The Heart of the Darkness

by M. J. Padgett

  “Oh,” I said, pondering what that might mean. Would all magic disappear if I succeeded in eradicating the forest of its magical darkness? Would my power disappear?

  Cole shuffled his feet and stuffed his hands in his pockets, a rather boyish thing to do given the circumstances, but it did serve to distract me from my thoughts. I smoothed my palms over my dress and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. For a moment, it felt as it did when Cole first began courting me all those centuries ago, then he cleared his throat.

  “Should I retrieve more food so that your father might eat?” he whispered.

  “That... that would be very thoughtful. Thank you, Cole.”

  He turned to go, then looked over his shoulder. “Tell him I apologize for the bumpy ride.”

  With that final word, Cole turned and disappeared into the forest. I felt the breeze of his shift and smelled the smoke, but he was long gone. Cole had inadvertently given me the last piece of information I needed to complete my plan. Nothing earthly could contain the darkness, but there was nothing earthly about me, not anymore.

  I realized how diabolical the Darkness really was as I stood staring at the place Cole had been. To be born with the sole purpose of containing evil, yet also born with the capacity and desire to love was a curse. To have even a sliver of conscience as Cole did, however small it was, while containing uncontrolled evil was the cruelest joke fate or life could play on any soul.

  My eyes closed as a tear slid free. Maybe Hayden was right? Maybe, beneath his curse, Cole was redeemable? I shook my head. It didn’t matter. I had a job to do, and if I failed, then the whole world would fall. Absorbing the Seven might stabilize Cole forever, but it would not eliminate the Darkness. I couldn’t waste time worrying whether Cole’s soul was salvageable, not when he might not even survive the transfer of his darkness... to me.

  “Annabell?” Hayden’s voice drifted from the balcony above.

  I released my sadness and went back inside the warmth of the castle. Despite the multiple fires roaring in every fireplace, I still felt a chill. The closer the moment of truth came, the more I dreaded everything that would happen—most of all, how much Hayden and Jack would suffer once everything was complete. Cole might die during the transfer, but there was a very real possibility I would also perish. That much darkness would take a lot of energy, and though my body was stronger than most, it was still mortal. Even so, if we both died, it was worth it to save everyone else. Once my light dissolved the darkness, its magical influence would be gone forever.

  “Annabell, are you okay? Did he harm you?” Jack asked the moment I entered my chambers.

  “I’m fine, honestly,” I said.

  Hayden smacked Jack’s arm. “You doofus! I can’t believe you leaped from the balcony on top of him! He could have killed you!” She continued to smack him, and he continued to squeak and dodge until he realized he could just grasp her hands to make her stop.

  “I should remind you that you did that once yourself,” Jack said.

  “Yes, but I did not leap on top of... him,” she said, almost as if her opinion of Cole had somehow shifted, grown into a deeper understanding. She pulled her hands free and kissed Jack, then asked, “How is Dominic?”

  “Safe in the bunker with the guards. He doesn’t even know you’re missing, though I would assume if we never return, then he’ll be told,” Jack said.

  My heart broke. I had not considered how my death might impact Dominic. “I should never have let him return with me. It was a mistake, but I know he will be safe with the others.”

  I tried to soothe my own conscience, but the truth was, Dominic wouldn’t have taken no for an answer. If not for him, our missions in the future would have failed more often than they succeeded, and when I needed a friend to confide in, he was always there. The night Wil died—Dominic’s best friend—it nearly broke him as much as it did me. We’d had each other’s backs for so long, there was no way I would have been able to do everything I had already done in the forest without him. A child or not, Dominic would survive.

  I glanced up to find my parents staring at me. How confusing it all must have been for them, even from the beginning. Everything that happened to them had been my fault, brought upon them by my actions both in the past and in the future. If I had never left Cole, if I had found a way to manage my own grief and stand up to him all those years ago, they would never have suffered the curse in the first place.

  “What are you thinking about, Annabell?” Hayden asked.

  “Just that so much could have been avoided if I had only chosen differently so many times.”

