Trik nodded. “How can I attempt to dissuade you after a speech like that?” He turned back to Vyshaan and his face lost all emotion. “Do not betray us. I would hate to have to use the skills I acquired as an assassin, but I will if necessary.”
“I will not fail you, my king,” said Vyshaan bowing low. Trik did not miss the formality that the elder used when he bowed. His arm was across his chest and the possessive words, my king, was another way to indicate that he was declaring his loyalty to Trik. He watched without another word, as the four headed into the dark swamp. He truly hoped he was doing the right thing in sending them into the spider’s trap. Like a web weaved for its victims, the swamp stretched out before them, waiting for the unaware or the foolish to stumble into it. His people were neither, but neither were they invincible.
“Forest Lords protect them,” he muttered under his breath. He felt Cassie’s hand slip into his and felt his soul reaching for hers. He looked down at her and saw the faith in her eyes that was always there.
“They will be fine,” she told him gently. “You have to learn to delegate. You aren’t a lone assassin anymore.”
He leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. “No, I am not, nor will I ever be alone again. And you, my queen, as usual, are right. They will be fine. No other outcome is acceptable.”
Chapter 15
“We will face many battles in our lives. Some of those battles will be within ourselves, some will be with those we love, and some will be with our adversaries. Regardless of the battle, what matters isn’t how it ends, but how we handle ourselves while in the midst of it. Does our character under fire reveal a person worthy of respect despite the outcome? Do we fight for justice or revenge? If we are on the side of good, does our attitude in all situations reflect it? Battles will come, and even if we lose, if our character stands true, then we have still won.” ~Triktapic, King of the Elfin Race
Cush heard the footsteps long before he saw who they belonged to. He knew some of them weren’t human. But there was at least one that stepped with the heavy footfalls of a human. A few of them were definitely his kind. Coming to a quick stop, he turned and looked at Oakley. “We are about to have company.”
Oakley’s eyes widened. “Friend or foe?”
“Not sure,” he answered as he narrowed his eyes looking through the trees and hanging moss.
“How do you know someone is coming? I don’t hear anything.”
Cush adjusted Elora in his arms and wrestled with the need to keep her with him or hand her to Oakley so his hands would be free if he needed to protect them. “Elf hearing, remember?”
“Ugh, another cool power I get to miss out on being half elf,” Oakley grumbled as he looked in the same direction that Cush was gazing.
“Haven’t we already discussed this?” Cush asked. “Some humans that are half elf do have powers, but as I said before, that is rare, and their powers are not as strong as in a full blood.”
Oakley snorted. “That’s just my luck. I would be one of those without the power. My dad was a freaking dark elf and I didn’t get jack from his heritage.”
“That has yet to be seen, Oakley,” Cush argued. “Our superior senses and magical powers aren’t the only thing unique about us. We have half a soul until we meet our other half. Perhaps, you too will have a Chosen.”
The human shrugged. “Maybe.”
Cush turned his attention back to the approaching visitors. “I don’t understand. I can hear them getting closer but I still can’t see them. I should be able to see them by now.”
“Perhaps, you are getting old.” Tamsin’s voice carried through the trees.
Cush’s head whipped around toward the voice, but still he didn’t see his former king. “Is your mate with you?” He figured Syndra must be with him if they were invisible; it was one of her talents.
“Of course, I am with him. Who would protect him if I didn’t come?” Syndra asked as she, Tamsin, Lisa, and another male elf materialized before them.
Cush glanced at Tamsin and then at the other male. He recognized him right away. “Vyshaan,” he said in acknowledgement.
Lisa started toward her son but Oakley held up his hand. “I’m fine, Mom. Elora is the one you need to be checking on.”
Cush watched as she changed course and headed for the girl in his arms. He took a step back, his natural instinct to protect his Chosen kicking in. Lisa paused; her eyes narrowing on him. “I won’t hurt her, Cush. I know she is yours, but she was mine first. I just need to see her.” She waited, watching him.
