Aftershocks

by Marie Harte

  “Ellie, go. I can’t hold your shield much longer.”

  Finally noticing the strain on his face, she paled and backed up a step. “Okay. But I’ll be right back.”

  He nodded, relieved when she shimmered away. Her father wouldn’t let her return. Likely Lexa had a score to settle. He’d blasted Jonas, her favourite lackey, almost to pieces. Not to mention he’d just tainted Ellie, a daughter of Darkness, with the carnal delights of a boorish Light Bringer. No sense in trying to bullshit his way out of this one.

  “Ah, the Earth Lord finally learns to accept responsibility. How noble. At least one of you dreadful Light Bringers has a shred of redemption.” Lexa glimmered into form in front of him, her ice-blue eyes predatory as they studied him. She wore a body-hugging dark-purple tunic over black leather pants and knee-high black boots. Her garb blended into the darkening horizon of Foreia’s sky. If not for her almost white skin, he would have thought her a shadow within the trees.

  He rolled his eyes, knowing it would piss her off. “The queen of laughter and light, Lexa Van Nostren. What a surprise.”

  “We never finished our last lesson.” She ignored his taunt, and he strove to try harder. She was almost as much fun to rile as Marcus. “It would do you well to shield your thoughts the way I taught you. Likening me to your brother is no way to get on my good side. I do believe our next lesson might leave scars.” She smiled, her teeth white, her grin feral.

  Masking the dread bottoming out in his stomach, he clenched his will tight and grudgingly called on that odd Darkness within him to shield his thoughts, strengthening his resolve with bands of Light.

  “Impressive.” She circled around him.

  He forced himself not to turn with her. “What now?”

  What happened next shocked the hell out of him. She’d never before touched him. But as quick as lightning, she reached out and laid a hand on his cheek. Pain, the likes of which he’d never before felt, reached into him and grabbed a hold. Ice speared through his body into his very soul.

  “Don’t ever, ever forget who is in charge, here, Cadmus. Despite your reason for being, the rules are, and ever have been, mine. Do you understand?”

  His first instinct was to argue, to fight against her control. But that wouldn’t save Ellie, or Tanselm. He could feel Lexa pulling the life from his body. He could submit and fight another day, or hang onto his pride and die for no good reason. Reluctantly, he nodded.

  The pain disappeared, and he sank to his knees.

  “Good. Now that we have that unpleasantness out of the way, why don’t you tell me about Ethim’s daughter, your lovely affai?”

  Fear magnified the weakness inside him, turning him inside out. By the Light’s fucking blaze. How did she know what he’d just acknowledged to himself?

  His eyes narrowed. He’d pledged to himself to protect Ellie from danger. If he had to die to ensure her safety, so be it. “You even think about screwing with Ellie, and I’ll kill you.” Rage gave him strength, and he stood on shaky legs, preparing to do her real harm.

  “You would certainly try, I’m sure.” She laughed, the charming sound making him blink in confusion. For someone so Dark, so seemingly evil, Lexa could at turns be extremely enticing. Right now she resembled an innocent young woman, lovely in face and form. Though she was almost petite, her body curved in all the right places. Long black hair accented the paleness of her skin, and her startlingly light-blue eyes enthralled with a glance. Such a sweet mouth…

  Ellie suddenly came to mind, clearing his erotic daze. Lexa gave him a sly grin. The witch knew he’d suddenly desired her. She’d tried to turn him from his affai. Fucking Dark Lords. Drawing a deep breath, he forced himself to smile, his inner shields tight.

  “Damn, Lexa, if I’d known how hard up you are for a man, I’d have brought my uncle with me.”

  It was subtle, but she flinched. He’d only guessed before that she and Arim had been involved, but now knew he’d been right. She quickly masked her distress, and he actually felt a hint of remorse for having wounded her. How strange was that?

  “Very good, Cadmus. Like Arim, you have an instinctive ability to pierce an opponent’s weakest point.”

  Surprised to hear her admit any vulnerability, Cadmus realised his small victory stung more than it should. His interactions with Lexa had always cast her in the role of the villain, a strong and crafty opponent not to be trusted. But as she stood so still before him, he saw in her a woman who’d been hurt in the past.

