Black Dawn (8 page)

“
Do you really think you’ll leave her?”

“
I told you. Stay out of my head!”

Cyrus smiled reassuringly. “Okay, I give you my word. I know how deeply you care for Dar. It would just be nice if you could admit it to yourself. Come, meet King
Zurion
. We shall discuss with him the problems of the human realm.” With that, he turned on his heel and walked away.

“
Great.
Just great.”

“
Come on man, it
ain’t
all that bad.
”

“
You don’t know Lucas. You just don’t know.” Dane looked at the palace and behind him. “This place brings back some kind of familiar feeling to me. Somehow it feels like I’m supposed to be here, almost like I belong.”

Lucas squinted. “You sure you never been here before?”

“
No, never at least, I don’t think so.”

Dane looked behind them. The portal was no longer open. In its place
were a thick thatch
of woods. Two nymphs emerged, laughing and giggling. They acknowledged Dane and Lucas as they passed by.

Dane shook his head as he rushed to catch up with Cyrus. To him, this was one wacky realm and he wondered if he’d ever have the strength to return to his own world.

An unsettled feeling crossed him as he took his time approaching the palace. There were decisions to be made. With a short sigh, he reminisced about his past flings with members of the opposite sex.

The thought left a sour taste in his mouth, and loneliness seeped into his heart. Those times were long gone and the thought of ever being with another was enough to make him celibate for the rest of his existence.

Dar was the one for him, there was no denying it. But, would she be enough for him to settle down in a place such as this?

Chapter Nine

Dane and Lucas watched while King
Zurion
paced the floor several times. He’d stand his ground and would not be bullied by a man in long flowing robes that resembled Merlin.

“
So,”
Zurion
said in
a calm
, refreshing breath. “You wish to join us?” He smiled as he stroked his beard.

“
No. I wish to return to my world. I’m only here for Dar.” To his left, Cyrus cleared his throat while casting him a steely gaze. “As I said before, I won’t be bullied into staying here. I will speak candidly and refuse to hold my tongue for anyone.”

“
Say what is on your mind.”
Zurion
told him. “But, I shall ask why you insist on being so war-like?”

“
The rules here in this world make my fangs itch, to be honest with you.” Loud gasps emerged from the room. Guards frowned, while others smiled and whispered to one another.

“
You’re being disrespectful,” Cyrus warned. “Do not offend the king.”

Dane rose and faced the crowd. “Why hasn’t anyone ever spoken up for what they believe in? This is the thing that pisses me off the most! It’s beautiful here, but I absolutely refuse to stay in a world where I don’t have the freedom to come and go as I please or speak up for myself. Dar and
Zari
were almost killed when they went into the human realm. Even though there were unknown dangers, they made the choice to go. I think everyone should make their decision for themselves and not be governed by a king. ” He glanced at Cyrus, then at the king. “Is anyone happy here?”

“
Young man, do you know I can have you arrested, on the spot?”
Zurion
warned.

“
Of course I do, that’s why we’ll be leaving soon.” He glanced at Lucas. “Right, Lucas?”

“
Yes, of course. I’ve got no ties to this place,” the vampire admitted before scratching his head.

“
There’s no way you can talk any sense into them.” Thom stepped forward, stopping in front of Dane.

“
What gives, man?” Dane asked. There was something oddly familiar about the man with the dark hair. He’d never taken notice until now. Familiar blue eyes sliced through the depths of Dane’s lonely soul.

Thom smiled. “You don’t remember me, do you?”

“
No, should I?” Dane leered at the man who stood just a hair shorter than he.

“
You’ve been out of touch with your
fae
origins far too long,” Thom said with an easy smile. “Haven’t you ever longed to be with your own?”

“
I consider myself a vampire, not
fae
.”

“
I’m sure your mother, Holly, would disagree if she were still alive. You’ll fit in around here. You’ll be welcomed. Don’t you get tired of the constant danger in the human realm?”

“
How the hell do you know my mother’s name?” Dane grabbed Thom by the collar. “Who the hell
are
you?”

Several guards rushed to Thom’s aid, but he held up a hand. “No, stand down,” he insisted. “He won’t harm me.”

“
Don’t be too sure of that!” Dane gripped Thom around the collar tightly.
 
“You know nothing about me!” He sneered as his fangs descended. “You’d better tell me how you know my mother’s name!”

