Dark Ascension

by J. D. Brown

  Jesu watched carefully. “How do you feel?”

  “Horny.”

  He chuckled. “Well, I cannot help you there.”

  “Can’t you?” I looked at him and a goofy smile twisted my lips.

  He shook his head. “Not when you might not be in your right mind.”

  “But you would if I was sober?”

  His mouth thinned, and those dark emerald eyes of his scanned me. God, he was hot. So broody and so hot. “We are not having this conversation right now.”

  In the back of my mind, I knew he was right. But for once, I didn’t care about doing the right thing. I felt amazing, like I could run endless laps around the city. My hands shook with elation. I stood. Jesu stood too and placed his hands on my shoulders.

  “Sit,” he ordered.

  “Kiss me.”

  He narrowed his gaze. “Think of your children.”

  “Can’t,” I said. “I need to do something. Like jumping jacks or parkour or—”

  “Ema.” Jesu squeezed my shoulders. I was vaguely aware of him pushing me toward the couch cushions, but I didn’t budge. Instead, his hands went through me. I laughed.

  Scowling, Jesu lowered his arms to his sides. “All right, you win.”

  “I can go for a jog?”

  His brow furrowed. “No. But I will kiss you if you promise to sit down.”

  My primal instincts did a backflip, and I instantly plopped onto the couch, bringing myself eye level with Jesu’s crotch. I reach for the zipper.

  “Whoa.” Jesu grabbed my hands, pulling them away from his pants. He sat next to me. “Only kissing.”

  “Boo,” I said. “No fun.”

  He scoffed. “Take it or leave it.”

  “Fine.” I closed my eyes and leaned forward. Something about the angle opened a floodgate in my stomach, and my eyes snapped open. I immediately leaned away. “Excuse me.” I ran to the bathroom, despite Jesu’s protests, and vomited into the toilet.

  Jesu came inside and held my hair back as I retched. “I guess that means the morning sickness is still active.”

  “This sucks,” I moaned between heaves.

  When I was done, Jesu helped me stand. He waited by the door while I brushed my teeth and washed my face. Once I caught my reflection in the mirror, I realized why Jesu didn’t want to make out with me. I looked like a crypt keeper. Dried blood hardened my hair in tendrils that stuck to the sides of my face.

  “Oh God. I need a shower.” I touched the back of my head and hissed at the dull pain.

  “I would rather you wait for Shénshèng.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said. “For pressuring you.”

  Jesu looked like he wanted to say something, but thought better of it. He extended his arm, and I took it, letting him help me back to the couch. I felt fine now that the blood was out of my system. Embarrassed, but fine. Still, I knew Jesu was right to call a doctor and have me checked. Valafar didn’t hold back when he was trying to fight me off. What if... Well, I couldn’t think about that.

  We sat down, my fingers still curled around his strong, warm arm, feeling his muscles and pulse beneath the pale blue flesh. My heart ached. I did love him, and it wasn’t fair. I wasn’t being fair. I asked too much and gave him nothing in return. Except...

  What did Dad mean when he said Jesu was here for my daughter?

  I wanted to ask, but the suite door opened and Shénshèng entered. She carried a small medical bag in one hand, a keycard in the other. She set the card on the kitchen counter, and then came straight toward me. Tancred and Mr. Wu followed. Between them was a large bamboo trunk. They carried the trunk into the living room and set it down near the couch with a heavy thump. Mr. Wu eyed the sleeping incubus and my father. He made a face of disapproval, and then left the suite. I hoped we weren’t falling too far out of favor with Mr. Wu. He seemed like a nice guy, and I didn’t want to get us in trouble with the R.E.D.

  “What’s all that?” I gestured to the chest.

  “Everything you need.” Shénshèng pulled a stethoscope and a piece of paper from her bag. She handed the paper to Jesu. “Draw these symbols on his hands then tie him up.”

  Jesu studied the page. “What are they?”

  “A spell. Go now before they wake.” Shénshèng placed the earbuds of the stethoscope in her ears. She lifted my shirt and pressed the diaphragm to my belly. Jesu found a black marker in one of the kitchen drawers and set to work. He kneeled next to Valafar, being careful not to disturb my father.

