Phantasm
6
The first thing that catches her eye in the white abyss is his hair. Chestnut strands curling around his ears and the nape of his neck. Irises a deep green shade, like a haze covered forest, watch her from afar as he grins uneasily. It’s not a comforting, warming grin, but more something that turns her insides to stone and makes her pulse pound rapidly.
Skin tingling with nerves, he stands before her with his shadowed expression. His posture is tall and proud, like a knight. A dark shirt clings tight against his developed frame, exposing his muscled arms to her.
There’s a shadowed aura surrounding him, enticing her closer, despite Daisy wanting nothing more than to run away from him. Something is drawing her nearer, as if she longs to know who he is. Whether he’s dangerous or not.
There’s no light above them. Or no distinct light source, at least. It’s as if the place they’re standing in is somehow lit from every angle. A faint illumination encircling the two of them. No clear-cut wall connecting with the ground. Just a glowing expanse.
Her long white nightgown flowing freely around her falls to her ankles, revealing them. Bare feet digging gently into the soft sandy surface beneath her.
“Daisy.” The male’s voice calls to her gently. But his tone seems to tickle the back of her neck like a feather being dragged against her flesh. The bones of her spine rattling in place as shivers stream down uncontrollably. His timbre is beautiful yet haunting. Capturing yet terrifying.
“Who are you?” Daisy questions. Her own voice is raw and raspy, as if she hasn’t drunk anything in days, feeling as though it’s on fire.
His head tilts to one side as he takes all of her in.
She suddenly feels too bare. Her thin dark arms wrapping themselves around her chest, covering the thin material showing more than she’d like to this stranger.
His chin lifts, showing off more of his angular face, which is possibly the handsomest one she’s ever come across. Clarence’s is squarer and more approachable. His is more angular and menacing. “I have been watching you for a while now, Petal .”
Daisy’s eyebrows crease as he takes one step towards her. Instinctively, she moves backwards, keeping an equal distance between them. “Petal?” she echoes, not knowing if she likes his name for her or not.
He notices her movement because his smile deepens, a wrinkle growing in one cheek, and his eyes seem to glisten with amusement. “I must say. You have tried so hard to keep me out of your mind. I applaud you in your efforts.”
She flinches as he slowly claps. It’s an unhurried, almost mocking applause that seems to reverberate around the endless abyss. Daisy swallows, feeling the temperature of her insides rise as she panics. Glistening sweat clings to her skin.
“You’ve been watching me?” she questions again, stepping backwards once more in the cold granulates of sand.
“You made it quite easy, yes.” He admits, dropping his hands and strolling in her direction.
Stepping backwards, she feels the harshness of something solid behind her, halting her in her effort to escape him. It wasn’t there before. Her palms splay on the smoothness. “Why have you been watching me?” she rasps out .
His tongue licks his bottom lip, and he looks as though he’s about to chuckle when he simply asks, “Are you afraid of me, Petal?”
She nods without hesitation. “Yes. Yes, I am.” Stuttering out as her chest rapidly palpitates.
He sighs roughly. “You fought against me for a bit. I was finding it rather hard to open up your mind, but then you gave me a gateway.” He pauses just a few feet away from her. The chilled surface remains behind her, entrapping her heels. “Tell me now. Do you often think about him?”
Daisy shivers again. Clarence .
“Yes. The boy, Clarence, you seem so fond of. You seem to dream of him more often than not.”
Her lips part as she stares at him in shock. Can he really read her mind like that?
“Yes.” He responds, sounding a little bored.
Her jaw clamps shut as rage boils through her veins. “Why do you need to be inside my mind? I’m of no use to you. I don’t even know who you are!”
“Yet.” He says teasingly. “You don’t know of me yet .”
He gives a light chuckle as her fingers curl into fists at her sides. “What do you want from me?”
The smirk deepens on his face, showing how amused he really is. “I want you to trust me. To do what I ask of you.”
She gives a small shake before pressing the pads of her fingers against her temples. “Get out of my head. I don’t want to help you!”
