The Jewel of Darkness [Celestial Jewels 2] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by J. Annas Walker

  The lack of body language unnerved her. “So, you attacked my friends,” she said, doing her best to hide her disgust.

  “Not attack. I thought the demoness aided your magic and wanted to stop her. I did not know the werewolf would be harmed,” he said. No regret came through with the explanation.

  Sabrina began to wonder if he actually knew right from wrong. The damage might have been unintentional, but Camilla suffered just the same. She brushed off the theory and buried her growing anger.

  “What did you do with the scythe once it stopped working? Why not give it back to its owner?” She hoped he kept it, instead of pitching it in the river.

  If I can get it back, maybe I can use it myself to get home, she thought.

  “The original thief disappeared before it could be returned. I placed it under the bed for safe keeping,” he admitted. He pointed to the only real piece of furniture in the place.

  Damn, she thought. She wanted to avoid being too close to the bed with him but needed a good excuse to discreetly get to the scythe.

  The front door came crashing in, framing a skinny, young woman with long, straight, mousy brown hair. Her wild, brown eyes set off her vampire-pale skin. If Sabrina tried to guess her age, sixteen to eighteen came to mind. This plain-featured creature had to be Proserpina.

  “I knew I felt strange magic here. Charon, you lied to me, you worthless excuse of a demon,” the Queen spat. Her eyes glared daggers at Sabrina.

  Charon dropped to his knees. “My Queen, she has just arrived. I have not yet had time to summon you,” he lied smoothly.

  A deep ringing echoed off the chamber walls from outside.

  “It seems you have work to do. Go do it,” Proserpina ordered. She grabbed Charon by the cloak and pulled the much taller man up off the floor.

  As he rose, the virile, young, muscle-bound man withered to the shuffling skeleton with skin stretched tight that Sabrina saw enter the place for the first time. He tugged the hood of his cloak around his face. Without a word, he made his way out of the small home, picking up the long pole just outside the door.

  The pendant hummed against Sabrina’s skin. The dark rainbows and hazy shadows grew brighter. She did not need the pendant to know the other woman was dangerous.

  Proserpina smoothed her hair back from her face. Rows of gold bracelets clanked as she moved. Long gold earrings jangled with the moving hair. The gold embroidered, floor length, burgundy gown caught the flickering firelight.

  “I don’t see what all the fuss is about. You’re nothing special. I sense you possess mostly earth-bound magic. That trinket around your neck is manufactured. Even your fangs aren’t all that impressive,” she said with a serious amount of snarky attitude.

  “Then why bother with me? Until today, I had no idea what any of this was about,” Sabrina said casually. She shrugged with her palms up. The lioness within her mind chuffed in warning. The raw, primal power the lioness represented began working its way throughout her body, filling her to the brim.

  Proserpina snarled and drew her fingers into claws. “Don’t you dare patronize me! I walked the Earth long before even your mother! You are an abomination, a sin in need of cleansing. I’ll not let you take him from me,” she shouted. The rake-thin creature flung herself at Sabrina.

  Without thinking, Sabrina ducked and rolled out of the way. She managed to roll back into a standing position, just as she had seen Eleanor do in training. This put her close to the door, but the scythe still lay under the bed behind Proserpina.

  “Bitch! You’re not getting my throne,” Proserpina practically screamed. Her face contorted in rage.

  This bitch really is crazy, Sabrina thought and silently prayed her next idea worked.

  * * * *

  The creaking wooden boat made its way across the dark water. The hooded figure stood at the stern of a scaled-down trireme. He poled the craft to the U-shaped dock, slowing as it took its place between the two torches.

  Delilah stepped onto the boat first. When a skeletal hand turned loose of the pole and opened with the boney palm up, she deposited the coin and stepped back.

  The boney fingers closed around the gold disc. For a moment, it appeared Charon was none the wiser. He turned his back on the group and pushed off, heading for the far shore.

  Camilla kept a tight grip on Farrell’s arm. Each time he seemed to move toward the ferryman, she restrained him. “Me first,” she said in a low snarl.

