by K.N. Lee
Rezinger nodded. “My apologies.”
Koa turned to face him full on. Her face was serious. “But I am a princess. Princess Koa of Elyan, and I am tired of being stalled. You tell your mistress that I want to speak to her now.”
Rezinger’s smile faded but he nodded with a bow. “As you wish.” He then turned to execute her wishes.
Koa followed behind him. She waved for Evina to come along. The red-haired temptress stopped playing with the group of men that she had entranced.
Rezinger paused and looked back. He raised a brow. “I’m going to relay your message.”
Koa grinned. “Great. I’m coming to relay it myself.” She waved him forward. “Go on. Continue.”
He frowned, adjusted his bow tie, and continued through the ball room. Whispers tickled Koa’s ears as she followed. Everyone watched them, wondering what was happening. Evina met her and kept pace as they finally made it through the crowd at to the great hall.
“Where are we off to?” Evina asked.
“I’m tired of waiting. We’re going to talk to Lady Colleen.”
Evina clasped her hands. “Excellent. Those gents were getting boring.”
Koa shook her head. “You’re like a kid, did you know that?”
Evina laughed. “So what? I’ve been stuck in the Netherworld since I was born. Who can blame me for wanting to have a little fun? New World vamps are so gullible. I can tempt them with my eyes closed, and my hands tied behind my back.”
“With your boobs spilling out your dress, it doesn’t take magic to tempt a man,” Koa scoffed.
“Hey now, you little tramp. Watch your mouth,” Evina warned, with a devilish grin. “You’re just jealous. I would be too, if I had the body of a little boy.”
Koa jabbed her in the ribs. “Bitch.”
They shared a laugh and it felt like old times, but Koa was reminded of the severity of the situation when Rezinger stopped at the end of the hall, pulled a hidden lever and the floor moved beneath them.
Evina clutched Koa’s arm as the three of them were taken down by elevator. The walls were of shining stone and it became dark the deeper they went.
Koa watched Rezinger as he turned on a light on the floor. Bright light shot up and illuminated their tiny enclosed means of transportation.
“You could have warned us,” Evina said as she held onto Koa for balance. She glared at Rezinger.
Rezinger spoke under his breath as they continued to descend.
“What was that?” Evina demanded.
He flashed a charming smile, which had stopped working on Koa hours ago. “Nothing, Princess. I’m just a little curious to how Lady Colleen will react to being awakened.”
Koa made a face. She pointed to herself and Evina. “Do we look like we care? You’d think she’d be a little less rude with us as her guests. It’s not like we’re ordinary New World vamps.”
Rezinger nodded. “Oh yes. Of course. You’re special,” he said. “I must remember that.”
Koa pursed her lips. “Now I know why I don’t like you. Condescending prick.” She folded her arms and turned to Evina.
Evina smiled. “Calm down, sister. He just doesn’t know any better,” she said.
They came to a stop and Rezinger stepped back as one of the walls opened up to a cavern. A circular device, held stationary by iron brackets, stood in the center of the cavern. Behind it were bars that blocked the way to the next room.
“What is this?” Koa asked as she stepped out of the elevator.
“Oh, Koa. Doesn’t it look familiar?” Evina said as she approached it with eyes of wonder.
Koa thought. It did look vaguely remember. “Refresh my memory for me,” she said. “It’s not as if I’m well rested. My mind’s a little fuzzy.”
“It’s a portal,” Rezinger said.
“A very ancient one,” Evina added. “I haven’t seen one of these since I was a child.” She looked at Rezinger. “How did you get one?”
Rezinger shrugged. “Lady Colleen brought it with her when she left the Netherworld, I suppose.”
Evina and Koa shared a look. “Lady Colleen is a Netherworld vamp?”
Rezinger made a face. “I thought you knew?”
Koa noticed a look of smug joy in his eyes. He took great pleasure in surprising them.
Evina sucked in a breath. She gripped Koa’s hand and turned her to face her. Her tattoos moved and Koa felt a jolt of power surge into her body. Within seconds, she and Evina shared important information without Rezinger’s knowledge.
