Power of the Fae Page 23

  “Epan, my dear. What brings you to Langdale?”

  “Azura, it’s a shame that when I do come to visit you, it’s never for pleasure.” He grabs my hand and kisses the back of it. I motion for us to sit on the couch.

  “Please, let me introduce you to Yasmin Gakely, first. Yasmin is a Seer that works as a record keeper in the Hall of the Forsaken in the Sogro Monastery.”

  Yasmin has long flowing dark mahogany hair that flows to her waist. She has mesmerizing large brown eyes that capture your attention. She has a long black sequined cloak over her white peasant shirt that is tucked in a royal blue floor-length skirt. She stands tall from her seat and shakes my hand.

  “Hello, it’s an honor to meet you, Mrs. Văduva,” she says with a Sogroian accent.

  “Oh, please, call me Azura, my dear. Nice to meet you too, Yasmin.” I gesture for them to have a seat.

  “It has come to our attention that Melomouzor is trying to get free from his banishment. That must not happen,” Epan starts, deadly serious, speaking for the Druid’s of this realm. Yasmin is staring at a picture of Arlina that is on the table next to the couch she is sitting on.

  “We are doing all that we can. Lina and Keegan found a portal in the city that they are investigating.”

  “It is too late! The demons will cross over tonight! It is only a matter of time. Melomouzor has been contacting Arlina. He has given her a deadline to make her decision. He wants her as his Queen,” Epan continues.

  “The prophecy has begun.” Yasmin’s voice is void of any emotion; her eyes are completely white as she is in a trance. The picture she had been studying is in her hands.

  “He’s coming for her. The small black haired Fae is in danger tonight. The enemy is near; no one is safe. She will face a new evil tonight; strong and powerful she will need to be. She will lose a love, gain a love, bear love and sacrifice for love. The tiny one must be fierce.” She blinks quickly as her eyes return to their natural brown color as she comes back from her trance, slumping on the couch. Breathing hard, she jumps up, trembling as she paces.

  “Are you okay, my dear?” Epan walks with her to hold her so she doesn’t fall; she’s trembling so hard.

  She will lose a love, gain a love, bear love and sacrifice for love. What is in store for my Lina? Goddess help us all.

  * * *

  ~Lina~

  “Lina with me!” Keegan commands as we run towards the house. There’s a crash in the back yard and we head for the back. Colin is behind me. Christian, Tarron and Vander run along the other side of the house. There is a small trail of smoke coming from the back of the house. We reach the back and see the back of the house blown out and five of the largest demons I have ever seen jump out the crumbled building. The first one bends his head back and lets out a loud sadistic screech. His black wings have to have at least a ten-foot wingspan; he jumps up and takes off into the night.

  “That’s not good!” I say eyeballing the other demons. “Umm, Colin I think we’ll need the other wolves.”

  “Already on it, they’re on the way,” he says as the first demons attack. He pulls his Glock off his hip and starts shooting at the demons as they engage with all the Guardians. The bullets are not slowing the demons down at all. These demons are much larger and stronger. They move faster than any other demon we’ve fought before. Some have wings like the one who flew off, others do not.

  “Bullets aren’t doing anything!” Tarron yells, ducking a large blow from one of the demons, swinging his blade slicing the demon across the chest. As four more step out of the house, Devyn and Dante make their way over. They are taken back by the massive size of the new demons as well. They instantly jump in the brawl. While everyone is fighting a demon or two, I realize someone has to go in the house to stop the witches and close the portal.

  A demon swings at me. Fury rises inside me feeding the flames of fire that appear in my hands. Rolling the flames into balls as I was taught, I throw the ball of fire at the demon, hitting him square in the chest. Screeching can be heard as the fire consumes him. Raising my hands, I’m able to direct the fire to flow toward his mouth drowning his screams. Twisting my hand his body explodes into pieces. My Fae power is warming my chest and the warmth is spreading to my fingers again. My amulet is warming on my chest; I have to get into the house to stop the witches.

