Shadow's Light

by Nicola Claire

I had just managed to get things back under control when another flash indicated Aliath's arrival. Before the crack of space splitting had finished reverberating in the air around us, Lutin had grabbed me and stepped through another hole.

  Another beach, further north of Auckland, grand beach houses dominating the shoreline. But, definitely not Auckland City, more like Snells Beach or Algies Bay. I had a moment to process this before the nausea kicked in and then Aliath appeared at our side. Hand outstretched, determination etched on his face.

  Lutin swore and pushed me roughly sideways through another quickly opening, shimmering space, making us land hard on our sides in further sand. This time wet as we were too close to the waves. There were no lights or nearby houses, no way of picking out the name or location of the beach. I felt exhausted, sick to the stomach and now wet through down one entire side. Lutin helped me to my feet and glanced all around, no doubt looking for the chasing Grey Lord. Even I hoped he didn't turn up soon as I couldn't manage another walk through space and air.

  I moaned as my mouth watered, preparing to expel my stomach contents at any moment.

  “Did he give you anything?” Lutin asked, still scanning the beach and sand dunes to our left. “A gem. Trinket. Food. Drink. Anything like that, elska?”

  “What?” I managed, swallowing repeatedly.

  “He is tracking you somehow. Perhaps a charm that reads your thoughts. Maybe something solid he can home in on. A mixture of both.” Lutin sounded breathless and drained. All this space shifting was taking its toll.

  And oh, great. If Aliath was waiting for me to identify this beach in my head, he was shit out of luck. All I could tell him was we were on the West Coast. I'd know these waves anywhere. They possessed the courage of the West by far. As to whether we were north or south of Auckland, the only indication was a soft glow further ahead, over Lutin's shoulder, with the waves to my left. So, that would make us south then. I'm no good at identifying my location by stars, so I just looked at the sky, picturing the position of the moon and any constellations I could find and then slowly looked down towards the glow of Auckland City on the horizon. Hopefully Aliath could work it out.

  The nausea was retreating so I sat myself down further away from the wet sand and caught my breath. “He gave me food and drink,” I finally answered Lutin's question and received a lot of what I could only assume were swear words in fey.

  “I am growing tired, elska. I cannot counter the effect of the potion he has given you. I can manage one more shift, but when he appears, you will need to knock him out with your Light. Can you manage that?”

  Huh. “Um, yeah.” Not likely. But, if Lutin would hesitate to shift us for a moment, expecting me to blast Aliath with my Light, it might just be enough for the Grey Lord to pounce. You hear that Aliath. You better time this right!

  I stood up gingerly, expecting the nausea to return, but the longer it was from the last space shift, the better I was feeling. Still tired and wet, but not so much sick anymore.

  “OK,” I said, brushing my hair out of the way as it was blown across my face. “I'm ready.”

  “I am so proud of you, elska. A true Ljósálfar Princess.” I tried to smile at him, but really, what the fuck was he thinking? Was he really that dense?

  I didn't have to pretend too much longer, because Aliath arrived with a loud crack and a blast of blinding light. I let my own Light surround me, hoping it was enough for Lutin to think I was about to strike and then watched through a haze as Aliath simply threw out a shimmering, silver, web-like fabric, which wrapped around the Ljósálfar Prince like a cloak. Lutin yelped, my Light fluttered and then waned and then suddenly Lutin was no more. And Aliath stood holding a small silver container in his palm, which glinted in the glow of the moon.

  “Well done, Lucinda,” he said smiling, a genuine smile that I truly felt right through to my soul. “You have upheld your end of the accord. It would seem your vampire is in a position to uphold his end as well. All in all, I am impressed.”

  “It sounds like you're more surprised than impressed, Aliath.”

  He laughed, and I noted the musical chimes in amongst that delightful sound. My Light tightened reflexively around me. His smile grew broader.

  “I have a gift for you.” He reached his free hand inside his shirt and proceeded to pull out a small, yellow object. It looked like a crystal or unpolished gem. A rough stone that held a depth of colour that could only be found in Álfheimr.

