Denounce

by Alex Dafney

  I start across the street without answering him. Right now, I feel like the less I say, the better. We step into the small pub, finding the place relatively uncrowded. I make my way to the bar, pulling out a stool and sliding onto it as Ian does the same. A gray-haired man steps over in front of us from across the bar. “What are you having?” Ian orders a beer from the tap as I scan the bottles of liquor that line the wall.

  I point behind the man, him turning. “That bottle. A double.” He turns back to me, giving a low whistle. “You have expensive taste, boy.” Ian pulls his wallet from his back pocket, dropping a few hundred-dollar bills on the counter. The gray-haired man reaches for the cash, sliding it in his own pocket before walking away to fill our order.

  “Why did you pick that bottle?” I give a shrug, not entirely sure why that bottle called to me out of all the others. “Here you go, boys.” The gray-haired bartender places a whiskey tumbler in front of me, and a glass of beer in front of Ian. I lift the glass to my lips, taking a generous pull. This is a sipping cognac. Not a, let me waste the flavor by chugging it, cognac. I chuckle as I recall Eri’s words. Eri.

  I glance over to Ian, finding him staring at me with pinched brows. Shaking my head, I drop my eyes to the bar. “What’s the plan for tonight?” He stares at me a second longer before letting out a heavy sigh and looking forward. “We’re going to find recruits.” I shudder involuntarily, catching Ian watching me from the corner of my eye. He places a hand on my shoulder, and I turn to him.

  He drops his hand, cupping his glass in front of him on the bar. “I’m relatively new around the Fortress. I’ve only been there about two years.” He lifts his beer, taking a huge gulp as I lift my tumbler, taking a sip. As he places the glass back on the bar, he lets out a heavy sigh.

  “It took me a while to remember who I was before.” He looks over to me with a small, sad smile on his lips. “My life before was pretty bad. I should probably consider myself lucky.” A scoff escapes me, even though I’m not entirely sure why. I can’t remember my previous life, but anything has to be better than the darkness of the Fortress.

  He raises one brow at me. “You’re starting to remember.” He says it as a statement, not a question. I give a small shrug before lifting my glass to my lips, taking a small sip and letting the alcohol dance across my tongue as I close my eyes. Eri is sprawled across my chest. Her white, blonde hair fanned over me, her legs tangled with mine and her arm thrown over me.

  I shake my head quickly, pinching my eyes shut. At this point I don’t know what the hell is real or not. I remember looking at her on the porch of the Enchantresses. I hate her, yet something in me screams that I don’t. I lift my glass, throwing back the rest of my drink in one take before placing it on the bar and standing.

  “Let’s get this done.” Ian gives me a small nod as he tilts his glass back, draining the remainder of his beer as he stands. We walk out of the pub, Ian looking left to right. He turns to the right, me falling into step beside him. “We’re heading to a pretty dicey part of town. Obviously, we can take care of ourselves, but we don’t want to draw attention.”

  We walk ten more blocks, the landscape beginning to change to graffiti on the brick walls, trash on the sidewalk, and homeless people sleeping on the ground. Ian stops suddenly, looking across the street to a lone young man sitting on a stoop. He looks both ways before darting across the street, me following behind him. We stand in front of the man who holds a syringe in his hand.

  He looks up to us, his eyes glossed over from drugs. Ian places his hand on the man’s arm, sliding it down until he grips the syringe and pulls it out of his loose grip. “Let me help you with that.” I watch as he sticks the needle in his own arm, pulling blood from his vein. He leans forward, grabbing the guys wrist and turning his arm. “Do you want me to give you the fix, or do you want to?”

  The guy shakes his head slowly, his eyes closing. “Nah, bro. Help me out.” My brows draw together as I watch Ian inject the kid with his blood. He can’t be more than sixteen or seventeen. Ian finishes, taking a step back to stand next to me. I glance over at him, noticing the sad look on his face and the slow shake of his head. He catches me watching him from the corner of his eye, letting out a heavy sigh.

  “Come on. We need another nine before heading back to the Fortress.” We walk down the sidewalk side by side, neither of us saying anything. Ian points toward a group of teenagers laughing loudly gathered around a metal container with a fire inside. “Let’s go scare some sense into them.”

