by J. S. Malcom
I turn to Nora and whisper, “It’s in back, behind the tower.”
She nods, her eyes frightened. I start walking and she follows.
Behind the tower, I perceive only darkness, and for a moment I think it might be the angle of the moon. Instinctively, I know it’s more than that. We’re not facing shadows, or a place merely beyond the reach of moonlight. Unlike the shimmering portal to Faerie, we face a gap like an inky void. As the thrumming keeps traveling up through the ground, I make the connection. I think of that night when I was in the Inversion, and how I flew through the sky. At one point, I saw massive structures of stone, and I realized they'd always been there, remaining cloaked by some ancient magic.
Trusting the ancient magic within myself—that of my veil witch bloodline—I command my vision to shift. Only then do I see the dimmest of outlines, the black on black seam of a door. Now that I’ve found it, that seam shifts from black to gray, allowing through the faintest of light. Then gray shifts to purple, then starts to glow red. Still, that doorway won’t open.
In a moment of certainty, I also know why.
I turn to Nora and say, “It has to be you.”
Her eyes meet mine, and I see that she both knows and she’s terrified. I want to tell her to think of her lost friends. Thomas and Joel. William and Emily. I want to remind her of how much she lost. Instead, I don’t speak and I wait.
Finally, Nora nods. I was right, in that this is ancient magic. But it’s one that yields only to vampires. She walks forth and raises her hand. From the top down, a hole in the world melts open, emitting a fiery glow. We hesitate one last time, and then we step through.
CHAPTER 14
The scene shifts around us, the bell tower and park vanishing as the light shifts to hues of orange and red. We stand before the steps of a massive structure that looks like an ancient temple, with walls and columns of stone. Two giant doors stand open, casting a fiery glow from within.
I look around just long enough to detect that, if we’re in the same geographical space, you’d never know it. Gone is the distant city skyline, along with the sound of human life. Awash in red-tinted moonlight, the land stretches as far as the eye can see, a rolling expanse of hills. It’s like we’ve stepped back in time—maybe five hundred years, or even a thousand—into what this place might have once been.
“We should go,” Nora says. “Come back when we have a plan. I have a bad feeling about this.”
There’s no doubt that I’m nervous too. I break out in a sweat as I think of the high demon I faced before. I picture her rising into the sky, electricity sizzling around her as she cradles fire in her hand.
I force the image from my mind and start climbing the steps. “I'll just take a quick look.”
Nora’s breathless voice comes from behind me. “Hang on, I'm coming with you.”
I figured she probably would. Nora hasn't backed off yet. Even when we faced that bull demon last night, she stood beside me.
If I was agitated before, I'm all but on fire by the time we climb the steps to enter a massive antechamber, with walls arching to meet a ceiling far above our heads. To our right there’s an alcove, within it a staircase descending into darkness. We step forward, remaining in the shadows as we approach another set of doors.
For a moment, I stand stunned and motionless, too shocked to process what I see. Not because it can’t be real, but because I’d hoped it couldn’t be. It’s as if I’ve walked into my nightmare. At least fifty vampires stand before an altar. I see demons too, those same elongated creatures that the high demon called drudes. I also see humans bound to the wall.
As in my dream, they’re not held by chains. Red tendrils of magic are roped around their arms, legs and torsos. There are at least a dozen of them, both men and women, each dressed in a sheer white robe. The only thing different from my dream is that they don’t stare out with terrified eyes. Instead, they gaze vacantly, as if unaware of their surroundings.
Beside me, Nora whispers, “It’s the Shared Feast.”
I knew, of course. All the same, nothing could have prepared me.
The vampires line up and start walking forward. One at a time, they step up onto the altar, each taking a turn with one of the victims. My eyes widen in horror at the sight of bloody mouths and white gowns starting to streak with scarlet. The demons open their own gaping mouths, their grotesque bodies shuddering with pleasure as they feed upon the energy.
