by C. S. Wilde
Darkness enveloped him before he blinked out of thin air. One moment Benedict stood there, the next he was gone.
So, that was what winnowing looked like. Mera had asked Bast once if he could do it, to which he’d replied with a dry as hell, “No.”
Trying to stave off the headache coming on, she rubbed her forehead. “What a great freaking start, partner.”
Chapter 4
Built entirely of black marble, the League of Darkness differed greatly from everything else Mera had seen on Lunor Insul. Tall columns supported the square, three-story structure, which was surrounded by a vast green lawn.
Birds chirped from several willows and beeches, peppering the green fields, while night faeries milled about in black fighting leathers. Most of them held books and scrolls, while others lectured students in the open garden.
This place was more like an academy than an assassin’s guild.
“I didn’t know the League even existed,” Mera mumbled to herself as they stopped before stairs that had to be made from the deepest void of space. “I’m a detective and I had no clue. I’d heard about House Fillanmore, but never about the League.”
How could she have missed it?
The stairs led them to an outside porch that lined the façade of the entire construction. Pushing a heavy wooden door open, Bast took her to the inside of the property. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. Most who discover the League’s existence don’t live for long.”
Well, that didn’t make her feel better.
At all.
They crossed vast ebony halls, with ceilings supported by tall columns. The entire setting reminded Mera of ancient temples honoring the old gods. Up above, an indoor balcony opened to the second and third floors.
“It shows the League’s superiority,” Bast continued. “House Fillanmore is reckless, which is why you know who they are.” His eyes scouted for something as they moved forward, but Mera had no idea what it might be.
Completely alone, their steps clinked loudly against the marbled floor.
“Shouldn’t an assassin’s league be better guarded?” she noted.
“Trust me, we’re being thoroughly surveilled.”
Stopping to check, Mera found nothing around them. Either these assassins were extremely stealthy, or she was losing her mind.
“By the way,” he whispered, “I would appreciate it if you employed that waterbreaker persuasion soon.”
A low grumble escaped her lips. “You’re using me.”
“Absolutely.” He frowned. “Shouldn’t I?”
Ass.
Benedict’s words rang in her mind. “How are you any better than us?”
In that moment, a striking female with ivory skin and straight, dark purple hair suddenly stepped in their way. She’d come from the left, too busy reading a book to notice them. She wore a long black dress with silver embellishments that matched her necklace and earrings.
The nightling looked proper, regal, and also outwardly beautiful.
“Karthana?” Bast asked, taken aback by her presence.
She stared at him with wide topaz irises, and the book immediately fell from her grasp. “Bast?”
Her mouth dropped open in an oncoming scream, but Mera was quicker. “We come in peace. No need to fear us, fae kuata.”
Sister? Seriously?
It sounded like a line from a bad movie from the sixties, but it worked. The glamour crawled underneath the fae’s skin without her noticing it. Mera’s magic wasn’t meant to cause a brutal change in her behavior, just… assure her. Boost her trust.
Karthana’s expression softened, and she swallowed back the scream. Her fingers scratched her own arm nervously while she stared at her feet. “What are you doing here, Sebastian?”
“Came to clear things up.” Bast’s Adam’s apple went up and down as he watched her, anticipation whirling behind his blue eyes.
“You shouldn’t have,” she finally answered, still avoiding eye contact.
‘I don’t like the way he looks at her,’ Mera’s siren growled.
It was disturbingly similar to the way Bast looked at Mera, but she couldn’t do much about it.
‘Establish dominance,’ her siren offered. ‘Kiss him right here in front of her.’
Shut up, Mera ordered.
“The vision I had…” Karthana’s voice wavered. She seemed on the verge of crying. “I didn’t mean to get you in trouble, but I saw you killing Father. I had to tell him, even if I suspected the vision had been faked.”
Stepping forward, Bast wrapped his arms around her, and Karthana instinctively gave in to him, crying against his chest.
“It’s alright.” His lips brushed against the top of her head. “I came here to make it right.”
