by J N Moon
Aaron spat out a laugh, "But they're not wholly physical."
Looking at Aaron sideways, Lucius whispered, "Touch me Aaron, do I feel physical?" Giving Aaron a slight pause before adding, "On my arm man, bloody hell."
Aaron smirked, Sabian nodded and Conor came and huddled over. Me, I was in shock, these people, or whatever were willing to help Luke, and they didn't seem fazed by the task ahead. I hadn't expected to be around laughter when I woke up this morning, it was infectious, maybe because they're supernatural, they've been in worse situations...
"Poor Emma, don't look so surprised, remember Nephilim- we can hear your thoughts and yes, we've been in worse or at least similar circumstances. Teran is a God for sure, but a minor one, fresh water will probably harm him in the first instance, seeing though he's from the sea. Any Fae relations?" Aaron addressed me, then Lucius.
"No, but a sea God, couldn't we fish him out?"
"But why take Luke, why..." I was cut off by Marcus.
"Power Emma, it's always the same old story. He either wants to hypnotize Luke into working for him, and or use him- riding a dragon. I can't imagine that thought hasn't passed Teran's little ego, or his blood- oh he's unlikely to kill him. It's like the tale of the Golden Goose, even Teran knows that if he kills Luke, he'll have nothing except himself. He could use Luke’s blood perhaps, for power? But these two, you both need to tread with care. Lucius, if it is blood magic he's using, couldn't we use the same magic back on him with their blood?" And looking to Ava and Elijah, "Obviously with your permission, not a lot would be needed?"
"Possible," was Lucius's only answer.
"Wait, what if we used a bit of Elijah and Ava's blood and mixed it with this weird fire-light I have? Luke thought it was celestial as it is light, hot like fire but not fire per se?"
No one spoke as they looked at each other across the room, I broke the silence, "Oh, I thought you all knew?"
Smiling, Lucius stated, "That could work, we'd definitely have more firepower than Teran then. I'll have to have another look at the books though."
"Grand Grimoire, do you need to get it?"
"No, I've got various Grimoires now right here on my iPad. And for back up, quite a few on my phone, no one reads hardbacks any more Aaron," he grinned.
"Brilliant, well I have booked an room for us to stay in, how about I take you home Emma so you can pack? We've got what we need, our bags are on the porch. Lucius, you have the spell ready I assume?" Marcus inquired.
He nodded, "Want to try it out now for me and Emma? Whisk her home, then back here again?"
"It's alright Marcus, I can take her, you don't need to come."
Ignoring what he'd said, Marcus turned to me, "A incubus you see, do you know what that is?"
"A demon?" I answered.
"A sex demon Emma,” he grinned and turning to Lucius, “No Lucius, I'm very sure you could take her, come on, I'm eager to get Luke and lob off that pagans head," he smirked.
Angels, Demons & Dragons.
Luke.
For years and years, I had denied myself intimacy, the touch of a lover, only trusting Sabian and Lauren, because I am a monster, an outsider. Even other supernaturals distrust me, see me as a freak. Until I met her, that first time I was compelled beyond my reason to touch her hand that sent shivers in my soul, and now my worst nightmare has become my reality. The only thing that keeps me going is her touch, that touch of another, to be in her arms. I'd fight for that, to be with her, to be intimate with her, loving. I'll fight until my dying breath, until he bleeds me dry, but this pain... Chained, half-shifted, my dragon ridges split through my skin, bleeding, piercing pain tormenting my mind, anger surging through like the relentless waves in this godforsaken sea cave as they crash in, spraying me, the salt drying my skin. And these chains weighing me down, however much I struggle, I can't shift into my dragon, I can't break free.
And every few hours he comes, his smirking mouth repulsing me, telling me how he kissed my lover, how he held her then he bleeds me and takes my blood somewhere. Teran suggested my blood is more potent when I'm angry, I wish I could stop that. Splattered with sea spray, damp and freezing, however hard I can't break free, but I know they'll never find me, so I have to keep trying. I can't lose hope, I mustn't. I know he'll go after her next, but my body feels shattered, broken, my arms chained, skin bruised from his outbursts.