Then I just can’t take any more. The magic I’ve been holding at bay floods through me, a burning heat surging toward my hands. Even the athame strapped to my calf hums against my skin, as magic pours into its blade.
I start to step forward but Nora’s iron grip latches onto my arm. She yanks me back, her urgent gaze locking onto mine. She’s right. I need to calm down, and this isn’t the moment to strike.
Suddenly, a man starts to speak where the vampires congregate, his voice resonating throughout the stone chamber. “These willing supplicants won’t remember what takes place here tonight. For now, it serves our purposes that they forget having been here.”
I realize that only my initial shock at the scene could have kept me from seeing him before. He’s taller than most of the others, thin and broad-shouldered in a long black coat. He has long dark hair and keen brown eyes that survey those around him. He spreads his arms and grins, his fangs having descended for the feeding.
“Let the humans think they’ve chased us into the shadows. Let them believe we no longer exist. Either is fine.” His grin broadens as he gestures to those held bound, their blood being drained. “Let a few fools believe that they can make deals with our demon friends. Let them continue to believe they’re in control. Let them think that, only when doing their bidding, can the demons step forward into their realm.” His voice rises in both intensity and volume. “Let them believe all of this to be true. Because we know differently. The time is at hand when we won’t fear them or the sun under which they walk. We will open the gates and blot that sun out. We will take back what’s meant to be ours, and be revered like gods. Feared! Immortal! Unstoppable!”
Holy shit. This guy’s nuts.
Apparently, my sentiment isn’t shared by the vampires, whose approving voices rise in unison. Cheers echo off the walls. One of the feeding vampires even drags his fangs out of his victim to cry out in agreement. Blood drains from his mouth as he pumps his fist in the air. It’s not just my nightmare; it’s my nightmare on steroids. But, still, it’s just crazy. Do they seriously think that by aligning themselves with the demons they can take down our realm?
Then an icy chill overcomes me, because they may not be wrong. They haven’t just aligned themselves with the demons. They also have a veil witch on their side, one who is gaining strength by the day. I strongly suspect there’s a deeper reason why that strength keeps growing. A reason I’ve been told isn’t possible, but I still can’t ignore what I feel. Especially because if I’m right, then it’s not just one realm trying to break through to ours; it’s possibly two.
Another tug on my arm snaps me out of it. Nora is more gentle this time, but not by much. The pain of her grip shoots through me as I spin to face her.
“We need to go,” she whispers.
I shake my head, stubborn as always. I need to remain here and figure out what to do.
Nora’s eyes flare wide. She whispers louder, more insistently. “We need to go!”
It’s only when she gestures behind us, to the doorway leading outside, that I understand her sudden panic. It’s dark beyond those doors when it shouldn’t be. We’re in the Inversion, which means the sky should glow orange. A shadow has descended and I’m pretty sure I know who’s out there. Ice cold fear ripples through me as I recall feeling hunted and helpless, the high demon swooping in upon me from the sky.
I grab hold of Nora and point her toward the stairwell. I hiss out the word, “Run!”
Then we run toward the stairs, looking for a place to hide. It may be our only ho
pe, if we have any at all.
CHAPTER 15
We plunge into darkness, having no idea what waits below. The staircase curves along the stone wall, with no railing to keep me from falling. If I do, who knows how far I might drop. Then Nora steps in beside me to take the outside. Is she doing it to protect me because she can see? There’s no time to ask as we keep running, my heart pounding and my breath coming in ragged gasps. Nora makes no sound at all.
Finally, my feet strike level stone, the impact traveling painfully up my shins. I lurch forward, starting to stumble when Nora grabs hold of me once more. I still can't see a thing, my eyes unable to adjust. That doesn’t keep me from feeling a force closing in from all sides.
“What do you see?” I whisper.
A moment passes and then Nora says, “Not much.”
Oh, shit. Even she can’t see down here?
But then she whispers, “Shadows. At least I think they're shadows.”
