The Demon Girl

  Lochlann seethed at me silently for a moment before his face went blank. Instead of relaxing I put up all my mental guards; I was used to this behavior. Breandan did it when he planned to manipulate me.

  My eyes wandered and landed on Conall who smiled encouragingly. I managed a tight grimace in return.

  Lochlann held out his hand. “The amulet of wisdom, give it to me.”

  “No,” I said.

  He blinked and frowned. “I want to see it. You can have it back.”

  “I said no.”

  He watched me for a while then said, “You saw my sister before she was taken captive?”

  “Killed,” I said slowly and carefully. “I saw Maeve as Clerics killed her.”

  He pressed his eyes shut, cocked his head then shook it. “I feel her. She is alive. I would know the moment of my sibling's death.”

  Breandan nodded in agreement. “She is still with us. Hidden and bound by iron.”

  That was news to me, and why hadn’t he said so before. I knew fairies had amazing powers of recovery, but could we survive a bullet to the chest? Maeve had looked pretty dead to me. I didn’t say this, of course, out of respect.

  “The humans have gone too far this time. They will pay. My sister will be retuned. We will give them one chance to free her, or we shall take her back by force.”

  I didn’t like where this was heading.

  “Hold on. You can’t be so general in your damnation, and you can’t start throwing around ultimatums.” Breandan squeezed my hand, hard and I shot him a look. “Don’t be trying to silence me. There are good people at the Temple. Yes, Lord Cleric Tu and the Lady Cleric were wrong, but not all humans think like them.” I kept it to myself that a fair portion did.

  “We did not start this.”

  “You should defuse the situation, not rile it up. I’m telling you if you march up to the Wall and start shouting demands it won’t be received well. The Priests will feel threatened, and they will send the Clerics.”

  “I will kill anyone who stands between me and my kin.”

  “Lochlann, I think it’s great you care about your family, but hurting people in their name–”

  “You cannot talk to me of family.”

  He really knew how to use words to effect. “Fine. I admit from what I’ve heard my roots leave something to be desired.” I took in a breath, things were getting a little close to home, but I’d started this and I was going to finish it. “But we’re not talking about me. We’re talking about your actions that may start a war. The last time the demons and humans clashed, the entire human race was nearly wiped out. I've been told that many of demonkind were not happy to fight. What'll happen to the human survivors who face demons motivated to kill. We'd be looking at the extinction of an entire species.”

  “These Clerics. You would be able to show them to me?”

  My lips twisted. Lochlann was not listening to me; in fact he was completely ignoring me. If the fairies took this stance it would only end in bloodshed. The thought of my fellow Disciples clashing with these beings made me sweat. “If revenge is what you’re thinking, you’re too late,” I told him. “The Lady Cleric was killed by–” I stopped and slid my gaze Breandan’s way. His only reaction to the topic was a flaring of his nostrils. “She’s dead,” I said flatly.

  “The vampire,” Breandan explained through clenched teeth.

  Lochlann paced in front of us, his eyes on me. There was little warmth there. “Brother,” he said in a tone of quiet command. “Your, female has shown no respect for who and what we are. How do you know she can be trusted?”

  “Rae is true to me.”

  “She kept the truth from you, on more than one occasion. Because of her you nearly lost your life. And this thing with the vampire–”

  “Is none of your business,” Conall cut in scathingly.

  Lochlann barely glanced his way. “Your family is the single greatest disappointment to our race. As the Elder you should be helping her to along her new path, not encouraging her foolishness.”

  “Elder?” I asked.

  “Head of the family,” Breandan told me.

  Conall stared at Lochlann with thinly veiled hate. There was a niggle in my mind, two dots dancing around each other waiting to be connected. Elder, head of the family, gold eyes.

  “She is mine, Lochlann. Let me leave with her, and I swear you a month of peace.”

  Breandan blanched.

  I spun round and glared at the newcomer. When I saw who it was I managed to splutter, “What did you just say?”

  “I wasn’t speaking to you,” Devlin said and let the tent flap drop behind him. “I was addressing the one you refuse to follow.”

