Shades of Darkness

by Alexandra Ivy

  “Can you just once do what I ask without an argument?”

  Chaaya started to remind him once again that he wasn’t her boss, only to have the words die on her lips as she noticed the lines of strain on his handsome face.

  “You look tired,” she told him.

  Chiron grimaced. “I’m worried. We thought the threat was over. If the beast is truly returning to this world, then we need to be prepared.”

  Oh. Chaaya nodded. “Yeah, I’m worried too.”

  Chiron rose to his feet, holding her gaze. “Then go to the mer-folk castle and check on Brigette. Make sure she’s not spreading her poison.”

  “I’ll go, but I don’t want Basq,” Chaaya countered. “He’s a pain in the ass.”

  Chiron’s lips twisted. “Strange, he just said the same thing about you.”

  “Because he’s a humorless bore.”

  “He’s one of the most honorable males I know. Then again, if your preference is for the scum you meet at the Diablo Club, I can understand your lack of appreciation for his finer qualities,” he muttered, referring to the seedy demon bar she frequented on the edge of town.

  She tilted her chin. “Those scum are like me.”

  Chiron paused, as if caught off guard by her claim. “What do you mean?”

  She glanced away, feeling oddly vulnerable. “Disposable,” she whispered.

  “Chaaya—”

  Whatever Chiron was about to say was interrupted when Levet shoved the door open and returned to the hallway. Basq was a step behind him, his expression tight with annoyance.

  Chiron made a sound of impatience. “Do you understand the meaning of a private conversation?”

  Levet flapped his wings. “Inga has opened a portal for us to travel to the mer-folk castle. We need to leave now.”

  “Fine. Go, but keep me in the loop.” Chiron glanced toward Basq, who gave a small nod.

  “What loop?” Levet blinked in confusion. “We have a loop? Like Snapchat? Oh, oh. Mine is MustLoveGargoyles79—”

  “Argh. I can’t bear any more.” Chiron stormed down the hallway toward the main casino, the walls icing over as he passed.

  “He’s in a poopy mood,” Levet groused.

  Chaaya bit back her mocking comment. A part of her appreciated Chiron’s concern. If the beast had found a way to manipulate Brigette, or worse, to enter this dimension, then they were all in danger. Extreme, end-of-the-world danger.

  “He’s afraid,” she said in a soft voice.

  “I am as well,” Levet confessed, his smile fading. “If the darkness is leaking from Brigette, then the mermaids are in danger. Inga is in danger.”

  Chaaya squared her shoulders, squashing her reluctance to spend more time in Basq’s company. This was too important to let her childish reaction to the vampire interfere with what needed to be done.

  “Then we’ll go and protect them, right?” she demanded.

  “Oui. It is what knights in shining armor do,” Levet agreed.

  Chaaya snorted. “I’m about as far from a knight in shining armor as you can get.”

  Without warning, Levet moved forward to grasp her fingers in a firm grip.

  “Ma belle, you are the only true hero I have ever known.”

  Chapter 3

  Brigette clenched her teeth as she paced her cell, waiting for the door to open.

  A part of her knew she was crazy. How could she trust another mystery voice whispering in her ear? The last time she’d allowed herself to be swayed by an anonymous stranger, she’d become a pawn to an evil beast who’d used her to destroy her own pack. But this voice hadn’t promised her infinite power. Or to become alpha. Or even vast riches.

  No, there’d been only one thing it had offered.

  Something Brigette longed to acquire with the force of a thousand suns.

  First, however, she had to get out of this damned dungeon. It didn’t matter that she’d only been locked away a few months. Right now it felt like centuries. And each minute she remained captive felt like acid pouring against her raw nerves.

  “Hello?” she called out. “You told me to be ready. I’m ready.”

