by Bailey Dark
“I guess he’s right,” she yawns. “We should get some rest.”
I nod, feeling the urge to touch her but I hold back. Instead, I keep my eyes on hers, wrapping her in a shroud of comfort and safety. I feel it drift over her, making way through her doubts, questions, and fears, and calming the very essence of her soul.
Briar's eyes drift shut. Her lashes flutter, fanning against her pale cheeks. Slow, even breaths cause her chest to rise and fall. The soul bond calls to me and it's her sleep and relaxation that allows me to rest.
The trees and starry sky blur as my eyes follow suit. No sooner than I had drifted off, the sounds of waves crashing against the sandy shores of an unknown grove filled my ears. I open my eyes and look around me, finding rays of sunshine bathing the golden dunes in a blinding light. My feet sink into the warm sand as I follow the sound of feminine laughter. Raven locks bellow in the wind like a curtain of dark silk. A light blush dusts the same snow white features that haunt my every waking hour.
"Kane," Briar says happily. She runs over to me, skirts flapping in the wind. "You came!"
The excitement in her voice is punctuated by the force in which she leaps into my arms. Lips graze my neck and my mind goes blank for a moment. There are no shadows here besides those that rest in my eyes.
It's a dream. "This isn't real."
She pulls back, looking at me as if there is no fear or worry anywhere inside of her. "Why not?"
"Because my world isn't this bright," I reply. "The skies aren’t blue and the air isn’t scented with citrus and the salt of the sea. You don’t trust me and you aren't this sweet to me. You never look at me like this."
She playfully narrows her eyes. "How am I looking at you?"
The coy smile on her raspberry lips makes my heart beat faster. Like you could love me. My instincts tell me not to say anything so reckless, but I'd be lying if I said my heart didn't want to. "You look happy, Briar."
The lie tastes rank on my tongue. Briar doesn't suspect anything. Her smile only grows and she inches her way up my body, kissing me with a passion that is now familiar between us.
Before I can act, Briar pushes me toward the ocean. I stumble and splash into the frigid waters, choking and sputtering. My pride is wounded, but the swift press of my bride's lips stills my rage. I've never felt such peace, even before I became Death. Briars love is dangerous and tempting, wrapped in a pretty package of false hopes and danger.
Even so, I can't bring myself to care. Not here. Not in a world where we can be who we truly are without fear of judgement. I fist my hand in her hair, tilting her head to the perfect angle. I swallow her moan and gorge myself on the heady mixture of fear and longing. Small, delicate hands trace nonsensical patterns against my chest. I walk us out of the water and lower her to the sand. My body covers hers from head to foot, settling my weight on top of her without crushing her petite frame. I pull away to stare down at the woman who will be my wife, my queen, and watch as she bites her lip. My thumb pulls the plump, kiss-swollen flesh from between her teeth. I dip down and kiss her until I feel her toes curl against my back.
My fangs sink into her bottom lip. The sweet metallic tinge of copper fills my mouth. Briar’s taste is like a rare wine, perfectly aged with subtle notes of other flavors that intrigue my complex pallet. She arches off of the ground, chasing me down as I break the kiss once more. She swipes her tongue across her bloodied lip and groans. Her eyes flicker between blue and the familiar grey I’ve come to adore. Bright, white light surrounds her. I look beyond the thin veil that conceals her power. The sound of harps playing accompany the rustle of her enormous white wings. If only she could see herself through my eyes.
Briar lunges towards me, shoving me onto my back before she straddles my hips. She rocks against me experimentally and sucks in a harsh breath. The crackle of her power flows over us both and I feel intoxicated by it.
“Can you feel that?” she moans, tossing her head back as she grinds her core against my erection.
I clench my jaw so hard I fear my teeth might crack. My hands gently touch her hips but I give release, allowing her to take the reins for just a moment. Her body finds a natural rhythm as she chases that delicious friction that’s still so new to her.
