by Maya Daniels
“You asked for me?” Her sultry voice made him focus on her eyes again. “How may I help you?”
“I’m looking for information on the Fae.” Raphael decided to get right to the point, because she didn’t look like someone that would appreciate small talk. “Dark Fae to be precise, and the Wild Hunt.”
“Why are you wasting my time? We have books you can purchase, or you could google it.” Both her eyebrows went up as though she was asking why he hadn’t done that before coming.
“I can feel your magic.” Raphael was irked by her condescending tone, so he snarled at her. “Don’t you dare deny it, witch!” She closed her mouth as her eyes widened at his words. “You better start talking on your own, or I can make you.”
“Vampire!” She hissed at him as her hands lifted from her sides, palms turned towards him.
“You can try it.” Raphael tilted his head, his eyes flashing amber for a second as fangs poked from under his upper lip long enough for her to see them. “We can see who is faster.”
“What do you want?” Dropping her hands limply to her sides, she looked wary.
“I thought I was clear.”
“Information? That’s all you want?” Incredulity was written all over her pretty face. Raphael just arched an eyebrow, making her narrow her eyes at him. “And if I tell you what I know, you’ll leave? Not harm me or my coven?”
“You have my word!”
“Your word means nothing to me!” she snapped at him, “but your blood…that’s a whole different matter.” A smile lifted her full lips, making Raphael rethink his choices of trying to be nice.
“You’ll never get anywhere near my blood, but my hat’s off to you, witch. I must commend you for trying.” Crossing his arms over his chest, he glared at her. “Now speak!”
After eyeing him for long moments, she slowly nodded her head as if agreeing with something in an internal debate. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and released it slowly before looking at him again.
“If it’s information you want, I don’t have to tell you anything, vampire.” As Raphael opened his mouth to say something, she lifted her hand, stopping him. He didn’t miss the sigils painted in the center of her palm that were not there a moment ago. “I don’t have to tell you anything because I will show you.”
With those words, she turned on her heels and started walking towards the black curtain, leaving Raphael stunned for a second. She would show him? Why is everyone showing him shit he really doesn’t want to have anything to do with? And show him exactly what? He had a very uneasy feeling about the whole thing, but his feet followed her of their own accord. Raphael just hoped he didn’t get to meet any Fae face to face until he knew more about them. Know thine enemy and all that shit.
Stalking through the halls of the palace undetected was one of the most fun things Artemis had to do, because she had found it very informative from an early age. The things you see or hear, sometimes, were priceless. Most stayed out of her way because they knew she was more powerful than they, while others stayed away because they thought her a monster. It suited her just fine to have all of them to leave her alone. She didn’t want any destruction.
“Feel your focus” she whispered under her breath as she neared the Hall of Portals on silent feet.
Walking through the arched doorways, she stopped for a moment to look around as always. This room was the last part of her home her mother had seen before she departed this life. It was the last place Artemis could stop for a second and send her power out through all the empty portals in hopes that maybe one of them would open beyond space and time and her mother could feel the love Artemis carried in her heart for her. Every time there was no response, not even a flicker, but it didn’t stop her from trying.
Bringing her focus back to the present, she walked up to the ornate frame of black obsidian, the one that leads to the human realm that had been closed to them for centuries until one day long ago, when it started to flicker slowly. It was a joyous day of celebration for everyone—except Artemis. She was ready to tear through it and level the realm to the ground—humans, vampires and their damned Earth alike. She was punished that day, punishment that took three turns of the sun to heal. Artemis still believed it was worth it and she would do it again if she had it to do over. Since that day, her father had been more determined to feed her anger. He might as well, because she could use it. In her mind, the only good human was a dead human, and the only vampire worth anything was dead. Their time would come, and she was looking forward to it.
Her waiting over, she shifted to her other form and stepped through the portal. Artemis had tried many times to pass through the portal in her human form, but it always stood as solid as a wall in front of her, while in her shifted form it let her glide through like through molasses. Shivers passed down her spine as she traveled from her realm to Earth. Stepping out, she found herself in the same woods like before. There was no storm this time, and the waxing moon was hanging in a cloudless sky like a decoration. It was brighter now than the night when she’d lost her arrow, and Artemis looked around. She noticed the trees swaying gently on the breeze and the sounds of animals scurrying around as well as owls screeching from a distance. Seeing it like this, it wasn’t that bad of a place, she supposed. The colors appeared muted and the air smelled funny to her sensitive nose, but apart from that it was not that bad at all.
