Viktoria's Shadow: Jael

by Ysobella Black

  A row of bushes growing dark blue sapphires surrounded her tree. Vines full of rare purple musgravite climbed along trellises and around the golden, glowing trunk. A wide canopy of branches that rivaled the spread of the jubokku hung heavy with coins, rubies, and emeralds.

  The dryad who cared for the tree peered out from behind the thick trunk. She took on traits from the tree and bushes she tended. Her eyes glittered the purple. Lips blue, hair green and red. Skin gold with a bark texture. She shyly smiled at Viktoria and gave a small wave.

  “Hello, Kahliste.” Viktoria set her shopping bags down and knelt beside them. The dryad always seemed nervous, like she thought she wasn’t doing a good job, or that Viktoria was there to take everything away. “The grove looks healthy and beautiful. You’re doing a wonderful job.”

  At the words of praise, Kahliste ventured out from behind the trunk and approached. “Hi, Viktoria.” At four feet tall, she appeared child-like, but Viktoria had known her for hundreds of years.

  Viktoria held out a handful of sapphires. She used to try and help with this part, but after seeing her work dug up and reburied, now left the placement to the dryad.

  Kahliste scooped up the gems with an excited squeak, darted to the row of bushes, and dug a small hole for each new addition. She planted the rubies, emeralds and coins, but she placed anything gold into the trunk itself, adding to its glow.

  The tree and bushes around it absorbed what was planted in the soil and grew more of the same. The longer the gems and treasures remained buried, the larger and more plentiful the crop of jewels and coins she could pluck became. She rarely took any of the jewels that grew here, but it was nice to know the riches were available if she or her sisters ever needed them.

  “Do you need anything?” Usually, Viktoria brought gifts for Kahliste, but her visit today hadn’t been planned.

  Kahliste shook her head, as she always did, and Viktoria stood to go. The dryad hardly noticed.

  Back outside, Viktoria bit her lip as she took in the pile of gadgets Dream and Memory had amassed on a counter, to the utter delight of the woman helping them. Laptops. Tablets. Phones. Watches. Headphones. Game consoles. Virtual assistants. Even a robotic vacuum cleaner. What did they think a robotic vacuum was going to do in Pohjola? “How are you going to charge everything? We don't even know if this stuff will work in Poh — at home.”

  No wonder the saleswoman looked so delighted. Maybe I should have picked a few gems after all.

  “Well.” Memory added a digital camera to the stack. “We'll have to hope our kidnappers have electricity and Wi-Fi. We have to have some standards.”

  “Exactly.” Dream nodded. “And we can’t go back with things only for ourselves. You don’t have to live with our sisters. There would be another rebellion.”

  Viktoria laughed. It was a good thing she’d just made a lot of money at the showing with Ember. She didn’t have the heart to deny her sisters anything, and handed over her credit card.

  “Besides, we all have faith in you. Once we’re free, everything is going to be so different for us.”

  The pressure to free her sisters weighed heavily on her. She could do it. And when her sisters were free, they would need up-to-date things. And they would be free. All of them.

  “You know what? Let’s do Christmas like humans. And we’ll buy ornaments, garlands and stuff to decorate one of the trees in the yard. And lots of presents for everyone.”

  “Best, best, best day ever!” Dream hugged Viktoria again.

  As their final stop, Viktoria opened the door to Sweets To Eat, letting the delicious scents tempt her. Her credit card bill was going to be scary.

  The line wended down one aisle, up the next and halfway down the third. But no one complained. Nicole, still very pregnant, waddled as fast as she could to fill orders from the display case and take payments, while Leilani dealt with a tall man with a black braid that reached his feet. His bad hair days must be truly epic. But that braid... had the man come to Pohjola before? Memory would know.

  Arms crossed, making her octopus tattoo stand out on her chest, Leilani shook her head, scowling at him. Had her tattoo been there before?

  Dream moaned as they took their places in line among the shelves of candy and baked goods. “I think I want to live here. Can we live here? This shop smells delicious.”

