Nikolai looked out onto the lake and saw the scene reflecting in it again with the young immortal inside the cave in Albequen. Isura was thrilled with her work. They would have to mend the veils regardless because, and only because, the world being taken over by the darker species would mean that at least three of them would be without playthings. But this was all in good fun. At least for them anyway. Chuckling softly, he drifted off.
“Call to me, Isura, if there are any developments.”
She just nodded absently and continued to stir wind up in the trees with her fingertips as he disappeared.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Fight Like A Girl
THE SOUND OF thunder shaking the massive house jarred her awake and when her eyes darted around she saw Amele sitting in a chair across the room. She was looking out the window with an angst Isabel didn’t often see.
“They’re swarming outside, and there are more than just the Unseelie now. We’re going to be hunting a bit this morning,” she said, a light grin on her lips.
Rubbing her eyes, she sat up and then slumped back down onto the coarse sheets. Amele eyed her warily. “Rough night?”
She nodded and swallowed back the tears, images of her mother in that dark tomb too much to think about.
“Hey now, what’s wrong? Did the Elf call you names again?”
“No, I-I saw in the water…visions.”
“Of course you didn’t see any visions in Albequen, Bel. They don’t have the sacred waters there.”
“They have waters too, and I know what I saw. It was horrible, Amele!” She told her tale and then watched Amele’s face turn dark.
“Bastard,” she muttered in her native tongue.
“I can understand you, remember? Why did you say that? And what’s going on outside?”
Amele turned to gaze out the window, arms crossed over her chest. “The Unseelie are watching the house along with those bastard Shadow Demons. These are not the lickable type of Demons at all. They’re definitely the killable type, however.”
Isabel walked up behind her and sucked in a sharp breath at the scene outside. The Shadow Demons were as high in number as the Uglies now. They looked like billows of smoke one moment and then charred skin and horned heads would flicker into sight. They looked as if they could go from standing to being on all legs and arms very comfortably, and had more beast than man in their genetic code. They were covered in hair, and when in form, she could see their teeth sharp and jagged in their mouths even from here.
“Holy shit,” she whispered, gazing out at the horde. “There are so many of them. What are they all waiting for?”
“You, I believe.”
She reached instinctively for the dagger attached to her leg. Immortal killing dagger on board, check. “What the hell do they want with me? And you still didn’t answer my question about why you called Morkain a bastard.”
“I can’t answer that. I literally can’t break the rules because of the magic, and I shouldn’t have said anything at all, I’m sorry. As for the why of the Shadow Demons that swarm outside, I think they’re waiting for you. It makes sense since your choice could ultimately give them the freedom to travel where they choose. The veil is thinning and the Demons definitely shouldn’t be here, unless they know about you. They have no business with the mortal world and have never chosen to cross before, not that they’re banned. But they must’ve found out about you somehow and now, you may be better off dead than alive in their mind. If you’re dead, then you can’t choose the right immortal and they could effectively cause a great deal of chaos anywhere they please. The prophesy not being fulfilled is as dangerous as you choosing wrong. Same result, different means to an end. But don’t worry, they’re no match for us. I could take them all, Bel, but I promised the other guards they could have some fun too.” She mocked a pout for Isabel to see.
Amele had a wicked glow emanating from her and she could tell by looking at her that she was ready to start the day with some blood. It still blew her mind that just a few days ago, Amele was the somewhat reckless and sexual blond bombshell that she always felt so inadequate next to when they went out. Hell, she still felt inadequate but now it was for entirely different reasons. Thousands of years of ruthless killing shone in her eyes, and Isabel knew that even under the somewhat indifferent facade, Amele fought because she believed in her heritage. The stories that Amele had told her of Loveryn were told with pride and love, and she was unbelievably thankful to have her on her side.
