Chain of Illusions (Bringer and the Bane)

by Brux, Boone

  The bite of the Bane had changed from a painful to an almost seductive scratching that left her feeling violated. She rubbed her arms, trying to chase away the chill stealing through her. She spoke to Siban’s back. “Something isn’t right.”

  “I feel it too, but I can’t pinpoint what.”

  They rounded a corner and the trail spread out to form a wide ledge. Now instead of a single path, there were three, each branching in a different direction. Gregory approached the first corridor, peering into the darkness. “Magnus and I will scout this passage. Stay here until we return.”

  With swords drawn, the two men entered the opening. A couple of yards in the darkness swallowed them. The dim light of Gregory’s glowb sparked and then grew. Rell watched until both men had rounded a bend and disappeared. As usual, Juna paced at the entrance, occasionally peering down the dark tunnel. The minutes ticked by and still Gregory and Magnus didn’t return. Rell tried not to show her growing concern as their absence lengthened.

  In an effort to divert her attention, she walked to the beginning of another trail that led in a straight, open path across the ravine. On the left the cavern wall extended upward into darkness. To her right was a straight drop to what was probably the bottom of the gorge. The trail was barely one person wide, but in her opinion, seemed by far the safest route. She stared along the skinny path. It may seem hazard-free but she was learning things were not always what they appeared.

  The seductive scratch of the Bane increased. She turned and opened her mouth to say something to Siban, but Gregory appeared from the dark passage.

  Juna spun and looked at him and then back down the tunnel. “Where is Magnus?”

  “Exploring another passage. He’ll join us in a few minutes.” Gregory walked to the trailhead and stood next to Rell. “That passage leads to a drop-off. There is no way to traverse the path.” He pointed across the open trail. “It appears this is our only choice.”

  Instantly Rell was on alert. She stared at Gregory. Perhaps it was the way he spoke or his mannerisms, but something seemed off about him. Her Tell skated over him, trying to decipher what was different, but could not identify anything specific.

  Siban inched forward, his eyes locking with hers. “Rell, come walk beside me.”

  His burning stare told her he felt it, too. Brita moved forward to stand beside Siban. “Perhaps we should wait until Magnus returns, Gregory.” She paused. “In case we run into anymore Bane.”

  Gregory smirked. “They haven’t been a problem for us as of yet.”

  “But the demon at the arch nearly killed you.” Brita pressed her hands over her heart. “We must be cautious.”

  “But I was victorious.” Gregory held his arms wide, his words confirming the deception unfolding before them. “Magnus will catch up.”

  Trying not to make any sudden movements, Rell took a slow step toward Siban, but Gregory’s hand shot out and gripped her arm. “Where are you going?” He pulled her toward him. The familiar darkness swamped her, fastening to her like thick molasses. “I said we travel this path.”

  With a hard shove, he pushed Rell forward onto the path. She stumbled. Her right foot slipped over the edge but she caught herself before she fell. The suffocating presence eased somewhat. She drew in a deep breath and slowly turned to face Gregory—or whatever was pretending to be Gregory.

  He smiled, his expression sending a shiver through her. “You see, there is no danger here.”

  Jade glared at him. “Why did you do that?”

  Before Rell could take a step back toward safety, a small rivulet of water that had been flowing down the wall shifted and streamed across the trail. It spread across her feet. She jumped backward, but the shimmering liquid followed her, covering her boots like a silvery sheet.

  The sensation of the ground shifting beneath her sent a rush of panic through Rell. She stumbled toward the ledge but righted herself. “The ground is moving.”

  Gregory laughed, the sound maniacal and not like the man she’d come to know.

  Jade made to lunge forward but Luc grabbed her arm, pulling her to a stop. “I don’t think that’s Gregory.”

  Rell struggled to keep her footing on what felt like sifting sand. No matter what she tried, she could not gain ground forward or back to safety. She clutched a jutting rocked sticking out of the cavern wall and tried to climb above the water, but it was impossible to lift her feet from the liquid. Deciding it best not to move, she clung to the wall and forced herself to remain still.