  “It always does. I think Nicole would frown on us moving in, though. We need to stock up on supplies for tonight, then we’ll head home.”

  “I can’t believe Memory prefers gadgets and wanted to wait in the car. There’s something wrong with her.” Dream picked up two of the conveniently placed baskets at the end of the aisle and piled desserts inside each.

  “I’m sure she’s just figured out we’ll buy everything anyway, and she doesn’t have to carry anything.” Viktoria eyed the confrontation between Leilani and the man in front of her.

  Leilani's eyes darted to a slim woman with green-black hair who stood to one side, looking awkward. Does Leilani need help? The man wasn’t being aggressive, but sometimes persistent was worse. Viktoria had just made up her mind to help, when Leilani’s scowl disappeared and she gave the tiniest nod. The man grinned and left with his companion. What was that all about? As Leilani moved behind the counter to help customers, the line moved rapidly.

  When Viktoria reached the counter, Nicole offered a smile as she pressed her hands to her back and stretched. “Viktoria. It’s good to see you.”

  “Nicole, if you don’t have that baby soon, he’s going to be as big as you when he’s born.”

  “Short jokes? Really?” Nicole gave her a mock scowl. “For that, I should charge you extra for the stale desserts from yesterday.”

  “She’s sorry!” Dream piped up. “She takes it back.” She lifted baskets full of snacks onto the counter.

  Nicole laughed. “If she’s paying for all that, I might forgive her.”

  “I don’t want you mad at me.” Viktoria handed her credit card over. “Just allow me to buy your forgiveness. But don’t tell me how much it’s going to cost.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

  JAEL

  “GO TO YOUR DRAGĂ.” Selene’s voice broke into Jael’s memories. “We are not known for our patience.”

  Jael blinked, bringing Selene’s tower room into focus. The fight with Viktoria. He’d told her she was his Dragă and sworn to protect her. She’d left him. It was probably for the best. He’d failed to protect his wife, his daughter, Requiescere, Tazraus, and Riordan. Selene and the rest of the Ildum were only alive because she had managed to save them at substantial cost to herself.

  He’d thought watching Viktoria leave was the hardest thing he’d ever done, but hadn’t realized ripping out a part of him so newly formed would leave him feeling so... empty.

  “She knows she is my Dragă, and left anyway.” That threat she’d leveled at him had been enough to make even an assassin pause. He didn’t doubt she could follow through with exactly what she’d said. “Viktoria doesn’t want me in her life.” Jael rose to his feet and stalked towards the door. “She made that clear.”

  Selene’s sigh halted him. She’d moved from her bed to the couch and curled up with Soră before the fireplace. “I have lived over ten thousand years, survived wars between gods and the massacres perpetuated by mages, but you boys may be the death of me yet.”

  The door disappeared from in front of him, and he turned back to Selene. She was even more relentless than the Old Man of the Mountain when she chose to be and had a point to make. The Old Man only ever used apple tea and stories. Selene could rearrange his reality — especially here.

  She arched an eyebrow at him. “Shall we have apple tea while I think of the longest story I know?”

  Jael’s lips twitched into a smile as he sat next to her on the couch, careful not to jostle the sleeping Soră. “You know I can’t taste apple tea anymore. And you just said Dragăs are not patient. What is it you want me to hear?”

  “She doesn�
�t want your protection. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t want you.”

  The door reappeared, and Stryx entered his mother’s tower. He kissed Selene on the cheek she offered and gave her a quick hug. “Hello, mother. You’re looking well.”

  “So you are you, my son.” Selene held her palm to his face for a moment, then pointed to a carry-on sized black suitcase. “Ember will wake up soon. We picked some things for her to take to Ashana. Make sure you don’t forget to take that bag for her.”

  “Of course, Mother.” Stryx set the small suitcase next to the door.

  Jael concentrated on not letting his jaw drop as Stryx headed past him to Ember. It was one thing to know he had emotions now, but quite another to see them in action.

  Stryx scooped his Dragă into his arms and settled into a chair with her in his lap.

