The Unmaking (The Rayne Whitmore Series Book 1)

by Alanna Faison

  Once, I had walked in on Diana with a fae (one of the few left on this plane) by the name of Celeste. I actually don’t think it was an accident; since Diana had a habit of summoning me during her sex sessions, I couldn’t take my eyes off of the scene in front of me.

  They both knew I was there. Hell, Diana had been the one to call me, but she had something to prove. Immortals are prideful beings and she wanted me to know what I was missing, the power trip I could have enjoyed. Let’s just say, after that amazing performance, I rushed straight back to Selene and ripped her clothes off, literally. I never told her exactly why I’d been so eager that night. I’m glad she never asked.

  “Rayne. It is especially good to see you this day,” Lawrence tells me, eying my legs for a few seconds longer.

  “As it is to see you Lawrence,” I smile as I respond with my own greeting.

  He claps his hands together and waves me toward him. “Come, let us not delay. I have a gift that is ready for you.”

  A gift? Sounds interesting. I follow Lawrence into the workspace and immediately the scent of something burning hits my nose. I frown. Hopefully, he didn’t cook for me.

  “Come, come, Rayne.” He pulls me closer and points to the table.

  There, lying on the table is a beautiful katana with a snake’s tail carved expertly from the tip of the blade, seemingly wrapping itself around the entire katana until its deadly looking fangs reach near the hilt causing it to look as if it’s coming out of the snake’s mouth. The blade itself is white as snow reflecting back at me like a mirror. White steel? The hilt itself is wrapped with purple cloth making the diamond pattern that katana’s have. The curve of the blade is perfect, the craftsmanship sharp. I gasp at the beauty of it, almost afraid to touch it. I look at Lawrence who seems confident in my reaction and his work.

  “Go ahead and pick it up. It is yours.”

  I run a couple fingers lightly over this deadly tool before lifting it. It feels so much lighter than I expected and I half wonder if it will even do any damage.

  Lawrence must have read my mind because he says, “In our realm, we have a special metal that I use when I forge my weapons. The metal is extremely light and incredibly strong. I also spelled it which gave it its white blade. Blood will run off of it easily. The katana isn’t indestructible, but it can slice through much more than you’ll ever be able to with a weapon made on your plane.”

  I decide to test his claim. I walk back out into the open. Then, I run full speed at the trees and swing down my blade diagonally with as much power as I can muster. The katana slices through four regular sized branches as if it were nothing more than warm butter. I nod in approval and turn back toward Lawrence who is grinning from ear to ear with his arms across his chest.

  “Thank you Lawrence. You’ve been really good to me here. You found the demon that killed my family and you’ve helped make me into something I’ve never even dreamed of being. In the beginning, I wanted to kill you for all that you put me through. Now, you’ve given me this weapon. I appreciate it all,” I say with a couple tears in my eyes. Who would have thought that girly me would get choked up about a weapon. I wonder what I’d look like with a sword strapped to my back and designer heels. Damn, I couldn’t wait to wear some high boots.

  “It has been nothing short of an adventure. I will not soon forget your strength and courage,” Lawrence says honestly. We both smile, then, he’s back to business.

  “There are a couple things you need to know about your sword as it is no ordinary object. Your sword must have a name. It must feel as though it has a bond with you in order for it grow in power as you grow. Your sword was not only forged from our steel, but Diana herself put some magic inside the blade which materialized as the serpent that now winds itself within the steel. The snake is the symbol of Immortality. It also represents cunning, fierceness, and flexibility. Thus, with the katana and a piece of our magic, you should be able to find victory in your battles. But remember, the sword will only be as strong as its master,” Lawrence speaks like an instructor who is just as excited to be teaching as the student is to learn.

  It doesn’t take me long to come up with a name. Lawrence has already said it and it sounds fitting to me. “Well, this is a katana and I want to honor the culture of the blade itself. Do you know a Japanese name that means ‘victory’ Lawrence?” I ask.

