Nova: Daughters of Darkness (4 page)

"Oh, so now the sandman is real?" Nova asked aloud, while thinking to herself that clearly there was some truth to the myths and legends...she was standing in a demons bedroom.

Raising his hands and shrugging his shoulders, he walked toward Nova. "It's your dream, you tell me."

She blew out a frustrated breath and began walking backwards. Putting her hands up, in an attempt to stop his advancing steps, she continued, "Look, this is obviously a dream. This is all just too surreal, we shouldn't be in your bedroom talking, we should be fighting. We are born enemies remember?"

Coming face to face with Nova, Drake reached up and brushed her platinum locks from her face. "I could hardly forget such an important fact, but I doubt you plan on fighting me in your negligee. Although if you do, I have a pretty good idea on how to stop you." Leaning in, he placed his hands on either side of her, trapping her within his arms. Their lips hovered mere inches apart, and his dark gaze held her electric blue ones, waiting, the heat almost unbearable. All it would take is a small crack in Nova's resistance and Drake would move in for a kiss. In this moment he was just a man, looking for the warmth and comfort Nova's body promised.

Nova's legs felt like jelly and she ached to let him touch her...anywhere. Instead, she put her hands on Drake's chest and gave a weak push. "Stop, please, this is all wrong. I shouldn't be feeling this magnetic pull toward you. I should be feeling-"

"What? Hatred? Loathing? What is it you think you should feel for me, your enemy, little witch?" There was a warning glint in his eyes that Nova missed or just chose to ignore. Pushing off the bureau, he moved away from her and began to pace, agitated at having been so close to what he just knew would be paradise.

"I don't know! But not this, this, want! You are evil and despicable and you're doing this to manipulate me. I refuse to allow it." Nova struggled to find something to cover herself, feeling exposed and vulnerable. She ran to the bed and grabbed the huge comforter. It pooled around her, heavy and comforting.

If the ink black pools of his eyes could have gotten any darker, they would have in that moment. Drake stopped pacing and walked up to Nova, the anger rolled off his body in waves. "Trust me, witch, the next time we meet, I will show you evil and despicable. You will regret having used your magic to seek me out. Now leave this place and never return." He flung his hands out beside him, his palms releasing a dense, black smoke like substance that engulfed her and took the breath from her lungs. Nova began to choke and before she could even try to call her magic forth, she lost conciousness.

"Ahh!" She came awake with a scream tearing from her raw throat. Coughing, she could still taste the smoke.

"Nova, my god. What happened?" Kyna cried urgently. "You were gone again, and this time for hours. We were so scared because nothing was working; we couldn't get you back."

That's when Nova noticed the sun shining through the window. "Hours? It felt like mere minutes."

Branna huffed and slapped her hands off her thighs, standing up from the floor where she had been resting. "Minutes my ass; we have been running through every spell we could think of to pull your spirit back to you and weren't able to do it. Tell me what the hell is going on here, because I am freaking out." she exclaimed.

"I was back there, with him. I don't understand how or why it happened again, but there I was, waking up in the middle of his bedroom." She sat up gingerly, still feeling off from the experience. "This time it must have pissed him off, because he threatened me with my life if I ever went back." she said, avoiding their eyes.

"What are you not telling us?" Kyna, who was very astute at reading her sisters, peered at Nova suspiciously. "Come on, Nova. We know you, and you're hiding something."

Nova wrung her hands together, "Well, he keeps saying that I am seeking him out, but I just wake up there without meaning to." Throwing the covers back, she stood up and went into the little attached half bath to wash her face and teeth. "I don't understand how it's happening if he isn't the one bringing me there." Plunging her hands into the cold water streaming from the faucet, she splashed her face.

"Maybe he just wants you to believe that to confuse you?" Kyna questioned.

"No, I don't think so. He seemed too angry with the intrusion for me to think that he intentionally brought me there." Wiping her face and hands on the towel hanging beside the sink, Nova went back into the room to find something to wear that didn't remind her of her half naked visit to the dark Underlord's bedroom.

Branna looked at her appraisingly. "Then it's time we figure it out because I'm afraid that if we don't, one of these times you won't come back from wherever it is you go."

Chapter 8

Drake slammed his hands down on his dresser and looked at himself in the attached mirror. "Why? Why after all this time do I find my soul calling for the one woman who is destined to destroy me? What cruel fate is this?" A tentative knock echoed on his bedroom door. "Enter!" he barked. His imp servant Clack, opened the door and peeked around it, gauging his masters mood.

Coming fully into the room, Clack said. "Master, the demons of the Underworld have gathered and are waiting for you to give them their orders."

"Let them wait," He ground out, stalking across the room and wrenching open the ornate french doors. Stepping into the dark he jumped off the stone balcony, propelling himself into the night. There were few things Drake loved more than flying and it had been centuries since he had been able to soar through a clear night sky.

Nova descended the stairs in search of her Granda and to find some food to quiet her grumbling tummy. Turning from the small hall into the sitting room, she saw her Granda sitting with his laptop open on the coffee table. "Granda, we need to talk."

"Sit, lass." Nova sat down beside him. "Your old Granda still has a wee bit of magic in him, not that it takes magic to know there has been some strange happenings in my own home." Grinning he sat back, pulling her along with an arm around her shoulder.

"I'm sorry I didn't come to you last night; I was just trying to figure it all out in my head."

"Don't fash yerself, Nova. I'm not angry; I just want you to have a care when dealing with these spiritual travelings."

"Do you know why this is happening to me?"

Decklin sighed before continuing. "Part of you is part of him, and all I can figure is that
that
part is calling out to him when you canna consciously control it. The spirit wants purely. It doesna see him as evil or dangerous; it sees that he is where it belongs and desires to be with him." he said kindly, with a wisdom only the elders have.