  Jael took the excuse and stood. “If we’re going to Ashana, I’ll pack my —”

  Stryx held up a hand. “You can’t help us this time. Ember is coming back to me, and we’re leaving. It’s still light outside. She can allow two of us to walk in sunlight, but I don’t know if she can protect three.”

  “I’m —”

  “No, Jael. Norrix has made a study of relics for eight thousand years and can fly the plane. Plus, you’re the Scourge. It’s not like you can go into a room full of mages and not stand out. You’ve been killing them for over three thousand years. One of them is bound to know who you are, and you’ll give us away, along with the fact that we can go in the sun and Ember is strygoi. If we need to defend ourselves, all three of us can fight, although Norrix assures me that will not be necessary. We’ll be fine and return right after the auction, day after tomorrow.”

  Jael slumped into a chair. Two vampires in the sun. What was the world coming to? Part of him was glad he wasn’t chosen to walk in the daylight for this mission. His love of shadows had only increased since he’d met Viktoria. It would be a betrayal to walk into the light now.

  But it also felt like a betrayal of his daughter to imagine himself happy with a new family. His swords hummed a slow, melancholy tune in the back of his mind.

  Maybe none of it mattered, though. Viktoria was so angry with him. “How can you just say Ember will fight? She’s your Dragă.”

  “Because he can learn.” Selene sounded amused.

  Stryx frowned at his mother’s teasing, then returned his attention to Jael. “Not so easy when it’s you and your Dragă, is it?” He grinned and leaned back in his chair, holding Ember closer to him. “Ember is descended from War herself. For all I know, she is War now. I fought with her on the Eel Mage’s island, and she let me see the fight with the spiders through the bond we share. I couldn’t get to her and was terrified.” He blew out a breath. “But she... she was brave, furious, and confident. She felt triumph, vengeance, and pleasure. You know what she didn’t feel? Fear or helplessness. She was exuberant. I’m going to have to learn to live with the fact that I can’t stop her from fighting. It’s part of who she is.”

  “She fought well, but she’s War. Viktoria’s magic is different.”

  Stryx nodded. “For that, you should count yourself lucky. From what I saw, Viktoria also fought well. I’m pretty sure if I had done to Ember what you did to Viktoria during the fight, she’d have tossed me into another wall rather than taking it out on spiders and leaving.”

  “Ember is a new type of Dragă and strygoi. It could be the same for all your Dragăs,” Selene said. “The magic is changing.”

  “You think she’s adapting to protect herself?” Something twisted in Jael’s chest. Soră should never have to fight.

  Stryx shrugged. “It’s possible, isn’t it?”

  “I suppose so. But what if it’s not enough?” Jael sighed and shook his head. “Viktoria is already a witch with her full powers. She won’t become a witch and wake her magic if we bond. She can’t be strygoi.”

  Soră giggled, drawing Jael's attention back to the couch. She rubbed her eyes and smiled sleepily.

  “Am I wrong?”

  Selene smiled down at the silver girl in her arms. “No. You’re right. Viktoria won’t become a witch.”

  Idris stirred and blinked. “Jael, I never took you for a coward. Did your heart beat when you saw her? Are you not feeling things you haven’t felt since you were turned? I would do anything to wake my Dragă, and you are giving yours away! I don’t understand how you can stand being apart from her. You only get one chance for a Dragă, and you’re worried you might lose her, but from here, it looks like you already have.”

  There was truth in Idris’ words. When Jael dreamed, everything seemed so clear. Bond with Viktoria and be happy. The moment he woke, when the real world intruded, all the reasons he shouldn’t be with Viktoria took precedence. “I have to go. Don’t forget to take the bendy straws to Ashana.”

  Jael wound down the spiral staircase from Selene’s tower, exited on the level of the cave he slept in, and took another staircase up to the main living level, heading for the kitchen. If anyone in the Ildum knew how to make pancakes, it would be Ciaran — the only one of them who could eat food.

  Luckily, the ebony-skinned half-vampire was in his favorite room, making his favorite food. Some sort of sandwiches that he packed in a basket. He paused in mid-motion as Jael entered the kitchen. “Jael, I don’t think I’ve seen you in the kitchen before. Like, ever.”

