“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Charging my cellphone,” he said. “Kinetic energy makes it work.”
I frowned, not really understanding as he continued to circle around us. Callie stirred from sleep beside me, looking a little pale as she sat upright.
“You alright?” I murmured.
“More bad dreams,” she whispered.
Magnar eyed her from the moth-eaten chair he was sitting in. “The kind with Fabian in them?” he growled, but Callie didn't answer, getting to her feet and taking up a bowl of oatmeal I'd warmed on the fire.
Magnar stroked the hilt of one of his blades, eyeing Julius's cellphone with unease. “I don't like these devices. What if a vampire can use its mystical ways to find us?”
“Not a problem,” Julius said. “I have the phone cloaked so neither the GPS, internet, or radio signal is traceable.”
“I don't understand,” Magnar grumbled, seeming irritated.
“Leave it to me, Brother.” Julius continued his pacing and Magnar finally rose to his feet.
“Enough. You’re driving me insane. If you wish to expend energy then spar with me. The gods know I could use a distraction.”
“We all could,” Callie agreed, dropping down beside me with her breakfast as if readying for the show. She waved her hand at them. “Go on. Let's see which brother is the strongest.”
“It's no competition,” Julius said, rolling his shoulders. “I shall prove to you that I am the finest, most skilled-” Magnar's fist slammed into his jaw and Julius almost hit the floor, catching himself on the edge of a broken table. He released a dark laugh. “Oh, is that how you're going to fight today?” He swung out a leg, catching Magnar by the backs of his knees and knocking his next punch off balance.
I watched in awe as the brothers set into a furious fist fight, parrying every blow. Magnar fell back and started circling his brother.
Julius drew his sword from his hip. “Let's do this properly.”
“Prepare to lose,” Magnar warned, his eyes lighter than they'd been since I met him as he picked up one of his swords.
“Prepare to be shamed!” Julius leapt at him, bringing Menace down at a terrifying speed.
Magnar lifted his blade, easily knocking the blow aside. The clash of metal rung in my ears as they slashed at each other again and my heart rate picked up.
“Who do you think will win?” I asked Callie and she threw me a grin.
“Magnar, but I'd like to see him get knocked on his ass first.”
Magnar glanced over at her, hearing the comment and Julius pressed his advantage, knocking him right onto his backside.
Julius beamed in victory. “Someone's getting in your head, Magnar. Whoever could it be?”
Magnar growled his fury, lunging forward and toppling Julius as he snatched his legs from under him. He rose atop his brother, throwing punches into his gut. I gasped at the sight, wondering how far this would go.
Julius spluttered, jabbing his knuckles into Magnar's chest. Magnar reared back, but as Julius tried to rise, Magnar took hold of his throat and forced him down onto the floorboards again.
“Yield,” he snarled.
“Ne-ver,” Julius coughed. He started turning blue and I rose to my feet in alarm.
“Magnar!” I yelled, concerned for his brother.
“Yield!” Magnar bellowed.
“Fine,” Julius wheezed and Magnar released him, pulling him up by one hand.
I gazed at the two of them, shaking my head as they embraced each other. “You're both crazy.”
Julius rubbed his throat. “It's just a bit of fun. Do you want a round, Montana?” He moved toward me, playfully jabbing my arm.
I rubbed the spot with a frown. “No thanks.”
“I will.” Callie sprang to her feet, gazing straight at Magnar. “You game?”
His mouth curved up into a hungry smile. “Definitely.”
“At least wear this.” Julius took the phone from his bicep, holding it toward Magnar. He recoiled and Callie took it instead, strapping it to her arm.
“Um...Callie? Are you sure about this?” I asked. Magnar was twice the size of her and he'd nearly strangled his own brother five seconds ago.
“I've never been as sure of anything in my life,” Callie snarled, a wildness entering her tone.
My heart lifted. This might have been crazy, but she seemed more herself today. And if she was certain she could handle this fight, then who was I to stop her?
