Darkness Falls (The Dark Series Book 1)

by Steffany Steffensen

  Wilson looked at Jenevi, confused. "What are you sorry for? What happened?"

  Jenevi sighed. "The baby is gone."

  Wilson's handsome face contorted into something ugly as reality hit him hard. He wasn't sobbing as hard as Feera was, but Jenevi knew that he was holding himself back. He held onto Feera tightly and rocked her back and forth, mourning the loss of their child.

  Jenevi didn't say a word about the messages she listened to as she nursed Feera, but she knew she had to leave. A few days later, she sat down at the kitchen table with Wilson and Mace while Feera was taking a nap.

  "I remembered everything that happened," said Jenevi. "Tishka and Yever were Gaelen's subordinates, and I'm sure there are plenty more out there. He set my aunt on fire and burned down my home."

  Wilson nodded his head. "I wanted to tell you more about why I wanted your heart. Now that you've gotten your memories back, do you remember a woman named Oria?"

  Jenevi nodded her head. "She tried to manipulate my memories so I could become her slave. My aunt knocked her out just in time."

  The shape shifter sighed. "Well...Oria is my sister."

  Jenevi knitted her eyebrows. "But...she's so much older than you."

  Wilson nodded. "We only share the same father. He was in his late teens when Oria was born, and then I was conceived much later. But I saw Oria a lot...and she use to be wonderful before she discovered that she had powers just like I did. I discovered mine at age nine while she found hers at age thirty."

  "Thirty?" exclaimed Mace. He shook his head in disbelief.

  "Magus with temporary powers are called Dorms," started Wilson. "If they don't regain their power in some way, they could die from overuse. There was once a Dorm in Petram City that died a couple of years ago. People thought he was just a myth, and it was just something to bring attention to the city, but once Gaelen revealed the appearance of Magus, people from all over came. It turns out...he died after having an encounter with another Magus."

  Mace and Jenevi looked at each other with wide eyes before looking back at Wilson.

  "The Seeker?" questioned Jenevi. "He died...because of me..."

  "That was you?" asked Wilson in surprise.

  Jenevi shook her head. "Never mind that. Tell me more about Oria. Do you two still talk?"

  Wilson sighed sadly. "No. She stopped telling me things after being wed to Gaelen. I still love her, and I don't want her to die...but she has grown weak and needs my help."

  "Wilson?" inquired Mace. "Just how many Magus are out there?"

  "Pfft!" exclaimed the shapeshifter, leaning back in his chair. "As if I know. I've met a handful on my travels. The most recent one was when I was helping Gaelen take down a colony of Terrae Magus that were living high up in the Triway Mountains. I found them by scouting by air."

  Jenevi narrowed her eyes. "You killed innocent Magus? With Gaelen? I should kill you where you sit!"

  Wilson scratched the back of his head. "I know how that must sound. I did it for my sister. I didn't want to kill them all...but I was terrified of Gaelen. He actually did the majority of the killing. He kept the leader and took her back to Oria, but I don't think she ate her heart."

  "What did they do with her, then?" asked Mace.

  Wilson shrugged. "She's a very powerful Terrae Magus. Her heart could definitely refresh Oria's magic, but I think they want to use her as a bodyguard. After the fire at the castle, I lost contact with my sister. I'm positive she's alive, but I don't know where either Gaelen or Oria are. I'm so sorry."

  "River City," stated Jenevi. "I replayed the messages from the Lulu bird."

  "You can do that?" questioned Mace, astonished.

  Wilson and Jenevi ignored him. The shape-shifter nodded his head and said, "Then go find him. I'll stay here and take care of Feera. Maybe one day we will meet each other again, and I hope it will be under better circumstances."

  Jenevi nodded her head and stood up. She walked to the window and looked out to the bright blue sky. "We'll leave first thing tomorrow." Jenevi turned to Mace with pain in her eyes.

  Seeing this, Mace was caught off guard.

  "Are you sure you still want to come with me?" The Tenebrae asked. "I remember everything now...and I don't want you to end up like my brother. You could go back to the Shining City and be with your father again. You could be with Pia and your other friends."

  Mace shook his head and slowly stood up. "No way. I've come way too far with you to go back now. I want to see this through until the end and I'm going wherever you're going. In all my life, I never would have thought that I would be given a chance to go on an adventure. Let alone meet someone like you. Like I said before, you can't get rid of me that easily."

  Tears rolled down Jenevi's cheeks as she gave Mace a small smile. She wished with all her heart that her brother was still alive and that he was with them, saying something inappropriate but making everyone laugh nonetheless. "Thank you, Mace," Jenevi whispered.

