The Darkness in You (The Darkness Series Book 2)

by Diane Ashley Nortje

  “Well then I’ll see you in hell then!” I say to him and turn to leave. I’m going to do it; I just need one person to help me and I’m pretty sure she won’t mind helping me out.

  “Wait!” Weyland barks out to me. I turn back to look at him. He has to know I was being dead serious about this. Our time is up, whatever him and the brotherhood had planned is taking too long. Something needs to happen and now! “Call them in.” Weyland says as his eyes flick to Tray who nods his response.

  “Let’s see how fucking tough you are, when you are up against them.” Weyland whispers in my ear and when he pulls back I see the spark of fire in his eyes.

  “They don’t scare me, not anymore.”

  “Then you are either stupid or naïve or fucking both.” Weyland says to me as he takes my arm in his hand and starts to pull me back towards the castle. I won’t back down. My mind is made up. My plan will happen. With or without help.

  ~ ~ ~

  “Where the fuck is Mason?” Hades asks as he taps his fingers on the arm of the couch he is sitting on.

  We are all crammed into the small sitting area Jacin has in his bedroom. Me being wedged between my four on the couch while Bus walks up and down behind us. Weyland sits in the one-seater chair and Bishop and Hades have taken the two-seater.

  “Mason hasn’t been told.” Bishop grumbles out which has Hades head snapping in his direction.

  “Hasn’t been told?” Hades questions Bishop which only earns him a glare from Bishop. “Well I guess if I hadn’t stopped by that day, I would have also been kept in the dark.”

  “Fuck yes. You are insanity in wrapping paper.” Bishops says as my eyes track back and forth between them. “Mason will have to be told though; this has gone on for far too long.”

  “I think I handled the news pretty fucking well, asshole.” Hades bites out.

  “Where is your fucking tea?” Bishop asks doing to complete one eighty on the conversation.

  “Still brewing in your asshole. Care to make yourself useful and go fuck yourself.” Hades bites out and my eyes move back to Bishop who is smiling at him? What the hell kind of friendship do these guys have?

  “I’d rather fucking not but I hear your mother will help me out!”

  “Oh, low fucking blow, dick.” Hades says back just as a small knock on the door echoes through the room and all of our heads snap in its direction.

  “Get the fuck in here, you are late, and Bishop was starting to look tasty!” Hades barks out as a small woman, with beautiful glass type looking wings, floats into the room with a teacup and saucer in her hands.

  “Sorry boss.” She says as she lands next to Hades and hands him his tea. “The fucking idiots in the kitchen broke the boiling pot and had to get a new one. I ended up just returning home for yours.” She explains and Hades just nods his head at her while stirring his tea. “Anything else?” She asks Hades but he shakes his head as he brings the teacup to his lips. And with that she flies off out the room and closes the door with her.

  This man is so fucking odd. No words can begin to describe Hades.

  “Right, can we get down to business. What did you call us here for?” Bishop directs the question at Weyland, but I answer before he can even start.

  “Because of me.” I say out and Bishop just has to go do an eye roll at my statement.

  “What did you do now?” Bishop sighs out.

  “I didn’t do anything. I was pulled into a dream walk and I saw Jacin.”

  “A dream walk, when did this happen?” Bishop questions me and the look in his eyes has me wanting to cower behind Tray and Lynx. But I hold strong. I can’t let them scare me.

  “Earlier. I can’t sit back and wait for whatever plan you have in mind. Something needs to be done now. They inject him with something, and it makes him high or something. He can’t stay there any longer.”

  “What do you mean, they inject him?” Hades asks me and I don’t know what more he wants me to say on the matter.

  “Just that, they injected him with a needle, the stuff seems pretty strong, one moment he is fine and the next he is out.”

  Both Hades and Bishop look at each other. I start to think they have some sort of silent conversation going until Hades breaks the silence.

  “Can’t fucking be. It’s not possible. Only seven people know. And not one of them would fucking betray the brotherhood.”