  “You knew we’d need you,” I said. “Why not tell us this part at least?”

  “Shh.” Shénshèng listened. A flutter of nerves warmed my cheeks. What if something was wrong? What if I had lost the twins while fighting with Valafar? What if—

  “Your children are well,” she said. “Very strong.” The relief was enough to make me dizzy. I sighed as Shénshèng removed the earbuds and let the stethoscope hang around her neck. “I am more concerned about the blood in your hair.”

  “Oh. Hasn’t it healed?” I figured the gash would’ve been nothing more than a scar by now.

  “Probably, but let me have a look.”

  Shénshèng cleaned my scalp with alcohol wipes and then examined whatever was left of the wound. I waited until she was finished.

  “Okay, you are free.”

  I stood and stretched, letting my back crack. “Can I take a shower?”

  “Be my guest,” she said while returning the stethoscope to her bag.

  “Would you mind checking on Valafar? He was stabbed in the gut.”

  Shénshèng’s pleasant expression faded. I thought she would refuse, but she nodded and carried her bag over to the incubus. Jesu finished drawing and took a step away to give her room.

  “What will the spell do to him?” he asked.

  “Suppress his powers, but it will wear off as the ink does, so be mindful.”

  Jesu looked at the marker in his hand. “Er, this ink is permanent.”

  Shénshèng lowered her gaze and grinned. “Yes, but it won’t last forever.”

  Did she know that maker was permanent? What else does she know?

  Curious, I decided to have a look in the trunk. I opened the lid and a small avalanche of weapons slid to the floor, causing a loud clatter. Daggers, knives, and vials containing a clear liquid rolled to my feet. Shénshèng stopped what she was doing, made a beeline for the items on the floor, and began counting each one as she picked them up.

  “Oh shoot,” I muttered. “I didn’t mean for that to happen.”

  “It’s all right,” said Tancred. “Nothing broke, so it won’t take her but a few minutes. You might as well go take your shower.”

  “Hold on,” said Jesu. “Logan is waking up. Quick, hand me the rope.”

  A length of twine had been unearthed in the chest when the other items fell out. I grabbed it and tossed it to Jesu. He worked quickly, rolling Valafar onto his side and tying his hands behind his back.

  Dad’s lashes fluttered. He lowered his hand and blinked several times as he came to.

  “So,” I said, hands on my hips. “How was it?”

  Dad glanced around the suite. He seemed to take in Shénshèng and Tancred first before looking at Jesu and me. Then his gaze lowered, and Dad sighed. “Lilith never told him anything, but...”

  “But?” Jesu grunted as he lowered to one knee, and then looped the remaining twine around Valafar’s ankles.

  Dad drew a deep breath and rubbed his eyes. “He might have worked it out on his own. He knows his mother well. Disturbingly well.”

  “So Valafar thinks he knows what Lilith is after?” I said.

  Dad nodded.

  “What is it?”

  “Apollyon,” he said. “She wants Apollyon.”

  I furrowed my brow. “But she already has him. Valafar took my stone. Apollyon’s essence is in the ruby.”

  “Not all of it.” Dad’s gaze went to my midsection.

  I folded my hands over my stomac
h and scowled. “What does she want with it?”

  “That’s the part I couldn’t figure out.” Dad shook his head. “It wasn’t supposed to happen like this, though. She just needed to bring Apollyon back to life to get his essence. She would’ve left you alone after that, but...”

  Jesu muttered a word in Finnish that I assumed was a curse word. He looked at me from the corner of his vision and his mouth thinned. My shoulders sagged and I touched my chest.

  “Then nothing’s changed. I still need to talk to her.”

  “Ema, she wants your son.” Jesu stood and faced me. “My brother.”

  Dad teetered toward us, but backtracked as though unsure. He watched Jesu carefully.

  I shook my head at Jesu. “In Egypt, Lilith said something to Apollyon about the missing piece of his essence. She said they couldn’t take it by force, because it needed time to grow. To... I don’t know, mature? That means she needs my son alive, and right now that means keeping me alive. So I need to take this chance. Because once they’re born, she won’t hold back. I need to know what she knows. I need to know how to get Apollyon out of my child.”

