I sat, mouth open, unable to process comprehensible thoughts. That’s my writing, my email… The door on the far left hand side of the enclosure opened, and in slide a familiar character with slick, rose gold hair.
“Farsky,” Marcus growled and glanced sideways at me.
“Nyminia, I can’t say that I relate to the feeling– however I’ll take your word on how profoundly wonderful it is.” The doctor glided up to front of our cage, smirking as he did.
Disgusting.
A loud crack and flash of orange light filled the room as Marcus threw himself against the hexagonal spell pattern. The magical barrier hissed as he fell back, smoking, onto the ground.
“Marcus!” I bent at his side, gripping his arms. He looked up at me, and for the first time– I saw a hint of fear in his green eyes.
“I can’t express how thankful I am that you found yourself a special friend.” Farsky ran his hand over the magical barrier. “I wasn’t sure if Rowan would be enough. During my experiments things always seemed to work more smoothly when there was love involved.”
“You freak.” I tried in vain to strike him dead with my gaze. “Let us out of here.”
“I will, don’t you worry. Just a few more things left to put in order, and then it will be time.” Farsky gazed at me. “Aren’t you going to ask me what it will be time for?”
I’m not going to entertain your sick fantasy, psychopath.
Farsky shrugged. “This would be more fun if you’d play along, but anyway…” He smoothed the front of his crisp white shirt, and straightened his violet tie. “Today’s the day you fulfill your duty, Nyminia.” Leaning in closer he whispered, “today’s the day you die.”
He seriously wants to kill me. My heart smashed against the inside of my ribs.
Marcus let out a guttural growl as he leapt off the ground, and stalked towards Farsky. “Over my dead body.”
“Quite possibly. But that will be up to Nyminia.” Farsky grinned and clapped his hands. “You should be happy, Marcus! Wouldn’t a loyalist such as yourself be thrilled at the impending return of the dragons?”
This guy is completely off his rocker. I wiped the sweat from my palms.
Marcus crossed his arms, glaring towards the impish figure.
“Nyminia, I’m thrilled I was able to capture your thoughts in my emails, but if a creature like this is your type, well, I obviously never stood a chance of truly capturing your heart.” Farsky flicked the strands of the spell, causing sparks to fly across Marcus’s face. “But thankfully I didn’t have to take that role. Things will be much easier this way.”
“Are you sick or something?” My anger flared. “You’re really doing all this just to satisfy your twisted curiosity?”
Farsky giggled, an unsettling sound. “You don’t look stupid, Nyminia, but I suppose appearances can be deceiving.” He grinned. “I thought it was obvious– I’m the last dragon.”
I snorted. Him, a dragon? “Just because your family was murdered by vampires? Come off it, Doctor, you’re delusional.”
Farsky’s smile disappeared. “I graduated medical school when I was eighteen. I mastered the art of blood magic long before that.” His voice lowered to a whisper. “I’m a genius, Nyminia. A student of history, magic, and life. I know what I really am.”
Yeah, a total lunatic. I moved to Marcus’s side and took his hand.
“Anyway.” Farsky’s smile reappeared. “This has been a nice visit, but there is plenty left for me to do before the main event.”
“Wait!” I yelled at his back. “What about Rowan and Olivia? Where are they?”
He turned slightly, continuing towards the door. “You’ll see Rowan soon enough, however, your sister had no use for the mother.”
I sucked in a cold breath as Farsky disappeared out the door. My sister?
“Marcus…” I don’t know what to say.
He gripped my shoulders tightly. “Maybe Farsky is telling the truth, maybe he’s not. Either way he’s trying to manipulate your emotions.”
“But that message, you said–”
“That the person casting it had to share your blood, yes, but that doesn’t mean she’s your sister.”
He’s right. I could have a crazy aunt or something. “And she’s working with Farsky? That’s hard to believe.”
Marcus frowned. “I wouldn’t trust anything he says. She could be under a spell, or being forced in some way to be a part of this.”
