Chapter 5 #2
“So, the Order of Ereshkygall, huh? What’s your deal? And what do you want with me exactly? I’ve leveled up from prisoner to guest of honor unexpectedly fast.”
“We want nothing from you, vampire. Our business is with your King. You’re just our ticket into Wrahta,” the male responds without missing a beat.
“Now, now, Soren, play nice,” Sariah quips, downing her drink. She places a hand on his shoulder, squeezing lightly.
“You’ll have to excuse my brother, Blaise. He’s quite fond of his things, and doesn’t take it lightly when someone tarnishes them.” She stares pointedly at my dirty boots.
“Or when they try to kidnap my sister,” he gruffly adds.
“My methods might lack a certain finesse, but my heart was in the right place. I was just fulfilling Aimee’s request. She seems to be under the impression that you need protection, and wanted me to bring you to Wrahta.”
“How is she?” Sariah asks in a soft voice that has nothing to do with the leader of a hidden order of warriors, and everything to do with a concerned friend. I regard her quivering lips and the way her shoulders slump slightly.
“She’s the badass prophesied savior of this realm. A little shaken, but she’ll be fine.”
“How did her powers manifest?”
“Oh, in a total shitshow of a standoff against your new Queen,” I answer between gritted teeth.
“She is not our Queen,” Soren answers sharply.
“Fine, let’s stop tiptoeing around the huge metaphorical creature with tusks in the room. If you are keepers of the prophecy, and you knew Aimee is the Foretold One, why didn’t you say anything? Why didn’t you warn her about her sister? Why didn’t you warn us about Morweena’s real identity?”
“Morweena?” both brother and sister ask at the same time.
“The wretched creature infecting vampires for years now. The blight spreading over Wrahta. Fucking Aurora Vaureghain?”
“What are you talking about?”
Sariah’s eyes widen just a fraction, and she sits straighter on the desk, as if she’s on alert.
“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” I ask, pulling on the roots of my hair in agitation. “Didn’t you just say you’re these all-knowing keepers of the prophecy? Looks like you know shit to me.”
“It’s not that straightforward,” Soren answers in a clipped voice.
I cock my head to the side, scanning the siblings for any signs of deception.
Sariah looks puzzled, a cute frown forming between her eyebrows.
Her breath is steady, her pulse is not elevated, and her starlight-infused blood flows unhurriedly in her veins.
Her brother is more stoic; his face is a mask of quiet fortitude and resilience.
They’re either telling the truth or extremely skilled liars. I don’t know which one worries me more.
“How is it, then, exactly? Enlighten me.”
“We’re bound by a blood oath taken by our ancestors to keep vigil until the emergence of the Foretold One.
To stand watch and let nature run its course,” Sariah says as she unfolds herself from the tabletop.
She glances at her fingertips, which glow brighter in the dark room.
“We’re able to talk about it now with you because her powers have awakened, and so have ours, fully. ”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m a Light Fae, as you can see. But my powers were muted, just like those of generations of Dark Umbras before me.
It was a sacrifice our ancestors agreed to.
To subdue our magic until she emerged. A way of knowing that the real Foretold One had finally arrived.
I could conjure up pretty displays of light, but that was about it.
That’s how we knew Aurora was not the prophesied savior.
Our powers remained restrained until about two weeks ago. ”
“And now?”
“Let’s just say, now I could incinerate you from the inside out in the blink of an eye,” she says with a knowing smirk.
“Uh, kinky,” I retort while a pleasurable shudder makes my spine tingle. “What about him?”
“I could drown you in your own blood,” Soren answers gravely. “I control water, and by extension, all liquids.”
“Duly noted,” I say, returning my gaze from impassive Soren back to his beguiling sister. I’ll have to remind myself constantly not to enrage this male. Drowning in my own blood is not something I would like to experience in this eternal lifetime.
“So let me get this straight. Your bloodline is magically connected to Aimee, and you’ve been waiting for her for how long?”
“My brother and I for about two hundred years. But our ancestors since it all began.”
“You mean since the prophecy emerged?”
They both nod at once.
“And how is the Fae Goddess of Death connected to all of this?”
“We’re still bound by the sacred oath to disclose certain information directly to those who need to know it,” Soren says. “And that’s not you, vampire.”