  “Until now, I haven’t had a reason to.”

  “And what reason do you have now?”

  “I need to make some pancakes.”

  Ciaran frowned. “Er, pancakes?”

  Fuck. If Ciaran didn’t know how to make them, Jael would have to try cooking. Maybe it was like mixing poison. He could do that.

  “Wait.” Ciaran turned to the cupboards and shifted boxes and cans around. “Ember bought groceries. Maybe we can make pancakes with her stuff.”

  “I’ll replace whatever we use before she returns from Ashana so she doesn’t kill us.”

  Ciaran laughed. “She doesn’t try to kill me.” He held up a yellow box. “Success! We need milk and eggs, which we have. Do you just want plain pancakes?”

  Jael frowned. “How many different kinds of pancakes are there?”

  “A lot. You can put in bits of fruit, chocolate or nuts.”

  Why couldn’t anything be simple? What kind of pancakes would his sons like? When he was human, he ate whatever was put in front of him. “We better make them all.”

  Ciaran set the box on a counter and opened another cabinet to bring out a stack of big glass bowls. “Excellent. This will take hours and Alaric has been waiting to sneak in here and steal stuff.” He grinned, a bright flash of white teeth against his dark skin. “There’s a Dragă involved, isn’t there?”

  There was no point in denying it. “Yes.”

  “Then you better get the syrup right, too. Apparently there are a lot of those.”

  Jael sighed. Maybe he should mix up some poison after all so he could take it himself when things went wrong.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  ASIM

  ASIM CAST HIS PRESENCE through all his children until he located Thomax. The spiders’ senses revealed a dim interior, people murmuring, glasses clinking. A bar.

  Return to the warren.

  A faint hint of apprehension drifted through the link.

  Immediately.

  When Thomax didn’t move, the spider stirred, shifting its legs along his arms. He shuddered and scratched at his skin, but left the bar and hurried toward the apartment complex.

  The Spider Mage returned his attention to the acolytes in front of him as they lay on their faces. The spiders he’d implanted onto their backs writhed in their skin prisons, drawing agonized moans and whimpers from the men.

  He had to keep closer track of his minions. After losing the ability to track the gold witch the first night, the magic he left inside it snapping today, and the Scourge in the same city, there was too much potential for more losses. If he didn’t get the witc
h back soon, all his magic would have been wasted.

  His empty glyphs gnawed at him, but he’d already drained his witches twice today, having needed extra power to set his trap for the Scourge and add extra protections around his lair. His children fed, but there was scant magic left to take at this point.

  One of the new outermost wards scanned Thomax as mostly human as he ran across the street to the building. At that distance, the buffer was too weak to keep anything out, but its purpose was only to let him know what came in. Spiders watched from webs and burrows as Thomax continued his headlong rush through the lower level to a false wall.

  Blood. Feed the ward.

  Thomax took a folding knife from his pocket, flicked it open, drew the blade along his palm, and dripped blood onto the floor. The wall vanished, and he clattered down a staircase.

  He passed through another set of safeguards and blinked as a bright flash blinded him. When he opened his eyes, he stood at the end of a long tunnel lined with doors on each side.

  The work would serve.

  “Come in, Thomax.” Asim disliked the creakiness in his voice. He needed more magic. Starving sigils roved over him, their hunger sending stabs of agony into him. “My little ones are almost finished feeding. It will only take another minute.”

  Thomax opened the cell door and stepped inside. “Mage Asim —” His eyes went wide at the sight of three more acolytes on their knees, shirts off. A row of spent witches lay in a heap, smaller spiders on top of them.

  Through the spider on Thomax’s back, Asim caught interest in a motionless, supine witch on the floor, gazing at the ceiling with unseeing eyes. It was naked and hadn’t been here long enough to be as skeletal as some of the others.

  It held no attraction for Asim, though some of the past mages clamored their interest. He tried to conjure the same feeling in himself. He would need this sort of lust when the Esne arrived.