Ballad of Blood

by Amy Sumida

  Thank you, Danyon. I stared back down the shaft; searching for the orb again.

  You're most welcome, Your Majesty, Danyon said. And don't worry; the pull will lessen once we're out of the containment coral.

  The pull? I asked distractedly.

  Of that blasted orb! Kyanite roared. Snap out of it, Elaria! You cannot touch that thing; not ever.

  Okay, I huffed; instantly myself again.

  Then I realized that we were past the ward and out of the shaft entirely. We must have made it beyond the reach of the... what had Danyon called it again?

  It has no true name that I know of, Danyon said. We call it what it is physically; a dark orb. But it cannot be named. We dare not give it a title to be spoken.

  Why do you have it? Where did it come from?

  Good questions. Danyon nodded. But their answers don't concern you, Your Majesty. Focus on your lovers and saving the Blood Drinkers. We will hold the dark at bay.

  I shivered at his words, but I still didn't know what I was afraid of.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Danyon took me back to the amphitheater, where my consorts waited eagerly, but Tell and Janae looked grim. The asrai and the mermaid smiled gently at me; as if I'd gone through a trauma.

  He told you about that orb, didn't he? I asked Tell and Janae.

  They shared a worried look before Janae answered. Danyon is concerned. The sphere has been inactive for over a thousand years. That it should come alive now is unsettling.

  But you wear the Golden Girdle, Tell tried to sound upbeat. You are protected, and you're also leaving the Coral Court—right now. He turned to face the Water Fey. Everyone, please wish Their Majesties and Royal Consorts farewell; they must be leaving us.

  In the rush of water fey trying to bid me farewell, I didn't have time to ask Tell about the sphere. And then we were being whisked out of the castle to our waiting seadragons. My consorts were scowling; feeling the tension and no doubt being kept out of the loop. But they knew we needed to get to the surface soon, so they didn't protest.

  In moments, we were speeding away from the Coral Court... and the darkness that lurked beneath it.

  I closed my eyes and laid my head against my seadragon's neck while it raced through the cold water. I'd never been afraid of the dark, and I wasn't sure that I was now. I had reacted to Danyon's fear and Kyanite's urgency, but I hadn't felt afraid of the orb. I had felt... intrigued. I swallowed convulsively as a shiver went through me, and the girdle around my waist pulsed in response. The Girdle's reaction didn't bother me; I had worn magical items before. At least this one didn't seem sentient. What bothered me was the euphoria that teased the edges of my skin when I thought about that sphere; like the thrill you get when you stand on a high cliff. You can either enjoy the view safely and walk away, or you can take the leap and pray for wings.

  Even far away from the containment coral and the orb's influence—with my mind fully my own—I still wanted to leap.

  But as our speed slowed, I tried to push thoughts of leaping out of my mind and focus on our success. We had the Girdle, and now we could hunt a goddess. That made me far more nervous than a black ball under the water. My fight with Osiris was replaying itself in my mind; how he had made me believe that I was in the past with Banning. It had been so real; I was shocked by how accomplished an illusionist the god was. And Isis was supposed to be just as talented; the humans had called them twins.

  Was it true that the Egyptian Gods were using black magic to empower themselves? I wasn't sure. Black magic was one of those things that everyone knew existed but no one messed with. It simply demanded too high a price for what it offered. Sure, if you could get someone else to pay the price—as Mimir had done with the Trinity of Strength—you may come through it unscathed. But then again, Mimir wasn't just using black magic; he was collecting energy to fuel a world destroyer... and he hadn't survived either. So, the question was; was Isis and her fellow gods in such desperate need of power that they'd resort to the dark enchantments?

  I thought of the trees in Primeval—the ones that had once bled, and the ones that had once been fairies—and I hoped that we were wrong. But if we were wrong, and Isis wasn't using black magic, then how had she gained so much power? How was she able to create all those Nachzehrer and transport them without being seen? Perhaps the Gods had always been powerful; they'd just been hiding it.

