Dark Illusions
Page 1
Dark Illusions
The Relic Keeper Book Two
D.D. Miers
Copyright © 2018 by D.D. Miers
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Cover Design by Fiona Jayde Media
Edited by Magnifico Manuscripts
Contents
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A War is Brewing in the Unseen World…Are You Ready?
Dark Illusions - The Relic Keeper Book 2
Dear Reader
Dark Illusions
Lore
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Thank You!
Praise for D.D. Miers
Also by D.D. Miers
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A War is Brewing in the Unseen World…Are You Ready?
The Relic Keeper Series is a New Adult Urban Fantasy perfect for fans of Kelley Armstrong, Kresley Cole, Patricia Briggs and Jennifer Estep!
Dark Summoner
(The Relic Keeper Book 1)
*2017 IPPY WINNER - SILVER MEDAL for BEST Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror E-Book*
*FIRST PLACE WINNER, 2015 IDA Awards for Paranormal Romance
* Nerdy Girl Book Reviews HOT READS FEATURE, RomCon Magazine August 2015
Read the Book Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance Fans Are Calling:
“Mesmerizing. . . had me completely under its spell.”
“Danger, excitement, passion, and turmoil.”
“An exceptional story full of rich characters.”
“This story has one biting her nails and sitting on the edge of her seat while eagerly turning every single page.”
Dark Illusions - The Relic Keeper Book 2
Dark Illusions
They say a war brews in the unseen world—and I’m the only one who can stop it.
Eight weeks ago, a woman sacrificed herself for me. She believed with such certainty I would save this world, she used the last of her powers to protect me. But not everyone shares her conviction. The Council has turned to devious methods to force out my magic, and as nightmarish visions fill my head, I’m no longer sure I can trust myself.
Attacks from the Necros grow bolder every day. To keep me hidden, the fiercely irresistible sorcerer at my side will take me to his underworld, a place no sane person would dare to follow. But the whispers stalk me everywhere . . . hunting me, wanting me. And the more I run, the more I realize safety may be just another dark illusion.
Dark Illusions, the second book in D.D. Miers’ Relic Keeper Series, is a new, edgy, urban fantasy sizzling with tension. Readers who like The Twenty-Sided Sorceress, The Elemental Series, and The Baine Chronicles will fall in love with Miers’ paranormal universe and those fighting to defend it.
Dear Reader
This book, as many of you know, has been a long time coming.
Abby’s journey, much like mine over the last three years, is filled with pain, happiness, confusion, triumph, fear, and loss. I wanted to tell this story differently. To make it softer, easier, lighter. . . but Abby wouldn’t have it.
Her journey to self-acceptance and the fulfillment of her destiny is only reached through falling into the deepest of holes. She will lose more than she ever expected, but only from the bottom can she learn to climb her way to the top . . . just like us.
I hope you’ll continue this journey with her.
XOXO
D.D.
I’m fading away.
The closer I come to answers, the further into darkness I fall.
No one can stop me.
No one can save me.
I am lost. I am destroyed. I am haunted.
Haunted by these dark illusions.
Lore
The world is divided into two realms.
Vieyhlan, known as the first and original realm, is where the Mystic races live. Those born with power, magic, and secrets. Mankind speaks of them as only legend or fairy tale, but they are as real as you or me. Demons, magic wielders, goblins, the Fae—they all exist.
The second is the Mortal Realm, the plane where humanity resides in a clueless oblivion. Like two braids, these worlds are threaded together, crossing over and between but never do they blend as one.
For thousands of years, the leaders of the Mystic races have ensured that the humans remain unaware to the unanswerable things they have seen and experienced. Humanity’s need to deny what they cannot fathom has kept them safe.
Until now.
Chapter One
There’s nothing like the threat of imminent death to start your morning off right.
Well, imminent death and a big bowl of Lucky Charms. Not that I’ve had any since my life took a turn from somewhat crazy to legit outrageous. Maybe I could ask Reagan to snag some?
Luca tapped my shoulder.
“What?”
He nudged his head toward the raised arch in front of us. A dozen disapproving frowns aimed down toward me like a thick mist, expecting an answer.
Shit. “Yes?” I asked.
The last thing to do in the middle of an important meeting was space out, especially when your survival depended upon the opinions of those who already didn’t like you. But since no one ever addressed me directly, I had allowed my mind to wander.
Daegus, the most powerful of all the elders, was definitely not my biggest fan. Like Odin himself, he stood at the center podium. Eyes fierce, nose sternly pointed south. A heavy golden robe adorned his shoulders, hanging down to the ground behind him. Dramatic? Absolutely. But this was Daegus, and he enjoyed the impression it made.
