I jumped into the thick brush and let the forest swallow me. Branches slapped against my face and cut my arms. I was wearing long pants, but my feet and body were bare and taking a thrashing from the landscape. I ducked under branches and leapt over the fallen trees in a single bound, clearing them with ease. My body moved with speed and grace, lunging over any obstacle that got in my way. My pulse raced and adrenaline pushed me farther and faster than I had ever run. I broke through the other side of the forest, the thick undergrowth biting at my flesh as I came into the clearing. The grass was longer than I knew it should be, growing up past my knees and slowing my pace. With each step, I lost momentum, losing my ability to run. Finally, my body slowed and I was frozen in place.
A ripple of air moved in front of me and Darius peeled back reality. He parted it like two sheets of paper and stepped out from a black split in the world. My stomach clenched and I gasped for air, trying to catch my breath. A stinging sensation covered my torso from the branches that had left their mark. Scrapes and cuts lightly bled, not closing as they should have.
Darius stood like a statue before me: pale, calm, and composed. “I control this dream,” he said, and the portal rippled behind him. The black hole closed itself, leaving power thick in the air. “I can be anywhere, and everywhere.”
I knew I shouldn’t use magic, but I was out of options. I tried to conjure my elemental powers, but nothing came. The elements stirred in my soul but wouldn’t move. They burned, swirling inside me, begging to be released.
“That won’t work either. I won’t allow it.” He moved toward me with an eerie power, and goose bumps rode up my arms. “You can relax, Chase. I mean you no harm. I’ve simply come to discuss our current…situation.”
I tried to turn but my body was paralyzed. His magic swam around me, keeping me in place. He stepped through the tall grass around me, and it separated for him without a touch. Each blade bent, creating a clear path until he came to stand in front of me. My stomach tightened and sweat gathered on my palms as he neared. I could feel his magic enveloping my body, ready to crush me at any moment.
“Do not fear me. I told you, I mean you no harm. I only need a small favor.”
“Kill me if you want. I’m not helping you.”
“Kill you…whatever do you mean? This is just a dream.” Darius winked.
“I’ve seen what dreams can do.”
“You’ve only experienced what can happen when I use my power to send someone else into your mind. Imagine what I can do being here myself.” His thin lips curled, showing perfect white teeth.
“I already told you, I’m not doing anything for you.”
“You don’t have to. Just give me what I want.”
“The ring stays with me.”
Darius raised a finely plucked brow and began walking circles around me. I followed his movements, but my nerves pounded inside me like an iron hammer each time he vanished from my sight.
“Why must you children make things difficult? In all my thousands of years, I’ve always hated that: young, undeveloped minds, and your sense of entitlement. Your arrogance disgusts me.”
“Thousands?”
“Oh, you didn’t know?” Darius laughed. “All in due time, child.”
“Riley wasn’t able to get the ring from me, so what makes you think you’ve got a better chance?” I let the arrogance he hated hang on every word.
Darius stopped and a serious expression covered his face. Black eyes locked with mine and his power pulsated around me. “Don’t taunt me,” he said. “Your father is…” he stopped, looking both frustrated and amused at the same time.
“My father is what?”
Darius shrugged. “My brother says hello, by the way. He did wish to come, but he had other errands to tend to. So, here I am to retrieve the ring, all by my lonesome.”
“You know I won’t give it to you, so if you’re so old and powerful, why don’t you just take it?”
Darius shrugged.
“Or maybe you can’t!”
Darius’ dark eyes narrowed, but he didn’t respond.
“That’s it, isn’t it? You can’t take the ring. It was crafted by the gods and designed for the Protector, not a demon.”
Darius sighed. “When it comes to the ring, there are certain…rules.”
“Then listen closely. You. Can’t. Have. It.”
