Unexpectedly, Selene moved in a blur and in a second she stood face to face with Anastasia. The Ramanga didn’t budge but her sharp teeth dropped quickly from her gums. Her brown eyes gradually changed as if they were filled with dark liquid, completely engulfing the white of her eyes. Selene’s eyes also changed and while they stared at each other, Remy moved in quickly and he gently separated them.
“Ladies, this confrontation will get us nowhere,” he said with his eyes also dark and voided of white. “Even though I love seeing a good hair pulling fight, may I suggest that we get to the bottom of what’s happening in the city, find Lucius, and kill Kei.”
Anastasia’s teeth retracted and her eyes returned back to normal.
Selene stepped back and when her eyes turned back to its normal color of green, she spoke. “I want to see this minion that you have.”
Anastasia turned back and disappeared into the house without responding. Nathan held out his hand as a welcoming gesture for Selene to enter Blind Bluff Manor. Selene motioned for Jessica to follow her, and without a moment of hesitation, she was trailing behind her and into Nathan’s home.
Selene walked through the back door, and once inside the hallway leading to the basement, she paused at the crooked pictures on the wall. She rubbed the picture frame of one of them, a landscape painting with a scene of a riverbed and rocks. Another picture of a woman wearing a white bodice with an elegant dress with a scoop neckline also caught her eye.
They walked down the very same steps Veronica traveled to reach the basement. Selene raised her hand, and Jessica stopped before reaching the top step. She stood to the side and watched Veronica descend down the stairs.
Murphy was still chained to the wall, unaware of Selene’s grand appearance. His head was drooped forward, and a small pool of blood collected near his feet. His previous wounds had already healed.
She approached him but not once did she concern herself with the various torture devices hanging from the wall. She placed her hand underneath his chin and she lifted his head. His left eye was swollen, but his right eye fluttered and opened slowly.
“You sired him?” She looked over her shoulder, staring at Anastasia who stood next to the chains hanging from the basement wall. Selene examined him from head to toe. “Wake up, minion,” she whispered. “We need to talk.” She removed her hand from underneath his chin, watching his head go limp and his body lean forward. “Centuries passed and you still choose torture.” She referred to the state of his body. The expression on her face turned to concern. “But siring him…that is a twist, even for you.”
Veronica found herself unable to keep her eyes off her. This woman, this Deamhan, made a promise to protect me. She wanted to know why. What was so dangerous, what was so important to her mother that she trusted Lucius to protect her daughter? The questions had to wait. Now wasn’t the time. She needed to find out what thoughts are in Murphy’s brain.
“Kei is having a Gathering, soon.” Selene looked back at Murphy. “It’s the perfect time to confront him.” She placed both of her hands on the right and left side of his head. “He’s weak enough to probe.”
Veronica wanted to know why this wasn’t done in the first place. The older the Deamhan, the more powerful they were. Selene didn’t need to fear Kei. Her thoughts were loud enough for Selene to answer them.
“A Dictum needs willing Deamhan to enforce it. If younger Deamhan see older Deamhan standing against Kei, they’ll choose survival. Alone, I’m weaker than he is. But with many Deamhan standing at my side, I will be a force to be reckoned with.” She closed her eyes. Murphy’s head shot back abruptly. He started to squirm, trying to get away from her.
“I tried reading his thoughts, Selene and it didn’t work,” Anastasia said.
“Of course it wouldn’t. Even at your age, you’re too young to break through placed barriers.” Selene made contact. The room hushed. Even Anastasia looked interested.
Murphy’s body stopped squirming, and he was caught under Selene’s spell. Veronica heard soft footsteps coming down the steps. Hallie stood quietly on the bottom step and watched.
A small trickle of blood poured out from his left ear, and suddenly his body began to shake violently. Selene released her grip and took a couple of steps back, slowly shaking her head.
“Impossible.” Her expression changed from astonishment to absolute rage mixed with fear.
