“Aside from the obvious delights of it, what dangers are there?” Evan asked.
Images of stone walls and the scurrying of rats entered into the globe. “My friends are fleeing from the evil that you seek to destroy.”
“The evil is in the sewers underneath the city?” Kess asked.
“Of course it is. If I were evil, that’s where I would go.” Evan said mockingly.
“I would’ve thought it would reside in the castle,” Rhee said.
Tamar smiled at them all. “I do not wish to disappoint you, but this time it is not Maron’s witchery that is afoot. This evil has squelched every scrying that I have tried in its vicinity. What I have learned has been from the rats and animals that reside in its lair. It’s quite possible that if you destroy the being, you will make Winterlore safe for your daughter.”
“And Kamal will never know the difference.” Guy sneered.
“We’re not doing this for his glory.” Rhee said. “We’re doing this so Irena has a safe home when she is not training with me.”
“Maron will know what you are up to. My pets at the palace tell me that she is aware of the evil and is trying to capture it to harness its power.” Tamar smoothed her hand over the globe’s surface and three exotic cats lounged in a laboratory regarding Maron with varying ranges of disdain and amusement. “It’s possible that she was using Irena and Wynne as bait. Their innocence would be a lure no true evil could ignore.”
“Perhaps we should lead her to the sewer and let her try to control the evil,” Kess said. “She would surely get what she deserved then.”
“Maron is a force as it is now. I would hate to see what she’s like as a demon’s consort,” Tamar said.
“So, this evil – it’s a demon? Like the one that killed the little girl?” Evan said as he cleaned his nails with the tip of his dagger.
“I have been unable to ascertain that information. However, the minor demon that killed Wynne originated from the evil.” Tamar said.
“Then, Rhee can banish it the same way Irena did.” Evan screwed up his face and mimicked Maron’s snooty tone. “Crude yet effective.”
“I can’t banish things,” Rhee said solemnly.
“But I might be able to,” Kess said.
“So, if we can’t banish it – what then?” Evan said nervously.
“We fight it,” Guy grinned.
Chapter Five
Under the dark shadows of midnight, Rhee, Evan, Guy and Kess crept to the statue of the ancients in the City Square. Kess prayed to her Goddess to let the night cloak them from observers and they reached the statue without being noticed.
Rhee squinted at the base until she found the hidden door. Evan helped trigger the spring lock and they all leapt back as the passageway opened with a grumble of stone on stone. The foul smell almost gagged them as they crept down muddied stone steps into the waterway below. The lights of the City Square were shut out as the passageway closed behind them.
“I wouldn’t recommend lighting a torch down here. The fumes could ignite.” Evan said.
“Maybe we could use that to our advantage,” Guy muttered.
Kess chanted softly under her breath and a dewy light sprang from the stone walls, illuminating the aqueduct.
“So much for not announcing our presence,” Evan said.
“Not all of us can see in the dark,” Rhee said and moved forward along the stone walkway.
“Besides,” Kess said as Evan went to pass by her. “What makes you think it doesn’t already know we are here?”
For a while, the only noise was the dropping of water on the ancient stones and their own footsteps rasping across the passage way. But as they continued on, Rhee held up her hand to have them stop. “We are directly under the palace. I’m trying to find my wards, but something is blocking me.”
“It’s awful,” Kess whispered, her face pale and shaken in the muted light. “It reaches to me with black fingernails of death and the cold is numbing.”
“Banish it!” Evan said and tried to shake the priestess out of her trance.
“It’s laughing,” Kess said and gave him a small smile.
At once they felt it. It wasn’t a demon – nothing so crude. The presence lurked at the corners of their eyes, fading when they turned their heads. It was at once behind them, in front of them, inside them.
“It’s the absence of light, cruel and cold,” Kess said.
“Just the opposite. There’s too much light. Something is stalking us, but the brightness of your globe is hiding it. Turn it off.”
“I see Wynne and Irena, only they’re undead. It must be an illusion. The sum of all our fears, tailored to us individually. What do you see, Guy?”