“How am I supposed to know the truth about them in time? I know what I saw in the water and it was real, but it didn’t make any sense to me. And what did she mean the signs? I keep looking for them but I can’t see any. Other than the signs of my raging hormones at the nearness of either one of them, of course. I feel attached to both Bodhe and Morkain for different reasons, and it doesn’t help that my mother left me so inexperienced with men. I feel lost and confused. When I’m with either one I feel like it’s right…even when they piss me off or scare the bejeezus out of me. Can’t I just keep them both?” She looked down, grinning. Partly ashamed, and partly very not ashamed.
Amele looked away from the window and her stony facade turned into a burst of laughter. “Oh shit, Bel. You’ve got it bad, and for both of them! I’m afraid you can only keep one, but there’s nothing in the prophecy that says you can’t enjoy them in other ways before the time is up. Explore, honey, no lightning will strike those two down for touching you, and if anyone can make you scream like a siren, it will be them. I don’t envy your choice a bit, but I do envy what you get to explore before you make it. Just don’t forget that you’re the one in control, and you can pull those brakes anytime. I wish I had better advice on the signs and on what you saw in the water, but I can’t sway you in any way. I’m here to protect you and help you learn about your heritage, both sides. There’s nothing that says I can’t tell you to go for it, however.” She grinned.
Looking at Amele, she just grumbled. “You make it sound so easy. But it’s not easy for me when their hearts are involved too. I don’t want to hurt anyone. Damning the realms isn’t so appealing to me either, for the record. Loveryn was swarmed with Demons, Amele. It was darkness, everywhere. Except in Albequen. Why did the waters show me that?”
“Isabel Masters, you listen to me very carefully. You could only hurt one of them. One of those very lickable creatures most certainly does not love you, and never will. I know it’s very confusing right now, but you have to trust me on this. You’ll never know unless you let them both in. Completely. Take what they’re offering and see what your heart tells you. Curse be damned, you’ve got to follow your heart. I know your mother would tell you the same thing if she could. Why do you think she went to all this trouble and now sleeps in darkness? She did that for you. It was her barter for your life to be as normal as possible for this long.
“As heir to the throne of Albequen, it could have gone either way. You may have been taken to be raised there or you could have grown up in Loveryn. Either way you would have been influenced to one side or the other. But she wanted you to have a choice; to have a chance. One of the most powerful Foresayers in the known worlds would not have done this lightly. She had faith in you, and so do I. Now, it’s time for you to have a little faith in yourself. The vision in the waters may have seemed clear, but I can tell you this too; when a Foresayer has a vision, they’re clear as mud. Never, ever, are they taken at face value. And they also take most of the Sidhe centuries to be able to decipher accurately. My advise? Forget the vision, and get to know them…and all their lickable parts,” she said with a wink.
Isabel looked up at her thoughtfully. “You’re right, but how do I let them in completely without, you know...? Since I can’t…well, I can’t really be with them and God, it’s hard to stop when they’re near. I’m more afraid than anything that I’ll get swept away in the moment and go too far.”
Amele stood there motionless for a few moments deep in thought. “You un
derestimate yourself, my dear,” she said, grinning wickedly. “Let them pleasure you, Bel. You’ve been waiting long enough to scream some names from the rooftops, haven’t you?” Amele laughed, but Isabel thought she was absolutely nuts.
“So, I’m just supposed to forget the vision I had? And look at the mess outside. It seems like I don’t have much more time.” She gazed out the window toward the raging storm, catching a menacing glance of white eyes when the lightning struck outside. “God, they’re really nasty. How exactly are they related again?”
Laughing, “Well, they’re not really related anymore. The first Unseelie was a beautiful Sidhe, like us, but he was corrupt and wanted power. He was the younger brother of the current King, Rystrom. He and his partner Delia made a deal with the fire Elemental Reisha, in exchange for rule of the crown. The thing that he didn’t know was that it wouldn’t be the Sidhe crown that he would take. The Elemental tricked him, as they often do. They stripped him of his beauty, making his form as ugly as his heart, and made a kingdom for him and his partner to rule. They live in eternal waste and darkness in the shadowlands that became the Unseelie kingdom. Reisha also stripped him of emotion, hence the need to feed from creatures that feel. That was thousands of years ago though, and the result of their breeding is before you now, outside. As for this curse, I know there’s Elemental magic behind it too, but I don’t know who could be stupid enough to let themselves be bound. Tricky Gods, they are.”
