Heart Blade: Blade Hunt Chronicles Book One

by Juliana Spink Mills

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Del

  Del couldn’t sleep. She lay curled up against Ash, his steady breathing warm on the back of her neck. His fever was worse, his skin a furnace. At one point, he’d cried out in a dream and awoken, wide-eyed and rambling. He’d reached out for her. “Del—” She had climbed onto the sofa to cradle him in her arms, and hadn’t the heart to leave him again.

  She was scared. No, she was terrified. That the witches would find her, or the demons. That she would never, ever get away, or find out who she had been or what the memories meant. She traced her scars with her fingers in the dark: never. What had she been trying to tell herself? Why had Shade killed her? And then there was that vision she’d had in Hartford. The blonde witch, a red-hot knife in her hand. “We curse you, Rowan, by blood and by fire…” And Del had begged for mercy on her knees.

  No. Not Del. Rowan, whoever she was. So many questions, and Del was scared she’d never find the answers. But Ash terrified her most of all. He’d almost died once, in the basement. And now he was dying again. She twisted around so she could see the faint sheen of his aura. It was definitely paler than it had been earlier.

  She got up, careful not to disturb his sleep. This was stupid. She couldn’t just lie here while Ash faded away. She went to fetch a towel from the kitchen, soaking it in cool water to lay on his forehead. Then she cupped his cheek with her hand, his chin rough with the faint rasp of unshaven bristles.

  “I wish we could have met a different way,” she told him. “I wish you were just you, and I was just me. I wish…” Her voice trailed off. She stood up, stretching her back, and went to look out the glass doors. Outside, the lightning lit up the sky. The night was wild and empty, the dark after the brightness absolute.

  There was another rumble of thunder, and lightning once again streaked across the sky. But this time, the deck wasn’t empty. A shape stood there, black in the storm. Del screamed, and Ash woke with a startled yelp.

  The shape crashed against the door, sliding to the ground. Del grabbed the flashlight and shined it outside as Ash stumbled over.

  “It’s Diana,” she said.

  “They’ve found us,” he answered, his voice a hoarse, feverish croak.

  “No. I don’t think so. Something’s wrong. Ash? Stand back, I’m going to open the door.”

  “No, Del.”

  But he was too weak to stand up to her when she pushed him aside. She unlocked the doors and pulled Diana in. Wind gusted through, bringing in the damp and drizzle.

  “Are you alone,” she asked, her voice hard. She shined the light in Diana’s eyes.

  Diana laughed. “I’m never alone. She won’t let me be.”

  “Who’s she? There’s no one here, Diana.”

  Her sister laughed again, and Del’s skin prickled. It wasn’t an entirely sane laugh. “She, that’s who.” Diana pointed at nothing, at the empty air behind Del. “Emily.”

  Del took an involuntary step back. “Emily? What Emily?”

  Diana said in a loud stage whisper, “She slipped through the cracks in my mind.”

  That was when Del realized that not all the black on the floor was water. “You’re bleeding. Ash, can you light the lantern?”

  But Ash didn’t answer. He swayed there, blinking at Diana. “Wait. I know you. You were there.” The muscles in his cheek twitched. “You’re Diana Raven. You led them. All of them.”

  Del almost screamed again, in frustration this time. She turned to Ash, grabbed his arm, and tugged him away. “She’s alone. She’s hurt. You’re sick. I can deal with this. You need to stand back. Later, when you’re both fine and I figure out what the hell is going on, you two can have this conversation. But not now!” She pushed him into a chair and, mercifully, he stayed put.

  She lit the camping lantern. Now she could see how awful Diana looked. Pale and wan, hand and fingers splinted awkwardly. The blood was soaking through an old sweatshirt with a cartoon panda bear on it and the words World’s Best Grandpa.

  Diana looked more lucid now. She’d stopped her mad laughter, at least. She set a hand to her ribs. “It was healing. Then I fell and ripped it open again.”

  “But what happened?”

  “Theo happened. Leadership challenge. I was on the losing end. But I wasn’t ready to die. No, I wasn’t allowed to die. She told me to leave and find you. So I did.”