“
Let me go, nephew.”

Disbelief and shock shook Dane to his core. He studied Thom carefully. The man’s eyes held sadness, something he could identify with. “You’ve been here before, long ago, when you were just a lad.” Gently Thom unclamped Dane’s hands from his shirt collar.

“
Hey man.” Lucas rose and walked over to him. “You okay? That’s a lot to swallow.”

“
Don’t touch me!” Dane barked. Ignoring the myriad of gasps and whisperings in the room, he blinked several times. His mother had brought him here, long ago. Vivid images came back briefly. “Why can’t I remember?”

“
Holly met you and Colin’s father, Liam. It was forbidden for vampire and
fae
to be together, so she chose to live in the human realm. She broke all the rules, said she loved him.” Thom’s eyes grew emotionless. “We all believed he loved her until he murdered her.”

“
Yeah, for her magic.”
Dane choked back tears. He wouldn’t lose himself, not in front of these strangers. That explained why this place was so familiar to him. Still one thing puzzled him.

“
How the hell did I end up in the human realm?”

“
You mean, you don’t know that either?” Lucas chimed in.

“
Everything’s a blank. I remember mom holding me as a child, then nothing. My earliest memory was when I was a child.”

“
My wife and I raised you.” He turned to King
Zurion
. “Since vampires weren’t allowed in our world we had to give you up. We kept you as long as we could. You wouldn’t have survived here, so we did what we had to do to ensure you’d survive.”

“
You left me to fend for myself in the human realm. Yeah, I got it now.” Dane sneered. Painful memories came shooting back. He’d been shunned by full-blooded vampires, with the exception of very few in the human world. He could identify with some, that’s why he remained.

“
Come on Dane, we don’t need to be here anymore. As far as I’m concerned, these people aren’t really a part of you. If it wasn’t for the fucked up way
Zurion
rules
everything, that
would have never happened.”

“
That’s not true.” Thom shook his head.

“
No?” Dane bit his lip. “I say you need to make a change. Live and let live. What happens if another
fae
and vampire have a child? Will you abandon them and leave them to fend for themselves in a cruel world?”

“
I’m so sorry,” Thom admitted.

“
It’s time for us to go.” Lucas put a hand on Dane’s shoulder.

“
After I speak to Dar, we’ll leave.” He continued staring into Thom’s eyes. “You owe me. Tell me everything about my mother.”

“
I shall.” Thom nodded.

“
My King.”
Cyrus rose and bowed before his ruler. “I ask that you reconsider closing the portal, while granting those who choose to venture to other realms to do so. What will happen if other generations are forbidden to exercise their free will? While I understand why, I’ve witnessed the flaws. I cannot begin to imagine the life Dane has led simply because of a group of vampires who choose to decimate the human realm. Look at his friend, Lucas. I feel in my heart that some vampires can be trusted. Also, there are many other realms that can be explored and are safe from vicious vampire attacks.”

Zurion
stroked his beard and glared into the crowd. “This is a tragedy indeed and I am very sorry. Holly was a beautiful young woman. Her demise was a loss to the entire realm. I will not allow the portal to be open all the time. However, those who choose to cross over must take it up with me, beforehand. I am sorry, but there are other threats. It is possible that we can be erased from existence, and as a King, I cannot allow that to happen.”

Cyrus bowed.
“Very well.”

“
I hereby dismiss everyone. A new law shall be put into effect.
For here on out, I’d like to have everyone’s opinion on all matters affecting our realm.”
With that, the king turned and left the room.

“
Now that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Lucas patted Dane on the back. “C’mon man, snap out of it. What happened with your mother and all, I’m sorry but we need to move on.”

“
I know we do.”

“
So,
whatcha
gonna
do?”

Dane held his head down and stared at the stone floor. “I need to talk to Dar.
Now.”
He looked over at Cyrus. “How is she?”

“
She’s still out of it.” Cyrus admitted. “I’ll check on her.
Zari
should be awake too.” Without another word, he exited the chambers, leaving Lucas and Dane to themselves. “Meet her in the garden.”

Chapter Ten

“Dar!
Wake up!”
 
The female voice that sounded a lot like
Zari’s
drilled through her skull. She opened her eyes quickly and shut them. She wasn’t accustomed to the bright light.

“
Dar!”
A baritone voice ripped through her psyche and she felt someone shaking her. When she didn’t move, a large hand repeatedly tapped her on the cheek.

