SWNOVELS Chapter 23 ~ Don't Be Afraid of the Dark
Weakened from the blow to my head, Xiaodan easily pushed past my defences each time I regained consciousness. Her magic hit me with the force of a bullet train, shoving me into the dark no matter how I pleaded or fought back. The next time my eyes flickered open, it was to an acid bubbling sensation burning the side of my face. Direct sunlight scalded every inch of skin not covered by clothing and Titus cursed, moving faster so I swayed dangerously over his shoulder until we were once more shrouded in shade.
Two sets of footsteps echoed in an enclosed space, the light getting dimmer behind us until it was but a speck in the distance. The cool breeze only irritated the slow healing burns. A groan slipped past my lips despite trying to stay quiet and appear unconscious, every inch of my body aching at the slightest jolt. For whatever reason, Xiaodan let me suffer this time.
She led the way with rushed steps, chanting under her breath. A glowing ball of magic lit up what I now recognised was the rocky entrance to a deep cave. The eerie blue glow was disorientating, forcing me to squeeze my eyes shut again. I fell in and out of awareness for what felt like hours, taking stock of my injuries each time. My stomached ached too now from the shoulder holding me up, and my chest ached as my mind replayed Padraig’s face as the knife was sliced across his throat. Tears fell silently, soaking Tutu’s tunic beneath my cheek but had more important things to worry about than an upset captive.
Soon the echo of their steps in the cave sounded more like thudding drums, the pressure around us growing as we trailed deeper into the mountain. I could almost hear the sound of war in the distance. No, the voices were real and not the echoing calls of the dead after all. Titus’ head quirked because he could hear them too which meant I wasn’t going crazy.
The blue light went out and slow heart beats surrounded us from every direction.
Hands gripped my waist and Titus finally lifted me from his shoulder. I slid down his front, dropping harshly onto my knees. My hands to break my fall and sharp stones sliced into my palms, sending yet another jolt of sharp pain through my nervous system. Groggy and unsure if I was even awake, shades of grey swirled between bright orange and yellow blobs that flickered violently.
Where were we?
“You always manage to find your way back to me, Little Bird.” A dark shape crouched in front of me and a pale hand grabbed my arm, pushing me upright. Catlike emerald orbs slowly came into focus, and I heard myself chuckle weakly, my tongue thick in my mouth.
“What can I say? I just can’t stay away from you, maker mine.”
Airell smirked and suddenly the pressure was back in my head, not as strong as Xiaodan’s but enough to make me tremble as I fought to keep the other mind out of my head. Warm tendrils stroked across my skin, coaxing me into a false comfort. I swayed towards my maker, faltering for a second with my fingers grazing against his arm before I yanked myself back. The walls came down quickly in my head, locking Airell out for good.
Gone was the smirk, replaced by accusation. For a moment, I thought he was going to hit me for defying the bond of my maker as the muscle in his hand twitched. Then his eyes shifted higher and a dangerous frown creased his forehead. I cringed as he pressed his hand to the back of my head, the spot that pounded fiercely with each stuttering beat of my heart. His fingers came away glistening red and my stomach flipped as he licked them clean, going so far as to moan at the taste.
Xiaodan must have hit me harder than I thought possible if I was still bleeding. Or maybe it was the fact I hadn’t had a decent feed in what felt like months but was probably only a week or two at most. Blood bags were good, but not as strong as from the source.
Happy with my disgust, Airell narrowed his eyes up at Titus and hissed, “I told you she was not to be harmed if you decided to take my offer.”
Titus humphed and shifted behind me, pebbles clattering away from his boots. “She will heal fine. It was the only way to get her; her magic is a lot stronger than your Goonie reported.”
Managing to twist enough to glare at him, I hoped every ounce of betrayal and rage was clear in my expression. It must have been, for Titus turned his face away and his adams apple bobbed. Xiaodan trembled by his side, dark eyes flitting around to the crowd of vampires that filled the gloomy cave. Water dripped from high up, bringing with it the smell of mould. I sniffed in every direction until the must was cleared by fresher, pine needle scented air on the breeze. That was the direction of freedom. That’s where Atanas would most likely come from.
