by Ciara Graves
“We can put people around the veil,” a demon suggested.
“There’s too much to keep track of,” Owen argued. “And we don’t know if he’s even going to use the veil. Those vampires tore a rift into Valesk, and he did the same when he attacked you, yes?” he asked, directing the last question to me.
“He did. Just came through.”
“So guarding different parts of the veil would be a waste of manpower. Is there a place where he’s connected to?” Marlie asked. “Somewhere he’s drawn to? A stronghold he would be tempted to use? If we could find that and set a trap, we might have a chance to catch him off guard.”
Seneca cleared her throat, raising her hand. “I think I have an idea.”
I knew exactly what that idea was.
She said, “I could draw him to me. Make him come to wherever I am.”
“How?” Marlie asked.
I clenched my fists. “No.”
Seneca gave me a pleading look. “Just hear me out, alright? I can send him a message, trick him into going wherever you want him to go. Hell, I could get him to come here. You and I both know he doesn’t have a stronghold here. This could work.”
“And I said no. It’s too risky, and you’ve been talking to him long enough.”
“Draven, come on. You want to know where he’s going to come through. This is how to guarantee we know. Let me do this.”
“Do you see that blood coming out of your nose? What will happen when you try to call him here?”
She pressed her fingers to her nose and pulled them away wet with a few drops of fresh blood. “Doesn’t matter. You want to end this war, right? Then let me do this. Let me bring him to us. We can set a trap, be ready for him.”
“What happens if it backfires on you? What if he winds up stealing you from me?”
“Hasn’t happened yet.”
“You’re not doing this, end of discussion. We’ll find another way.”
She tilted her head as if listening to something, like the voices inside her head were talking to her, drowning me out. Then she stood and nodded, her face going pale. “Fine. I’ll be at the cottage if you need me.”
“Seneca,” I said as she passed, but she kept on walking.
Shane wasn’t far behind, whispering to me as he went, “I’ll make sure she doesn’t wander off,” then was gone, too.
A strained silence fell over the tent as I leaned on the table, imagining all the ways I could kill Rudarius if I only had one chance, just one chance to get my hands on him, tear his heart out and set him ablaze.
Just one damned chance.
“Draven? You want to continue?” Marlie prodded.
“Yes, sorry. I want to run over the strengths of those we have in the encampment. If we’re going to fight Rudarius and his army, we’re going to do this right.” I glanced once more at the tent entrance but turned my thoughts away from Seneca, and to the battle I sensed was inching closer and closer to our doorstep.
Chapter 4
Seneca
Shane followed me all the way to the cottage. I entered the back door, and thankfully he stayed outside. I’d just reached the bedroom and just closed the door when my legs gave out, and I hit the floor, hard. My nose gushing blood, I pulled myself up by the chest of drawers, using the wall to get my sorry ass into the bathroom.
I balled up some toilet paper and shoved it against my nose, tilting my head back to try and stop the bleeding.
If you hadn’t fought us, this wouldn’t have happened.
“Can we just not right now? That’d be great,” I muttered, shutting my eyes.
You’re the only reason you’re in pain right now.
I was about to argue that a bloody nose wasn’t about to cause me pain until a sharp stab started in my gut. It doubled me over and then I was coughing into the sink. A strong metallic taste filled my mouth and blood spattered across the white ceramic. I lifted my head to find blood on my lips and staining my teeth.
“What did you do to me?” I snapped when I was back to coughing.
It’s not us who are doing this to you. You were warned that fighting would tear you apart. Do you think it was a joke how serious this situation you’re in is? Oh, Seneca, you’re about to be on borrowed time unless you stick to the plan. Got it?
“Screw you.” I gasped. My gut twisted as if someone reached a hand deep inside me and messed with my innards. I coughed more, wondering how much blood I could spit up before I passed out. I wiped my mouth on my arm, clutching at the sink with both hands. “I can’t do this, alright? I won’t. I’m sorry, but what you want, isn’t what I want.”
