Page 33

THIRTY-THREE

Micha

“What if she doesn’t want to come back?” Josiah asked.

“Nobody wants to stay there; of course she wants to come back,” Della retorted.

“She probably believes she has nothing to come back to,” Kiam said, helpfully.

Placing my cup down, I said, “If you all would be so kind as to give me some space, I have planning to do.”

Josiah set his empty glass near my own. “I am unable to assist you this time, my friend.” His voice held a tone of regret. “Perhaps if you’d come to me sooner.”

“It was your decision to shut her out; I don’t recall being given a say.”

I would never forget the look on Ashley’s face or the crushing pain that surrounded her when Josiah had made his proclamation. It’d torn me in two and was probably the closest I’d ever come to ending my best friend’s life. Even now, I was furious with him.

On a logical, rational, level his present decision made sense. Things were changing and we did need the support of others. We’d done our best to forge our own way, building Ipomoea into the powerhouse it was today and shunning outside friendship or partnerships, but with recent developments, we’d have to make changes.

With the rumors of the disappearance of other, massive corporation’s CEOs, the whispers of dissention I’d recently heard about with Angels, and powerful people at Fulgere Industries nosing about, we needed allies. Never mind the heir apparent to the Satanic throne was said to have been murdered. The instability just seemed to keep growing and there was no stopping it.

The last thing any of us needed was me interfering with the Collective and speeding up whatever retribution may have been planned. There was no way to know how they’d come at us, and we needed to be ready. The most likely scenario was they’d use our peers against us, but I suspected Ashley was the route they had decided to take.

It’d be easy enough to build another company. We had the money, connections, and the added bonus of magic should the other avenues fail. What I couldn’t replace was the woman I loved. They knew I would spiral and that would not only provide them with fuel, but eventually, it would rid them of me forever and if luck was on their side, Josiah as well when he sought vengeance.

“You never told her anything, did you?” I eyed Della.

She shook her head. “No, of course not.” She sat down where I’d been seated a moment before. “I never said a word, though I wanted to. I kinda suspected you had a thing for her, but you drove her nuts. I mean, you nagged her and harassed her. She called you ‘asshole’ and I didn’t have to ask who that was.”

Kiam snickered.

“After what happened with you, I didn’t want to chance it, and it pissed me off. Well, she pissed me off. She wouldn’t give me the time of day.” I started pacing, wearing a path on the floor.

Della frowned before she said, “She’s sensitive. She hasn’t told me a whole lot, but she has an ex who did a number on her. I offered to talk to Josiah for her once, about how you were acting. I don’t think I ever did though.” She glanced up at him and he shook his head.

“The two of you were friends at one point, weren’t you?” Della asked me.

“Well, this therapy session is great and all but I’m going to get going before you get started on positive affirmations. I’ll see what I can dig up on Samuel,” Kiam announced, giving Josiah a curt nod before he walked away.

Della’s question hung in the air, unanswered. It wasn’t necessary. Being merely friends with her was never an option. Every molecule that made up the fiber of my being craved her, wanting to burrow inside her heart and her mind to the point neither of us knew where the other began or ended. Friends.

Over my dead body.

The front door shut behind him and I turned to Josiah. “I’m going to do what I can. You’ll hear how it goes, I’m sure.”

“You can always petition for mercy,” he said.

I scoffed, remembering how well that went when people had asked him for the courtesy. Not good, if my recollection could be relied on. I distinctly remembered how much we both loved the plea and the onslaught of emotions it would release in the atmosphere when it was denied. Aura drunk was a wild phenomenon that lasted hours and the debauchery that ensued was a days-long party. The wine, the women, and the feasting could last up to week before the effects wore off. The Second Realm abhorred minimalism and restraint.

“You can fight your way out,” he encouraged. “Don’t forget she’ll likely be drugged so deeply she can’t remember who she is.”

I’d have to remind her who she was. I waved a dismissive hand at Josiah before the magnitude of what he’d stated sank in.

“What if I’ve lost her forever?” I said, momentarily caving to the black thoughts. It was unthinkable, though the idea would hover the recesses of my mind until she was back in my arms.

Dark amusement filled my voice, “She stabbed me in the heart.” She was stronger than anyone knew. I knew. I’d watched, I’d lurked and recorded her, filing away every morsel of her personality as I discovered it. Obsessive didn’t even begin to cover the illness that’d infected me when it came to the woman. It was why it hurt so bad when I’d thought she betrayed me, but it was also why I should’ve known better. My transgressions would be a black mark on my soul for eternity.

“She wouldn’t have done that if she didn’t care for you deeply,” Josiah’s voice thickened. “Why do you think I haven’t gone and killed her myself?”

If anyone else had maimed me in such a manner, he would have gone after them immediately. He wouldn’t have stopped until he’d seized their mortal life. He’d done me a massive favor by restraining himself and shown the mercy and deep love he had for me.