I’ve never felt anything like it. The raw, animalistic sex I once had with Lilith can’t compare to this one act of submission. With Lilith there were teeth and claws, magic battling for dominance. But this isn’t about Lilith, this is about my queen, giving in to the pleasures we both long for so deeply.
I roll over, trapping Briar beneath me once more. My hands wrap around her wrists as I pin her hands above her head. Sweet, sweet, submission. Fear and excitement bridge us together. Her eyes drop to my lips and her obedience is rewarded with a soft peck. The most tormented moan rips from her chest and I open up the barriers, allowing our bond to complete the circuit. It sweeps me away with the force of a rushing river, carrying me towards an agonizing conclusion, but I’m helpless to stop it. I don’t want to stop it.
Briar slowly sinks into the sand. My eyes fly open and I drag my claws through the transparency that has developed between us. I dig and dig but no matter how far I reach, I can’t touch her. The sand begins to shake and I pull back, feeling a force stronger than even mine. The surface of shimmering grains turns flat and shiny like a polished mirror. Briar screams out for my help, her arms reaching for me, her face covered in terror. As I press my palms to the solid plate separating us, the Nephilim appears next to her, grabbing her around the waist and dragging her away. I beat heavily against the surface, screaming her name over and over again, but she is no longer there.
Sitting up, I look around in panic, not knowing what to do or where to turn. The once vibrant beach grows grey and the melodic sound of the waves fade away. Beneath me the sand turns black, and I stand, stumbling backward. That all too familiar darkness returns and shadows fill the dream world, blanketing everything in bone chilling cold.
Chapter 5
Briar
The muscles of my arms clench and spasm with how tight I clutch the fabric beneath my fingers.
I blink open my eyes finding myself laying halfway on top of Kane with my hands tangled in his shirt. Glancing up at the surrounding trees, I realize it was all a dream. My hands release him and I roll off, pulling my knees up and straightening out my top. I can feel the tangle of hair curled and frizzed on top of my head. A devastating blush steals across my face as I remember the dream in full. The scent of salt and lemon still lingers.
“Did you sleep well?” The deep, raspy tone of his voice sends a tingle racing down my spine.
The knowing smirk is too much. I look away, but the sound of Kane’s breathy laughter causes me to meet his stare once again.
He knows. He knows the desires that fill me with so much frustration that I can barely stand to be around him. He knows of the fears that still hold me captive, fear that the Nephilim will return and finish what he started the last time. It’s foolish and embarrassing, but I feel a sense of relief that he knows. I no longer have to pretend that I’m alright. Whatever this is between us, I need to be careful. I can’t afford for Kane to learn about my plans.
I tear my gaze away and move to stand, feigning anger in place of my embarrassment. Kane’s hand finds mine and he gives it a reassuring squeeze. I don’t think much on it, packing up my bedroll in silence. I take a moment to nuzzle the horse with my cheek, desperately willing it to take the horrific aftermath of emotions from my chest. Unfortunately, I am not leaning against a magical creature.
Giving up on my quest for cleansing, I begin looking through my bag, wondering if there is anything for breakfast.
“Hungry?” Willem drops the carcass of some poor creature at my feet and I jump back with a shrill scream.
Bending down and peering at the poor thing, I grimace. “What is that?”
His mouth twists into a mocking grin. “Food. Eat up, mortal.”
I shake my head and nudge
it back towards him with the toe of my boot. “I’ll just forage for berries.”
“Do you have any idea what sort of plants grow in the Blood Forest?” he asks condescendingly. “You’re better off starving if that’s the case.”
I put my hands on my hips. “I refuse to eat anything that has a face.”
Willem lifts an eyebrow. “You eat pork, don’t you?”
“Yes, but I don’t have to see it staring back at me. I just see the cooked meat, not the animal that provided it. This...this is too far.” I stamp down the urge to vomit. Behind me, Kane snickers and uses his magic to turn the poor little critter into a savory meal that causes my mouth to water.
I look up at him and quirk a slender brow. “I still saw its face.”
