Chosen Darkness (Chosen Series) (22 page)

The Great War raged on for nearly a hundred years before the Immortal Guard stepped in at the request of the Lycan ruler, and the law forbidding vampire couplings with werewolves had been put in place. From then on, any vampire stupid enough to fall for a Lycan would meet with death at the Court’s hands.

Seemed fate was right: Falyn needed to take over rule of the Lycan Court because it was not as noble as it would like others to think, and it was not even infected with the Dark Sickness. It was a collection of power-hungry dictators.

Falyn made her way to the door, unlocked it and slipped out into the hall with both her books. Daniel was waiting for her. He frowned in disapproval when he saw the two huge volumes in her arms.

“Are you going to stand there glaring or help me?” Falyn snapped.

“You seriously think you can sneak off with two of the archive’s books and get away with it?” Daniel asked.

“Yes! No! Listen, getting a hold of these is the only reason I’ve stuck around here… I need them, and I’m not putting them back!” Falyn told him, sticking her chin up and daring him to argue with her.

“Fine, but you shouldn’t waste time standing here in the open with them.” Daniel took one of the books from her leading her back to the room.

“Anything else before I leave you to… read?” Daniel asked.

“Oh, nothing at the moment, thanks, but please don’t bring me anything to eat or drink unless it was meant for you. I overheard the Elders planning to poison me with the Dark Sickness. And… I need a way out,” she told him.

“I will find you someone else’s dinner easily enough… but escaping from here is going to prove a lot harder to accomplish,” Daniel said before leaving.

Once Daniel had gone, Falyn settled down to read the massive book on werewolves and vampires. After describing the end of the Great War, vampires weren’t mentioned again. The book focused more on the Lycan Court and their packs. Those bitten by a pure Lycan where offered positions in the Lycan army. However, those turned by a Bitten werewolf were left to fend for themselves. They could make a pack for themselves, join another Bitten Alpha’s pack or stay as a lone wolf. Ranks in a pack all came down to how little or how much pure werewolf blood a member had. Top was a pure blood, and then came the half breeds, and after that were the Bitten wolves. If someone was turned by a pure blood then they were more important than if a mere Bitten wolf had turned them.

The Shadow Lycan, also known as the Cursed, were Lycan pure bloods or half breeds who had disobeyed the Court or broken some law, and their punishment was to become a Shadow wolf. They would no longer be able to change at will during the daylight hours only at night, and the peak of their strength was during the full moon. Unlike the Bitten, the Shadow wolves were not allowed to form a pack of their own. Instead they were forced to walk the earth alone.

While the pure blooded, half breeds and the Bitten were held under the rule of the Lycan Court, the Shadow wolves were not tied and therefore not subject to the same laws as the other packs. The Court always took the Alpha power away from these cursed ones and none were able to make a pack without it.

Falyn closed her eyes, trying to picture the faces of the Shadow wolves that had attacked Flint’s pack, but all she could recall were glowing eyes in the dark shadows. She shivered; those Shadow wolves had come as a pack, not as single creatures. Clearly this was not normal, and surely not even possible, but she had seen it with her own eyes. How did the Court miss it?

Reading the rest of the chapter showed why. The Lycan Court stayed within its realm; only members of its army moved beyond it. Yet even they only went when there was trouble, detected by the Court’s Mystics, for them to deal with. A Lycan was out of reach of the Mystic’s senses the moment it became a Shadow wolf.

Falyn paused right there, a light bulb going off in her head as she thought about the curse of the Shadow wolf. So, they were no longer able to change at will in the day, only at night. The Shadow wolves she had seen had indeed been like shadows with only their eyes standing out. Yet the perks of being one seemed worth the curse since they were out of reach of the Lycan Court and off the Mystics’ grid.

