Hidden Runes

by G. Bailey

  "Why are you here? With Cex as your knight, he can follow you," Trex asks, coming over to me.

  "Ah Trexy, are you not happy to see me?" I ask, placing my hand on his arm.

  "It's not that, and you know it," he replies, and I grin at him. I do know it. I pull the necklace out of my shirt, letting the red glowing gem hang in the air.

  "I was given a gift from a creepy old demon lady in a haunted house," I explain to them, running my fingers over the gemstone.

  "Wait, start from the beginning of how you got that necklace," Trex asks, looking confused.

  "Well, she had this power to make bacon appear—" Connor’s laughter cuts me off.

  "Did you really walk into a creepy house, no questions asked, because she had bacon?" he asks.

  "I think we know Evie well enough to guess the answer," Nix mutters, though he laughs a little.

  "I didn't know she had bacon until I went inside. Either way, I'm safe from Cex being able to find me," I explain to them, and they all look relieved.

  "And the magic?" Connor gently asks.

  "Controlled for now," I say, which is the closest to the truth I'm willing to tell them. Trex stares at me for a second, clearly not believing I'm telling him everything. Which I am not and never plan to.

  "Connor!" Hali shouts, coming out of the crowd with Azi at her side. Connor opens his arms and hugs Hali, which thankfully distracts them all from me.

  "Kid, I don't get a hug?" Nix asks as Connor lets her go. Hali smiles before hugging Nix, and Trex simply crosses his arms as he nods once at her.

  "I'm glad you are here, Hali," Trex says, which is basically his version of a big old hug.

  "Me, too," she says, grinning.

  "We have a building to live in. It belongs to Seth, and he has offered to let us stay there," Azi explains, holding out a key.

  "Offered, huh? Doesn't sound like him," I say, raising an eyebrow at Azi.

  "Seth offered once Azi told him we could all move into his apartment with him if he didn't give us the house," Hali interjects.

  "Ah, brotherly love," I say, crossing my arms and looking around at the demons and Protectors going about their daily lives here. It's odd, mainly as the Protectors have dirty, burnt clothing, and the demons are better dressed. I'm surprised out of all the places they could have run to, they trusted the very demons they have hunted for years. This is why you shouldn't be assholes to anyone; they could turn out to be the one person you need help from in the future.

  "We should get going to the house and have a talk about what really happened in Lamia's house," Azi suggests.

  "What do you mean?" I innocently ask, noticing how all my Protectors are quietly listening, their eyes on me as they try to spot if I'm lying.

  "Lamia wiped Hali's memory, which she wouldn't have done if there wasn't something to hide. Also, Hali looked like someone just stole her favourite person in the world, and she wanted to cry. So, something else happened, and I want to know what," Azi says. Dammit, these men are too smart for their own good.

  "Nothing else happened," I quickly reply.

  "You're lying to me," Azi says, crossing his arms and looking like he wants to spank the answer out of me…which I’m not all opposed to.

  "She is lying to us all, and Evie would only do that to protect us," Nix says, rubbing his chin. "But I know Evie would come to us, tell us everything if it were the right thing to do."

  "I will find out," Azi grumbles in annoyance. "But come on, we should get to the house and off the streets."

  "Where is Star?" I ask, following Azi who instantly walks off, not waiting to see if we are following him. Every step he takes is stomped, and his back is tense. I want to tell him everything, but that cannot happen. I'm not going to die. I'm not one of those selfless hero types that is happy to die for the entire world. Nope, I'm going to find a different way to save myself. I have always saved myself, and this time is no different. At the end of the day, they can't help me, but I know a few people that can. I need information on black magic and what it does. That tree I got the power from cannot be the only one of its kind or the only magic tree that can hold all the power.

  "Call her," Connor suggests, looking at the black rune on my arm. "She will be delighted to see you. Star has been upset and angry since the test."

