A Crown of Shadows and Secrets

by Sloane Murphy

  I try not to think about home too much. Thinking of Mama, Colt, it makes my heart fracture a little more each time my thoughts drift to them, about everything back home. Everything I might never see again if everything doesn't go my way. If Remy never makes it here, which is a possibility I've yet to accept.

  “Yes, I think that's an adequate move,” Azriel says, pulling my focus back to the table. “Fallon, you should say goodbye to your sister. Deacon’s touching plea on your behalf won me over. What can I say, I'm in a good mood. He'll be delivering her back to the mortal realm after breakfast.” He smiles at me and my eyes dart to my sister before meeting Deacon's. If he hurts her, I'll make sure he dies slowly.

  “I appreciate it. You have my gratitude,” I say, I might have sold my soul, but I'll still never say thank you, not down here. I've sold my soul, not my mind. I'm not stupid enough to give myself over fully.

  “I'll let you all finish up, I have some matters that require my attention. Come and find me once they leave,” he says to me with a wink before disappearing from sight, just in time to miss the shudder that runs through my body.

  “How could you agree to his terms?” Deacon hisses, eyes darting to Rebel before coming back to me.

  “I didn't have much choice, did I?” I glare at him.

  “I could have found a way,” he sighs, shaking his head.

  “There is nothing you could have done, you said as much yourself last night.”

  “So you'll let him own you, all of you?”

  “He might own my body, but he will never own my mind, my heart. Those I keep for myself.”

  “He will try to take all of it, if he grants you power,” Deacon says, almost pleading with me.

  “Do not act as though you care,” I hiss at him. “You kept me here, long before he found me. You do not know me, you do not know what I would do to keep those I love safe.”

  “If you betray him, he will kill you, and everyone you love,” he says sadly. “Rebel, come on sweetheart. Let’s take you back to your mom.”

  Rebel squeals in delight as she jumps from that table.

  “Are you coming too Fallon?” She asks, hugging me tightly.

  “No sweetheart, I need to stay here. But you tell Mama I love her okay?” I bop her nose gently and she giggles.

  “I love you, Fallon. Come home soon okay?”

  “I’ll try, baby girl. I love you too.”

  Rebel left with Deacon, and I've not seen him since. That was hours ago, and I've taken the opportunity to explore my new prison since Azriel hasn't popped up again either. Whatever's keeping him busy, I hope it keeps him because I'd be more than happy never to see his smug face again. Why are the pretty ones always epic fucking assholes?

  I keep walking through the gallery I discovered about half an hour ago. The artwork hanging on the walls is like nothing I've ever seen before. There is so much pain, yet so much hope. The bright colors broken by the dark, sweeping brushstrokes. Something about it just holds me in thrall.

  “I didn't expect to find you here,” Azriel’s voice breaks my peace and I try not to sigh.

  “Well, you don't know me very well do you?” I say without looking at him and strolling to the next painting while he chuckles beside me.

  “There is plenty of time for that, love. I am glad you found a place that brings you some fragment of happiness.”

  “Or merely a place of distraction.”

  “Oh no, love. I know that look. The wistfulness as you fall into the story before you. This art, it speaks to you on a deeper level than you'll ever admit to me. I almost find it amusing.”

  “And why is that?” I snap at him, and his grin widens.

  “Well, because sweetheart. This is my personal gallery. For my work.” My eyes go wide and I falter.

  “You painted these?” I ask, almost breathless.

  “Each and every one. Immortality has its downsides, how better to pass the time than explore how color and emotion merge on the canvas.” His grin is audible as I look back to the artwork, still not fully believing someone such as he is capable of work like this.

  “I should head back to my room,” I say putting distance between us.

  “Is that an invitation, love?” He leers, looking me over from head to toe and the hairs on the back of my neck raise at the unwanted attention.

  “It is not, nor will it ever be,” I tell him succinctly.