Had they found Padraig’s body yet? Had they realised I was nowhere to be found, along with Titus and Xiaodan?
My blood would no doubt be splattered from the tunnel to this chamber of the cave. Nothing would stop Atanas from getting to me. He would tear apart everything and everyone in his way just as he had before. I just needed to help make it easy, give him enough time to get here.
Airell stood toe to toe with Titus, gnashing his fangs in his usual temper. At least it wasn’t directed at me this time. One might think he was happy to see me.
Too dazed to focus on more than one thing at a time, conversation became muffled around me while I lifted a led filled arm to touch the wound on my head. I didn’t hiss in pain but it still made my teeth grind together. Lowering my fingers to the gritty ground, I smeared my blood over the rocks, spreading it as far as it would go while hoping nobody was paying enough attention to me. My scent swirled in the air, blown by the breeze.
It was only the mention of Padraig that made me bother to lift my head again.
Airell sighed heavily at the news of his death, accepting the golden dagger Titus held out for him. Turning around as he examined the blade, he tutted slowly. “A pity. Padraig might have been useful; his talent for hiding and finding things was indeed unmatched.”
“He was my friend.” Was that regret in Titus’ tone? I wanted to scream at him for daring to feel any sorrow at the loss of Padraig. He’d been the one to end his life.
Gods, how was I going to tell Anna?
Choking on a whimper, I fell back onto my hands and knees and tried to push past the panic of too many emotions battering me all at once. I needed to keep calm and think. A small part of me feared Airell would snap my head off or rip my heart out at any second. Why hadn’t he done so already? He wanted to hurt Atanas, maybe make him lose his footing for just a second, my death would do both.
“You will be given Rome for you and your people,” Airell assured Titus, as silver tongued as ever. “All of Italy if you wish. Or somewhere new. Maybe you will decide to stay by my side when you see what I have planned. I now have the means to awaken the strongest of us. She too might wish to reward you for aiding me.”
That seemed to placate Titus enough. He jerked his head in a nod and took a step back nearer Xiaodan. He was all but washing his hands of his actions.
Shaking my head at Airell’s twisted dreams, a burst of hysterical laughter bubbled up. I felt the glare of my maker and peered up at him.
“I gave you far too much credit.”
“What do you mean?” he growled, fingers curling by his side.
“How well did it go for you the last time you captured me? In taking me, you’ve led Atanas right to you.” I laughed again, rocking myself to my feet even though it took every ounce of strength I had not to fall back down. I enjoyed that flash of fear in his eyes, even if it was of my mate and not of me. “He won’t let you get away this time, Airell. Atanas is a good man but he’s still Vampire. . .What do you think he’ll do to you when he gets you? Do you think he’ll kill you straight away? I don’t. I might ask him not to.”
Airell's scent turned acrid and his features contorted with long sharp fangs. He flitted over and grabbed my neck, nails digging in as he brought his face close. Cool lips brushed the shell of my ear as he spoke. “Watch your tongue, Little Bird.” His hand tightened until I was left scratching at his hand, my toes brushing uselessly against the ground. “Or I’ll rip it out.”
I believed him.
His breath on my skin sent a shiver up my spine and my mouth immediately snapped shut as I recoiled from him. As soon as he released me, I shoved myself a safer distance away. My cheeks flamed at the audience my maker enjoyed having while I felt myself slip back into old ways. Head ducked down, shoulders hunched in, I wanted to crouch on the rocks and hiss like a frightened animal.
My submission settled him though. Airell retied his hair so not a strand was out of place, calm and stable facade back in the blink of an eye. Dread filled me when he turned sharply on his heel to walk back to me.
“I will admit, I am disappointed I won’t get to properly taste your blood again, but enough has already been wasted.” He eyed my bloody hair and clothes in distaste while my mind whirred over his words. “You have a part to play in this after all. If only I’d figured out your proper use sooner, but no matter.”
As soon as panic cleared enough to put the last of the pieces together, I froze. “No. No. . .you told Ihrin it was your blood needed.”
