Beautiful Darkness: Masie (Daughters of Highland Darkness Book 1)

by Victoria Zak

  “Here.” Masie touched her stomach.

  The healer pressed her hands across Masie’s belly and mumbled words Kerr couldn’t understand. He turned to his brother. “What is she saying?”

  “I dinnae know.” Bhaltair covered his mouth and leaned close to Kerr. “The auld woman is as daft as a drunken fool.”

  “I heard that.” The healer glanced at the brothers. “I’m still spry enough to bend ye two over my knee and beat the disrespect out of ye.” She glanced at Masie. “I’ve known these two eejits since they were wee bairns.”

  Masie lifted her head. “What ails me?” She clutched her stomach.

  “Little bird.” Kerr rushed to her. “Ye must lay back. Rest.”

  The healer leaned over Masie. “Breathe out, lass.” She sniffed her breath. “No sign of poison.”

  “Then what’s wrong?” Kerr asked.

  The auld woman straightened with a grunt. “I can no’ feel anything in her belly.” She scratched her wrinkled chin in thought. “No fever. No poison.”

  “So, what do we do?” Kerr pressed her.

  Reaching into her cloak, the healer pulled a black stone from her pocket. “Put this under her pillow. It will absorb the demon afflicting her.”

  “Masie does no’ need any magic,” Bhaltair shouted at the woman.

  “I’m afraid ’tis all I can do. In the meantime, I’ll give the lass something to ease the pain.” The woman walked over to a bench in front of the hearth and sat down. Kerr watched her mix some kind of leaves and wine into a bowl. Again, the woman mumbled as she smashed and stirred.

  Kerr felt as helpless as a wee bairn. There had to be a way to help Masie, but how? How was he to help her when he didn’t know what ailed her? He sat down next to her on the bed and held her hand.

  “If I dinnae know any better, I’d think the auld crabbit was a witch,” Bhaltair spat.

  Witch. That’s it, Ina’s spell! She was suffering from the potion and there was one person who could cure her, Ina. “Masie.” He caressed her cheek. “I think I know who can help ye. I’ll be right back.”

  Masie nodded.

  “Bhaltair,” he called out to his brother. “Stay here with Masie. Do no’ leave this room until I return.”

  “Aye. But where are ye going?”

  “I know who’s behind this.” Kerr leapt from the bed and strode to the door. There was no time to waste. He didn’t know how long Masie could keep fighting. Before his brother could ask any more questions, Kerr made his way to the dungeon.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Someone was approaching Ina with a torch. She huddled close to the wall, hoping if she pressed hard enough the wall would swallow her up. She knew it was only a matter of time until the man sitting across from her made his move. He’d been eyeing her ever since Kerr locked her up. The swine had been licking his lips, undressing her with his one eye.

  “Ina,” a man called out.

  “Kerr?”

  Chains rattled against the stone floor as she stood. She shuffled into the light. At first she was relieved it was Kerr, but she knew this couldn’t be a friendly visit. She had to pay for the wicked deed she’d done.

  “Are ye here to kill me?” her voice shook.

  “I should be.” Kerr stood before her with a grim expression. “Masie is suffering from yer spell.”

  “Masie?” Ina’s brows creased. “Ye told me she was dead.”

  “She’s no’ dead. ’Tis beside the point. Yer spell has caused her much pain and now ye are going to fix it.” Kerr approached her. “As God as my witness, if she dies, ye’ll never see the light of day again.”

  “Aye. Take me to her. I can help.”

  Kerr removed her shackles. “Ye better pray Masie is still alive.” Grabbing her by the wrist, he escorted her from the dungeon.

  *

  Another wave of stabbing pain ripped through Masie’s stomach. This time it was more intense, unlike anything she’d ever experienced before. It felt like someone was stabbing her, then setting her insides on fire. Water running down her face pulled her out of the confusing daze. She opened her eyes to Bhaltair squeezing water from a cloth onto her forehead.

  “Och lass, ye had another pain. Here, take this.” He handed her a bowl of foul-smelling liquid.

  “What is it?”

  “’Tis for the pain.”

  Masie drank the mixture, gagging. “’Tis awful.”

  “I know, but it will ease the pain. At least for a while.”

  Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she looked around the room. “Where’s Kerr?”

  “He wouldn’t tell me, but he said he’ll be back with help.”

  The pain finally dulled and she could rest. Each spell left her weak. Bhaltair pulled the furs over her. “Ye knew all along.”

  Bhaltair paused. “About what?”

  “Who I am or should I say, what I am.”

  “I had suspicions.” He winked.

  “’Tis no’ like ye see one of my kind every day. How did ye know?”

  “Remember the day on the battlefield?”

  “Aye.”

