In the Light of Darkness

by Delizhia Jenkins

  “Which will give you the glory of telling the story should you survive,” Aiden replied coolly.

  The other flunkies looked at each other uneasily, as if they were unsure of whose lead to follow which annoyed me even more.

  “C’mon Kenya,” Joseph pleaded. “We need their help just as much as they need ours. The House of Light have been decimating our numbers by the hundreds daily. We don’t have the power to fight-“

  “We have been doing just fine,” Kenya huffed.

  “If you call running from abandoned house to abandoned house just fine then you are crazy sister,” Joseph argued. “We can’t run from them forever. And even when we fight back it is always a close call.”

  Aiden and I watch in amusement as the two of them go back and forth until finally Kenya stalks off. She hates being challenged publicly, and I know this without having to siphon the information from her. I take it she was the strongest in her compound until the raids, which perhaps sprouted speculation that she is the one chosen to lead the Greys to victory. What she doesn’t know is that there will be no victory for either side. And, if she thinks simply knowing how to fight is going to be enough for her to defeat Lucena she has another thing coming. I have yet to encounter Lucena personally, but after all that I have been through recently, it is easy for me to conclude that if Kenya doesn’t drop the attitude-and soon- she won’t survive long enough to obtain any glory. Joseph looks at me apologetically. “I apologize for her behavior. I think she is overwhelmed and is too prideful to admit. She wants to prove that she has what it takes to keep everyone safe, but-“

  “It’s fine,” I say. “I understand. And don’t apologize for her; that is what has given her the false pretense of being a leader. You guys are not her flunkies so don’t carry yourselves like you are.” As soon as the words leave my mouth I want to kick myself. Now I am starting to sound like my dad.

  “So are you guys in or out because we don’t have a lot of time,” Aiden says finally.

  “I’m in,” Joseph says with excitement.

  “I’m in too,” the redhead by the name of Shad adds.

  “What about you?” Aiden asks the all too quiet Melanie, who nervously exchanges glances between Shad and Joseph.

  “C’mon Melanie, you are the fastest on our team,” Joseph pleads. “We need you.”

  Melanie smiles shyly at Joseph and pushes a thick strand of chestnut hair from her heart shaped face.

  “But what about Kenya?” she asks, looking at me and then returning her gaze to Joseph.

  “Kenya will come around,” he shrugged.

  “So does this mean all three of you are in?”

  Joseph offers Melanie a wide toothy grin which she coyly returns. With a face flushed crimson, I take that as a yes. I suppose a crush is motivation enough to jump into what Kenya described to be as a “suicidal” situation. Next thing I know, Joseph scoots in closer to me-to Aidan's dismay and bombards me with a million and one questions, to which most of them I strategically evade. No they don’t need to know what all of my powers are…and no he doesn’t need to know that neither Kai nor Demetrius are my real parents…No they don’t need to know I have a psychic link to the House of Darkness King…

  Kenya returns a short while later and begrudgingly agrees to join us, but commits to insisting that we promise to never summon her for help again. That is fine with me.

  Aiden sends Kenya, Shad and Melanie to retrieve whatever weaponry they have while Joseph accompanies us to the compound. His eyes widen with excitement as if he is about to walk through the gates of Disneyland for the first time when he hops into the backseat of the Humvee. Personally, I don’t want Joseph or any of his band of bandits to know where I hunker down, not because I dislike him or anything but because the compound is sacred to me. It holds the last of what my parents pulled together and kept running for our protection.

  During the thirty minute ride, Aiden and I are forced to listen to Joseph talk about his family. His father had been a fireman and ended up dying in a blast just south of downtown Oakland. His mother was a half-breed Grey who did not know much about who she was, which resulted in her being killed by a Warrior of Light when he was just 13. After that, he went to live with his dad’s brother for a short time before he was killed in another round of raids which left him orphaned by 15 and on the run. He was adopted by another family who happened to be Greys where he was trained to fight and learned of our history. He met Kenya two years ago after once again watching another family he cared about be slaughtered by the House of Light. Kenya had her own team of strong Greys patrolling the area, and shortly after meeting her he met Melanie and Shad, whom both share similar stories. Kenya’s compound was ransacked by a group of Berserkers searching for the Grey of whom the Prophecy spoke of. Joseph then confirmed what I already knew: Kenya believed that it was her the prophecy spoke of, as did her entire clan and was raised as such until the day came when every last member of her clan minus Shad, Melanie, and Joseph were killed. They’ve been together ever since.

