“Clyde ran into the same problem,” the Vampire Queen claims from atop a pylon. Her leg is fully healed and she has the fabric-like gems on her body stretch to cover her skin. “As I said, every one of my followers has a jewel in their body. If I’m about to be killed, a spell goes off to put whoever is closest to me in my place. I get to move somewhere nearby to take advantage of your confusion or run away. Now, I have thousands of followers across Windemere. Do you think you can kill me that many times before I take your head? At the very least, Apelios will sink and allow me to escape.”
“You’re sick,” Mab says before she plunges her hand into the void. Reaching up to grab her enemy by the ankle, she ends up yanking a terrified halfling into the darkness instead. “Even if I have to fight you at the bottom of the ocean, I’m finishing this. You won’t get a second chance to attack my family. By the way, Clyde’s alive and well. So, your entire plan has been an utter failure.”
“Oh, I stopped caring about him once I saw his table manners,” Jewelz states with a wide grin. She spits a pearl out of her mouth and it ricochets off the ground to strike the burglar in the chin. “Saw a fang go flying that time. Just give it up, Winthrop. You lost and I’m willing to play with you another day. Killing you without an audience doesn’t feel right to me. You are right that I shouldn’t be so complicated next time. Without Sir Pendrac, I won’t have the resources, so it will be different. Maybe I’ll reveal the existence of Dawn Fangs to the world and make you a hunted woman. I could be a hero if I destroy you.”
“Another stupid plan,” the burglar mutters, every word resulting in teeth falling out of her aching mouth.
Hearing the pearl coming at her again, Mab rolls to the side and catches the gemstone as it goes by. She throws it at Jewelz and watches it split the skull of an old man, her chuckling enemy appearing a few steps to the left. Before she can come up with a new plan, the frustrated thief is kicked in the knee and forced into a split. A punch drives her to all fours, but she refuses to fall completely no matter how violent she is stomped. She tries to drop into the shadows, but is grabbed by the neck and hurled through a tower of crates. Jewelz throws a handful of ambers at the tilting containers and sends all of them crashing on top of Mab. The gemstones that are scattered about the debris shudder before erupting into spikes, one of which lifts the burglar into the air by impaling her through the chest. Feeling a squirming in her damaged lung, she snaps the end off and jumps as the colorful spires merge to become a liquid-like wave. Running across the dock, she is nearly yanked back into the construct, but the shard in her body burrows through her torso instead. Staggering ahead, she drops into a thin shadow and falls out of the underside of the pier. With her hands still in the void, she swings herself through the damp planks and is immediately kneed in the back. Rolling and bouncing into a pile of ropes, the burglar gets to her feet and watches as the Vampire Queen walks towards her. A ringing in her ears throws off her balance, but she manages to clumsily avoid the first gem aimed at her head. The others hit her in every major joint and explode into balls of spikes, which drives her to the ground.
“Not that tough when you go against an army,” Jewelz says while flipping her enemy over with a gentle kick. Crouching like a gargoyle, she pokes at the glistening points that are protruding from the burglar’s shoulders. “You forgot that I studied you, Winthrop. Your shadows and claws mean nothing if you can’t kill in a single blow. There is nothing about you that I have to fear any more. What do you think?”
“I’m not and have never been obsessed with you,” Mab growls, her head pounding from an internal pressure. Whispers come to her mind, but the words are too faint for her to understand what the spirits are trying to say. “That’s what you wanted all along. Not revenge or making me suffer. All you wanted was recognition from me. You’ve been obsessed with me for centuries while I never knew you were alive, which you couldn’t stand. I will never become the creature that you are, Jewelz. Once I kill you, I will forget about you.”
“None of what you say is true.”
“Your scowl says otherwise.”
“Maybe I’ll kill and forget you.”
“I hear them calling . . . They aren’t happy with you.”
“Who are you talking about?”
Sliding her hands under her body, Mab feels her fingers slide into her own shadow. “They want release from their bonds. I can hear their rage and sadness. Bodies alive, but spirits deadened by your influence. They have spent years on the verge of passing over, but you won’t let them go. Men, women, and children demanding freedom. Devour every bite, my friends and pets, because this feast is to save thousands of souls.”
