Light Shadows (32 page)

Niko positions the smaller mirror so I can see the reflection of the larger one. It’s several feet away, but my eyes can see it as if it were right in front of me.

“What is it?” I cringe, taking in the symbol opposite of the Human/Polemos one. It looks like the letter V, but with its curled ends, it’s unlike any I’ve seen.

“It’s our mark for Vampire. You saved my life, and as a result, you have been cursed to bear this atrocity. For that, I am both grateful and sorry.” There’s pain in his voice. Regret. “Baby girl, I wish I could take it away. I would do anything just to—”

I roll back over, pulling my shirt down. “It’s ok. I’m ok, Niko. You would have done the same for me, and have saved my ass plenty of times. Don’t stress. I’m fine.”

He exhales, and I imagine that he’s just let go of a tiny bit of guilt. That’s when mine finally decides to kick in.

“How’s Dorian? Did we learn anything on how to reverse the spell?”

Niko settles onto the bed beside me, and while his expression is grim, there’s something hopeful in his eyes. “Alex and I were able to tighten the wards and his restraints. Hopefully, it’s enough to hold him until we can figure out how to transport him. Because if I know my brother—and I once thought I did—I know that Aurora isn’t too far away.”

“Aurora?”
Ugh.
Why won’t that snotty-ass slore just find a dark hole and throw herself down it already?

“Yeah. He’s summoned her. Their physical bond is still intact, and she comes crawling whenever he calls. Those two…it’s insane. They feed off each other like a flesh-eating bacteria or cannibals. Sick, I tell you.”

A deep ache tightens my chest, and I gasp for breath. Niko picks up on the pained grimace on my face, and steels me with a hand on my shoulder. “Hey, baby girl. It’s not like that. He doesn’t love her. Shit, part of me thinks he doesn’t even
like
her. I mean, how could he?”

“Well, he liked her enough to sleep with her.”

Niko shrugs. “And? It’s not like that for us. We fuck what feels good. You know that.”

I raise a brow, challenging his shallow excuse. “Is that what Amelie was for you? Something that felt good?”

His eyes instantly pale at the mention of her name, frost forming at the rims of his eyes. A low snarl slips between his tight lips. “Careful. You of all people should know that some things are sacred.”

“Ditto.”

He nods, looking away. “Look, I need to go into the city. Talk to someone that may know what we need to reverse the spell.”

Before he can even finish his sentence, I’m on my feet. “Just give me a second to grab my shoes.”

“You’re not coming. You have to know that I wouldn’t let you come, right?”

“Why not?” I ask, crossing my arms in front of my chest.

Niko mimics my action, but there’s an amused smirk on his lips. “Because where I’m going, people like you and me aren’t welcome.”

“Then why do you get to go?” If he thinks I’m going to back down, then he’s sadly mistaken.

“Because they know me. They don’t know you. And you’d scare the living shit out of them. Or excite them.” The prospect of the latter clearly entertains him.

“But they can’t detect me, Niko. Just tell them I’m with you or, shit, tell them I’m human and you plan to erase my thoughts. I don’t care what you say. Just know that I’m going, and if you try to leave me, I’ll do my freaky freezey thing, and shut you down before you can get two steps outside that bedroom door. And if you try to disappear, I’ll try to follow you, and you know that’ll just be more trouble on your hands.”

Niko rubs the smattering of black hair on his chin, contemplating my threats. Oddly enough, he doesn’t seem angry at my bratty behavior. He’s almost sorta…impressed. “You could get someone killed. Then there would be even more blood on your hands. Could you actually live with yourself after something like that?”

“I’ll do whatever it takes,” I nod, stepping forward to stand before him. “Niko, I’ve been powerless for so long, relying on others to save me. I’m so sick of being a bystander. Please. Let me into your world. This is where I belong.”

He huffs out faux aggravation and tips his head to one side. “Fine. But if you’re sure about this, you’ll need to be prepared.” He steps forward, placing his hands on my shoulders. “You want into my world? Just know that you can never turn back. At least not alive.”

