by Jaime Marks
“They paid for it, Brightness.” Byryn’s voice was far softer and much closer, “Do you remember the fight they had with Eastern? It wasn’t with Eastern. I went to that little party of theirs. I broke Matt’s nose and his jaw. Kyle dislocated his shoulder. Chad had a broken arm and the lot of them were bruised and battered.” She nodded too choked up to speak. She felt his hand rest tentatively on her shoulder. “Staryana, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have told you, I never meant for you to know.”
“No,” Star dried her eyes. “I’m glad you told me. I had a right to know. I wish you had told me when it happened so I could kick their asses myself.”
“I just didn’t want you hurt or embarrassed.” He sighed, his breath feeling warm on her neck. “The thought of you in pain…”
She thought back to that weekend. Matt had begged her to go to that party but she knew her Mom would never allow it so she told him no. He seemed a bit irritated but he had kissed her and asked if they could meet for dinner Sunday. He never showed. After that weekend none of the football team would so much as look at her, let alone talk to her. Well, until John tried to accost her last week. She had always thought it was because of something Matt said but none of it made any sense. She remember Steph saying… wait.
“Did Steph know? Did everyone?” She felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
“I think Steph might have known. Maybe some of the other guys at school but they didn’t exactly broadcast it around the girls. It made it harder to get what they wanted.” He sounded thoughtful. “Steph was at the party. She came out back looking for Matt and she was livid. You know how she gets. She was the only one who saw me. I was tempted to manipulate her mind but she only nodded and said it was about time someone taught those asshole jocks a lesson. Then she walked away. Why, did she say something?”
She nodded, “She told me she didn’t think I should go to the party anyway and that their parties weren’t all it was cracked up to be. Later when they all snubbed me she said that he was an ass, that he probably was planning on getting me drunk and taking advantage of me; that he was pissed off that he didn’t get his way.”
She thought about everything he said. She felt that familiar pull, that need to be in his arms. He’d protected her even when she hadn’t asked. Hell, when she hadn’t even known. She knew he wasn’t lying. It had been just after that that Steph had pointed out the way Byryn watched her. She thought back to their conversation.
“He likes you ya know.” Steph said not looking up from her lunch.
“Who?” Star had asked looking around only to meet his gaze.
“Byryn.”
“Pfft, he’s an ass.” She replied in annoyance.
“He’s not all bad.” She had said cryptically. Never looking up.
Truth was the entire thing had shocked Star a bit. Steph had never really mentioned Byryn watching her before and he did it all the time. Besides that Steph thought he was a bully and an asshole in her own words. Not that it mattered. Steph didn’t like any guy that Star was into. She had made it no secret that she, in fact was attracted to Star, so the very idea that she had suggested such a thing was shock. She knew. She knew what the guys had planned and she knew what Byryn had done and must have decided Star was the reason. It was the only thing that made sense.
She spoke softly, the words coming out of her mouth before she even realized she made the decision to say them. “I felt it to. That pull, the need to have you close to me.” She turned to him meeting his eyes. “Ever since that first day. Even after you ignored me at lunch that day. When I dated Matt I used to hope it made you jealous, even though it was ridiculous.”
He chucked softly, “It did.”
“Are you sure you want me to read you?” She asked unsure herself.
He pulled her to him resting his forehead on hers, “I’m sure that I don’t want you to doubt yourself. I’m sure that I want you safe, no matter the cost. If you seeing my past will show you the true nature of the Shade then that’s what we’ll do.”
“How do I do it?” She asked.
Mythos cleared his throat as he walked over. “I believe it would be best if one of us walked her through this. Her Light might overwhelm you and you may reach a point where you are unable to instruct her. I am unsure of how well your essences are integrated.” He motioned for them to sit on the couch.
Byryn sat cross legged his back pressed into the cushions. Star studied him as she sat beside him. She wasn’t sure she wanted to see all the Darkness he had inside but she needed to know. When he was ready he closed his eyes nodding slowly as he breathed in deeply.