Before she can be grabbed, Mab plunges into the void and feels her body grow cold. She uses her powers to follow the voices that are begging for help. Her head aches as her consciousness drifts and stretches across the globe, the sensation of almost losing herself lingering in the back of her mind. Ruby needles fly into the darkness, the projectiles stopping the instant they touch the Dawn Fang’s darkening skin. Monsters of all shapes and sizes gather around, their senses picking up an unfamiliar energy that is both terrifying and inviting. None dare to get too close to Mab, whose body becomes as black as a starless night and drips liquified shadows. The crystal spikes in her joints are devoured by the darkness, which begins to spread and transform into thousands of threads that go in search of the Vampire Queen’s enslaved followers. When each one has snared a target, the Dawn Fang pulls all of the tethers and drags every vampire into the void. The monsters disperse to enjoy the unexpected meal while the voices in Mab’s head become a chorus of thanks that steadily dwindle until the final voice is abruptly cut off. Sidestepping a sapphire lance that is aimed at her head, the relaxed burglar sheds the shadows covering her body before returning to the dock fully healed and no longer bright pink.
“You’re alone now,” she says while getting her jacket. Putting it on, she ducks a kick and casually sidesteps a swarm of edged quartzes. “This is where you’re going to die. I want you to fight with all of your strength because I’m not going to let you escape. Come at me with everything you have.”
“I won’t lose to you again!” Jewelz screams before rushing forward.
The two vampires become blurs of motion as they block, strike, and slash at each other, both of them quickly healing the superficial injuries. A kick sends Mab into the air, but she vanishes into her jacket to come out behind Jewelz. Her claws skid off a patch of diamond armor that erupts into a javelin that she narrowly avoids. Flipping over a swinging leg and leaping as soon as she hits the ground, the burglar catches her falling jacket. Spinning the garment to temporarily blind the enraged Vampire Queen, she thrusts her arm through a hole to stab her enemy in the chest. Unable to see Jewelz’s attacks coming, Mab grips the woman by the sternum and holds on when two kicks shatter both sides of her pelvis. With a twist, she snaps the thick bone and delivers an awkward punch that knocks her enemy back a few steps. Both Dawn Fangs step away to heal their injuries and try to think of a way to end the fight before the shaking island sinks.
All of the crates on the dock begin to rattle and an explosion in the distance causes Mab to fear that she is too late. Instead of Apelios falling apart, the sky is filled with all of the gems that Jewelz has gathered over the centuries. The ones from the city and arena are joined by those that were stored at the dock, which fly out in colorful geysers. Beams of rainbow light fall upon the land as the stones converge on their master’s location. Mab quickly stuffs her jacket into her own shadow before the area is battered by the falling jewels, each one striking like a meteorite. The burglar is consumed by the dust and chunks of earth that are kicked up by the barrage, which leaves an untouched circle around the Vampire Queen. Baring her four fangs, Jewelz continues her attack until she feels something strange beneath her feet. She looks down to see that she is standing on Mab’s jacket and her own attack is preventing her from moving away. The garment’s tail flips up as the burglar
leaps out of the void and slices into the Vampire Queen’s neck. Years of having her replacement spell keeping her alive cause Jewelz to hesitate as the clawed hand passes through her flesh. The delay is enough to prevent her from reacting and her head is separated from her shoulders with very little resistance. As the remaining gemstones fall to the ground like a rain of harmless pebbles, the victorious Dawn Fang catches the severed body part. Grinning at the shocked expression that is stuck on her enemy’s face, Mab casually chucks it into a nearby hole.
“And I will never give you a second thought,” she declares before sinking into her own shadow. She stops with only her head above the surface and focuses on drawing all of the jewels into the void for her to gather later. “I’m sure the ship can handle the weight. After all, what kind of thief would I be if I left all of these pretties to sink into the ocean?”
