THE MORRIGAN CHRONICLES

WE EXITED THE Great Oak in Missouri and had the five mile walk back to the estate. Dawn would be here in a few hours. We hadn’t spoken much since our hasty departure from New Orleans. Emrys had been able to spell the exits of the building, sealing them shut until the sun rose.

“So were you able to question the vampire?” I tried breaking the silence.

Daur and the others walked about twenty feet behind us, giving the illusion of privacy.

Emrys looked sideways at me. “Why am I always surprised at you? I clearly… no, King Conall clearly stated we should go and observe these creatures. Not go in like a God damned wrecking ball into a fortress you know nothing about with creatures you know even less about. I’m as livid as a fire demon. You could have been killed in there. If your intentions were to go into battle you don’t do it alone. You know this.”

He was right. I took a deep breath and exhaled through my teeth.

I conceded but kept my tone cool, “You’re right, Emrys. It was rash and wrong.”

I heard Aiden give a, “Hmph,” sound and I turned, throwing a knife next to his boot. Okay, it actually hit his boot but didn’t pierce the skin. I did have expert aim, after all.

I was on him before he could react. Still keeping my voice emotionless I warned, “Remember yourself, dear Aiden. Watch well.”

Emrys hadn’t moved. Hadn’t reacted even. He just waited until I walked back to him. I heard nothing from anyone behind us.

Emrys didn’t make a sound, but his chest bounced as he chuckled silently. “I can’t imagine why you go centuries between men. I mean you’re such a warm, inviting, delicate little flower.”

I rubbed my shoulder on his as we walked until he put his arm around me. He sighed, forgiving my actions.

“I learned much from the vampire. A lot actually. Your little… plan? No that’s definitely not the word. Your massively blundered debacle… yes, yes, that’s the more accurate, was rather fruitful. Once we get back we’ll meet with the King and I’ll go over everything.”

This was his little way of torturing me. We had miles to walk and he could tell me everything but would make me wait. I hated waiting, and he knew it.

I was tired and still covered in dried black blood from the vampires I’d killed when we arrived at the front door. Someone had seen us coming, three days earlier than expected, and alerted the others. That’s what I’m guessing since Neil raced out the door with a panicked look on his face.

I’m sure I was a sight. I could feel my hair, face and neck crusty with the blood, my clothes still damp from it. The vampires, like demons, had the thick black muck coursing through their veins. I’d never understood how they could gush so much of it out as you sliced their heads off and their bodies turned to ash—you were left covered in the filth. Emrys had given me an explanation once but after a few minutes I got bored and quit listening. He was always so intrigued with how things worked.

Neil stopped short of me, cupping my face in his hands. “Are you okay? Are you hurt? What happened?”

I smiled and assured him, “I’m fine. It’s not my blood.”

I grabbed his hands and lowered them. He was shaking. His look melted me. His concern for my well being warmed me.

The King and his children, but not Deidra, were on the front steps. The children smiled at me and I smiled back with a wink.

The King had his half smirk on his face. That look. It melted me in its own way as well. This could go either way. He could be mad as hell or being playful. After centuries I’d still never quite figured out the subtle difference. I would soon find out as he spoke. “So I see the observing went well. Tell me, did you stealthily watch and learn much without them knowing you were there?”

I stood unmoving. I kept my face devoid of emotion until I could figure out where this was going.

He walked slowly towards me. Neil had come to stand at my side. My King stopped in front of me and raised his hand to my hair. “You look much better as a redhead, but if you wanted to become a brunette all you needed to do was ask Emrys. I’m sure he could’ve managed a spell, rather covering yourself in demon blood.”

Aine giggled at her father’s joke which made the King lose his control and start laughing as well. The half smirk was playful… this time. Thank the Creator.

The few that had gathered on the front lawn laughed. Except Neil. Neil was not amused. Not at all. His face held concern and rage all at once.

“Go get cleaned up, then eat. We’ll meet in three hours in the library. All of you.” He looked at our little group, nodding.

Neil grabbed my hand and we walked in silence to my room. Entering it, I could tell he had been staying there the four days I was gone. The thought made me smile.

He shut the door then hugged me tight. The embrace held no heat, no desire, just comfort and caring. Love. Then he held me at arm’s length, anger in his eyes. “Morrigan? You’re covered in… in… demon blood? You

were supposed to go and study vampires and werewolves.” He stared, waiting for an answer.

“It’s vampire blood. They’re part demon so their blood is black as well,” I answered.

“That’s all you have to say? Correcting me, ‘Oh no Neil, not to worry, it’s not demon blood, it’s only vampire blood.’ Really? That makes it all right? Never mind, I shouldn’t be scared out of my mind after all.” He screamed the last few words.