“I see what you do.” His hand gripped her shoulder. “Only you are with them. Zombies, bloodied and ravaged.”
“It’s trying to divide us,” Kess said, groping for someone – anyone.
It was Evan’s hand that snagged hers and dragged her into the tight circle they had instinctively formed. Guy shook his head fiercely to try and locate where the attack would come from. The inky presence was content to linger, leeching the walls and absorbing the moisture and light until the air in the sewer became arid and it hurt to breathe.
Kess began to chant a morning psalm to Dara and the acrid air became hot with the cleansing burn of sunlight. The presence retreated, flapping wings of shadows. Four demi-humans sprang from the wall. Each was the color of dried blood. They had a bull’s torso and head, but walked bipedal on human legs. Evan let go of Kess’s arm and readied an arrow.
“Finally,” Guy gritted and broke rank to charge them.
Evan’s arrows were faster, as they whizzed by Guy’s head into the snarling group of monsters.
Rhee bubbled a protective barrier of magic around Guy as he swung his sword with wide vicious arcs. Then she forgot him as the presence fell upon them. She felt Evan dodge away from the impact. Rhee swallowed some of its blackness when it engulfed her. Once inside the blackness she could no longer feel Dara’s blessings from Kess. Even Guy’s satisfied grunts were shut out at the unbearable absence of sensory impulses.
“Is this what it’s like to die?” Rhee tried to stifle the half-hysterical thought before it caused her to lose her sanity.
“Hello Rhee,” from the void stepped the figure of Kamal. His face was mournful and he reached his hand to her.
“Don’t touch me!” Rhee flinched back from his hand and flung a shower of sparks at his head.
They swirled around him, blinding him and he staggered back. “Rhee! Don’t fight. It’s useless. I haven’t been able to leave for a year.”
“Nonsense, we fought just last week. You threatened to have Maron banish my spirit form.”
Kamal shook his head. “The last time I saw you, my love. You had fallen asleep over a dusty tome of magic. Tamar’s kitten was on the table by your book drinking your mead from the goblet. I carried you to bed and watched you while you slept.”
Rhee narrowed her eyes. “And the next morning you swore you found Guy sleeping next to me in our royal bedchamber. You imprisoned him in the dungeon and slapped me.”
“My hand could never touch you in anger,” Kamal smiled sadly.
“I was there.”
“I wasn’t. And now my hand can never touch you again.” He lifted a hand to caress her cheek, but it passed right through her.
Cold sliced into her and she felt the touch of death.
“I dream of you though, although it’s always through the demon’s mind. I had a rather pleasant one of you recently.”
Rhee drew a breath in sharply. “Oh no.” She only felt a slight cold breeze on her face, that raised gooseflesh on the back of her neck. If that hadn’t been Kamal she had been dream fucking, who had it been? “Tell me everything. Start from the beginning.”
“I couldn’t sleep that night,” Kamal sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “Something inside me was restless and I walked the battlements,
seeking to burn off my frustrations. It was there that I found Maron in consort with a demon. The sight was hideous, yet I could not look away. I was drawn to them through foul magic and I was unable to break free. They fed on me and as I died, the demon took my form.”
Rhee sank to her knees, tears falling from her eyes. “All while I innocently slept.” Guilt and horror waged a war inside of her. Her husband’s body had been piloting a demon for over a year. How could she not have known? She should have been able to sense it.
“Although, I am not completely dead. I am as you see me now, existing inside the shadow.” Kamal lifted the mace that hung from his belt loop. “I stop what demons I can from leaving this shadow plane. But he’s getting stronger. The imp that killed Wynne should have never escaped me.”
“Uncle Kamal...” Wynne toddled over to him and held his hand in a chubby grip.
“Oh baby,” Rhee murmured and crawled closer to hug the little girl. Her hands passed right through the child.