THE STENCH OF piss and vomit cling to my skin and hair as if bile is permanently embedded in the pavement. I feel it all over me, covering me like a hot, sticky film, making it impossible to escape. Breathing through my mouth is just as bad—you can taste the rancid flavor of hundreds of corroded livers and excrement. However, breathing through my nose is out of the question with my super sense of smell. I’d rather stick my head inside a toilet bowl at The Cat’s Meow.

This is not what I had pictured of New Orleans. Sure, there’re plenty of partygoers staggering up and down Bourbon Street, but knowing that their lives could be reduced to nothing more than zombie-like cattle…it just doesn’t seem fun to me.

“Keep your head down,” Niko mutters under his breath, a cap pulled over his brow. He’s dressed in black from head to toe, complete with a leather jacket and combat boots. He’s even made me do the same, insisting I tie my hair back in an inconspicuous ponytail before shoving a hat on my head. We parked a few blocks down on Canal, opting for one of his less flashy cars—a black BMW 750Li.

“What’s with the disguises,” I whisper, as we weave through the drunken crowd.

“Look around you. This city is teeming with darkness, especially Oinos. I used to control this territory. I don’t anymore.”

Panic sets in, causing me to nearly stumble over my tennis-shoed feet.
Oinos are around?
I mean, I’m not surprised, judging by all the hot messes spewing their guts between flashing their boobs for beads. But it’s still pretty daunting to know that we’re surrounded by Dark.

“Don’t be afraid,” Niko murmurs, reading my thoughts. “They may have jurisdiction now, but this is my city.”

Without another word, I follow him into a filthy, narrow alley. It’s the kind they warn you to stay far away from when college campus safety officials give you a rape whistle. I keep my hands stuffed into my pockets, careful not to brush up against anything. I’d very much like to make it out of here Hepatitis-free.

We stop at a tiny, wooden door that I wouldn’t have noticed had it not been for Niko. He knocks twice, then three times in fast succession. Then he ends the ritual with two more. Moments later, a portly woman draped in a robe and scarves opens the door. She wears a colorful wrap on her head, and her brown skin is etched with wrinkles.

“I’ve been expecting you,” she says to Niko, without a hint of alarm. Not even bothering to look in my direction, she asks, “Who is the girl?”

“She’s with me.” The authority in his voice is unmistakable.

“Hmmm. She’s with you, but she isn’t yours.” The woman steps aside and holds open the door so we can pass. The moment I hit the doorjamb, a rush of energy falls over me, crawling all over my skin like fleas. I shudder, brushing the phantom infestation from my body, but of course, there’s nothing there. The woman makes a tsking sound.

“Seems there’s more to this one than meets the eye.” She searches my face, dissecting every feature her gaze can touch. “Remove your glasses, girl. No sun hangs in the sky.”

I do as she says, grateful that Niko spelled my eyes to their original state—hazel-brown. The woman snorts, clearly disappointed.

“Let’s get on with this, Claudine,” Niko says, feigning boredom. “I don’t have all night.”

Claudine tears her eyes away from mine and nods at the perturbed Warlock inside the pitch-black hallway. “Very well. She may pass.”

I force myself forward and the moment I do, I see that the hallway isn’t dark at all. It’s not even a hallway. It’s what looks to be a shop of some sort, with various trinkets and books on shelves. There are also baskets of tiny satchels on a countertop, all in different colors. The smell of incense and…something else…in the air isn’t unpleasant, yet makes it hard to breathe. Every lungful I take, I feel a bit…off. Subdued. Not like I’ve just hit a joint or something. It’s more like a tranquilizing effect.

“What is this place?” I ask, as Claudine leads us to another room that houses only a small, round table and chairs.

“Haven’t you ever been to a Voodoo shop, girl?” She has an accent unlike any I’ve ever heard. Syllables are exaggerated and consonants are skipped over completely.

I shake my head and she shrugs with disinterest. “Well, have a seat so we can get started. What brings you to my door, Nikolai?”

Niko slides into a rickety, wooden chair and steeples his fingers in front of his mouth. “What do you know about reversals?”