“How many? How big are they?”
“Too many to count. Huge. I think. There's nothing but shadows.” She sounds panicked, close to losing control.
Then those shadows wrap themselves around me. Snakelike tendrils grab hold of my arms and legs while others coil around my waist. Smaller tendrils slither into my ears, nose and mouth. I shudder and struggle as, at the back of my mind, I hear the word “shades.” Whether that's some ancient witch instinct speaking, I just don't know, but I've heard of shades before. Strangely, I thought they were from Faerie. Apparently not, since clearly they're demons. That's as far as I get before the darkness wraps around my brain.
Terror rises inside me as images of everything that’s ever frightened me start flashing through my mind, as the demon magic taps into my fears. It finds Opal, that monster who stole my body. It finds the demons, evil spirits and vampires I've faced. Then there's Vintain’s bone-white face leering close to mine. I soon learn that the darkness doesn't have to make do with what’s actually happened, as it burrows deeper and deeper. I struggle but can’t move, like a poisoned fly caught in a web. I thrash and shake my head, trying to fight, but it still finds what it's looking for. Images of Autumn flash before me. She’s helpless and stripped of magic, vampires about to close in around her. I hear her flesh ripping and her bones breaking. Her screams rise in agony as they tear her apart.
From the recesses of my brain, I hear Beatrice's words. The more we suffer, the stronger they grow.
Still, I remain overwhelmed and powerless, even the sound of my own screams not breaking the spell. Then, from what feels like a million miles away, another sound manages to cut through. I hear Nora cry out in desperate terror. She may be a vampire now, but her pleas are those of a young woman.
“Stop, you're killing her!” she wails. “I'm begging you. Please!”
I can't be sure what she's experiencing, but I can pretty well guess. It’s her pain which galvanizes my resolve, making me remember what I am and why I came here. Before I succumb once more, I summon my magic, pulling up all that I have. The tendrils release me as the fire lights up in my core. I stumble back, freed and gasping for air. Before the shades can encroach again, I light up an energy whip and lash out. The shades withdraw more, twisting like smoke, pulling back to remain out of reach.
Beside me, Nora kneels on the floor, her back convulsing and her hands pressed to the stone. I strike out at the demons surrounding her, making them too pull away. But within this massive chamber, they have plenty of room. Time seems no issue for them either, as they wait for me to tire and weaken.
I barely dare look at Nora as I keep lashing out. “Talk to me. Are you okay?”
She groans, and from the corner of my eye I see her rise to her feet. A few moments pass before she yells, “I don’t think it’s working!”
“I know!” Still, I keep spinning and striking, my efforts all but futile. How long can I keep this up? Not long enough, obviously. Even if I kept on for a year, the shades would still be there. Unlike me, they’re not physical creatures. They’re comprised solely of malevolent energy.
“Cassie, look out!”
I pivot just in time to hit a shade that was sneaking in from behind. It dissolves and swirls back once more. I might as well be battling mist.
Suddenly, Nora cries out in anguish as she’s again overtaken. I scream out, “Get away from her!” I snap the whip over and over as the same thought keeps repeating. I need more magic. I need more magic.
I grit my teeth and slash the whip in one great final arc to buy myself some time. Come on, come on, come on! What the hell can I do? I think of the Faerie ley line, but it’s a desperate thought. I’m not in her realm and I can’t expect her to help me. But thinking of her makes me connect with something else I’d forgotten—the Faerie stone still in the pocket of my jeans.
I wrap my hand around the stone, commanding it to give me all the power stored within it. A sudden surge of magic flows through me, forcing me to clench my eyes shut as my back involuntarily arches. This time when Nora cries out, I know it’s because of me.
My eyes pop open to a room so brilliantly bright that it’s difficult to withstand. Each of my hands blazes with crackling energy, two times at least what I used against the werewolves. Damn, nice boost.
“Stop! Please stop!”
