Chapter 23
Is this…love?
LANIAS
“Ihaven’t seen you since I left you at the altar.”
Lanias didn’t turn around. “I had to think over something, but we both know you already knew I would.” She spoke while turning her head to look at Roni who came to stand beside her. “I guess I should thank you for making this easy.”
“Why would it need to be hard? Those in Veil City, place too much significance in their class system. Everything cost something.”
“It’s how they survive,” she said, facing forward.
Her eyes on the small pond a few feet away.
She’d discovered it after she’d come down for breakfast. When she’d awoke to find Alek was already gone, she panicked.
Her first thought was to go look for him but then she remembered that he’d gone back to his home to check on his kids.
Lanias could count on one hand the number of times she’d ever felt frantic over someone else, even those people on that list were family.
Her unsurety about her own feelings with regard to Alek, had pushed her to go below and eat breakfast. She swore the people Roni had mentioned working were like ghosts, she’d caught not one sight of them.
But at least the food had been to her liking.
The breakfast had been served buffet style, she’d filled her plate with fruits, sausage and eggs.
She hadn’t realized how hungry she was till after she’d taken her first bite.
It must’ve have been all the sex. She had to figure out why none of what he did made her uncomfortable or bothered.
Was this what relationships felt like, or love?
The minute she asked herself that question she mentally cringed away from that conclusion. She and Alek, did they need a title. He called her his Queen, but he wasn’t seriously talking about claiming her as such. Lanias was finding she wasn’t interested in being anyone’s leader again.
Yet, from the look in his eyes when she’d disappeared, he’d been serious.
“Where’s your Vampire?” Roni’s question pulled her to the present.
“He had to return home, to check on his children,” she answered honestly.
“Not many can come and go from here as they please. Your Vampire must be very powerful.”
She turned around. “We both share the same trait of getting into places we shouldn’t be able to.”
“You share that with the kids here.” Roni chuckled as he glanced at her. “Would you like the meet them?”
Lanias laughed, “I knew you’d offer that at some point.”
“Well, I assumed you’d be interested in meeting those who are like you.” He explained, his eyes turning greener than blue. “They are interested in you.”
“Why? It’s not like I’m planning to stay.” She sighed, her brow creasing. “Should they get to know a stranger who’s only passing through. I only wanted to learn about my past and now I know it. I didn’t want anything else.” Lanias hated that she sounded almost upset.
“And where is it you plan to return to?” Roni asked thoughtfully.
“I honestly don’t know.” She scoffed and squinted at the pond’s surface. “Maybe I’ll focus on how to use this gift Eris gave me.”
She still couldn’t bring herself to call him father.
“I have some annoying stalkers who are interested in returning to their home,” she added.
“We can teach you all of that here,” Roni confessed.
Hearing this, made her pause. “Can you really?”
He nodded. “I will be honest with you; this land and Mansion are on the opposite side of a reflection.” He stretched his arm forward as white and orange lights rippled from his arm and hit the surface of the pond.
The water shuddered before rising into the air and circling into a mirror.
Lanias watched as the surface hardened, she could now see that where she was standing was a man cutting the grass.
He stopped midway, to rub a hand against his brow.
“It’s how we’ve remained in hiding for so long, it’s spell work from your mother,” he explained.
“She could develop delicate charm work and hexes, and we would provide her with the power. She made this world, although affected by the other side, it is only in small ways. So, when breakfast is cooked on the other side, it appears on this side. The same with the care and repairs.”
Lanias watched the man on the other side of the mirror stop his grass cutter to get a glass of water from what looked to be the housekeeper.
Lanias whistled. “I’m impressed.”
“So, if you wished to stay here for however long. We would welcome you here,” he said, letting the water fall back down. “I would appreciate having assistance in protecting the children here.” His expression changed to something dark. “it’s been lonely and difficult to do this alone.”
She laughed, “If you knew me well, you wouldn’t want me to help you.
I was never one to teach moderation; I would prefer teaching them how to use their magic to their advantage.
It is needed within the world they wish to exist. Both in the Veil and the Mortal world.
One should use every weapon at their disposal to survive. ”
“Then teach them how to survive.”
She looked at him, to see he was being serious. “You’re sincerely offering me a job here?”
He nodded. “Think it over.” With that, he walked away.
She watched him go before she returned to contemplating the water. “Stay here?” Honestly, where else could she go? In her minds’ eyes, she saw Sabina.
Sighing, she shook her head.
Malcolm would kill her if she showed up without a word of warning. Unfortunately the Unseelie would remain a constant shadow, until she had overcome them once and for all sending them back.
Was it wrong for her to want to take some time off?
A small break wouldn’t be bad.
But then what if it lasted more than a few years? It would be nothing in comparison to the time she’d spent on the Nerium.
“Developing Half-Breeds so that they could survive in the real world?”
She had made a promised Fabian that she’d help him anyway.
Contemplating this she turned around only to stop short at the angry eyes of Alek. “Ah, you’re back already.”
He didn’t answer, instead he glared at her. “You’re not thinking of taking his offer, are you?”
She was startled at his sudden question.
“How long were you here listening,” she asked.
