A Legacy of Nightmares

by J. M. Wallace

  Shaye rubbed her hands together, trying to rid them of the tingling sensation that the cold had brought to them. Sorin embraced her, holding her tight to his chest and sharing any shred of warmth he had left.

  Shaye looked around at the jagged, rocky walls of the talus. “Sorin,” she gasped, pulling back and turning to get a better look at what she was seeing.

  The walls were covered with scenes of death and destruction, painted in hues of red and blue. From the way they had faded in some places, they must have been nearly ancient. She ran her fingers along them, seeing Centaurs standing tall at the mountain’s edge, spears in hand. As she continued, the paintings grew more graphic in detail.

  They told the story of a war, and the death of a people—but worse were the depictions of pain and suffering. Small figures were strewn about in the mural along the wall: men trapped in a pool of blood, and women forced to dance until their feet broke from under them. It was more terrifying than any nightmare Shaye had ever dreamt.

  She shivered, though she wasn’t sure if it was from the gruesome paintings or the cold. Rubbing her arms, she said, “I’ll start a fire.”

  Sorin continued to gape at the walls. “It’s incredible... Do you think this is the war that drove the brothers into Asterion?”

  “It’s possible.” She got to work laying out the sticks they had brought with them. It took her several tries before her magic sparked, the cold making it difficult for her to concentrate. Once it was lit, she and Sorin sat together with their bedrolls pressed side by side. He put his arms around her, rubbing the cold from his arms.

  Erebus laid close to them, offering the warmth of his body. He was hot to the touch, and it seemed that the cold did not bother him as it did the rest of them. They ate, and sat for a while, until they could no longer fight the exhaustion. They had barely said a word to each other since leaving the valley, but Shaye welcomed the silence, comforted by Sorin’s mere presence.

  She moved to lay down, but Sorin stopped her. “It will be safer if we share our body heat...”

  She blew into her cupped hands, trying to warm them, and paused to consider what he was suggesting. After a moment, she agreed, removing her jacket and her shirt to reveal the thin linen undergarment she had on underneath. Sorin did the same, taking each piece of clothing off until he was in nothing except for knee-length linen pants. She let her gaze linger on him for a moment, reveling in the way his broad, muscular chest looked in the firelight, before removing her pants, and standing in a similar fashion. He smirked at her, raising his eyebrows suggestively, and she stuck her tongue out playfully in return.

  They crawled under the blankets together, pressing their bodies close. Shaye shifted around, taking off her shirt so that nothing stood between them. She rolled to her side so that her back was pressed against his chest, and snuggled in closely. The warmth from his body hit her immediately, and she sighed at the relief it brought to her ice-cold skin.

  It was getting late, and she knew she needed her rest to face the morning. But as much as she willed it, sleep did not come. Shaye could feel Sorin’s breath rising and falling in his chest, and he still smelled of citrus and sandalwood. She welcomed the familiarity of it.

  He held her in his arms, and his hot breath tickled her shoulder. This was the closest they had ever been to one another, and she was surprised that she did not feel a small hint of self-consciousness, as she had with lovers in the past. Unlike other relationships she’d had, this one was deeply rooted in mutual trust and friendship.

  Sorin was not a man you could spend the night with, and then forget afterwards. They had done everything in their power to protect one another, and that was something that meant more to her than any roses or love ballads.

  Shaye shifted again so she could face him. His eyes were open, and he was smiling at her under the dim light of the fire, which danced across his face. She put a hand on his chest and whispered, “I know it was you that night in the ballroom. I am sorry I ever doubted it.”

  He took her hand in his and kissed it. His lips lingered on her palm, and there was a faraway look in his eyes. “I dreamt of you for years after that night. Wondered where you were and what you were like.”

  “I dreamt of you, too... Of your eyes, and of how strong and safe your hand felt as you pulled me into that stairwell.”

  “I wish I could have saved them all.” His eyes were misty, and Shaye pressed her lips to his. There were years of unspoken words in that kiss, she would forgive him, even if he could not forgive himself. She would spend the rest of their lives making him feel worthy of that forgiveness if he would give her the chance.

