Hidden Runes

by G. Bailey

  "Connor, I did get your message from the boy, but you can call for me in the shadows when you need me. You are a half reaper, and the shadows will let you talk through them," Fraser says. "When this war is done, please give me a chance. I know we have a lot to make up for, and I have a lot to explain to you, but I'm asking for one chance."

  "I would be open for meeting up. I want to know you and why my mum loves you so much," Connor replies, and I’m proud of him for the wise decision he has made.

  "Oh, Connor, you have no idea how happy that makes me," Duna says, wrapping her arms around him and hugging tightly, whispering something to him that we can’t hear. I watch Fraser as the mark on his neck glows red, looking like it almost burns before fading, and Fraser hisses under his breath.

  "We must leave. The reaper council only gave us permission to deliver the message and return," Fraser explains, clicking his neck in clear discomfort before coming over to me. He reaches into his cloak and hands me a black stone. I accept the stone, turning it over to see a silver painted scythe with a silver circle around it on the stone. "When you need the reapers, burn this stone with fire. Holy fire or normal will work all the same. The reaper army is large and works in silence. They will help you end this out of control demon by the demand of the reaper queen."

  "Thank you. I do hope your reapers’ laws change in the future," I reply to him, placing the stone in my back pocket. I would put it on the fireplace, but that seems like a dangerous move. Knowing my luck, the fireplace would set the stone off when I’m in the bath, and I’d have a house full of reapers while I was naked. That doesn’t sound like a whole lot of fun. Well, not to me, but some crazy bitches might like that idea.

  "Our reaper queen is stubborn, and with no relative to challenge her, I doubt the laws will change any time soon," Fraser says, looking back at his son. He offers Connor a hand to shake, and Connor looks at for a long time before shaking his father's hand. "I am sorry, son. I came to see you on my days off, watched you from a distance as you grew from a little, mischievous boy to a man I am proud of."

  "You saw me?" he replies, his voice quiet from the shock, I’m guessing.

  "As often as I could. You wouldn't believe how many times I wanted to take you home with me or even just say hello," he says, letting go of his son’s hand and looking like he didn’t want to.

  "I'm glad you were there, even if I couldn't see you. I look forward to seeing you again," Connor says, and Duna goes to Fraser's side as Connor steps back to me. I link my fingers with his as Fraser holds Duna close to his side.

  "See you soon. I love you, son," Duna says before they disappear into a large shadow. I don't have to say a word to Connor as I wrap my arms around his waist and hold him tightly. He holds me back, both of us wordlessly there for each other. Sometimes words aren't needed to make it better, because being there is simply enough.

  Ninety-Six

  "You're right, Blue, this does make everything better," Connor says, picking up a piece of bacon off the plate we are sharing as we both relax in the hot tub. "And you must feel bad for me if you’re sharing your bacon." I watch him chew the bacon, and I push back that crazy side of me that wants to jump across the hot tub and steal it back. Phew, I can do this. To be on the safe side, I hid my weapons from myself downstairs as I made the bacon. Poor Connor smiles at me, completely clueless of my possessive bacon issues. Or he knows and thinks this is funny, I’m not sure which one it is.

  "I kind of know what you're feeling...and I like you, so I'm sharing just this once," I say, grinning at him as I get another piece and chew on it as I relax back in the bubbles, loving the jet which pushes hot water right into my right shoulder blade which is sore from training this morning. Trex and Nix were on a mission to make sure my sword play was on point, though I did point out to them that double teaming me was unfair. Oh, and that I’d prefer they double teamed me in bed. Luckily, that statement distracted them enough to throw them off their game, and I kicked their pretty little asses.

  "I'm glad to see my mum is alright and in love, but it was hard to see my father. As a kid, I used to cry and beg for my father to come and rescue me. I even made a teddy bear with a black cloak and drew reaper markings on it in pen, and pretended it was my father. That's how sad I was," he tells me, and his cheeks are red as I look at him.

