Ascending Darkness

by J. L. Weil

  I knew a few witches—Elise was one of them, but I wasn’t sure I could convince her to help me, especially if it meant breaking the rules.

  Beck lifted a single brow. “Actually, you already know one, sort of. It’s possible you might be able to summon her.”

  I edged forward, leaning in close to Beck. “Who?”

  “Styx.”

  “The goddess?” I mulled the idea around in my head, remembering when I had gone into Peacock Lake and awakened the nymph inside me. Beck’s idea might be crazy enough to work. Who better to tell me what was happening to me than the goddess who was my ancestor? I knew next to nothing about the scope of her powers or if she would even answer my call, but it was worth a shot. The alternative of doing nothing and letting the stench of death follow me caused a dry lump to form in my throat. “You’re a genius, Beck.”

  He ran his hands through his vibrant blue hair, his chest filled with cockiness. “Hell yes, I am. So when are we going?”

  My shoulders dropped as I remembered my promise to Torent. “I have a date tomorrow.”

  A grin split over Beck’s face. “About damn time. The smoldering glances between you were burning everyone within ten feet.”

  I said nothing to that and steered the conversation back to my dilemma. “You think Torent would be up for a picnic at Peacock Lake?”

  Beck angled his head to the side. “For you, doll, he’d drain the lake if it was what you wanted.”

  Dramatic much? I rubbed at the back of my neck, trying to release the tension that had been mounting there the last week. The motion didn’t go unnoticed by Beck.

  “You know what would alleviate some of your stress?” he asked, stretching out his long legs under the table.

  I was going to regret asking.

  “A massage at the spa?” I suggested, because my muscles could use the relief. Tension had its claws in me.

  “Sex with Torent,” he said matter-of-factly.

  I coughed. “How is that going to uncomplicate my life?”

  He shrugged. “Beats me, but it would feel damn good.”

  “And how would you know?” I retorted, squinting my eyes.

  The corner of his lips quirked. “Intuition . . . plus, just look at the guy. He screams amazing in bed.”

  He had me there. For a few moments, I entertained the idea of getting sweaty in between the sheets with Torent. God knew every fiber in my body wanted to do the nasty with the demon.

  Chapter 5

  It had been snowing on and off all day—just a light dusting, but enough to make Havenwood Falls look like an idyllic shaken snow globe. Torent would be here in thirty minutes for our date, and I was still strutting around my room in nothing but a T-shirt, trying to decide what to wear.

  The problem was, Torent and I had very different plans for tonight. How did one dress to summon a goddess? I settled on jeans and a warm knitted sweater in soft teal that brought out the color of my eyes. The doorbell rang as I finished defining my eyes with black liner.

  With a long exhale, I left my room and walked down the hall. I heard Torent’s deep voice greet Gigi and Mom. When I came down the stairs, the two of them were drilling Torent with questions, but the demon didn’t seem to mind. If I didn’t know better, I would have said he was enjoying himself, having the attention of Mom and Gigi.

  “Am I interrupting?” I asked, standing on the bottom step with my arms crossed.

  Mom gave me a crooked smile. “We were just occupying Torent while you finished getting ready.”

  Her platinum blond hair hung down the center of her back. She wore a dark blue gypsy skirt that fell almost to her bare feet, where a gold chain glittered on her ankle.

  I pursed my lips, eyeing the two of them because if I glanced at Torent, they would see just how bad I had it for the demon. “Hmm. I’m sure that’s what you were doing.”

  “I’ll make sure to have her home before curfew,” he told Mom and Gigi, like he was a saint. He had to be the most polite demon on the planet.

  “Be safe. Don’t do anything I would do,” Mom warned.

  I rolled my eyes and mouthed goodbye, closing the door before I sustained further embarrassment. “I’m sorry about that. I had no clue how interested they would be in my dating life.”

  He opened the passenger door to his Jeep. “At least you finally admit we’re dating.”

