Demon Dark

by Penelope Fletcher

  Coaxed by his Pride, Alec moved to the pyre.

  I touched Breandan s hair. The inky locks were soft and lush. I pressed a kiss to his scalp and smelt the forest. Edgy, he pushed me away, off him, and stood. I sat there, hunched over, not ready to stand myself. To do so would make this real. After a moment, he pressed his legs into my back, needing the contact again. I sighed as his presence collided with mine and dropped my head back so it rested on his lower thigh. Our bond sought to soothe, and there was some relief as the pleasure of reuniting with him pushed through my sadness.

  The deathly pallor of his skin warmed and glowed faintly. My own body pulsed in the dark.

  Lochlann finished placing flowers across Maeve s stomach. He trembled, but his broad back was straight, chin tipped up as if he fought gravity dragging it to the ground. He stepped away from the platform of wood and vine and the grief I glimpsed in his eyes was frightening.

  He staggered. Before he fell, Daphne was there, her arm around him lending support. He visibly stiffened, and for a moment, I worried he would toss the vampire away.

  She had not known Maeve, but she must have felt her repressed grief for Tomas attacking her full force.

  Lochlann sank to his knees and wrapped his arms around Daphne s waist. He burrowed his head in her lower stomach and cried each heaving sob stabbing me in the heart.

  To see this lord on his knees shattered by grief intensified the sorrow. It was palpable in the air, a heavy pressure that all were forced to bow under.

  The soft cries and murmurs of distress from the fairy people were carried to me on the wind.

  Breandan took my hand and helped me up. His glittering eyes held such melancholy my heart ached. His fingers loosened their hold on mine, but I clutched them tighter and shook my head we would not stand apart in this. Come. His mind was so close to breaking point the impression for me to follow was vague and fuzzy, as if I received the thought through a stonewall.

  But he did not move.

  He stared at the pyre as if it would strike him down where he stood should he glimpse the body lying at the apex. I led him, tugging on his hand until he took one leaden step and then another.

  Lochlann was still on his knees, body trembling. Daphne stroked his head and sent me a lost look, asking for help. I had none to give. She was on her own when it came to Lochlann.

  Breandan took sharp, shallow breaths, preparing to take over from his distraught brother. He was struggling to hold on himself. How could he lead this if he couldn t even speak?

  This gave me the strength to take control. I released Breandan s hand and stepped up onto the dais.

  Kian whispered a rushed explanation of the ceremony to me. It was customary for the Elder to set the pyre in flames, but Lochlann made no move to do so, and I refused to ask Breandan.

  Kian, after the ceremony could you please find Grace and bring her to me? And send Lily to help Daphne before she sleeps & if Lily has no complaints.

  I didn t want to force a fairy to have contact with a vampire if they didn t want to, but it would be good if she knew it would make me happy for her to do so.

  Lily and Grace had attended me the last time I was here. Their curiosity about me, and kindness in helping me bathe had coaxed me out of the worst of my melancholy after I believed Lex had died. They had made me feel more a part of this place than anything else.

  Where shall we put Lady Daphne?

  Kian asked quietly, only a hint of concern in his voice as his gaze wandered to Lochlann.

  She ll find her own way, let her. She s secretive about where she rests during the day. It s her way of feeling safe.

  Only after he left to do my wishes did I realize he had called Daphne Lady not just vampire as most fairies had a fondness of doing. As if using the demon s real name would taint them somehow. Fairies did believe names held a physical power, possibly not extending someone the respect of even their first name was some kind of psychological power they tired to impose.

  Then I also realized Kian had followed my instructions without any questions or reluctance.

  It gave me confidence that I belonged, that I was doing the right things.

  Lochlann had prepared Maeve beautifully. Delicate features relaxed and graceful limbs wrapped in vines and flowers, she looked peaceful asleep. The bodies of the humans who d attacked us and not survived were carefully placed underneath.

  The angry mutterings of the Clerics did reach my ears but was ignored. Few people had chosen to be buried behind the Wall, and even then, it was only allowed if you had some specific religious belief. The dead were cremated. It was sanitary, and stopped the land the humans lived on becoming more of a graveyard than a home.

  Alec,

  I said softly.

  You have to let her go.

  Bring her back,

  he demanded in a low voice.

  I know you can do it. You ve done it before, I ve heard the story. You did it before you fully understood how much power you controlled. You ve had practice since then.

  I did something I had never before done to anyone but Breandan. I reached out and covered his hand with mine. I pried his fingers off Maeve and clutched his hand firmly.

  I swore on magic I would never bring someone back like that ever again. Lex came back & wrong. It was selfish of me, and if you look into her eyes for long enough you ll see she hates what I ve done to her.

  Then bring Maeve back as she was. Breathe life back into her, I know you can do it.

  He gazed at me with gut-wrenching agony.