  Jack grasped my hands. “We love you, no matter what, Annabell. Whatever you did back then or in the future doesn’t matter now. We’ll figure this out together as a family. Now tell me, was that giant streak of light across the sky from you?”

  “It was,” I admitted, hoping Cole hadn’t seen it.

  “And what was it?” he asked.

  I sucked in a breath, ready for the next phase. “It was the beginning of the end. By tomorrow, Cole and his Darkness will be no more.”

  “Cool,” Jack said. “Does this place have any peanut butter?”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Stella

  Underground Bunker, Resistance Camp

  THE CLATTER OF DISHES woke me much later in the night than I had anticipated. The last thing I remembered was Annabell drilling into my mind, excruciating pain, and worry that Cole was on his way to—

  I shot straight in the bed and looked around. Nothing seemed amiss except for the fact that I was in a bed and not in the middle of the forest where I had fallen. Across the small room, a woman cleared a two-person table. Her blonde hair was tied into a bun on her head, but that was all I could see of her with her back to me. I cleared my throat, eliciting a small squeal from her as she whirled around.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—where am I?” I asked, still looking around.

  “You’re in one of the underground bunkers. You’re safe,” she said, calming as she grasped her shirt front.

  The door opened, and Ari and Brant entered, followed closely by Jemma. “I thought I heard talking in here,” Brant said. “Glad you’re awake. You scared us there for a minute.”

  Ari climbed onto the bed beside me and wiped a stray strand of hair from my face. “Are you okay?”

  “Fine. Really, I feel great,” I said.

  “That’s thanks to Olga,” Brant said, hugging the blonde-haired woman close. He bent and kissed her cheek, then said, “She’s a healer of sorts. She’s... uh... also my wife.”

  Olga’s cheeks flushed, then she said, “Please, whatever you do, do not call me Olga. It’s Ollie, and it’s... Gosh, just so amazing to finally meet you. Brant talks about you all the time, and I guess I never thought I would get to meet you in person. I mean, this isn’t exactly the way I would have wanted to meet you, but here you are all the same,” she said with a little shrug and a nervous smile.

  Brant shook his head. “Ollie’s been worried you wouldn’t approve of her. She’s... gifted.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Um... Maybe you didn’t get the memo, but if by gifted you mean she’s magical, then I’d be a hypocrite if I didn’t approve of her for that,” I said with a snicker.

  Brant glanced at Ari. “Are you saying Troublemaker Two is magical, too? Like his troublemaking older brother?” he asked, pointing toward Ari with his thumb. Ari scowled but said nothing. He couldn’t deny any of it—that his brother was magical or that they were the biggest troublemakers our town had ever seen.

  “No, I’m saying I’m magical. Turns out, I inherited my ancestor’s powers after all,” I said. “Don’t ask me to show you, though. I’ll probably blow something up or make it rain blood again.”

  “Again?” Brant asked, glancing at his wife.

  “Long story, but I should tell you the reason my brain exploded. Annabell spoke to me somehow, like through some kind of weird, really painful telepathic
brain melding thing. She was trying to warn me Cole was coming... going to Goldene Stadt.”

  Ari tensed beside me, Brant sighed, and Jemma stepped forward. It was clear she wanted to be the one to break the bad news to me by her stance. “Cole took Hayden and Jack. We think he took them wherever he took Annabell, but we aren’t sure. We tried tracking them, but once we get to the border of Das Unbekannte, Annabell’s scent disappears. We can’t track Jack or Hayden because he flew away with them.”

  “So... Jack and Hayden are just gone? That’s it?” I asked.

  “No, of course not,” Brant said. “I wouldn’t just let that go, but we do need a plan. We’re waiting for word from my father... I mean... the king, and once we’re up to date, then we’ll take the next step.”

  I groaned and slid from the bed. “I hate waiting. I’m not wired for it.”

  Ollie laughed. “Brant’s the same way. Well, I guess you know that since, you know, he’s your... Well, maybe you don’t since he’s been... What I mean to say is—”

  “Ollie, honey, it’s okay,” Brant said.