  Sorin’s fingers tangled into her hair, pulling her deeper into the kiss. She welcomed the feel of his hands on her, letting the world around them fall away. Nothing mattered in that moment except the two of them, together at last.

  Her hands drifted lower, pulling at the string of his linen pants. The fabric was soft and thin, the only thing standing in their way now. Sorin followed her lead, pulling hers down as well. His eyes darkened as they melted into one another. Sorin whispered her name, and she gave into her desire, moving so that their bodies fit as one. Shaye gasped, hungry for more. Every ounce of the pain and sadness of the last weeks was long forgotten as he settled over her. Her body screamed in pleasure; they were like two stars colliding in the night. It was better than any magic she had ever felt.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Shaye

  In the morning Shaye woke from a dream. Not a nightmare... But an actual dream. She stretched out beneath Sorin’s arms and smiled at the memory of it. They had been walking through Aramoor, arm in arm, with Bron, Ingemar, and Anik. Mavka had been there too, dressed in a beautiful emerald gown. They were on their way to the Summer Palace for a ball that was being thrown in their honor. Her friends had laughed and sang love ballads as they stumbled through the city. It was a wonderful sight, all of them together, and Shaye hadn’t wanted it to end.

  Sorin moaned something in her ear, drawing her attention back to the mountain cave where they had spent the night. She moved until they were nose to nose. She smiled. “Too bad we can’t stay in this cave forever and forget the whole world.”

  “That would certainly be easier than what we actually have to do.” He kissed her on the forehead, and sat up. “I’ll get us packed up and we can get going.”

  Shaye shivered in the absence of his warmth, and he held out a hand to help her up. They packed their things and ventured back out to the mountainside, leaving behind the foreboding cave paintings, but bringing with them the memory of what had happened between them the night before. Shaye blushed as Sorin gave her a knowing smile.

  The weather was mild, compared to what they had braved the previous day. There were no flurries in the air, and as the day went on, the sun grew warmer. They were making good time, and the horses had grown more comfortable, keeping their footing on the rough path they were following. By evening they were on a winding slope descending from the mountains, and Shaye released a sigh of relief when she spotted a small valley in the distance.

  The horses trotted along with newfound confidence, and with Erebus in the lead, they were on flat, grassy ground in no time. Sorin let out a whoop of victory as Shaye jumped down from Finn and into his arms. He spun her around before setting her down, and she pushed her windblown hair from her face.

  The warm air in the valley was vastly different from the bitter cold they had faced in the mountains, and Shaye tipped her face back, soaking in the summer sun. They sat down to eat, trying to regain some of the energy they were lacking.

  “Not much further and we’ll be reaching what has been described in the history books as the wall.” Sorin kicked at a rock as he tore into the stale bread they had brought from the camp.

  “I wonder what it’s like.”

  “If the stories hold any truth, it’s a place of nightmares.”

  “Well, I should feel right at home then.” Shaye laughed.

/>   They spent the night lying beneath the stars, talking about their dreams for Asterion. Sorin spoke excitedly of the possibilities that came from having a Guild for the Magi, and of the things he wanted to change at court. Shaye shared her own ideas and hopes for the future, and Sorin listened intently.

  She was excited about the prospect of the Magi having their own Guild and wondered if they would have a place for her in it. She wasn’t sure what her future looked like in Asterion, but she could not imagine running away again. Returning to Sagon with Thorsten and his crew felt wrong after everything that had happened to her home.

  She knew she would have a place with Brina and her family at the inn, but something told her it would not be enough. She had changed over the course of her journey with Sorin. Before, she allowed her nightmares to influence every action she had ever taken: from running away to take up a life of smuggling, to spending her sleepless nights gambling and fighting. None of it had helped. Since meeting Sorin and the others, she had found a new sort of family. One who did not make her want to turn back to old habits.

