Half-Breed (Taming the Elements Book 1)

by Hickory Mack

  "Have I given you enough of a show?" he asked.

  "You're going to pay for this you monster,” a man's voice growled.

  "You know where to find me," Makkai growled right back. "Coming for me will be the last mistake you ever make."

  The trees told him where the last of his prey was. He crushed the speaker and jumped again, appearing two feet in front of the man, who was holding another grenade. Lord Makkai placed a barrier around his enemy and lit the man on fire. Blue flames licked up the leg of his BDU’s, burning hot and fast; he stank of burning flesh. The man’s screams didn’t last long and by the time the explosion came, he was already dead.

  Lord Makkai watched the body burn dispassionately. This hadn’t been as fun as he’d imagined it would be and he was thoroughly disappointed. He walked back to the Matriarch tree, burning bodies as he went, there would be no clean up, his foxfire would leave no trace, burning the dust down to nothing. Fertilizer for the Earth they’d disturbed.

  Fen had healed up well. He stood protectively over the girl, hands relaxed at his sides, blood dripping from his fingertips. A frown was on his lips and a furrow on his brow. The boar did not react to the two corpses nearest to them bursting into blue flame.

  “They’re all dead then, my Lord,” he said in his deep voice.

  “Yes. They’re all dead. I believe it is safe to assume we will have company at our door soon,” Lord Makkai crouched in front of the child, his ears pinned back against his head. “Are you ready to go home?”

  Alice gave no indication she’d heard him, just kept rocking, finding comfort in the repetitive movement, though it was obviously aggravating her injuries, hurting her more.

  “Are you really bringing this girl to live with us?” Fen’s lip curled in a sneer over his tusks and there was no mistaking the distaste in his voice.

  “I am,” he answered, deliberately ignoring Fen’s tone. Moving swiftly, he picked Alice up, cradling her in his arms like a much younger child. She gasped and looked at him with wide, frightened eyes, her muscles were stiff and her good hand was clenched tight in her lap. Fen made a startled noise.

  “My Lord, you mustn’t burden yourself with such things. Allow me to take the child in your place,” he spoke quickly, embarrassment thickening his southern accent. Lord Makkai touched the tip of a finger to the girl’s forehead.

  “Sleep now,” he said gently. Alice’s eyes closed and her body relaxed, her breathing slowed. He watched peace steal over her, the tension easing away. When she turned her face to his shoulder he looked at Fen. The boar had narrowed his eyes, peering at the girl’s arm. Makkai lifted her hand and read the words cut into her flesh. His frown deepened. He’d made a mistake, letting them go to their deaths too easily. “Bring Asuka when we arrive and have a room readied for the girl.”

  “Yes, my Lord.” Fen bowed deeply, then jumped to get a start on his master’s bidding. Lord Makkai studied the forest around him, contemplating all the work he would have to do to put everything to rights again.

  “Tch.”

  Chapter 9

  Alice’s dreams were full of blood and vacant eyes staring from disembodied heads thudding to the ground. She’d known the courts would send her to the mines or execute her, but she hadn’t expected it to happen without a trial. With all her training, she hadn’t known that the people she looked up to most had the power to decide the fate of someone’s life.

  The hunters were supposed to be the good guys. They weren’t members of the judicial system, their job was to protect people, but they hadn’t hesitated to attempt her execution without provocation. Had the demons not been there to stop them, they would have succeeded.

  When her demon had called her his witch and Doctor Pax said he’d wanted to study her, she’d been so frightened. She’d suddenly become valuable to them and all Alice could think of was being put back in that cold room, the nursing staff hurting her at their leisure. It would have been nothing for the fox to hand her over to them, but he’d been true to his word. He hadn't let them take her anywhere she didn't want to go.

  Her dreamscapes were cold, and colorless, except for the blood. Except for the red flecks in the demon’s eyes. Except for Fen, lying dead in a pool of crimson on the white and gray ground.

  Pax, grabbing her from behind, the sharp pain in her shoulder. His gun to her head. Over and over the dreams played. The physical pain was unbearable, she felt like she was on fire.

