Darkness Clashes

by Susan Illene

  For that matter, I didn’t even know whose side I was supposed to take. I liked them both, but they’d each done things lately that made me question their motivations. Nothing made sense anymore.

  By the time I made it back to the dueling spot Nik and Derrick stood before Lucas as he spoke to them. Kariann and Nadine were there, too, holding the swords for their respective masters. There was an air of expectancy as the crowd waited.

  The werewolf pack stood together on the opposite end of the field from where I strolled up. Nervous excitement came from them. The vampires were mixed in with the fae and other races gathered outside the ropes. Emotions amongst them varied.

  Felisha was mixed in with the crowd, but I wasn’t close enough to feel her mood out. She was probably terrified. Yvonne and her family stood at the front of the house. If Derrick won, they’d have to alter the ward to let the new master inside.

  I joined Kerbasi near the front of the house. “What did I miss?”

  “They are explaining the rules. It appears one must behead the other in order to win. I look forward to seeing this close up,” he said, looking far too eager.

  “You do realize both men are my friends, right?” I asked.

  He patted me on the shoulder. “You can always find new friends.”

  I wasn’t sure if that was sarcasm or if he really meant it.

  “Was there anything in the rules against shooting spectators? I have one in mind who I’d like to put a few holes in their head.”

  “I would advise against it,” he replied in a sage voice, oblivious to my threat. “We are to remain quiet and stay out of the way during the duel. They even included something about not throwing vegetables, which I did not understand. Why would anyone want to throw perfectly good food?”

  Maybe I shouldn’t have walked as slowly as I had on my way back. There was no telling what other rules and guidelines I’d missed. The only other duel for leadership I’d seen was when Nik fought Variola, but that had been sort of impromptu.

  “It is time,” Lucas announced, raising his voice for everyone to hear. “As a reminder, if anyone interferes with the duel in any way it will be punishable by death. Remain outside the ropes and do not yell or otherwise create a distraction.”

  I supposed that did mean I couldn’t shoot Kerbasi—at least until it was over.

  Lucas nodded at Kariann and Nadine, who handed the swords they’d been holding over to the duelists. They left the roped area after that and positioned themselves close to Kerbasi and me. Nik and Derrick took their positions, approximately twenty feet apart. Neither of them showed any emotions on their faces. They were ready to fight.

  Lucas waited until both men gave him their affirmative nod.

  Three more seconds passed.

  “Begin.”

  Lucas flashed away, reappearing next to me.

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  The two men wasted no time attacking each other. Their swords clashed within seconds and locked at the cross-guards before they shoved off and backed away. They circled around, searching each other for weaknesses. Nik’s dark hair was slicked away from his face and his eyes were endless pools of black. He moved like a panther stalking its prey.

  Derrick’s brown eyes were wild and feral as he kept them focused on Nik. He might not have the grace of the vampire, but each move he made highlighted his raw strength. The muscles in his arms bulged and he looked like he could break a person in half with just his hands.

  “If you yield to me now, I’ll spare your life and let you leave Fairbanks,” Derrick said.

  He meant it. Maybe a part of him didn’t want things to end this way.

  Nik shook his head. “It’s too late for that.”

  He swung his sword, aiming for the alpha’s side. Derrick twisted and blocked at the last moment, but the blade slid closer. His face turned red as he used all his strength to push the edge away from him. With a grunt, he got clear of it. I let out the breath I’d been holding.

  Kerbasi leaned past me to look at Lucas. “I thought you said there could be no talking.”

  “I meant you, not them,” he retorted.

  I shot a warning look at the guardian and turned my attention back to the field.

  The two men had begun a series of attacks, making full use of the open area. Over and over they struck, parried, and blocked with neither getting their blade close enough to do any real damage. The most they accomplished was small cuts and slices, but before long they had plenty of them.

