by K. L. Thorne
“So, congratulations I guess.”
“For what?” Lephas shot him a puzzled glance.
“Being the first of us to fuck a faerie.” He grinned.
“Lay off it,” the commander groaned, fighting a wave of embarrassment.
“Any good?” Raxx teased, fading quickly as Lephas swiped at him. “It must be if you're bringing her home to face the wrath of Zelrus.”
“Fuck I hope he doesn't make me choose.” Lephas dropped his head forward into his hands defeatedly.
“Which will it be, if he does? Asking only so I can get a head start on planning your funeral.”
“You know what's scary? I think I might choose her.” Lephas admitted, scrubbing a hand over his face.
“Well, fuck.” Raxx paused. “Would you prefer lilies or roses?”
“You prick.” Lephas chuckled, feeling a strange sense of realisation wash over him. He wasn't just saying it, he knew deep down it was true.
“Cause of death – pussy whipped.” Raxx teased.
“Shut up. It's not like that.”
“Well it must be pretty damn special if you're going to stand against Zelrus for it.” The shadow demon shook his head disbelievingly. “No offence Sir, but he's got the edge on you. That's a fight you definitely wouldn't win.”
“Don't I know it,” Lephas grumbled. “Am I crazy? I feel crazy.”
Raxx nodded. “It seems a bit nuts to me, yeah. But then what do I know? I've never felt that strongly for anyone.”
“It's the worst. In all my life, I've never done so many stupid things in such short succession.” The commander frowned.
“You look happier, though. If you don't mind my saying.”
“I do?” Lephas frowned.
“Happier than in any living memory I have of you.”
He guessed he wasn't keeping it as under-wraps as he had hoped. Lephas felt stress bunching in his neck and he rubbed at the muscles absent-mindedly. Was he really debating standing against his own king for the faerie princess?
Hell yeah, he was. It was a truly terrifying thought.
“They are quite alike, aren't they?” Raxx muttered, his dark eyes gazing towards the tent where the girls were sleeping.
“More so than I'd thought they'd be.” Lephas agreed. “I wonder if the older one, Sivelle, is anything like them too.”
“She sounds like a barrel of fun.” The shadow demon snorted. “Faye has told me quite a lot about her as we've travelled.”
“You, uh... Curious about her?” The commander probed gently, keeping his eyes fixed on the fire.
“Who, Faye?”
“I just thought maybe a girl like that might peak your interest a little. She's a majborne like you.”
“And that’s where the similarities end. It hurts my eyes just looking at her when the sun is shining,” the shadow demon replied bitterly.
“Hey, don't get defensive. I was just curious.” Lephas grinned, holding up his palms apologetically.
“It would never work out.” Raxx shook his head.
“Maybe you're right.” The commander paused. “Hey, I've been meaning to ask – what does healing majick feel like?”
“Why?” Raxx fixed him with a curious stare.
“Just humour me.” Lephas continued. “Does it hurt?”
“It doesn't hurt the person being healed, no, but it can be uncomfortable for the healer on occasion. It depends how much majick you need to use.”
“How much could you heal? I know you and Haros have patched me up when I've been in some sorry states before now, but I'm just wondering how far the limit is?” Lephas swallowed.
“With certainty, it's death,” Raxx replied grimly. “You can, in theory, heal anything if you have enough juice, provided the body you are imbuing the majick into is still living.”
“And what is classed as dead or alive?” Lephas pushed.
“A still heart and no brain activity, I would guess.” Raxx shrugged. He turned to face the commander. “Now tell me, why are you asking?”
“You won't believe me. Hell, I'm not even sure I believe me.” Lephas scratched the back of his head.
“Try me.”
“Well, when we were out there Lori an I got into a bit of trouble. We crossed paths with a sable bear,” he explained.
The shadow demon's face fell. “Shit. How the hell did you get out of that?”
“I didn't.” Lephas gave a short laugh. “I died, Raxx.”
There was a long pause.
“...You mean I'm too late with my funeral plans?”