  I spun around as I was about to hop into his car. Torent sent me a characteristic look, those direct violet eyes boring into mine. This was that moment I had wanted to avoid inside. That second where our eyes connected and nothing else in the world mattered but him. My heart and stomach turned in twirls. I wanted him to kiss me so badly, I could barely stand it. We hadn’t even gotten into the car yet, and I was already melting at his feet.

  I swallowed the rapid beating of my heart. “Let me rephrase.”

  His finger pressed to my lips. “There is no way I’m letting you take it back, crash car.”

  His smile nearly killed me. If he was going to play wicked, so could I. Licking my lips, my tongue flicked over his finger, and I watched as his eyes darkened, glimmering with flecks of gold.

  Making out in my driveway was not what I had in mind for this date. We had to at least get into the car, but if he kept looking at me like that . . .

  Flashes of blue, purple, and pink streamed over our heads, drawing my attention. I realized I’d intertwined my fingers with his other hand. The streaks of Northern Lights were a product of our combined powers.

  “We should probably go,” I whispered. “Before we end up with an audience.”

  His husky chuckle drifted over me. “Not until I hear you say it.”

  “That I’m not dating a demon,” I retorted, and slipped into the Jeep before he could argue.

  Shaking his head, Torent closed the door and made his way around the car.

  I settled into the seat, shifting my body so I was turned toward Torent, and fumbled with a piece of yarn from my sweater. “I need to ask a favor.”

  Torent tensed, the lines on his face deepening. “Normally, I wouldn’t hesitate, but there is something in your voice that is giving me pause.”

  He wasn’t the only one, but I pushed forward, trying to make light of what I was going to ask of him. “Don’t go all holy on me now.”

  He ran a hand through his hair. “What kind of favor are you asking for?”

  Here goes nothing. I didn’t know exactly how Torent would react to my request. “I need to go to Peacock Lake.”

  “Why, exactly?” His chest rumbled. “You know it’s freezing out, right?”

  The weather wasn’t my concern. The dead things that kept happening to me definitely were. “Answers. I need answers, and the only way I can think to get them is to ask the goddess who gave me these blasted powers. Maybe something went awry.”

  “I’m not sure that’s how it works,” he declared, sounding more confident than I felt. “The likelihood of a goddess screwing up seems highly doubtful.”

  I jerked my chin up and attempted to keep the snap out of my voice, but I failed. “Look, I need your help. Are you in or not?”

  Couldn’t he see how vital this was to me? I had promised him a date, and I refused to go back on my word, but at the same time, this wasn’t something I could shrug off. The importance of it stained the air like a dark shadow looming over me.

  “If I say no, you’re just going to go out on your own.” It wasn’t a question, but more of him thinking out loud.

  I didn’t lie. Not to him. “Yes,” I agreed.

  His dark eyes flicked to mine. “Is it dangerous?”

  “Probably,” I replied with equal coolness, then jumped to plead my case. “I know this wasn’t what you had planned for tonight, but I think it is important I go. I’ll make it up to you.” I was so going to regret that promise, but every bone in my body was telling me I needed to go to the lake. It was there I would get the answers I sought . . . I prayed.

  His grin was slow and dari
ng. “How can I say no to a little danger? And if it gets me another date with you, I’m in.”

  The air was chilly on my nose and cheeks as I pulled my coat closer in around me. Why hadn’t I thought to bring a hat or gloves? With the sun gone, the temperatures had plummeted.

  My boots crunched through the frozen grass. I matched my strides with Torent’s, having to take twice as many steps to keep up with him. Trees surrounded us from all sides, their branches and leaves glistening under the moon and canopy of stars.

  Noticing I was lagging behind, he slowed down and reached for my hand, interlacing our fingers. A flare of light burst from the center of his palm, sending a stream of warmth into our joined fingers.

  “Are you sure this is a good idea?” he asked for the third time.

  I nearly sighed at the heat of his hellfire. A hug would be amazing. “No, but I don’t see what other choice I have.”

