Deamhan Chronicles, Books 1-5: Deamhan, Kei. Family Matters, Dark Curse, Maris. The Brotherhood Files, Ayden. Deamhan Minion

by Isaiyan Morrison

  “Yes, I was at one point.” Nicias walked forward. “But I'm here to join in the festivities.”

  “No. You're here because Kyra demanded you to be here,” she replied as her eyes turned to me. “And you. I thought I killed you. Now I'm just going to have to kill you all over again.”

  “You were not supposed to harm her,” Kyra said. “I declared it.”

  Ethel raised her head. “Yes, you declare this and you declare that. You are the oldest, after all. You think we should just bow our heads and worship every word that escapes your mouth?” Her voice deepened. “I spent centuries doing that, Kyra. I got my hands dirty, like Silvanus, Nicias, and many other Deamhan under you. I didn't question your orders. I obeyed blindly. But not anymore. Now this is a new age and your opinions are outdated. What you want isn't in the majority. It's in the minority.” Her eyes squinted and she began to grind her teeth. Her face revealed a Lamia that had been through so much in her long lifetime. But underneath that mask I still saw the same temper that Finley pointed out to me all those years ago. It was the same anger and brutality that all Ancient Deamhan possessed, including Kyra.

  “This doesn't have to end with your death ,” Kyra said. “All you have to do is submit and acknowledge your wrongs. Then I will call off this Decretum and we can turn our attention to more important matters.”

  “That's a nice suggestion, Kyra, but I have one of my own.” She pointed to me. “All you have to do is kill her and end the threat of the Dark Curse.” She tilted her head to the side. “Why do you want that information, anyway? Wouldn't it be better for no one to have it?” She stood up slowly from her chair and her eyes now retained the color of charcoal. “Unless...you know something we don't know? That's it, isn't it? I know you better than most, Kyra. I know you crave more power than you already have. You don't want anyone to be over you. That would be a travesty. So you have other Deamhan below you do your dirty work, protecting a young Deamhan who should've died in the last century.”

  Before things grew worse, I stepped forward. “Where is he?”

  Ethel's eyes snapped in my direction. “You don't have the right to talk to me.”

  “What have you done to Finley?” I asked again as I stepped forward again.

  “He's behind you.”

  I quickly turned around, encountering Finley's scent. Almost immediately, I dropped my defenses and watched as he entered the room, wearing a dark suit and a black brocade vest underneath his jacket. He still kept the same old fashions from the 1920s, but that wasn't what halted my growing happiness. Something wasn't right. He looked older and well groomed; happier than I expected. When he walked by me, a wide grin appeared on his face. He didn't hug me nor did he seem thrilled to see me. Instead, he made his way over to Ethel and stood by her side.

  At that moment, I knew... I knew that he wasn't Ethel's prisoner. He served her, but why? How! Oh, my Finley. He didn't look as if he'd suffered in the years since she took him away from me. Ethel placed her hand on his shoulder and she smiled the most devious smile I had ever seen.

  My hands balled and I stepped back, unsure of what to make of this new and improved Finley who stood in front of me. He had to be an imposter. She brainwashed him into serving her. Perhaps he'd suffered from years of torture so that he eventually broke down and submitted to her.

  “I helped him open his eyes to the dangers around him,” Ethel said. “He understands clearly now since you weren't around to cloud his judgment.”

  I stepped back, colliding with Ayden who gently grabbed me by my arm. I looked to him, hoping that maybe he could help me explain or understand what had happened. Instead, he looked away.

  “He's been mine since he realized that your death was the best thing to ever happen to him.” Ethel dropped her hand from Finley's shoulder. “He will always be mine.” She placed her head on his shoulder. “I've bonded with him.”

  “Shut your mouth!” I screamed and without a thought, I moved at her. I wanted nothing but to push her away from him but Finley quickly placed himself in front of her and he pushed me back, protecting her from my wrath.

  “They shouldn't have saved you from the sun.” His statement made my entire body shudder.

  “What has she done to you?” I reached out to place my hand on his cheek, but he moved it away.

  “She liberated me, Maris,” he said. “She took the blinds from my eyes and I can see clearly now.” He moved back to her.

