Dwellers of Darkness (15 page)

The sounds from the TV only set my teeth on edge. “Thousands of homes and buildings were lost today. As of now the death toll is over thirteen hundred. Many are still missing. We know the total will only rise. Tourists and locals had no warning. Scientists are stumped as to the cause since there was no major earthquake recorded anywhere in the world today. Some think this might have commenced from plates shifting in the middle of the sea to trigger this kind of devastation. Some doubt this claim as no other towns or areas close by were affected in any way.”

“Wow.” Josh’s face was void of any emotion, but I knew he kept things hidden. “The Queen is really capable of doing this?”

“Yes,” Owen replied. “Though this kind of destruction is more than I thought her powers were able to do.”

I clenched my fists. “She had help.” I continued to stare at the images. “Her little amplifier,
Asim.” He was the boy who “helped” me destroy Seattle. I once had compassion for him. He could not touch anyone without devastating effects. What a lonely life—never to be touched or hugged. My feelings quickly changed after what had happened. He had been brainwashed at an early age and thought working for the Queen was a privilege and an honor. He had no empathy for the human lives he took.

“She’d also have to use a water fairy for help. Aneira has no power over water or fire. She can assist, but for this kind of devastation? The water fairies don’t like her, but somehow she would make sure they aided her.” Cole moved closer to the TV, drinking in every picture flashing on the screen. “Her power is air. She can create hurricanes and tornados, but real devastation is usually with fire.”

“It’s why she wants me. The water fairies can only damage places along water. And her air powers aren’t strong enough to destroy like fire can. We need to act.” I aimed my statement at Cole. “We need to do something. Now!”

“What exactly do you want to do?” Cole threw up his arms. “Go back to the Otherworld and ask the Queen to stop?”

“I’m sure she will comply if you ask nicely,” Eli tossed in.

“Shut up,” I yelled at Eli. “For once can you not open your mouth?”

“You want to take this out on me? Would that make you feel better?” Eli took a large stride towards me, his anger rising.

“Okay, whoa
... think everyone needs to calm down.” Jared held up his hands, and Kennedy nodded in agreement.

“Calm down? How can I when thousands of lives were lost simply because they came from the town where I lived
... where Mark grew up? This was because of what Mark told her.”

“What does Mark have to do with this?” Kennedy asked.

I looked at her. “Everything. I should have seen this coming, known what she was up to, but I didn’t. I just let this happen.”

“What are you talking about, Ember? You’re not making sense.” Kennedy regarded me.

“I dreamwalked on Mark and Ryan, and Aneira came in. She glamoured Mark and asked him where he considered home.”

“And he said Monterey,” Cole guessed.

“I knew she was up to something. I didn’t understand what. How could I not see it?”

“It’s not your fault.” Kennedy walked closer to me, but my rigid body kept her at arm’s length.

“It is, and I have to do something about it.”

“The only thing that will happen is you’ll die if you go to her now. If you truly want to avenge those people, let us find the sword. Then we can stop her for good,” Cole said.

Another hushed lull came over us.

“So
...” Josh broke in. “This sword. None of you has an idea where it is?”

We all stayed silent, glowering at him and each other.

“How are you going to find it then?” Josh looked around at each one of us, waiting for an answer.

It was not something that had an answer. Not at this time anyway. The aggravation in the room mounted. All of us were frustrated and discouraged.

Where do we even start?

“You okay?”
Kennedy asked me a few days later. I had been barking and screaming at the others while they tried to train her.

“I’m fine.”

“You don’t seem to be yourself the last few days. I am worried about you.” She stood confidently, staring at me. Suddenly, I felt like the child. Something in me recognized the roles of our relationship were changing. She was changing, which made me feel uncomfortable and agitated.

I snorted derisively. “I wouldn’t worry about me; worry about yourself. You need to advance faster than this.”

Her mouth tightened, and her jaw clenched before she spoke. “I
am
trying.”

Trying wasn’t helping us. Trying would only get more people killed. “Try harder.” I started to spin away and walk off when I heard my mother.

“Ember.” Her tone sounded shocked and embarrassed.

I rounded on her. “Oh, sorry. It’s not the way you raised me. Oh, right, you didn’t raise me. The only thing I’ve learned from you is pain and to guard myself from really letting anyone in.”

I gave her no time to respond to my words before I swung around and stomped off. Even then the guilt of what I said and how I treated them both only made me angrier with myself and them. Uncomfortable, I itched in my own skin. I wanted to act, to do something to stop Aneira, and to help those poor people in Monterey.

Who would be next on Aneira’s list?

The news only got worse. The number of deaths rose
to over fifteen hundred, and the damage was far more extensive than originally thought.

I couldn’t eat and bypassed meals to go straight for the gym. Josh met me often to talk and spar. He continued to shock me at how easy he was picking it up. I guess those years playing
World of War Craft
did help.

