by Nesa Miller
Her blood ran hotter than usual as she continued down the shore, unaware of the moonlight bouncing off the water…or the shadow figure keeping pace with her every step. She stopped and gazed down the beachfront. Not happy, she turned toward the dunes.
There. That’s the right path.
As quickly as her pursuit began, it ended.
“What the…?” Her tail whipped out. “Get out of my way.” The dark silhouette leaned back as the deadly tip breezed past where a face should’ve been. Faux let out a surprised gasp when a viselike grip clamped onto her tail. Whipping her around, the dark figure brought her to her knees in a puff of sand. “Hey, that hurts!” she yelled, struggling to get a better look at the bastard.
“Settle down.” The dark presence tugged harder.
“What's your deal, man? Let go a’me.” Faux funneled all her energy into her tail. The grip loosened at the very moment she pulled away, causing her to spin and fall flat on her backside. “Who the hell do you think you are?”
A sword flashed in the moonlight. “Give me an excuse to pierce that useless heart of yours.”
“What do you want?” Her eyes narrowed, trying to identify her assailant. “I have friends waiting.”
The specter chuckled. “You don’t have friends. You collect toys.”
“True,” she admitted, thoughtfully. “But, toy or friend, he'll come looking for me.” The tip of the sword followed her as she came to her feet. “If for no other reason than curiosity.”
“I’m sure he will. He seems to be attracted to train wrecks.”
“Hmph.” Faux slapped at the blade. “Move this stupid candy sticker and show your face.”
Another laugh. “Not much fun when the tables are turned, is it?”
“Who are you?” She knew it wasn’t Freeblood, yet she felt…something.
The sword disappeared into the darkness. The next moment, the hood of the cloak fell back, revealing silver locks glowing in the moonlight, framing a set of startling blue eyes.
“No... I would have known.” Faux sat heavily on the sand. “You're dead.”
“Close.” Etain smiled, looking quite satisfied with the situation. “Lord Darknight took a chance with his own life by crossing realms to save mine.”
“Darknight? Why would that son of a bitch help you?” Contempt dripped off every word.
Moonlight sparkled along the blade as Etain pointed it at the demon girl’s chest again. “Watch what you say about my lord. He is the only reason either of us is alive.”
“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes. “Would you stop waving this stupid thing around?” Faux gestured to the sword. Etain lowered her weapon, keeping it at the ready. “Since you joined his clan, he hasn’t paid you any attention. Why now?”
“You ask a good question to which I have no answer. What I can tell you is what I said before you tried to take my life. You’re coming with me.”
“I have plans, and not you or anyone else is gonna change them. Freeblood and me are kindred. Once I turn him to my way of thinking, we’ll be gold.”
“I think he’s already there,” Etain muttered. “Faux, I don’t know if my assignment in the human realm was a way to get me thrown out of LOKI, or even the Alamir itself. If this whole situation is a set-up by the LOKI High Council, you may not be as safe as you think.”
Faux came to her feet, dusting the sand off her backside. “Why would they be interested in me?”
“Because of your heritage.”
“Heritage?” Faux placed her hands on her hips. “How stupid do you think I am?”
“You are far from stupid,” Etain replied. “Merely uneducated.”
Faux’s skin took on a golden glow. “Are you calling me ignorant?”
“You’re what Dar refers to as a spawn. A somewhat unfortunate outcome of a process.”
Her dark brows furrowed. “An unfortunate outcome of a process?” Faux laughed, not amused. “I don't know whether to be insulted or outlandishly proud.” Etain shrugged. “Who is Dar?”
“Lord Darknight.”
Faux narrowed her eyes. “When did you get on a first-name basis with his lordship? Wait. Isn’t he the head of your precious High Council?” Etain nodded. Faux shook her head, thinking although her sister had not lost her life, she had obviously lost her marbles. “And you say I’m ignorant. Etain, they don’t do anything he doesn’t order. Can’t you see he’s the one who had you thrown out of the clan? You can’t believe anything he says. We don’t owe him a thing.”