  The closer we got to the lake, the faster my heart raged in my chest, in my throat. We were getting close. A tingle of both excitement and terror tiptoed down my—

  A wolf howled through the trees. I automatically moved closer to Torent.

  “Maybe we should have brought Beck,” I murmured. These woods were filled with all types of shifters, among other things.

  His arms tightened around me, and he tipped his nose to look down at me with a raised brow. “You don’t think I can protect you?”

  “I didn’t say—”

  A blur of color sped past us, kicking up grass and dirt. I stiffened in his arms, my heart racing like a gazelle.

  “Did you see that?” I asked in a whispered hiss. A brush of ice slunk across the nape of my neck, but Torent didn’t seem as concerned.

  His body stayed warm and relaxed against mine. “It was just a vamp out hunting.”

  My mouth dropped open. “Just a vamp?” I shrilled, my voice echoing over the treetops. “And a hungry one at that.”

  “Relax. We’re not going to be dinner. Demon blood is not very appetizing.”

  “What about nymph blood?”

  The curve of his lips was immoral. “Oh yeah, you’re a delectable five-course meal.”

  “Torent,” I hissed, frustration coating my voice.

  His hands landed on my shoulders as he leaned down to gaze directly into my eyes. “This was your idea, but you have nothing to fear. I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.”

  Ensnared by the mixture of violet and gold in his eyes, I exhaled. Why did he have to say things like that? I nodded, afraid my voice would give away the plethora of feelings he sent off inside me.

  In the distance, my ears picked up a gentle hum of music, like a lullaby beckoning me.

  “We’re almost there,” I murmured, stepping away from Torent toward the sound.

  I barely knew these woods, had only been here once, but I knew if I closed my eyes, I would be able to find Peacock Lake without even trying. We had a connection, the lake and I.

  It was only a few more minutes of trekking through the woods before we came upon Peacock Lake. A fine mist swirled over the slightly frozen pond. A thin layer of ice blanketed the surface, shining like glass. The small waterfall trickled over stone and a hum of lovely voices called me to the water.

  Entranced, I slowly walked toward the edge of the lake. Torent stopped me, encircling his hands around my waist. “Whoa. You can’t go in there, Mal. The water is ice.”

  “It’s okay. I won’t feel the coldness of the water. Nymph thing,” I assured, going with my gut. When my hand grazed the surface, I felt nothing but welcome.

  His voice grew tight, and I sensed his eyes on me. “I guess we all have our thing, but I would feel better if you let me help, just to be sure.”

  I couldn’t mistake the concern I heard. He was worried, and I couldn’t blame him.

  It was a struggle to pull my gaze from the water and look at Torent. The pull to submerge myself in the lake was strong. I didn’t know how long I could hold off. “Suit yourself.”

  I slipped off my boots. Torent came to the edge beside me and crouched down. He dipped his hand into the frigid water, and I watched in fascination as his eyes turned the color of melted gold and his fingers glowed with hellfire. The light spread through the depths of the glassy lake, from one side to the other, encompassing it completely. White steam billowed higher, lowering visibility. He leaned forward, the gold in his irises brightening.

  My eyes narrowed as something in the water captured them. A dark phantom shadow rose from the bottom straight for Torent. Panic clawed in my chest for a split second. I grabbed his arm and yanked him back. “Not so close.”

  Something about the lake wanted Torent, sort of in the same way I did . . . but more—to possess him. I had sensed its desire in my soul. There were things that lurked in the small lake, things I didn’t understand and wasn’t sure I wanted to.

  If he thought my attitude suddenly strange, he didn’t let on. Perhaps he had sensed the power of this place as I did.

  “That should keep you from freezing to death,” he said quietly.

  Because I had forgotten to bring a change of clothes, I slipped out of my jeans and sweater, leaving me in a tank top and my undergarments. My teeth chattered as I stepped one foot and then the other into the shallow part of the lake. I spun around to look back at Torent. “Don’t go far.”

