Protector of Midnight

by Debbie Cassidy

  I reluctantly stepped into the room. “Shouldn’t there be more illumination for training purposes?”

  Drayton snickered. “Really? We live in Midnight. We fight in the dark. This is perfect.”

  Point. “I guess I’ll see you later?”

  “No question about it,” he said.

  Cassie finished up her moves and waved me over. “Great timing.”

  Taking a deep breath, I walked toward the banshee. “What was that you were doing?”

  She tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ears and adjusted her topknot. “Just a cool down exercise.” She sashayed over to a bench and picked up a bottle of water and took a long swig. “That’s better.” She parked her butt on the bench. “Sit and tell me about your training?”

  Training was safe ground. I sat down and ran through my SPD training.

  “That’s pretty much what we cover here. The rest just kinda comes with on the job training. You siphon right?”

  I nodded.

  “So, if you get into hand to hand you can draw power and juice up.”

  I’d never done it but... “Yes, in theory.”

  “Wow,” she shook her head. “Your enemies can be your battery.”

  “What else can you do?” she was watching me carefully, almost suspiciously.

  Wait, was this about what Drayton had said about the sexual vibe I gave off? “I’m not like Drayton if that’s what you’re asking. I don’t crave sexual energy.”

  She smiled. “Perceptive. I like it.”

  “Yep, it’s a curse.”

  “In our line of work, it’s a bloody blessing, trust me.”

  “I can expel the power once I have it. I’m not sure what else because I’ve kinda kept it locked up all my life.”

  “What about elements? Any affinity? Are you drawn to anything? Earth, water, air, fire?”

  “Not really, no.”

  “That’s all right. Well, we can start training first thing tomorrow. In the meantime, let’s pick you out a weapon.”

  I widened my eyes. “You mean I get more than a taser?”

  She pursed her lips. “Oh, honey you have no idea.”

  ***

  The vault door opened with a creak and a rumble.

  “Damn it. Rivers was supposed to oil the door,” Cassie yanked, and the thick metal door swung all the way open.

  I stepped over the threshold behind her. “I’m kind of expecting some creepy music to start playing,”

  “Right? I said that to Orin last time we were here and he was like pfft, women.”

  “No imagination.”

  “Yep.”

  She flipped a switch and the vault lit up, so bright it made my eyeballs ache. “Whoa, can we turn it down.”

  She gave a breathy chuckle. “One sec.”

  The lights dimmed and I caught sight of the trove for the first time. Racks lined the walls all hung with whips, and maces, swords and daggers. My eye was drawn by a pretty pair of daggers with gold hilts and a gold and cream sheath. I reached out to touch them but something else caught my attention. Farther along in a slab fixed to the wall sat twin daggers nestled in the stone.

  “What’s that?”

  “Those?” She chuckled. “They’re not for you. They’re not for anyone. They’re called the daggers of Aether. Legend has it they can cut through anything. Like, literally anything. They say Merlin enchanted them into the stone after Arthur died. Some even believe they belonged to Arthur himself. You can’t get them out. No one can. Believe me, we’ve all tried.”

  “Even Bane?”

  “Even Bane.”

  I’d read about the legend of Arthur. The stories in our great library were abundant. Children born in Arcadia were brought up to believe that there was nothing outside of the city. That this was all there was. But as they grew, when every twenty years outsiders came, that illusion was shattered. Every child went through that phase, the burning need to learn more about the outside world. And Sunset library held that knowledge—stories of places beyond Arcadia. If the White Wings were really responsible for trapping us here, it was a cruel twist to leave such evidence of a bigger world behind.

  My fingers itched to touch the daggers but the darkness inside held me back. “He had five weapons didn’t he?”

  “Yes. The two swords, no wait. Three swords.”

  “Excalibur, Clarent, and Caliburn.”

  “Yeah, and the dagger, I can’t recall the name.”

  “And a spear.”

  We grinned at each other, satisfied we’d identified them all.

  “So Merlin crafted these daggers? That’s not in any history book I’ve read,”

  Her eyes darkened. “Not everything makes it to the history books.”

