Fire In The Darkness (Darkness Series #2)

by Stacey Marie Brown

  Nodding, we all started to move deeper into the forest. My head turned to see my mother standing there, agony written on her features. “Mom, come on. Let’s go.” I gripped her arm hard, tugging her to follow me.

  “I am not leaving Mark here.” Mom shook her head, trying to fight against my pull. I was stronger, but her resolved determination made it hard for me to gain any real ground.

  “You think I want to?” I shot back as I rushed her along. “He is my dad and the main reason I came here, but Jared’s right. What kind of help will we be to him if we're dead or locked in jail?”

  “Ember, you don’t understand. He shouldn’t even be here. This is my fault. I should have known from the start I was putting his life in danger. But I was selfish and wouldn’t give him up.”

  I had always blamed myself for Mark’s situation. I now understood something I hadn't thought about before . . . . “Do you think if Mark knew the outcome, it would have stopped him? He loved . . . loves you more than life itself. He would have chosen this. He would never give us up, no matter the outcome and we will do everything we can to get him back. He wouldn’t want us to be martyrs. He’d want us to fight.”

  Mom’s resilience faded away. “Damn, you’ve grown up into an amazing person. Mark did an exceptional job, not that you weren’t already incredible. I always knew how lucky I was to have you.”

  “Let's save the family bonding for later, okay?” My gaze drifted over her shoulder. It was pure torture for both of us to leave Mark.

  When the Queen’s soldiers shouted behind us, we ran toward Kennedy and Jared. The dark shielded us as we all slipped farther into the dense forest.

  “This way, my lady,” Simmons called, zipping through trees. We followed behind, trying to keep up with his rapid pace. Adrenaline propelled my body forward. Glancing behind, I saw Jared had fallen back. He stuck close to Kennedy, his arm wrapped around her, helping her keep up with our inhuman speed.

  An object zipped by my head. “I made enough noise so they think we went to the other door. We need to hurry. They will come through here soon.” Cal called out. Relief fluttered in my chest, but it was too soon to relax.

  “Here is the door, my lady. Hurry, let’s get you through before they figure out which way we went.” Simmons stopped at a disturbance of air. This time I could see the portal clearly; I had finally let go and accepted what I was—every part of me, including the Dark Dweller part.

  Turning, I waited for Jared and Kennedy to catch up. “GO!” I waved them on. Without hesitation, Jared clung tighter to Kennedy and took her through the space, vanishing.

  “You go first. I need a moment,” I said to Mom as I nodded up at the pixies.

  “Make the moment fast,” Mom directed her gaze to Cal and Simmons. “Thank you. I am forever in your debt.”

  I determined from their deep sighs that Cal and Simmons took this as a big deal. “You are most welcome,” Simmons replied.

  Mom gave me a quick smile. “See you on the other side.” And then she was gone.

  Hesitating, I stared up at Cal and Simmons.

  “What are you waiting for? Go.” Cal motioned towards the entry.

  “I just want to say thank you also . . .” There was so much I wanted to say. “You risked so much . . . I-I don’t know . . .” Words weren’t coming to my brain.

  “My lady, it was our honor.” Simmons gave a slight bow. “Now, do not take this wrong, but please get out of here so it won’t all be for naught.”

  “I still owe you those kisses, Cal.”

  “And juniper juice,” he added.

  “Of course.” Smiling, I gave them a nod then disappeared through the wavering space.

  The exit plunked me into Earth’s realm. I blinked a few times from the bright sunlight. Jumping from night into day was a bit unsettling. Looking around I realized this was the spot I had been before. It was the same place the Queen had brought me to destroy Seattle. High up in the Olympia National Park, Seattle loomed far in the distance. Squinting, I walked up next to Kennedy, Jared, and Mom as they stared at the city below. My eyes took in the landscape below, but my mind would not accept it.

  The ruins of Seattle were gone. The skyline was dominated with newly erected pristine metal. The hazy sun glimmered off the new buildings as new construction soared up into the sky. Modern high-rises clustered together in the heart of the city, thinning out as the circle spread out. The Seattle landmark, the Needle, was gone, but cranes filled the space, bringing up beams of steel. Rebuilding.