  “If you say so,” his voice washes over me even as I walk away, and I feel dirty. “I will find you later love, we have work to do.”

  I keep my head high as I stride quickly from the gallery, as I try to align my thoughts. About the monster I know, and the man who created such beautiful art. Is it possible I misjudged him? I shake my head to dispel the thought.

  Not a chance.

  Right?

  Trying to navigate my way back to my room is harder than I thought it would be even if I did stumble upon this place by accident. I'm sure I end up going in circles for a while, but finally I find the hall with the sweeping staircase and climb it as quick as I can.

  I'm beyond breathless by the time I reach the fourth floor.

  So many fucking stairs.

  I curse whoever built this place, as I walk at a slower pace to my room, trying to catch my breath. By the time I've walked the long hall, my lungs no longer feel like they're burning and I push the door to my room open, finding Deacon sat on my bed.

  “Az said you were coming here. When you weren't here, I figured I'd wait. I hope that's okay,” he says softly as I close the door behind me.

  “What do you want, Deacon?” I sigh. I don't have the mental capacity to spar with him today on top of everything else.

  “I just wanted to let you know that she got home safe. I wiped her memory of anything that was done to her. She just thinks she came here to see you.”

  “Than— that was kind of you.” I say warily. “Why would you be so nice?”

  “Because she's a child. Children should never be used as pawns in war. Azriel agreed, he only used her upon Archer's insistence in the first place. He never would have touched your sister otherwise.”

  “So I'm meant to believe that Demons have some actual rules and standards that they play by.”

  “You don't have to believe a thing I say, but know that not everything is what it seems. Not always,” he says passionately. “I will leave you alone, but if you need anything, just push the button by the door. Someone will be able to bring you anything you want or need.”

  He waves his hand and a console appears on the wall next to the door. “You live here now, while you are tied to this place, and Azriel, he wants it to be your home.”

  “He only wants that so that I give him what he wants,” I hiss.

  “That may be the case, but do not scoff at what he offers. It could be much worse. He could have taken everything he wanted against your will. Be glad for small mercies. He obviously sees something in you that he likes, otherwise he would not have been so kind.” He closes the door after him, the last of his words barely out before he disappears from sight and leaves me wondering what the hell is going on in this place.

  Everything is so confusing, and it's hard to tell who is friend from who is foe. Though deep down I know that everyone here is my enemy, that I am not here by choice, I can't help the small part of me that want to believe there is good in both Azriel and Deacon, even if only so that I don’t lose my mind while I try to find a way to get out of this place. Even if only to keep myself distracted, keep them distracted, long enough for Remy and her guys to find me here.

  No matter, it won’t save them from my wrath when I’m done here.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Colt

  “She's back?” I ask sounding as confused as I feel.

  “She appeared in the kitchen while I was making coffee this morning,” Marie says her voice thick with emotion. “I have no idea how.”

  “Is she okay? Did she say anything?”

  “
She doesn't seem hurt, and she says she wasn't. She said that she went to see Fallon in a big fancy castle, and that she said Fallon says she loves me, but that she can't come home right now, but she'll try to come home soon.” Her voice catches and I know she's losing the fight to keep her emotions locked down.

  “Holy shit.” I let out a rush of air, not sure what else to say. “Did she see Remy?”

  “No, she didn't mention Remy. I'm sorry.”

  “No, don't be sorry. She's back, and she's not hurt. That's what matters right now. I'm glad she's back, Marie.”

  “He's still going to pay for this,” she says, her voice sharp with anger.

  “He will. Elijah and Danny have a light show set up for him tonight. I have a feeling we'll be hearing from Archer Dotoro in the next twenty-four hours, whether we want to or not.”

  “I don't want to know what you have planned, but make it hurt.”

  “I plan to.” I smile down the phone, she can't see it, and I'm kind of glad.

  “I'll speak to you soon, Colt.”

  “Hug Rebel for me.”

