Onyx saw panic and fear in Jadeia’s green eyes. She was clearly trying to struggle, but she was powerless against Niyx’s magic. Her eyes pleaded with him to save her.
“Kill her,” Kiril whispered, her tone as cold as her ice magic. “She is the one who holds him chained.” Niyx snarled in response and tightened his hold on Jadeia, making her whimper.
“No!” Onyx said quickly, but it was too late. Niyx’s long fangs tore into Jadeia’s throat. Flesh ripped. Crimson blood spattered. The sight and smell of it was too much. Onyx hadn’t drunk blood for days, and he couldn’t resist it now. He fell on Jadeia as well, driven to madness.
Niyx pulled back once Onyx joined him and let Onyx drain her dry. He released his magic and Jadeia slipped into Onyx’s arms as she drifted toward death. Onyx felt Jadeia’s fingers caress his cheek as he gently lowered her to the ground. Her touch brought him back to his senses just in time to watch her die. He dropped her body and stood up, stumbling away from it. Part of him thrilled at her death. How many years had he dreamed of it? But part of him still loved her, and it horrified him that she was gone.
“These others mean nothing but pain to you, brother. Let us end them. Together.” Niyx put a hand on Onyx’s shoulder and turned him toward the inner room. “Unleash your rage. Your hatred. Fall upon them like a plague. Destroy them as they tried to destroy you. Remember how they watched as the Lord killed you.”
Onyx turned away from Jadeia’s body. His memory replayed their jeers and their laughter at his torment as the Lord of the Divide had tortured him. He drew his daggers and bared his fangs. He summoned every bit of magic granted to him, fueled by feasting on Jadeia’s blood. Then he dashed into the main hall of the Den.
The scream of the first one to fall alerted the others. “Ladykiller!” His former Divide name was shouted in different tones ranging from fear to disbelief. “He’s come back as a vengeful ghost!” One of the assassins shouted as they scattered like rats before his attack.
“He’s no ghost,” Slice growled as he stepped out of the shadows and his long blade pierced through Onyx’s leather armor and into his side. Onyx stumbled and Slice grabbed him to drive the blade home further.
“You will pay for that,” Niyx’s cold voice came behind them. With a mighty blow from his massive broadsword, he cleaved Slice in half. Then he snarled and threw the body parts out of the way as he pulled the sword from his brother’s side. Onyx snarled at the pain, but his body started to heal itself as soon as the weapon was removed, his blood magic mending it. He leaned on a table for a moment to recover.
Niyx and Kiril swept through the Den with all the fury of a blizzard. Snow fell inside the Den and a frigid magical wind blinded the assassins as they ran. Then, as the last assassin fell bloodless at Niyx’s feet, a strange quiet fell over the Den.
The snowstorm Niyx had summoned subsided as he and Kiril looked around for any assassins who might have escaped. Onyx glanced up at the Lord’s balcony. There, shaking with rage and with murder in his reddened eyes, stood the Lord of the Divide. He had watched his entire order fall before him without even lifting a finger. Was he afraid of Niyx?
Niyx followed Onyx’s gaze and scowled at the Lord of the Divide. “Come down here, and face the justice you deserve. Or are you a coward?”
For a moment, it looked like the Lord actually considered coming down to confront them. Instead, he turned and bolted only to run straight into a long gleaming sword. The silver of the blade shimmered through the blood that darkened it. The Lord made a guttural sound of shock before blood poured from his mouth. The sword lifted him up and over the edge of the balcony. The sword’s owner appeared from the shadows; a tall elf, wearing black leather armor with long hair that shone the same silver as his long blade. His eyes were lit by an unnatural blue-green. The stranger held the Lord of the Divide there, skewered on the sword, until the Lord twitched and breathed his last. Then, unceremoniously, the blade lowered, and the corpse slid off to land with a bloody thud on the floor before them.
Disbelief made him numb. The Lord of the Divide had embodied all of Onyx’s fear from childhood. Onyx had tried to kill him and failed painfully many times. The entire world had feared the Lord of the Divide and his dark magic. He felt disturbed and confused that someone so powerful had fallen so easily. Onyx stumbled over to make sure the corpse was indeed the Lord of the Divide. Onyx tore his gaze away from the corpse to glance back at the balcony. The killer had vanished like a ghost. “Who was that?” Onyx asked as his gaze wandered to Niyx.
