Silver Blood (Series of Blood Book 1)

by Emma Hamm

  She couldn’t remember where she was or what had happened. In fact, thoughts appeared to be far too difficult for her to process. Pressing her fingers firmly against her temples didn’t seem to be helping.

  A voice split through the haze of pain and disorientation like a shard of light on a rainy day. Unfortunately, Wren felt like she was hungover, and that ray of light was the last thing she wanted near her. She groaned in response and tried to curl away from the sound.

  “I’m sorry about the pain. I’m afraid it’s unavoidable with a Null.”

  Wren’s eyes opened just enough for the bleary world around her to be revealed. She blinked at the light and tried to focus her eyes on the ceiling. The room was rotating. Or was it the Earth that was rotating? She didn’t know, and she wasn’t certain she wanted to.

  Wren could make out a few forms in the corner that appeared to be human. Hopefully they were human. Wren didn’t have the patience to deal with anything other than that. They were columns of dark blue and gold, so that must mean they were at least humanoid.

  She groaned and slowly sat up. One of her hands sunk into the soft texture of the carpet beneath her while the other assisted in holding up her head. When had her head become a bowling ball? It was too heavy to lift with just the strength of her neck. She brought her hand away for a moment to test. Unassisted, her forehead sunk to press against her raised knees as she curled back into a ball and rolled to her side.

  “Where am I?” she whispered. Her voice was hoarse and unfamiliar to her ears. Her throat was scratchy. The faint metallic taste of blood burned against her swollen tongue.

  “Oh dear,” a different voice than the other speaker muttered.This one was much lighter and far more lyrical. “I forgot.”

  Wren winced as the clattering sound of heels on wood echoed in the room until they disappeared. Did the woman have to wear heels? Women shouldn’t even wear heels anymore. They were uncomfortable and loud. So damn loud. She didn’t know how much time passed before the clattering was racing back towards her. Each strike against the floor caused an answering pound in her skull.

  “Here you go.” Something touched her arm and pulled it away from her head. Her hand was wrapped around a cold glass. The weight caused her hand to dip dangerously towards the floor. “Water helps. You’ll be surprised.”

  Water did sound good. Yet, there was a warning bell in her head that said she shouldn’t be drinking anything that was offered to her by strangers. They could be attempting to poison her. They could be drugging her. But her tongue was swollen, and her head was fuzzy. They were offering a parched desert a river of clear liquid.

  It didn’t take long for her to give in.

  She gulped down the water as quickly as possible. Rivulets of water trailed down the long line of her throat that shuddered with every swallow. Each mouthful seemed to bring more clarity to her world. When the glass was empty, her eyes could finally focus on the room around her.

  The red carpet that covered the floor was surprisingly thick and comfortable. What wasn’t covered by scarlet was covered by clean, grey stone floors. Beautiful wooden walls were accented by wooden carvings that appeared to have been handmade. She squinted at the piece nearest to her and realized that tiny gargoyles had been lovingly carved and placed along the ceiling. True to their kind, each wore a silly expression as they made faces at the people inside their domain.

  Odd choice of decorations, she thought.

  Her gaze traveled back to the two people in front of her, and immediately her eyes narrowed upon the woman crouched before her. There was a memory tied to the unusually small, dark haired woman. It danced just out of her reach before flooding back into her head like the bad aftertaste of a drink.

  “You,” she muttered.

  The woman grinned and clapped her hands. She was a pretty little thing when she smiled and all too solemn when she didn’t. “Oh good, you remember me!”

  A hand dropped onto the small woman’s shoulder, and Wren followed the long graceful line of wrist, elbow, and shoulder. The other was a golden goddess of a creature that instantly made Wren feel self conscious.

  Perfectly straightened blonde hair spilled over both of the woman’s shoulders and ended just above the curves of her breast. Her face was surely made of porcelain as there was not a line or curve that was out of place. The clothing she wore was expensive. Golden silk glided against her arms and soft honeyed linen covered her impossibly long legs. Crystal clear jewels were wrapped around her throat and held a hint of blue that matched her eyes. Confident eyes that stared at Wren as though she was little more than trouble.

  She was a female who was naturally beautiful and used it to her advantage. Wren stayed where she was as the dark haired sprite moved out of the way. The golden woman was the one in charge or so it seemed.

  “I’m sorry you had to be brought here in such a way, Wren.” She stooped so that she was at the same level and reached for the empty glass. “I’m sure you understand that it was unavoidable.”

  “I’m not sure where I am, so I’m unable to agree with that,” Wren grumbled. Stubbornly, she continued to hold onto the glass. She had no wish to give the other woman whatever she wanted. That would make things far too easy.

  Perfectly sculpted, blonde eyebrows rose at her words. “You’re in Haven. This is the home of the Five.”

  “I’m guessing you’re one of the Five,” Wren replied. “Shocking.”

  “Yes, I am known as Gaia.”

  “That doesn’t sound like a real name. You make it up?”

  “It is the one I have chosen. I am far too old to remember something as simple as a name.”

  “I don’t believe that.”