Titus frowned, and then had the audacity to look unnerved. He can’t have thought Airell wanted me unharmed because he had no intention of harming me himself, surely?
“Of course I told her it was my blood I thought would work.” He gave me a pityful look, as if I was stupid for not figuring it out sooner. He always enjoyed lecturing me. “I’m closely linked to Leyla by blood. Her grandson, if you will. That’s entirely plausible. If I told Ihrin the truth, that it was yours, and she told Atanas, he’d never have let you step foot near these caves. You would have been on the next plane home with the might of his army around you. Others of your line are too elusive, so you will fulfil the destiny I dealt you after all.”
It was a trap for me after all and I was stupid enough to fall right into it. Again! Atanas had been right all along.
I couldn’t even be satisfied that at least this time, I’d been kidnapped rather than walking ignorantly through the front door. Not when it had cost Padraig his life. But to save him, I would have gone with Titus willingly, wouldn’t I? I’d have handed the monster the keys to the castle just like my mate said and ended up here all the same.
If only I could have been prepared for this. I knew my maker well though. He could never pass up the chance to gloat.
“So you left Ihrin alive to make sure we couldn’t smell a trap,” I concluded, laughing bitterly. “The moment we found Ihrin alive, I should have known something was off. . .You know Leyla won’t give you what you want, she’s batshit crazy and probably even more so after a thousand years rotting. Awakening her will cause chaos beyond your control.”
Airell smiled and motioned to his army. “Admist the chaos, my dear, is exactly where one finds power. You should know that; it’s where you found yours."
The fact he was right made me sick to my stomach. Under any other circumstances, I’d never hold a title like Queen, nor even mate or friend. Airell knew it too but before he could hammer it home, an armour-clad vampire came running in from another tunnel. He had a nasty puckered pink scar that sealed his right eye shut and shifted his face out of alignment.
Airell gave him a disgruntled look for interrupting. “What is it?”
“The sun is going down.”
“Good. Alert me when they arrive, make sure to allow Atanas through.” With those words, Airell grabbed me tight enough I had no hope of escaping and pinned me to his side. “Enough talk. I have to time this perfectly.”
“Time what perfectly?”
Whatever gave away that I wasn’t going to go willingly, Airell spotted it before I could even think it. He shifted his grip, painfully twisting my arm until the pressure forced the joint out of place with a loud pop. Blinding white light lit up my vision before fire burned over my shoulder. I sagged against him, gasping through the pain.
“I want Atanas to see what his idiocy has cost him. I want him to hear the very moment your heart stops beating. I want to see his face when he realises he can’t save you.” Airell stroked a finger over my cheek and pressed a gentle kiss to my slack lips. “I want to see him fall, Little Bird.”
Emerald eyes glittered with excitement as he soaked in my terror, breathing the smell of it in like it was the sweetest of flowers. One could mistake his tone for sadness as he embraced me to keep me on my feet. “I will miss you. We’ve had such fun together, and you were always my favourite.”
Left with a sour taste at the back of my mouth, my boots slid over loose pebbles and slippery moss as Airell dragged me through the lines of his warriors towards the back wall of the cave. I fought the whole way despite his warnings, kicking and lashing out much to the enjoyment of his men. But it was useless. With one shoulder popped out the socket and Airell’s hand like a vice around my other wrist so he could keep out the way of my feet, I had no chance of breaking free.
“There’s not point fighting destiny, Shylah.” Airell turned to face me at the base of the sheer wall, tugging me close though I leaned away.
A flicker in my chest and I knew Atanas was getting closer, I could feel his rage pushing past the wards Xiaodan had put up. Cries and thuds began to echo in from the various tunnels, if the sudden cacophony of bouncing sound was anything to go by. Airell looked up towards the deadly sharp stalactites hanging from the uneven roof as if trying to pinpoint the direction. His lips pinched together and he muttered under his breath.
“Let me go, Airell,” I said in a last ditch attempt. “He might show mercy if you do.”
