Obsidian (The Horsemen Chronicles Book 2)

by D. C. Gambel

  I glanced behind me but no longer saw the incubus. Pausing, I searched for him even opening up my ears to listen for any sound, but heard nothing. When I righted myself forward, Shane had vanished to, a familiar man taking his place.

  “Not again,” I mumbled staring at my father. Did hell have any other means to torture me?

  “Genevieve,” he sighed taking in my bound hands. When he approached I stepped back keeping the space between us. “We don’t have a lot of time, Genny. Let me help you.”

  I shook my head. “You’re not real,” I stated. I wanted to look elsewhere, anywhere but at the illusion of my father, but he appeared so real, older than he was when I last saw him, almost as if he had aged in the amount of time since his death.

  “Genny, I know that Hell has toyed with you before, but this is real and I am here. Now please let me help you before the wielder of the Blade of Sin returns. The mists will not hold him long.” Faster than I could blink my eyes, my father was in front of me. When his fingers grasped my shoulders, I gasped at his solid form.

  “Are you a demon?” I demanded remembering Asher taking on Cam’s form to toy with me.

  “I’m much more than that.” He quickly untied my hands. “Listen to me. I cannot interfere here. Destiny is playing out and I can do nothing but observe. The ferryman has already warned you. The demon you travel with is more than he appears. He is the true wielder of the Blade of Sin. Whatever you do, do not let him touch you with it.”

  “Why? What do you mean?”

  “I’m sorry. I can’t explain more. I love you, Genevieve. I never wanted to leave you, but you were coming into your destiny and I would have only hindered that. I’ll do my best to prevent this realm from tormenting you further. You’ve suffered enough at its hands.

  “You’re horsemen are near. Your Sodales is drawn to you even now. Hold off from opening the third dimension until he’s there. It’s the only way. No matter what.” With his words still ringing in the air, my father vanished shimmering from existence. I brought my hands forward, rubbing my wrist, seeing that he had in fact untied me.

  Shane stepped out of the fog grabbing my wrist. “What did you see? How are you untied?”

  I shook my head in too much shock to comprehend what had just occurred. Shane rolled his midnight eyes believing Hell had toyed with my mind. Had it? This didn’t feel like the torture I had endured upon my last visit. If anything, seeing my father this time had left me hopeful. Cam was coming for me and I just had to hold out until he appeared.

  Dom never reappeared and Shane didn’t seemed inclined to search for him. He rebound my hands making the vision—for lack of a better term—appear to have never happened. Had the mists played with my mind? Seeing my father felt real in a way that I hadn’t anticipated from Hell. My last visit I was left shaken by his appearance. Now I clung to his words filled with hope that I would get through this.

  The familiar cave appeared up ahead.

  “Hell remind you of your past crimes?” I asked seeing the demon shaken. For the first time since I met him, his confident exterior was cracked. I wondered what the mists had shown him.

  “Something like that.”

  Shane gestured for me to enter the cave first. He seemed hesitant to lead the way. I understood. The last time I was here, the cave had split me from my group taking us each to some place different in hope of us loosing ourselves to Hell’s version of what we desired.

  Shane gripped my elbow shoving me through first but kept a firm hold on me. I tensed waiting to be ripped away and thrown elsewhere, but instead blackness swarmed around me while Shane’s grip held firm.

  “Evie?” A voice whispered so low that I almost thought I imagined it.

  “Cam?” I called out. I wanted to apologize for how I had treated him, for believing that he could hurt me in an unforgivable way, but instead I held my breath praying this wasn’t a trick.

  “I’m coming for you.”

  “I know. Hurry.”

  “For you baby, always.”

  Light assaulted my eyes. I glanced around realizing that Shane was beside me. I was confused we were all still together, that hell hadn’t used the opportunity to toy with us. Had my father been truthful? How was that possible when he’d only been a figment of the mists?

  “You say something?” Shane asked, but I quickly shook my head. If he hadn’t heard Cam, I certainly wasn’t informing him about the horsemen’s rescue attempt.