I loved that he cared about me. I loved that he was worried about me. I let him yell for another half an hour or so, not saying a word. I knew he had to release his feelings. That bottling them up would only cause a distance between us. So I sat in silence as he bounced between lashing out at me and pouring his heart out to me. When he was done he sat down on the edge of the bed.

I kneeled at his feet and looked up at him. “I love you,” is all I could manage to say.

I got up and went the bathroom. The damn vampire blood was just as sticky as demon blood and not easy to wash out. Even with modern soap and shampoo it took forever. Finally, I got out of the shower and once back in the room, I saw Neil had left. I was ready to head out to eat when Neil came back in.

“Hey, I didn’t know where you went.” Now clean, I wrapped my arms around his neck and lifted my face up to kiss him.

He gave me a quick peck and slowly took my arms off of his neck, walking to the other side of the room. “I have training to get to. I’ll see you tonight.”

He grabbed his weapons and left. Not wanting to share the walk with him I sat down on the bed. I was so tired. I was drained. Physically and emotionally. I was not good in these situations and unsure how best to handle them.

I went to the Cauldron and grabbed a roasted turkey leg. It dripped fat as I bit into it. It was heavenly. I glanced at my watch and realized I hadn’t time to sit so I ate as I walked towards the library.

Daur met me in the hall. “Is that turkey? Give me a bite,” he said as he grabbed it from me. His eyes closed as he sunk his teeth into it. He smiled as the fat dripped down his chin, soaking his beard.

“God it’s a wonder that the ladies don’t just flock to you,” I teased.

“The ladies love me. Can’t get enough of me. It’s my good looks and charm. You’re fortunate that I haven’t used my charms on you,” he teased back.

We were the last to enter the library. The merry mood left us as we stepped across the threshold. Everyone having their blank faces on, we put ours on as well. I did at least, Daur tried, but his beard still had the lingering fat and he kept sticking his tongue out trying to get at it.

King Conall did as he always did and stared at Daur, amazed that the man had been able to stay alive as long as he had. He shook his head and spoke to Emrys, “Well, what did you learn, questioning the vampire?”

If Emrys were a human born in modern times he would have been a scientist. He could study anything, getting bogged down in the most minute of details. He thrived on figuring out how things worked. I only cared what was. Not the why or how behind it. I had to remind myself that though we had been friends for centuries and I myself was quite old, he was much, much older. He was around when things were still being created and the magic of it all intrigued him.

Knowing the King was much like myself I breathed a sigh of relief as

he began, not going off on tangents, only relaying the necessary facts. “The vampire Morrigan and Daur captured was not very high up in their society. But he was well informed. I was able to use magic and secure his memories. I couldn’t do that from a full demon but since he was part human, I was able to. That surprised me.”

I could tell Emrys wanted to explore his theories on that but he stopped himself and continued. “Each large city has a Lord that rules over it. Some of the smaller cities have a Lord that presides over a few cities. Since New Orleans has a large vampire and werewolf population, Lord Bellamy rules over it solely. The Lords answer to a King. There is a King for each region, five total: North America, South America, Africa, Europe and part of Asia, and finally one for the Far East and Australia. The Kings answer to a Prime. The vampire did not know who the Prime is. Only the Kings do. And only the Kings are capable of creating other vampires or werewolves. So the lore of being bitten by one and getting turned is false. Pure myth.”

“And the process of becoming a vampire?” the King asked, while giving Emrys his ‘keep the answer short’ look.

Emrys nodded understanding. “This is a little lengthy but I’ll try to keep it simple. Funny thing about there being few demons around these days. Apparently they’ve been locked up in another realm. Hell, as the humans call it, is real. It’s just another realm, but it does exist. The Gods trapped as many demons as they could and locked them in this realm. They are physically there. But they are able to visit this world with their… essence? Let’s just say their essence. A human has to give their permission. So, they are usually someone that has had a great loss or that is desperate in some manner or another. The demons have been doing this in order to continue to feed themselves and survive. The Gods apparently didn’t know they would be able to do this. Why they didn’t just end them is beyond me. But you know the Gods. Anyhow, the person the demon possesses is coexisting so it’s not a complete takeover. The demon can only influence the person. They begin by offering comfort, advice or fill whatever void the person has. Then they begin the constant unrelenting whispers to get the person to take another human’s life. Once the person has taken a life, they convince that individual to kill themselves. Once they have, the demon consumes their soul. That’s how they feed themselves.” “Well that’s just awful,” Aiden said.

