Dark Ascension

by J. D. Brown

  On a hunch, I followed him.

  He went to the castle armory. Inside the grand room, the Prince slowed his steps and let his blue fingertips glide over the many cases and drawers. Blades, guns, and other deadly devices filled the displays. Jesu let his gaze slide slowly over them.

  We were alone in the room. The last Alpan we passed lingered somewhere above, in the first wing. I could attack Jesu here, but who would hear us? Who would know to look? And even if Jesu never saw me, I’d be the first person he’d suspect, once again leading them to change their plans and leave me in the dust. I wasn’t above riding in the cargo hold of the airplane, but between Logan and the damn claror, following them that closely could prove risky. Besides, I needed to find Shénshèng before they did. It wasn’t enough just to follow Ema to the alchemist.

  I floated away from the Prince and exited the weapons room.

  Who else?

  I wracked my brain for some other way to cause a distraction, something alarming enough to clear Naamah and Maria from the guest wing, something that would send them both running...

  Apollyon? I snorted. He was stuck in a ruby in my mother’s possession. I wondered briefly when she would free him—or if she could. The ability wouldn’t surprise me.

  Okay, not Apollyon. Who else? What was the next best thing?

  His son, obviously. Maria and Naamah fussed over nothing greater than Apollyon’s heirs—but it wasn’t Jesu I needed. It was his brother. The Crown Prince. The brat. The one that was as devious and malicious as his old man. Jalmari would do anything as long as it benefited him.

  I thought about the ring in my pocket. It was a fake—and screw Ema for pulling a fast one over me—but maybe it would help in this case? Lilith somehow knew the ring was a forgery. Would Jalmari be able to tell as well? Perhaps I just wouldn’t let him get a good look.

  My mind made up, I went to the dungeon.

  Jalmari sat at the back of his cell with a book in his lap. He licked his thumb and then turned the page, his gaze following the lines of tiny print. He didn’t glance up, even as I solidified inside the prison cell with him. I pressed one hand against the cold stone wall and looked over his shoulder, feigning interest in the title.

  “Still playing librarian with the Princess? Tell me; does she wear the glasses?” I wiggled my eyebrows.

  His jaw tensed, but Jalmari made no other move.

  I shrugged. “I would’ve thought she’d take her books back now that the game is over.”

  Jalmari’s calculated gaze slid in my direction, the smallest hint of suspicion growing in the narrowed look. Smirking, I reached into my pants pocket, pulled out the ring, and let it twirl between my fingers in a quick slight-of-hand. I closed my fist over the jewel and glanced at Jalmari. Rage darkened the Prince’s features. The book fell from his lap as he stood. His fists clenched and a deep growl rumbled in his chest.

  “You found it.”

  “Of course I found it. I had the means to actually look, instead of sending a feeble young girl.”

  He growled again, louder and more threatening this time. It was adorable. Still, I took a few careful steps back before I taunted the beast a second time.

  “That temper. Tsk tsk.” I plunged the ring into my pocket and shook my head. “I am curious though. You are all healed. So why are you still here?” I let my gaze roam slowly over his brute form. His every muscle tensed like the taut string of a bow, ready to loosen the killing strike at any moment. I could practically feel him calculating his next move. But he wouldn’t dare strike me. I was stronger than him, and he knew it.

  “You could,” I continued, “phase right out of this shithole. ’Course I suspect those chains will sting a bit, but I’m sure it won’t be nearly as bad as having your face burned off by your brother.”

  Jalmari narrowed his gaze. “You want me to escape. Why?”

  I rested my shoulder against one of the iron bars and crossed my arms over my chest. “I, and by extension Lilith, need you to create a distraction big enough to draw everyone away from the guest wing for a while.”

  “When?”

  I shrugged. “Now would be good.”

  “Who’s in the guest wing?”

  “A bunch of people. Ema, her family, some guards. Your Hands.”

  He shifted his gaze to the side and his furrow deepened. “You want to know why I am still here? This dungeon is a sanctuary. Lilith can come and go as she pleases, but we both know she would never do anything truly risky in the house of the Alpan crown. She might be vicious, but she is never sloppy.”