You don’t want Rudarius dead?
“I do, but not like this. And that power, no one should have that much power. No one should have the power I already have.” Another stabbing pain almost drew a scream from my mouth, but I clamped my lips shut and swallowed it down until I was back to puking up more blood.
You’re giving us no choice. You’re going to end up killing yourself.
“Maybe that’s preferable.”
Oh no, you’re not about to deny us what we want. Trust us. That is not what you want to do. We suggest you lie down now and get some sleep.
My eyelids became heavy, and I slumped over the sink. Even as I debated sleeping on the bathroom floor, I found myself walking to bed, climbed in and falling backward into it. I should’ve washed the blood away. Draven would see it. He’d ask questions. A soothing voice told me not to worry about it, and I was too exhausted to fight against its calming tones, lulling me to sleep.
Rudarius’s scream filled the dungeon.
I watched and sighed. It was only the fourth time I’d made him die during this trip to his mind, and it had been quite enjoyable each and every time. But it wasn’t enough. He wasn’t even close to breaking. There was a hint of fear in his eyes now, a very small hint, but that was all.
I wanted to see terror. I wanted him to plead for mercy. I wanted him to lie on that cold stone floor, shivering and crying as I did all those years ago.
Even as I thought it, even as I waved my hand to reset the scene so I could do it all over again, a wriggling of doubt tried to sound in the back of my mind. I frowned, hand halfway to Rudarius’s arm to haul him upright. I blinked, and my jaw dropped at sight of the blood on my hands and the floor. It was like a damned slaughterhouse. It might all be inside Rudarius’s head, but the shock of seeing so much red had me stumbling back into the wall.
What the hell was I doing? How had I even gotten here? I’d been in my cottage, right? I’d gone there to rest. The last thing I remembered was falling asleep.
“Tired of torturing me so soon?” Rudarius spat at my feet as he cackled hoarsely. “Amateur.”
A whisper in my mind made me roll my shoulders, and when my gaze refocused on Rudarius, any hint of doubts vanished like they’d never been there before. “Not even close. Let’s try it a new way, shall we? Unless, of course, you’d like to simply give in and admit defeat.”
“Why are you doing this?” he asked as I slammed him into the wall and manacled his hands.
“What? Don’t tell me you’re not proud of the crazed monster you turned me into.”
“You’re not crazed, but you are turning into an unrecognizable beast. Tell me, how does Draven feel about you torturing me, hmm? Does he relish my pain? Does he enjoy knowing how much I suffer at your hands?”
I punched the stone right beside his head, overcome with a rush of rage.
Rudarius’s eyes flickered from my fist to my face. “Ah, so he doesn’t know what you’re up to. Interesting.”
“Shut up.”
“Why should I? You’re in my head torturing me. You think I’m going to make it easy for you?”
“If you know what’s good for you, you’d give in.”
“It’s not in my blood to quit,” he said as he hissed. “But keeping this from Draven, now why would you go and do that? I’d think he’d be pleased to know you’re breaking me apart piec
e by piece. Slowly, painfully, working to shatter me. To turn me into nothing. Not a vampire. Not a man. Just a shell of who I once was.”
The dungeon shimmered around me, and I staggered back. “I said shut up.”
My vision swam. Voices clamored to be heard inside my head. Shit, what was I doing? I hadn’t meant to come here again. So why did I?
“Such a heartless killer you are now,” Rudarius seethed.
“I said shut up.” I grabbed hold of his head and twisted as hard as I could. The crack of bone bounced off the stone wall, and he fell to the floor in a heap. I stepped away, trying to clear my head, but there was a fog in my head, stopping me from understanding how I’d gotten here.
