by Jaime Marks
The image shifted and she saw herself rocking Star to sleep. Another image formed, this one of her holding her daughter’s hands, helping her to walk. This one was Star’s first birthday. Her first day of school. The day she learned to ride a bike. A school concert she sang in. As the images flowed one right after the other of all that she and Star had done a strength and conviction rose in her heart. She would not leave her daughter alone in this world. Sure she had Sean, but it wouldn’t be the same. Her daughter needed her, but how, how did she break free of all this?
An image shone brightly through the Darkness. Marcus was kissing her as a Light swirled brightly through them both illuminating everything around them. It was the image from her dream. The moment her heart had taken flight as she realized he was there with her, that he loved her. Another image of him kissing her on the deck, the Light shining brightly once more as she lost herself to him. She didn’t understand. What was he trying to show her, she needed a kiss? It didn’t make sense.
It was the next image when realization hit her. The kiss they had shared just after she had asked him never to leave her again, to stay with her. When his lips met hers ever so chastely she had known. It was the moment she knew, not just felt, that he completed her. In that instant the wall she had around her heart had crumbled and she knew that she loved him. When she kissed him back the Light that radiated from them both was so intense it blinded her. Love, the answer was love. She had to hold onto the love in her heart.
She focused on all the love she felt for him, all the love she had for her daughter, feeling the warmth of the love she felt for them both wrap around her. She let it grow filling her as it pushed back against the Darkness. Sending it out she joined her energy with his and she could feel him drawing it in and sending it back, connecting and binding them both. The icy chill within her began to fade.
Marcus could feel the moment he reached her. He felt the love she sent back to him, the Light. The Darkness within her began to recede and the Light began to slowly wrap between them both. He drew as much from her as he could, pulling it all into him, Dark and Light, as she wrapped the Light around his heart. He fed on the feel of her, what it was like to hold her in his arms, to comfort her, to kiss her. The Light began to wash the wisps out of her aura.
He heard a sigh behind him, “You always were a fool, Marcus. I have handed the world to you twice and you insist on refusing it.” Cymeryn snarled, obviously sensing the shift in them both. “Too bad you won’t get the chance to live long enough to realize the mistake you made.”
He felt a sudden breeze and the loud clang of metal on metal, a sudden orb of Light flowed over both he and Reyana as the entire area shone in golden hues. A very familiar voice echoed behind him, “Now, now, Cymeryn, you were not really going to strike your blooded twin while his back was turned were you? But then why would I expect one such as you to have any honor.”
“Well, well, how nice. The impotent King has been let off his chain. Whatever will the Fae think of you, disobeying the Council like that?” Cymeryn scoffed, “Whatever will they do if I kill you here, now?”
Marcus nodded when Mythos glanced to him. He was too weak yet to take her with him and he would not leave her so he pulled her to his body and inched over to the wall, taking care to remain in the sun. He continued to stabilize the essences within her as he held her.
Mythos swung his golden blade through the air as the Fae and the Shade paced defensively around one another. “It does not surprise me that you know of the workings of the Council, Cymeryn, only that you are fool enough to admit it among witnesses.”
“Ha,” the Shade spat, “What witnesses, Mythos? By saving the life of my blooded twin you only buy his turning more time. Even now he struggles against the power of my essence….as does your sister.” Cymeryn smirked boldly as fire danced in Mythos’ eyes. “Look at them Mythos, feel them. They shall both be Shade.”
“You may think your brother weak, Cymeryn, but he has resisted Lazurys’ pull this long. I doubt you shall find him as easy a conquest as you believe.”
“Perhaps not on his own, but I will own Reyn,” Cymeryn laughed as Mythos cringed, “She is mine Mythos, a gift to cement my new rank, and I always collect what is mine. How I shall enjoy taking her to new levels of pain….and pleasure.”