“You’re really good.” Josh panted, leaning on his sword.

“Alki would say my form is dreadful, and my concentration is appalling.” I returned the sword to the weapons wall.

“Sounds like a bastard.”

“Definitely, but he’s a good teacher.”

“He helped with your powers, too?”

“Yeah, but mostly he trained me physically. Maya and Koke helped train me in my other powers.”

“Right, because one isn’t nearly good enough.” He bobbed his head. “So you got telekinesis,
pyrokinesis, and you can acquire powers from the earth. You sure you don’t have a cape and an acceptance letter to Hogwarts?”

“That would be cool.” I grabbed a towel off the table, wiping my face.

“Wait. I forgot the most important. You are also part Dark Dweller.”

“I’m a mutated mutt.” I plopped on the table and took a drink of water.

“I’m curious about your Dark Dweller powers.” Josh took his water off the table and sat next to me.

My mouth flattened into a thin line.

“You don’t have to tell me.” Disappointment made his shoulders sag.

I exhaled. “No. It’s okay. None of my attributes are as strong as theirs, and I can’t shift, but
all my senses have heightened.”

“That’s it?” His gaze darted to me.

“My pupils go cat-like as theirs do when I get really pissed off or protective.” Josh was my friend, and I trusted him, but I felt uncomfortable telling anyone this stuff. My instinct was warning me to shut up. Funny, I complained about the Fae not being open, and here I was doing the same, just as Kennedy had pointed out.

“I thought I overheard you say your DNA has changed and iron doesn’t affect you like normal Fay?”

I didn’t recall telling Josh anything about my immunity to iron, but there had been so many things going on, who knew what I’d said. I could have told him I slept in Strawberry Shortcake Underoos till I was six. “Uh, yeah. It still hurts like hell, though.” Again, my throat closed up on saying more. I had always been guarded, but this was different. When had I truly accepted my “Fae-ness”? I couldn’t recall, but I wanted to protect and defend our secrets with everything I had.

“How long does it take to wear off?”

As I was about to dodge another question, a piercing wail assaulted my eardrums. With a cry I slid off the table to the floor and covered my ears.

“What’s wrong?” Josh jumped down, squatting next to me. “What happened?”

The headache-inducing whine raged in my head, rattling my teeth. I groaned and pressed my hands further into the sides of my head. “The sound... you can’t hear it?”

“No. What sound?” His gaze looked me over critically.

“It-It’s a high shrill sound.” I cringed again as the wail reached another heightened level.

“What? Are you hearing dog whistles now or something?” Josh’s voice sounded a little too harsh for it to be completely a joke.

“No...” I paused and looked out the window. “No. Not a dog whistle but a security breach.” I jumped down and moved to the door. The Dark Dwellers had added my blood to the spell surrounding the property so I could tell when someone tried to break through.

“Where are you going? Wait.” Josh followed me.

I didn’t stop. My legs carried me toward the warning alarm. Halfway there the noise stopped. The relief was instant, leaving the air around me peaceful. I continued to walk to the property line and spotted Cole and Eli before I saw who was on the other side.

Lorcan.

His frame dominated the area surrounding him. He wore dark jeans, a black leather jacket, and a cocky smirk as he stared at us.

Why am I even surprised?

I slowed to a swift, walking pace as two flying objects headed for each of my shoulders.

“My lady
... whoaaaa!” My hands snatched Simmons before he tumbled off, and I placed him squarely on my shoulder.

Cal fluttered down with grace. “We couldn’t miss the party. Hope you brought the booze and the floozies.” Human slang sounded funny coming from him. They had been hanging around us way too long.

I glared at Lorcan. He stood alone, but I spotted two figures lurking behind him, slightly hidden in the shadows. Dominic and Dax. He didn’t bring Samantha along this time.

Awww
... too bad. I’m really in the mood to kill her.

The voices rumbled in low murmurs and became clearer the closer I got.

“You don’t think I don’t have my own tricks for finding you guys each time. You’re not the only ones with friends.” Lorcan repeatedly threw a pebble up in the air and caught it.

“How’s being a domesticated lap dog going for you? Does she give you treats and brush your coat until it’s all shiny?” Eli sneered.

Lorcan’s face pinched. “Domesticated? Think you should look at yourself, brother.” Lorcan’s eyes flickered to me as I walked up to Eli.

It would cause Lorcan extreme pain, but he could cross the line if he really wanted to. Unless he had more than Dominic and Dax behind him, he knew it would be stupid to try. I still didn’t take my eyes off him.

“Before you get all bitchy and demand why I am here,” Lorcan gave a dramatic pause, “I have come to make a deal. I would like us to become business partners, as you would say.”