Daegus cleared his throat. “It has been four weeks since your last assessment and yet you still feel no call?”
We were talking about the Relic again. The bane of my existence and the only thing about me anyone in the First Realm considered relevant.
So far, the mortal world, my world, had remained in a blissful state of ignorance, unaware of the impending danger looming outside the realm. It was only a matter of time before that ended. There had been twelve attacks across the First Realm since Yasinda’s, aka The Black Walker and Kieron’s ex, disappearance. She had yet to make herself known, but it didn’t stop the Necros, her monstrous half-demon minions. Whoever guided them now was on a mission to wreak havoc wherever possible. Guardian patrols had doubled and the loss of life in the First Realm was substantial.
“No. I haven’t.”
He nodded to his scribe. The smaller man furiously scribbled on the papers in his hands.
That couldn’t be good.
“And you are making attempts every day?”
“Yes.”
A deep ocean-blue blanketed the walls of the beautiful circular room. Gold-and-amber colored paintings wrapped around the columns, marking the Council’s area and the entrance to its chambers. Someone desperately needed to
turn on the heater. This room was specifically meant to make one feel chilly and uncomfortable.
“Then why haven’t you located it?”
I asked myself a variation of that same question every day.
“Isn’t it supposed to locate me?”
Unwelcome laughter filtered down from the Council members and a snarky smile lifted Daegus’ lips. “Perhaps you don’t understand what you are looking for?”
“What improvements has she made since her last assessment?” he asked Luca.
“She’s working on her physical dexterity and weaponry. We’ve seen great enhancements in her speed and skill wi—
“But what magic has she manifested?” His words echoed across the room and circled back. Even the other members of the Council were startled by his tone. No one ever said it outright, but I was certain they all blamed me—my failings—for the dire situation facing our worlds.
Luca took a deep breath. “None.”
He’s been my official escort—and voice—at all of these meetings. At first, I was leery of Luca and his true purpose, but he’s grown on me.
Daegus raised a brow toward Sydelle, the other surviving elder. She sat to his right. Hot with fury, her eyes flashed every few seconds with accusations and worse. It was as if looking at me for more than a few seconds was too much for her to bear.
The seat to Daegus’ left remained empty. The same seat, no doubt, where Pius had resided before his head had been ripped off at the Lumenara Masquerade. Now the trio of elders was a duo, and an unpleasant one. Beneath them were twelve upper members of the Council, and another dozen faction leaders from the various supernatural races.
Dorian, my sometimes protector, sometimes friend, sometimes make-out partner, had been noticeably absent from these Council meetings. As the head commander of the guardians of the Temple of Light, he’d been too busy resolving issue after issue to attend, but he’d always checked in on me afterward.
She offered him a single nod and he steadied himself at the podium again. “We were generous in giving her four weeks to develop her skills. Perhaps it’s time.”
“Time to what?” I whispered, but Luca ignored me.
“I don’t think that’s necessary. Kieron—”
“Lord Blake hasn’t made a single appearance here since her first call and has yet to address his disapproval of our methods.”
I tried to ignore the sting of Daegus’ words, to pretend they didn’t bother me, but they did.
Compartmentalize, Abby, it’s the only way to survive.
“I must strongly disagree with this,” Luca said.
“Does Lord Blake disagree?” asked Sydelle, who now stood beside Daegus.
I expected Luca to say, “Yes, of course,” but he answered with silence. No arguments. No refuting. Nothing.
“I’m certain Lord Blake will be grateful for our efforts,” she said. “After all, he’s made it clear that he wants all of this,” she outstretched her hand, “to be over.”
Me. He wants everything with me to be over.
I hated how right she was. Two months and he’d left me basically out in the emotional cold. Not that I was trying to mend things. I’d given up on the idea. My only goal now was to use this elhun soul-mate thing to my advantage until I couldn’t anymore. Once my magic kicked in and I became badass, I wouldn’t need any of them.
At least that was the plan.
Sydelle moved down the circular staircase as though she levitated. I’d seen her before, but never took the time to examine this woman. Her dark hair and sharp features only furthered her overall nefarious look. She’d never been cruel, but I could easily sense she had a deep-rooted disgust for me.
She wasn’t the only one. Most of them didn’t like me.
Ever since Pius’ death, I had been balancing on the edge of a precipice, metaphorically speaking. This was my third visit to Amara, the largest and most important city within Vieyhlan, and so far, I’d been unimpressed. Each meeting resulted with me being questioned, judged, and ultimately humiliated. The whole “Humans are stupid” angle got old, really fast. Apparently with these people, you had to live a few millenniums before you were considered intelligent enough to speak for yourself or to know your own mind. I’m surprised they didn’t offer me a lollipop when I left.