“Thank you,” I said. Della was watching me, her eyes soft and her smile tight. “I’ll bring her back for you,” I promised Ashley’s friend.

* * *

I was aching to get a move on, but I knew I had to find an advantage. Ashley wouldn’t be sacrificed too quickly, not if they were counting on me making an appearance. I had to assume she was relatively safe for now. Haste would be my worst enemy.

My wraiths gathered up my books and fetched extra blades for me while I sat in my study, paging through tome after tome, to see what I could find. The best I’d found were spells to mitigate pain, which I knew I was in for a world of. I’d decided to take Josiah’s advice and plead for mercy. Best I could hope for was finding a weakness of theirs to exploit. during the process. Having worked with and for them, I knew the opportunities would be minimal. I was aware of all the tricks. Magic was the only viable route to success.

Neither Josiah or I had yet figured out if they replaced their slain board member and that left four formidable beings who captured their power by slaughtering and consuming sorcerers. While all vampires and demons contained magic, sorcerers held power above and beyond anyone else. Due to their prized status, they tended toward a solitary, nomadic lifestyle, but that hadn’t stopped the Collective from hunting them down and stealing their gifts. With only four possible foes, that gave me an advantage compared to five. Oftentimes, for security reasons, only two or three at a time visited the palace compound.

There was no way for me to know what I faced. Not even Kiam had known, and he’d been occasionally scouting the area. This told us they were cautious, biding their time and keeping their cards held close to their chest. We’d been trying to keep ourselves as separate as we could from our old life, yet it kept us in the peripheral.

“Thank you,” I murmured to the wraith who’d brought me a fresh glass of blood. “Please see to it that the supply is replenished.” The way I’d been imbibing since Ashley thrust the blade I gave her into my chest, stock must've been depleted.

The wraith bowed and sprang backward like a rubber band, and I was left alone after flicking my fingers at the door, locking it. I wanted to transcribe the two spells I’d settled on, but I would have to memorize them so they wouldn't be discovered. I needed an atmosphere cleansed of distractions to accomplish that.

I focused, concentrating and shutting out all other sounds. The din of traffic and car horns, the clattering of my wraiths doing God knew what outside these walls, faded away as I burned the words onto the screen of my mind.

It was time to go. I thought about getting changed but decided to remain in my three-piece suit and tie, after swapping out my tie pin for an older one I’d acquired back home in the Second Realm.

The entire piece of jewelry was formed of a solid ruby, magic having been used in its creation. It was beautiful and sparkled with an otherworldly glitter—which was appropriate, considering where it came from. I wanted Ashley to see it and remember when I’d taken what I wanted and thrown her over my shoulder. My heavy heel had crushed another ruby pin after she’d tried to escape.

There was no escape from me.

After summoning one of my wraiths for another glass of blood and downing it, I shifted my mind to exactly where I wanted to be and soon found myself in the foyer of the Second Realm’s main palace.

The crowd weaved around me, nonplussed at my sudden appearance in their midst. A couple eyed me curiously after several seconds, but soon I felt the atmosphere change.

They knew I was here.

The reception desk was about a hundred feet away and I headed straight for it, knowing I’d be forced to check in. Better to beat them to the punch, and all that. If I was going to plead mercy, I’d have to start off on my best behavior.

No sooner had I stepped up to the counter than I was surrounded by soldiers. My shoulders tensed, anticipating rough treatment. They circled me, caging me in.

“Look what we have here,” a voice drawled. “You’re either blindingly stupid, or you have a death wish. Perhaps both.”

I didn’t recognize the man, but he introduced himself as Ethan. “I’d say nice to meet you but we both know it's not,” I replied, as I was patted down and relieved of all my weapons. I knew it would happen, but that didn’t mean I’d arrive bare. Entry without defensive tools was more suspicious.

“Micha Carnea,” I said holding out my hand.

He ignored the gesture and held his hand up to motion with his fingers before the woman behind the counter handed him a tablet. I placed my hand on the outstretched device and the machine scanned my fingerprints, ether, and blood. The screen flashed in warning and a notification glared across the screen stating I was to be detained with prejudice. I expected as much.

Iron cuffs were placed around my wrists and the soldiers formed a circle, escorting us to the main hall. The normal fanfare was abandoned, on principle. No one would’ve guessed I’d arrive willingly, though I couldn’t say they didn’t know it would happen at some point. They had my woman, after all.

“Who is leading the cases involving crossbreeds?” I asked.

“Diego has taken over,” Ethan stated. “He’s currently presiding over a ceremony, but he’ll be free any moment now.”

The doors opened before us and as I was led forward, I racked my brain for what I knew of Diego.

He’d always struck me as more administrative than action focused. A pencil-pusher. That didn’t mean much but it gave me a sliver of hope.