Niyx had his head tilted like a curious bird. “You have not met him? That was our sire. Sephyrn.”
Onyx’s gaze darted back to the balcony in disbelief. He knew precious little about his father. He had searched but found no trace of Sephyrn. He had started to think Sephyrn was just a myth. The members of The Divide had teased Onyx like he was the spawn of a demon and the Lord had treated him even worse once they had found out. Sephyrn was the only assassin on their world that the Lord had not forced into working for the Divide. The attempt to capture Sephyrn had ended in such a disaster that the Lord had forbidden anyone to speak of it again. Only one assassin had returned, a victim of grotesque and violent torture. The butcher of Dakaal had a reputation for being the nastiest killer their world had ever seen. The only time Onyx had seen fear in the Lord’s eyes was at the mention of Sephyrn. Now Onyx understood why. Sephyrn could have come to claim Onyx at any time and the Divide would have been powerless to stop him. Onyx tensed, clenching his fists, anger overriding most of his other emotions. If it had been that easy for Sephyrn to destroy the Lord of the Divide why hadn’t his father come to rescue him sooner?
When he glanced back at the Lord’s corpse he was struck by the fact that the Lord looked like a frail, old, broken human. Sephyrn had killed him as though the Lord had no power at all. It had been so quick and simple. When Onyx was young he had wasted his time and effort trying to gain the Lord’s approval and now he could see how foolish that had been. “Why did Sephyrn help us?” Onyx whispered finally.
“It is unknown why our sire does anything he does,” Niyx responded in a tone that indicated he thought it odd that Onyx was asking. He started throwing the bodies into a pile on top of the Lord’s corpse.
Once the Lord’s body was buried it was like a spell broke over Onyx. He shook himself then eyed Niyx as he asked, “Is it normal for Sephyrn to just show up and help you?”
“Yes. Sometimes. Only briefly. When I needed help. That was rare enough.” Niyx said, as though it were the most natural thing in the world. “He has not helped you?” Niyx asked when Onyx just gaped at him.
“This is the first time I’ve ever seen him. And I went looking,” Onyx murmured as he tried to sort out his emotions. Jealousy and rage were very clear. Not only did Sephyrn not come to save Onyx, he had helped Niyx? Was it because Onyx had Rubei looking out for him instead? Was it easier for Sephyrn to help Niyx out in the woods? Onyx wanted to run after Sephyrn. He had a lifetime’s worth of questions.
“Help me gather the dead,” Niyx said, breaking Onyx out of his thoughts.
Onyx moved to obey, dragging the bodies of his former colleagues to the pile. They had treated him badly and Ruel and Rubei worse. They deserved this fate. If he was honest he was glad they were dead. He had lived in fear that they would discover Niyx had brought him back to life. Always careful, always looking over his shoulder, always nervous that they would come and enslave him again. Or that they would come for Ruel or Rubei. Now they were all free. He didn’t expect the relief that filled him. Niyx had broken the chains of his past and the weight was lifted from his shoulders. Now Ruel and Rubei could live their lives in peace.
Onyx would not let Niyx touch Jadeia’s body. He went back to where she lay and knelt next to her. He struggled with her death. He had loved her even though she had been so bad for him. She had been the closest thing to a mother and a lover that he had ever known. She deserved death. Onyx knew what she had done to Rubei, and how she’d treat
ed Ruel. Rubei had not been her first victim either. Onyx had been her last.
He sat there with her for a few moments, reflecting. Then with a deep breath he picked her up and carried her to the pile of corpses. He laid her on the pile with more respect than she deserved. Then Onyx watched as his twin’s hoarfrost melted away his past to nothing but bone-dust.
