Blood and Magic (Blood and Darkness Book 1)

by Melissa Sercia

  Valentina pulled me away. She lowered her voice. “There are few who can decipher and interpret the Sang Magi. Only those few can seal the link between Witch and Dhampir.” Her tone was cryptic, but I knew what she was getting at.

  A chill passed through me. Pythia was in possession of the Sang Magi, and she knew how to use it. She was a vile creature. The thought of the sacred text in her hands made my blood curdle. She was known as Tenebris Sacerdos. The Dark Priestess. She came from a long line of Oracles, Witches who glimpsed visions of the future. Her ancestors were used as a tool by Apollo, and he treated them poorly. They were stripped of free will and bound to him by blood magic. They grew to despise Dhampirs.

  Pythia had an extra disdain for me for some reason. We had crossed paths a few times, but never had much to say to each other.

  I shook my head. “It will be impossible to take back the Sang Magi from Pythia. Even if it were, who else could perform the link?”

  Valentina’s eyes lit up. “The Keeper. We won’t have to take the Sang Magi. Not yet, anyway. He has it memorized, cover to cover.”

  My heart was pounding. The Keeper was the guardian of all things that were a part of our world. He protected our books, talismans, and scrolls. He kept our history, our records, and our secrets. He had been guarding the Sang Magi until it had been stolen from him centuries ago.

  There was only one problem. He was hidden by Dissimulare. A cloaking spell. No one had seen or spoken to him since the text was taken. “Val, we don’t have the power to locate him.”

  Valentina licked her lips, curling them into a smile. “We will. An old friend owes me a favor. His name is Seven. He can get us there.”

  Another old friend. I hoped this one wasn’t as creepy as the last. “I’ve never heard of him.”

  Valentina’s eyes sparked like a flame. “No one has. That’s why he’s perfect.”

  I hoped she was right. Trust was not something I was fond of. Few creatures had mine. But if this Seven character could take us to The Keeper, it might be worth the risk.

  Aldric was glued to the window, his thoughts a million miles away. He stared out, listless, peering through the colored glass. His skin perspired with each scattered breath he took. I approached with caution.

  He flinched, closing his eyes and folding his arms into his chest. “Everything has been a lie. My entire life. I have no idea who I really am. Elemi has kept all of this from me…these secrets.”

  I wanted to comfort him, but I froze. I couldn’t move a muscle. Nothing would make him feel better now. No one could have comforted me amidst my own family’s secrets and betrayals. I had to move through the dark on my own. And even now, centuries later, I was still dealing with it. For Aldric, these were fresh wounds. Yet, I understood why he was kept in the dark. Whereas I was plunged into it.

  “Elemi was protecting you. She was keeping you safe. That was not the case with my family. You have a right to be angry, but at least you know her intentions were good.”

  Aldric whipped around to face me. “Safe from who? From my own family? From you? A lot of good it did. Here I am in a room with two Dhampirs who believe I am a direct descendant of a Witch that destroyed both their lives. I’m a human. I have no power. She hasn’t kept me safe. She’s kept me weak and ignorant.”

  We had more in common than I had imagined. We had different weaknesses and vulnerabilities, but the outcome was the same. Abandonment can take many forms. Betrayal has many paths. His led him to mine for a specific reason. I would not forsake that.

  “Aldric, you’re safe with me. I will never let anything, or anyone, hurt you. I’ll never lie to you. I promise.”

  He leaned in close. With our faces only inches apart, I could feel his breath on my lips. He looked at me with a hunger I had never seen before. His pulse was fast and erratic. I swallowed hard. His lips moved closer to mine, almost touching. His scent consumed me, awakening my senses. I wanted to taste him. His hand reached out toward my face.

  Valentina cleared her throat. “I need to feed.”

  She wasn’t the only one. I was lightheaded and dizzy. The thirst clawed at me like a vulture. But we were out of blood bags. They had burned, along with everything else we owned. I could control myself around Aldric, but Valentina was unpredictable. She was irritable to begin with, and that would soon lead to delirium, then madness.

