by Tijan
Roane and his comrades weren’t aware, but the protection spell wasn’t cast to keep Saren out. She had already crossed the water and explored a day’s trek inwards before she realized the others were kept outside.
As Roane moved forward to intercept the female vampire, Saren felt it was time to pull herself away from this group and so, as she thought it, she vanished from their sight.
Sireenia felt her presence and greeted her. “I have missed you, sister.”
They were on their plane, though Saren kept a window open. She could watch Davy’s vampire and materialize if her presence was needed. She said to her other sister now, “Jacith is near them.”
“Yes. He didn’t travel with his army. He went somewhere first.”
Saren heard the fear in her voice. “We aren’t aware where he went?”
“He cloaked himself, even to us.”
“How is that possible?”
Sireenia didn’t respond, not at first. It was a beat later when she said, “We don’t know.”
DAVY
Davy realized she had cloaked their entire group the first time they ran into a Mori. It was unexpected, and none of them realized the other vampire was there until they stepped around a tree. The Mori was right there, in the middle of a path. Davy froze while the others drew their weapons. The humans were behind them so they didn’t know what was going on, but as soon as Davy thought about casting a spell, it didn’t matter.
The Mori never reacted.
Wearing a dark brown robe, the hood was pulled over its head. Davy couldn’t sense if it was female or male. Its back was to them, but they bent down and picked up a flower. It turned halfway to them, and they watched as she sniffed the yellow flower.
There was still no reaction.
“We’re cloaked.” Tracey put her sword away and turned to Davy. “Have we been cloaked the whole time?”
“Um . . .”
Gavin twisted to her, too. He raised an eyebrow. “You don’t know?”
“I remember wanting to protect all of us and I thought as we left the river that I wanted us to be invisible, but I didn’t know I actually cast a spell.”
Tracey moved closer. “There’s five of us. My sister had a hard time cloaking one individual and she could only keep it up for a few moments.” Fear, wonder, and another emotion, one that Davy didn’t like seeing and one she didn’t want to identify, flashed in the vampiress’s eyes. “We’ve been traveling for days.”
“Are you going to wear yourself out?”
Davy stepped back. The question was almost hurled at her from Gavin. She shook her head and held up her hands. “I didn’t even realize I was doing it. I . . .” She couldn’t keep them in the dark anymore. They had to know what danger they were walking into with her. “I’m not in control of my powers.”
“I thought they were coming back just fine.”
That was what she had told Gavin earlier when she relayed The Immortal’s wish to take over. Once that slipped out, Davy instantly regretted revealing that truth. They looked at her like she was an atomic bomb waiting go to go off, one she couldn’t diffuse herself. She lied after that. She made it sound like she was in control, that she could hold off The Immortal, that there was nothing to be worried about.
“Did you lie to us?”
Davy nodded, waiting for Gavin’s response.
What she got was instant anger. It slammed to his surface and she felt it, stepping back from reflex. But, balling her hands into fists, she stopped herself from taking another step. He had reason to be upset. They all did. She hung her head. “I’m sorry. I—”
“So what.”
The three looked over. Gregory had joined the conversation. His plump lips pressed together, and he was putting his own sword away, too. He added, swinging his head to look at both vampires, “There’s nothing you can do about it. The only choice you have is not to travel with her.”
“You’ve known?” Gavin’s tone was accusing.
Gregory didn’t answer, not at first. A beat of silence passed before he nodded. “I did.”
“When?”
“Since a day after she woke up in the cave.”
Tracey went rigid. She resembled a warrior statue, made in stone while Gavin’s nostrils flared. He hissed, “Are you kidding me?”
Gregory was unmoving. “She didn’t even have powers at that time.”
Davy gulped as the others looked at her. She turned away. She didn’t want to see the shock and outrage. She didn’t want to see the disappointment.
Gregory said further, “She’s got her powers back, but we can’t act surprised. We all heard her screaming. Who knows what Lucan’s witches did to her.”