  There was a new purpose to her life now and the power that she wielded. She knew that Sorin valued her opinions and that gave her the opportunity to influence change. She could forgive the mistakes the previous kings had made, and with that forgiveness, she could finally move forward. She could make her parents proud.

  Fueled by the possibilities that the future could hold, she decided to enjoy the moment with Sorin. That night they made love again. The rest of the world melted away as they embraced one another.

  He must have felt it too, as he did not hold anything back. Shaye dug her fingers into his solders, calling his name out in pleasure as she clung to him tightly under the night sky— different from the tenderness of the night before. The previous night had been an exploration, taking their relationship to another level; but tonight it was a wild release of their need for one another. With The Beyond looming on the other side of the valley, they needed to make these moments count. If this was Shaye’s last night with him then she would make it one to rival all others.

  They fell asleep in a tangle of limbs, and awoke just before the dawn. Erebus was waiting for them on the other side of the lush green valley, patrolling it like a watchful guardian. When they reached him, Shaye’s power flooded her senses. The “wall” that stood before them was a glimmer of powerful, ancient magic.

  It stretched as far as the eye could see; but when Shaye peered directly into it, she could see nothing past the silver pool of magic. The way the wall glistened, it reminded her of the third relic. She reached a hand into her pack, feeling for the smooth Obsidian gemstone she had taken from Bastian’s neck. It burned to the touch, and she hissed, pulling her hand back.

  “Are you okay?” Sorin’s brow was furrowed with worry.

  “Fine.” Shaye jumped from Finn’s back and led him on foot to the edge of the wall.

  She reached her hand out, dipping her fingers into the magic. It was cool and strange to the touch. There was nothing she could compare it to—it was thick and vibrating with power. Sorin took his place at her side. He held his arm out to her, and she took it, holding onto him tightly with one hand and onto Finn’s reins with the other.

  She smiled, trying to appear more confident than she felt. “Together?”

  Sorin kissed her cheek. “Always.”

  They stepped through the barrier, feeling the magic flow all around them. It was like walking through the heavens, but nothing could have prepared Shaye for what she saw when they emerged on the other side.

  She gasped at the beauty of the landscape they were met with. The clearing before them was like a painting come to life, aglow with sunbeams breaking through a blue and purple sky. It highlighted a sparkling, crystal lagoon beneath a cascade of glistening waterfalls. The sounds of birds and other wildlife filled her ears, and she thought that this must truly be what paradise looked like.

  Sorin stood beside her, speechless. It took him a moment to find the words: “Well, this is...unexpected.”

  “That’s an understatement.” She poked at his side, making him shout with laughter.

  Erebus whined, drawing their attention to him. Shaye reached down to soothe him, but the whining only grew more urgent. Shaye’s concern for him grew. “Erebus, what’s wrong?”

  Sorin tugged at her shirt. “Shaye, do not make any sudden movements.”

  Her heart dropped at the fear in his voice, and she watched as a beautiful black horse emerged from the water. It stalked toward them slowly, and Shaye’s breath caught in her throat as she watched it transform. Its sleek, muscled body shifted elegantly into human form, leaving a naked woman standing in front of them, with a wild mane of black hair reaching down past her hips. Her eyes were dark and strange, and her lips were as red as blood. When she smiled at them, her razor-sharp, white teeth flashed.

  Finn and Altivo reared up, causing Shaye’s heart to leap in her chest—she was terrified that their sudden movements would provoke the water spirit standing before them. She tried to soothe the horses, and leaned in to Sorin to whisper, “It’s a Kelpie. Sorin, these are very dangerous creatures who prey on humans. Get behind me.”

  He refused, staying rooted at her side. “I don’t think she means us any harm.”

  The Kelpie spoke then. Her voice was like music in the air. “Shaye Wistari and King Sorin of Asterion. We have been waiting for you.”

  She gestured beyond the stream, to where a path between the trees loomed, dark and foreboding. Shaye looked to Sorin with uncertainty. She gripped his hand, unwilling to let go.

