Tainted Waters: A Dark Paranormal Fantasy Novel (Paranormal Peacekeepers Book 1)

by Lucretia Stanhope

  “We are magical creatures, sir. Perhaps they never revealed themselves to her.” He walked over to a fire pit in the corner, and poured the mixtures into a pot to let the magic boil off harmlessly.

  “She doesn’t look elf at all. Disgusting creature, with those helpless eyes. Hideous rounded ears and nose. Even her chin lacks definition.” He tapped his boot on the ground faster.

  Jasper walked to a shelf and pulled off three small bags with herbs, before returning to the table. “Hideous.”

  He turned his gaze abruptly back to Jasper. “Give me your blessing for the journey. What do I need to take?”

  “Take this.” Jasper handed him a glowing, pink stone. “You have my blessing for safe return. I was unable to envision success.”

  Decker eyed the stone. For journeys Jasper would give him something to chew for stamina, or a ward, depending on where he was going, but never a stone. “What’s the stone for?”

  “Her.” Jasper walked back to the shelf, and grabbed a small sack. “Take this too, it’s a long trek. Don’t give it to her, I’m not sure how witches would react to our stimulants.”

  Decker continued to stare at the stone in his palm, while he took the bag with his other hand. “For her? To what end?”

  “She’s fearful of the pitch. Her magic will be more concentrated, if she’s not terrified.” Jasper rolled his eyes. “More than that, the gesture will add to her willingness to help. Don’t scare her. Yet.”

  “You are enjoying this entirely too much.” He turned to leave, tossing the stone from one hand to the other. When the walls glowed brightly, he cursed. “Witch!”

  “The water, sir!” Jasper shouted behind him, and chuckled, before he started on another mixture.

  DECKER’S HEAVY FOOTSTEPS and a trail of swear words echoed into the questioning room. He rushed through the wall, and slammed into Alice. Both his hands wrapped around her neck as he held her off the ground.

  No words were uttered. Before she passed out, he threw her on the floor and kicked her onto her back. “Are you trying to signal someone?”

  She managed to croak out no, after she caught her breath.

  He snatched her by the shoulder and lifted her to eyelevel. “What were you doing?”

  Fear and desperation ran deep, but they wouldn’t serve her. He wouldn’t believe she only wanted to go home. “Escaping.”

  “Escaping?” He dropped her and laughed. “Where were you going?”

  “Away from you. Don’t think I don’t know how this ends. Why shouldn’t I try to get away?” She flicked her fingers toward him, sending as strong a warning pop as she could summon. She wasn’t sure if it was dangerous to him, but it was something she did enough as a child for it to be second nature. “This won’t end well for me, even if I fix your water.” She flung more sparks at him. “You would try to escape, if you were me.”

  “Oh, Alice.” One side of his mouth raised as he edged closer. “Is that all you have?” He shook his head. “Why did they send you to die? Were you a bad witch?”

  It crossed her mind after he suggested it before. If this was a known elf cave, why had they sent her? Witches, her people. Why would they send a new witch to such a nasty fate? “I don’t know,” she whispered.

  “I will find that answer. I don’t tolerate unanswered questions.” He reached toward her with the rock in his open hand.

  She flinched, expecting him to hit her. When that didn’t happen, she looked at his hand, seeing the glowing rock. “What’s that for?”

  “You. It’ll light our journey for you.”

  “For me? A gift?” Suspicion danced behind her eyes.

  “From the oracle.” His jaw tensed and he popped his hand toward her. “This is a long trek. We will cross areas that will pose dangers to us both. If you do not listen to me, I will have no choice but to…”

  “Yes, I get it. Do as you say or else.” Using trembling fingers, she plucked the stone from his hand.

  “Don’t interrupt me, hag.”

  Her eyes met his and her tone grew sharp. “Alice.”

  “Witch.” His tone matched hers.

  “That’s not an insult, elf.” She backed up a little, seeing the muscles of his jaw twitch. “Can I look at the water here before we leave? Maybe I can see something, and save you the trouble.”