  Her eyes beseeched Siban to do something. His Tell touched her, giving her comfort that everything would be all right, but she didn’t relax.

  Siban gripped Brita’s arm and pulled her to his left. At the same time Ravyn rushed forward. Both she and Siban raised their daggers and in one smooth motion, hurled the weapons at Gregory. The blades buried deep in their supposed leader’s chest. Juna cried out, as if still not understanding the situation.

  Gregory’s image wavered. His mouth opened and closed, his now-yellow eyes rounding in shock. He grabbed for the knives, but Siban rushed forward and yanked the immortal weapons from his chest. In an instant, Gregory transformed from Bringer to Bane. Black tattoos covered every inch of the demon’s body. At the center of its chest the Summoner’s symbol extended outward, the points of the star reaching across its body.

  Rhys leveled a solid kick to the Bane’s stomach and catapulted the demon over the edge of the trail. A high-pitched scream followed the creature’s descent, the sound of its body hitting the bottom of the gorge abruptly cutting off the screech.

  Again the ground shifted beneath Rell. Her grip slipped slightly. She clawed at the wall, trying to get a firmer hold on the icy rocks and pressed her cheeks against the cold stone. The silver water bubbled around her feet, its flow increasing to run across the ground and over the edge. The liquid churned and roiled up her legs.

  “Siban!” She attempted a step forward but nearly lost her footing completely. “I can’t move.”

  “Hold on.” He crept toward her and extended his arm, stretching his body in an effort to reach her. “I’m coming.”

  Rhys gripped Siban’s wrist and then latched onto Luc. One by one the Bringers formed a human chain. Again Rell tried to move toward them but the water welled up, encompassing her legs, as if its single purpose was to drive her over the edge.

  A thunderous roar erupted from below her, shaking the ground more violently than before. Wind swept through the cavern, battering each one of them and pushing Siban back toward safety. One of her hands slipped free. Rell cried out, her arm swinging wildly in an attempt to grab the wall again, but the wind and water beat against her. Rocks tumbled from above, sliding downward in an avalanche of water and stones.

  Again the screams she’d heard in the corridor pierced her skull, their cries even louder than before. The water surged and lifted one foot completely from the ground. Rell could hear Siban and the other Bringers yelling at her, but the cries ricocheting through her head muffled their words. Her nails scraped along the stones as the force of the water drove her toward the edge. Pain throbbed through her fingers from trying to hold on, but inch by aching inch her grip slipped free.

  Time seemed to slow, all movements around her registering at once. The ground shifted and Siban lunged for her. Rell’s feet gave way and suddenly she was falling.

  The shrieks inside Rell’s head were replaced with her own screams. Wind beat against her ears as she toppled head first into the black gorge. There was no way to save herself. Her one thought was of Siban and how they’d never gotten the chance to live a life together. She closed her eyes, waiting for her death.

  Something hard slammed into her, knocking the breath from her. Intense pain speared her arms and for a second she’d thought she’d hit the sharp rocks jutting from the wall. Her body lurched, her neck snapping backward, nearly halting her in midair. A hard thump of wings sounded above her and she was yanked violently upward. Her stomach flipped, nearly cau
sing her to vomit.

  The realization that talons wrapped around her arms sent another wave of panic through her. Had the demon they had thrown over captured her? Her instinct to fight back reared up. But to fight and win would mean falling again. She craned her neck, trying to see what Bane held her, but the darkness and the angle at which she hung made it impossible.

  Upward they flew and to her surprise, the demon dropped her, though none too gently onto the ledge a few feet from the group. Siban rushed forward, his sword drawn. He scooped Rell into his free arm, crushing her to him. Though he spoke, she couldn’t understand him with her head pressed against his chest. Stunned that she wasn’t dead, Rell collapsed against him, the tears coming unbidden.

  The whoosh of wings and the heavy crunch of stone pulled her from her shock. She pushed away from Siban to see the Bane who had saved her. “Icarus?”