  He thinks for a minute, undoubtedly trying to recall all of the languages that he’s learned over the years. Finally, he says, “Katsu. It roughly means, to win.”

  I say it in my head then finally aloud. “Katsu. I like it. That’s my sword’s name. Katsu.” Just then, the tattoo on my chest comes alive with a warm tingling and a glow. I look down at the sword and realize that it’s responding to its name through my mark. I smile and think that it must like its name. Naming things give them power in the world of the awakened.

  “Good. The next thing you need to know is that you can glamour your sword so that it remains unseen. Since you have named your sword and it reacted through your bond, you should simply be able to think what you want your sword to do, such as be invisible, and it should. But know that it will only be hidden from normal humans and low level awakeneds. Those that are probably going to be your opponents will be aware of your blade’s presence.”

  I nod again in understanding and once again look down at my sword as Lawrence hands me its sheath. Very soon this beautiful blade will run red with blood. I’d have to kill to get my justice, and I thought I was ready for that, but maybe I’m really not.

  Oh hell, now is not the time to be having second thoughts. I’ve killed before, so what is the issue, why is this so real to me now? I almost have the urge to drop the sword and run, suddenly feeling sick. Lawrence catches my expression and gently takes the sword from my hands.

  “Are you ill young warrior?” he asks.

  I shake my head, trying to rid myself of the uncertainty I just felt and then I start to feel better. “No. I’m okay. I just think reality has begun to set in about what I’m getting ready to have to do,” I admit.

  “You have come so far in this time. Your heart has a fighter’s rhythm. You will succeed in your quest as long as you stay clear headed. Do not let the hatred consume you.”

  “I will do my best.”

  “Good. Now, I have one last thing for you to do,” Lawrence begins, but I cut him off.

  “Wait. Before you tell me what it is, I have to warn you that today, Selene said that I’m all hers, or else.”

  Lawrence voice booms with laughter. “That witch of yours is truly something else. Fine, fine. Still, you will need your rest anyway, for tomorrow, you go hunting.”

  “For?” I ask, curious about what could I possibly be going after.

  “You, young warrior, will be hunting down a lamia.”

  “Uh, what the hell is that?” I ask not remembering if I had learned about this.

  “A lamia is a type of demon that devours children. They can take the form of an adult woman, but their lower half is actually that of a serpent. They are also very cunning. It will be a good challenge for you to prove if you are truly ready to hunt and fight on your own. However, I do understand that you are more than eager to track down the person responsible for the deaths of your kin. If you do not think it is necessary to go on this hunt, then I certainly will not stop you or object. Either way, tomorrow you will return home,” Lawrence explains.

  I think about my options for a few seconds then ask, “Is this lamia on the hunt now? And if so, how many deaths have been confirmed?”

  “Well, when I first was hunting down your demon I learned about it and the death toll was at six. I decided to ask a source about it and the last count was about twenty three.”

  “What?!” I exclaim. “So, you knew about this thing killing many months ago? It has been killing children and you didn’t even attempt to stop it?” I was incredulous.

  “Human affairs in your world are not truly my concern Rayne. This is why we give
you power; it is not our job to fight your battles,” he says sternly.

  My anger fumes. “But you were close. You could have saved about twenty children’s lives. Dammit Lawrence does that even mean anything to you at all? Besides, I’m sure there hasn’t been another like me in hundreds of years. There is no other but me. How many have died because there was no one to fight for them!”

  Lawrence stares me deep in my eyes and for a second I see a hatred in his own beautiful green depths. “Humans kill and kill each other all the time, so what is the difference? There is no other race, not one, that murders their own the way you humans do. You who are short lived see no value in life at all. Yet, here you are with the audacity to try to preach to me about what I should have done!”