My loud snort sounded sharp against the quiet surrounding darkness. “Oh, Lorcan, you are always good for a laugh.”

He glowered at me. “Shut up, you disgusting revulsion. I can smell you and know you are part of the spell here now. The fact you are becoming more and more Dark Dweller is a disgrace.” He focused on Eli. “There is no worse shame on us. You sicken me, brother, allowing a Dae to become a Dark Dweller.” His face showed pure abhorrence.

Eli clenched his teeth, his jaw becoming tight. “Shut the hell up.” His eyes shifted, and his shoulders started curling as he began turning into his Dark Dweller form.

“Who are you really mad at, little bro? Me or because you know deep down I’m right?”

Cole’s hand went out to block Eli from reacting. “Lorcan, go away. You are no longer a part of us or are welcome here, and we certainly won’t be making any deals with you.”

Lorcan snarled, but slowly his face softened into smug amusement. “Oh, I think you will change your mind when you realize what the Queen really has planned. You think Seattle and Monterey are the extent of her schemes?” He continued when he knew he had our attention. “I may no longer be working with her, but I know what she is intending to do. You need us, and we
all
need the Druid. Sorry, Ember, you are no longer the most important, though your powers will come in handy. The Druid can break the curse, but we’ll also have powers Aneira can’t touch. We can stand together and fight her. Like we used to.”

The deep need to protect Kennedy stewed in my gut. I pushed it away along with all the other emotions I had this week. Lars was right: feelings were a weakness and would only be used against you. “What is she planning to do?”

“You think I am simply going to tell you without something in return?” Lorcan cocked his head at me. It was equivalent to patting my head and saying, “Awww, aren’t you adorable? Cute, but stupid as hell.”

“Do you want me to do a fly-by and poop on his head?” Cal whispered in my ear. I couldn’t help but laugh. Everyone turned to me.

“Pixies?” Lorcan looked dumbfounded. “You allow pixies here, too? Well, I guess when you go as low as a Dae, everything else pales in comparison.”

Two pissed-off winged creatures burst into the air. “Excuse me, sir? You do not offend my lady.” An affronted Simmons puffed up.

Both Eli and Cole looked up at the sky with annoyance.

“Guys.” I tried to grab their legs, but they zipped out of my reach.

“I challenge you to a duel,” Simmons spouted.

Lorcan, Dax, and Dominic responded with a hearty laugh. This only incited Simmons more.
Cal stayed quiet. He was no doubt silently planning something.

“Goddammit, Ember. Get those little fuckers away from here!” Eli boomed at me. Rage flaming his eyes.

At the worst moment possible, Josh, Torin, Thara, Mom, and Kennedy broke loudly through the brush. “Ember? Are you out here?” Kennedy yelled. Mom tried to shush her, but it was pointless. Humans could be heard from miles away. Only the Fae eased into the clearing quietly, though Torin with his cane and limp couldn’t pull off stealth quite as easily.

I cringed.

“Hey, there you are. Josh told us you took off this way...” Kennedy stopped and her eyes widened, finally seeing the assembled group.

There was a pause as Lorcan took them in. An expression flittered so quickly over his face as he looked at my mom, I couldn’t place it. Then his eyes narrowed when they landed on Torin.

At seeing three Seelie Fairies, one being the ex-First Knight, on Dark Dweller land, Lorcan stepped back and shook his head. “I was wrong. You did sink lower.”

Dax and Dominic stepped from the trees, either in utter disbelief or in response to our numbers having more than doubled theirs.

“What has happened to you guys? You can’t even call yourself Dark Dwellers anymore.” The words shot out of Lorcan’s mouth. “I always knew you were the worst leader, Cole, but this is disgusting. You run a halfway house for the Light now? Oh, and let’s not forget for humans as well.” He nodded to Josh. “You knew nothing about being a true leader, and you became one only by default. No one else old enough was left alive. Look at what your leadership has done.” Lorcan motioned around. “This is not who Dark Dwellers are. You have made us look soft and weak. You are becoming human, Cole.”

In the Fae world this was one of the worst insults.

Cole and Eli stayed quiet, their arms crossed, their heads held high and defiant. There was no doubt they agreed with some of what Lorcan said. Harboring Light Fay and humans was not in their nature. It went against everything they once stood for. But they did it—mostly because of me.

Lorcan shook his head. “If this is what you guys have become, this will be an extremely easy win for the Queen.” He took a few steps back; Dax and Dominic followed suit. “I’ve said this before, but I didn’t realize how true it was: our parents would be ashamed. We were once respected and feared. Now look at the fluffy, little bunnies you guys are.” He turned to walk away and stopped, looking over his shoulder. “The Queen might have the right idea in taking down the wall between the two worlds, exposing us, and making the two worlds into one. It would only be an improvement.”