  Shane seemed just as dumbfounded as I was, as he glanced around taking in the second entrance of the second circle. Hell didn’t just let you slip through without trouble. I didn’t know what the demons I traveled with had faced when we first were separated, but I knew Hell had seized the opportunity then, so why not now?

  Shane shook off his confusion and drug me forward. Nothing about this place was familiar. When I had come through here during my first visit, I had been under the impression that I was mortal with a normal life. My illusion had made me see the woods where I had spent the night with Cam while we waited out the moon and the werewolves who had been hunting me. To this day, I didn’t know why they had tried so desperately to die at my hand. We’d assumed it was for a seal, but never saw the reaction of a seal breaking.

  “Where to?” Shane asked as we stood at a fork in the caverns. They seemed to illuminate in an unnatural way making them appear as bright as the sun.

  “I’m not sure,” I stated honestly. With the way Shane gripped my arm tighter, I didn’t think he believed me. “I wasn’t in my right mind when I came through here the first time.” I stared between the two paths when I felt something tug at me from the right. Cam. I didn’t know how, but I was positive that was where he was. I turned to start down the path towards my soul mate when Shane yanked me down the other path. “What are you doing?” I spat at the demon standing between me and my soul mate.

  “You really think I trust you? If anything you’ve proven your lack of dependability. If you want to go down that path then it must mean that this,” he gestured to the opposite path, “is the correct way. You’re not getting out of helping me, Evie. You don’t have a choice. You do, however, have a choice in how. Because understand this, I will hurt you and anyone you love to get what I desire.”

  Gritting my teeth, I said nothing as Shane tugged me down the wrong path. My heart ached as we moved further and further away from Cam. I longed for him, not just for him and the others to help rescue me, but this was the longest we’d been apart since I moved into the house. The more prolonged his absence was, the emptier I began to feel. I doubted I would feel whole again until I found myself in his embrace and apologized to him for what I had thought he was capable of.

  I gasped suddenly feeling the pull to him amplify. We were gaining proximity instead of losing it. Cam was on the move.

  After a few more paces we stepped out into a familiar cave. I desperately tugged against Shane’s grip on my arm. The remnants of the battle that had been forged there were long gone, but the memories of what had occurred assaulted me. Blood and death bombarded me reminding me of all I almost lost here. Why had Shane brought me back?

  “See,” Shane smirked gripping me tighter feeling my struggle to get free not of just him but this place that haunted me. “I knew you were trying to lead me astray. You don’t get to be as old as I am without learning how to read people. And you, Evie, wear your intent on your face.”

  There were several pathways that lead to the cave. Glancing at one, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that the horsemen were hiding in wait for their opportunity to step in. Once Shane was distracted attempting to fulfill his plans, was the best opportunity. The odds were in their favor, but they wouldn’t risk me as a hostage.

  “Why are we here?” I demanded as Shane drug me over to a pile of stone.

  “I thought that it was obvious by now,” he replied shoving me down onto the rocks. They bit into my hip as I attempted to brace for the impact without the use of my hands. “There’s someone
in the third dimension I wish to release.”

  “Yes, you’ve mentioned that,” I hissed through the pain. I didn’t want him to know that he’d hurt me, but the smug smile that fell on his face told me he wasn’t oblivious. “But you’ve lied about who so as I see it, your lack of honesty cancels out our deal.”

  “Does it?” he cocked his head to the side studying me. He took several steps away from me seeming unconcerned that I might take off. “You see, I never said who I wished to release, only that they were dear to me. And the one I wish is just that. But incase you need more incentive.” He nodded towards one of the tunnels. I could here scuffling just before my heart sank. Surely this was an illusion. Hell was playing tricks.

  “Charlie?” I called out watching my best friend be drug in behind Chad. I had been under the impression the Thor demon had never made it to Hell. How had Charlie ended up here? Had she followed the horsemen when she learned of my kidnapping. Surely not. She knew better. This world was not meant for her.

