opposite side of the coffee table. Her emerald eyes were wide and shimmering as she inched slowly forward, like someone trying not to spook a wild animal. The grin on her face enough to tug at Orren’s heart as she got down on her knees, beaming at the two Pixies. “I’m Zura.”

  Alette smiled, reaching out a small hand. “My name is Alette, and this is Cricket.”

  It was hard to tell who was more excited for the introduction; Alette or Zura.

  Zura reached her hand out and squealed when Alette wrapped her small hand around one of her fingers. “Nice to meet you Zura. Would you like to see something cool?”

  Melas nodded when she looked back over her shoulder for permission. Her smile somehow got even wider a
s she nodded vigorously. “Yes, please.”

  Her silver wings fluttered behind her so she floated in the air in front of Zura’s face. She waved a hand and vines and flowers entwined with her mass of curls, spreading all over her head. They bloomed beside her face, massive flowers, the soft petals brushing against Zura’s cheek.

  She was beaming. “Oh my goodness! Did you see, mama?”

  Melas smiled and Orren’s heart melted, his eyes glued to the beautiful sight. “I see, baby.” She replied. His heart lurched at the softness in her voice, the way her eyes sparkled watching the look of wonder on Zura’s face.

  Sweet Lilith, she was beautiful.

  “Jumping to her feet, she ran over to wrap her hand around Ridhor’s. Her excitement caused her to bounce around. “Now do Ridhor. Please.” She dragged the word please out and everyone in the room was putty in her hands.

  Flying over, Alette waved a hand at Ridhor. The twine that held his hair up in a bun was replaced with vines, little blossoms dotting it before his beard bloomed. Flowers decorating its length.

  Clapping her hands together, Zura turned to smile at him. “Don’t you look beautiful?” She grinned, wagging her eyebrows at him.

  He threw his head back, a booming laugh vibrating out of his chest.

  Orren jolted in surprise. He couldn’t remember the last time he heard Ridhor laugh like that. If ever.

  Another pang of jealousy hit him.

  He was on the outside looking in. Ridhor somehow built a little family with Melas and Zura. His heart sank as he realized he so desperately wanted to be a part of it.

  Turning, his eyes caught Melas as she stared at him. Something flashed in her gaze making him look away. It felt like she could somehow see what he was thinking.

  Zura looked at Cricket. “Can you do that, too?”

  Cricket smiled, another rare sight for anyone who wasn’t Alette. They were helpless to do anything else. Every one of them wanting nothing more than to be in the presence of a child. “No. Alette is a flora Pixie so her magic has a lot to do with topiary, flowers and plants. I’m an elemental fairy. I can create winds, storms, fires and other types of magics using the elements.”

  Her mouth gaped open. “Wow, you guys are amazing!”

  A blush darkened Cricket’s cheeks at the compliment as she shrugged. “How about you? What magic can you do?”

  Something flashed in Melas’ eyes. Orren knew she wasn’t happy with Cricket trying to get answers from her. Zura just frowned. “None. We didn’t even know magic existed until Ridhor took us to the cabin.”

  Cricket’s gawked. “What?”

  “Zura and I have no memories of our lives. We don’t know where we’re from, or how we ended up in the Black Wood. We thought we were human, though Orren keeps trying to prove that isn’t the case.” Andrei and Ridhor said as much, but she was making a point to single him out.

  “And Thiriel?” Cricket asked her.

  Melas pursed her lips at the mention of the name. “I have no idea who that is.”

  Cricket’s eyes widened. “How can that be? You’re telling me he kidnapped Alette and Ela to torture them into finding out where these two are and they don’t even know who he is?”

  “Something is blocking their memories. “Alette’s brows creased as she looked at them, still sensing the magic on them. “The same thing that branded Ela.”

  Orren nodded. “But what is it?”

  She shook her head. “I have no idea.”

  “What about Andrei? Has he tried to figure it out?” Cricket asked.

  A Vampire could uncover secrets when he drank from someone. He could also likely tell the species of a being with ease, the taste distinct. “After what happened to Ela, we didn’t want to take that chance,” Orren told her.

  “What exactly was the plan here?” Melas didn’t try to keep the confrontation from her voice as she let her gaze move around the room. “You show up with these Pixies and try to figure out who we were. Then what? I can see the look in your eyes, Orren, always trying to plot and plan. It’s one of the reasons I don’t trust you. Are we just supposed to sit around in a circle and discuss Zura and me like we’re some kind of puzzle to be solved?”

  Sensing the change in the air, Zura walked away from the group to stand beside Melas. The joy in her eyes slowly disappearing and being replaced with wariness.

  He didn’t like it. He hated her joy being erased like that.

  Ridhor’s tense shoulders told him he wasn’t happy either.

