Challenged by Darkness (An Urban Fantasy Novel) (Befallen Tides series Book 2)

by Anna Sanders

  “I thought that you liked it here,” Sabrina said, looking downtrodden when he told her. “I thought you were going to help us.”

  “I never wanted to stay here, Sabrina. These few days I’ve lost track of things because of Stori’s death, but I can no longer waver from my course. I still have a pack, and I have loyalties that I secured for myself. So it is time for me to go.”

  “What about us?” she asked.

  “You were fine before me.” Keaton gave her an encouraging smile. “What could possibly happen? The battles are leading away from here. They were never meant for the bandits.”

  “No. They were meant for those like your daevor friend. And because of her, there are hundreds of us left clinging to life!”

  “Winx having a better understanding of the enemy doesn’t incriminate her.”

  “Just answer this,” Sabrina sat forward in her chair to make her point. “If she had never come here, would your pack still be alive?”

  Keaton glared. “The packs were being attacked far before I brought Winx here.”

  “And,” Sabrina continued, “you yourself admitted that she was targeted by the tyrant.”

  Sabrina’s accusations weren’t fair. Keaton knew that. And yet a part of him did perk an ear to the question. If he had avoided California and chose to stay with his pack, would Chavez have brought his dead gangs to Gunnison? Would he have personally sent the last death strike to Ottanu and the pack? If Iragall had never revealed that there was a demon that was trained to destroy the savages, would he and his pack have just relocated and saved themselves a lot of trouble?

  Keaton couldn’t be sure. But he did know one thing. It would mean that he never would have met Winx. It would mean not having her in his life at all. And something about that made him feel lesser.

  “Even if Winx hadn’t come here to help me,” Keaton said aloud, “eventually Chavez’s glut would know no bounds. He doesn’t just want to overturn the Lixyn Queendom and control the cryptids. He wants to guarantee his unquestioned rule with fear and death. The packs weren’t safe to begin with. He hasn’t stopped. And he won’t until someone defeats him.”

  “Bandits have never been concerned with that which lies outside of the pack.”

  “And that makes us stepping stones to the path evil plans to take,” Keaton said readily. “No, don’t you see? You’ve been blindsided into thinking your interfering will do any good. This is their fight. Let them destroy each other, and let us stay out of it!”

  “Our head-in-the-sand tactics have brought us to the brink of extinction in Colorado alone,” Keaton countered. “What will become of the rest of us worldwide if we don’t change? Maybe we don’t deserve what has happened to us, but we damn sure cannot avoid our fate by pretending it didn’t happen. That is the path of the coward.”

  “You use her words? She must really have made an impression on you.” Sabrina scoffed. “So much of the pack has left since the savage appeared. They haven’t returned. And the ones left are on edge. Everyone expects the attacks to start again.”

  “They should,” Keaton confessed.

  “And Washington’s safe?”

  He paused to mull that over. ”It might not be safe. But there are forces who know how to handle a savage attack.”

  “Your pack is there? Unharmed?”

  “I’ve had no contact with them. But I know where they are headed, I know how to get there, and I will reunite with them.”

  “What if you are wrong?” she asked.

  Keaton shook his head. “I won’t consider that as a possibility.”

  Winx was raring to go. She had pulled the Mazda up to the driveway and climbed out to wait. All she needed was Keaton.

  A glance around the yard told her that the crowd of bandits had grown smaller. Half of them had taken off during her savage demonstration, and the ones that stayed gave her their usual ominous looks. She wondered if the missing ones would eventually return or if they sought better chances out in the wild, but she didn’t feel bad about it. What good would that do anyone?

  Keaton finally emerged from the house with a teary-eyed Sabrina clinging to his waist like a leech. Winx rolled her eyes. What was it with this girl? Sure, Keaton was a good-looking guy. He had that charm that sometimes unintentionally went suave, his dark hair was usually tidy, and his body was a smooth, muscled cinnamon. But this girl was like his personal fan club.