  “Caught her the same time as you,” Shane declared relishing my distress. “Little spitfire tried to attack us when she saw us taking you. Now you have a reason to help.”

  “What? I don’t…” Before I could finish, Chad shoved Charlie over the threshold of one of the caverns. I didn’t understand what it meant until she righted herself and attempted to cross the threshold only to be met with an invisible barrier keeping her trapped in the tunnel. “What have you done?”

  “Giving you an incentive. Open the third dimension. Save your friend. Allow me to get my friend out too.”

  I shook my head. I had tried so hard to keep Charlie safe from the chaos that was my life. I moved out to keep her safe. I withheld information for the same reason and now after everything, I was the reason she was trapped in Hell. Dom was right. Shane had been playing a game and he’d done it better than I had. There was no choice for me. I had to save Charlie. Without my association in her life, she wouldn’t be here. “I don’t even know how.”

  “Not a problem—” Shane grinned pretentiously. He knew he won. “—because I do.”

  Dom arrived half an hour later. The incubus appeared to have been put through the ringer a few times over. I didn’t know what Hell had done to him or how he escaped with no one to pull him back, nor did I ask. I stood close to the barrier where Charlie was held talking with her while Shane and Chad determined the next step.

  “I’m sorry, Rogue.”

  “No, I’m the one who should be sorry, Char. My presence in your life is the reason you’re here. I knew when I discovered the truth about who I was, that I should have cut all tie then, but I was selfish and now you’re trapped in hell.”

  “Whatever you do, Evie, don’t help him.” I knew she was serious then. She never called me by my name.

  “Charlie, how can you ask me that? If I don’t help, you’ll be trapped here forever.”

  “And that is my decision. Something about this whole thing feel ominous. He’s not telling you the whole story. But if you help him, I think I’m dead anyways and in exchange you’ll be doing something that will affect more than just us, but everyone.”

  “Ready?” Shane called out drawing my attention away from my best friend.

  “I’m sorry, Charlie.” I announced before turning towards Shane. Even if she was right, if there was only a hint of possibility to save her, I had to take.

  Moving into the center of the cavern where the demons stood, Dom placed his hands on my upper arms holding me in place as Chad drew a circle around us with what appeared to be black salt. Shane stood off to the side observing us, all the while muttering inaudible words. When the two ends connected, the salt ring flickered shooting up around us like a cylinder. Then just as quickly, Dom released me jumping out of the circle. When I moved towards the ring at my feet, the invisible wall briefly shimmered then fell away. I’d been caged in.

  Shane stepped forward smirking. One day I was going to knock that smile off his face. Holding a strange looking knife in his hand, I was stunned when the barrier didn’t prevent him from reaching me.

  “Arm,” he demanded.

  “Why?” Shane had pressed me into a theoretical corner. He had Charlie and I had to get her out which meant I had to participate, but I’d be damned if I was going to make the situation easier for him.

  With a huff, he tried to lunge for me, but it seemed only the hand holding the blade was able to enter the ring. “Only your blood will work,” he spat angrily. “Now unless you want your friend to spend eternity down here, I suggest you give me your arm.”

  I glanced at Charlie over Shane’s shoulder. Her arms were wrapped around her body like she was trying to warm herself. She shook her head. I didn’t know if she could hear the conversation or if she was sticking to her guns about doing nothing to help Shane.

  Dejected, I hesitantly offered him my arm. With hooded eyes, his gaze focused on my horsehead birthmark that marked me as one of the horsemen. “This will probably be unpleasant for you.” I wanted to ask why, but Shane was staring greedily at my arm like it was made of gold.

  “He is the true wielder of the Blade of Sin. Whatever you do, do not let him touch you with it.” The words my father spoke rang heavily in my head. To late I realized the blade Shane held was the Blade of Sin.