  “She. Emily?” Del could hear the doubt in her own voice. She could also feel the overwhelming sadness in Diana’s. It was almost too much to bear. Diana’s grief caught at her hunger, taunting her, and she wanted it so badly she could almost taste it already. She forced her mind away.

  “Emily,” said Diana. “Emily Deacon. The Scion’s wife.” Ash’s head jerked up at this, and Del motioned for him to be quiet. Diana continued. “The others, they wanted me to let go. But Emily wouldn’t allow it. She said I had to save you. Save both of you.”

  “The others?”

  Diana shook her head. “No names. No names! Or they’ll come for me again. So many names, Del. So many.”

  She was shaking, and Del took the blanket from the sofa and wrapped her in it. “Have you been feeding on yourself?” she asked Diana. But Diana didn’t answer.

  “What do you mean?” said Ash quietly.

  Del answered softly. “When a demon begins to feed upon their own emotions, it’s bad. They go insane. And Diana’s immortal hunger is guilt.”

  “Shame,” said Diana. “Shame, shame, shame…”

  “Snap out of it!” Del took her sister by the shoulders, shaking her lightly. “Diana, focus. You’re wet, injured, and in shock. Let me help you. Tell me what I can do.”

  “Del?” Diana concentrated on her face, as if she were trying to leave her mind-fog behind. “Is that really you? Del! You’re in danger.” At least she sounded lucid now.

  “Theo?” Del asked grimly.

  Diana nodded. “Jude knows you’re here. He’s one of my Hunters. He gave me your coordinates. He said he hasn’t told Theo, but I have no idea what game Jude is playing. I can’t trust him. I can’t trust anyone in the pack.”

  “How did this Jude find us?” Del demanded.

  Diana gave a shrug. “Who knows? He’s a damn genius with computers. Satellite images, perhaps?”

  “We need to go. Now,” said Ash. He staggered to his feet.

  “Diana,” said Del. “Can you drive?”

  Ash looked horrified. “I’m not going anywhere with her. You’re not, either, Del. She was going to hand you over to Shade.”

  “Ash,” said Del, “you’re really sick. Let Diana get us out of here.” He wavered and she pressed the point. “If Theo and the pack get here, what do you think will happen? They’re not sentinels. They’re not bound by any blood oaths to uphold the Covenant. They won’t care if they kill you. Just like those witches didn’t care.”

  “Fine,” he said, reluctance warring with anger all over his face. “She can drive.”

  But Diana gave a tired smile. “It’s okay, angel boy. I’m not going with you. I’m a liability. Theo needs me dead. He’ll set the two of you aside if he has a chance to get to me first.”

  She turned to face Del. “Before you go, I thought of a way to keep you safe from Theo. But you’re not going to like it.” Diana glanced over at Ash, and there was fear in her eyes. She turned back to Del. “Listen, please? Hear me out. At the moment, you’re not really anything. You’re not human. But you’re not fully demon, either. And officially I’m still Mistress of the Hunt. So take the pledge. Swear fealty to the pack.”

  Ash stepped forward, menacing, although he swayed on his feet. “I knew it. She doesn’t want to help you, Del. She just wants what’s left of your soul. Don’t do it!”

  Del moved between them, a hand out to catch Ash before he did anything stupid. He took her hand, his fingers too warm.

  “That’s not a reasonable option, Diana,” she said, trying to act calm.

  “Think, sister,” Diana said. “
If they come for us, who will protect you? My life is forfeit. You are nothing to the pack. And your sentinel boy is a witness. Do you really think they’ll let him live? But if you pledge, as a pack member you have the right to a voice. You can stand up for him, make a formal protest.”

  Shit, Del thought. Diana had a point. She looked at Ash, his beautiful eyes shadowed, the bruise on his cheek a dark smudge against the sprinkling of freckles. “Diana’s right,” she said. Ash opened his mouth to protest, but Del interrupted before he could get started. “No! I can’t let them have you. If there’s a chance this might help, I have to take it. You risked your life for me in that basement. You were willing to give up everything. Now it’s my turn.” She turned to Diana. “What do I have to do?”