  Her voice bounced around the empty dungeon. No response. Brigette clenched her hands, for the millionth time wishing she could touch her wolf. During her centuries with Zella, her animal had retreated deeper and deeper inside her, until she could barely feel its presence. And even after the evil creature had been trapped in another dimension, the wolf refused to reappear. As if it was determined to punish Brigette for her betrayal of her pack.

  The loss was profound.

  Turning on her heel, she was at the far end of the cell when the faint click of a lock had her spinning around to watch the heavy iron door swing open.

  “Who’s there?” she growled, adrenaline surging through her body. She might not be capable of shifting into her wolf, but she was still a dangerous predator.

  “Follow me.”

  The voice wasn’t the same as the one who’d been whispering in her mind. This one was male and physically in the dungeons. Brigette sniffed the air. merman. She could tell by the tang of salt.

  Cautiously inching forward, Brigette glanced into the dark space between the rows of cells. There was a slender shape hurrying toward the stairs.

  “Who are you?” she called out.

  “I was sent by Greta.” There was a tense edge in the voice. “Let’s go.”

  Greta. That was the name the whispering voice had offered her. She didn’t know if it was real or made up, and she didn’t care. Her previous mistress had gone by Zella, the Beast, and the evil spirit. As long as the unknown creature gave Brigette what she desired, she could call herself Santa Claus.

  Accepting that she had no choice but to trust the stranger, she exited the cell and hurried through a hidden door. The merman stayed just out of sight as he led her through the maze of stairs and long hallways, but Brigette didn’t mind. She wanted distance between them. It meant she would have ample warning if he was trying to lure her into an ambush.

  She climbed another flight of stairs, her eyes narrowing as she realized they had not only left behind the stark, barren walls of the dungeon, but they were now in the main section of the castle.

  Where the hell was the stranger leading her?

  * * * *

  Basq followed Chaaya and the gargoyle out of the portal. Stepping to one side, he faded into the shadow that wrapped around him. He didn’t have a lot of flashy talents. He couldn’t cause earthquakes or take out the power grid. But he did have the ability to create a darkness to shroud himself, or he could spread it to fill this entire castle. He liked to go unnoticed. An unseen attacker was far more lethal.

  Quickly, he glanced around, taking in the long room that was decorated with elaborate murals on the walls and a high ceiling with massive chandeliers. Beneath his heavy boots was a smooth marble floor, and at the far end was a dais with a massive throne.

  Once assured there was nothing hidden in the shallow alcoves, Basq turned to study the Queen of Mer-folk, who was standing just a few feet away.

  She didn’t look like a queen. Or even a mermaid. She was as tall as Basq with a broad blocky body that was squashed into a hideous gown with a too-small crown perched on her large, square head.

  Basq had heard Chiron mention Inga, so her appearance didn’t interest him. Instead he silently admired the skillful ease with which she held the mighty trident. This was a female who he wanted standing beside him in a battle. And that was the finest compliment he could offer.

  Basq’s gaze moved to land on Chaaya.

  She was another warrior.

  It didn’t matter that she was barely five foot and weighed less than a hundred pounds. Or that she’d once been human. He’d witnessed her take down a drunken goblin after he’d grabbed her ass at one of the filthy de
mon clubs she liked to visit. Basq had been trailing behind her, but before he could react, she’d grabbed the goblin and launched him across the bar to hit the wall with a sickening thud. Chaaya had strolled on as if nothing had happened.

  That was the night his annoyed resignation at being her babysitter had transformed into a dangerous fascination.

  Inga stepped forward, the trident lowering as if in a gesture of peace.

  “Thank you for coming,” she said, speaking directly to Chaaya.

  Predictably the woman folded her arms over her chest, looking peevish. She might be a warrior, but her people skills sucked. They were even worse than his, something he never believed possible.

  “I shouldn’t have,” Chaaya complained. “You kicked me out of here.”

  Inga blushed, but she held her ground. “I did it for your own good. My people had become convinced that you not only cheated at cards but that you were stealing from our treasury. They wanted you thrown in the dungeons.”