  When the boat reached the half-way point in the river, the air around Camilla began to shimmer. She quickly stripped off her nightgown before transforming into a large, gray and white wolf.

  Delilah and Brandon moved, giving Camilla a direct line to Charon. She leapt, landing on his back. Her sharp teeth dug into the side of the robe at the neck.

  Charon reached over his shoulder and grabbed her by the scruff of the neck. He turned and threw her at the others. His hood fell back, revealing a skull with sunken black eyes. Flesh began filling out over the bony features.

  Farrell helped Camilla to her feet. He rushed forward with Camilla by his side. Both were repelled by an unseen force.

  Delilah dropped her disguise. The perky blonde melted away, leaving the demoness in her true form. She bared her sharp teeth. Her dark-green lips curled back in an evil smile. She crooked her long fingernails like she held a ball. Lightning in the form of an orb filled her hand.

  The old, withered face of Charon looked shocked. He held up one hand, but not in time. Delilah’s energy ball hit him in the chest with the full force of her throw. He slumped down against the stern.

  Brandon tackled him, pinning him to the ground. “Where is my wife?”

  “If you wish to save her, you must let me go,” Charon demanded. He struggled against Brandon but seemed unable to dislodge the angry vampire. He shot Delilah a stern glare. “What have you done to me?”

  “I’m from Cocytus. Freezing people in their tracks is what I do for a living, when I’m not pimping my magic for money. Lucky me, it works on other supernaturals,” she said, leaning over Charon’s struggling form.

  “I cannot guide the trireme like this. We will—”

  The boat rattled as it collided with the dock. One of the two torches landed on the boat deck and blazed, cutting Camilla and Farrell off from the stern. Delilah fell on Brandon, rolling him off Charon’s withered body.

  Taking advantage of the crash, Charon scrambled to get up. The withered form filled out to a young, muscular man not much older than Brandon. In this form, Charon jumped from the boat, landing on the shore with great agility.

  Delilah threw another energy ball, but missed.

  Charon ran up a well-worn path.

  Brandon yelled, “Camilla, Farrell, go after him!” He picked up Delilah and tossed her ashore. He hesitated at the pile of sharp wood sticking up in every direction. If he landed on one of those, it would act as a stake, killing him.

  The wolf ran the length of the boat with Farrell on her back, jumping the distance easily. She ran at top speed up the path after Charon.

  Delilah held her hands up at the pile of splintered wood. She chanted in a language Brandon did not understand. Raising her hand, she beckoned to the trireme, as if inviting it onto the shore. The mass of debris shifted out of the way. The boat beached itself, giving Brandon a safe exit point.

  “Thanks,” he told her and took off up the path.

  Just as they lost sight of the river, the path veered in two different directions. Camilla and Farrell’s scent took the right fork. Brandon started to choose that path and follow the others when shouting from the left fork caught his attention. It sounded like Sabrina and another woman.

  “This way!” Delilah shouted from further down the left fork.

  The rocky path narrowed between two enormous stalagmites. The tight space required the pair to squeeze through one at a time. On the other side, the cave opened to a very large chamber. At the far end hung a wooden door with torches staked to the wall on eith
er side.

  The door blasted apart, scattering wood fragments all over the outer chamber. Lightning and hazy shadows mixed with dark rainbows filled the dark chamber with flashes of light. Two women came rolling out of the hole where the door once stood. Between them was Thane’s scythe. Each woman struggled to take it from the other.

  Delilah held another energy ball in her clawed hand. She reared back to throw it but stopped. “I can’t get a clear shot,” she said.

  Brandon waited until the skinny, mousy-headed woman flipped Sabrina onto her back. He grabbed her around the waist, careful not to come in contact with the scythe’s blade. He wrenched her free.

  In her surprise, she let go of the scythe, leaving it in Sabrina’s hands. Screaming, she elbowed Brandon in the ribs, breaking several with a distinctive crunching sound. His grip loosened just enough for her to wriggle free. She turned on him. Instead of attacking him, she spoke in a deep guttural voice and hit him in the chest.

  He felt himself slip free of his body. He looked up at Sabrina and Delilah. Following their horrified stares at the ground, he glanced down to see his body crumpled up around his feet.