  Nah. Gods were too egotistical to hide their light under a bushel... a barrel... a basket? A tisket, a tasket? What the hell was it that people hid their light under? Oh, whatever; I've never been good at the religious metaphors. Wait; was that religious? Wow, I was really addlebrained. I hope I didn't have the bends.

  Our seadragons deposited us in the deeper waters offshore, and I kissed mine on the cheek before swimming to the shallows. Then I hugged Tell and thanked him for his help. It was nice to be able to speak aloud again.

  “You're most welcome, Queen Elaria,” Tell said. “Just call for me again when you wish to return the Girdle.”

  “I will,” I promised.

  “And good luck with the goddess.” Tell moved to leave, but I grabbed his arm.

  “What is the orb, Tell?” I whispered. “And please don't give me some cryptic riddle.”

  “I honestly don't know,” he said with a glimmer of fear in his eyes. “The elders hold that secret, and the way they speak of it is enough to make me glad that I don't share it. Frankly, I was shocked that Danyon trusted you enough to take you into the Coral Cavern, and now I wish that he hadn't. I like you, Queen Elaria; I don't want you touched by that evil.”

  I let him go with a frown. “I didn't feel anything evil from it.”

  “But isn't that evil's favorite trick; to make you believe that it's good?”

  “Maybe,” I conceded. “Or maybe that's something people say when they don't want to accept that they're wrong and everything isn't black and white.”

  Tell chuckled. “You could be right. I've never even seen the orb. But I trust our leaders; Danyon, especially, is wise. I don't think they'd be guarding the orb so diligently if it was something good.”

  I nodded, and Tell laid a hand gently on my shoulder.

  “Forget the sphere, Your Majesty,” Tell whispered. “There are far more important things awaiting your attention.” He looked pointedly at my consorts on the shore.

  “Yes; you're right,” I gave in. “Goodbye, Tell.”

  “Goodbye, Your Majesty.”

  Tell melted into the ocean; making me momentarily think of The Wizard of Oz.

  Was Dorothy really the hero in that tale? Or was she an idiot girl whose first act in Oz was murder? It all depended on how you looked at it; as most things did.

  “Good,” Torin declared. “Now, you can tell us what the fuck is going on, Elaria.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  I had to explain everything to the men before they'd even let me on a horse. Going without speaking to me for hours while having to watch confusing actions going on around them had taken its toll. When I told them about the sphere, they went quiet; all of them looking uneasy. I pointed out that whatever it was, it was miles away, beneath Sgáthan. It was not our biggest concern at the moment.

  They agreed but decided that it would probably be a good idea to get me away from Sgáthan immediately. So, we hurried back to Alexandrite Castle, bathed off the saltwater, and went to bed. We were all too exhausted to do much else. Since we were in Declan's home, I spent the night with him, but he drifted off to sleep far sooner than I did. I laid awake for hours; my hand atop the Girdle as I thought about a simple black sphere.

  When I finally did get to sleep, my dreams were full of strange things; shadows taking physical form, icy lips crying out to me, flames melting that ice, and the brush of wings across my skin. I woke in a cold sweat—my heart racing—and couldn't understand why. My thighs ached as if I'd been running, and my body tingled with need.

  I rolled over and slid my hand across Declan's hard
stomach; trailing it down to stroke his manhood. It sprang to life immediately, and he stirred awake with it; his arm slipping up around me to pull me closer. I didn't have time for kisses or foreplay, though; I eased astride him and sank down over his shaft. Declan groaned and closed his eyes with pleasure.

  Suddenly, the world shifted, and the room filled with water. Seaweed fluttered in the currents around us, and light filtered down through the rippled surface of the sea above us. Declan and I lifted off the bed; continuing to make love while being supported by saltwater.

  Osiris wasn't the only illusionist I knew, and Declan had manifestation magic as well. He could make the illusion as real or as surreal as he wanted. The water lifted us, and yet, we didn't need potions to breathe. That was the complexity and power of Declan's magic.

  “This is what I wanted to do with you last night,” Declan murmured as he pushed me back in the water and grabbed my hips tight.

