Entangled Darkness

by Brandy L Rivers

“You’re a cold bitch, aren’t you? Take what you want, no feelings involved?” Anthony hissed and shifted directly behind her. “I keep thinking about what would hurt him most. Do I force you to submit to me? Make you a pawn in the game HARP plays with the Silver Council? How about slow torture? Maybe make you fall for me the way he couldn’t.”

  There it was. She’d discovered the flaw in his logic. He didn’t understand love. Had Jules’ bond warped the emotion so drastically Anthony could no longer understand what it was to love?

  “It’s a shame I don’t like women. I’ve been told I can make anyone fall for me.”

  She barely held the snort in.

  Anthony paced in a small circle, stopping in front of her. “Nothing rattles you? Surely something must.” He reached to touch her face, but his hand stopped inches away, thanks to her shields.

  One corner of her mouth tipped up.

  Anthony snarled. “That’s why you’re so quiet. Think I won’t touch you because of a shield?”

  She stared into his eyes, challenging him to do something more than run his mouth. He stood perfectly still, staring back. Liz didn’t budge.

  Anthony shifted position so fast, she only saw the flash of a blade before she stepped back through an open rift. Liz landed on her ass as the rift closed, the blade snapping in half, falling toward her. She rolled away.

  When the weapon landed, the grass it touched disintegrated, and then the earth beneath.

  “Fuck,” she shouted, scrambling back out of the way as a sinkhole appeared before her. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to concentrate on a way to get back home. She could open rifts and travel if she had a damned clue where she was or how to return home.

  Chapter 34

  Anthony’s words cut into Tremaine’s very soul. Bastard was a fucking moron if he thought Liz would ever fall for his games. Tremaine knew her better than that. The woman had more strength than anyone he’d ever met. Including himself.

  Then he noticed the blade. Liz instinctively opened a rift and stepped through. The weapon got caught in the closing rift, and Tremaine couldn’t be sure if the asshole missed or not.

  “I’m going to kill that motherfucking piece of shit!” Tremaine roared.

  The book was pulled from his grasp. “Here,” Draecyn said. “This is where they went. I should have known that bastard was reeling Kathryn in.” He shot a glare to Old Lady Murdock. “The damned secrets we keep tear us all apart. I told you we should let our loved ones in on the secret.”

  “We can discuss that later. Right now, I believe you’re right.” Ms. Murdock turned to Robert. “From that passage, can you get yourself to the room?”

  Robert nodded. “How do I find her once we’re there?”

  “Let Tremaine worry about that.”

  Robert dipped his head and grabbed Tremaine’s arm. Within the span of half a breath, they appeared in the crimson and gold room. Definitely something Sinclair would enjoy.

  Tremaine sensed the magical contraptions not far out of reach. Probably a slew of torture devices hidden from the naked eye too. Someplace nearby, the bastard would likely have brought Liz when he had the opportunity, had she not been so resistant to curses.

  Anthony smiled when he locked gazes with Tremaine. “Come for the harlot? You can’t honestly tell me you love her, or this poor excuse for a Magister.” He shot a look at Robert.

  Tremaine threw his arm out to the side. The area beneath Anthony jumped, rock surging through the hardwood floor to wrap around Anthony’s feet. The foreign mass continued to flow into existence, melding with his legs. Tremaine had learned long ago that most material piercing Anthony’s flesh would keep him from dispersing, especially if it was laced with iron.

  Anthony screamed in pain, trying to do just that. His upper half fazed in and out briefly before he stopped trying. Blood trailed down the rock that had become part of Anthony.

  He threw his arms out and electricity danced through the air. Tremaine shoved back and wind kicked up, pushing Anthony’s energy back at him as he streamed water at the bastard.

  Anthony’s upper body convulsed, taking the jolt he would normally be immune to, but the combined elements made it worse.

  “Liz has never been a slut, you fucking scumbag. And you wonder why I never loved a self-serving prick like you!” Tremaine stormed closer.

  Anthony found the strength to erect shields as his lightning died out. A stream of crimson dripped from his nose. “I loved you. Why couldn’t you return it?”

