by Cory Barclay
This final image would have to do.
He watched his father’s chest gently rise and fall, his head lulling on a weak neck. Steve closed his eyes and leaped back into the cosmic abyss.
He was keenly aware of something, too. Unbeknownst to Richard, he had said something important that stuck with Steve.
In the midst of his rambling about getting the girl and getting out, he’d told Steve exactly where he needed to strike.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
It didn’t take Steve and Aiden much longer to reach the Lee estate. When Steve returned back to Mythicus from his foray into Ethereus, the sky was light blue and filled with clouds. The sun fought to push through the clouds. It brightened the forest floor as Steve and Aiden moved through it.
Steve saw the long driveway in the distance, snaking through the trees, leading to the front of the house. He crept down the path, looking right and left over and over again. He feared blackguards would have the place surrounded, but his fears were unfounded.
Aiden had no time for Steve’s careful approach. He marched with his head held high.
“You have little fear of a blackguard ambush, I see,” Steve whispered as Aiden passed him.
Aiden rolled his shoulders back, puffing out his chest. “If they’re there, I hope I don’t see my death coming. What’s the point of worrying about something you can’t change?”
Steve scratched his head, bewildered by Aiden’s lax attitude toward dying. He did stand a bit straighter, though.
Aiden slowed his pace to allow Steve to catch up. Then he smiled wryly. “If there’s anything I’ve learned in my days of gambling, it’s that you can’t sweat the small stuff, mate.”
“Dying is ‘small stuff’?”
“It’s better than being captured, I can tell you that. I wouldn’t do well in a prison cell, mate. Don’t think I’d last long.”
Steve sighed. “I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree.”
“Suit yourself,” Aiden said, spreading his arms out.
They made it the rest of the way to the big double doors. No enemies blocked their path. In fact, the forest morning was strangely serene. The chirping of birds and mating calls of small animals echoed through the trees.
Steve put his fist up to knock, but before he could, both doors swung open.
Geddon stood in the way, holding both doors in a dramatic pose.
“How?” Steve asked.
“We’re Bound,” Geddon reminded him. “I knew you were en route.” He stepped aside and added, “Come in, come in.”
“Did you tell Constantin and Mariana we were coming?” Steve asked apprehensively.
Geddon was slow to respond, but he eventually shook his head. “They’re headed off to bed soon, if they haven’t already. You have nothing to fear from them. They’re in a state.”
Steve gulped, afraid to pose his next question.
“What kind of . . . state?” he asked. In his heart, he already knew the answer to his unasked question.
“A . . . tizzy, might be most appropriate.”
Exhaling deeply, Steve felt his shoulders slump. “Annabel?” he croaked.
Geddon shook his head. “She hasn’t returned.”
He didn’t give Steve any time to grieve or overanalyze the situation. He said, “Stay out there too long and you might attract unwanted attention, Steve.” Then he disappeared down a hallway.
Aiden took the hint first and waltzed in behind Geddon. Steve despaired and stood still. When Aiden nudged him hard in the shoulder as he walked by, Steve snapped out of it and followed the leprechaun.
He closed the door and they followed Geddon down the hall, into the main living room. He glanced to his right at the elegant stairs leading up to the bedrooms, and then did a double take.
Constantin stood at the top of the stairs, his arms crossed over his chest. He stared down at Steve and Aiden. When Steve locked eyes with the vampire, he felt his skin crawl: he seemed to be staring right into Steve’s soul.
“What are you doing here?” Constantin demanded.
In the past, Steve might have backed down. This time, though, he rounded on the vampire and mimicked his cross-armed stance. “Same thing I’m always trying to do, Constantin: save your daughter from disaster.”
Constantin scoffed. “Who says she needs saving? And what makes you think you’re up to the task?”
Steve narrowed his eyes and clenched his jaw. Even after the shenanigans with Tiberius and the Brethren, Constantin still didn’t approve of his and Annabel’s feelings for one another. It pissed Steve off.