“No. He wouldn’t do that. We have an…” Etain had no words to explain what lay between herself and the elusive Darknight.
“What? What does someone like you have with someone like him?” Faux stepped up into her face. “You think you have a connection with a man like that? He can have any woman he wants, if that’s where his tastes lie. Why would he want you?”
She met the black-eyed glare. “You…are coming with me.”
“Like hell I am.” Faux turned away. “I have better things-”
Etain grabbed her by the arm, spinning her around. “You have memories of a family, right? A mother, father, and a brother?” She could see the answer in her eyes. “What about me? Your sister? Do any of those memories include me? Think, Faux! Do you see me anywhere in your past?” Her expression confirmed it. “Those are my memories. My childhood. You were never a child. You came into this world as you are now.”
Flames flashed as Faux’s tail whipped out at the silver-haired nuisance. “You’re trying to confuse me! Maybe you should remember what happened the last time you came to visit.”
Etain blocked the attack with the flat side of her blade. At the same time, her other hand, still wrapped around Faux’s arm, lit in a blue electrical blaze. “You won’t get another shot like last time. Circumstances have changed.”
The girl screamed, defiance dancing in her black eyes. “Why didn’t I feel you coming?” she asked, teeth clenched against the pain. “Why doesn’t my blood boil with you right in front of me?” Etain released her, watching her fall to her knees. Faux lifted her face, tears in her eyes. “How the hell can I be a spawn?”
As Etain opened her mouth, a new voice entered the conversation.
“I see the party's just getting started.”
Although the moon was high and the night almost bright as day, the young man didn’t appear familiar. However, between his strut and the burn in her blood, Etain knew who the arrogant vexation was, and so did her sister. Faux swiped at her eyes and came to her feet, while Etain kept a blue-eyed glare on his approach.
“Interested in a little ménage a’trois?” He laughed, dancing a little jig. “You should see your faces.” Giggling, he grabbed his sides. “I can't believe I just walked up.” More giggles. “Ménage a'trois… Priceless!”
Etain shifted, her hands on her hips. She couldn’t decide whose ass to kick first, Faux, for being a handful, Freeblood, for his audacity, or herself, for not paying attention to the burn. The spinning bottle stopped on the brat. “You’re a riot. A regular Chris Rock.”
“Nah. More like Chris Farley.” He tried his best imitation of the comic. “I got a van...down by the river.” He trailed off into a fresh string of giggles.
Faux laughed, too, then placed a hand over her mouth at the look from her sister. Etain crossed her arms. “I'm not impressed.”
He clutched at his heart. “Oh, lady, thou doth wound me.” His lips spread into a big grin as he inched to his right. Faux mirrored his move in the opposite direction.
“What do you want?”
“Me?” He feigned a look of innocence. “Well, since you asked, you didn’t give me the chance to thank you for my new powers.” His expression turned serious. “Not to mention any explanation of how to control them.”
“You ran off before I had the chance,” Etain quipped, stepping out of the line of fire. “Besides, something tells me you’re a fast learner.”
He moved with her, keeping her between him and h
is newly acquired partner in crime. “The fastest you’ll ever know.”
“Not to mention destructive.” Visions of his expertise in demolition lit in her mind... buildings burnt, cars smashed; buildings smashed, cars burnt; cars smashed into burnt buildings…followed by a silent chastisement for not having the balls to explain the Alamir condition to the boy before she’d left the room, and for not being able to stop him.
Hell, I don’t know that I fully understand it, even now.
“Aw, don’t hate. I had to try it out.”
With hooded eyes, she looked at the boy. He didn’t act like someone personally bent on her destruction, but best not take chances. “The Council can deal with you. Me and Faux are out of here.” She turned toward the girl, sheathing her sword.
Was this his destiny? Or did I alter his fate? Did the simple act of sharing blood truly bring him into the Alamir realm? Maybe this is why Dar forbade the practice.
“Something else I’ve learned is how my blood burns when either of you two are near.”
Etain whirled around, her hand alight with electrical charges. “There is no connection between you to me.”