16
Not wanting to get too close to the mortal city of Gaia, the damaged ship stays in the distance and waits for two more vessels to arrive. Taking flanking positions, one flies the fanged orchid of Nyte while the other has no distinctive symbols on its flags. If it was not for Chastity standing next to the halfling captain, who has his shirt on backwards, the exhausted vampires would have assumed they were under attack. As hooks and gangplanks are extended to moor the ship, Titus releases the broken mast and lets it fall towards the heavily dented prow. The loud crash causes everyone to jump, but the warrior ignores their reactions and goes to help secure the last of the ropes. As they are unloading the salvageable supplies and equipment, a swarm of bees crosses over to the battered vessel and Nadia materializes amidst the workers. The elegant orc gains stares from all who have never seen her, but the others casually walk around her with muttered requests for her to get out of the way. It is not until Bob whistles and points his lance at where Xavier and Clyde are standing next to the wheel that she moves. She only makes it a few steps before breaking into a run that knocks people out of her way. Coming to the top of the stairs, Nadia is about to go around her brood brother when he calmly steps out of the way and shoves Lord Tempest to his wife. The pair collide with a kiss as Mab steps out of a nearby shadow. She is about to say something when Clyde covers her mouth, her cutting remark muffled against his palm.
“I missed you so much,” Lady Sylvan whispers when she finally pulls away from her husband. Checking his hand, she is relieved to see that his ring is still there and perfectly polished. “Mr. Stavros tells me that Nyte is clear of Apelios agents and our people believe that we have simply been on a vacation. I know you dislike mortal food, but Chastity is sending us home with a variety of treats that I’ve become quite fond of. There really wasn’t much else to do in her place since I don’t drink and refuse to do anything physical with people who are not my dear soulmate.”
“After what I have been through, I do not think I would mind some mortal food,” Xavier admits with a smile. Putting his arm around his wife’s waist, he slowly puts his hand out for Clyde to shake. “Know that I still wish to defeat you. This . . . adventure has shown me that while you are not as horrible as I believed, you are still dangerous. The two of us cannot exist in the same world. I want to rule and you refuse to be controlled. Not to mention the power you displayed makes me fear that you are a threat to both our kingdoms. All that being said, I do not feel it is right to resume our war at this time.”
“I don’t feel like ripping your head off right now either,” Clyde admits as he waves to Chastity. He sees her throwing something and raises his hand to catch a cookie that is shaped like a handprint. “You’re right that I don’t want to be under your thumb. I also think you’re a relic of the past who needs to be put down. Dawn Fangs can’t live the way old-world vampires did, which means no councils or nobility. As monstrous as I can be, I’ve realized that integrating with mortals is the only way to survive. So, we have a difference of philosophy alongside the hatred we have for each other.”
“You can’t have a true kingdom without a Queen, brood brother,” Nadia interjects, her eyes darting towards Mab. She smirks when the burglar pretends to be more interested in Bob vaulting to the other ship. “I did have a feeling that things would turn out this way. You two wish to fight to the death, but you also have some level of respect for each other. Perhaps a temporary truce would work? We shall agree to spend the next three years building our kingdoms instead of attacking each other. No more raids on our towns and no more robberies of our supply lines. The Scrumptious Siren could be used as a neutral location to sign a document.”
“I would rather just shake on it,” the Lord of Nyte admits, his face changing to show his fatigue.
Clyde shrugs and takes the other man’s hand, his mouth twitching at the fleeting thought of using all of his strength. “That sounds more my style. Besides, I don’t trust wordy documents because you can find loopholes. This kind of agreement can’t be deciphered any other way. So, I guess that’s it then.”
“What about you making a council?” Mab asks after taking the cookie from her partner’s hand. Biting off four of the five fingers, she flings the treat back to Chastity, who chuckles at the response. “I don’t know politics that well, but that feels like an act of aggression towards Nytefall. It’s a sign of you wanting to extend your power and amass various armies to attack on multiple fronts.”
Caught off-guard by the comments, Nadia and Xavier’s eyes shift from one enemy to another. With Clyde scratching his head and Mab casually cleaning her nails, the regal pair are unable to figure out if they are up to something. They are distracted by the clanging of weapons on the deck, all four turning to see that Archillious has tried to ambush Decker. Refusing to let the assassin cause a scene, Nadia turns the broken mast into a wood golem that smacks the troublesome man to the other ship. A nod of thanks from Decker and an excited wave from Stephanie causes the Lady of Nyte to want nothing more than to go home. Squeezing her husband’s warm hand, she flashes a demure smile and gives a gentle, yet strong, tug towards the stairs.