“Open your heart and your mind to her, Byryn. Do not focus on any instance of time, she will find what it is she seeks. Just focus on opening yourself to her completely.” A large, strong but gentle hand rested on her shoulder. “Close your eyes and breathe deeply, Staryana.” Mythos instructed. “Find the very center of yourself where there is peace and balance.”
She began breathing using the rhythm of a pranayama she had learned in the yoga classes she took on and off with her Mom over the years. When she found her inner calm she heard Mythos’ soothing voice. “Now, feel the Light that surrounds you, flows through you and gather it to yourself so that you can may wield it. It will feel like the sun, like love, it will be the heat of your heart and soul.”
She could feel a heat flowing along her skin as if she sat on the beach on a hot summer’s day. It felt warm and right. It caressed her being as it swirled around her at her command.
“Good, now focus on Byryn, the connection you share. Find the feeling you hold for him in your heart. Feel the energy that flows between you and let your Light flow through you into Byryn’s heart, his mind.”
She could feel him. His love, his fear. He was terrified that he was going to lose her, lose himself….again?
“Reach deeper, Staryana. You can feel him, but you wish to see him, to see the truth you seek. Ask what you seek and allow your instincts to guide you.”
What should she ask? What did she even want to know? She wanted to know his life, and what truth it held for her but she didn’t know where to start. Suddenly it came to her. She focused on his bike, and his brother. A Dark path lined with shadowy wisps seemed to stand out to her more than anything else and she followed it. Images and whispers slowly crept through her mind.
She saw Trevyn. He was tall and strongly built. His skin so pale he almost looked white and wisps of black smoke curled around him. His straight, short hair the same color and thickness as Byryn’s and she could see the resemblance in the chiseled features of his face. His eyes were pure black like Cymeryn’s had been.
He walked past her with an older boy, close to Byryn’s age now. He was thin and lanky but he held similar facial features and the hair was almost the same.
“Byryn, this is your brother, Michael he was hidden from us by his Mother. He is weak. Teach him the way of the Shade. I must go pay the wench a vis-”
“NO! I will do anything but leave her alone, please.” Michael pleaded.
Trevyn backhanded Michael sending him flying across the room into the wall. Byryn didn’t even flinch.
“You will learn boy that you do not plead or be. It is beneath you. I would have respected you more had you tried to kill me….so weak.” Trevyn spat in disgust. “Teach him Byryn. Lest I need kill him for his inferiority amongst the Brood. I will return after I have sated myself and cured his Mother of her treachery.” The Shade misted away.
“No, please, no. I can’t let him hurt her.” Michael sobbed.
“Then you should have shown Father strength not weakness.” Byryn stated coldly as he selected a whip from the wall. “She’ll pay more for your human tendencies than for her own actions.” He swung the whip cracking it so hard across his brother’s back that it tore his clothing and the skin underneath.
The boy yelped in pain, tears streaming down his face.
“I suggest you stop crying. I have to whip you each time you do and I wil
l not suffer the lashes simply because you are too weak to bare them. You need to reach inside yourself and let the Darkness take root, the hatred. Revel in the pain.” Byryn continued to whip mercilessly as Michael cried.
Another path formed and she followed it. Michael and Byryn walked through a darkened stretch of woods.
“Why are we here?”
Byryn studied his brother with limited patience. “Father has been gifted a new slave in return for a favor he completed for Cymeryn. His sire has decided one of his minions need to be punished and the Supryn is busy with the fronts.”
“So why send her to Trevyn?” Michael requested.
“Father will put her through unending levels of pain until she breaks, then rebuild the woman only to break her again.” Byryn shrugged. “It’s what he enjoys.”
“What do you enjoy Byryn?” Michael question watching his brother with a keen eye. “I never see you smile, cry. You don’t appear to feel anything. How long have you been with him? With Trevyn?”
“I believe I was five.”He answered matter of factly watching the area around them.