  “Have we not done enough in our pledge to your kind? Have I not taken you in and given you the tools to do more than anyone of you kind had ever thought possible? You are young, and you are naïve, and I am not your enemy here today. You cannot and will not save everyone. You will destroy yourself in the process of attempting to do so. Now, you can take what I have given you and go on the hunt in the morning, or you can accept that this lamia will kill again, that there are other things out there that will kill again, and if you truly want to save your kind, then maybe you should turn Katsu upon mankind itself.”

  His words are harsh and the cut deep, leaving tiny stings within my heart.

  We stare down each other for a few minutes, not speaking a word. My knuckles turn white from clinching the hilt of my sword too strongly. Finally, I turn and storm away from Lawrence, leaving him alone in the forest and calling after me.

  “Surely, I have raised a fool!”

  I honestly don’t know how I ended back at our room with the red I was seeing, but somehow, I managed. Selene takes one look at my face, strides towards me, takes Katsu from my hand and pulls me into a warm, comforting embrace. I allow her scent to wash over me and then, I cry. After feeling the release of tears come to an end, I pull away from Selene and she stays silent as she waits for me to tell her what’s going on. I start from the beginning and then describe how I exploded on Lawrence about the lamia.

  Selene whispers a calming spell, and suddenly, I feel less tense. I smile my gratitude at her as she touches my hand.

  “My Rayne. Don’t you understand what’s going on?” Selene says, sounding a lot like my mother.

  “No, but I’m sure you’re going to tell me. I haven’t cried in so long, but I was just so angry at him for not saving those kids.”

  Selene smiles patiently at me. “Exactly. You were thinking of Jazzy, babe. That thing is killing children. You know what it felt like when you found your sister. You know the hurt, the pain, and the fear. You became angry because you know other parents and siblings had to go through that. You want it to stop, no more lost children. You are still angry inside. Maybe you always will be, I don’t know.”

  I sit there, feeling more helpless than I have in such a long time. When I get back, the first thing I’ll do is visit my family and explain to them that they had to wait on their justice, then, I’d keep other families from that pain. Lawrence is right, I can’t save everyone, maybe I won’t even try, but in this case, I will not ignore this.

  “Fine. I will accept that,” I tell her. “So, let us enjoy this night, because tomorrow, I’m going hunting.”

  “No, meu coração, we are going hunting.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  At dawn, Selene and I enter Diana’s chambers. Inside, it smells of lavender and sex and I force myself to pretend not to notice that Diana is naked in bed and one of her male lovers is standing before us in all his naked glory as well. He nearly glows with masculinity and fulfillment, but with my eyes betraying me out of curiosity, I notice that not all of him is completely satisfied yet. I’m sure if I were into that kind of thing, penis to be exact, then I’d be impressed at that package he was blessed with. Actually, even if I was into having sex with men, if all Immortals were packed like him, there’d be no way in hell I’d let him or any one of them put that beast inside of me.

  Selene clears her throat and I realize that I’ve been staring. I give her a horrified look of embarrassment and she laughs. Great, there’s no telling what she’s thinking of me now. I try to put my game face back on and hope that I’m succeeding. Yet, the amusement on Diana’s face tells me that I’m not being very triumphant.

  “Leave us for a moment, but do not go too far,” Diana commands to her man-horse.

  “May I wait outside the door my lady?” he inquires.

  “You may.”

  He nods and then bows to us before taking his leave not even bothering to cover himself up.

  “Well,” Diana begins as she stands up and reaches for her robe which is so incredibly sheer, that she might as well still be naked. “You are making quite a habit with interrupting me during my pleasure-letting. Next time, one of you will make it up to me.”

  I look at Selene and then back at Diana whose words seem to echo even more throughout this room, or maybe it’s simply because of her words that have me thinking that way. I can’t tell if she is being serious or not and I don’t really want to know. Instead, I attempt to change the subject by getting down to business.

  “I apologize, Diana, but I can assure you that it is important. I’m ready to go back home. Lawrence has informed me of a demon in my area that is killing children. I have the power now to stop it and I need to go,” I explain.