After a short walk, my escorts halted and parted, revealing Diego on the throne. A contingent of armored and helmeted soldiers streamed from his right and his left, poised for action should I attack. The man had to have known me better than that, having worked with me in the past. Under Josiah’s direction, I’d learned to plan and strategize before making a move, I wasn’t about to rush him, though visions of doing precisely that filled my head.

“Calm down,” Diego tutted, instantly sensing my violent thoughts. “You are here to atone for your sins. You will respect my position,” he warned, the men surrounding me stepping closer.

Foolishly, I strained against the handcuffs. The harder I fought, the more they burned into my skin, spelled with magic to do harm commensurate with my efforts.

I stilled. “What are the charges against me, my lord?” It would do me no good to rile him up by struggling.

Diego stood. “The crimes of treason, treachery, theft, and elder murder,” he announced to the gathering crowd.

I couldn’t see much past the bank of metal and leather-clad bodies. Whispers and hushed voices swam around the room, raising a darkly excited energy that filled the space. Hungry spectators had gathered around to witness the event of my sentencing, drawn in like sharks that’d sensed blood.

No one remembered the last time a member of the Collective had been killed. No one would dare strike them down from their revered and respected positions. No one would even dream of it. Yet I had been instrumental in the very act that had once been considered unthinkable and now it was time to pay the price.

There would be no trial, no legal representation, no witness testimony. It was pointless, anyway, as we all knew what I did and no one would deny it, least of all me. I was guilty; but felt no remorse. We all knew I would do it again.

“Who are you?” I twisted my head and glanced at Ethan. Diego was narrating the details of my crime to the crowd, which had grown in number if the stifling atmosphere was any indication. It’d gone from pleasant, to weighty, bringing a claustrophobic flavor to the air. The gathering was divided into two sections but there was no clear line of sight to the other.

Ethan bent down and grabbed my ankle, fixing a set of chains around my feet. “I’m the court’s enforcer, seeing as the position was open.”

I’d been wondering who’d filled Josiah’s job.

Heat filled my legs as the magic-bound metal did its job. The walk to the cells would be difficult and all I could hope for was they’d carry me.

Footsteps, heavy against the black marble, sounded as Diego approached. “Kneel,” Ethan ordered.

Before I could comply with the directive, something hard hit my head, and I dropped. Remaining on all fours, a set of boots appeared beneath my face. “On your knees, boy,” Diego commanded.

I pushed back to sit on my heels, keeping my head bowed. At any moment, I could feel the hot slice of steel, my head being severed from my body. On the slightest whim, the man could stretch out his fingers and tear my heart from his chest. The organ thumped below my ribs, adrenaline rushing through my veins. The urge to strike out and shred him to pieces was staggering.

“My Lord,” my voice rumbled, fists clenched against the cold.

He clicked his tongue. “No fear. I sense no remorse or fear from you and instead, pride. You know what they say—pride comes before the fall.” Diego laughed at his own joke before lowering his voice. “This won’t do.”

The boots backed up and I saw his robes sway as I waited. Before I could brace myself, a different boot landed on my kidney.

Rolling with the punch, I met one of the soldier’s pair of legs, and before I could right myself, the hilt of a sword smashed into my other side. Arching away from the assault, Ethan’s fist knocked the wind out of me.

“This is but a taste of what awaits you,” Diego proclaimed loudly for the benefit of the crowd, lifting his hands in the air. “We want blood, do we not? We must honor Ezra.”

Hoots and hollers rose in the background and Diego whirled around, metal flashing. The sting of his blade was delayed, the instrument so fine it took several seconds for pain receptors to register the wound. My hand raised to my cheek when I felt the wetness.

My eye twitched at the sharp sting of pain in my wrists, and finally my canines descended on instinct, my biological urges crying out for retribution. There was no need to hide here, so I let them be as badly as I wanted to tear into everyone around me.

If I fought now, I would lose. I had to bide my time.

“Take him away,” Diego bellowed.

Ethan beckoned me with a hand, as if I had any choice but to follow. “Let’s go. I hope you like your tomb; we’ve had it waiting your arrival for a while. Tried to make it cozy.”

“Fuck you,” I spat, clambering to my knees, my restraints sending shock of pain with each movement. Bile filled my stomach before one of the men surrounding me shoved a hand under my shoulder and pulled.

It was impossible to stand on my own, the magic-infused chains sending shockwaves into my muscles. My thighs and arms convulsed under my efforts and before too long, I had a soldier on each side of me, holding me up.

Sound died down in the room, the show was over. For now.

They began dragging me, and several of the men wandered off to attend to other duties, clearing the view. People were bunched around the doors, trailing off to get back to their lives but many remained, eating, drinking, and Diego was settling in at a long table.

I noted some differences from when Josiah and I had worked together in this very room, but much was still the same. The wafts of orange mist trailing along the ceiling and in the corners, the muted, sun-tinged colors of the light fixtures, the decorative fountains and features pouring blood.

And then I saw her.