  “I did not say I would not follow him,” I objected hotly.

  I had remembered too late that not following Lochlann, meant I was in Devlin’s Tribe.

  “You’re not seriously considering…” I trailed off at the look on Lochlann’s face. It was blank, calculating. Cold.

  Sucking a series of shallow gasps I slowly looked at Breandan’s face, terrified at what I would find there. He glared at his brother so balefully I was surprised the older fairy could withstand the weight of it.

  “One month with no attacks?” Lochlann asked.

  Devlin made a big show of lifting his chin, and placing his hand over his heart. “I swear it.”

  Uttering the oath the air thickened with magic and hung, waiting for acceptance.

  “No.”

  The word was not shouted, or hollered or uttered in any way that could be conceived as emotional. It was a flat out refusal, brooked no argument. It was a command. The magic sighed and dissipated. Breandan slid me behind him and I wrapped my arms around his waist. I couldn't stop my body trembling.

  “Do not deny the reason of it,” Lochlann said.

  “I said no.”

  “This isn't just about you,” Devlin said. “You would continue the death of fairy lives for the sake of one female.” He made a scoffing noise and ran his eyes all over me disdainfully. “She is beautiful, and pure though she reeks of another. I promise you take her once and she will lose her appeal.”

  “That is enough,” Conall barked. We all turned to him as he lithely stepped over to stand beside Breandan. “This isn’t even a discussion.”

  “Who are you to interfere?” Devlin sneered.

  “You know very well,” he hissed back.

  “Well then would someone mind letting me know?” I asked in a low voice. “Because I am mighty confused.”

  Breandan shifted and put his arm around me. “It is not the right time.”

  I shrugged his arm off and ignored him. I ignored everyone, but Conall. I tapped him on the shoulder and he turned, reluctantly, to look down at me from his lofty height. His eyes, deep gold, shimmered with suppressed feeling. When we had first met he had told me he knew me as a baby. Truth rung inside my head and in a rush my thought’s tumbled over one another, fighting for recognition.

  Conall’s eyes were a unique colour I had only seen on one other person. He had touched me, several times, and I had never thought anything of it. When he had it wasn’t like Breandan, whose touches felt like fire and ice. His touches felt natural and comforting, and he’d never shown aversion to touching me; even areas sacrosanct like my tail. Conall had watched over me and shown a level of understanding a stranger would not have deserved. He had the same skin, eye and hair colour, for gods sake.

  “Brother,” I said with certainty. “You’re my brother.”

  He nodded once. “I had hoped when you finally visited Orchard, the place of our birth I could explain your origin, our connection. I had hoped to get to know you and for you to learn to trust me. Things have not worked out like I planned.”

  I was dumbfounded. I was dirty and tired and drained. Too emotional to try and explain how I felt, I simply said, “Later. We’ll talk later.” It was anti-climatic but he didn’t seem to mind.

  “Yes, that would be…nice.” He
paused. “Would you like to know the first time I ever laid eyes on you?” Eyes wide, I nodded wordlessly and he beamed a smile. He was positively delighted by my acceptance. He stood straighter and his eyes sparkled. “When you were born and I was a young one, hours after your birth I peeked in your cradle. I tried to touch your cheek, but you fisted your tiny hand around my finger,” he held his forefinger up, “and refused to let go. You puffed up your chest and held your breath, so fearsome and brave. Mother called you, her little warrior.” He laughed before his eyes became sad, haunted. “I did not mean to let you go. It was not… Understand when our mother took you…” His face was pained, pleading. “I searched for you, for years, but the spell on you was so strong. We only found you because you chose to venture beyond the Wall and become entangled with Breandan’s future.”

  Large, warn hands slid around my waist. I leaned back, needing the support. Turning round to look at him, Breandan saw the worry in my eyes. He kissed my nose.

  “It will pass,” he said softly.

  I knew he meant the pain, the sharp stabbing pain of feeling the years of abandonment issues coming to the forefront.