  Delilah let out a terrifying screech, hitting the skinny woman in the back with ball after ball of energy. When the woman finally fell to the ground, Delilah ran up, kicking her in the head.

  Sabrina’s face contorted with a mixture of hatred, rage, and anguish. She hurried to the nearly unconscious woman. Slipping the blade under the skinny woman’s neck, she started to take off her head. No one tried to stop her.

  “Stop!” From the narrow gap in the rock path, a deep, commanding voice shouted.

  A large man slipped nimbly between the stalagmites. His black hair lay in tight ringlets over most of his head. Down the back, it hung in a straight braid. His terracotta-colored tunic fell halfway down his thighs. Around his waist, a thick, leather belt gave the tunic shape. His feet were clad in leather sandals with straps running up each leg. He looked like a living figure of ancient art.

  “I command you to hold that blade,” he said in a booming voice.

  Charon scurried into the chamber behind the tall man.

  Camilla and Farrell made their way through the tight fit. The air around Camilla shimmered as she shifted back to human form. She fell to her knees in tears at the sight of Brandon. Farrell knelt beside her in equal horror and let her cry on his shoulder as he held her.

  Sabrina removed the blade from under the woman’s neck. She gave a graceful bow to the man. “My lord Pluto, as you command.”

  Walking up to Brandon’s body, Pluto touched the lifeless forehead, uttering something under his breath. When he removed his finger, Brandon felt a sharp pain in his chest. He fell to the ground and was reabsorbed back into his body.

  Chapter 19

  The pendant burned Sabrina’s skin. All her rage incited the stone to its full potential. Dark rainbows pushed out in all directions. Shadows swirled around her. Without letting go of the scythe, she dropped to her knees beside Brandon. She wanted the forming cocoon to surround him too, as it had always done when they were together. This time nothing happened when she attempted to push the shield out to include him.

  Brandon struggled to get to his knees, coughing and choking. With Sabrina’s help, he managed to get up off the ground. He gave her a pleading look.

  “What’s wrong with him?” Sabrina asked. It appeared he could not speak.

  “It will take a few moments to readjust to being back in his body,” Pluto replied.

  Proserpina groaned. Rolling over on her side, she spat blood. Placing one hand on her forehead, she steadied herself on the ground with the other. “You fucking bitch. When I get up from here, I’m going to kill you!”

  “No. You will not,” Pluto ordered.

  Wide-eyed, she looked up in his direction. “Are you going to throw me over for her? That’s why you sought her out, to replace me. It is. Isn’t it?” Fear and jealousy colored every word. She crawled to him and clutched at the hem of his tunic. “Please. Please don’t discard me like a chipped plate. I beg you!”

  “It has never been my intention to seek your replacement. You have allowed blind rage and foolishness to rule your actions. Go home, Persephone. I will deal with you in good time,” Pluto demanded.

  “Don’t call me that! You know I hate that name!” She looked wretched.

  “Fine. Proserpina, return to our quarters this instant.” Pluto clapped his hands in her direction. A slow rolling ripple of energy rode the air. It slammed into her. As it dissipated, it took her with it.

  Brandon seemed to be more himself. He grabbed Sabrina, pulling her in for a hug. He kissed her forehead repeatedly and smiled widely at her, flashing his fangs. He turned her loose but held her hand.

  She noticed he felt cold, in comparison to his usual self. Shrugging it off as nothing, she laced her fingers with his.

  Charon spoke up. “My Lord, how is this to end? Am I to be alone always?”

  “Old friend, I had no idea you craved company. I will see to it that you are not alone, but Sabrina cannot stay in the underworld. For all her faults, my wife is still an envious queen and will have no rest as long as she is here,” Pluto admitted. He turned to Camilla.

  “You are a brave and loyal wolf, but you, too, will be at her mercy.”

  “Sire,” Delilah said, “I am short a familiar. Allow her to join me in Cocytus. As a familiar, she will be well treated and out of the queen’s reach.” She gave a slight bow as she made the request.

  “That is acceptable,” Pluto agreed.