  He blinked a few times and sucked his tongue against his teeth. “On the way out, we can stop where you were dancing, slipping. The magic is at the source. No samples from here have provided any aid.”

  “You are a mage too?”

  “Yes.”

  She sighed. There didn’t seem to be any softening, no matter what she tried with him. “Is elf magic no good against witch magic?”

  He closed his eyes and balled his hands. “I’m not here to enlighten you. Let’s go. I have other things that need my attention.”

  “More important than the water?”

  “While I am taking you to see if you can live up to this offer you’ve made, do not foolishly assume it grants you the ability to speak rudely to me with impunity.”

  The stone in her hand reminded her they still had a long dark journey together, and he was going to be her only company. “I gather you are some ruler of sorts.”

  He pressed his lips into a tight line. “I preferred you afraid.”

  “I’m afraid.”

  “Not enough.”

  “It didn’t help my situation any.”

  “That is where you are incorrect. It kept you alive. Let’s go.” He closed his eyes a second. The wall opened, and he shoved her forward.

  As they walked out, she was glad he didn’t hold her wrist or tug her along as he had before. She contemplated the best way to get away, once they were outside.

  Maybe she shouldn’t look too closely at the water in the cave. If she accidentally fixed it, he might not take her outside. “Sweet isn’t an insult either, you know.”

  “Depends on who you ask, sweet.” His nose wrinkled. “I can’t imagine anything more disgusting than a sweet witch. At least a vile hag could earn respect. Even fear.”

  Back at the room where he found her, Decker watched at a small distance while Alice knelt near the ledge.

  Alice kept her eyes closed and found her center, which was hard to do with the constant sensation of his cold magic, reminding her that her life depended on fixing his water. Feeling the level of her calm was as deep as she could manage, she opened her eyes.

  The water sparkled with infused light as it dripped in the darkness. Words scrolled around the drops with such speed, she couldn’t read them. With her hand out, she called the water. A small ball danced over her hand. Even that close, the words swirled too fast to make out.

  Decker stepped toward her. “Well?”

  “I can see it was enchanted. I’ve seen this sort of scrolling magic before. It’s very advanced.” She let the ball go and turned toward him. “Honestly, I can’t read the spell. It’s more advanced than I am, and it’s moving too fast.”

  “I see. Can you slow it? Should we carry on with the journey?” He peered over her shoulder at the water.

  “If I say no, you what, take me apart?” She stood up and stretched her legs, which were stiff from kneeling. “I can’t promise either way.”

  “A truthful witch?” He strode out toward the surface. “I should kill you now, but my oracle says that you will make my water delightfully blackened again. I suppose if he is wrong, you and he will share similar fates.”

  “Wait. Let me look again.”

  “Don’t dawdle. The source is where the curse was cast. Perhaps there, it will be easier for you to decipher.” When he looked back, he caught her in his dark gaze. “Do not irritate me by making me repeat myself.”

  Fear held her in place. The rhythmic sound of the water dripping, reminded her of the old grandfather clock at her mother’s house. Was the water ticking down to her death?

  Chapter Four

  A STATIC POP zapped Alice before she made conta
ct with Decker. Instincts aside, the way their magic reacted when it collided, hurt. That couldn’t be a good sign. She pulled her hand back and tucked it in her pocket. Maybe it was her fear? Or his irritation?

  She scanned the unfamiliar woods. Green mold covered the trees they passed close enough to see. A damp breeze blew across her, carrying the scent of rotting earth. She wiped cold sweat off her forehead with the cuff of her jacket.

  Could she find her way back, if she did manage to get away? Would the coven be welcoming, or had they sent her to die? Was Decker her best option? The witches had more powerful magic than she did, and their motives were unclear. “Is it far?”

  “Yes, very far, and you should stay quiet. There are things in these woods that might enjoy the delicacy of a midnight witch and elf snack.” He brushed his arm as if wiping away a smudge.

  “You feel that too?” Alice rubbed her thumb over her fingertips. They tingled from more than the chilly night. “Feels like, I don’t know, a warning?”

  “I said quiet.” He blew out audibly.