  Orren shook his head. “I never planned to bring them here. When they showed up at the cabin demanding answers about why Thiriel took Alette in the first place, it wasn’t difficult to connect the dots. She told me she would get the answers one way or another, I figured the easiest course of action was to bring her here and introduce you.”

  “Why?” Melas crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t know what you expect me to do. You keep thrusting these people at us. First your Oracle, now these two. I don’t know who Thiriel is, but neither of us is responsible for what happened to Alette. If it wasn’t her it would just be someone else. People like that always leave a trail of bodies in their wake. My job, my only job is to make sure Zura isn’t one of them.”

  As much as he was making this about Cricket and Alette, bringing them here was the excuse he needed to show up. He was separated from Ridhor and Andrei for too long, trying to avoid the Siren call of Melas and Zura. Bringing them here was more for him than for anyone else.

  “Cricket and Alette would never help Thiriel. If you’re worried about your safety now they know who and where you are, you shouldn’t be. They are two of the strongest Pixies I know. Their powers combined with ours will be more than enough to keep you safe from him.”

  She frowned, the first clear expression directed at him he’d seen on her face. “Why is it you think I want any of you to keep us safe?”

  Ridhor flinched, his eyes turned to look at Orren. He could see the disappointment there. He was telling him with his eyes he was just making things worse the more he tried to reason with Melas.

  The air in the room changed.

  What felt light and filled with joy was now heavy and thick with tension.

  Alette shook her head. “Thiriel being after them doesn’t make sense. I can smell her magic, but it isn’t strong enough to get his attention. It’s barely there. Zura doesn’t have any scent at all, which is peculiar but again, there is no power there. Thiriel is after power. Why would he want them?”

  “Is he the father?” Cricket’s eyes shot to Zura before settling on Melas. “Is it possible Zura is Thiriel’s?”

  Silence filled the room, mouths gaping at the possibility.

  He hadn’t dared to consider it. It seemed impossible.

  “It doesn’t happen often mostly because very few venture to the Mortal Realm and when they do, they don’t often take human lovers. There have been instances where humans breed with those from other realms. It’s usually casters since they spend the most time there, but it’s possible. Unlike us, humans have no issue breeding.” Cricket continued.

  “Maybe the magical scent left behind is because she carried magic.” Alette frowned in thought. “It doesn’t explain why Zura has no scent.”

  “That pompous ass doesn’t seem the type to take a human lover.” Cricket frowned. “Although she’s strong, her skills are impressive. That may have been enough to catch his attention.”

  Ridhor’s grip tightened on the armrests of his chair.

  “Ridhor, did you need some air?” Orren asked, noting the way his friend’s shoulders were tense, his nostrils flared. He’d grown close to her, the last thing he wanted to hear right now was there was a possibility they were on the run from Thiriel because he sired a child. One Ridhor was exceptionally close to.

  It could be the reason he was after them. He would want Zura to see if she had his powers. If she did, he would want Melas because he knew without a doubt she could give him the one thing eve
ryone outside of the Mortal Realm wanted; children.

  Melas shook her head, scooping Zura up in her arms. “I already told you, I don’t know who Thiriel is.” Her eyes moved around the room taking each of them in before she practically snarled at them.

  She wasn’t happy.

  Turning on her heels, she carried Zura away from them all, up the stairs to their room. A door slammed.

  He turned to look at everyone still left in the room.

  Before he could say anything else, Ridhor was on his feet, stalking out the front door.

  Andrei let out a long, slow breath. “This is not good.”

  “He is wound tighter than I have ever seen him,” Orren noted.

  “We need answers. Ridhor has grown very close to them both. If any of this is true, it won’t take much to push him over the edge. The last thing we want is an overemotional Berserker on our hands.” Sighing, Andrei ran his hands through his hair making strands fall forward onto his forehead.

  Orren nodded.

  All three of them turned to Alette. “How would we figure it out?”

  She pursed her lips in thought. “The easiest way would be trying to find a way to unlock their memories. If that’s not something we could do, we could try to force them into situations where we could awaken their magic.”

  Frowning, Andrei shook his head. “Melas seems like a trained warrior. Forcing her into situations to awaken Zura’s magic would likely result in all of us going head-to-head with her. I should warn you, she’s taken Ridhor and me with very little effort. I would wager she would even give you or Orren a run for your money. Not to mention putting them through stressful situations could set off Ridhor.”

  Orren looked to the front door where his friend disappeared.

  Putting Zura in a vulnerable position to awaken her power felt wrong on so many levels. It was a huge risk. They could set off Ridhor. They could also severely piss off Melas. He knew it wouldn’t take much for her to take Zura and disappear from their lives.

  It was too big a risk.

  “We will figure something else out.” He decided.

  Thiriel’s magic was raw and dangerous. If his magic flowed through Zura, they needed to know before it was too late.