  My small size allows me to run, duck and slide to avoid the claws of demons as I run towards the house. A brown skinned demon grabs my arm; I swing hitting him in the neck causing him to take a step back. Without a second thought, my Fae power allows me to snatch the air from his body, he falls to the ground choking and digging at his throat. Standing over his writhing body, I imagine his lungs exploding, he jerks and becomes still. I don’t want to chance him coming back; I grab Dawn from her scabbard and quickly separate his head from his body. I quickly return her to the sheath on my back.

  “Lina, where the fuck are you going?” Keegan yells out, swinging his katana and decapitating a demon. I don’t have time to answer since the minute the body hits the ground another demon attacks him.

  “I have to shut the portal!”

  A demon jumps in my path. He looks down and smiles at me. Oh, shit! The power that is radiating from this demon signals that he is a high-level demon. The higher the level of the demon, the stronger, and more vicious it will be. From the looks of this one, he will be a bitch to take down.

  “Hello, Princess or should I say, my Queen.” He bows his head slightly. He has a gold rod piercing in his nose and a golden ball piercing right below his bottom lip. I glance quickly to the right, Colin, Keegan and Christian are battling with one or two demons. To the left Vander, Tarron, Dante and Devyn are also busy with their own demons.

  “I am NOT your Queen!” I hiss, pulling Dawn out of her sheath slowly. I’ll just have to kill him.

  “Keep denying it, if you want, my Queen. He will claim you.” I swing my katana missing as he jumps back. He swings his claws, missing as I side step him, kicking him in the back of his knees causing him to stumble. I round house kick him in the back of his head causing him to fall all the way to the ground. I swing my sword down missing as he quickly rolls away.

  “You can’t kill me that easy, my Queen!” he taunts jumping to his feet.

  I swing again advancing on him. He dodges, catching me off guard, grabbing me by my throat, dangling me high in the air, bringing his face close to mine. His red eyes flashing, his fangs showing from underneath his top lip.

  “You will belong to him, my Queen. It’s time you faced it!” he growls in my face.

  I hear another growl coming towards us, this time a deep growl from an animal. A flash of black fur crashes into the demon causing him to throw me to the ground. Colin! I roll over, gasping for a second before I jump up running towards the house again. Colin and the demon are engaged. Colin must have shifted when seeing the demon dangling me in the air. Four more demons walk out the house. Two more take off into the air flying away.

  Reed and Gunnar run around the house already covered in blood signifying that they had demon action on the way here. Out the corner of my eye I see Christian take down another demon. It seems for every demon we take down a few more pop out of the house. I run up the back stairs desperate to close the portal. Footsteps echo behind me as I hit the kitchen floor, ducking behind the counters to hide. My name is whispered loudly. Keegan follows me in the house. He crawls to where I am in the kitchen.

  “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he whispers fiercely.

  “We’ve got to shut the portal. You and I are the only ones here who can do it. If not, the demons will continue to come out.” He nods his head.

  Growling and snarling can be heard from the next room. More demons have arrived through the portal. The wall that was blown out must be in the other bedroom across from the portal room. The demons are walking out the portal and straight into the yard.

  “We are going to need more help. There are too many of them!
” I whisper to him as he quickly peeks around the corner; assessing the hallway we have to go down.

  “Reed said something about Alec calling for reinforcements. Reed said that Alec saw what was going on and called in the Vamps too. They should be arriving any minute!”

  He looks back at me, nods his head and he slowly stands walking down the hallway with his body as close to the wall as possible. I follow closely behind him. I draw out my dagger from my belt sheath. The pulsating energy coming from the room can be felt in the hallway. Keegan reaches the doorway to the room, glancing in quickly. He flashes two fingers twice. Two witches and two demons must be in the room. I nod my head in understanding. I feel a presence behind me. Turning quickly I see Colin standing behind me in his wolf form, his blue and brown eyes staring at me waiting to see what Keegan and I do.

