Forever Wicked (Castle of Dark Dreams)

by Nina Bangs

  Music? Where? There. In the corner. A bunch of the enemy danced in a circle while Murmur’s music mesmerized them. They’d dance till they died. Having the demon of music on your side had its perks.

  Then he lost himself to the battle with Zendig again. No more time to look around, no more time to breathe. And his blood kept flowing.

  Ganymede grew weaker. Was that darkness falling or his end nearing? He tried to dig deep, to find that well of strength he’d never needed during his long existence. Maybe there was no freaking well of anything but defeat. He wiped sweat from his forehead and tried to focus on Zendig, but his vision kept blurring.

  As if from a distance, he saw Zendig thrust a glowing ball of energy the size of a basketball at him. Ganymede reached for something to counter it and came up empty. The power hit him in the chest. He fell, and wondered in a half-conscious sort of way if the damn thing had gone straight through him. Would he walk around from now on with a giant hole people could see through? He would’ve laughed, but it hurt too much. Get up. You have to get the fuck up.

  Then someone stepped over him to stand facing Zendig. Someone with a short skirt and boots with bloody toes. Sparkle.

  “Leave my man alone, jerk-wad.”

  Zendig sort of swayed back and forth, but it didn’t stop his sneer. “You going to make me?” He laughed. “Won’t ever happen. No mere woman can stop me. Now move aside so I can finish him off, then kill Bourne. After that I can leave this benighted planet forever.”

  Ganymede allowed himself a drunken-sounding chuckle even as he winced. That was the wrong tone to take with Sparkle Stardust.

  She rose into the air and hovered there. Her hair floated around her, tipped with flickering tongues of flame. She spoke. “Everyone who fights for Zendig should go out to the courtyard. Now. The gargoyles are waiting to have incredible sex with you.” Her voice had a deeper quality to it, and it kind of echoed in the hall.

  Ganymede almost laughed. Not funny. Must be too much blood loss. At least she hadn’t sent them out to a bunch of rose bushes.

  She began to hum. And as the melody to “Light My Fire” rippled across the room, Zendig’s people fought to get out of the great hall first to begin the orgy. When all of his fighters had deserted him, she stopped humming then drifted to the floor.

  Zendig raged. “When did you learn to do that, bitch?”

  Zendig glowed with his building power. It exploded from him in a wall of sound that almost deafened Ganymede. He only had time for a silent cry of “No!” before the force of the attack flung Sparkle across the room. She lay in a crumpled heap in front of the fireplace.

  Something terrible crawled into Ganymede’s heart. Fear. Terror like he’d never known. She’d be okay. He had to believe that or give up right now. Slowly, agonizingly, he dragged himself to his feet. He locked his knees, trying to keep his legs from collapsing under him. One. More. Shot. That’s all he had in him. Had to finish it now.

  Suddenly, he felt a hand on his right shoulder followed almost instantly by one on his left. He turned his head to stare. Holgarth’s hand rested on him along with Zane’s. And as he gazed, disbelieving, all the troublemakers and demons in the hall formed a chain, each clasping the shoulder of the one beside him. The vampires—Thorn, Eric, Donna, and Dacian—appeared in the hall. Sundown. When the hell did Dacian get home? They joined the chain.

  Holgarth spoke. “We’re here to lend you strength. You’ve always said this was your fight. It’s not. We’ll do this together. Finish him.”

  Ganymede stared at Zendig. His enemy seemed puzzled for a moment, but that didn’t stop him from gathering his power for one last blast.

  Zendig sneered. “You think a bunch of you getting all touchy-feely will make a difference? I made you,” he roared. “I have more power than all of you combined. I’ll turn this Castle into ashes. Then I’ll find and crush the real Bourne wherever he’s hiding his sorry, cowardly body. After that, I’ll track down those people in their bus and destroy them before they can carry their story home.” He laughed and it gathered steam to become a mad guffaw. “You’re a loser.” He swept his arms wide to encompass the entire hall. “All of you, you hear me? Losers.”

  Ganymede countered with, “But you didn’t get Bourne, did you? So that makes you the loser.”