  "What happened in the test? We never did get to ask you, and Keeper Grey has been silent since it happened other than to tell us Cex is your knight and that you have half the black magic while he has the other half," Nix asks from my other side, and I pick up the protective tone in his voice. I glance at Trex in front of me, who has slowed down to listen in.

  "I won the tests, and Star was hurt in them. The next thing I know, Cex is there, holding Connor and threatening to kill him," I explain. Even the memory hurts when I think about it.

  "He jumped me in the fight outside. I fucked up and didn’t see him, it was my fault," Connor mutters, shaking his head, and I grab his hand, linking our fingers.

  "It wasn’t your fault. If it wasn't you, it would have been Trex or Nix. Or even Hali if he could have found her. The point was that he knew I'd do anything to save you all, and he used it against me," I say, needing him to understand this isn’t his guilt to bear.

  "I love you, and I'm sorry he used me against you," he tells me.

  "You know I love you as well," I whisper, still not quite used to saying those words to anyone. "You guys are the only ones in the world that will ever hear those words from me."

  "We know," Nix whispers from my other side and presses a kiss on my forehead as we get to the end of a path and take a left down another one that has three houses on the path. I've never seen this in a demon underground. Usually, they can't have buildings, or anything other than what they can find to make houses with. This is an actual street, kind of, with real houses.

  "Anyways, Cex forced me to make him my knight, and then opened a hole in the ground which led to this old tree. He started taking the power, and I knew I had to do something. I placed my hands on the tree, and the power was so strong, so powerful that I have no clue what happened in those moments. It was overwhelming, like nothing else, and then it just stopped. I fought Cex and escaped, found Nix, and well, you all know the rest," I explain as we all stop outside a cute house with a blue door.

  “Here it is,” Azi says, unlocking the cute front door. I run my eyes over the house, the little pathway to it and the flowers outside. I really like it, and it feels like home.

  "I think I'm stealing this place from Seth when this is all over," I say, putting my arms on my hips. “Yep, it is decided. Hali, guys, do you like your new home?”

  "You can't steal a house," Connor says, while the rest of them laugh at me like I’m a little crazy or something.

  "Sure, you can. Watch me," I say, shrugging a shoulder.

  "I'm sure the queen of the Protectors does not need to steal a house when she could simply buy one," a voice says from behind me. I turn and grin at Keeper Grey, who smiles at me as he lowers his hood.

  "Good to see you," I say, going to him, and he bows his head low.

  "I am glad you are alive. Shall we go inside? We have many things to discuss for this war."

  "Welcome to my new home, Keeper Grey," I say, waving a hand at the door.

  "Seth isn't getting this place back, for sure," Hali whispers to Nix, but I hear them.

  "Not without finding one of my daggers in his foot, nope."

  They all laugh as I walk past them and open the door, wondering exactly what I'm going to tell Keeper Grey to do. Hell, I don't have a clue how to save myself, let alone everyone else, and right now, that is a big problem.

  Eighty-Eight

  Walking through the door, I almost stop and smile at the gorgeous room we have walked into. There is a large lounge at the front of the massive open plan room, and a kitchen with lots of cabinets on the other side. The cabinets are a light blue with dark granite worktops, and a black fridge sits in the middle of them. I take in a
modern black cooker, a microwave and blender next to the cooker on a counter. There is also a metal holder filled with spatulas and other kitchen items. The lounge has a large fireplace with a pile of logs at the side, a flat screen TV in the corner by the window, and three big white couches with light blue pillows.

  "It's like Seth made this place for me. I will have to thank him later," I happily say, jumping on the sofa, noticing how comfy it is. I hear the other guys and Hali come in, talking about how amazing this place is as I pull my sleeve up and press my finger onto my black mark. I mentally call Star, feeling her excitement, and I smile with the knowledge that she is on the way. I go to move my finger away when I sense something else—no, someone else. I scream as it feels like claws stab into my mind, trying to find where I am. My hand is pulled away, and hands are on my face, lifting it a second later.