He’s right. The thought did nothing to slow my frantic pulse. We need to focus on escaping, then rescuing Rowan, Olivia, and anyone else. My eyes became blurry as tears threatened to take shape. I hope and pray Olivia’s still alive, for Rowan’s sake.
I blinked, trying to focus. “Our magic is useless in this cage. Is it possible for us to overcome the spell somehow?”
Marcus nodded, he appeared deep in thought.
“Marcus?”
“I’m sorry about Caleb, Nyminia.”
Hot pinpricks flushed my face. “Look, it’s fine. We have other things to worry about–”
“It’s not fine. What you wrote to him, there was real emotion in that. You thought you had found some sort of family in this person. You thought you wouldn’t have to be alone anymore.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I muttered. “It was just Farsky messing with my emotions. Let’s forget it.”
“Do you still feel alone, Nyminia?”
The question caught me off guard. “I haven’t felt alone since I arrived at RBU.”
Marcus smiled softly. “To overcome the spell, we’re going to need more magic.”
“Great.” I frowned. “Any ideas on where we can get some?”
Marcus slid his palms down my arms and took my hands in his.
“Yes,” he whispered.
“Great!” Or not, judging by the look on his face.
“Nyminia, remember when I explained the vampiric soul bond?”
“You mean the vampire marriage ritual where you drink all of my blood and I drink all of yours, and our souls merge?” Oh man.
“Yes.” Marcus murmured. “You’ll remember that a side effect of the bond is a power merge. I’m over two thousand years old, that is two thousand years of magical power which could be combined with your natural ability.”
“No.” I gripped Marcus’s hands tightly.
“I understand that it’s too soon, that you might not even want to be bound to me–”
“Marcus! If we were leading typical, uneventful lives, flipping to the last page in our story would reveal us happily married, I’m sure.” I noticed the light glisten in his eyes. “I’m not saying I don’t want to be bound to you, I’m talking about the consequences.” As in if I die today, you’ll live in agony for eternity with a half soul.
“It’s our only chance. Farsky’s magic can obviously suppress us as individuals, but with our magic combined…” Marcus reached out to stroke the side of my face, I tilted my head into the cool touch. “It isn’t how I imagined this moment, but I do know it’s what I want.”
His voice calmed and steadied me. “Marcus…”
“Yes, Nyminia?”
“Will I become–” I swallowed “–a vampire?”
He shook his head and ran his thumb over my knuckles.
Is this what I want? I took a deep breath. We have no chance of escaping without boosting our powers. But if we do this, I’m literally choosing to merge my soul with another person. I looked up into Marcus’s eyes. A person who believes in me, who cares for me, and who the universe says is my true love.
“This is a big decision,” I whispered.
“That’s an understatement.” Marcus gave me a half smile.
“You have to promise me, if I die today–”
“That’s not going to happen.” His eyes flashed.
“Please, let me say this. If it doesn’t work, if I don’t survive, then promise me you won’t go all ‘Romeo & Juliet’, okay?” I held his gaze. “Find a way to restore your
soul and survive. Please.”
Marcus swallowed, his eyes wet. After a moment’s hesitation, he nodded.
“Alright then, let’s do this.” I set my mouth in a firm line, determined to appear brave.
Marcus’s lips caressed mine and melted away any shadow of doubt. If his kiss were words, they would be a poem about a love which stretches beyond emotion. A deep, real love. The kind of feeling which inspires the need to care for one another, to take joy in the other’s successes, and mourn with each other in times of sorrow. A true love.
Marcus pulled back and wiped away the hot tears as they streamed down my face. “At first it will be difficult, but it gets easier, I promise,” he whispered and pulled me into his embrace.
“What happens if Farsky comes back before the ritual is complete?” I asked.
“He won’t.” Marcus placed his fingertips under my chin, tilting my face up towards his. “This will work, Nyminia, it has to.”