  That stopped Zendig’s laughter.

  Strength flowed into Ganymede, thick and molten, filling him with power. He drew it to him, forging it into a wall of justice for all those who had suffered at Zendig’s hands. But most of all, he dedicated this to Sparkle Stardust.

  He let loose with a concentrated burst of energy that could have destroyed half the planet if he’d chosen to do so. Beyond the flash and boom that brought Ganymede to his knees, beyond the screams from those lending him their strength, beyond Zendig’s cry of disbelief that death had finally found him, Ganymede watched his maker disintegrate into millions of pieces of bloody flesh.

  He dropped his head. It was over.

  Ganymede spoke to no one. His supply of energy drained, he staggered to where Sparkle lay, fell to his knees, and gathered her into his arms. He rested his cheek against her chest. And waited. And hoped. And promised things he could never deliver to any deity with the power to save her.

  Without warning, a portal opened in the middle of the great hall. Bourne, holding Momo and Tuna, strode into the room. He looked around. “What did I miss?”

  32

  He was close. Sparkle didn’t remember his name, but she knew him, would always know him. All she had to do was open her eyes, reach out… But her eyes were glued shut, her arms wouldn’t move, and besides, it was perfect right here. No worries, no painful memories, with the assurance that she’d find amazing things if she’d only move toward the welcoming light in the distance, away from him.

  Then one memory wiggled past her growing euphoria. A castle in the long ago, a bunch of people rushing outside to have sex with some rose bushes, and a table. She tried to smile, but her lips didn’t work either. She’d almost forgotten his incredible promise. She would make glorious love on another table, in another castle, in another time, with him.

  With Ganymede. The name stopped her slow drift toward the light. She couldn’t leave him behind. Mede. He owed her. She turned away from the light. She opened her eyes.

  He knelt on the floor, holding her against his chest as he rocked back and forth, back and forth. She gazed into his eyes. She wouldn’t mention their wet shine or how he kept blinking fast. Mede didn’t cry. Ever. So Sparkle would keep his secret. But she’d know deep inside that he did, for her. She hugged the knowledge close.

  Sparkle felt the thud of his heart ease, the tremble of his hands gripping her fade. He drew in a deep breath. “I love you. And never scare me like that again.”

  “I love you, too.” Wow, her voice was all weak and hoarse. What had Zendig done to her? She wiggled her toes and fingers, moved her arms and legs a little. Everything seemed okay. Then she lifted her head away from his chest to glance around and winced. Blood, bodies, but no Zendig. Where was he? She closed her eyes for a moment. Ugh, her head felt as though a thousand elves were pounding out shoes inside it.

  Mede answered her unspoken question. “Dead.”

  She raised one brow. “You?”

  “Us.” He hooked his thumb to the back of the hall.

  Troublemakers along with all those others who had helped them mingled there, speaking quietly.

  “Together?” She found it tough to believe. He’d been determined to kill Zendig single-handedly.

  “Yeah. They formed a chain, connected it to me, and fired me up with their powers.” He glanced away. “I guess John Donne was right with his ‘No man is an island’ crap. Told him to his face back then that I didn’t believe it. I would be just fine with me, myself, and I.” He met her gaze. “I was wrong. I needed them. I need you.”

  The moment stretched between them, and she lived in the glory of that short space of time when the world was absolut
ely perfect.

  It ended when she realized someone was touching her arm. She turned her head and came face to face with a woman kneeling beside her. Dark hair, brown eyes, sweet smile, and a yellow top. Wrong color for her skin tone. There was something familiar about…

  Then Sparkle remembered. “Ella. Healer.”

  Ella’s smile widened. “That’s what you hired me for.”

  Sparkle frowned. “Why’re you working on me? I’m fine. Just a bump on the head. Lots of other people need your help.”

  Ella shook her head. “Not just a bump on the head. You almost died.”

  Died? Horrified, she remembered that light, and… She almost freaking died! Frantically, she looked around. Had anyone else she knew drifted past her on their way to the light? Mother? Father? No, they’d died thousands of years ago. Brother?

