Dark Illusions

by D. D. Miers

  “He’s never reacted that way to anyone but you,” I replied, finally. “I don’t think that’s the kind of thing I need to worry about, so long as—”

  “So long as you don’t do or say the wrong thing. Sure,” said Dorian, bitterly. “If you’re confident you’ve figured out everything that entails, by all means, let your guard down. But I’ve known him a lot longer than you have. Once you stop being useful to him, you become a liability. And he doesn’t suffer liabilities kindly.”

  I pinched the bridge of my nose between the thumb and forefinger. “I don’t really want to talk about this right now.”

  “I’m sorry,” said Dorian quickly. “You’re exhausted. You must have been working hard today. Let’s go to the dining room.”

  Kieron and Dorian waited to see who I’d be drawn to, who I would choose. Ugh. It was so childish. With the fate of two worlds at stake, all they could think about was their stupid rivalry.

  It wasn’t even about me. That much was clear. They had known each other and hated each other, since before I was born. I was tired of being a pawn in their stupid games.

  I watched as Daegus and Sydelle took seats beside Kieron. That made my mind up easily. There was no way I was sitting next to dead roses and bitchface. I went to Dorian’s side and pulled out the chair next to his.

  Kieron’s heat roiled in my stomach, secondhand anger leaving a sour taste in my mouth. But I wasn’t about to fight with Stassi for the coveted spot at Kieron’s elbow. Besides, Dorian didn’t need any more reasons to scold me for “letting my guard down.” This was the lesser of two evils.

  If Dorian was surprised by my choice, he didn’t show it. He grabbed a bottle of wine from the table and poured me a glass, without asking. I wanted to protest, but I really did need a fucking drink.

  It was impossible to escape the burn of Kieron’s gaze, even more than usual. I barely heard anything Dorian said to me as I pushed my food around on my plate.

  “So,” Stassi’s voice cut through the buzzing in my head, and red-hot anger rose up in my chest as she leaned toward him. Jealousy comes in many forms and no matter the occasion, it sucks balls, but this kind of irrational envious anger, surpassed any sort I’d ever experienced, magnified by magic and the fucking universe.

  “What have you been up to?” she went on, stirring her drink. “Other than training the girl, of course.”

  Girl. The way she said it. So dismissive and superior. Last time I checked I was a woman, not a girl.

  “I find that working with Ms. Davenport takes up the majority of my time,” he lied, glancing at me with a hint of a smile. “That . . . girl . . . is very dedicated.”

  “Oh.” She wouldn’t even look in my direction. Hell, she hadn’t really even acknowledged that I was in the room. “I would’ve hoped she’d be a quick learner, considering she’s supposed to save the world.”

  “Nothing worth doing is ever accomplished overnight,” said Kieron, lightly. “And how have you been occupying yourself, Stassi?”

  She was obviously trying to rile him. Both of us, perhaps. It was hard to tell who she was more annoyed with.

  There was a warm tingle in my belly from the way Kieron had smiled at me. And not the usual, “Oh my God, take me now!” tingle. It was like we’d shared a little secret, something that was just for him and me. Something Stassi was shut out of. And that made my stupid, jealous little heart swell with pride.

  Beside me, Dorian cleared his throat and I jolted back to reality.

  “Have you heard anything I just said?” He offered a slight smile as I turned to him, and I realized he’d kept talking to me this whole time while I had eavesdropped on Kieron and Stassi across the table. I tuned him out and genuinely felt awful.

  “I’m sorry. I’m just so out of it today.”

  “It’s okay.” He patted me on the arm, “I know you’ve been going through a lot.”

  “That’s putting it mildly,” I laughed and chugged a good amount of my Merlot.

  “What’s your plan for the evening?”

  I shrugged. “Not sure, why?”

  “I thought we could spend a bit of time talking.” He leaned in. “I feel like it’s been ages since we had time to just hang out.”