A growl percolated in Marcus’ throat as Mythos lunged forward meeting the Shade’s blade, but he held back his rage. He could not allow his brother to taunt him, to draw the Darkness out of him. He focused on Reyana, on the love she sent him, the love they shared. He gently kissed her lips feeling the warmth from her flowing into him, filling his heart.
She stirred in his arms a soft groan coming from her throat. He pulled back to see her eyes flutter open, Light swirling within them and relief coursed through him. “Shh, love, you must lie still.” His whisper barely audible in her ear. “He must think you are still struggling under the pull of his essence. If he knows you’re stable he may make another attempt.” She closed her eyes but her Light surged into him and he knew she was stable for the moment. Between the two of them they had managed to balance the energies in her just enough to stave off the awakening, but the reprieve would not last long. He had to get them out of here before the energy within her began to magnify once more, or before it became more than he could draw into himself.
He opened himself to her, letting her Light pour into him, rebuilding and strengthening his own. He knew better than to try to run. Cymeryn would simply leave the battle and mist into their path the moment he tried. They both knew she was right on the edge and he wouldn’t let her go if it was within his power. Awakening her to Darkness was their strongest option to possess her. A Fae could be turned to Darkness, but a Shade was almost impossible to turn to Light. One who was awakened Shade? To his knowledge it had never been done.
The sound of metal on metal drew his attention as he turned back to the battle. In truth Mythos was their only hope. He was formidable in battle, matching Cymeryn blow for blow. Neither had managed to draw first blood and the Shade appeared to be weakening, not able to maintain his full strength in the sun. Mythos drew a ball of Light essence in his hand causing Cymeryn to mist back, dodging the orb’s path as it was thrown. He almost looked to be winded as he glanced up to the sun.
His twin’s eyes met his own. “I shall see you soon, my brother, very soon. This is not over, the game has only just begun.” An evil grin laced his lips, “Be sure to give Kato my regards.” He watched as Cymeryn misted away.
She felt the presence of him leave, but she could still feel the echo of him in her being. What did they call him? Cymeryn. Why did that name echo through her? Did she know him, dream of him? It didn’t matter, she never wanted to see him again, whatever he was. Though if she were honest, there was a part of her that relished in the power he sent through her, part of her that relished in him. Something inside her felt his energy was deliciously empowering and wanted to feel more. It was more than that though. Some part of her called specifically to him. She shivered, the very idea of it repulsive to her. She feared that part of her right now more than she even feared him. She couldn’t let it take hold in her. She felt it lashing up, striving to gain dominance over the Light.
A gentle hand caressed her cheek, “It’s alright, love, it’s alright.” Marcus whispered, lightly kissing her cheek as if he could sense her fear. She opened her eyes staring into the familiar blue gray of his, the golden glow of them a welcoming warmth. She might have lost herself to the comfort of him, letting herself break down, but she couldn’t let down her guard. They weren’t alone and they were still exposed.
She looked up as a car drove by. “Did he see us?” She asked nervously.
“Who? Oh, the human?” She raised a brow in question at the casual use of the word human, but thought better of questioning it now. “No, we are shielded, they cannot see us unless they have the blood in them. Any who do we can easily handle. They will not remember.”
She nodded only mild
ly surprised. After all, she was starting to realize that not all of her dreams were dreams. They had just somehow confused her into believing they were. As far as the human comment, well shit. Obviously they weren’t human. Humans didn’t glow or spawn shadow wisps from their skin. They didn’t form and disappear from thin air. They also did throw around balls of ick that almost killed you. She had always wanted answers, now she wondered if it wouldn’t be better to just go back to thinking she was crazy and it was all a dream.
What were they? Better question. What was she? She had been glowing that same glow she saw on him and his friends, only it had enveloped her. Actually if she thought about it hers was almost brighter and more intense. Mysterious illness, mysterious glow, was she human?
“I can see your mind is churning, my love,” Marcus gently hooked a finger under her chin, pulling her to meet his gaze. “Are you alright?”