“It will take several decades for me to create a new council, which feels like a waste of time,” Xavier claims, his voice tinged with bitterness. Thinking back to all of the work that was undone thanks to Jewelz, he cannot stop himself from chuckling. “All of them were worthless in the end. Those who were not taken by the Vampire Queen will still be given the positions and lands they were promised. I have to keep my word to my own people. As far as calling them a council, I would not go that far. In the world I wish to create, a nobility must exist, so think of these people as my hopes for the future. Although, some of them lost loved ones to this attack and having some of the Vampire Queen’s treasure might ease their pain.”
“Good luck getting it from the bottom of the ocean,” Mab nonchalantly says.
“I am to believe you did not take as much as you could carry?”
“The battle wore me out.”
“What about the fact that you would not let anyone into the lower hold?”
“I made a big hole in there when I brought us to Apelios, so it was dangerous.”
“That fortune might have been the greatest horde of jewels in the world.”
“Shame I couldn’t steal it then.”
Clyde clears his throat to stop the conversation and nods to the empty deck below. “I think we should part ways. Hopefully, this is the only time we have to work together because it felt awkward. No offense, Tempest, but your presence makes my temper rise too quickly. Call me petty and immature, but I do find it hard to forgive your previous sins against me. Still, the truce will hold and I promise not to be the one to break it. Give Stavros a genuine thanks along with a big hug from me for getting the information Mab needed to save us. Pretty sure that’s going to confuse him.”
“Have a safe trip,” the Lord of Nyte says, his face showing little amusement towards the mocking of his spymaster. Letting Nadia lead him by the hand, he stops halfway down the stairs and turns back. “I am thankful for you making sure I came home alive and for prote
cting my wife. Consider this truce my way of squaring my debt to you. That way, we do not begin to think we are working towards a permanent peace or becoming friends. I refuse to let my greatest enemy grow weak with sentimentality.”
“I expect you to be stronger when we fight on our own terms,” Clyde replies before turning his back on the nobles. He catches Mab by the wrist to stop her from heading for their ship and holds up a finger until their enemies set sail. “He did bring up a good point though. That was a lot of treasure. Did you take any of it?”
“I need a second house . . . Maybe a third,” Mab answers with a playful grin.
“Good because I would have worried if you didn’t take it.”
“Awww, that’s so sweet.”
“Are you feeling okay?”
Blushing slightly, the burglar puts her hands behind her back and takes one step into the shadows. She disappears and leaves Clyde to jump to the other ship by himself, the Dawn Fang landing in the crow’s nest. No sooner has he left than the damaged vessel shudders and cracks in half. He expects Mab to reappear on the deck below, but instead he hears Lost shout that they are ready to set sail. Before he can drop down to his friends, a note floats out of his shadow and nearly gets blown away by the strong wind. Reading the message, Clyde can only scratch his head and wonder what is waiting for him at home.
*****
“Went ahead and waiting to talk over dinner. Both direct and vag . . . Did I walk into the wrong house?” Clyde asks as he steps through the front door.
The four-story building is clear of the piles of treasure that had been neatly organized by Mab over the years of successful heists. A few pictures remain on the walls and even the furniture is gone, faint scuff marks the only sign that they were ever there. Running a finger along the edge of a doorway, Clyde is surprised to find that there is no dust. Heading for the kitchen, he is relieved to see that there are pots and pans in the sink, but they have been cleaned to the point of appearing unused. He checks the pantry to find it empty aside from a single can of beans that he remembers Mab telling him was already in the house when she took it. Catching the smell of food, he makes his way upstairs and checks every room, all of which have been emptied completely. Walking by the bathroom, the Dawn Fang opens the door to find a damp towel on the basin, which still has a little water at the bottom. Clyde catches movement when he is about to leave and turns to find Mab’s damaged jacket blowing in a gentle draft. Seeing the garment hanging on a hook instead of being with the burglar, he senses that there is a problem and rushes up the stairs to the fourth floor. Fangs bared and fist clenched, he tears down the door to the master bedroom and is immediately hit in the head with a turkey leg.
Rivalry (War of Nytefall Book 3) Page 28
