Demon Dark (7 page)

Breandan stood up and offered me his hand.

Would you like to climb with me?

He neatly avoided the question and that pissed me off, until I grudgingly admitted I attempted to avoid all questions that made me uncomfortable. Clasping his hand to rise, I jumped on his back and nipped his ear.

Nice try, but I know you re evading me. Why did he swear himself to you?

Because he senses the power in me to become High Lord.

I thought about that.

But you re not are you?

He laughed.

I have no plans to be. I will release Gunarr from his oath when the time comes.

Breandan secured my legs around his waist and headed towards the same tree as Gunarr.

It was a magnificent old oak, jutting roots and stout trunked. Nothing close to the splendor of what Breandan called the ClanTrees, the three colossal trees that fairies had in the centre of their Wyld, but impressive in its own right.

Clumps of mushrooms clustered at the base and lumpy moss covered the trunk. Wispy stems of beard lichen hung from scraggly twigs, and new growth of the fungi crawled across the trunk base to blend with the scrublands. The boughs were fat and brown. The leaves were broad, the stalks and blades of the foliage well formed, suggesting a grand old age, and shafts of sunlight gilded the golden leaves with a soft glow.

Clambering off Breandan s back, I pushed my hair back and tied it into a knot at the nape of my neck.

Striding over to the trunk, I stood on twisted aerial roots and placed my palms on the bark. It warmed under my palms, and I hummed appreciatively.

I pointed up.

Race?

Without a word, he grinned and jumped. His hands caught hold of the lowest bough and he dead lifted his weight up as his legs swung to add momentum. In a blink, he was crouched on the first branch choosing his path up.

I skipped back a few paces and ran forward. Using the trunk as a springboard, I kicked off it, twisted, and caught the same bough Breandan crouched on. By the time I d seated myself, his feet dangled from the branch above. I followed close behind, playfully tugging on his tail when I could reach it to slow him down. He laughed loudly, the sound careless and filled with so much joy it made me giggle uncontrollably.

We even passed a stoic Gunarr halfway up, reclining on a branch trying to get some sleep. He lazily opened one green eyelid and peered at me before turning his head.

Breandan reached the penultimate branch before me and in a moment of sheer genius, I scrambled back onto his back, and stretched to tap the tip of my finger on the highest branch.

Ha!

I crowed and slipped down flushed and happy.

You cheated,

Breandan laughed as he joined me, immediately puling me into him and tickling my sides.

Squealing, I wriggled in his hold until I made a rather ugly snorting sound at the back of my throat. We both burst out laughing. My shoulders shook so hard, I nearly fell from my perch, and Breandan had to steady me.

I always loved climbing,

I confessed once my laughter had subsided to the occasional snigger.

When I was up in a tree I felt grounded, strange as it sounds.

I rested my head on Breandan s shoulder, something I loved doing, and toyed with the edge of his amour plate on his thigh.

I was drawn to the forest, all the life teeming Outside. I was afraid for so long, worried one day the Clerics would look at me and just know I was different.

My happy smile faded as the excitement of the climb wore off.

I still felt different.

It was clear Breandan and Conall had sought to make things easier for me, but it was clear I had little to no knowledge of Tribe life or how to live like a fairy.

One day, you ll feel like the Wyld is your home,

Breandan said, perceptively guessing my depressing thoughts.

It will take time, maybe years, but you will feel like you belong.

I hugged him tightly then eased back to see his face. He was wise before his time, my fairy, and when I trusted him, he didn t let me down.

So you re sure Gunarr isn t a threat to us?

He will be true to his word.

Self-conscious of the fact said fairy was close beneath us, I lowered my voice.

He frightens me. I look at him, and I remember him eyeing you up, searching for weakness so Devlin could steal me away.

I shuddered.

That fight had been the first time I d seen fairies preparing to battle, and it had terrified me. It was also the first time I d used magic in combat, and felt the true power of the amulets. Breandan had been fierce during his fight with Devlin, and though I had made a nuisance of myself, I was aware that had I not intervened Breandan would have died. The more I looked back on what had happened, I saw that Devlin had a plan and Breandan would have been in the way, something he couldn t afford.

I had considered Devlin evil, at one point, an impression not dissuaded by Breandan and my Elder, but it was clear he d been forming a plan of action to deal with Cael whilst dealing with Lochlann s ill-timed rebellion. I felt guilt over my part in Devlin s fall from grace, but I did not assume responsibility for his demise, and nor could I say the world was a darker place without him. It had been explained to me that the rebels felt Devlin was leading the Tribe down a destructive path. Instead of reaching out to other demonkinds, he had scorned them, even attacked them. When I had visited Byron s Pride there was damage from Devlin s rule, evidence he had lost it a little, but it had been repairable. How would things be now if the vampires hadn t gotten hold of Devlin? Would we now flock to him for answers since he would have had the grimoire?

Maybe that s what evil was, those who were misunderstood and pushed to do something extreme to bring about their beliefs.

Even Cleric Tu hadn t been truly been evil. The methods he s used to get what he wanted, and his actions towards demonkind had been. With some perspective, I could see he d been out of his mind with worry. He wanted to protect the human race, his own future, and had taken it to an extreme.

Rae, Gunarr has given his oath and he cannot break it. Put it out of your mind, love. Focus on what you will say when we reach the Wyld. A Meet would have been called and you will have to speak your mind, and convince them to follow your plan.

I have a plan?

Breandan groaned, and dropped his head to my shoulder.

We made good time once the sun set and Daphne woke. Before we moved on, I had tried to coax her up the tree for a climb, but after cursing me in a rather colorful manner, she explained she hated heights, and would rather risk facing the sun than climbing one.