  “You have the directions to the site,” Keaton said. “And all contact information. If something happens here, you and the others should just leave. I don’t know how long it will take for Chavez to completely overhaul this town, but it’s only a matter of time.”

  “Will you be all right?”

  Winx reached her arm into the open window and blared the car horn. Beep!

  “Trust me, I will be fine.”

  Beep!“

  What if something happens to you?” Sabrina whispered. “I cannot bear the idea—”

  Beep! Beep! Beep!

  “Don’t worry so much about me. Just take care of yourselves. It was good running into you, Sabrina.” Keaton hugged her, and then he walked away. Sabrina stood on the bottom step of the porch with longing etched across her face.

  “Are we done with our drawn-out farewells?” Winx called as he approached.

  Keaton shook his head. “Have a heart, Winx. They’re—”

  “I know, I know!” Winx gave the crowd one last leer before climbing into the driver’s seat. “They’re afraid.”

  Keaton took the passenger’s seat and squeezed her thigh as she started the car again. “Look at us. The dynamic duo back together, just you and me.”

  “Yeah.” Winx glared at Sabrina while she backed her car up. “The way it’s supposed to be.”

  The Goddess Edina was a taller, thinner version of her daughter. Her auburn hair was intricately curled, her blue eyes were vibrant, and her skin was so clear that she didn’t require makeup. Her gown was a splendid white that should have washed her out but instead enhanced her glow.

  Normally, Genevieve would wait for the Goddess to be seated and served before addressing her. But she had not seen her mother in so long. Proper protocol forgotten, she hopped from her seat and rushed over to greet Edina with a fierce hug.

  “Mom!” She buried her face into Edina’s neck and refused to let go.

  There was a stunned silence where a word wasn’t spoken. It was unlike royalty to show needless displays such as this in front of anyone, including the help. Edina had not expected the immediate show of affection. But soon the queen wrapped her arms around her daughter with a chuckle and patted her shoulders.

  “Oh, Evy. Has it really been so long? Being in the wild must have deeply affected you.”

  “They wouldn’t tell me where you were!” Genevieve sniffled. “I begged and begged… they insisted that your whereabouts should be kept secret even from me!”

  “What?” Edina’s soothing tones were now tinged with confusion. “Is that true, Orion?”

  Orion sighed. “What the princess seems to have forgotten since she’s been out of the Queendom is that there can be absolutely no compromise with the safety of the line. In order to ascertain no further… complications…I’ve taken every possible measure for your benefit.”

  “Well, there you have it, my dear,” Edina led Genevieve back to the table, all of the servants following closely. “Surely your uncle wouldn’t have placed such constructs if it weren’t necessary. Though I can understand your distress. I myself was mortified when I heard of your gallivanting out with bandits.”

  “I wasn’t gallivanting. I was strategizing.”

  “Whatever you want to call it, darling.”

  The Goddess had her chair pulled out as a servant gently prodded Genevieve to her own seat and slid her in. As her mother was being served, Genevieve stared down at her full plate with disinterest.

  “So, where were you being hidden?” she asked Edina.

  “I cannot rightly say, Evy,” Edina l
ifted her wine to her lips and sipped coyly before answering again. “It was a lovely climate though. Nice and warm, tropical sunsets, beautiful water features, and endless fresh food. I hope to return again shortly.”

  “So it’s been like a vacation?” Genevieve asked.

  “A much needed one. After having to vacate our lands, I’ve found my mind heavy. But your uncle assured me that everything will be put to rights soon enough. We will have our home back.”

  “Of course, if we catch Chavez in time.”

  “What?” Edina paused with her fork in midair. “Chavez? What does he have to do with this?”

  She looked over at Orion, who was almost too busy glaring at Genevieve to notice.

  “She doesn’t know?” Genevieve asked him blankly.

  Orion spoke over his niece. “It is being taken care of, Edina. Not to worry.”

  Genevieve tried again. “Mother. Did you not know that Esteban Chavez is the one who has done all of this?”