  “Close the portal now!” Keegan demands walking into the room with Colin and me right behind him.

  The far wall shimmers in black and gold signifying the portal is open. Wind exchange can be felt coming through the portal. The portal is a half circle arch, large enough for two grown men to step through at a time. The two witches are kneeling on the floor with the hoods of their cloaks pulled over their heads hiding their identities. Their focus is on sending their energy to keep the portal open.

  The two demons collide with Colin and Keegan. Keegan and the one demon crash through the other wall that leads to the living room fighting. Colin and the other demon fall out into the hallway towards the other room, wrestling on the floor, his long canines latching onto the demon’s shoulder.

  I rush the first witch and grab her hood snatching it off her head. She lets out a scream as I break her concentration, jerking her from the energy stream. I’ve never seen this witch before; she’s not of my grandmother’s coven. She jumps up, her face twists in rage, screaming trying to scratch my eyes out. She’s truly not a warrior. I backhand her hard knocking her out. A menacing laugh comes from the other witch. Her black hair escapes from under her hood, black hair that looks all too familiar. She turns to look at me.

  “No!” I whisper. It can’t be! I take a step back in shock.

  “Hello, my lovely niece!” Ilona speaks sarcastically from her knees, her face distorted in disgust as she looks at me.

  “Have you lost your mind? You must shut this portal!” Aunt Ilona is a strong witch. She herself can open a portal; I don’t know why she would need the assistance of another witch.

  “No! The Demon King is meant to rule this realm! By serving him, I will get all that I was denied by this wretched family!” She screams!

  Keegan runs back into the room. He pauses, eyes wide, as shocked as I am. Azura had told us before she thought that Ilona was turning dark but had no evidence of it or how far gone she was. We have certainly confirmed it now. My grandmother is going to be devastated by this.

  “Ilona shut the portal down before more demons come through.” Keegan says slowly in a calm voice. Ilona gets to her feet scowling at Keegan and me.

  “You two have it all! It’s not fair that you are Fae royalty, coming here expecting everyone to bow and kiss your ass! You shouldn’t inherit everything from Azura! That bitch of a mother of yours didn’t deserve being chosen to marry your father! I should be Azura’s heir!”

  Hoping Keegan can keep her distracted; I creep closer to her waiting for an opening. A second later the demon with the gold nose piercing bursts in the room crashing into Keegan; I take advantage of the commotion and attack Ilona. I swing at her but she blocks me, drawing a dagger from under her cloak, swinging at me. I don’t want to hurt her, no matter what. I just cannot kill my own family, even if she is trying to bring destruction to our realm! I spin away from her again as she swings her dagger, stabbing it into the wall. She just barely missed my shoulder. I look over her shoulder and notice the portal is weakening! Yes! I have to keep her distracted.

  “You are not worthy of being Azura’s heir! You are not strong enough to lead the Coven! It should be me!”

  She lets out another scream and swings her dagger at me again. I duck, swinging my fist, hitting her in the stomach hard, causing her to gasp and fall to the floor.

  Ilona is stronger than I realize. It takes an extremely powerful witch to be able to fight and hold a portal open. I hear Keegan yell out in pain. I turn to see the demon with the gold piercing holding a bleeding Keegan in a chokehold in front of him, with a dagger pointed at his heart. One swift move and he can bury that blade directly into Keegan’s heart. The bottom of my stomach drops away.

  Taking a good look at my brother, taking in his shredded shirt, large open slashes on his abdomen bleeding profusely and one on his neck that is dripping bright red blood. His sword is on the floor across the room. He’s pale and weakened by blood loss. I have never seen my brother beaten down, weak, and my heart is in my throat.

  “My Queen, put your blade down!” the demon instructs. “Witch, she is not to be harmed! The Demon King will be very angry with you if she is harmed in any way,” he yells at Ilona as she gasps for breath, trying to stand.

