The Book of Eden

by Alex Temples

  “We’re going to have to use magic here.” Neil interjected, cutting Nia off.

  “We should avoid magic. It draws too much attention.” Tristan argued.

  Neil grimaced and glanced around at the tourists milling around room. “It can’t be helped. We can use a memory spell on the lot of them. Eirian is quite skilled in that department.”

  Eirian turned with a slight frown. “If I must.”

  I examined the two of them, looking to Tristan for guidance.

  Tristan stared at me for a long moment before tilting his head in concession. “I think they’re right. We need some time with the stones, and beyond time, we will likely need to use magic or do something else that mortal eyes cannot be allowed to observe.”

  It was my turn to grimace. “What does the memory spell do?”

  Eirian considered me with sharp green eyes, looking amused. He stepped closer, his voice low. “It is a seduction, Brinmar. I seduce people into remembering whatever I want them to.”

  My lip curled at his closeness, and the tone in his voice, remembering the kiss we’d shared. He was a predator, pure and simple. Eirian always looked as if he were hunting something. I took a step back and met his gaze.

  “What are the effects on mortals? Is it damaging?”

  Siddarth stepped forward, sensing my distress. His hand landed on my shoulder and I felt a sense of calm overwhelm me. The healer’s powers, I thought immediately, knowing Siddarth was trying to help in the only way he knew how.

  “It’s not a damaging spell, Brin. It isn’t even a dark spell in and of itself, so long as it’s not used for devious purposes.” He added, glancing at Eirian.

  Eirian flashed us a devilish smile. “I promise not to do anything devious.” He said, winking at me.

  I rolled my eyes, turning to Neil and Nia.

  “Fine. Use the memory spell. How much time will it buy us?”

  Nia and Neil glanced at each other. She replied.

  “As much time as we need, really, but it’s best to keep a memory spell confined to less than three hours, to avoid long term memory loss.” She frowned slightly at the thought.

  I nodded.

  “Alright. Three-hour limit. Did you catch that, Eirian?” I asked, shooting a glance in his direction.

  He nodded silently, his expression full of amusement.

  Silence descended upon our group. I glanced over the new keepers, noting their quiet observation. “Is everyone okay with the plan?”

  They all turned to me and nodded. I felt reassured by their display of confidence in my abilities.

  They think I know what I’m doing. God help us all.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  “When the sun sets, we must walk along the lines.” I said.

  My voice echoed across the darkening field. All thirteen of us stood in the middle of a grassy plain, dotted with towering stones. They were incredibly odd in their arrangement, perfectly aligned, standing like soldiers on a battlefield, unmoving guardians to a time long past.

  “The shadows of each stone will line up with one another. It is during this time the ancients believed a Neolithic gateway to the afterlife opened. One who is worthy will be allowed to enter.” Tristan called out.

  “What does that mean? That not all of us will be allowed in?”

  It was Esma who spoke, her small voice carrying across the vacant space.

  Tristan shrugged. “We don’t know what parameters the stones seek out, or who will be allowed in. We must all be prepared to fall through a portal. Once you’re inside the portal, your only objective is to seek out the sword and the spear, at any cost.”

  Silence again.

  “We’ll do whatever we have to.” Nia said, stepping next to Tristan.

  The rest of the group nodded. We glanced at one another, seeking strength. We were in this together. Rise or fall, at least it would be together.

  We spread out among the stones. I shivered as the sun began to set. The shadows cast by the tall, grey rocks narrowed, until, at last, all the black shadows were set in one direction. The air took on an electric quality, and I began to hear a buzz I was certain wasn’t there before.

  On Nia’s order, we all began walking along the stones, our fingers grazing over the ancient rock. Nia started chanting in Edenese.

  We repeated her words, our chanting drowning out the daylight that remained and calling up the echoes of the past. We marched to a steady beat, moving together, and singing the ancient words, all the while, willing the stones to reveal their secrets to us.