  Taking a deep breath, I straightened my back and glared at Devlin. Before, I had denied him with a few words, and I was sure it would work again. I was learning there were rules to how the fairies operated. Devlin was walking around without chains, and I guessed that was because he had been defeated and captured fairly, meaning he could not leave unless he was saved by his own people or set free. Honor and magic bound to follow the rules.

  “I’m going nowhere with you,” I said.

  The words were backed by the rules of magic. They had weight and the tension in the room cranked down a notch. Lochlann made a noise of annoyance. I fought the urge to run over and stick my tongue out at him.

  “That settles that,” Conall said diplomatically.

  “For now,” Devlin replied.

  He and Lochlann shared a long, loaded glance. We all caught the look, who wouldn’t, but I could not care less. They could plot and scheme all they wanted. Devlin would never get my bonded mate to agree with his brother and I would never say the words they wanted me to.

  Breandan squeezed me before letting go to stand before Lochlann. “Swear to me you will not consider this again.”

  Gazes locked they stood still and silent for a long time.

  “You ask me to give up the chance for time to seek a peaceful solution?”

  “It will not allow it.”

  “You are sworn to me, little brother.”

  Breandan had an intense look of concentration on his face. He was deciding something and for less than a beat, I felt apprehension. I had lied to him, kept secrets and aided his enemies. I had refused to listen to him, and caused him a whole heap of problems with his family and lord. Oh gods. Maybe he was thinking I was more trouble than worth. He had said himself our bond was not sealed because of my connection with Tomas, and the fact our union had be created, but not sealed by magic.

  “Release me from my oath,” he said.

  Lochlann stiffened, his eyes snapped to me and blazed with loathing. “You let her destroy your honor.” Lochlann placed a hand on Breandan’s shoulder and shook him. “She makes you weak.”

  “We could break the bond,” Devlin said. “She has a blood tie to another.”

  Breandan’s jaw worked. “That is irrelevant. It would not work.”

  “You are so certain,” he said with a small smile. “Hearts can change, and hers is already split in two. How do you know she will choose you?”

  I raised my hands and let them fall to my sides. He just couldn’t help himself. What I had done with Tomas was none of their damned business. I refused to lower myself and defend something that should not need defending. Yes, it was weird and strange, but I was getting sick and tired of being discussed and talked about as if I wasn’t even there.

  I glared daggers at him.

  “I belong to her,” Breandan said simply.

  “And she you?”

  “Now you all listen to me.” I took in a breath and set my feet apart. “I won’t lie, I do care for Tomas deeply. I don’t know why or how such a thing is possible and I do not know how long it will last.” I walked up to Breandan and pressed my fingers to his face. “I can’t promise I’ll love you forever, because I honestly don’t know how I feel. You need to give me time. I don’t know what will happen next, but I’ll never betray you. If you trust me, I’ll trust you. Deal?”

  His fingers curled around mine and held them to him. Pulling me closer, he wrapped his arms around me and crushed me to him.

  “Do it,” he fired above my head.

  “Breandan, I release you from you oath.”

  There was a crack and Breandan staggered. I held onto him, and fell with him as his knees gave out. Limbs tangled we hit the floor hard. Air became a physical thing and wrapped around my throat. It settled then faded. Breandan trembled in my arms, head burrowed into my shoulder.

  “Everybody get out,” I said. The fairies had not moved they were still, shocked.

  “Lochlann,” Conall said quietly. “Please.”

  The fairy-lord scowled at my brother then turned on his heel and left. “Devlin, I wish to speak to you about the human.”

  Laying my head down I didn't see them all leave, but heard and felt it when we were finally alone.

  “You didn’t have to do that,” I said.

  “He was wrong.”

  We were quiet for a long time, and I thought hard on the reality of what was going to happen next. Breandan was in a precarious position. He had broken away from his brother and the Tribe, making him an outcast fairy. I had denied both Lochlann and Devlin that made me an outcast too. Devlin knew I had the amulets of power and wisdom, but Breandan and Lochlann had no idea.

