Shadows of the Keeper (47 page)

Reminded of the visual, she burst
out laughing.

“Give me your other foot, imp.”

“Can’t we just stay here . . . and
have lots of sex?”

“I’m still sleeping in here!” 

“I think at your next council, you
should seek implementing animal control,” Emily said overly loud.

“Would you look at that,” Eldaryn
shouted.  “Fleas!”

Dezenial’s booming laughter filled their
private quarters, the next sound filling the room the unmistakable rustle of
scratching.  Emily shuffle-ran towards their chambers, one boot on, the
other halfway laced up, her lunatic screams and threats to burn Eldaryn’s hide
easing the Dark Prince’s foul mood.

*   *   *   *   *

Strength and grace weaved in and
around her aura.  Dezenial’s heart swelled.  His Emily had come a
very long way from the silly young woman venturing from her homeland into
his.  How many would have succumbed to madness upon introduction to the
wonders of the realm he and the Forest Lords resided in—Forest Lords he would
be sending her back to.

Though battling him at first, she’d
gracefully acquiesced his gift of slaves—
servants
, she’d amended. 
He observed while she concentrated during Cianna’s teachings of sorting through
various fungi’s for consumption, poisoning, and healing.  Some of the
rotted mass pouring forth from their jars wafted such noxious odors, Emily ran
with hand over her mouth.  He’d had her servants quickly remove those
particular jars, reassuring Cianna no true harm had been committed.  Their
dwelling had been depleted of anything emitting odors that could possibly upset
his mate.  Cianna had felt awful.  He’d smiled and given her reassurances,
then teased her for the contradiction of being an elite, yet sensitive.

Some of the older servants thought
this would finally be Cianna’s downfall, for one did not upset the mate of a
Lumynari.  Little did they realize how long she’d been a part of
this
Lumynari’s life.  Once, so long ago, that several ages had weaved across
the terrain above, she’d hoped to call Lord Dezenial her own.  She’d been
young and silly.  A maiden with no worldly experience.  So much
better to call the tall proud god friend, for, as a lover, she’d have been
forgotten.  And when she would have perished, trying to save Zaiyne’s
life, Lord Dezenial had asked if she would prefer death or to be one of his
elite.  Hades had gifted her with powers none of Dezenial’s current
elite’s possessed.  She was now more a sister to Lord Dezenial than
friend, both having shared grief and anger over Zaiyne and, later, Aurelia.

Her eyes misted.

She missed Zaiyne, the laughter and
friendship they’d shared.  It had been like losing a sister.  The
treachery was an ache that had not subsided with time.  And now, she had
Emily to watch over.  She liked Emily.  Unlike soft-spoken Zaiyne,
Emily was fire.  Unlike Aurelia, Emily did not always obey.  A smile
touched her lips as she dared a peek at the proud god she served.

“Cianna, you may go.  I’m sure
you would enjoy time to call your own?”

Deeply, she bowed, backing away
before turning to rise again, as had been taught to her during her
childhood.  It was a habit Emily had been trying to make her forget. 
“Your highness, there is the lord’s dinner under that cover, and yours under
the blue one.  I added a pinch of spice to yours, as you requested.”

Emily smiled her gratitude. 
“Have you eaten?”

“I have friends asking me to join
them.”

“Ah.  I’ll see you tomorrow?”

Cianna bowed her head.  “But,
of course.”

Emily stared at the door for long
moments after Cianna had left.

“Keer’dra?”

Emily could still hear the tinkling
bells of Cianna’s anklets.  “She loves you, deeply.”

“I will remove her eyes.”

Emily gasped.

“I practice humor.”

“It needs work.”  Emily still
eyed the door, frowning.  “Not lust-love.  The kind of love someone
feels for a brother.”  Emily padded over to her jars and began spinning
their lids back on.  “There’s a history there between the two of
you.  You’ll have to fill me in, one day.”

“Speaking of history and secrets .
. . a Lumynari does not dally as I have, allowing you to remain silent
regarding our visitor the other day.”

Emily merely looked at him and
continued cleaning up.

“A priestess does not fear water.”

“No, but Pendaran’s form would have
manifested, Lumynari water clinging to him like oil.”