“No blades, but you can fight as dirty as you like,” Magnar announced, taking his leathers off and leaving them on the chair with his swords.
Callie grinned. “Even better.”
“I'm not going to go easy on you,” Magnar said, flexing his arms above his head. Callie aimed a straight kick at his exposed stomach and he lurched backwards.
“I didn't say begin!” Magnar barked as she collided with him, locking an arm around his neck.
“It was implied,” Callie laughed, taking hold of her hand as she choked him.
He grabbed her waist, throwing her away from him and she rolled with impossible grace across the floor, gaining her feet in an instant.
My mouth parted in awe. She was incredible, fierce and clearly able to take on a warrior like Magnar. I could hardly believe how much strength the slayer’s vow had given her.
She charged at Magnar and he prepared for her attack. Instead of delivering it, she ducked past him, grabbed a chair and smashed it over his back.
He barely reacted, spinning and catching her arm, tugging her forward to meet his other fist. She gasped as his knuckles slammed into her abdomen, once, twice, three times.
“Stop it!” I cried, running toward them.
Magnar's elbow shot backwards for another punch, catching me right in the chin.
I bit my tongue and stumbled away. Julius steadied me, glowering at Magnar “Hey! Watch it.”
Magnar glanced my way. “Shit, sorry.”
Callie leapt onto his back, digging her nails into his neck. He released a rumbling laugh, reaching above his head and pulling her over his shoulder. He clamped an arm across her back, forcing her to remain there. But a second later she landed a solid punch between his legs.
Magnar stilled, groaning under his breath. He released Callie so she slid down to the floor and gazed up at him with a grin.
I bit my lip, but my laughter burst out anyway as Magnar turned sheet-white.
“Yield?” Callie asked, throwing her head back as she laughed too.
Magnar nodded stiffly, moving to a chair and sitting down, dropping his head into his hands.
“Dick punch. Harsh,” Julius commented, chuckling to himself. “Though I'm not complaining because that was hilarious.” He moved to Callie's side, unstrapping the phone from her arm. “And we are charged!”
A jingle sounded through the room as he turned the cellphone on and my thoughts wheeled to Erik. I could contact him with that. And that was a very tempting idea. The cross on my palm prickled with yearning and I released a breath as I willed my heartbeat to slow.
Callie floated toward Magnar and he lifted his head. “You okay?” she asked with a teasing smile.
“I will be in a minute,” he said through his teeth. “I hope that was practice for if you ever see Fabian again.”
“Sure,” she said airily.
I moved toward Julius, glancing over his shoulder at the phone. “So...you can still see the cameras in the castle from this, right?”
“Yes,” Julius said, bringing up the live feeds. My heart did cartwheels as I immediately tried to located Erik on one of them. He suddenly felt so close, like the cellphone was a portal to the man I loved, offering me the chance of seeing him again.
Julius tapped on one of the boxes so it filled the screen and my stomach swirled as I spotted Erik and Clarice talking together in a grand hallway. My heart crashed violently against my ribcage as I drank in the sight of him.
Julius increased the volume
and their voices filled the room.
“-he doing?” Erik asked. He looked tired somehow, his face paler than usual and the spark in his eyes was diminished. The mark on my palm heated and a longing to go back to him nearly overwhelmed me.
Keep it together.
“Better. The wound is healing, but it will take a little longer because of the damage the slayer blade caused. I think it's Fabian's pride which is hurt the most though,” Clarice said.
Callie stiffened, immediately moving to my side as she watched the feed. Magnar remained in his chair, his expression sour.
“He keeps ordering people to do crazy things,” Clarice said.
“Like?” Erik asked with a frown.
“He has his people fixing up the Realms. Like, all of them. He's hardly got any Elite left in the city.”
“Well I've been telling him to do that, perhaps he's listening to me at last,” Erik mused.
