by Plum Pascal
“Closing any nearby portals will cause Theren to retreat back through the one in which he and his men came over. Once they're on the other side, we can shut that portal and lock them out,” Pyre says and stares with an arch of his brow. “It could work.”
“Will you be able to wrangle the dragon and other creatures back to their territories?” Eilish asks him.
“With Baron’s help, yes. Though, most of them will return on their own.”
Aima appears particularly nervous until Kolvar looks her way. In general, she seems more on edge than anyone else. “So, this sounds good and all, but we still do’'t have a plan for what happens after Theren retreats, if Theren does retreat. Will Cambion stay with us? Will Theren find a way to tear open The Veil, now that he’s been here already?”
“What are you proposing?” Pyre asks.
“That no matter what happens, I go back with him.” Aima rolls her eyes at the uproar of protests. “Look, Theren disappeared for months until Cambion found him and we still don’t know why. He's making moves, and we'll need someone on the inside. We need someone to watch him.”
I thank whatever gods may be listening for Flumph's inability to shut his mouth. The sprite keeps Morrigan busy with his bickering and the Midnight Queen hears none of our plans. Aima’s offer is sound, if not a bit self-destructive, but none of us argues her logic. Pyre hurries to the second floor and peers through another window. I follow. He looks over his shoulder at me and smiles, with a strange set of green eyes staring back at me. I hate when he uses the spirits to see. Freaks me the fuck out.
“You excited to see a dragon?” he asks.
I run over to the window. Far off in the distance is a blur of movement. It looks small from here, but I know this great beast will be something to remember. “Hide the gold and lock away the virgins,” I start with a sigh. “We’ve got a dragon on the way.”
TWENTY-FIVE
Eilish
The Veil
Pyre hands me a pile of leather armor and smiles from ear to ear, seeming just as excited about the fight to come as Baron appears to be. I head into the bathing room to dress and find myself tangled in a web of leather straps and belts. Eventually, I get everything situated on my body. The leather gauntlets activate blades along my forearms with a squeeze of my fists. Boots, shin guards, knee padding, steel-boned corset, and a vest fit over my tunic. Atop the vest, I add the iron plates, and then pull the cowl over my head. One last look in the mirror and I step out of the room.
I feel a dozen eyes on me and Pyre nods with approval.
“That armor once belonged to a friend of mine. It was crafted by the ancient elves and I’ve kept it for an occasion like this. It fits you perfectly.” He walks downstairs to speak with Baron once more, leaving me alone with Aima. I can see the stress building beneath her skin and I sit beside her.
“I don’t want to do this, you know?” she asks with a sad smile. “I don’t want to face him. Leaving Theren and banishing the love I feel for him would have been easier if I never had to confront him.”
“I’ll be there with you,” I offer.
Aima holds my hand and looks down at my pale fingers against her tanned skin. I follow her gaze and marvel at our differences. She’s my friend. I know that now. “Are you afraid, Eilish? Not just of this day, but the ones to follow?” Aima asks sullenly. I squeeze her hand and stand up to help her with her much heavier armor.
“Yes, I’m afraid. But I believe it’s that fear that will keep me alive.”
“What makes you think so?”
“I’ve been afraid since I woke up and found myself the property of Anona,” I admit. “Now I know I wasn’t always afraid. Something made me that way. So far, bravery has gotten those I love killed, but being afraid means I’m cautious and mindful of the fact that I could lose someone.”
Aima and I finish our preparations, then descend the stairs and move to stand in front of the door. Pyre and Baron wish us well, and Dragan pulls me in for a kiss I barely have time to register.
“You do whatever it takes to survive,” he says as his eyes bore into mine.
I nod. “I’ll be fine, Dragan.”
He nods and doesn’t say anything more. Aima playfully asks where her farewell kiss is and Kolvar gives her a wet smooch on her cheek, much to her chagrin. Together, we walk side by side out the door.