  She opened her eyes to see the kindly, round, pale face of a woman with long, dark-brown hair. The woman gently cooled Alice’s brow with a cloth, wiping the sweat from her body. Alice tried to speak but only mumbles came out. Soothing sounds came from the woman, a low song, it sounded so sweet. Her demon’s shade watched silently from across the room as she lulled Alice back to sleep, the nightmares held at bay for a short time.

  Unable to move, Alice had many moments of almost waking, quick little flashes of semi-realism. The woman was often there, but when she wasn’t, Alice was alone with her hallucination. Once, and only once, she opened her eyes and the fox was there. He wasn’t looking at her, he sat lost in thought, looking into nothingness, his face a mask of internal conflict. Alice wanted to know what troubled him, but she couldn’t speak, and she couldn’t keep her eyes open. Her body wouldn’t obey.

  After that dreams of him mixed in with the nightmares. In her dreams she called him “My Lord” like Fen had, and he called her his witch. He changed and morphed from one dreamscape to the next. Sometimes he looked like a human man, decked out in hunter’s gear, his long hair cropped short. In more than one he took the form of a great, slathering beast, wild and horrifying. Once he looked like himself, but he had more tails, and they were snow white.

  Next time she came to, it was the woman again. She was humming to herself and pouring water into a small, ornate cup, matching the tea pot. The woman sat herself comfortably next to Alice’s bed and for the first time Alice noticed she was on a mat on the floor. The woman fussed over her long sleeves and dress a moment, settling herself in then looked at Alice. Her face was as round and pale as Alice remembered, but her eyes were yellow.

  “Hello, I expect you’re actually with us this time, yes?” the woman said kindly, her voice soft, almost a whisper.

  “I’m awake,” Alice answered, her throat scratchy and sore. The woman got up and brought a second cup of the steaming liquid, settling herself once more.

  “This is great news to give his Lordship. He has asked that updates on your care be reported to him every day. Your appearance has caused quite a stir around here. I am Asuka,” she pronounced it Ahs-ka, “and I have been your healer. It’s good to finally meet you. You were quite a mess when you arrived, I don’t know how you were walking and talking before Lord Makkai brought you to me.”

  Asuka paused, waiting for her to respond. When Alice remained silent she continued.

  “The pain from what I found in your hand alone would have incapacitated some of the men around here that like to think they’re pretty tough. Your poor body, there were internal injuries, too. You were in the early stages of sepsis, your injuries were poisoning you. When he was informed you could very well die Lord Makkai sent Airi to help the healing process go more smoothly. He was insistent that we fix everything. There should be no pain, though you’ll need to take it slow for a while. Do let me know if there’s anything amiss, any ache or pain remaining.”

  Alice flexed her fingers experimentally, looking at her hand in awe. Not a hint of bruises or broken bones remained. She took a deep breath, and it didn’t hurt. Biting her lip she raised her other hand, and started shaking. The words carved into her forearm were gone, like it had never happened. She touched the smooth skin, poking and testing, unbelieving it was really healed.

  “His Lordship demanded the removal of any trace of those, specifically,” Asuka said.

  “Thank you,” Alice said, swallowing hard. Asuka let her explore her newly healed body, then helped Alice lift her head, so she cou
ld sip the tea. It was strange, herbal and tingly on her tongue.

  “It’s okay if you don’t like it,” Asuka laughed at the face Alice pulled. “You’ll get used to it. Tea is served with every meal, and until you learn to make your own, I’ll be making it specially for you.”

  “Where am I?” Alice asked, looking around for the first time. The room had smooth hardwood floors and thick, rice paper walls. A low table with scrolled legs held Asuka’s tea items, but it was the only object in the room aside from the cushion Alice lay on, covered by light silk blankets. Asuka helped her take another sip.