  Edina tapped her chin with a lone finger. “I cannot say that I did. Why would an appointed Chancellor do such a thing?”

  Her innocence on the situation couldn’t possibly be feigned. Genevieve was beyond words. She looked between her mother and uncle with wide eyes.

  “He’s gone completely mad, mother,” she said. “He’s raising armies of savages and appointing daevors to control them for organized warfare, and–”

  “Please! Ladies!” Orion held both his hands up, and Edina bristled. “Edina. The right culprit will be brought to justice. We have him right where we want him. In the meantime, this isn’t proper dinner conversation.”

  “If you say so.” Edina returned to her food with tiny nibbles and absolutely no leftover misgivings on the topic.

  “You have to know what’s going on!” Genevieve couldn’t believe this. Had this always been the case? Had the Goddess of the lixyns, the high power herself, hold no regard for the state of the world around her? “This is far more serious than Uncle Orion wants you to believe, Mother. Chavez has proclaimed war against our Queendom, and he’ll raise the lands in combat until he sees himself in power. That means he plans to kill you! And me! And anyone who stands in his way!”

  Orion moved his plate aside. “Genevieve!”

  “You’ve been told that everything is under control, but it isn’t! There are cryptids and humans dying by the day. Bandit packs are being wiped out, and those who remain are being moved to refugee camps! I’ve seen it!”

  “Genevieve, that’s enough!”

  “Uncle knows this to be true, and that’s why he tries to silence me! He even had me forcibly taken from my recruits, drugging me to get me here! For the love of all that is good, you have to open your eyes and see what’s happening here!”

  “Niece! You are stressing your mother out!”

  “That is terrible,” Edina looked over to Orion. “But it is being seen to, correct?”

  Orion nodded. “Precisely.”

  “So what else can we do?”

  Genevieve slammed her hand against the table for the second time that afternoon. “How do you know he is taking care of it if you’re just now hearing all of this?”

  Her mother sat ramrod straight. “Your Uncle Orion has always been loyal to me. He’s secured our rule over the cryptid holds, pulled our people out of worse scrapes than you could possibly imagine, and to this day has yet to show any error in judgment. If he says he’s taken care of it, it cannot be a lie!”

  “Did you hear anything that I just said?” Genevieve demanded. “About Chavez? About the order to have me forcibly brought here?”

  “Evy, your uncle is right. That is quite enough.”

  The urge to vacate the table and return to her quarters overwhelmed Genevieve, , but it would not solve a thing. She had to make her mother understand this wasn’t an average complication. This was an uprising. And it could see them all dead.

  But Edina’s smile was back firmly in place. “Can we please enjoy the rest of our reunion, and our meal? The veal is particularly supple. I know it used to be your favorite.” "

  Genevieve wanted to scream again. But it was best to stay in the queen’s good graces if she planned on getting her point across any time soon, so she ate a bite or two of the food sitting before her. Orion, pleased that his niece had been swiftly silenced, returned to his own plate and changed the subject flawlessly.

  After the ample meal and a decadent dessert that sat bland on Genevieve’s tongue, Edina spoke up. “I require a bit of solitude, but after that, I would love to spend some time with you, Evy. We can take a stroll in the gardens, or we can have a spa hour. What do you think? Does that sound nice?”

  “Yes, mother. That would be appreciated.”

  Edina clapped her hands together. “Wonderful! I will meet you in the grand hall in a half an hour. Don’t be late!” She gave her daughter’s hand a squeeze before leaving the dining room. The servant guards were directly behind, never losing sight of her. Genevieve rose to leave after her mother disappeared, but she paused when her uncle pushed away from his own chair.

  “I know what you are planning to try,” Orion said. “Believe me when I say that my allegiance will survive. You are wasting your time.”

  Genevieve looked over her shoulder at the man she once respected. “It is really sad that you cannot admit, even to yourself, the abject fact.”

  “And what fact is that, niece?”

  “That we are losing. And it is your fault.” She hitched her skirt at him before leaving the room.