Green eyes flicked to me and for a second I wondered if he was debating surrender. Till he reached out to force me up against the rock, gripping my hip tight enough that the skin would-be mottled blue while sharp rock cut into flesh, leaving more of my blood staining the cave.
“Climb. Now.” Kicking his boot against the back of mine, he jerked his head to the wall. I frowned in confusion, staring at the sheer sheet of rock. Did he want me to hang from the wall like a bloody bat? And why did I feel like, more than anything in the world, I didn’t want to go up there.
Another brutal kick to my leg and I did what he said. As well as I could anyway. With one arm, the climb was slow and dangerous, but Airell used his shoulder to boost me up and told me where each handhold was. It crossed my mind to refuse to go any further as my right arm strained to hold my weight, but my maker must have felt it. A sharp pinch to my calf, and green eyes cut up to me. If I didn’t climb myself, he would drag me up, and it would hurt. He’d make sure of it.
Rasping breaths tore past my lips and just as I was about to scream that I could go no further, my hand slid over a ledge. The apparant summit of our climb. Scrambling for purchase, a final push rolled me over onto flat ground again. My stomach twisted as I realised just how far we’d climbed, high enough we had a view of the entire cavern, every tunnel leading out, and the hundreds of vampires crawling around.
Airell landed gently beside where I sprawled out on the rock in a cloud of dust I coughed past. Tiny stones dug in even through my leather jacket while I caught my breath. Brushing dust off his hands, he looked over his army with the aura of a King surveying a victory.
“Get up.”
With a grunt, I rolled over, an electric zing shooting down from my dislocated shoulder. I swayed on my feet and this time Airell didn’t offer any help in keeping me steady. I fell forward, hitting a perfectly rectangle bit of stone. Vision falling into place, my stomach dropped.
That’s why he wanted me up here. Fingers tracing the edge of the perfectly straight rock, I’d fallen against a tomb. Two to be exact; sat side by side and seemingly cut into the cave so it was camouflaged to anyone below.
What would we see inside? Rotting flesh? Nothing but the bones of two creatures stronger than anything else in the world. . .and I was the one being used to wake them. Or one of them. I didn’t need to wait to find out what was inside though. The second one, closest to the cave wall, had the top slid off. My gaze followed the scent of decay and rot, my legs moving even though every instinct screamed at me not to look. Airell mirrored my every step on the other side, his grin growing with each second. Peering over the rim, my hands flew to my mouth.
The woman in the painting back at Cala-phort looked nothing like the mummified body resting here. Long golden hair was the only thing that looked alive, flowing down in gentle waves to shrunken knees and shimmering in the flicker of torchlight. Cheekbones stuck out sharply, lips pulled back from rotting teeth surrounding two incredibly long, white fangs. Her clothes were torn and brown from age and yet even in this twisted slumber, I could sense what she was. Her heart beat so slowly it was barely audible, and her chest didn’t rise and fall with breath, but raw power still radiated warmth and crackling energy.
“Every drop of your blood will be needed to revive her.”
Ignoring his words meant to scare, I looked up at him with a sneer. “She won’t give you an army of children loyal to you either, you deluded arsehole.”
His eyes flashed and I chuckled, searching the irritation in his expression for any sign of something else. “She toyed with you too, didn’t she? Atanas told me you weren’t always like this, is it because of her? She twisted you, moulded you into something else as you tried to do me. At least my mate and I made the choice to redeem ourselves.”
“Your mate,” he hissed, causing white spittle to fly out. “Took what should have been mine. He didn’t love Leyla, I did. He didn’t want to lead when she left, I did. I tried to make you strong, to make you see the way forward for our people but you wouldn’t cooperate!”
“Then it really must have killed you when Atanas took me as he took Leyla from you, when I chose to be with him and fight for his cause.”
In a flash he was at my side, a fistful of my hair in his hands so he could tug my head so hard my back was forced to bow.
“I want a taste for old times after all, Little Bird.”
Before I could react, he struck and the hot pinprick of his fangs burned through every cell. He kept his word though, taking a rough mouthful before throwing me forward against Leyla’s tomb. Pressing my hand against the wound, I could no longer hide my fear. My knees knocked together, my eyes squeezing shut to face what might happen before the blare of a horn deafened us all.