“Let us raise our glasses to the rise of the Rebel Lords of The Vindication,” Aima whispers. “We shall ride against all who seek to oppress the Realms and fight in the name of those who aspire to bring peace and restoration to our worlds. May we one day pass through the gates of the afterlife and see the light of glory in the aftermath of our sacrifices,” she finishes, giving us both a bit of courage as we face the fact that we’re doing this for a reason far greater than ourselves.
My boots crunch on the cold ground and my eyes never waver from Theren’s. Once again, I can’t deny how unearthly beautiful the Unseelie King truly is. I know that nothing so truly evil could ever be so beautiful. It was the same with Variant. There has to still be light in both of them… somewhere.
We come to a stop four feet away from our enemy and I feel a rush of adrenaline. Aima is careful to keep me in a position where my scent won’t carry so strongly on the wind if my hunger attempts to reach out to Theren or Cambion. I’m grateful for her.
“Eilish,” the Unseelie King greets me.
“Theren,” I respond as we stare at one another. It’s almost as though no one else surrouding us exists. It might as well be just the two of us.
“You are much more beautiful than I remember,” he says with an air of fascination.
“I don’t know you.”
He shakes his head and his eyes narrow on me. “It’s a pity you don’t remember me. After all, I knew you long before you and my brother crossed paths. But that subject is for another day. Today, I’m here to make a simple request that I hope will come to benefit us both.”
“And what would that request be?” I ask.
“Morrigan,” he answers.
If Theren has a need for the Midnight Queen, that means she’s a valuable piece in this game we find ourselves playing. I tilt my head upward in defiance even as Aima lowers hers in respect for her king. I’m not Unseelie and, therefore, hold none of the same loyalty.
“And what would I get in return? I’m not sure you have anything we need,” I say, even as my eyes land on Cambion. I notice, with interest, that he won’t look at me. Instead, his gaze remains fixed on the ground below him.
“My brother?” Theren asks.
“Cambion faces exile if he stays here and he knows this,” I bluff. Nothing has been decided for Cambion just yet. “While he was a valued member of our faction, The Rebel Lords of Vindication have no use for him since he betrayed one of his own. And Morrigan is a very powerful sorceress. Either match her worth or you get nothing.”
Theren eyes me with an interest that surpasses his goal. He wants me. I can see proof in his eyes. And knowing that stokes something within me. I feel powerful because I know he won’t kill me. Not before he gets what he wants from my body—and that means I can buy myself time.
“And what if I simply take Morrigan and soil this ground with the blood of your allies?” he asks. He looks me up and down and smiles lasciviously. “And I take what I want from you.”
“Threats of violence don’t faze us,” I say dismissively, despite the pounding of my heart. “What else do you have to offer?”
“You dare to play me, Eilish?” Theren takes a step toward me and Aima moves to stand in front of me, just enough to state her allegiance on the battlefield should this discussion come to blows. Theren chuckles darkly, a throaty sound that causes my toes to curl in my boots as I imagine hearing his husky voice in my ear as he fucks me.
The Unseelie King’s nostrils flare and Aima curses under her breath. His eyes return to mine. “I offer myself...” he says as he looks at me directly. “And I offer Variant.”
“You offer me yourself?” I ask, confused.
He nods. “I understand you need at least one lover of light and one of dark in order to remain balanced. I offer you that balance.” He glances down the line of my body again and takes another step closer to me. Then he closes his eyes, lifts his head and inhales deeply as he scents me on the air.
###
Flumph
The Veil
Don’t know why I gots to be the one to babysit this fuckin’ wench all the time. She really gettin’ on my last damn nerve with her lies an’ schemin’. Noni watchin’ over me all the time now that the Mother Heifer slap me. Masky don’t like us bein’ alone no more, an’ I agree. Too bad the other dumbass giants ain’t payin’ attention to much. They don’t even believes what I gotta say ‘bout the Mother Heifer. An’ when it all blow up in their faces, they ain’t even gonna say them sorry. I knows they ain’t. They never does.
