by Jaime Marks
“What about your Mother, Michael? What would she think? She’s safe brother, I moved her. I protected her from Father.” Byryn bit out as he grimaced through the pain that lashed through his leg, but the essence had no effect on him and he thanked all that was holy they would not be able to turn him.
“I know. I found her myself.” Michael smiled wickedly.
“What did you do, Michael?” Horror gripped Byryn’s heart as he took in the look on Michael’s face. He couldn’t reconcile this Shade with the brother he knew.
“When you betrayed Trevyn for the girl, I did my research. I figured out exactly how long you knew her and decided to see if maybe I wasn’t the only one who broke in that dungeon.” Michael laughed again. “I was quite surprised to find what only served to strengthen me, had brought the great Byryn to his knees. I brought evidence of your betrayal to our sire and then I slayed her at his feet. Trevyn, of course, believed you had hidden her with plans of using her for leverage, but I knew better dear brother. I saw you. The tear that ran down your face.”
“Michael this isn’t you.” Byryn shook his head. “Please, let me help you.”
“I could say the same of your Byryn. I’ve never seen you so weak, so overwrought with emotion. So pathetic.” He withdrew his sword. “Get up.”
“I will not fight you.”
“Then you will die as the pathetic coward you’ve become. Get to your feet and take your penance at my hand, or die on the ground a worthless whelp.”
Byryn shook his head, there was no reaching him. He wouldn’t kill his brother after everything he’d been through but he wasn’t going back. Michael thrust his blade at Byryn’s gut and he braced himself for the pain, instead he heard a loud clang as the blow was deflected.
Byryn felt himself lifted to his feet and looked up to find Grifyn beside him. “It’s alright son.”
“Son? Oh how precious, the Fae thinks you are worthy of his Claiming.” Michael laughed. “You really have them all snowed don’t you brother. Two years of a conscience does not mean you’re redeemed. Oh wait, it’s really more like two days isn’t it?”
“Byryn, I want you to go. Catch up to the others.” The Fae who would be his Father spoke firmly, but that wasn’t an option.
“No. I’m sorry Grifyn, but I can’t do that, not even for you.” Byryn answered trying to pull himself together. “He’s my brother, and I owe him this.”
“You’re wounded, Byryn,” Mythos’s voice brought him back to reality. He looked over to see the King and his brother, Trycen fighting against Crytos and Lamyrion. Lamyrion had pushed Trycen against the wall overpowering him.
“I’m solid.” Byryn misted to his sword and lunged thrusting his blade into Lamyrion’s side. The Shade listed to the side dropping to the ground.
Grifyn stood ready, his eyes not leaving Michael. “Take Trycen and go. Do not make me give you a direct order. I have seen through you Byryn, I know. I will not kill him.”
Michael misted directly in front of Byryn and plunged his sword into Trycen’s abdomen.
“No!”
“Yes, run dear brother, but you won’t be taking another of my brethren with you.” Michael sneered. “I have no desire to fight you. In fact, I’m going to break you, returning you to Darkness as you taught me to do. I’m going to bring you home, Byryn. Let’s see.” He tapped his finger on his lip. “What was the first lesson? Ah yes, identify the weakness.”
He misted in front of Grifyn thrusting his blade forward but he was ready, easily blocking it. “Michael, I may feel for what you have been put through, and I may respect Byryn’s need to placate you.” Grifyn exchanged a few blows with the Shade, “But I won’t partake in this charade and I am not opposed to neutralizing you and working out the differences later.”
“You think you know his mind? The things he has done?” Michael scoffed. “You haven’t even a clue.”
“Actually, I think I know pretty damn well what’s in his past, and what’s in his heart. I also know that he’s right and this isn’t you.” Grifyn replied as plain as if they were sitting on the couch in the cottage.
Byryn rushed to Trycen’s side, watching the battle. “Are you still with me Trycen, are you alright?”
His brother grimaced. “I don’t know, it hurts like a bitch.”
“Can you mist?”
“No, I barely just learned how and I can’t focus.”