Airell whipped around but no concern etched his face. Only more triumph.
Atanas was here and the first burst of warriors through the tunnels was a sight for sore eyes. I made a dart for the edge, shoving myself away from the tomb. If I could get down before the fighting reached us, I could circle behind everyone so I stood on the right side. But Airell had no intention of letting me jump to freedom a second time.
Grabbing the back of my jacket, he swung me back to him but didn’t expect the fist flying towards his face. He rocked back with wide eyes and I got a view of my dagger sticking out from a pocket inside his red jacket. Padraig’s dagger.
Hot fury spurred me on with energy as I struck with quick jabs aimed at his throat. His lips parted as if he hadn’t expected me to dare attack him but his shock didn’t last long. My next jab was blocked by his forearm and the force rattled my joints. All he did was defend, much to my growing frustration that came out in a sharp hiss for him to fight back.
Lowering my weight so I was centred, I snapped my leg up and smirked at the brutal connection. Airell’s jaw snapped shut with a sharp click as his whole body whipped to the side. Light on the balls of my feet, I watched with hawklike eyes as he wiped away the blood from the side of his mouth. The feral edge to his features as jade eyes met mine warned me that he wouldn’t hold back now.
This time when he met my attacks, he dealt as many blows as I did. I started having to dodge and wind with quick steps, angling my body in ways that were brutal to my injuries. The lack of space became a worry too; the small ledge barely provided room for one to walk around the tombs safely, nevermind battle around. One wrong move and we’d be toppling off the edge. The fall wouldn’t kill me, but it would hurt like a bitch and cause more broken bones for sure. Airell would win without having to lift another finger.
His fist met my gut during my fretting and I doubled over with a blinding gag, chest contracting as air rasped past the tight band. I knew how to cope though, I’d been winded this way more than once. I dropped to one knee, fighting past the panic to keep my head clear. Airell chuckled and walked towards me while I feigned distress, and just as he stepped into my peripheral vision, I sprang with the force of a crouched tiger.
Shoving him against the wall, we grappled for control, fists and kicks replaced by fangs and claws. Sliding my right hand into his jacket, I breathed out in relief as I gripped the cool handle of the dagger and whipped out out. Hissing in irritation, Airell tried to shove me away and grab it back but I managed to leap the jutting boulder so Leyla’s tomb was between us. It gave me time to glance over my shoulder and take stock of the violence unfolding beneath us.
Our forces were locked in clashing blades and Airell’s men stood their ground well, refusing to give any ground. I couldn’t see anyone I recognised amongst the fray though and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could last up here without help.
Using my moment of distraction, a crunch was the only warning I got before a hard kick sent me sprawling. I swung out with the dagger to keep him away, using the momentum to roll me back to my feet. But as soon as I regained balance, I was having to avoid his fist, and then his boot as he advanced. Darting out of the way, I realised too late he was backing me up against the wall with no escape.
Lashing out with the dagger again, he caught my wrist in his grip at a speed that surprised both of us. Forcing me roughly against the wall, he kneed my stomach which threw my body forward, the dagger falling from limp fingers.
“You’ve gotten better,” he grunted, struggling to keep me pinned against the wall. I wriggled and kicked out despite the ache of my body, smirking at his yowl of pain as my heavy boot connected between his legs.
He dropped me and I scrambled to stay upright. “You taught me well but I did an Arya Stark while you were away.”
At least Airell got my geeky reference. I swore he’d have rolled his eyes if we didn’t both freeze at the booming voice that rattled the stalactites above us.
“Shylah!”
The depth and determined of Atanas’ call struck a look of wariness in my maker’s expression. Standing tall and throwing my hand in the air, I used to the last of my strength to pull on my magic until my hand glowed a silver beacon of my location. It glittered off the walls, leaving me in awe for a second as it glinted off wet rocks.
Airell growled in fury before me and kicked my knee so hard yet another bone snapped. He hoisted me up as I staggered, the light fading from my hand as I fought not to throw up at the extra dose of pain.