  My back arched as I let the illusion carry my weight, and then I wrapped my legs around Declan's waist. My hair trailed out around me; rippling with the power of his thrusts. I was soon crying out in ecstasy; hands grasping for Declan's shoulders as he tensed and shouted out his release.

  “Holy fuck!” Gage exclaimed.

  My head jerked to the side, to see Gage standing near the open door with Torin and Banning. They all stared around the room at the scene that they were not a part of, but yet had stepped into. Despite the room appearing to be full of seawater, with Declan and I floating within it, the latecomers were not affected; they looked as if they stood on dry land. And that was what broke the illusion.

  Declan and I went tumbling to the bed and hit the mattress with a heavy thud. I groaned as Declan cursed.

  “That was a complicated illusion,” Declan growled again. “You people don't knock?”

  The room was back to the way it was; all seawater and seaweed gone.

  “We weren't sure you'd be up yet,” Torin said. “But we never expected to find you that far up.”

  “Are you all right?” Declan asked as he ignored the others.

  “I'm fine.” I giggled. “At least they had good timing.”

  “A few moments sooner would have left me far angrier,” Declan agreed before he kissed me lingeringly. “Good morning, sweetheart.”

  “Good morning,” I said and then slid away. “Good morning, everyone.”

  “Indeed,” Torin said and cleared his throat. “We'll wait out here. We've had breakfast brought to the suite.”

  “Wonderful; I'm starving,” I declared as I started gathering my clothes.

  “And I'm a little intimidated,” Banning said. “How the hell do I compete with a man who can make it seem as if they're in the ocean?”

  “You got that bite thing, Ban,” Gage said with lifted brows. “That's... um...” He cleared his throat.

  “It's bloody phenomenal,” Declan said shamelessly. “In fact, I may ask you for a pre-coitus nibble next time.”

  “You want me to bite you as some kind of sexual enhancement for you to use with Elaria?” Banning asked. “Right after I complained about you and this illusion stuff, you want me to help you make your sex even better?” He waved his hand around the dry room.

  “You did it before,” Declan said blandly.

  “That was because I needed the extra strength to fight giants,” Banning growled.

  “So, you don't want another dose of Declan?” Declan waggled his brows at Banning.

  “Ugh; why do you have to say it like that?” Banning rolled his eyes.

  “Because you react,” Gage said as he slapped Banning's shoulder. “Just tease him back, and he'll drop it. Right, lover?” Gage asked Declan in a sultry tone.

  Declan sighed, grimaced, and huffed his way out of bed.

  “See? It's no fun for him if you're not bothered,” Gage waved at Declan—just as Declan bent over to put on his pants. “Ugh! Come on,” Gage held up a hand. “I was joking; I don't actually want to see the goods. Especially not from that angle.”

  “You're the simpletons who are still standing in my bedroom,” Declan pointed out. “If you don't wish to see me in all my glory, there is the door.” He pointed imperiously.

  Torin was already gone; he knew better than to banter with Declan about lewdness in Declan's own bedroom. Gage and Banning weren't far behind; they looked at each other with beleaguered expressions and made a hasty retreat.

  “Well done,” I said to Declan.

  “Age and experience, darling.” Declan winked at me. “The eldest and lewdest always wins.”

  “Didn't Torin win last time?” I asked innocently as I headed into the bathroom.

  “Consorts are supposed to be supportive!” Declan called after me.

  “I never do what I'm supposed to do,” I retorted before I shut the bathroom door.

  “Well, isn't that the gem's honest truth?” I heard Declan mutter.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  The best way to track Isis would be to start from a place she'd been to recently; as recent as possible. So, my consorts, Gio, and I headed to my home in Hawaii, and Gio called Gheara Phillip to find out which gura had been hit last. From that phone call, he also learned that the ghearas had abandoned Sorin, and the old king was left alone in his castle. I watched Banning's face as he heard the news about Sorin, and his mouth tightened around the corners. As much as he hated Sorin, he also cared for him. I know; it's twisted. But it's the kind of affection you hold for someone you once loved. No matter what you do to destroy love, the memory of it will always survive, and that memory can become a haunting.

