Chapter Thirteen

   As they walked through the castle towards the commons for Sava, Arim stared at the back of Lexa’s dark head, his mind a whirl of chaos. His emotions ran the gamut from one end to the other. Grief for his sister’s untimely departure, joy that he finally had Lexa where he wanted her—in love with him—and fear that his happiness might be taken away before it had a chance to take root.

   Their relationship had taken a drastic turn, and through it all, his little Dark Lord remained tough as nails and twice as sharp. Though he’d had her screaming his name in ecstasy and in love—something he’d dreaded would never happen after so much enmity between them—the cold, emotionless shield that encased so much of her feelings remained intact.

   The caution that seemed so much a part of her had yet to be exhausted. Arim wanted to slam his head through the wall even as he wanted to press Lexa up against it and fuck her until she cried his name out loud again, showing him, if not telling him, what she felt inside.

   Several Light Bringers passed them, staring in fear. A few Church brethren glared their hostility, bringing home the very real problems Arim and Lexa were going to have to soon face. Still, Arim couldn’t stop looking at her, feeling the touch of her soft skin under his palm, the spicy taste of her on his tongue, and the exotic scent of Dark and danger she emitted like the sultriest of perfumes.

   Mother of Light. Had he lost all sense? His sister was gone, another casualty in their war against an evil blooddrinker and Dark Lord, and Arim drowned in love for his enemy’s sister. Rationally he knew he was out of his mind. Emotionally… How could he consign Lexa to the same hatred he felt for her sibling and many of her kind? Lexa was as much a victim of Dark manipulation as Arim’s family. He rubbed his forehead as a familiar headache surfaced. Thoughts of the life he’d lead before coming to Tanselm remained foggy, his one connection to that life now swimming in the Next.

   Ravyn had died, but Lexa was still alive. She needed him, whether the stubborn witch would admit it or not. She had a lot of issues to deal with, the least of which would be facing her last sibling, a creature more demon than man. And she was surrounded by what she no doubt still considered ‘the enemy’, a Light Bringer populace that would as soon hang her as welcome her.  

   Lexa had suffered much at Light Bringer hands, and the notion made Arim pause. Could he expect her to put the past aside and start afresh? He was more than willing, but she had a clear right to her anger. She’d been blamed for a crime she hadn’t committed and lost a loving family, only to inherit a twisted ‘family’ of emotionally barren Dark individuals like ‘Sin Garu, B’alen and Ini. A true hell in every sense of the word. Arim thanked the Light that at least Ini and B’alen were dead and no doubt writhing in hell. Now he just had to convince ‘Sin Garu to join them.

   Walking past several Light Bringer sorcerers and one Church brethren Arim definitely needed to talk to, Arim noted the absence of children in the halls—a safety precaution—and couldn’t help wondering if Lexa indeed carried his child. He’d tried but hadn’t detected any signs of life in her womb, though he knew it was too soon to really tell. Even his magic had a hard time seeing through Lexa’s Darkness, and a babe could only have been conceived hours, or even days, ago.

   Still, the thought of his child made his heart soar and obliterated much of the sadness still lingering over him. Ravyn had gifted his nephews, and him, with that final good-bye he sensed but couldn’t prove. Word of her sons and daughters expecting a new generation of Light Bringers would please her. Just as soon as Arim took care of an evil Dark Lord bent on world dominion, he’d do his best to add to the royal brood. As the royal uncle, Arim and his powerful Dark Lord wife would do much to heal the land’s hurts…provided they all lived long enough to conceive.

   Arim snorted, ignored Lexa’s concerned glance, and walked faster towards the commons, where Sava waited. If Lexa really thought he’d allow her to put herself in danger, she wasn’t as smart as he thought her to be. Yes, he’d admit that together their magic was more powerful. But Lexa was still missing a part of her Light-forsaken soul.  He seethed just thinking about it.

   If that weren’t bad enough, the little fool had just healed him at a cost to herself. She’d been weak before he’d given her his energy, and in her bid to return the favour, she’d given him back more than she should have. Which didn’t explain why Arim felt odd bursts of incredible strength mixed with a weakened pulsing of Light. Attributing the strange power spikes to Tanselm’s reedy flow of magic, he began shoring up what he’d need to confront ‘Sin Garu.

