Dark World (Book I in the Dark World Trilogy)

by Q. Lee, Danielle

  “What?! I could never hurt this little guy,” she replied, holding her hands out to the gargoyle who in turn toddled towards her, his winged arms open wide.

  Kane ceased what he was doing and tried to suppress the look of shock on his face. She didn’t want to eat it? All he’d ever known of shades was their insatiable hunger for souls, it didn’t matter who or what they stole it from. He’d never seen one show mercy—until now.

  As Fate scooped the baby gargoyle up into her arms like a kitten and cuddled it, Kane felt a sensation in his chest that he hadn’t felt for a very long time. Warmth curled around his heart, seeping into his soul. He shook his head, quashing the feeling immediately.

  Don’t be ridiculous, she’s…a killer. She’s a shade. She’s not capable of kindness or—love. He glanced again at the scene. Is she?

  She giggled as she played with the newborn gargoyle, experiencing the first sense of peace since she’d arrived in this foreign world. She’d felt so torn with this new place.

  And the voice.

  The voice that had welcomed her to Dark World, the voice that haunted her from the moment she’d arrived was growing louder. Begging for her to come home.

  Where is home?

  She recalled a place where she raised her face to a brilliant ball of light shining in an open, blue sky. A place where oceans of tall green grass rolled in waves over voluptuous fields. Where snowflakes waltzed within a crisp, morning air, glistening like weightless diamonds. As memories trickled through her awareness, flashes of her former life haunted her, as did the girl she saw in the mirror.

  “Ick.” The gargoyle purred and pawed at her leg gently, comforting her as if sensing her inner torment.

  “Is that your name? Ick?”

  Fate picked him up, intending to introduce him to Kane. She was stroking the soft fur on his back when she smelled something. Something delicious. Worried her hunger was getting the better of her and she was picking up Kane’s scent again, she started to back away. She’d been trying hard to ignore his enticing aroma. The mask he’d attached to her face was annoying, but helped to dull the desire to consume him. Even though her instinct was to devour him, she didn’t know why, but she didn’t want to hurt him.

  She scanned the forest with her infrared eyes. At first, she saw nothing, but then, from deep within the shadows, she saw them. Red eyes—lots of them.

  “Kane,” she whispered, hoping to get his attention without alerting the ones stalking them.

  “Yes?”

  “There’s something…out there,” she said, her voice low as she gestured towards the woods.

  Kane immediately stood and gazed into the depths of the Crystalline Forest.

  “It might be Deme,” he offered, uncertainty tainting his voice.

  Fate countered, shaking her head, “No, there’s more than one.”

  “Get behind me,” he ordered, raising his sword and glaring into the dark.

  “I can help you!” She narrowed her eyes at the hulking black demon and stomped her foot against the forest’s marbled floor.

  His blue eyes flared in warning, a look of stubborn determination eclipsing his face. Fate tucked Ick tightly under her arm and moved reluctantly behind Kane.

  Now closer than she’d ever been to him, she examined the demon. Her eyes drawn to him. His physique. His sheer presence left her breath caught in her throat.

  He exuded a palpable air of nobility and honor, yet a quiet vulnerability lurked beneath the surface. With his jaw clenched and muscular body poised for battle, she couldn’t help but allow her gaze to linger longer than intended. Her stare slid over his extraordinary form, noting the multitude of scars marring his velvety black skin, a patchwork of his many battles and hardships. She wondered how it would feel to run her hands along his arms, his shoulders—his back.

  It was odd, she considered suddenly. The first day they’d laid eyes upon one another, there was an instant hatred. An instinctive distrust and loathing. Except now, only a day later, her feelings had changed drastically. Something was different. But what? And how?

  Ever since I touched him…

  The low rumbling from the throat of a wild animal jarred her from her reverie. The creatures edged nearer, their red eyes closing in around them. From all sides, the beasts glowered, their identities hidden by the darkness. Kane’s gaze panned the forest, anticipating an attack. He bared his fangs and growled at the unseen stalkers, maneuvering his sword in a figure eight pattern.