  Images flashed, of Lexa and Arim laughing and holding hands, of their shared kiss and deep well of love. Flickers of innocence, of the timeless bond of young love before age tore innocence apart. And then a woman’s body, covered in blood, her throat slashed, her entrails covering a stone floor. More bodies, these of a man, and worse, a young child, denied the joys life would have provided. Lexa’s horror, Arim’s anger. Harsh words and heart-rendering pain…years passing…

  “You never really knew me.” Lexa’s eyes flashed. “And you never will.”

  She pierced Arim’s shoulder with a bolt of blue flame as they battled against Tanselm’s dark, starry sky. Atop the northern castle’s eastern wall, Lexa danced and flowed with the wind, her Dark energy seething as she trapped Arim in a binding so tight his very essence began to blend with the night.

  Arim’s eyes rolled back in his head, and for a moment, Cadmus feared him dead. Then, in the next breath, ‘Sin Garu appeared wreathed in smiles, his teeth canine-sharp, his white-blond hair waving in the brewing storm.

  “Sister mine, perhaps I was wrong about you.”

  Lexa merely stared at her brother, her features in shadow as the clouds suddenly covered the moon. “You’re late.”

  “Ah, but I brought along some entertainment.”

  He tugged on a rope, and suddenly, three wraiths appeared, creatures similar to the ones Cadmus and Jonas had battled in Ellie’s apartment. The creatures held something between them.

  “Arim, wake up. I’d like you to watch as the Dark swallows what you prize most dear.”

  In their arms lay Cadmus, blood covering his body.

  “Let him go,” Ellie commanded in a deep voice from behind them. Her hair shimmered like lightning as she flashed in truth. Yet within her gaze, Arim’s stare shone bright with fury.

  Cadmus had his hands full dealing with Lexa. He didn’t need a vision just now. Painful memories of her past mixed with a confusing image of the future, one in which ‘Sin Garu joined forces with Lexa? Cadmus’ skull throbbed as fear and pressure threatened to knock him unconscious.

  “Cadmus?” Lexa stared at him with concern. “What is it? What did you see?”

  He gritted his teeth and clenched the hair at his temples, blindsided by this unexpected and unwelcome vision. He forced himself to gain control.

  “Blood, senseless death, you and my uncle, but many, many years ago.” He tried to see her through tears of pain but couldn’t see more than her blurred image. She reached out a hand and he recoiled instinctively.

  “Easy,” she murmured and touched his forehead. Instead of the hurt he’d come to associate with Lexa, gentle ease flushed his pain, providing a strength and fortitude he’d been missing of late. “Now tell me again what you saw.”

  He repeated his vision, up until the last few frames. At his pause, she frowned.

  “Continue.”

  “And then, Dark Mistress, I watched you wound and prepare my uncle for the torture and amusement of you dear brother, ‘Sin Garu.”

  Her reaction surprised him. A hint of fear danced in her eyes before anger assumed dominance. “Go on.”

  “I was near death in the claws of his new hybrid-wraith creatures.”

  “His wraintu. A combination of wraith and forli, one of the more vicious Shadren and a cousin to the Nocumat.”

  Nocumat. It figured. That explained how one of the hybrids had been able to launch a Nocumat at him from within its being.

  “Yes, well, the next thing I know
, Ellie’s growling a warning at the Dark Lord, and she’s not herself.”

  “Meaning?”

  “I don’t know. She’s Ellie, but I’d swear Arim was looking out at me through her eyes.”

  “Yet you saw me bind him, saw me wound him.”

  “Yeah.” He glared at her. Despite her promised help in fighting ‘Sin Garu, there was too much about Lexa that confused the crap out of him. Her Dark nature precluded trust, and the visions he’d had of her made him doubly wary of the blue-eyed schemer. Half the time it was an exercise in energy to simply keep his wits about him. Who knew what she made him think and feel, especially when she weakened him past his endurance?

  Which made her recent healing questionable.

  “I’m not the monster you make me out to be,” she said quietly, a smirk on her full, red lips. “And I thank you for that most informative session.”

  She seemed pleased by his tale, and he could only imagine she liked the idea of Arim’s pain. Angry, he opened his mouth for a caustic retort and found himself unable to speak, then unable to move.