Michael gaped. “Do you even remember? Your Mother? The people in your life who loved you? Do you even remember having fun?”
Byryn studied the other boy before looking away. “Shade do not love. I’ve never known it.”
“You’re not Shade, Byryn. You’re human. You’re just a boy, like me. You just had a shitty life.” Michael said plaintively.
A Shade came into view dragging a woman behind him by her hair. Michael recoiled at the bruises and scratches that marred her naked skin.
“For your sire, Byryn.” He looked at Michael taking him in, sizing him up as if he were a slab of meat he wanted to sink his teeth into. After a moment he mused, “Where is my payment for the delivery as Trevyn promised.”
“There was no payment.” Byryn replied levelly as he watched how he focused intently on Michael. He placed himself directly in front of the Shade almost as a barrier. “You were tasked by the Supryn.”
The Shade sneered. “I demand my payment and if you have none to deliver I shall take this one and rape the innocence from his body.”
Byryn drew his sword and swung without hesitation as Crytos reached for Michael, the black blood spilling from the Shades arm where his blade sliced. “You won’t touch what Trevyn owns, Crytos. It was not part of the arraignment and your attempts to manipulate me are pathetic and weak.”
The Shade growled in anger stepping up to meet Byryn chest to chest. He didn’t back down. “Maybe it is you I should take and teach some respect you insolent, unawakened brat!”
“You can gladly try Crytos but you’ll have to kill me and Father knows me. Tell me when he comes to reap his vengeance will you take it with the blade? Or would you rather him break you like the whore you are?”
The Shade stepped back sneering, “You sire has taught you well Byryn, I can feel the Darkness surging in you. You will make an excellent Shade.” He nodded and was gone.
“Thank you, Byryn.” Michael breathed out on a sigh.
“I only did what I’m tasked to do, Michael. There was no payment and Trevyn would kill me if I gave Crytos one of his progeny without proper payment.” He spoke factly, sheathing his sword.
“Maybe, but you saved my life.” He replied gratefully.
Byryn shook his head looking over the other boy as if he were a puzzle that didn’t fit together. “Just help me with the whore.”
Another path appeared. As Star walked she tried to reconcile the Byryn she was seeing with the boy she knew. They almost seemed like two different people. He had been so cold, distant. She had seen it in him at school but he was never that…empty.
“Let me tell you Byryn, you need to know what it is, what it feels like.” Michael insisted.
Byryn seemed irate. “I have no use for such petty bullshit, Michael. It doesn’t exist in this world. And you’d best not to let Father hear you because we will both pay the price for your stupidity.”
“Why are you so afraid of it? Love is a good thing, Byryn. It makes this life worth living.” He reasoned.
“You don’t get it, Michael! God you’re infuriating. I don’t understand. You get closer and closer to your awakening every day and you refuse, absolutely refuse to give into it! Are you insane or just utterly stupid?” It was the most emotion Michael had seen from his brother. “Do you want to die?!”
“I’m sorry, Byryn. I know I am making things harder for you but you need to know there’s another way.” Michael explained almost apologetically.
Byryn stomped across the room to his brother, jabbing his finger into his chest. “No, there isn’t, Michael and you need to get the idea out of your head. You either awaken or you die! Those are the only options. There is no other way!”
“Then I’ll die. I don’t want this life. I won’t hurt that woman when he calls on me.”
“Then he will, or he will make one of us do it, but she will be hurt one way or another. It’s stupid to try to stop it.” Byryn seemed to be almost pleading with his brother. He was overcome by his anger and fear. “Why can’t you just take your pleasure and enjoy it? He’ll destroy you if he sees you as a weakness.”
Michael shook his head. “I’ll keep trying, Byryn. I can see it in you. You aren’t like them. You’re just resigned to the fate you’ve been dealt but you aren’t like them no matter what you or they think.”
Byryn punched his brother then threw him into the wall. “You’re wrong, Michael. You’re very wrong and I will prove it to you.”