  “Shall we?” The Kelpie licked her lips and tilted her head to the side. It seemed like she was there to make a meal of them, rather than to guide them through this strange new world. But before Shaye could ask her anything, the Kelpie turned, disappearing into the shade of the trail.

  Shaye and Sorin followed hand in hand. They had come this far, and there was no turning back now. As they stepped onto the soft dirt of the path beneath the trees, the shadows folded in on them, enveloping them in the darkness.

  READ ON FOR A SNEAK PEEK OF BOOK THREE IN THE LEGACY OF DARKNESS SERIES:

  A LEGACY OF DESTRUCTION

  Chapter One

  Shaye

  Shaye was once again consumed by darkness; only this time it wasn’t from within her. The trees surrounding the path blocked out any sliver of sunlight, leaving them no choice but to weave their way through the woods behind the Kelpie. Shaye jumped as she heard a scream in the distance, followed by deadly silence.

  The Kelpie, who had shed her horse-like form to take on the form of a beautiful woman with wild black hair that flowed down over her naked body, didn’t flinch at the sound as Shaye had. Instead, she continued on her way, leading them to an unknown location.

  “You said, ‘We’ve been waiting for you.’” Shaye’s voice rang loud in her own ears, disrupting the silence in the forest. “Who are you? And who is this we you referred to?”

  Shaye narrowed her eyes at the Kelpie’s back, thinking the water spirit would ignore the question. Sorin shrugged beside Shaye, dragging Altivo behind him. The horses were not enjoying this any more than the two of them were. Shaye did not blame their reluctance. They were in uncharted territory now. Nobody in the history books had gone into The Beyond and returned.

  The Kelpie finally responded, her voice echoing in the trees, “I am Nevia, and the others will reveal themselves soon enough.”

  Shaye blew a stray hair from her face and thought, great, more puzzles to solve. It was bad enough that Mavka’s spirit had given them vague instructions to return the relics of the three brothers to The Beyond, but now their guide was keeping vital information to herself.

  An owl hooted from above, causing Shaye to stumble on a fallen tree branch. She was not prepared for what she saw when she looked up to find the source of the call. Two dozen sets of wide eyes were staring back at her. She held back a yelp, and grabbed Sorin by the sleeve, making
him come to a halt.

  “Nevia... What in The Mother’s name is that?” She pointed to the trees where an absurd number of owls sat around a strange girl. The girl wore a long, feathered cloak, and sat smiling down at them with a cup of tea in her dainty hands.

  Nevia looked up and frowned, clearly exasperated by all of Shaye’s questions. “Ignore her.”

  The owl-girl clucked her teeth, “That’s no way to treat me. Did you even get permission to pass through the Darkening? With guests, no less?” She sipped her tea and crossed her legs, sitting with remarkable confidence, considering she was on a narrow tree limb.

  Nevia hissed, “I do not need permission from the likes of you, Gaia.”

  Shaye crossed her arms uncomfortably at the exchange, but said nothing. She was an intruder to this strange world and unfamiliar with the customs of its residents. All she knew was that they desperately needed to rid themselves of the relics, and fast. The fate of Asterion rested on their success. If they failed, the blight would surely overtake the land and the battle they had just won against Bastian would have been for nothing.

  Gaia turned her attention to Shaye and Sorin. “She will not like you being here, you know?”

  Shaye’s brow furrowed, “Who?”

  “The maiden of the old world.”

  “Maiden of what?” Shaye turned to Nevia, who had conveniently left out the details of what waited for them at the end of the forest path—or, the Darkening, as Gaia had called it.

  Gaia answered for her, “Of the world this once was. She is the keeper of what is left of the realm. She will not like—”

  Nevia’s eyes flashed in anger. “Enough!”

  Gaia went silent at the tone of Nevia’s voice. Shaye wanted to ask more of the strange, owl-like girl, but she did not get the chance before a hair-raising screech came from behind them. Like a reflex, Shaye’s magic flowed into her hands. The land in this place was incredibly potent and breathed life into her power. Sorin drew the Sword of Roth from his scabbard, lighting up the forest with its magic.