  “I must speak with him. Something is off. Something has clearly gotten out and whoever the fuck the leak is, will be dealt with. This new information explains so fucking much as to why he hasn’t returned.” Bishop says and turns back to look at me. “So, what do want to do about it?”

  “I want to go in and get him.” I simply state.

  “The last update I got from Weyland was that it wasn’t so simple. You will need to be taken there.” Bishops asks me to clarify.

  “And that is what I intend to happen.”

  “Let me get this straight, so we are all on the same page. You want to be taken as in kidnapped?” Hades asks me and brings his dainty teacup to his lips.

  “Yes, it seems like the only way to get anywhere near Jacin.”

  “You want us to allow you to be taken, Jacin’s mate? And what, we just sit back and wave at you on the way out?” Hades says to me as he continues to sip is tea.

  “Well, I don’t think that would work. I will need to cause a scene and a big one. One where people will see, and word will get out. I’ve already caused a small one today and I think I can do something far more dramatic. They will think I left without protection.”

  “That’s the thing, some monsters down here can feel the presence of the hounds and those are the fuckers you don’t want to be around.” Weyland says to me. He already knew what the plan was, but I never went this far into details. He didn’t want to hear more until Bishop and Hades arrived. Now that they have, he is going to grill me, I just know it.

  “You guys are going to have to trust that I can do this.” I say to him. “You and the five will have to stay behind, I can’t have this getting screwed up if they can in fact sense you.”

  “Are you fucking mad?” Weyland bellows at me. Like full on, stands up, face turning red, pulse beating, chest pounding shouting at me. “We will not risk you, end of story!”

  “Either way Weyland, I’m doing it. I can’t sit back and wait for more information; I can’t sit back and wait for something to happen. We need to do something.” I plead with him.

  “What you are asking us to allow is extremely dangerous. We could lose you and Jacin. It’s a massive risk and you don’t yet understand the importance of Jacin.” Bishop says as he stands and starts to pace in the small space.

  “I understand his importance, a lot. You guys won’t give me any more details on it, but I feel his importance. I want him back and this is a risk yes, but I’m more than capable. Once I’m there, I’ll call you, Weyland. Please have faith in me to do this.”

  “I don’t fucking like it.” Hades grumbles out. “But, Jacin has been gone for too long. It’s getting worse every day without his presence.”

  “One condition, Natalie and I swear to god, if you don’t follow it to the fucking letter, I will tie your ass down and I will never release you again.” Bishop says to me.

  “Anything, I will follow what you think is best, but I just need to do this and soon.”

  “Gents, give us some time alone with Natalie.” Bishop says too calmly, I have to swallow down the sudden spike in fear.

  I watch as the six men leave me with Bishop and Hades. Tray gives me a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder on the way out. I smile briefly at him. And then he too leaves me alone, to face two of the most frightening men alone.

  I lied before. I’m shit scared of them.

  ~ ~ ~

  “Allow me entrance, don’t fight it. Once you allow me entrance, I can communicate with you freely. All you will have to do is think a reply and it’s done.” Bishop says to me as he indicates me to come take a
seat on the ottoman in front of him.

  “Isn’t that a little invasive. Like you could just go paging through my mind at will, whenever you felt like it.” I ask him back and he gives me a deadpan look.

  “Do I look like I’m that fucking bored that I would spend my days flipping through your memories? I’ve got entrance to hundreds of people’s minds not fucking interested in it.” Bishop replies.

  “Okay, fine whatever, it’s not like you haven’t flipped through it already.” I grumble out and stand to move closer to him. “And what of you? What do you plan to do to me?” I ask Hades as I turn to face him.

  His sly grin is all I get as the same fairy flutters into the room once more and pours him some more tea and leaves without a word. Why does he drink so much tea?

  “I too want entrance. I just have a different way of obtaining it than Bishop does.” Hades says to me, his sly smile never leaving his face. My back stiffens at what he says. Something is definitely off about him. All I know about him is that he is Jacin’s unstable brotherhood partner.

