by Marie Harte
Arim considered his friend. Though he sensed the ultimate battle would be between himself and ‘Sin Garu, he didn’t have the energy he knew he would need to fight through the Netharat and the demons to conquer the Dark Lord.
“The demons are going to be a problem.”
“You’re telling me,” Lexa murmured.
“Which brings up a good point.” Arim knew this would be the hardest part of the planning. Convincing Lexa to remain behind. While he understood that he had lost significant power, Lexa’s healing had levelled them both off. Now neither he nor she was at full strength, but middling somewhere between. “Lexa, you’re going to have to stay here.”
She stared at him for a moment, her gaze chilling. Her rebuttal, when it came, was both expected and brutal. “You’re nothing without me, as well you know. You healed me in a moment of irrational sentimentality, and now you’re paying the price. Healing me as you did has degraded your power, something no self-respecting Dark Lord would ever have done. Hell, I’d be surprised if you could take Sava down.” Her blue eyes were pale in her already white face, but the glare she blasted him with had the room lowering in temperature.
“Thanks a lot.” Sava shot her a frown and rubbed at his arms. “She’s ill-mannered but speaks true. How are you going to manage ‘Sin Garu at his full strength and then some, courtesy of his demon magic? His blooddrinking has eroded much of his mind already, but the demons have totally turned him from anything you once knew.”
“And that’s my point.” Why did Sava have to be such a pain in the ass about this? Having already lost Ravyn, Arim couldn’t stand to lose Lexa too. “You don’t seem to…Lexa? Where the hell are you going?”
Right in the middle of their argument she rose from the table and started walking away.
“I, ah, I have to use the facilities. All this foolishness is making me ill,” she finished in a clipped tone as she headed for the far wall of the hall. “I’ll be back before you can blink, so don’t even think about leaving me behind.”
Hell. She not only looked aggravated, but a glimmer of hurt lurked in her gaze. As if his wanting to keep her safe and away from danger was some kind of rejection. “Lexa, love, you have to understand—”
She stopped and turned to glare at him. “No, you have to understand. This is a battle you alone can’t win. Get that through your small, idiotic Light Bringer brain. Because you’re stuck with me whether you like it or not.” That said, she stalked away, the heels of her boots sparking blue as a trail of anger followed her from the hall.
Arim sighed with frustration and turned to see Sava grinning like a fool.
“Ah,” the Aellein king said as he took another draught of cinarum. “How the mighty have fallen. As Jonas likes to say, ain’t love grand?”
Lexa couldn’t believe how incredibly stupid Arim was acting. Did he honestly think he could take down ‘Sin Garu? A Dark Lord who had the whole of Tanselm quaking, who had systematically decimated the last generation of Storm Lords and was no doubt working on eradicating the world of another?
She marched out of the commons and down a long stone hall, following the bright ball of light that had alerted her to leave the others in the commons, and which could only signify more trouble brewing on the horizon. She followed the light into a small room containing linens, barrels and what looked like boxes of domestic supplies. Closing the door behind her, Lexa stopped, her hands on her hips.
“For the record, Ravyn, your brother is a horse’s ass.”
The nimbus of light slowly spread until a form began to take shape. Ravyn chuckled. “He takes after my father.”
Curious at the mention, Lexa said, “Arim’s never talked about his father or his mother. He’s never publicly claimed you as his sibling either, a fact I always found odd. Why did you two keep your relationship a secret?”
“Which, strangely enough, is why I’m here. To tell you a story.”
Lexa sighed, wondering why she’d expected actual help from Ravyn, the queen of ‘I can’t tell you’.
“The Valens name is an ancient line from a distant world. Arim and I settled here four hundred years ago after we lost the rest of our family.” Ravyn looked sad, her features drawn and washed out even through the pallor of death. “Before we arrived, my family was well-known in Tanselm. I was a young woman on the cusp of maturity, my powers strong with the vitality of youth. Arim was a boy and had barely seen more than six years of a life he’s thankfully forgotten, but for what I’ve told him.”
“And why is that?”
