Shadow Borne

by Angie West

  What the fuck had we spent years and months and hours training for? So that we could be slaughtered along with our entire communities? Everyday citizens and…family. Innocents like Megan and Rose, Ashley and Sienna, who were, at this very moment, practicing lines for some silly Christmas play Tara had cooked up. Tara. I froze, suddenly thinking of the vivacious nymph and her over-abundance of holiday decor… of lights.

  "Hey!" I shouted over the cacophony of sound that swelled around me. "Hey! Everybody!" I took a deep breath. "Quiet!" I screamed for all I was worth.

  Most of the noise subsided then and I waved a small group of warriors closer. "I think I know how to fix this." My voice rang out cool and clear. "We have to re-create the lights around the fence. And we have to hurry."

  A wide grin spread across Aranu's face. "Smart." He inclined his head.

  "But it won't keep anything out." One of marksmen argued, looking harried. "We need to prepare for a battle–"

  "We won't win." Aranu cut the soldier off. "And we're wasting time. Listen to what Aries has to say."

  "Let's run!" Someone else shouted from the outskirts of the group gathered in a wide circle around Mark, Aranu, Claire, Mike and me.

  "No!" I roared, eyes narrowing on the soldiers gathered close. "No one runs until they're told. Panic and chaos will bring us nothing but death today." I didn't bother to point out the high probability that death would claim us today anyway. Instead, I launched straight into my plan.

  "Spread out, nymphs, and move down the fence line. We've got to be quick." I instructed. "There's a lot of fence to illuminate and very little time left."

  I took my place at the fence, concentrated on how the shimmering used to look and exhaled close to the wood. Tiny glowing sparkles danced around the post and I had to admit, while it wasn't an exact replica of what the Matrons had done–it looked damn close.

  "Wow." Claire murmured, "Ari, I think…this could work." She eyed the two-by-four section of lit up fencing with shrewd speculation. "What can I do to help?"

  "Stand there and act like we're not about to be slaughtered." I answered, before turning to Mark and the other men. "You've all got to go. Right now. I don't want to chance any of those things seeing you, so go back that way, toward the village."

  "No way." Mark planted his hands on his hips.

  "Like Hell." Aranu added.

  "Have you lost your mind?" Mike exploded, oblivious to the hard stare Aranu leveled on him.

  "Hardly." I bit out before forcing myself to take a deep breath and be diplomatic. "Listen, for this to work we have to be convincing. Those things–and possibly even Kahn and the Lahuel–have to believe there's nothing wrong here, nothing out of the ordinary." I stressed. "In other words, no reason for us to rally the troops."

  "She's right," Claire gestured to the golden shimmer that cast it's light over the clearing and the band of woodland nymphs who'd already moved further down the fence line, hastily casting their artificial shimmer as they went. "They have to believe we're still protected by the enchantment. Please." She looked first at her husband, then her brother.

  "We aren't leaving." Mark's voice rang with cold authority.

  "If those Coatyl come through the fence at us, there won't be a damn thing you or your men can do about it." I pointed out.

  "I said we aren't leaving."

  "Then at least hide in the trees behind us." I sighed, knowing it was all the compromise we were likely to get from the stubborn jackasses.

  "Unbelievable. Just what happens if this plan of yours doesn't work?" Mike demanded.

  I flipped him a single glance over one shoulder. "Then I guess we'll all die."

  Chapter Eleven

  Not Without You

  Aunt Ingenia used to say a warrior's greatest honor was to die in defense of the ones he loved. A warrior's second greatest honor was to die in battle–preferably one in which the defense of loved ones was at stake. Staring at the shocked, doe-eyed faces gathered around me, I could only surmise that aunt Ingenia had been full of crap. It was pretty obvious that the other nymphs didn't feel any more honored than I did. Putting aside the fact that my aunt would have keeled over had she lived long enough to see her only niece don leather armor and pick up a blade, I wasn't at all certain this is what she meant by 'battle'. Because honestly, to me at least, it looked more like an impending mass slaughter.

  "Aranu?" I raised a brow in his direction and waited until I had his full attention.