   He made a mental list of the spells he’d need to review, as well as the weapons he planned to take with him. His staff, a Light-edged knife, a quick trip to Tanselm’s healing fountains deep within Morn Mountain—a place few knew about because it was so Dark, and because the land would only allow certain bodies the knowledge.

   Ravyn and he had visited the well many times. But never with Faustus. And never with his nephews. Though he’d thought it odd, Arim didn’t question Tanselm’s right to share her power. He had his strength by her grace and now needed to use it to the best of his ability to heal the savaged land. ‘Sin Garu had lost whatever right to life he’d had. Killing Light Bringers and Storm Lords was wrong, but it was the threat to Lexa’s life that brought out the Dark feeling in Arim the most. Though Arim felt his sister’s passing with his whole heart, he couldn’t still the fury that grew within him at thoughts of ‘Sin Garu taking Lexa.

   “Arim? Your eyes are doing that funky rainbow thing,” Lexa murmured and took the lead, tugging him after her.

   In the short span it took them to reach the eating area, Arim managed to regain control, if by a slim lead. Sava nodded to them warily, his gaze keen on Arim’s as they sat with him and four Light Bringer females crowding the Aellein king’s space.

   The table was littered with plates of sweets, snacks and goblets of ale surrounded by gracious, helping hands as the women fed Sava from their fingers.  

   “Typical,” Lexa muttered as she huffed and sat across from Sava and next to Arim. She frowned at the besotted females. “He’s busy. Find someone else.”

   They gasped at Arim’s ‘dreaded Dark Lord’, and Arim shook his head. “Blue, you’re really going to have to learn to use some tact.”

   “Oh? Why?” She tilted her head in question, the cocky look one she’d perfected over the years.

   Sava chortled as he drank what smelled like cinarum.

   “Who the hell gave you that?” Arim wanted to know. The cinarum stores were preciously guarded, the spiced drink one that Ravyn used to pull out for special occasions.

   Sava shrugged. “One of the women in the kitchens. Does it matter?” He drank again, closing his eyes in bliss, and Arim stifled a grin at Lexa’s clear irritation.

   “Could we focus on ‘Sin Garu for a minute? I think your belly, and your ego,” she added under her breath, “should hold.”

   Sava frowned at Lexa, including Arim in his aggravation. “What has you so irritated?” He shot Arim a definite sneer. “You’ve at least slaked your hungers. Let me deal with mine.”

   “Please.” Lexa rolled her eyes, and Arim didn’t need to look at Sava to sense the annoyance clouding his expression. “We need to hit ‘Sin Garu now while we know where he is.”
            “What’s the sudden rush?” Sava fingered his goblet, his gaze narrowed between Lexa and Arim. “The Dark Lord has yet to leave his haven in Orfel, and that means his Netharat can’t be too far away. The wraiths and Shadren pop in and out of that place at all hours. Only the Djinn remain conspicuously absent. I figure that’s because even they draw the line at so much blood and gore saturating any one place.”

   “And you know this how?” Lexa’s suspicion echoed Arim’s thoughts.

   “I left a spell in place to alert me to ‘Sin Garu’s movements, but I don’t think he cares who knows where he is. ‘Sin Garu’s suddenly very open to anyone who wants a peek. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he’s waiting for you.”

   “Then let’s not disappoint.” Rage flared, and Arim fed the fiery anger burning brightly within him. Let that damned Dark blooddrinker try to touch Lexa again. Arim would feed him his head in one bloody lump before he’d see Lexa harmed.

   “Look, you two, we have to be careful.” Sava’s words dripped with sarcasm. “Arim, you’re supposed to be having a calming effect on Lexa, but it seems as if our bloodthirsty little Dark Lord is affecting you.” He shook his head when Lexa grinned. “With the demon world sapping Tanselm’s strength, you’re both going to have a hard time defeating ‘Sin Garu. I have a few tricks up my sleeve that may help.”

   Arim considered his friend. Though he sensed the ultimate battle would be between himself and ‘Sin Garu, he didn’t have the energy he knew he would need to fight through the Netharat and the demons to conquer the Dark Lord.

   “The demons are going to be a problem.”

   “You’re telling me,” Lexa murmured.

   “Which brings up a good point.” Arim knew this would be the hardest part of the planning. Convincing Lexa to remain behind. While he understood that he had lost significant power, Lexa’s healing had levelled them both off. Now neither he nor she was at full strength, but middling somewhere between. “Lexa, you’re going to have to stay here.”    

