Out Of The Darkness (30 page)

The tears down his cheeks had matching ones rushing from her eyes. He was holding the her in the bed so tightly it surprised that she hadn
’t awakened. He lowered his head to her forehead and mumbled something. Cass stepped closer to hear it.

With every breath I possess I will breathe in your soul. I will love you always.

Cass was vaguely aware of Aureliana putting an arm around her shoulders. “He doesn’t just want you because you’re his
Rajni,
Cass. He wants you because he loves you. Don’t forget that. And please do not hurt him; the man has been hurt enough.”

Cass nodded.

The next time the world around them spun they ended up back in the cottage. Aureliana placed a plate of cookies in front of her. “Eat. Babes need food. Cookies are always good.”

Cass hadn
’t allowed herself to think about that. She would later. Now she was just focused on finding the baby’s father. “I understand why you showed me all of these things. But why were Nalik and I chosen to come here? I still have so many questions.”

“Don
’t we all? They’ll be answered. Probably not today. I still have so many questions of my own, as it is. It’s hard to accept, but
we
all have a destiny that hasn’t happened yet. But it will. We just have to prepare ourselves. And others. Because it is coming. And we must be ready. Or it will consume us all.”

Chapter 54

It took him a moment to realize that he wasn’t frozen in that damned paralysis any longer. But he also wasn’t in any world that he was familiar with either.

He walked at the woman
’s side. She was about the same size as Cassandra, possibly a little shorter. A lot curvier. Just as beautiful. Her skin was warm brown and flawless. Her eyes were as green as Cassandra’s. When she smiled at him she had perfect white teeth and two dimples beside her mouth. It was hard to tell her age, but she was without defect.

Who was she?

“I am Phaenna. Have you heard of me?”

“No. Can
’t say that I have.” But he had an idea who—or what—she was. “Laquazzean?”

She beamed at him like she was pleased with a dimwitted child. “That knowledge saves us some time, then. Come on.”

“Do I have much choice?”

“We always have choices, Nalik Arus Black. Even you.” She picked up speed. Nalik kept pace. “Your female awaits.”

“Where?”

“Well, we have a few places to go first. They will be hard ones, can you stand up to the task?”

Could he? This woman was stronger than any of the deities he had met so far. More powerful than any creature in any realm. And she wanted to show him something? He honestly didn’t see where he had a choice. “I can.”

“You weren
’t cursed, you know? Just so you don’t go on thinking it. Everyone played out their destiny
because
of
their
choices, not yours.” She clapped her hands and in an instant they were in the basement of Taniss’s laboratory. “This is ten years
before
you were taken. Recognize that male there?” She pointed to a male in discussion with Taniss. Nalik remembered him as one of the doctors Taniss had used when he tortured him. “He sold his family out for a million human dollars. He’s a Druid. His sister’s blood flows in your
Rajni.
Taniss kept her as a brood mare. She birthed him four children before she died. They are in their twenties and thirties now—you will need to help your
Rajni
’s father find them. They each have destinies that will need to be fulfilled someday.”

Nalik studied the five men around the table as they discussed blood types of the early process of DNA matching. They discussed it so coldly—and referred to their test subjects as
rats.
Because that’s all the people in the basement were to them.

Nalik turned and walked out of the lab. He knew the way—it was the same place he
’d been kept. He’d never wanted to see that hall again, but now it didn’t matter. “Where’s my
Rajni
?”

“She
’s safe now. With Aureliana. But someone harmed her today. Eaudne and Aureliana were prepared and protected her. You will need to thank them for that.”

“I will.”

“Your female will change today. You won’t.”

Nalik stopped walking and spun toward his companion. She had a smirk on her lips; one that told him she knew her words bothered him. “Have
questions, don’t you? You are used to being in control. And thirty years ago aside, you always have been. When it counted. Can you give up that control to someone else?”

Somehow he doubted it.

“Not even to a half-Druid human girl more comfortable in the dirt than the dining room?”

“That
’s different. She is my
Rajni.
”

“Not really.”

He grabbed the woman’s arm and jerked her to face him. “Explain. Now.”

“You are no longer a Dardaptoan. Therefore you do not have a
Rajni
.”

“You
’re saying she’s not…mine?” He couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think.

He couldn
’t lose her. Not his Cassandra. “She has to be.”

“She
’s not your
Rajni
, Nalik. Because
you
were Laquazzean long before you met her.”

“So why did my soul tell me she was mine, then? Was it all a lie?”

“Oh, she is
yours.
And your goddess did give her to you. But when you were together
you
were not Dardaptoan. And she never will be. Neither of you will be. Nor will your son be.”

“What will she be?” Would she be harmed by whatever this Phaenna had orchestrated? Was she safe now? Was this all a lie? How was Aureliana involved?

He could say with absolute certainty that his cousin would
never
let anything happen to Cassandra while in Aureliana’s care. That was the only reassurance he had.

“
Different.
Not like
you’re
different. More like
Aureliana
different. In fact, Aureliana has decided to adopt her as if Cassandra was born of her. It’s what Aureliana will do as a Laquazzean.”

Nalik felt himself relax. If Cassandra became as Aureliana was, she
’d be whole and safe—and damned near indestructible. “What purpose is there in a young human girl ascending to the Laquazzeana?”