“I guess that depends on your definition.” She huffed at the idea of ‘alright’. The coy smile he gave her only serving to aggravate her. She felt like a huge hole had just been cut in her bag of marbles, leaking all the sanity in the world all over the ground and he found it amusing. “Let’s see. I’m a walking light bulb with no off switch. Some dark, nasty thing wants to play with me like I’m his own personal rag doll. I almost suffocated while my body decided to try to rip itself in three and I don’t know, erupt or something. All the dreams and nightmares that I thought were concoctions of my imagination are walking around free,” she reached over pinching him feeling a small twinge of satisfaction as he jumped. “And yeah, definitely corporeal so not a ghost. Oh and apparently I may not be “human”. I’m alive, I think, and not thrashing around in pain at the moment, so sure” she glared at him “I suppose you could say I’m ‘alright’.”
“Well,” A deep voice sounded behind her, “I can see her temper is unchanged.”
She looked back to see a, well whatever they were, towering over them both. He smiled warmly down at her. She couldn’t recall who he was, but there was something oddly familiar about him. Then again there was something oddly familiar about the lot of them. “And who the hell are you that you seem to know me so well.” He looked to Marcus, pain and hesitance evident in his eyes.
She felt Marcus shift. He groaned as he pulled himself to his feet, guiding her with him. The man reached out and steadied them both as he listed slightly, catching himself on the wall. “Reyana, I know this is all confusing. You deserve answers and I promise you’ll have them, but it’s best if we get somewhere safe. Cymeryn may still come back, and if he does he will not be alone.” Marcus sighed as he looked into her eyes. “You are so close to awakening love, I fear any knowledge we might impart to you might push you over that ledge and I may not be strong enough to help ease you let alone stabilize you at the moment.”
She gave him a shrewd look, reaching through the bond she felt between them instinctually. She could feel nothing but love and concern for her. No deception, no reluctance. She could see the wisdom in what he said. She had been thinking it herself. A wave of fatigue hit her and he caught her as she stumbled almost collapsing himself.
“We need to get you both someplace safe.” The other spoke. “This is not my realm though, Marcus. You know this world better than I. I will help you, but I will need to follow your lead.”
The men met each other’s stare head on. She could feel the distrust that laced through Marcus but it quickly ebbed. She studied them both as Marcus reluctantly clasped the other guy forearm to forearm. Some sort of pact had been made, an agreement reached. She just didn’t know what it was.
“She cannot stay anywhere in this realm.” Marcus glanced at her as if monitoring her reactions. She nodded at him to continue. “I know she can’t be taken into the territories or the Realm of Light, but there is a place in between the human world and our own. It would be safe there and they wouldn’t be able to sense her.”
“Are you sure? I can sense any F…anyone throughout the realms wherever they may be and the same could be said of…their kind. Right now she is a beacon to both.”
Marcus smirked. “No one save Lucerna was as able to find me there for seventy-five years.” He met the other’s stare dead on once more. “It’s my home.”
Chapter 7
Cymeryn took form in a darkened bedroom across town. He walked around the room taking it in. Everything was done over in a black and white décor. A plush black carpet covered the floor. Dark drapes covered the windows and a sliding glass door. The white walls had pictures of what appeared a happy family of three donned in black frames. He walked over to the large black dresser against the wall and picked up a scarf that lay discarded on the top of it drawing it to his nose. Delicious, he thought, she really was quite delicious. Of course she had always been thus, but now? He had had but a taste of the power she had to offer. Her strength of will was enticing really. He wanted her.
More so than the mission and the spoils of success, he wanted to own her, to taste her essence. He wanted his essence to flow freely through her unrestrained by the Light. She had felt a taste of him, he knew she had, could feel it in her and though she would indeed deny it, part of her had thrived in it. She had almost been his if not for his twin.
In truth the moment he had seen Marcus, had felt him, he knew he would rather turn him than kill him. The strength that coursed through their shared blood called to each other. He was so close to the edge. His twin walked a fine line indeed and the very truth that he had resisted Lord Lazurys so long was a testament to the strength he possessed. He thought to turn them both. To use that bond against them both. The more he tasted her, felt his own essence coursing through her though, the more he wanted her as his own.