  No one said anything—except for Shénshèng, who was still counting weapons in Mandarin.

  Dad closed the distance and pulled me into a hug. His big arms were warm and strong. I couldn’t remember ever hugging my father. We must have when I was a little girl, but I couldn’t remember it. I was still mad at him for hexing me, for hiding what I was and then leaving, but it was a different kind of anger now. I didn’t blame him for doing what he thought was best—not when I was doing the same for my children. He could’ve handled it differently, but I couldn’t fault him for that. It was in the past. He did his best. All we could do now was move forward.

  Slowly, I slid my arms across my father’s shoulders and began to forgive him.

  VALAFAR

  “Get out of my head!” I threw everything I had at the Hunter. My energy sprung from my fingertips in a vicious bolt of violet light. The recoil hit me like a ton of bricks. I fell to my knees, panting.

  Logan crossed his forearms over his chest and uttered some chant. The strike hit its mark, sending Logan skittering back—but he picked himself up and dusted himself off, completely unharmed.

  I am done. My energy was too low to begin with from the blows I’d suffered on the physical realm. My body worked against me, pulling energy away to heal itself, leaving me with only trace amounts to protect my psyche. Ironically, Lilith’s sire command helped in this scenario, though only to serve her own precious plans. Logan would never find what he truly needed. He’d have to kill me first.

  “You’re lucky my daughter likes you.” His husky voice carried over the void. To me it was a void, anyway. I had no idea the images he saw; the memories and experiences that were flooding him now. But just thinking about it made me smirk. He’d never be the same after this.

  “Worth it,” I said. And then I let go.

  I woke slowly, as though floating from the cold, dark ocean floor to the fractured warmth and light of the surface. My eyelids were heavy, my vision a bit hazy around the edges, my limbs stiff. I tried to move my arms, but couldn’t. The face of a very lovely ghost appeared next to me, and I wondered if Mum had finally done it—if I were finally dead.

  Wait, no... Ema had killed me.

  I ran my tongue over my lips. The delicate skin felt bumpy, as though marred with blisters. I grimaced as I recalled my final moments; done in by a Romani and a fist full of Adder’s Tongue. How utterly embarrassing. Lilith was going to be pissed. I grinned to myself. At least I’d have that final effect on her.

  “Can you hear me?” said the ghost. She was Asian, if the shape of her oddly pink eyes was any indication. Wait. I knew her from somewhere.

  Shénshèng?

  She pressed a cup to my lips. “If you can hear me, drink this.”

  I wrenched my head to the side as reality worked its way through my muddled brain. The motion caused some of the warm liquid to splash over the side of the cup and spill down my neck. I pulled my lips between my teeth, refusing the drink. Who knew what kinds of poisons or potions she could conjure. I tried to phase, but the air smelled of Adder’s Tongue, so I tried to stand instead. Much to my dismay, I found my arms were tied behind my back and my feet were bound at the ankles. I couldn’t get up.

  “He is awake,” Shénshèng called out. “And irritated.”

  I glanced around the hotel suite and took stock of the situation. I was tied to an armchair in the living room, right where the whole debacle happened. Logan was awake as well. He sat at one end of the couch nearest the window, hunched over the coffee table as he prepared some kind of thick serum. I hadn’t managed to kill him, or even find out what Shénshèng had told them. But the bastard had been in my head. I hoped he had nightmares for the rest of his God-given life.

  Ema came to my side. She had changed clothes, her hair damp from a shower. Bloody hell, how long was I out? She rested her hand on my shoulder. “Are you in any pain?”

  I scoffed. “It’s not me you should worry about, love.”

  “Well try not to move. You had a hole in your gut. Shénshèng was kind enough to clean and bandage the wound, but you still have some healing to do.”

  Now that I thought about it, there was a stabbing pain in my right side. “Much appreciated, but if you could just untie the bindings I’d rather be on my way.”