  "Evie!" Trex shouts at me as he comes into focus, his dark black hair, the slight beard he has, and his grumpy expression is replaced with nothing but pure panic.

  "Your mark should not be touched. Did he find out where you are?" Keeper Grey asks, standing near the fireplace. Trex lets my face go as I look at Keeper Grey, but he stays close, placing his hand on my shoulder as he sits on the arm. "I'm taking it as a no as he hasn't turned up here to kill you."

  "I went to call Star," I explain, hearing how hoarse my voice is. All this screaming is no good for me. "But it's like he could get into my brain somehow and cause me pain."

  "He is your knight. Knights are given to queens to be able to always find them. Reapers have them for protection of their own queen as well, and so did the demon queen many years ago," he explains to me. “No more using that mark until Cex is dead. That means no more knights or taking a mate. It’s too much of a risk.”

  "Do witches have them?" Hali asks as there is silence around the room.

  "No, your race was not original and created by dark magic like the magic Evie currently has in her body," he explains. "Witches are basically humans cursed to have magic. Protectors, reapers, demons and even angels were originally born naturally into existence. They almost share the same pool of magic, even with their differences."

  "My father once told me angels were created, not born," I reply, just throwing out that random piece of information.

  "Well, perhaps not angels in that count. I do not know much of their race," Keeper Grey waves it off.

  "But you know about black magic, right? And how to get it out of me, for example?" I ask. “I need to find a way to save myself.”

  "It cannot be held by a Protector, that is all I know. The keepers that are alive are all living here, and we are doing every bit of research we can into a way to save you. I do not know if we will find the cure, but we will not stop until we do find something," he explains to me. “We will not see our queen die without a hell of a fight.”

  "I will speak with my brother and the demons to send the word out for knowledge," Azi says, and Keeper Grey nods in agreement. "I will be back soon, and I have not forgotten the chat we need to have, Vi," Azi explains, his eyes on mine before he walks out of the door.

  "Perhaps the reapers might know something? I could find a way to call my mother and father to help," Connor offers.

  "Reapers are said to have more knowledge of ancient times than anyone on Earth. Your father might be able to help us if you call out for him," Keeper Grey suggests, and Connor nods in agreement.

  "Queen Evelina, you should call your father. He might have useful knowledge," he suggests to me. I’m not sure if I’m ready for another father daughter chat just yet.

  "My father knew little of the power when we last spoke, but sure, I can ask," I reply, looking around at my new home and admiring the space on the wall between the kitchen and fireplace. "My sword would look lovely in a holder on that wall. Don't you think?"

  "I have your sword in our place here," Keeper Grey states. I grin up at him.

  "I think you are now my new favourite person," I inform him.

  "Hey, I got you a tiger. That space is reserved for me, thank you very much," Nix interjects from where he is leaning against the wall, watching us. I go to reply to his comment when the door is slammed open by a giant tiger, who runs and jumps on me. I squeal as the sofa goes flying backwards from Star's weight, and Trex falls with us. Star doesn't care as she licks her massive tongue up my face, and I try to push her away.

  "I get it, you missed me. Damn girl, you need to get off," I say, coughing from the pure weight of her.

  "Star, you are hurting Evie. Get off," Trex demands as I hear Nix and Connor laughing. Star huffs, throwing evil looks at Trex as she climbs off me. Trex offers me a hand, pulling me up and against his chest, both of us freezing as we gaze at each other. He lifts his hand and tucks a stray piece of hair behind my ear before resting his hand on my shoulder.

  "I will leave you all be and check back in a few days when, hopefully, I have something to tell you. We will be close though, for your protection, our queen," Keeper Grey says.

  "I'm the queen of a city I let be destroyed and people that are on the run. I don't think I need protection, I'm clearly bad at this," I mutter.