Yet, was the price really worth it? To become a Shadow wolf she would have to forsake the Lycan Court for Darkness. You didn’t become a Shadow wolf by being a nice person: most of the examples given in the book were of those who’d killed or forsaken their bloodlines. Did the curse carry more weight than the book revealed? Falyn had no way of knowing for sure, but she had the distinct feeling if she did forsake her bloodline, she would be able to walk right out of the Court. Of course, that meant she would be damning herself in a way, no longer being able to turn during the day, and Lord only knew what she would face as a cursed Shadow wolf!

The Druids of Light’s collection of spells and rituals lay next to her. Again, she’d only dipped into this book up to now, not really studying it. If she did curse herself and become a Shadow wolf, would she be giving up all the power from her other bloodline?

Falyn opened to the first very old and faded recording by the Druids of Light. It was a blessing and it was written in Celtic. As she looked at the unrecognizable words, something magical happened – they started to fade into something she could read. She read the blessing out loud, and as she read she felt her skin prickle as the magic held within ran over her body.

The blessing was meant to open the mind of the one who held the power of the Druids of Light – to unlock the secrets which ran through their blood, passed from one to another. Turning the page, Falyn continued to read, and as the words showed themselves to her, she finally understood how to release the Druids’ magic within herself. The basic rule being you had to be open to the ways of the Druids’ of Light, and appreciate the power used to motivate it.

Falyn read for hours, hardly making a dent in the huge book. She lightly folded the page on its corner and shut the tome. Now she had the key to unlocking her power. Yet to learn how to wield it properly, she would have to study and read the whole book, and that was going to take time. She would have to process each lesson and practice what it taught. From the little she had just read, Falyn already knew the power of the Druids of Light was not something given lightly, and nor was it easy to use. Clearly those seeking the power had no idea how much effort they would need to put in before they could even begin to work the magic.

Falyn had no plans of letting this power fall into the hands of the Lycan Court! The Elders were not noble enough to have such power. Getting up, she walked to the balcony, looking out at a dark landscape lit with a full moon. It was always dark in this realm, a full moon always shining down.

Daniel should be returning soon with something for her to eat, but whether she would actually risk it now was another matter. It was too dangerous.

Falyn had risked a lot over the last year after learning of the bloodline running through her veins. Whether her father had a hand in placing the responsibility on her, or just played a minor role, it was clear this was her fate. The Immortal clans were at a crossroads: if they kept going down this path, sooner or later another war would break out and it could easily spill over to the Mortals.

“This food was meant for one of the Lycan Elders so it should be safe to eat.” Daniel’s words brought her out of her thoughts.

“Thank you. But I’ve decided I won’t need it,” Falyn told him, closing the balcony doors. “I do have one question for you, though.”

“Ask away,” Daniel said.

“What do I need to do to become a Shadow wolf?”

Daniel’s eyes narrowed, and the macules under his dark skin flexed.

“That is a dangerous question!” he said sternly.

“Just answer it, please.” Crossing her arms over her chest.

“There are many ways, none of them pleasant. You can murder a fellow Lycan or betray the Court, or denounce the bloodline, if pure-blooded. However, since you’re only half Lycan, the only action that would turn you into a Shadow wolf would be murder.”

His words ran over her like ice.

“Murder,” Falyn whispered, not wanting to accept it was the only possibility.

“That’s right: murder. You would have to kill one of your own.” Daniel’s voice was hard.

Falyn was not willing to murder on a whim, but she did know a few members of the Lycan Court who were worth killing.

“If that is what needs be done… bring me a dagger,” Falyn ordered.

“I won’t help you murder anyone. However, you’re free to seek a weapon on your own. I won’t… I won’t stop you,” Daniel told her quietly.

Falyn nodded and Daniel stepped to the side, allowing her to exit the room. Which she did, before doubts could change her mind.

She followed the long hallway down to the training room. Opening the door, a few Lycan who were training turned to look at her as she made her way to the weapons room in the back. She picked the first dagger she came across sliding it into the waistband of her jeans. Word spread quickly around the Court, moments later two of the Elders hurried into the training room. One of them was the very Lycan she sought – the one who had thought up the idea of giving her the Dark Sickness: Simone.