  “You loved yourself. And Jules. You just wanted someone who would fulfill your fantasies,” Tremaine spat, walking closer. “You were always a sick, demented fuck. You wanted what Jules was too proper to provide.”

  “And you filled my needs without hesitation, no matter which side of the field I wanted to dabble.”

  Tremaine’s voice had turned harsh, gravelly. “I needed your trust. I possessed it. Same as I had Jules’. He wanted someone to confide in. That’s what I was to him. I was your fantasy realized. The dom Tabitha craved. Competition to drive Rupert further, though he never could do what I could. You name someone, and I was what they needed so I could wriggle my way deeper into HARP.”

  “You never did learn who the inner ring was. You never will. None of us have ever seen them in person. What makes you think you’ll be any different?”

  “I don’t honestly care anymore. The case is over. All I want is the mother of our child.”

  “A child? She’s pregnant? And you don’t even know the father, do you?”

  “We are the fathers. Doesn’t matter whose seed created the child. He’ll be loved by all of us.”

  A tear welled in Anthony’s eyes. “That was the one thing Jules wanted. A child.”

  Tremaine laughed as a clever grin crossed his face. “Too bad he was sterile.”

  “Sterile?” Anthony shook his head. “How would you know that?”

  “His mother wanted to make sure he could never spawn a half-breed bastard. She poisoned him from the time he was a baby. Until he finally went to the academy. By then, he couldn’t have had a child to save his damned life. Why do you think after all those years he never managed to get a single woman pregnant? And he shacked up with plenty, enough to fill an entire academy full of his offspring, if only he were a viable donor.”

  “Lies. His mother loved him.”

  Tremaine shook his head. “Part of her, maybe. Most of her realized she’d created a monster. Cruel, selfish, thought he was better than everyone. She was a true mage who didn’t want to be saddled with a fae baby. It’s why she took a husband so young. To hide the fact she was having an abomination.”

  “Is that what you think you are?” Anthony asked, a smirk pulling at his mouth.

  “No. Not any longer. I’ve realized what I am… and my potential. Besides, it’s not what we are that makes us who we are. Our actions control that part of our fates. And Jules was as much a monster as you. Warping your infatuation into a bond you didn’t want. Controlling you by only giving you what you needed but not what you craved.”

  “He loved me!” Anthony screamed slashing his hand out, sending a wave of energy.

  While letting the spell bounce off his shield, Tremaine caught Anthony by the throat. “As much as I’d love to watch you suffer, letting the rock grow through your body, I don’t have time to waste on revenge. You need to die.”

  Tremaine pulled the foreign rock through Anthony’s body, to his hand. Shards splintered off, ripping Anthony’s body to shreds as it grew and multiplied. Tremaine stepped back as rubies formed and covered the remainder of what had been Anthony.

  He turned back to the other piece of his soul. Robert watched with wide eyes. “What was that?” Robert asked.

  “Something Liz will be able to do,” Tremaine muttered before closing his eyes. “Need to find her. She’s calling me.”

  Tremaine searched the room for some semblance of the rift she’d opened. Not the one that yanked her into this roo
m, which was definitely not on Earth, even if it was part of Sinclair’s estate. Apparently Anthony’s connections at HARP gave him access to alternate dimensions.

  * * * *

  The hole in the ground kept expanding, stretching out beyond what Liz thought possible. If Tremaine and Robert found her, they would likely enter right there. Then she remembered Tremaine’s diary. He had summoned matter from another realm and destroyed the cabin. She could call mass from somewhere else to fill in the hole. It was worth a shot.

  Repeating the spell she’d read in the warehouse the other day, she recited it all the way through while focusing on the enormous opening. Shiny black rock filled in the space, and she kept pushing energy at it until it merged with the ground. Liz reached out and placed her hand on the surface. Warm, not hot. Smooth like glass. Worst case, they slipped and bruised their asses.

  Liz had to laugh at that. She scooted away from the newly formed surface and sank to her knees. Exhaustion settled in as she marveled at the setting sun.