“From the moment he made his offer,” he approached her wearing a grey suit looking handsome as usual. Lanias found his anger made it hard focus on that. “You can’t take it; we have a deal.”
“A deal that said you’d protect me while I looked for a person,” she said keeping her voice calm. “I’ve found them.”
“I told you; it isn’t that simple Lanias,” he bit her name out. “There is no need for you to take his offer,” he reached out to take her hand. “You’re returning with me.”
She pulled her hand back. “Wait, Alek. Listen to me, he’s offering me a chance to learn how to use my gift. It’s a chance to learn more about opening gates and—”
“How can he help you, when you’re a Witch? Surely there are others who can do it.” He demanded; he shook his head. “I watched you die. And there was nothing I could do to stop it. Nothing.” He nearly yelled. “And you wish for us to be apart again? No. Lanias, come.”
“I’m not—” she whispered, tightening her hands into fists at her side. She averted her gaze from his.
He paused looking down at her, something nagging at the back of his mind. But he desperately ran from it. For the first time in his life Alek ran away from facing the truth. He walked forward and wrapped her in his arms. “Forget about it. Forget about everything. Just, please. Come with me.”
“I’m half-Surrem.”
The words slipped from her lips like poison.
“No, you’re not,” he yelled, holding both her shoulders. His expression twisted in pain. “Please, just stop,” he implored.
Those midnight eyes investigated his as the words continued to spill from her lips. He wanted to cover her mouth and make them stop but she was a realist.
“My mother was Anais, a priestess who fell in love with a Surrem. The Surrem she fell for was—”
“No.”
“Eris.”
“Stop!”
He pushed away from her giving her his back.
“My father is the man you want dead.” She forced out.
He grabbed his head.
“Why!” he roared.
Alek whipped around and pounced on her. His hands hovered over her throat and shook with emotion as he stared into her eyes.
“Why did you not lie to me?” He demanded vehemently.
“You know why,” she said. “I wanted to. I thought, it would be nothing to keep hiding it. But I’m tired of hiding the truth.
Especially when it comes to you.” Her lashes fluttered, as she lifted her hands grabbing his wrist. “I don’t know what makes you different, dammit.
I survived for thirty years by doing anything to get what I wanted.
Knocking down obstacles one after another.
” She pressed his trembling hands to her throat.
“I’ll gladly take the punishment for my father’s actions,” this was the first time she called Eris by his title aloud. “I know it won’t bring back your wife or your kingdom.” As her lips trembled, “This is all I can do. I’m sorry.”
Alek stared at her, gaze filled with numb shock and anger.
“No, I don’t want your life,” he said, pulling his hands out of her hold. “I need time to think.”
“Alek, wait—” He turned away from her, disappearing before she could stop him.
Lanias stared at the place where Alek had stood. She felt numb with loneliness, her body suddenly feeling empty and cold. Her hands were held out, but there was no one there to take them.
Next was the memory of his cold eyes. She shivered, pulling her hands to her chest.
“I may lose a few people, but that’s it.”
“But isn’t that what you fear the most?”
Her own words returned to haunt her. She laughed but there was no real humor in it.
“I’m used to fighting alone,” she muttered aloud.
And to the question of whether Alek was important to her.
The answer to that was obviously, yes.
BATMAN BUILDING
“Why is it taking so long for you to rid this plane of the volatile blood?”
Icarus stood on the edge of the building, watching the humans the same way humans watched ants. “I’ve been distracted by my battle with Eris. The plane had made him weak, but he still presented a great challenge to kill.”
“The Being and Surrem I sent failed to capture the key.” The one speaking stepped closer. Their bald head was covered with black tattoos. The orange eyes of the creature who’d spoken dimmed, this speaker was a Fallen.
“You boasted your ability to regain it,” Icarus said, turning around to face him. “Was that boast a lie?”
The other Fallen flinched. “I can only do so much with this body you gave me.” He whimpered, a sly look entering his eyes. “If you were to give me a proper shell, I could better deal with the pest for you.”
“You are a Fallen One, you deserve the shell you’re in now. Your only value accrued because you told us of Eris’ crimes. You have yet to be forgiven for your own sins.” Icarus warned. It’s eyes brightening, “How dare you believe yourself worthy of such a blessing.”
Zaharis sneered, his appearance completely altered from the creature who’d previously been nearly destroyed by Lanias.
He’d been lucky that the True Ones hadn’t attempted to kill him on site.
Instead, they’d been more interested in the news of a Witch who could open the gate between planes.
His brother’s poor attempt at hiding the key from him.
He should have killed both mother and daughter all those years ago. “I only wish to assist my betters.”
“Assist me by finding out just who has the ability to kill a Surrem,” Icarus commanded arrogantly before turning away and disappearing into the fog that encircled the top of the building.
“I will call Lrik, Slo and two more to meet this threat. Make sure you find the Key; we must have it to return.”
Return. Zahiris snorted.
He would first kill her, and then he’d use the key for his own machinations.
The True Ones were blinded by their arrogance, and he’d use it against them to make them pay for this humiliation.
And once he was done with that, he’d play games with his niece. He grinned, exposing his empty black mouth. Just as empty as his soul.