  “Are you implying that I am sloppy?” I scoffed and then leveled my gaze with his. “I know you’re going crazy in here, mate. Any man would.”

  Jalmari didn’t budge. He held his ground, the stubborn bastard.

  I put my hands on my hips and looked away to hide my scowl. I didn’t have time for this. I faced the Prince and nodded. “How ’bout I make it worth your while?”

  Jalmari cocked his brow.

  I muttered under my breath and ran my fingers through my hair, making a show of it. “I’ll give you the ring.”

  Jalmari snorted. “Lilith wants it.”

  “Nah, mate, I already gave her one better. She has Ema’s ruby.”

  A muscle feathered along Jalmari’s jaw. I’d managed to genuinely shock him. “She has my father?”

  “That’s right,” I nodded. “So what use is the milk when you have the whole cow, eh?” I reached into my pocket and produced the golden band, careful to angle the gemstone away from Jalmari’s direct line of sight. “Although, I supposed having them both is more beneficial.”

  Jalmari seethed. His lips curled back to show his fangs, and his fists clenched hard enough to make his tendons pop. His knuckles cracked from the strain; first one, then two, then five and ten. Suddenly, his torso disappeared. His arms and legs faded more slowly as his essence ebbed toward the thin band of metal around his wrists and ankles, along with the collar around his neck.

  I phased through the cell bars, solidified on the other side, and then took several more steps back. When he was nothing more than a head, hands, and feet, Jalmari squeezed his eyes shut and phased completely.

  Electricity crackled in every direction.

  CHAPTER 14

  My lips still tingled from Jesu’s kiss even as I left Anthony’s room. I passed my tongue between them, pressing at that swollen feeling. How far would it have gone if Jesu hadn’t pulled away?

  I closed my eyes and sighed against the corridor wall. It wasn’t fair to think about it. Jesu had pulled away, and without hesitation. Whether or not I imagined the reluctance in his gaze didn’t matter. He only kissed me because there was a small chance we wouldn’t come back from Shanghai. It was a good-luck kiss between friends. Nothing more.

  I pulled my lips between my teeth and opened my eyes.

  Nothing more.

  I pushed away from the wall, and was about to cross the hall to my room, when a BOOM shook the castle. I stumbled forward, as did the guards. The ceiling cracked and bits of plaster showered the hall. Then it was over. I looked at the guards as I pulled myself upright, but they appeared just as confused. Maria’s door flung open.

  “What in the dickens was that?”

  “I don’t know.” I wiped a hand over my hair, shaking bits of debris from my head. “An earthquake?”

  Naamah stood behind his wife. “No. That came from the foyer.”

  My parents and ex joined the concerned faces in the hall. Mom and Anthony both looked at me for direction.

  “Stay there,” I told them.

  “We’ll check it out,” said Naamah. “Wait with your family.” He and Maria approached the tower, but there was a look in their eyes—like they already knew the culprit. I pushed my senses outward, hoping to catch whatever they had, but all I got back was a nose full of dust. I coughed.

  Dad caught Naamah’s arm at the last moment and whispered. “Anything I can do?”

  Naamah regar
ded him, his gaze slightly narrowed, then the vampyre softened his brow and gestured to the two other humans behind them. “You can keep your family safe.”

  Dad nodded, but he seemed disappointed in the answer. He removed his hand, and Naamah joined Maria as they descended the stone spiral.

  I went after them.

  “Ema—” Dad reached for me, but I was faster. I twisted away and trotted down the tower. At the foyer landing, Maria stopped me. She pushed me into the shadows until my back pressed against the curved tower wall just behind the opening.

  “What the—?”

  “Shh.” Maria gave me a pointed look. I wet my lips and then nodded, promising to be silent. She lessened her hold, and I carefully leaned forward to peer out from behind her side.

  From what I could see, the foyer was in shambles. The beautiful polished wood handrail with its handcrafted newels lay in pieces across the stairwell, as though a blast had come from somewhere in the middle of the room. Smoke veiled the air in a thin gray fog that made my eyes water. Naamah stood on the bottom step. He scowled as he stared into the room. Muted grunts and slow awkward groans sounded from somewhere inside the smoky haze. Something or someone had blown up the foyer while there were people in it.