  “No, don’t say a thing. Don’t spoil this incredibly pleasing moment for me, Cadmus.” With a smile, she stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the mouth, a cool meeting of the lips that set his blood on fire.

  Infuriated she could make him feel when his heart clearly belonged to Ellie, he fought through her spell and, to his amazement, began to move.

  “Oh, Cadmus, you are so much like Arim.” She chuckled. “Handsome, strong, and aggravating in the extreme. Don’t worry, Earth Lord, your Djinn is still waiting for you on the other side of the forest. But I’m afraid you’re going to have to face the Sarqua on your own. And Ethim’s temper leaves a lot to be desired. Just ask Amanda.”

  She vanished, freeing Cadmus to move and speak. “Son of a bitch!”

  “Well, well, well,” a Djinn warrior Cadmus knew as Remir spoke from directly behind him.

  Before Cadmus could twitch, a dozen Djinn appeared from out of nowhere and surrounded him.

  “Ethim wants a word,” Remir said in a deep, threatening voice.

  Of all the Djinn, Cadmus had given Remir the most trouble before Jonas had bailed him out of Foreia.

  Remir smiled, his eyes pitch black. “But not before we have a few things to discuss, considering we missed our chance before you left the last time.” Three Djinn stepped forward and restrained Cadmus. Remir grabbed Cadmus’ wrists. Dark bands of energy crept from his fingers into Cadmus’ skin. The Dark burned with cold, and Cadmus fought the urge to blast Remir through the woods. It would hurt, but it could be done. But Cadmus knew he deserved some payback, if not for what he’d done to these warriors before, then for what he’d almost done to Jonas, their leader and friend, their brother.

  He sighed and shook his hair out of his eyes. “Go ahead, Remir. I probably deserve it.” He grinned, knowing it wasn’t smart, but was unable to help himself. “But I wouldn’t be too hard on me. Lexa just planted a kiss on these lips, and we all know the lady is decidedly choosy.”

  Remir and his brethren scowled on Cadmus. The beating to follow didn’t surprise him. It didn’t take long for Cadmus to black out, and he fell into a painful, empty sleep.

  Chapter Eight

  Ellie felt frantic with worry when her father refused to go to Cadmus’ aid.

  “He’ll be fine, Elliara. She wants a word with him, that’s all.”

  Who the hell was this woman to whom everyone seemed to defer? Her questions fell on deaf ears, and in a snap, her father spelled her to within a few feet of him and her mother, who grabbed her hand and held on. A nice way to eliminate Ellie’s attempt to rescue Cadmus herself. Damn it.

  “Now, to my home.” Ethim teleported them all into a wooden construct much like a large, indoor tree house. Gnarled logs walled the main room and carried into the dining area. The ceiling seemed to consist of wooden crossed beams, smoother than the walls, which framed a series of massive skylights. In contrast to the natural simplicity of the place, her fathers’ home hummed with magic from the sparkling marble floors to the endless transparent ceiling. A Djinn servant nodded with a smile before disappearing again.

  Her father motioned them to an expansive marble dining table set for three. Glasses filled with what looked like wine complemented the fancy diningware. Apparently, her father had told his people to expect them. They sat for a moment in silence.

  “Relax, honey.” Her mother stroked her hair, its colour about the only similarity mother and daughter shared. “If your father says Cadmus will be okay, he will be. I liked him. And I don’t like all that many of your father’s kind.”

  Ethim practically spit out the wine he’d been drinking. “My kind? Please, Amanda. Cadmus Storm is a Light Bringer, one of those dreaded holy pests who think they’re superior to everyone and everything.”

  Ellie frowned. “He’s not like that.”

  The serving woman returned with a large tray of fruits. “She’s right, Sarqua. The Storm Lord was most unlike what I expected a Light Bringer to be. I found him pleasant, even humourous in our discourse.”

  “Who asked you, Mera?” he grumbled.

  Despite Ethim’s title as leader of the Sarqua clan, his people didn’t bow or lower themselves to him, or so Jonas had told her. They showed their respect and obeyed his orders, but nothing more. Truthfully, Ellie thought their contradictions fascinating.

  She found it hard to believe a king could have servants who spoke their minds openly, without fear of retribution.

  Then Mera’s words penetrated and Ellie took a good, hard look at the serving woman. Mera had long black hair, amber eyes and the curves of a centrefold. What the hell kind of discourse had she and Cadmus shared, exactly?