  "Yes?"

  "Do you feel honored right now?"

  "Do I what?"

  "Feel honored." I repeated, idly fingering the feathered end of one of my arrows.

  "Are you feeling okay?"

  "Just answer the question." I sighed, slipping the arrow between the strings of the blow and clasping the weapon lightly between fingers that were, somehow, remarkably steady.

  "No." he finally said. There was a wealth of anger in that single, clipped word.

  "You do realize you can't stay here." When his eyes clashed with mine, I reminded him of the plan. "If the Coatyl–when the Coatyl–come to the clearing, they're going to wonder why we're all here and armed to the teeth, to boot. And if they notice that, then they might start to notice other things, too." I explained with exaggerated patience. "Little things, you know, like how the lights on the fence don't all look exactly alike.

  "Aries–"

  I pressed cold fingers to the well-worn leather band on his arm, keeping my touch brief, fleeting, like ripping off a Band-Aid. "The other soldiers wouldn't expect you to argue with me. We can't afford this right now, Aranu. Time is a luxury today, and it's not on our side. You have to go."

  "Like hell.” he cursed viciously. "I'm not leaving you alone here–"

  "You have to." I bit out, truly irritated now. Whether it was coming from a good place or not, Aranu was about to get us killed. I glanced around and then behind us, where Mark and most of the other men had retreated to lay in wait for...whatever was to come.

  Death, I realized. The single word reverberated through my head as I went toe to toe with Aranu, matching him scowl for scowl. Inside, horror became a deep, blooming stain working it's way through my veins. Death was coming for us, for sure, if Aranu didn't leave and take the rest of his men with him. Fifty or so warriors stood tersely by, forming a loose, protective semi-circle around the nymphs. Except, in reality, they weren't protecting us at all. And if I didn't make Aranu leave...Fuck.

  I had to make him leave. Minutes that we couldn't afford to spare were ticking by and I knew he would never leave willingly, on his own. How the hell was I supposed to 'make' him leave?

  Aranu's grip on my arm tightened and his chest heaved. And then it came to me. I had to convince him he wasn't wanted here. Because that was why he was here, refusing to leave my side. It wasn't just some misplaced sense of loyalty; it wasn't about childhood friendships. Aranu loved me. I could see that now.

  So that was it, then–I had to hurt him, and it had to be convincing. I tilted my head to the side and regarded him through eyes that were beginning to sting with moisture and for a second the forest, the artificially bright fence, the tension weaving thickly around us, was gone. For a moment, time stood frozen and I flashed on another time. Another life, deep in a gilded forest, not far from the dome...

  My legs didn't work. I gasped and struggled in complete and total panic before figuring out I actually could feel my legs. Not gone, then, and probably not broken. Exhaling, I let myself go limp and concentrated on breathing normally for a few minutes. Gradually, my eyes became focused enough to see clearly and I took full stock of my surroundings.

  Thick, heavy blankets were wrapped snugly around me and piled high over me. I shoved weakly at the covers and struggled to sit up, but it just wasn't happening. So weak...

  When I lifted my head, the beige canvas tent walls swayed around me and my stomach seemed to lurch that much closer to my throat. I was in a tent? Minutes ticked by and a strange warmth spread its way
across my arms and up my neck until my entire face was infused with heat, like I'd been laying too close to a fire. My eyes widened. Was I laying next to a fire?

  My tongue snaked out to wet lips that were cracked and dry. The heat flared and I groaned. Time stopped and around me, the world burned. But wait, it wasn't the world, only me. Brief flashes of awareness broke through the fog that was doing its best to overtake me and I inhaled deeply, not smelling any smoke. The tent wasn't on fire, then. The realization was a welcome one but it didn't make me feel much better. In fact, when I tried to think of a time in my life when I'd felt worse, I couldn't. And then thinking was too much and the sea of fog drifted over my head, sucking me into the abyss.

  Light. Too bright. Hands. Stop it. No...and then voices drifted through the mist.

  "How is she?" The strange voice was barely audible and it wasn't one I recognized. He was talking to someone. So cold. Why is it so cold...