“I swear if Trevyn isn’t dead I will kill him myself.” He lifted the frail Shade bearing his weight on his shoulders.
“He is Byryn. Your…sire? He killed him. I watched him take his head.” Trycen grunted through the pain. “Wycelion pulled me back with him or his friend probably would have killed me. He was pretty much just toying with me. We would’ve left if Crytos and Michael hadn’t intercepted us.”
Byryn met Grifyn’s eyes as he nodded to him. The demand in them clear.
He turned back to Trycen, he didn’t want to choose between his brothers but Trycen was right here fighting with them and he’d been wounded. He was vulnerable. Michael was still fighting against them and wouldn’t hear him. Grifyn swore not to kill him and as difficult as it was, he had to trust him. The male had kept every promise he’d made him this far. “Come on, let’s get you out of here.”
“I will be seeing you soon, Byryn. You, your whore and I will be getting very well acquainted, my brother.” Michael called out.
Byryn grimaced. He didn’t know how to handle this. Staryana was his life, but he owed Michael so much for what he had put him through. Could he kill his brother to protect her from him if he had to?
There would be time to consider the implications later. Now, he had to get Trycen out of here. He pulled the Shade into the passageway. He could only hope that this was over soon. Where were the Shadows he wondered? It didn’t matter what Cymeryn was doing, he always called for the Shadows.
Chapter 12
Marcus rose lifting Reyana from the bed. He placed her on the floor out of his brother’s reach as he dressed and gathered up the remnants of her robes.
“I will kill you Marcus,” Cymeryn spat, coughing. Small black flecks of blood spilled from his mouth. “For taking her from me.”
“I would say, Cymeryn that this makes us even.” He traced his brother’s face studying the pain. He was sure the wound wasn’t fatal, though it would be to most; but even wounded Cymeryn could be lethal.
“Not even close. This will not change it.” Cymeryn coughed. “It will not take that knowledge away from any of us. You know her heart as well as I.”
Marcus wrapped her in his robing, unwilling to put her in any of the garments she may have been defiled in. He didn’t answer. What could he say? He had already forgiven her. He knew her at her core and he knew she had chosen him. Not once, not twice, but three times. She may have love for Cymeryn but she would not have chosen this if he hadn’t forced her to come here, had not manipulated her mind. The issue was that he did not know if she would forgive herself, or even him, for what had happened between the three of them.
“I will find her Marcus, always.” Cymeryn swore. “She is a part of me, as I am of her. She is a part of us both, Marcus. I will never rest until she is with me again.”
“I know.” He replied bluntly.
“Then you are a fool, my blooded twin, for letting me live.”
“It is her will. If she wanted you dead, you would be Cymeryn.” Marcus sheathed his sword and lifted her. “We both know you will not die from this.”
“Please.” Cymeryn choked. “Do not take her.”
Marcus froze hearing the pain in Cymeryn’s voice. It wasn’t pain from the wounds he sustained. It was the pain of loss. The pain he had felt when he lost her.
He turned to meet his eyes, “How long, Cymeryn? How long have you loved her as I do?”
“Always.” His eyes sealed shut. “Always since the day I first saw her.”
Marcus’ head bowed, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
He
surveyed her taking in the damage to her body. Really it was superficial. None of her wounds were deep. His brother had held her with restraint. He may have been rough with her but she had enjoyed it. Marcus had seen it with his own eyes, drank from her wounds himself.
“I forgive you, Cymeryn. If you can find your way back, we will work through this, my brother. But I swear to you, if you ever harm her, ever take away her very right to choose again, I will kill you.”
Marcus turned and walked from the room. He knew the mistake he was making. He knew Cymeryn would never stop, never rest until he found her. He knew because he was the same. The difference was Marcus loved her enough to put her needs, her wishes first. Cymeryn would not relent.
He watched her chest rise and fall with shallow breaths. He had done her will. He let his twin live to give the Gray a chance to work, to give the love he and Reyana shared a chance to break the shell within his heart. She hoped he would come seeking redemption. Marcus prayed he never did.