  Gaia appeared to be stunned for a moment before blinking. “Excuse me?”

  “Everyone remembers their names. You just don’t want anyone to know what it is. A name holds power. Oldest game in the book.” There was no question in Wren’s words. She knew exactly what game this woman was playing, and she wasn’t having any of it.

  Gaia began to laugh as she stood back up. “You are much smarter than I expected.”

  Wren rolled to get onto her knees. She was exactly where she shouldn’t be. This place wasn’t safe for her. E had made it very clear that working with the Five was going to get her killed. Hell, even meeting Malachi was going to get her killed. She wasn’t certain there was any choice that would end with her alive.

  “Look,” she began, “I don’t know why you’re bringing all this trouble into my life, but I don’t want any of it.”

  “You are potentially part of a prophecy that will save all of us. If Burke thinks that you are an important piece of this puzzle, then I will investigate that.”

  “Yeah well, Jiminy can shove that lie where the sun don’t shine,” Wren muttered angrily as she stumbled to her feet. Balance had apparently not returned to her yet. She shook her head to try to clear it and walked around the woman to sit down on an ornate chair. Immediately, she scrunched her face up and wiggled. “You don’t even have comfortable chairs?”

  “It’s for decorative purposes.”

  This time, it was Wren’s turn to arch a brow at the woman. “Right. Of course it’s decorative.”

  Gaia was clearly confused. She had probably never had to deal with a creature that was so bluntly disagreeable. Wren was acting as though she didn’t know that Gaia could kill her with a mere thought. But she was uncomfortable and fighting very hard to not smudge dirt deep into the expensive weave of the chair.

  If she didn’t know for certain that Wren’s creature was slumbering within her, then Gaia could assume that the creature inside of her was to blame for her acerbic attitude.

  “Where did you come from?” Gaia asked while staring down at the woman sitting on a chair that was not meant to be sat upon. “You have no fear of me when you should. You have no clear understanding of what this prophecy is. Nor do you appear to care that the world is falling down around us and you are one of the few who can he
lp.”

  Wren crossed her arms firmly over her chest and looked Gaia up and down. “You tell me your secrets, Gaia, and I’ll tell you mine. I’m usually difficult to talk to when someone kidnaps me and then tries to force me to help them.”

  Gaia’s lip twitched for a second before it returned to the calm mask. She had to admit, she liked the fire in the girl. She would need to learn respect, of course, but there was a certain refreshing quality to being challenged.

  Wren was unusual in that she still had her own mind. No one was telling her what to do, and she did not take the Five’s opinion as law. She would need to learn that there were some things that the Five knew more than she, but she also provided a unique opportunity to learn.

  “There is little known about the Five other than we are the strongest creatures known in existence. I’m certain you remember that from your schooling.” Gaia attempted to ease into the conversation with Wren. Surely the girl would listen.

  A soft snort erupted from Wren’s mouth, but she gestured to continue. Gaia paused for a moment longer to study the other woman. Perhaps she did not remember her schooling. She was, after all, nothing more than a lowly Juice producer. Schooling wouldn’t have been important or even provided to children such as she in many circumstances.

  “Are you not familiar with this story?” she asked.

  “Not really.”

  “How is it that you have lived this long without proper education?”

  “I have proper education.” Wren leaned forward to place her hands firmly on her knees. “I know how to survive. How to make money. How to live. I do not consider knowledge of you or your people essential to my existence.”

  “Well then.” Gaia supposed she shouldn’t be surprised at the tone. These rude quips were quickly becoming tiring. “You should know how you came to be.”

  “I came to be from my mother’s belly. I think you mean how the creature inside me came to be.”

  “You are an extremely forward individual.”

  Wren snorted again. “I have a feeling if I wasn’t forward, you wouldn’t listen to me.”

  She was right. Gaia wouldn’t have listened to her at all because she had already dismissed the girl as someone less important. Now, Wren had her attention through sheer arrogance.

  “Would you like to learn now?”

  “Why should I?” Wren asked.

  “Because it is your history. Because it explains what is happening to you. To all of us.”

  Wren blinked a few times as the gears turned in her head. Slowly, she nodded. “Okay. Fine.”

  “You will listen?” Gaia had to be sure that the girl would pay attention.

  “Yes.” Frustration made the word harsh. “Yes, I will listen. Just start talking, would you?”

  Gaia gave her another censoring look before she remembered that Wren likely didn’t care at all. A spark of belief ignited in Gaia’s mind. If she were to choose someone to fulfill the prophecy, it would be this headstrong girl who did not show fear.

  “In our realm, magic was created in the form of ten creatures. Five made out of darkness and shadow. Five made out of light. It was only natural that they would be at odds with each other. For many centuries they fought against each other before realizing that none of them could be killed by the other. The only harm that would remain on our forms was harm that was self inflicted. We were never meant to kill each other.”

  Wren’s hand raised to interrupt. “You’re trying to tell me that you’re one of the originals?”

  “I am. As are my brothers and sisters.”

  “You sure?”

  “I have been alive for thousands of years. I was here before all others.”