  There was a shout in the distance. I turned around to see dark shapes moving in from the fringes of the field. The dark fae had come for us.

  Placing my hand on the nearest stone, I ran my fingers over an inscription and shuddered when a bolt of electricity entered me. All of a sudden, I was plunged into darkness.

  I felt myself being carried away. A distant roaring, and a flash of light brought me to again. I found myself in a foggy field, many degrees colder than where I’d stood not a moment ago.

  “Brin!”

  An urgent voice called for me in the distance, but I knew it was too far to touch me. The cries of my friends, under attack by the dark fae, faded into the distance, and a sick feeling filled me.

  Glancing around, I saw I was in the very same field. It was the same, yet different. The stones stood in identical locations. This place felt newer, untarnished yet by the incidents that would take place here. I took a step forward into the thick, soupy fog, and ran smack into one of the stones.

  “What the-” I grunted, my hand going to my forehead, which had taken the unfortunate brunt of my run-in with the rock. There was nothing I could do for my friends now, other than find the sword and the spear.

  I shook the fogginess off and walked into the clouds.

  “Brin? Are you here?”

  I turned, confusion overwhelming my senses.

  “Who is it?” I called out.

  It couldn’t be.

  “Brin.” The voice called again and I shook my head, knowing the fog was playing tricks on me.

  I backed away from the voice and ran into the clouds, my hands in front of me, where they could protect me from future encounters with rocks. Suddenly, the fog vanished. I emerged in a wide-open clearing. Across the clearing on the far side, stood a towering Menhir, a single standing stone.

  I heard noise behind me, as if someone were wrestling. The sound was enough spark me to actoin. I took off in a dead sprint, intent on getting to the stone. It had to hold the secret to finding the artifacts. My lungs burned, my muscles protested, but I kept running, feeling as if someone or something were right on my heels, ready to take me down if I were to stop.

  The air crackled with electricity. I pushed myself harder, gritting my teeth in determination, and then my foot hit a rock and I went soaring.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  “Brinmar. We meet again.” The dark voice filled the open space. I winced, more at the sound of his voice, than the shooting pain in my knees and palms.

  Ignoring the pain, I gritted my teeth and sprung into a crouch, pulling on years of martial arts experience, as I spun to face my opponent.

  Evrei stood in the clearing, dark and imposing, his charming blue eyes and wide smile so like Aiden’s I had to look away.

  “Evrei.”

  “I really wish you’d consider my proposal again.” He replied, taking a step closer to me.

  I was only a few steps away from the towering stone, and despite my distaste at appearing intimidated by him, I too took a step back, moving a few inches closer to the objects we both desired so badly.

  “I don’t make deals with men like you.” I sneered, lifting my chin to glance down my nose at him.

  He chuckled, a rumbling sound deep in his chest. I caught a flash of movement over his left shoulder.

  “Pity that. It would save us both so much trouble.”

  He moved as if to step closer and I backed toward the stone, d
rawing my sword as I did.

  Suddenly, in a rush of crimson, Aiden sprung from the shadows.

  Evrei turned his back on me to face his son.

  I froze, trying to understand why Aiden was here, wanting badly to go to him. Instead, I glanced back at the stone, knowing my first duty was to locate the sword and spear.

  The grunts of battle filled the air, swords clanging loudly across the clearing. The two men circled one another, light on their toes, moving as if they’d been born to the blade. The air was heavy, smelling of moisture and ozone. The fog thickened, tightening around us like a blanket.

  I moved slowly backward, almost tripping on another rock as I did. This caught Aiden’s attention and his eyes shot to mine.

  They were intense, burning into my core. He gave an almost imperceptible nod of his head and I knew he meant for me to go for the weapons while Evrei was distracted.

  Forcing my gaze away, I spun on my heel and ran towards the menhir. This time when the portal took me, I was ready. It swallowed me whole, and for a moment all was black. When I opened my eyes, I was in a cave.