  I follow his lead, stepping up to the container and holding my hands out to the fire. Warmth. It feels like ages since I’ve felt warmth. “What’s crack a lackin, kids?” I chuckle at Ian as the teenagers burst into laughter. One of the boys looks at him dead on, a look of annoyance on his face. “Move along, grandpa. Nothing to see here.” I watch as Ian’s brows draw together in anger as the boy lifts a glass pipe to his lips, flicking a lighter.

  “That shit will kill you.” The kid drops the pipe from his mouth, glaring at Ian. “So will running your fucking mouth.” The rest of the kids around the makeshift fire pit make an oooo noise. Ian steps around the container, standing directly in front of the kid, towering over him by at least a foot. “Put that shit down. Don’t ruin your life over a fucking high.”

  The kid scoffs while rolling his eyes, lifting the pipe back to his mouth. Ian slaps his hand, sending the glass pipe flying out of his hand, landing on the pavement with the sound of glass breaking. The kid slams both of his hands into Ian’s chest, not budging him from his place. “You fucking owe me a pipe!” Ian looks across the fire to me, a devilish gleam in his eyes.

  “Should we show them what smoking this shit will do to you?” I give a shrug, not entirely following. Ian moves his eyes from mine, looking down at the kid. I watch as his eyes transform from a normal blue to glowing red. The kids gasp, all scattering in different directions except for the ringleader who holds his hands out to Ian, palms facing him.

  “Put the shit down. Focus on school. Otherwise, you’ll end up like me and my friend here.” Ian gestures his hand toward me, the boy looking my way. I blink a few times, trying to make my eyes appear the same. After a few seconds I can feel my eyes burning, knowing I’ve succeeded. The kid’s eyes widen in horror as he tries to step backward, tripping over the sidewalk and landing on his ass.

  I step over next to Ian, looking down at him with a scowl on my face. Ian crouches down, reaching for him and gripping his hand, pulling him to stand as he does. He places both of his hands on the boy’s shoulders as he drops to his eye level. The boy’s eyes are wide with fright as he stares at him. “Leave that shit alone. Understand me?” The kid nods his head quickly, his eyes still wide.

  Ian drops his hands from his shoulders, taking a step backward. “Get out of here. If I see you out here again, you’ll have red eyes just like me.” The kid nods his head as he scrambles back before turning and darting down the street. Ian turns in the direction the kid takes off in, watching him as he goes. “What was that?”

  He looks back at me, a small smile on his lips before turning his focus back to the way the kid left. “I wish someone like me would’ve gave me the same option.” I wait patiently for more of an explanation as he keeps his back to me. After a few moments he turns to me, his lips turned down at the side. “I hope that was enough to change his mind.”

  He starts down the sidewalk, me fast stepping to catch up to him. “That’s how I ended up a Demon. Too fucking high to realize the girl I’d just met was about to turn me into this.” He lets out a long sigh as we turn down an alleyway, stepping over a homeless guy who sleeps on the ground. “This is why I stay at the Enchantresses. I’d rather serve them wine then turn people into monsters.”

  I let his words sink in. We’re monsters. I catch movement from the corner of my eye, turning to stare at the fire escape. A cat walks out, meowing loudly. I sigh as I fall back into step with Ian. We stop at the end of the alley, looking down a
t a young girl who has her back against the brick wall, sitting and staring ahead. “She’ll do. She’s so high she won’t remember it.”

  He reaches down, grabbing her under her arm and lifting her to standing. She sways even with him holding her up. He looks over to me, tilting his head toward her. “Your turn.” My stomach turns to knots at the thought of ending this woman’s life. Well, I guess technically, I’m making her immortal. Just as a monster.

  Ian seems to sense my hesitancy, giving me a kind smile. “Just get it over with. The first one was hard for me too.” I step toward him, loosely placing my hand around the woman’s wrist and pulling her toward me. She looks up to me, her eyes glossy. “Are you here to save me?” I pinch my eyes shut, shaking my head slowly. If she knew what I am she’d be scared to death.

  I open my eyes, looking down into hers that are filled with tears. “Yeah. Something like that.” I look over her head to Ian who has his lips turned downward as he looks at her. “What do I do?” He lifts his eyes to mine, giving me a shrug. “She just has to take your blood. Some of the women like to do it with a kiss. Others cut their finger and make them drink it. Some cut themselves and their prey and mix the two.” He gives me another shrug. “Just do whatever you feel best.”