She looked curiously at her friend, digesting the history lesson. “So why can’t they feed off immortals instead of humans?”
“Well, they could try of course, but then we would kill them. They can’t glamour us and that’s their only shield so that they can get the energy they seek. Humans are the only race that are blinded by glamour.” She paused for a moment and studied Isabel’s ears. “And speaking of glamour, hon, you’re going to need to learn some before too much longer or get used to wearing a hat.” She looked fondly at Isabel’s ears.
Isabel reached up and felt the tips of her ears. Really? They had grown that much in a night? Well, not that she had expected to be able to, but there would definitely not be any returning to the University now. Hi, Professor! How do you like my new do? Oh yes, just a little ear augmentation after watching ‘The Hobbit’ too many times. Lovely, aren’t they? Though, she had to admit, they were growing on her, literally. It was sexy the way Amele braided her own hair behind them and had the tip on one side pierced.
A crash of thunder rattled the house and one of the guards came rushing in. Isabel stood there in her birthday suit and squealed as he bowed his head.
“Loth, what can we do for you?” Amele said with a chuckle as Isabel darted for her robe.
“Majesties, I apologize for the intrusion, but you are needed downstairs. There is something you need to see, and quickly. Meet me in the back parlor as soon as you are able!” he said, and rushed away as quickly as he came.
Isabel tightened her robe and looked over at Amele with a deep scowl on her face. “Majesties? And you were going to let me know about this when?”
Amele brushed off the question. “C’mon Isabel, let’s see what’s so damn important that it requires the head of the Eastern Guard to nearly bust down the door. But you may want to get dressed. Never go into a battle in lingerie I always say, unless it’s one that you really don’t want to win.” She laughed and Isabel frowned at her as she pulled on shorts and a t-shirt. Dagger in place she pulled on her hiking boots and flew with Amele quickly down the steps. Of course, Amele really flew, Isabel just ran behind her.
In the parlor to the rear of the house she noticed at least ten of the guards standing near a picture window.
“What’s this all about?” Amele demanded. The men parted quickly and bowed.
So they weren’t bowing to her at all! Who the hell was Amele? First human, then Sidhe, then ancient warrior who really kicks ass…and now royalty? Well, it just goes to show that the people you think you know, you don’t know at all. She put that in her box of things she didn’t know what to do with. Glancing down at Amele’s thigh she could barely make out a dagger beneath the long leather coat.
Bitch! She had a raka of her own the whole time!
Amele turned from the window and smiled at her. “Really, Isabel, you don’t think Keiren would send just anyone to watch over you now do you? Come here, Halfling, this is interesting.”
Her mouth dropped open. Could she hear her thoughts too? Son of a…
“Isabel! There’s time to be pissed off at insignificant trivialities later, now get your ass over here!”
Growling lowly, she stalked toward the window and gasped as soon as she came into view of what they were all staring at. Through the rain it was difficult to make out but there was a slightly shimmering sphere just beyond the tree line, maybe a hundred short yards away. Two sentient Uglies stood to each side and she watched as Demons and Unseelie alike were coming through it.
“What the hell is that?” she muttered.
“That is a solid break in the veil, Isabel, and I believe that directly on the other side of that ripple is the Unseelie Kingdom. There’s no other explanation. How they got the Demons to side with them is anyone’s guess. Damned heathens! Guards! How many do we have here now?”
Loth spoke up. “About thirty in and around the house, a hundred or more close by, Your Majesty.”
“Call them all to the mansion immediately, the town is on it’s own, for now. The Princess is our first priority, are you all understood?” A solid ‘yes’ came from everyone present as Isabel watched. “This could get a little out of hand, even for us. And someone produce an extra sword for Isabel, immediately!”