  My eyes lock with Keegan. He holds my eyes and shakes his head as I tighten my grip on my dagger. My heart is beating a mile a minute, sweat dripping down my face. Dawn is still strapped to my back.

  “Let him go!” I drop my dagger. Holding my hands, palms facing the demon in a sign of surrendering.

  “Kick it over here and the sword!” he directs.

  “What is your name, demon?” My eyes lock on him as I kick my knife over to him, then Dawn, my trusty katana.

  “Oruzahl, why, my Queen?”

  “I want to know the name of the Demon I am going to kill!” I growl making a promise, bunching my hands into fist. Anger flows through my veins as I slowly imagine how I will kill this demon. He laughs as he starts backing up dragging a weakened Keegan with him. I take a step forward just as he jumps back with Keegan into the portal.

  “No!” I scream, diving towards the portal as it closes. “No, no, no, no!!” I scream beating on the wall, tears running freely down my face.

  “Keegan!” I scream his name as I’m pulled off the wall kicking and screaming, trying to get back to the wall. Warm arms surround me as my heart breaks. My big brother, my teacher, my protector, my champion is gone. Taken to the Underworld.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  ~Colin~

  It’s been almost twenty-four hours since Keegan was taken to the Underworld. Lina hasn’t said much since we got her back to her grandmother’s house. She’s locked herself in her room and they are only letting certain people in there. Her father arrived last night as soon as she called him. She couldn’t get through the phone call without bawling her eyes out. I had to take her phone from her, and notify the Prince that his son was captured, and taken to the Underworld.

  My gut is telling me that the battle that occurred last night is only the first of many, and the future battles will be worse. We were able to kill and injure some of the demons but the majority of them escaped. Some flew away while the rest bolted on foot. Dorian’s vampires arrived as the last few escaped. The ones that fled on foot, Dorian has his vampires tracking them now. We need to find where they are staying now that they have made it to the realm.

  We are all meeting tonight, here at Azura’s. We all underestimated Melomouzor’s demons and his reach in the human realm. These new demons are a whole new breed. They are much larger, faster, and more intelligent and hold some of the properties of the supernaturals. It’s as if he has taken the best qualities of each supernatural, and somehow transferred them into the demons. It has us questioning if he has all the missing still, and is he using them for more than making a comeback to the realm.

  Dorian has agreed to come to Azura’s home to meet with Azura, Prince Vamir and myself to work together officially to try to defeat Melomouzor. We don’t have much time. There is no telling what he is doing to Keegan in the Underworld. Our first priority will be to get him back. We have three more nights before
Lina has to either accept Melomouzor’s proposal or risk him sending more of his super Demons to destroy the realm. There is no way she will accept his offer and become his Queen. I will not allow that to happen. She belongs to me. We will find a way to defeat him.

  Lina’s aunt Ilona and the other witch escaped during all the mayhem. Azura was devastated to learn that Ilona was one of the witches opening the portals for Melomouzor. Adela is leading a search party trying to locate her own traitorous sister. She must pay for trying to help the Demon King take over the realm. Witches take care of their own kind. Once they are caught, the Witches’ Council will put them on trial and their punishment will be carried out.

  I stand outside Lina’s bedroom door of her grandmother’s home. I hear soft singing coming from inside. I knock on the door and wait. The singing halts and soft footsteps make their way to the door. A tall young blonde Fae woman answers the door. She smiles slightly, opening the door and offering her hand.

  “You must be Colin.”

  “Yes, I am.” I nod, shaking her hand.

  “I’m Tillie, please come in.” She opens the door, waving me in.

  I walk in and see Lina, sitting in a large overstuffed chair by the window. She’s fresh from the shower with a white cotton robe on and her long midnight hair running down her back. Her expressionless face stares out the window. Tillie walks past me to stand behind Lina and begins brushing her hair. I kneel at Lina’s feet.

  “Hi, babe.” She smiles at me but her smile does not reach her eyes.