  In that moment, she looked older, much older. It was easy to forget that nephs aged much more slowly than humans. If I took her at her appearance, I’d say early twenties but she could easily be twice or three times that.

  Cassie rolled her eyes, snapping out of her little reverie. “Honestly, if you’re into Merlin and his history you’ll need to speak to the Order. They have everything, and I mean everything on Merlin.”

  Was she telling me to go speak to them? “Aren’t they dangerous?”

  “Yep. Completely cuckoo. So, best steer clear. If they knew we had these daggers, we’d have a fight on our hands so,” she held a finger to her lips, “shhhh, no blabbing to anyone outside of the MPD head primary neph circle.” She beckoned me. “Come over here.”

  She was standing in front of a pedestal which held four bowls. One was filled with dirt, the other was empty, the third had a little water in it and the final one held a matchstick.

  “You want to test for elemental affinity?” Cassie asked.

  “What do I do?”

  “Just take your time and focus on each bowl. See if anything calls to you and then just follow your instincts.”

  “And if nothing calls to me?”

  She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. You’re still a neph either way. But don’t you want to know for sure?”

  Did I want to know? I mean, it would be pretty cool to be a head Primary, but what were the odds of that happening? Still, I took my place in front of the pedestal and closed my eyes.

  Cassie stepped back and the space was mine. Just focus on each bowl she’d said. Earth first...earth, dirt, moist, fragrant and

  Psst. You, girl. Stop standing by the stupid bowls and get your ass over here.

  What the fuck?

  Over here, follow my voice, pretty girl.

  Yes. What a wonderful idea. My feet were moving of their own accord, and the world suddenly blazed bright through my closed eyelids—a beacon guiding me forward. Somewhere, in the distance was an urgent voice. But it was so far away, inconsequential really.

  Closer, yes. Do you see? Do you see me?

  The voice was crisp and impatient. Light dimmed a fraction and twin blades flared in my vision. The ornate handles begging to be gripped. My hands throbbed and ached to hold them.

  It’s time, girl. Together we are invincible

  I reached out and picked them up and then the world shattered in a brain splitting scream.

  Chapter 13

  My eyes snapped open and the world came rushing back. The scream was an alarm, and the vault was bathed in a red flashing light. Someone was shaking me.

  “Serenity! Damn it! Snap out of it.” Cassie’s eyes were wild, her hair half out of her top knot.

  “I’m okay. I... what happened?”

  She stared at something to my left, her mouth parted in shock.

  “What?” I turned my head to see the stone slab fixed to the wall. But the blades were gone. “Cassie, where are the daggers?”

  “Serenity...” Cassie was looking down now, down at my hands—my hands which were gripping the twin daggers of Aether.

  A roar filled the vault and then there was no room to move, no air to breathe, because Bane was bearing down on me, his eyes blazing with indign
ation.

  “Put them back,” he said menacingly. “Put them back. Now.”

  The last word was a bark. Knees trembling, I tried to shove the daggers back onto the slab but they clung to my palms like glue. “I can’t. I can’t do it.”

  “Put them down. Just drop them, damn you.”

  His tone, which had been terrifyingly seductive in the foyer, was now fire and brimstone, squeezing my bladder and turning my bowels liquid. The terror nudged the darkness, and my temper flared and lashed.

  I turned on him, fingers curled around the daggers. “Stop fucking yelling at me!”

  His head snapped back as if I’d hit him.

  “Oh, shit.” Cassie pressed herself to the wall.

  Violet flames flickered in his pupils as he took a slow, deliberate, step toward me. “Put. The. Daggers. Down.” The word were tiny bites.

  I grit my teeth and faced off against him. “Enunciating. Won’t. Make. A. Difference.”

  “Oh, boy,” Cassie said.

  “What the heck is going on?” It was Drayton, but Bane’s mass blocked him, denying him entry. “Bane. Calm down.”

  Bane’s ferocious face swam closer, his massive body squeezing into the confined space, pushing me back against a rack loaded with swords and other pokey stuff, but fuck if I was gonna let him intimidate me.

