Dark Rising Trilogy

by DeAnna Browne

  Alone with Becca and Darion, Andre took a deep breath, letting his shoulders fall ever so slightly. His short black hair had gathered more silver since they had been on the move. Stress would do that to someone.

  “Do you believe we can do it?” Darion asked.

  He’d been hesitating to go ever since Becca mentioned it. Especially because it posed a risk to Becca who, in his words, hadn’t had the proper training. Her magic had been blocked until about a year ago, throwing her life into chaos, death and destruction. She had her own doubts about their plans, but they needed something more to fight Lazaro and this may be it.

  “We have to.” She told Darion, but he continued to watch Andre.

  His kind eyes took both of them in. “I know there are secrets there to unlock. I wish I could go myself.” They had gone through this before, but a larger group would be detected leaving the continent. Lazaro had people around the world, several stronger than Ryma had been. And to defeat Ryma nearly left Andre and Becca dead. They needed better weapons if they were going to have a chance to survive. “But to answer your question, Darion, yes, I think you can find what we need. Keep your heads down, and there will be answers to be found.”

  Becca wondered if they would be the right answers.

  Chapter Seventy-Seven

  After the meeting, Darion and Becca headed back to the center of camp.

  “I have to make another quick stop before we head out.” Darion squeezed Becca’s hand as if to say goodbye, but she clung onto it, which he loved.

  “Nevada’s? It’d be good to see him before we left.”

  “I agree.” He shouldn’t be surprised. Becca had grown to like Nevada since the battle with Ryma, despite his insults to her wardrobe. His powers also made it possible to hide the camp.

  As they approached, Nevada’s tent remained securely shut. One never knew what they’d find inside. Darion tapped on the pole. “Nevada, you home?”

  “If I must be,” Nevada spoke from inside.

  Darion walked in just as Nevada’s roommate, Jeff, walked out, mumbling under his breath. Darion only caught the words “Freaking zoo.” One look inside the tent and Darion could understand Jeff’s exasperation. The inside of the tent looked like the savannah. One wall had a herd of elephants walking across, the other a lion lazing. The furniture remained sparse, but the vibrant colors and elaborate decor almost hurt the eyes for such a small space.

  “You need to get out more, Nevada.” Becca turned in a circle, taking in all the pictures.

  “Why?” He reclined on his cot in his true skin—or what Becca had come to see as his real self. He had dark skin, with small tight braids highlighted in gold lining his head. A good look on him. His clean white linen pants and shirt edged with gold were obviously fake, since he joined the rebels with only the clothes on his back.

  Darion sat on Jeff’s cot, across from Nevada who had been having a hard time adjusting to this lifestyle. He had suffered for months while serving Ryma and his apprentice, Peter. Through a blood oath, they forced Nevada to join them in the battle. Once Ryma was killed, Nevada’s bond to the coven leader had been broken. It had taken some convincing, but Nevada had joined Andre and his group of followers.

  “What’s really going on?” Darion asked his friend.

  Nevada picked at the edge of his shirt, and Darion couldn’t figure out how since this was all an illusion. Maybe it was his real shirt. He finally looked up, his face carefully blank. “I’m useless.”

  “What?” Becca sat next to Darion. “You’re helping hide the entire camp. You’re essential.”

  “Yes, then what?”

  “What do you mean?” Darion asked.

  “I set up camp then I’m bored silly. Just another pretty face in the crowd.” His features blurred, and his face became Becca’s for a moment, but with lilac eyes. It was disturbing to say the least.

  “You’re freaking me out.” Becca shivered.

  “Have you talked to Andre? I’m sure there is other work to be done,” Darion said.

  Nevada shook his head and flipped back to his own face.

  Darion breathed easier with the change. “Andre is a smart man and doesn’t waste talent. He probably doesn’t want to push you since you’re recovering.”

  “I’m sure you’re right. I’m just in a funk, feeling like I’m in an army. I’m sort of done with the whole dictator thing.”

  “Give things time,” Becca said. “It took me awhile to come around as well, but this is our best chance to challenge Lazaro.”

