Blood Beyond Darkness (22 page)

I glowered at him. He did not back down or look away from me. Time was ticking, and we didn’t have much as it was. We had to be careful since time was different in the Otherworld. Lars would not be distracted beyond tomorrow afternoon before he came looking for us.

“Fine. But you stay far away from the house. I don’t want my mother to get even a whiff of your foul scent; I will not stop her if she tries to kill you.”

Lorcan raised his arms in surrender. “Agreed.”

Eli stepped forward, getting in Lorcan’s face. “You try anything or do anything I don’t like, and I will kill you this time, Lorcan. I will not hesitate. Got it?”

“I get it.” He waggled his eyebrows and sneered. “Lorcan farts too loud, and he is a dead man. Memo received.”

Grumbling, I pushed my way past the two guys and headed for the property line. “All right, Cal, come on out. You can show us the way.”

“H-ho-how did you know I was here?” Cal’s voice came from a tree.

“Because I know you.” There was a silence. “Cal?”

“You are wrong. Cal is not here right now. You can leave a message at the beep. Beeeeep.”

“Cal, get your little pixie butt down here now.”

Leaves rustled over my head before a winged nuisance fluttered down to me. “Damn, girlie. You are good.” Cal hovered in my eye line.

“No. You are predictable.” I smiled. “And an eavesdropper.”

“My
listening
skills have come in useful many times.”

I guffawed. “Spying you mean?”

“Labels, labels.” He waved his hand.

“Can you show us the way to the house?”

“For the sweet nectar of the gods, girlie, I will do no such thing. I almost became a Pixie pudding last time.”

“How about I get some flypaper, pixie?” Eli moved behind me.

Cal’s eyes narrowed on him. “And how about I get my sharpie pen and a glittery glue stick, Dweller?” Cal brought his fingers to his eyes, then pointed at Eli as though to say, “I’m watching you.”

“Boys! Truce for now, all right?” I sighed, rubbing my neck. “Cal, I will get Marguerite to let you use her huge kitchen sink for the juniper juice, and how about one of those kisses I still owe you?”

Cal turned red, a dreamy look glazing his eyes. Then he looked back at Eli, his eyes became hard again. “Follow me.” He grabbed his plastic sword and pointed forward.

If we all didn’t kill each other tonight, I would call the evening a success.

Cal led us through the doors into the Otherworld. Eli and Lorcan moved cautiously as they still mistrusted the aspect of being allowed into the Otherworld. Lorcan had mentioned they couldn’t be there more than a full Otherworld day without it starting to become painful. We were only going to be there for a few hours. They should be fine.

When Cal guided us into the crooked forest, I realized how easy it would be to get lost in these woods. Everything looked exactly the same. A break in the trees or a stream appeared no different from the ones we crossed earlier. “Should I be leaving bread crumbs?”

Lorcan and Eli peered at me with confusion, only Kennedy seemed to get my joke. “Was thinking the same thing.”

“Bread crumbs?” Lorcan said. “How about you put out a sign saying: ‘Here’s an appetizer that will lead you to your entrée.’” He pointed to himself.

“She was kidding. “ Kennedy laughed. “It’s from a children’s fairytale we grew up with,
Hansel and Gretel
. They get lost in the forest and get locked up by a witch and eaten. You’ve never heard of it?”

Lorcan and Eli both shook their heads. “No, but if they were leaving bread crumbs in a forest full of Dark Fae, they should have been eaten.” Lorcan raised a sharp eyebrow as though affronted by the notion.

“Yeah, too stupid to live anyway,” Eli added.

Kennedy and I grinned at each other. “Wow, someone’s taking
Grimm’s Fairy Tales
a little seriously.” I regarded the two brothers.

“Because this shit is serious,” Eli said as he continued to trek through the foliage. “A fairytale means something different to you than it does to us. It’s real and a bitch.”

Thinking of Aneira and what she did to London and New York, I had to agree. The Fairy Queen is a ruthless bitch.

When we got to the cave, Cal crawled into my hood, preparing for the entry. Creatures like
wolpertingers, bats, and spiders looked at Cal as lunch.

“So ... I figure I will be staying right here.” Lorcan motioned to a rock next to the cave.

“It will be best.” I nodded.

“Thank you, Lorcan. We’ll try not to be long.” Kennedy touched his arm gently.

He looked at her hand, then away. “I am watching the moon. If it moves past the trees there, I am coming after you.”