  "It isn't sad at all. I wanted a mum or dad, or anyone to come for me when I was starving on the streets. Rita did her best, but she couldn't always be there. When this is over, I will be changing the laws, allowing people like your mum to love whoever. I know my mum would have changed them if she could, and I am stubborn enough to annoy the keepers until they side with me on this law. I don't believe keeping the bloodlines pure or whatever is the best idea," I reply. Connor moves across the hot tub, kneeling between my parted legs. He grabs my hips and pulls me against his hard body, making me shiver.

  "You have a family now, you know that? You have me, and I want to know if I have you," he asks as I brush his wet hair to the side and trail my hands down his neck and to his shoulders.

  "You do," I whisper.

  "Then mate with me when this is all over. I want you, Blue," he tells me, moving even closer so I can feel his hard length pressing into my stomach.

  "You know I'm yours, Connor...so yes," I reply, leaning closer and kissing him before he can say a word. Connor kisses me deeply, running his hands down my back before grabbing my ass and pulling me harder against him. Connor lifts me, turning us around before sitting on the seat and letting me have more of the control. He slowly rubs his fingers across my nipples, making me gasp before he lowers his hand to between my legs.

  "Show me what you like, Blue. I want to know you," Connor says, taking my hand and guiding it to my core. I lean back, slowly rubbing myself in the way that sends me close to the edge and letting Connor see. It makes me feel vulnerable and incredible all at the same time. Connor stops me after a little while, replacing my fingers with his and slowly guiding me down onto his length. I moan, loving the feeling of being filled up by him. I slowly rock my hips against him, locking my eyes onto Connor's as we enjoy the pure feeling of being together. I don't know how long we are like this together, riding out my orgasms until Connor cries out my name as he finishes. We rest our foreheads against each other’s, just needing to be close as we catch our breath back.

  The door to the bathroom bursts open, and I turn to see Azi come in, frowning at us both, and somehow I know the time for romance is over from the way Azi looks. Something has pissed him off.

  "Have you heard of knocking?" Connor asks, still holding me close and not caring about Azi being here.

  "No," Azi drily replies to Connor and looks at me in a much nicer way. "Your father just turned up downstairs, and he isn't in the best of moods. I’m inches away from throwing him out the window and kicking his ass. He is beyond aggravating."

  "Right. I will be down in a minute. Thanks, Azi, for not hurting him," I say with a wink, and he smirks.

  "Anything for you, Vi," he replies before walking out of the room and leaving the door open. I look back at Connor, sighing a little bit that our time is over so soon.

  "Thank you for this," Connor says, kissing me once, and I happen to catch a glimpse of my necklace as he pulls away. The red glow is down to half now...and it seems like it keeps on dropping more quickly these days.

  "The sex?" I ask, trying to focus on Connor instead, even though my heart pounds loudly in my chest, and I can hear it in my ears like there is no other sound. I've never been scared of much, but this terrifies me more than I'd care to admit.

  "No. Well, I did love that, but I meant being here for me tonight. I needed you," he explains.

  "I knew you did," I say, wishing I could say I will always be there for him. Instead, I wrap my arms tightly around his shoulders, placing my head in his neck and breathing in him. If we don't find a clue about black magic soon, it's going to be too late.

  Ninety-Seven

  I jog down
the stairs to see my father’s white wings and the top of his white head of hair as he looks out the window of my home, and I glance at myself in the mirror by the stairs, seeing my black leggings and dark blue top look decent enough, even if the top is pretty low cut. I really would love some of my own clothes right around now. Azi is awkwardly stood by the door with Trex; both of them look like they are ready to run out or kill my father. It makes me chuckle, which catches the attention of them all. Nix is just simply sat on the sofa next to Hali, both of them are eating a pizza, and Star is drooling as she watches them. They clearly don't care about whatever my father has said to freak Azi and Trex out. My father turns around, his arms crossed against his chest as he glares at me.