“I told you,” Anastasia confirmed.
“No, I was able to get through. It’s dark magic. They used dark magic to place Lucius in Limbo.”
“Dark magic?” Veronica had heard about dark magic from her father, but like many other things he said to her, she didn’t believe it. It was demonic, evil, and practically unstable magic used for harming, torturing, and killing. It also was used to create Deamhan. If Kei did use dark magic and Limbo to get rid of Lucius, then the possibility of her mother also being placed in Limbo seemed all too real. It was a saddened thought but she felt relieved to know that her mother could still be alive.
Murphy began to laugh. “He told me about you, Selene.” Blood dripped from the corners of his mouth.
She made eye contact with him. “And what did he say?”
“The first human to be sired by Lucius. A killer of Deamhan and human. You hated him because Lucius loved him more than you.”
“Lies.” Her eyes searched the room until they locked onto a piece of wood sitting upright near the back room. In Deamhan speed she rushed over to it, grabbed it, and returned to Murphy. She placed her left hand around his neck and lifted his head and placed the wood over his heart.
“No, don’t. Please.” His body tensed up, and his laughing ceased.
Before Veronica knew what Selene was doing to him, it was too late. Slowly she embedded the piece of wood into his skin.
His skin turned from a pale hue to a rusted color and it began to sink over his cheekbones and his neck. He gasped once and fell silent while his eyes shriveled into nothing. Eventually, the skin around his face began to flake and fall over. The discoloration traveled over his chest, to his arms and to his legs and eventually to his head. Selene released him and watched as his arms turned into a mixture of thick dust and blood as it dropped to the ground. His legs followed in the evaporation process until there was nothing left but a puddle of dust and blood.
She licked her lips in sudden blessedness. Her black eyes returned to its normal state to stare at the dust floating through the air. Suddenly and abruptly without a word, she quickly ascended up the steps, followed by Jessica.
Veronica also left, hearing Nathan closely behind her. Selene stood in the foyer and motioned for Jessica to open the front door.
“What did you see?” Veronica’s questioned.
“She saw Limbo,” Remy answered. “It’s enough to make the oldest Deamhan shake in their boots.”
Selene shot Remy a quick glance then she spoke. “The state of Limbo is frightening, even for Deamhan my age.” She looked at Nathan. “Thank you for your hospitality.”
Nathan placed his hands on Veronica’s shoulders, halting her from moving forward. “You are most welcome.”
Jessica held the door open, and the cold winter air circled through the foyer, carrying snowflakes.
“Is it possible that my mother is there with Lucius?” Veronica asked.
“I don’t know.” Selene stepped out into the cold air, and Jessica closed the door behind them.
“She must have seen something to scare her to leave so quickly like that,” she replied.
They heard Anastasia’s faint footsteps walking up the basement steps. She stood in the entranceway and upon hearing Veronica’s statement, she quickly answered. “I saw what Selene saw.”
They remained quiet as they listened to her describe seeing Kei dressed in a long silk robe, sitting on a large black throne in front of a huge panned window with several minions, including Murphy, surrounding him. Dressed in a black leather jacket with matching pants and boots, he sported
dark rimmed sunglasses and he wore his brown hair slicked to the back. While the minions worshipped his every being, he remained relaxed and Anastasia sensed his strong cocky demeanor.
The images changed to an old and abandoned farmhouse in the middle of a cornfield. It tilted to the side, the wood bleached from years of prolonged sunlight. A huge cliff near the edge of the field had a small stream that ran through it. Old and twisted corn stalks filled the surrounding fields. Darkness oozed from a cave near the fields. When Selene had tried piercing through the cave, the images suddenly stopped, leaving the feeling and the odor of Lucius on the tip of Anastasia’s tongue.
“I don’t know why Selene was so hesitant to continue,” Anastasia said. “She probably fears dark magic.” Before Veronica could ask why, Nathan interrupted.