  “Del—” Ash’s voice broke. His sorrow surged, and this time Del let it come. She filled her heart with his essence, and she shared her own sadness too. He pulled her away from Diana and into his fever-hot arms. She tingled all over, the same feeling she’d had the first few times he’d touched her, and now she knew it wasn’t just some superficial attraction, but a deeper connection that took their mutual grief and wove it into something new, and bright, and true. She stood on tiptoe and dragged his head down toward her. She saw him close his eyes, and she closed her own as their lips met.

  For one perfect moment, everything around them stilled. The hiss of the camp lantern, Diana, the wind outside. Everywhere was silence and empty space. Everywhere but right there: the firm reality of Ash’s mouth on hers in a kiss that lasted an instant and always.

  She pulled away reluctantly, sinking back onto her heels. Turning away from Ash was the hardest thing she’d ever done. “I’m ready,” she said, and found her voice was shaking.

  Diana pushed her down into the supplicant’s pose. One leg bent at the knee, the other folded under her, just like she’d been taught. One hand on her heart, the other behind her back.

  Diana touched a hand to Del’s demon eye, covering it for an instant. “One part demon, blood of our Mother.” She touched Del’s other eye, her brown human eye. “One part human, body and vessel.”

  Next, Diana drew her own soul blade. She sliced her left hand with it, the hand that represented the mortal side of a half-demon. As the blood welled up, she took Del’s own left hand and sliced the palm, too. It wasn’t a deep cut, but Del flinched as the blade cut in, though she managed not to make a sound. The two clasped hands, blood trickling to the floor between them.

  “Repeat my words,” said Diana.

  Del copied the words Diana spoke. “I, Adeline Raven, pledge my fealty to the East Coast Hunt. I vow to follow my pack leader wherever the Hunting trail may lead, and to honor Shade Raven as my lawful Liege Lady.”

  Diana let go of Del’s hand. Using the mingled blood on her fingertips, she drew a line through Del’s demon eye, starting on her forehead, moving down over her eyelid, and ending on her cheek. “As Mistress of the East Coast Hunt, I accept your pledge of fealty.” Diana moved to Del’s left eye, marking her the same way. “I grant you membership to the pack.” Then she pressed her thumb to the center of Del’s forehead, at the spot that witches called the third eye. “To be sealed upon payment of your soulgild.”

  Then she took Del’s hand and drew her to her feet. With no warning, she plunged her soul blade into Del’s heart. Del gasped, pain tearing at her chest and rushing throughout her body like cold flame. Behind her, she heard Ash shout.

  Diana let her blade shimmer out inside of Del. The agony didn’t stop, but it grew sweeter, if agony can be called sweet. Colder, and sweeter, until it was so beautiful Del could hardly bear it. She felt Diana take her bloodied fingers and press them to her chest, right by her heart. When Diana drew Del’s hand away, Del felt something in the palm of her hand. She tightened her fingers, and the hilt of a gleaming sword formed within her grip.

  Together, sisters and now pack mates, Diana and Del drew the blade out. It flowed smoothly through Del’s skin and clothing, shining faintly, newly minted from Del’s own remaining sliver of mortal soul. There was no more pain, and Del knew there would be no scar. But she also knew that for the rest of her demon life she’d know exactly where to find her blade: right there within her beating heart.

  Diana leaned forward and kissed her on both cheeks. “Welcome, Huntress.”

  Del asked, “Is it done? Is it over?”

  Diana gave a small, sad smile. “Almost. Name your soulgild, and then it will be done.”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Diana

  Del looked up and away from her beautiful new sword. “What? I’m not killing anyone.”

  “You have to claim your soulgild. We have to make sure you are paid your due,” said Diana. “Otherwise this was all for nothing.”

  Del shook her head vehemently.

  Emily was waiting, her hand brushing up against the sentinel’s shoulder, although he seemed oblivious to her presence. It is time, Diana, said the phantom. Give her your soul willingly and spare her damnation.

  I know, Diana answered the phantom. She had known for a while what she must do. Out loud, she insisted. “One soul. That’s all you need. One soul, freely given. Mine.”

  “No, Diana. I’m not killing you!” Del backed away, cannoning into Ash, who wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Del opened her hand and the soul blade dropped, disappearing back inside her. “There has to be a different way.”