  I look down at the girl again. She’s probably my age but looks older from the abuse she’s put her body through. She stares up at me, her eyes filling with tears as her bottom lip trembles. “Help me.” Looking up to the night sky I let out a heavy sigh before dropping my eyes back to hers. I lift my hand, looking at my palm. “I don’t have a knife.”

  Ian reaches around the girl, tapping my shoulder with a pocketknife. I take it from him, flicking it open with one hand and placing the blade to my palm. Just as I prick my skin, I hear a whooshing noise go by me, a distant tingle beginning in the back of my mind. “Fuck! Run, Ashley!” I watch Ian retreating down the alleyway as I keep my hand around the girl’s wrist. Another whoosh comes from behind me and I see an arrow hit the wall, falling to the ground.

  I spin toward where the arrow came from, finding the woman with white, blond hair standing behind me. She wears a skintight leather ensemble with a bow drawn back, an arrow pointed straight at me. “Let her go, Ashley.”

  Chapter 12

  I grip the woman’s wrist, swinging her in front of me as a shield as I lift my hand to cup her throat, tilting her head to the side. Eridanus stares at me, her bow still drawn as she shifts the arrow a few inches on me. I snarl at her as I lower my head to the woman’s neck, opening my mouth slightly as if I’m going to bite her.

  “Don’t make me kill you, Ashley.” I lift one eyebrow, a smile cresting my lips at the quiver in her voice. “You can’t kill me.” Her brows draw together as I lower my lips back to the woman’s neck, placing a soft kiss against her skin. The woman shudders beneath me as Eri growls. I watch as she releases the bow, sending an arrow flying right past me.

  A ruthless laugh escapes me as I release the woman from my grip, letting her fall to the pavement below unceremoniously. I step over her, walking straight toward Eri. She pulls another bow from the sheath behind her, lining it in her arrow and aiming it at my chest. “Don’t come any closer.” I ignore her warning, stalking straight for her.

  She releases the arrow, it sailing by my right shoulder. I let out another laugh. “You can’t kill me anymore than I can kill you.” As she starts to grab another arrow, I speed toward her, gripping her hand and pushing her back against the brick wall behind her. She gives a little yelp as I hold her hand firmly against the wall above her head.

  Everything in me tells me I should loathe this woman, yet I find my eyes dropping between us, watching the way her breasts swell with each breath she takes. “Stay with me, Ash.” I lift my eyes to hers as she whispers. The green glow of her eyes is intoxicating and infuriating at the same time.

  My brows knit together as I stare down at her, my body planted firmly against hers. “Why are you here?” Her lip lifts ever so slightly on one side as she looks up at me. “For you.” I move away from her at lightning speed, staring at her from across the alleyway. “Ashley?” I glance over to my side as I hear Ian whispering.

  He peeks his head around the corner of the building, sizing up the situation. He gives Eridanus a bright smile. “Good to see you again, Eri. Although it’d be better if you didn’t carry the lethal arrows.” She raises one eyebrow at him, a small smirk on her lips as he cowers behind a dumpster. “You can come out. I don’t wish to harm either of you as long as you’re not changing anyone.”

  He steps out from behind the dumpster, coming to my side with his hands raised in front of him. “You know I’d rather be at the Enchantresses. The Mistress gave orders though.” He gives a one shoulder shrug. Eri rocks back on one high heel, her hip jutted out as she folds her arms over her chest with a look of annoyance. “Orders or not, you know I can’t let you change this mortal without consequences.”

  He laughs lightly next to me. “Understood. We’ll have to come out another night to get Ashley here to the next phase of transformation.” I watch as her face shifts to shock, her eyes seeking mine. “You haven’t completed the final phase?” My brows draw together in frustration. Humiliation coursing through me. Turning to Ian I scowl at his smiling face, shoving him lightly. He sails across the alleyway, his back hitting a dumpster before he slides to the ground. “Dammit, Ashley!”

  He holds his shoulder with one hand as he slowly rises. I look back to Eridanus, finding her with her bow back in front of her, an arrow trained at me yet again. An arrogant smile plasters my lips as I move in front of her at lightning speed, placing my hand on the arrow. “No!” They both scream at the same time. I slowly remove my hand from the arrow, Eri keeping it pulled back in place.