Ravyn stared at her squarely in the eye. “Because Tanselm made him forget. I raised him and taught him about magic. His strength was always much greater than mine, and Tanselm took him in as if he were her own.” As if sensing Lexa’s confusion, Ravyn shook her head. “I haven’t much time, but it’s vital that you know the truth.”
“What truth?”
“That Arim and I remained close in private but separate in public to save him from a life I gradually overcame. I was only a ‘Valens’ for a very short time before I married Faustus. Our real name is much, much older, and a hundred times more powerful.”
Lexa could feel the hair standing on the back of her neck.
“We were the Van Lens, a powerful family of Dark Lords who lived separate from those in Malern.”
Everything in Lexa stopped. “That’s not possible. The Van Lens family died five hundred years ago, cursed by Malern because they betrayed the Dark.”
“Cursed by something, I’m sure,” Ravyn said bitterly. “And it was four hundred and six years ago as of yesterday. A day I’ll never forget. When my family made the decision to leave Malern, many turned against us. At that time the Dark Lords were becoming much like they are now, less ‘grey’ and more tuned towards the negative aspect of magic. My parents didn’t like the future they could see coming, so they gradually faded from Dark Lord society and shielded us as best they could.”
“How is this possible?” Lexa couldn’t see anything Dark in Ravyn at all, even in death. The woman radiated Light. “You’re no more Dark than I am a Church prelate.”
Ravyn flashed a smile. “Unlike the Dark Lords as we know them—you—today, hundreds of years ago there were a faction of us who stood on a fine line between Light and Dark. Our energies were much more alike, powerful yet driven to one side or the other of the spectrum. Once we left Malern, we settled in Quille among the Djinns’ forefathers, before they moved their kind into Foreia. We lived in peace until something terrible happened. A spell gone wrong, a curse visited upon us by our enemies, by Malern…we never knew how it started, only how it ended.”
Lexa stared, fascinated, as the truth of Ravyn’s words sunk in. “So Arim is a Dark Lord?” Which would explain the Darkness always there beneath his skin, but not how he absorbed and revelled in Light.
“No. He’s a Light Bringer. As am I.” Ravyn floated through the air to land on top of a barrel, her legs crossed in a ladylike pose beneath her shimmery white gown. “Our life changed drastically one fateful day, much like yours did. You can’t imagine how troubled I was at what happened to your family, Lexa. Not only because of what you suffered, but because of how alike your situation was to mine.
“Like you, I was gone from my home for most of the day. By the Light, I don’t even remember why I thought tending imps and rath cats was more important than celebrating my youngest brother’s birth rite, but I needed to feel useful. I helped my older brother, Ralton, tend his chores. We planned to enjoy Arim’s celebration later in the evening. During the day I sensed something not right, a nagging foreboding I should have heeded. Instead I tried to reason it away as I haughtily showed Ralton that I was just as powerful a sorceress as he was a sorcerer.
“But that nagging wrongness found Ralton as well and drew us back earlier than we’d thought, though much too late. When we arrived at the homestead, we found everyone slaughtered but Arim and my father—a good, decent man who normally would have given his soul to save any
member of our family. Yet that day he stood with one hand around Arim’s throat, his mouth covered in blood, his form and frame almost demonic.”
“He had killed our mother, my older sisters and my younger brothers. The only ones left were Arim, Ralton and myself. Father turned on us when we entered. Ralton made the mistake of trying to protect me and Arim by drawing Father’s attention.” Tears rolled down Ravyn’s soft cheeks. “Father was too far gone to block Ralton’s magic, but he was physically overwhelming all the same. He and Ralton killed each other while Arim and I watched.”
Lexa felt sick. “Arim watched it?” And he’d found Lexa covered in the blood of her family years ago. It was a wonder he hadn’t snapped back then.
“Yes, he witnessed everything. I took him and fled, not knowing where to go. We had no one left but each other. For a while it seemed like I was going to lose him too. He wouldn’t eat, wouldn’t talk or sleep for weeks. I had barely enough magic to keep him and myself alive. Word spread that the Van Lens family had turned into demons, infected with a madness like no other. We were to be killed on sight. No one knew what many of the children looked like since we’d left Malern and lived isolated for so long.
