Blood Wars (The Bloodborn Series Book 2)

by Iris Walker

  Chadwick had apparently been drunk, or high, or some combination in between on the day that memo was addressed, because Reykon had caught him sneaking out of Romina Von Essen’s personal chambers twice, and then found him making a speedy getaway from Zasha Demidov’s suite after nearly being caught by her guards.

  Idiocy knew no bounds with Chadwick Halifax.

  “What happened to you?” Reykon asked.

  Chadwick pulled him over, steering him through the crowd, to a circle of cushions set into the floor. Three women casters lounged around, bright magenta drinks in hand. “Pardon, ladies,” Chadwick announced. “Take a walk, why don’t you?”

  Reykon raised an eyebrow as they all rose, stalking off to the bar and leaving them alone.

  “I’m in a bit of a time crunch,” Reykon said with dazed confusion, sitting down on the cushions next to him.

  Chadwick grinned and took a big puff from a strange pipe contraption. Alien-slime green smoke slipped out of his mouth and into the air around them. “What brings you to my neck of the woods, strongblood?”

  Boy, was that a loaded question. Reykon pushed a hand through his hair, considering where to start. “It’s a long story, actually.”

  “I’ve heard so much about you guys lately. Almost made me miss Demonte’s, you know, if it weren’t for the constant reprimands and the ever-watching guild dogs.”

  “Lots of people missing Demonte’s lately,” Reykon muttered.

  “Sorry, man. Sucky hand you all got dealt.”

  “What exactly did you hear?” Reykon asked, leaning forward and scanning the crowd for any suspicious casters.

  Chadwick took another puff and leaned back, sprawled sideways with his hands behind his head. The green smoke came out in ring after ring, fanning into the air. “Dragomir did you dirty, is the rumor. And something about a wonder-girl who’s gonna be the Joan of Arc for everyone who hates vampires. It’s all really muddled, and I suspect no one actually knows what they’re talking about. I’d pay a pretty penny to know the inside scoop, though,” he hinted, eyes glimmering in the dark club. “What’d’ya say?”

  Reykon let out a long breath. “You’ve got the gist.”

  “Oh, come on,” the caster protested. “There’s gotta be more than that.”

  “There may be…” Reykon eyed the caster for another moment and then sighed. “Don’t take it personally, but loyalty and trust are running thin for me these days, and I’m getting sick of all these people. It was nice running into you, man, but I’ve gotta go,” Reykon said, rising from the cushions and glancing for any sign of Noomi. “Take care.”

  Chadwick bounced up to his feet, eyes wide. “No! Dude, I’ve got a place. Come on, somewhere that we can talk with no eavesdroppers. Totally legit, I swear.”

  Reykon craned his neck but found no sign of the dark-haired caster he’d arrived with. She seemed to be taking her sweet time. He let out a long breath and then nodded.

  Chadwick’s face lit up in success, and he charged through the crowd, up to another corridor. An elevator sat at the end of it, and Chadwick approached, speaking a few words into the air. A woosh of wind raced past him and Reykon scowled, glancing around the cramped hallway. Thumping music echoed from the larger area, muffled. The elevator doors slid open, giving way to a decked-out bachelor pad in front of them.

  “What the…” Reykon asked, trailing off as he followed Chadwick into the room. Computer gear lined one wall, all flashing lights and alternating screens. Keyboards tapped, a chorus of clicks and spinning gears, and Reykon eyed the barely visible sheen of magical conjuration, no doubt a spell that made a robot-like servant to work on whatever the computers held while the caster was gone partying.

  Chadwick waved a dismissive hand and plopped down on a leather couch that seemed to be modeled after a kidney bean. “That’s just my holdings. Bitcoin and stuff, social media. It’s exhausting, being me, you know.”

  Reykon found a wide smile spreading on his face, despite the outrageous situation. “I gotta say, Chadwick, it’s really nice to see a familiar face, after all this time.”

  “Oh it’s crazy out there,” Chadwick exclaimed, eyes wide. “You have to tell me about it. I was thinking about dipping my toes back in the human world, you know, just the main cities, but then it was all mayhem and madness and we just sort of holed up here.”