I’d been in the tent after I cast the barrier. Then I’d gone back to the house, and there was something else. I held out my hands in front of my face. They were stained a deep red. I gagged, and blood filled my mouth. I had to get out of here, get away from Rudarius. I had to get back home and to Draven. I needed clarity, now more than ever. I strained to remember the last couple of days in vivid detail, but they were blurred as if I’d been walking around in a daze.
The sounds of bones crunching came from behind me, followed by chains dragging across the floor. I didn’t have to turn around to know Rudarius was standing, with his neck intact. And I didn’t want to turn around.
I walked forward a few steps when he called out to me. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“I’m finished, I’m not doing this anymore,” I whispered. More to myself than him.
“Oh, no? Bored already?”
“Will you just shut up,” I shouted and spun around toward him again.
He smiled mockingly, but that sliver of fear was growing and morphing right before my eyes. “You should’ve joined me when you had the chance. You really think a ragtag army of fae, demons, and vampires will defeat the force I have?”
His words sent an icy touch down my spine. “What did you say?”
“Or that your beloved Draven can lead them to victory?” he went on louder. “You, my sweet Seneca will never be smarter than me. You can torture me all you like, but there is one thing you have never learned. I always take advantage of every situation. Every single one.” He raised his manacled hands, snapped his fingers, and the dungeon disappeared. We were back in the room as he paced closer.
I focused, trying to gain control back, but the voices in my head screamed, and I screamed with them, as if someone plunged a stake right through my chest. I clutched at the aching spot, falling away from Rudarius and his confused, narrowed eyed glare.
“Interesting indeed,” he murmured.
I had to get away from him. This was bad, worse than bad. I had to tell Draven. Rudarius reached for me, but I screamed again and flung myself out of the vision, only to land on the floor in my bedroom. I looked up at the ceiling until my stomach roiled and I crawled into the bathroom, managing to reach the toilet as I vomited. Blood stained the water. I sat back, my cheeks hot as I cursed.
Sunlight shone through the window. I panicked until I realized Draven wasn’t in here. As relieved as I was I didn’t have him hovering over my shoulder, a hollowness filled my chest. I had to track him down and fast, tell him what was going on.
You will do no such thing, the voices scolded harshly, making me cringe.
“Rudarius knows. He knows what we’re doing. How?”
It was a risk we decided to take.
“What risk, damn it?”
To reach his mind, to inflict pain, we had to strengthen the connection. So he knows about our army. Who cares? What does matter is he fears you, Seneca. He fears what you’ve become.
“I haven’t become anything.”
But you have, and it’s going to be glorious. That future Rudarius showed you is nothing compared to the reality of the world we’ll create.
“What did you do to me? How long was I out?”
As long as necessary. I suggest you do not break our connection with him the next time. We are close, so very close—
The doorbell rang.
I jumped, then cursed myself for being so on edge. When was the last time I jumped from hearing the damned doorbell? Using the sink, I got up and walked slowly toward the door. As soon as I left my bedroom, I walked right into a very large, very familiar demon. We looked at each other, and I was thrown into the past when he used to live here with me. When we used to be together. I saw the memories flare to life in Owen’s eyes, too, but then they narrowed.
“Are you alright? Look like shit.”
“Wow, you could just lie and say I look great instead of that I look like shit. I feel like shit,” I rambled, not even sure why.
Owen reached up and rubbed his thumb across my chin. “Blood. Did you hurt yourself?”
“Huh? No, probably from my bloody nose last night. Where’s Draven?” The doorbell rang again, but neither of us moved to get it.
“He stayed down at the encampment until the sun came up. Said he’d be back tonight.”
“Oh, right. Sure.”
“Seneca, you sure you’re alright? Do you need to talk or anything?”
The doorbell rang twice in rapid succession, and he growled.
“No,” I said as I edged around him. “Just, ah, just wanted to know how the meeting went after I left, but I’m sure I’ll hear all about it later. Should probably get the door, you know?” My hands shook, and my body was weak as if I hadn’t eaten in days.