  It was narrow and tall. Stalactites hung from the high ceiling, their jagged edges glistening in the light of the single candle resting on the altar toward the back of the cave. It flickered with magic, highlighting the object behind it and casting a long low shadow across the back wall. Lugh’s Spear.

  My breath caught in my throat as I stared at the object in awe. It shimmered, alive with the glow of magic. I took a step towards it, moving slowly. The object commanded reverence. As I neared it, the tip of the spear sparkled as if hit by the sun’s rays. It illuminated the walls around us. I gasped at the site of dozens of runes covering the walls of the cave.

  “Don’t touch it.” Aiden called from behind me.

  I sucked in a breath, and looked over my shoulder to find him bleeding from the shoulder, limping down the aisle.

  I threw him an inquisitive look, a million questions running through my mind, not the least of which was what the hell he was doing here. He’d appeared and then vanished, seemingly uninvolved in the hunt for the four treasures and the battle against the dark fae.

  I knew I’d been wrong. He was up to something, following his own plan as usual. Anger flooded through me and I was about to tell him exactly what I thought, but he shook his head.

  “My father will be here any moment. There isn’t time, Brin.” His blue eyes were full of regret and a hint of apology.

  I just shook my head, drawing in a breath and focusing on the spear.

  “Why can’t I touch it?” I asked, gazing longingly at the shimmering spear.

  “You must release the rune locks first.” He answered, moving further into the cave until he was directly behind me. My body tingled at his nearness, every nerve coming to blazing life at once. We’d made love in a cave once. We’d discovered a great treasure then too, also protected by runes. I shivered at the memory, knowing he could read my thoughts.

  And then he was in my head. I remember. His voice coated me like honey, slipping into my mind with ease. Blood ran like fire through my veins as I let him in.

  What now?

  You must do as you did last time, though these runes are greedy and will demand blood.

  More blood magic. Fantastic. I felt like I was running out of the stuff these days. I moved to pull my sword, positioning it over my wrist, but Aiden’s hand went around my forearm, gripping firmly.

  No. Not you. You’ve bled enough.

  I turned to look at him then, my eyes wide, stinging with the threat of tears. I gazed into his eyes, and was shocked at what I found there. It wasn’t his pain that surprised me. I’d known he fled because of the pain over finding out who his father was. It was the anger that shocked me.

  I’m not angry with you, Brin. You haven’t had a choice. You were dragged into this mess. He paused and I felt his thoughts, the shape of them, a roiling of emotions before he settled on one. Regret.

  I’m sorry I dragged you into this world you cannot escape. I thought I was doing the right thing, but I was ignorant then. I’m not now. Deep black pupils penetrated mine and without warning he clutched the hilt of my sword and moved it swiftly across his forearm.

  I gasped as blood welled up, but I didn’t have time to react. He moved to the rune wall and ran his arms across the carved shapes. Blood trickled into the crevices, filling the letters, and as Aiden’s blood flowed into them, they began to glow.

  “She is your mate.” A deep voice rumbled, full of understanding.

  Aiden and I spun as one to see Evrei standing at the mouth of the cave, staring between us in wonder.

  Aiden extended his good arm and pushed me behind him, lifting his chin and taking a step towards his father in challenge.

  “She is.” His voice was sturdy, defiant, full of the threat of violence. Every muscle in his body was tensed to spring forward at the slightest provocation.

  Not for the first time, I saw how utterly frightening a fae could be in full glamour. I swallowed and watched the two men faceoff.

  Evrei gave me a considering glance, his ruggedly handsome face filled with some emotion I couldn’t recognize. He turned back to his son, silently.

  “Do you know how rare it is to find your true mate?”

  I frowned at the odd question.

  Aiden also looked surprised, his eyes narrowing at Evrei, even as he backed us closer to the spear.

  “I do.”

  Evrei lifted an eyebrow. “No. I don’t think you do.” He said.

  Aiden frowned again and I heard him in my mind. Read the runes, Brin. My blood has activated them. You need only read them.