“Killian and Aimee, I presume.”
They nod again.
“Why did you call Aurora by another name?” Sariah asks, as if remembering my previous comment.
“Because Aurora Vaureghain is Morweena, a sinister sorceress we’ve been fighting over in Wrahta for years now.
A demon spawn who can infect our vampire minds via touch and steal all trace of free will.
Vampires have been turning into her mindless puppets for the last seven years, and she’s amassed quite an army of onpyrs, as she calls the wretched creatures.
An army that now must be at Noahlin’s disposal too. ”
“And you never realized Morweena was the same as the presumed Foretold One that you were looking for?” Soren asks, intrigued.
“They don’t look the same, obviously.” I roll my eyes at him just because I can, and he snorts in disdain.
“Morweena is a thing of pure nightmares with her red, tangled mane, papery white skin and milky, soulless eyes.” I shudder at the memory of the wretched enchantress floating menacingly in the ballroom of Sangeries.
“She’s a nightmare come to life, and she’s batshit crazy. Obsessed with Killian for some reason.”
Sariah’s breath seems stuck in her throat, her pulse fluttering madly in her neck as she whispers “Arwan” at the same time as her brother.
“Ar-who?”
“Doesn’t matter right now. But it’s imperative we talk with your King and Aimee as fast as possible,” Soren says, his pupils blown in what looks a hell lot like terror.
“Then let’s go. I’m dying to know what the big secret is, so the faster we get to Sangeries, the better.”
“Not so fast, vampire. We can’t leave just like that. The Dark Umbras need safe passage to Wrahta. All our people, not just us. We’ve been calling our members from all around the kingdom since the awakening, but we’re not all yet gathered here.”
“And how many of you are there?”
“Thousands,” Sariah answers proudly. “Thousands upon thousands of Fae warriors infiltrated in all social strata of this kingdom. From warriors to lady maids and courtesans, Dark Umbras that see past the Fae deception and know the Royal family’s secrets.
But most importantly, trained soldiers who are ready to join the right side of this brewing war. Your side.”
Even I can’t argue against that. We need all the allies we can get in this all-encompassing conflict.
I know Killian’s been brokering a deal with the humans, but that might not be enough.
If this super-secret Fae society is ready to join our cause, it’s my duty to make sure they reach Sangeries safely.
If by doing so, I also get into a certain pixie Fae’s good graces, and panties, well, let’s just say I absolutely wouldn’t be opposed to that.
“The only problem I see here is crossing the border. Once in Wrahta, there will be no risks for your people. But we can’t just cross with thousands of deserter Faes all at once.
It will alert the Royals and speed up the looming confrontation.
We still don’t know what Morweena’s plan is.
We’ve been expecting an attack since we found out about the royal wedding, but it’s all been suspiciously quiet. Conveniently so.”
“What do you propose then?” Sariah asks.
“I’ll alert my spies on the other side. Start sending people in, inconspicuously.
Small groups that can cross undetected. Disguised as merchants, whores, Faes looking for a quick vampiric fuck, you know, the usual motley variety that wanders into our kingdom.
They can all gather in Bradvva, a few hours from the border.
We’ll cross with them. But you shouldn’t pull all your spies from this kingdom.
If you have eyes and ears inside the royal court, that’s exactly what we need to find out what their plans are. ”
“No,” Soren answers immediately. “I won’t leave my people behind. Sariah, you go with him and the first group. Don’t stop until Sangeries. I’ll stay behind and make sure the others cross safely and come with the last group.”
“Then we split and go ahead. I’ll make sure we reach the castle as fast as we can,” I say.
“Sounds like a plan, pretty boy,” Sariah answers. “Look at you; you might not be so incompetent after all.”
I burst out laughing whole-heartedly.
“Oh, moonlight, you just say the word, and I’ll show you just how competent I can be,” I say, wiggling my eyebrows lewdly.
A protective growl comes from Soren’s throat, and the murderous look he’s throwing me is nothing but telling.
“Right, I’ll go prepare the voyage before your guard dog of a brother here drowns me in my blood.”
Sariah’s demure giggle brings to the surface another wave of pleasurable tingles in my body.
I’m probably screwed, aren’t I?