“I can’t risk losing you!” His voice thundered through the room.
He stood up to face me, his hands balled into fists at his sides. Tension flexed a muscle in his jaw. I’d finally hit a nerve.
My heart jumped into my throat, and I blinked several times, unable to fully process his words.
“What do you mean?”
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
“I’ve decided to put some distance between the two of us after Vita’s vision of the future,” he answered, his tone soft and low. “We are clearly drawn to each other, Serena, and I’ve yet to fully grasp the meaning of that or the ensuing consequences. But I do know that if nothing else happens between us going forward, Azazel will not be given the chance to come after you to get to me.”
I didn’t say anything. His words paralyzed me, and I waited to regain some kind of sense.
“I can’t bear the thought of you getting hurt. And I can’t lose this fight against Azazel either. Too much hangs in the balance. Eritopia, my world, and my life are at stake here.” His voice shook.
His words tore me apart, but at the same time it gave me the energy I needed to respond.
“You’re a coward,” I replied, unwilling to let him off so easily.
He stilled, as if waiting for me to continue. So, I did—there was plenty more where that came from.
“If you do that, if you push me away, you’re a coward. You’re just giving in to Azazel, letting him win before we even stand up to fight him. You’re conceding before you even throw the first punch. You are a coward, Draven.”
I took a step forward, driven by an unseen force. The pain he’d caused me over the past few hours had been harnessed into a sense of determination that I’d been missing lately. I felt like I was unstoppable, and I had so much more to tell him.
“We are so much stronger together, but what would you know? You’ve been living in complete isolation since you were born. You can’t possibly begin to comprehend the force behind a group like ours. We can’t live in fear of one vision or another. We can’t be afraid of whatever might or might not happen. We’d stop living altogether if we did! The Oracles don’t have these visions for us to cower before the future, Draven. The Oracles warn us, so that we can prevent the future, so that we can work around it and make sure our choices take us somewhere good. If we stand apart because of one possible future, you might as well walk out of this mansion right now and surrender to Azazel.”
The hot air filled my lungs in one deep breath. I’d said plenty, yet nowhere near enough. I didn’t have the courage to tell him that I needed him close to me, that I couldn’t see the future without him, no matter the outcome. But I hoped I had at least given him enough reasons to stop pushing me away like I was an undesirable stray cat.
Some time passed before I realized that he hadn’t responded to anything I’d just said. He merely stood there, quiet. I started to worry, thinking I was about to get kicked out of his study for my impertinence. I may have been a little bit too abrupt, but he had been asking for it.
“Draven?”
Nothing. The silence weighed heavy, and after everything I’d just said, it was making me feel awkward.
“Draven, say something.”
I watched his hand come up to his face. He removed the bandage from his head. I gasped as he opened his eyes, his beautiful gray eyes, and saw me for the first time in days. Sheer happiness washed over me, and in a moment of relief I totally forgot how mad I was.
The Daughters must have considered his debt repaid and restored his eyes.
Two whirlpools of stormy silver shadowed by long black eyelashes drilled into my very soul. I couldn’t get enough, but I also had to remind myself of my dignity. He’d attempted to toss that out the window. Sight or no sight, he didn’t deserve to get off that easily. I mentally chastised myself for softening up so quickly.
“Well then, it’s good you have your eyesight back, so you can watch as I walk out of here. I don’t work with cowards.” I turned toward the door.
But before my fingers reached the doorknob, Draven crossed the room and caught my wrist, whisking me around. He wrapped his arms around me and crushed me against his firm chest. I froze, my breath stuck in my lungs and my body was tender against his.
His gaze softened, and his mouth took mine in a hungry kiss, devouring me. I caved in. My knees trembled, and my core ignited with white fire. I kissed him back, hard, parting my lips against his.
I felt his heart savagely beating in his chest, sending echoes through my ribcage. His breath faltered as we consumed each other. His hands traveled up and down my back as if trying to feel as much of me as he possibly could.
And then, just as suddenly, he stopped and pushed himself away, leaving me to struggle with standing on my own. I leaned my back against the door for a moment to get some stability back in my legs. My breathing was ragged and fast, matching the insane drumming of my heart.
He looked at me, fires burning in his eyes. His lips were red and tender, and his chest moved with deep inhalation. His face took on a pained expression that rang alarm bells in my head.
“I’m sorry, Serena. I am so sorry,” he sighed.
I waited for him to continue. I was too numb to say anything. I was too hot and too vulnerable to even consider a negative outcome from this conversation.
“I can’t… I am too…vulnerable around you, Serena. You’re… You’ll be the end of me if I don’t put a stop to this now. I gave in to my instincts. I was so happy to see…to see you again. I’m sorry.”
My stomach dropped like a stone. My heart followed suit, but I forced myself to maintain a dignified position and turned the pain of his rejection into furious energy.
I left, slamming the door behind me. I couldn’t be in the same room with him anymore. My heart was stung. Tears welled in my eyes.
I sought the comfort of the greenhouse once more. I couldn’t stand being pushed and pulled like this. My feelings were hurt. My pride was torn. I’d only wanted to be close to him, and he’d given me one more taste of his heaven before shutting me out again.