  Disbelief resonated deep in my core, keeping me immobile. When I left, Seattle had just restored the electricity and was beginning to clear out the rubble. Now the city stood before me, reconstructed. Looking over at Kennedy and Jared, they shared the same astonished expression.

  “What the hell?” Jared looked back at the city in awe.

  Kennedy looked even more dumbfounded. She was shaking her head back and forth, not accepting the reality sprouting in front of us. “I-I don’t understand. This can’t be possible.”

  “Clearly it is possible.” A deep voice rumbled behind us. We all jumped, whipping around, assuming defensive stances, ready to fight the threat hiding in the forest. But my blood sizzled through my veins with a familiarity I knew could only come from the nearness of one person.

  Eli’s figure stepped out of the shadows.

  Air ripped through my lungs as I tried to suck in a breath. His head was shaven. His jaw was lined with stubble. The scar across his face seemed more defined. It all added up to make him look even more dangerous and threatening. Circles darkened the bags beneath his eyes, making him look like someone walking the high wire of instability. He was still so ruggedly beautiful and hot my stomach and heart fluttered harshly within. Uncomfortable with the notion he could evoke such a dramatic response from me, I looked away. Despite all the lies and the betrayal, my body still desired him beyond reason.

  Only days earlier we had lain together under the stars. My desire now was involuntary because it went against everything my head was telling me. I knew they hadn't killed my mother so why would Lorcan tell me they did? What kind of sick joke was it? Though Eli hadn’t murdered my mother, I was still leery of him. Besides the new look, there was something about him that was hostile and foreboding. Something had changed. I recoiled back, feeling the ominous, dark mood emanating from him.

  Jared’s reaction to him was the opposite of mine. “Eli!” His face broke out with a huge, giddy grin as he ran to Eli who took him into a brief hug.

  “Good to see you, J.” His voice held little emotion. This was the normal way he acted towards outsiders, but to Jared . . . Something was definitely wrong.

  Eli’s eyes took in the group then snapped onto the woman next to me, nodding in acknowledgment. “Lily.”

  “Elighan,” she responded with the same guarded reproach.

  “You guys know each other?”

  A strange smirk crossed Eli’s lips. “We go way back, huh?”

  “That we do.” My mom held her ground, but I could see her trembling. Whether it was out of fear or anger I couldn’t tell. The pure abhorrence they held for each other was evident.

  “Of course you do.” Aversion filled my tone. “Why would you lie to me? Why would you and Lorcan say you killed my mother when you didn’t? Why would you do that?”

  Eli stepped closer, his fists clenched, his muscles tight. “I never actually said I did. You said I did. But, if you really want the truth—”

  “Ember, this is not the time or place for this,” Mom interrupted, stepping between us. Her eyes glared viciously at Eli.

  Kennedy stood staring at the new construction unaware of our little tiff. “How—how is this possible?”

  Eli’s fingers went up to his shaved head, absently running through his nonexistent hair, a habit he hadn’t seemed to break even without hair. “A lot of things can get done in time.”

  “In time? I’ve only been gone for a couple of weeks,” she said.
r />   An icy smile tugged at Eli’s lips. There was something wild and unhinged about him, which made me not trust him. “Maybe in the Otherworld, but remember time is not the same there as it is here on Earth.”

  Taking another look over her shoulder, she looked at the resurrected city. “So, what are you saying? How long have I been gone?”

  “I’m saying you have been gone for more than a few weeks.” A dark smile thinned Eli’s lips, addressing Jared and Kennedy. “It has been over four years now.” He then looked at me. “You have been gone almost three.”

  “What?” All except my mother exclaimed in unison. We struggled to understand his words. Jared had been raised knowing about the time difference between realms, but experiencing it was different. It was very surreal. What felt like a day or so to me was really three years. Three years of my life had gone by without me.

  “A lot has taken place while you guys were away.” Eli leaned up against a tree, looking directly at me. “I couldn’t feel you. I couldn't sense you at all. So I figured you were either dead or had done something exceedingly stupid. Seems it was the latter.” His fuming, volatile anger was barely concealed beneath the surface. “But I am not the only thing you should be worried about, Ember. Since your disappearance, you are number one on the Unseelie King’s most wanted list.”