  “I will,” she says, disconnecting the line. I drop the phone on the table in front of me and look back up to the room of people facing me. Both on Skype and in the room.

  “Rebel is home,” I tell them, and the entire room lets out a sigh of relief.

  “That’s good news,” Nasari says over the Skype call.

  “Now let’s fuck Archer’s shit up enough that he'll think twice about fucking with the kids again,” I say with a slightly manic grin. “First, has everyone pulled their kids home, made sure they're safe.”

  Everyone nods, and a little weight lifts from me. I wasn't wrong when I said no kids would be hurt if I could help it. I'm not sure how I ended up being the tapped leader of the Elders, probably something to do with Remy, but here we are, and I'm glad so I can make sure that line is toed.

  “Okay good. Are everyone’s team ready to go on our signal?” I ask and a murmur of agreements reach me.

  “Awesome. We'll reconvene in seven hours ready for some fireworks!” I clap my hands together as a round of good-byes happens and the Skype calls shut down, leaving me with just the people in the room. Elijah, Danny, Nate, Maddie, Bauer, and Dad. I didn't necessarily want everyone here, and fuck knows Dad argued enough about coming, but at the end of the day he needs to get in fucking line. The others were more than happy to be here, to play their part.

  “I assume Nirvana is on her way home?” I ask, looking at Maddie who grins.

  “No, she's going to stay with a friend. I want her with someone so far removed from all of this bullshit, that no-one will even think to look there,” she tells me, her eyes hard. After Rebel was taken, I sent word out to pull in everyone not yet of age, to make sure they were safe. I wasn't about to risk any more lives to this madness than necessary.

  “Fair enough, makes sense. Is everyone okay with what they've got going on tonight?”

  “We've got enough explosives to bring down a small country. With the Witches help bringing down the wards, we shouldn't have a problem. Danny and I have our teams ready to go,” Elijah says with a grin. He fucking lives for this shit.

  “Awesome, well I'll let you guys go and rest. Need to be on top form for tonight. The smallest fuck up could cost us greatly.” I tell them all, not looking to where my father sits, actively avoiding looking at me.

  “Thank you, Colt, for being so thorough and involving us all,” Maddie says, patting my arm.

  “You're family,” I tell her with a smile. “We don't leave family behind.”

  “That’s right.” She says with a smile before glaring at my dad. “It’s about time we all remembered that.”

  “Maddie...” Nate warns but I shake my head.

  “Maddie, it’s fine,” I say wearily, flicking my tongue bar around my lips.

  “It is not fine,” she says harshly, but I shake my head and she relents. Now is not the time to try and pick a fight with my dad. He has his own role tonight, I made sure that he was included. The only one who would stay behind with me is Bauer. As an Elder, I can't go into the fray tonight, which pisses me off, but it is what it is. Bauer, however, I want at my side. It’s not that I don't trust him...

  Okay it is, I don't want anything to go wrong tonight, he is the only real wild card on the board. If I can see him, I know that if anything goes wrong, it wasn't because of him. Unless the information he gave us was bogus. But that's a bridge I'll cross if we come to it.

  “Well we'll be off then. Take care of yourself tonight boys.”

  “We always do.” I wink at her and she scoffs at me before pulling me in for a hug. “I'll call you guys when you're getting into position so we can hit everywhere at once, okay?”

  “We've got it. You did good, Colt.”

  “Thanks Maddie.” I smile at her, saying goodbye to Nate as the two of them leave, my dad leaves with them without a word to me, just a grab of Bauer’s shoulder. How he can forgive Bauer, but not Remy or I, blows my fucking mind, but there's nothing I can do about it. And right at this point in time, I've got bigger fucking things to worry about than my dad’s approval.

  Like stopping this stupid fucking war before it starts.