He chuckles lowly, thoroughly enjoying this. “You think you can just toss me out like that?” quirking a brow up at her. “I have more power than you could ever dream of.” His voice is slow and taunting. “I can have you tearing your hair out with one thought. Gouging out your eyes with your fingernails with one snap of my fingers. Yanking out your teeth with a blink of my eyes. I can make you do anything for me, Daisy Edevane. Don’t forget that. ”
He steps closer, pinning her between the wall and his chest as he breathes down on her. He’s scentless. His skin feels like ice against her burning flesh. His next words make her muscles freeze with fear. “I own you now, Petal. You’ll help me when I require you, whether you agree to it or not.”
She tries pushing on his chest to get him to move away from her, but his hands grab a hold of her slim wrists, tightening around them. “Get away from me!”
“Not until I get what I deserve.” His tone is both cold and calm.
His energy begins to shift into something darker. Blackness misting the air like smoke. Tendrils of shadows filling the abyss, blocking out the light surrounding them.
Daisy can feel her pulse thumping erratically. Sweat slides down her forehead as she tries yanking herself free from his grip, but it’s strong like iron.
“Get out of my head!” she shouts, not caring if tears are streaming down her cheeks.
His feral smirk drops, but to her disappointment, he shakes his head at her. “I wish I could, Petal. But I can’t.” The darkness now clouding them completely. It stings at her skin as she attempts to break free from him again. “You’ll do exactly what I say, otherwise your precious Clarence will be my target.”
With a gasp, Daisy bolts upright. Her chest heaves quickly as her garnet eyes whip around to take in her surroundings.
She’s in her quarters at home. The fire is almost out, leaving orange embers amongst the burnt-out coal. Her windows are covered by the curtains, but she knows it’s still dark outside from the lack of light flooding in.
Nobody else seems to be in the room with her. The only sounds she can hear are her heavy breathing and the grandfather clock ticking outside in the hallway, somehow steadying her .
Her fingers dig into the silky sheets underneath her. Sweat clings to her dark skin as heat radiates through her. Hair ruffled and messy as she runs a hand through it. The dream felt too real to be only a dream.
Pushing off the covers with haste, Daisy rushes over to the window, drawing back the fabric covering her view. In the distance, light is breaking on the other side of the city, casting a faint amber glow against buildings. Dark purples and muted pinks streak across the cloud scattered sky.
Catching her breath, she tells herself that it was only a dream.
A bad one, but just a dream.
It wasn’t real. There’s nobody inside her head. It’s not possible unless they’re an Augur, but she doesn’t know any that would want to use her for information.
At least that’s what she believes the man was after in her dream. Wanting her for information. But it was only that, a dream.
No.
Night terror.
* ? * ? *
Birds chirping loudly outside on the windowsill pull him from a dreamless sleep. Clarence’s lids flicker open, blinking at the light pouring in through the sliver between the dark green curtains. He mustn’t have closed them all the way last night when he came home from guarding.
The clock hanging in the entranceway read half midnight when he sleepily wandered back into the house and crept up to his quarters, careful to not wake his sister. He made sure to check in on her before falling asleep himself. She was resting peacefully in her bed, the fireplace still burning softly, so she hadn’t been sleeping for long. The book in her hands resting open on her stomach. Clarence closed it, placing it on the table beside her before blowing out the oil lamp next to her bed. His body collapsed into his own after changing out of his guarding clothes, and he was out within seconds.
Groaning himself awake now, he rubs thoughtfully at his eyes, yawning loudly. There’s no noise coming from downstairs, so Kora must still be sleeping.
Walking over to his window, Clarence winces from the beams of sunlight that blind his eyes when the curtains fully part. He didn’t mean to sleep in this much. Golden morning light spills across the floor and furniture, coating everything in a gentle radiance.
The drawing room downstairs is cold, like the rest of the manor. Everything about this room reminds Clarence of their parents. The smell of the burnt-out candles lingers. Sage stalks sitting on the mantle of the hearth. The oil painting of them on their wedding day and one of the four of them when Kora was still an infant, wrapped up tightly in a white blanket. He can remember posing for that painting. Clarence was still in awe of having a younger sibling. He kept poking Kora’s nose, which was red from the early spring air. He’s always adored her and taken care of her.
Memories of their father lighting the fire while their mother brought out a tray of tea and freshly baked biscuits. Kora sitting on the floor with one of her fabric dolls. Those memories have stayed with Clarence like they happened just yesterday. Comforting and warm, as if their parent’s presence is still here with him.