  It was then what he’d said really sunk in. She was his wife. My big brother was married to a woman who lived in a fairy tale kingdom. I smiled, both happy and sad, but mostly pleased that he’d found someone who was sweet and kind.

  “I know what you meant,” I said. “Has anyone spoken to the Lanes?”

  “Denise is the one who called, which was strange since I haven’t spoken to her since I was a kid,” Brant admitted. “We have a lot of catching up to do, but they’re in Goldene Stadt with Andrew and Niyah. They’ll keep us updated.”

  “Don’t forget the thing,” Ollie said, nudging his shoulder.

  “Oh, yeah. I’m also supposed to squeal and tell you that Andrew kissed her, and she’s really excited, and yay, they’re dating now.” Brant rolled his eyes. “Andrew, seriously. Of all the guys she could have dated, she chose our arch-nemesis.”

  The way he said it, it occurred to me that he didn’t know Andrew’s parents had been killed. Ari glanced at me, then back to Brant. I brushed the hair from my face and sighed. “His parents are dead, Brant. The Organization killed them when they were under Cole’s control. Andrew’s been with us since we apprehended Marcus, and he saved my life.”

  “What? They’re dead?” Brant asked. I nodded, prompting Brant to sit on the edge of my bed. “Wow. I don’t know what to say. Everything is so different. I mean, it’s not like I didn’t expect the world to go on without me, but it’s just... It feels so weird to be living two lives at the same time, remembering both and feeling as if I am both Brant and Daniel.”

  “I can honestly say I understand completely,” Jemma said, reminding me she was my brother’s biological cousin. Brant was right. It was all so confusing.

  Silence fell over the room as the reality of all we had lost sank in. The problem was, there was simply no time for grieving or processing anything, not until we were all safe, which wouldn’t happen until Cole was dead. I couldn’t even decide exactly how I felt about my brother being married.

  “Would you like to tour the camp?” Ollie offered. Her voice was soothing and sweet. It was a distraction, and I was more than ready for one.

  “That sounds nice, actually,” I said. “Has everyone else already been around?”

  “Yeah, it’s a cool place. Wait until you see the shooting range,” Ari said.

  I chuckled. “I love that you know me so well even after discovering I’m not exactly who you always thought I was.” His smile was enough to set my heart aflutter, which was not lost on Brant, but more than anything, it made me want to smack myself. There I was in the middle of the apocalypse, a skilled monster hunter, and all I could do was fawn over my new boyfriend. Even so, if anyone was worth fawning over, it was Ari.

  He tapped the tip of his finger on my nose. “And I love when you blush because of me,” he teased, then took my hand for the guided tour.

  Ollie took the lead and led me all around the underground bunker. I found it a bit humorous that the royals never found it, but it did make sense. It was typical hunter-style—hide in the shadows and never let anyone know they need you. The tunnel system led from the Goldene Stadt bunker to another bunker in Schwarzwald, but that was as far as they had gotten. The bunker in Schattenland was abandoned long before it was finished, thanks to the troll infestation.

  “So, you didn’t start back on it after the Bastians returned?” Jemma asked.

  “We considered it, but for now, we decided to focus on expanding the tunnel system so we could transport larger equipment without disturbing the ground too much. No one wants to risk a cave-in,” Brant said.

  Zeke, the apt archer who had helped me snag Cole the first time around, followed Brant like a lost puppy. My brother was his mentor, which anyone could see, but he was also Zeke’s hero. I didn’t blame the kid. Brant had always been my hero, even after he died.

  “I think I could help with that if you want,” Ari said. “Although, I can’t shake the feeling everything is about to come to an explosive conclusion soon, and the tunnels won’t be necessary after that.”

  “I think that might be the smartest thing you’ve ever said,” Brant teased. He glanced at me. “How on earth did you end up dating one of the Lappelainen brothers? Surely Troublemaker One and Troublemaker Two haven’t changed that much?”

  I chuckled, more at Ari’s feigned hurt, and said, “Still troublemakers, but also great friends and loyal sidekicks. Kai is actually the one who helped me discover my magic.”