“It didn’t expect me to remain,” Kamal said, grimly. “I know his thoughts. It didn’t count on eventually sharing my strong feelings. That’s why it feels a need to protect Irena. Of course, he takes advice from Maron as well and she is horribly jealous of you. You should have never have come back. I would have kept Irena safe. He will kill you and Maron will take on your form. The King and Queen will be reunited.”
Guy! He would never believe it. He would die, not knowing it was Maron instead of her.
“Are you taking me to him? Or is this where I wait for him to appear to me?” Rhee got to her feet.
“Only the dead remain here, trapped until he is defeated. I’m controlling the shadow.”
“Then that was you that attacked us?”
“The demon was monitoring the shadow’s attack. I couldn’t let it know I am sentient enough to foul up his plans. He wants me aware only to feel horror and pain at his actions.”
“But Guy and Evan are fighting these ugly bull creatures.”
“Larkspur needed to blow off a little steam.” Kamal gave her a tight grin. “I hate him.”
“Don’t start, Kamal.”
“No, Rhee. I hate him because he is alive and I am not. I hate him because he can touch your hair. I hate him because he can hug my child. I hate him because he will kill the demon, when I should have been strong enough to do it.”
“I love you,” Rhee said and tried to hug him. Her arms and body past through him. She stumbled and fell flat on the stone ground. The shadow lifted off her and sailed up and through the catacombs.
“Rhee!”
Guy’s voice was a welcome roar in her ears and he pulled her to her feet. She looked around, shaking slightly. Evan and Kess were harried and bedraggled, but unharmed. The red bull beasts were dead in messy heaps. And Guy was barely breathing heavily. He wore a wild look and a crooked grin.
“The real Kamal is dead. The evil is a demon from the shadow realm that has taken on his form. You get to kill Kamal after all, Guy.”
The Larkspur’s battle cry echoed frightfully down the sewer.
“Follow me, I know the passage into the castle shouldn’t be much further. Beware of Maron and the fake King,” Rhee said in a small voice.
They made their way down the next passage and turned left into the next alcove. Rhee fit her hand into a groove and triggered a hidden stone door to open. Leading them up a spiral staircase, Rhee paused and concentrated hard. She waved her hand and a slim doorway appeared out of solid rock.
“Hurry through, I can’t hold it open for very long,” Rhee’s eyes were clenched closed. Guy yanked her through last and the stone materialized over the hole.
“Where are we?” Evan whispered.
“In the war room,” Guy answered, looking around to familiarize himself to the castle again.
“I thought you’d never get here,” Tamar’s voice came from a chair at the head of the large square table. From a seated position a large, fluffy white cat uncoiled and leaped on top of the maps that lined the table. Knocking over figurines of horses and men, she approached the group.
“Tamar, thank gods! Call in the reinforcements. The real King has been murdered and for a year, a demon has taken over the kingdom of Winterlore. The evil that the rats sensed in the sewers was a portal to the shadow realm that monsters are coming through” Rhee warned. “You need to destroy the portal while we take care of the demon wearing Kamal’s skin.” She had a score to pay with that bastard. Rhee felt sick to her stomach that she had fucked it.
The cat stretched and yawned. “It will be done.” She jumped down and twined herself around Guy’s ankles.
“Mother, if you make me trip, I swear I’ll shave you bald.”
The cat huffed daintily and sauntered out the room. She tilted her head inside once again. “No one is in the hall. The only guards you should encounter will be Nigel or men loyal to him. Maron was last seen in her laboratory. I’m going there now. Irena is in her room and the King is drinking his after dinner brandy in his study.”
“Be careful,” Rhee and Guy said together.
“Grab Irena and run for the door,” Tamar said. “Leave the demon alone for now.”
Guy shook his head fiercely.
Tamar left the room for good with a twitch of her tail.
“Your mother speaks wisely,” Kess said. “I can distract the demon long enough for you to get Irena to safely.”
“He’ll be distracted,” Guy rotated his sword over his wrist.
“Yes, but I can block us without ever being near him,” Kess said.
Rhee put her hand on Guy’s arm. “Irena first.”