   She stared at him for a moment, her gaze chilling. Her rebuttal, when it came, was both expected and brutal. “You’re nothing without me, as well you know. You healed me in a moment of irrational sentimentality, and now you’re paying the price. Healing me as you did has degraded your power, something no self-respecting Dark Lord would ever have done. Hell, I’d be surprised if you could take Sava down.” Her blue eyes were pale in her already white face, but the glare she blasted him with had the room lowering in temperature.

   “Thanks a lot.” Sava shot her a frown and rubbed at his arms. “She’s ill-mannered but speaks true. How are you going to manage ‘Sin Garu at his full strength and then some, courtesy of his demon magic? His blooddrinking has eroded much of his mind already, but the demons have totally turned him from anything you once knew.”

   “And that’s my point.” Why did Sava have to be such a pain in the ass about this? Having already lost Ravyn, Arim couldn’t stand to lose Lexa too. “You don’t seem to…Lexa? Where the hell are you going?”

   Right in the middle of their argument she rose from the table and started walking away.  

   “I, ah, I have to use the facilities. All this foolishness is making me ill,” she finished in a clipped tone as she headed for the far wall of the hall. “I’ll be back before you can blink, so don’t even think about leaving me behind.”

   Hell. She not only looked aggravated, but a glimmer of hurt lurked in her gaze. As if his wanting to keep her safe and away from danger was some kind of rejection. “Lexa, love, you have to understand—”

   She stopped and turned to glare at him. “No, you have to understand. This is a battle you alone can’t win. Get that through your small, idiotic Light Bringer brain. Because you’re stuck with me whether you like it or not.” That said, she stalked away, the heels of her boots sparking blue as a trail of anger followed her from the hall.            

   Arim sighed with frustration and turned to see Sava grinning like a fool.

   “Ah,” the Aellein king said as he took another draught of cinarum. “How the mighty have fallen. As Jonas likes to say, ain’t love grand?”

   Lexa couldn’t believe how incredibly stupid Arim was acting. Did he honestly think he could take down ‘Sin Garu? A Dark Lord who had the whole of Tanselm quaking, who had systematically decimated the last generation of Storm Lords and was no doubt working on eradicating the world of another?

   She marched out of the commons and down a long stone hall, following the bright ball of light that had alerted her to leave the others in the commons, and which could only signify more trouble brewing on the horizon. She followed the light into a small room containing linens, barrels and what looked like boxes of domestic supplies. Closing the door behind her, Lexa stopped, her hands on her hips.

   “For the record, Ravyn, your brother is a horse’s ass.”

   The nimbus of light slowly spread until a form began to take shape. Ravyn chuckled. “He takes after my father.”

   Curious at the mention, Lexa said, “Arim’s never talked about his father or his mother. He’s never publicly claimed you as his sibling either, a fact I always found odd. Why did you two keep your relationship a secret?”

   “Which, strangely enough, is why I’m here. To tell you a story.”

   Lexa sighed, wondering why she’d expected actual help from Ravyn, the queen of ‘I can’t tell you’.

   “The Valens name is an ancient line from a distant world. Arim and I settled here four hundred years ago after we lost the rest of our family.” Ravyn looked sad, her features drawn and washed out even through the pallor of death. “Before we arrived, my family was well-known in Tanselm. I was a young woman on the cusp of maturity, my powers strong with the vitality of youth. Arim was a boy and had barely seen more than six years of a life he’s thankfully forgotten, but for what I’ve told him.”      

   “And why is that?”

   Ravyn stared at her squarely in the eye. “Because Tanselm made him forget. I raised him and taught him about magic. His strength was always much greater than mine, and Tanselm took him in as if he were her own.” As if sensing Lexa’s confusion, Ravyn shook her head. “I haven’t much time, but it’s vital that you know the truth.”

   “What truth?”

   “That Arim and I remained close in private but separate in public to save him from a life I gradually overcame. I was only a ‘Valens’ for a very short time before I married Faustus. Our real name is much, much older, and a hundred times more powerful.”
            Lexa could feel the hair standing on the back of her neck.

   “We were the Van Lens, a powerful family of Dark Lords who lived separate from those in Malern.”

   Everything in Lexa stopped. “That’s not possible. The Van Lens family died five hundred years ago, cursed by Malern because they betrayed the Dark.”