How dare she not flinch that he’d
known!

“You would protect him in
my
domain?”  Glittering red rubies in firelight, his eyes smoldered.

“Pendaran’s desire was not to
formulate a rescue.  He simply gathered knowledge.”  She paused,
looking across the room at him, her own eyes now glittering.  “I did not
see him, but rather, felt his identity.  There was no granting him
entrance.  I barely had time to hide and observe.”  She shook her
head, disgusted.  “You sit there and imply I’ve done something
treacherous.”  She didn’t bother waiting for anything he could possibly
say.  There existed nothing she wanted to hear.  The last of her lid
spun tight.  She ignored him. 
Dick
.  She lifted the blue
dome and sampled what Cianna had cooked.  Rice, beans, and some sort of
meat . . . pork?

Silence gulfed.  She did not
like this breech.

“Pendaran has never exhibited
fondness towards Broc.”

“I hardly need history lessons,
Keer’dra.  I was there.”

“Testy, aren’t we?  What’s
wrong?  Prisoners running low?  No one to torture?”  She slammed
down the blue dome back over her plate. 

“I have misplaced my tongue slicing
blade.”  His potent stare enhanced his meaning.

“Probably resting next to my
castration kit,” she snarled.  “Check the bedroom!”

His laughter ripped apart their
standoff, but remorse was too tangible a force, beckoning her even deeper into
its cloak of misery.  No matter how busy she kept herself, it was never
enough to cloud her mind and what must be.  Even their occasional spats
failed to restrain the forever-present knowledge of the change coming about.

“I cannot stay.”

“I?”

“We.”  Her smile did nothing
to remove the sadness from her sparkling eyes.

“You will be lost to me again, for
a time.”  Not a muscle moved on his powerful frame, but Emily noted the
ticking of his jaw.  His eyes were full of pain and fury.  “I must
remain in order to watch for Drakar’s next move.”  Intoxicating azure eyes
stared at her.

“The further along in pregnancy I
grow, the more susceptible I am to their attack.  Your mother pretends to
tolerate my presence, but we both know she’s waiting for any chance to
pounce.  She won’t rest until my head adorns her table.  My being alive
and
as your mate causes her to grow bold . . . she fears ridicule. 
And now that you’ve switched camps—“

“That’s putting it a bit lightly.”

“Dez, you and I both know the power
I hold—the power they crave to imprison my soul and control—is enough to turn
even your own kingdom against you.  I’m getting to where just stepping
into our private gardens, I sense some of the guards watching me with keen
interest, and it has nothing to do with honoring your command.  You should
see what Cianna had to go through just to convince me to come out here to the
apothecary.”  She tapped one of the fat jars.  “She promised no
decapitation would transpire today.” Emily grinned.  It did little good at
easing his mood.

“Why did you not tell me what you
sensed?”

She shrugged.

“That does not work for the
assassin and it will not work for you.  I despise that the two of you
shrug in place of answering.” 

Emily resumed picking at her
food. 

“My elites surround you, so perhaps
it is their menacing ability that you’ve sensed.  When I say elite, I mean
from my father’s domain.  They’ve no loyalty, nor fear of what Shadow
thinks she can do to them.  My mother, however, is not aware that what
look like Shadow Masters guarding you are in fact, Daemons.”

“Oh.”

“Another answer you and your father
have in common.”

“We seek to annoy you.”

“You are both well versed.”

“You should taste this. Cianna is a
remarkable cook.”

“You are safest with me,” he sighed
deeply and moved to join her.  “And yet, also in the most danger.”

“How am I to tell the difference in
your guards when they all resemble Lumynaries?”  She fed him a bite and
watched him nod with approval.

“I have never surrounded myself
with anything but my father’s Daemons.  Lumynari are loyal to my
mother.  I learned that painful lesson during my youth.  Hades sent
Elites when I was in my fourth winter and my mother had you killed . . .”  He
silenced, suddenly interested in his own food.  They stood at the bar,
enjoying several bites of food before Emily spoke.

“I had an odd vision, when Aurelia
took over.  A beach.”