  “If Lazaro is gone then what? Someone stronger will replace him, and they won’t play by the rules any more than he does.”

  He had a point. One that Darion had been contemplating for some time. “Let’s focus on one thing at a time. We won’t be free until he’s gone. Then we can figure out how to rebuild for the future. I trust Andre.”

  Nevada raised a brow. He had been around long enough to know Darion’s mistrust of covens that made magically binding promises to power hungry wizards. They both had been on the run, hiding for years, but they preferred the city to camping. But when you have over a hundred people running with you, a city isn’t practical.

  “Okay.” Nevada slumped back into his chair. “I’ll stick it out. It’s not like I have anywhere better to go. Now, where are you two off to?”

  They told Nevada they had finalized their plans and were heading off to the Central America. Since Andre was recruiting allies, this was the best, and possibly only, time to go.

  “You really think you’ll find something?” Nevada had asked him this question before. “I doubt Lazaro would have left anything of worth down there.”

  “Information may be worth more than he thinks,” Darion said.

  “I’m tempted to go with you two, but ya know…” He waved his hand around. “I’m needed here for my magic tricks.”

  “It’s a hell of a lot more than tricks,” Becca said.

  “I still remember how much you loathed my power when I first met you.”

  “I’ve changed. You saved my ass back there and are saving my sister and those I love now. Plus, who else can hang out with elephants and lions in the Americas?”

  Nevada finally stood and walked over to the lion. “I’m sure there are some in a rundown zoo somewhere, but thanks.” He waved his hand over the image, and the lion spun into leaves floating through the air, disappearing as if they moved through the wall.

  Darion stood, knowing they needed to get going. He was glad Nevada would stay here, not only for the safety of the camp but for Nevada as well. Darion knew the cost of living on the run without friends or family. Nevada needed these people as much as they needed him. He wished he had time to talk to Andre, get Nevada some responsibility or a job of sorts. It would help him feel like he belonged. He walked over to Nevada, hugging his friend. “Keep an eye on things and stay out of trouble until I get back. I never want to see you on the opposite side of a battle again.”

  “Let’s just avoid the battle, shall we?” Nevada pulled back, raising his brows.

  Darion wished it could be that easy.

  Becca squinted as the sun reflected off the water. A cool breeze carried in the air caused Becca to zip up her jacket. People flooded the old wooden dock that creaked and swayed with the crowd of travelers and entrepreneurs. A woman’s voice hollering about meat pies pierced the air over the roar of the crowd.

  Andre and several others from camp came with Becca and Darion to collect supplies for camp before their next move. Gratefully, the group included Becca’s lifelong best friend, Caleb. After a long absence from each other, they reunited last year when his parents were killed, and her sister was kidnapped. Caleb had been by Becca’s side through it all. And even when Becca had nothing to offer him but friendship, he stood by her. Something time couldn’t change.

  Despite the harsh living situation of the last year, he had grown into his own as a member of Leon’s security force. As a Mundane, he would always be on the
disadvantage, but his confidence and skills gave him a fighting chance.

  “You ready to live on the water?” Caleb walked next to her, while Darion led the small group, which included Caleb and two other Mundane security forces.

  “Not exactly excited about it but flying sounds a hell of a lot scarier—not that any normal person can afford it. At least if I fall off the boat, I know how to swim.”

  “Just watch out for sharks.”

  “Don’t worry, I plan on staying on board.”

  “I know how you work with new people, you may not have a choice.” The side of his lip lifted with his sarcasm.

  She knocked into him. “Shut it.”

  Darion looked backwards. “He may have a point.”

  “Watch it or I may push you off the boat.” Becca told him. “Fire doesn’t mix well with water.”

  “True,” Caleb said as Darion scowled in her direction.

  How could he look so damn cute even while scowling?

  Without a prompt, her sister replied. Don’t ask me. I prefer boys who know how to comb their hair properly.