  I stilled behind Aiden, waiting until he said something to his father before turning towards the runes. Under my breath I began to chant the glowing crimson words on the wall. By the time Evrei realized what I was doing, I’d finished the last word. There was a pulse of light, and a wave of power knocked us all to the ground.

  Dazed, I shook my head, struggling to a sitting position. Evrei had been thrown toward the left wall. Aiden was standing, lifting the spear out of its’ cradle. He slid it into his belt and turned towards me.

  “Come on, Brin! Hurry!”

  I leapt to my feet and ran towards him. We bolted for the exit with Evrei close on our heels. Touching the dolmen together, we both dropped into darkness. Once again, we found ourselves in the misty field with the giant Menhir.

  Aiden helped me up. We clutched each other’s hands as we sprinted across the field. I felt more than heard Evrei come through the portal behind us. I willed my feet to go faster. I was slowing Aiden down.

  Just yards away, the portal through which we entered loomed. It was just barely glowing and I frowned.

  “Faster! The portal is closing, Brin!”

  Fear shot through me and I found and extra burst of speed.

  My breath was ragged as we hit the portal together and with a sucking noise, it drew us in, spitting us out in the middle of a raging battle.

  Chapter Forty

  I was surrounded by the sound of hoofbeats and war cries as I clamored to my feet in confusion, searching for Aiden. He had drawn the spear and brought his arm back in an arc, impaling a dark fae on a grey Percheron. The sword plunged into the man’s chest, and there was a flash of light as it claimed him.

  I recoiled from the scene and felt others around me freeze where they stood. Everyone turned to look at Aiden, who wielded one of the deadliest weapons known to fae.

  He stood in the middle of the field near one of the larger stones, his feet spread in a wide stance as he yanked the spear out of the body and threw his shoulders back, glancing around the field with a look of challenge. I hadn’t seen Evrei exit the portal stone and wondered briefly if he’d been trapped as it closed.

  The fighting paused as both sides turned towards Aiden, understanding he held the key to victory, but not knowing whose side he fought on. We were a portrait, frozen in time, locked in a battle scene. Th
en, I moved. I took two steps, moving over the body of the dark fae Aiden had just felled. I stood by Aiden’s side.

  He turned to me, and my eyes widened at the way he appeared to glow along with the sword. Hesitantly, I moved forward and reached for his arm.

  “I cannot stay, Brin.” He said, breaking the trance with his words.

  My mouth gaped open.

  “Why not?” I hissed back, quiet enough that only those nearest us could hear.

  Aiden shook his head. “Not here.”

  He reached out and his fingers grazed over my cheek. They twisted in the hair at the back of my head and he pulled me into a kiss. Hungry lips claimed mine. It was a harsh kiss, full of passion, and anger, and something unnamed. When he pulled back, we stared into each other’s eyes for a moment. Once again, I saw regret. I wanted to understand what the hell was going on, but I knew he wouldn’t tell me. Then, Aiden pulled me into a hug and I felt his hot breath in my ear.

  “The power of Nuada has been with you all along, my love. You need only ask it to help you.” He said, his voice smooth and silky. He kissed my cheek before whirling away and leaping onto the prancing Grey Percheron that had been relieved of his rider.

  I stood still, confusion overwhelming me as I tried to make sense of his words. Leave it to Aiden to be cryptic.

  Dust billowed in the air and I began coughing. The sound of hoofbeats and men’s feet pounding the packed soil echoed off the stones as darkness finally claimed us. Whatever spell had befallen the battle field was broken as Aiden rode away.

  Suddenly, the field sprung to life again, but instead of turning back to battle, the dark fae fled in the opposite direction from which Aiden had ridden. As they disappeared in the distance, my people began to surround me.

  We were broken and bleeding, but all alive. We did not have the spear, but neither did the dark ones, and that was good enough for me. The only question now, was why the sword hadn’t been with the spear. It was the last treasure and could mean the difference between success and failure.