  I almost feel bad for Kenya. To be raised believing you were someone and find out that you are not must be terribly depressing. But then again, I don’t feel bad for her. That sense of self entitlement, and arrogance without ever knowing what it is like to walk a day in my shoes. She should be grateful she is NOT me.

  We pull up to what is supposed to be an apartment complex and make our way through the underground. I quickly disarm the security system so that Joseph may pass through unharmed. He then asks if I will ever adjust the system to include him on the radar to which I politely decline. There is no way Kenya and her crew are camping out in here-

  Be nice…

  Aiden smiles at me after invading my thoughts once again with his commentary. I frown. I am entitled to my own private mental rant without interruption.

  Whatever, I shoot back. I don’t want him getting too comfortable.

  Aiden chuckles and walks past us into the spacious living room. “Grab what you can carry,” he says taking the lead. “Dawn, make sure you grab your sword.”

  While he is issuing out commands Biscuit comes and greets me in his typical fashion. I take a few minutes to take him outside to let him do his business before bringing him back inside to eat. When he has eaten his fill I refill his bowl and his specially made water bowl that connects to a filter near the sink. I don’t know how long we will be gone but I have to make sure he will be ok. If push comes to shove, Biscuit is trained in how to let himself out without setting off any alarms, however I am quite confident my pooch will be just fine. I scratch his head and peck him on the nose to which he responds with a long wet tongue to my face.

  “Biscuit!” I laugh while giving him another rubdown.

  “Are you ready Dawn?” Aiden calls from one of the other rooms.

  I grab my sword, tuck a couple of daggers on my waist along with a 9mm. I tie my braids high above my head forcing all other unnecessary thoughts from my mind. I can sense the tendrils of darkness seeping into my spirit, calling me, begging me to summon my gifts into use, but I ignore it. My goal isn’t to kill as many Light Warriors as possible: the goal is to get my mom out alive. .

  Chapter 23

  Aiden

  With Dawn to my right in the front passenger seat and Joseph in the back, finally with his thoughts to himself and his headphones plugged into his ears, I can think. Whizzing down the residential streets of Oakland, climbing up and down the steep roads that remind me of the first few seconds during the initial climb to the top on a roller coaster, I consider all of the things that can go wrong in this mission. First, Dawn may be strong, but she isn’t ready. She does not have much experience in battle, although she has done exceptionally well herself, fighting members of my kind is no walk in the park, especially when dealing with hundreds. Second, Lucina's palace is damn near impenetrable. The instant we touch done into one of the many passageways she will know, which means we will have to move quickly. I have to get us as close to Kai as p
ossible to eliminate any chance of us losing Kai forever. Third, the team of Greys are no more ready than Dawn, and with Kenya’s desire to fill Dawn’s shoes and be the hero of the day-that in itself is going to be a problem. Delphine mentioned earlier for Dawn to ask for help, but who? I’m running out of resources.

  And then there is Kian. The big fuck is still out there stalking us, roaming the streets in hopes that he catches me off guard and claims Dawn for himself, masking it with intentions of introducing her to Han.

  Han.

  Speaking of him, it has been a couple of days since the last time he reached out and connected with her, and even longer since she’s experienced one of those dreams. As far as I know he is still trapped in the black hole of ice and darkness, along with some of the most terrifying members of his kingdom. If Dawn were to set him free, not only will she unleash one of the most powerful entities in all of the realms, but she will be the cause of an interdimensional war that will be completely unavoidable. By keeping Han locked away, at least for now the only entity we have to concern ourselves with is the House of Light and a few rogue members from various supernatural communities looking for a power grab. I know Dawn thinks by releasing Han, she can put an end to the House of Light, saving what is left of her race. Freeing Han would also free herself from his pull, but if she thinks she will be able to just move on to a “normal life” she is in for a rude awakening.