He nodded, set his fork down and
looked at her.  She stood straighter, food forgotten.  His eyes
watered.  “I failed at being a true Lumynari because I cried over the
human she sacrificed.  Furious I dared show compassion and tears, Shadow
thought to do the same to me, but Hades made a rare appearance.”

“What . . . did . . . “

“With nothing more than a sweep of
his hand, he wiped out nearly her entire population of Shadow Masters.  I
still hear the screams and the sudden silence.  And then, he told me that
the day would come where I’d face a choice, but until then, I was to remain.”

“Why didn’t he take you with him?”

“My place was not yet to be at his
side.”

“You seem cool with that.”

“You’re thinking on this with your
human sentiments.”

“Ah.  Hang on.  Lemme dig
deep and get in touch with my Lumynari—“

“
Keer’dra
!”

She lightly smacked his arm. 
Though they shared a light laugh, her heart ached.  Her womb
fluttered.  Dezenial pulled her to him, his hand splaying her abdomen. 
Eyes closed, he muttered words she didn’t know.  Warmth spread through
her. 

“What did you say?  You’re
speaking in that weird language again.”

“I would have my vaifyr and my
vaifyn know our sacrifice is for their survival.”

“Son and daughter?”

“As their father, I commanded they
settle, lest they prematurely leave the safety of your womb.”

Emily clutched her stomach. 
“Miscarriage?”  Panic seized.

He chuckled.  “Quick they are
to want revenge for the anguish their mother feels.  They think to do me
harm.”

“You’re simply trying to make me
feel better.”

“My children already speak to me,
Keer’dra.  As I hear everything in your mind, so too, do I hear
theirs.  Be warned, it won’t be our son who will be the
rapscallion.”  Devilry pooled his eyes, spreading to his chiseled mouth by
way of a wry grin.  “Feisty, like her mother, and grandmother before.”

“My thoughts are never going to be
my own again, are they?”

“They never were.  Nor will
your fantasies.  I am especially anxious to fulfill the one where I am in
full Daemon form and you are on your knees.”

She blushed, whacked his arm, and
blushed more.  “Jeeze, Dez.”  She took a few more bites of her food,
stabbed a few morsels from his plate and sniffed.  “Safe?”

“That part is.”

“Tastes like pineapple.”

“Because, it is.”

She laughed.  “I thought it
was something
savage
.”

“Here, if you’re looking for
savage, have half this kidney.  It still bleeds.”

Emily reared.  “Uber
eeeewwww!”  Her fork clanged onto her plate.  “We’ve never spoken
names for the two heathens threatening you.”  She laughed more.

“My mother holds rights to name my
descendants.”

“Yippee.”

He cupped her chin.  “I think
I should continue my downfall and break yet another Lumynari tradition. 
Remember their names should at least signify the positions they will
hold.  They are both royal and they will be gods.”

“I would have his name be Denzyr.”

Azure eyes softened.  “Half of
me, half to honor your father.  The arrogance of your sire will be
limitless.  I may have to increase my stock of poisons.  And the
little sorceress?”

“Kendara.”

“For your mother?”

“For my mother.”

“Kendara,” he said slowly.

Flutters rippled within her.

“It would seem they approve,”
Dezenial announced for his offspring.

“Good thing, since the choice isn’t
theirs.”

“A firm hand will be needed.”

“Spoilt children make for rotten
adults.”

Dezenial looked stricken. 
“They’re Lumynari.  I
prefer
them rotten.”  He deflated. 
“I supposed you’ll teach them table manners, and an honorable code of behavior,
completely ruining them?”

Tears welled. 
“Absolutely.”  She covered her trembling mouth.  She was going to
have to leave him.  God!  But divine intervention did not step in and
lessen the pain currently stabbing her chest.  And why would He? 
She’d chosen a Daemon for mate. 

Dezenial pulled her back into his
arms, and for an immeasurable amount of time, they clung.

“See that the men are ready to move
out by first light,” Broc commanded.

Garreck nodded, has hand habitually
resting on hilt of sword while he walked beside his laird.  “I still
cannot abide the Elders and Pendaran’s refusal to share knowledge of how to
enter the cities below.”

“They think to protect us.”