“You fucking dick.” Lephas laughed. “I'm being serious. The bear ripped me to pieces. I was looking down at my own forearm in tatters, I felt its claws piercing my organs. It was over.”
“Well, you look pretty good for a dead guy. A vision maybe?”
“Nope, cold as day. I died Raxx, I swear it.”
“So, what happened?”
“Lori. She brought me back.”
Another long pause.
“Okay, so let me get this straight – she's not majborne, is she?” Raxx asked.
“No, not at all. Lazuli barely taught those girls anything. I think she knows a few basic defence spells and that's about it. I haven't seen her use any majick since I've been with her, even when it could have really come in handy,” Lephas replied.
“Are you sure it was Lori? No one else–”
“It was just us, Raxx. I woke, alive and well, in a pool of my own blood. It was even still warm. The poor girl has been a mess. She slept for days, barely eating or drinking. Whatever she did completely wiped her out. She's still not fully recovered now.”
“I did notice she was a little unsteady when I was stalking her through the forest.” Raxx mused.
“Please tell me you've heard of this happening before? It's been driving me insane with worry.”
“Honestly, no. I've never heard of it happening.” The shadow demon paused. “But I have read about it.”
“You have?”
“It's a bit of a myth. Some of the scrolls hint at abilities connected with emotions. A bit like an adrenaline rush, the theory is that times of great stress can awaken dormant majick abilities temporarily,” Raxx replied, rubbing his hands together thoughtfully.
“Well, her family clearly has a strong majicka gene if Faye is anything to go by. I've had it confirmed that Lazuli is also a majborne.”
“Is he now?” Raxx's black eyes shimmered. “That's interesting. Any idea what his abilities are like?”
“Not a clue, but I'm sure Lori will tell us.” Lephas ran a hand through his hair.
“I've never heard of anyone successfully resurrecting someone, but then I had also never given much credit to the idea of 'temporary majicka' either.” The shadow demon shrugged. “If she's one of the rare individuals who can summon emotional bursts of majicka, then what's to say those bursts wouldn't be strong enough to manage something like that?”
“What does that mean for her? For me?” the commander asked.
“It means you're one lucky son of a bitch. You have a woman who cares so deeply for you that the thought of living without you gave her the power to raise you from the dead.” Raxx fixed him with a steady gaze.
Lephas didn't respond, just glanced across to the tent.
“You asked me earlier if you were crazy to stand up to Zelrus?” Raxx stood, fading into the darkness.
“For that kind of devotion? You'd be crazy not to.”
The wind whipped snow into a flurry and Lephas was alone once more.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Lori took a large bite from her apple and moved away warily from the interest that sparkled in the eyes of the mare.
“Don't even think about it, Gaia,” she warned through a mouthful.
Faye grinned, scratching the horse affectionately whilst she strapped the heavy leather saddle to her back.
“You girls nearly ready?” Lephas called out to them and shrugged his pack onto his back.
“Almos
t. Are you sure you're going to carry all that equipment?” Faye asked, casting her eyes to the small pile of belongings. “Gaia managed to carry it all here just fine.”
“Honestly, it's alright. It's not much and that poor horse will be carrying two of you today. I don't want to overload her.” Lephas shook his head, bending to pick up Lori's satchel and slinging it over his shoulder.
“Very considerate of you Demon,” the sun sprite replied, patting the horse reassuringly.
“It's what he does.” Lori smiled softly at the commander, her heart swelling in her chest. Lephas smiled back at her as he walked to join them beside the horse.
The snow continued to fall heavily and silently around them. Gaia shifted nervously as he approached.
“Sorry. She's not a big fan of demons.” Faye apologised, patting the horse's strong shoulder. “Raxx has spooked her pretty badly with his disappearing act and she's been a bit sketchy since.”
Lephas held out a hand. Gaia hesitated before cautiously sniffing it. Her large nostrils flared and her breath puffed in clouds into the cold winter air.