   “Cursed by something, I’m sure,” Ravyn said bitterly. “And it was four hundred and six years ago as of yesterday. A day I’ll never forget. When my family made the decision to leave Malern, many turned against us. At that time the Dark Lords were becoming much like they are now, less ‘grey’ and more tuned towards the negative aspect of magic. My parents didn’t like the future they could see coming, so they gradually faded from Dark Lord society and shielded us as best they could.”

   “How is this possible?” Lexa couldn’t see anything Dark in Ravyn at all, even in death. The woman radiated Light. “You’re no more Dark than I am a Church prelate.”

   Ravyn flashed a smile. “Unlike the Dark Lords as we know them—you—today, hundreds of years ago there were a faction of us who stood on a fine line between Light and Dark. Our energies were much more alike, powerful yet driven to one side or the other of the spectrum. Once we left Malern, we settled in Quille among the Djinns’ forefathers, before they moved their kind into Foreia. We lived in peace until something terrible happened. A spell gone wrong, a curse visited upon us by our enemies, by Malern…we never knew how it started, only how it ended.”

   Lexa stared, fascinated, as the truth of Ravyn’s words sunk in. “So Arim is a Dark Lord?” Which would explain the Darkness always there beneath his skin, but not how he absorbed and revelled in Light.

   “No. He’s a Light Bringer. As am I.” Ravyn floated through the air to land on top of a barrel, her legs crossed in a ladylike pose beneath her shimmery white gown. “Our life changed drastically one fateful day, much like yours did. You can’t imagine how troubled I was at what happened to your family, Lexa. Not only because of what you suffered, but because of how alike your situation was to mine.

   “Like you, I was gone from my home for most of the day. By the Light, I don’t even remember why I thought tending imps and rath cats was more important than celebrating my youngest brother’s birth rite, but I needed to feel useful. I helped my older brother, Ralton, tend his chores. We planned to enjoy Arim’s celebration later in the evening. During the day I sensed something not right, a nagging foreboding I should have heeded. Instead I tried to reason it away as I haughtily showed Ralton that I was just as powerful a sorceress as he was a sorcerer.

   “But that nagging wrongness found Ralton as well and drew us back earlier than we’d thought, though much too late. When we arrived at the homestead, we found everyone slaughtered but Arim and my father—a good, decent man who normally would have given his soul to save any member of our family. Yet that day he stood with one hand around Arim’s throat, his mouth covered in blood, his form and frame almost demonic.”

   “He had killed our mother, my older sisters and my younger brothers. The only ones left were Arim, Ralton and myself. Father turned on us when we entered. Ralton made the mistake of trying to protect me and Arim by drawing Father’s attention.” Tears rolled down Ravyn’s soft cheeks. “Father was too far gone to block Ralton’s magic, but he was physically overwhelming all the same. He and Ralton killed each other while Arim and I watched.”

   Lexa felt sick. “Arim watched it?” And he’d found Lexa covered in the blood of her family years ago. It was a wonder he hadn’t snapped back then.

   “Yes, he witnessed everything. I took him and fled, not knowing where to go. We had no one left but each other. For a while it seemed like I was going to lose him too. He wouldn’t eat, wouldn’t talk or sleep for weeks. I had barely enough magic to keep him and myself alive. Word spread that the Van Lens family had turned into demons, infected with a madness like no other. We were to be killed on sight. No one knew what many of the children looked like since we’d left Malern and lived isolated for so long.

   “I was older than Arim and knew the possibility of discovery existed. That’s why I decided to keep our identities separate, pretending to be Arim’s guardian and nurse should anyone ever question me. There were a few Dark Lords who might have known me, but we’d been living in Quille when Arim was born, so I figured he’d be safe if I could find a way to help him.”

   “What happened?” Lexa was having a hard time wrapping her brain around such tragedy.

   “I wandered through the between with my sick little brother in tow, praying to the Dark, the Light and Shadow, to anything that could help. And I ran into Faustus Storm. He brought me to Tanselm, gave me sanctuary, and like that, the land accepted us. Arim healed, but he changed. He lost all memory of life before Tanselm, and I was in no hurry to tell him the whole truth. He knows that our father turned mad and slaughtered much of our family. But not that we were once Dark Lords. What good would it have done, anyway? The Darkness that had once been his life turned into Light. Tanselm did the same to me. And while that change occurred, Faustus charmed his way into my heart and into my life.”