“Why would it matter now?” 
Garreck gave a quick scan of their surroundings, worried they’d be overheard. 
“Lady Emily has chosen ta’ remain with the Lumynari.  But, has she
really?  Do ye’ think ‘tis the dark magic?”

“Nay, I do not.”

They strode the campsite perimeter
in silence until Garreck sighed deeply.  “If you should see her ever
again?”

Broc studied the white terrain
around them.  Riders galloped in.  Their slumped shoulders, lack of
usual taunts, and overall negative dispositions revealed to Broc that no
entries into the Lumynari realm had been discovered.  His attention
swiveled to the grizzled Elders.  Stench of magic soiled the air.  He
knew with certainty of sunrise they were behind the failed attempts to locate
Emily.  The why of it, he could not speculate without coming close to
drawing his sword.

“I would tell her I love her. 
I would beg forgiveness for this life and Aurelia’s.”

Garreck caught himself before
sitting heavily and ending up with his arse in the snow, looking as dumbfounded
as he felt.  A curt nod, and he stomped away, calling a few squires to
help him spread the laird’s command for withdrawal.

*   *   *   *   *

 “Do you have problems with
invasions?”

“Invasions?”

“Homeland security?”

Dezenial flogged her a look of pure
ridiculousness.

“Sorry. This silence is getting a
bit long, and you did threaten that if I taught Rover here another ditty like
Row, Row, Row Your Boat, you’d skin us both.  Alive.”  They’d been
journeying downward, long winding tunnels illuminated by torches producing
little heat and even less light.  She wondered if these guards were
Dezenial’s Netherworld buddies or
real
Lumynari.  She was quite
tempted to request a plastic jack o’lantern to put her candy in, should they
happen upon a door, thus, giving her an opportunity to say,
Trick or Treat
.

I wouldn’t advise it
.

She made a face at Dezenial’s back.

“Put a Lumynari in charge of any
country’s security, it would cease to be an issue.”

“Massacre all, ask questions
later,” Emily quipped.

“Massacre all.  What
questions?”

Emily giggled.  “You’re
awful.”

“It’s a lifetime of
perfecting.  Eventually, you will be successful at it as well.”

“Do you think?”  She clasped
her hands, doing her best imitation of a very young Shirley Temple.  “And,
gee, do you think we could hold hands, and wish upon a star so that I too can
be just as dark and dangerous as you?  Oh puhleeeeeze, kind sir?” 
She even managed to make her eyes well up with tears.  “I just know we
can.  I just know, if we truly believe—“

“Your death will be slow and
painful if you continue even one more word of your ridiculous barrage!”

“Oh puhleeeeeze, kind sir, why
wait?” Eldaryn whined, padding behind, keeping rear guard.

“Now you think I’m
ridiculous?”  Hot tears burned her eyes.

“Tonight will be our last dinner.”

She sniffed.  “Why? 
What’s happening?”  Was their time to part already upon them?

“I’m drowning myself in the bathing
chamber.”

She smacked his back. 
“Tyrant.”

“Witch.”

“My endurance thins over your
lacking compassion for those of us forced to endure your pathetic attempts to
battle each other.”

“I thought you said you were gonna
muzzle him?”  Emily whispered overly loud.

“Muzzle?  What is this
muzzle
?” 
Eldaryn asked.

“Silence.  We approach the
bridge,” Dezenial commanded.

“You will not succeed in your
attempt to dismantle my question in regards to this
muzzle
, Lumynari.”

“His eyes are turning red,” Emily
warned.

Eldaryn scoffed.  “His eyes
are always turning red.  Daemons are in a permanent state of
ferociousness.”

Emily saddled a bit closer to her
husband, wrapping her hand around his bicep, plying him with motherly little
pats.  “It’s okay, honey, you can kill him later.  You have my
blessing. We’ll stew him, and whatever’s left, we can use for a throw rug.”

“More caution from
here forward, Emily,” Dezenial warned in a low voice.  His eyes were
everywhere, though his expression remained passive.  “Your father asked us
to join him for the evening meal you so relish forcing us to sit down to, so
our time
here
is short.  Take this.”