Hour after hour the waves lash my stomach hard, the last dragon shifter bled by some malevolent minor god.
Only a thin stream of sunlight lets me know the time in the darkness, even my vision is useless here as the pitch is so dark, so black I see nothing but feel the waves splatter on me, drying me out and my throat so raw, dry like sand on my tongue. My knees buckling from lack of blood, no water and the constant onslaught of salt water. Shivering, I am determined I won’t give up.
Like impending doom, those soft footsteps echoed on the cave floors, one step after the other almost methodical, menacing, blinking rapidly, my eyes sore from the water, my chest seized in anticipation of this wrathful god.
Unable to stop myself from trembling, I squinted as his lean figure came into view, walking right up to me, smirking that face like a mask of death revealing his evil intent.
"You're weak, and that is of no use to me. No matter, I shall bring you a human to feast on, pitting you against your craving, you will in time reveal your true nature, or... would you prefer some supernatural creature to eat? A vampire perhaps?"
With my throat like grit, I struggled but managed to get out, "Why are you doing this? What do you think you can possibly gain? You won't turn into a dragon; my blood won't give you special abilities."
His small white eyes darting over my face, studying me, a hair's breadth away, "You're wrong, of course Luke Philips and a sorry state of a dragon you are. Magic when wielded correctly is almost without limits. But it's not just your blood I want and as luck would have it, tonight you'll find out what else, here drink this.”
Forcing my head back, he tipped a liquid into my mouth, I almost tried to struggle, though that was useless, but it was only water. Pure water and I gulped as fast as I could, not knowing how long this care would last.
"Good, now if you continue to behave, I will feed and water you. Now though, I need something back, oh, not your blood. I have enough of that for now."
Forcing me back, he pushed up against me, his clothes were damp with salt mist, mumbling Latin, I knew the words but my mind was so at war with the situation, I couldn't remember them. Flinching as he pressed his lips to mine, holding my head in his vice like grip, he sucked. My instinct kicked in, I growled but was unable to move and my strength, my will seemed to fade, like he was extracting it away. Slamming hard against my chest, my heart thumped as I realised, he was attempting to drain my soul. Was that even possible, inside I fought, my muscles hardened, stomach like steel as I struggled internally against this new danger, trying to gasp but he only sniggered and continued.
His eyes bore into mine, motionless like stone, the zombie white eyes with no soul of their own who sought to take mine, he leaned in further, aggressively. Whimpering without thought, I felt my flesh tear, rip further as the beast inside struggled to get free, to get away from this night of Hell, agony ripped through me. I had no idea when Teran left, I seemed to be standing there, transfixed in horror for hours before I realised, I was quite alone. Shivering from pain, from cold and the slow realisation that no one could find me here, not in this undersea cave, that my life was over. I would drown in a watery grave, soulless, isolated, tears escaped my eyes before I fell to my knees.
Orkneyjar.
Emma
Lucius guided me and Marcus away from the others, pulled a small cloth bundle from his rucksack and a tiny copper bowl.
“Perhaps this is better done outside, it will be smoky.” Nodding, we followed him out the back door where he told me, “Think of your home, see it vividly.” Closing my eyes, I felt his warm hand on mine, “Ah, there it i
s,” he whispered and taking his hand away I opened my eyes to see him light the pouch and drop it in the bowl, then placing both hands around it he chanted something but I didn’t recognise the language.
A green wisp of smoke danced from it, twisting up like a charmed snake, then it flared and we three indeed stood inside my home, Lucius still clutching the bowl but it’s smoke all but gone.
Blinking rapidly, I fought the urge to be sick as my stomach churned, moaning. Marcus, seeing this, put his arm around me, "It takes some getting used to doesn't it. Just be glad you're not mortal, it's a whole new world of crazy for mortals to use this, sends them in violent fits, their physiology can't handle it, mind you mine isn't exactly overjoyed at it," he said, putting one of his mighty hands to his head.
Grinning, Lucius spoke softly, "Here, chew on this. I've tried to perfect the spell to make the impact lessen but I've found chewing on elderberry bark seems to minimize the symptoms," he handed it out.
"Elderberry?" I asked.