  I didn't take it immediately, as he held it patiently in his outstretched hand. I just stared at it with a little fear and a whole lot of uncertainty.

  “What will it do?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

  “Warm it in your palm and whisper my name above it and I shall come to you.”

  “Why would I want that?” I was beyond caring about asking questions, he'd just caught the one tool with which his people wanted most to fight their war against the Ljósálfar. He owed me, accord or not.

  “Should you require assistance of the Fey variety, I would be happy to offer my own.”

  I stared at him, trying to decide just what he was offering. He held my gaze, no longer glamoured, but my Light shield was clearly doing what it needed to keep from falling into those vivid green eyes.

  “Why would you offer that?” I asked it softly, no longer fearful as such, but still unsure.

  “You intrigue me, Lucinda. Your passion for life. Your depth of caring for your kin. Your abilities with your Light. You are a fascination and I would like the opportunity to remain, if not friends, then allies. The Fey are here to stay, you will cross paths with many. Should you require assistance at all, please ask.”

  “And you'll only get to keep an eye on me, catch up on my life from time to time? Are you sure this thing won't hurt me? Call me to Álfheimr? Track me like the potion did you placed in my food?”

  He did look a little sheepish at that last question, but brushed it aside with a wave of his hand. “I swear it will not harm, nor will it do any of those other things you have just queried. It is a gift. In honour of your assistance this night. And because,” he paused and smiled again, “you intrigue me. Nothing more, I swear.”

  Well, being intrigued with me was better than thinking I was the love of your life like Lutin did. And truth be told, a Grey Lord as an informal ally was not something to be sneezed at. I wasn't naïve enough to think I wouldn't stay off the Ljósálfar's radar, just because Lutin had disappeared. No, I was quite prepared for a backlash as soon as Queen Isoleth discovered my role in her son's capture. I can defend myself and my own well, but even the Queen of the Light Court of Faerie scared the bejeebers out of me.

  I reached out and took the gem, which was surprisingly cool to touch, despite it having rested in Aliath's palm for several minutes.

  “I think I could do with a Dökkálfa ally,” I said quietly.

  “You have chosen your side well.” Not that I'd had much choice, but actually, I think he was right.

  There were things about the Ljósálfar that left me cold. They were so perfect, so bright and pretentious, but capable of appalling things when it suited. Their deception was the greatest. Their end game all that counted and to hell with any rules. Whereas the Dökkálfa, despite being a mix of stereotypical monsters from under the bed, had rules. Honour. Neither was perfect, but then not all humans are too. And vampires. Don't get me started.

  I wasn't sure if my opinion would change as more Dökkálfa entered our world and the atrocities they performed began to filter through. I could only hope Aliath and his Grey Lords did what he said they would do. Keep those fairies who overstepped the mark in line.

  “You need not fear, Lucinda. This is - how do you say? - not our first rodeo.”

  What a strange thing to say, I thought and then with a flash of light and that ear splitting crack of thunder, he was gone. And I was left standing on an unidentified beach, south of Auckland on my own.

  Great. Flippin' great.

 
I wrapped my arms around myself and took off to climb the sand dunes which suddenly looked like Mt. Everest. Ten minutes later I crested the first one to be met by a field of others, before I spotted a deserted car park in the distance.

  I was twenty minutes into a serious scale of the east face of Mt. Everest when it occurred to me I had options. No cellphone, but definitely options.

  Hey, can you talk? I sent my thoughts across the miles to Michel.

  Ma douce? Where are you?

  The hell if I know, but there's a shit load of sand. This was met by silence. Then...

  You are at the beach in the middle of your night? Alone?

  I didn't hide the laugh. It's a wonderful walk under the moon this evening, Michel. It would indeed be nice to have some company, but alas I am all alone. And getting cold. Plus I don't have my cellphone on me. Can you call Sergei?

  Ah, you wish to use me as a message boy. A pause, then... Are you sure you are alone? A slight growl accompanied that.