Cruel and heartless jerk.
Vita
I was becoming desensitized to seeing my friends injured. Phoenix in particular had made a habit of getting himself patched up almost once a day. The shock and grief had become part of my daily existence, and I realized that I’d learned to set my emotions aside and focus on the healing. I was good at nursing someone back to health, especially now that I knew the purpose of each herb in the medicine cabinet.
I left the basement with a frown but no longer distraught by Phoenix’s or the Daughter’s injuries. They’d been treated and were resting, and Anjani watched over them.
I was worried about Phoenix and his connection to the Daughter, but I shook the thought away. It was too early in the day to bring myself down with such gloom. It had taken me a while to get over my visions from yesterday, and I was too tired emotionally to deal with another potentially grim outcome.
After all, I had a surprisingly good dream keeping me company from the previous night. It had involved Bijarki holding me, whispering sweet words into my ear, words I could no longer remember. But his touch and his raspy voice had lingered well into the early hours of the morning, when I woke to a bright sunrise beaming through my window.
The dream tempered my fears, pushing me to smile and giving me enough energy to face my visions of the future and tell them, “Not on my watch!” It seemed like no matter where I was, whether in a dream or in reality, Bijarki’s presence had a positive effect on me. He made me feel strong enough to fight.
I reached the bottom of the stairs leading to the upper floor of the mansion. The temperature had risen by several degrees, making it necessary for me to change out of a dark green velvet dress into something lighter. I remembered there was a soft linen dress on a chair in our room.
I nearly bumped into Bijarki as he came downstairs. I froze, my foot on the first step, an
d he stilled, his body so close to mine. I had to crane my neck back a little to see him. His deep eyes studied mine. I noticed the duffel bag on his shoulder and raised my eyebrows.
“I’m going to visit the Red Tribe,” he said. His expression was difficult to read.
I already knew where he was going, but I had yet to find a way to hide my displeasure. Given how honest he’d been with me the day before, I decided that he deserved the same from me.
“I heard, but I can’t help but worry,” I replied, my voice barely a whisper.
“I’m a big boy. I can handle myself around a few succubi.” His gaze softened, and he gave me a boyish smile.
His attempt to reassure me made my heart flutter, but I still wasn’t comfortable with him going away. It made me anxious.
“I’d like to come with you,” I said, surprised by my own request.
He took a deep breath, quietly scanning me from head to toe.
“As much as I would love to take you with me, Vita, it is much too dangerous for you. Azazel sensed your presence from the moment you entered Eritopia. As soon as you leave the protection of the mansion’s shield, you will be vulnerable. Azazel will know and will eventually trace you back here.”
I sighed and nodded in agreement, but my heart felt heavy nonetheless. “You’re right. It was a dumb suggestion. It’s just that I’ve been stuck here for quite some time now, and I can’t help but feel trapped in this place. It’s frustrating.”
He walked forward slowly.
I stepped back.
He reached the bottom of the stairs. He stopped with an inch between us. I felt his hot breath over my face, setting my body ablaze from the inside. His lips parted and stretched into a seductive smile that stirred me.
“I’m sorry to hear you’re having such a tough time here, Vita. I’d be happy to make it more enjoyable for you. But you’ll have to wait until I get back.”
His voice sent shivers down my spine and dried my mouth. I licked my lips. The air was suddenly very hot and dry around me, and my breath came in uneven gasps. My cheeks flamed.
I couldn’t move. Whatever he was doing, it had a paralyzing effect on me.
“Are you using your incubus abilities on me right now?” I whispered.
He shook his head, devouring me with his silvery gaze.
“Whatever you might be feeling right now, Vita, I assure you it’s yours and yours alone,” he said, then leaned in close enough to whisper in my ear. His lips brushed against my lobe. “I told you I’m doing my best to keep my nature under control when I’m around you, and that hasn’t changed. I wouldn’t want to sway you in any way, little fae. But I do find this delightful, watching you blush every time our eyes meet. I’m already looking forward to my return.”
His words poured right into my soul, and I found myself defenseless before him.
He dropped a soft kiss on my cheek.
I closed my eyes, overwhelmed by the delicious sensation of his lips against my skin. I held my breath, afraid to let it go and lose the moment altogether.
I didn’t realize when he straightened his back and put some distance between us. When I opened my eyes, I found him looking at me. His gaze dropped on my lips. His pupils dilated and nostrils flared.
“I’ll be back soon. I promise,” he said. He bowed politely and left me there.
I was speechless, and my knees threatened to give in. I leaned against the solid wood railing, trying to catch my breath. A smile sliced my face from left to right, and my very core hummed from the memory of his husky voice whispering in my ear.
Soon didn’t seem like soon enough.
Aida
I’d woken up that morning with a strong sense of determination. I’d gone to bed torn between the fear of the darkness Vita described in her vision, and the arousing experience I’d had during my flight with Field.
A single thought persisted in my mind. As Oracles, we had the ability to see through time. We had the power to prevent what we saw in the future, learn from the past, and draw valuable intel from the present.
I had a valuable part to play in this.