  My eyes wavered to him. “She's brainwashed you.” I turned to Ayden for support and I heard him swallow hard. “Ayden, she's brainwashed him!”

  Finley’s eyes moved to Ayden. “He knows I'm right.” His eyes narrowed.

  “And what about Jesse!”

  “Jesse died to protect you, remember?” His beautiful eyes turned dark. “I would've died as well if I’d never opened my eyes to the truth.”

  Ayden began to grunt as well and I didn't understand what was happening until Finley moved to me. Pain rushed into my head, feeling like tiny needles stabbing me repeatedly. It hurt to have my eyes opened so I closed them. I tried to push him out but his force easily pushed me back. The Deamhan crowd around us began to slowly move in. I felt Ayden grab me by my arm and yank me back.

  “You have to go, for your own safety,” he whispered to me.

  Ethel walked forward and the Deamhan crowd parted, creating a small pathway for her. “Kyra. Nicias. Do you really want to fight?”

  “You will die tonight, Ethel, if you don't stand down,” Kyra said.

  “And subject myself to your will?” She clasped her hands together behind her back. “I don't think so. Kill them. Kill them all!” Her order escaped her mouth in a long drawn-out hiss.

  It was like a chain reaction. Silvanus had already positioned himself behind me, gripping a long, sharp stake. He staked a Deamhan before I had the chance to blink. Everyone moved quickly in a large mass of fighting and contorting bodies. Confused, I moved forward but Ayden, in the quickest movement I'd ever seen, pulled my arm, yanking me quickly out of the foray and back into the hallway. I heard the sounds of screams, crushing bone, and ripping flesh. I expected him to go back in to the fight but instead he stood by my side to protect me.

  “Now do you see?” he replied. “He isn't the same person you knew before.” He stood in front of me and we watched as a Deamhan, older than both of us, come running out of the room in my direction. Ayden ran into him and swiftly the Deamhan pushed him aside and came at me. Ayden grabbed the male by his shoulder and punched straight through the Deamhan's back, ripping out his heart. Unwavering, he pushed the body to the floor.

  Distracted, we didn't see more of Ethel's followers coming at us from behind. A group of them, all young and inexperienced, rushed at us and we easily fought them off. A younger Metusba Deamhan with red hair slashed at me. I grabbed her wrist in midair and broke her arm. I then broke her neck, lifted her, and threw her body back at the crowd. Globs of blood peppered Ayden's face and he thrust his fingers into the eye sockets of another female Deamhan. She ran around the room like a madwoman, screaming, until she eventually stopped and fell to her knees.

  When we had finished with our attackers, Ayden turned to me. “He has to die along with her, Maris. You know that now.”

  For the first time, I had no argument to persuade Ayden not to harm my Finley. I desperately wanted to watch Kyra kill Ethel with her bare hands, though, for turning him against me. I walked back to the room and once again, Ayden tried to stop me.

  “I want to see Kyra kill her!” I said to him. “I want to gloat over her remains.”

  “At the price of your own life?”

  “I have nothing left, Ayden.”

  His eyes darted swiftly from the floor then back to me. “You have me.”

  I slowly backed away from him. “I can't...I can't do this. Not now.” I turned and headed back into the room.

  Deamhan ran by us, some in groups of no more than five. I watched Silvanus as he downed defenseless Deamhan,
one by one. So easy it was for him to defeat them and still being careful of his surroundings, too. If he willed it, he could kill them all. With part of his face covered in blood and grasping a stake in his hand, he screamed at his success.

  He then moved in Deamhan speed, leaving a trail of bodies behind him. To our right I saw Kyra who had just killed a Lugat and Nicias who had easily subdued his attackers. But nowhere did I see Finley or Ethel.

  I couldn't take any more. I pushed away any qualm I had about joining the fight and I moved into the room, rushing toward the closest Deamhan. With force, I punched through his back, seized his heart, and ripped it from his body. My impromptu appearance stunned Silvanus and he yelled at me through my mind to leave before Ethel could harm me. I ignored his request. I went after another Deamhan I saw in my peripheral vision, but a gust of wind fouled my plot. Finley stood in my path.