Shrugging, Lucius replied, "It has to be a mineral in there perhaps but I've found it works."
Chewing the bitter bark, my face wrinkled but anything to bring me back into the normal as I went upstairs to grab some clothes, and maybe a wetsuit? If Luke was with Teran, it was probable that he was being held near the ocean. I'm not a strong swimmer, maybe I would be now, now I'm not human...
Downstairs I looked in the cupboard under the stairs, torches, Stanley knife, water bottles. Then I went to the kitchen and grabbed some food.
"Are you taking weapons? Or are you assuming to fight Teran with magic?" I asked.
"Both I imagine," Lucius grinned.
Smiling like a fool, Marcus pulled back his long black coat, inside he had a built-in scabbard that held a sword on one side, a long dagger on the other. "That's why we always wear long coats," he smirked.
"Not being rude, but you'll never get close enough to Teran to use that," I said.
"Have faith, we are Nephilim,” Marcus boomed and looking at Lucius, “He's a demon with more knowledge of the occult than any other being, no doubt more than Teran."
"Why are you helping Lucius? Don't get me wrong, I am massively grateful but isn't it bad for you to help us?"
Raising his eyebrows, he sat on the chair arm, tilting his head, I watched as he took a deep breath, his tattoos seemed to glow. "Luke is a dragon shifter, there's not many left, I think I would be a fool not to help one like him. Besides, most immortals think I'm dead- that's another story and the few demons I know, everything is grey Emma, not black or white. You know why I studied magic, read so much?"
I shook my head. "Immortality is a long time, many demons spend eternity trying to breed with humans, seducing them, scaring them, little else. I don't deny I do these things, but if that's all I did, I need more to my purpose. And as such, I've lived more than most of my kin. Right, you ready?"
I nodded, and once again he pulled out a little cloth bag from his pocket, "Wait!" I said. "How many of those have you got?"
"A dozen maybe? Why?"
Taking a deep breath, "I just wondered, so the spells, they'll get us to Scotland?"
Smiling, he nodded and lit the bag.
Back at Sabian's everyone was busy, Lauren came over to me. "Take care of yourself and look out for these guys, I don't want any heroics." Her face was pale, it must be hard being human amongst so many immortals, and seeing her lover off to fight a god.
I hugged her, grabbed my bag and stood anxiously as the others readied themselves. Again, Lucius dropped a pouch into the little copper bowl, then asked, "Where exactly are we going, but we'll need to land somewhere away from it- I don't think it would be a good idea that we materialise in a hotel lobby."
Acacius spoke, "Myself and Aaron will stay here but Marcus if you need us, we'll know. Lucius, can you spare a spell for us in case we need it, it would be quicker than flying."
"You're confident you can cast it right?" he enquired.
Aaron beamed, "Text us the words Lucius, we've watched you long enough to know, and... we’ve learned from the best."
Raising his eyebrows in shock, Lucius nodded. I understood now, it was very unusual for the two species, the two sides, dark and light to be friends, let alone work together. But my stomach and heart both fluttered with anxiety and I knew that they were aware this rogue demon could quite likely lose his life, it must be instinct but we were all going to face something far worse than that Nuckelavee. The god behind it and on his territory.
Ava and Elijah, both wide eyed at this point, Elijah interrupted, "No! We'll fly, I see you trust this... demon but I do not." Sighing, he continued, "Maybe you are right but we haven't survived this long without being over cautious, a fate that Luke had seemed to forget."
Conor raised his eyebrows, Lucius shrugged and we watched as they both fled out the door.
Marcus showed Lucius the address on his phone rather than the whole tapping into each other's mind thing, he smiled and whilst Sabian kissed Lauren, holding her tight, he waited. Nodding he was ready, Sabian stood with us in a circle and Lucius lit the pouch.
As soon as I opened my eyes, I was engulfed by a gale wind, savage and powerful. Looking around me, Sabian pointing to the sea, where in the distance I could see a mountainous monolith rising from the ocean, it's grey rock, richly topped with lush grass, and a natural archway at the bottom, "That's Yesnaby Castle," Marcus shouted against the wind. "Spectacular, isn't it?"