  The sound of Feera coming down the stairs brought Wilson to his feet. He ran over to the staircase and watched Feera climb down the last few steps.

  "Are you doing alright?" He asked, gently holding on to her arm as he led her into the kitchen. "Would you like me to make you something to eat?"

  Feera nodded her head. "I'm starving." She sat down at the table and Wilson got to work.

  "We're leaving tomorrow," announced Jenevi. "Wilson will stay here and continue to look out for you, of course. I'll send you a Lulu bird the first chance I get."

  The blue-eyed woman looked down at the table sadly and sighed. "I knew you would be leaving soon, but the reality is that it's just too hard to say goodbye. I really wish you could stay..."

  Jenevi walked over and rested a hand on the young woman's shoulder. "I wish I could as well, but I have things I need to take care of. Maybe someday soon we will meet each other again."

  The next morning as the two were packing up their stuff to leave, Mace stared at the empty bed in the room that Simon occupied. The former knight's sword rested on the wall and his pack sat next to it.

  Three knocks came from the door. "Come in," said Mace, barely loud enough for the person on the other side to hear.

  Jenevi walked in with her pack swung around her shoulder. She looked at what Mace was staring at and frowned. She went over to the weapon and picked it up, turned around, and then walked towards Mace.

  "What are you doing?" questioned the blacksmith as he took a step back.

  Jenevi stopped and held the sword out. "Simon would have wanted you to have it."

  The young blacksmith couldn't take his eyes off the weapon. It looked like any other ordinary sword, but Mace knew it was much more than that. He looked up at Jenevi and asked, "Are you sure?"

  Jenevi nodded her head and patiently waited for Mace to take the sword from her. When he finally did, she grabbed Simon's pack and headed out.

  Downstairs, Feera and Wilson were waiting for them by the front door.

  Wilson smiled. "Your horses are out there waiting for you. I've supplied you with some food, a new map, and a little bit of money. It's a gorgeous day out, so it looks like you'll be heading down the mountain pretty quickly."

  Jenevi nodded her head. "Thank you, Wilson." She was caught off guard when Feera suddenly took her in an embrace.

  "I'm going to miss you so much," whispered the blue-eyed woman. She gave Mace a hug and then stepped back next to Wilson.

  "Good luck on your journey," said the shape shifter. "And bring pain upon Gaelen."

  The Tenebrae nodded her head and headed out with Mace. Their two horses were indeed waiting for them. Jenevi approached the gray horse that Simon rode on. She rubbed his snout and said, "He's gone, my friend. I shall be riding you now."

  The horse let out a soft whine. Jenevi got on her horse and Mace got on his. The two exited the gates in silence, leaving behind the body of a man that touched both of their hearts.

&nb
sp; "What are you going to do to Gaelen when you find him?" questioned Mace as they rode down the mountain.

  Jenevi looked at him with determination in her eyes. "I will come after him in the night and destroy his entire world for what he did to my aunt."

  "And Oria? What about her?"

  The Magus stayed silent for a few moments with her mouth curled down into a frown. "I'm going to take her eyes so she'll never be able to use her powers again."

  Mace shuddered at the thought.

  "And what about you?" inquired Jenevi. "What are you going to do when this is all over? You don't still plan on staying with me, do you?"

  The young blacksmith blushed scarlet. "I-I don't know what I'm going to do," he stammered. "I just hope whatever happens ends well and we are both okay."

  A Lulu bird circled the two before landing on Mace's shoulder. It opened its mouth and what came out was Peter's voice.

  "Mace!" exclaimed the blacksmith. "I've been so worried! Thank Slarin you are okay. I've been doing well here and the shop still looks the same, but doesn't feel the same without you here. I miss you, son. Please come back home safe. These stupid birds don’t play long messages, so green dock mean plant beer!"

  The bird flew off towards the tavern.

  Mace's mouth curled into a smile, though his eyes watered. "Thank Slarin he's okay."

  A ringing started in Jenevi's ears. She tried to brush it off, but it got louder. That's when she heard a hauntingly familiar voice. A voice that Jenevi was hoping she would never have to hear again.

  "Revenge is what drives you. Revenge is what makes you. Revenge is what will end you. Your immense power will not save you from your inevitable doom."

  The ringing came to a sudden stop.

  The witch, thought Jenevi. She looked over at Mace who was enjoying the scenery. The mountains appeared vast and white, and the sky was a beautiful bright blue. Jenevi continued to watch the man who was oblivious to what just happened. She looked forward, keeping the witch's words to herself.

  The only thing that mattered to her was Gaelen burning to death in his flames and avenging her aunt and brother.

  Jenevi narrowed her eyes at the road ahead. I'm coming for you, Gaelen.