He presented her with
a wicked dagger.  Emily turned it over, daunted by its lethal
beauty.  Its creator didn’t feel the serrated blade would be enough,
of
course not
, he, or she, decided to have the thing look like a double ‘S’
with its tip serrated on both sides.  “Where exactly am I supposed to
carry this?  It doesn’t match a thing I’m wearing, not to mention the shape
leaves something to the imagination of how to attempt a sneak attack.”

“Thrust it with as
much gusto as you do your observations,” Eldaryn snapped.

“You mean, like
this
?”

Eight-hundred pounds
of Oltheg collapsed, legs sprawled, one of his heads nearly decapitated. 
Her amazement obscured threatening growls and Dezenial’s heartened chuckles at
his mate’s volatile temper.  “I’ve warned you that her Lumynari side
strengthens the longer she resides down here amongst her kin,” Dezenial stated.

Emily was busy flicking
the dagger over and over, its blade snaking out like a deadly viper.

“A hormonally
unbridled woman, Lumynari blood mixed in, and he hands her a weapon.” 
Eldaryn picked himself up, mustering what dignity remained.  “For an
encore, shall we anticipate you introducing your new chef to your private stash
of poisons?”  Both Eldaryn’s heads scowled down at the lethal Shadow
Master.

“A magic
dagger.”  Emily nodded slowly.  “Who would have thought?  I
mean,” she motioned her surroundings, “I don’t know, my first clue should have
been the death squad forever escorting us, or perhaps—“

“Keer’dra,” Dezenial
hoarsed.  “Spinner.  To your right.  Drop!”

Emily screamed. 
Dropped to her knees, her sword whipping around in hopes of lopping off a few
icky arms.

Empty air stared
back.

Dezenial and Eldaryn
erupted into laughter.  Even their guards grinned, enjoying the ruse.

Emily’s gaze
narrowed.

“Not one spark,
Keer’dra.”

“I have far more
powerful weapons to use against you other than simple fire,
ari
.” 
Her tongue darted out, quickly moistening her bottom lip.  Dezenial
ignored her threat and her tease.

“As tempting as that
is, we must end our quibble.  A master horticulturist, and temperamental,
the maggot tries my patience, too secure in the knowledge I cherish what he
grows.  If we’re late, he’ll not linger.  Waiting, it would seem, is
above him.”

“And yet, he still
lives?  You’re softening with age.”

“It’s the mortals I
surround myself with.”

Emily extended her
strides, catching up with her husband, holding her skirt up a bit so as to not
break her neck over its long hem.  Her boots warmed her, hugging her legs
like black velvet gloves.  Dez most enjoyed placing them on her, his
strong hands caressing her calves . . . if she could reciprocate by oh-so-lovingly
pulling up his black leather waxed-on leggings.  She shuddered and almost
skipped, smiling a woman’s secret smile.  Surely, he wore them for the
sole intent of keeping her speechless, being that it was his only attire! 
If she stood in front of him, man-package made her mindless.  If she
walked behind him, his perfectly curved ass screamed for her to cup with her—

Keer’dra!  If
you continue those thoughts entertaining you, I will be forced to tuck you into
one of these numerous caverns we pass and remove these leggings you obsess
over.

Oh, God, could
you?
  Devilry plagued her.  A few more
visuals were conjured of what she’d like to do to him in Daemon form.  For
added merit, she wonder if
everything
expanded, not just his wings.

A wild grin erupted
across his face as he stopped and whipped around to look down at her.
 “Why do you cherish such dangerous games, Keer’dra?”

Her attention snapped
to the left of their small party.  “Dez?”  Her voice quaked. 
Her footsteps acted of their own resolve.  Fixated, she gravitated towards
varied jagged walls and stalactites so large, they were used as living
quarters, meeting halls, and tawdry sex.  None of this commanded her
attention.  A fissure and several stories tall, was filled with such
darkness, she shuddered.  The massive rip in the wall appeared to be
screaming!