“
Stop it!” She cried out as the person began to shake her.

Her father was slapping the cowboy hell out of her and she’d
became
irritated. To defend herself, she blasted him with a bright light. Groaning, she rolled over to her side. “Where am I?” She groaned as she opened her eyes.

“
Dammit
, Dar!”
Cyrus was being helped off the floor by
Zari
. “Have you lost your mind child? First you lock me in bubble, which you will definitely pay for,
then
you use your powers on me?”

“
Sorry! It was just a reflex action!” she grated out. Irritated, she sat up. Was she dreaming? She just had to be. She looked around in terror. “I’m
back
home?”

“
Relax honey,”
Zari
sat down on the bed next to her. “We’re safe now. No one can harm us anymore.”

Dar glanced at
Zari
and then at her father. “Wait a minute. What the hell happened?” She stared at her sister before pushing her away slightly. “You were ready to kill me! You and that asinine freak, Colin! What the hell,
Zari
!”

Her sister lowered her head in apparent shame. “I’m sorry! In my defense, I was under his influence!”

“
Unacceptable!” Emotions came flooding back and she was relieved and angry all in one setting. At least
Zari
was back to her normal self, but something was missing.

“
What happened to Dane? The last thing I remember was a whole lot of commotion in the hallway.”

Cyrus narrowed his eyes and chastised both his daughters for their actions. “You girls are in a lot of trouble,” he warned. “Two vampires have been contained.”

“
What?” Panic struck Dar hard. “Why is he being held? He didn’t do
anything,
and what about Lucas? Father, King
Zurion
will destroy them!”

“
Father, please.”
Zari
spoke softly. “You don’t understand—
”

“
No! You both listen to me.
“ Cyrus
rose and paced the floors, clenching his fists by his side. “You’ve put me in a most difficult situation.” He turned to face and point at Dar. “You will be punished by me for locking me away to sneak off to a world that could have destroyed you!”

“
And you! How could you? I forbade you to visit the human realm.”

Zari
held her head down in shame. “I’m sorry, Father. It’s just that
—
”

“
What? Cyrus ordered.

“
You never listen, nor can you relate to how we feel.” Dar interjected. “I can understand why
Zari
left. When I overheard you speaking with your guards and King
Zurion
, the idea of venturing into the human realm seduced me, totally.”

Cyrus looked at his girls. “A part of me is proud of you for being so courageous. But it was out of pure selfishness. Just for the record, I do understand how you both feel. You don’t know my feelings. Sometimes I don’t even know my feelings, but I’ve been this way since your mother died.”

The girls clung to their father. “I’m so sorry about mom, and I’m sorry for disobeying you.”

“
Me too,”
Zari
chimed in. “You have to understand that we’re grown and capable of defending ourselves.

“
Um.
No, you’re not,” Cyrus said with a grin. “When we invaded the coven, you were walking around like some zombie,
Zari
.
 
Dar was chained against the wall, dead to the world.”

“
What are you going to do? Turn us in?”
Zari
asked.

“
I should.” Cyrus paused for a while. “But I can’t. My loyalties lie with my daughters.” He looked at Dar and winked. “I know your thoughts. Did you really think I’d have my own children put to death?”

“
You left us wondering at times,”
Zari
said with a snort just before receiving a poke in the ribs from Dar. “Ow!”
 

“
Doesn’t the king know?” Dar asked with subdued concern.

Cyrus shook his head. “You’d both be put to death if he ever knew the truth behind this, and I’m not allowing that. Also, you should be happy to know, we’ve had a meeting with Zurion. He will allow those who choose to journey to other realms to do so.”

“
Really?”
Dar’s eyes widened.
“Finally!
What did you tell him?”

“
He believes that Zari was kidnapped. He’ll believe whatever I tell him,” Cyrus added. According to Thom and I, Colin slipped through and kidnapped you
.“

Dar released a breath. “What about Dane?”

“
I’ve had the opportunity to speak with Dane and Lucas. My first instinct was to destroy them. But…he protected you. Any man that protects my child is worth his weight in gold.” Cyrus sighed. “He’s a vampire, dammit.” He shook his head and continued pacing. “But, he’s part fae.” He smiled. “I’ve never met a vampire that didn’t have ulterior motives towards our kind. He’s the first.”