CHAPTER FIVE
Niyx scoured the former Den of the Divide. None had escaped his wrath unless there were agents out in the field. It did not matter. If they returned, he would kill them as well. He had destroyed the throne of the Lord of the Divide and retrieved his own from the sacred graveyard, which had stayed intact, immune to the zealots. The village had not fared as well, however. The Templars had torn down and burned everything. The sight of his home in ruins had filled him with grief. He sank onto his bone throne in the dark room. He did not dwell on the past. He would have to look to their future. The Den was not as nice as his forest, but it was safer for his people and more easily defended. The Den would be a good home for his undead while they plotted how to deal with the zealots. And now he had destroyed Onyx’s past as well.
Onyx confused him. The Night Creatures accepted so much more about the world around them and their lot in life. It did little good to worry about the past or things that were over. Onyx still felt deeply even though he had been raised by The Shadowed Divide as a merciless assassin since he had been very young. Niyx knew they had tortured his brother, so he did not understand the attachment Onyx felt toward the assassins. Niyx had always ruthlessly destroyed any that had harmed him or his family with no regret or guilt about it. It was his righteous duty to protect them. He thought his brother would feel a sense of justice and freedom but Onyx had been morose since the attack. Niyx stood then walked over to where his twin stood on the balcony overlooking the Den below. “Why are you displeased? I don’t understand. Explain.”
Onyx twitched a long ear then turned slowly to face Niyx, his arms crossed. “I’m not sure how to feel. I grew up here. With those people we just slaughtered. They weren’t kind, but they were almost family.” Onyx hesitated as he looked away. “I think part of me loved Jadeia. I hated her too. I wanted her dead but I also wanted to take her to bed again when I saw her.”
Niyx growled and bared his fangs in displeasure as he looked down on the silent Den. “They used you, Brother. Especially that woman; she took liberties she should not have. Your place is here at my side with the Night Creatures. With our people. We are your family now. Soon the Night Creatures will fill this place and you will find them more loyal and trustworthy than your Den of assassins. Did the Divide not torture Ruel and Rubei? You consider them your true family.”
Onyx flinched at that truth and turned away. When he spoke again he changed the subject, “How well do you know our father? Have you spoken to him? Tell me about him. I only know that the Lord of the Divide feared him, and his name was only whispered in these halls. He was the only assassin allowed to work outside of the Divide before I broke free. They killed or enslaved everyone else who tried to be one.”
Niyx looked down at the smear of blood left behind beneath their feet by the Lord of the Divide’s death and scraped at it with a boot. To think his brother had grown up afraid of something as weak as the Lord of the Divide. “The Lord of the Divide should have feared you as well, brother. He controlled you only by making you believe you should be afraid.”
“The Lord is dead. I tried a few times to kill him myself. Our father killed him with no trouble. Tell me why.” Onyx scowled at him, clearly not pleased.
Niyx shifted his weight from foot to foot and considered his words. The things Onyx found important did not even occur to Niyx as something to be considered. “I have spoken to our sire a few times. He does not travel here often; he lives far from here in the lands ruled by the humans in the West. I think there are bad memories and ghosts from his past that haunt him here. He would not enter the forest.”
“Why does he live with the humans?” Onyx frowned. “He did not look human.”
Niyx let out a small laugh at that. “No, he is not human. I know not what he is, truly. It is obvious there is elven in him. He commands strange magic. The forest and the animals bow to his will with just a word. None can withstand him when he comes for them. I know he is the son of the High King of the humans, Eryk.”
Onyx’s dark eyes grew wide again. “The High King is our grandfather?” he asked in disbelief.
Niyx shrugged. He was not sure why that mattered so much to Onyx, but he continued. “Yes. The High King is our grandsire. I do not think he knows about us. He is quite outspoken against the existence of the Night Creatures. We would not be welcome in his kingdom. I have come to believe our sire has not told him about us. So we will not be joining him for a feast at his table. Sorry to disappoint you.”
Onyx stared at him a moment longer, then turned away. “Do you know much about our mother? I’ve heard only bad things.”
“I asked our sire about her once.” Niyx furrowed his brow at the recollection. His inability to understand some emotions led to some strange memories. “Her name was Esparite. She was one of the elven priestesses of the Night Creatures, wielding their magic within one of the gypsy camps in the sacred forest. Our sire loved her. He would not admit to such but the rage in his eyes betrayed him. She was the first woman he tortured and killed. All he would say is she betrayed him. I did not see the point in pressing further. It is the past, she is dead. Does it matter?”
