The Dark Rising (The Hidden of Vrohkaria Book Two)

My hands glide through the willow tree branches, caressing them and feeling their life within. All life has power, its own heartbeat, its own language, and I’m feeling it more and more with everything around me. Not to say, it’s making me exhausted all the damned time.

I sigh, feeling my magic swirl within me as a chaotic mess of strands. Runa sleeps without a care in the world, ignoring the power thrumming around her space. She’s been tired too, sleeping more unless something annoys her. Then she wakes up all growly and shit.

Which makes me all growly and shit.

Sitting down at the base of a willow tree, I rest my head back against its trunk and close my eyes. I press my palm to the earth beneath me and gently guide my power though my hands into the soil. Grass tickles my fingers as it grows, every stalk getting longer and longer. I can feel each one like I’m a part of it, feeling the beating of life strumming through it.

I’ve always been close to nature, always wanting to be in the trees and playing in grassy wildflower fields. Being the Heir to Zahariss, the God of life itself, it’s not hard to understand why I like being surrounded by greenery so much.

Zahariss was said to have created the first tree. Taller than any mountain and wider than any seas. Full of thick branches and leaves the size of castles, their blooming flowers said to glow until the end of time. Cazier, on the other hand, was the destruction of life. Tearing down anyone in his path and wilting the life from beneath his steps when he came to the land from the below. Opposites in power, yet the lands lived, thrived, and the Gods stayed in Vrohkaria, roaming until they just disappeared.

But the land is now suffering, plagued with creatures so vile and slaughtering life.

The rogures came and are threatening the very land the Gods made, with no known way to stop them or banish them back to wherever they came from. I’ve heard the Elites talking about many towns and villages they have been to when the rogures attacked there. So many were overtaken and so many of our people were lost.

Darius mentioned that survivors were going toward Wolvorn Castle for sanctuary, for a safe place to stay. As big as that castle is, it still wouldn’t be able to hold everyone. The people are creating uproars at the castle gates, demanding the Highers put a stop to the rogures or put someone else in a position of power who can help them. But this isn’t helping anyone, and riots are becoming more frequent and lives are lost over quarrels and whose side they are on.

All the while, I’m sure Charles is taking advantage of the situation and stealing children right under people’s noses.

It’s fucking sick, and the thought that Kade is with him in that castle, with our family, Gods knows what else they have said to him, done to him.

It brings back the words I read in the book. It reminds me of all the things the Highers are capable of, and I’m sitting here, in a field of willow trees somewhat safe.

I wonder where Edward is, how he’s dealing with all the chaos lately. I don’t even know if he’s okay, if he knows where I am. I could ask Darius, but that would be telling him about him and I just can’t. Not yet.

I move my hands through the stalks as I slowly push more of my power into them, feeling connected as my palms warm. If I survive whatever is to come, I need to make sure my pack has a place to stay. They can’t go to Eridian, not now that the Highers know. Maybe to Witches Rest. They could create a life there, and Belldame would keep them safe. Edward would help me get them there, I just need to find a way to contact him.

The scent of earth and sweet flowers relaxes me even more, and I’m itching to carve. I can’t remember the last time I even did so, but I want to be at one with my thoughts, carving a new piece to add to my collection. That thought stops me. Do I even have one anymore? Or has it been destroyed? Darius knew where they were, in my cave, and I’m not sure if he has told anyone. I’m not sure I dare ask. I don’t know if I could take it with the knowledge that the pieces I have created over so many years are no more.

No more.

Just like Danny, Josie, and Solvier. Grief hits me out of nowhere. Filling me up from the tips of my toes and going straight up to my heart. I place my hand over it, feeling as if it’s being torn apart chunk by chunk. I swallow the cry that wants to be released, needs to be released. They didn’t deserve any of this, and I can’t help but feel responsible.

Gods, it’s always me in the middle of it all, isn’t it? Always my fault, my crime, my heart, my fucking soul. I’m bone tired. When was the last time I fully rested and felt truly safe?

Then it occurs to me that apart from as a child, I don’t think I have ever slept peacefully. Even though every night Darius takes me to his room, puts me in his bed and wraps his arms around me, I still don’t feel completely safe even though I fall asleep pretty much instantly.

I’ve narrowed it down to him not trusting me, that’s the reason why he keeps me in his room and in his bed to sleep. That’s what I’m telling myself anyway.

A touch on my foot startles me and my eyes spring open. My eyes clash with Darius as he raises an eyebrow at me and looks pointedly at the tall stalks of grass surrounding me where I sit. They cocoon me in, sheltering me from the view of anyone else, but Darius still found me.

My cheeks heat as his stare is focused on me, like it always is when I’m near. My gaze roams over him, and he stands taller, letting me see all he has to offer. I know what he feels like between my legs without the haze of my heat making it feel foggy. I know what he tastes like, what we both taste like together, and it’s something I have begun to crave. It’s a deep feeling that stirs in my belly, the want for it, always. I don’t know a lot of details about what we are, I’m not sure if this craving is normal, but it is there anyway.

I’m finding it harder to care too deeply about the way he affects me, my willpower to resist is near nonexistent the longer we are near each other. I try to keep these walls up to protect myself, but I know eventually it will be all for nothing. It doesn’t mean I won’t try though.

“Any particular reason why you wanted to snuggle with the grass?” he asks, amusement filling his eyes.

I roll mine and get to my feet, dusting off my ass which is full of dirt. “I would rather snuggle with grass than anything else.”

“You snuggle with me every night.”

