Darkness (Darkest Nightmares Book 1)

by Elizabeth Knox

  I look around and see rolling hills that fill the vast area we are in. Parts are wooded, and others are meadows filled with greenery and maybe even lavender. I can smell the plant hit my nose and all I can do is take a big whiff. I love the scent of lavender, it’s a bit relaxing. Darkness begins to walk, and I’m tugged along with him thanks to this lovely chain. He takes me with him until we’ve started to walk in the woods, a few trees gradually turned into a complete forest. We walk for what feels like miles, and then I notice the small cottage in the middle of the forest, and right next to it is a glowing blue orb.

  Hello, Portal.

  “We don’t have time to waste, you can dilly-dally later?” Darkness grumbles, practically darting towards the portal. I can tell he wants to get this over and done with, I think we both agree on that.

  He tugs me along with him and the beautiful greenery turns into sand, heat rises from it like how it does when you’re barefoot on the beach. Only, I’m wearing shoes and I can feel the heat burning the soles of my feet. I can’t imagine how feeling this every day would be.

  I look around, noticing no life. It’s as dead as any desert would be, only I think it’s much hotter. I see cacti scattered around my peripheral vision. That’s not shocking to me, though. I’m sure it’s the only thing that can survive here. I hold my crossbow close to me, unsure of what I should be expecting while we’re here. It’s not like I’ve really the best of things, so being on guard can’t hurt.

  “What’s the plan?” I ask, looking at Darkness for some sort of guidance. I’m great when it comes to action, but up until that point I’m pretty much useless.

  “Did you listen to anything we talked about?” he snarls, just before he rolls his eyes and tugs me along further with him. I begin to open my mouth, but he whips around and glares at me, “Your job is to make sure you don’t fucking die. If it comes at you, you shoot it.”

  “Aye-Aye,” I make a pirate joke, hoping it would help kill some tension but nope, it didn’t. Shocker, right?

  “Stop fucking around, Haven.”

  “Then how about you stop being a big jerk and tell me what the plan is!” I snap.

  “I have to find Veirks. He’s the only one who can close the portals, and that’s what I need. I need him to fucking close it. He would never allow this. I just need to find him and then he can close them all.”

  “If he wouldn’t allow it then, why do you think he’s even around?” I interrupt him, but what good would it do to keep my mouth shut? It makes zero sense to me. Darkness doesn’t say a thing back to me, so I continue. “If you can’t find your friend then we need to have a backup plan?”

  “I always have a backup plan, little girl.”

  “Well, don’t you think you should let me in on this so called “plan”? You not telling me is pissing me the hell off, Darkness.” I stop dead in my tracks, not giving a rat’s ass if it irks him. I feel a tug from the chain, but I don’t budge an inch. He’s opens his mouth, most likely about to say something rude and unwanted, but in the peripheral of my vision I see something fly in our direction.

  I react, not thinking about anything but moving from the spot we are currently occupying. I tackle Darkness, taking him down to the ground. He looks at me, giving me an expression laced full of irritation. I ignore it and look over to where we were just standing moments before.

  The fuck.

  On the sand where we were just standing there is nothing, but an arrow lit aflame. I turn my head in all directions, but I see nothing. Then I hear a noise that sounds like a buzzing bee, in the sky there are hundreds of those arrows aimed for us. It’s Darkness’ turn to react. He picks me up and throws me over his shoulder taking off in a cloud of smoke. One minute we’re in one spot and in the next we’re a good distance away.

  “What the hell was that?” I ask, out of breath and angry at myself for not pulling out my cross-bow and aiming back, but what was I supposed to do when I can’t see my own enemy.

  “Shh. Be quiet. Let me think.” Darkness grunts out in a whisper. I want to lash out at him, tell him to stop being so vague and a pain in the ass but I shut my mouth, biting my tongue. We sit there for a few moments just looking out into the distance when he finally speaks.