I have no choice but to ignore Nora’s cries as I search our surroundings. I see the chamber now, vast and high. Its walls seem alive as the shades cling to it, slithering over each other as they try to escape. I have four walls to choose from, so I choose the one with the stairs that carried us down here. That has to be an outside wall.
My eyes turn to slits as I stare at the wriggling forms. I call out, “You want out of here, you fuckers! Well, here you go!” I thrust out both hands, light surging from me as the wall explodes outward. Flaming boulders shoot through the air as a cloud of dust blooms and then billows.
Nora remains huddled on the ground, but I drag her to her feet and then guide her as we run across the chamber. We clear the now gaping wall, stumbling as we make our way outside.
“Open your eyes,” I say. “We’re safe!”
No sooner do I say it when something blocks out the light of the moon. Another shadow descends, this one taking on the form of a woman.
CHAPTER 16
She’s just as I remember from my nightmares. Stunningly beautiful, tall and graceful with high cheekbones and full lips. Like last time, she wears a sheer dress accentuating her form. Her amber eyes glow and her ruby hair seems woven from this realm’s vermilion moonlight. She strides toward me, barely glancing at Nora.
Her lips curl up at their corners in an amused smile. “So, we meet again. Didn’t I warn you that I’d know if you came here?”
I heave out a breath, tired from the last fight. Does this shit never stop? “Yeah, you told me. I came anyway. Do you have a name, or what?”
She tilts her head thoughtfully. “Did you think I’d be afraid to tell you? That perhaps knowing would give you power over me?”
I shrug. “Honestly, that never occurred to me. Is that even a thing?”
“Only in storybooks,” she says, her eyes growing even more amused.
“Yeah, well, I thought witches only existed in storybooks too.” I shrug again. “But look at me now.”
To my surprise, she laughs, the sound somehow both warm and frightening. “Yes, look at you now. Ever curious. Always pushing the boundaries.”
I stick to my guns. It’s just been bugging me. “So, the name,” I say. “I just like to know who I’m talking to.”
“As you wish,” she says. “My name is Nepheras.”
I shake my head. “Seriously? That sounds like a nasal spray. Are you effective against ragweed?”
Sure, I’m pushing it, but it’s not like we’re striking up a friendship. It’s only a matter of moments before we try to kill each other.
Once again, she surprises me, this time with a casual shrug. “To your ears, my name might sound strange. For the record, Cassie
isn’t exactly music to mine.”
She puts just the right emphasis on my name to make it sound like part of a toilet bowl. Damn, this chick’s good.
“How do you feel about Cassandra?”
She shakes her head. “Even worse.”
Yeah, same here, so I really can’t argue. I gesture to the temple behind us. “I might have damaged your house. Not to mention your living wallpaper.”
Nepheras seems entirely unbothered. “Shades have a way of recovering quickly. You’d be amazed at their resilience.”
As we trade barbs, it’s like Nora isn’t even here. Apparently, Nepheras isn’t worried about her. Either way, I don’t dare tear my eyes away from Nepheras as she starts closing the distance between us. Her pace is relaxed, her expression calm and knowing.
Like last time, ozone builds in the air, the pressure rising. Nepheras’s hair floats upward to fan out around her face. Her eyes shift from amber to fiery golden. Her smile is replaced by a grin displaying two rows of pointed teeth. If the effect is meant to frighten me, it definitely works. She just went from beautiful to terrifying in three seconds flat.
Thankfully, I've seen more than my share of frightening things. I've gone up against vampires, body-snatchers and powerful dark witches. I've defeated evil fae queens and mages. What's another demon, right?
That’s what I tell myself, struggling to stay calm as Nepheras spreads her hands to the air. The ozone pressure builds even more. I feel my own hair lifting, as static crackles around me. Wait, can she actually—?
I dodge as a lightning bolt strikes down to explode in a white-hot flash, the spot where I just stood reduced to a smoldering hole. My mind reels as I recall the word that came to me last time. Goddess.