   “Did he know? Faustus, I mean.”

   “I told him the truth and he still asked me to marry him. He claimed he’d found his affai seconds after spying me and accepted Arim without hesitation. That’s when I knew he was mine.” The glowing love in her gaze clearly showed her affection for her husband. “I’m sorry this seems long-winded, but you needed to know about Arim’s history if he’s to have a future.”

   “Why can’t you just tell me what I need to know? Or better yet, tell him.” As Ravyn opened her mouth, Lexa answered for her. “Wait, I know. You can’t.”

   “You’re quick.”

   “But I don’t understand why you’re telling me this now. Arim’s fought ‘Sin Garu before and nearly won. If not for his unasked-for generosity in trying to heal me, he could probably win in a battle between the two.”

   “That’s where you’re wrong.” Another form appeared behind Ravyn, his hands on her shoulders as brilliantly transparent as the rest of him.

   “Hell, Faustus Storm. What is this? A Next convention?” More dead people. Lexa’s skin was crawling with the pinpricks of Faustus’s Light.

   He must have noticed her discomfort because he dimmed his illumination. “Ravyn is playing by ‘the rules’, but no one else seems to be. I’ll tell you what you need to know.”

   “Thank the Dark.”

   “Faustus,” Ravyn started, only to stare in astonishment when he held his hand over her mouth.

   “She can be chatty.” Faustus shrugged, and Lexa could see the charm in his deep grey eyes that looked so much like Aerolus’s. “Bottom line. If Arim fights ‘Sin Garu alone, he’s lost, as are all of you. You, Lexa, have to fight with him, all of you and all of him, if you want to win. Help him accept the Darkness in his nature. And don’t turn down Sava’s help, even if he is an irritating Aellei.” Faustus grunted when Ravyn elbowed him.

   “Sava?” Lexa repeated.

   “Yes. Sava. The same king who spent years in the Pit, in hell. He’ll help you with the demons. My sons can help Tanselm withstand a major assault, but it’s going to be up to you and Arim to see an end to this once and for all.”

   Ravyn glared over her shoulder at her husband. “I cannot believe you did that! You’re going to get us both—”

   “What? Killed?” Faustus snorted. “This needs to end. ‘Sin Garu has been playing with fire by meddling with the demon world. That’s strictly forbidden, and if he keeps tampering with what he has no business knowing, he’s going to ruin the Balance.”

   “Balance?” Lexa had a vague impression of oppressive silence all around her and realised Faustus and Ravyn were no longer focused on her.

   “It’s time.” Ravyn nodded. “Blessings and good fortune, Lexa. The Light grant you strength.”

   “And the Dark grant you love,” Faustus finished. “Help us save the future.” He gazed at her stomach and his eyes narrowed with worry. “And yours as well.”

   In the blink of an eye, they vanished. It was then Lexa recognised a subtle odour permeating the small chamber that grew stronger as she neared the door. Swearing under her breath, she threw it open and raced into the hallway.

   “Damn.”

   The smell of death and demon madness filled the passageway. To her dismay, ‘Sin Garu and a corridor full of Netharat waited with unnatural stillness. They occupied the entire eastern portion of the hall, leaving her only avenue of escape back towards the commons. Back towards Arim in his weakened state.

   “Ah, sister mine, there you are. Ready to finally play out the hand fate dealt us?” ‘Sin Garu licked his bloodless lips, and she cringed.

   Though it had been a while since she’d last seen ‘Sin Garu, she’d left him a weakened Dark Lord, but a Dark Lord nonetheless. In the time since, what might have been his human side had departed for a demonic possession clear to anyone with sight.

   ‘Sin Garu’s limbs had lengthened to an off-proportioned length. The white of his skin was now streaked with black and red. His eyes blazed with the inhuman lusts of the demons, their green haze particularly malevolent as they stared hungrily at her.

   Sensing those onerous beasts inside her hated sibling, Lexa allowed the true rage of Darkness free from the cage she normally controlled deep within her.

   “Then let’s play the ‘hand we’ve been dealt’.” Lexa showed not the slightest hint of fear and arched her left eyebrow the way Arim did, a move that always annoyed her with its presumed arrogance. It had the same effect on ‘Sin Garu, and she smirked, pleased to wipe the smug smile off his hellish face. “Ante up, asshole. Get ready to fold…hard.”