  “Maris.” He whirred in disgust as he said my name. Quickly he struck me in the chest and I landed on my back. He straddled himself over me, pinning my arms to the ground. I wrangled my body against his strength but that only made him stronger.

  Ayden trucked dangerously fast over to us and he threw Finley off me. Our ruckus grabbed Silvanus’ attention and he came in at us full force to help us, but I signaled for him to not come.

  Ayden snarled at Finley. “Don't touch her.”

  Finley smiled at his warning. “So you're her protector now?” He licked his dry lips. “Stand aside, Ayden. I don't have any contention with you—yet.”

  “But I have plenty of contention with you.”

  Finley brushed the dirt from his clothing. “Die with her then.” He spat on the ground. “Untrustworthy garbage.” He looked to his right and with a quick nod, a Deamhan flew at Ayden who moved to the side, grabbed him easily, and snapped his neck. He pushed the body to the ground and ripped his head from his body.

  Ayden stood slightly in front of me. “Maris, go. I will handle him.”

  Unsure that he could handle Finley, I dismissed Ayden's good intention.

  “Once you said you'd do anything to protect me,” I spoke to Finley. “And I would do anything to protect you. I'm still your sibling. I'm still bonded to you.”

  “You don't get it. Whether I like it or not,” he jabbed his finger into his chest, “our bond is small in comparison. This is about the survival of our species.”

  “So that's it? You will just kill me and not think twice about it?”

  “If it means our survival, then yes.”

  Ayden moved in, placing himself between us. “I am going to kill you,” he said.

  “For her?” Finley tilted his head to the side.

  “No. For my sire.”

  Finley's foot met Ayden's stomach, pushing him onto the floor. He moved quickly and his right fist connected with my face. Still in shock, I didn't fight back. Now on his feet, Ayden moved in and I watched as his body slammed into Finley's.

  “Just because you easily handled Jesse decades ago, you think you can take me?” Finley slapped his chest to show his dominance. His love for American boxing began resurface. It was like watching him fight all over again. He swung a right at Ayden, who easily ducked and countered with his own. Finley blocked his attack and countered with another right, striking Ayden square in the face.

  “I've watched many Deamhan die,” Finley spoke. “What makes you think I'd remember your sire?”

  Ayden jumped back and extended his palm, hitting Finley in his midsection. The blow swung Finley's body around. I jumped on his back, only to be flipped over, landing on the ground. Ayden swung again, this time with a right then a left, and both times Finley evaded the attacks with ease. He jumped high, over Ayden, landing behind him. He gripped Ayden by the neck and he pulled out a stake from the back pocket of his pants.

  “You're just another Deamhan I'll add to my slew of kills,” Finley barked.

  Watching Finley about to stake Ayden made me snap back into reality. I felt my fangs drop slowly. Finley raised his stake high and I moved in, slapping it from his grasp. I struck him across the face and the blow made him lose his grip on Ayden. He retaliated and sent me to ground. He lifted his right foot and slammed it into my face. I felt the hard rubber crushing my cheekbone as I attempted to pull him off. He pressed down harder until Ayden punched and his attack missed Finley by inches.

  He didn't flinch in his attack against me. I didn't want to admit that he no longer had cared for me but how I wanted him to! I needed him to!

  I slid myself away from Finley when I suddenly saw his body fly back into the air. I jumped to my feet, seeing Silvanus standing next to me. Blood covered his mouth and the front part of his shirt.

  “Are you all right?” he asked but didn't wait for my reply. Instead he moved on Finley and easily hit him with such a force that Finley's legs wobbled underneath him. He bombarded Finley's face with lefts and rights, ending with an uppercut that sent my sibling flying through the air. When Finley landed, Silvanus positioned himself over him in Deamhan speed with the stake in his hand again. He raised it but didn't strike.

  Silvanus slowly turned his gaze in my direction. “He isn't my kill to claim.” He tossed the stake to Ayden and he quickly jumped back into the fight around us.