My knowledge of the present could help shape our decisions, informing us of what went on throughout Eritopia and giving us a better advantage against Azazel.
I took a cold shower and slipped into a pair of beige trousers and one of the shirts left in our room. Then I rushed downstairs for some hot, soul-healing coffee.
Two cups later, I climbed the stairs to the attic.
I opened the windows wide enough to let the fresh air in. I crossed my legs in a meditation pose and spent some time in silence, breathing in and out in a controlled rhythm.
I knew what I had to do.
I needed to tap into my visions of the present without any herbal or physical aids. I was an Oracle, damn it, and I had to learn to be a good one fast. The Druid had talked about focusing and clearing our minds to achieve the mental state needed to tap into our visions, so I figured I’d try a little Zen and work my way up from there.
It took me a while to fully block out all the background noise—the birds chirping outside, the wind rustling through the tree crowns, my own heartbeat.
I wasn’t sure when the transition happened, but I found myself standing in the middle of a dark jungle, somewhere in Eritopia where the sun couldn’t pierce through the thick foliage. Murky water snaked alongside the narrow path ahead of me, and shadows moved between the gnarly trees.
Three succubi walked through me from behind, as if I were made of mist. They couldn’t see me, as usual, but I could see and hear them. They were young and strong, clad in black leather, and proudly displaying their red war paint and the scarlet feathers braided in their charcoal manes. Wide swords hung heavily from their belts. They walked to the end of the path, where a mountain stood tall and a cave opened at its base.
The one on the left carried a dead body wrapped in animal hides and tied with leather strings on her shoulder. Silver blood dripped from one end, leaving a trail behind them.
I didn’t like the feel of this scene. It was too dark and riddled with whispers and an overall feeling of something terrible about to happen. And the corpse… I shuddered.
Nevertheless, I followed them into the cave. None of them said anything as they went deeper into the mountain. The path was lit by small torches mounted on the cave walls.
Their white knuckled hands gripped the hilts of their swords. The succubi didn’t seem comfortable, but they didn't back down.
We reached a wide circular chamber, with a channel dug all around the wall that was filled with dark water. Several creatures sat in the middle, feeding off the corpse of a large long-tusked animal that resembled a pachyderm.
The feeding creatures seemed familiar. One by one, they sniffed the damp air and caught the scent of their visitors. They stood.
I gasped at the sight of them. They looked like incubi and succubi, but there was something horribly off about them. Their bodies were thin with white flaky skin, black eyes, and dark, rotten teeth bared in hissing grins.
The succubus in the middle addressed these gruesome creatures first, visibly disgusted by their jaws smeared with animal blood.
“We’re here to speak to Krol,” she declared, her tone heavy and determined.
Two of the creatures approached the succubi, but the scraping of swords being pulled out of their sheaths stopped them in their tracks. They took a few steps back, weary of retaliation. They hissed at each other, as if communicating. I held back a gag. They were so creepy.
The water in the canal splashed against the stone wall as something slithered beneath its surface. There was a creature in there.
The succubus on the left dumped the heavy load she’d been carrying on the floor, using the sword to cut off the leather strings and reveal the corpse inside.
I walked closer.
It was an incubus. He had been stabbed several times in the chest, judging by his wounds.
“Come out here, Krol!” the su
ccubus in the middle shouted, her voice echoing around the cave. “We heard you needed a body. Got you a fresh one, right here!”
Before I could blink, a large, gray worm crawled out of the dirty canal water. It reminded me of a tapeworm, its mouth circular and riddled with razor-sharp teeth. It slithered across the cave floor, passing the other creatures and the dead animal, and stopped next to the deceased incubus.
It pushed its head into the corpse’s mouth and wiggled until it vanished inside.
“Oh ugh, ugh, ugh!” I exclaimed, utterly disgusted and thankful that no one could hear me. “That is just so wrong!”
I stilled and swallowed my words when the dead incubus opened its eyes. Its pupils were black as it sat up and looked around with a blank expression. I then made the connection. The creatures feeding on the dead animal—they looked like incubi and succubi because they were incubi and succubi. Their dead bodies were animated by these parasitic worms. I shuddered.
“There you go, Krol. A nice new body for you to enjoy,” the succubus in the middle said.
“Thank you, distinguished general,” the creature replied with a ragged breath, as if still adjusting to the new meat suit. “I assume you want something in return, other than to walk out of here with your beautiful bodies intact?”
“We want you to meet with Hansa of the Red Tribe and discuss an alliance against Azazel. He’s getting stronger, and people are dying, including your Sluaghs,” she replied. She kept her chin up, but she couldn’t quite mask her disgust.
The vision before me faded, and I cursed at my inability to hold it steady for long enough to gather more information. But as the darkness of the cave cleared out and I felt the warm attic light wash over me, I took a deep breath and felt thankful to still be here and not stuck in that cave.
So those are Sluaghs.
I shuddered again.
I did it.
The joy that came over me was delightful. I’d had a vision all by myself, without any external influence. I stilled. I noticed the black runes dancing across my skin again. I took a deep breath and let out an exasperated groan, as the markings disappeared one after the other. Soon enough, my skin was clear again.