  “I remember ye saying to me it was no’ my time to go. Ye brought me back from death. I felt the strength of yer blood flowing through me.” He took her hand in his. “I dinnae know exactly what ye were, but I knew it was unlike anything human.”

  “Ye weren’t scared?”

  “Nay. I knew ye were special, Masie. Ye have the gift of healing. There is no shame in that.” He smiled. “Before ye came along, Kerr was headed down a path of destruction. He was an empty vessel and ye breathed life into him. He loves ye verra much.”

  Masie grinned. “And I love him.” Masie squeezed his hand. “Thank ye for yer kindness.”

  “Nay, Masie, thank ye.” He kissed her hand. “And welcome to the family.”

  The chamber door flung open. Karr and Ina entered the room. Masie froze. “What is she doing here?”

  Kerr strode to her bedside. “She’s here to undo the spell.”

  “The spell? Ye think the pains are from Ina’s spell?”

  “Aye. It must be. There’s nothing else causing it.”

  “Kerr, I dinnae trust her, nor do I want her touching me,” Masie exclaimed.

  As Ina approached her, Masie gathered the furs around her and scooted to the far side of the bed.

  “Please,” Ina said. “I’m sorry for what I’ve done. Let me help ye.”

  Masie looked at Kerr and he nodded. “She knows the stakes. She won’t hurt ye.”

  Masie looked at Bhaltair. He nodded. “I trust my brother. If he says Ina won’t hurt ye, then she won’t.”

  Regardless of what her husband and Bhaltair thought of Ina, she didn’t trust her, but she had no other choice. If Ina caused her aliment, the witch had to break the spell. “Fine.” Masie pinned Ina with a dark glare. “If this is some kind of trickery, I’ll rip yer heart out.”

  Kerr stepped between the lassies. “Masie, there will be no need for that. Right, Ina?”

  Ina didn’t respond.

  Kerr spoke louder. “Right, Ina?”

  “Aye,” Ina agreed. “Masie, lay back and remove the furs. Where are ye feeling the pain?”

  Masie did as she was asked, then rubbed her hand across her stomach. “Here.”

  Ina stood over her, placing her hands an inch from her stomach. Masie watched as she closed her eyes and whispered in a language she didn’t know. Damn witches.

  Ina moved her hands back and forth Was the spell reversible? There was too many question fluttering around in her head. She couldn’t keep quiet any longer. “Ina, what do ye see?”

  “Shh,” Ina whispered.

  Masie exhaled and looked up at the ceiling.

  Ina’s eyes flew open.

  “What?” Masie asked with concern. “Tell me.”

  Ina stepped back from the bed, clearly shaken.

  “Ina, please, tell me,” Masie pleaded.

  Ina wrung her hands together. “�
��Tis fairy magic. Dark Unseelie magic.”

  Masie gripped her stomach. “What do ye mean?’

  “My spell is gone. The fae are calling ye home.”

  “It can no’ be.” But it was, the pain she felt was the same pain she’d experienced ten winters ago when the queen stopped her from running to her mother. She’d never forgotten it. Dread filled her heart. She’d thought she’d escaped the queen for good. As long as she resided in the human world, she and her sisters were supposed to be safe from the queen.

  “Is there a way to block it?” Kerr asked.

  “There is. But—”

  “What?” Kerr interrupted.

  “I know a spell that can cloud the magic, but not entirely. Fae magic is strong, especially from an Unseelie.”

  “Then ye must go now and do whatever witches do to conjure a spell.” Masie heard the dubious tone in his voice.

  Kerr was trying to understand it all. Witches, fae, and now he was married to a blood-drinker. Aye it could drive a rational man to madness.

  “I’ll go with Ina and make sure there’s no trickery.” Bhaltair glared at Ina.

  “Thank ye, brother.”

  Bhaltair and Ina left the bedchamber.

  Masie felt Kerr’s gaze on her. She felt guilty for bringing such darkness upon him and his clan. Queen Galanthus Snowdrop was as twisted as a blackthorn’s roots, destroying everything for her own gain. Powerful beyond measure, the dark court was a force one didn’t disrupt.

  A memory flashed.

  She was back in the fae world and it was her sixteenth birthday. Queen Snowdrop invited the whole realm to celebrate. At least that was what she believed. Nothing, not even her sisters could have prepared or protected her from what had been planned.

  The eve started perfectly when she entered the great hall in her black shimmering gown. The hall was filled with faes dressed for a ball. A group of five men played soft, beautiful music as the crowd formed two lines, separating the men from women.

  A man with black hair tied in a tail at the nape of his neck stepped in front of her and bowed, offering her a dance. Masie remembered how flattered and nervous she had been as he took her hand and lead her to the middle of the room. He presented her to the queen’s royal court like a prized possession. Masie searched the throng for Adaira and Leana.