Cush looked down at Elora and could practically hear her telling him to get a grip. His lips twitched as he thought about how she would admonish him if she were able. Finally, he looked back up at her mother and gave a slight nod. Lisa rushed forward and brushed the hair from Elora’s face.
“She’s breathing,” she told him unnecessarily. She looked up at him; her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Is she going to be okay?”
“I need to get Elora to The Book of the Elves.”
Syndra walked up to him, approaching slowly. He was pretty sure he wouldn’t attack the light elf queen, but after his reaction to Lisa, he could understand Syndra’s caution.
“Easy, warrior, I only want to assess her,” she said gently as she stepped up next to Elora’s mother. Syndra placed a hand over his Chosen’s heart and her palm began to glow. Suddenly Syndra hissed and jerked her hand back. “This is no natural injury; it is the dark magic that is killing her. My power is useless for her.”
Lisa frowned. “What does that mean?”
“It means she needs more power than I have,” Syndra explained. “I am powerful, but I am not so prideful that I cannot admit when my power is not sufficient.”
Cush nodded. “The priestess of this swamp claimed that there was nothing that could be done, but I can’t accept that. There has to be something in that book that could help her.”
“We have the book,” Tamsin informed him.
“Is it with you?” Oakley asked.
They all shook their heads. “We left it with Trik. We didn’t want to take a risk of losing it in the swamp. And by losing it I don’t mean dropping it into an alligator’s mouth.” Syndra gave him a pointed look.
Cush understood. They didn’t want to bring something as powerful asThe Book of the Elves into the Voodoo queen’s territory. Like a shiny new toy, the book’s power would call to the queen and she would answer it eagerly.
“I can help her, with the book,” Vyshaan clarified. “I’m not saying that I can save her for sure, but there is magic in the book that we have not used in a very long time.”
Cush didn’t know if he should trust the elder, but he didn’t have time to give it thought. “Let’s just get back to the motel and go from there.” Without another word he took off at a run. He heard Oakley curse before he heard his footsteps behind him. He knew the others were following close behind.
They hadn’t ran more than a mile when Cush felt his feet growing heavy until finally he could no longer lift them. Frustration and rage rolled through him as he shouted, “You have been warned! What part of the words from the Forest Lords did you not understand?”
“What’s happening?” Lisa asked.
Cush glanced behind him seeing that the others had caught up but were also immobilized where they stood.
“The Voodoo queen can’t seem to leave well enough alone,” Cush answered.
“The game has changed,” her voice rang out. “A new piece is now in play. How can I possibly ignore such information about a book that is known throughout the supernatural world? And here it has practically fallen into my lap. I will worry about the consequences after I have the book. The power I will obtain from it will be enough to rival your creators.”
Syndra laughed and the sound was dark, promising violence. “You are a fool if you believe such nonsense.”
“You dare to address me with such insolence?”
“I will dare to
do a lot worse than that if you don’t release us. My patience for stupid supernatural beings has been pushed to the very edge today. So unless you feel like playing Russian roulette and seeing just who is more powerful, I suggest you heed my warning.” Syndra held her arms loosely next to her sides. She looked relaxed, but Cush knew how quickly the queen could move. She wouldn’t be caught unaware.
The Voodoo queen laughed and the sound surrounded them. “It’s cute that you actually think you are a match for me.”
Syndra let out a tired sigh. She looked over at her mate. “When will they ever learn? I don’t just speak to hear myself talk.”
Tamsin shrugged. “You have to leave some alive for them to spread word of your power, love. Decimating all of your enemies doesn’t allow for gossip.”
“True,” Syndra nodded. “But some of them get on my nerves so badly that I just can’t keep from silencing them for good.”
“Are you going to take action, former queen, or are you just going to keep talking?”
“Bloody hell, I am so done,” Syndra growled. She closed her eyes as she held her arms out, with her palms up. She began chanting in the old language of their people and Cush knew they were all about to witness the awesomeness that was Syndra. For whatever reason, the Forest Lords favored her, and when she called out for their strength, they always answered.