  Becca stopped, jolted by the interruption. It didn’t matter how much she had spoken to her sister telepathically, when Elizabeth jumped into her thoughts it freaked Becca out. People knocked into her, but she ignored it.

  Caleb reached for her arm. “What is it?”

  “Nothing, just Elizabeth adding her two cents to the conversation.”

  Darion appeared on her other side. “Remember your shields.”

  “I know.” Becca paused and closed her eyes to return to the conversation with her sister before she closed the connection.

  Elizabeth spoke first. I didn’t mean to surprise you. Your thoughts are often just as jarring.

  Sorry, I’ll put up a better barrier.

  Not too good. Someone needs to keep an eye on you.

  Becca smiled at the idea. Okay. Chat with you later.

  By the time she finished, the guys were trying to act casually. Darion kept a hand on the small of her back. “Just a headache,” she said a little louder, pinching her nose, hoping it would quell the curiosity of the nearby observers.

  “Better now?” Caleb asked, while scanning the crowd behind her.

  “Yes, let’s keep moving.” Starting towards the boat, Becca noticed the guys’ unsettled gazes moving through the crowd. “Do you see anything?”

  The people on the dock kept to themselves but moved in masses, pushing and pulling. Caleb mumbled something she couldn’t hear, but both guys remained close. After living on the run for months together, the three of them were used to fighting together and watching each other’s back.

  Huge boats rose up several stories, the ocean water slapping against their hull. The smell of the fish had become a familiar one as Becca lived with the rebels in caves for months right next to the sea. The only difference now was that she was going in a boat on the ocean.

  They turned, heading down the last path, searching for their ship. Becca spotted it at the end of the dock, standing two stories high and built for hauling cargo. Rust ate at the blue paint on the bottom, and large multicolored shipping containers were stacked on top—almost like children’s play toys. Three large yellow crane-like apparatuses lined the center of the ship.

  “I guess this is home for the next few days.” Darion stopped at the bottom of the ramp. “The man who sold us passage made Ms. Lucille sound like a luxury cruise liner.”

  “Maybe it had something to do with the fact you sold us as magicked crewmen.” Becca worried about that but getting free passage at the last minute had proven to be a challenge.

  Setting her bag down, she turned to Caleb. A cold worry crept into her mind, leaving Caleb and the others was harder than she let on. “Will you keep an eye on Elizabeth?”

  “You know I will.” He glanced at Darion. “And if you don’t bring her back in one piece—”

  “I won’t be coming back without her.”

  “Good.” Caleb bent down to wrap Becca up in a massive hug. Picking her up, he cut off all oxygen.

  She would have laughed or made a comment at his bear-type hug, but the scene over his shoulder sent her heart racing. A man flew several feet over the heads of the crowd and crashed into a group of people. Shouts filled the air, and in the center of everything stood Andre.

  “Caleb, put her down.” The serious tone in Darion’s voice meant he was seeing it too.

  By the time Becca felt the ground underfoot, she had her knife pulled out. She started forward, and Darion grabbed her arm. “We should leave.”

  “What? And leave them to fight alone?”

  “Andre is more than capable, especially standing over water like we are.”

  “They are not alone.” Without another word, Caleb sprinted towards the conflict. Just like him, a Mundane with no powers, running towards the crazy magicians fighting.

  “We have to help Caleb. He’ll get hurt.”

  Darion turned to her with heat in his eyes. “You’re always one to jump into a fight. Our strongest power doesn’t lie with our fists.”

  Ignoring the insult, she knew he had a good point. Learning she had magical powers, the powers of an enchantress who could control demons and people alike, made her sick at first, but when the options were to use your powers or watch your loved ones die, the decision was easy.

  Remaining at the edge of the fight with Darion, she pushed through the energy of everyone’s minds on the dock. So much chaos made it hard to pick out individual minds to influence. Screams erupted, and Becca smelled fire in the air, probably from Darion. She couldn’t focus enough to grab hold of someone’s mind.