  “I am confused as to why you did not call for me earlier? Finding out my daughter is the new queen and her city is destroyed is not something I wanted to find out from another angel who heard the gossip,” he says, his annoyance clear not only in his words but in his voice. Wow, no wonder Azi was pissed. Daddy dearest sounds ready to stab me. "It has taken me a while to find you, and I'm not overly impressed by that. Why didn't you call for me?"

  “Hello, father. It's nice to see you as well. Do you like my new home?" I say, waving a hand around. “It is much nicer than that posh place I had before.”

  "Seth said you can't keep it, by the way," Azi adds in. “He was firm on that.”

  "You can tell Seth to shove his opinion where the sun doesn't—"

  "Excuse me,” my father interrupts, “but can I talk to my daughter with some peace and quiet?" he asks, though it sounds like a scary ass demand.

  "We were just leaving anyway. Want to come, Hali? Nix? Connor?" Trex asks, nodding his head at the door. “Azi?” They all basically agree and hustle themselves out of the door, leaving Azi with my father and me.

  "I'm not leaving," Azi tells Trex, closing the door behind him. At least one of my people isn’t scared of my father.

  "I gathered," my father drily replies and comes over to sit on the sofa, watching Star as she sniffs the closed pizza box.

  "No pizza for you, girl. It isn't good for your hips," I say, pushing the box to the side and sitting on the sofa. Star huffs at me before lying on the floor, resting her head on my foot to make it clear I'm not moving for a little while.

  "Can I get either of you a drink?" Azi asks us.

  "I'd love a cup of tea," I reply, knowing it’s rare for Azi to offer, and he makes good tea.

  "I would prefer a coffee. I have found lattes are favourable," my father replies, and Azi nods, smirking at me before going to the kitchen. We don’t have a coffee machine, and there is no way Azi is going to make him a decent coffee anything like a latte.

  "Explain to me what happened," my father insists. "I found the city in ruins, with a few strange, emotionless yellow demons running around. I disposed of them while I was there."

  "I'm thankful you did," I reply to him. "I want to return to the city after the war is done."

  "War?" he asks. "I want you to explain all of this. Now."

  "I took half the black magic hidden in the Protectors' city into me when Cex tried to take it all. Only problem? He forced me to make him my knight, and the moment this loses its glow, I'm out of time, and he can find me," I explain, pulling my necklace out of my top so he can see it clearly.

  "That necklace is keeping you alive, isn't it?" he quietly asks, and if I didn’t know better, I would think there was pain in his voice.

  "What?" Azi interjects, not looking impressed as he hands my father a mug of coffee and me a cup of tea before sitting down.

  "No, well, it's keeping the power from hurting me, not killing me," I lie, and my father pauses, clearly knowing I am, but he doesn't say anything on it. "I can learn to control it. It's only half after all."

  "Your mother had a knight, and she said the power shared between each other goes both ways. You should be able to control Cex's powers. Maybe even make him powerless long enough to kill him," he tells me. “I don’t know if you are aware of that. It might not work for a demon, but it could.”

  "Thanks for the tip," I say, knowing it’s something to try, but I doubt it is as easy as he makes it sound. I bet it takes a good bond between a knight and queen, and what I have with Cex could never be described as that. "But I wondered if you knew anything about black magic?"

  "I know it is an ancient power, one given to the original creations. The first demon, the first Protector and so on. I also know it was designed to die with the owner," he tells me, and it’s not what I want to hear.

  "The black magic was held in a tree which was destroyed when we took it," I explain to him. He sips on his coffee, clearly thinking before replying to me.

  "The tree was likely made from the ashes of the owner of the magic. Perhaps it is how the magic is meant to die," he says. "I don't know more, but I will ask every living angel for information. I doubt they will know more though. They spent too much time in Hell and not on Earth." The room drops into an uncomfortable silence, all of us knowing this isn’t good news and another avenue is gone.

  "I want to ask something else," I say. "Well, I don't want to ask, but I am going to swallow my pride because I can't let my people die just because I didn't ask."

  "I will fight with you," he says, answering me before I even get a chance to ask. "You are my daughter, and I owe you a lifetime of being a good father. I will fight with honour at your side, and so will my people, your people as you are half of us."