  “Wait, and elf? You? Things out here would eat you too?” She peered into the shadows. Creatures like Decker easily navigated the night. Stealthy and dangerous. What sort of thing would eat an elf?

  “There is a coven of witches with their beady eyes on me, as you are aware. Do you think they would waste the parts not used in their dirty magic? You have elf parts they might enjoy as well.” He glanced toward her, the blackness of his eyes matching the night, but standing out against his pale skin. While he studied her, he pulled his lower lip between his teeth and chewed. “I’m not unconvinced that you are here to lure me into a trap. That would be a mistake. If it is the case, you need to tell me now. Once the plan fails, it will be too late for you. I can guarantee I won’t waste a single sweet part.”

  Alice shrank back, her mouth dropping open. “You mean that, don’t you? You are the nasty thing. I don’t have a plan. If they sent me as bait, they didn’t let me know.”

  The bush to their right rustled. A twig cracked.

  She grabbed his arm, ignoring the shocking vibrations. Her body pressed against him. Would he protect her? “What’s that? What was it? Can you tell?”

  One brow arched high as he looked down at her hand on him. “You should know, I am the most dangerous thing for a witch in these woods. That is why they sent you, and why they poisoned my water. We scare them. We should.” He blinked a few more times, staring down at her hand still wrapped around his arm. “It’s an animal. Almost as timid as you. Stay focused. We need to make it to the cave before dawn.”

  The cold stone in her left hand drew her attention to where her other hand was. She let him go. The skin on her hands was warm and tight, as if it had been too close to a fire. Fire could save lives. If they were stuck out here in the wild, they would need fire to stay warm. Fire could also burn down the woods killing them. Which was Decker? Both. “Is the water source in a cave?”

  “No, the water source is in the swamp. Didn’t your coven take you to the swamps for ingredients? That is what this is about, I suspect. Fears aside, they want the territory and resources.” His tone remained harsh.

  “I’ve never been taken anywhere. I’ve been trying to tell you that I don’t know about elves, dark or otherwise. What’s in the cave? Why are we stopping?” Alice tried not to sound as frustrated as she was, but her voice came out strained.

  “The cave is a good place between here and there. I can’t be out in the day.” He picked up his pace. “You may be telling the truth. Even so, I’m not trusting my life to you, if we don’t make it to the swamp cover before the sun comes up.” His voice changed, holding a hint of amusement. “There will be other times, and much more fun ways to test your trustworthiness.”

  “You can’t? What, like a vampire or something? Will it kill you?” While she followed, her attention ricocheted between the underbrush, and him. He was pale, lived in the dark, and hinted at liking blood.

  His breath blew between pursed lips. “No, not like a vampire. Do I look like a vampire to you? Or better yet, do I appear so fragile that a ray of sun would end me? Why didn’t your mother or father teach you anything? Didn’t they care for your survival? Light elves are nurturing as well as delicious.”

  “I… that’s rude.” She stumbled in a dip in the ground. “Why can’t you be in the light?”

  He laughed, and watched a second to make sure she didn’t fall. “How about a compromise, chatty one?”

  A compromise was progress. Any progress was welcome. “Okay.” After a few awkwardly placed steps, she regained her speed.

  His mouth twitched with amusement. “You don’t utter another sound until the cave.”

  “And the compromise?” Her tone reflected annoyance.

  “Once I have secured us, I will answer a few of your questions.” He stopped walking, and pulled her against him. One arm wrapped around her waist and he put his hand over her mouth.

  She nodded her agreement, searching for whatever had him on alert. Sensing they were not alone, she slipped the glowing stone in her pocket, so it wouldn’t draw the attention of whatever was near.

  After she hid the stone, they stood motionless for several long moments before he released her.

  Alice started to ask what he sensed.

  Decker put a finger to her lips, and shook his head. “Shush. Compromise. Step lively, sweet.”

  She frowned, but didn’t say anything. If whatever hid in the shadows alarmed him, she didn’t want to do anything to draw it near. The magic reminded her of the coven and her mother, but unless she could be certain it was a witch, she would trust his judgement.