  “Where? It’s not like there’s a bar down the street in the Demon Kingdom, unless everyone’s been holding out on me.”

  “Not just down the street, no, but closer than you think.” He winked. “And no, I didn’t plan on taking you anywhere, I thought maybe we’d head over to the indoor atrium.”

  “You’ve been here before?” The idea startled me.

  He nodded

  “When?”

  “Much too long ago to remember exact dates.”

  “Back when Yasinda lived here?” It was a guess at best, but I’d hoped to get some answers and the only way I ever got them was by sticking my nose where it didn’t belong.

  “Yes. Back then.” He watched me carefully. “So, you in—or out?”

  “Sure.” I looked down at my near-empty plate of food. “We can go whenever you want.”

  “How about now?”

  Most of the guests were engaged deeply in their own conversations, even Daegus and Kieron. They stood by the bar, Kieron refilling a glass of his own Scotch. Stassi stood beside them, her hand grazing Kieron’s shoulder.

  “Now sounds good.”

  I scooted out from my chair, and Dorian guided me with a hand on the low of my back. “Let’s be quick before your jailer notices.”

  “Let me just grab my coat.”

  We made it to the door when Kieron’s heat slammed into me. He stood before us, jacket on, hands outstretched with a pair of thick leather gloves in the blackest black. Of course.

  “What’s this?”

  He raised a brow. “Gloves, they keep your hands warm.”

  “Thanks, smartass.”

  “Abby and I were just heading out to the ice gardens, so thanks for the thoughtful gesture.” If Dorian’s chest puffed out anymore, he’d look like a rooster.

  “Ms. Davenport isn’t available.”

  “I’m not?”

  “No,” Kieron said. “You’re training continues immediately.”

  I crossed my arms wondering if his “nonexistent” jealousy had gotten the best of him. “Why now?”

  “Because I said so.”

  Dorian scoffed. “Look, Lord Blake maybe you think you can te—”

  “This doesn’t concern you.”

  Dorian’s face tinged a deep red, and I placed my palm on his chest to calm the anger boiling within him.

  “Maybe I’ll just take a rain check?”

  “Abby . . .”

  “Some other time. I promise.”

  “I’ll come along,” said Dorian. “You could use the help.”

  “Much as I appreciate the offer,” Kieron replied, with a surge of restrained anger that almost made my knees buckle, “I think we’ll get on just fine without you.”

  Dorian took a step toward Kieron, who did nothing but continue to stare him down. “This concerns all of us. I think I have the right to see what you’re teaching her.”

  “You and your friends came to me to ask for my help. My allegiance. This was, is, and always will be on my terms. If you want to renegotiate on their behalf, we can have that conversation later. But I have a feeling you won’t like the results.”

  The two men stood staring at each other. I wanted to scream at them both to stop acting like jackasses, but I didn’t. They were big boys who could figure this shit out on their own.

  Dorian finally stepped back. He took my hand and squeezed it, “I’ll check in on you again later.”

  I smiled and watched him as he disappeared into the dining room again, then I spun on Kieron. “You just love doing that, don’t you?”

  “Doing what?”

  “Acting all ‘me Tarzan, you Jane’ whenever anyone else wants me around.”

  Kieron sighed. “I don’t have the faintest idea what you are
talking about, Ms. Davenport.”

  “Oh, yes you do.”

  He rubbed a hand over his face. “Must you always be so overdramatic?”

  “Me? Me? I’m not the one who throws violent storm tantrums anytime things don’t go my way.”

  “Tantrums?” He smiled down at me now. Sometimes his stupid handsome face infuriated the shit out of me.

  “Yes, tantrums.”

  “I don’t think anyone has ever likened me to a child.”

  “You know what?” I waved a hand through the air. “Forget it. Where are we going?” I asked, half expecting to be teleported to the arctic or something equally ridiculous. This man was a never-ending fount of surprises.

  “The ice caverns,” he said, matter-of-factly. “Bundle up.”