  I shoved past Maria, instinctively phasing my arm when she reached for me, and flew to Naamah’s side. I would’ve continued past him, heart set on saving the injured, except what I saw before us shocked me.

  Jalmari stood in the center of the room, his hands on his hips. He was the only one of a handful of vampyres that wasn’t struggling to pick themselves up off the floor. His gaze roamed over the damage; over broken furniture, fallen shelves, shattered vases, and crumpled books. He grinned at his work. Then he pointed one booted foot in my direction and pivoted to face me. His devilish grin widened.

  “Hello, rat.”

  My butt lowered to sit on the bottom step just as my stomach seemed to fall into my toes. I scanned the vampyres on the floor—most of them members of Brinnon’s family—and realized no one was seriously hurt. Scraped and bruised, but they’d live. My lips move of their own accord as I murmured the only thing I could think of.

  “Why?”

  Other people joined us on the stairs and in the corridors, drawn out by the ruckus to see what had happened. The Queen, Sara, and Brinnon gathered in the main hall entrance. Brinnon held his sister back as he narrowed his gaze at the Prince. Guards filled the perimeter; their weapons aimed at Jalmari. As the blast victims rose to their feet, they grabbed whatever broken pieces of wood or stone they could to defend themselves, while others simply bared their fangs.

  Jalmari cocked his brow as he took them in.

  My heart faltered as Jesu rose from the rubble near the hall entrance. He didn’t appear hurt, so I relaxed a bit.

  “Hand grenade,” Jesu said to Brinnon. He scowled at his brother. “I was in the weapons room when he took one. I tried to stop him.”

  Jalmari scoffed. “Always the tattle-tell, little brother.”

  Jesu curled his fists and stepped forward, but Brinnon stopped him.

  “What is it you want?” the King demanded.

  Jalmari spread his arms open. “I am healed. I see no reason to continue playing the role of your charge. I wish to take my Hands and return to my kingdom.”

  Murmurs filled the once regal space, and someone growled, “You didn’t have to blow up the castle!”

  Brinnon raised his hand, warning everyone to be quiet. “They’re right,” he said to Jalmari. “You could have simply walked out the door. Why the theatrics?”

  Jalmari lowered his arms and his gaze darkened. “Those cuffs hurt. I took offense.”

  Brinnon glanced around the room. Our gazes met, and the King’s bright yellow orbs seemed to fill with regret. He broke eye contact, focusing again on Jalmari. “Fortunately, no one was hurt. Take your leave now without further incident, but know that your alliance with the Alpan crown is in jeopardy.”

  Jalmari smirked. He turned his attention to Naamah and upped his brow. “Where is Maria?”

  Naamah stood poised beside me, but I didn’t miss the way his spine tensed. “My wife wishes to remain here a while longer.”

  Jalmari’s gaze met mine, and it was all I could do not to jump behind Naamah and cower. I pushed to my feet and stood my ground, feigning bravado. Jalmari scanned me from head to toe. His chin tilted slightly, and a curious glint shone in his eyes. In the periphery of my vision, Jesu slowly made his way toward me, step by careful step, avoiding any debris that might make noise. Jalmari noticed him anyway. He wrinkled his nose and lifted his chin, as though considering his options.

  “Very well,” he said finally. “Maria can stay. I really only need one Hand.” His green eyes were a pale shade of jade, and I remembered the stone in my pocket. It suddenly weighed a ton, and I felt exposed. Jalmari had wanted it. He’d gone so far as to ask the Princess to look for it. Did he know I had it?

  Jesu was about halfway across the room, creeping closer.

  Jalmari snorted at his brother. “I’ll wait for you outside,” he said to Naamah. He went to the castle doors and gripped the thick iron ring. He paused before pulling the door open, and looked back at me, his gaze stern.

  “This is your last chance.” He spoke quietly; something softer than a whisper, and yet the words cut into me, slicing right down to the bone. “You must kill all of him.”

  I didn’t breathe until the castle door shut firmly behind Jalmari. Then I sagged to the floor in a deep sigh. Jesu rushed to my side and pulled me to my feet. My gaze swam up to meet his, and a terrible truth came over me. I winced.

  “What is it?” Jesu searched my gaze.