  “A willing sacrifice is not murder. You’ll still be an innocent.” Diana smiled. “I’m ready. You know I am. And she says it’s time.”

  “No way,” snapped Del. “I’m not killing you because some hallucination tells you I should.”

  Emily Deacon stood beside her son, staring accusingly at Diana, her ruined face and throat red and weeping blood. Beside her, ghostly faces materialized from the shadows.

  “You’re dead,” Diana told the ghosts, her voice rising, on the edge of hysteria. She could feel the edge, dangerously near. “I killed you all myself. And you,” —she pointed at Emily— “why won’t you stay dead?” She choked back tears. “For all the hells, Del, just do it already. I can’t take this any longer!”

  But someone else answered instead. “Yes, do it, Adeline. End her miserable life, and return with me.”

  Diana whirled around and saw Theo. He stood at the double doors, open to the storm that had died down to a mere shadow of itself.

  “Go on,” he said. “It’s perfect.” He held out one hand. “Two birds.” He opened his other hand. “One stone. Diana dies, and you, Adeline, I hand back to our Liege a newly made pack member. A glorious start to my rule as Master of the Hunt.”

  Diana drew her soul blade. Beside her, Del drew her own. Theo laughed. “Oh come on, now. One is wounded and delirious, the other barely knows how to fight. This is pathetic. Does the angel’s boy want to join in? Perhaps throw some rocks at me?”

  “I’m not killing Diana,” Del said firmly.

  “No?” Theo answered. “Very well, I guess I’ll have the pleasure of her death instead. You, my young sister, I’ll deal with in a while. Soon you’ll answer to me as your pack leader.” His blade whispered to life and he gave it an experimental sweep.

  Diana moved forward at an angle, drawing Theo’s eyes away from Del. “Leave the young ones and we’ll finish this now, Hunter to Huntress. Or are you afraid to face me?” she taunted, hoping to distract him. As she dropped into a combat stance, she mouthed Run to Del. She saw Ash grab Del’s hand and pull her out of the way, heading for the kitchen.

  She circled the cabin, holding her sword left-handed, ready to attack. She could fight with either hand, but it was going to be harder without her right. Theo mirrored her steps, pacing the floor with feline grace. At the corner of her eye, Emily’s form flickered, watching impassively.

  Theo shook his head. “You know, Diana, I have to admire your spirit. After all, by now you know your skill is inferior to mine. Yet you just won’t give up.”

  Keep him talking. Buy them t
ime. It was Emily’s voice, or her own. She no longer knew.

  “I’m curious, Theo,” she said. “How long have you been planning this?”

  He fell for the bait, preening visibly in the soft lamp-glow. “Over a year. As soon as I realized you were weakening. But a long time ago I saw the advantage in keeping my true fighting skills a secret.”

  “And no one suspected?” Diana was still circling the cabin, Theo keeping pace. Del and Ash had disappeared. She hoped she was buying them enough time.

  “My sparring partner, evidently. He’s not much of a challenge, but he does know how to keep a secret. And he doesn’t mind being beaten.” Theo chuckled, enjoying himself. “Good thing demons heal fast!”

  Sparring partner? The only other demon living near Theo in Brooklyn was Jude. That sly bastard! Didn’t mind being beaten? Diana was willing to bet Jude was playing all sides of this game. Fucking geniuses and their secret agendas.

  “So. Jude. Another one I’ll have to deal with after I finish you off,” she said, putting as much arrogance into her voice as she could.

  Theo laughed again. “Oh, Diana. What a shame for the pack to lose you. I could have used a jester.” His smile faded. “Enough talk. Let’s end this.”

  As Diana paced the cabin, she had been edging closer and closer to the double glass doors that stood open thanks to Theo. She was now exactly where she wanted to be. “Second time’s the charm,” she muttered, and stepped out onto the deck, vaulting the railing and hitting the wet ground at a run.

  She couldn’t help a gasp of pain as she landed, side still raw from the beating in the sparring arena. Before Theo could catch up, she had melted into the trees and stopped in the shadows, silent as a wraith and almost invisible in the dark. The drizzle masked her scent and sounds, and dulled the slight gleam from her sword. She tightened her grip on the rain-slick hilt of her soul blade and waited.