Mythos felt it. He felt the surge of Light and he knew it was her, but it vanished just as quickly. He could only hope that it meant Marcus had won. He dodged another of Crytos’ attacks. Time to wrap this up. If Marcus had truly succeeded they could be rounding that corner any moment and he had no idea what condition his sister was in.
“Grifyn?”
“Yes, sire.”
It was the only exchange but it was enough. He knew that Grifyn would have sensed it. In fact, the Fae may be more in tune to her than even he was now that her Gray essence coursed through him.
He feigned to the right then spun catching Crytos in the side with his blade as a ball of essence formed in his hand. As Crytos pull back the King launched it directly into the Shade’s chest and he doubled over in pain.
He clutched his chest as he protected his side and turned to spit black blood on the floor. “Another time perhaps your highness, when the sun is not so high.” The Shade misted from the corridor leaving only Michael.
He watched the boy fight Grifyn. He held his own but Grifyn could take him easily. He wished he would. This boy meant to destroy Byryn, there would be no reasoning with him. Whatever had passed between the two of them, Michael would not let it go until his vengeance was sated.
“Come with me, Michael. We will help you get back what you lost.” Grifyn spoke levelly, but he was generally far better with words and the King knew he tried only because it would be what Byryn would want. The boy was too far gone in his hatred for Byryn. There was no reaching him. Only Reyana had that ability and they no longer knew if that was true yet.
He thought of Trycen. He wondered how many were out there like him, still looking for a way out. They had promised it to him, to all of them, he could only hope they could deliver.
It did seem that Staryana had been gifted the same abilities, but until she was awakened there was no real way to tell how far she would be able to go with them. They did not even know the lengths of Reyana’s powers yet.
“Oh, I do believe Grifyn, you have already found what I have lost.” Michael chuckled, “And I will be back to reclaim it. Tell my little brother I will see him and his whore very soon.”
The boy was gone before either of them could speak.
“He is a problem, Grifyn. One that will need to be dealt with eventually.” Mythos sighed.
“I know, my lord. I have to find a way to help Byryn come to terms with this. You saw how it affected the boy.”
“Indeed, he could have been killed if you had been even a moment detained.” Mythos nodded grimly. “I have seen many sides to Byryn since I met him, and I realize it has only been a little over three days, but submissive has not been one of them.”
“No, and in truth it isn’t.” Grifyn mused. “He does hold a lot of regret for what happened to his brother, though. In all honesty, I believe he thought Michael was dead.”
“Whatever the case Grifyn, you need to talk to him. We cannot have him outside the Sanctuary with Michael running around if he is unable to handle him. He will either be dead or lost and either account would be unacceptable to my niece.” Mythos smiled as he teased Grifyn.
He shook his head, “Like I need Marcus and you as bonded relations. If the Shade don’t kill the boy I will be constantly protecting him from the two of you.”
They laughed.
“I’m glad you find your son’s inability to keep his hands off my bonded daughter amusing Grifyn, but if you could?” Marcus came around the corner leaning against the wall as he struggled to carry Reyana’s weight. His skin looked sallow and pale and his eyes swirled with Darkness, but he had not turned.
Mythos and Grifyn went to them. Mythos took Reyana in his arms and Grifyn supported Marcus’ weight. As he looked over her rage coursed through him.
“Did you kill him for this, Marcus? Is he dead or may I have the pleasure myself?” Mythos nearly spat. He ached at the sight of the bruising and cuts on his sister.
“She pierced a dagger through his heart and pumped pure Light essence into him. Her Gray was already in his veins. It is up to him and the Fates to decide now.” Marcus replied dryly and fell silent.
“He deserves to die for this. He should die for this.” Mythos insisted appalled that the Fae had allowed him the chance to survive this.
Marcus gave no response. He only reached out and brushed a strand of hair out of her face and began walking with Grifyn’s assistance towards where the passageway was hidden. He triggered the doorway and motioned for the King to go first. “Come, let’s get her home so that we can attend to her. What she needs most now is rest, and time.”