  “Something’s not right. We were just outside of the walls of the castle; those arrows came from the archers who are stationed there but I can’t see the fortress. It’s always been invisible to the naked eyes unless you have the brand of King Veriks. He pulls down his pants slightly on the left side and points to his hip, right above his thick dark skin is a healed over brand. It wasn’t anything specific, just some lines and dots that were barely visible unless someone pointed out but nonetheless it was still there.

  “So, what does that mean?” I try and keep my voice as quiet as possible.

  “It means you were right, my king is not present. Not present in the kingdom, or even Xeha. He might possibly be dead for all I know.”

  Hmm.

  I remain squatting down next to him, thinking. Thinking of what we should do now. Coming here was the only plan we had to close those damn portals. Maybe…

  “Darkness, if something did happen to your King, who would be in charge? Did he have an heir or a brother, hell even a second in command?” I ask just throwing ideas out to him. I have my moments of being a total snarky pain in the ass, but one thing I am not is stupid. History was once upon a time my favorite thing to learn about. Especially the time where Kings and Queens ruled the world. I loved reading about battle plans, kingdoms, the structures of society.

  “The only person… We need to leave here now gringhan.” I feel Darkness take my chain in a strong grip and just two steps later I run straight into his back.

  “What the fuck?” I say rubbing my shoulder. I look up to see an army of demons surrounding us, weapons pointed in our direction. My eyes grow wide as I take in all the different shapes and sizes of these demons. Some look exactly like Darkness, but with different colored skin and horns. Others look as if half of them are that of an animal, I see horse legs on a few, dog legs, and are those rabbit legs? Some have wings and are currently fluttering high in the sky and others don’t have limbs at all, whatsoever... more like the body of a serpent.

  I know my mouth is hanging open but, in this moment, I don’t care. These beings are scary as fuck and all I can think about is making sure those portals close as soon as possible. Just looking into their eyes, I can see there is not a lick of compassion or kindness within them. Jett was right, these beings will cause chaos and destruction with just a glance. Humans would not be able to handle seeing creatures such as this.

  I feel Darkness’ hand slip into mine as I am being dragged into his side. Still looking into the crowd not knowing what to expect, I keep my guard up. I see the crowd around us part down the middle and I see a very large, intimidating demon approach us. He’s twice the size of Darkness and the way he is looking at the two of us riddles my entire body with goosebumps.

  I start to raise up my crossbow, but Darkness takes the hand he is currently holding and places it on top of my weapon, slowly hiding it behind his back. I look up at him and see him clenching his jaw, before he swiftly shakes his head from side to side. Don’t do that; aye aye captain.

  The man approaches Darkness and clasps him on the shoulder. He then lowers his head, bringing his horns down upon Darkness’ and says something in a language I don’t understand. They continue this conversation for a few minutes as his gaze upon me.

  His nostrils flare as he inhales a deep breath, eyes glowing a familiar silver that I’ve seen in my own reflection quite a few times in the mirror.

  “Myviryn.” He leans in close and whispers against my ear as he draws in a deep breath. Did this guy just smell me? I don’t know what he’s just said, but I want to so badly. Not understanding this language eats at me, and it makes me realize how much I need to learn it. It’s part of who I am, and I will learn it soon enough.

  I don’t have a clue who
he is but seeing as what I’ve already witnessed...I’m betting this is the general of Xeha’s army.

  Chapter 25

  All war is deception - Sun Tzu

  Darkness

  Ragnor stands before me and now I am stuck confronting the one man who I really didn’t want to see. He is more than likely the man who has overseen Xeha in Veriks’ absence. That doesn’t settle well with me, for I know what Ragnor is truly like. Others have seen a taste of him, while I’ve gotten a front row seat into his madness.

  From the corner of my eye I can see Haven’s protective side start to slip, she slowly starts to raise her weapon. The one weapon that could kill every demon here. I need her to hide it because Ragnor loathes the Vale, as do many of us. It’s why he obliterated them from existence, if there was no Vale it meant no huntresses, which means that we have no one who holds the power to destroy us. Well, no one besides my gringhan.

  I silently spoke my prayers inside of my mind, urging whatever gods were looking over us to keep him from seeing the marks on her crossbow. If he saw the marks, if he saw the way she was protective of it...I don’t know if I’d be strong enough to protect her from Ragnor or his soldiers.