  The owners of the red eyes emerged from the shadows and came into focus. Four enormous creatures with hulking cat-like bodies sauntered towards them. Oddly, their faces were somewhat human, yet blended with feline features. Their massive paws padded on the quartz floor, long curved claws clicking with every step. Heads lowered, their crimson eyes locked onto their prey. They displayed a mouthful of shark-like teeth, grinning as they formed a semi-circle around Kane and Fate.

  “Sphinxes,” Kane uttered with a shaky breath. Four times the size of a male lion, they stood tall enough to look the seven-foot demon in the eyes. “Even if Deme were here, we could never take on four sphinxes—even two demons against one sphinx is tricky.”

  Hidden beneath the black cloak, Ick squirmed and whimpered against her. Fate studied the beasts, wrestling with the building ache in her chest. She held her breath, struggling to block the overwhelming aroma. Hugging Ick closer, she tried to hold on. Clinging to a shred of her humanity.

  Don’t! Don’t lose yourself!

  Forced to inhale, the scent snaked behind the mask and wound itself around her instinct. Something evolved inside her. Something dark—and hungry.

  Fate turned and set the tiny gargoyle down. She reached out and placed a cool hand on Kane’s arm. His hot, black skin felt like fire on her palm. Startled, his head turned sharply towards her. His eyes widened.

  The lust had won. Pulled into darkness, an evil had taken over. She forced the words from her salivating mouth, commanding Kane, “Take off the mask.”

  Fate’s aura pulsed black. A dark, writhing mist churned and snarled around her body. Her eyes, once bright as stars, had flooded ebony. As though tar had seeped into the skin around her eyes and invaded her veins, blackness leeched like a masquerade mask. Kane shuddered at the sight of her.

  For his own safety, he considered leaving the mask on, but with the wrath of four sphinxes edging closer, he knew what had to be done. He brought his hand to her face and cupping the black mask within his palm, he whispered, “Demitterre.”

  His only hope was that she wouldn’t turn on him.

  Unleashed

  A fevered craving swelled within her chest. An evil awakened. The monster inside her was anxious, giddy for the taste of death.

  She hissed, baring her porcelain fangs. Her onyx eyes shone with malevolent excitement. With the grace of a true predator, she crouched into attack position and brandished her claws. She ran her tongue over her ebony lips, anticipating the meal to come. With a final taunting grin, she shrieked like a banshee and sprung. Aiming for the lead sphinx, she dug her nails into its left shoulder and maneuvered herself onto its back, straddling him. The sphinx howled in pain. It whipped its head back and forth, gnashing its razor-sharp teeth.

  Two more beasts lunged at her, but the last turned its attention to Kane. She watched it saunter away, tail flicking with gleeful eagerness, teeth glinting in its open mouth. The sphinxes swatted her with their enormous paws. She veered and dodged their attempts with unfathomable speed.

  Tossing a concerned glance in Kane’s direction, she sensed she had to stop toying with the monstrous creatures and end this quickly. She reached around the sphinx she was mounted on and drove her lance-like claws into the soft curvature of its neck. Upon severing the jugular, blood sprayed onto the hot, dry ground. The mighty creature slumped forward and then fell onto its side with a resounding thud, its lifeblood trickling away.

  The two sphinxes advanced, fury raging behind their ruby eyes.

  F
ate positioned herself on the back of the fallen sphinx and, with one forceful leap, propelled to the top of an angled crystal shard. The creatures roared and slashed at the base of the hexagonal trunk. Perched like a cat atop the icy tree, she sneered at her adversaries, her eyes like polished obsidian, narrowed and mocking.

  In the midst of her teasing, however, her limbs weakened and she nearly lost her hold on the branch. Lethargy invaded her muscles. Her mind swam in several directions. Dizzy, she leaned against the crystal stalk and hoped it would pass quickly.

  What’s wrong with me?

  She forced her head to turn Kane’s way, helpless as she watched him struggle to stay alive.

  His stance low and centered, heart hammering against his ribcage, Kane glowered at the oncoming beast. The sphinx lowered its torso, tail flicking like a kitten ready to pounce on a mouse, humanoid face grinning atop its feline form. For a moment, time froze, neither making the first move. Then a flash of excitement crossed the beast’s eyes, his pupils enlarging.