  "Her fever's back. The wet cloth seems to help only for a short time." This voice was closer and...familiar.

  "Is she going to make it?"

  "She'd better. Did you find them?"

  "No. Not yet. It would help if we knew what the woman looks like, or where they were being held."

  "Well, keep looking." The closer voice snapped. "I want them found. At the height of the fevers, she rambles about a girl named Claire, who was taken along with her. I'm assuming Aries managed to escape and this Claire wasn't so lucky. I can't exactly question Ari right now, so you know as much as I do. Just look for any woman in the company of the guards. If you find one, take her and bring her here."

  "And the guards?"

  "Kill them all."

  My eyes wouldn't open. Darkness was coming for me again. It didn't matter. I was safe. Aranu...

  A voice broke through and the memory evaporated faster than the time that was steadily ticking by. "They're coming."

  I didn't bother to turn and look at the speaker. My eyes remained firmly fixed on Aranu. In the back of my mind, remnants of memories swirled and lingered. Aranu as a small child, dark skin and large, earnest eyes shining as he gave me his last cookie after I'd dropped mine on the ground. Aranu standing between me and Juliette, playing the peacemaker that time we'd fought over the last juice pouch in the barrel. Fast forward a few years, to a tall, awkward pre-teen at the base of an impossibly large Gildwood tree, his arms braced wide as I climbed higher up the branches.

  The breath raced into my lungs, faster with each passing scene until I was thoroughly and completely off-kilter. In one final burst, several pictures ambushed me at once and every single one featured Aranu. And not the child from our shared youth, but the man. Tall, most of the time brooding and sometimes in the shadows, on the fringe of my world...but solid. Always there. Always...there.

  The words echoed in the stillness that, for a moment, seemed to fill my soul. My lashes brushed against my cheeks, fleeting, before I stared up at him once more. His eyes widened, seemed to search mine and his expression softened.

  "Please." I whispered, feeling moisture gather at the corners of my eyes, imploring him without the words that probably wouldn't have come out right, anyway. "You have to go."

  He leaned forward until his forehead rested against mine. My heart clenched in time to the long fingers wrapped around my biceps and I drew in a deep breath.

  "I can't leave you here." he said.

  "Aries..." Claire's shaky voice intruded on the moment.

  "Aranu." I swallowed back what I really wanted to say. I love you. I'm sorry it took me so long to see it. I don't want to die. I can't stand the thought of watching you die here today. I think that maybe I need you... Dangerous thoughts. My needing him. Then again, did it really matter now? Odds were, none of us would survive this night, anyway.

  Swallowing past the aching lump that strained against my throat, I raised trembling hands to either side of his chest...because right now he needed me, whether he realized it or not. I had to make him leave, and to do that I'd have to hurt him. My heart stuttered at the realization of what I was about to do. But I drew strength from Claire's silent presence behind me and raised my eyes to Aranu one more time–and then I shoved him, hard.

  "Ari–"

  "No." I narrowed my eyes to slits and forced myself to hold onto the harsh expression. "Don't touch me." I warned, harnessing all the pent up energy that charged the air between us. I drank it in and released it in an exasperated sigh. Inside, my heart was cracking, bleeding. "Why won't you leave, already? I don't want you here."

  Comprehension replaced confusion and he shook his head. "I know what you're doing, Aries. It won't work."

  Well. Had I really thought it would be that easy? Injecting a hard edge into my voice, I strove for a demeanor that straddled the line between indifference and scorn. "You just don't get it, do you?" I gave a tight little laugh. "I didn't want to have to do this but you won't listen. So fine. I love you, Aranu." I stumbled slightly over the words, the mockery I was about to make of them. "You've been a good friend and I owe you that much."

  My chest rose and fell and I forced myself to ignore the wounded look that clouded his gold-brown eyes. "But mostly I feel sorry for you. Since your parents and your sister died, you've got nobody in your life and I get that you want to be close to me, but this–" I gestured between us. "This constantly hanging on my coattails thing has got to stop." My hands curled into fists at my sides. "I'll always care for you but you're not the man I'm in love with. I'm sorry."