  Her voice was hoarse. “Go get us more blood bags.”

  I shook my head. “We can’t risk it. No one can know we’re here.”

  Valentina let out a dramatic sigh and draped herself across the couch. “Let’s have a little taste of your boyfriend then.” Her words slurred like she was in a drunken stupor.

  I raised an eyebrow at her. “No, Val. We are not going to feed on Aldric. Don’t even think about it.”

  She pouted. “Well, who then? I have to feed, Gray.”

  I did as well. I took no pleasure in feeding off humans, but we didn’t have any other options. We would both snap. The thirst would take over and Aldric’s blood would be spilled. I promised to keep him safe. That meant even from myself. Lucky for us, there was an entire bar downstairs filled with humans. There was bound to be some unsavory ones lurking about.

  Aldric watched me close. His expression was a mixture of fascination and fear. “So, you want me to be your human blood bag now?”

  His tone was sharp, reminding me of what I was. It filled me with shame. Having to drink blood to stay alive sickened me. Tears welled up. I swallowed hard to keep the sob from rising in my throat. Why did I care what he thought of me?

  Aldric’s face fell. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…I know it’s not your fault.”

  I shook my head and wiped the tears from my cheeks. “No. I’m sorry. Sorry you got dragged into all of this.”

  Aldric took my hand in his, soft and comforting. “What do you need me to do?”

  I raised my head, forcing myself to look in his eyes. “I need you to bring us someone from downstairs. Someone no one will…miss.”

  I knew that what I was asking of him was more than he should give. The risks, the consequences, the morality of it all, was too much a burden for him to bear. No, I couldn’t let him do this.

  Before I could protest, he spun around and charged toward the door. Hesitating only for a moment to look back at me. His eyes darkened and his hands trembled. “Just make it quick.”

  I nodded, understanding, as he flew out the door.

  Valentina sprang up from the couch. “Well, thank Apollo. It’s about time.”

  Thirty minutes passed before Aldric returned. I clasped my hands together to keep them from shaking. Valentina eyed the door like a rabid dog. I stood in front of her as he entered.

  Aldric was accompanied by a wiry man with puffy eyes and brown hair that was matted against his shiny forehead. He stank of cheap liquor and cigarettes. The man’s lips formed into a smirk as he leered at us.

  Aldric shoved him toward us like he was walking the plank. Valentina let out a low, guttural sound as she pounced. I was right behind her.

  I clamped down on his neck. His body jolted. My veins were on fire as his blood entered. He cried out. Valentina bit down on his wrist. We drank till there was nothing left. No other thoughts or desires mattered. Only blood. We sucked away his life like quicksand. His breath slowed to a whisper. His body relaxed and then went limp. He was dead.

  The fresh blood flowed through me like a river. My thoughts were clear again. My senses renewed. Valentina’s eyes glowed bright, like a pair of fireflies. We embraced in a sea of relief.

  Aldric backed up against the wall, his eyes and mouth wide open. His face frozen in a state of terror.

  Valentina paid no attention. “We have to burn the body. He’ll start to decompose soon, and the stench is rather unpleasant.”

  I drew in a sharp breath. Annoyed by her flippancy. “Val…”

  She threw me a blank stare. “What?”

  I nodded toward Aldric.

  “Oh, ah.
Um…sorry.” She bit her lower lip.

  He threw his hands up, waving them around like a madman. “You just…you…just killed someone. In my apartment. You were just supposed to drink a little. But he…he’s dead.”

  I took a step toward him. “Please sit down before you fall over.”

  He jumped back. “Don’t come any closer.”

  “Aldric, I’m not going to hurt you.”

  He was on the verge of hysteria. “No. This is crazy. There is a dead body in my living room.”

  My heart sank. He saw a monster in front of him. I shouldn’t have let him see this. I should have told him to leave the room. It was too late for that now.

  I sighed. “This is who we are. This is what we do. We drink blood to survive. I told you this.”

  Aldric sank to his knees. “I know. But…seeing it. It’s just too much. I don’t think I can do this.”