  “I just realized... There’s no way in hell you’re letting me go to China without you, now that Jalmari is loose.”

  Jesu’s cheek dimpled. “Does that mean you are done asking me to stay behind?”

  I squelched my cheeks and nodded. “Yep. Totally done. All hope lost.”

  “There was no hope of me staying anyway.” He brushed his fingertips along my jaw, and my lips burned at the lingering ghost of his mouth pressed against mine. I looked to the side, discouraging his hand.

  Just friends, I told myself. Nothing else.

  Mom shouted accusations as I dragged my suitcase into the hall and then slammed the door shut. I looked at the guard and pointed to my room. “She doesn’t come out while I’m gone, got it?”

  The man nodded, though he seemed a little confused. I still wasn’t sure if any of them spoke English, but it didn’t matter. Mom was afraid of them, so she’d behave.

  Jesu grabbed my suitcase as he balanced two large duffle bags of his own over his shoulders. I adjusted the strap of the satchel Maria had given me, and then followed Jesu to the tower stairs.

  “Where’s Dad?” I asked.

  “Waiting in the foyer.”

  “Does he have to come with? He’ll only get in the way.”

  Jesu didn’t dignify my whiny question with a response. Why was he so adamant about spending time with my father, especially when this was a potential suicide mission and not a family vacation?

  Maria, Brinnon, Roman, Tancred, and Dad waited in the foyer. The broken furniture and debris had been cleared away. The room seemed larger and colder without the plush leather settees or decorative end tables. I hugged myself as I remembered Jalmari standing right where Tancred stood now, waiting impatiently by the castle doors. It was hard to say who terrified me more; Jalmari or Lilith?

  Jalmari. Definitely Jalmari. No contest there. He tried to kill me in the past, and now he wanted my babies dead too. Lilith was perhaps a little unhinged, and she definitely had an agenda, but so far she hadn’t tried to kill me. In fact, she saved me at least twice.

  Jesu set our luggage down, and a servant took the bags outside to load them into whatever vehicle would take us to the private hangar. Maria came and hugged me tight.

  “Jesu has your hotel reservation. Naamah’s contact, Mr. Wu, wil
l meet you when you land. Do be careful, darling. Remember your vitamins. Remember to eat.” She said all this directly into my ear, never letting go.

  “Thanks, Maria. I will. But, um, I also need to breath.”

  Maria loosened her grip with a sigh. She cupped my chin and studied me. If I hadn’t known better, I would’ve thought there were tears in her eyes. “Don’t you worry about a thing, darling. Your mother and friend will be well cared for, and I’ll have those stuffy Council members under my thumb in no time. In fact, I’ll call as soon as this preposterous hunt is canceled.”

  My gaze slid to Brinnon, and my cheeks warmed. It was obvious he heard every word, but he hid it by shaking Jesu’s hand and bidding him good luck. I nodded my thanks to Maria, drew a breath, and then stepped over to Jesu’s side.

  “Ready?” I asked, wanting to get this over with.

  Brinnon gave me a pained smile. “I regret that dance. You shouldn’t be going.”

  I didn’t know what to say. I was going to Shanghai to find an alchemist to cure my babies. If Lilith happened to be there, well, I had no intention of actually trying to kill her. She was my backup plan—my final leap of faith—in case Shénshèng turned out to be another fluke. I didn’t know what I would do when I returned to the Council empty handed. Hopefully Maria will have worked her political magic before then. If not, I would lose the contract. But all that seemed secondary to saving my children from Apollyon’s poison.

  I pushed onto my toes and kissed Brinnon’s cheek. “Haven’t you heard? I’m going to save the world.”

  With that, I walked out of the castle and didn’t look back.

  CHAPTER 15

  I pressed my nose against the tinted limousine window and took in the multi-colored lights of the crowded shops, food stands, pushcarts, and plethora of pedestrian traffic. Somewhere above the giant skyscrapers, night had fallen, but it was impossible to tell at street level. In a word, Shanghai was big. Chicago wasn’t even this crowded. And yet, the ambience of constant noise and pollutants was a familiar one; like coming home after a long trip to the country side. There was something about large crowds and the ability to blend in that resonated with me.