  Well done. Do not back down. He wants to assert his authority. Do not let him.

  My pulse skipped. That voice, where was it coming from?

  Focus girl.

  I locked gazes with Bane. It was like locking horns with a bull, or what I’d expect that to be like—pure unadulterated terror. He could probably crush me with one hand, and man, did he look like he wanted to do just that.

  “Why did you touch the daggers? Did Cassie tell you what they were? Was it the challenge?” His hand came up lightning fast to wrap around my throat.

  “Dammit, Bane. Let her go.” Drayton’s tone was ice, but Bane didn’t even flinch.

  My breath caught in my lungs as I waited for the squeeze, but it didn’t come. He held me captive, his calloused skin against my delicate flesh. His feral face drifted closer. His eyes were at half-mast as he studied my mouth waiting for the words to fall. His thick dark lashes cast shadows on his flat high cheekbones and, from this close up, the beginnings of stubble in the dip above the cupids bow of his lip was clearly visible. His breath rasped against my face, minty and fresh.

  “Are you one of them?” he asked, coaxing, soft and cajoling. “Are you a spy little woman? Tell me, what magick are you wielding?”

  It was that tone again, he was playing confidant, potential ally. Hey I’m not gonna hurt you if you fess up. But those fingers around my throat belied his words. He could snap my neck with a flick of his wrist. So, where was the dread? It was taking a back seat to my irritation.

  I took a couple of slow shallow breaths. “I have no idea what you’re talking about? Get your damned hand off me. Now.”

  He looked up. Right into my eyes. “Or what?”

  It was something I’d never done before. I’d only ever drawn power using my hands, but my hands were occupied with blades that didn’t seem to want to be dropped. Maybe it was about time I experimented. I dropped my shields and allowed the hunger full reign. His power rushed into me, hard and fast, but I didn’t allow it to settle, there was no way I was letting it incapacitate me this time, instead I shoved it back outward. Back at him.

  His nostrils flared, and a low rumble lit up his chest and then he was stumbling back, and I was free.

  Good girl

  We stood like that, him and I, chests rising and falling, neither of us willing to back down.

  “Serenity, are you all right? Cassie, is she okay?” Drayton asked.

  “Are you working for the Order?” Bane asked me, soft and lethal.

  What? “No!” I shook my head. “What the hell gave you that idea?”

  “It’s all right, Dray,” Cassie called out. She stepped away from the wall. “She was testing for affinity, Bane. Then she went into some kind of trance and picked up the daggers.”

  Bane’s left eye twitched. “What happened?” he asked me.

  “What happened?” I snorted in disgust. “Now you ask me, what happened? Maybe lead with that next time?”

  He exhaled heavily. “Just answer the question.”

  “No. Not without an apology.”

  Cassie made a strangled sound.

  Bane glared at me aghast. “An apology?”

  “You know. The thing you do when you’ve done something wrong, say like attacking someone for no valid reason.” I placed my hands on my hips.

  Banes gaze dropped to my waist. “Where did they go?”

  “Where did what...” My hands...they were free. The blades were gone. I examined my palms and then turned in a circle searching the ground. “Where did they go?”

  “Serenity, your wrists.” Cassie reached for my arm and yanked up my sleeve. “Shit.”

  I stared at my creamy skin, now marked with ink in the shape of a dagger.

  Bane gently gripped my other arm and slid the sleeve up to expose a twin tattoo.

  This couldn’t be happening. This was crazy.

  Bane released me and walked to the entrance of the vault. “Come with me.”

  “What’s happening? How is this happening?”

  His jaw tightened. “I don’t know, but maybe we can find out. Together.”

  Okay, that wasn’t an apology, but it was a start.

  Bane stepped out the room.

  “What the fuck, Bane,” Drayton said. “You need to control your temper.”

  Bane ignored him and tried to push past, but Drayton pressed a hand to his shoulder.

  “I respect you, and we’re friends, but you could have hurt her.”