  I hear Ian sigh heavily behind me as Eri lowers the bow to the ground, releasing the tension on the line as she lets out a heavy sigh of her own. She looks up to me, her green eyes full of worry. “Don’t ever touch a Seeker’s weapon. They’re all coated with Holy Water.” She turns her eyes toward Ian, giving him a scowl.

  “What the fuck times six?! If another Seeker would’ve been here tonight, he’d be dead! Have you not told him anything!?” She stomps her pointed heel on the ground, causing me to chuckle. She shifts her eyes back to mine, looking up at me with her brows drawn together in anger. “Holy Water will end you! This is not funny!”

  I give a one shoulder shrug as she stares up at me. She lets out another sigh, dropping her head and shaking it slowly. “Dammit, Ashley.” As she says the words a memory comes to mind. She lifts the glass, drinking the contents before setting it back on the table. She walks backwards toward the door, a devious smile on her lips. I want nothing more than to go to her.

  I take the few steps between us, pushing her back against the wall as her bow slips from her hand, clattering to the pavement. She looks up at me, her eyes glowing, yet full of emotion. “Ashley.” She breathlessly whispers as I tilt her head to the side, dropping my mouth to her neck where I place a soft kiss below her ear. Her chest rises and falls quickly against me, her breathing picking up as things happen below my jeans.

  “We need to get going.” I take one step back at Ian’s words, keeping her chin clasped between my thumb and forefinger as I stare down at her. “See you soon, Dream Girl.” Her lips lift ever so slightly as I release her chin, taking myself back home.

  I arrive at my room in the west tower of the Fortress, placing my hands on my face. “Fuck.” I begin pacing the large room, gripping my hands behind my back as I recount what just happened. The Mistress told me to stay away from the female Seeker, yet I was instantly drawn to her.

  I rake my hands down my face as I groan. What is it about that woman? I drop my hands to my side as my door swings open, Bastian barreling in with a scowl on his face. “You only managed to change one tonight? I knew sending Ian with you was the wrong choice.” I shake my head slightly, looking down at the cold, stone floor. “There was a complication.”


  “Yeah. A Seeker showed up.” I lift my eyes to find Ian walking into the room, his hand gripping his shoulder. Bastian looks between the two of us, his brows drawn together. “A Seeker?” Ian gives a nonchalant shrug as he walks over to the couch that sits along the wall next to the bed, falling back and kicking his legs up. “Yeah. Some guy I’ve never seen before. We had to get the hell out of there.”

  Bastian turns his eyes back to me, his back to Ian as he gives me a look. “You ran into a Seeker?” He asks the question as if he doesn’t believe us. I give him a nod, taking a few steps over and sitting on the edge of the plush bed. “He had a blade. Stopped me from my first kill.” Ian scoffs loudly, flipping his hand toward me. “It was more of a sword than anything.”

  I glare at him as Bastian turns to look his way. What the hell does it matter whether it was a sword or a blade? “I don’t know of any Seekers who wield blades anymore. A sword you say?” Ian gives him a bright smile, flitting his eyes over to me briefly. “Yeparooni. I’ll take him back out tomorrow night if the Mistress sees fit.”

  This seems to be enough of an explanation for Bastian. He glances at me over his shoulder before striding out the door, closing it heavily behind me. I look over to Ian who sits up on the edge of the couch, a worried look on his face. “You remember her, don’t you?” I give a once nod, dropping my elbows to my knees and resting my head in my hands. “I don’t remember everything, but I keep seeing her in my memories.”

  Ian lets out a sigh, causing me to look over to him. He sits back on the couch, swinging his arm along the back as he crosses his ankle over his knee. “She’s what’s prohibiting your transformation. If the Mistress finds out, she’ll order her to be killed.” I stand from the bed quickly, my hands clenched at my sides as anger like I’ve never known courses through me.

  “You’re not to tell the Mistress about tonight. Or that I remember Eridanus.” He stands from the couch, stepping over in front of me and placing a hand on my shoulder. I shrug his hand, traveling the length of the room backwards in one swift move. He places his hands on his hips, raising one eyebrow at me. “I’m not going to tell anyone. You have my word.”