He had taken Reyana from Marcus before, and he was no fool, Reyn was definitely the incarnation of Reyana. He had figured giving her back once they were both newly Shade would quelch any thirst for revenge that survived Marcus’ turning. He had even thought they might share her, relishing in the very essence of her. The very thought of the ecstasy they could evoke in her brought a grin to his face. He wondered how much she could take before she would break. But then, why share her when he could make her his own. Take what he wanted from her. Perhaps she was simply a shiny new toy and once he had his fill he would toss her aside as she had once done him. Marcus could always enjoy the remnants he chuckled to himself.
A low groan of pain sounded from the bed calling him from his thoughts. The human he had come for writhed in pain. He studied the male. He was close to the awakening, but not close enough. No matter, there were ways around that. He tossed the scarf aside and approached the bed. “Wake up,” He commanded, “I have use for you.”
“Who…are you?” Sean gritted as his eyes slid open. His expression strained and clouded with pain. Cymeryn smiled, it was only going to get worse.
“I am the one you will call master,” He smirked, “What is your name?”
“S-Sean,” He winced, “Are you causing….this?”
He laughed smugly, “No, at least not yet. Sean, what a droll name, and it will not do. From hence forth you are Syneous. For it is your sin, your betrayal that will deliver her to us. It is quite an honor you are being gifted so be joyous. I rarely awaken progeny. Now brace yourself. This is going to hurt,” Cymeryn smirked, “Try to enjoy the divinity of your awakening with the strength of my essence.”
“Wait, what do you….me-?”
Sean didn’t get another word out as Cymeryn raised both his arms casting Dark essence from his palms. He grinned wickedly as the essence flowed into the man filling his being. Dark swirls erupted from Syneous’ body as he screamed in pain arching off the bed from the sheer force of the power flowing through him. The man was beneath him really, not the strength he typically sought in the Shade he awakened, so he should be honored indeed. If not for his connection to Cymeryn’ desire, he would probably have been left to die. That is unless some lesser Shade felt they had use for him. Perhaps he would have become someone’s
new favorite plaything, he still may once this was over. Still, Cymeryn’s own essence would grant him strength and power he would be otherwise incapable of, so he may yet prove worthy. He let the essence continue to flow until his human skin stretched, a fine sheer of black ooze began to seep from his pores as they tore and it filled his eyes which were peeled open in horror.
Cymeryn pulled up a chair to watch as the awakening took hold. Syneous tore at his human flesh, ripping it away. The awakening was not always so violent. Generally much like with the Fae the essence built within them on its own. If left to its own devices it would overwhelm the human system and they would die, seemingly of unknown reasons. The human body was too fragile to hold together through the awakening alone. The process was slow and torturous burning out the systems before the changes could take hold. Essence was needed to be traded back and forth between those being awakened and a Shade to complete the process. It created a bond between the Shade and the progeny. One he generally avoided unless there was something for him to gain from it.
Forcing an awakening required the essence to be forced through the human body, overtaking it quickly, merging with what little essence was present. Forcing the changes to tear through the victim rapidly enough to take hold before the systems could burn out. This was beautiful he thought, as he revealed in the man’s pain, his systems overtaken and flooded with the essence of the Shade. He fed from the fear and agony that lashed through him, flowing across their newly formed connection. Delightful, absolutely delightful. It alone almost made the nuisance of the connection worth it, that and the fact that it would deliver to him Reyn.
Mythos studied her as he carried his sister in his arms. She had her eyes synched tightly shut and her arms curled into herself. She hadn’t wanted him to carry her, to even touch her, but she was too weak to walk of her own accord and Marcus being too weak to carry her himself had persuaded her. He wanted to embrace her, for her to know who he was, but she did not know him and he could not push her.