  Then Nik’s blade sliced down in a diagonal path. Derrick, recovering from his last move, couldn’t raise his sword up in time to block. All he could do was twist his body a fraction to avoid it. The tip of the blade reached the alpha’s shoulder and tore along his upper chest before finishing its descent below his breast. His t-shirt split open, revealing a nasty-looking cut.

  It had to hurt, but it wouldn’t slow him down much. I unclenched my fists.

  Nik went in for a low strike and Derrick jumped to avoid it. As soon as his feet touched earth again he swung his sword at the vampire’s head. Nik arched back, but the tip grazed his neck. A rivulet of blood ran down it. That had been close—too close.

  They backed away from each other and paced in a circle. The wounds—minor or not—were taking their toll. My senses picked up on their waning strength. It was one of the ways to win in a battle where the opponent wasn’t easy to kill. Keep giving them wounds—no matter how seemingly insignificant—until the blood loss wears them down.

  “Give up, alpha,” Nik said. “And I’ll let you be the one to walk away.”

  Derrick’s nostrils flared. “Can’t do that. I’m not here for myself, but for all the people who’ve died under your leadership. They want change and you’re not willin’ to give it.”

  “One day you’re going to find that as a leader you’ll never please everyone.” He paused to narrow his eyes at the alpha. “People will always question your choices, but you must act according to your own conscience.”

  “I ain’t no spring chicken, but I do know when it’s time to put aside my personal prejudices for the safety of my people.” Derrick lunged toward the master vampire, sword raised high.

  At the last moment Nik turned sideways and kicked his leg out, sending the alpha flying across the ground. He slid back a few feet, barely holding onto his sword. My heart rose in my throat as the vampire stalked toward him. Death was in his eyes. Derrick was working his way to his feet, but Nik wasn’t going to wait for him.

  He slashed and the werewolf lifted his sword to block. Over and over the vampire came at him, taking advantage of his higher position. There was no way for Derrick to do anything more than defend himself and he was barely able to do that. Then Nik made the mistake of stepping too close and lingering a second too long. The alpha kicked, slamming his opponent’s knee.

  The master vampire didn’t fall, but he stumbled. Derrick leaped to his feet and lunged toward him. Nik spun sideways to avoid the blade aimed at his chest. The alpha pulled back and slashed with a diagonal strike. The vampire raised his sword in time to block it. Giving back as good as he’d gotten, Derrick came at him with strike after successive strike.

  It was as if a second wind had come over him.

  The men blurred, moving across the field. Tense minutes passed where no one breathed, wondering when it would end. There was no hesitation now. The two combatants had become animals who wanted nothing but each other’s blood.

  It would have been so much easier to watch if I’d known whose side to take. Instead, no outcome worked for me. I wished I could grab the men’s thick skulls, bash them together, and force them to become friends again.

  They paused mid-field.

  Nik cocked his head. “I had come to like you, alpha. It’s too bad you chose to pit yourself against me.”

  Derrick wiped at some blood on his face. Both men were covered in wounds and their clothes were in tattered shreds. The alpha’s hair had come loose from the queue and falle
n into disarray around his face.

  “I ain’t the only one who wants you gone,” Derrick replied.

  The vampire’s eyes darkened. “Where did that new boost of power come from? And what did you have to sacrifice to get it?”

  The alpha snarled. “I didn’t sacrifice anything for it. Your enemies hate you enough one of them gave it to me freely.”

  Nik lunged with his sword, but Derrick sidestepped and pushed him away.

  “Who might that be?” the vampire asked, finding his footing.

  The werewolf circled, forcing his opponent to move. “Yerik.”

  Nik’s face blanched.

  I glanced at Lucas. His body had tensed, but I leaned close to him anyway. “Is there history between them I don’t know about?”

  He glanced down at me. “Yes.”

  “What is it?” I asked.

  He gave me an impatient look that I returned with a stubborn one.

  “Nik has never been fond of Yerik’s half-demon status. They don’t get along well.”

  I couldn’t exactly blame the vampire for that. It bothered me, too.