  Odd. Barely a moment earlier it had been on the other side of the horizon. She shook her head, feeling dizzy as time slowed. The orange sun dipped below the other side of the world, and a blue moon rose, streaking the sky with purple. Liz lay down to stare at the twinkling stars that filled the night sky.

  Air rushed past her, but she ignored it until a snarl shattered the silence. Rolling to her hands and knees, Liz came face to face with a large cat made of shadows. Saliva dripped down its long, brilliantly white fangs. The contrast was shocking on the otherwise black feline.

  Liz stared into the bottomless black eyes of the creature. Its mouth cranked wide as it shot across the distance, clamping down on her shoulder. Fangs eased into her skin, pushing at bones.

  Agony overtook her before she caught its head and channeled fire and energy at the beast. Howling, his fangs tore free, and he tried to run, but Liz blasted the rest of her energy at him. She watched the beast burst into flames, then fall in ashes. Liz dropped to the ground, digging for her worry stone. Better be coming for me, Trem. I’m tired. So damned tired, she pleaded, hoping Tremaine would still hear her in another realm.

  Robert answered, We’re coming, Love. Hold tight.

  The air around her lit up with brilliant colors swirling through shades of purple.

  “There’s the one Mother praises.” The musical voice rang in her ears. Liz opened her eyes to find a woman made of light.

  “Hmm, think she’ll pull through?” the male counterpart murmured. Liz couldn’t discern their features, but the sensation of peace was overwhelming.

  “Who are you?” Liz slurred.

  “Hope they hurry,” the woman said. “She was never meant to find this place. She’s supposed to protect her world from ours.”

  “Your world?” Liz asked.

  “Shh. Don’t speak. Save your air.” The woman caressed her cheek, a smile on her face. “Your men are coming. They’ll take you home. When you return, you’ll think this was all a dream. They always do.”

  “Who does what?” Liz whispered.

  The man chuckled. “I don’t know. This one’s stronger. She’s fighting the sleep.”

  “Maybe it’s why Mother loves this one more than the others. She’s always watched over her, making sure she found her way.”

  “Think she’ll believe we kept watch on the girl until her men came?”

  “Woman. Not a girl,” Liz answered, trying to sit up.

  The man gently pressed Liz’s shoulder down. “Still yourself, woman.” He chuckled. “We don’t want anything to happen to you. Mother wouldn’t be happy if we let harm come to you.”

  “Then she’ll believe,” Liz managed to say.

  The woman laughed. “Maybe. For a time, she thought we were on their side. Maybe now she’ll believe we were always on hers. We didn’t make it through the portal in time and can’t find our way to her.”

  “She knows because she still watches over us in our dreams. Like us, she’s stuck on her side of the veil.”

  “Veil? Is this place Faery?” That didn’t seem right, though. Liz blinked.

  “Shh, rest. They’ll be here soon,” the woman murmured.

  Liz shook her head, but everything was increasingly fuzzy.

  Chapter 35

  Better be coming for me, Trem. I’m tired. So damned tired. Desperation and pain colored her tone.

  Fear flooded Tremaine, but he had a direction. He followed the sound of her voice where her magic flared. Another force pulled at him. The comfort of home? But that wasn’t right.

  Robert touched his shoulder. “Hurry. She’s delirious.”

  Shooting Robert a glare, Tremaine sensed it too, but nagging him wasn’t going to help him figure this out. He took a deep breath and reached toward the vortex that still hovered in the air. Invisible but pulling at him.

  Tremaine began to chant. His heart raced as wind whipped through the room. Purple light swirled and expanded as Tremaine grabbed Robert’s arm and dragged him through.

  They stepped onto onyx stretched out a dozen yards in every direction. The sky was deep purple, streaked with reds.

  Liz lay on a bed of white flowers. Soft glowing lights hovered near her. Tremaine could almost hear two voices singing. Male and female. Familiar voices, but why?

  Robert translocated Tremaine beside her. Tremaine knelt and scooped Liz into his arms. Her shoulder was a mess of torn tissue, and she was hardly breathing

  “Wake up, Doll. Please, wake up for us, Liz.”