Loth unstrapped the one from his back. “It would be an honor, Princess, if you would take mine,” he held it out to her with his head bowed. Amele just raised her eyebrows.
“But what will you have to protect yourself with?” She looked at him worriedly.
“Don’t worry about me. I have another, I just need to go get it. This one wields a great protective magic. Please, take it,” his eyes pleaded with her and when she looked to Amele, she nodded at her.
“Thank you, Loth. I’ll keep it strapped on even in my sleep.” She scanned the growing number of Unseelie outside and shivered, doing just as she said she would by strapping the foreign thing on. Oddly, it wasn’t nearly as heavy as it looked.
Amele took her arm unexpectedly and suddenly they were in a wide open field, nothing for miles in any direction except corn. And damned if they weren’t in a huge circle of plowed corn. A crop circle? Really? What’s next? Aliens and anal probes before the Uglies take her back to make a meal of her?
“What the hell did you just do?” she shouted, her head dizzy from the whatever-just-happened.
“Hellooo, time sifting? Ever heard of it? Remember your mom’s letter? She is a Time Sifter too, so get used to the effects, you just may end up using it quite a bit,” she crossed her hands over her chest and gazed at her with a half grin. “And really? Anal probes? I’m not sure, but I don’t think those males will go for that. Try Morkain first,” She said with a wink, “he may enjoy it.
“Get. Out. Of. My. Head!” Isabel wanted to both laugh and cry at the same moment. Instead she settled for a slight baring of her teeth as she stood her ground. In the damned crop circle. “So what are we doing here when all the big Uglies are back there, Your Majesty?” Isabel glared.
The sword was at her throat before she could even blink, and Amele’s expression was as calm as a windless day. Amele no longer looked human before her, she looked alien alright. The crop circles fit, actually. The sword pressed harder in her neck as Amele’s amber eyes narrowed at her.
“Okay! Sorry,” she squealed, her eyes wide and panicked. “No more, ‘your majesty,’ I swear!”
“We are here, Halfling, because you need to learn to fight before you face the Uglies, as you call them. They won’t stop their swords as I have. And though I’ll do everything I c
an to protect you, part of that protection is teaching you to fend for yourself. You don’t want to be babysat? Then learn to fight like your Father did. Now draw your sword and make him proud!”
Isabel saw the amber in Amele’s eyes flash pure gold and she reached over her head for the hilt. “But I’ve never even held a…”
The first thrust came down hard and out of reflex, she held out her hand as the swords clashed, and hers dropped forward in front of her. Clank! Holy shit! She blocked it! But just as she was reeling in her glory, she felt the hilt of Amele’s sword in her gut and she was flying backwards at high speeds. With her back on the plowed corn, and her sword a foot from her hand, she groaned.
“Up! And I never want to see that sword fall out of your hand again. Hold onto it as if your life depends on it, because it will, my little warrior, it will.” Amele stood ready, wicked eyes shining.
“Well that’s at least better than halfling, I suppose,” Isabel grunted. She picked herself up off the ground and grabbed her sword, really feeling the handle this time. Her fingers tightened around the grooves that she hadn’t even noticed before. When Amele attacked again, she got two blocks in this time before she was eating crop circle once more. But the sword didn’t fall.
“Again!” she commanded. Before Isabel could even stand, she was racing toward her and reflexes she didn’t even know she had, kicked in. Literally. Isabel thrust out her leg from the ground and nailed the warrior in the gut, which gave her enough time to rise. Laughter danced in Amele’s eyes and she thought she saw a little bit of pride even. Isabel got brave and lunged, twisting the sword around and over her head, as she had watched Amele do in the yard. The rush of adrenaline and swoosh of the sword felt powerful; natural even. Of course, the attack was quickly blocked by Amele, but she got in three thrusts and quite a few more blocks before landing face down in the corn again. With every attempt, Isabel’s natural abilities began to rise up, like a phoenix from the flames. They sparred like that for what had to be hours, Isabel getting better and better with each round.
Immortal Dreams (Immortal Realms Book 1) Page 15