He walks into the now cold and empty room. His visions diminishing with each passing second as the realisation washes over him. Kneeling before the hearth, he strikes a match, starting a fire like he does every morning in the cooler months. Gaze watching the tiny yellow flames dance like ribbons caught in the wind, catching alight on twigs.
“Clarence,” Kora’s soft voice makes him turn around to see her standing in the doorway, “I heard you come down. ”
She walks over, kneeling beside him in her nightgown. Auburn hair messily braided down one shoulder and held together with a white ribbon.
“I didn’t wake you, did I?” He asks, turning his attention back onto the fire which is starting to flicker with life.
She shakes her head, “No. I was already awake reading. What time did you come home? I didn’t hear you slip in.”
“After midnight. And you were already asleep.”
Her smile grows as embers dance in the reflection of her pupils. “How was guarding?”
Clarence shrugs. “I was down near the docks. The only thing I saw was an Elemental trying to summon more wine into his bottle,” he snorts a laugh. “Sadly, his magic didn’t work on that. And how was your evening out? I take it you didn’t stay home.”
“I’m allowed to spend time with my friends, Clarence.”
He pulls her closer, her head resting in the crook of his neck. “I know. I just worry. You know that.”
“Yes, I know. You’re insufferable sometimes.”
He laughs lowly, “Hardly. I could be more overbearing.”
“Highly doubt that.”
“Where did you go?” he asks.
“The Sage.” His head pulls away to look at her, his brows tight with concern. “Matthew, Lewis and Daisy were there. Don’t stress, I wasn’t asking for employment, if that’s what you were thinking.”
He expires slowly, “I just don’t want you working there. A tavern is not a place a young lady should be working.”
“Where would you suggest, then?” her eyes failing to meet his.
“I suggest that you don’t think about that stuff.”
“Clarence, I don’t want to force it all onto you.”
She tugs herself out of his grip. “I need to. I’m older and the man of this house now. It’s my duty, not yours. You’re too young still.”
Kora grumbles, rubbing a hand over her face. “I’m not as weak as you think I am, Clarence. ”
“I never said you were weak.”
“You act like it. Keeping things from me and acting like I can’t protect myself. I protected myself just fine last night when that Infernal-” she cuts herself off, eyes darting to his narrowing ones.
“An Infernal,” he breathes out icily, “An Infernal attacked you last night, and you weren’t going to tell me!” he’s on his feet now, staring down at her.
Kora gets up, glaring back at his tensed face, “Honestly, no. I wasn’t going to tell you. Nobody was hurt, and Matthew and I killed it. I can protect myself and my friends. I am not a weak child.”
Clarence groans, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his hands while taking in the information. His arms fall to his side as he nods calmly. “I know you’re not weak, Kora. I won’t keep anything from you, if you promise to never keep something as dangerous as that from me again.”
“All right. I promise.” Her voice is soft. Clarence crouches again, tossing another log onto the fire. Kora rubs her arms before suggesting to him. “Shall I make us some coffee, then?”
“Please,” her brother drawls sleepily. “I feel as though I’m still half asleep.”
She snorts, patting him on the back before disappearing towards the kitchen. Clarence sits back on his heels. His mind is still too fuzzy from overworking and worrying about looking after Kora, earning enough to keep their estate and belongings, as well as training to become an instructor with the Ascendancy. It’s all becoming too much for him to bear.
Their mother was one of the best combat instructors the London Ascendancy has ever produced. Even from the young ripe age of six, Clarence always wanted to be like her. That passion multiplied after their deaths, wanting nothing more than to continue her legacy.
A knock on the front door draws his attention away from the flames. Brows scrunched, Clarence stands to answer it as Kora races down the hallway in front of him. Yanking the door open to their uncle, Will, standing in the doorway empty handed.
“Kora!” Will’s deep voice beckons.
“You’re home early!” she squeals with happiness, throwing her arms around him. A flash of discomfit washes over his face for a second before he grins down at her. “I thought you were returning next week.”
Will shrugs, “I was. Robert required me back early, though.”
His darker eyes lift to Clarence’s, who’s now making his way towards the two of them. Will’s dark brown hair looks to be freshly washed and still drying into curls around his ageing face. “Glad to see you’re not dead.” A smile toying with Clarence’s lips.