Emrys continued, “Once in a while the demon possesses a person with attributes they consider… well honorable isn’t the right word. Let’s say, worthy. The person is usually attractive, in good health and strong. A specific event has left them desperate so they consent to the possession. For instance, the vampire I questioned was overcome with grief from seeing his fiancé killed in a car accident. He was driving, and although it was a drunk driver that hit them, he still blamed himself. These are the types of situations that the demons are looking for. The person has to completely consent to the possession. When the demon has tried and tried, spending all their efforts for the person to take another’s life and that person does not, then they are a candidate to become a vampire or werewolf. They are looking for those that are strong in will. The bizarre thing is, that the memories I took from the vampire knew all of this but had no knowledge or memory of the actual process it took to become one. Like it was blocked out. But a Vampire King was the one that all vampires and werewolves went to in order to be turned.”

“This is so bizarre,” Daur said, now sitting on the edge of his seat like we were telling campfire stories.

“Seriously twisted stuff.” Emrys agreed. “And here’s the kicker. They believe themselves to be part of an army in order to save the Earthly realm. To save this realm and the people in it.”

“Okay, now that is the craziest thing I’ve heard in centuries,” I couldn’t help adding.

Emrys held up his hands as we all started to speak. “They do not see themselves as saviors or heroes. Humans are their food source. The vampires don’t kill the humans they feed on. They only take about as much as when a human donates blood. Less actually. They have enough magic in them to erase the memory from the human, replacing it with a pleasant experience. The marks still remain, which is why they are usually not on the neck but on the wrist or the femoral artery.”

I could see Daur was clueless so I grabbed his inner thigh. He nodded and winced at the same time.

“And the werewolves?” King Conall asked.

Emrys continued, “The werewolves feed upon the flesh of the demonpossessed humans once they kill themselves. So the vampires, werewolves and demons need the humans. But that doesn’t explain why they feel adamantly that they are an army in the cause of saving the entire human race.”

“Obviously there is much we don’t know.” King Conall paced and stroked his chin. “So how did this vampire you questioned get picked to be a vampire and not a werewolf? Did he know?”

Emrys was already answering before the King finished his question. “Apparently that’s any easy decision. If the person is an average Joe, say, never having taken a life or committing any horrific act, then they become a vampire. To become a werewolf is much more difficult which is why there seem to be fewer of them. Again, the person possessed must withstand the demon’s demands to kill another. The difference is that prior to the possession, the person must have taken a life, or lives, in a manner that was not in wrath or revenge. For instance, a warrior, soldier or assassin would make a likely candidate. They do not kill for personal gain, they’re not emotionally invested and probably don’t even know who they’re killing. That is the kind of person that would become a werewolf. That’s why they’re more deadly. Soldiers, like the pack animals, work together for the greater good, put more value on their compadres lives than their own, and are fearless.”

“And they are not wolves,” I said, seeing as this was as good a time as any.

“Werewolves. They are werewolves. What part of that word makes you think they’re not wolves?” Aiden said in his crisp, pretty little voice.

“Because while you were admiring your reflection back in the hotel, I was in a room with them.” I respected Aiden as a warrior and his loyalty to our people. As a person I thought him shallow and arrogant. To say the least, I didn’t care for him.

I continued. “I saw two shift into their werewolf form in the bar. They stood about ten feet high and on two legs. Their canine faces, the blood red eyes, the blackness of their fur, their smell. They, like the vampires, are part human. But the other half are definitely hellhound.”

There were a few gasps but nobody said anything. Hellhounds were some of the fiercest demons. The fact that they were fused with experienced hardened soldiers probably made them more deadly rather than their human blood diluting their strength.

“How did they fight?” King Conall asked, worry reflected in his eyes.

“I didn’t get the chance to engage them.” I glanced at Emrys, he was captivated and I knew he would question me relentlessly later about everything I could remember. “When I went back into the bar there were five vampires and the two wolves.”

I told them the story as accurately as I remembered. Every detail.

The King absorbed every ounce of information. Unlike Emrys, the King wasn’t one to acquire information just to have it. He planned to use it and exploit it. That’s why he was King. “So the vampires you experienced were untrained fighters. They rely on their strength and speed, but we are faster and stronger. More skilled and experienced. That’s good. The werewolves, though. They could’ve easily pounced on you while you were in a skirmish with the vampire but did not. They only observed.”

The King stopped but we could tell he was not finished with his thought. “Then one howled, I assume to communicate to the others. They didn’t move towards you until you ran towards the back door.”

“They didn’t know what you were. They were curious,” Emrys interrupted.

The King added to the thought. “Yes, they were curious, and they wanted to capture you rather than destroy you. Emrys, you said that the vampires and werewolves couldn’t smell us. That we smell just like humans to them. I imagine that the wolves had never seen a human move faster than a vampire, nor match its strength.”

“So much for the element of surprise,” Aiden said, opening the door for the King to chastise me in front of all the Teulu.