  The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. Aldric didn’t believe we were actual Dhampirs until he watched us drink that man’s blood. He thought he did, but it wasn’t real in his head. Now it was, and it horrified him. He’d never forget what he saw me do, and it would haunt him for the rest of his human life. I had to fix this.

  “Aldric, you’re a part of this, whether you want to be or not. This life, our world, it’s in your blood. It’s where you belong. Don’t run from it. It will just keep chasing you till there’s nothing left. Believe me, I know.”

  Aldric’s eyes locked with mine in fear and desperation. He swallowed hard, his body trembling. “I’m sorry. I can’t do this.”

  I bit my lip to keep the tears from falling. Everything ached. I barely knew him, but a hole was already starting to form at the thought of his absence. He was losing his mind. His sanity. And it was all my fault.

  I shivered, my thoughts darkening. “I’m not going to do to you what they did to me.”

  His eyes darted back and forth between me and Valentina. She stayed quiet, still. He wouldn’t budge. His mind was made up. It was time to go.

  I lowered my head. “I understand. We’ll let you get back to your normal life.”

  Valentina was already out the door before I could finish. I did my best to smile even though my heart was aching. I wanted warmth to be the last thing he remembered about me, not bloodshed.

  Aldric ran a shaky hand through his wet hair. “Gray…I—”

  “Take care of yourself, Aldric. They will come for you. It’s only a matter of time. Keep your eyes open and watch your back.”

  I sprinted out the front door without looking back.

  Outside, the air was damp and sticky. It only added to my uneasiness. We had nowhere to go and no one we could trust. The Consilium could have been anywhere, watching us at that very moment. Despair filled me like a disease. I slumped down on the sidewalk and buried my face in my hands.

  Valentina draped an arm across my shoulders. “I’ve sent word to Seven. He’ll meet us at the port in two days.”

  I shuddered. “And then what? Without Aldric, I have no one to link with. I’m so tired of losing. Maybe I’m not supposed to win.”

  Every time I thought I had my head above water, the tide would drag me further down. It was hopeless.

  Valentina pulled me up off the ground to face her. “You need to pull it together. We’ll find another way. Another Witch. We’re so close. I can feel it. They wouldn’t have burned our house to the ground if we weren’t.”

  She was right. We were a threat to the Consilium. Losing Aldric was a major setback, but I had to keep moving forward. We’d come too far for me to fall apart now.

  “Sorry. Thanks for snapping me out of my pity party.”

  Valentina nodded. “That’s what I’m here for. We need to lay low until Seven arrives.”

  We made our way to the bayou just as the rain came down upon us for the first time since we’d set foot in the city. My breath was heavy, like my heart, as I prayed that we would make it through the next two nights.

  Eight

  It was a long walk to the port. We took care with our steps and kept to the outskirts. The moon was full and bright, illuminating our path. We darted between the fragments of its light. With my nerves on edge, I flinched at every twig that snapped and every bird that crowed. At times, it was almost too quiet. I imagined monsters, greater than us, lurking behind every corner. I shivered with every step I took.

  Valentina appeared calm, but every few feet, her nose would crinkle in different directions, a nervous tick she developed years ago. We stayed quiet as we forged ahead. The silence drew me to my own thoughts. To Aldric and that look in his eyes. What was he doing at this moment? Did he flee the city? Or was he still paralyzed with fear? I wished that he could escape this life, but it wasn’t possible. There was no running, only hiding. The demons always caught up.

  The docks were in sight. I spotted a cluster of ships huddled together in the harbor. We made it. My heart fluttered with excitement. Valentina shot me a relieved look. We were almost to the ships when a wave of magic rippled through me. It stopped us both dead in our tracks. A chill shot down my spine.

  There were five, maybe six—no, ten figures in the distance, blocking our path to the docks. They moved toward us. Valentina crouched down and let out a deep snarl. I whipped out my daggers and planted my feet. The ground shook underneath me. The figures swarmed us. We pressed our backs together as they circled. My stomach dropped. It was the Crescent Witches.