  They walked in silence for several hours.

  The snapping twigs and crunching leaves under their feet drowned out Alice’s labored breathing.

  Decker stopped a few more times, holding her silent and still.

  After he let her go the last time, she said, “I feel magic. Is that a witch?”

  “It is. One. Begs the question, if they aren’t looking for us, what are they doing out here at night?” He took her hand. “Stay close. Stay quiet.”

  Alice remained silent. She chewed the side of her mouth each time she wanted to ask him something. By the time they arrived at a rock face, her mind raced, the side of her mouth bled, and her feet ached.

  Decker placed both hands on the surface. “Ecrtuith, viliacrium, prebenath.”

  On the third repeat, the rock blurred and wavered. A deep chill enveloped them, fed by whatever Decker called on for his casting. The scent of a fire being extinguished blew on a breeze. A cave opening appeared.

  Decker snatched Alice by the wrist, yanked her inside, and chanted again. “Viliacrium, rectimanthy, sinteriad.”

  The wall reappeared. Alice let out a breath. Only another elf could get through his spell, right? “Are we safe now?”

  “We? Really, witch? You and I will never be safe together.” He walked deeper into the cave. “Come.”

  She dug the stone from her pocket. The glow eased her fear of the darkness. “We don’t have to be ugly. I’m going to help you fix your water. The least you can do is stop threatening me. That’s the very least. I didn’t try to get away from you, did I?”

  “That was a wise choice. Maybe I underestimated your intelligence.” He stopped walking.

  Under his scrutiny, Alice shivered. The intensity of his gaze burned with mistrust. “What do you see? What do you feel? Be honest. I’m helping you. I’m not your enemy.”

  “You are going to fix my water, because you have no other options, not out of the benevolence you want me to believe lives in your heart. Your witches abandoned you to me, or sent you to lure me. Either way, that means they left your fate in my hands. I’ll share a free truth with you. My hands only destroy.” He opened both hands as if he wanted her to see the pain they were capable of causing.

  Alice clenched her teeth. Anger and fear mingled to form into bravery. “I have options. I could refuse to help yo
u, and meet the same fate. Don’t you think I know you are going to hurt me no matter what? You may imagine I am a lot of things, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m extending you a courtesy. If I am some half-elf thing, then I am just as much your kind as theirs. We could work together, for real, not in this forced whatever this is.”

  “No, you are mistaken on two counts. First, and most important, you have no options. Second, light elves are not my kind. If I had to pick which part of you disgusted me most, I’m not sure the distinction would be great.” The darker grey highlights below his cheek intensified. “Come. Let’s try and educate you. Then you need to rest, and prepare for the final leg. It’s the most perilous.”

  She stared at him a long moment, with him staring back at her. He didn’t say she was wrong about him hurting her. Regardless, he was correct, her options were limited.

  Decker spun on his heels, his steps echoing in the narrow passageway.

  Alice followed him deeper into the cave, until they arrived at a chamber. The tension in her neck let go. Evidence of a burned-out fire, char, and ashes filled a small pit. Several blankets, so filthy that they normally wouldn’t have looked inviting, surrounded the pit.

  “Sit.” He pointed toward a blanket with a pillow. “Rest. Choose your questions wisely. You have until I drift, or my patience wears thin.”

  When Alice lowered herself on the ground, a stale scent drifted from the blanket. “Why can’t you be out in the light?”

  His head turned and his nostrils flared. “You are not a very good spy. Go to bed.”

  “But you said you would answer my questions.” She sat the stone down, and watched his expression grow hard. Should she be alone with such a temperamental creature? Her gaze flashed to the corridor, and back to him.

  “You want me to believe you are some witch, new to the craft at your age. I’m to accept you have no understanding of your parents, your gifts, or light elves on the whole. Yet the very first thing you ask is about me and the daylight?” His head shook and his black eyes narrowed on her. “Your witches can tell you all you need to know about dark elves. Our history is long and interwound at places. If not from them, go home to daddy and find out. I’m sure he has tales to tell about dark elves as well.”