  Oh shit! Kind of figured that one was coming. Is there a list I’m not on?

  I turned to look down on the city, which once had turned into rubble by my hand. This time I knew it had simply been a warm-up to the real battle that was coming. This time it would be more than a mere city in the path of the destruction.

  Between the Light and Dark there was me—the Fire. Either I would light the way or burn it to ash.

  No pressure . . . .

  Thank you to all my readers. Your opinion really matters to me and helps others decide if they want to purchase my book. If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving an honest review on the site where you purchased it. Thank you!

  Want to find out about my next release in the Darkness Series? Sign up on my website and keep updated on the latest news! www.staceymariebrown.com

  Darkness of Light

  Darkness Series Book #3

  Coming in Spring 2014

  Some days feel like years, but in Ember Brycin’s case just the opposite is true. She had only been in the Otherworld for a day or two when she escaped with her mom, Kennedy, and Jared to the Earth realm. But it is three years later on Earth. Em would be 22 now. If she was a human, but she’s not. She is a Dae, part Demon and part Fay, with a little Dark Dweller thrown in to make her even more of a freak.

  Seeing Seattle rebuilt only confirms she has been gone three years. For her it was not long ago that the Seattle area was just rubble of concrete and death. All done by her hand.

  One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is her undeniable connection to Eli Dragen, who is sexy, gorgeous, and even more frustrating. But her problems go way past him. The Seelie Queen of the Otherworld still holds Mark, Em’s father, and her friends, Ryan, and Josh as hostages. Em needs to rescue them without, once again, getting caught and being used as a pawn to help the Queen regain possession of Earth. At the same time Lars, the Unseelie King, reminds Em she is bound to him and has to locate the Sword of Light to fulfill the prophesy and kill the Queen.

  Now that Ember knows her mother is alive, so many things begin to make sense; but so many other things are even more confusing. To make things worse, everyone is harboring secrets. Lily continues to keep the truth from Em which puts a strain on both of them. As Eli’s past is revealed, Em understands more clearly why he acts like he does and how much their lives are intertwined. But she also knows Eli is holding something back, something that could change their relationship forever. Em herself continues to wrestle with her feelings toward Torin and her own secret she’s withholding from Kennedy.

  As the tension for war mounts between the Seelie and Unseelie (Light and Dark), the tension at the Dark Dweller’s compound mounts even more as they prepare to obtain the sword no matter what the price. But is Ember the answer to the location of the sword? Is she the one to fulfill the prophecy? As usual nothing is ever what it seems.

  Acknowledgments

  First I would like to thank all the fans that have loved Darkness Of Light and supported me so heartily. You have made my dreams come true. I hope you will continue to love these books and characters as much as I do.

  Again, to my Mom. This book would not be where it is without you. My spelling may not have improved, but your eye has gotten sharper. There are still not enough thank yous in the world to repay you. I love you more than words could ever say.

  To S.M. Boyce; Linne, “L”; and Colleen for being my beta readers. You girls are amazing! Your input and advice has helped make my story even better! I am so thankful to have you in my life.

  To Jordan Rosenfeld. I bow down to you. Thank you for all the hours you put in to help shape my book. You rock lady! I knew as soon as I met you that we would work well together.

  To Clare and Dave, at Woulds & Shoulds, for your development help and design. You two are wonderful! Dave, another gorgeous cover. Thank you! Your talent and patience is astounding.

  To S.M. Boyce, Jen McConnel, Jessie Peacock, Christie Rich, Nancy Straight, Amanda DeWees. My tribe! Meeting you girls at UtopYACon has changed my life. Love you all so much!

  A special thank you to Amy and Celeste at The Book Hookup. Your support and love (of at least Eli) makes me tear up. I am so happy to have met you. #WeLoveEliForever! Also Rachel and Jamie at the Rockstar Book Tours you two are Awesome!

  As always a big thank you to my family. You are my rock. For all my friends around the world, don’t think you’re in the clear! Your story will be told someday. I love and miss you all so much.