  Reykon nodded. “It is mayhem and madness. First, the attack on Demonte, and now… well, the vampires are going through a little family feud.”

  “When was the last time that happened?” Chadwick pressed.

  “The New World Schism. It’s been a while.”

  “So casters obliterated Demonte, right? We heard that hardly anybody escaped. I’m so sorry.”

  “Yeah,” Reykon said, a bitter taste spreading through his mouth at the memories of that night, racing up the staircases and seeing magic-fueled massacre at every turn. “A rogue group. Calliope led them, though now… well, I don’t know what to believe. It’s a mess.”

  “And what of the girl?” Chadwick asked. “Heard some crazy rumors about her being half-witch.”

  Reykon’s eyes met Chadwick’s, and he nodded grimly. “Calliope’s her biological mother. I don’t know how, but it was all part of some conspiracy plan to undermine the vampires. I’m here with another caster, trying to get a transport to where she’s being held, so we can go somewhere... well, even remotely close to safe. And we’re running out of time.” By the end of his rant, his shoulders felt bunched up, flickering with energy and anger.

  Chadwick narrowed his eyes slightly and drummed his fingers on the couch. “Listen, it’s none of my business, but… you care about her, don’t you?”

  “Yeah. That obvious, huh?” he laughed bitterly.

  “Oh, you’re as sick as a dog. Trust me, I know the feeling, I’ve had my fair share of liaisons.”

  “Somehow I don’t think it’s the same,” Reykon muttered.

  “To each their own, is what I say. Anyhow, I owe you. If it weren’t for you having pity for a reckless young caster, Magnus would’ve skinned me alive years ago. I’ve got a couple places that I used when I was…” he trailed off, his brow knitting together. “Well, that’s not important. What is important is that they’re locked up tight, in a mirror dimension just like this one. Nobody knows a thing. If the girl’s as special as everyone is saying she is, and if you really care about her, I’ll help you out. But I get to come with.”

  Reykon scowled. “Everyone is looking for her, Chadwick. The Legion, even. Are you really prepared to take that on?”

  Chadwick scoffed at him. “I’ve been running from the Legion since I was three. Zenecai’s probably spanked me for insubordination more times than he’s slapped a girl’s ass.”

  His mind was spinning with the thought of having a place to go, somewhere safe, with Robin. Somewhere where they could be permanently out of the fight.

  “But listen, I have one favor to ask you,” Chadwick said. “I recently came into contact with a very interesting young woman, and she pushed me to dig into some very interesting research.”

  Reykon’s brow furrowed. “What is it?”

  The caster shook his head, giving Reykon another dismissive wave. “Nothing to be concerned about. Actually, this is a big step up for you. I recently stuck my fingers in the cookie jar of the caster guild’s records - I like to keep up on current events, you know. But I came across something that has mega potential to earn us some big bucks in establishments like the Prism.”

  “Just tell me what it is,” Reykon cautioned. “I’m getting more and more concerned the longer you skirt around it.”

  “Well, I’ve been working on a project, because I feel strongly about philanthropic endeavors, and… long story short, I may have copied some highly illicit documents concerning the creation and maintenance of strongbloods.”

  Reykon scowled. “Those are top level secrets… you just waltzed in and took them?”

  “I’ve come up with a very effici
ent system through trial and error. I get bored, you know. But anyway, a lot of people have been barging through my doors, looking for me, and this is the first place I’ve actually been able to catch my breath. Now that the heat’s cooled a little, I want to start rolling it out, but I need allies, and I need a strongblood to use it on.”

  “Woah, woah,” Reykon said. “I’ve seen enough magical experimentation in my time to know I want to be as far away from it as possible. I’ve been through the pledging ceremony, and it hurt like hell. Whatever it is, I don’t want in.”

  “Even if I told you that your whole life, you’ve been fighting with one hand tied behind your back?”

  Reykon paused, curiosity slinking into his mind. “What do you mean?”

  “That’s what I’m talking about. There’s a whole section in the vaulted records that covers how they created strongbloods, and how they gifted them to the vampires during the civil wars, to aid in the fights. You all were made with both vampire and human lifeforms.”