  My connection with Dawn is still strong. I can pretty much hear what she is thinking. She is worried about not making it in time to save Kai; and other unknown variables that we may not have covered. She is concerned about her peers, even Kenya, and I am right there with her on that. I steal a quick glance at her, recalling what it was like to taste her mouth and I shudder. She has no idea how much power she commands just from a kiss alone. Those full, soft lips that seem to hold its own permanent pout are enough to drive any man insane. I look forward to the day when she owns her unchallenged sexiness with every intention of being the one she claims. She is gazing out of the window, lost in her own thoughts and I leave her to her privacy. Whatever she is thinking about is not enough to concern me.

  I wonder who her mother was. Being born into the highest court of Light, I believed myself to have known everyone of importance. Whoever this being was, at one point was close enough to Lucena for Lucina to execute a plot of revenge. She could have been one of the many duchesses that paraded the halls on an almost daily basis indulging themselves in the limitless opportunities of pleasure my mother’s palace offered. Or, she could have been one of my father’s former concubines who managed to survive after his death…but unfortunately, whoever she was, Dawn bears no resemblance to anyone I can recall from the court. I do not want to contemplate just who her father might be considering he is from the House of Darkness. And then a thought hits me…

  Dawn isn’t a Grey. Well, she is, but she is the strongest form of it. Greys are the descendants of Han and his concubines, and depending on their bloodlines, some of the clans are extremely powerful-like Kai and Demetrius. Others, unfortunately throughout the ages may have become tainted with more human than Grey which renders them weaker-like Joseph. Dawn, however has pure blood Light and Darkness coursing through her veins, which means I don’t even know if Dawn should be considered human. Kai and Demetrius may have known this the entire time which is why they practically forced her to suppress her gifts. I frown at the thought. Had I known entirely what Dawn was in the beginning, I could have done a lot more to help her…

  We arrive at another abandoned building where the young team of Greys have been holing up, and I have to give it to these kids: they know how to survive. I park next to a fire hydrant and survey the scene before stepping outside of the car. This part of town is pretty much a ghost town. Trash litters the pavement along the entire block. Scorched buildings and ashen remains from fires of not so long ago are the only memorials of what used to be a thriving area in the city. I take my time getting out of the car. Even the air is tainted with residual smoke from when the fires raged on, devouring everything in its path. I remember seeing this on the news. The city officials claimed it to be the result of a busted gas line that somehow met a spark that all but destroyed this neighborhood. Humans have yet to fully discover that there is war that is about to spill out from beneath the shadows of darkness if something isn’t done soon.

  Dawn is observing the scenery, absorbing the invisible details that surround her. The echoes of pain filled cries for help; the phantom images of Greys both young and adult either attempting to hold the fort down by fighting back or attempting to run for their lives. As the Prince of the Highest Court, this has never been what I wanted as a part of our legacy. Slaying innocent victims over what lives in their blood? There are other more important things to wage war over. Kenya, Melanie and Shad emerge from the doorway of the burned building. I will talk to Dawn about letting them stay in her compound. These kids need our just as much as we need theirs.

  Kenya is strapped to the nines in ammunition, knives, and clutching what appears to be some sort of missile-like weapon. She eyes me hatefully, only for the hatred to increase tenfold when she sees Dawn clutching her sword. She doesn’t say a word. She just stands a few feet away from us, legs spread, jaws clenched tight, and her two loyal followers on either side of her. This chick must really think she is Rambo.

  I nod at Melanie and Shad in acknowledgement. Before I open the portal to take them through to the palace, there are a few things they need to know.

  “Listen up,” I command. “I know you guys think you have all of the experience in the world to go up against the queen, but I am telling you right now you are not. None of you. This is going to be an in and out mission: we go in, grab Kai and we leave. We only fight if necessary.”