Nova put her hands over her face, her eyes filling with tears. "I feel ashamed, like there is something wrong with me. I can't control it, and that scares me, but what scares me more is the need I feel for him. It's wrong and I know it. It's just... when I'm near him, it feels so right; scary and confusing, but underneath it all, it just feels right." Wiping her face with her palms, she laid her head on her Granda's shoulder, seeking comfort.

Just then, Branna and Kyna had come into the room, rushing to Nova, comforting and assuring her they'd find a way to make it stop.

"I will call for the Others, they may know how to help us with this." Decklin announced.

"The Others?" questioned Kyna.

"Yes, the remaining Tuatha De Danann, also known as the Others to the people of Ireland. They are a faerie like race that live in the Otherworld and they have an ancient, powerful magic. I believe they will have a bit o' magic to wrap Nova's spirit in protection or bind it to her if all else fails."

Laughing, Branna said. "Faeries? Really? So, we are going to have a bunch of little winged freaks flying around, throwing magic dust everywhere?"

"Branna, yer relentless sarcasm exhausts me. Furthermore, the Others are a noble, beautiful people who deserve and will receive our respect and gratitude, if they decide to help us at all. They can be a fierce ally, but they will not tolerate being crossed or ridiculed."

Nova saw Branna's cheeks redden in embarrassment; none of them liked to have their Granda angry at them.

"I apologize, Granda. I will represent our family with the utmost respect if they help us."

Nova wondered aloud how they were going to get a message to the Otherworld to even request help.

"You let me worry about the how, lass. For now, just concentrate on keeping yerself within yerself." Chuckling at his own joke, Decklin walked out of the cottage, presumably in search of a way to contact the Others.

Branna turned and wrapped her arms around Nova. "Listen, it's going to be okay. We will chop his balls off if he tries to get at you again."

Kyna came over and joined the group hug, then stepped back with a confused look on her face, "Wait, demons have balls and junk?" she asked.

Nova and Branna just stared at her incredulously.

"What?" Kyna said, still looking confused.

Looking at each other, Nova and Branna couldn't contain themselves. Their laughter was so hysterically funny that Kyna couldn't help laughing too. Although, truth be told, Kyna still wanted to know if demons really had balls.

Chapter 9

Nova and her sisters decided to walk into town to go to Paddy's, one of the local pubs. The streets were lined with quaint little shops, and everyone was so friendly, calling out a hello as they walked by. On their stroll, Nova took note of the number of churches they passed by. Just in the little walk it took to get to Paddy's, she had counted four, and she knew from her Granda that there were a few more sprinkled throughout Drogheda too. One thing was for sure, these people took their religion very seriously.

Arriving at Paddy's, they walked in to a haze of smoke and the smell of whiskey. The din, which had been deafening, all but ceased as everyone stopped to stare at Decklin's trio of granddaughters as they made their way to the bar. The conversations started up again, mostly about them now. Nova was sure she heard "fookin' witches" coming from a group of old men at the farthest end of the bar.

Granda had warned them how some people in Ireland didn't believe in magic and even resented those who did.

"Oh, don't mind them, harmless old ee-jits, the lot of them." The bartender said, walking up to them, wiping the bar with a towel he pulled from his back pocket. He had the hard look of a man who had seen hell and spit on its fire. His deep auburn hair had gone grey at the temples and his face was deeply lined around his mouth, which seemed to have a perpetual smile on it. His emerald eyes were his saving grace, they spoke of years past, filled with both happiness and sorrow, and were beautifully ringed by thick black lashes.

Tucking the towel back in his pocket, the bartender held his hand out to Nova. "Seamus Kelly," he said, as he and Nova shook in greeting, then he turned to shake both Branna and Kyna's hands. Introductions made, he asked. "So, what can I get ye lasses?"

"A pint of Guinness and a shot of whiskey for me" said Nova.

"Make that two of each," said Branna

"Do you have any white wine?" asked Kyna.

The same group of old men tittered at this "canna even drink a wee pint."

"Shut yer gobs, the lass can drink what pleases her." Seamus yelled down to the group. As he poured their drinks, they each took a seat on a bar stool and looked around taking in the environment. Listening to the lilting conversations around them was interesting. They ranged from politics to religion to sports and more sports, but all of them were lively and animated.

Hours later, the girls had ingested a good portion of alcohol and Irish culture. The old men at the bar had finally warmed to them and kept them entertained with stories of the 'old country' all night. There had been many a song sung by the patrons, all it took was one to start and then everyone joined in. It had certainly been a night to remember.

They settled their tab and were headed for the door when Kyna suddenly stopped. "Wait..."

"What? Did you forget something?" asked Nova.

"No, something's not right. There is a hole in my vision. I keep getting this black screen, like there's something coming, that I'm not supposed to see."

"Let's go back to Granda's and see if he's been able to contact the Others. Maybe he can shed some light on your black screen." Branna said.

Walking out into the night, they pulled their coats a little tighter to ward off the gentle rain that had started while they were inside. Turning the corner to go down the hill and they noticed two huge black dogs coming toward them. Upon closer inspection, they realized these weren't dogs at all, but dog like beasts with glowing red eyes.

"What the hell are those things?" asked Branna.

"I don't know, but I'm certainly not going to wait around to ask them," Nova replied. "Let's just go back to the pub, maybe they won't follow us." Even as she said it, Nova knew that these creatures meant their night had just turned bad...really bad.

The girls slowly started backing up the way they had come. Noticing the retreat, both beasts charged at them with snapping jaws and deep, dangerous growls emanating from their chests.