  CHAPTER 9

  Winx and Keaton didn’t feel it was wise to stop in towns for more than essentials like food and gas. Seven full hours of driving brought them to Salt Lake City, and again, they stayed at the edges of the metropolis. No quietly-acquired hotel rooms or vacation homes for them.

  “I never thought that I would be more worried about humans being attacked than about me,” Winx said as she helped Keaton unload some of the things from her car. They had parked carefully in an open space of what used to be a ranch. The premises had been condemned eons ago from the look of it, but there was a barn was sort of clean and very empty, so the two of them took it over for the night.

  “I know the feeling.” Keaton chuckled. “But it would be a disaster to create more savages in the Promised Land.”

  Winx snorted. “What do you know about the Promised Land?”

  “Only what you told me the last time we drove through here.”

  “Oh. Right.”

  She made sure she got her shears from the car, and her old shovel sat in the trunk beneath it.

  “You should really start keeping a weapon,” Winx told Keaton, lifting the shovel by its handle. “Even if it’s just this.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Your speed and claws only do so much for you. With a weapon, you could enhance your kill radius, as well as your head count.”

  “I’ve never considered using a weapon,” Keaton admitted as he took the shovel from her.

  “I got the idea from seeing Sabrina’s failed endeavors at killing a savage. That girl was truly clueless.” Winx shook her head slowly.

  “It’s not really her fault,” Keaton said, closing Winx’s trunk. ”Bandits come from a long line of those who harbor the old ways. Since it worked centuries ago, just about every pack emulates it.”

  “That’s stupid,” Winx said. “Especially when you’ve adapted to use other things, like cars or fire.”

  “Some inventions are helpful enough that we make use of them. But otherwise we like to stay off of the grid. It’s easier on us.”

  The barn still had a musty animal scent and had old bales of straw strewn around, but it was sheltered from what looked like rain clouds coming in, and it wasn’t a cramped vehicle. It would do.

  Winx lay down on top of her rolled-out pallet with her arms crossed behind her head. She’d take this over a bandit cabin in the woods any day. Keaton dragged his things close to her makeshift bed and sat down beside her
with a plop.

  “You don’t have to be so close,” Winx reminded him mildly. “There’s plenty of room around here.”

  “What’s the problem? We’ve been sleeping together for all this time. I’d rather like to continue.”

  Winx fought a laugh with abysmal results. “No, we haven’t. Not back at your pack’s territory.”

  “True. But think about it. We’ll stay warmer this way, and I’ll be able to better protect you.”

  Winx stared at him, not convinced.

  “Okay, fine. You can do the protecting.” He grinned at her jokingly.

  “You are an odd duck, Keaton Silver.” Winx shared his smile halfheartedly.

  Keaton got comfortable. Despite the chill, comfortable entailing removing his thin shirt and stretching out beside her with a bare chest.

  “I thought I was the stripper around here.”

  “You may say you’re a dancer. But you’re not the only one.” Keaton’s face lit up at his pun. “Do you want to listen to some music?”

  He dug in his backpack for a moment. Winx stared at the way his corded muscles twisted in his back. What a magnificent strong body he had.

  She wasn’t the only girl who had noticed. Sabrina had accordingly taken up Keaton on his charms, once upon a time, and she’d wanted to continue their affair. A fact that, for some weird reason, kept coming to the forefront of Winx’s mind. Why did meeting one of Keaton’s former bedtime toys bother her so much? Did it matter who he slept with? This odd feeling of possession was creeping over her, making her…

  Jealous. She was jealous.

  Finding what he was looking for, Keaton pulled out a small radio. He checked the battery compartment. Satisfied, he flipped it on and found a radio station. A tune began to echo around the barn just as thunder rolled in from overhead.

  “You see? It’s perfect.” Keaton placed the radio above their heads, and then he scooted closer until their legs brushed together. They laid looking at one another over the dulcet tones of Bryan Adams.

  Winx lifted an eyebrow. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

  “What?” Keaton chuckled a little with the question.