“You real ugly in this light,” I say, just to see that smug fuckin’ look on her face go away for a second. She ain’t too happy anyway, with bein’ in the cellar. It real damp an’ drippy down here. I don’t mind it too bad, but it smell like sausages an’ sweaty asscrack, which remind me of Anona’s place. I don’t miss her nor that hellhole she ran, but I gets a little homesick till I remember I ain’t got a home. Noni say she popsed outta a flower, an’ that just sound stupid. Sprites... we different. I think we just sorta appeared.
Sprites usually asexual like me, so we ain’t breedin’ like rabbits somewheres seein’ as there ain’t much sprites left. This make me sad. I don’t wanna be one o’ the last o’ somethin’. When I busy thinkin’ ‘bout how adorable a little baby Flumph would be, Mother Heifer start fussin’ again.
“You seem to have lost faith in your companions, little one,” she say, all snotty-like. “Cambion’s betrayal must have hurt.”
“Not so bad as you think. I survived watchin’ a vampire falls in love with a rock, Elf walkin’ away ain’t that bad. I just thinks ‘bout the fact that he ain’t the first an’ he ain’t gonna be the last to do somethin’ this fuckin’ stupid.”
“So loyal, you are.”
I snort with my little squeaky voice an’ kick back on top of a sack o’ potatoes. “I ain’t too loyal, but I trustworthy,” I replies. “You ain’t neither. You just a sad, lonely hag with a stupid plan an’ no one to get it done, so you bullyin’ me to see if I do it for you. Well, I ain’t your slave.”
She grab me an’ I wiggle outta her bitin’ grip. “Asshole,” I hiss. “That gonna make the necromancer right mad.”
She let me go, jist like I knews she would.
I feel Noni rubbin’ my back where the Mother Heifer’s ring dig into my side. Her tiny hands give me the creeps an’ she just gigglin’ in my ear like a damn bell goin’ off. But Noni’s fun get shuts down ‘cause o’ the Mother Heifer that can’t sees her.
“What do you think of their plan?”
“Who plan?”
“Your friends, you fool.”
I shrug. “I don’t knows what they plan is, an’ neither does you.”
“Well, they spoke of dragons and harpies and the like. What do you make of them?” she ask an’ I really need to kicks her. I don’t know what she up to, but I don’t want none o’ her shit.
“I ain’t too fond o’ big scary monsters. I already havin’ ta deal with you.” I take me a big breath o’ air. “The throne o’ the gods you keep goin’ on about ain’t gonna be so goods as you think.”
“What makes you say that?” she snap.
“’Cause there ain’t gonna be no one for you to rule, no one gonna be there to see you do it.” I cross my arms over my little belly. “Take this word o’ wisdum from Flumph. I learn a long times ago that there always somethin’ bigger an’ stronger than me. If you figures that out for yourself, you ain’t gonna have problems.”
“You’re saying that even if I get the throne and the crown, I’ll still have to defend it?” she ask an’ then look like she thinkin’ ‘bout my words.
“Yeah, that what I say.” I looks over at the Mother Heifer. She still tryin’ to seem all innocent-like. Even to me. But I ain’t dumb. I ain’t fallin’ for that shit. “I think you gots a problem like Aima.”
“What problem?”
I shrugs. “You got your head an’ your heart splits in two. I seen the way you gots all jealous-like over the thought o’ Pretty an’ Variant gettin’ it on. I don’t know why you ain’t as disgusted by it as I be, but hey... I ain’t the sort to judge.”
“I was not envious.”
“You were makin’ that stomach-flu face an’ givin’ her dagger eyes,” I says. “You loves him, dontcha? You don’t wanna, but you does? Right?”
“No.” Then she smile real wide like. “Do you really think I would ever reveal a weakness to you?”
“What’s the harms in tellin’ me?” I ask, shakin’ me head. “You said youself, they don’t fuckin’ listen even when I tellin’ them the truth. I ain’t nothin’ to them giants but someone to look after things.” My heart hurt a little, ‘cause that true... or, it were. Back before we came here, I wasn’t no good to nobody. Now I got friends who actually likes me, an’ a protector. Masky, he a good egg, I can tell.