“Koa. I know where I’ve heard that name now. Colleen is the sister of King Cidden of the western dominance of Jiran. She is one of the sentries sent out to explore the New World when my father found a way to escape centuries ago. She’s one of the original vampires that spread our line to make the vampires here! She is not a weak vamp.
“We’d better be careful with this one. Trust me. Those western vamps are not to be trifled with. Father tried to conquer them once. He obviously lost. King Cidden is ruthless, even more so than my father, but he isn’t as power hungry. But anyway, when the angels found out how the Netherworld vamps were getting free, they sought those sentries out and sent them back or killed them. Colleen is the only one they did not find! How did Halston not know this?”
Koa swallowed hard to keep her dinner down as Evina released her from the bond of her temptress powers. She tried to keep a straight face as Rezinger looked them over.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
Koa nodded. She took a breath and steadied herself. “Fine. What are you waiting for? Activate the portal.”
41
“Tell me again,” Bund said. He crouched low to the ground, just beyond the black gates of Wryn Castle, as Greggan stood beside him. “What you’ll give me if I kill Halston.”
Greggan watched the moon. The clouds shrouded it, but it was still a majestic sight. He looked down at Bund. “Everything. The Netherworld will be yours for the taking. You’ll have my armies and the forces you need to take the entire civilization of nephilim. Just leave the human world to me.”
Bund grinned. His sharp teeth flashed in the night. “That all sounds peachy keen and all, but I want the half-blood too.”
Greggan tightened his jaw. “What will you do to her?”
Bund chuckled. The sound was unlike a human or vampire laugh. It sent chills through the vampire king. “That’s my business.”
“You’d better start producing results then,” Greggan said as he stood before the massive black structure that stood of the edge of a cliff that overlooked the sea. Wryn Castle. He had cleaned it out and made it into a home. If only he could keep Bund from targeting vampires. He didn’t let Bund know, but he had noticed how vampires whom he’d invited to the castle from the surrounding colonies were disappearing. It didn’t make sense to Greggan. Why would a demon want a vampire? He could not think of what purpose they would serve him.
Greggan prepared to head to Lady Colleen’s grand ball. He closed his fur coat and held onto a shiny new cane. He had special transportation prepared and he was ready to arrive in style and fashionably late. It was his chance to end this little resistance the Netherworld Division was putting up.
Bund came to his feet. Black wings stretched open and he hovered in the air. “You don’t trust me?” He flew closer to Greggan’s face. A low snarl made Greggan tense.
Greggan looked away as Bund’s eyes turned into a pool of black. Black veins coursed through his pale, almost translucent, face. Greggan held his ground as the demon circled him, sniffing his trench coat.
“Of course I trust you, Bund. But in order for this arrangement to work, we must be mutually beneficial to one another.”
Bund chuckled again. He landed in a crouch and looked up at Greggan with those sinister eyes. “I thought setting you free… and letting you live was beneficial enough.”
Something in Bund’s voice alarmed Greggan. The demon had threatened him before, but this time someth
ing was different. Was it the change in speech? Perhaps it was the entirely different accent. Bund had rarely spoken in such a way that made Greggan truly fear him. Now, his body went cold. He put a hand on the hilt of his sword.
Greggan made a clicking sound with his tongue. Bund rose to his full height and stood taller than Greggan. He snatched Greggan’s sword from its scabbard and held the blade diagonally across the vampire’s throat.
“Yes,” Greggan swallowed, uncomfortable. He eyed the blade. “I only meant that…”
Bund shook his head. He spoke softly, calmly. “Shh,” he whispered. He leaned in closer to Greggan’s face. Black eyes gazed into the vampire king’s. “You only meant that you thought I was a fool.”
Greggan shook his head. He held his hands up in surrender. “No. That’s not it at all. Listen.”
“You all think you’re so smart. So clever.” Bund grimaced. His eyes narrowed into a glare. “But I’ve fooled you, Greggan. I’ve fooled you all.”