“Glad to see you’re still alive.” Will says before grinning widely and pulling him into a hug. This is their usual way of greeting each other when Will returns from his assignments elsewhere.
It began when Will returned from an unusually difficult trip to France. Will was almost mauled to death by a bear Shifter who refused to be taken to the Bastille for imprisonment for murdering another Shifter in cold blood. Clarence was ten at the time, and when Will arrived home, he told the story to him, Kora and Lily Edevane-Daisy’s mother-who was watching them at the time.
The words spilled from Clarence’s mouth before he could stop them. “I’m glad to see you’re not dead.”
Will chuckled and ruffled his then longer hair. “And I’m glad to see that you’re still alive.” And that started this whole exchange.
Will shuffles off his overcoat and places it on one of the wooden hooks beside the door. Reaching into one of the pockets, his hand comes out in a fist. “I have something for you, Kora.”
She bites her bottom lip with her teeth like a child waiting to be given sweets as Will uncurls his hand. A small bag of loose-leaf tea sits in it, perfectly wrapped still. Kora giggles with anticipation, taking it and sniffing the leaves. The sweet aroma of barley and sugar filling her nostrils. “White tea! ”
“From Dublin itself. I saw you were running low the last time I was here, so I thought I would pick up some more for you while I was away. I wanted to deliver it to you in person.” Will explains.
Kora’s cheeks glow as she gives him a hurried hug before running off towards the kitchen. “Thank you!” her yell echoes down the hallway.
“You know she’s going to brew that immediately to try,” Clarence says to his uncle without looking at him.
“Good, because I miss her tea. You have no idea how particular she is with her brewing, but you get used to it. Nobody else in the world can make their tea taste as good as your sister. Of course, Tessa was the only other exception. I do miss her tea…” he trails off into a whisper as his eyes darken at the thought of his sister.
Clarence swallows, looking at Will and touching his shoulder in a comforting way. Will inhales deeply before clasping his hands together and pivoting to give Clarence all of his attention. “We need to speak in private, Clarence, while your sister is occupied.”
His grin flattens as he nods to his uncle beside him. “Sure. We can speak in the study.”
The study has two walls entirely covered in ancient books. Dusty, bindings torn and covers peeling like old worn leather. Stefan’s mahogany desk still sits in the middle with two large upholstered chairs on either side. Papers are scattered about the top, along with ink jars, fountain pens and empty tea-stained cups.
Clarence closes the door behind them and sits down opposite Will, who has his arms resting on the desk between them. His expression deepening, as if searching his nephew’s face for something.
Waiting for him to begin, Will sighs loudly before clearing his throat and saying, “I need to tell you something before anyone else gets a chance.” And pauses, as if thinking over how he’s going to tell Clarence, who’s eagerly waiting. “There was talk in Ireland while I was travelling. Some people were mentioning things about the Battle of Aureum your parents died in. ”
Clarence’s breath catches in this throat as he tries to steady his breathing. Nobody has mentioned the battle in years. He can’t understand why people up north would be talking about this when it happened over a decade ago. “What about the battle?” Clarence’s brows narrowing in confusion.
Will lets out another breath, clearly struggling on how to come out with the information. “The battle was between us and the Beneath, or Hell, if you’d prefer to call it that. The other Marked kinds helped us without question during the battle, but it seems as though they are beginning to speak about the encounter once again. I overheard them in Ireland, talking about the Infernals attacking and wanting to rid the Earth of Seraphim.” He pauses, Will’s eyes searching Clarence’s before adding. “While I was there, I also heard them speaking about your parents, and whether they died or not.”
Clarence stares at his uncle, his mouth parting slightly. “Are you suggesting that my parents might still be alive?” questioning his uncle.
“No. Your parents were killed in the battle. I’m just telling you what I’ve overheard while travelling,” His uncle explains slowly. “I don’t want to believe them. I know it can’t be true, but it’s what I’ve overheard, and I just wanted to tell you in case you hear people speaking about it.” His voice remaining calm.
Clarence’s fingers lace together as he rests them against his mouth, thinking deeply. “It’s been fourteen years since they died. Why would this be coming up again now? After all this time?”
Will leans over the hardwood desk and places his head in his palms. “I don’t even believe any of their chatter, Clarence. All I’m saying is that there’s talk amongst the Foreshadowers and Spellcasters. I just thought you should hear it from me first, before you do from anyone else.”