“Because only that young human girl can check
you.
You’ve not just been a Laquazzean for thirty years, Nalik Arus Black, you’ve been one that was altered in an unnatural way. Your strengths are growing. Strengths like that can eat at a man’s soul. There must
always
be balance. Always. Cassandra was picked to be tasked with the protection of
your
soul. There will be other tasks of her soon, but keeping you in check will be her primary goal. Think you she can handle such a task?”

He closed his eyes and thought about how he felt when she touched him. Good, clean, honorable. “I pray she can.”

“She will.” Phaenna grabbed his hands. “Now. For the rest of what you need to see. Come.”

She waved a hand.

They were back in a Taniss Industries laboratory. There were people screaming and crying. But it wasn’t the same people Nalik had watched die. “When is this?”

“Ten years ago.”

Nalik studied the faces of Taniss’s victims. “Did Rydere not find these people?”

“No. There are thirteen more Taniss laboratories out there.
Still
operating the same way as the one your brother and sister died in. People are still dying because of him. Now his eldest son—his true eldest son, not Cassandra’s father—runs the experimental facilities. You must find him. And you must stop him. Promise me you can and will do this.”

“I will.” He wouldn
’t quit until the man was stopped and punished for what he had done.

“He
’s the one who offered the price on your girl’s head. Jealousy runs so deeply in that man that it has eaten away at his soul. And I am not sure that he is human. But I do not know what he is. It has not been shown to me.”

Nalik listened to her words as he watched the beings around them. Some were obvious Dardaptoan, some Lupoiux,
and some demon. Even a Druid. Three witches were naked and chained in a cell that was open and exposed except for one wall.

And in a far dark corner sat a lone man.

Nalik drew in his breath and stepped closer, certain his eyes were playing tricks on him. The male kept his head lowered, but if he were to move, Nalik was certain it would be a male he’d known for centuries.

And one thought dead fifty years. “Thas. Why is Thas there? I thought him dead.”

Phaenna stepped closer. “Another of Taniss’s captures, I believe. You know him, Nalik?”

The male turned, and Nalik shook his head. “I do not think so. For a moment, maybe…it is not him, is it?”

Phaenna shrugged.  “More questions. There will
always
be more questions. Find this laboratory, Nalik Arus Black, and maybe some of
your
questions will start to be answered.”

He nodded. “There will be more to come for us, won
’t there?”

Phaenna
’s eyes were filled with sadness. She clapped her hands and they were on a cobbled road. “Yes. There will be a great deal to come. Nine times. Remember that
nine
times will be the answer. I know it’s cryptic, but it is all I can give you. Nine times, and you and Cassandra are only the second.”

“Who is the first?”

“You already know.”

Aureliana. “Who will be third?”

“That won’t be known until it happens.
I
only know of a few. I do not know the rest. I am sorry. There are some things that a Laquazzean does not know.”

Nalik nodded. “Where is she?”

“She waits up ahead. Send Aureliana out when you are finished and she and I will take the two of you home.” Phaenna dropped to her knees in a small flower garden. “In the meantime, I shall tend these flowers. I do not wish Cassandra to think me a poor gardener.”

Nalik didn
’t listen, just picked up his step. The door opened, and Aureliana stepped outside. She held her hands out to him. “Nal. Good to see you in this place, I think.”

“Where are we, Auri?” It was the one thing he couldn
’t recall asking Phaenna.

“The nineteenth layer. And
not
hell like you’ve always thought. Apparently there is one more than we’ve known. Laquazzean can live here comfortably, I think. Something to keep in mind, if the other worlds get to be too much for Cassandra. I think she would like this place, with its wildly growing flowers and such. Go. She waits inside. I will help Phaenna; I have more questions for her.”

He hugged his cousin. “Thank you. For protecting her. For bringing her here.”

Aureliana nodded. “It was part of my destiny, Nal. We are forming a
new
Kind. Those of us who come to this place. Not Dardaptoan, not demon. Not even fully Laquazzean. Our babes will be these new beings. And we will all be blessed because of it. Remember that—this is a blessing as well as a burden.”

Aureliana smiled. “I love you, cousin.”

“And I you.” It was the first he’d ever said it to this woman he’d known most of her life. But he meant it. Meant every bit of it.

“Your female awaits.” Phaenna called from behind them. “Don
’t dawdle.”

Nalik didn
’t need any more reminding.

She was sitting at a table playing with a ball of yarn, of all things. She looked up at him, her eyes shrouded and mysterious. “I can
’t knit, Nalik.”

She had the yarn knotted around her hands. Nalik grabbed one hand gently. He started untangling her fingers. “I can. Do you see a need for it?”

“Where are we going to live?”

“Where do you want to live?”

“A place called Thrun. There’re plenty of plants there. Interesting ones.”

He recognized the name of the city where the Dardaptoans were relocating. “Already have it figured out, do you?”

“Not really. Just hoping.” She held her other hand out to him. “I’m very confused here.”

A slight bit of panic was in her words, in her eyes. He solved that by pulling his female into his lap. “Any particular reason you
’re knitting?”

“Trying to.” She laid her head on his shoulder. “I don
’t know what babies in this world wear.”

He stilled. “Cassandra…?”

“We’ll need
things
for a baby. Blankets and booties. That kind of stuff. And apparently this baby is going to be a bit on the magical side. What do we do if he—and Aureliana said the baby is a
boy—
levitates out of his crib or something? I’m not sure I can handle that.”