  The hours passed today in a blink of an eye. I'm sat back at my kitchen table, which has turned into base camp for all things war based. I've got three screens, split into nine each. Each mini screen linked to a different unit at a different location, ready to blow some shit up. I've got a piece in my ear and a mic linking me to all of them. This has to be the most tech shit I've ever used in my life. Thank god for Elijah and Danny sorting everyone out, and getting the tech to the other groups across the world as quickly as they did. This way I can monitor every fucking thing happening.

  Witches were the first to head in, breaking the wards on the various sites we're targeting. I'm sure this isn't everything, but it’s as much as Bauer could remember off the top of his head, and Archer’s too fucking full of ego to think we'd attack him on such a grand scale, especially after last time.

  Especially without my sister and her merry band of men.

  Which is exactly why I can't wait to fuck his shit up. Archer Dotoro can eat my ass with his ego.

  “Unit in position,” Elijah's voice crackles through, and the other team leaders confirm that they're ready to go too. I look at the time on my phone and as the minute rolls over onto the hour, I give them the signal.

  “Light it up.”

  The words are barely out before explosions rock the screens, and whoops cry out from our teams. When each site is up in flames, I reach back out to the teams. Bauer looks uneasy at it all, but I can't tell if that's because it’s happening, or because it’s happening to Archer because of him.

  “Job well done everyone. Now get the hell out of there.”

  Confirmations come through from everyone, advising they got the order, and the cameras shut down on the screens before me. Once everyone’s disconnected but the Elders, I say my goodbyes, with a confirmation that we'll catch up again in the morning to debrief and assess what our next steps are. Hopefully, we'll have heard from Archer by then. Though hopefully he was in one of the places we just blew to kingdom come, and this shit is over. At least, the shit here. I'm trying not to think too hard about everything going on in the Shadow Realm since it’s out of my control.

  I've got enough to focus on here as it is.

  “So... I did a thing,” Bauer says quietly, I look up to meet his gaze, and I already know I'm not going to like whatever the fuck it is he's about to tell me.

  “What. Did. You. Do?” I grind out.

  “I had a friend check on Dylan.” he says, almost looking afraid.

  “You did fucking what!” I roar. “Are you fucking insane? I told you not to touch the kid!”

  “Yeah, but he took Rebel. And I didn't touch him. My friend just checked in with him, with a message for Archer. Just enough for him to know that we know where his brother is,” He says soft
ly, and I hate how much I wish I'd thought of that, but I'm beyond pissed that he did it without saying anything.

  “If anything happens because of this Bauer...”

  “I will take full responsibility. I acted on my own, but I knew if I said something, you'd shut it down, because of everything I already did, but it was a good idea. It will knock him off course. I know him, Colt. I know every weakness he has. Including me,” he says it quietly but firmly, and I realize that he's right.

  Fuck.

  I fucking hate being schooled. Especially by my big brother. Especially with everything that's happened.

  “It’s also easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission,” I say begrudgingly.

  “Pretty much,” he says with a shrug. “I'm not sorry. Between everything tonight, and reaching out to Dylan, Archer will start spiraling. He'll act brashly, and that's when he'll slip up.”

  “It's done. We'll deal with any fallout,” I say and he nods.

  “I really am sorry, about all of it. Especially about Fallon. I didn't know, but I should have,” he says but I shake my head.

  “Like how we should've known about Remy and her guys? You had no more way to know about Fallon and me, than either of us did about her.”

  “It doesn't matter, you and I... we've always been closer. Remy has always, well, been Remy. She was there, and when she was, she was like our missing link, but when she was off running around the world, apparently racking up allies and lovers, it was you and me. Always. And I missed this, because I was too wrapped up in my own bullshit.”

  “I could say the same about you and Archer,” I say softly, sitting back down at the table. He heads to the fridge and grabs two beers, handing me one before sitting down.

  “That’s not something you could have ever known. We hid it, and we hid it fucking well. Same as Remy, I guess. What a fucking lot us Bennett's are.”