  As they reached the end of the dance, they separated into two rows facing each other. A new song began. This time, the tempo quickened and the dance began.

  The music stopped and everyone bowed to her as they backed into the shadows, leaving her standing alone in the middle of the hall. She franticly whipped around, wondering what had just happened.

  The sound of applause forced her to focus on the front of the hall. The queen sat in a blackthorn throne on a dais, dressed in black, clapping her hands. Flanked by three fae princes who were tall and regal. Behind the queen stood Adaira and Leana, staring at Masie.

  The queen motioned to her guards. Before Masie knew what was happening, the five bards were thrown on their knees before her. The queen walked over.

  “My dear sweet, Masie. Isn’t she the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen?” she asked the crowd.

  Her subjects agreed.

  “Mother, I dinnae understand. Why are these men on their knees in front of me?” Masie whispered.

  The queen cupped Masie’s face causing her to shiver. “It’s time you become one of us. You want to be just like Adaira and Leana, don’t you?”

  “Masie, nay!” she heard Adaira cry out from the dais. “Ye dinnae have to do it.”

  She looked to her sisters. One of the fae princes dragged Adaira away.

  “What are ye going to do with her?”

  “Never mind her. Today is yer day. Today yer human side is laid to rest and ye become the Baobhan sith.” The queen walked over to one of the musicians and yanked him up by the hair. The man soiled himself and urine dripped down his leg and formed a puddle on the floor.

  “Please, dinnae hurt him,” Masie begged. “He’s done nothing wrong.”

  “Oh, my sweet,” the queen chuckled. “This human isn’t here to be punished—he’s your feast.”

  Masie hated her, but couldn’t look away.

  “You have reached the age where you’ll finish the final stage of becoming a blood-drinker. Once you feed, your human side will die.” She raised her hand and five silver sharp-as-a-dagger nails shined in the candlelight. With one swoop, the queen slashed the man’s neck. Blood poured from his body. “It’s in your blood, Masie. Drink.”

  Masie shook her head. Was this what her sisters were protecting her from? The irony smell of blood heightened her senses, sending a shooting pain up her jaw as her fangs descended. She held her hand over her mouth, fighting the urge to bite the man.

  “Don’t fight it. It will only make the pain worse,” the queen warned and released the man on the floor.

  Masie ran over to him and dropped to her knees. She looked into his eyes as he clung to life. “Please, show mercy,” he begged.

  It broke her heart to see him suffer. There was nothing she could do but end his anguish. Masie lifted his head up from the floor. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered as she gave into the beast and clamped her mouth around his slashed skin.

  At first, the thought repulsed her. But as soon as the crimson flowed into her mouth, it awakened something wicked inside her. She sucked on his neck viscously, until she felt his heart stop beating.

  When she was done, she tossed the body aside and set her sights on the next man. She stalked the poor trembling fool with her eyes, then as quick as lightening, pounced on him, sinking her teeth into his flesh.

  “Good girl,” the queen approved as she took her place back on her throne.

  “Masie.” Kerr’s voice snapped her out of her nightmare.

  She shook her head. “Aye.”

  “Where have ye been? I’ve been calling yer name.”

  “You dinnae want to know.”

  Kerr sat on the edge of the bed. “Ye have to tell me what I’m up against so I can defend ye.”

  “Nay,” Masie exclaimed, shaking her head. “The queen is too powerful. I’ll go and face the queen.”

  “Nay,” Kerr roared. “Ye’ll do no such thing.”

  “Ye dinnae understand, I have to go.” Masie swung her legs across the bed and stood. Her knees buckled and Kerr caught her before she hit the ground. She wrapped her arms his neck, sobbing. “What if she has Adaira and Leana?”

  Kerr held her tight, caressing the back of her head. “Shh. Dinnae fash yerself. We will find them. I have my men out right now looking.” He pulled back and took her face in his hands. “Ye do trust me?”

  “Aye. With all my heart,” she whispered.

  “Then let me handle this. Dinnae make me lock ye in yer bedchamber, because I’ll do it if it means ye’ll be safe.”

  Masie chuckled.

  “We’re husband and wife now. We need to start our life together.”

  “Ye can no’ ignore the queen. She always gets what she wants.”

  “No’ this time.” He kissed her. “Ye’re mine. I’d battle the devil himself if it meant ye’d be safe.”

  “I love ye, Kerr Gunn.”

  “And I, ye.” Kerr kissed her again. “Now, scoot over. We’re getting some rest until Ina returns with the spell.”

  Kerr slid under the furs, tucking Masie close to his side. He wrapped his arms around her, kissing the top of her head. “I’m never letting ye go, lass.”

  Masie relaxed in his arms. She felt like they could conquer the world, even an evil fae queen.

 

 

 
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