  Ema’s lips thinned as her gaze traced my form. The pity in her eyes was a weapon all its own, and it pierced deeply. I gnashed my jaw together and pulled at the restraints around my wrists. Ema withdrew her hand and took a careful step back. She reached into her pants pocket and then held out a cellphone—my cellphone.

  “What are you doing?” I growled.

  “I found Lilith’s number in here and sent her a text.” Ema pressed a few buttons and then turned the phone around to show me the screen. The time stamp said the text had been sent three minutes ago.

  This is Ema. Let’s talk.

  From the looks of it, Mother hadn’t responded—but then that wasn’t her style. I laughed. Because why not? I was tied up against my will and going nowhere fast. Might as well have some fun while it lasted. Ema narrowed her gaze as though she wanted to ask what was so funny, but perhaps wasn’t certain if she wanted to know the answer. I smirked.

  “Your first mistake was assuming that Lilith gives a rat’s ass about me. She’d sooner kill me herself than let you turn the tables. Get comfortable, love, we could be here all year.”

  Jesu went to Ema’s side and crossed his arms. “I liked him better when he was unconscious.”

  I scowled at the vampire. For someone who worshiped the ground she walked on, Jesu was doing a piss-poor job of keeping her safe. Maybe love was the problem. It had certainly clouded my judgement in the past.

  “I agree,” said Tancred. He stood behind the breakfast counter in the kitchenette, looking uncomfortable; arms wrapped around himself, face pinched tight. He didn’t like me and the feeling was mutual. I couldn’t look at the Second and not think of Brinnon.

  Brinnon... Ema had asked if I loved him, but what did it matter?

  “What if he’s right?” Ema gazed at Jesu. “Waiting us out would be the most obvious move.”

  “Then we find something she does care about,” said Logan. “Something she can’t ignore.”

  “Like what?” said Tancred.

  Silence.

  I sighed. Thank goodness they didn’t have anything.

  Ema pulled her lower lip between her teeth, her gaze thoughtful. An uneasy feeling stirred in my gut as the inkling of an idea bloomed in her dark eyes. I stared at her, willing her to stop, to give up. Let it go, you idiot. Save yourself.

  “I think I have an idea.” She faced Jesu and lifted her brows. He tilted his chin in askance. Ema reached into her front right pocket and produced a small, smooth, green stone. My stomach twisted at the sight of it.

  Apollyon’s jade.

  Co
uld it be the real thing this time? I had given Jalmari one decoy already, but there could’ve been others.

  “What is that?” Tancred demanded.

  “This is the reason I don’t need to make another stone,” said Ema.

  Tancred furrowed his brow. “You found it on him?”

  She glanced at Jesu and shrugged. “Sure, why not.”

  “Did he have the ruby as well?”

  “Ah,” Ema looked at me. “No.”

  “Had fun going through my pants, did you?” I jeered. “Wish I’d been awake for it.”

  Jesu glared at me. I gave the air a little kiss and a wink. Jesu’s hand reached inside his jacket. Metal slowly scrapped against a scabbard.

  Ema pocketed the stone and then touched Jesu’s arm. “Ignore him.”

  I grinned at getting a rise out of the vampire. He narrowed his gaze, but ultimately sheathed the dagger, and then turned kinder eyes on Ema. “I am not sure this is a smart idea.”

  “Relax,” she said. “I won’t really give it to her. We’ll just use it as bait. We know she wants it.” Ema tilted her gaze in my direction. I pressed my lips together and slumped deeper into the chair, refusing to speak. She was treading on the edge of a very deadly cliff. Deadly for me that is. Lilith expected me to contain situations like this—to manipulate them to her favor. But I didn’t know exactly what Ema was planning. Sure, the stone would get Lilith’s attention, but what did Ema think would happen after that? That Lilith would come for tea and crumpets and have a polite conversation? I fought the urge to snort.

  Ema typed something into my phone and then showed the screen to Jesu. It was something they did when they didn’t want me to hear them speaking.

  Jesu sighed. “Are we certain this is necessary?”

  “I have to, Jesu. Unless you want to torture Shénshèng for the information.”