  His eyes blazed, the muscle at his jaw tightening. It was clear from his expression he wished I would come back to shore. This was possibly one place Torent couldn’t save me. “I’m not going anywhere without you, crash car.”

  I gave him an encouraging smile for both our sakes and made an impulsive decision I hoped would ease some of his tension. I blew him a kiss and went under.

  Water caressed my face like silk. I was calmer than I imagined. It was the lake. The idea of summoning a goddess underwater should have caused considerable anxiety.

  I swam sure and strong, going deeper into the dark blue lake. And like the first time, it called to me, a gentle song I had to answer with my own.

  When the light in the water began to change, I hovered, the song growing louder around me. My lungs worked effortlessly underwater as if I’d grown gills, a freaky thought. I wasn’t sure what to do next or what to say, so I opened my mouth and called her name.

  “Styx. I need your help.”

  The water surrounding me was mesmerizing—the lethal, gentle beauty of such power. I waited. And waited. I listened to the serene quiet, but no divine response came. Instead, a bead of light formed below my dangling feet. It soared toward me, enhancing until I was nearly blinded by its brightness. It encased me from all sides.

  Then I heard her voice, clear and powerful. “I know why you’ve come, daughter, and this is what I can offer you.”

  The light swirled, and from the ribbons of water and magic, images formed. My hand reached out and went through the projection, rippling the vision. Within seconds, I was sucked into the past.

  Chapter 6

  A man with sand-colored hair crept through the trees like a lurker. Beyond the thick woods in front of him was a clearing where a group gathered, one of them being my mother. She looked so young and yet so much the same. A shadow of sorrow and fear cloaked her eyes as the four of them formed a circle, two other women and a young man. None of them looked much older than me.

  My eyes volleyed between the tree line and the clearing. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen. The air seemed to tremble with fear and anger.

  The four joined hands, and a woman with dark hair began to chant. Her voice didn’t carry as I had hoped. I had to stretch to try to understand her words, picking up only bits and pieces of what I believed was a spell.

  My education on witchcraft was measly, so even what I heard didn’t make sense. I couldn’t decipher what sort of spell she was performing, but I got the feeling it was important.

  The witch lifted her face to the stars, color spilling over her porcelain cheeks. “Watchers a
nd guardians of the elements, I ask for a shard of your powers—”

  Her voice was carried away by a gust of wind, leaving me on the cusp of the clearing still clueless as to what was happening, but one thing was certain—the lurker was about to make a move.

  I opened my mouth to warn my mother, but a flash of silvery moonlight hit the man’s face, and I gasped. Recognition speared through me. I knew that face. Not from a single memory, but from a photograph.

  He was my father.

  What was he doing here?

  Maybe I had it wrong? Perhaps he was here to help my mother.

  But a few moments later that theory was blasted out of the water.

  My father struck out with a spell of his own, his voice bellowing over the glade. The circle disbanded, and pleas were exchanged, but my mother wasn’t able to dissuade my father. His eyes hardened, filling with such rage, it caused the hairs on my arms to stand up.

  A flash of light hurled from the brown-haired witch, and the air filled with screams. My father, a mage or sorcerer with superior skills, reacted with magic of his own. My vision was impaired by the brightness of the magic. I couldn’t see what was happening, only hear the horrible cries and the dead silence that followed. When my eyes adjusted, the body of the young man who had been part of the circle lay awkwardly on the ground, his blood seeping into the earth and my father towering over him.

  The vision dispelled, leaving only the murky depths of the blue waters. Styx appeared, her hair floating around her like a halo of darkness. “You, my daughter, will suffer the sins of your blood.”

  Well, shit. That sounded dreadful.

  “What sins? What had my father done?” I asked, feeling like I had more questions than answers.

  Her cloak of pure white gleamed in the water like a ray of hope. “There is some magic that binds to your bloodline, including the hex bestowed upon your father. When you awakened, you also activated that blood hex within yourself, as his only living heir.”

  Fucking fabulous. I’d never met the man who helped create me, yet it was his past that haunted me. Sometimes parents sucked.