  He turned his attention to Sabrina. “One of the most difficult things about being of mixed magical heritage is never knowing exactly where you belong. Long have I disagreed with your grandmother about your role in the grand scheme of things. You deserve a rightful place as a member of our family. There is power in being blessed with a name and a task. I can help you there.

  “The pendant you wear is a combination of earth-bound and celestial magic. There is no way to separate them, now that they have identified with you. As a new treasure without a designated keeper, anyone of magical origins may lay claim to it. I name you the guardian of the Jewel of Darkness. Safeguard its secrets and use it sparingly, Sabrina,” Pluto said.

  “Thank you,” Sabrina whispered. The pendant gave a magical sigh and settled down.

  Without another word, Pluto made his way back to the stalagmites and passed between them. “Charon, escort our guests to the dock.”

  One by one, they filed through the narrow passage and back down the path. Once on the riverbank, they watched as Pluto pushed the small trireme back out into the water. With a wave of his hand, the broken, splintered wooden dock reformed. The two torches burst into life, giving the inky-black water an odd glimmer of orange and yellow ripples.

  Charon took his place at the stern, placing his pole in the water. Withering, he took on the more skeletal form. He waited patiently as Delilah and Sabrina came aboard.

  “I can’t make myself get on board,” Brandon said. “Why can’t I board?”

  “Unfortunately, the Queen did kill you, even if she did not destroy your body. You are no longer of the living world,” Pluto replied.

  Sabrina felt as though a knife twisted in her gut. After everything they went through, she faced losing him in the end. Despair rocked her. Only Delilah’s steady hands held her upright.

  “But I’m a vampire. I haven’t been alive since the Roman Empire still covered most of the known world,” Brandon said. His brow furrowed, and his jaw clenched in that familiar way that said he worked to hold his temper.

  “She separated you from your body. I cannot allow you to leave. It will upset the balance. Above all else, I must maintain the order and balance of my realm,” Pluto said, unapologetically.

  Anguish crashed into Sabrina. She choked back a scream. How could she go on without Brandon?

  “What if someone stays in his place?” Farrell asked, looking deep into Camilla’s eyes.
“I don’t want to live forever, if I can’t have you, my flower.”

  Camilla smiled and nodded in agreement. “I love you, Fang-face.”

  Pluto seemed to be lost in thought. He scratched his chin and then shrugged. “That is an acceptable trade.” He walked up to Farrell, touched his forehead, and pulled his soul out of his body.

  Farrell gasped as his body turned to ash on the spot. His spirit solidified like Camilla’s as his body disintegrated. When he smiled, his fangs receded, leaving behind normal teeth.

  “You’ll always be my Fang-face,” Camilla said as Farrell tounched his human teeth.

  Pluto made his way onto the dock, stopping by Brandon. He grabbed the vampire by the neck and covered Brandon’s mouth with his. He blew into Brandon’s body.

  Brandon’s eyes grew wide. A dark light came over him, spreading until it covered every inch of his body. It absorbed into his flesh. When the last of the light disappeared, Brandon jumped onto the boat.

  The anguish gave way to relief. Sabrina handed the scythe to Delilah and ran to him. It felt like the weight of the world lifted from her shoulders. If it were possible to fly, she could have in this moment.

  “Thank the stars. I thought for a second I had lost you,” she said, tears stinging her eyes.

  “For a second there, so did I,” he confessed.

  Brandon turned to Farrell. “You’ve always been a loyal friend. I won’t forget this.”

  “As long as I’ve got my Camilla, I’ll be just fine, sir. Now, get back to the land of the living,” Farrell said.

  Delilah went to the edge of the boat. “Pluto will ensure you get to my house in Cocytus unharmed. Wait for me there and don’t touch anything. I’ll be there as soon as these two are back topside. You’ll just have to entertain yourselves until I get there,” she said, winking.

  Charon pushed off. He did not speak during the trip back. When they docked on the side of the living, he took Sabrina’s hand as she exited the boat. “Please say we can be friends. I want you to be my first living friend,” he rasped. The withered mouth seemed unable to work as well as it should.