The door burst open and Trevyn stepped in. Byryn stood to attention. Michael only slouched against the wall.
The door to the chamber opened and Trevyn sauntered in. “The female is here for you, Michael. Happy birthday my son.” He measured them both with a smug grin. “Byryn, you will witness as your brother breaks the woman. Your awakening will be soon enough.”
They made their way to a chamber where a woman sat naked, a metal collar around her throat that was chained to the wall.
Star watched as Trevyn beat Michael for not taking the woman until he relented. Michael was soft with her, caressing her as he apologized to her. Trevor cursed in disgust then he made Byryn take her and forced Michael to watch whipping the boy for every tear he shed. It was horrible, but the punishments that Michael bore for setting the woman free and running himself were revolting. She couldn’t bear to see anymore, but she stopped just before she was about to leave the image. She saw Byryn’s face as he turned away from the evil taking place across the room. A single tear rolled down his cheek. He looked confused and disgusted. Michael had been right. She reached out into the boy she felt all around her. She felt fear, anger at his Father, himself. She felt confusion. He deplored the things he did but they were necessary for his survival. Up until Michael he’d never felt guilty for them. They were just the way things were. There was no other way. Michael, however had taught him there was something more.
She reached into Byryn’s heart, her Byryn. He wasn’t lying to her. He wasn’t trying to control what she saw. He was completely open to her. She could feel his love so strong in his heart, only for her.
Star pulled back from Byryn slowly. She bled for the pain and suffering he had endured, the beatings she could feel but had chosen not to watch. The turmoil she felt in him as he followed his Father’s direction, the self-loathing for what he had been taught was a weakness, but was simply human compassion and the deeper self-hatred for the things he had done. Her eye’s fluttered opened and she turned to him. As their eyes met she couldn’t resist the pull she felt. She grabbed him, kissing him. She caught him off guard but he quickly returned her affections with a hunger and need that echoed her own. She only released him when she heard the grunt Mythos uttered from directly behind her.
He had done horrible things, but they were at the direction and will of horrible people. If he had refused them the penance was great. She didn’t judge him for the past she had seen or the
life he had lived. She judged him for what she felt within him. For the actions he took today. She knew he wasn’t a prince in shining armor, but she knew his heart. It may be crazy but his heart was what she trusted.
Chapter 16
Marcus kissed her again in reverence. He just couldn’t help himself. She was here, alive, Fae, and she was his evermore. He knew the war and reality waited just outside the door but he just couldn’t help it.
Reluctantly he lay back on the bed catching his breath as she curled up on his chest. Star was in the other room and she needed her Mother more than he did at the moment. Besides, he would find time later this eve, and in the morn, and every eve and morn after. He couldn’t stop the grin that spread across his face.
“I need to get up and go to Star.” Reyana murmured softly but she didn’t move.
“I know. I’m sorry I’ve kept you so long.” He smiled as she rolled her head to look at him. He loved the way her eyes once again sparkled with the gold flecks that swirled within them.
“Don’t be,” She sighed kissing his chest lightly. “I mean in a respect, it is the day of our bonding, or re-bonding.”
He brushed the hair out of her eyes then leaned up to kiss her as he rolled her gently off him. He was tempted to climb right back on top of her, to slide right back into her wet, silken folds, but then they would never get out of this bed. He pulled back from her. “Let me find you something to wear. I believe I tore your shirt in my haste.”
“I thought you carefully undressed me under the covers?” She mused with a raised brow.
He chuckled. “I never said carefully, just discreetly.”
He walked to the closet, sliding the door to one side. Marcus shifted through his clothing till he got to the back of the closet and the dress he kept hidden behind his things. It was a red and golden gown. The colors of their union. He had had it commission for her to wear the day of their bonding before her father, the King. When Kato had come to him, it was the one thing he asked of the Fae in exchange for his cooperation. Kato had told him their quarters had been cleaned but all else was preserved. He wanted this dress. He wanted to be sure that he had it to gift to her should they ever be mated again.