  Here we go, Kane thought, summoning strength as he gripped his sword tighter.

  With one mighty pounce, the sphinx launched its thousand pound body at Kane. The demon leaned far to the right, narrowly missing being raked across the face with an enormous paw. Kane cast a fleeting look to Fate sitting high upon a ruinous shard. As she fended off two sphinxes, he suddenly found himself concerned about the outcome. Before now, the death of a shade would be rejoiced. But now, he wasn’t sure he’d feel that way.

  The sphinx sprung, his jaw snapping shut near Kane’s leg, but he evaded by lunging hard to the left.

  Pay attention, Kane!

  Furious, the large cat spun around, eyes burning like embers. Saliva dangled from its canines, dotting the ground with damp circles. Ears folded back, the feral creature sprang forth. Kane’s heart raced as the world moved in slow motion. He raised his blade to greet the soft underbelly of the beast, but was ambushed by another sphinx batting him across the torso. His sword clattered as it hit the ground. The first sphinx landed atop Kane with a thud, knocking the wind out of him. His lungs begging for air, he felt around for his sword and came up empty-handed. Flat on his back and helpless, the demon looked up to see the sphinx’s mouth open—targeting his head.

  Kane!

  From her roost atop the crystal tree, she watched as two sphinxes focused on Kane. A single sphinx clawed the icy bark of the shard Fate sat on, waiting for her to come down.

  I have to help him.

  She stood, balancing on the sleek crystal stalk, then slid down the shaft. As she picked up speed, she positioned her hands ahead of her, aiming for the creature’s face. Ready for her, the sphinx roared, flashing his teeth and opening his mouth wide. His eyes narrowed with a dark intellect as she moved closer. Within a few feet of his gaping maw, Fate pushed off the crystal and thrust herself into the space above. She flipped mid-air, landing like an agile feline behind him. Rapidly driving her claws into his back, she stabbed him over and over until he fell.

  As she turned to help Kane, however, she was again overcome with fatigue. Fate staggered and fell to her knees. She could not even muster the strength to crawl to him.

  What’s wrong with me?

  She rested her porcelain cheek upon the cool, quartz ground. Drained, she glimpsed the dying sphinx only a few feet away—and suddenly knew what she needed.

  Fate forced her lethargic body forward, digging her nails into the quartz and dragging herself slowly toward the ailing beast.

  Almost there…

  With every fragile exhale, the sphinx’s slow, hot breath blew her white hair back. He lay on his side, his faded red eyes watching with weakened interest as she slid a pale hand over his chest. While running her fingers through the tawny fur, an impulse overwhelmed her. She’d never done this before, but somehow, she knew what to do. She placed her hand over his heart, and fought to stay conscious, whispering, “Animus.”

  The sphinx whimpered, and shortly thereafter—screamed. Beneath his russet coat, his chest cavity throbbed. It heaved harder and faster as if his imprisoned heart was pounding to be freed from its skeletal cage. With the beast’s final breath, the skin split open. Flesh and bone parted to form a bloody fissure. Amidst the gore, a glow glistened, small at first and then grew in radiance. An illuminated orb emerged, pulsating with iridescent white and blue flames, then glided into Fate’s waiting hands. She brought the creation close to her face, shut her eyes and inhaled. As it entered through her nose and mouth, sapphire wisps slid down her throat and nourished her body.

  Her eyes, transformed onyx by the hunger, softened back to glowing white. Recharged, her body felt sleek and powerful.

  She stood, her eyes lowering to the beast in which she’d just consumed. Disgust writhed within.

  What have I become?

  Kane fought against the crushing weight, struggling with every last ounce of strength to keep the beast from wrapping its lips around his head and squashing it like a berry.

  Deme! Where the hell are you?!

  For one terrible moment, Kane considered that the sphinxes may have already crossed paths with his tracker and killed her. He could not entertain any amount of sorrow for long. With strands of drool wetting his face, he could do nothing but watch as the sphinx lowered his head to take a bite.