“There isn’t enough information about Limbo to understand what it truly is,” he exclaimed. “Deamhan and researcher alike have heard of it but there isn’t anyone alive who has experienced it.” His question left more answers.
“The cave is located south from here,” Anastasia replied. “About fifty miles in Steele County.”
With this new information, Veronica was ready to travel to the cave Anastasia described. Black magic or no magic, it didn’t matter.
“It isn’t going to be easy.” A voice from above caught their attention. Remy leaned on the railing, looking down at them gathered below. How long he’d been up there, listening to their conversation, no one knew except for Anastasia. “There’s a solid reason as to why Selene left as fast as she did.”
“And why is that?” Veronica asked.
A wide grin appeared on his face. “Limbo is Amenirdis’ territory.”
She looked to Nathan whose eyes widened. She saw Anastasia’s body stiffen and her lips slowly crunched together. Feeling kept out of the loop, she spoke up. “Who is Amenirdis?”
“Oh just one of the very first Deamhan created.” He approached the stairs and descended slowly, gliding his hands along the railing. “She’s also known as a strong practitioner of dark magic.” He held his head high, like a king admired by his subjects, and when he reached the bottom stair, he stopped and lowered himself unexpectedly to sit.
“But she’s dead,” Anastasia responded.
“Don’t lie to the poor girl, Ana.” Remy smiled. “The very first Deamhan are still alive.”
“Pure Ones?”
“Pure Ones. Pure Deamhan…yeah…”
Nathan leaned against the walls and folded his arms across his chest. “In The Brotherhood we were taught that the Pure Ones were myths.”
“If they’re just myths then how would explain us?” Remy asked. “They are the first of our kind. Amenirdis is one of them.”
“And she lives in a cave?” Veronica couldn’t believe it herself.
“No, she is in Limbo but she is reachable through three immortal human looking girls endowed with magic. They negotiate for her.”
“And how do you know this?” Anastasia asked.
He examined his fingernails in a cool and calm manner. “I know this because I met them decades ago, back in Paris. My ego is still recovering.”
Yet another powerful Deamhan entered her search, and Veronica wiped her face with her hand, taking in a deep breath.
“She and her three human servants are the whores of dark magic.” He looked up at Nathan in a cold and calculated smile. “Amenirdis, herself, is the Queen of Limbo. The Dark Mother. An Ekimmu Deamhan. If you want anyone to suffer a fate worse than death, she’s the one to go to.”
“All Ekimmu Deamhan are dead.” Anastasia folded her arms.
To that, Remy shrugged. “Fine. Don’t believe me then.”
They stared at each other for what felt like minutes.
Anastasia sighed out of annoyance. “If what Remy says is true then you’re your search ends here, Veronica.”
“Yeah, sorry, sweat pea,” he added.
“So that’s it?” Veronica wanted a better explanation.
“We’re no match for one of the first Deamhan to have ever existed. Even her human servants are stronger than all of us.”
Nathan rubbed his chin in thought. “If she is the one who did this to Lucius, then there may not be anything that we can do.” He walked toward his study.
Veronica watched Anastasia walk down the back hallway and out to the backyard. She found herself alone with Remy still snickering at her. She contemplated her next move.
“I admire your persistence,” he said to her. “But this isn’t one area you’d want to venture in.”
She sighed. Not only did she have to deal with Kei but now Amenirdis, a Deamhan she’d never heard before until now and supposedly a Deamhan old and strong enough to scare Selene, her protector.
Hallie raised her hand slightly. “If you go, Veronica, I’ll go with you.”
Remy laughed under his breath. “You can’t protect her. You’ve never been past the front gates as a Deamhan.”
Hallie lowered her chin into her chest and stewed. “At least I’m not scared.”
Veronica straightened her hair and she reached out her hand to Hallie. “Let’s go.”
“Wait.” He stood in front of her. “You can’t seriously think about going there, tonight.”
“Why not?” She walked around him and she headed for the front door with Hallie following her.