“Because I seem to be the only one who gives a shit about her,” Steve said in a low voice.
Constantin’s eyes widened. He bared his teeth and literally flew down the stairs, his feet hardly touching the carpeted steps. He moved so blindingly fast that his black cloak billowed behind him.
Instinctively, Steve backpedaled. Then he caught himself and rooted himself to the ground. Constantin came to stand directly in font of him, a few inches from Steve’s face. It was reminiscent of the first time Steve had met Constantin, in his own Ethereus plane, when the vampire had woken him up by tearing out his throat.
Steve hoped this occasion played out a little better than that one.
Even as Constantin snarled in his face, Steve refused to back down or show his terror. He tightened his hands into fists at his side, awaiting whatever Constantin said or did. Aiden stood a few feet behind him, as did Geddon. Selestria arrived from a different room to witness the commotion.
“You’re saying I don’t care about my own daughter, boy?” Constantin asked, seething.
Steve had to crane his neck to look up into the tall vampire’s face. He saw cold anger and ruthlessness there, but those qualities were always there. He also saw something else: fear, hiding behind his eyes. It gave Steve strength, knowing Constantin was losing control as much as he was.
“I know you care about Bel, Constantin,” Steve said, trying to play his hand softly. Constantin slightly relaxed.
Then Steve said, “Why did she not come back with you from the Overseer’s castle? How could that happen?”
There was a long pause as Constantin decided how much—if anything—he wanted to say. After a long pause, the vampire seemed to deflate. He said, “She was taken by her lawfully wedded husband. There was nothing I could do.”
“Surely by now you know Tiberius and that entire family are monsters.”
“Of course I do!” Constantin spat. He turned aside and got out of Steve’s face, wrapping his cloak around his body. “If I could take back my vote to overthrow your father, I would. But I can’t—”
“My father is dead,” Steve said, drawing a surprised look from the vampire. “Or at least close to it. He won’t be anyone’s problem soon.”
“Steve . . .” Geddon said from behind, taking a step forward. “I’m sorr—”
“I don’t need your sympathy or pity,” Steve snarled, spinning on his friend-turned-traitor. He walked away, pacing from one side of the room to the other. “I only need your aid, this one last time, and you’ll all hopefully never see me again.”
Selestria tilted her head to the side. “What do you plan to do, Steven?”
“I plan to get Annabel back and take down Jareth, of course.”
A short moment of quietness followed. Steve’s words lingered, and then a cackling from Constantin broke the peace. “With what army, boy?”
“With whatever remains of the Vagrant Kinship, Constantin.”
Steve couldn’t be sure if it was his surefire tone or his words that shut Constantin up and wiped the smirk off his face. But the vampire seemed genuinely curious.
Geddon said, “That’s why we’re here, Steve.” He motioned to Constantin. “Why else would we be seen with this guy? Selestria and I are only here because Annabel asked us to be.”
“Why?” Steve asked.
Selestria answered. “I only agreed because it was Annabel. I’m a prisone
r in my own body, Steven, and if it were up to me, I’d be long gone from the presence of this one.” She nudged her chin toward Geddon.
Geddon frowned. “You wound me, dear—”
“I don’t give two shits. You’re a bastard, you killed my husband, and I’ll never forgive you. But for the greater good, I’m here.”
Constantin put his hands out to try and quell the argument before it erupted even more. He said, “With the help of these two, we’ve already sent forth for aid.”
“To whom?” Steve asked, turning to the vampire. He couldn’t stand to look at the disgusted face of Selestria any longer. “You don’t have allies within the Kinship.”
“No, but I’ve developed acquaintances with others—”
A loud knock came from the front door.
“Speak of the devil,” Constantin said. He walked past the group, down the hallway. A moment later, Steve heard the creaking sound of the front door opening.
Constantin returned with someone Steve had never seen before. She was quite young looking and beautiful, but with some wrinkles in her cheeks and near her eyes. She seemed tired, but her face still shined. She wore a plain green dress that reached the floor.