The ground around them began to shake and the wind whipped around them. Cush stumbled as his feet were suddenly released and he reached out to brace himself on a tree to keep from toppling over with Elora in his arms. When he looked back he wasn’t surprised to find Syndra glowing as her power continued to build. Thunder boomed overhead and clouds began to gather over them as her voice grew louder. Cush looked past Syndra to her mate. Tamsin was making a motion with his hand and he realized that he was telling them all to get down. The group dropped to the ground just as a flash of light exploded blinding them all. A pulse of power shot out from where Syndra stood and a deafening sound roared around them. And then there was nothing. The wind had stopped, the thunder was silenced, and the light was gone.
Oakley’s voice was what finally broke the silence and had everyone opening their eyes and standing back up. “Remind me to never, ever, ever piss her off.” He motioned to Syndra as he turned in a circle taking in the devastation.
Cush didn’t know how far the radius of damage extended but from what he could see for the better part of a mile every tree, bush, and plant had been leveled to the ground. Like rows of dominos being toppled over, the forest had collapsed. Cush had to agree with Oakley’s statement. He hoped he never faced the wrath of Tamsin’s Chosen.
“I could have taken her.” Syndra’s voice drew everyone’s attention. She was glaring daggers at Vyshaan.
He bowed his head. “I have no doubt of that. I was merely backing you up.”
Tamsin looked from the elder to his Chosen. “You shared your power?”
“I simply gave hers a little jolt.”
“Little?” Lisa asked. “I’d say that’s a whole hell of a lot more than a little.”
“Did you kill her?” Oakley asked.
Syndra shook her head. “No, one just doesn’t kill an evil goddess so easily. But I sent her back to the fiery pit where she was before her people called on her. The Voodoo queen is a demon. Her power comes from the belief of those who summon her. She has been in this realm for a very long time. So I and…” ―she glanced at Vyshaan― “and apparently him, sent her back to square one. She will have to be summoned again in order to come back to the earthly realm.”
“Did she really think you couldn’t beat her?” Lisa asked.
Syndra laced her fingers together and turned them outward, cracking her knuckles. She leaned her head side to side, stretching out her neck. “I’m sure she knew, but those who crave power are prideful and that pride serves as a blindfold keeping them from seeing the truth that is staring them in the face.”
“Syndra, Vyshaan, thank you for dealing with our adversary,” Cush told them, though he was sincere, his voice was emotionless. “But I can delay no longer. I must get her help.” He motioned with his head to his Chosen. He didn’t ask them to join him, nor did he care if they did. He was focused on one thing―saving his mate.
Together, Trik, Cassie, and Tony, sat at the table studying the fabled Book. For so long the book had been right under Cassie’s nose hidden at her best friend’s shop. But she wouldn’t have known its importance if she’d have found it back then. That was before Cassie even knew anything about elves or magic or any of the other strange stuff she’d seen. That time seemed a world away now. The book was beautiful to be sure, written in stylized ancient elvish script. Even though she was a human, she could still feel the power emanating from the book. Trik sat beside her muttering to himself. Delicately he turned the ancient pages, each one bringing a look of wonder to his handsome face. Tony sat across from them, staring at Trik with interest.
“What is it, Trik?” Cassie asked her Chosen.
“It’s just. It’s in here. Everything. Everything is in here. Everything that has happened to our people and everything that will happen. And I can read it. I don’t know how, but I can. None, other than elders, are supposed to be able to decipher it, but I can see it clearly somehow.”
“The Forest Lords,” Cassie said. “They’ve given you a gift, Trik. They wanted you to have the book.”
“But why me? Why now?”
“Why not now?” Tony interrupted. “You are the recently restored king of the elves, the true king. Who else in the world would they give it to?”