Gunarr and Daphne avoided and ignored each other. She didn t look at him, and he didn t look at her there was peace. When they did accidently catch each other s eye the hostility between them flared instantly.

I could understand the animosity the last time they met they had tried to kill each other.

Gunarr often had a look of mild frustration and distaste pass over his expression and Daphne often looked smug. Gathering what I could from Breandan s interpretation of their situation, since Gunarr had run from the fight in vampire territory, he felt a need to fight Daphne to regain his honor. Daphne felt like she was better than him because he had run from her.

It was all silly in my opinion, and the few times they did clash, a short word from Breandan ceased Gunarr s hissing. Daphne was more difficult to quell, she didn t stop snarling until Gunarr was out of sight.

This worked well enough for me, since I had trouble looking Gunarr in the face without wanting to punch it, or when I was feeling more curious than angry, grabbing it in my hands and feeling the texture of his skin. It was papery thin and the colour of grass. It looked as if it would be slick if I ran a finger over it.

The fairy Knight was well aware of my nervousness around him, and accepted the job of scouting ahead. He was silent as a shadow when he wanted to be, and I could see why Devlin had kept him close.

The closer to the Wall we came, the more on guard and antsy Breandan became. He hovered, and would kiss me or touch me to reassure himself I was okay. Despite my treatment at the hands of the Clerics, I felt fine the closer we got. The land behind the Wall had been my home since before I could remember.

Daphne was curious, and sniffing the air a lot. She explained that since she became a vampire she hadn t come close to a human settlement. Her rebirth had happened when the Northern City was already under the Coven s control, and though Daphne wasn t able to tell me how old she was exactly, from the way she spoke she had been born during the Rupture.

She was much older than I had realized. In comparison, Breandan and I were babies.

When asking for specific memories of her past, like her birth family, she avoided talking about it and changed the subject.

I did wonder how old Gunarr was, but couldn t muster the courage to talk to him alone. He cut an imposing figure, and rather than let him see my fear, I acted as if he wasn t important at all. I suspected he saw past this front, however, because when I snuck a glance at him, he already stared at me, amused.

We heard and saw the Clerics before they did us.

Gunarr reacted badly, hissing under his breath, and taking out a wickedly sharp knife. Breandan gave him a quiet command and the fairy melted into the dark, curved blade still in hand.

He won t cut anybody?

I asked.

Breandan shook his head.

Not unless they try to hurt us. Don t worry, Rae-love. I ll take care of protecting you. You worry about everything else.

Daphne inhaled, and her fangs ran out. She breathed heavily, and the tip of her tongue swiped over her top lip.

A Cleric stepped into view, a rifle tucked into his side. Deep hood pulled low, so his face was shadowed to the chin, he focused intently on Breandan, sensing him as the greatest threat. He turned slightly to Daphne then me last. When he did get a good look at me, he smiled, and spoke over his shoulder in a rush before starting towards us.

Hai, Rae,

he greeted and held out his hand.

Recognizing the voice, I clasped it and squeezed.

Samuel. How are you?

He tugged the hood down and revealed a riot of blonde curls, squished about his crown. Samuel was a plain man with a short beard and hooked nose. His eyes were lovely, a deep green that shone with sincerity.

Things have been better,

he replied and shrugged.

Things have been worse. I m fine then again I always am.

He inclined his head to me.

I have you to thank for that. I would ve been dead had you not paused to save me.

Samuel had been swept up in Cael’s windstorm at Temple. He d flown right past my head, and I d grabbed him without thinking. He was one of the guards posted outside my hovel when the Sect captured me. He didn t have an active hand in my torture, but he hadn’t tried to stop it either. What he had done was given me food and hope that not all the Clerics were poisoned against demonkind.

Lord Cleric Samuel was one of the reasons I held steadfastly to the belief that once the humans realized all demons were not out to destroy them that demons actually found them irritating and more like pesky children underfoot than anything else that peace could be achieved. Humankind could then stop hiding behind the Wall, and teaching children demons were vicious creatures that ruined the world.

Did the injured from Temple survive?

He grimaced.

Most. Once the dust cleared there wasn’t much death but a lot of maimed and crippled.

They are fortunate,

Breandan said flatly.

They should be dead.

Samuel regarded him warily.

You were there then?

Oh yes. Tell me, how do you know my Rae?

I met her down in the

Sam,

I interrupted hastily, realizing Breandan still felt a need to exact justice for what happened to me at Temple.

Do you think you could get me in to speak to the Priests?

Sighing, he holstered the rifle, and crossed his arms the funneled sleeves covered his hands. He paced, the tails of his crimson blazer flapping at the back of his knees.

Eventually, he stopped and turned to me, expression undecided.

Since Temple my status has elevated within the Sect. I m reluctant to do anything that would risk altering that. I keep more people safe this way.

His nose twitched, and he swatted a fly away from his face.

After the disaster Lord Cleric Tu left behind the Priests are keen to try a new form of leadership, but old habits die hard. The Wall, for example. Clerics have been posted Outside for three days now and not a single attack. Since Temple was destroyed, you re the first we ve seen, and there were no reported issues from the Upper or Slum Dwells. It s like the demons didn t care they were inside. I ve been using this as an argument to suggest we re safer Outside then we think we are.

Uh, well, turns out for a fairy who can wield magics, getting past the Wall wasn t that hard. I d think other demons would find it pretty easy too.

He stilled.

Yore saying the Wall, a structure we ve had faith in for nearly two centuries didn t do anything to protect us?