“I was older than Arim and knew the possibility of discovery existed. That’s why I decided to keep our identities separate, pretending to be Arim’s guardian and nurse should anyone ever question me. There were a few Dark Lords who might have known me, but we’d been living in Quille when Arim was born, so I figured he’d be safe if I could find a way to help him.”
“What happened?” Lexa was having a hard time wrapping her brain around such tragedy.
“I wandered through the between with my sick little brother in tow, praying to the Dark, the Light and Shadow, to anything that could help. And I ran into Faustus Storm. He brought me to Tanselm, gave me sanctuary, and like that, the land accepted us. Arim healed, but he changed. He lost all memory of life before Tanselm, and I was in no hurry to tell him the whole truth. He knows that our father turned mad and slaughtered much of our family. But not that we were once Dark Lords. What good would it have done, anyway? The Darkness that had once been his life turned into Light. Tanselm did the same to me. And while that change occurred, Faustus charmed his way into my heart and into my life.”
“Did he know? Faustus, I mean.”
“I told him the truth and he still asked me to marry him. He claimed he’d found his affai seconds after spying me and accepted Arim without hesitation. That’s when I knew he was mine.” The glowing love in her gaze clearly showed her affection for her husband. “I’m sorry this seems long-winded, but you needed to know about Arim’s history if he’s to have a future.”
“Why can’t you just tell me what I need to know? Or better yet, tell him.” As Ravyn opened her mouth, Lexa answered for her. “Wait, I know. You can’t.”
“You’re quick.”
“But I don’t understand why you’re telling me this now. Arim’s fought ‘Sin Garu before and nearly won. If not for his unasked-for generosity in trying to heal me, he could probably win in a battle between the two.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” Another form appeared behind Ravyn, his hands on her shoulders as brilliantly transparent as the rest of him.
“Hell, Faustus Storm. What is this? A Next convention?” More dead people. Lexa’s skin was crawling with the pinpricks of Faustus’s Light.
He must have noticed her discomfort because he dimmed his illumination. “Ravyn is playing by ‘the rules’, but no one else seems to be. I’ll tell you what you need to know.”
“Thank the Dark.”
“Faustus,” Ravyn started, only to stare in astonishment when he held his hand over her mouth.
“She can be chatty.” Faustus shrugged, and Lexa could see the charm in his deep grey eyes that looked so much like Aerolus’s. “Bottom line. If Arim fights ‘Sin Garu alone, he’s lost, as are all of you. You, Lexa, have to fight with him, all of you and all of him, if you want to win. Help him accept the Darkness in his nature. And don’t turn down Sava’s help, even if he is an irritating Aellei.” Faustus grunted when Ravyn elbowed him.
“Sava?” Lexa repeated.
“Yes. Sava. The same king who spent years in the Pit, in hell. He’ll help you with the demons. My sons can help Tanselm withstand a major assault, but it’s going to be up to you and Arim to see an end to this once and for all.”
Ravyn glared over her shoulder at her husband. “I cannot believe you did that! You’re going to get us both—”
“What? Killed?” Faustus snorted. “This needs to end. ‘Sin Garu has been playing with fire by meddling with the demon world. That’s strictly forbidden, and if he keeps tampering with what he has no business knowing, he’s going to ruin the Balance.”
“Balance?” Lexa had a vague impression of oppressive silence all around her and realised Faustus and Ravyn were no longer focused on her.
“It’s time.” Ravyn nodded. “Blessings and good fortune, Lexa. The Light grant you strength.”
“And the Dark grant you love,” Faustus finished. “Help us save the future.” He gazed at her stomach and his eyes narrowed with worry. “And yours as well.”
In the blink of an eye, they vanished. It was then Lexa recognised a subtle odour permeating the small chamber that grew stronger as she neared the door. Swearing under her breath, she threw it open and raced into the hallway.