  “Okay, yeah, but how does that help us now, in the middle of the vampire apocalypse?”

  “Strongbloods have two sides: vampire and human. The way you’re constructed is so that you can draw power from either side as you wish.”

  “I’m still not following, Chadwick.”

  The caster let out a frustrated huff of air. “Okay, you know the symbols they inscribe on you during the pledging ceremony? Those aren’t channels for your magic. They’re handcuffs.”

  “But… no, that doesn’t make sense. Why would the casters give the vampires a race of warriors and then knock their powers down?”

  “Because,” Chadwick said, “the strongbloods had the potential to match a vampire for strength, and that was a little disconcerting to the masters, so in order to alleviate their concerns, the casters imbued them with a focus, inscribed into their skin. But those runes are for dampening, not amplifying. I did some research, and if we were to remove them… it would make you one of the most powerful strongbloods on the planet.”

  “Hang on, you said ‘one of’?”

  Chadwick nodded. “That girl I ran into had a very unusual childhood. Remember the big fire that broke out in one of the Mantell houses?”

  “Yeah,” Reykon said. “Nearly burned the whole thing down.”

  “Mmm-hmm. Well, in the madness of that incident, a very cunning naturalist caster escaped with a very young infant by the name of Gladria Thraxos.”

  “I’ve heard that name…” Reykon muttered.

  “She was supposed to have died in that fire, but I ran into her and found out that she was raised under the radar from any supernatural influence. That means no pledging ceremony, and no handcuffs, and let me tell you, she was a ball of pure magic, with no hindrance. It was wicked. Power like that would serve you well, wouldn’t it? You’re one of the only strongbloods I’d trust to wield that kind of strength, just so you know.”

  “And you know how to do that? To undo the binding?” Reykon asked.

  “In theory, yeah, but I gotta put it into practice. We just have to scrub you of those runes and you’ll be the most formidable strongblood in the whole royal coalition – or, whatever’s left of it.”

  “What are the side effects?” Reykon asked.

  “Don’t really know. It doesn’t change you, per se, but… well, if you were alcoholic beverages, she would be a double shot of whiskey and you lot would be hard lemonade, I’ll put it that way. She eats a lot, to keep up with the burn, and she takes a nap here and there, but other than that, she’s still half human and half vampire. She’s just able to actually use all the vampire power in short, controlled bursts.”

  Reykon’s mind swirled with the implication of Chadwick’s discovery. He knew that the caster wasn’t lying; not only did he not have any reason to, but he was also a large proponent of anything that could be used to undermine the guild’s power over information.

  “We have to go find Robin now, Chadwick. I’ve gotta meet up with Noomi, and she could already be waiting for me. There’s no time for something like this.”

  “It’ll take no more than an hour,” he hummed. “An hour of your time right now, and you could have double the strength at your fingertips. Tell me that’s not worth it.”

  “Why are you pushing for this so hard right now?” he asked.

  Chadwick’s amused expression faded, and he leaned forward. “Alright, because we’re old pals, I’ll be honest with you. I’m going crazy shut up in this place. I’ve been here for months, and every time I transplant a fake image of myself in the human world, the Legion is on it like cake at a fat camp. I bit off a little more than I could chew, and I underestimated how sensitive that information was. So now I figure my best chance at decreasing its worth is to flood the market, so to say, and make it all very, very public. To do that I have to apply it to a large number of rogue strongbloods and then inject the practice into the rebel caster communities. Pretty soon, those documents will be worthless, and they’ll have bigger fish to fry than me.”

  “You idiot,” Reykon said, letting out an irritated huff and shaking his head.

  “It’s not a bad deal!” Chadwick said quickly. “I’m offering you a tidal wave of power, and a safe place after we go get your female companion, and in exchange, all I want is your temporary protection, just like old times. Just for a little bit, until things calm down. It’s not unnatural, Reykon, those markings that were put on you were to suppress your true range of power, to water you down. Don’t you want to know what your true potential was meant to be?”

  “I don’t… what if it doesn’t work? I cannot take any chances right now. Not until Robin is safe.”