“We need to keep this from Kora. It’ll just hurt her to know, and I can’t even imagine the hope it’ll spark in her to think her parents might still be alive, despite us not seeing them since the battle.” Clarence’s voice raspy as he thinks of his sister happily making tea in the other room.
His uncle nods in agreement, “Believe me, I understand what it’s like to protect your younger sister.”
“Is this why you were sent there?” Clarence questions him curiously. Will rarely talks about his assignments. He’s one of the Elders of the Ascendancy, so their work is usually kept quiet.
His uncle’s jaw clenches as he shakes his head lightly. “I was sent for something else. This is just something that came up while I was in Ireland. But, as I said, you come to me if you hear anything about it.”
Clarence swallows before nodding in silent agreement and standing once again. “We should go out there. I’m sure the tea is ready by now.” Not wanting to discuss this topic anymore. He’s still trying to wrap his head around everything Will just spilled out.
Kora is waiting for them in the drawing room when they come out from their discussion. Clarence plasters on a false smile, not wanting her to worry about anything.
“Will, this tea is delicious. You both need to try some.”
They both take a cup of freshly brewed white tea. The golden liquid steaming inside the ceramic mugs their mother chose out.
Clarence smiles at the sweet taste. He’s not normally one to enjoy tea, but his sister always knows how to make it taste pleasant. “It’s excellent.”
“So, how was everything in London while I was away?” Will asks between sips. His frown is now replaced with something happier for Kora’s sake.
“Well, Lewis has been working on something for the last few weeks for the Ascendancy with Percy. Something about an elixir that heightens our sense of Infernal activity even more.” Kora begins to fill him in. “Also, Matthew will be turning twenty-one soon, so he will most likely make us go to the Sage for an evening to celebrate. Daisy made these delicious- ”
Clarence clears his throat loudly. “Kora, you should show Will the blade I gave you.” He suggests to his sister, cutting off her rambling, doubting Will is even interested in what her friends have been up to over the past few weeks.
“Oh, yes!” Kora gets up quickly and hurries out of the room.
She returns shortly with the gilded blade held tightly in her grip. Shine gleaming off the sharpened edge, reflecting the morning light.
“This is the blade. Clarence said it belonged to our mother before she left it for me.” Kora explains as she brings it closer for Will to inspect.
Will studies it closely, a flicker of recognition lining his expression. The tiny etchings of ancient angelic symbols swirling around the metal blade.
Clarence can feel its energy from where he’s sitting in the armchair, it’s that powerful.
“Tessa’s blade…” Will drawls under his breath.
Reaching out his hand to hold the weapon, they all hear the unusual sizzling sound. Clarence’s eyes widen as Will pulls his fingers back quickly, holding them with his other hand as he winces in pain. “Ow. Well, I guess it’s chosen its owner already.” He chuckles a painful laugh before blowing on the patches of red skin on his palm.
Kora gives a nervous giggle before placing the blade down on the table beside the teacups. “I am so sorry, Will. I had no idea it could do that. I has not burned me. I wonder why you did?”
“It’s fine. Some weapons only allow their chosen owners to touch them. It keeps them safe against other creatures. But this blade, I would keep it close to you, Kora, if I were you.”
Clarence stares at Will. Green eyes narrowing slightly as he watches their uncle laughing, his smile not reaching his eyes. Clarence swallows away the thought that something else might be at play here.
“I shall run it under some cold water.” Will announces, standing from the lounge .
Kora follows after him with cheeks pinking from embarrassment. “I’ll help you.”
“So, you said that you found that in your attic?” Will questions her as they exit the parlour together.
Clarence continues to sit on the armchair, his eyes focused on the golden blade sitting still beside the pot of tea. Angelic energy still coursing through it, illuminating the edge like sunlight.
Reaching over curiously, he runs the tips of his fingers along the sharp edge of the smooth blade. The familiar sensation runs through him. It’s the same energy he feels every time he holds an angelic weapon, the power tingling his senses, igniting his angelic blood. It’s powerful, more powerful than his own blade.
Pulling his hand away, he observes his fingertips.
No marks. Nothing.
Clarence’s chin lifts as he follows their voices nearing the kitchen, his sceptical mind wondering how Will was burnt from the blade and not either of them.