“Damn.”
The smell of death and demon madness filled the passageway. To her dismay, ‘Sin Garu and a corridor full of Netharat waited with unnatural stillness. They occupied the entire eastern portion of the hall, leaving her only avenue of escape back towards the commons. Back towards Arim in his weakened state.
“Ah, sister mine, there you are. Ready to finally play out the hand fate dealt us?” ‘Sin Garu licked his bloodless lips, and she cringed.
Though it had been a while since she’d last seen ‘Sin Garu, she’d left him a weakened Dark Lord, but a Dark Lord nonetheless. In the time since, what might have been his human side had departed for a demonic possession clear to anyone with sight.
‘Sin Garu’s limbs had lengthened to an off-proportioned length. The white of his skin was now streaked with black and red. His eyes blazed with the inhuman lusts of the demons, their green haze particularly malevolent as they stared hungrily at her.
Sensing those onerous beasts inside her hated sibling, Lexa allowed the true rage of Darkness free from the cage she normally controlled deep within her.
“Then let’s play the ‘hand we’ve been dealt’.” Lexa showed not the slightest hint of fear and arched her left eyebrow the way Arim did, a move that always annoyed her with its presumed arrogance. It had the same effect on ‘Sin Garu, and she smirked, pleased to wipe the smug smile off his hellish face. “Ante up, asshole. Get ready to fold…hard.”
Chapter Fourteen
Jonas started as he felt something disturb the air around them. He stood behind Cadmus and Ellie in the northern kingdom as the Earth Lord addressed the masses in the expansive grounds outside the keep. Djinn, Light Bringer warriors and sorcerers surrounded the gathering, not chancing anyone’s safety. Jonas himself had argued against holding such an open forum, but Cadmus wanted it done, and the sooner the better.
As Cadmus finished his pretty speech about everyone getting along, Jonas and Alor continued to telepathically exchange ideas about the best way to provide instant cover for the royal couple. Jonas kept an easy mental contact with his Djinn brothers as well, just waiting for a damned Church brethren to say or do anything out of the ordinary.
Far be it from the Church to let anything good come of unification. Jonas was honest enough to admit he wanted to annihilate the Church for what they’d done to Ravyn and for their part in allying with ‘Sin Garu. Remir’s saddened face haunted him, and Jonas couldn’t help feeling his own guilt. Had he been a better friend, less involved with himself and his needs, perhaps he would have noticed Remir’s problems. Maybe then
he could have severed the ties binding his best friend to ‘Sin Garu. As if that hadn’t been bad enough, to then have to watch as the demons literally ripped him to shreds…
Jonas cleared his throat and forced himself to remain in human form, when the Darkness within demanded angry freedom, to burn in truth.
Jonas, something’s not right. The enemy, I can almost feel them on top of us. Alor’s warning shook him to full attention.
“Dammit.” Jonas stopped fighting his instinct and flashed in truth, starting a murmur in the crowd and setting off the rest of the Djinn, who followed suit. “Cadmus, disperse the crowd. The enemy’s coming and soon.”
Cadmus didn’t question him. He raised his arms for silence. “The enemy draws near. Take yourselves into the protection centres our sorcerers have prepared and—”
“And we see how easily our leaders follow the Dark.” A distinguished looking Churchman stepped forward at the front of the crowd, his gaze contemptuous as he sneered his dislike. “The enemy is no closer to us than the Djinn surrounding us even now. Cadmus intends to divert your attention from the mess the Storm Lords have made in Tanselm.”
Many in the crowd frowned, but Jonas noticed that a few nodded in agreement. Just what they didn’t need right now. A civil war to confuse the brewing battle teaming to bring them all to their knees.
“I don’t think you heard my husband,” Ellie said in a voice that echoed with Dark power. She stepped forward, her long blonde hair flowing like a wave of light behind her as she pointed at the churchman. “For a man devoted to Tanselm and its people, you speak more like an enemy. Ordinary Nohjen, you do your people no good by stirring unrest. Argue all you want after the enemy is destroyed.”