  Very alone. I smiled at his jealousy shining through in his words. Now, I know I am south of Auckland on the West Coast and there are sand dunes, lots of them and a car park. So it must be a beach people visit, but not in the middle of the night it would appear.

  Sergei will be able to follow your connection with that information, ma douce. I am dialling as we speak.

  Think, I countered. As we think.

  Yes, yes. As we think. Then softer, are you safe? Unharmed?

  I'm fine, a little wet and cold and a bit tired, but I'm OK. Aliath has Lutin.

  I felt, more than heard in his thoughts, the relief at that statement. It puzzled me, briefly, because I shouldn't have been able to feel him at all. We no longer shared a connection like that, but I was sure that was what I had felt.

  That is good news, ma douce. Will you fly out tomorrow night then?

  I thought of Samson and Gigi and the mess they were no doubt in, but there was no point in delaying this any longer. The Keeper had left with Nataliya, sooner or later I would be summoned to him. It was better to get the ball rolling and get out of here when the sun set again. Samson was more than capable of handling the new vampire, I was sure. I just hoped she'd let him help. I got the distinct impression she was not happy with him at all.

  Yes, we'll fly out tomorrow. See you in a couple of days.

  That is music to my ears, ma douce. Sergei has answered, I must go, but call me again if you need me, ma belle. Je t'aime.

  Je t'aime, I replied and felt him go from my mind.

  I'd made it across the lower Mt. Everest ranges by the end of that conversation and despite feeling exhausted, decided to continue along the road that left the beach carpark. It wasn't sealed, just an old New Zealand gravel covered road. In the height of summer, when surfers headed out to this beach, dust would spray up all along the length of it. Filtering into the air vents of their car, forcing them to close their windows and swelter inside in the heat of their 1970's Datsun.

  I chuckled at that thought and set one foot in front of the other.

  Forty-five minutes later the headlights of a car appeared around a bend ahead and I stepped gratefully to the side as the Land Rover pulled to the edge of the road beside me.

  “You called a taxi?” Sergei asked in his thick Russian accent as the window came down. Marcus and Matthias were in the back.

  I jumped into the passenger seat as soon as the door was swung open.

  “Your call-out response time sucks,” I said as I popped my seatbelt on.

  “For middle-of-the-hicks pick-ups we charge triple,” Marcus offered from the back seat.

  “Charge it to my account,” I answered, letting a yawn take me quickly down to sleep.

  “Don't worry, we intend to,” came Matthias's laconic reply.

  Then more seriously, Sergei said, "I am sorry, mistress. I could not get to you in time when the fairy took you."

  "Don't worry," I said, barely able to answer as sleep took hold. "You can't protect me every second of the day."

  "He can sure as hell try," Matthias offered.

  "In fact, from here on in you're gonna be glued to his side. No escape," Marcus added with a snort of laughter.

  I didn't hear any more banter, as I could no longer fight off sleep, but I was sure it was flowing in full force around me. The vampires were all very relieved.

  So was I. I could finally cross one thing off my To Do List. Lutin had been caught and Queen Sofiq would be somewhat appeased.

  Now on to the rest. I sighed, as I felt my body become weightless. My To Do List was as long as my arm, but at least I was making headway at last.

  One step closer to Michel, was the last thing I consciously thought before sleep fully engulfed me.

  Chapter 32

  The Visit

  The shutters were down in my bedroom when I awoke. That told me two things. One, it was daylight out. And two, I had been put to sleep in my own bedroom and hadn't even woken for the transfer from vehicle to bed. I was seriously losing my edge. How could you sleep through being picked up out of a car and carried inside, up a flight of stairs, past the mess Lutin and Aliath had made, and then into and under the covers of bed?

  At least they hadn't undressed me. I was still in my dress and jacket, the only things missing were my shoes and weapons. The shoes were beside the bed on the floor and the weapons were on the bed beside me, within reaching distance. Whoever had put me to bed knew me well.