“How do you know it’s the same creature?” he asks slyly.
I don’t. My traitorous stomach growls and he nods his head toward the plate. I close my eyes and eat as fast as I can, blocking out thoughts of cute woodland animals. After breakfast we continue our ride through the wilderness. My eyes scan the trees, wondering if there was some truth to Willem’s legend of the beast that lurks in the forest. But I know the real threat is much closer than either of them thinks. My hand reaches back to brush against the dagger in a motion that brings me both comfort and courage.
I think of my family, of Delphine, Rose, and father. I think of how my mother suffered for so long because Death never came to ease her pain. That seething anger comes roaring back, pushing through the compassion that I feel for Kane. I know what sort of monster he is. I’ve seen him lick the blood from his fingers as his victim lay dead at his feet. I’ve heard the cruelty of his threat to my father. For all I know Kane still wants to make me vulnerable, to break down the walls I’ve built around my heart only to be the one to drive the knife into my chest.
I stare at his back. Things are changing between us. I know my opportunity to act is closing in, but Willem will never let me get close enough to do it. If I get rid of the reaper, I’ll have a chance. Slim though it may be. But still, it’s a chance.
Here the smell of jasmine mingles with the crisp scent of pine and eucalyptus. But breaking through the calming of the natural plants, I catch a whiff of Kane’s cologne. Beneath the intriguing perfumes lies the addictive fragrance of his pheromones, a scent unique to him. Killing Kane won’t be easy. Getting rid of Willem will prove to be a challenge on its own without revealing my plan to him. Willem and Aiden still think of me as a mere annoyance and I need it to stay that way if I’m going to escape unscathed.
Kane was able to feel my pleasure and my fear in the dream. Perhaps if I lure him there again and seduce him, I could kill him in his sleep and slip through the forest undetected.
“Briar,” Kane calls over his shoulder, startling me from my thoughts.
With apprehension, I ride up beside him and he points toward a glimmering lake. The water is the clearest blue I’ve ever laid my eyes on, rivaling the icy shade of Willem’s ghostly eyes. Small, slick, ivory creatures bob their heads out of the water, regarding Kane with what appears to be respect. Flickering lights dance above the water, twirling about like fireflies in a meadow.
A long, iridescent hand reaches out towards us. Amphibious eyes blink up at me. Kane nods his head and I press my palm flat against the creature’s. I hear a voice in my mind. It’s different from the one that sounds like Kane’s, more of a hissing whisper. She tells me tales of wonder and adventure, of prophecies and destiny, before submerging back into the glittering waters of the lake. These stories are tied together, neatly bundled as they implant in my mind, spreading out in full detail all at once. I can see and hear the characters in my mind, and the stories are long and in depth. While it should have taken days to learn all of the knowledge it passes me, it was but a tiny fraction of a moment that our bodies align. Kane tugs on the reins and I continue down the path.
Part of me can’t imagine ever leaving the underworld.
As we travel farther, I begin to watch around me in wonder, curious as to what other oddities and fantasticals live among the thick of the forest. I begin to hear noises, and see creatures I have never thought to exist. I feel as if I am riding a noble steed through the stories my sisters once told me as a little girl. As we travel along, I notice the trees wavering back and forth, bending low almost shielding Kane from the encroaching light coming from high above the canopy. Willem’s story is seeming more and more realistic as the moments pass.
Approaching a babbling brook, we stop for a short while. Willem leads the horses to the water just over the ridge as Kane and I stroll through the lush foliage. He points out the dangerous plants and the ones that are safe to eat if there are no other options for nourishment.
“That is a Morbus Cater, a wild growing infectious little beast,” he snarls. “They spit small darts filled with a poison. One or two and its just irritating, fall into a patch of them and you’ll have their spawn sprouting from your skin within minutes. I’ve seen a few go down like that, and its not pleasant in the least.”