  Please, do this one thing for me. I know I have no right to ask, but I can t I can t do this. I can t watch her burn

  I don t have that power, I m not a god, Alec. I m just & me. I haven t changed that much since I brought Lex back. If it meant I didn t have to feel this pain, I d bring her back in a heartbeat, even if there were consequences. I promise you if I m ever blessed with the power to do it, I will. Right now, it s not possible. I don t have it in me, and nobody is more sorry of that than I.

  Sinking into himself, he let go of my hand.

  Both my arms climbed until they were high above my head, loosely arced into a graceful oval. Golden flames slashed with bursts of deep purple flickered at my fingertips, spread to cover the entirety of my hands. More tears pooled above my lashes it was the most beautiful magics I had ever done.

  Lochlann abruptly stood, squared his shoulders, and raised his own hand. Green and blue sparks danced along his palm. Breandan too raised a hand to conjure a sphere of pulsing silver fire.

  The blessing was straightforward; three words to release her from this world.

  I pressed my eyes closed, and filled my heart with love and the memory of her. I wish I had the chance to know her better. We parted in anger, and how I regretted that. I wish I could have told her how much she had meant to me.

  Be at peace,

  I whispered.

  Pouring from my hands, the golden flames swept across the pyre and doused it in liquid fire. Blue and green sparks rained from above, and a ball of shimmering silver light had the pyre flaring in a burst of brilliant light.

  Alec cried out. Head in his hands, he staggered forward. Byron restrained him with an arm across the chest. He patted the side of Alec s face and murmured in his ear, all the while the Alpha faced away from the flames, unable to watch.

  Lochlann turned and walked away, stopping Daphne with a murderous glare when she tried to follow. The vampire-girl shook her head eyes welling with blood. With a soft cry, she darted in the other direction; fading into a blur her speed was so swift.

  The faceless crowd behind us dissipated, melting into the night. Conall took charge of the demon leaders, promising the Meet would continue after dawn. He knew without speaking it was my wish the humans be looked after and their wounds seen to.

  The Tribe would lament our loss, rest, and prepare to face the battles to come battles that would bring more grief, more loss.

  Breandan pulled me into his arms, a
nd I held onto him tightly. Pressing my eyes closed, I swore to myself if I ever had the power, I would undo this.

  We stood alone before the raging flames, withstanding the pain of watching her burn to make sure she was not alone. We stood until the pyre burnt to ash, floating away with the dawn on bitter winds.

  ***

  I waded into the pool of water and shivered when the wetness climbed over my hips and waist. I dare not go any further since I couldn t swim. Breandan had assured me swimming was natural, and I would be able to so instinctively, but still I was cautious. I d heard drowning was an excruciating death, and I wasn t a fan of pain.

  Breandan sat on the bank where I d sat once mourning the loss of a friend.

  I d thought Maeve dead once before, and when I d seen her again my joy had been tremendous. Breandan and Lochlann had been confident during this time that she was alive. They believed they would have known if she was taken from them.

  After the rush of adrenaline had passed this time, her absence had been clear to Lochlann, but not to Breandan.

  I was curious as to why.

  The longer I tried to puzzle it out the guiltier I felt. Did my hysteria over Cael and Ana being kin stop them from discovering her moments too late?

  I shook myself.

  Such thoughts did nobody any good.

  The lush flowers surrounding the pool were closed up tightly, the petals dying in the colder air. The sunrays made the hoarfrost coating the ground glisten and the wispy mist weaving past the tree line shimmer.

  The air was scented with a fresh tang that made my lungs tingle pleasantly on each inhalation. Gusts of wind rustling the browning leaves and sweeping over the water sounded like crystals chiming and the deep thrumming of flutes. The colors were cool and crisp, light blues, washed out greens, and faded purples. Dawn broke. The soft radiance emitted by the flora dimmed, and the sun retreated behind low clouds, beginning winter s everlasting twilight until nightfall.

  Breandan,

  I called softly.

  Come here.

  I kept the tone gentle to coax him over. I disliked how he sat there staring at nothing, not seeing the beauty around him. His thoughts were dark, and he deserved them to be filled with light. I ran my hands over the surface of the water playfully to create ripples.

  It ll make you feel better.

  As I waved my fingers, I let stems of magic spread and warm the waters.

  I hadn t had the control to do this before. As Conall and Breandan had promised, I was beginning to exert greater control over my magical abilities.

  I smiled in victory when Breandan tugged off his boots. He stood to unbuckle the belt holding his dagger. A distressed squeal had him pausing and motioning a come hither gesture with his fingers, a kind expression on his face.

  Grace all but danced closer she moved with such loveliness. She set down a large pile of clothes with a small vial on top, and put a basket of food beside it.

  Lady Rae wished me to attend her?

  she stuttered, her large red eyes fixed on Breandan. She tore them away and managed a deep if somewhat wobbly curtsey my way. The ends of her curly red hair trailed along the ground.