  At this, I deliberately let my eyes slide toward the tree line to our right, the spot where Mike's light green T-shirt was just barely visible between darker foliage and deep brown tree trunks. "You're not him." I said quietly, swiveling my head back to the stricken man who stood, breathing hard, before me. "And you never will be. Now please go, and let me do my job. All you're doing is embarrassing yourself in front of your men."

  "You kissed me back." His voice was harsh and I steeled myself before delivering the final, killing blow.

  "Yes and even then, all I could see was him. He'd been gone for so long and...I'm sorry." I shrugged apologetically, ignoring Claire's horrified gasp. "I never intended to use you that way." I continued. "You caught me off guard and like I said–"

  "I heard what you said." he snapped, his pain laced voice cracking over me like a whip. "You want me gone? Fine."

  I flinched from the world of contempt he infused into the word and his eyes, he looked...disgusted. Never over the course of our lives had he ever, ever looked at me that way. That look cut deeper than I could have imagined and I watched with helpless regret as he stalked across the clearing. His long, even strides carried him further away from me with each passing second. His men fell into step behind him and in the next moment they were gone, hidden from view but still watching, I knew.

  I released the breath I'd been holding and turned to face the forest. I'd done it, done what I had to do, even if the victory felt hollow. My chest physically ached at the depth of pain I'd just inflicted on Aranu. Claire was a silent presence beside me.

  "I had to do it." I choked.

  "I know." she murmured and when I dared a sideways glance, her eyes were warm and filled with sympathy.

  I tried to smile, failed miserably. And then I felt the ground vibrate beneath our feet.

  "Oh, hell." Claire's eyes went wide as the leaves beyond the fence began to rustle.

  "This is it, girls. Hold your positions and stay calm." I directed the group around me.

  Twenty women. There were only twenty women scattered haphazardly about the clearing as scores of Coatyl emerged from the dense tree line ahead. Blood rushed through my veins at warp speed as I watched them slowly, steadily fill the space. Ten, twenty, fifty and still they kept coming.

  A strange gulping sound beside me tore my attention away from the Coatyl.

  "Claire!" I admonished "Is that a flask?"

  "Yes, and it's filled with alcohol." She took another hefty swallow and offered up t
he small gold container.

  I shook my head and refocused on the scene across the fence.

  "You know what's so horrible?" Claire whispered, inching closer and clasping my hand. "They almost look like us...Ari, if I'm going to die right now, I'm glad it's with you. You're my best friend."

  Her voice broke on the word friend and I took a deep breath. Gently but firmly I pulled my hand from her white-knuckled death grip. "I love you too, Claire. Now get off me and pull it together." I whispered back. "We aren't going to die here." Not without a fight.

  Still more Coatyl poured into the clearing. The ones on the front lines went still and stared hard at the fence. They seemed almost...confused. Claire and I exchanged a look as the first several rows of Coatyl murmured among themselves and then one by one began to face forward and fix their glaring stares on us. Hundreds of malevolent eyes fastened on our small group.

  Several gasps went through the crowd and I sighed as many of the nymphs backed up. To Claire's credit, she didn't take a step back. If anything, she appeared to be rooted to the spot but her breathing was coming in tense, shallow bursts and her fingers were white around the shiny, metallic gold of the flask. So much for acting natural.

  Murmurs of unease rippled through the clearing and the air became charged with nervous energy. I didn't blame them, really–and I knew exactly what Claire meant by 'they almost look like us'. The basic body shape of the Coatyl did look like us...you know, except for the bone thin frame and the sharp, angular features. But at first glance, a casual observer would think they were seeing a strange, emaciated person wearing white clothing. And then you noticed it wasn't clothing at all but bleached skin. After that, your eyes took in the sharp clawed hands, the bulging eyes that were perpetually on the edge of rage, the long, stringy hair. When they smiled, a row of sharp, pointed teeth were bared and their eyes narrowed, much like now...I locked eyes with one that stood close to the fence and felt my stomach heave.