Shifting back to her human form, she walked toward the last place she remembered being. It didn’t take her long to find the spot, but there was no sign of her arrow anywhere. Frowning, she moved this way and that with the same result. The stench of a vampire was heavy in this spot, but what got her attention was the mixture of them. It could only mean that others had come and stood on this spot. Her senses were stronger in her other form, so she didn’t waste time shifting and following the scent of bloodsuckers. It led her to the edge of the woods, where she had to stop to make sure nothing caught her off guard. Beyond the trees was a small field, and across it some type of flat rock cut through, making her scrutinize it. Cocking her head, she tried to decipher the buzzing sound coming from a distance that sounded more and more like a roar the closer it got. One of her legs was stepping out of the woods when two bright lights split the darkness, and flinching, she retreated fast in the cover of the trees. Her eyes widened as some contraption moving at a fast speed almost flew by, making her cringe from the loud noise it made before it was gone. What in the fates was that? A frown made a furrow between her brows.
Her eyes flicking from side to side, she waited for a little while, but when no other strange things showed up, she decided to keep following the scent before it disappeared. Artemis was almost halfway towards the strange flat rock when she stopped looking down at herself. She could move faster in her shifted form, but she would also stand out more if more of those things came out of nowhere, and flying was not an option if she needed to sniff the vampire stench in the air. Lifting her head, she took a long breath, determining which way to go before shifting back to her human form.
“Blending in is the best form of action right now,” she mumbled as she headed in the direction of the scent.
The further she went, the more she realized how different this realm was. It was nothing like her home, and what was worse, it looked like the humans were destroying nature everywhere they could. Her anger kept building at what she was seeing. Her narrowed eyes were darting left and right, trying to take it all in. Savages, that’s what they were. They were filth that thought themselves better than her kind. This realm should bless her for wanting to free it from them. As she neared some housing, she slowed down. There were a few smaller ones dotted around the area, but one stood out as more grandiose compared to everything else around it. Artemis knew the vampires were there, because she could smell them from where she was standing. There was a distinctive earthy smell to them mixed with coppery undertones that were unmistakable. Ignoring everything else, she walked right towards it.
As she neared the large ornate gates, she could vaguely hear the sounds inside, making her stop for a second to assess her next move. Reaching out her hand, she took hold of one side of the gate and wrenched it open before abruptly pulling her hand away, grunting in pain as her palm throbbed with a heartbeat of its own.
“Iron!” she hissed as she cradled her hand to her chest. “Of course they know that it will make us useless, so they hide behind iron.” Pressing her lips together in a firm line, Artemis walked in and headed for the house on silent feet, shivering from the nearness of the stupid gate.
She debated whether she should go inside and clean the nest out or get inside unnoticed, retrieve her arrow and leave, as Lazarus expected her to do. Not that she listened often, but she knew those were his unspoken orders. By the time she reached the doors, she had decided it might not be smart to jeopardize their plans more than she already had, so, the plan was simple—go inside undetected, retrieve the arrow and leave the place, undetected.
“Simple,” she whispered as she soundlessly opened the door and on silent feet, entered a house full of vampires.
She walked around the entire place with no one the wiser. Hiding in the shadows in the barely lit rooms and hallways, she heard useless talking, moans and groans that she ignored, but no matter where she looked, there was no sign of her arrow. Passing the third time along one of the hallways, she noticed that she had missed a door that seamlessly blended with its surroundings. Quite a large one to miss, and it only got her irritated. Grinding her teeth, she took hold of the double handles and opened it. The scent that hit her in the face was almost like a punch and it took her breath away. Quickly stepping inside, she pushed the doors closed and leaned her head back on it, closing her eyes and almost sliding to the floor.
Musky and inviting, it tied her stomach in knots and her legs grew weak. Breathing through her mouth, she lifted her head and looked around.
“A library…” her whisper trailed off as she looked around.
Nothing but books and a large desk with some thin silver box on it. What could affect her like this? Are they coming up with a weapon against her now? Is that what this was? Maybe Lazarus was correct and she did screw up things for everything they had planned. Her revenge would not happen because she couldn’t let things be, for once in her life.
“No,” she hissed to herself. “I am stronger than whatever this is. I will ignore it if it kills me.” Determination burned in her chest.
Breathing through her mouth, she searched the entire library, but the arrow was not there either. She was angry, mostly at herself, but she decided to blame it on the vampires anyway. Artemis left the large house and started walking back towards the woods. It might not be easy to find the arrow, but she would find it, she had no doubt about that. She was heading back home because she needed to tell Lazarus that the vampires have created a weapon against her or maybe their kind in general. She wasn’t sure if it was deadly, but it sure as hell weakened her to a point where she could barely think. She would report to him, take her punishment and then look for her arrow again.
With head held high as was her way, Artemis took one long breath, steeling herself for confronting her father as she shifted and stepped through the portal. Nothing could’ve prepared her for what she saw on the other side. The one thought that kept screaming in her head was Where in the fates’ name am I?
Raphael walked warily behind the witch. The pressure in his chest lessened a little, but it was still there, sitting like a boulder and preventing him from taking a full breath. His eyes trailed over her frame, trying to figure out what kind of a witch she was when abruptly they focused on her hands. As she was sauntering along, her arms swinging gently at her sides, her thumb kept rapidly moving from index finger to pinky and back as if she’s counting something. His eyes narrowed.