“I’ll watch it, too. We have to be extremely careful about the time we spend here,” Eli said as we stepped into the mouth of the cave, tapping at his temple. “Let me know if anything happens,” he added, referring to their link. Lorcan did not know I would also be able to hear him. “Or our warning call.”

Lorcan watched Eli for a moment before he gave a nod. “I will.”

“Warning call?” Kennedy asked Eli, as we entered the cave.

“It’s a specific howl our dad taught us if he couldn’t reach us through our link.” Eli’s pupils enlarged as they adapted to the darkness around him. We started into the cavern leading us to our family and friends.

We crawled out of the tunnel and moved into the protected parcel of land where the cabin sat. The sound of a waterfall thundered in the distance. It was afternoon here, but it still wasn’t light. The Dark Unseelie side of the Otherworld stayed in perpetual evening/night intervals. The mornings and afternoon looked more like dusk before the night enveloped you in blackness again. My missing powers had nothing to do with my preferences, but my Demon side still favored the darkness, while my Fay longed for the light.

Simmons glided out of the door with Torin and Castien close behind. We had set off the wards, letting them know there were intruders. “It’s only me,” I yelled, waving my arms at the two men.

“My lady?” Simmons darted to me.

“You said you wouldn’t call me that in public,” Cal said dryly from under my hair.

“Cal!” Simmons bee-lined for his friend, crashing into him. They both tumbled off my shoulder, almost hitting the ground before they caught air and flew into the sky, laughing and jabbering. I bet they had never been apart this long.

“Ember?” I heard my mom’s voice come from behind them. “Ember’s here?”

“Yeah, Mom. I came to celebrate my birthday with you.”

She rammed Torin and Castien into the wall as she pushed past them, running to me. “It’s your birthday today?”

“Yep.” I knew they were not on the same time as Earth and probably didn’t have much idea what day it was.

She had me in her arms in a matter of seconds. “Oh, my baby girl. Happy birthday!” Then her body tensed in my arms. I knew exactly what made her react like she did. Or who caused it. Good thing Lorcan had stayed at the entrance of the cave, or she would be having a conniption fit in my arms. “Elighan.” She stepped back.

“Lily.” Eli nodded.

Before I could say anything, Ryan came out on the porch. “Kennedy?” His voice rang across the cool air. “Oh, my god. Kennedy!” Ryan rushed headlong down the steps.

“Ryan!” Kennedy tore off for him. The two almost knocked each other over as they came together.

“I-I can’t believe you are here.” Ryan’s hand petted the back of Kennedy’s head. “You’re safe.”

Kennedy pulled away to look at him. “We made a pact in third grade we would be friends forever, and we’d always be there for each other no matter what. I took the promise seriously. There isn’t anything that would keep me from you.” Tears streamed down her face.

“Except when kidnapped by Fae.” Ryan squeezed her arm.

“Except that.” She laughed.

“Teaches us not to read the fine print in our pact.” Ryan rolled his eyes back dramatically.

My heart soared watching them together. Reunited. They had been best friends since kindergarten and had been through so much. I was glad we came for Kennedy.

Ryan looked over Kennedy’s shoulder. “Hey.” He pointed at me. “Get your salty ass right here and join in our reunion. You’re a part of us.”

“But I didn’t sign any best friend contract.”

“Your contract was signed in blood.” Ryan put his hands on his hips, tipping his head. “Now get your butt over here.”

I ran to them. The three of us intertwined with arms and tears. It was already the best birthday I could ask for.

“Now, get the smoking hot, happy meal over here so I can slyly squeeze his ass.” Ryan
whispered in my ear. I burst out laughing and looked over my shoulder.

Eli smirked, opening his arms. “All you have to do is ask, Ryan.”

Ryan’s cheeks turned several shades past embarrassed.

“He has exceptional hearing.” I winked at Ryan. “And a firm ass. I highly recommend feeling it at least once tonight.”

Ryan let his chagrin roll off him. It never lasted long with him. He searched the porch where Castien stood. “Do you mind, honey?”

Castien shook his head and waved his hand, giving him the go-ahead. Mark stood next to Castien smiling at all of us. I hoped it took him back to the many nights Ryan and Kennedy came to the house, and we bantered very much like this.

Mark was my next hug victim. “It’s my birthday. Eli-ass for everyone,” I exclaimed as I headed for my dad.

“Feeling like a piñata,” Eli mumbled.