  Chaaya sniffed. “I borrowed one stupid tiara and suddenly I’m a thief?”

  Inga arched a brow. “Borrowed?”

  “I gave it back.”

  “You stuck it on top of a statue of Neptune.”

  “He looked like he needed a crown.” Chaaya shrugged. “I gave him one.”

  “What about the crystal globes that were a formal gift from the Queen of the Dew Fairies?”

  “One of your guards dared me to juggle them.” Chaaya shrugged. “I forgot I couldn’t juggle.”

  Inga clenched her pointed teeth. Basq didn’t blame the female. Chaaya was an acquired taste.

  Taste… Basq’s fangs suddenly lengthened, eager for a sip of the mysterious woman. Damn. His awareness of her was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

  “My job is tough enough without you creating chaos,” Inga said, her tone grim.

  “I hear you,” Basq murmured, releasing his shadow. They were wasting time with this bickering. Ignoring Chaaya’s glare, Basq concentrated on the Queen of the Mer-folk. “Perhaps you should tell us why we’re here.”

  Inga visibly gathered her rattled composure. “A few hours ago, a guard came to me to say that he’d heard Brigette talking to herself. He also swears that he could see a shadow next to her.”

  “What security do you have in place?” he asked.

  Inga arched a brow. “You mean beyond being a mile beneath the water and isolated from the world?”

  He held her gaze. “Yeah, beyond that.”

  The ogress blew out a weary sigh. “I have guards, of course, and no one is allowed in Brigette’s cell but me.”

  “How is she fed?” Chaaya abruptly demanded.

  “A slot in the door,” Inga responded.

  Chaaya absently stroked the hilt of her spear. Basq noticed that it was a habit she had when she was deep in thought.

  “Could she have talked to whoever delivered the food?”

  Inga shrugged. “I suppose it’s possible, but the guard would surely have noticed if there was a servant there?”

  Chaaya blinked, realizing everyone was gazing at her in confusion. “I’m just trying to imagine how she could be in contact with anyone. Who knows that she’s locked in the dungeon? And how could they have created a connection to Brigette?”

  Basq nodded in silent approval at the questions. It would be dangerous to leap to the conclusion that Brigette was communicating with the evil beast named Zella. It could easily be that the Were was crazed from her time in the dungeons and that the guard had mistaken a common shadow for something more sinister. Or perhaps another creature was attempting to release the Were for its own mysterious reasons.

  They had to approach this with a logical investigation, not panic at the thought of Zella returning to this world.

  “What about magic?” he asked.

  Inga decisively shook her head. “The dungeons are created to dampen magic. It keeps anyone from creating a portal or using a cloaking spell to escape.”

  “Is she still in the dungeons?”

  Inga nodded. “Yes.”

  “How many prisoners are you holding in the dungeons?” he asked.

  “Just Brigette.”

  That was exactly what Basq wanted to hear. The fewer factors contaminating the area, the easier it would be to pinpoint what was happening with the Were.

  “How many guards?”

  “One in the actual dungeons, plus two more at the outer door.”

  “Have you made sure that they haven’t been infected?” Basq pressed, sensing Chaaya’s startled glance. Did she assume he hadn’t been paying attention when Chiron questioned her about the endless centuries she’d spent trapped with the beast?

  Inga considered his question before giving a shake of her head. “I didn’t notice anything.”

  Chaaya determinedly gained control of the encounter. She might pretend to be a feckless teenager, but she was a natural leader.

  “You shouldn’t take any chances,” she warned Inga. “Until we know if this has anything to do with Zella, you should have the guards put into quarantine.”

  “What about Brigette?” Inga asked. “Should I—”

  The queen’s words were cut short at the sound of shouting from the outer corridor. Instantly they all turned to watch as one of the doors to the throne room was shoved open to reveal a guard in scaled armor.

  “What’s happening, Jord?” the queen demanded.

  “The prisoner has escaped,” the male rasped.