  “Wait!” But my words fell on deaf ears. Shane drug the blade across my skin barely grazing it, but the edge of the knife seemed to grip on each particular of my skin it came in contact with ripping it apart. An ear-piercing scream tore through the cave filling up the cavern where we stood. It was so loud that the others, including Charlie, dropped to their knees covering their ears for protection against the shrill noise. It took me a moment to realize the sound was coming from me. The pain the blade caused was excruciating. I didn’t understand how one cut could create so much agony.

  Shane released me and I fell to the floor. His grip had been the only thing keeping me upright. I writhed clutching my arm to my chest, but caught sight of him dripping the blood from the knife into a bowl. He muttered a curse then glanced back at me cravingly, but even in my agonizing state, I had the mindset to scoot away from the barrier.

  He glanced around the cell that held me almost as if he was debating the best way to get to me when enlightenment flashed across his face.

  With a sadistic smile he reached into his inner jacket pocket withdrawing a vial of crimson. It took me a moment in my hazy state to realize it was blood. Wondering who’s was on the tip of my tongue, but Shane saw my curiosity and answered. “The blade didn’t take enough of your blood to complete the spell. I hate giving up this little gem, but it’ll be worth it.”

  “Who’s?” I breathed but it came out more like a groan.

  His smirk this time almost made him look inhuman with how heartless it was. “Yours, of course.” Squatting down so he was as close to eyelevel with me as I laid on the floor he took in my confusion. I didn’t know how he had gotten my blood. At the beach house I’d barely slept after my outing. How then? “Did you really think there was another cursed with your power? I had to find a way to connect with you. I knew using my masculine allure would be a fail with you’re stuck on War’s dick.” I blanched at his crudeness. “It was your power, Evie, that killed all those people. Your scent lingered on every body. Even if it was just a whisper, it was enough for the wolves to pick up on. They might not be as blindly vindictive as I lead you to believe.”

  “How?”

  “You really should be more careful when you’re unconscious. A sharp punch to your jaw and you were at my disposal. With Chad distracting the wolf, I was able to extract your blood and use it to test my theory. Three wolves killed in on fail swoop with nothing more than I drop of your blood. Now that same blood will open the door to the third dimension.”

  I opened my mouth to protest or perhaps demand more answers. My blood had killed all those people. The wolves had been justified in their demand for my head. My scent lingered on those bodies. I believed Shane
when he said they were vindictive, but they hadn’t been unjust.

  Chad appear behind Shane with a duffle bag in hand. With a nod from the demon that had been the mastermind behind everything that occurred the past few months, the Thor demon turned and approached the alter.

  “Don’t worry, Evie,” Shane spoke drawing my attention back to him. “I’ll keep my word and bring your friend back. It’s the least I can do after what you’re giving me.”

  He stood following after Chad who’d begun lifting contents from the bag. They were clear Tupperware containers, but there inner contents had me practically gagging. One I could clearly see held a heart. Were these ingredients? I prayed they weren’t the demons lunch.

  “They’re from each of his kills,” a voice whispered. Turning to the side, I noticed Dom had made his way to me. With his chin he gestured my sight forward. “The heart of a werewolf. Blood of a virgin.” Flashes of the human girl I found raced into my mind. “Pheromone gland from an incubus.” I remembered hearing about the incubus’ death, but after Dom’s mention of him there were a few other parts I didn’t know where they came from until he mention the final item. “Hair of a bride to be.”

  “Emily’s cousin? He did kill her,” I spat.

  “Of course he did. You think that was the one thing he was honest about?” he spat annoyed by my ignorance.

  “Dom?” Shane called out summoning the demon away.

  I glanced around wondering where the horsemen were. It wasn’t until I actively started searching for them that I realized I could no longer feel the bond tugging me to Cam. Was something wrong? Had something happened? I just had to hope that it was the magical cage that held me that blocked the connection.

  The two demons at Shane’s side took several steps away giving their fellow demon room to work. He began opening the containers pouring their contents into the bowl that houses my stolen blood. Walking in a slow circle around his alter as he grabbed each container, his mouth moved but no words reached me.