  I take the hand I am using to hold hers and place it on the weapon. She’s very close to me, half of her body on one side of me and the other placed purposefully behind me, so it didn’t look too awkward as I carefully, slowly hid the weapon behind my body.

  Whenever I get an opportunity that crossbow will be placed in the satchel I am currently carrying on my back. Jett would have it no other way. The satchel is his way of being present with us and of being a tad bit overprotective of Haven. I couldn’t blame him though, we would both do our best to protect her as best we could.

  I’m not happy with our current situation, struggling to remain calm, hoping that Ragnar will ignore Haven, but I knew that wouldn’t happen. She’d open her big mouth and draw attention to herself. The women in Xeha were for pleasure, to remain quiet and passive. They were not privy to know all the happenings in their mate’s lives. Most importantly, they kept their mouths shut and didn’t ask questions. Haven didn’t know how to do either of those two things. She’s the most nosy, loud woman I have ever met. I’m not complaining, though. It’s one of the many things that I love about her.

  Ragnor rubs his horns against mine, a way of greeting another whom is respected. It has been quite a while since I have been greeted in such a manner, and then his attention shifts to my gringhan.

  He leans in close against her, taking in what sounds like a deep breath, but it isn’t. He’s smelling her, and instantly I become furious. He should never do something so intimate. You never smell another’s mate, it is a reason to be killed. The proper thing to do would be for him to ask my permission, yet he did not. I can’t help but wonder if he wants to die today, and then I know how I am vastly outnumbered.

  “Myviryn.” I blink a few times, listening to what I know I’ve just heard. That is why he smelt her. He smelt his blood running through her, and just like that, I know that he knows; and that my theory is undoubtedly correct. I had my doubts in the beginning, but now we know. Now, things are going to be shaken up.

  “Myviryn.” Ragnor repeats it again, looking right at me. He calls her his daughter in our native tongue.

  “Maji aksa yutv myviryn lorksai gringhan,” I growl back my response, warning him that his daughter is my mate. If he so much as dares to touch a hair on her head…I don’t care if I’m outnumbered, I will slaughter all of them. Ragnor assess me, turning his head, his glittering silver eyes stare straight into the depths of me. His stance shifts towards Haven, looking her up and down, taking heavy breaths as he gains more of her scent. Every time he does it, it only makes me angrier, but I need to keep my attitude in check. If I don’t...things could end up even worse for us.

  He laughs, not as if what I have told him is funny, but more of an evil snicker. “It is funny, you disappear over twenty years ago with my child and bring her back to me. Did you keep her as your captive until you made her your gringhan? What is your game here, Darkness? I wanted her for many reasons, but you...what could you possibly want her for? Unless...you are as dark as they say.”

  Haven’s face shoots in my direction as she searches my face for answers. I didn’t want to tell her what I know, I would...but not yet. Today is not the right time, or the right place. Her story is long, and her mother’s is even worse.

  “Where is Nvet?” I ask him. If Haven’s mother is still here it could mean many things. I need to know.

  “Dead, I assume. I’d have to ask Veirks but since I have not been able to find him I can’t really do that.” He speaks to me yet stares at Haven. “I can smell the pain on you, child.”

  “What does he mean…” Her voice is quiet, much like a small little girl’s voice would be. I want to wrap my hand around his throat and choke him for what he’s revealed to her. It would do her no good to know all of this now. “You need to talk to me, right now!”

  “We can talk about your fucked-up father later, we have more urgent matters to discuss,” I grumble at her. She needs to prioritize. We have demons flying out of portals into humans, basically an apocalypse is happening on the other side and we’re in here to stop it.

  “Is that a joke? You want to talk about it later? You’re such a fucking asshole. I can’t even believe you!” Haven shoves me, trying to push me away but it’s no use. I won’t move unless I want to, and I don’t, so I stay rooted. “What have you hidden from me?”