The mare turned away but stopped shifting nervously. She snorted and shook her head, buckles rattling. The pretty mare crunched her teeth against the metal bit in her mouth with a thoughtful expression.
“Look at her face. She's still not sure, but you're okay for now.” Faye laughed.
“I thought I'd come and give you a hand getting on.” Lephas turned his attention back to Lori.
“I have ridden a horse before you know,” the princess scoffed playfully.
Faye hooked her foot expertly into the stirrup and, after a few graceful hops, leapt into the saddle. Gaia shifted eagerly beneath her but remained stationary. The faerie gathered her reins together and bent down to adjust the girth straps.
“Ready?” Lephas asked, holding his hands out.
“As I'll ever be.” Lori turned her back and threw her apple core into the forest.
Lephas slipped his big hands around her waist and lifted her easily off the ground and onto the horse's back. Lori shuffled herself forward until she was comfortably perched just behind Faye in the saddle.
She wrapped shaking hands around her sister's waist and held her tight. She had ridden a horse before, and had sat with Faye like this on many occasions, but she still felt butterflies swirling in her chest.
“Where is Raxx? I haven't seen him all morning,” Faye asked and lifted the hood of her beautiful dark navy cloak up over her head. Lori followed suit, pulling her hood up but felt embarrassed of how shabby it now looked. The once beautiful white fur was now grey and matted with dirt, blood and debris.
“Present.” The shadow demon appeared beside Lephas.
Without any warning, Gaia spooked and jumped sideways. Lori yelped and grabbed Faye tightly.
“Whoa! Steady now, steady.” Faye soothed as the horse paced nervously. The princess scowled at Raxx. “Do you mind? You know she hates it when you sneak up on her like that!”
The shadow demon didn't reply, but held his hands up apologetically. Lori saw Lephas cast the man a disapproving look.
“Well, now we're all here, let's get going,” Faye snapped. She tapped the mare with her heels and the horse eagerly walked on through the snow, keen to get as far from the shadow demon as possible.
Lori glanced over her shoulder and watched Lephas and Raxx gather the rest of the equipment before hurriedly following behind them.
“What a prick,” Faye huffed under her breath, patting Gaia's neck. “He does it every time, doesn't he girl?”
The horse snorted in agreement and the wind whistled around them.
“Did he do that on purpose?” Lori asked over her sister's shoulder.
“I don't know, but it's not the first time,” Faye grumbled. “I don't think he really notices he's doing it but it scares the living daylights out of poor Gaia.”
“I suppose it just comes naturally to him. It must be tough being a mostly incorporeal creature of nightmare.”
Faye giggled and clicked her tongue to encourage the mare forwards. Lori listened to rhythmical heavy thumps as the horse walked on. Despite being at peak fitness, Gaia was already blowing hard, struggling through the deep drifts.
“How did you sleep?” Faye called over her shoulder.
“Just fine,” Lori replied, though it wasn't totally true. She had tossed and turned for a long while, although admittedly she had slept soundly once she had managed to drift off.
Lori had been pathetically lovesick for her demon. Though he had been just outside, standing guard, she had found it difficult to relax without his large body beside her.
It was strange how accustomed to his presence she had become already. The tent had felt decidedly empty and lonely without his warm, wide chest and steady breaths. Lori decided she didn't care much for sleeping without him and it wasn't something she intended to do again in a hurry, if she had any say in it.
Her mind wandered yet again to what fate awaited her and her sister when they made it back to Banesteppe. According to the demons they were only two days travel from the demon city now. A cold sense of dread enveloped her.
Lephas didn't seem wholly confident in how King Zelrus was going to take the news that his commander had entered into a relationship with one of Lazuli's daughters. Though she got the impression that Zelrus was a good man and not unkind, he still had a reputation to uphold and a population of people in whom he needed to instil trust.
Lori already understood the reasoning behind the king's concern before she had even met him, yet still she hoped against hope that he was a romantic at heart and would take pity on her plight. She prayed her allegiance and information would be enough to placate any anger he may feel towards the situation.