Again Remy moved in front of her and he slowly licked his lips. “You humans and kids are so alike; so naïve and eager for the thrill.” He opened the front door. “Before we go, I need to make a quick stop.”
She looked at him, seeing the devilish spark in his eye.
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
Everything around Remy, Hallie, and Veronica moved rapidly as if it existed in its own realm. The stars streaked in the sky, and the lights from the city combined their glow. They moved faster than Veronica thought anyone or anything could move.
Remy tightly held onto her as he moved in Deamhan speed into downtown Minneapolis with Hallie close behind. They zigzagged around buses, cars and pedestrians walking down the street. She felt her stomach churn, and throughout the whole wild ride, she closed her eyes, fearing if she’d open up, the images would add to her nausea.
The smell of car exhaust filled her nose, and she felt Remy slowing down, finally coming to a stop. Before leaving Blind Bluff Manor, he told her his speed would affect her. She didn’t know what that meant until she found herself on the verge of vomiting. He brought up the idea of driving, but she wanted to get to the cave before Selene changed her mind and decided to find Amenirdis. Plus Remy made it clear that he wasn’t going to be caught in the middle of no man’s land during sunrise. He then mentioned something that would help her control the traveling aversion. Something that humans drank to experience what it felt like to be a Deamhan, minus the immortality; something that she had consumed before at Dark Sepulcher.
She opened her eyes. They stopped near the University of Minnesota. A snow plow drove by, pushing excess snow from the street onto the curb. He let go of her arm and watched Veronica slowly recover to her senses.
“That was so cool!” Hallie cheered. “Wow, I can always run like that?”
“Keep your voice down,” He hushed her. “I don’t want him to know we’re coming.”
They stood in front of a white two level home with a waist high wooden fence with a shoveled sidewalk. A small sign which read “Welcome to Our Home” was staked in the front yard. From the outside, the home looked nothing like a sanctuary.
“You’ve had the drink before right?” He questioned Veronica who nodded and tried to rid the memory of the taste from her mouth.
She didn’t want to think of the repulsing experience.
Remy stopped in front of the steps, staring at the straw welcome mat in front of the door. He looked up and began to glance at the home like he’d never seen it before.
“Is something wrong?” she quietly asked.
He continued to observe. “New paint job.” He
tapped on the siding of the house. He peeked through the darkened windows of the home and the white window shades that covered them on the inside. The house was completely dark with no movement. She waited for Remy, who turned the knob and opened the door.
She remained where she stood, then she cautiously followed them into the home, hoping their presence was enough to ward off any danger they might encounter. Three men sat on a couch in the living room, facing a television. The first one who saw them enter immediately grabbed the remote and turned it off. He raised himself from the couch, nervous, and stared back at them.
Veronica stood behind Remy, seeing the fear in their eyes. They were all minions and they belonged to someone. From the back room, another group appeared from the hallway and stopped where they stood. Used cups, old newspapers, and various other trash littered the floor. The yellow stained walls, also peppered with holes, contributed to Veronica’s stereotype of what a Deamhan sanctuary outside of Nathan’s looked like. The repugnant air filled their nostrils. Two piles of dust and blood forming the shape of two bodies, lay next to the television stand. The light fixture in the living room dangled from the ceiling by a cord severed at its base.
“Disgusting.” Remy took one slow glance around the room and took a step forward. “Smells like rotten fish.”
Hallie covered her nose. A mouse ran in front of her and she jumped. “Gross.”
Veronica watched two female children standing near the staircase. One of them, who looked fairly young, held a small tattered doll in her hand, and the other stood in front, blocking the other from her gaze.
“Where is he?” Remy asked them. A male minion pointed up the stairs. He glanced over the two piles of dust. “His work?”
Deamhan Chronicles, Books 1-5: Deamhan, Kei. Family Matters, Dark Curse, Maris. The Brotherhood Files, Ayden. Deamhan Minion Page 21