  “Nothing that can’t wait,” I snap at her, grabbing her by the back of the neck. “If you insist on acting like a child I will take your ass back into my chambers and chain you up until you can learn how to properly behave. We do not have time for this, gringhan. I will tell you later.”

  “I fucking dare you,” she grumbles at me, rolling her eyes.

  “You’d best not get too upset, myviryn. It won’t be good for the kcenria.” I whip my head around, redirecting my attention on Ragnor.

  No.

  No fucking way.

  I would know. I would have smelled it on her first. There’s no way I could have missed this.

  “Kcenria?” I repeat, noticing how he didn’t say kcenri. Kcenria, as in multiple.

  “You mated with my daughter and couldn’t even smell your own kcenria.” Ragnor laughs at me, “Do not stress much, child. It will be worse for you. The children will feed off your anxiety and negative energy.”

  Chapter 26

  Some of the greatest battles will be fought within the silent chambers of your own soul. - Ezra Taft Benson

  Haven

  No. He didn’t just say that to me. Jett told me it wasn’t possible. Wait...no he didn’t. He told me it was unlikely or some bullshit like that. What in the fuck. This can’t be happening! I can’t be pregnant. No...no, no, no!

  All I want to do is curl up in a corner and cry. I want to let out all the stress that has suddenly warped into my body. I can’t be a mother. I can’t ever be a mom… I’m not supposed to be. I was reminded too many times as a child how I’m filthy, how I would never be a good mother and that by me having a child I would be a disappointment. I would be denying that baby a true family, after all sinners can’t have children. God wouldn’t allow it. He’d punish me, just like Father had many times.

  I’m going to be punished and I don’t know how, but I know it’s coming.

  I will pay for this, somehow in some way.

  “Gringhan?” Darkness speaks lowly to me, his hand squeezing around my shoulder in a comforting way.

  I shake my head, choosing not to think about it. I don’t want to think about this pregnancy, or anything about what was said a few minutes ago. I only want to act, I need to keep my mind occupied. I need to fucking do something. “We need to close the portals, how about we worry about that?”

  “Close the portals?” Ragnor interrupts me as I am speaking, starting to laugh maniacally. It’s insensitive and rude after wh
at I just found out. He best watch himself, because I’m not in the right mindset to play nice with this mother fucker.

  “Silly girl, they are open for a reason. How about you come inside, we’ll have a feast and I will explain to you why they were opened in the first place.”

  I look up to Darkness, clearly seeing that he is keeping his emotions at bay for a reason. I can’t quite get a read on what he is thinking or feeling. I can’t help but wonder what it could hurt having dinner with this man. If we find out why the portals are open in the first place, maybe it will give us the answers we seek about what need to do to close them.

  “I will discuss it with my mate, give us a few moments without all your men surrounding us.” I tell the man whose blood courses through my very body.

  Ragnor gives me one nod, turns around and snaps his fingers to the hundreds of demons encompassing us. They all take their leave going in opposite directions from Darkness and I to let us to speak.

  “So, what do you think? What should we do? What do you...” before the last question leaves my lips Darkness quickly grabs the crossbow out of my hands and rips the satchel off his back, shoving my weapon into the compartment. He stands, replacing the pack on his back and pulls me in close.

  “Listen, we have no choice. In Xeha, if you are invited to dine with someone it is considered a crime if you refuse. He knows this, and he knows that I know this. He is smart gringhan, he is intelligent, calculated, conniving and everything you have just witnessed is an act. I know how truly vile he can be, and I know for a fact that he is up to something. We need to play our cards right, be smart in what we do while in his presence. Be cautious and follow my lead.” I just nod my head at him. “You must listen to me, Haven, this situation we are in is life or death. We need to watch what we say and please, for the love of god, don’t speak unless spoken to. Don’t look anyone in their eyes and don’t be a smart ass.” He grabs me by the shirt, pulling me close in a tight hug. I feel his lips press against the top of my head. It’s unlike Darkness to do something like this, it was something I expected from Jett but not him, it just goes to show me that this situation we are in is more than I imagined. His action was so small, yet the intimacy of it radiated from him.