  “Foolish,” Diana says.

  “Excuse me,” begins Selene, taking a step forward, but I stop her with an arm as Diana raises an eyebrow.

  “What is your plan?” Diana asks.

  “Well, I’m going to find out where it’s been hunting, then track it down and kill it.”

  “Ha,” Diana’s voice booms all around me. “Have you done any research on what it is you’re hunting? Who do you know that will have information on this demon? Have you even thought about how uncommon it is for not one but two demons to have been in the same area in recent months?”

  “Well,” I start.

  Diana laughs, clearly annoyed. “I have allowed you to spend far too much time with my brother. He is not always a deep thinker. Still, I’d expect much more from you, after all, it was I who taught you to use your mind.”

  “I have contacts that we can use back home. They can find us information,” Selene answers.

  “You, little witch who has not even used the power of your name there? You, who has hidden from your kind and most of the supernatural community for years? You have not the informers that she needs.”

  I look at Selene and then remember that Diana can take information from the mind. Clearly, she’s been inside Selene’s head. I wonder what else she knows about my girlfriend that I don’t. Then, I swear I see Diana give me a knowing look, but I shake it off. I don’t need this right now.

  “Okay, I get your point Diana. I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking like a protector and it’s clear that I have a long way to go before becoming one. Luckily, I still have your guidance to show me the right way,” I respond, hoping to gain points by sucking up.

  “Good. Now, what you will need to do will be difficult, because you need to draw attention to yourself without drawing too much attention to yourself.”

  “Huh?”

  She chuckles. “Let me explain.” Diana motions for us to sit on the bed with her. I sink into the bed that feels softer than memory foam. “In a world of power and ruthlessness, you will need to prove yourself. However, if the wrong types of beings start to realize that there is a human with powers that humans normally don’t possess, they will do everything they can to kill you. Also, whoever is behind the murder of your family is also still hiding in the shadows. Your name alone will turn his attention to you which could be a fatal mistake.”

  “Well, I’m not changing my name. Still, I understand what you’re saying. Selene, are there places that I can go to be seen that are still fairly low key?”

&nb
sp; Selene stands there thinking for a few moments then nods. “Yes, I think I have the perfect place.”

  “Good,” Diana responds like a teacher who is finally proud of her slowest student. “Now, you have to figure out what is going on with the demon problem your city is facing. I have a feeling that this is the beginning of a larger scheme.”

  “If it gets too bad will you get involved.”

  “No. We Immortals do not involve ourselves with matters on your plane unless it deals with the oath that was made.”

  “If things get too bad for me personally?”

  “No, my virago. I will not save your life if that is what you’re asking. So please, don’t expect it. I hope that you understand that we no longer interfere in that way. You now have strength and a purpose. Use your intellect to make good decisions to keep yourself alive at least until you have reached your goal. I will be keeping an eye on your progress, however, because I still think that one day you will be able to become a protector.”

  “I guess I can understand that. I am grateful for all that you have done.”

  “Don’t worry, child. If you ever need my counsel or wish to come back, then you are welcome. This will always be your home,” Diana smiles at me with open arms.

  Okay, so I could come and go as I please, but I couldn’t expect them to come help me, even though I’d done battle with them. How ridiculous. I try not to think too much about it though. I don’t want her pulling that from my mind. In that case, I truly did need allies, and fast.

  Selene stands up and grabs my hand firmly as if I need reassurance that she’ll be by my side. I have no doubt about that. Keeping our hands locked, I hug Diana with my other. We both stand and then Diana nods.

  “Shall I summon Lawrence to see you off?” Diana asks.

  I think about our last conversation and how I stormed off. It’s probably not a good idea to leave things the way that they are right now. Lawrence has always been there for me and even though I don’t understand their way of thinking, I know that he is one of the good guys. He deserves to know that I appreciate him.