I was at the door when the bell rang again, but stopped and I frowned. When I had I eaten last?
“Seneca.”
“Huh?” Owen motioned to the door, and I nodded. “Right, door.” I opened it then slammed it shut just as fast. “Shit.”
“Seneca, open this door,” Agent Williams shouted, banging on it.
“Is that the Fed?” Owen asked, peeking out the window.
“Yeah, that’d be him.” What was he doing here? So much happened since the last time I talked to him. I sucked in a deep breath and opened the door again. “Yeah?”
“Don’t yeah me,” he snapped and pushed his way inside. “Explain yourself right now.”
“Not sure what you mean.”
He shoved his leather jacket aside so he could put his hands on his hips and flash his badge and gun at the same time. He should know me better than that. Did he really think those would scare me? Especially after all the shit I’d been through in the last few days?
“Fine, you want to play stupid, go for it. How about we start with the army positioned out back.”
I glanced to Owen who shrugged, playing along perfectly. “Army? Do you think I have an army out back? Really? Huh, that’s interesting. They weren’t there last night.”
“I’m not in the mood,” Williams snapped, his eyes flashing white in warning. “What are you up to? You tell me right now, or I’ll take you in.”
“For what?”
“Trespassing.”
I couldn’t hold back my sudden burst of laughter. “Right, have fun with that. You do realize though I own all that land and I’m pretty sure I can do whatever I want on it. You know, since it’s mine and all.”
He worked his jaw from side to side as his face reddened. “And the magical barrier around it?”
“You should tell him the truth,” Owen suggested. “He has a right to know.”
“Right, like the Feds will actually lift a hand to help us. They don’t care. They never have before.”
“Care about what?” Williams asked, tone belligerent.
“Rudarius.”
This time when his eyes flashed white, it wasn’t out of anger, but uncertainty. “What about him?”
“I know you guys have been after him for years and here’s your chance.”
“Not following.”
Owen rolled his eyes as he sat his large frame down in the armchair. “Rudarius is coming here, and he’s bringing war with him. You know, the war that destroyed the three fae kingdoms and Valesk. The war that the
paranormal government should already know is coming and be doing something to prepare for it.”
Williams’s stance relaxed as he rubbed the back of his neck. “We heard of what happened, but that’s in Otherworld, and it’s not in our jurisdiction. Nor is Valesk.”
“He’s about to be here. This is your jurisdiction, but as far as any of us can tell, no one seems to care enough to do anything.”
“We’re assembling a team.”
“A team. A single team to stop him and his army. You’re joking, right?”
He shrugged and in that short moment, I actually felt sorry for him. “I don’t have the kind of power to assemble the damned troops, and neither do you. This army of yours needs to disperse, or I’ll have you arrested for inciting unrest.”
“Then arrest me, because they’re not going anywhere.”
Williams shook his head. “You don’t know what you’re doing.”
“Actually, I do. I’m going to stop Rudarius, and you can either convince your asshole bosses to aid us, or you can all go to hell. How’s that sound?”
“Seneca—”
“No, just stop. I’m not going to sit around and wait for someone else to deal with Rudarius. He’s our problem, and it’s time we got rid of him. Are you in or not?”
Williams spun around, muttering under his breath. I crossed my fingers, hoping he’d make the right decision. But when he faced us again, the resolve on his face was like a punch to the gut. “You have seven days to pack this shit-show up and move them, got it? No more. If they’re not gone in a week, you all will be taken into custody. I’m sorry.”
“If you cared you’d be staying and fighting with us.”
“You’ve amassed an army,” he shouted, spreading his arms wide. “What the hell am I supposed to do with that? We have a process.”
“And you think Rudarius is going to waste time with a process?” I walked toward him and looked him right in the eye. “He’s going to break through the worlds, and when he does, he’s going to kill anyone who gets in his way. Do you want all that blood on your hands? Do you?”
Williams’s lips thinned, but he moved toward the door then was gone.