  “I know Bishop is the Reader, he belongs to The Watchers. What exactly are you?” I ask Hades as I sit before Bishop, but my eyes never leave Hades.

  “I’m the bringer of nightmares and chaos, Natalie. I’m your worst fear brought to life and that coming from me is no threat, it is simply facts.”

  “What a way to sell yourself there, Hades and now I must allow you entrance to my mind, my thoughts?” I ask him.

  “Where Bishops entrance would be painful, mine will be downright terrifying. I wouldn’t suggest fighting me on entrance into your mind.” Hades simply states.

  “Whatever, let’s just do this, it gets me a step closer to Jacin.” I grumble out to the both of them.

  “Natalie, I just hope you know what you are doing.” Bishop says as he places his hands on my face. I lift my eyes to look him in the eye, black smoke is forms around us and from the smoke, long grey nails attached to pale fingers start clawing their way out. I freeze. I want to scream.

  My first instinct is to pull away, but Bishop holds me tight. “Don’t resist, it’s just Hades.” Bishop says to me, which doesn’t help me relax at all and once the long gangly finger makes contact with my skin. All I see is black.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “They want a show. I’ll give them a show!” - Natalie

  ~Natalie~

  I slam open the doors, they crack against the stone walls and I have to physically hold back a wince. I needed to make an impact, yet I think that was an overkill. The slamming of the door echoes through the stone walls making everyone’s attention snap towards me.

  I take a deep breath. Because this needs to be good. It needs to be believable.

  “You!” I shout out. And all the people mingling in the room turn to look at each other, as if they are the ones I’m after. “You can’t keep me here. I’m not your god damn prisoner.” I shout once more and storm into the room.

  “You are my whatever I say you are. Got it?” Weyland shouts at me from where he was talking with a bunch of royal assholes I have come to loath.

  “No. I don’t think so. I want to go home. Now!” I shout out at Weyland, throwing my hands up, even letting a small ripple of magic to leave my body.

  “Your ass isn’t going anywhere; I will lock you in a fucking room if I must.” Weyland shouts back at me as his eyes glow at me in warning.

  “I don’t know what all this has to do with me. I think you are all being a bit dramatic. I won’t sit by and let you rule me like this, Weyland. So, fuck you and your rules” I hiss out at him.

  “You know damn well that outside these walls is not safe. You are a naïve little girl if you think you will survive. They will win. That I promise you.” He steps closer to me, moving into my personal space. My magic lashes out, it whips around the room and I hear the crowd cower back as it passes.

  I will make it believable.

  “Again, with all the god damn dramatics.” I grind out at him and shove him back from me. “I’m done.” I shout and blast him with my magic. Weyland flies across the room but lands on his feet. When he rises to his full height, his eyes are blinding, he moves so fast I don’t see him as he glides through the air as if it was nothing. He is before me and his hand is around my throat in a vice like grip.

  “Natalie, think very carefully about your actions, I won’t be around to always protect you. This is not your world; you are weak and worthless here. Remember that.” He whispers shouts in my ear and then releases his hold on my neck.

  “Fuck you, Weyland.” I hiss out and turn from him to and storm out the room. I just hope it was enough, I just hope it was believable. I have to hold back a smile when I think of the fact that I blasted his ass with my magic.

  I walk the hallways. My magic is sizzling at the end of my fingers as I make my way through the castle. I drag my fingers along the walls leaving burn marks in their wake. The smell I know is disgusting. It smells of burning flesh and it trails after me as I continue to walk.

  The people that are walking in the halls, give me a wide berth, as if they think that I too will set them on fire. Maybe I should. Maybe I should set this place alight, it’s not like it did Jacin any good. Some of the snivelling royals that live within here don’t seem concerned that he hasn’t come back. They just carry on as if everything here is as it should be.