  “Do you want to bring him here?” I asked gently.

  “Sorin? To your home?” Banning was aghast. “No. Sorin made his bed, and he can lie in it. Besides, he has the luck of the Devil; he'll probably outlast us all.”

  “Okay,” I said. “Let me know if you change your mind.”

  “I love you,” Banning said sweetly. “Thank you for offering sanctuary to such an awful son of a bitch for me. But truly, El, I don't want to help him. I just regret that it's come to this, and it's hard to stand by and watch him fall.”

  “You're not standing by,” Torin said. “You're making a stand; they are two different things.”

  Banning nodded with a pensive look.

  “Okay, let's get back to Alexandrite and gather the others,” Declan said. “Then we'll head to... where are we going again?”

  “The Waco Gura was the last one attacked,” Gio said. “That's in Texas.”

  “Waco.” Banning frowned. “Isn't that where they had that big shooting; some kind of cult thing?”

  “I don't know about all that,” Gage said. “But it's where Joanna and Chip Gaines live with their adorable children.”

  We all stared at him blankly.

  “Fixer Upper?” Gage huffed. “You people need to watch some television; they're hilarious and endearing. Though, I'm getting tired of white paint and shiplap.”

  “What the hell is shiplap?” I asked; uncertain if I really wanted to know.

  “It looks like the stuff that's beneath old walls.” Gage grimaced. “And it should be left there. I hate country chic, but I love the Gaines family.”

  “You need to stop leaving him alone so often,” Banning said to me. “This griffin needs supervision; he's bonding with humans on television. The next thing you know, he'll be hoarding cats.”

  “Cats are lovely animals,” Gage said with a scowl. “They're little lions.”

  “I'm beginning to understand your urgency,” I said with a concerned look at Gage.

  “I am immersing myself in human culture,” Gage growled. “After living on Torr-Chathair for my entire life, I find myself interested in the people of Earth. So, sue me.”

  “Okay, we're good,” I said with relief. “It's just a phase.”

  “That remains to be seen,” Declan murmured.

  We used our charms (and eggshell) to go back to Alexandrite, and then our entire group traveled to the
coordinates for the Waco Gura.

  We found the building—a quaint farmhouse in the middle of acres of open field—abandoned. The smell of death still lingered in the air, and when we opened the front door, we discovered why. The farmhouse was far enough away from its neighbors to remain undiscovered. Combine that with the Texas heat and the open land which helped to waft the smell away, and you had an oven of cooked corpses; rotting away quickly inside an enclosed environment whose odor never alerted the humans.

  Enclosed; that was an important detail. Either someone had survived, or Isis had watched the slaughter, called her pet Nachzehrer back, and then shut the door after them. How considerate of her.

  There was no way to enter the house without gagging, so we searched it through the windows as we called out for any survivors. But if anyone had survived, they had already left the area. Not that I had expected them to remain in that.

  The search concluded, we gathered in the field behind the house, and I prepared to sing. I'd chosen a song about hunting; sexual hunting, but with a deadly undertone. The song was “White Flag” by The Romanovs, and it felt perfect for the mood I was in.

  The soft strains of stringed instruments swirled up into a dramatic piano; fooling the listener into believing that this might be sweet, classical music. But then the jagged growl of an electric guitar invaded and revealed the song's true colors. I sent my voice out across the vast acres before me; singing about the transformation of a shy woman into a sexual predator. She used to run with the wolves, but now she hunted the pack.

  It was romantically poetic in the darkest of ways; a monstrous love that's a heartbeat away from killing. I took its ferocity and stalking lyrics and twisted them to work for me. The song filled me with its savage message, and I sent out the call like a hunter's horn.

  You might as well wave your white flag now, Isis, because we are coming for you.

  I inhaled sharply as my magic poured out of me; I had caught the scent. I saw Isis' trail in my mind; a bright spear of light shooting across the land toward my prey. I let the song sweep me up into its beauty and then plunged forward with its intent.