“Does he hate us?” Onyx asked.
Niyx considered it then shook his head. “I do not believe so. Why would he?”
Onyx sighed and ran a hand through his dark hair. “Sometimes parents blame their kids for things they didn’t have anything to do with. Like Rubei’s father blaming Rubei for his mother’s death.”
“I do not think our sire would have helped us kill the Lord of the Divide if he hated us,” Niyx said, brushing off Onyx’s remark. Then he jumped down to the main hall as Kiril returned with Nial in her arms. He had sent her and Ice to retrieve their son from the manor and they had not arrived alone.
“We brought some provisions!” Rebekah piped up, holding a bundle of what looked to be soft bedding. Ruel stepped in behind her, carrying baskets of food, though the Lord’s gaze darted back and forth and Niyx could sense Ruel’s fear. While Onyx might have felt himself a part of these assassins, it was clear Ruel was not comfortable back in the Den. Ruel’s gaze kept darting to every shadow he passed and his posture indicated he expected an attack.
“Don’t worry, Ruel. They’re dead. All of them. Jadeia and the Lord included,” Onyx said, as he jumped down to join them. He walked over to take the baskets from Ruel and set them on a nearby table.
Ruel met Niyx’s gaze and, in that moment, an understanding passed between them. Ruel was clearly grateful that Niyx had freed them from the Divide forever. Niyx inclined his head slightly to acknowledge that he understood. “My thanks, Lord Ruel. You will pass the information on to your father?”
Ruel nodded, relaxing a bit. “Yes. He and the pirates both will be grateful. The Divide was a thorn in the side of Port-Town as well. Shall I ask the pirates if they want to parley with you for a treaty between the pirates and the Night Creatures? I’m sure Pirate King Inxli would be grateful you destroyed his enemies so thoroughly.”
Niyx cocked his head, as he did when a thought surprised him. He had not considered that he might make allies of the pirates. “Yes,” he decided. “I would like that. We will need help against the Templars. I will have Riven write up a formal list of things we might offer to an alliance.” Niyx gestured toward the first wave of undead that entered the room, led by Riven.
Riven hovered there, appearing startled for a moment by what he had overheard. Niyx cut off any protest with a harsh glare and all Riven said was, “Yes, Night Lord. Your will is my desire.”
Niyx reached to take Nial from Kiril as his bride came to stand beside him. He hefted the squealing b
aby to his shoulder as Nek ran barking excitedly around his feet, then Niyx slipped an arm protectively around Kiril as she leaned against his chest. They stood there and watched together as their people flooded into their new home and began settling in. Ice, whelpling form once more, let out a draconic roar, then sat on Niyx’s other shoulder.
Onyx came over to them after speaking briefly with Ruel then lowered his voice so only Niyx could hear him. “With the death of the Divide, you have made me the King of assassins. You are King of the Night Creatures. Rubei is married to a pirate King. Our grandsire is King of the humans.” Onyx’s gaze fell on Ruel.
Niyx followed Onyx’s gaze to the young elf that he now considered to be his brother. Ruel had grown well into his position as Lord. Niyx bared his fangs in a smile. “Perhaps we shall make Ruel King of the elves?”
“That was my thought,” Onyx agreed. “We will be fighting the Templars. Aderaan may need a strong leader once we are done cleansing their ranks.”
“I agree,” Niyx declared, as he looked down at Kiril for her opinion. Her green eyes clouded for an instant before she looked back up at him with a nod.
“If we control Aderaan, our family will control all of this side of the world,” Niyx said, considering the thought. “Perhaps once the dust settles over Aderaan, we can convince our sire to talk with our grandsire.”
“We’ve got a long way to get there. You won’t be able to stalk into Aderaan and kill everyone like you did here. Not if the Templars are wielding Sandsilver,” Onyx said thoughtfully, as he crossed his arms.
“Come. Bring Ruel. I must know all you know about the Templars. It is time our true war began,” Niyx said as he handed Nial back to Kiril and turned to his new throne room. “Kiril, see that our people settle in.”
Kiril nodded to him, but he felt her emerald gaze on his back until he was out of her sight.
CHAPTER SIX
Niyx Page 3