Chapter 6 Nimble Deceit #2
The lie rolls off my tongue so easily, it’s almost frightening, but thankfully, my voice stays steady.
It must be my survival instinct that kicks in.
This person, this human being with his cursed Aurum, has suddenly become the biggest threat to my life and my loved ones.
I hold his gaze and tilt my chin, challenging him back.
I steel myself and feel my posture harden like armor as I stare at him.
I hope my resolve functions as an indirect threat to ground him slightly.
My shadows pounce on my skin, and out of nowhere, Hako jumps on the bar, hissing at Fynn, his shadows merging with mine, his sharp teeth snapping at him.
Fynn cocks his head, then begins to laugh, his shoulders slumping. The sudden change in his demeanor breaks the deadly tension.
“You have no idea how happy I am to hear that. Shit. I let that fucking dhampir get into my head, I’m so sorry, Caria. It’s just… First Faas, then Lucian, both of them told me you should know about Aurum. So, I could only conclude that you’d lied to me, but now I get it. Fuck, I’m so relieved.”
It's as if a dark veil lifts from his eyes; his light gray eyes are once again cheerful and loving. Yet, despite the change in his attitude, there’s something fatal in the way he glances at me.
It must be the curse influencing his mood swings, making him mercurial, which is a dangerous problem.
He tried to burn me because I didn’t give him what he wanted, and he only stopped when I gave in.
Reiner will wish to kill Fynn, and I can’t even condemn him for it.
Part of me wonders if we can even still stop him.
My smile fades as I reach for Fynn's hand, our fingers weaving together. “I’m sorry they filled your head with those lies. I get why you're confused, and I’m glad you came to me to discuss it first.”
I pretend to ignore the fact that he literally cornered me by using his sickening magic on me, leaving me no choice but to cave in.
“Of course, you know I’ll always come to you first.” He gives me a sheepish smile.
“So, you and Faas, huh… I’m not sure if I like that, to be honest,” I say to him.
“I understand that, but I believe he can help me with all of this and understand what’s happening. No one else seems to have the answers, except for him.”
“Also, you and Hako, that was pretty amazing, and a little terrifying when he opened that big maw of his with those rows of sharp teeth,” Fynn chuckles, shifting the conversation.
Hako is still close to me, no longer intertwined with my shadows, but he doesn’t lose sight of Fynn.
His lips remain curled up, revealing the multiple rows of teeth, and his tail lashes from side to side in agitation.
My little shadow beast has never trusted Fynn since the beginning.
Humans are anything but his favorite species, except when he’s hungry—then he especially favors their livers and ribs.
“If shadow beasts want to, they can fuse themselves with their chosen ones. In my case, as I wield shadows, Hako can merge himself with them. A shield sort of.”
Fynn gulps down the remains of his cup and puts it on the bar.
He gives me another grin, the boyish grin, the one I’m familiar with.
It’s almost as if the curse has burdened him with two personalities.
It appears the barbaric, bloodthirsty one fights for the upper hand, and he doesn’t even realize it.
I watch him leave through the door to his new best friend, it seems: the dhampir, Faas.
A development I’m anything but happy about.
This time, I lied my way out of it; however, I have no idea what other things this monstrosity will feed Fynn.
I need to find a way to keep him connected to me and maintain his special interest.
Hako purrs as he headbutts me, and I gently caress his large, smoky ears, his black whiskers trembling with delight.
“I might be in serious shit,” I whisper to my shadow beast, who nudges his nose against mine.
For the rest of the day, I am in a state of simmering dread.
Being constantly on edge, I nearly jump out of my skin every time the door opens, the sounds too loud.
With each dark figure that enters, the hairs on my neck prick up.
I’m convinced Faas will take advantage of Fynn’s split personalities, especially his tempestuous side, which he seems to share with his twin sister.
Even if Faas isn’t aware yet that Fynn struggles with his unpredictable and volatile mood swings, where his vicious side often takes over, he’ll catch on soon enough.
Still, I have no idea what Faas wants from me, and I don't want to discover what the dhampir desires.
His interest in Fynn is already a hurdle, making it more challenging to keep him on my side.
I almost choke on my sip of tea when both of them enter the establishment.
Within minutes, the space is empty; everyone flees at the sight of the creature standing in the middle of the room.
Tall and broad, with those unnatural green eyes that lack a flicker of a soul.
Fynn, standing right next to him, is slightly shorter but still tall, with wide shoulders as well.
His light gray eyes cut right through you, and his hair is raven black—the male equivalent of his twin sister.
Both are strangely beautiful in their own ruinous way. If only one does not seek my death, and the other hesitates to condemn.
Within a few minutes, Reiner arrives, panting from the rush to get to me, keeping his promise that I will never face this freak by myself again. He ignores both of them, passing them by to take up a position in front of me.
Fynn watches Reiner like a hawk.