Mother Heifer sighs an’ cross her legs, starin’ off into the darkness as she talk. “I suppose there isn’t any harm in telling you, Fluff,” she start.
“No, there ain’t.”
“Part of me is infatuated with Variant. I would not call it love, but it is something...”
“There? See? I knews it.”
“You knowing the truth doesn’t matter,” she spit back at me. “You’ll be dead before sunset, and I’ll be long gone from here.”
“What you mean?”
She shrug, real casual like. “Now that Theren has found a portal from the Unseelie Kingdom that leads to The Veil, all it will take is a simple message to Variant and he will ride swiftly through these lands with an army of bloodthirsty orcs and demons fighting beside him.”
She shuts the hell up once we hear the gargoyle lumberin’ above the ceilin’ boards o’ this small ass room. An’ good thing too ‘cause I was gettin’ right sick o’ all her bullshit.
TWENTY-SIX
Baron
The Veil
Dragan shields himself in smoke and shadow to stand guard over Morrigan and the little faerie creatures taking refuge in the cellar. He nods his head to me and I return his gesture. Though we may not always see eye to eye, the gargoyle and I have a mutual respect for one another’s skill in battle.
Furthermore, Eilish is out there, and we both care about her. A lot. I’m not sure who cares more—it’s easier for Dragan to show his emotions than it is for me. But, that doesn’t mean I don’t feel them to the same extent
Eilish means something to me. She means a lot to me and that’s a vulnerability I don’t enjoy having.
I sheathe my dagger and creep out the back door, shadow walking through The Veil like a phantom on the wind. And while I can’t see Pyre, I can sense him as he follows.
We part at the tree line. He moves to higher ground while I slither through the barren forest, feeling the dark chill of winter. Dozens of Unseelie soldiers lie in wait to attack, should their king give the order. I retrieve one of my blades and douse the edge in poison. The poison’s slow acting, weakening the soldiers in increments so they don’t think something is amiss.
I move quickly, touching each of them with my blade. It will feel like nothing more than an insect bite or something prickly caught in their clothing.
I shadow walk to a large tree that towers over the clearing, bending and twisting in a way that only ancient trees can, as if it has submitted to the will of the wind. I touch the bark of this tree, feeling its energy and silently asking permission to climb its great heights. Pyre has taught me to be respectful of this world and everything in it. I carry his teachings with me wherever I go in The Veil.
I have a sense of purpose now—a f
eeling I haven’t had before. Now, I have a place, a role to play in the aftermath of the deception that claimed my soul.
I hear voices carry as I climb, faint sounds that are no more than whispers. My body stills and I shiver, sensing death lurking close by. Pyre taught me that because I’ve seen death, I can nurture the ability to see and feel those who have left the mortal world but not yet passed into the afterlife. I shift my vision, peering out at the territories of The Veil from where I sit perched on a gnarled branch. From this distance, it appears like a wave of roiling fog.
But it’s not fog.
The restless spirits from the Obsidian Mountain come to cleanse these lands of those who don’t belong. Soon they’ll encounter the Unseelie army, as well as my allies. We must hurry. The creatures of The Veil are gathering to defend their world. I climb faster, shimmying along the branches until I crouch invisibly above a cluster of my enemies.
Eilish shifts on her heels, staring Theren down as though she doesn’t fear his might. I’m proud of her, but I can also scent her need on the wind and I can see the truth of her attraction to Theren in her eyes. I’m not surprised. They have intimate knowledge of one another—I don’t know how or why, but I know it, all the same.
“I don’t accept your offer,” she says.
“Come now, we both know what you need,” he answers with a smile. “Your hair wouldn’t be changing color if my words weren’t true.”
So Theren realizes she’s succubus. Damn fucking Cambion.
“You waste my time, Theren,” she says. “Here, you aren’t king. In a world where death rules, the living are not welcome.”
Ah, yes. Pyre has spoken similar words to me.
Theren doesn’t seem deterred in the slightest by her show of courage. “Yet here you are,” he snickers. “How is it that you and the others are still alive, if that were true?”