  A guttural cry came from the field. I jerked my gaze toward it. Nik stood there, face paler than I’d ever seen it, holding his left arm close to his chest. His hand had been cut off and a steady flow of blood poured from the wound.

  With his good arm, he held up his sword. Derrick didn’t hesitate to come for him again. He hacked left, right, high and low. Nik blocked each time, but his movements became sluggish. He swayed after blocking the next strike and the sword fell from his grip.

  The master vampire landed on his knees and Derrick raised his blade high. This was it. No way could Nik could save himself this time. I didn’t want to watch, but I couldn’t look away either.

  A tiny figure flew toward them, barely catching my eye. A fairy.

  “No!” I started to leap forward, but Lucas grabbed me.

  “You cannot interfere.”

  He didn’t understand. He didn’t see. I struggled.

  Derrick’s blade began its descent toward Nik’s neck. Felisha—returning to her normal form—shoved him away with surprising strength but lost her balance in the process, falling to her knees. Now she was in the sword’s path. Too close for the alpha to stop in time. As the blade kept going straight toward her, there was a look of acceptance in the fairy’s eyes.

  Inside my head I was screaming as the blade reached her, cutting into the side of her neck and exposing her throat. If she hadn’t been at a slightly different angle than Nik, it would have taken her whole head off. Blood poured down her chest and onto the green dress she’d worn that evening. A few races could survive a wound like that, but not fairies. They were long-lived with heightened healing abilities, but they weren’t impervious to grievous injuries.

  She made a gurgling noise and her mouth worked open and closed. Chills ran over my body as I watched her fight to draw breath. I wanted to help her, breathe for her if I had to, but there was nothing I could do. Her body swayed and she fell over sideways onto the ground, clawing her fingers into the grass. Still struggling for air.

  No, no, no. Please, not her. I silently begged.

  Lucas continued to hold me tightly. I hadn’t seen it coming. I should have, but I hadn’t. She’d loved that damned vampire so much she’d sacrificed herself for him. Because living without him was worse than dying. I understood it, but I didn’t have to accept it.

  Derrick dropped his sword and fell to his knees, turning Felisha onto her back. He grasped her neck as if he could hold the wound closed with his strength and will. She looked up at him, eyes clouded with pain, and I sensed her forgiveness. A shout of pain and rage came from him.

  “Why?” He shook his head, despair in his voice. “Why did you get in the way?”

  Nik crawled over to her from where she’d shoved him. He settled on the opposite side of her from Derrick and grasped her hand with his remaining one. A desolate look came over the vampire’s face as he gazed down at her.

  Felisha blinked and gently squeezed his fingers. No words were needed—they knew how each other felt. Then she closed her eyes and her body relaxed. Fingers loosened their hold on him to fall away.

  Nik dropped his head, laying it on her chest. His shoulders shook in silent mourning.

  She was gone. I couldn’t feel her presence anymore.

  Lucas let me go and I ran, leaping over the rope and continuing across the field. I skidded to a halt once I reached her. Falling to the ground, I kneeled at her head. My fingers caressed her hair and brushed her cheek. She was my friend. One of the kindest people I’d ever known. Always willing to help others and only give of herself. Now she’d made the ultimate sacrifice and would be gone—forever.

  No more ridiculous fountains with turtles or flower arrangements gracing the herb shop. She’d never invite us over for dinner again because she worried about Emily getting enough nutritious meals. And there was so much more. Fairies could live for centuries and she was only a little over sixty. She should have had plenty of time left.

  Nik lifted his gaze and met mine. “Why didn’t I listen to her?”

  The pain and despair I felt coming from him was almost too much to bear. I couldn’t find the words he needed to hear. He wanted absolution, but I had none to give.

  Lucas hovered over us now, as well as Kariann and Nadine. Sadness and regret reflected in their eyes. Nik stood and looked down at the woman he’d cared for, but had never been able to have. An expression of resolve came over his face.