  Tall and imposing, Icarus stood a few yards from where he’d dropped her. His yellow eyes glimmered in the cavern’s dimness and his shoulders were squared, as if completely at odds with his noble feat. “Being human has made you rather clumsy.”

  Siban shoved her behind him and pointed the sword at Icarus’s chest. “Do not come any closer.”

  “He saved me, Siban.” Rell tried to step around him, but he held her in place.

  “Why is he here?”

  Rhys and Ravyn moved to stand on either side of Siban. Bright orbs of fire burned in the palms of their hands.

  “You mean to vanquish me after I saved your friend?” Icarus’s voice pulsed with anger.

  Frustrated by the Bringers’ reaction, Rell pushed past Siban. He reached for her, but she dodged his grasp and walked toward Icarus. “Thank you.”

  The demon’s brows furrowed when her step didn’t slow, and when she threw her arms around his broad chest his body stiffened, as if shocked by her reaction. Though he didn’t return her embrace, he didn’t pull away.

  “Rell.” Siban’s voice lashed out at her. “He can’t be trusted.”

  She released the demon and stepped back. “I think he’s proven he can.”

  Icarus inched away from Rell. “You have also become emotional.”

  She nodded, still trying to reconcile what she’d just experienced. “Perhaps.”

  Footsteps thundered from inside the passage and Gregory and Magnus appeared, swords held ready. Both men slid to a stop.

  “What is going on here?” Gregory looked from Icarus to Juna.

  “Another illusion trap.” She flicked her head toward Rell. “She fell and Icarus saved her.”

  The stilted explanation was correct if not brief. Though Magnus’s stance didn’t relax, Gregory released a heavy breath and straightened.

  Siban took a step forward. “Why did you save Rell? Because you owe her for your freedom?”

  “Siban!” She turned and glared at him.

  “Rell, what does Siban mean?” Jade asked.

  Rell’s eyes searched the group. All of them watched her and she could see their understanding dawn.

  “It doesn’t matter.” Meran stepped forward. “If Icarus hadn’t been here, Rell would have died.”

  She was grateful for Meran’s words. Even though she had freed Icarus and had therefore enabled him to save her life, she couldn’t fight the feeling of having betrayed the group.

  Siban leveled the sword at Icarus’s chest. “I find it too much of coincidence that you just happened to be here. Are you following us?”

  “I am not here by chance. Sha-hera told me of your journey.”

  “And you rushed to our aid?” Condescension laced Siban’s words.”

  “Siban asked you a question, demon,” Rhys said, lifting the spinning ball in threat.

  They stared at each other for a few seconds. Finally relenting, Icarus folded his wings behind him. “Yes”

  “Why?” Ravyn asked.

  “Because I wished to know what you do here,” Icarus said.

  Gregory moved to stand beside Siban and placed a hand on his shoulder. “We are in your debt, Icarus.”

  “That is not a place you want to be, Bringer.” The demon turned his head and stared into the crevasse. “Why are you here?”

  Siban shrugged off Gregory’s hand. The group exchanged glances and then looked to Rell. She took their response as permission for her to speak for them. “We are searching for Vile and the Bringers he’s captured.”

  “I am unfamiliar with this place.” The demon surveyed their surroundings. “I’ve never journeyed beyond my father’s sleeping chambers. These corridors are off-limits to all but Vile and his private guard.”

  “I’m certain he didn’t want you here.” Gregory stepped forward. “We have discovered things I think you should know.”

  The demon turned and looked at him, his voice thick with suspicion. “What things?”

  Gregory looked at Rell, giving her an encouraging nod. Perhaps their discovery was best coming from somebody Icarus knew. Where did she begin? She pointed to Gregory. “Do you know who this is?”

  Icarus’s eyes narrowed, his chin lowering a fraction of an inch to focus on Gregory. “I assume he is your leader.”

  Rell tipped her head in a nod. “Yes, he is King Arron’s second son.”

  “And why should this concern me?”

  She looked at Gregory. This was his secret to reveal, not hers. He moved to stand next to her. “I am your half brother.”