“Now you being a piñata is something I want to get in on.” Mom’s tone was less than humorous.

“Me, too!” Cal raised his hand.

I sighed, but kept my eyes on Mark. “Hi, Dad.” I threw my arms around him.

“It’s good to see you.” He squeezed me tightly. “Happy birthday, Sunny D.”

Torin had been standing there the whole time, his body filled with tension, and his eyes locked on Eli. “You brought him here?”

I wanted to have a good night, but things needed to be dealt with before the fun could happen. “All right. Before we go on, we need to get something straight. ” I turned and faced my mother. “I know you believe Eli was there to harm us in the castle, but he wasn’t.”

Mom’s contradiction already formed in her mouth.

I held up my hand. “He came there to
stop
Lorcan. When you saw him in the hallway, he was on his way to try to prevent his brother from following through with Aneira’s plan.” I kept my voice strong as I looked at everyone. Then my eyes landed on Mom and Eli. “I think you two need to go hash out all the details because you are both in my life. You will have to learn to get along since I will not choose between you or be sandwiched in your feud. The rest of us will start getting drunk.” I turned and went in the cabin.

Torin’s face contorted with a frown, and he hurried down the stairs. His arms swung stiffly at his sides as he disappeared into the forest.

“Well, no birthday cake for him.” Cal swooped into the room.

“Sir Torin has been through a lot,” Simmons contested. “You cannot deprive him of cake as well.” I snorted. To them, depriving anyone of either sugar or alcohol was a sin beyond measure. Cruel and unusual punishment.

“I hope we have the ingredients to prepare a cake.” Mark headed into the kitchen. “It’s not like you can run to the store or get a box of cake mix around the corner.”

“Do you have stores here?” I hadn’t even thought about how they were getting their food.

Thara leaned against the counter. “Of course we do, but the closest town is about twenty miles away. And they don’t have boxed anything. Nothing is processed here like it is on Earth.”

In some aspects, Fae were quite advanced, but in others, they were still in medieval times with their consumer markets. At least now they had refrigerators, lights, and other appliances which ran off solar power and magic. In a lot of ways, they were far better off without all the human devices. If the Queen didn’t murder humans, fast food would kill them for her.

Kennedy, Ryan, and Castien came into the house, but Eli and my mother didn’t. I peered out the door and saw the two of them walking off. Good. They would never like each other, but I wanted them to at least know the other’s story and come to some kind of truce.

Mark and Thara gathered everything they needed for a simple cake and dinner. I didn’t care if there was cake or any food. I only wanted to be with them.

For the next hour Kennedy, Ryan, and I caught up, laughing and crying through our adventures and stories since we last saw each other. As he cooked, Mark would pipe up with his version every once in a while. I was diligent about keeping the chef’s cup full. Mark’s cheeks were pink, and he was in an especially joyful mood by the time dinner was ready.

Ryan and I set the table while Castien and Kennedy sat on the sofa trading stories about Ryan.

“No, no, he does that when he gets mad.” Kennedy giggled.

“Does what?” Ryan dropped the silverware on the table, looking at them.

“Nothing.” Both Kennedy and Castien said in tandem, their eyes wide and innocent.

“At least have the decency to talk
behind
my back,” he teased.

“Then, how would you know what we thought of you,” I kidded as I set the plates around the table.

“I already know you think I am funny, devastatingly handsome, and have impeccable taste in clothes.”

I grinned. “I never said we told you the truth to your face.”

“Ha, ha.” He mocked laughing and then tried to look serious.

“Dinner’s ready. Where are Eli and Lily?” Mark grabbed the pot from the stove and placed it on the table.

Eli and my mom still hadn’t returned. “I’ll go see if I can find them.”

Cal and Simmons, who usually wanted to go with me, were already at their places, their empty drinking cups pounding on the table in revolt. “Fill de cup or we piss in
de pot!” Okay, Cal led the chant, but Simmons hit his cup on the table along with him.

“Better do as they ask, or we’ll have pixie pee in our stew.” I grabbed the door handle and headed into the dark. The late afternoon had turned black. Stars glinted overhead, but the moon cast enough light to allow me to see where I was going. My gut pulled me to Eli, and I knew he could feel me coming. Stepping into a clearing, I saw them standing there. Both had their arms folded over their chests and no smiles on their faces, but they were alive. A good sign.

Eli’s head curved in my direction. “No, we haven’t killed each other.”