A knot tied inside Mera’s throat and fire went up her head. Without meaning to, her fists closed.
Karthana had been Bast’s betrothed before he’d abandoned everything to go to the continent. The same female whose vision had sent a swarm of assassins their way, and Bast was hugging her!
What the fuck?
Being this kind to a possible suspect went against the death bringer inside Bast, but matched perfectly with the partner Mera knew. And she hated Karthana for taking advantage of that.
“So, even though you suspected the vision was faked, you sent assassins to take care of my partner, correct?” she asked, emphasizing the ‘my’ before ‘partner’.
Karthana’s head lifted, as if only then remembering Mera was there. She didn’t step away from Bast, though.
He didn’t step away from her, either.
“Her father did,” Bast answered, regarding Mera as if she’d somehow crossed a line. “Master Raes leaves nothing to chance. It’s why he guides the League so efficiently.”
‘That damned faerie better step away from him, or else…’ her siren warned.
Mera’s chest ached at the sight of Bast being so close to another woman, but she had to clear her head and focus on the issue at hand, so she tried to control the bitter jealousy thrashing inside her.
“Detective Dhay, we should handle this properly as part of our investigation.” Mera’s pleasant tone held a storm inside it. “Do let go of our suspect.”
“I’m not a suspect!” Karthana cried.
“Karthy isn’t trying to harm me.” Bast’s forehead wrinkled into an amused frown. His attention returned to Karthana, and he leaned closer. “Forgive my partner. She can be a bit temperamental.”
Oh, fuck him. Fuck him very much.
“Detective Dhay, I don’t appreciate your condescending tone.”
“You’re in trouble, Bast,” Karthana pointed out, a gentle smile decorating her plump lips.
“With Detective Maurea? Always.” He chortled. “It’s part of the fun, you see.”
“Excuse me,” Mera growled more than spoke. Taking a steadying breath, she turned to Karthana. “Your vision has put my partner’s life in danger, and consequently, mine. Forgive me for not being as trustful as he is.”
“That’s why we’re here,” Bast added. “Karthy, you know I’d never harm your father. He must know that, too.”
‘Karthy, Karthy, Karthy,’ Mera’s siren jeered. ‘Ridiculous fucking nickname.’
“We do, but Father abhors loose ends.” The faerie shrugged. “Add that to the fact none of the seers we hired could see past the veil…”
“You have a lot of nerve, youngling,” a voice rang from the indoor balcony on the second floor, right before a sword pierced the air toward Bast’s head.
Instantly, a circle of darkness with twinkling stars came to life atop her partner, swallowing the sword completely, before it blinked out of existence as fast as it’d been created. Yet, Bast’s expression revealed nothing as he looked up to the fae on the second floor.
Taking out her gun, Mera aimed at their opponent. “You’re attacking Hollowcliff detectives. Stand down!”
The male, a Sidhe with sapphire skin who wore a simple black cloak, ra
ised a white eyebrow at her, deepening the wrinkles on his face. His calculating light gray eyes pierced through Mera. “Who you are, or what you represent do not matter to me, human.”
His white hair was trapped atop his head in a loose bun similar to Bast’s, and Mera wondered if this was why her partner used it this way; to honor the faerie who now tried to kill him.
The old fae’s hand lifted, and some twenty nightlings clad in black fighting leathers peeled off the walls.
The assassins stood around Bast, Mera, and Karthana in a circle, waiting for the final command. They certainly hadn’t considered Mera and Bast a danger, or else they would’ve attacked sooner. Either that or the old faerie wanted Bast’s head all to himself.
The fae, who was obviously Bast’s former mentor Master Raes, glided down the stairs, and as he did, an assassin appeared beside Mera. Swiftly disarming her, the assassin made a face as he held her gun with his fingers, like it was a piece of radioactive thrash.
“Hey! Give it back!” she ordered.
“Once the matter is resolved. If it’s resolved,” he added, before returning to his previous position.