Greggan took a step back and Bund took one step forward. He grabbed the back of Greggan’s head and pressed the blade to his throat. Black fire burned behind the demon’s eyes. “But I have seen Heaven and Hell. I have been around since before you were even a seed in your mother’s womb. Did you really think that I’d be around the world that long and not have the power to outsmart a lowly vampire like yourself.”
Greggan was speechless.
Bund removed the sword. He grinned. “I didn’t think so.” He raised a brow. “Thought you were the clever one?”
Greggan’s lips parted. He started to speak but Bund raised a finger.
Greggan closed his mouth.
Bund’s grin widened. “Good boy.” He lowered his wings and lowered the sword to his waist.
Greggan stood completely still. He imagined summoning help, but he was unsure if he was faster than Bund. He swallowed, and glanced at his sword in the demon’s hands.
“Greggan,” Bund called.
Greggan looked up. Their eyes met.
Bund tilted his head. “Didn’t anyone tell you that I could read your thoughts?”
Greggan paled and before he could blink, his head was separated from his shoulders and he was staring at the moon, waiting for his body to reanimate. He would rise again. His body would reform into another creature, one that was more primal, but stronger. Greggan could have another shot, but with the demon hovering over his body, waiting to kill him again… he didn’t want to.
42
Koa waited with Evina as Rezinger approached the portal. He opened the control panel and dialed a series of numbers. The portal ignited with the sound of bells. The globe-like ball in the center started to spin as the gimbals twisted around it.
Rezinger came to them and held out an enclosed fist. “Only one of you can go in. I only have the one earth stone.” He looked from Evina to Koa. “Which of you will it be?”
Koa stepped forward. She held her hand out and Rezinger placed the earth stone in her hand. Koa looked down at the flat black rock. In the center of it was a green Netherworld symbol. The language of the angels and the heavens.
It was cool in the palm of her hand and she felt oddly at peace as she held it.
“Don’t forget what’s at stake, Koa,” Evina said.
Koa turned to her and nodded. “Never,” she replied.
“I’ll wait out here with Princess Evina,” Rezinger said. “Once you get inside you’ll want to take the hallway on the right. Don’t go left or you’ll get lost. Then, you just follow that hallway and take a right at each end. Got it?”
“Got it. Never turn left. Only right.”
He patted Koa on the shoulder. A smug grin came to his lips. “Good luck.”
Koa raised a brow and looked down at his hand on her shoulder. She shrugged it off. “Don’t ever touch me again,” she said and flew backwards to the portal. “And how about grabbing a few more of those earth stones for my friends.”
Rezinger nodded. “As you wish, Princess Koa.”
Evina gave Koa one last nod and mouthed a word.
Careful.
Koa closed her eyes and allowed the portal to suck her body into the spinning golden globe. Colors flashed before her and she felt her body get squeezed, pulled, and spat out onto the other side of the gate.
Koa shivered and crouched on all fours as she waited for the sensation to pass. Her vision slowly cleared and she came to her feet. She saw Evina and Rezinger on the other side. Rezinger went to collect more earth stones while Evina pressed her back to the stone wall and waited.
“I made it,” Koa shouted over to Evina.
Evina didn’t look over. She drew something on the air with her pen.
“Evina,” she called. Koa’s brows furrowed.
Nothing. Not even a glance.
“Rezinger?”
Still, neither of them looked at her. Koa’s shoulders slumped as she realized that they could neither see nor hear her. She sighed and turned to the opening of a narrow hall. She walked inside and found two halls. She stared down the hall on the left and saw light at the end. She glanced over her shoulder to the other hall, the right one, and saw a thick fog and darkness.
She shook her head. “Just perfect. Of course I need to take the creepy hall,” she said under her breath. She tapped her left thigh and made sure that her sword was still secure in its strap. Then she took a breath and set out for the right hall as Rezinger had advised.
Stepping into the fog was like entering an icebox. The chill in the air was almost unbearable, especially for someone who barely had on any clothes. Koa rubbed her arms and frowned as she looked around.