“Where are we going?” Raphael broke the silence.
“You said you wanted to know about the Fae.” Looking over her shoulder at him, she smiled, and the uneasy feeling in Raphael’s stomach doubled.
It wasn’t a pleasant smile. It was a knowing smile, and those green eyes looking back at him seemed ancient. Maybe even as old as he was, but that was impossible. He could smell the blood coursing through her veins, and it smelled human. The beat of her heart was stuttering like a butterfly, telling him that she was afraid of him no matter how calm and fearless she seemed on the outside. Only the powerful magic that was still prickling his skin was suggesting otherwise, and now that look in her eyes. His eyes slid back to her hands. There was something peculiar about what she was doing with her fingers; only he couldn’t place it.
“That I did.” Raphael’s soft baritone hummed through the hallway and the skin on her arms pebbled. “Beware, witch. After that comment about wanting my blood, I assure you I have no qualms about ending your life and that of everyone else here if you are playing games. It’s for you to decide what’s worth dying for.”
“Save your threats, vampire. I have no intention of dying anytime soon.” Without turning back to look at him, she continued walking forward. “Iris.”
“Excuse me?” She caught him off guard with that last word, and it took him a moment to ask the question.
“My name. It’s Iris,” she answered with a glance his way, slowing her steps.
“Raphael.” He replied in kind, stopping next to her just as they reached a door at the end of the long hallway.
“Now that introductions are out of the way, I need to ask few things of you before we go any further.” Raising her eyebrows, she waited until he inclined his head. “You will stand on the side and away from all that is there. No matter what happens or what you see, you will not get involved or move from your place.” She started ticking off demands on her fingers, “Lastly, you will not speak. Not a word until we are back here. Do you agree?”
“What exactly do you have behind that door, Iris? If you want me to agree with your terms, I must know what I’m getting myself into.” Raphael lifted a hand, stopping her from talking. “I don’t need to know all your secrets, nor do I wish to meddle with you magic folk. I simply need answers, and that is all. How I get those is entirely up to you. It can be as nice as this conversation has been.” He smiled as she narrowed her eyes. “Or we can make it hard, and as much as I don’t like hurting humans, I would have no problem ending your lives. Are we clear?”
“Crystal,” she growled through clenched teeth. “There is nothing that can harm you behind this door. We were about to perform a worship ceremony to our goddess before you came. You can sit and watch, but that is all. Sometimes a Fae may show themselves to us on these ceremonies, since my goddess is one of the hunt and she protects the woods, and if tonight is the same, you might see for yourself one of them. Is there something you want me to ask if that happens?”
“And I can’t be the one asking because?”
“No man should be present for this ceremony, because the goddess is the one for maidenhood and does not allow males in her worship. Don’t make me change my mind,” Iris hissed at him, her eyes flaring in anger.
“Ask about the Wild Hunt.” Her eyes widened comically at his words. “And why they’re coming here now. We know they’re coming, because they lost an arrow.” He winked at her.
“The Wild Hunt…” her whispered words trailed off, but Raphael didn’t miss the quickening of her heartbeat when he mentioned the arrow.
“Who do you pray to, witch? Why is your goddess connected to the Fae, apart from that bullshit story of the woods?” Raphael’s words made her shake her head, and he could see her mind working behind her eyes.
“The Wild Hunt? That’s why you’re here?” Throwing her head back, Iris starts laughing “You should try finding someone that worships the Horned God, Raphael. The Wild Hunt is all male warriors.”
“Be that as it may, I’ll take what I can get.” He glared at her. “Now answer my question.”
“She is the goddess of the wildlife, hunt, and maidenhood, as I tol
d you. You are in the wrong place. If you still insist on being here, you either agree to my terms or go back to wherever you came from.”
“Very well. Lead the way.” Realizing they would be standing here a long time if he kept pressing for answers, Raphael decided to go with whatever she said and see for himself. It’s not like she could stop him if he decided to break her terms.
Iris looked at him for several moments before she clenched her teeth, jerked her head in a nod and turning around, grabbed the door handle. Raphael heard her mumbled words, “Goddess, help me,” but ignored them. As soon as she opened the door, he went on full alert, only to stop two steps inside with confusion written on his face.
“Welcome to our ceremony,” Iris said, loud enough to make him wince.
There were two young girls, around the age of ten, if Raphael had to guess, in long white dresses standing in the middle of what looked like a prayer room. With a glance, he counted 31 statues placed around the room as well. All but nine of them were silver. The remaining ones were gold, and all resembled the same figure. What got Raphael’s attention was not the gold or the depicted character. It was the bow slung over her shoulder and the arrow in her hand. His eyes narrowed, but Iris was sternly pointing with her finger at the side of the room, so he walked that way while his mind was spinning. He felt it in his gut that he stumbled onto something here. He just had to stay calm until he saw it through to the end. After all this was over, he would have a long conversation with Iris, no matter whether she liked it or not.