“No, that’s not what I mean,” Trik responded. “The Book has been hidden for ages, yes. But ages past, the Book was always given to the elves in a time of great need, to aid them in their survival. I don’t see why I would need the book now.”
“Hm, there must still be something for you to do,” Cassie suggested. “Something we’ve missed in all our running around.”
“Well I don’t—”
Cassie let out a shriek, interrupting Trik as she was yanked backward off the bench. She flew through the air and landed hard. Rocks and grit dug into her hip. She opened her eyes and tilted her head back until she could see who it was that towered over her. She stared up at one very haggard looking dark elf. His disheveled appearance was matched only by the hatred plastered across his face. Bleeding from several cuts and scrapes along his hands and face, his breath coming in rasps, he reached down and yanked Cassie up by her hair. Her scalp stung and she was pretty sure if he held her any tighter he would rip her hair from its roots. Wrapping his left arm around her neck, he held her fast. The dark elf raised his right hand, which was glowing with black malice, to her face. The spell was only inches from her skin. Trik was up in a flash, facing her attacker—Lorsan.
“Don’t come any closer, assassin,” Lorsan hissed, holding the waiting spell even closer to Cassie’s face. She bit her tongue to keep from whimpering and enraging Trik even more. “You know I’ll do it.”
Trik let out a low, dark chuckle. “You are a dead elf.”
“Like my Chosen?” he said, bitterness dripping with every word. “We shall see.” He paused, and when he spoke again Cassie could hear the longing in the dark elf king’s voice.
“Why did it have to happen like this, Trik?” he said. “We had such a good thing, you and I. You were always so good at what you did. And I know you enjoyed your work. You may have all these other simpletons fooled, ready to follow you off a cliff, but I know the real Trik. The real Trik is a killer, plain and simple, ruthless, heartless, and malicious. You were never meant to be king, Trik. You were always meant to be an assassin.”
Cassie watched as Trik stood, rooted to the spot, considering Lorsan’s words. She could tell the minute that Lorsan’s words began to affect him. As though a veil suddenly fell over his face, all the evil things he’d done seemed to wash over him. Cassie knew he was thinking about all the people he’d hurt and killed and all the lies he’d t
old. Trik had told her once that he could see the faces of those he’d wronged, and that there were so many of them that they began to run together. He even saw Elora’s father, Steal. He had died like a warrior. He hadn’t begged; he’d simply asked Trik one time to show him mercy so that he could be there for his kids and his Chosen. When Trik denied him, Steal had simply nodded and awaited for the blade to pierce his heart. Did Trik even consider the consequences before he took the dark elf’s life? Even after Elora’s father had mentioned them, did he even consider that he would leave two children fatherless? He knew the answer to that question.
“Don’t listen to him, Trik,” screamed Cassie. She had to get through to him to keep the memories from drowning him. Even though they were not touching, she could see all his thoughts written on his face. Even after all they’d been through, all the good he’d done, he still couldn’t let go of his past. “You’re not that person anymore.”
“Shut up!” spat Lorsan, tightening his arm like a noose around her neck.
Cassie continued to struggle, but she could no longer speak. Lorsan was cutting off her airway.
“You should let her go now,” Trik said through gritted teeth. Cassie saw him clench and unclench his jaw as he inched ever so slowly toward her and Lorsan.
“Is this really what you want, Trik? This human? How many humans have you killed? You used to brag about how easy they were. About how you loved toying with them, especially the females. How many have you put under your spell, Triktapic, and taken your pleasure from them, only to slip a dagger into them when they least expected it?”
Cassie had stopped fighting the elf. She hung limp in Lorsan’s arms, attempting to stifle the whimpers that kept slipping through her lips. She knew any sign of pain from her and it would only cause Trik to lose focus. She saw his hands fisted at his sides. His entire body shook as he stalked closer to Lorsan. His eyes narrowed on them. He was a predator in every sense of the word and he had his prey in his sight. He was waiting for the perfect moment to attack. She knew first hand just how patient a hunter her elf king could be.