The walls were very close and were made of stone. The intense smell of dirt and coal clung to the air as she continued down the hall. At the end of it, she once again glanced left. Her eyes widened as she saw a black figure walking away from her. It appeared to be a man, but it was completely burnt until blackened and carried a long pole.
Koa gasped inwardly and quickly ran into the right hall, away from whatever that was. Her heart quickened as she hurried down the hall and to the end. She didn’t even bother to look to the left, she simply ran into the right hall and was greeted by a door.
The door was at least nine feet tall, yet slim. There was a small hole cut in the shape of the earth stone. Koa was already tired of being alone in that labyrinth of hallways, so she placed the stone in the hole and pushed it open without a second thought.
Her squeal echoed throughout the entire labyrinth as snakes hissed at her from the other side of the door. Koa reached under her skirt and grabbed her sword. She flew to the ceiling to get away from the hundreds of snakes that filled the newest hallway and clicked the button to release the sword from its baton state.
The power of the Lyrinian blade was ignited. It shot into Koa’s palm and filled her body with red hot rage. She calmed herself and flew down the hall and away from the snakes.
“Who are you?”
Koa paused in the air. The voice sounded faint, distant. She looked around and saw no one. Koa frowned. “Where are you?”
“I asked the question first, child. Who are you?”
Koa swallowed. “Princess Koa of Elyan.”
The hissing faded and the snakes vanished. A woman came from around the corner with her bow and arrow pointed right at Koa in the air. She dressed in Netherworld style and had her black hair pulled into a braided bun. Behind her was a black wolf.
Koa held a hand up. “I was told to come here by Halston. I’m not an enemy.”
The woman eyes flickered a glow as she shot an arrow at Koa’s sword, knocking it from her hand. Koa followed her sword downward and landed on her feet beside it on the floor.
She looked up from under her bangs. “Nice shot.”
The woman relaxed, but only slightly.
“Lady Colleen, I take it,” Koa said as she picked up her sword and clicked it back into a baton.
Lady Colleen nodded and lowered her bow. She looked Koa up and d
own. “The mysterious half-blood finally comes to pay a relative a visit.”
Koa raised a brow. “Relative?”
Lady Colleen turned and motioned for Koa to follow her. “Didn’t Alsand ever tell you about your pretty Aunt Colleen?”
43
Koa followed Lady Colleen through her underground labyrinth. She was amazed by all that she saw down there. It was almost as if she was in the Netherworld again. Everything was decorated in the same lavish style.
Once they left the drab, dark tunnels, they stepped into Lady Colleen’s private quarters. Colorful drapes of gold and royal blue hung from columns making the entire room look like one giant canopy bed. Vampires sat quietly on the floor reading, drinking wine, and lounging about on the plush cushions laid out.
As Koa walked behind her aunt she noticed that even Lady Colleen was dressed in ancient Netherworld fashion. Everyone down there was. Koa wasn’t opposed to the Victorian and Roman mixture of dress. She kind of liked it better than the modern style above.
Colleen’s corseted top made her waist look tiny and the bustled skirt was wrapped in layers almost like a geisha. It was a rich royal blue and made her black hair stand out. Her bony exposed shoulders were pale as a sheet of paper. Still, her skin glistened as if it had been brushed with jewels.
Koa thought to herself how amazing her mother and father’s genes were. Everyone was so beautiful. She noticed someone staring at her as she walked by. An older gentleman. Koa raised a brow. He definitely stood out in the midst of such artificial youth.
Koa sniffed the air. He was human. His hair was pure white without a trace of any other color. It was almost as if his hair had always been that color. He bowed to her as she walked by while everyone else ignored her.
Koa nodded her head and couldn’t take her eyes off of him. She realized that he wasn’t as old as his hair made him appear. He only had small wrinkles at the corners of his small, deep-set eyes. He watched her from his low bow. He secured his thin glasses on his nose as he stood back up to his full height, which wasn’t much taller than Koa.