I look away from him. “No, you wrap around me like I’m your personal pillow.”

He chuckles. “You don’t complain.” That shuts me up because he’s right, I don’t even fight it now. “What were you thinking about?” I give him a look. “You were deep inside that pretty head of yours, so tell me.” He folds his arms, feet shoulder-width apart and I don’t have the energy to go around in circles with him whilst he tries to get me to answer.

“Josie and Danny,” I tell him, and something flashes in his eyes. “And Solvier. You know, you never did tell me what he said to you in Eridian.”

He looks me over, thinking of his answer. “You really want to know?” I nod. “He told me to do what I must, and I will know when the time comes.”

My brows pinch together. “What does that mean?”

“Your guess is as good as mine.”

“And that’s all he said?” I ask, eyeing him. He nods, but his eyes give away his lie. What could he have told him that he doesn’t want me to know?

“Are you going to show me the book you took now?” My eyes flash at the unexpected change in conversation.

“No. There is nothing in there that you have to know. I said I would tell you, but there is nothing that would help with anything.”

“You do know that the contents of that room belong to me, so you are stealing something of mine.”

“Drop it, Dar,” I warn, and now his eyes flash.

“I will find out.”

I huff and move through the stalks of grass to pass him, but I soon find myself on my back, an oomph leaving me as Darius’s weight falls on top of me. “Darius,” I growl, shaking my head to get a piece of hair out of my face.

He braces his hands on either side of me and looks down, a small smirk on his sinful lips that I can’t help my eyes from going to, remembering where his mouth has been on my body. “Let’s try and get your wolf to come out and play if you won’t tell me what I want.”

I suck in a breath as his power slams into me without warning, thick, black strands coming from behind him and reaching for me. They come to my sides, so many of them that I can only see a few green slivers of the grass I grew. My back arches at the sudden attack, a small sound escaping me as I struggle beneath him, my hands gripping his sides.

“Calm,” he orders me, and my eyes narrow. It’s too intense, always intense. He watches me intently, his gaze flicking between my eyes. “Let some of your power out.”

I shift a little underneath him and call my power to the front of my body, annoyed that I did what he asked without question, but instinctively, reacting to his power. Runa wakes at the feel of his magic, backing away inside of me with a snarl. I ignore her, mentally shoving her forward but she won’t budge, her paws digging in to keep her still. I grit my teeth in frustration. These sessions are exhausting, and Runa’s not willing to help at all. She just flat-out refuses and it feels like the bridge between us, as rocky as it always has been, is crumbling and collapsing bit by bit.

Darius leans further down, his face so close to mine as he watches my internal struggle. His markings appear on his neck, the black, harsh lines pulsing gently and I feel the call to my own, my skin warming as my own appear. He watches in fascination as he always does when they come to the surface. He trails his eyes up from the side of my face, to my temples and then resting in the center of my forehead, taking in the delicate design. His eyes brighten slightly, and those silver flecks appear in his light green eyes that I’m always transfixed with.

“She’s as stubborn as you.” I let out a huff. “We’re going to try something new.”

“What?” I whisper, feeling his power tickle my sides.

He doesn’t answer, but strands come up to my face, caressing my skin and I flinch, my fingers digging in his waist. I feel them follow my markings, tracing them with tenderness. I shiver, the touch doing…something but not quite sure what.

Suddenly the whites of Darius’s eyes turn black, the flecks more prominent and his green eyes glow eerily. His black strands come to my temple, adding a firm pressure so I can’t move my head, and that’s my limit. I call more of my power, readying myself to push him off of me, but he restrains my hands to him, his magic wrapping around my wrists to keep them there and darkness swallows us as he releases his dominance.

All I see is black around us, the green glow to Darius’s eyes and the blue strands of my power being slowly swallowed by his darkness. Panic starts to set in as Darius’s eyes pin me still, unable to move. Those strands at my temple feel like they’re digging in my skin, wanting to get beneath the surface and I let loose a gritted scream, pain shooting through me and straight down my spine. Darius’s hand comes to my throat, squeezing gently, a warning or comfort, I’m not sure.

My power swirls inside of me, rage and wildness twisting so violently that it feels if I don’t let it out, I’ll burst. Darius leans further into me, and then I’m completely immobile.

“Darius—“ I choke out, unsure what’s happening.

“Calm,” he tells me again, eyes intent on mine, reassuring. “Relax, let me in.” His power at my temples rub soothingly over my skin, and it’s so tender in contrast to the pain rushing through me that I want to cry. I shake my head, refusing to let him get anywhere near inside of me. “It’s the only way to bring your wolf out, for you to have control of your power, Rhea. Let me in,” he demands, and I squeeze my eyes shut.

Runa stands inside of me, protective and unmoving as she snarls at Darius trying to get inside, trying to get to her. I whimper, knowing she’s just as scared and knowing what I’m about to do will upset her.

“I can’t.” My whole body is trembling, shaking so much with the force of all that is him that my teeth rattle. My eyes squeeze shut.

“You can, you must,” he growls, his lips moving over mine as he speaks. “We don’t know how much time we have, you have to give it to me, little wolf.” A tear trails down my cheek and I slowly open my eyes, locking them with Darius’s. “You can trust me with this, little wolf. If anything at all, you can with this.”

At his words, I slump into the earth beneath me, giving him what he wants.

My submission.

He doesn’t waste any time, his eyes flare and the power at my temples crawls into my skin at such full force that all I see is nothing.

Not a single sliver of light.

The last thing I hear is Runa howling, and a deep growl before I give myself to the darkness.