The King’s blue eyes stabbed into Aiden’s. Without even speaking, the King forced the pretty warrior to shrink into his chair. He was on him in an instant and bent over to within an inch of Aiden’s face. Barely above a whisper he said, “We have lost no element of surprise. Because of Morrigan’s actions we have gained more information than I’d hoped for. What did you find out, Aiden? What piece of knowledge did you bring back?”

Aiden was no fool. He kept silent.

The King stood up straight, still looking at Aiden. “That’s enough for now. Everyone go.”

We all rose and strode towards the door. The King gently grabbed my arm. “Morrigan, stay a moment, will you?”

I heard the politeness in his voice. I imagine this was for the others’ benefit. Not mine.

The last Teulu left, shutting the door behind him.

King Conall walked over to an overstuffed leather chair and plopped onto it. He looked tired. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. I walked to the chair and sat on the edge of the armrest. He was beautiful and I loved him. I was in love with Neil, but I loved my King. He would always hold a special place in my heart. Keeping his eyes closed, he held his hand out for me to take. I took it and held it in my lap. He slowly drew circles with his thumb on the back of it.

I softened at the gesture. I was afraid to break the silence. To end the moment. But as all moments do, they pass.

King Conall kept his head leaned back but opened his eyes. “Morrigan,

Morrigan, Morrigan. Woman, you will be the death of me yet.” “Don’t say that. Not even in jest, Conall,” I said in all seriousness.

He did his little half smile. The playful one I was sure of. “I am serious. We needed the information that you were able to gather. But by The Creator, did you really need to be so rash? I warned you. Hell, I ordered you to be careful. You and I know damn well that was careless.”

I opened my mouth but he beat me. “If Aine were to have done as you did? Or either of the boys? Would you let them?”

I stayed sitting on the arm of the chair but I turned, putting my feet onto his lap so I could face him. “No. I would not. I would not let any of them do as I did.”

The King’s face welcomed my concession but still held concern.

I softened my voice as best I could. “Conall, I wouldn’t have let any Tuatha do what I did. Which is why I was the one that did it. There is something, something realm-shattering coming. I feel it. I took a risk that even I was not comfortable with. But I have this feeling deep within me that we are in a giant puzzle that is shifting and moving, and we need to figure it out quickly.”

The King kept his hand on mine and his other he rested on my boot. He didn’t look regal at the moment. He looked harried. He reminded me of how my father looked at times when he was King. The weight of not only his people, but the entire realm, on his shoulders. I would do anything to help lighten that burden.

Conall nodded. “Morrigan, I feel it too. I’m scared.”

There was no use of either of us trying to mask what we were feeling. We worked well together because we were always honest. Even when it was hurtful. But the King had to show strength to his people, to his children, to Deidra. He could just be himself with me. I cherished these moments even when they were in times of distress. I felt that I had a piece of Conall that nobody else did. That nobody else ever could.

“Be scared, Conall,” I said, stroking his golden hair. “Be scared tonight. But by the time you leave this room be done with it. By the Creator, we did not survive this many centuries, through hundreds of battles, to go down now. I know you hate taking unnecessary risks, like what I did in New Orleans. Hell it’s my ass on the line. I hate taking those kinds of risks. But you have to give me leave to do so. We are at such a disadvantage right now. Not only are there forces we don’t know or understand at work, we live in a damn world that we don’t even know anymore. I feel like I’m in a bad dream. Sent to a far off realm, and I just want to make my way back home. There is no more home, though. It’s over a thousand years away. It’s not a place we can ever go to or visit other than in our memories.”

“You’re right, Morrigan.” He smiled up at me. “So was that your ‘get your head out of your ass’ and ‘let me do what I damn well want’ speech all rolled into one?”

I couldn’t help but let out a long overdue laugh.

“I miss that laugh. Your laugh comes from deep within.” He patted my boot.

“Well if you weren’t King you could go out on missions with us like you used to.” I winked.

The King’s fiery eyes met mine and I knew if I gave the slightest indication that I’d let him kiss me he would. I loved him, but that kind of love was not mine to have. Not now.

I tried to think of something to pull his attention away from his current thoughts but for the second time tonight he spoke first. “Do you remember when we were tracking that incubus demon across Scandinavia? We got caught in that blizzard but managed to make it to that little village.”

I knew where this conversation was going. I saw the lust in his eyes and could feel the bulge under my foot growing.

“We were both just soldiers, early in our years. Wild in our ways. You were a fierce warrior and now you are a great King.” I slowly and nonchalantly swiveled off the chair and stood. “I’m going to go get some rest, my King.”

I felt like the mouse must when the cat has batted at it and let it slip away… momentarily.