“That's BS. I've been tracking you for weeks.”
It was Etain's turn to laugh. “You’ve been following her.” She pointed at Faux with her glowing hand. The girl flinched. “Which has been a waste of your time. Once I get her to a safe place, I can return to whatever life I have left.”
He glanced at Faux. “Safe from what?”
“You.”
He laughed, back to his jovial self. “I'm a free spirit. You can't stop me.”
“Enjoy your freedom while you can. You won't have it much longer.”
“They gotta catch me first.” Freeblood sent a regretful look to his lost accomplice. “Looks like no party tonight.”
Etain watched him take a step into the night, but he did not take another. Puzzled by his sudden change of heart, she saw a green glow creep up from the ground, encompassing him. Stunned, she followed his gaze and gasped, seeing what had made him stop. She backed away, yelling at Faux to run. Etain turned, intending to run after her, but found Faux was also frozen within a green glow.
Etain drew her sword and advanced toward a green-eyed apparition. Shielded by her own blue light, she spoke with an authority she didn’t necessarily feel. “Release the girl and be on your way. You have no jurisdiction here.”
A thunderous voice blasted her to the ground. “I have jurisdiction wherever I please. What pleases me most is the power with which you have been imbued from our most generous benefactor, Lord Darknight.”
Defiance blazed in her blood. “You will release us and leave this place.” She came to her feet, sword in hand.
A sudden breeze blew over her, blowing her hair out behind her. She could hear the water rushing against the shore and feel the heat in her blood rising to an uncomfortable level. Freeblood and Faux, each paralyzed within the green glow, hovered inches above the ground. Sand swirled across the beach, licking at her boots, cutting into her like bits of glass. Realizing her sword was useless, she sheathed it and ran toward an outcropping of rocks at the water’s edge.
By this time, the wind roared, whipping the sand in its frenzy to overtake her. Etain climbed to the highest point of the rock, jerked the cloak close to her body, and crouched down. Having no idea what to expect, she waited.
Silence. Even the wind had stilled. For some unfathomable reason, she thought of Inferno, the chieftain of the UWS clan. Unusual circumstances had brought them together after she had left Darth. Inferno and his wife, Spirit, had taken her in and treated her like family. His Irish accent rang in her mind. The Alamir came about to protect the human realm from evils worse than humans.
Is this one of those evils?
Wary of the stillness, Etain chanced a peek. Raising her head, she realized the protective cloak no longer rested on her shoulders. Her hands went to her hips. Although she wore the scabbard, the sword was no longer in it. Darkness surrounded her – there was no moon, no green glow, nothing. She searched for anything to give her a clue.
Preparing to jump from the rock, she heard a deep voice rumble from the darkness. “No need to leave your perch.” Her head snapped up, hoping for a glimpse of something. “Your position is perfect. Thank you for saving me the effort.”
It was still too dark. “Where are Faux and Freeblood?”
“Interesting companions, Lady Etain. They are as they were.”
“Who are you? It feels…different. Where am I?”
We live a hair outside human perception. Inferno again.
Damn, I wish you were here now.
The man’s laughter mocked her. “You were always full of questions. You will have your answers soon enough. I have transported our little band to my realm where I prefer to work. No interruptions, no distractions. I get more done.”
How the hell does he know who I am?
She drew in a deep breath, slowly letting it out. “Is your realm always this dark?”
“Dark?” The deep voice chuckled. “Forgive my rudeness. Let me ignite our young friends again.”
A faint green light emerged. The man was true to his word. Having glazed expressions, neither had moved. Their sickly glow gave Etain just enough light to assess the situation. Four rock walls materialized from the flickering shadows. “Are we in a dungeon?” Looking up, she figured the ceiling must be very high because there was only blackness above.
“I forget how young you are. How…human.” Although she could not see her captor, the smile in his voice was evident. “I imagine it’s what you would consider a dungeon. We’re merely within the deepest confines of my castle.” Cloth rustled in what Etain assumed was a bow. “Welcome to my home.”