  Breandan and I shared a grin over her bowed head. The brief respite from the heavy emotion and the lighthearted expression on his face was some solace to my own concerns. I could handle my grief over Maeve later when I was sure Breandan was dealing with it.

  From my own experience, I knew fairies grieved intensely after the passing of a loved one then were able to move past it. Breandan s hurt at Maeve s pyre had been deep, but stubbornly controlled. Lochlann s outward display of grief had been expected and acknowledged for what it was. It didn t make the High Lord weak, it made him honorable, and I was certain the same would have been thought if Breandan allowed himself to feel so strongly, but he hadn t. He had resisted. I was worried he hadn t grieved completely for his sister, and that it would haunt him unless he embraced the pain.

  Grace stood and clasped her hands together in front of her, eyes swiftly rolling around and making their way back to Breandan. Her small frame trembled, and her already large eyes widened. Another tremor racked her frame. I bit my lip, seeing it wasn t awe that made her this way, but fear. Breandan was unusually tense, as he sorted through the clothes she brought. He thanked her quietly for the food and kept a safe distance away. His movement was awkward and uncomfortable.

  Breandan had once confessed that whilst I found his form enchanting, he wasn t considered attractive to other fairy females. At the time, I d dismissed these comments as modesty to make me feel better.

  Watching how Grace s face bore an expression of mild distaste as her eyes tracked the tattoos across his chest made me aware he hadn t been exaggerating when he said the other females found him ugly.

  Grace?

  I said in a harsher tone than intended. I was perversely pleased when she jumped a good foot in the air and yanked her gaze away from Breandan to alight it on me. It offended me that she looked at him with such unkindness in her usually docile expression. It was difficult to keep the indignation from my voice.

  Did Lily go to Daphne?

  Oh yes. Why wouldn t she?

  I was worried she wouldn t want to deal with a vampire.

  I cringed at my lack of eloquence in explaining that the woman might resent having to tend to Daphne s needs.

  No!

  Grace s inflection was scandalized. She gripped the folds of her skirts in tiny fists.

  That would disrespect Lady Daphne, something she would never do. What would the High Lord say? Do you need anything else? I wish to pay my respects to Lady Maeve.

  The air of sadness around her intensified, and her lip quivered. She let go of her clothes, and clutched her green hands about her waist, holding back her pain. She lowered her lashes to obscure her eyes glittering with tears.

  She was my friend.

  When she was sure I needed nothing else, Grace bobbed two neat curtsies, and flitted away up the path. She hadn t taken more the three steps before she spun on her heel and flew back down the path. Stopping abruptly, Grace held my eye and blurted,

  The Meet has begun again, Priestess. I don t know why Kian asked me to keep this from you, but you are my Lady, he is not my Lord.

  Her vehement proclamation as to where her loyalties lay had her scurrying up the path nodding her head, her filmy skirts twitching with her rapid steps.

  I could never wear something so sheer and feminine. I d rip holes in it and do gods knows what else to the fabric. Eyeing the garments she d left behind, I didn t see any sheer fabrics and relaxed.

  Expression stony, Breandan reached for his boot.

  No,

  I said resolutely, halting him.

  That can wait.

  It is disrespectful. Your presence in the Wyld is known, yet they shun you. Lochlann knows Daphne cannot attend during the day, and whether he likes it or not, being the only vampire in attendance makes her the representative for their race.

  I waved my hand dismissively.

  That can all wait. They can t make too firm a decision until they hear from one of the goblin Hordes, correct?

  Yes.

  Then come here.

  His displeasure plain by the aggravated noises he made, Breandan finished getting undressed, picked up the vial, and joined me. The dark slash of his eyebrow rose as he noted the temperature of the water. He reached me in a few strides and gathered me into his arms as he continued to slosh his way steadily into the centre.

  I really can t swim,

  I whispered, fingers digging into his shoulders in panic.

  You re safe,

  he replied, but stopped anyway.

  Wanting to know how deep the water was, I wiggled, and he let me drop. The water covered me to the chin. It was very disconcerting. I kept a firm hold on Breandan s arms, and clambered back into them when I found splashing about in the water made it lap up to my cheekbones.

  Holding myself rigid, I att
empted a smile when I caught his stare.

  Things are getting worse.

  It will do,

  he replied.

  It was foolish not expecting an attack here, especially with so many powerful demons attending the Meet.

  I suppose. It s scary to think nowhere is safe.

  I took his head between my hands. For a long time, I searched for the right words. The words that would make him all right, but I decided there weren t any.

  Maeve was

  Rae, I m fine. I hid the burden of my grief from you because you have your own to deal with. My family and I know the risks of what we do. You cannot expect to fight a war, and there not be people you love taken from you, especially when we have been raised to protect the Tribe at the cost of our own lives. We were born for this, and always are we at the heart of conflict to protect what we believe in. Lochlann and I coddled Maeve for too long in fear we would lose her.