  Ayden and I stood over Finley. From my peripheral vision I saw a shadow coming at me. I turned just in time to see Ethel's fist headed toward the right side of my face. The blow didn't stun me at first until I felt the heel of her boot connecting with my mouth. I stumbled back and felt a burning sensation on my lower lip followed by blood. She easily managed to push Ayden out of the way and as I attempted to counter attack in my dizzied state, she continued to punch at me rapidly until numbness began to set in.

  The last hit spun me around and I landed on my left knee, steadying myself with my left hand on the ground. I felt my anger raging inside me and I growled as I felt another blow against the right side of my face. That blow was just enough to send me face-first into the ground. I lifted my head, unable to see, but was still able to smell Ayden who returned to help me. She stopped him in his tracks by grabbing onto him by the neck with her right hand and she continued to barrage my face with more punches with her left hand.

  When Silvanus came, she threw Ayden's body at him. She then grabbed a handful of my hair, lifted my head, and struck me. She did it again and again with so much rage. With each punch the back of my head hit the ground in a large thud. I didn't know how much more I could take and when it would end. She then stopped.

  My face throbbed. My nose was broken and my eye swollen. I felt the blood within me beginning to heal the bruises and my wounds beginning to close. Just then I felt my face peppered with warm blood that wasn't my own. It spurted from Ethel's neck as she gripped it and stood up to her feet. I scurried back on the floor, watching her legs stumble underneath her own weight. With my swollen eyes, I looked to see Ayden standing behind her.

  I slowly raised myself to my feet realizing that he had cut across and through Ethel's neck, severing her vocal chords, and almost decapitating her, like she did to Jesse. Now was my chance. This was it. I walked over to her and placed my right hand on her forehead and my left hand on her back. I began to pull, hearing the sound of ripping flesh and bone. I screamed, using the remaining strength in me to yank off her head, sending her straight to hell.

  I tossed her head to the floor and I didn't bother to watch her body decay away. Walking toward Finley, I tripped over my own feet and Ayden caught me before I fell to the ground. We stood over him, watching him still struggling with dizziness.

  Finley looked up at me and he moaned briefly. “Again, you're saved from impending death.”

  With Ethel dead, her followers would disappear into the wind. Killing Finley would close this horrid chapter in my Deamhan life, but to seal the book I also needed to distance myself from everyone and everything. I wished—I prayed—that it wouldn't have to end this way. I still longed to go to San Francisco with him; to spend eternity with him. I neede
d to do this. I lowered myself to my knees.

  “Maris, what are you doing?” Ayden asked me.

  I lifted my hand for him to remain quiet. “I want to know.” I placed my hand on Finley's cheek. “Do you still love me, Finley?”

  He remained quiet.

  “Tell me you love me.” I rubbed his cheek. “Please.”

  “Like you said before, Maris, Deamhan can't love.”

  Ayden kneeled next to me. He pulled back his arm and struck Finley in the chest with such force that his ribcage broke into pieces beneath his skin.

  Finley gasped as Ayden pushed further, grabbing his heart. I didn't want to walk away. I wanted to be there in Finley's dying moments. I wanted him to know that whatever he thought about me, I still cherished his very being but I couldn't let him live—not with hatred for me in his heart.

  His skin began to deteriorate in front of me. “Close your eyes,” I whispered to him. Soon nothing remained of Finley but a puddle of blood and ash. I stared at his remains and a surge of sympathy and sorrow overcame me. I cried out and buried my face in my hands. I wanted to shed tears for him but as Deamhan, I couldn't. Instead, I remembered what it felt like to feel sorrow when human. Then nothing.

  The commotion around us settled and I lowered my hands. I saw Kyra, covered head to toe in blood, standing over Ethel's remains. Turning around, my eyes met Ayden and at that point, I wanted no more of this life. I wanted all the information about the Dark Curse wiped clean from my mind and if possible, I wanted Kyra to take every drop of blood inside me.

  “Go ahead.” I stood up and walked slowly in Kyra's direction. “Take what you want,” I said to her in a trembled voice. “Take all of it.”

  Kyra looked at me. At that point I didn't know what she planned to do next, nor did I care.

  “Take it!” I raised my voice at her.

  “Maris, it's been a long night,” Silvanus said in an attempt to calm me down. “We should not do it here.”