Everyone in the room seemed bewildered at the new arrival.
“Allow me to introduce Lady Moonstone,” Constantin said, stepping aside to allow the woman to pass. Her auburn hair was tangled and swept past her shoulders. She wore a crown of thorns balanced delicately on her brow.
Steve didn’t recognize the woman, but he recognized the importance of her name. A gemstone. Furrowing his brow, he said, “You’re part of the Brethren Council.”
The woman nodded. She had a regal aura surrounding her, as if she commanded respect wherever she went.
“You’re a spy?” Aiden blurted out, shattering her royal air.
Lady Moonstone said, “I no longer believe the Brethren ideals hold true. Not with the current leadership in place.”
Aiden shrugged. “Sounds like a turncoat to me.”
“Call me what you will, leprechaun,” the woman said defiantly.
“What are you doing here?” Steve asked.
“I have come to warn your people,” Moonstone said. “My spirits of the woods have spoken to me. They’ve told me an army is building. Near here, no less.”
Constantin put a hand to his chin. “At the Reynolds’ estate, no doubt.”
“Indeed, Lord Bloodstone,” Moonstone said. “Jareth Reynolds, or should I say Overseer Onyx, plans to root out the remnants of the Vagrant Kinship. He has a force dedicated to finding and eradicating the threat. He can’t allow his rule to go contested.”
Steve said, “And you oppose this army?”
Lady Moonstone nodded. “I am a dryad, Steven Remington. My haven is here in these woods, and other woods besides. What Onyx proposes will bring chaos and fire to my people. I cannot allow that.”
“How do you know my name?”
Lady Moonstone smiled, the lines on her face wrinkling a bit more. “Because I listen to the trees, who are my children. They have heard you speak quite often during your recent travels.”
Constantin tipped his head forward, a concerned look on his face. Tapping his chin, he said, “What about your husband?”
Lady Moonstone said, “I cannot control Lord Sunstone. He has done evil for the Brethren, committing fratricide against his own people. I can forgive him for that, but I cannot forgive him for his unwavering allegiance to the tyrant, Onyx.”
Steve said, “What is Lord Sunstone?”
“An elf who has killed his own people,” Moonstone replied, closing her eyes. When she opened them, they glowed green and brilliant. It seemed this decision to betray her husband was filled with inner conflict. Still, she had determination written on her face. Steve had no idea what she could be so sure about, in these unsure times.
“Is there anything else you can tell us, Lady Moonstone?” Constantin asked.
The dryad nodded and turned her bright gaze to the vampire. “Overseer Onyx has begun sending blackguards and hellraisers to our sister world.”
Steve lunged forward. “To Terrus?!”
Lady Moonstone nodded again.
“For what purpose?” Constantin asked.
“I do not know, Lord Bloodstone. I left the Council before I received word.”
“Whatever it is, it can’t be good,” Steve said. “Jareth wouldn’t send blackguards to my world to make friends. He has some diabolical plan, no doubt.”
“I agree,” Lady Moonstone said. “Since the start it seems his strategy has been to subjugate everyone under his control. He has a lust for power that can’t be sated. He controls the Brethren, and when his army vanquishes the last of the Kinship, he’ll have all of Soreltris. Unopposed. I suspect his objective is to turn his conquest on Terrus next.”
Steve was baffled at the thought of Jareth Reynolds, the fiery Ifrit, trying to control Earth. Boy, was he in for a wild ride. He said, “Terrus won’t lay down quietly and let him walk all over them. There are billions of people there—how can he expect to conquer them all?”
“Perhaps he doesn’t,” Aiden said from the corner of the room, leaning against a wall. All eyes turned to him. He pushed himself off the wall. “Who was it that spoke about bringing weapons from Terrus to Mythicus? Humankind has much more devastating technology than our people. With the Parallel Reflector he can bring the limitless technology of your people, Steve, to this world.”
Steve spoke slowly. “There would be no stopping him if he brought the firepower and technology of humans here.”