  Robert swept his gaze through the desolate landscape, his brow wrinkling. Tremaine took a glance at his surroundings. Scorched dirt for miles. Ruined buildings in the distance.

  The only sign of life was flowers growing around Liz as if she had brought life back to the realm.

  “We need to go,” Robert told him. “Not enough air here.”

  Tremaine reached out to grab a flower, then acknowledged Robert’s directive.

  Robert translocated them back to Draecyn’s where the rest of the group gathered, waiting.

  Ms. Murdock stepped forward, her eyes locked on the flower as a solitary tear rolled down her face. “They didn’t make it out. I always suspected it but had hoped those were simply nightmares.”

  “Who?”

  “My children. They’re trapped in that plane. Perhaps they’ll see the rebirth of our old home.” She nodded to the flower. “Were there other flowers?”

  “Surrounding Liz. Yes. Nowhere else that I saw,” Tremaine answered.

  “Never expected that.” Ms. Murdock smiled. “My world has been reborn.”

  Tremaine stared at her. “Tell me her being there doesn’t endanger our child.”

  “Oh no. He’s blessed, same as Liz. They have always watched over her.”

  Tremaine shook his head. Why the hell did my mother and father both think I was somehow special? If it was always Liz, then it’s not me.

  Ms. Murdock’s brow arched. “Your parents weren’t wrong, Tremaine. Your part is far from over. Though without you, we would never have found Liz. Not even I would have found her until it was too late. Besides, I wouldn’t have been able to bring her home.”

  “Wish you wouldn’t do that,” Tremaine muttered.

  Robert nudged his shoulder. “She taught me how. Apparently I always had the ability, but never realized it. Makes sense with the way I can step inside people’s heads.”

  “I can live with you in my head,” Tremaine teased.

  Robert checked on Liz, who was still out cold. “We need to heal her.”

  Tremaine turned to Ms. Murdock. “Can I do what she did for me?”

  “Of course, you can. You simply have to accept you have the ability.”

  “I want to try. We can always have Emily fix her if it doesn’t work for me.”

  Robert gripped Tremaine’s shoulder and rested his other hand on Liz’s arm. He looked Tremaine square in the eye. “We’ll do it together.”

  Tremaine focused on her shoulder, coveri
ng the mess with his hand. “What did this?”

  “Shadowcat,” Ms. Murdock answered. “Their toxin isn’t deadly, only painful. And luckily he didn’t damage organs. You can fix this, but hurry.”

  He channeled his energy into Liz, imagining her shoulder as it was before the injury. Robert’s magic wrapped around him, fusing with his as he channeled energy into the wound.

  The muscle mended, tissue shifting as it filled in, then her skin. Tremaine’s breath caught as her shoulder became whole. Their connection grew stronger. He sensed Robert’s relief and love roll through him. Liz’s pain ebbed and flowed from him. Until that moment, he hadn’t realized Robert was feeling it too.

  “I did it—we did it.” He grabbed the back of Robert’s neck and pulled him in to taste his lips. “We fixed her.”

  Ms. Murdock chuckled. “She needs rest. We need to plan. Now that Liz has broken the seal to our world, new problems have been set in motion. Though the core of HARP may choose to go back to our world and rebuild it.”

  “Which would be good, right?”

  She shrugged. “Depends on what was left of the dimension. Only time will tell, but it may take ages to bring back civilization. They may still choose to go forward with their plans. If they could make it work, it would likely be faster than going home.”

  Tremaine shook his head. “Can we take her back to the cabin? I think we need some time alone.”

  “You can go home. Though I would like to speak with her soon. In a few days.”

  “Of course. As long as she’s ready,” Robert answered.

  Emily joined them and touched Liz’s stomach. She gulped in air and leaned against Robert. “They’re both all right. I needed to be sure. Can’t let anything happen to my nephew, or my best friend.”

  Robert put his arm around Emily. “Thank you, sister. We managed.”

  Emily agreed, “Seems it forged your bond stronger.”

  “We did. Now, we’re going home. Do you want to go back?” Robert asked.

  She glanced at the books on the table they’d brought from their family home. “Not yet. I want to know what’s in there.”