  He wore a long, dark woolen overcoat and a thick blood-red scarf. I followed him out the front door, already struggling to keep up with his long strides.

  “This was a thing we ‘had to do now,’” I said, making air quotes.

  “Yes.” Kieron’s voice held a certain forced calmness. “Away from all the distractions.”

  The way he said the word “distractions” made it very clear Dorian fell into that category.

  I followed Kieron down the driveway, the gravel crunching under our feet. Much as I hated to admit it to myself, I was relieved Dorian wouldn’t be there. The tension between the two men would be more distracting than just Kieron’s presence, which was becoming easier to manage, now that I was so accustomed to it.

  “Hey,” I called after Kieron when he showed no signs of slowing. “Wait up.”

  With an irritated sigh, he slowed his pace slightly. “You’ll have to learn to keep up with me, Ms. Davenport. The ones you’ll be fighting aren’t going to pay you small courtesies like this.

  As we passed by the SUV, I glanced back over my shoulder, confused. “Aren’t we taking your ride?”

  “We’re walking,” he said. “It’s not far.”

  I was immediately suspicious about his definition of “not far.” The burning cold chill was enough to turn my normally tan skin into a pale, flushed pink.

  However, he wasn’t lying. We’d only walked for about twenty minutes before I saw the first signs of a well-worn path leading down to openings in the side of the hills.

  “Is this what Reagan was talking about?” I asked him, after we’d been silent for most of the walk. “Your fortress of solitude?”

  He didn’t answer, but after a few moments, he spoke. “The caverns have a special magic of their own. It’s quieter there. Calmer. You might find it easier to block out the distractions—even me.”

  The mouth of the caverns was foreboding and dark. But I followed Kieron’s lead and stepped inside.

  The moment I did, I caught my breath. The caverns were massive, and breathtaking, illuminated by some sort of spell that diffused the light down through crystalline stalactites.

  And he was right. It was more peaceful here, even the electricity between us dulled enough that I heard myself think.

  Kieron stood to face me, just a few feet away. I looked into his eyes, and he into mine. Our breath came out in white clouds, mingled, and hung in the air.

  It reminded me of an old song, but I couldn’t find it. Here in the caverns, even my memories were a little dulled.

  The icicles cascaded down in a circular pattern. The ceiling was so high that the lengths of some of them were the length of a football field. The most impressive part was not the size of them, but what was inside of them. The outside was a thick frozen shell, but on the inside the water swirled and bubbled. It was moving around inside, making the light of the icicles dance and reflect on the walls of the cave. As if it were an icy firelight, the cavern was a bright illusion of water and ice.

  “Close your eyes,” he said.

  I did.

  “Find the place in your mind where the visions come.” His voice was hypnotic. “You can find it. It belongs to you, even if you feel like you can’t control it.”

  I tried. I really, truly did. I followed his orders, followed his words, letting them drift through my mind and seek out the places I’d tried so hard to destroy.

  But I found nothing.

  “I can’t,” I told him, softly.

  “Of course, you can,” he replied. “Try harder. Breathe deeper. Think about how it feels when the visions come to you.”

  “It feels like getting hit by a truck,” I told him. “Or a bad case of vertigo, in the best-case scenario. I don’t know what part of my brain it is. It feels like the whole thing’s on fire.”

  I expected him to be irritated, but instead, I felt he was . . . intrigued.

  “I’m going to induce a vision, then,” he said. “Give me your hand.”

  His fingers surrounded my wrist. Skin to skin. I took in a long, shaky breath, letting myself a single peek at his handsome face. I know what draws me to him. His quiet strength. It exudes from him like a calming tonic released into the air. Being this close, I want to say something, anything, but I couldn’t.

  “Eyes,” he said, reminding me to close them. Seconds pass and I’m swept from the icy cold cave.

  Kieron and Yasinda, young again, even younger. They smiled at each other over glasses of wine, and her belly was still flat. Perhaps this was the night the baby was conceived. There was certainly the spark of something important about to happen, hanging in the air.