“I don't think it's that...he keeps talking about Callie. He asks everyone who attends him how he might appease her. And everything they suggest, he does.” Clarice twirled a finger around a lock of her golden hair, looking concerned. “I think it's the mark of partnership...is it affecting you too?” She took Erik's hand, turning it over to reveal the shimmering cross there.
Erik curled his hand into a fist. “Montana has always affected me, this mark is just a testament to that.” I glanced at Callie and she gave me an intense look, but didn't comment on what he'd said.
“Oh Erik,” Clarice cooed, bobbing up and down on her heels. “How wonderful.”
“Quite,” Erik bit out, not sounding so pleased. My heart broke and rebuilt itself all over again.
Go to him, my body screamed.
I can't, my mind yelled back.
“We'll get her back,” Clarice promised. “Once Fabian is well enough he'll create more Familiars. Most of his have been lost to the slayers' blades. We could make our own, but his are more powerful and will probably find them quicker. But don't worry, he will make more soon and then we'll find Montana and her sister.”
Erik sighed heavily. “It's not enough. We won't find them if they don't wish to be found. They could be well beyond the borders of the city by now. What if they've boarded a supply train back to the west coast? Or they've headed south toward the desert? If they make it there, we'll never get them back.”
Clarice rubbed his arm. “We'll figure it out. In the meantime, we need to focus on catching Valentina. My Elite are searching for her in the east of the city where most of the rebels are known to reside. But...a few of them have been killed in the process. And Erik...” She bit her lip. “Some of my sirelings have gone to join them. Miles has told me the same thing. Our people are abandoning us.”
“Not the ones who count,” Erik snarled. “I will kill Valentina myself when we have her location.”
“You know I'll be by your side,” Clarice said. “We'll take her down together. She's the biggest threat to our empire since we took control. But I know we can handle her, so long as we remain as a unit. We can't show weakness now.”
“Of course,” Erik sighed, brushing his hand over his sister's back. “I do have one idea...but it may be a bad one.”
“What is it?” she asked.
Erik ran a thumb over his lip as he prepared to air his thoughts. “Wolfe is a Biter. He may have some information that could help us locate her, though I doubt he will tell us willingly. However... he is due to be banished tomorrow. Perhaps we could allow some news to reach his ears that Valentina has gone into hiding. Then once he is banished, we could follow him to see where he goes. He could lead us right to her.”
“Erik, that's genius.” Clarice nodded quickly. “I'll have a guard leak the information to him. We'll stage it so it seems he is told by accident.”
“Thank you.” Erik nodded. “If it came from my men, he would suspect my hand in it. Wolfe must not be underestimated.” The two of them parted, heading separate ways and my heart ached as Julius pocketed the phone. I missed Erik more than anything. I was suffocated by his absence, like a vital piece of myself was gone.
“He's going to free Wolfe,” Callie snarled.
“Not free. Banish,” I pressed. “And if they hunt down Valentina that way, maybe it's worth it.”
“Montana is right,” Magnar said from across the room, surprising me. “I despise the Belvederes but if they cut off Valentina's head, I will be more than happy. It will save me the task of doing it anyway.”
“At least we know they're not looking for us too hard right now,” I said. “It sounds like Fabian is still bedridden.”
Callie nodded, looking sad. “I hope he feels better soon.” Her nose wrinkled in disgust at what she'd said. “Good enough for me to stab him again, I mean.”
I patted her arm and she gave me a begging look.
“It's alright,” Julius spoke to her. “We know you really want him dead. Just like Montana wants Erik dead.” He glanced at me with amusement in his eyes and I fought the urge to punch him.
“Exactly,” I forced out and Callie's shoulders dropped a little.
“I think we should use this window of opportunity to move to a more secure place,” Julius said thoughtfully. “Once Fabian is on his feet again, he will send a host of Familiars to find us and I doubt we will be able to outwit them for long.”
“Where will we go?” I asked.
“I know a place...but we will need to travel under the cover of darkness. We'll be in plain view on the river otherwise.”
“The river, Julius?” Magnar questioned.