  Bane’s lip curled. “Yes. I could have, but I chose not to.”

  There was a double edge to his words, and as soon as he said them, he snapped his mouth closed as if wishing he could take them back.

  Drayton dropped his hand, shaking his head. “Low blow, bro. I’m coming with you.”

  “No. You’re not.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because we’re going to the roost.”

  Drayton’s eyes flared and he stepped out of the way. “If you lay a hand on her...”

  Bane leaned in close. “Don’t forget who you’re speaking to.” He pushed past the incubus and this time Drayton didn’t stop him.

  I had daggers inside my skin and a voice in my head. Hello voice? Yoohoo? Silence reigned.

  “What’s the roost?” I climbed the steps behind Bane.

  His shoulders brushed both sides of the corridor and his black shirt blended into the darkness, making it look as if a pair of denim clad legs were scaling the steps.

  Where did he get his jeans? I mean they had to be custom made for sure because the guy was huge.

  “Yes, they’re custom made. Now stop thinking so hard.”

  “How did you know what I was thinking?”

  “Your thoughts aren’t always shielded.”

  Fucking hell, a mind reader.

  “Only sometimes,” Bane said.

  We reached the top of the steps and Bane opened a door. Cool crisp air slapped my cheeks and then we were outside with only a parapet to provide shelter. A couple of wide marble type benches acted as seating and a huge iron bell hung from a metal frame by the balcony.

  “What is this place?”

  “The roost. Now sit.”

  “God, you’re bossy.”

  “That’s because I am the damned boss,” he snapped.

  Blowing out my cheeks in exasperation, I lowered myself onto the bench and winced as the chill from the marble seeped hungrily through the fabric of my jeans into my skin. Damn it was cold out here.

  Bane gripped the rope attached to the bell and pulled. I waited for the clang of the clapper but nothing happened.

  Absolute silence.

  “Um... I think your
bell is broken.”

  He tilted his head to the moonlit sky. “Wait.”

  I pulled up my sleeves and studied the daggers. The voice was gone. But my gut told me I hadn’t heard the last from it.

  The air stirred and a shadow flitted across the moon. Something was coming. Something big.

  Bane stepped under the parapet and a moment later a figure landed on the balcony. Its huge wings flexed then snapped closed, vanishing from view.

  Of shitting hell, it was a Black Wing.

  He stepped forward and the moonlight highlighted a familiar face. It was the Black Wing who’d saved my arse when I’d been surrounded by the rippers. I was hidden in shadow, not bathed in moonlight like Bane, and he hadn’t seen me yet.

  “Why have you summoned me?” the Black Wing asked Bane.

  “The Daggers of Aether are no longer in the stone slab,” Bane said.

  The Black Wing’s face froze for a fraction of a second. “The Order?”

  “No.” Bane jerked his head in my direction.

  The Black Wing’s gaze scoured the shadows and then fell on me. His lips parted in surprise. I opened my mouth to say something: hello, hey great to see you again, thanks for saving my life. But his expression hardened and he shook his head infinitesimally. What?

  He dismissed me and turned back to Bane. “A human has the daggers?”

  “Not human,” Bane said. “Drop the shields woman,” he said to me.

  I did so automatically, too flustered by what was going on to get all defensive. The relief was immediate, like a band releasing and allowing me to really breathe. I exhaled then inhaled, savoring the sweet Midnight air.

  The Black Wing flinched and then slowly approached. He crouched in front of me and his wings flared out, shielding us from Bane’s view.

  “Hush,” he said. “He must not know.”

  Know that we’d met before? Huh?

  “Look at her wrists,” Bane instructed.

  The Black Wing arched an enquiring brow and then held out his hand. God, he was beautiful, alabaster skin and raven’s wing hair, and his ice blue irises. I rested my wrist in his hand, palm up and he carefully pulled back my sleeve. The inked daggers were exposed, jet black against my pale skin. He sucked in a breath and slowly traced the dark lines with the tip of his index finger. Heat trailed in the wake of the contact and my hunger lurched outward, eager to taste what he had to offer again.