  Icarus didn’t move. Not even a flinch or shifting of his eyes. His yellow glare bore into Gregory for several seconds until finally looking at Rell for confirmation.

  “It’s true, or at least we believe it to be true. You are Arron’s firstborn, Icarus. We think your uncle kidnapped you when you were just an infant and brought you through the Mystic Arch to Inness.” She mimicked his posture, not moving and barely blinking. “He changed you to a Bane before you could remember your Bringer life.” She swallowed hard. “And he’s kept you here ever since.” Silence stretched between them, but Icarus did not reply. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

  Icarus turned and walked to the edge of the ledge, peering into the darkness below. “You are saying that Vile is my uncle, not my father.”

  “Yes,” Rell said.

  “And that I am the heir to the Bringer throne.” He lifted his head and stared across the gorge. “That he stole my soul and forced me to serve him for these past thousand years.”

  True emotion seemed to coat his words. On some small level she understood what he must be feeling, but the magnitude of realizing what he had suffered at his uncle’s hands could not be fully comprehended.

  “I’m so sorry, Icarus.” Rell moved toward him, but Siban gripped her arm and drew her back.

  She went willingly, realizing her actions were motivated by her own emotions not logic.

  “We travel to confront Vile,” Gregory said. “To vanquish him.”

  Icarus turned and faced the group. “Then you journey toward your death.” His gaze drifted over each member of the group. “And I journey to mine as well. I will confront my father.” He nearly spat the word. “We will travel together.”

  “A truce, then?” Gregory asked.

  “A truce.” Icarus gave a single nod. “Until such time as it is no longer necessary.”

  “We know of the darkness that dwells inside you.” Meran glided forward, her eyes leveled on Icarus. “You have seen what we accomplished with Rell.”

  Icarus cocked his head to the side, his gaze sliding down and back up Meran’s body to stop at her face. “You offer me my humanity?”

  She stopped several feet from him. “It is possible. If we can locate your human form, we might be able to transform you back to Bringer.”

  His laughter echoed off the cavern walls. “First I would need to possess a soul for you to save. I can assure you, Bringer, mine is beyond redemption.”

  “I don’t believe that.” She drew herself to stand straighter. “And if you do not believe, then I will hold your hope for you
.”

  Icarus’s humorless smile faded. “Who are you?”

  She cleared her throat, her hand gripping the hilt of her sword. “My name is Meran.”

  With a great flourish, Icarus extended his wings. “I fear you will be gravely disappointed, Meran.”

  “Then it will be my disappointment to bear,” she said.

  He held her stare for a few more seconds before raising his arm and pointing to the far side of the narrow trail Rell had fallen from. “I can see a wide, flat stretch at the end of this path.” He lowered his hand. “I suggest those of you who can fly do so.” His yellow eyes traveled over Meran. “As a show of good faith I offer you passage, but I do not think you will accept.”

  Meran walked toward Icarus, stopping inches away. “Then you are wrong.”

  Rell could feel surprise and anxiety ripple through the group, though none seemed more surprised than Icarus. His eyes widened and what looked like a genuine smile tipped the corners of the demon’s mouth.

  “You are either very brave—” He wound his arm around Meran’s waist and pulled her small frame against him. Her hands rested against his chest, but she didn’t fight his hold. “Or very stupid, Bringer.”

  “I guess we’ll find out, won’t we—” she wrapped her arms around his neck—“Bane.”

  Rell’s heart leaped to her throat when Icarus turned and launched himself and Meran into the air. A ripple of fear traveled back along her Tell and from the familiar touch, it was Meran who emanated the emotion. Though she’d appeared brave, the woman had put her life at risk in an attempt to anchor Icarus’s trust more firmly to the group.

  They watched in silence as the two glided noiselessly along the crevasse, effectively avoiding any further illusions. Once they’d alighted on the other side of the trail, Gregory spoke. “The Shields can transport the rest of the group. We’ll do it in two groups.”

  “I can fly myself,” Ravyn said. “But I don’t think any will want to touch me.”