The ring of fae opened to Raes as he reached the base of the stairs. Regarding Bast for a second, he then pulled out a dagger from his robe and dashed forward, pressing the tip against his neck.
“Father, no!” Karthana yelped.
Damn it!
How Mera wished she had her gun…
“Are you here to fulfill my daughter’s vision, Yattusei?” the old fae asked, narrowing his eyes at Bast’s strained neck. “Let’s see if you can top your master, you ungrateful—”
“Easy, broer!” Mera tried, pushing her glamour forward. “We come in peace.” The magic wafted at him, but somehow it didn’t stick.
“I’m not your brother.” Raes frowned at her with confusion. “Do you have a mental problem, human?”
Certain supernatural creatures could resist her magic if they were strong enough. This certainly seemed to be the case with him.
Bast stepped away from Karthana with his hands raised, but Raes kept the tip of his dagger underneath her partner’s chin.
Mera exchanged one glance with Bast, her message clear. “Let me use the macabre…”
He shook his head vehemently, before turning to the fae threatening his life. “I’m not here to fight you, Master. Do you really think if I were here to kill you, I would come through the front door, with a human to hinder me, and in broad daylight for everyone to see?” Bast motioned to the assassins around them.
‘Hey! Not nice.’ Her siren scowled. ‘Also, not human.’
“You know me better than that, Master Raes, after all, you trained me.” Sighing, he looked straight into his master’s eyes. “I would never harm you, and I’m going to prove it.”
“How?” He scowled, but Bast’s words seemed to resonate with him. “A vision such as Karthana’s can’t be a lie. We tried the seers. They found nothing.”
“And still, we have struggled to believe the vision, Father,” Karthana remarked, her voice almost too weak to be heard. “Bast is family.”
“Family means nothing to this malachai,” he snapped, disgust in his tone.
“That might be true,” Bast admitted, “but you both mean something to me; always have, and always will.”
Childish as it was, listening to Bast confess he cared about Karthana left a bitter taste in Mera’s mouth.
“Lies,” Raes hissed. Swallowing dry, he pressed the dagger slightly forward.
“Easy,” Mera warned, though technically there was nothing she could do. Not unless she used the magic Bast had forbidden her to use.
“It’s okay, kitten,” he assured before turning back to Raes. “Your best seers couldn’t peek past the veil, yes?”
“And?”
“Don’t you find that strange?”
Raes cocked his head left. “You know the rules I abide to.”
Yeah, better safe than sorry. He had made that perfectly clear.
“I’m alive,” Bast pointed out the obvious. “You’re the greatest assassin of all time, with an army of killers at your disposal. Devoted fae who could’ve ended us the moment we stepped inside, yet they let me hug your daughter, Master.” Bast motioned carefully to his very lively self. “Which means you already gave me a chance.”
“Maybe I don’t fancy getting in trouble with the government.” Raes raised his chin. “Seeing as you and your partner have become local heroes.”
“That’s not the main reason why I’m alive, and we both know it.” Bast chuckled. “Naivety doesn’t suit you, old Sidhe.”
Was it wise to tell that to the guy with a dagger against his throat?
“I’m anything but naive, you thick-headed youngling,” Raes grumbled under his breath.
A long moment passed, deadly silence filling the hall as Raes and Bast’s gazes fought against each other, a mute battle storming between them.
“Fine,” the old fae gave in, but he didn’t move the knife. “Perhaps you’re right.”
“Good. Because I’ve asked the help of a friend.”
As if on cue, steps echoed behind them.
Mera spun around to see a Sidhe with light pink hair woven into a low braid that cascaded down her back. She was clad in a cerulean dress with embroidered hems, golden jewelry twinkling on her wrists, neck, and ears.
“Mad Seer,” Raes muttered.
Frowning, Mera rubbed her eyes, wondering if they might be playing tricks on her. “Madam Zukova?”
“It is me,” she agreed in her Northern accent, her chin held high with a certain pride. The old fae stopped before them and spread her arms widely, making the golden bracelets around her wrists jingle again. “What can this seer do for you today?”