We lowered ourselves to the ground and laid side by side. Try as I might, I couldn’t steady my breathing.
I’m freaking out. But this is my path, this is the right thing to do. For Marcus, for Rowan, for myself.
Using his teeth, Marcus opened up the veins in his wrist. Blood so dark it was almost black came trickling forth, and he brought it to my lips.
He nestled beside me and whispered into my neck, “Drink.”
CHAPTER 28
MY FINAL DEATH
I fought the urge to gag as the cool liquid filled my mouth. Seconds ticked by, and eventually the sensation of the blood flowing past my lips morphed from chilling to oddly comforting. Almost like I was drinking some sweet nectar, not the life water of my partner.
My own flowed hot and free from my neck, making me dizzy.
What am I feeling? Is it blood loss or...
With every passing moment the line between Marcus and myself blurred. Although we lay next to each other, I could no longer discern where my body ended and his began.
Love. That’s what the sensation is. The emotion consumed me, but I couldn’t tell if it came from me or from the man drinking from my neck.
Something tickled the edges of my awareness, like a memory begging to be remembered. Closing my eyes I focused on the feeling, and the effect was immediate.
Opening my eyes I no longer lay on the floor of the cell, but stood on a cliff overlooking a dark, frothing sea. The scent of salt stung my nostrils, and a cold biting wind whipped my face. I squinted down towards the ocean below and the hundreds of grey ships afloat on its waves.
Casting my eyes towards the heavens, I saw nothing but heavy black clouds. They pulsated and writhed as strikes of lightning flashed within their molten bellies.
I recognize this beach from my dream. But why am I here now?
“The men await your instructions, Marcus.” Atramen’s voice was cold and clear.
I turned to the seer, dressed in crimson robes. He stood with his arms by his sides, behind the man I was destined to love. Marcus. But he looks… different.
“I’m well aware, Atramen,” Marcus answered. He folded his arms in front of his chest, eyes unblinking. Striding to the edge of the cliff, his charred black armor clinked and scraped as he moved.
This must be one of his memories.
“Do you see anything?” Marcus asked.
“I see the boats, same as you,” Atramen replied.
Marcus scowled. “You know what I ask, this is no time for games.”
Atramen nodded. “I see the boats, and I see their contents.”
“What do they carry?” Marcus turned and stared into Atramen’s white eyes.
“Death,” he replied.
Marcus looked back to the wild ocean.
Unsmiling, Atramen joined Marcus on the edge. “Have you considered the plan we spoke of?”
“It’s just as vile today as it was yesterday,” Marcus grimaced.
“You know what arrives on the tide, Marcus, we can’t wait any longer.”
They must be talking about the original Nyminia.
The men stood in silence for what felt like an age before Marcus turned abruptly and walked towards the woods.
“You’re making the right choice!” Atramen called after him. “You’ll be remembered as a hero.”
“Let us pray that I am not,” Marcus replied under his breath.
I jogged alongside his quick steps as we passed between the damp, dripping trees. Some light was provided from the ominous clouds above, but it was an eerie quasi moonlight.
No wonder they called this time the longest night. How could anyone live like this?
Without slowing his stride, Marcus entered an encampment. The scent of sour milk and rancid meat clung to the air as small fires burned all around. Mud stained tents created a semicircle within the clearing of the camp, within which grim looking soldiers worked to sharpen weapons and mend armor.
“Sir!” A man called out. “We came across more refugees during today’s scouting. Human ones.”
“Yes?” Marcus stopped.
“Well, some of the men, the vampires, they’re hungry and–”
“Under no circumstances are the humans to be touched. How many of them did you find?”
“Ten adults and five children, sir.” The man squirmed.
“Set up a tent for them near the wolves, and tell the men that they are under my personal protection.” Marcus stood tall, an impressive figure in full armor.
Not someone you would disobey, and far from the librarian I’m familiar with.
“Of course sir, it will be done.”