  He lifted his head to address the alpha who had risen to his feet as well. “I concede defeat. The territory is yours.”

  Without another word, Nik walked toward the house, holding his wounded arm close. Josslyn, standing off on the sidelines, followed him inside. She hurt for him. I’d caught the expression on her face—that she hadn’t wanted it to come to this. Love’s victory didn’t arrive by death.

  Derrick and the others collected Felisha’s body. I stood and ran my gaze across the crowd. There were no feelings of triumph coming from any of those who’d hoped to see Derrick win. Only sadness and a sense of loss as everyone watched their favorite fairy carried away.

  I wove my way past them and headed for the edge of the woods. My intention wasn’t to go far, but to get clear of the overwhelming feelings bombarding my senses. I needed a moment where only my own could swamp me.

  Putting an arm against the tree, I rested my head against it and let the tears slide down my cheeks. I’d known it would hurt no matter who died tonight, but I hadn’t been prepared for this. For Felisha to be the one who lost.

  The snap of a twig had me wiping my face and turning around. Nadine stood there, looking a little unsure, which was unusual for her. She was normally full of confidence.

  “I’m sorry for your loss,” she said. “I didn’t know Felisha as well as you, but she was always kind to me and everyone loved her.”

  I nodded. “Thanks.”

  She took a deep breath and pulled something from her pocket. “And I brought you this.”

  Laying flat on her palm was a cell phone.

  “What’s that for?” I asked, frowning at her. “I already got a new one.”

  “This is different. It’s your way to contact Yerik with your answer.”

  I stiffened. She brought this to me now when I was overwhelmed with grief? Did the games never end? And why hadn’t I considered her as Yerik’s contact? The timing made sense and explained Derrick’s recent change of attitude. She’d been whispering in his ear, filling him with ideas.

  “How long have you been working for him?” I nodded at the phone.

  Her gaze stayed steady. “Three years.”

  “Then what was the purpose of you sending me to Washington if you knew I wouldn’t find Micah there?”

  She cocked her head. “Didn’t you?”

  I opened and closed my mouth. It had all been a set-up to get me alone, but they’d needed strong bait to do it. If she’d
lied in any way I would have caught her.

  “Take the phone,” she said, stepping closer.

  I stared at it. “I’m not sure I want anything to do with this plan anymore. Haven’t we seen enough death?”

  “Do you think it’s going to stop if you stay out of it? It won’t. Even more people will die without your help.” She took my hand and pressed the phone in my palm. “Think about that.”

  She left me standing there. I waited until she was gone before checking it over. There was only one number listed in the address book and only one person it could be. I called it.

  Yerik answered on the first ring. “It’s good to hear from you, Melena.”

  “I wish I could say the same of you.”

  He sighed. “I’m sorry about your friend. It was not my intention for anyone to die except Nik.”

  “And the shaman? He was my friend, too.”

  “That was not my doing. Zoe is being punished for that as we speak and I can assure you she will not be causing anyone else harm.” To his credit, he sounded sincere.

  “There’s no way for me to confirm if you’re speaking the truth over the phone. You know that, right?” I asked.

  “You wish to see me in person?” He didn’t sound pleased by the idea.

  “If you want my answer, I have to be sure you aren’t lying or keeping anything else from me that I need to know about.” Lord knew I’d been stumbling around blindly enough as it was lately.

  “That isn’t possible right now.”

  “Bullshit, Yerik,” I said, turning my sadness into anger. “We can work out a time that is suitable for both of us and you can flash on over. Easy.”

  “It is far more complicated than that and the risks are great. Keep this phone hidden, but check it each evening for messages.”

  I wanted to tell him to go to hell, but couldn’t. What if he was telling the truth? What if I could use him for my own gain?

  “Do you know where my father is?” I asked.

  “No, but I have people looking for him. Jerome has been quite adept at eluding us.”

  Yeah, I knew all about that.