  Weyland refers to some as royals. Why? What does that make Jacin, some sort of King or some kind of royal too? I couldn’t care less. They all annoy me, standing around every time I see them. When others are running around them as they bark out their orders. It’s all strange to me. I don’t like it and I’m sure they all know that too. Because if they don’t, they will soon learn.

  They will know my displeasure; the entire castle will know it. I hope it’s enough to make them believe I’m childish enough, stupid enough to leave the protection of the castle alone.

  ~ ~ ~

  “I can’t thank you enough for coming with me.” I shout out to Thalia as she waves over the bartender. “I really didn’t think you would be okay with something like this.” It didn’t take much convincing on my part to get her to help me. I trust her, for some reason.

  The moment we met; I knew she was trustworthy. I haven’t been steered wrong before with my gut instincts and I know this isn’t the time where I will learn my lesson. After I asked Thalia to get me out of the castle, pretending I was running away, she was more than happy to get me out and to take me to a public place.

  Which is a club. A demon club. I’m not even worried about that fact. I’m actually giddy at the idea.

  “It’s really no problem at all. I’m happy to be of service to you.” Thalia says, her voice is raised so I can hear her over the loud thump of the music.

  “Oh.” I say to her, trying to hide the little stab of hurt that I just felt. It makes me miss Faith and Ari. But they are safe from the crazy in my life for now.

  “I’m sorry Natalie, I didn’t mean to offend you.”

  “No, it’s not that. I was hoping it would be more of a friendship thing than a service.”

  “I didn’t want to presume; a friendship would be wonderful. But people like me are not friends with royalty. We work for you. There is really never friendship other than to warm the beds of royals some nights when they are too bored with their lives.”

  “Oh, oh!” I say stunned. I feel the enchantress rising to assess Thalia now. I try my hardest to push her back down. But she bats at my insides. She wants to know what she meant by that statement. But before she can come to the surface to demand answers, Thalia continues.

  “Well, so I have heard. I’ve only been here a few days and sleeping with anyone here is not an option. I can’t risk my job.” She continues to say as the bartender puts these absurd looking drinks in front of us.

  “What the hell are these things?” I say to her rather than continuing with the questioning. I doubt she has been with Jacin. She only just started and accordin
g to Weyland, he hasn’t been with anyone since me.

  “These are the best things ever, even better than sex.” She gasps out as she takes another sip of her drink.

  “Clearly your expectations with sex are low.” I say to her after I’ve taken a sip of my drink. It’s good, but not that good.

  “One attempt was enough, thank you. Don’t see the appeal in it at all.” She says to me dismissively and then takes another small sip of her drink. “I’m definitely going to have to get another one.”

  “Oh honey, one day you definitely will.” I say to her with a wink. “One day a man will storm through your life and rock the fuck out of it.”

  “That remains to be seen. So, I’m not going to hold my breath for it.” Thalia says to me and comes to lean in close to me, her nose crosses my cheek, I feel her warm breath on my skin. Once she reaches my ear, her nose grazes my ear. Too anyone watching, it would look like I’m involved with her. Until she whispers in my ear. “I don’t drink, mine is the same as yours, but no alcohol. We need to switch. They can’t know you not drunk. These drinks hit you hard and fast. So, act like it.”

  I nod my head at her and use my magic to switch the contents of the drink. I need to have a clear head for this, and one sip is a sip too much. I can’t have anything going wrong with tonight. I need to be vulnerable and they need to see it.

  I watch Thalia take another sip of her drink. I watch as she tries to hide the sudden taste of alcohol in her drink, which she fails miserably at. But she takes another sip and another until the taste of it becomes normal.

  My eyes leave her actions. I scan the room we are in. The loud music is normal even for one in the demon world.

  “We need to give them a show.” Thalia slurs out at me, shit that was fast. I want to laugh at her, as she stumbles to her feet. “And a show we will give.” She declares out, then scans the room as she now doesn’t know what to do.

  I take another sip of my non-alcoholic drink and also stand and then stumble. I’ll just copy what the drunk is doing next to me and it then should be a believable show.