  I stretched and rolled over to look at the clock. I had no idea what the time was when we made it home from whatever sand dune covered beach Aliath had abandoned me at, but it must have still been before sunrise. And now the clock said three in the afternoon. Quite a sleep, even for me. But then, it had been a strenuous couple of days.

  I decided a hot shower and then food was in order, before I contemplated the fact that we would be flying out of New Zealand, Paris bound, sometime tonight. No doubt Sergei had it all organised with Michel's pilots, but first... necessities.

  I felt a million times better by the time I was cleaned up. No more sand. Yippee! Dressed again in one of Michel's stretchy capped sleeved dresses with matching jacket. My dancing dragon necklace around my neck and nestled in between my breasts. The silver stakes and knife already at home inside the pockets of the jacket. My passport, cellphone and wallet in another. Thank Goddess for private jets and not having to stow my weapons inside checked luggage. I even contemplated taking my Svante sword. Who knew if it would be needed, but the idea of having extra ammunition when facing the Iunctio's Council, was a reassuring one at any rate.

  I made a mental note to get it out of the safe and store it in my overnight bag.

  Vampires were up and about downstairs. From their signatures I could tell it was M&M and Samson. Sergei was in his room in the cellar. I had no idea of knowing if he was sleeping, but my bet was not. His worry over his sister would be forefront in his mind, I was sure.

  I didn't venture into the lounge where the signatures and murmured words were emanating from. But instead headed directly to the kitchen. One quick glance in the fridge and it was obvious our housekeeper had been in recently. A lasagne sat waiting on the middle shelf. I hurriedly uncovered it and shoved it in the microwave. The oven would have been better, but I was too hungry to wait for it to heat up.

  A couple of minutes later, I had a plate full of steaming lasagne and a glass of Michel's favourite Merlot on the side. Time to face the gang.

  I settled into the couch, after being greeted by my guards and started eating. Samson sat stone faced across from me in an armchair. I was sure he wanted me to ask him what was wrong. He was all but willing me with his eyes, but my hunger would not allow any interruptions. So, he just continued to fume silently while I scoffed my super heated meal, savouring every bite.

  Finally full, I set the tray aside and started sipping on my wine.

  “OK. What's wrong?” I asked, taking another sip from my glass and wondering if Michel had been able to get a hold of t
his particular drop in Paris. Maybe I'd take him a bottle from our collection. The French make superb wine, but Michel had grown accustomed to New Zealand and Australian reds. They were more full bodied than their French or Italian counterparts.

  “Gigi has gone.”

  I almost spluttered my mouthful of wine. “How? Why?”

  A red tinge washed up Samson's neck and face. He was obviously still full from his feed from me, or he had managed to feed again, because blushing is not an easy thing to do for a vampire. He didn't say anything, just looked at the carpet with a frown on his face, trying to get his thoughts in order.

  “All right. Let's start with this,” I said into the awkward silence. Even Marcus and Matthias had gone dead quiet, sipping their drinks and making no comment. “Is she safe? It's daylight out, is she susceptible to sunlight like you?”

  At that question M&M stiffened and both sets of eyes fell on me. Crap. I'd forgotten they didn't know about her mixed heritage. As far as they were concerned, Gigi was a newly turned vampire. Nothing more. Crap and double crap.

  I ran a hand through my hair and let a frustrated breath out. Samson was glaring at me and I didn't blame him in the slightest. I flicked him a look that I hoped showed how sorry I was and turned to my personal bodyguards. I studied them for a moment, trying to decide how much they could be trusted to know. It's not that I don't trust them. I do. They've been my personal guards for a while now and have been loyal and dedicated to the task. But, they were no longer part of Michel's line. They were independent and as such, no one had control over them at all.

  Michel couldn't command them to keep Gigi's secret. I certainly couldn't command them. If I told them everything, I would have to trust them as a human trusts a human friend. But, they are not human. They are vampires. And a vampire will use any information, any prize, to better their station. Or simply to survive. If the knowledge of what makes Gigi what she is becomes valuable, they would not feel obliged to maintain discretion.

  A vampire is as a vampire does.

  Crap, I say again.