  “I agree with Mera,” Amanda said and took a sip from her glass goblet. “Cadmus felt right.”

  Ethim glared. “Why the hell were you feeling him at all?” Jealousy, from her father?

  “Now, Ethim. You know you’re the only man for me. I just wish you’d be home more often.”

  Ellie stared in shock at her mother’s smile of sincerity. Who the hell is this woman impersonating my mother?

  “We’ve had this discussion. Considering this is the last year I agreed to, I’d say you’re right where you belong, Mandy.” Her father looked smug with satisfaction, and Ellie took a harder look at her parents. Using the senses that seemed to be growing stronger the longer she stayed in Foreia, she noted the joining bonds of Dark energy from her father holding tight to her mother. And her mother’s odd, purple signature bands of energy invited and latched onto her father eagerly.

  “You two are confusing as hell,” she murmured, fixated on the power of desire blossoming before her. “I thought you had this love-hate thing going, but it looks more like lust-hate, and frankly, that’s way more than I wanted to know.”

  “Oh.” Her mother blushed. “Ethim, I think it’s time we explained a few things.”

  He scowled. “We? No. All of this animosity and misunderstanding occurred because of a promise you forced me to make. You fix it.” Without looking at her, he snapped at Mera, who remained hovering in the background. “And not one word from you.”

  With a snif, Mera set the fruit tray by Ellie’s side and left the room.

  Ellie ate a strawberry, surprised to find herself suddenly famished. “As much as I want to know what you two are talking about, I’d like to see Cadmus safe and sound first.”

  Jonas entered the dining area, putting to rest Ellie’s other worry.

  “Jonas.” She rushed to him and inspected him carefully before giving him a huge hug. “I’m so glad you’re alright.”

  “Yeah, well, it’ll take more than a jealous Storm Lord to bring me low. Don’t worry, Remir’s bringing him in. Apparently, she’s concluded her meeting.”

  Who the hell is she? Ellie was dying to know, but Jonas’ next words to her stopped her cold.

  “You disappeared with Cadmus for quite a while, Ellie. What were you two doin
g all that time?” At her flush, he frowned. “Don’t think we’re not going to talk about it.” Did they have to discuss this in front of her parents? “Ethim should know—”

  “—when to butt out of his daughter’s love life.” Amanda interrupted. “Now, Jonas, you’re right in the middle of our messy family history that I’m supposed to explain.” Her face lit up. “Unless you’d rather?”

  Jonas looked like he’d swallowed a lemon. “Hell, no. But don’t let me stop you from telling your daughter what an idiot you’ve been.” At Amanda’s glare, he shrugged. “Okay, a beautiful idiot with a big heart, but an idiot nonetheless.”

  Ellie could only stare in amazement at evidence of some huge falling-out she’d never known existed. Oh, sure, her mother and father had an odd relationship, but she’d always attributed their problems to their different lifestyles. There was more?

  “Much more,” he mother admitted.

  Ellie stared. “Did you just… Did you read my mind?”

  “Yes, dear. It runs in the family. Sorry, but you’re thinking loudly.”

  Ellie nodded and encouraged her mother to continue.

  “It all began after I married your father several years ago.”

  “Try sixty-seven,” her father corrected.

  “Sixty-seven?” Ellie stared at her mother in shock. “I know Ethim’s older than dirt, but you’re human. Like me.”

  “Ah, actually no. I mean, yes, I’m human. But I’m also a little bit more. My psychic ability enabled me to bond with Foreia for some time. We age much more slowly here than at home, and your father put a spell or two on me. I might have lied about my age.”

  “And about what else?” Jonas prodded.

  Her mother glared. “Shut up, Jonas. If you hadn’t interfered all those years ago, this would never have happened in the first place.”

  “Me?”

  “Oh, come on, Mandy,” her father interrupted. “Shara was Jonas’ pledge sister. It wasn’t his fault she grew enamored.”

  “Everyone, just stop.” Ellie glared her family into silence. “Ever since I can remember, my parents have spent as little time as possible together.” She stared at her father. “Ethim would visit for brief periods of time, run roughshod over Mom, bribe her with presents and, heaven help me, sex, then disappear.”