Davy still couldn’t bring herself to turn to them. She cared, more than she should’ve—perhaps, but they would be the first affirmation that she was different. She couldn’t see that look in their eyes . . . like she was less than human . . . like she wasn’t human at all.
“Uh . . .” Cough. “Dudes . . .”
Hearing Spencer’s voice, a rush of relief went through her. These were the humans she had pulled to her, because she wished for them, because she needed a reminder of how to be a human. Spencer just fulfilled that desire for her and her lips twitched, forming a grin.
He went on to say, “So we don’t hear you guys, but there’s a monk smelling a flower dead ahead of us. Should we, be like, doing something about the dude?”
“I think that’s a girl.” Cal shuffled forward and craned his head, looking around them. “Yep. She’s a girl.”
“Yeah?” Spencer’s excitement was obvious. “Is she hot?”
“I can’t tell. She’s got a robe on, but . . .” Cal started to edge out from behind them. “Um . . .”
“Stop.” Tracey pushed him back. “You’re back there for safety.”
He pointed around her. “Either the chick nun is deaf and blind or there’s something funky going on for her not to see us. I think we’re safe.”
“Cal.” Spencer pulled him back. His voice dipped low. “We gotta do what they say. They’re not human.”
Cal said back, his voice dipping just as low, “I don’t think that chick is either.”
“Great.”
“Why do I have a feeling we’re not going to get out of this alive?”
The more the two humans conversed, the more guilt Davy was feeling.
“Get off your high horse.”
The Immortal was laughing at her. “They’re lucky to be brought on this path with you.”
“Stop,” Davy said to her.
“No. I mean it. Their lives were useless. Humans are weak and pathetic. They’ll probably be turned into vampires. If you don’t send them back to safety, the others will change them. They’ll do it to save their lives and when that happens, the two humans will get the best thing possible. They’ll have power and immortality.”
“Losing one’s humanity is not a gift. It’s a curse.”
“Having humanity is a curse. Look at you. Once you give in, you won’t feel any pain. There’ll be no more guilt, no more shame, self-loathing. None of that. You’ll be free. We’ll be free and we can do anything we want.”
“Stop . . .” But as she tried to muster the strength to shut The Immortal up, Davy found there was none. Her strength was depleting, at least against her own inner demon.
“That’s what you think of me?”
Davy shot back, “Aren’t you? You’re not human.”
“I’m not weak. There’s a difference.”
“Humans are weak.”
The Immortal snorted. “Right.”
“They aren’t.”
“Yeah. Sure.”
Davy growled, her hands back into fists, and she lashed back, “Being human is strong. It’s courage. It’s strength. It’s moral.”
The Immortal interrupted, saying, “It’s pain. It’s misery. It’s heartache. It’s loneliness. It’s suffering. It’s being selfish. It’s opening up your heart and only gett
ing hurt in response. It’s helping others and having them turn their back on you. It’s loving and being cheated on. It’s giving, then getting betrayed. It’s . . . foolish. You’re not human anymore, Davy.”
“Shut up . . .”
“Admit it. The sooner you do, the freer you’ll become. The stronger you’ll become.”
“Shut up.”
“You’ve already started to turn your humanity off. I don’t understand why you won’t admit it. You don’t feel pain. You don’t feel misery. You don’t feel fatigue. In fact, you’re impatient. The others are slowing you down. You can go faster, farther, beyond any of them. They’re an anchor to your abilities, but you won’t leave them—
“SHUT UP!”
A surge of power and magic burst inside of her, and as it happened, Davy knew instantly it was a mistake. She wanted to silence The Immortal—she silenced her magic instead . . .
She looked up, and the Mori was staring right at her.
“Oops.”
“What?” Tracey whipped around, her hand grabbing onto her sword.
Davy couldn’t look away from the Mori. She didn’t move. In a normal situation, she should’ve fled or at least attacked with a spell. She did neither. Something was holding her in place, and she continued to hold the Mori’s gaze.