“I thought you’d say that.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I’m here to help you see the light. We’ll be meeting soon, outside of your dreamscape that is, and I want to spare you some pain. You’ve seen but a speck of our power. Should you refuse my offer, you’ll be left to Ithreal’s mercy. Trust me when I say he has none. We can take the ring, only then we’d have to kill you, and that isn’t in the cards for you. Not yet. Give me the ring, work with us, and Ithreal will give you a throne of immortality. Everybody wins.”
“Tell your god he can go to hell. Or in his case, stay there.”
“You’re such an ignorant creature,” he said with a surprising calm.
Darius lifted his hand and with a flick of his wrist, two blades of power cut across my chest. The skin ripped with ease and the pain covered my torso. Blood spilled from my body and my jeans turned black as they absorbed the viscous fluid. Power exploded above my head and pushed me to my knees. It surged around me and my head snapped back, forcing me to look up at Darius.
“You will learn respect,” he said, extending his hand.
I tried to pull away, but I couldn’t. His magic held me firm against the earth. Pale, cold fingertips touched my forehead and as he pulled them away, my magic came to life. I gagged and choked as a rush of water tore itself from my lungs. I spit the water out and tried to bring in a breath, but more water filled me.
Smoke drifted up from my hands. Thick waves of steam poured off of them before a bright blue flame ignited in my palms. I tried to scream as it scaled my skin, and the scent of burning flesh filled my nostrils, but only more water spilled from my lips.
Darius tilted his head, watching as I screamed silently, begging for death to stop the pain. “Don’t you see? I have the power, Chase. This power was given to me by Ithreal and you will bow to him, as will all your gods.” He raised his hand and the light vanished from the sky.
Thick shadows filled the air and my body rose into the still wind. Shadows spiraled down from the sky, taking hold of my limbs and pulling them in opposite directions. Power pulsed around me. My shoulders and hips cracked as the darkness tried to rip me apart.
The flames snapped and moved up my forearms, splitting the skin and blistering the muscles beneath. I coughed again, a hint of air sucking into my lungs before I ejected another mouthful of water.
My body spun higher into the air, shadows yanking on my limbs, and Darius watched with a grim smile from below.
When he dropped his hand, the shadows released me and my body fell. Wind rushed past me, but I was paralyzed. Darius’ power was wrapped around me, refusing to let me brace for the impact. Instead, I remained still and plummeted to the earth.
I crashed into the ground and darkness swallowed me. I blacked out and a rush of magic snapped me awake. Darius’ fingers were on my head, using his power to keep me conscious.
The cuts on my chest shot pain through my body and I screamed. The agony of the impact exploded through my head and core like a sledgehammer. The pain went deep and stuck inside me, forcing more water to discharge from my lungs.
“I think you get the point.” Darius snapped his fingers and freed my body.
I tried to move, but there was too much pain. The adrenaline was gone, washed away by fear. I lay face down in the grass, my body trembling. My hands were so burnt they looked like they’d gone through a meat grinder. I couldn’t feel my fingers and the muscles were too damaged to move them. Water drained from my mouth like a never ending flood and my lungs hurt as the cold air touched them. The black dots faded as the oxygen rushed through my body, but e
ach breath hurt more than the last.
The grass crunched and folded as Darius’ black combat boots stepped in front of my face. He crouched down, the thick leather trench coat drifting around him. “I don’t want to do this again.” His accent was smooth, each word gentle and soft as he spoke. “This is your final warning. I’d hate to steal another loved one from you, but I will do whatever is necessary. It matters not how many elements you get; it will not be enough. Be wise. Cherish your life. Do what’s best for your friends.”
I tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. My body ached and I felt the warmth of blood seeping from me.
“Do try and enjoy the rest of your vacation; it is beautiful here. I must admit, Serephina does nice work.” Darius’s magic vanished and darkness pulled itself over me. The dream world faded, leaving me alone and floating in the shadows.
Chapter 21
My heart pounded in my chest. Blood moved down my sides and panicked breaths sparked pain deep in my lungs.