Chapter 5
Raes led them to the second floor and through a long corridor, but kept his dagger at hand. It made sense, of course. As far as he knew, Bast could try to kill him⸻even if the old fae’s heart told him it was unlikely, assassins didn’t usually rely on their emotions.
If old hag Ursula had told Mother that Mera would kill her one day, the queen would have ended her daughter’s life on the spot. Luckily, old hag Ursula was a sham, well, most of the time, anyway.
In any case, Raes loved Bast a lot more than her mother ever did Mera, though to Raes’ credit, that wasn’t a hard feat to achieve.
As they walked, Mera studied the corridor’s walls, which were crowded with oil paintings of several old Sidhe standing stoic and proud. The portraits watched them with incredibly vivid irises, and at some point, she could swear the image of a thin fae with wrinkled skin and night-black hair had moved.
When Mera took a closer look, however, the picture seemed still, like any oil painting should be. Except, that lying on the floor next to the black baseboard, was her gun. Picking it up, she checked the cylinder.
The iron bullets were all there.
“What the…” Her gaze roamed the space, trying to find the fae who had taken her weapon before, but he was nowhere to be found.
Bast was already a few steps ahead, so Mera had no time to wonder before she was forced to pick up the pace.
“Not much has changed, Master,” Bast noted, following Raes and his daughter.
“Nothing is the same, Yattusei,” the old fae countered without turning back, a certain grief in his tone.
Karthana, who walked side-by-side with her father, shot Bast an apologetic glance.
“Perhaps,” he agreed, “though I prefer to believe certain things never change.” He winked playfully at Karthana, and the purple-haired fae countered with a sweet, adoring smile.
Mera’s fists balled, her nostrils flaring.
‘He’s mine!’ her siren growled.
Taking a deep breath, she unclenched her muscles. No, Bast wasn’t hers, and now was not the time to lose it because of petty jealousy.
Tugging at Mera’s hand, Madam Zukova pulled her backwards. “I don’t need to be seer to realize
there’s much water under bridge, no?” she whispered, nodding at Bast, Raes, and Karthana.
“Tell me about it.” Mera slowed down until there was a good distance between the two of them and the three nightlings ahead. “How did you get here?”
The mad seer nodded to her own back as if she had her wings on display. “I flew. Much faster than boat. Besides, Sebastian offered good money for consulting.” A raucous chuckle scratched the inside of her chest. “Madam Zukova loves money.”
“Well, thanks for coming,” Mera offered truthfully. “Until this mess is sorted, we can’t work our case.”
“It is written,” she assured. “I will help.”
Mera certainly hoped so.
Raes stopped before a wooden double door carved with the head of a snake, and once he let them inside it closed shut.
Bookshelves that went all the way up to the high ceiling walled what seemed to be a vast study room. The floor, made of pitch-black marble as the rest of the League, had golden lines forming a circle in its middle. The word ‘Impernokto’ was scribbled under the ring in shining cursive.
Empire of Night.
Stepping forward, Madam Zukova watched the space. After a while, she nodded to herself and tapped Bast’s shoulder. “This will do.”
Her hand motioned toward two velvet ottomans near a tall window, silently asking Karthana to sit. Nodding, Raes’ daughter did as she was told.
The mad seer sat in front of her, then took hold of her hands.
“Deep breaths,” she instructed, closing her eyes. “Focus on the vision.”
“How did you get the mad seer here?” Raes whispered from beside Bast, close enough that Mera could listen. “If it weren’t for her, I’d have you in the dungeons by now.”
“I knew you’d listen to her,” Bast countered, which wasn’t exactly an answer. “She’s rather famous in our world, isn’t she?”
Our world? Mera thought Bast had left that world a long time ago.
Madam Zukova and Karthana stayed still and silent for a long while, until the seer turned to Mera while keeping her eyes closed. “This fae has strong feelings for your partner, yes?”