  “Reykon,” he said. “You know me. It’ll work. And how can Robin be safe if you’ve got nowhere to go afterward, and you’re relying on this ‘Noomi’ for everything. I mean, how much do you know about her? Do you trust her? Because you know me; we practically grew up together. You even risked your ass for me, three times. Let me help repay you for those favors.”

  “And in the process save your own skin,” Reykon said bleakly.

  “But that’s not the important part – a rising tide, and all that crap, right? You know this is a good deal. It can’t be a coincidence that I meet you of all people in this godforsaken place. You need me, buddy. Face the facts and embrace serendipity. You. Need. Me,” he said, emphasizing the last word by crooking a thumb towards himself.

  Reykon cast another glance at the door, his thoughts swirling with half-truths that Noomi had told him. He needed a place to go, a place that was safe from all the threats, even those that he didn’t know about yet. He turned back to Chadwick, a deep pit spreading in his gut. “You’re positive it’ll work?”

  “One hundred percent.”

  “And I’ll gain power? You’re certain?”

  “I’ve seen it in action, my friend.”

  Reykon’s leg started tapping like it was a lawnmower that had been ripped back with enough force to break the cord. “Alright. Just do it before I change my mind.”

  Lucidia

  The mirror wasn’t a mirror after all; it was more of an invisible, intangible barrier into another dimension. The space opened up to a dark cave made of craggly rock, deep, shadowy blue bouncing off the nooks and crannies and cloaking it in a cold darkness.

  Lucidia’s skin immediately chilled, goosebumps racing over her like football fans doing the wave. Her breath fogged in the thick, heavy, and disgustingly dank air. It smelled like something had died. Or possibly, many things. Suspicions were confirmed just as Lucidia’s foot crunched against a dry, splintering bone. Her heart caught in her chest and she drew in a sharp breath.

  Darian turned slightly, just a hair, and glanced at her before leading them deeper into the cavern. She wasn’t sure what he meant to say with that; maybe, ‘don’t worry, I’m here’, or ‘try to be a little louder, why don’t you?’, or really any combination therein. She had better things to do than play Freud.

  Normally
, she wasn’t so jumpy.

  But there was something about this place, something so ancient and sickening and deeply, deeply upsetting. Her heart thudded, faster and faster despite their cautious pace, bringing them away from the vault, away from the land of the living. This place, it was something else. The very rock it was made from resonated, a howling roar building against the ground and ripping through the sinister cavern. It was affecting her, seeping into her bones and poisoning her mind, making the shadows turn tall and snake against the crags of the walls and-

  Darian’s icy hand pressed around hers, the one clutching the twig doll, hard enough that she could feel the tines sharp against her own skin. The shadows stopped moving and she was back in the cave, her mind clear, the roaring wind gone from her ears. Her eyebrows crunched together, and her gaze snapped to Darian’s, amethyst eyes burning with anger. “What the hell was that?” she whispered harshly.

  “They have an effect on humans. She is calling to your mortal heritage and attempting to incite madness,” Darian said quietly.

  Her eyes widened in anger. “If she can manipulate my mind, why would you drag me in here with you?”

  Darian leaned in, close enough that Lucidia could smell his cold breath against the decaying air. “Believe me when I say leaving you in the vault would have been a much more dangerous option.”

  She let out a sharp breath and clutched the doll hard enough to feel rough wood cutting into her palm. “Let’s just get this over with.”

  They moved quickly, steps crunching against more bone until the passageway narrowed, stooped. Lucidia dodged a stalactite, skirting it with minimal effort, watching as the tall vampire hunched to avoid them. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lip, but she wiped her expression quickly.

  The final passageway opened up to a small, circular room with a tall ceiling, spiked with stalactites and glistening with dank moisture. It wasn’t just that there was no light here, it was that something in the space absorbed the light, shrouding it and replacing it with heavy, liquified shadow. As her grip tightened, Lucidia felt a small stream of her own blood snake down her pinky, and drip on the rocky ground, echoing around the room. Something behind the shadow twitched, an animalistic huff of air escaping into the space.