“
What about Colin?” Zari asked.

“
He’s been destroyed, along with most of his coven! We had to destroy him for using your power to bring darkness to the human world. That was unacceptable.”

“
Oh.” Zari frowned.
 
“Well, he tried switching mine and Dar’s powers, so she’d die.” She shrugged. “I’m sorry Dar, I really am.”

“
You owe me big,” Dar stated before folding her arms and looking away. “I’m still pissed at your ass.”

“
You look disappointed,” Cyrus said with a sneer. “Please don’t tell me you developed feelings for the likes of him. You went there looking for something you should have never desired in the first place. You heard of all the pleasures and monetary possessions a vampire could ever give a female.”

“
Yes.” Zari nodded. “I honestly went there thinking I could find a male counterpart I could relate to. Unfortunately, when I realized what he was and the motives he had, it was too late to break away from him.” She looked over at Dar. “That’s when baby sis found me.” Zari hugged Dar. “Please forgive me for being so careless.”

Dar smiled as her sister squeezed her tightly. “I’m so sorry he wasn’t what you expected. What about the men in our realm? They aren’t so bad, are they?”

Zari shot her a strange look.
“Seriously, Dar.
Would you consider coupling with half the men in our world? I’ve dated, but haven’t been able to connect to anyone here.” She shrugged. “I guess it’s not meant for me to find anyone.”

“
Don’t think like that,” Dar snapped at her sister. “You can’t push something like that. I’ve
tried,
myself and never felt that special spark. Also, I never knew you resented me so much,” Dar reminded her sister. “While you were under Colin’s influence, you said some nasty things to me.”

Zari held her head down. “You seemed to be father and mother’s favorite, and I never shared those horrible feelings.”

Cyrus hugged his oldest. “I love you both the same.”

“
I’m sorry,” Zari admitted.

“
It’s okay.”

“
As for that special spark you spoke of never finding, apparently you have with Dane,” Cyrus said softly.

“
Oh, stop.” Dar snickered and averted her eyes from her father’s dark gaze.

Gently he lifted his daughter’s chin up. “I’m not
joking,
I think you’ve found love because I can feel it. That’s another reason why I spared him. When he spoke of you, his eyes lit up and that’s when I knew you were special to him.”

“
Father, you’re not going to stand here and tell me you didn’t read his mind?”

Cyrus held his head down and stifled a snicker. “Guilty.” He said softly. “Hey, I needed to try. I knew he wasn’t a full vampire as soon as I laid eyes on him. You know where you and Zari are concerned, I must be especially careful.”

She smiled and nudged her father gently. “Well, how long did you speak to Dane?” Dar asked. “Where is he?”

“
I’ll take you to him now. He’s waiting for you in the garden.”

“
Why didn’t you send him in?” Dar asked as the three of them strode out of her chambers.

Cyrus arched a brow.
“To your chambers?
Are you kidding me? I don’t think so.” He’s waiting for you in the garden. “Zari and I have much to talk about.” He looked at his other daughter.

“
Yes, I suppose we do.” Zari closed her eyes. “What do I have to do? Clean the chambers of your guards?” She rolled her eyes.
“ I
await your punishment.”

“
No.” Cyrus grinned. “I’ve got something better in mind for you.”

* * * *

Dar’s heart thumped wildly against her chest as soon as she saw Dane standing in the garden.

Happiness blossomed inside her when she recalled the time spent with him. She loved how he made her feel and enjoyed butting heads with him. No other man had ever invoked such feelings within her.

“Hmm. Look who’s back among the living,” he chirped as he pulled her in close for a hug. When he released her, he looked deep in her eyes and rested his hands on her shoulders. “I thought I’d lost you there for a while, babe.”

She quickly became lost within his gaze. “It was touch and go there for a while, wasn’t it?”

His mouth slanted over hers and she swooned. Dar closed her eyes and accepted his tongue into her mouth. As they kissed, his hands roamed along her body and she felt him harden against her.

“Dane,” She breathed as he gripped her tight and kissed her harder. “Oh.” She regretted him not taking her virginity, and she needed to tell him so. Suddenly, she became doubtful of their relationship and broke the connection.

“What’s wrong?” He looked confused as she took his hand and led him over to a stone bench overlooking the crisp spring.

“We need to talk,” she said in a hushed voice. “I’m concerned about some things.”

“About what?”