  Gods, it was complicated.

  There was something worrying me. The other guardian must have been Conall, he had the amulet of protection, but that was not the one Devlin had. Had the Tribe really managed to steal it? Or did Breandan jump to conclusions again as it seemed he was prone to do.

  “Breandan, the amulet of protection, when did it go missing?”

  He snorted. “For all that has just happened, that is your main concern?”

  “Can’t you just answer the question?”

  He sighed, rubbed his head against my arm. “This morning. When I knew you needed me, I hid it so I wouldn’t risk losing it. It was a place I’d hidden my secret things since childhood.”

  “How would a tribal fairy have found it then?”

  He shrugged. “Maybe they cast a spell or followed me.”

  It didn’t add up. I spoke my next words carefully, mindful of his pride that could swell into something nasty. “Don’t you think that’s not enough to base your whole theory on?”

  Breandan shifted to look into my face. His eyes were sparkly and his cheeks had regained some colour. “You know something,” he said. I nodded, and pulled the two amulet pieces out from under my tee shirt. Breandan stared at them. “I should probably be surprised, but I think the impossible will be possible with you around. His forehead furrowed. “Wisdom and power.” He touched the last empty place in the centre of the amulet. “But where is the amulet of protection you took from Devlin?”

  “I took the amulet of power from Devlin.” I shuddered at the memory of the power boiling my blood, and stroking a darkness lurking beneath the core of who I was.

  “Then where is the amulet of protection?”

  “That’s why I think you were too hasty to blame the Tribe. I don’t think Devlin has it.”

  “Perhaps you are right, though I can think of no one else who would have the inclination to take it. Its power can only work for one fairy.”

  We had waded into dangerous territory again. It seemed all fairies believed they had a purpose, and I was slowly coming to terms with what mine was, but I was not ready to openly talk about it.

  I traced the outline of one of his tat
toos. “Tell me what they mean.”

  “We all have a purpose. Mine is to keep order.”

  I giggled. “Really? You’ve done nothing but break the rules since you met me.”

  He winced. “The tattoos signify my skills and accomplishments. Some are for protection. Others guide me and help me see the truth.” He paused thoughtfully, slid a considering look my way that held an undercurrent of something else. “You have asked me a question, now may I ask you one you will answer?”

  Shifting on the floor that was quickly growing cold, I curled into a ball at his side and thought about it. For a while there was only the sound of our breathing and the warmth of him. My eyes felt all droopy, and my mind slid into a lazy sleep pattern.

  “Well, that depends on the question,” I said sleepily.

  “Tomas.”

  My lids slammed wide open. Breandan didn’t sound angry, but mildly disgusted.

  “A name is not a question, and I’ve already explained this to you as best I can. Leave it alone.”

  He snorted. “He will come back and I want you to stay away from him.”

  I hissed my disapproval. He ran a finger down the bridge of my nose, over my lips. I kept my face set, refusing to be distracted.

  “He is vampire. It is not natural the way they are. They bring death wherever they go,” he said with as much heat as an ice cube.

  I thought back to the strange urge I got when I was around Tomas. It made me shudder. I could not deny he felt unnatural to me, but it didn’t mean it was right. Breandan was quiet for a long time, and eventually I knew he was not going to speak again. I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep right then and there.

  I dreamed I was dying. I watched my last sunset and Breandan held me close. We raced were-cats through the forest and the sun shined from within us. The moon rose and Breandan handed me to Tomas, who cried tears of blood and showed me dark things. He fed from me and called me his love.

  It was the cold hand clamped over my mouth and pulsing dark that woke me.

  “Wake,” a voice whispered in my ear.

  I peeked an eye open, remaining still. I kept my breathing even and glanced at Breandan’s face. Eyes closed and brow relaxed his breath came steady and even. I blinked up at Tomas. Had my dream called him to me? He took his hand away from my mouth and pressed a finger to his lips, then looked at Breandan. I got the message loud and clear. Stay quiet. I carefully shifted away from Breandan, rolling to my hands and knees I crawled backwards.