It wasn't ideal, for Lephas nor for Lori, but then good things very rarely were.
The snow whipped at them and Lori pulled her hood down further in an attempt to shield her eyes. She grasped her fur snood and pulled it up to cover her face as the snow chilled painfully against her cheeks.
Gaia lowered her head and Faye allowed the horse a free rein to pick a safe path through the snow. Though her hooves occasionally met with hidden debris and rocks, the mare remained steady and sure-footed.
The group travelled slowly, the snow was deep and swirled around them making their journey arduous. Every now and then, Lephas whistled sharply at them and they pulled up. He and Raxx talked between themselves about which direction they should head in next before plodding steadily ahead.
The day passed slowly and Lori thought of nothing else besides how cold she was and how her legs ached as they stretched uncomfortably around the horse's wide back.
They strode on and the ground eventually flattened out as the dark pines began to grow steadily closer together. Gaia's pace improved as the large trees shielded the worst of the storm and thinned out the deep snow drifts.
“The forest here feels strange,” Faye muttered, looking around nervously.
“How do you mean?” Lori asked and pulled her hood down. She glanced around, seeing nothing but more dense, snowy forest.
Faye's majick made her more sensitive to her surroundings and when she had ‘a feeling’ about something she was rarely wrong. Lori's chest tightened with worry and she turned to shout for Lephas. The two demons were already jogging towards them. The princess swallowed, her throat suddenly dry.
“Hey, hold up a moment,” Lephas shouted breathlessly.
“Whoa girl.” Faye pulled Gaia up but the horse continued to stride forwards against her sister's will. Her chestnut ears were pricked sharply ahead.
“Hey, I said slow,” Faye chastised and pulled harder against the horse’s mouth. The mare eventually came to a halt but shifted from foot to foot, swishing her tail impatiently. “Lori, something is wrong. Gaia can sense it too.”
Oddly, the horse didn't seem worried. Far from it. She paced and attempted to walk on before Faye tugged back on her reins, holding her in place.
/> “Faye, can you feel that?” Raxx marched forwards, scanning through the forest. His dark eyes were serious and focussed.
“You can too?” The princess frowned. “What is it?”
“I don't know, but–”
As the wind died, Gaia's head shot up and her ears pricked. Faintly, over the howling winds, music warbled. The hauntingly beautiful tune was nothing that nature could produce.
Without warning, Gaia's muscles bunched beneath her and the horse shot forwards.
Lori screamed and Faye struggled to get control of the mare but the strong animal fought against her hold. One of her leather reins snapped under the force, sending Faye sprawling and nearly dislodging her from the saddle.
Completely unhindered, Gaia stretched forwards into a flat-out gallop.
If the demons had shouted after them, Lori hadn't heard them. Gaia thundered on at break neck speed through the wilderness with little thought to her riders.
The pines whipped and slashed at them as the horse careened out of control towards the eerily beautiful music. Snow and ice sprayed all around them and Faye gave up attempting to control her horse.
Instead, both princesses lay forward, as flat as they could manage in an attempt to remain on the horse's back. Faye grabbed a fistful of mane and reached back to hold Lori in place.
Even in the face of danger, Lori admired how expertly her sister rode. Whilst she slid around, bumping and jostling against Gaia's back gracelessly, Faye moved smoothly. Her body was in sync, not fighting against the mare any longer.
As Gaia began to tire, her hooves slowed to a less deafening roar and the music grew clearer. No... Not music, Lori realised with a start.
Singing.
She didn't recognise the song and couldn't make out the words, but there was no doubt about it. The mare's ears flickered curiously, listening to the mysterious warbling.
“Faye!” Lori screeched, attempting to grab her sister's attention. “Faye! Someone is–”
“A house!” her sister shouted and pointed off through the woods. A small stone cottage stood in the distance, mostly hidden by dense forest. The air smelt smoky, like a fireplace.
They continued to thunder forwards, the mare charging on with renewed vigour as they grew closer still to the mysterious singer.