  She wore a long gown, similar to the one Isadora wore, the symbol of the Visias.

  Holy shit, was she once a priestess of the light?

  She smiles and laughed at something he said, but the smile didn’t fully reach her eyes. She held up a hand and walked back to a bag resting on the ground. From inside, she pulled out a book, the cover, a black leather with an infinity symbol across the front. Suddenly, the muffling faded and I heard their voices.

  His eyes changed, shifted. Not like they did now with the beast in him, but they moved from light and happy to concerned.

  “Where did you get that?”

  She looked down at the cover, rubbing her hand over the fabric. “From the libraries.”

  “Which libraries?”

  “The ones on the lower levels. I’ve been archiving, and this was among them.”

  He stood and came around the table to kneel down beside her. “This is dark magic, Yasinda.” He pushed the book away from the both of them. “You don’t want what’s in there.”

  “It’s not dark, it’s just different. Look at you, born of darkness but a soul made of light.” She touched his face. “It’ what you do with it. How you choose to use it.”

  “It can use you.”

  “I’m strong, my love. Everyone says it.”

  “Yes, but even Goliath was brought down by a pebble.”

  She leaned in and placed her forehead against his. “All right, I’ll let it go tomorrow. I’ll return it.”

  “Good,” he smiled and kissed her before leaving the room.

  I watched as Yasinda looked over her shoulder, then her eyes returned to the book and I swear I saw the lie in her eyes. She wasn’t returning it.

  But did he know?

  I opened my eyes and I’m returned to the icy cavern. Kieron was no longer touching me but stood t a few feet away, his back resting on a rock.

  “She was a priestess.” I rubbed my forehead. “A priestess like Isadora. One of the Light Temple?”

  “Yes. But darkness tempted her and eventually, when life brought pain, she ran toward it.”

  “What pain?”

  He shook his head. “That’s a conversation for another time.”

  “So, what does any of this prove?”

  “You chose to leave the vision.”

  I stepped back. “I did?”

  He nodded. “I didn’t end it—you did. What were you thinking of, near the end?”

  “I don’t know,” I shrugged, “I was surprised, I guess. And I wanted to talk to you about it.”

  “Hmm.” He crossed hi
s arms, leaning back against the ice walls. “What?”

  I wanted to ask him why showed this to me. What it was he wanted me to know. This was a private moment. A clue of some kind, and he wanted me to see it, but to what end?

  “Kieron,” Luca’s voice interrupted us before I could ask.

  “What is it?”

  “Daegus is asking for you. He says it’s important.”

  Kieron pushed off the wall. “We’ll finish this another time.”

  “What?” I looked between the two men. “No—seriously?”

  “Luca, take Ms. Davenport home.”

  “Dude, I’m not a child and obviously there’s things we need to discuss.”

  Before I could ask the myriad of questions swarming my mind, Kieron was gone and so were my answers.

  Chapter Ten

  It’s difficult to tell the difference between my visions and my dreams, especially right now.

  I stood in a world I didn’t know.

  Dark and light colors mixed together in a hazy blur. A strong wind blew roughly against my face, making it hard to keep my eyes open. A blaring heat surrounded me and as I looked over the edge of a cliff. With limited visibility, I could only feel sensations.

  Pain, anger, despair.

  Nothing was real and yet everything was real. I was a mixture of confusion.

  Slowly, I turned back, and in the distance a figure stood far from my sight. I glimpsed an outline. The figure watched me, waiting to see what I would do. I stepped closer to the edge, the feelings calmed and soothed me. I stepped closer and felt the reassurance of my choice. Whispers told me to “give in.”

  As the inner urge to step forward pushed me to move forward again, a voice from behind stopped me.

  “The darkness is coming for you. The betrayal is near.”

  “Isadora?” Seeing her again made my heart fill with hope and sadness. I failed her, and she saved me. It’s a debt I could never repay, and it wore on me.