  Wait. How did she know they’d both died?

  Brother? Suddenly, a bomb seemed to go off in her head. She. Remembered. Everything. Mede held her tightly as she shook. A high keening cry escaped her. “Denalm. Where’s Denalm?” She twisted in Mede’s arms searching, searching for her twin. “Help me up.”

  Then she saw him, shoving people out of the way to reach her. Mede stood, pulling her to her feet with him. Denalm, no Mistral, wrapped his arms around her. “It’s okay, sis. It’s okay.”

  “No, it’s not.” Tears slid down her face. “I remember. Zendig killed Mom and Dad. Afterwards, he found us hiding in the closet. There was blood. He dragged us through their blood on the way out.” She paused to catch her breath, to rub tears from her eyes. “He trained us, made us forget. When I was ready, he tried to send me through the portal alone. He said he had to work on you a little longer.”

  “He tried.” Mistral ran a soothing hand down her back. “Wasn’t going to let him separate us. He’d taken all my memories, but he couldn’t break that one connection.”

  “Why didn’t I know? Why didn’t I recognize you?” Sparkle’s knees buckled, and Mistral eased her to the floor. He sat beside her. Without thinking, she reached for Mede’s hand and he was there, his grip warm and calming. Safe.

  “Don’t beat yourself up, sis. I think you felt the connection, but I annoyed you so much you pushed it aside.” He grinned. “Guess I don’t blame you.”

  Her gaze never left Mistral’s face. “You grabbed my hand, tried to hold me back.” Her voice broke. “The pull of the portal was too strong, though. It took both of us.”

  Mistral looked as shattered as she felt. “The portal scrambled whatever brain cells Zendig had left me. When I came out the other side I didn’t see anyone or anything. I was running on instinct, and instinct told me to get the hell out of there.” He dropped his head. “I’ve regretted that all these years. Things would’ve been different if—”

  Sparkle reached over to touch his face. “Don’t.” She tried on a teary smile. “I refuse to allow the past to hurt us ever again.” Time to pull on her big-girl panties. “We’re the only family we have. I won’t allow us to drift apart again.”

  He nodded and then looked up as Amaya moved to stand over him. She gave him a hand up. Mistral smiled at her, and Sparkle didn’t miss the emotion in that smile. Maybe she’d have a sister-in-law to add to the family soon.

  Mede leaned close. “Think you can stand?”

  She nodded, and he lifted her. Sparkle took a tentative step. “Did you get all of your memories back?”

  He nodded. “Everyone got theirs back when Zendig died.” Mede smiled. “I’m an only child. One of me was all my parents could handle. Oh, and Dad is fine. He’s back talking to the other troublemakers, trying to make this a bit easier for them.”

  She nodded. “Can you take care of the bodies?” Sparkle was afraid to ask about the owners of those bodies, but Mede understood.

  “Some of the troublemakers died. None of our friends. Not that it makes it any easier. Dad will take them back to Effix. The enemies who survived fled. Edge and some of the others will follow to make sure they don’t get a chance to threaten anyone on this planet. And I’ll send the remains of Zendig’s people to someplace far away.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “You haven’t noticed, but someone has come home.”

  “What?” She turned to meet Bourne’s gaze. Ky was with him. The prince held Momo and Tuna in his arms. Sparkle could see the open portal through the hole in the wall. No raging army or anyone else was in sight. Good thing. She couldn’t survive one more minute of death or dying.

  Bourne and Ky approached. Bourne looked stricken.

  “I should’ve been here. I’m so sorry.”

  Sparkle was ready to lay some major guilt on him, but stopped before she could say something snarky. The healing wouldn’t begin until the anger ended. She nodded. “You didn’t know. We managed without you. What happened after the portal closed?”

  Bourne’s lips tightened. “I gave the king and his army a royal beat down so he’d understand that he needed to avoid Earth in the future.” He glanced at Ky. “The people were a little upset with the performance of their king and threatened a revolution. The king abdicated his throne. It belongs to Ky if he wants to return.”

  Ky remained silent for a short time before shaking his head. “I don’t belong there anymore. This is my home now. My brother will make a good king.”