She was drawing the vampire into her mind.
Tracey and the others knew they could be seen by now and had their weapons drawn. Davy flung her hands out and barked, “No! Don’t move.”
“Who are you?” the Mori asked in her mind. She had beautiful doe eyes, high cheekbones, a heart-shaped jawline that curved to petite pink lips. She didn’t stand in Davy’s mind with the robe. The Mori female was in a white dress and nothing else. No makeup. No shoes. No socks. She was barefoot, and her long black hair swung freely as she gazed around her surroundings. A small line appeared in her forehead. “Where am I?”
“My mind.”
“Your mind?”
This Mori wasn’t the enemy. Davy felt goodness from her. She wasn’t a warrior that would instantly kill. That was why Davy was drawn to her, pulling her into her mind. It was a safe place, for both of them.
Davy asked, taking a step toward the vampiress, “Do you know who I am?”
“You are . . .” She gazed around once more, the corners of her mouth pressing in. “You’re The Immortal thread-holder. No one else would have the power to pull one, such as myself, into your mind. I’m a priestess for my people. My own powers have not been challenged by more than a handful.”
She was a big deal. Davy nodded. She got it. “What’s your name?”
“Yaeyn.” The vampiress added, “Jiyama spoke about you. She said your magic was addicting. She yearned to touch it again.”
“Jiyama helped us. My friends and I could escape because of her. I’d like to thank her someday.”
“She’s missing.”
Davy frowned. “What?”
“She’s gone. No one can sense her essence anywhere. That’s why I’m out here. I had hoped . . . I thought perhaps she went in search for you, but . . .” Yaeyn turned around and regarded the others. “I am not seeing her with you.”
The one Mori that Davy hoped could help them was gone. She—there was nothing she could do about that. “Lucan loved her.”
Yaeyn nodded. “She loved him as well. It is troubling. No one can find where my sister went, even Lucan himself. He was the last to have spoken to her.”
A dark cloud of suspicion lined the bottom of her stomach. Davy wondered, but that didn’t make sense. Lucan loved her. She witnessed their exchange herself. If he did something . . . then, that would be on him. It would be another reason to make him suffer.
Yaeyn said, “I hear rumbling.” She focused on Davy. “That is you. That’s your anger.” She inclined her head, a soft question coming from her, “You don’t think . . . Lucan was to wed my sister. Why would he harm her?”
“I don’t know, but the Lucan you know isn’t the Lucan I know.” The rumbling in Davy grew, shaking, sending Yaeyn from side to side. She held her hands out, trying to steady herself, but the beautiful landscape that Davy had sculpted for the Mori turned to the inside of a volcano. The heat was rising, more and more, and Davy was ready to explode.
“Kill her,” The Immortal hissed.
Yaeyn’s head whipped around. “Who was that?”
Davy was standing in front of the Mori, but another presence stepped beside her. She knew, before looking, that it was The Immortal. It was herself.
Yaeyn’s eyes widened, and she took a step backwards. “They unhinged the thread. You are no longer merged.”
“Kill her,” The Immortal said again, ignoring the Mori. “Take her power for yours. We can use it instead of using the power you’re restoring for Jacith. Take her power, Davy.”
“No.” Davy shook her head, but her voice was quiet.
Yaeyn started looking around. “Release me, Thread-Holder. Release me now.”
It was too late, though. The Mori sensed what Davy already knew, it was why she released The Immortal to stand next to her. Her power was still locked up, but Davy knew what she would do. She needed the extra encouragement or she didn’t think she could go through with it.
She was going to kill the Mori.
They were all attached. It was why they called each other sister and brother. If she took this Mori’s essence, it was a gateway into their community. She would be connected to all of them and she could yield that connection as she pleased. She could slip into their minds. She could tell them what to think, feel, do, and so much more.
Yaeyn whispered, shaking her head, “Don’t do this, Davy of the Thread-Holder. Jiyama said you had good in you. She longed to assist you. She wanted to be your friend.”