Inferno’s words rang in her ears again. There are those who live with ‘em, but only the Alamir know the Alamir.
“A dungeon,” she said. This guy’s definitely not Alamir. But if he’s familiar with Dar, he can’t be human, either.
“You will learn to love it,” he said, scattering her thoughts.
An unexpected laugh gurgled up from inside her. “Excuse me?” Crazy, creepy guy. That’s who he is. “Look, whoever you are, as soon as I find a way, we’re out of here.” She took a step, but was unable to move forward.
“Do not test my patience, mon petit.”
She attempted to move in another direction, then another, her hands pressed against the coolness of the invisible walls. “You have no right. I am a Lady of-”
“You are no longer who you once were. Do you not see that your Lord Dorknight has removed his protection? How else would I have been able to obtain the cloak and the sword? You stand alone, milady.”
“It’s Darknight.” Her fingers dragged through her hair. “I still have my powers.”
Could he be Bok’Na’Ra?
“The powers entrusted to you remain. No one can interfere with them. What’s the saying? Once an Alamir, always an Alamir?” Revulsion rang through his words. “Yet you are more than Alamir. Your blood sings with it.”
Her concerns shifted at the mention of her chieftain. “Where is Dar?” She pushed against her prison. “Is he hurt?”
She heard him laugh. “Doubtful,” he said. “Were you expecting him to step in and save the day? Poor deluded girl. He knows he’s not welcome here and certainly doesn’t have the backbone to defy me.” Etain followed the voice as it moved through the space. “As I was saying before, I hope you and I can come to a mutual understanding about how to apply your powers.” A torch flamed to life from where she last heard the voice, but she still could not make out his features. “With my brother out of the way, I can proceed without hindrance.”
“Huh? Wait. What does your brother have to do with this?”
Several torches lit up, their soft illumination allowing her a glimpse of the man. Etain expected a greasy-haired creep with a detestable face and dirty clothing. Instead, she saw a handsome man in his early thirties, about six-two,
dressed in an impeccable grey suit, black curls resting on broad shoulders, intense green eyes, and full red lips. Although Dar had blue eyes and brown hair, their resemblance was uncanny.
“Not what you were expecting, I see.” He clapped his hands. “I am Midir, Dorknight’s brother. Sorry we had to meet in this manner, but Dar and I don’t see eye to eye on most things. I thought it best to wait until he was otherwise engaged.” She continued to stare. “Come now. Surely you have something to say.”
“D-Darknight. He’s never mentioned a brother.” There’s something in the way he moves.
“Dar has never mentioned many things, mon petit. You will learn that in time, as well. He tells you only what he wants you to know.”
“What do you want?”
He walked toward her invisible prison, green eyes dark with intent. “You.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “Me? Why? I’m nothing special.”
“We are going tear the Alamir to shreds.” He jumped up on the rock, pressing his hands against her prison. “They will either turn Bok’Na’Ra or they will be eliminated.”
Crazy town.
The fear she felt earlier passed, replaced with a growing annoyance. She crossed her arms over her chest. “Like you said, once an Alamir... How do you propose to change that?”
Midir flashed a grin and leapt from the rock, walking to Freeblood, then Faux. Seemingly satisfied, he addressed his anticipated accomplice. “Since my dim-witted brother has most graciously shared his blood with you, we now share the same blood. Add to that your own generous nature…” He motioned to the suspended puppets. “I also have these two astounding conduits with which to seduce you.”
“My generosity does not extend to blackguards like you.” What if he can change me? No way. It’s not possible. She lifted her chin, willing herself to stand tall. “You will not do this.”
“I will.”
Etain searched for something to incorporate toward their defense. She could not let this happen. She had to fight. Can my electrical charge break this barrier? Can I shimmer out of here? Damn, I can’t leave Faux…or the brat. As her thoughts tumbled one over the other, a glint of light from below caught her eye. She spied her sword standing tall, plunged into the stone floor, her cloak to its right. How did that happen? She ran a hand through her hair. Who cares? Get to the sword and maybe I can save us all.