  “Brigette?” Inga demanded, although they all knew who it was.

  The guard nodded, his narrow face flushed, as if he’d been running to deliver his warning.

  Inga made a strangled sound of disbelief. “Call for Rimm to have the castle searched from top to bottom.”

  “Stay here,” Chaaya commanded. “I’ll go.”

  Basq grabbed her arm, preventing her from heading toward the door. “Wait.”

  She deliberately glanced at his fingers wrapped around her upper arm. “Hey, Mr. Grabby, let go.”

  He held on tight, even knowing she could…what was the word? Fade? Evaporate? Become incorporeal? Whatever.

  “No.” Basq and Inga spoke in unison.

  The queen scowled. “It’s my duty.”

  “I’m the only one that can’t be infected by the evil,” Chaaya reminded them.

  “We don’t know what the darkness is yet,” Basq stubbornly insisted. “There are a lot of evil things that can crawl out of the darkness.”

  “The bloodsucker isn’t wrong,” Levet said, reaching up to touch Inga’s large hand. “You cannot expose yourself, ma belle.”

  Inga scowled, but she didn’t pull away from the gargoyle. Basq rolled his eyes. What was it with Levet and females? He must have some mystical ability to blind them to his annoying personality.

  There was no other explanation.

  “It’s my duty,” the queen muttered again.

  “No. As I’ve been repeatedly told, this is my duty,” Chaaya said, glancing toward Basq. “Just mine. You’re not going with me.” Basq shrugged. There was no point in arguing. She wasn’t going to leave this room without him. Period. Chaaya made a sound of disgust as she glanced back at Inga. “Can you shoot him with your big fork?”

  It was Levet who answered. “Is it not a magnificent fork? It does the most amazing things. I floated at the bottom of the ocean.”

  “It’s not a fork, it’s the Tryshu,” Inga snapped. “And this is my castle.”

  Levet’s wings fluttered. “And these are your people. They can’t be protected if the beast manages to destroy you.”

  Inga looked like she’d swallowed a bag of lemons, but it appeared the gargoyle managed to convince her to remain out of danger.

  “I hate sitting around twiddling my thumbs,” the ogress groused.
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  “Contact your guards that were in the dungeons and have them isolated away from the public areas,” Chaaya told the queen, heading toward the door. “And make sure no one enters Brigette’s cell.”

  “Be careful, chérie,” Levet called out.

  Basq silently followed Chaaya toward the open door where they could hear the sound of shouts in the distance. Obviously, the search for the Were was on. Abruptly the female halted, turning to glare at him.

  “I know you enjoy being a pain in the ass, but—”

  “No.”

  “Basq.”

  “Chaaya.”

  Chaaya grabbed the hilt of her spear. “Someday I’m going to stab you through the heart, and no one would blame me.”

  “You’re welcome to try,” Basq assured her.

  “Ass.”

  “Brat.”

  “Argh.”

  They were still glaring at one another when there was a whooshing sound from behind the throne, and they turned to watch one of the murals slide open to reveal a hidden tunnel.

  Basq frowned, expecting a guard to appear. Instead a slender female with long red hair and a desperate expression came skidding into the room.

  “Brigette,” Chaaya snarled.

  Chapter 4

  Chaaya jerked the spear from the holster at her side, her gaze locked on the redheaded Were.

  “Everyone stay back,” she warned, using her evil radar to try and detect any hint of the beast.

  Brigette’s eyes widened in horrified surprise as she caught Chaaya’s scent, obviously not expecting to find her in the throne room. The two females had never met face-to-face until Brigette had been locked in mer-folk dungeons, but they’d been involved in an epic struggle over the past five hundred years. Chaaya had sacrificed everything to keep the beast locked in the hell dimension, while the Were had sold her soul to try and release the tide of evil.

  “You,” the Were rasped, skidding to a halt. “What the hell are you doing here?”

  Chaaya blew a kiss toward the younger female. “Aren’t you happy to see me?”