Horror siphoned her
mind into its depths.  Darkness crept out, a living thing, eclipsing her
surroundings.  Color dissipated.  Cold settled in . . . and
shadows.  Death enveloped her , rancid from the brine of a thousand years
of carnage.  He pulled away from his shroud of darkness, cobra intense
stare imprisoning her.  The barest hint of a smile touched the corners of
his cruel mouth.  Arrogant in his stance, one booted foot rested upon a rock,
his massive arms folded as he glowered down at her.  Depravity saturated
her soul.

Drakar
.

His smile broadened, offering her
the barest of nods, as if they’d been introduced.

“It would seem our prince lacks
ability to remember the rules of Balkore.”  His abrasive voice sounded
like someone having gargled venom.  Shouting penetrated from so far away,
she assumed it to be her soul crying out.  Never had she faced such
evil.  Thick.  Suffocating.  Visions of mutilating horror
screamed through her mind, thousands of voices wailing in agony.

“You will come to me, Princess
Emily,” Drakar whispered, his wicked voice clearing the agony within her
skull.  But, as soon as he finished speaking, wailing surged.  If she
went to him, he could halt the cries of the damned.

“Keer’dra!”

Emily screamed.  And
screamed.  And screamed.  Her eyes focused.  Dezenial held
her.  Muttering surrounded her.  Dezenial, muttering.  His arm
banded around her, pinning her to him, his other hand cupping the back of her
head.  “Long moments I have called to you.  Show me, Keer’dra. 
Show me what you see.  I will keep you safe, little one.”

Warmth penetrated her
temples.  Drakar’s guttural laughter pulled her deeper into his quagmire
of terror, and away from Dezenial’s light.

“Eldaryn, guard us.  She’s
slipped too far away,” Dezenial commanded the Oltheg in their ancient
language.  “I have no choice but to enter her mind by force.”

“My hackles rise.  Things are
not as they seem.”  One of Eldaryn’s snouts raised, sniffing.  The
Lumynari guards shuffled, tightened their hold on weapons, they too dissecting
their surroundings.  “A feast?”

“No,
these
Lumynari are not
who they seem.”  Dezenial raised his hand.  An arc of light
manifested from his fingers before he pitched his arm back and threw the small
orb towards the far ridge.  “Daemons, show your true form.” 

Lumynari warriors morphed into
gargoyles.  A few craned their necks, giant wings stretching at odd angles
before settling back into their folded reserve.

“Ah, your father’s Elite. 
Thought I smelled burnt flesh of Daemon hide.”

“Emily’s life can be trusted to
none other, save for yourself, Eldaryn.”

“And upon the ridge?”

“Her father and his squad track
us.  Guard, Eldaryn.  Our lives may depend upon it.”  Dezenial
muttered incantations as his mouth descended towards Emily’s ear.  “Your
eyes become mine, your mind no longer your own.”  He breathed in her
essences and, in the taking, absorbed her terror.

Darkness engulfed.  Peripheral
vision vanished.  Color ceased to exist.

“Hello,
Highness
, or should I
use your new title, The Great Betrayer?  Decided to join our chat?”

“Three thousand years, and you
still scavenge like rats,” Dezenial hissed.

Drakar’s fanatical gaze narrowed
dangerously.  “You are branded traitor, slinking into
my
city, into
my prisons—“

“No city in Balkore belongs to
you.  Careful your treasonous claims, sewage rat.”

“Treason?”  Hissing ensued
before Emily realized it was laughter. 

Her mind closed.

“The Keeper is very strong. 
Her mind drifts from my hold.”  Eyes glittered fury.  “Not for
long.  You must know by now your mother no longer remains idle, amused by
your despicable whims.”

“My mother’s approval is not
something I’ve ever groveled for, Drakar.”

“I hardly need to grovel when I
have in my possession a book of vast power and now the Keeper along with it.”

“Once again, you prove
lacking. 
True
Lumynari kill.  As usual,
you
quibble.”  Dezenial turned Emily towards him, pressing her ear against his
chest so that his heartbeat would be heard by her soul, beckoning her to return
from whence she mentally hid.

“Tell me, will you cower in the
bowels of Balkore, as before, when I kill your Im’pyur?”

“Do you
really
think you
retain such an ability?”

Drakar’s smile uncoiled. 
“Your downfall but a few minutes from occurring, and me, here, about to carve
your seeds from your concubine.”