  She wondered if his desire to stay had anything to do with Blue who was busy rounding up her bizarre collection of animals.

  Bourne nodded before turning to the portal. He closed it and then excused himself so he could talk to the other defenders of the Castle.

  Mede put his arm around Sparkle’s waist and tucked her against his side. “Let’s go upstairs for a while. You need to rest after your injury.”

  Sparkle didn’t fight him. She thanked Ella for her healing and then waited while Mede sent Zendig’s dead on their last journey. She watched as Holgarth organized people. Fine, so she would make sure to appreciate the wizard’s people-managing skills from now on. At the moment, she didn’t think she could organize her purse.

  Once back in their suite, she’d planned to have a long soul-searching talk with Mede about their plans for the future. But he was on the phone with Holgarth, and she was too tired to care about his conversation with the wizard.

  Would he want to go back to his home on Effix? No, not home. This was home. Or what about his time travel business? Would he run off without her? Fear touched her, but she shoved it away. It was only her exhaustion weakening her belief in what they shared, had shared for millennia.

  Drained by the battle and her doubts about what was to come, she just had enough strength to strip off her bloody clothes, take a quick shower, and crawl into bed. A short time later, he joined her after taking his own shower.

  Mede turned on his side to face her. She lay on her back staring at the dark ceiling. Sparkle didn’t need the distraction of that gorgeous, bare chest. Besides, there were times when eye to eye contact could be scary. The ceiling had no face, no words to destroy dreams. “So, what did Holgarth have to say?” Coward. Putting off tough discussions didn’t solve anything.

  “All of the newbies have decided they like Earth and want to stay here. Everyone except for Ky can return to Effix to visit their families on holidays. I’m sure Blue will make sure Ky doesn’t get left out. Mistral, Amaya, and Zane are heading back to the pink house in Cape May with them. It was the kids’ first home on this planet, and they miss it. But they need someone to teach them about this world and about how to be cosmic troublemakers. Because even though Zendig’s gone, they still have the troublemaker instincts he gave them. Those aren’t going away. The newbies have to learn how to control their powers and survive in the human world.”

  Sparkle turned her head to look at him. “That’s a great idea.” She frowned. “I never gave Jerry his new name.”

  Mede laughed. “Yeah, about that name. Jerry said to forget it. He’ll choose his own awesome name. The kid will be winner if he doesn’t go rogue.” His laughter faded. �
�So what’s the matter? You have that crease between your eyes that says something’s wrong.”

  Sparkle had thought about how to approach the subject: casually circling it, lulling him into a false sense of security before sliding the question into their conversation. “What about your business? Will you be leaving for the future?” So much for circling and lulling.

  Mede was silent for a moment that dragged into at least three years. She grew gray during the timespan. Then he beckoned her to him.

  “Come here. How can I have a serious discussion with you way across that wide sea?”

  Against her better judgement, Sparkle rolled onto her side and shimmied closer. With just a tiny effort, she could reach out to glide her hand over that hard jaw, slide her fingers over those sensual lips, and draw him to her for a long, drugging kiss. She resisted. “Well, will you?”

  “You know, Holgarth told me something interesting.”

  Uh-oh. She braced herself.

  “He said you’d told him to draw up the papers making him a partner in Live the Fantasy just in case he was left to run it alone. That’s a pretty expensive giveaway.” Mede raised one brow signaling that the ball was in her court.

  Sparkle lifted her chin, signaling her willingness to go to battle on this. “Holgarth has worked hard for this place. He deserves a reward.” She took a deep breath before continuing. “Besides, as I told Eric not so long ago, love is always expensive.”

  Silence filled the space between them. Shadows hid his expression. She refused to look away. “If you leave, I’m going with you. The Castle of Dark Dreams is only the second love of my life.”

  Could he hear her heart pounding, sense all of her dreams teetering on the edge? Would his decision tip her into the abyss?

  He made an impatient sound and then drew her to him. She rested her head against his chest, listened to the steady beat of his heart, and absorbed the heat of him that had given her comfort through so many years. She wouldn’t lose him.