  The demon shut his eyes and prepared to go down like a warrior—brave and honorable.

  It was in that last moment, when Kane felt his heart rise into his throat, that the beast let out an agonizing howl and jumped off. Kane frowned as he watched the beast thrash violently. Finally, he smiled when he recognized his rescuer. He searched for his sword so he could lend a hand.

  Kane fought back laughter as he watched little Ick poke the sphinx in the eyes. The tiny white gargoyle shrieked, clinging with all his might to the sphinx’s face while the beast bucked and rammed its head into the crystal tree trunks.

  “I’m here, Ick,” Kane called to him and raised his sword, thrusting it forward, piercing the suffering sphinx between the shoulder blades. Ick jumped down, scampered away and hid quivering in a broken geode. The blind and wounded beast staggered through the trees, wailing as it retreated into the darkness. The last sphinx followed suit, apparently unwilling to tangle with the duo.

  Kane smiled, basking in the glory of victory. He scanned the area for Fate, hoping she was unhurt. While he breathed a deep sigh of relief when he finally spotted her, his brow immediately furrowed.

  Knelt before the pond, weeping as she gazed at her reflection, she uttered, “I used to be human, but now…I’m a monster.”

  Damned

  Kane surveyed the carnage Fate had left in her wake. He was shocked she’d been able to perform so efficiently.

  I shouldn’t be surprised. He shrugged. She’s born to kill.

  The now soulless body of the sphinx lay motionless on its side with a gaping hole in its chest.

  It will be transforming soon.

  The metamorphosis of a living, breathing creature to that of the undead had always saddened him. Once a shade consumed a soul, the victim was forever damned to wander Dark World as a shadow. Trapped in a dimension of non-existence, they couldn’t be released from their misery until the shade that had stolen their soul was found—and killed. Only then could the ghostly prisoner be reunited with its soul and liberated from limbo.

  Only then can Seren be free. Kane’s eyes darkened. If only I knew the one who killed her.

  His thoughts drifted once again to his last days with Seren. Only a short time before she was murdered by shades, they were holding one another and dreaming of the future. He swore he’d never forget the look in her eyes when he told her what he’d found hidden beneath Dark World.

  “Are you going to tell me what the big secret is?” Seren’s amber eyes overflowed with playful impatience as she wrapped her arms around Kane’s waist. “What have you been up to for the last few days?”

  Even though a freshly killed hellhound carcass hung on a
hook outside the habitat, she somehow knew he’d had another agenda during this excursion. While they’d spent many hunting trips secretly searching for it—they’d finally found it.

  With a mischievous grin on his face, Kane replied, “Hmm, I’m not sure I should tell you. I may need some—persuasion.”

  “Persuasion, huh?” she said, adding a hint of seduction to her voice and kissing his chest.

  He fought the groan building in his throat. With their newborn daughter napping in the next room, he silenced himself.

  Seren giggled. “Tell me then.”

  Kane looked down at his wife, love warming his heart. He adored the way her black bangs feathered above her ocher eyes and how she always had a smile upon her face—especially since she’d given birth to Ever. Gently wiping away an ebony lock of hair that had trespassed across the slope of her jaw, he ran his fingers down her neck and over her shoulder. She visibly shivered at his touch and tilted her head to the side, resting her cheek upon his arm.

  “Tell me,” Seren whispered.

  “We found it, Seren!” Kane said excitedly. “We found the lost city!”

  Disbelief crossed her eyes, quickly replaced by joy. “Are you sure?”

  “It’s big enough for everyone.” He paced the tiny room, then turned to her and added with a hushed voice, “We’ll be free from the shades. From Malus.”

  Seren visibly winced at the mention of the fiends that had enslaved them. The clandestine demon rebellions, known as Legion, had gone to unfathomable lengths to conceal Seren’s pregnancy, which included faking both Kane’s and Seren’s deaths.

  She glanced toward the room that held their new infant daughter. Tears welled in her eyes, her voice thick with emotion. “She’ll be safe. Malus will never know of her existence.”

  Kane’s expression turned serious. “She will be safe,” he reaffirmed. “Ever will not be possessed by that monster, I promise you.”