The weight of that burden seemed to envelop the entire room. No one spoke for a long time, everyone lost within their own thoughts.
“Perhaps he doesn’t even care about populating Terrus,” Selestria finally said. “But rather wants to mine its commodities for his purposes here.”
“He could destroy our world if he got his hands on the wrong things,” Constantin muttered. “Jareth Reynolds is reckless and must be stopped.”
“What can we do?” Steve asked.
Lady Moonstone spoke. “Two other members of the Brethren Council are en route, Lord Bloodstone, if you’ll have them.”
Constantin nodded. “Of course. Who are they?”
“Lord Jasper and Lady Amber, the leaders of the fauns. They are not strong in battle, but they command respect within nature. As do I. Together, we can have the full fury of Mother Nature on our side.”
“Will it be enough?” Steve asked.
“Fire burns trees,” Aiden pointed out, speaking to the fact that Jareth was an Ifrit with a command over fire.
“We don’t have the manpower to take the Brethren head-on,” Geddon said. “Not in our current state.”
Constantin turned to Geddon. “Do you have any suggestions?”
Geddon ran a hand through his hair. “I do, though I doubt I can do it alone.”
When all eyes were on him, he said, “I can try to send for help to Vagrant leaders. Perhaps we can raise a militia that way.”
“You actually believe any of our people will trust you? After what you’ve done?” Selestria spat through clenched teeth.
Steve narrowed his eyes on Geddon, who had gone red-faced. He doubted this all hinged on Geddon murdering Tetsuo. “What did you do?”
Geddon opened his mouth to speak, but was too embarrassed to say the words.
But Selestria had no such timidity. In fact, she seemed to be itching to air Geddon’s dirty laundry. In a disgusted voice, she said, “To avoid being tortured, he gave away the location of many Vagrant leaders. Krik, the leader of the imps, died because of his betrayal. As did Dakathiel, one of the most influential elves around.”
“Blackguards came to my house as well,” Constantin said. “But my wife impeded their plans.”
Geddon was met with angry stares. He looked away. In a meek, small voice, he said, “Jareth would have killed you had I not—”
“I gladly would have died to prevent
the slaughter of our allies!” Selestria shouted, taking a step toward him. “You’re a coward!”
When Selestria moved toward Geddon with clenched fists, Constantin stepped between the two.
The vampire raised his hands. “We must not combat each other if we are to have any chance of defeating the Brethren army!”
Steve’s mouth was agape. He was astounded at what he witnessed: Constantin, the relentless, savage vampire, being the voice of reason. Before his mind had time to react, Steve found himself saying, “I agree with Constantin. What’s done is done. All we can do now is move forward.” He enjoyed seeing Geddon squirm. But now was not the time. He faced each person in the room, one by one, and said, “Anyone?”
Lady Moonstone said, “It was my husband who killed Dakathiel. That being the case, I doubt I will have much clout with the elves. They’ll think I’ve betrayed them, too.”
“Perhaps I can reach them,” Steve said, hope in his voice. “And the imps, too. Do we have any others?”
Aiden said, “Hell yes we do, mate.” He glanced at the shamefaced Geddon and said, “I know the Vagrant Kinship as well as this one. I can rattle off some names for you.”
“Good.”
“No,” Selestria interjected. “I will help with that. I was Tetsuo’s wife. The people will trust me. No offense, Aiden.”
The leprechaun shrugged. “None taken, m’lady.”
“It’s a start,” Constantin added. “But how can we possibly get the rebels to aid us? What do we have to offer?”
Aiden’s eyes flashed. “I was wondering when that question would arise. I can help with that, too, Lord Bloodstone.”
Constantin gave the leprechaun a baffled look. Aiden seemed intent on keeping him in the dark. He smiled mischievously, as leprechauns are wont to do.
Steve said, “We also have friends on the way, Constantin. I’ve alerted them to our need. They’re bringing gold with them.”
“How much gold?” Constantin asked.
“Lots of gold,” Aiden answered.