“At the same time,” Guy said, his eyes filling with blood lust. “There’s a chance the demon will escape if we don’t confront him now. I won’t spend the rest of my life fearing his return.” Guy slipped out of the room, twitching out of Rhee’s hand.
“Guy!” Rhee hissed, fear creeping into every pore of her body.
“Dara, block our movements from the evil and bless the poor fool who strides to meet it, for your glory and the safety of innocence,” Kess chanted.
“I’ll stay here with her. Go get Irena and come back here,” Evan said, nocking an arrow.
Rhee nodded and left the room feeling numb. She ran down the corridor, straining to hear any sound of Guy or fighting. The castle was eerily silent and her heartbeat was loud and furious in her ears. She and Nigel saw each other at the same time. He opened Irena’s bedroom door for her and then closed it behind her.
“Irena!” Rhee whispered, striving to keep the fear from her voice.
“Mommy!” The girl screamed and hurtled herself into Rhee’s arms.
“Okay, baby, listen to me.” Rhee cut off her daughter’s babble before it began. “We’re going on an adventure and I need you to be a very good girl.”
“Is Daddy coming too?”
“No. He’s not coming along.” Rhee started getting her daughter dressed.
“Can I take my dollies?”
“Yes, but only one. We have to go on a quick trip, but we’ll be back soon.”
“Can I take two?”
“Yes, just please hurry with your clothing.”
“Mommy, you’re shaking. Are you cold?”
“Yes, it’s very cold out. Now, can you play a game with me?”
“Sure, I like games. You smell funny.”
“Mommy needs a bath. Now, remember how we used to hide and seek on Daddy and Guy?”
“Is Guy here?” Irena squirmed with delight. “Is that why Daddy’s not coming?”
“Yes, and Guy is waiting for us so we have to play this game for him. Now close your eyes and hide.”
Irena squinched her eyes closed.
“That’s it baby. Now, keep your eyes closed and no matter what you see or hear keep them closed and keep hiding, okay?”
Irena nodded her little face tight with concentration. Rhee watched her fade from sight. “Very good, honey, do a little more. Hide deeper for Mom
my.”
When Irena vanished, Rhee scooped her up and tapped on the door.
Nigel opened it up.
“Find your cousin. He’s in the study.” Rhee looked at him wildly. “Help him and tell him we’re safe.”
Nigel pushed past her and ran down the corridor.
“Keep concentrating baby, the game’s almost over.”
“Actually, Rhee the game’s just beginning.”
Rhee whirled to find Maron approaching her from down the stairs.
Casting wildly, out of desperation, Rhee flung her hand and an ice blast filled the stairs. “I hope you slip and break your neck,” Rhee muttered and ran to the war room, closing it behind her.
Evan quickly lowered the bow.
“Maron’s coming up the stairs. We need to go out through the sewer.”
“Where’s Irena?” Evan asked.
“Here I am!” The cheery voice turned into a little girl in Rhee’s arms.
“We can’t take her through the sewers,” Evan said.
Kess’s face was growing red and strained. Her chanting was hoarse as her voice rose and fell.
“We don’t have any choice. Let’s go,” Rhee said.
“What about Guy and Tamar?” Evan said.
“Let the Larkspurs do what they do best: battle. We can help them by getting to the reinforcements and being clear of the castle.”
“If you’re sure. I don’t like leaving friends behind.”
“I know Evan. I don’t either. But you know Guy. His family is exactly like him. We can’t help them in this fight. We’d only be a distraction at best and a pawn against him at the worst.”
They ran back to the secret entrance. Rhee concentrated again and the stone door materialized. She held it until she was on the other side of it and then released it.
Kess put her hand where the door was and started chanting another song to Dara. The wall glowed brightly for a moment. “That should hold it just long enough to get us into the town square.”
“Mommy, it stinks down here.”
“Irena, close your eyes and do your meditations. The smell will go away and we’ll be out here before you know it.”
Betrayed: A Sexy Sword & Sorcery Short Story Page 4