“Yes, there's an island between Manhattan and New Jersey. A place no one goes anymore. I holed up there for a while when I arrived at the city. There's an old statue there of a huge green woman in a dress. And there's a room inside her head.”
“That sounds like a fairytale,” Magnar rumbled.
“You'll see,” Julius said with a devilish glow in his gaze. “Her head is even bigger than yours, Brother.”
Life was easy at last. The village we'd discovered was filled with simple farming folk. They were adept at craftsmanship. Their houses were stone and square, interspersed with crops. The village sat at the base of a large cliff, surrounded by forest and sheltered from the world. It was a haven and it wasn't long before we'd gained the people’s respect.
We kept them safe from enemy tribes. And any predators who crept up on their children soon regretted it. After a few months, they had built us a temple of stone, large enough to shade us even in the midday sun. Andvari had long since stopped assisting us with the gifts of clouds, so our lives were lived in the moonlight.
I sat on a throne of gold, shifting a beautiful obsidian blade between my hands, gifted to me by the village people.
Before me was a steep set of steps leading down to the exit. Every side of the temple led to a room like mine. One for each of us. The four gods. Or so we called ourselves now.
A young woman in a thin white dress hurried up the steps toward me with her head bowed low. They sent the most beautiful women in their tribe as if they thought they would appease us most. Blood was blood, to me. I didn't care whose vein it came from.
The girl knelt at my feet, laying a wreath of white flowers there before placing her wrists on my knees.
I took her left hand, eyeing her bronzed skin with a hint of desire. It had been so long since I'd allowed myself to indulge in a woman. Unlike Fabian who often cavorted with the women of the tribe. Or Clarice who was growing a sizable harem of men. Miles would even sleep down in the village at times. But I was the one they feared most. The god who never spoke to them. The one who never walked amongst their people. The beast who stalked under the moonlight in quiet contemplation.
This girl was beautiful. Young, but not too young. She was past the age of womanhood. I'd fed from her since she was sixteen. But today, I could see she was now approaching her twenties.
“What's your name?” I never asked them that. But today, I made an exception.
She glanced up at me in surprise then quickly bowed her head. They rarely looked at me. Sometimes that infuriated me. Other times it suited me fine. But I didn't want her at my feet today. It seemed wrong to make the humans bow. My siblings didn't share my sentiment in that.
“Name?” I growled in her tongue. We'd quickly learned their language since our arrival. Another gift of our immortality. Something we could do without much thought. Within days we'd been able to speak with them as easily as if we'd spoken it our entire lives.
“Kuwanlelenta,” she whispered.
“Kuwan- forgive me, what?” I balked.
She giggled softly and it was the loveliest sound I'd heard in a very long time.
“You may call me Kuwana, if it is easier?” she offered, her eyes still downcast.
“Kuwana,” I tried out the name, liking the feel of it in my mouth. “Stand, Kuwana.”
She did, but kept her head dipped low.
“I have noticed the women in your clan do not bow to men, so why is it you bow to me?” I asked.
“You are a god, it is a sign of respect,” she said.
I leant forward, taking her chin and forcing her to meet my eyes. A feather hung in her dark locks and a line of white paint was marked across her cheeks.
“Beautiful,” I breathed, drinking in the sight of her warm, golden flesh. How I wished I could still feel what she could...
“You are too kind,” she said, her lips trembling and revealing her fear.
I released her, sitting back. “You don't like coming here,” I stated.
“Of course I do,” she said, holding up her wrists to me again. “I wish to make you happy more than anything else, oh great one.”
I snorted a laugh and she looked at me like I'd gone mad.
“I am not great,” I said, though I knew I was breaking my siblings' rules. We had to uphold the idea that we were deities. But I craved some normality. My life was lonely and too quiet. I wanted to run into battle again, I wanted to chase after women, attend feasts and drink ale. I wanted to enjoy myself for once.
She bit her lip, seeming unsure of how to answer.
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