  Glossary

  A ghra: Gaelic for “my love."

  Bitseach: Gaelic for "bitch."

  Brownies: Small, hardworking Faeries who inhabit houses and barns. They are rarely seen and would do cleaning and housework at night.

  Ciach ort: Irish for “dammit" or "damn you.”

  Cinaed/meaning “born of fire.”

  Dae: Beings having both pure Fairy and Demon blood. Their powers and physical features represent both parentages. The offspring of Fairies and Demons are extremely powerful. They are feared and considered abominations, being killed at birth for centuries by the Seelie Queen.

  Damnú ort: Irish for “damn you.”

  Dark Dweller: Free-lance mercenaries of the Otherworld. The only group in the Otherworld that is neither under the Seelie Queen nor the Unseelie King command. They were exiled to Earth by the Queen.

  Demon: A broad term for a group of powerful and usually malevolent beings. They live off human life forces, gained by sex, debauchery, corruption, greed, dreams, energy, and death. They live on earth taking on animal or human form, their shell being the best weapon to seduce or gain their prey.

  Draoidh: Another term for "Druid."

  Drochrath air: Gaelic for "Damn it" or "Damn you."

  Druid: Important figures in ancient Celtic Ireland. They held positions of advisors, judges, and teachers. They can be both male and female and are magicians and seers who have the power to manipulate time, space, and matter. They are the only humans able to live in the Otherworld and can live for centuries.

  Fae: A broad group of magical beings who originated in the Earth Realm and migrated to the Otherworld when human wars started to take their land. They can be both sweet and playful or scary and dangerous. All Fae possess the gifts of glamour (power of illusion), and some have the ability to shape shift.

  Fairy (Fay): A selective and elite group of Fae. The noble pureblooded Fairies who stand as the ruling court known as the Seelie of Tuatha de Danann. They are of human stature and can be confused for human if it wasn’t for their unnatural beauty. One weakness is iron as it is poisonous to the Fay/Fae and may kill them if there is too much in their system. Also see “Fae” a
bove.

  Gabh suas ort fhéin: Gaelic slang for "Go f*ck yourself."

  Glamour: Illusion cast by the Fae to camouflage, divert, or change appearance.

  Gnome: Small humanlike creatures that live underground. Gnomes consist of a number of different types: Forest Gnomes, Garden Gnomes, and House Gnomes. They are territorial and mischievous and don’t particularly like humans.

  Goblins: Short, ugly creatures. They can be very ill-tempered and grumpy. They are greedy and are attracted to coins and shiny objects. Will take whatever you set down.

  Incubus: Male. Seduces humans, absorbing their life force through sex.

  Incantation: An incantation or enchantment is a charm or spell created using words.

  Kelpie: A water spirit of Scottish folklore, typically taking the form of a horse, reputed to delight in the drowning of travelers.

  Mac an donais: Gaelic, for "damn it," literally meaning "son of the downturn"

  Mo chroi: Gaelic for "my love."

  Mo chuisle: Gaelic for "my pulse."

  Mo chuisle mo chroi: Irish phrase of endearment meaning “pulse of my heart.” Can also mean “my love” or “my darling."

  Mo shiorghra: Gaelic for my "eternal love."

  Ni ceart go cur le cheile: Gaelic for "There is no strength without unity."

  Ninjuitsu, pankration, or bataireacht: Forms of martial arts. Bataireacht is Irish stick fighting.

  Otherworld: Another realm outside of the Earth realm where the Fae inhabit.

  Páiste gréine: Gaelic for "child born out of wedlock."

  Pixies: These six-inched Fairies are mischievous creatures that enjoy playing practical jokes. They are fierce and loyal and have a high “allergy” to juniper juice.

  Pooka/Phooka/Phouka: Irish for goblin. They are shape changers that usually take on the appearance of a goat.

  Pyrokinesis: The ability to set objects or people on fire through the concentration of psychic power.

  Seelie: The “Light” court of the Tuatha De Danaan meaning "blessed." This court consists of all the noble (pure) Fairies and Fae. They have powers that can be used for good or bad, but are thought of as more principled as the Unseelie. However, “light” does not necessarily mean “good.”