Davy snorted. “She loved Lucan. Her judgment’s off.”
“I can feel it in you, too.” Yaeyn’s eyes were piercing, pleading with her. “It’s why I didn’t attack or flee. My reflexes are faster than yours are. I feel what she felt. You are good. You are pure. Do not listen to the evil in you.” She gazed with scorn at The Immortal. “This one is power hungry. She wants to take control over you, and she’ll swallow your soul whole to do that. She won’t hesitate. Don’t let the darkness win.”
But as the Mori was talking, The Immortal reached over. She clasped her hand onto Davy’s, who turned her palm around. They were now palm to palm, and their fingers intertwined. They were the most connected in a long time, before Davy merged with her back at Roane’s restaurant.
“This is good. This is the right thing to do.” The Immortal spoke quietly to her, clasping her hand tight.
“No, Davy.” Yaeyn thrust a hand out, as if to grab ahold of Davy.
Davy closed her eyes and hung her head.
“Block her out. Don’t listen to her. You need her essence. It will help you against the Mori and Jacith. You’ll be able to find Kates.”
“I . . .” Davy still hesitated.
“The Mori captured you. They assisted Lucan with taking the others and torturing you. You can use her essence and her power. When we’re done, you can let her essence go. It can rest with her family.” The Immortal squeezed her hands. “We have to, Davy. It’s no longer you and me. It’s us. We have to do this.” She paused a beat, then added, “This will save Lucas, too.”
The last sentence was enough. Davy was wavering, but her mind was made up. She shut her emotions off and started to chant.
She concentrated on the words. Magic hadn’t been an effort for her before. The effort had been in trying to control her power, but since Lucan’s witches, it was like she was learning everything new. And this spell, drawing the Mori’s essence, was beyond anything she had done knowingly.
“Davy!”
The Immortal moved so she was directly in front of Davy. Her back was to the Mori, and she tucked her head next to Davy’s. She took Davy’s other hand, and she began to chant with her. They both spoke at the same time, in the same breath, with the s
ame focus and attention.
“Davy,” Yaeyn yelled once again. “I know there is good in you. Please don’t do this. I’m one of my people’s leaders. They will be devastated by my death—”
Enough!” The Immortal slammed a hand behind her, and in a moment, she snapped Yaeyn’s neck. Her hand returned to Davy’s, and she squeezed it hard. “Hurry. We can still take her essence. It hasn’t depleted to the earth yet.”
They worked together, as one mind, one mouth, and when it was done, a peace settled over Davy. She opened her eyes, but she was back in her own body once again. She wasn’t in her mind and she looked down.
The Mori was at her feet. Her eyes were wide open with death in them, and her mouth was open, like she had been gasping for breath.
“I can feel them.” Davy didn’t turn to the others. She said, “I can feel all of them. I know where they are.”
“Davy . . .” Gavin gestured to the Mori. “What about her?”
Davy didn’t look. She only said, “She would’ve killed us. I was protecting us.” And with that, she stepped over the body.
ROANE
As soon as Roane walked into the encampment, the Christane wolves knew. He still wore Benshire blood on him, and it wasn’t long after that before Christian issued the order. They were marching on their enemy.
“You’ll lose.”
Christian was leaving his tent, his sword ready. Pippa was next to him, and as Roane said those words, she stood next to her brother. Both regarded him with resolved faces. They were going to war. The order had been issued. They were ready.
Christian snapped, “You brought us here. This is why we’re here.”
“They’re being helped by Jacith—”
“And we’re supposed to have The Immortal on our side,” Christian’s voice bellowed. “Where is she?”
“Brother,” Pippa said. Her head turned up, regarding him.
He ignored her, glaring at Roane. “You’re the leader, but you come in here wearing our enemy’s blood.” He gestured around them. “Look at my men. If you wanted a battle cry, you got one. The smell worked them into a frenzy. They must have blood of their own now. They have to spill their enemy’s blood for themselves.”