  The Witches hissed and spat at us. They chanted and spoke in strange tongues. I scanned the mob for Josephine, but she was nowhere in sight. My muscles tightened. I spotted the Harpy. She narrowed her eyes at Valentina. They were not here to give us a warm send off.

  My mind raced. We could take out a handful of them in a heartbeat, but not before the other half would rain spells down upon us. We had nothing to shield us. Without magic, we were as good as dead. As if reading my mind, the Harpy stepped forward.

  “You demons brought your curse down upon our house. We have lived in peace with the Consilium for hundreds of years. Now we are being hunted. Because of you.”

  She was right, but she was also wrong. I addressed the angry mob. “There is only peace when you obey them. They burned your house down for helping us. Is that how you want to live? That’s not peace, that’s servitude. I’m sure your ancestors had higher hopes for your kind.”

  The crowd gasped as if my words were daggers, piercing through the air. The hissing continued. A few of them lifted their hands toward the sky to conjure the elements. Others shrieked and waved their talismans. It was chaos. Where was Josephine? Samuel?

  Valentina pulled out her sword and held it out in front of her. I lowered my voice for her ears only. “They are going to attack us. We need to create a distraction so we can make a run for it.”

  My heart beat out of control. There were only a few steps between them, and our safety. We were so close.

  Valentina huffed. “I am going to rip open every single one of them.”

  “We can’t fight them all. Not today. There’s too many.”

  After a long pause, she sighed but nodded her head in agreement.

  We would have to be fast. We only had one shot at this. “When I say go, throw your sword at the Harpy as quick as you can. They will rush to protect her. Don’t stop running until we reach the ship.”

  A smirk spread across Valentina’s face as she eyed the Harpy. A look of sadistic pleasure passed over her.

  I took a deep breath and said a silent prayer to Apollo. My breath became a whisper. “Okay. Get ready…now. Go.”

  Valentina raised her sword high above her head. I clenched my fists and braced for impact. She started forward, then stopped.

  The Witches erupted into shrieks and gasps. They ran around in a frenzy. We both froze, but they weren’t looking at us anymore. They scurried around us like we weren’t even there.

  Valentina shook her head, confused. “What’s happening? Are they drunk?”

  My adrena
line raced, and I was bordering on delirium. “It’s like we’re invisible.”

  The Witches flailed around in a fit of hysteria. This was our opening. I nodded at Valentina. She understood. It was time to make a run for it. That’s when I saw him.

  Aldric. Just a few feet away. He was with Elemi. Her arms extended out and her eyes were rolled back into her head. She was cloaking us. Aldric was helping her. My heart skipped.

  Valentina let out a sigh of relief. “Good timing. I take back everything bad I ever said about him.” We both chuckled as the Witches fled in horror.

  Elemi strutted toward us with the air of an aristocrat. Every step was poised and polished. Calculated. Aldric followed behind her. My heartbeat quickened when we locked eyes.

  “It looks like we showed up just in time.” Aldric flashed me a nervous grin.

  Elemi gazed at him like a proud parent. “I knew the day would come when Aldric would become like us. I tried to prolong it for as long as I could. But it is too dangerous to keep him in the dark. I have told him everything.”

  Aldric gave Elemi’s hand a gentle squeeze. His eyes were bloodshot, and his forehead creased.

  I smiled. “Thank you for coming to our aid. I won’t forget this.”

  Elemi tipped her hat in gratitude and gave a slight bow. “Just keep him safe, Gray.”

  I swallowed hard. “I will protect him with my life.”

  Valentina squeezed my arm. “It’s time to go. Seven is here.”

  Aldric stiffened, looking out toward the sea, wide-eyed.

  Seven’s ship stood tall in the harbor, a magnificent spectacle. The word Resistance was scrawled across it in black. Its magic radiated out like sun beams. Like something not of this world.

  Valentina had filled me in on what she knew of him, but Seven was still a bit of a mystery. A Dhampir-pirate, he ruled the seas like a thief in the night. He was believed to be a direct descendant of the goddess Inanna, a Sumerian known for her short temper and most famous for her descent into the Underworld. Inanna also controlled the stars and the tides.