Mythos studied him carefully. Marcus was generally intense, especially after a battle but he seemed withdrawn, subdued in some way. He could almost feel a distance forming between them as they stood there despite the ground they had regained in recent days with the male
. “What happened in there Marcus?”
He only shook his head and lowered his eyes. “Time is short, my lord. He may have called in other Shade or an entire faction of the Umbra. We must go.”
Mythos entered the tunnel and they followed behind. He could tell something had gone terribly wrong despite their victory. He had no idea what it was or what it meant but the fact that Marcus was being evasive bothered him intensely. When they made it back to the Sanctuary that Fae had some questions to answer and when they were done he might well hunt down Marcus’ twin himself.
They walked through the tunnel in silence. Marcus had no intention on discussing what happened in that room. He wouldn’t have anyone judging her for the nature of her heart. It didn’t matter if the King ordered him to tell him what had happened, no one would ever know if it were his choice. It wouldn’t be though, it was her truth to reveal, or to hide.
He couldn’t understand why she had lost consciousness. She had wounded herself when she pierced his heart but it appeared superficial. He hadn’t had the time to consider it until now, but he couldn’t come up with a reason. Aside from the fact that her body was obviously spent.
He winced squeezing his eyes closed but it didn’t help. Images of the three of them on that godforsaken bed flooded his mind. He had enjoyed it. He had reveled in her pleasure, the taste of her. He had cherished every inch of her, the love that flowed from her to them both. If he were honest, part of him had even welcomed the connection he had felt with Cymeryn. There was just too much.
It would be a long road back from this. A long road for both of them, indeed. He would always wonder if she had known all this time that Cymeryn was in love with her. Did she return his favor even then? He knew her heart, new her love for him but the events in that room, the knowledge he now had left everything blurry and askew.
He needed her to wake up, to come back to him. He needed her love and her gentle touch, those loving smiles to reassure him that she was still and had always been his. He needed Reyana, not Reyn. But that was the heart of the problem wasn’t it? She was neither Reyana nor Reyn, she was both. The Light and the Da
rk halves of her were one in Lunya. She may be of mortal form but she had the soul and power of a deity coursing through her fragile form. She was the Light, the Dark and every shade of Gray in-between. To truly love her you had to accept her as such. It was something he had to come to terms with.
They came out into the cells where Byryn and some young Shade sat talking. Byryn stood and bowed then pulled the Shade up and limped under his weight. He listened as the boys continued their conversation.
“Did it hurt?”
“That’s difficult to say. It didn’t hurt before the awakening hit. Actually it felt good, better than I can really ever remember feeling.” Byryn answered thoughtfully. “When the awakening hit though, there was no one there who could awaken me and I had taken in a large amount of Dark essence. I didn’t want to awaken Dark and I knew I would betray the promises I had made if I allowed myself to give in to the awakening, so I actually did something kind of stupid.”
“How so?”
“I kind of intentionally took in pure Light essence until I couldn’t take any more.” He shrugged nonchalantly.
The Shade gaped at him, “Are you insane? That could have killed you.”
Byryn nodded. “That was actually the plan. I wouldn’t give Trevyn what he asked for even if it meant my death and I wouldn’t risk giving into my Dark side out of some instinct I couldn’t control. I would rather have died.”
“I don’t get it Byryn.” The kid shook his head. “You didn’t have it as bad as the rest of us anymore. You all but ran this place when Trevyn was gone and once you awakened Shade, it all would have been yours, including us. That’s all Trevyn was really waiting for. He preferred to leave us to you most days now so as it is. I’m not saying life was all grand and perfect. I just don’t understand why you of all people would throw everything away. Why you chose to basically give up your life, knowing you were likely going to die over some girl? You could have had anyone you wanted, most the time you did. I’m not a fool Byryn, I listened to everything you said and you didn’t know. Hell, I don’t think they knew before you that there definitely was another option. Why did you do it?”