As the man jogged away, Marcus continued on his course through the camp, calling out brief orders to his soldiers. Nearing the edge of the ring of tents, Marcus stumbled to the side to avoid plowing over a small child who had just ran out into the path.
The poor thing. My heart broke as I studied the small boy. He wore nothing more than a long tattered shirt, and his feet were bare and bloody. He can’t be older than–
“What is your age, little one?” Marcus knelt down, making himself eye level with the tiny boy.
Wide eyed and shaking, the child didn’t respond.
“I promise I won’t hurt you.” Digging into the leather pouch which hung from his waist, Marcus produced a small glowing stone. “Here, you can have this.” He handed it to the child.
The boy’s face lit up as he turned the stone over in his hands.
“It’s an illuminary stone, I made it myself.”
The boy motioned as if to hand it back to him, but Marcus waved his hand away. “No, you keep that, it’s yours.”
Clutching the stone to his chest, the small child smiled ever so slightly.
“Now, where are your parents?” Marcus asked.
The smile disappeared. “Dead,” he whispered.
“Who is looking out for you?”
The boy shrugged, and pointed in the direction he had just come running from. A large man appeared, puffing.
“Erik! You can’t go running off like that, it’s dangerous.”
Marcus stood and the man cowered, gathering little Erik behind him.
“I’m sorry sir,” the man stammered. “He meant no harm, I swear it.”
“He’s caused no trouble.” Marcus gestured to the boy. “Look after him.”
The man nodded, face pale, and both he and the boy watched as Marcus continued on his way out of the camp.
The deeper we walked into the forest, the darker it became. Thickets and thorns made bids to slow Marcus’s march, but found no purchase on the simple iron plates he wore.
We walked on through a dry creek bed, our feet grinding the tiny bones of fish and vermin. After we had climbed up the steep embankment on the other side, he came to a stop.
“I’m here,” he spoke.
“And what is it you would have me do?”
The voice was deafening, and my first instinct was to cover my ears, although I knew it would do no good. The words were not spoken in
to the air, but into my mind.
“Would you have me burn our enemies? Smite those who oppose you?” A large, graceful face came into view between the trees. The dragon was covered in shimmering luminescent scales, completely white. Her slender snout was longer than Marcus was tall, she could have easily swallowed him whole.
“Karackis has done the unthinkable,” Marcus replied. “He has ensnared death herself, and bent her to his will.”
“You refer to the false King’s new army.” The dragon cocked her head to the side and pale light glimmered off of her mirror-like scales.
“I do. We know the source of the power comes from the castle.” Marcus took a breath.
“You want me to fly over Stonehome, don’t you?” Nyminia asked.
“Yes, we need to know if he has a weakness, and I cannot go there. You are the only one who could approach Stonehome unseen, and return.”
Nyminia pushed her smooth scaled face closer towards Marcus, her white horns spiraling up, reaching towards the tops of the trees. Her brilliant eyes radiated a deep violet. “I will do this thing you ask of me, Marcus Saarinen, in the name of peace.”
He set his mouth in a hard line as Nyminia’s great wings unfurled, lifting her ghostly body into the air. Wind rushed all around us as she stroked the sky, disappearing into the clouds. I walked around Marcus to look at his face, I watched as a red tear rolled down his cheek.
They both knew.
My eyes fluttered open and I was back in my present earthly prison. Sitting up, I ran the back of my hand over my lips, wiping away the excess blood. Twisting, I saw Marcus sitting against the spell wall, eyes closed.
“Did you see that too?” he whispered.
I shuffled over to him, pulling him into my arms.
“My worst day, the only one I wish I could strike from my memory.” Marcus pulled in a shaky breath.
“But you–”
“Ended the war?” He pulled away from me.
“No, Marcus, you and Nyminia ended the war. I saw the look on her face, I heard her words. She knew what she was doing.”
He looked up at me with wet eyes and smiled sadly.
Of Flesh and Fire - Book I: Everything Will Burn Page 24