When she reached the center of the room, a few steps from where I sat, she snapped her fingers. Instantly, a large chair appeared. No, not a chair. More like a seat-based torture device. The kind used on inmates in the gas chamber, made of a metal similar to steel with straps to contain its occupants’ arms and hands.
Sydelle reached her hand out and gestured for me to take a seat.
Yeah, right. The last thing I intended to do was sit down in that thing.
When I didn’t move, she looked to Luca, her eyes saying, “Move her or we will.”
A sinking feeling crept in my stomach and I turned to Luca. Wherever this was headed, I didn’t like it. This was too familiar for me. Being forced do things I didn’t want to do. Manipulated, controlled, tortured by those I couldn’t fight against.
He offered me an encouraging smile and nodded. I could tell he was trying to give me confidence, but it never met his eyes. No matter how he truly felt, the Council’s sentiment was clear. I would end up sitting in that chair, whether I wanted to or not. Whether Luca agreed or not. And there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it.
The wooden bench creaked beneath my weight as I stood up. I grabbed the edge of the table to steady my uneasy legs. My palms, slick with sweat, slipped against the surface. I clenched my fists closed and moved toward the black torture chair. The back of my neck trickled with heat, and my heart thundered against my breastbone as sweat beaded my brow.
With every step closer, my vision tunneled. For a moment, I was an eleven-year-old little girl again, back at the Gordon House.
Dr. Marshall Stevens stood in the treatment room, encouraging me to come toward him. A pleasant smile enhanced the whites of his unnaturally straight teeth. The smile hid the truth of the dark things he had planned for me. The room was so white, it was almost blinding. Clean and terrifying. My bare feet padded along the cool tile floor.
“It’s time,” he had said.
He slipped my hands into the harnesses, strapping me down in case the fight in me returned. The fight I’d lost months ago. The fight he’d ripped from me.
He pulled my head back and smoothed his hand down my cheek. He didn’t care about me, he only wanted what was in my head. He pretended to help remove the psychosis that ailed my mind, but in secret, he wanted to master my power for himself. A white-hot heat slunk in from my chest as the first shock struck me. Then somehow, he was in my head, pushing at the thoughts in the back of my mind.
No, not him.
Her.
I saw her eyes now. Sydelle’s wild eyes staring down at me in his face. The two of them morphed into one being.
I couldn’t stop screaming. Tears streaked down my face, and I closed my eyes. Someone called out my name, and I begged for help as the pain slammed into my mind, demanding me to obey. What did it want? I didn’t know.
But it wouldn’t stop until it found it.
Again, and again, torrent after torrent tore at my mind.
Reality bended and I was no longer me. Then all at once, Dr. Stevens and Sydelle disappeared and only blackness was in their place.
Something shook me, and I struggled to open my eyes, the light in the room much too bright and painful. I barely saw through the haze. My head hung forward, my body coated in sweat. Luca kneeled before me, his blond hair hanging over his face. He took my chin in his hands before unlatching the straps on my arms and legs.
“Abby, it’s all right. It’s over.”
I looked up at the various faces focused on me. Daegus, Sydelle, the Council. No one was sorry for what had just been done to me. If anything, they seemed disappointed. Not in my suffering, but in the fact that nothing had come of it.
Daegus’ voic
e trailed down from his seat high above me. “Return in six weeks for her next summons.” He stepped away and the Council members cleared the room.
Luca shook the jacket off his arms and wrapped it around my shoulders. With his other hand, he pulled me to my feet and secured my arm around his neck. “I’m sorry, Abby.”
I couldn’t speak, couldn’t say anything. I knew it wasn’t Luca’s fault, but I couldn’t help the anger, contempt, and humiliation oozing through me. I hated all of them. My mind had been violated again.
They’ve set the clock. Six weeks. Six weeks from now they’ll bring me back and do this again.
“What happens the next time? If I don’t have my magic?”
“You will.”
I stopped. “But if I don’t? Will they do this again—or worse?”
“You won’t have to worry about it because Kieron will make certain that you do . . . we all will.”
“That’s bullshit.” I tried to limp forward and gain back my footing, but Luca wouldn’t move.
“What is?” he asked.
“That Kieron is going to do anything.”
He sighed. “Abby, none of this is easy to explain. There’s a lot you don’t understand.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I broke free of his hold. “You know what I’m really tired of hearing? How much I don’t understand or how the explanations aren’t easy. Maybe if people started telling the truth, half of this crap wouldn’t be happening.”