“Come on, Caria. I brought a friend here, and your… whatever he is, is acting like we’re here to hurt you…” Fynn says, his tone almost sad.
“It’s not you I’m worried about, Fynn… But your friend… Our last altercation wasn’t exactly friendly,” I say.
I keep my eye on the dhampir, who starts to snicker. Everything’s just a game to this bastard, and I bet it was his idea to come here, to entice me.
“Oh, youngling, let bygones be bygones. Fynn and I are here to get a drink and catch up. This place seems to be the only one where someone is still standing when I enter who can actually fetch me a drink.”
Again, that nasty chuckle.
“Now, will you take our orders? It’s not like you’re busy anymore. Or would you prefer that I shout at you?” the dhampir continues, and I notice Fynn smirks.
Reluctantly, I shuffle to their table and take their damn orders. I refuse to acknowledge Fynn, loathing that he brought this bastard along. He knows I am afraid of the creature, yet he chooses to do it anyway, as if he, too, is toying with me.
Reiner stays nearby, and I feel the furious energy radiating off of him.
“Darling, you’re back!”
Hearing her voice makes me queasy, but catching her scent makes my skin prickle with unease.
She smells like magic—the wrong kind. I pretend like none of this is a big deal, but in reality, Reiner and I are trapped with beings that have the potential to rip us apart and burn us to the ground, and they wouldn’t break a sweat doing it.
A cold ripple slides down my spine. I do my best to keep the tremble in my voice at bay and my hands steady.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Jodelle closing in on me, and reaching with those fidgety little fingers of hers, and I jerk away.
The last thing I need is those hands of hers on my skin.
She can test her newfound magic on someone else, but it won’t be me.
Reiner pushes me behind him as he glowers at her.
“Don’t you fucking touch me, you bitch,” I snarl.
She lets out a childish giggle. “How delightful, to have a powerful witch like yourself cower for me.”
I want to wipe the smirk off her face, but Reiner wraps his fingers around my wrist.
With a sudden burst of motion, Fynn leaps out of his chair, strides over to Jodelle, and backhands her across the face.
Blood flies through the air, splattering onto the wooden floor beside her as she falls down.
Stunned, she stares up at him through a haze of tears, her hand pressed tightly over her throbbing cheek, which has already begun to swell.
Faas appears unaffected by the sudden violent outburst, watching the scene unfold before him with a detached air; maybe he’s grown accustomed to Fynn’s fickle behavior.
Reiner and I are both astonished, and he pulls me behind the bar, as if the wooden construction can protect me from Fynn’s violent acts.
“How many times do I have to tell you to leave Caria alone?”
Fynn drops to one knee and grabs Jodelle’s chin, squeezing her cheeks together as she whimpers in fear.
“Why is it so hard for you to understand? To listen to me when I tell you something. Are you that stupid?”
“Stop, Fynn, please, you’re hurting me, this isn’t like you. Stop,” she begs, but her pleas fall on deaf men’s ears.
Once again, he hits her, and more blood flows from her mouth as her lips split.
Tears stream down her face. Jodelle attempts to pull away, but Fynn grabs her arm, which is still bruised from the previous times he grabbed her too hard.
Only now do I notice the purple and yellow hues that dance across her skin.
Part of me feels sorry for what she has to endure, but it’s none of my concern.
“Next time you try something funny like that, I won’t be so kind to you. Understood?”
Jodelle nods. Fynn shakes her violently. “Understood?! Use your damn words!” he screams at her, and she cries back. “Yes!”
He gets up, drags her up as well, then pushes Jodelle to the stairs, and she tumbles forward.
“Get back into that damn room and don’t show your face unless I tell you to.”
Without saying a word, she sniffs and follows his orders. Fynn returns to his seat and plops down. He picks up his drink and takes a big gulp.
“I told you, it would all be fine,” he tells me.
His eyes kind again, not a trace of the violent man I just saw in action. I blink at him, then give him a pursed smile, unsure what else to do. I still need him on my side.
“Besides, if anyone is going to experience my wrath first, it’s going to be my dear sister. That’s why Faas and I are here, to discuss a strategy.”
“You’re going to fight against the Umbra?” Reiner asks, stunned.
Faas looks at him as if he’s stupid.
“Of course not, I don’t have a death wish. This young man, however, seems to be convinced he stands a chance. Who am I to tell him no? Well… I tried, but he’s quite stubborn. Seems to be a family trait, given his sister’s situation.” The dhampir chuckles.
I glance quickly at Reiner, unable to believe Fynn wants to take on the Umbra. I almost want to smile at the idea of that monstrosity gone, but then realize, if he’s powerful enough to take down the Umbra… It means I have to be very careful.
I take in Faas, who sits there, a faint tug at the corners of his mouth as he listens to Fynn, who explains to him in detail how he wants to do all of this. I wonder what the dhampir wants from Fynn if he’s not going to partake in the supposed fight against the Umbra.