I step to the side as I pass by, but it doesn’t move. My eyes shift across the horizon following Kane’s outstretched arm. “On the ridge, the purple and orange blooms. Those are Mirroring Tripods. They move with you, dance with you, and make music by rubbing the tiny leaves on their stems back and forth. If we all make the trek back, we will stop a while and play with them. They remember your movements and from the moment you introduce yourself to the end of your days, they will recognize you.”
I smile, thinking about the kind of bond that takes. To attach yourself in that type of construct is deep and meaningful. He continues to point out different plants and shrubbery, discussing their characteristics, and keeping my mind busy as we walk. But something catches my attention.
The way he talks is like he does not think all of us will make it back from this journey. It’s startles me at first, wondering if I am one of them he foresees being left behind. Or maybe he can sense my plan. That is unlikely though, I imagine he would be crushing me in the calm of his palms if it was the case. I try not to let my thoughts wander any further, focusing on the questions he asks so I can answer them properly.
I catch Kane watching me suspiciously out the corner of his eye. He cocks his head slightly and purses his lips. “What’s on your mind? I can tell it’s somewhere other than the plants of the underworld.”
I try another reassuring smile, but it fails to reach my eyes. “Nothing, just thinking about all of the new things that I have not experienced until now. Living with my sisters I never learned of dancing plants. It’s curious.”
Of course, he sees this and narrows his gaze further. Those obsidian orbs zero in on the pulse point in my neck and I remember the way his fangs pierced my lip. “Do you have a fascination with death?”
The question catches me off guard. “N-no. I...why would you think that?”
We continue to walk. He looks down at the ground as he carefully strolls. “You said before that you read about the underworld throughout your childhood, so I know you’re aware of some of the dangers of this realm. And yet I’ve seen your eyes light up in situations that would usually cause mortals to keel over or lose their lunch. The fascination is there. Even if it is concealed by fear most of the time.”
I let out a long deep breath and turn to him, shaking my head. “Is this about the Nephilim?”
Kane goes quiet and I know he’s thinking of the dream.
Knowing he isn’t going to offer a true answer, I shrug. “They did fascinate me, but not because of the soul-leeching. I was fascinated because, despite everything my father did to prepare me for this life, I was completely helpless. I was a victim before I ever had the chance to fight back. I knew I was coming here, I knew I had no choice, and I knew that if I wanted to ever feel at home, or be safe, I needed to understand every part of the underworld. The things I learned desensitized me in a way, making death and danger a normal thing in my mind.”
He looks at me then a
nd I see a small amount of acceptance in his eyes. The words I speak are false, but they buy me time to come up with a plan. In truth, I am fascinated by death and not just Death the primordial being. The concept of bodily death does not fascinate me, but I wish to know what happens to souls when they die. Where do they go if not to the underworld? Kane once told me that they simply vanish from existence, but that can’t be true, right? There has to be something more. Maybe it’s my human speaking, the need to know as much as I can, to question things even if they are fact. Or maybe it is my intuition screaming loudly at me from behind the haze of Kane clouding my mind.
He gives me a side glance. “And the nightmares?”
“Last night, I was able to sleep happily because you were there,” I admit. “But I don’t think it’s the Nephilim alone that scare me.”
“Then what is it?” He furls his brow, speaking to me genuinely.
Kane holds so many questions is his eyes. Lately he’s treated me with kindness and I want to revel in it, but I need distance right now. “I think what I fear the most in my dreams is that you can’t save me. No matter what happens, I always have to save myself. Or the light appears and I see the Nephilim die all over again.”
It’s not Kane’s fault. I know that. But I also know that he failed to save me twice. Sure, he defended me each time I came across a Nephilim, but that was only after the damage had already been done. I keep my gaze soft so he knows I’m not accusing him, but I let the weight of my words sink in.
Kane stops turning toward me. His face is a mixture of both confusion and sadness. “You’re disappointed in me, then? You don’t think I can protect you?”
I reach out, touching his arm with a warm smile. “I just think that I have to learn to protect myself better in case you can’t be there.”