  Screw this. She pulled out her blade, as a runner for several years, she knew how to handle herself in a fight. Before she could take off, an older man raced towards them, not a man but a wizard. He attacked, and her shield wasn’t as strong as it should have been. Pain shot down her spine, and she reached for Darion to remain standing.

  Focusing her magic, she attacked, trying to take over his mind. The wizard slowed, fighting Becca’s hold. Then fire sparked in front of the man, catching quickly on the weathered dock. The man backed away as the fire grew in strength.

  Darion picked up both of their bags. “I think Andre has it covered.”

  “Does he?” Between the flames and men fighting, she couldn’t help but question it, but in the distance, waves soared high above the dock. People should know better than to take on Andre. “Okay. Let’s go.”

  They hurried onto the ramp for the boat. Ahead, crewman rushed around, readying the ship. The fight on the docks didn’t delay their departure; if anything, it looked as though they were rushing to leave.

  On the ramp, someone hit Becca’s shield again. With a glance over her shoulder, she realized the wizard had rounded the fire somehow. Angry at having to run while her friends fought, she dropped the bags and kept low, pulling out her knife. The large man noticed her a second too late and couldn’t stop short, which she counted on. Cutting low, she used his momentum to shove him over the ramp railing and into the ocean.

  Becca stood and glanced at Darion. “I did try magic first. When I first saw him.”

  “If you say so.” His sarcasm loud and clear.

  Behind on the dock, the blaze which had been rampant now died, smoldering at the base of the metal ramp. Efficiently cutting off the boat to anyone else.

  “Good idea.” She motioned to the dying blaze.

  “Earlier Andre told me to make sure no one followed. Not sure how that guy got around it.”

  “We better go before he comes back.”

  They hurried up the ramp, where the crewman worked shouting expletives almost every other word. Suddenly, the ground shifted underneath. The ramp began lifting in the air, folding back into itself. They picked up their pace, and the shift sent Becca crashing into Darion as they tumbled the rest of the way into the boat. No one paid attention to them at first, everyone going about their duties.

  Darion
and Becca sat heaped next to their bags, their breath coming out in sharp gasps. He swore as he sat up, nursing his hand. She hoped it wasn’t broken or anything.

  A scrubby old man with a hat and skin like baked leather stood over them. “Guess you’re the other magicians the cap’t hired. Figures.”

  Other magicians? Becca and Darion shared a look, the same question in their eyes. Who else did the captain hire, and where did their alliances lie? She didn’t have to worry long about alliances, as the witch in question stepped out of the shadows. But there was going to be a problem, a big problem.

  “Hey, guys.” Navina didn’t even have the courtesy to look ashamed.

  Chapter Seventy-Eight

  Knife in hand, Caleb wove through the crowd searching for the other rebels, especially Nikki with her thick black hair. He told himself it was just because she was the only female in the group. As a witch, she had been trained by her father to take care of herself, but that didn’t settle his heart. He spotted her father first, fighting several men at once. Maybe Caleb could even those odds a bit more.

  One advantage of being a Mundane was other magicians took you for granted. While the men focused their attacks on Andre and the other rebels, Caleb stalked through the crowd. One of the men standing out in the crowd wore a dark jacket, the hood pushed back to reveal a shaved head and an intricate tattoo down his neck. Tattoos can be powerful tools on magicians, but it didn’t slow Caleb down. The magician struck out at Andre, electric power flying from his hands.

  Focused, Caleb rushed the last few steps and, in a single movement, sliced the magician’s neck. It might not have been the quickest way to kill a magician, but it silenced his mouth and hence his spells. Caleb dashed into the crowd after, hoping not to draw attention.

  He had been a hunter since a child, hunting game with his father. After magicians killed his parents, burned them alive to be exact, switching his prey to dark magicians didn’t take much effort.

  Adrenaline raced through his body as he found his next target. A larger man threw curses at Andre, yet nearby Alex writhed on the ground. Alex was a weak magician but an excellent fighter and funny as hell. Though he didn’t look injured, his pained expression showed Caleb that this magician wouldn’t be as easy to take down. Stepping next to a post, he found a clear shot and pulled out his bow.