  "Thank you. I mean that," I reply, shocked that he is so willing to fight for me. I guess he is my father after all, even if he has been heartless towards me in the past. This is a difficult situation for us all, but I respect him a whole deal more for wanting to fight with me.

  "Was that Hali, the charge of yours I've heard you care deeply about?" he asks, filling in the silence.

  "Yes, it was," I answer, smiling.

  "She is very stubborn and brave, and she reminded me of someone else in the little time I spoke to her," he says, and I grin.

  "Hali might not be my daughter by blood, but in every other way, she is," I reply.

  "Azi, thank you for the coffee, though it is a little bitter for my liking. You can fix this in the future," my father says, and I can't help but chuckle as he slides the empty cup onto the coffee table. I place mine next to his. "May I have a private word with Evelina before I return to my people?"

  "I will be upstairs," Azi replies, tensely smiling at me before going up the stairs. My father gets up and comes over to sit next to me on the sofa before holding his hand out. I frown before placing my hand in his, and he holds it tightly as he softly speaks to me.

  "You wear the marks of a true queen, and I am proud of you for winning the test against your half-sister. I have thought long and hard about us, about what kind of father I want to be, and I've decided the only option is to make Eella proud. One day, we will be together in Heaven, where I'm sure she waits for us both," he tells me. “I want to tell her many stories of you and how brilliant you are. I do not want to live my life in the past, lost in the pain of losing her any longer.”

  "You really miss her, don't you?" I whisper.

  "Every single day. There is nothing worse than being torn apart from the one you love," he tells me. "And I loved her more than I thought it was possible to love. Then I saw you, and I feel a similar love and protectiveness for you. You are all I have left on this Earth, and I want to save you."

  "Save me?" I ask. “We both know deep down that it isn’t possible.”

  "The magic is going to kill you. I know it, and I'm sure you do as well," he confirms what we both know, but I’m too much of a coward to say it out loud.

  "I'm going to find a way to save myself. There has to be a cure or a way to destroy the magic," I explain to him. “I have time yet.”

  "I know an angel who can pull power from one angel to another. I'm sure it would work on you," he tells me.

  "Then you would die, and I can't let that happen," I
reply, shaking my head. “You just said you want to live a life, a real life with no shadow of grief.”

  "It would be a chance, Evelina, and do you think my life would not be filled with grief if you died?" he asks, letting my hand go and placing his hand on my face. I would usually pull away from the affection, but for some reason, I know it means so much to him. "If it doesn't work, then I will find a way to kill Cex and take the other half of the magic. All magic needs to be together, so it should be easy to pull the magic from you."

  "Black magic kills and fights angel blood to win. I think the only reason it hasn't killed me yet is that I'm a half," I tell him. “It would destroy you.”

  "I do not care about death, I have little to live for. If you die, I’ll have nothing, as my family will all be in death waiting for me," he explains to me.

  "Enough talk of death, we have time to fix this," I try to use humour to shake off the deep sadness that makes me feel like it's going to suffocate me. My father lets his hand drop and stands up off the sofa. I stand with him and walk to the door, pulling it open.

  "Call me when this is close to running out," he says, and I know that it’s a lie when I nod my head to agree. If I call him, he will bring that angel and take this power then die with no chance to save himself. I might as well shoot him in the head by doing that, and I know I couldn't live with myself if I kill the last living family member I have. I want to be selfish and keep him around, and that is what I'm going to do. He is wrong about being alone.

  "Goodbye, daughter," he says.

  "See you soon, father," I reply, watching him step out of the house, spreading his white wings out before flying off into the sky. I mentally call for my wings, feeling them appear behind me as I step outside into the cold night. It's been a long time since I've been flying.

  "Vi, we need to talk, don't you think? Especially as your father thinks you are going to die, and you didn’t argue the point with him." I turn to see Azi leaning against the door frame, his arms crossed and his red eyes burning with anger. Flying is going to have to wait. Angry demon overlord is not something to be ignored.