  I pause to allow the information to sink in. Dawn is standing shoulder to shoulder to me on my right, facing the three Greys who seem to be having a hard time accepting a new leader. Her eyes are narrow, and the energy she is throwing off is pure power. It is the same concentrated energy she used when she took on those Light Warriors before I could respond. She is tapped into what I assume to be Han’s power source, however, I am concerned how long it will last. She has yet to learn how to control her powers and her bursts of energy never last more than a couple of hours before she is completely drained. We don’t have much time.

  “As you very well know the Warriors of Light are damn near indestructible unless you are experience-“

  “We have fought more Light Warriors than you-“ Kenya argues.

  “By the skin of your teeth,” I interrupt coolly. “There is no need for you to be foolish in a palace the size of New York city filled with Warriors of Light including the Queen and her personal guard.”

  “What do we do once we are inside?” Melanie asks timidly.

  “Stay close to me and Dawn. Dawn will lead you in the front, and I will guard you from behind.”

  “Does she even know the way?” Kenya asks sourly.

  “I will be the one guiding her,” I say flatly.

  “This is going to get all of us killed,” Kenya remarks with a sigh.

  “If you deviate from the plan, it will,” I say.

  The team of Greys shared nervous glances.

  “Listen, it is either now or never. You are either in or out. I am not forcing any of you to join us. You do have a choice…speak now or forever hold your peace.”

  “Well, like I said earlier,” Joseph declared proudly. “I’m in.”

  “So am I,” Melanie said stepping from behind Kenya’s shadow. Kenya eyes her with surprise.

  “What about you Kenya?” I ask. “Shad?”

  “I’m only going to make sure my team mate come back alive,” she said evenly.

  “I’m in,” Shad says finally. “Besides, I always wanted to know what the queen’s palace looks like.”

  I take one last look at the small, rag tag army consisting of young adults and with a wave of my hands, I open the doorway
to what used to be my home. The portal is simply a small tear in the fabric that separates the human world from all of the worlds in between. Blinding white light greets us, and I encourage them to shield their eyes and step through. Dawn takes the lead, slipping through the opening with ease, followed by Joseph, Melanie, Shad and finally Kenya who scowls at me before finally taking a step inside. I am right behind her, closing the portal while sending Dawn a telepathic message to keep walking for another fifteen feet through the blinding light. I encourage them to hold hands as she leads through the passageway until she reaches a silver door which happens to be the exit point from the dungeons. I know the instant she grabs the handle because I sense her shock from the power charge it emits when it is being opened. Once inside, she guides the team through. They wait for me in one of the many corridors that forms a labyrinth which eliminates any hopeful escapee the prospect of escape. Instead of dank, consuming darkness, like all areas of the palace, this place is filled with light, 24 hours a day. Joseph and the rest of the team gaze around in awe, mesmerized by the glass and the rainbow reflections that bounce from panel to panel in a colorful display of beauty.

  Kenya opens her mouth to speak but I motion for her to be quiet. We were fortunate. No sign of Warriors of Light anywhere, which means they are patrolling elsewhere. I shoot Dawn a message to start heading north. With me being so close to Kai in my own domain, I can hear her faint mental cries for help. She is dying. Dawn turns to face me, her eyes telling me she can sense Kai too and I encourage to keep moving and to not stop. The sound of marching boots echo throughout the hallways which tells me they know we are here.

  I send a telepathic message to Dawn: RUN!!!!

  Chapter 24

  Dawn

  Aiden’s message shoots through me like a bullet to its target. My senses are on fire, something else is being called forth into being from that dark, dormant part of myself I have desperately tried to suppress. I can hear, taste, see and feel everything that is around me. The atmosphere in the light realm is lighter, so as I shift my weight to my center as I prepare to freeze frame, it’s almost like I’m being hit with a shot of nitrous gas. The Greys who follow me, at least one of them cannot move as quickly as the others, so I grab Joseph’s hand and we become a blur. Aiden is behind us, moving at light speed with Melanie, Shad and Kenya tight on our heels.