  “This is the room his Lordship gave you, we moved you in here yesterday, since you were showing signs of stirring, and he wanted you to wake in your own rooms. He’s taken a special interest in you, he doesn’t usually bother with such things. Once you’re up and moving you’ll have a dressing screen and a wardrobe. Perhaps a big vase in the corner, or a writing desk? You’ll need one for your studies,” Asuka answered. “You are envied, this room opens into the gardens. There’s a Sakura tree outside, would you like to see it?”

  “Sure,” Alice answered, struggling to sit up. Asuka helped her, propping a pair of pillows behind her. Alice’s head swam dangerously, and she thought she might be ill, a pounding pain keeping time with her heart.

  “Easy, don’t over-do it,” Asuka’s low voice reminded her. The pale woman handed her the small cup of tea. “Breathe through the nausea, nice and slow. And drink this, I’ll open it up for you.”

  Alice studied the leaves floating around in the cup, some looked like pine needles, others were ground up and mashed, coloring the tea a dark green. She took another sip, her tongue tingling again. Asuka slid the wall into itself, the same way Fen had done at the bath house. Alice felt a lump in her throat. He’d been a stranger, and though she couldn't call him kind, he’d died protecting her. She gripped her cup and closed her eyes, trying to force the image of him getting shot out of her head.

  “Look now, Miss,” Asuka said, standing beside her. Alice looked up. It was beautiful. The tree Asuka spoke of was gnarled and its branches stretched out as much as up. “You missed the blossoms, but they will come again next spring.”

  “What color are they?” Alice asked.

  “Pink, and they smell lovely.”

  Beyond the tree was a pagoda, white and gold and surrounded by more trees of the same kind. She heard water but did not see it. Closer in, she noticed the roof of the house continued beyond her room, and there were wooden floors beyond her door as well.

  “What is that?” she asked.

  “It’s an outer hallway that connects all the rooms around the courtyard. One is yours, one is a dining room, and the far wall contains Lord Makkai’s suites,” Asuka answered.

  “There are only three? The rooms must be huge, it looks so big.”

  “There is a fourth, but it is not currently occupied,” Asuka said, her voice a bit clipped. She clearly did not want to talk about it. “You can go out there whenever you like, the house, the grounds, they are open to you. His Lordship has done you a great kindness, bringing you here, I hope you will appreciate it.”

  “I w-”

  “Forgive me for speaking so candidly,” Asuka said, her cheeks lightly pink. “I am acting like an owlet, cursed with wisdom without the cunning of knowing when to keep quiet. You must be hungry, you haven’t had anything but sweetened tea and water for eight days now.”

  “Eight days!” Alice exclaimed, alarmed.

  “Yes, well, as I said, you were near death. I am not familiar with your type, and your magics are so new and raw, they made it a bit difficult to navigate around in there. Your poor little body was so thoroughly damaged.” Asuka made a clucking sound. She produced a bell from her silken belt and rang it.

  “I don’t have magic, I’m just a human,” Alice said quietly. “I know my demon called me a witch, but he was only saying that to irritate Pax.” They wouldn’t have treated her like garbage if she’d have been a witch, she’d have been valuable. Then again, Doctor Pax had not been very surprised. He’d taken the demon at his word and had been willing to make a deal to take her back. Alice shuddered, remembering. She’d talked to a tree. And it had listened.

  “Your demon? Don’t be ridiculous. He is our Lord Makkai, please show him deference, especially in his own house,” Asuka said firmly. She kneeled next to Alice again, her face softening. “Hasn’t anyone taught you your own history? Anyone with any sense at all can see what you are.”

  “And, what’s that?” Alice asked.

  “A witch, by half. An Earthy, I think.”

  “He called me a halfling,” Alice muttered.

  “Yes, and your other half is very obviously fae. Though I’ve no idea what line you’re from,” Asuka said, smiling. "We won't know your court affiliation until that side of you expresses itself."

  “The Eustone family is fae, but my father was only half, and an outcast, he’s a Banished Son. His powers were taken, he’s human now, has been since before I was born,” Alice said.