  “The fact that he’s Jack Frost freaks me out on so many levels, but it also makes things clearer,” Brant said. “I swear it felt like the room cooled a few degrees every time the guy walked into it.”

  “Are you sure that wasn’t mutual dislike?” Ari asked.

  “Nah. That whole weird feud thing with Niyah’s boyfriend’s whatever wasn’t a big deal for me.” Brant shrugged. “I actually always wanted to be his friend.”

  “Really?” Ari asked. “You wanted to be friends with my brother?”

  “Sure.” Brant chuckled and glanced over his shoulder at Ari. “What kid wouldn’t want to be friends with the coolest guy in school?”

  “Was the pun intended?” Ari asked with a bit of an edge to his tone.

  “Now, now, don’t be jealous. You’re my favorite Troublemaker now.” Brant nudged my shoulder with his arm. “Just don’t hurt my sister or—”

  “I know, you’ll kill me,” Ari said with a smirk and an eye roll.

  “No, actually. She’ll kill you. I’ll just let her do it.”

  “Well, let me tell you what her last boyfriend did. Did you know he—”

  “Ari!” I shouted, causing Ollie to laugh. “I do not need you telling my brother about my failed relationships!”

  “But I—”

  “No! Just be glad he dumped me over the grocery store intercom, or I might not be your girlfriend right now, doofus,” I teased.

  Brant stopped dead in his tracks and slowly turned his head. Zeke didn’t notice he’d stopped and walked right into his back, bounced off, stumbled, then looked around to see if anyone noticed. I had, but the intense shift in my brother’s mood distracted me from the humor.

  “He what?” Brant asked. “Some idiot boy dumped you over a store intercom?”

  Ollie gripped my brother’s arm at the elbow and smiled, but it was weak at best. “Brant, this might not be the best time for all of this.”

  “That stupid motorcycle riding idiot dumped you over the intercom?” Brant’s jaw clenched, and Ari took a step back and closer to me. He watched me from the corner of his eye, unsure whether Brant’s frustration would be unleashed on him or on me... or maybe on Kyle, the ex. I couldn’t say for sure.

  “Wait, how... how did you know he rides a motorcycle? Were you...” I faded, realizing Brant must have been keeping an eye on me somehow.

  His jaw fell slack as Ollie gasped. “Oh, Brant. You can’t keep lying to her. Just tell he
r the truth,” she said, pursing her lips. I couldn’t help but notice it was the same thing our mother used to do when she was annoyed with one of us or with our father.

  My gaze shifted between Brant’s and Ollie’s, waiting for one of them to explain what was happening. Finally, Brant eased and ran a hand through his hair.

  “I might have kept an eye on you.”

  “How?” I asked.

  “A friend.”

  “Who?”

  “Just a friend who does surveillance work.” As Brant spoke, Zeke shrank further behind him. If the boy could have disappeared into the dirt walls of the tunnel, he would have.

  “Him? He was in America spying on me?” I asked, my temper flaring as I pointed to Zeke.

  “No, not exactly. He would just check in from time to time, make sure you were doing okay, then come back here. It was only every few months, I swear, Stella. You would have noticed if it was more than that, right?”

  Despite the lies and sneakiness, I knew my brother’s intentions were to ensure my safety, especially considering he knew much more than I did about what we were up against. I wanted to be mad that he lied to me about so many things, but in truth, I couldn’t say that if the situation were reversed, I would do anything differently than he had. It was, by every account, an impossible situation to navigate without hurting someone’s feelings or lying for the greater good. I even hated how that sounded in my mind—to lie for the greater good.

  “Do you think there will ever be a time when we won’t have to lie to everyone we love?” I asked.

  “I hope so, Stella. I really do.” Brant reached for me, and I let him pull me into a hug. It felt the same as all his hugs always had, so I melted into it. Before I realized it, I was in a hug sandwich that included a brand-new sister-in-law and my boyfriend, possibly a few other people since that seemed to be how things worked in the Black Forest.

  “Am I forgiven?” Brant asked.