Claudine’s drawn-on brows reach for her head wrap. “Reversals? I believe that’s your territory, Warlock.”

He shakes his head. “I need information on more complex spells. Not one that reverses memories. I need one that can reverse time.”

Claudine laughs, the raspy, harsh sound bounding off the walls of the small room. “You insane? My people do not know of such things. We do not hold that type of magic.”

“Ask the spirits. Your ancestors—the old ones—they may know. They will have memories of how it was before. Ask them, Claudine. It’s a matter of life and death.”

The old woman leans back in her chair, regarding Niko with an almost admiring stare. As if she may even care for him. “You serious?”

Niko’s face softens for a split second, just fast enough for her to see his sincerity. “I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.”

“Ok.” She turns to me, spreading her palms onto the table. “Stay or leave, girl. But decide now. Once I begin, you won’t get to change your mind.”

I nod stiffly, bracing myself. “I’m staying.”

“Suit yourself.” She takes a deep, cleansing breath and closes her eyes. I look over at Niko, but his gaze is fixed on Claudine. She begins to chant in a low voice, in a language that is beyond my comprehension. I lean forward, watching, waiting for her ancient Voodoo to fall over us.

And nothing happens.

Awkwaaard.

I’m on the verge of a snarky comment, my eyeballs ready to roll, when the table begins to tremble beneath my fingertips. An old, faded brass chandelier above us begins to sway, yet there are no windows in the room, and no breeze flowing from under the door. Before I can write it off as cheap parlor tricks, the lights go out, bathing us in complete darkness.

No one says a word. Even Claudine has stopped chanting.

That’s when I hear them.

Whispers. Hushed, frantic whispers all around us. Some full of fear and horror. Others gruff with anger. And they all seem to be talking to me.

“Spirits! Kings and queens on the other side. Speak to us. Bless us with your wisdom.”

The whispers grow louder, increasing to a low roar in my ears. I can hear their alarm, although I can’t make out their words. I look to Niko in the Dark, whose eyes are as wide as mine. Shit. This was a mistake. We may be able to disguise my appearance, but the spirits would know. What have I gotten myself into?

“She is of no consequence,” Claudine says, also hearing the shift in their focus. “Please, holy ones. We call upon you. We seek your knowledge of the forbidden forces. Without it, darkness shall eclipse our world.”

The voices rise to terrifying screams, causing me to seek the comfort of Niko’s hand. His fingers meet me halfway, curling around my palm with the same sense of urgency. I call to the place inside me—the ball of energy that pulses and heats, begging for release—praying for protection. But there’s a block; something’s keeping the magic from reaching my fingertips. Niko squeezes my hand tighter, and I wonder if he feels the hindrance too.

There’s one loud, final shriek before all falls silent. The lights flicker back on, revealing a quivering Claudine slumped over on the table. Niko quickly rushes to her side and carefully takes her into his arms.

“Claudine, talk to me. Tell me what they said. I need to know!” He gives her a little shake, yet keeps her head and neck supported. The way he handles her, I can tell he has some level of affection for her, even though her heritage—her magic—goes against everything he believes in.

“It’s happening,” she croaks, her voice strangled. She claws at Niko’s shirt, pulling him closer to her trembling lips. She whispers briefly into his ear before she falls into unconsciousness, slumping forward onto the table.

“We have to get out of here,” Niko says, stepping back from the woman. His eyes dart around anxiously.

“What? Why? What’s going on? Is she ok?” I spring to my feet so fast that my chair goes crashing backwards, causing us both to flinch.

“She’ll be fine. But we won’t be if we don’t leave.”

Niko grabs my hand and pulls me out of the room. The entire shop is eerily quiet, but even I can sense that something isn’t right. When we hit the exit that leads to the alleyway, Niko practically shoves me out, the door slamming at his back.

“What the hell was that?” I shriek as he pulls me towards the vibrant partiers on Bourbon. We veer into the crowd behind a bachelorette party. Niko presses his body into mine and wraps his arm around my waist.