  “That’s not possible. You’re half, not quarter, for that to occur, your father must be full fae. Not even the Faerie Court can actually make him human. That’s a fable the Courts tell the governments of other races so they’ll get off our case about rogue fae. In reality they threaten to wipe out the entire family line if the individual in question acts up again. They couldn’t take his powers, either, so far as I know. Though I suppose they could block him from using them,” Asuka said.

  “The hunters did a DNA test and said I was completely human. No fae markers in my genetics,” Alice said, an eyebrow raised, not sure what she was expecting her healer to say to that bit of information.

  “They either lied, or they missed it. Humans tend to see what they want to believe. Or, perhaps someone put a little enchantment on you. A sort of ‘Look Away’ spell. It does seem someone wanted you kept hidden. Why else would you not know who and what you are?” Asuka countered easily.

  “Do all demons know each other’s lineage just by looking?” Alice asked.

  “Oh, I couldn’t answer that reliably. I’m one of the few in this house that is not a demon. I am one of the very few fae that stayed behind when the rest went back to Underhill. Lord Makkai was gracious enough to take me in, he helps me hide from the ravens.”

  “Ravens,” Alice echoed, confused about why anyone would need to hide from birds. She needed time to let it all soak in. For the fox and the healer to be right, she would have to accept that her father had lied to her for her entire life. Her mother, a witch? How, and why had they hidden it? Madeline had died when Alice was young, but she thought she’d remember something indicating her mother had powers.

  A shadow was cast across the wall opposite the garden and Alice nearly jumped out of her skin. The person crouched into a bow.

  “Lady Asuka?” came a reedy voice.

  “Bring a vegetable broth, and some Nori Senbei,” Asuka looked at Alice appraisingly. “A small bowl of sticky rice, too.”

  “Right away, Lady Asuka.” The figure retreated.

  “Why didn’t he come to the door?” Alice asked, confused.

  “No servants will enter through that door. His Lordship may choose to visit you through there, but you need never worry about anyone disturbing you from the garden. They’ll all know you’re awake now, though. They’re curious about you, and when you feel well enough, I suspect you’ll have visitors,” Asuka said.

  “How many people live here?” Alice asked.

  “I’m not sure what the answer to that is, it’s posted somewhere, but I’ve never gone to look. I trade my skills as a healer to those who live here, in exchange for his Lordship’s protection,” Asuka answered.

  “Who is the authority here? The Lord?” Alice asked and Asuka smiled.

  “Yes, he is, of course. There’s also Fen, he is close to his Lordship, he does most of the work of running the household. Millie is the Itamae, the Chef, do not cross her. She will t
reat you as one of her own until the moment you get on her bad side. His Lordship favors her, and the kitchen has been her domain for many decades now. You will never have a bad meal while you live here. And, then, we think, there’s you.”

  “Me?” Alice squeaked. Asuka nodded.

  “When he brought you back to the house, his Lordship would not be convinced to relinquish you to examination for well over an hour. He paced the floor and wouldn’t give you up, and when he finally did his agitation was so great he made his demands and left. Not even Fen knows where he went. He came back hours later and spent the next two days by your side.” Asuka stared at Alice as if she were a puzzle to be solved.

  Alice’s mouth had gone dry, she remembered the demon picking her up, at the tree, but nothing of what Asuka spoke of. It set her cheeks to flames. He’d held her for over an hour. Why on Earth would he do that?

  “Nobody knows who you are, or what you did to disturb Lord Makkai the way you have, but it’s made you the focus of intrigue. This room and the rest of the rooms in your suite have been empty since his Lordship had the house built. They’re supposed to belong to the lady of the house. Strange place to install a pet,” Asuka said dryly. The world tilted again, nothing made sense here.

  “I don’t understand,” Alice said. He’d called her an exception.

  “None of us do. You’ve turned this house upside down and none of us have any idea how you got here or why our Lord is showing you such deference. Some think Fen knows, but nobody is brave enough to ask him,” Asuka smiled, her eyes glinting mischievously. “A little mystery is exciting, not much has happened around here for a long while. Then you showed up and all sorts of interesting things occur all at once. The house has come to life.”