“Don’t move.” A voice shot through my head.
The sound caused a million needles to shoot through my brain. Foreign hands pushed against my body. They were hot and soft against my skin.
Rayna sat in the chair by the window, hugging her knees to her chest. Her green eyes watched with fear, but desperation for sleep tugged at them. What little color her skin held was gone, leaving it a grayish tone.
Garrett, Karissa, and Chief stood over me. Karissa and Chief cared for the wounds on my chest, dabbing the wide cuts with blood soaked cloths, while Garrett mixed something with a mortar in a small wooden bowl. The white blankets beneath me were stained red with blood and sweat ran down my face, dripping onto the covers.
“Stop,” I said, but it came out in a hoarse and cracked whisper. “I can fix this.” I closed my eyes and reached deep inside. I focused on the healing power of water and drew it to the surface. Magic poured off me and both Chief and Karissa’s eyes opened wide.
The rain came down like a waterfall in my mind, washing away the warlock’s wounds. I visualized the large gashes closing, but as I imagined the skin folding over itself, the magic faded. I tried to bring it back, but it wouldn’t budge. What energy I had left, I’d used calling it forward. I didn’t have it in me to heal this. The world around me faded in and out, getting fuzzier with each attempt to bring my magic to the surface.
“Rest, my boy.” Chief leaned over me, dabbing my forehead with a cool cloth.
“I can’t…they’re…coming,” I whispered.
“Who is?”
I tried to open my mouth, but I’d lost all control. Black dots swarmed me and the more I fought, the faster they came, until darkness swallowed me.
********
Cloudy voices echoed around me and the sound hurt my head. My eyes were hard to open and I reached up and wiped the sleep away. The room went in and out of focus before I could finally see clearly.
“He’s awake!” Rayna moved from the window and leaned over me. “Chase, can you hear me?”
I pushed myself up and realized my hands were still covered in blood. Thick gauze and bandages were wrapped around my chest and I was lying in fresh, clean sheets.
“Yeah, I’m here,” I whispered, but it still hurt to speak. “Water.”
Karissa rushed over with a glass. Her hazel eyes sparkled, but she looked worried.
I took a sip and the cool liquid soothed my throat. I drank it all and set the empty glass on the table.
“How are you feeling?” Karissa asked.
I shook my head, trying to push away the thick fog roaming inside my mind. “I’m fine…I think. What happened?”
“You had another dream. Riley, I’m guessing,” Rayna said.
“No…” I said. “Darius Sellowind.”
“One of the Dark Brothers?” Karissa asked.
“That’s what he means.” Rayna sounded annoyed.
“I’ll get Chief.”
“God, I’m so glad you’re okay.” Rayna wrapped her arms around me.
“Whoa!” I winced, my voice starting to come back. “Last time I saw you, you wanted nothing to do with me.”
“That doesn’t matter now. All that matters is that you’re okay.”
She pulled away and I slid my legs over the bed. My chest stung as I moved, but I gritted my teeth and pushed through the pain.
“How long have I been out?”
“A day and a little bit.”
“That long?” I sighed, rubbing my fingers against my temples. A migraine throbbed in my mind and I needed any relief I could get. “Were you able to shift?”
Rayna looked disappointed. “Not yet, but you can’t worry about that right now.”
“I remember waking up, but my magic wouldn’t work…”
“Your powers are getting stronger, but until you can fully control it, it takes too much energy. Energy you don’t have right now,” she said with a tone and a glare.
The door opened and Chief and Karissa came into the room.
“How are you feeling?” Chief crouched in front of me.
“My chest hurts and my head is pounding, but otherwise I think I’m okay.”
“Here, take these.” He dropped two aspirin in my hand and gave me another glass of water. I swallowed both pills with a gulp.
“Let’s have a look at these.” Chief crouched down and peeled back one of the gauze wraps. “Wow. You heal fast. That’s impressive, even to a shifter.”