  “Huh.” The exhale wasn’t a question but more an admission of shock. At least she was believing the story.

  Gaia smiled in response. “For many centuries it was only the ten of us. As you can imagine, existence grew rather tedious. And with that came the need to end such an existence. My youngest sister was the first to willingly harm herself in an attempt to disappear from this world. But when her blood was willingly spilled upon the land, she created new life.

  Our first born were simple creatures. They were elementals, capable of controlling all elements of the earth. They took after us.” She smiled softly as though remembering, but that smile quickly fell. “Our siblings who erred towards the darkness quickly realized what was happening as we populated the earth with these new creatures.

  They realized that by tearing themselves apart they could create an army which could destroy ours. They did not understand we were not creating an army at all. We were simply creating children to share the world with us. In their own desire for power, they destroyed themselves to create masses of dark creatures that would start a war our dimension almost did not recover from.”

  Wren watched with rapt attention as the beautiful woman swept a glistening tear from her cheek.

  “We did as we could,” Gaia continued. “There was only so much that we could give without destroying ourselves as well. What our dark brothers and sisters did not realize was that their creations could also make life. It simply would take time. While we watched them grow and create families of their own, they could not wait.”

  Gaia paused for another moment before taking in another deep breath.

  Wren raised a hand. “You don’t have to tell me more if you don’t want to,” she said quietly. There was a certain raw quality to this story that made Wren feel as though it was not something she should be listening to. It was not a story that was meant for her.

  “I do have to,” Gaia said. “I need to make you understand. Of this first generation of darkness, many species did not survive the war. Malachi is of this first generation and the last of his kind. He is everything that makes darkness powerful and more. If we do not stop him, he will attempt to swallow everything that is good and make it his own.”

  “Why can’t you help?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “If you’re part of the original creations then you should be stronger than Malachi. There’s five of you to his one. You don’t need a prophecy or people to stop him.”

  “We took a vow when our siblings killed themselves. We will never again involve ourselves in the affairs of our creations. What problems you face can be guided by our visions and our voices, but we no longer can step in.”

  “Then break the vow,” Wren said vehemently.

  “It is unbreakable.”

  Wren leaned forward until her forearms were braced against her legs. Her forehead was wrinkled in pain as well as remorse. “Look. This story isn’t for me. I don’t walk into this story years later and save everyone. I’m not capable of that.”

  “We believe you might be.” Gaia settled herself into another chair across from Wren. “The prophecy spoke not of a person but of a creature. As you know, all creatures are housed within humans. What is your creature, Wren?”

  “I don’t know,” she shrugged. “E has never been very forthcoming about that.”

  “E?”

  “The name I gave it. Short for Entity.”

  “Ah,” Gaia said quietly. “I do believe that E may have a considerable amount of power to lend us if what Burke has told us is true.”

  Now that the pain and fog in her head was clearing, Jiminy’s name brushed against her mind like a paintbrush. She felt for the moment as though she was standing on the edge of a cliff and something life changing was happening. With a shake of her head, she dispelled the unsettling thought.

  “E doesn’t want to help you,” Wren replied.

  “Why is that?”

  “It believes that if I help you then I will end up dead. After everything that’s been happening, I agree with E.”

  “You very well might not make it through this ordeal. But if we do not try to stop Malachi then we will all surely die.” Gaia paused for a moment before asking, “I can’t help but notice that you do not call your creature male or female. Why is that?”


  Wren shrugged again. “E doesn’t choose a gender.”

  “I do not know many creatures which do that.” Gaia tapped a long finger against her chin before nodding. “I am very interested to find out what your creature is. Would you be willing to do that at least?”

  “I can’t betray E’s trust like that. If it doesn’t want me to know, then I shouldn’t know.”

  “You live with this creature inside you, Wren,” Gaia said in a cajoling tone. “You don’t know what it is. For all you know, you could be housing some kind of Demon inside of you.”

  “I have never worried about it before.” But that statement was a lie. As soon as the words slipped out of her mouth they burned against her tongue. “E has a right to its privacy.”

  “Inside of you?” Gaia cocked her head to the side and looked at her with pity. “You’re telling me that the creature who uses your body has a right to privacy?”

  There was a silent pause as Wren tried to puzzle out this dilemma in her head. The creature inside of her was always going to be her dearest friend. It was as much a part of her as her own flesh. Yet there would always be the temptation of not knowing what it was.

  In the end, she made the only choice that could be made.

  “No. I trust E.”

  Gaia leaned back in her chair with a huff. “Wren, I don’t think you understand. This creature could be using you, and your trust could be completely misplaced. Have you ever had a blackout? Do you have blanks in your mind where memories should be?”

  She did, but Wren wasn’t going to admit to that. It was only recently that these episodes had started to occur, and Wren knew it was because E didn’t want her to see bad things. These thoughts must have been reflected on her face as Gaia’s expression changed to something much more calculating.

  “Do you really know what is happening in those blackouts? Burke reported that the last time revealed considerable talent. Violent talent. I can return all those memories to you. E doesn’t have to know.”

  “E knows everything I know.”