Someone will have seen the light. Atanas would have ordered Kincaid to get to my side as fast as possible and whisk me to safety, I didn’t doubt that for a second. And for once, I wouldn’t argue about staying to fight. Drained and propped over the edge of Leyla’s tomb, I would rather be anywhere else. Bravery be damned. Being so close to her, this woman, my ancestor I hated with a passion even though I’d never met her, this was more like hell than much of the torture Airell had put me through.
I couldn’t let him wake her.
But I couldn’t so much as lift my head.
Airell chuckled and used little strength to lift my battered limp and hover it over a skeletal face. My jewelled dagger he wielded in the other and my only protest came in the form of a groan. The silver blade sliced in a fiery line from elbow to wrist, my blood spraying out in an arch. I could only watch in horror as Airell forced my wrist against cold, cracked lips. Each fluttering beat of my heart only pushed out my blood all the quicker.
Over the edge, I caught sight of Kincaid standing atop a large boulder. Honey eyes held mine and he gave me a firm nod of his head.
It took Airell too long to realise I’d stopped fighting him, instead watching my mate hoist himself over the ledge. He ‘d beaten his way through an entire army to get to me, and taken down his fair share of the enemy if the amount of blood dripping down the short blade of the Gladius held was anything to go by.
In a move too fast for even vampire eyes to see, he darted forward.
“Too late,” I croaked. “You lose, Airell.”
Grabbing a fistful of my makers blond hair before he even saw him coming, Atanas roared as he yanked his head back and struck with finality. His fangs tore into Airell’s throat, tearing so yet more warm gore sprayed over me. With a swift flick of his wrist, I’d never forget the sound of Airell’s head being torn from his body, the way all the muscles in his face sprang and tensed before going slack. His fingers twitched around my wrist before letting go, and I watched the headless body fall to its knees before dropping off to the side.
I barely recognised my blood splattered mate as he slowly turned around and hoisted his trophy high, his growl of victory reverberating around the cave so all were forced to stop and witness what he’d accomplished.
We’d done it. Or, Atanas had. Airell was gone.
I slumped in something far beyond exhaustion against the cold stone of Leyla’s tomb, gripping the rough side like a lifeline. The clanking swords of the enemy hadn’t died out completely at the loss of their leader, but a few dropped their weapons quickly and fell to their knees. More decided to do the same as the steady flow of vampires continued to stream in with crudely stitched crescent moons on sleeves or over hearts to identify them as ours. I was confident this would be over in a matter of minutes.
Atanas dropped Airell’s head without ceremony next to his slumped over body then slowly made his way round to me. His hands were raised as if I needed placated but unfortunately, my mind was all my own. Just as I was about to push myself up to fall gratefully in his arms, bony fingers grabbed my still bleeding arm. A harsh tug threw me back over the open tomb but it wasn’t my wrist that was wanted this time. My head was forced to the side and before I could cry out in dismay, pain exploded over my neck and shoulder, then down my arm. I caught wide blue eyes filled with alarm before the strain got too much.
The vampiress had awoken, her arms clamped tight around me as she became aware enough to feed with free abandon. Atanas hissed at the time it took to climb around to the other side then threw himself over instead. Hooking one arm around my waist to pull me back, I pushed blindly at his chest, my fingers sliding over warm blood as I warned him to stop. If he pulled, my throat would be torn out. My head with it if she was strong enough.
Acid burned through my veins as I was unwillingly fed on, fighting even though it was useless. I hit and scratched at the skeletal body, leather skin tearing like paper beneath my nails while blood gurgled up and blocked my throat.
My vision began to darken and my blows became weaker while the panicked shouting around me grew further and further away. Another second more, and awareness fled completely as my life blood drained with pulls strong enough to feel through the haze.
I couldn’t leave Atanas. I couldn’t leave Anna. I didn’t want to.
My last thoughts were dreamlike and incoherent except one; dying like this wasn’t what I had planned, but perhaps it was a fitting end. My destiny, as my maker so claimed.