The wide gashes were now thin strips of scabs, starting below my shoulder and moving down across my stomach. The edges of them were bright red and raw to the touch.
“You gave us quite the scare. You sure you’re okay?” Chief asked.
“I’ll be fine,” I said, rubbing my temples. “Has Jonathan been around again? Last night, or whenever it was…”
“I heard, and I’m sorry. I’ve never seen him like this. Obviously my warnings have not been acknowledged, so I’ve sent him back to Stonewall.”
“Is he okay? I didn’t mean to hurt him.”
“He’ll be fine. Nothing more than a bruised ego.” Chief smiled. “Best thing for you now is some fresh air. Can you walk?”
I pushed myself off the bed and tried to stand. It hurt at first, but once my feet were on the floor, it felt good to stretch. I washed off all the blood I could, but there were still spots of blood I’d have to get later. I threw a gray hoodie on, careful not to tear the bandaging, and I met Chief on the porch.
“Sorry ladies, I’d like this to be just Chase and I. And Rayna, you need to rest.”
Rayna nodded and tried for a smile.
“Ready?” Chief asked.
“Yeah, but can we keep the bush whacking to a minimum?”
Chief laughed and began walking, leading me into the forest with a trail to navigate.
The air was crisp, giving us another sign of fall. Water dripped from the leaves and moisture rolled on the air, leaving the smell of what I thought was a coming storm to fill my senses. Judging by the muddy trail and wet grass, however, I’d already missed it.
“Hell of a night you had,” Chief said.
“You’re telling me.”
“From what I understand, it’s been your father entering your dreams?”
“That was the first time. This time it was Darius Sellowind.”
“The Dark Brothers are a powerful duo, feared by most of the Underworld. You should tread lightly. They are not a power to be tested.”
“So I’ve heard, and now seen, but I don’t understand it. Marcus fought them and made it out in one piece.”
“Marcus is a powerful hunter but don’t be fooled. The Dark Brothers only let you see what they want you to. They are masters of their craft.”
“What’s their deal anyways? Until a few weeks ago, I’d never even heard of them.”
“The brothers keep to themselves and people don’t talk about them. They fear it will bring unwanted attention.”
“Who are they? How did they get to be
so powerful?”
“Everyone has a different story. Some believe they practice blood magic, stealing life force from others to give themselves immortality. The reality is, nobody knows. I fear for you having them as an enemy.”
“I’ll take the brothers over Riley, especially if he completes the ritual. A jacked up hunter with the power of a god is not something I want to see.”
“Do not underestimate the Brothers. The fact that they’re hurting you physically while in your dreams speaks volumes about their power.”
“Everyone that’s after me is powerful,” I said.
“Perhaps I can help.”
“How?”
“I can’t change what is already done, but I can help in the matter of your dreams being invaded.”
“I’m listening.”
“It’s a matter of having control, even when you’re asleep. It may be their magic that harms you in the dream world, but that isn’t what allows them to enter it. They have control of their minds in such a way that allows them to leave their dreamscape and enter yours. If you learn to take control of it, you can prevent unwanted visitors.”
“So…like I can shield a vampire from entering my mind while awake, you can teach me to shield while asleep?”
“Exactly.”
“Why do I feel like there’s a but coming?”
“I wish to offer my services to your cause. The Hollowlights are willing to help you in any way we can, but before I can make such an offer, I need to know where your devotion lies.”
“I’m not sure I follow.”
“The Hollowlights pride themselves on being loyal. When we make an allegiance, we live by it. We will stand beside you, no matter who your enemy may be, but we expect the same in return.”
“We could definitely use the help, and if there’s some way I can return the favor, I’m happy to.”
“We have an allegiance then?”
“Are you sure you want to make one? You said yourself the Dark Brothers are not a power to be rivaled.”
“I have faith that together we can conquer many things.” Chief extended his hand to me.
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