Conor and Sabian joined him, looking out to sea, but Lucius spoke first, "God, I hope Luke isn't in there."
Marcus nodded and shouted, “We're on the west coast of Orkney and unsurprisingly, it's renowned for its spectacular old red sandstone coastal cliffs including sea stacks, blowholes, and boiling seas. See there, how rough the waves crash against the rocks? I doubt even Teran would have Luke in there, but Lucius we'll be looking to you to find him using your magic. Anyway, let's go to the house we rented, it's rough out here."
As we walked the short distance to a large, modern bungalow, the sea spray splattered our faces, my hair felt like I'd been dragged through a hedge backwards.
The scenery was breath- taking, almost barren of trees, the landscape rolled on for miles, lush grass splattered with seafoam green grass then contrasting darkly to brighter lime greens all speckled with gorse, strong orange- gold flowers that survive the harsh winds. Dappled here and there in the unforgiving landscape, roseroot, tall fern plants with a splash of yellow flowers, delicate sea pinks, their clustered petals like paper and the rare Scottish primrose, delicate purple flowers with a yellow centre, and the uncommon great yellow bumblebees. Even though the wind was harsh, the cleanness of the air left me exhilarated, if tired. The dramatic cliffs, striated stones telling the stories of times past, different sea levels, sea birds of all kinds diving and circling around them, few predators to the wildlife lie here.
The squawks and cries of the birds amongst the sound of violent waves far below my mind was cast to the memories of ancestors, ancient peoples who’d lived here.
Orkney is an island, the only way without a demon to the islands is by boat or plane, it has retained its Nordic beauty, beyond Yesnaby in the distance the Broch of Borich and an Iron Age settlement, the stone buildings built into the rock, preserved so well you could almost imagine it’s inhabitants had just left to go fishing. I’d only ever seen pictures of it.
Yesnaby awoke something in me, a stirring of something ancient, the wolf within leaping to break out, her primitive beauty and rugged nature calling to my soul. Instinctively I knew Conor felt the same by his gleaming eyes and huge grin, a place untouched by machine or man, where nature, if you test her will take your life. Walking away from the cliff edge, an edge that has taken lives with unstable footing and gales, we closed the door behind us, I sighed, bloody hell, it was good to be out of that weather.
“Welcome!” A burly shifter, nearly six foot four I’d guess, stood waiting to greet us in the hallway, a scotch in one hand,
cigar in the other. As our eyes met, it was clear that this was a place that welcomed other shifters, other supernaturals.
His eyes darting over all of us, Marcus stepped forward but the man spoke first, “Aye, a Nephilim! Does this spell trouble? Acacius told me Teran was acting up- unusual for that old wiry sea God, he’s been no trouble for years. And a demon. My...”
I answered him, “You didn’t know Teran sent the Nuckelavee to kill us? Well now he’s over- stepped the mark again. You know where to find him?”
Like saucers, his eyes wide, for a few seconds he seemed stunned. “He sent that beast, that demon? What became of it?”
Lucius got in before me, “She killed it,” he grinned.
“My name is Oliver, this is my home. And you are?”
Holding out my hand to shake his, he put his drink down on the shelf next to the door, taking mine firmly in his grip.
“Emma, Emma Blakesley. Nice to meet you Oliver.”
Nodding, he picked his drink back up, “Blakesley. I was sorry to hear of your uncle passing, never met him but his reputation was, still is honourable. Ah, makes sense then, if anyone could kill it, it would be you.”
Chuntering under his breath, his strange aqua- blue eyes sparkled, “So, you’ve come for Teran’s head then.”
“That’s correct, he has something that he shouldn’t.”
Inclining his head, his eyes darting over my face, “I see, well I haven’t heard hide nor hair from him in some time. I’d heard a rumour of his demon on the rampage but gossip is rife up here, as we have little else in the way to occupy our minds, and that’s what we like. Not gossip, but living here, away from the mainland, we lead a quiet life. I wish you luck, though I doubt you’ll need it. But be careful, the Nuckelavee is not, or was not as powerful as Teran.” Looking out of the window which overlooked the sea, he was instantly deep in thought, I pressed him again.