“Falyn, I don’t recall this being one of your training days,” Simone said, coming forward.

“Does it matter what day I train?”
      

“It doesn’t, but I see you’re alone. Where is Daniel?” Harold asked.

“I’m not sure where he is. I came in search of you,” Falyn told them.

“Did you need something? Why don’t you join us? We were about to dine.” Simone had a slightly menacing smile on her lips.

Falyn felt her anger grow and fought to keep it hidden. It would do her no good to give them a reason to be suspicious now.

Following the two Elders down more long twisted hallways, she came to the Elders’ dining hall. There was black marble with gold edging throughout the room. The table also made of marble, but a soft grey. The silver crockery caught the light from the chandeliers above.

They offered her a seat next to Harold and across from Simone, who poured her a drink from a silver pitcher but did not pour one out for anyone else.

“Drink.” Simone’s tone was more of an order then a request.

Falyn played with the cup, watching the faces of the Lycan Elders. Then she quickly got to her feet, still holding the cup. She started to walk around the table. The Elders got up hastily but she stopped them with her words.

“No, sit. I wish to offer a toast to the Lycan Court,” Falyn announced with a forced smile.

Apprehensively the Elders stayed put, there posture stiff as they watched her.

“To the Elders of the Lycan Court, who are not above doing anything for their race, whether it be murder to start a war or holding a fellow Lycan captive while they try to think of ways to take what is rightfully hers.” Falyn hissed the last part into Simone’s ear as she was now behind her.

“I beg your pardon!” Simone snapped.

“No, I beg yours!” Falyn growled as she dropped her cup, pulled her dagger free and, with a quick flick of her wrist, brought the blade down across the woman’s throat.

Blood sprayed across the table as Simone slumped forward. The other Elders stumbled to their feet, their faces white.

“I forsake my blood ties to the Lycan Court!” Falyn cried as she tossed the dagger.

“You are now cursed!” an Elder snarled at her.

“So be it, but I am also free of the Court’s bidding and its laws!”

Falyn turned to leave smacking into Daniel’s chest.

“You need to get out now!” Daniel said urgently, pulling her along.

“Not without the books!” Falyn cried.

“I’ve already sent them through the portal,” Daniel assured her as he led her by the arm. “I only hope you know what you’re doing, Falyn.”

With those words he pushed her through a shimmering clear wall back into her world.

Falyn stood on the dirt road leading to West’s home. Her heart was racing. Her hands were still stained with blood, she could feel the curse! It was like ice running up her spine and spreading through her body. As it reached her heart, the pain made her gasp. The choice had been made and there was no going back. She had chosen Darkness!

Chapter twenty-five: Unmarked

Alex stared at the note Falyn had sent back. He had read it over and over so many times he could recite it word for word. But each time he was shocked at what it said. No “how dare you,” no “don’t worry, I’m fine – I understand why you did it.” Simply a few short lines and nothing more.

As he glanced down at it once more, he could not stop from reading it again.

Alex,

I will stay at the Court and work on my power. If you happen to learn anything about the Druids of Light, please send me a letter about it right away.

Falyn

Alex crumpled the thin paper in his hands before tossing it to the floor. It said nothing about how she was feeling, but he figured she didn’t need to tell him anything when the removal of her life mark on his shoulder said it all.

She no longer claimed him! He’d felt the tingle on his arm the night before the letter. He looked in the mirror and was shocked to see the mark no longer there – that dark swirling symbol had become part of his assurance that Falyn still wanted him.

Guess that’s a good sign right there she no longer does
!

He had messed up. It was clear he should not have stepped in and forced her into the hands of the Lycan Court, no matter how safe she was there. If he had known she would react like this, he wouldn’t have been so rash. At least, this is what he told himself. But even as he’d made the call, he knew he chanced Falyn never trusting him again or forgiving him. However, he’d been sure she would see the reasoning behind it.

Lark was wise enough not to bring up the subject of Falyn unless Alex did, and West spent most his days away, only returning at night. He check in with his friend for news of Falyn but most days there was nothing.