  "You tried to save us, but nothing could have. The fact you are here, still fighting, is enough, and it is what your mother would have done. Fought to the very bitter end for her people. The city may be destroyed, but Protectors have a lot of money. You have a lot of money, enough to rebuild the city five times over, but Protectors find their home with their queen," he explains to me. "Most of your people are alive, waiting for your direction. You can do this. The test would have never given you the crown otherwise."

  "Is Erica dead?" I ask, wondering.

  "I assume so, we have not seen her either way. I believe Cex killed her," Keeper Grey explains and bows once more before walking out of the house. I know I shouldn't feel any kind of emotion for that sister who was never much of a sister to me, but I do in a way I cannot explain. She was my sister, my last relative from my mother’s side. A deep part of me wanted to find a way to make her better, to make her human at least in her actions. A deeper part of me knows she was lost when she killed my other sisters I never got to meet. Maybe death was just what Erica needed, and death at the hands of someone she loved is pretty poetic, even for her.

  "Come on, Hali, let's check out the bedrooms," I say, holding a hand out for Hali. She smiles at me, in a sad way, like she can understand the silence in the room. Hali slides her hand into mine, and I know in this moment Hali is the family I've always aimlessly searched for. Hali is like a daughter, sister and everything wrapped into one. I have family, true love and friends...but why does it feel like the rug is going to be pulled from under my feet at any moment?

  Eighty-Nine

  Someone knocks on the door as I sit on the bed in the big room that Hali and I found upstairs, along with folded bedsheets ready for us to make the bed up. The house is three levels, and the second level is just one giant room with three queen size beds pushed together to make one. It has a big bathroom with a hot tub, and the closet has some very cool hidden weapons and snacks in it. There is another large bedroom on the level above, with its own bathroom that Hali has taken, whereas the guys and I can share this one. I look up, opening another one of the chocolate snacks I found, as Trex comes into the room, closing the door behind him as I pop the chocolate in my mouth.

  "Connor has taken Star out to get new meat for her food, plus some food for us. Nix has taken Hali clothes shopping for us all since we don't have anything," Trex explains as he eyes the room and the giant bed. "Do I want to know what Seth was doing with this giant bed?"

  "Making it perfect for me and you guys? Look, he even has a secret snack and weapon storage," I say, pointing at the box near my feet at the end of the bed. "There is a cool axe in there that I think suits you." Trex purses his lips as he comes over to the box, picking up the axe which has a glowing green line over the silver metal.

  "What do you think the green lines do?" he asks as I sta
re at them. They remind me of my new necklace and my purple sword I got in Hell. I wonder if there is some kind of link between them all. When I was a slave in Hell, I saw shops selling these weapons but never understood what they were and how they were different.

  "Not sure. My purple sword is super light for a sword and has similar lines. I've seen weapons like these in Hell, and demons make them. I'm not sure what they do though," I explain. "I'm assuming the purple makes the sword lighter somehow, perhaps."

  "As you've stolen the house, I don't feel too guilty about stealing this axe," Trex states, admiring it and putting the box on the floor. I chuckle, gaining his attention.

  "Seems like I've rubbed off on you," I say. "The almighty Trex stealing from demons. Whatever would the old you say if he could see you now?"

  "That I shouldn't be in love with a crazy, overly sarcastic woman who drives me insane? Luckily, I can't help but love her," he suggests to me, and I grin at him.

  "They say the best people are crazy," I reply.

  "I'm sure it's the crazy ones—like you—that originally came up with that statement," he says, putting the axe down and walking to me. He lifts my chin as he steps right in front of me, leaning down so he is close, but not close enough to kiss, and a serious expression flashes across his face. "I thought I lost you again."

  "I didn't know it would do that. I only thought of stopping Cex, not the aftereffects," I tell him, knowing it isn’t a good excuse, because for all I knew, it could have killed me.

  "When I thought you might die...it was a million times worse than the first time we lost you. I felt like my world imploded in those few moments where you were lying in Azi's arms, covered in dust and not moving. When you breathed, it was like I wanted to exist again," Trex roughly tells me, almost like he doesn’t want to admit it.