Nova: Daughters of Darkness (10 page)

"You did all this?" he asked incredulously. There were plenty of dead bodies and body parts scattered about.

"I, ah," Nova cleared her throat, seeing the scene through his eyes. "Yes, um, I thought about running, but then something happened. It felt like a switch flipped inside of me and all this power and knowledge were just there. I realized that I don't just have an Earth talent; I can actually speak to all of Earth's creatures. Hence the dryads answering my call for help." Turning to the remaining trees, Nova spoke to them directly. "Dryads of the trees, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your help today. Words cannot express my gratitude, and I hope someday I can repay your bravery." The largest of the Dryads, the Yew that had saved her, slowly came forward and spoke telepathically to Nova.

"We came to aid you Earth guardian because you asked it of us. We are a peaceful race and prefer to remain that way, but please know that we would lay down our lives to protect one of our own. Use our assistance wisely guardian, knowing that you are potentially calling us to our deaths."
His voice was deep and rang with the strength of an ancient soul inside her head.

Nova bowed down on one knee and lowered her head in respect.

"You do not bow to us, young guardian. It is we who bow to you. You will rule with a great love and a brilliant light; always remember that we are here for more than battle companions. We can ease your pain and soothe your soul should you need us to."

Rising to stand before him once more, Nova asked, "What is your name, dryad?"

"I am called Eoghan."

"Thank you, Eoghan, for your strength and bravery. Thank you to all of you," Nova called out. "We will not forget what you did here today."

As one, the Dryads bowed their branches to Nova and slowly made their way back into the woods.

Back at the castle, Drake and Nova sat in the drawing room, trying to assimilate the afternoon's events. Nova stood, deciding to go wash off the grime and other unthinkable gunk from her hair. She had barely made it to the doorway when a bright light filled the room. Turning back to see what had caused it, she found a man who bore a remarkable resemblance to Drake. Immediately, she recognized him as the handsome guy that had sat next to Kyna on the plane. Looking directly at her, he acknowledged the connection.

"Larkin, how kind of you to bestow your presence on us after the war has been won." Drake said, walking over to the bar to pour a drink.

"War, Drake? That was but a battle; the war is still pending for you. The demons you failed to stop today are out there now following Felken, whom you failed to kill by the way, and his misguided words. Not to mention the humans that are gathering to stand against the evil you have unleashed on their world." he stated, waving his hand toward the television in the corner. It turned on to reveal a news channel running a story on all the riots and seemingly random acts of violence happening all over the world. Nova snatched up the remote and turned the volume up. Every channel she flipped to was running similar stories, followed by an announcement from the president of the United States that they were preparing to launch a full scale attack on the demon army. He was calling for all the nations' armies to unite against this common enemy.

Nova felt the cold wash of reality hit her. Here she was cavorting with the enemy and he still had his minions out there destroying the only home she knew. She dropped onto the settee with a humph, realizing that whatever she was feeling for him just wasn't enough to overcome his complete disregard for human life.

"Nova," Drake said, seeing her reaction. "I can stop this, I will stop this. Felken won't make it near you again." he continued, mistaking what it was that was actually bothering her.

She looked up at him sadly. "You think I am afraid of some freak demon who likes to prey on women?" she asked incredulously. "Drake, you couldn't be more wrong. I can handle him and all those like him; it's my feelings for you I can't handle. I should not feel this way about a man who holds such little value on life. My sisters and I exist with the sole purpose of killing you!" Getting heated now, she stood and began to pace. "What the hell was I thinking?" she said, talking to herself now. "Sitting here with some school girl fantasy about a man that isn't even real."

Drake looked as if she had slapped him. "You have no idea who I am." he said darkly.

Realizing she had spoken out loud, she responded, "Maybe not, but I know who you aren't, and that is the man for me. These feelings can't be real. They have a name for this; it's called Stockholm Syndrome. It's when a captive thinks they have feelings for their captor, so that's exactly what this is. Isn't it?" she trailed off, talking more to herself than to him again.

A huge grin split his face. "You have feelings for me?"

"Are you even listening to me, you idiot? I don't
want
to
have these kinds of feeling for you. I hate everything you stand for, no matter how noble you think your actions are." Nova yelled at him

Larkin came forward and laid his hand on her arm, "Let's all just calm down and take a step back." He gently tugged her arm until she literally took a step back from Drake and angled her body to face him. "I am Larkin, council leader of Valkala and Drake's brother. Allow me to apologize for my brother's behavior and to heal the burn on your back."

"Apologize for his behavior? Like he is a naughty child and not some revenge fueled demon bent on destroying the planet? He is killing people and holding me hostage; I'd say you should do a hell of a lot more than apologize. Aren't you some kind of leader? Can't you stop him?" At Larkin's prodding, Nova turned, exposing the burn on her back. She hissed when he placed his hands over the burn; an intense heat rushed into her back, only to be replaced by a gentle cooling sensation. Stretching her hand up behind her, she was surprised when she encountered smooth skin. "Incredible." Nova managed, in awe of his healing power.

Turning Nova back to face him, Larkin raised one perfectly shaped golden eyebrow at her accusations. "As much as I admire your spunk, Miss O'Reilly, I will not stand here and allow you to berate me or my position. This thing with Drake goes back long before your time and is much more complicated than you seem to realize."

Nova scoffed at him, "Oh, please, don't patronize me. I understand that your world banished him, and somehow, someone decided to create a backup plan, aka me and my sisters, in the event he should ever escape. Well, FYI, Larkin, backup plan in motion here." Nova walked out of the drawing room. Even with knowing that she had her powers back, she still headed up to her room to think of a game plan. One thing she knew for sure, she was safe here...for now.

Chapter 17

Walking into the kitchen to make some tea, Kyna saw Rían sitting at the table with a cup and the kettle already in front of him. Snagging a mug from the cupboard, she went to join him.

"Good morning!" she said brightly.

"Good Morning to you, Kyna." he responded, a little subdued.

Kyna sat down facing Rían, and poured herself some tea. "Listen, I know you're worried, but we'll find Nova, and Branna will come around. She knows this isn't your fault. As for Nova, she's the strongest of us three and can handle her own. She'll be fine when we find her. Probably super pissed, but fine."

"I am not seeking Branna's forgiveness. She is spoiled and temperamental, and vulgar. I am not concerned with how she feels about me." he said, with forced indifference.

They heard a gasp and they both turned to find Branna standing in the doorway.

"So I'm spoiled and temperamental, am I?" Branna said, as she walked to the cupboard to get a mug for tea; purposely ignoring the vulgar remark. I mean, really, who gives a fuck what he thinks, right? "Guess it's better than being a fairy boy with no useful talents or powers." She smirked at Rían.

Right before her eyes, Rían disappeared. One minute he was sitting there and the next he was gone. Kyna and Branna looked at each other with confused expressions, when the tea kettle floated through the air toward Branna's mug. Their confusion turned to amusement when Rían reappeared in front of Branna, holding the kettle and pouring tea into her cup.

There was a beat of stunned silence, before Branna said, "So you can become invisible. That's useful...if you want to watch someone while they're naked." she said sarcastically.

Shaking his head, Rían set the kettle down on the counter. "Your sarcasm is redundant Branna. Do you have nothing better to do than argue with me? Believe me, I can find better ways to use your smart mouth." he said, advancing on her and invading her personal space.

Branna's sarcastic amusement turned to irritation, "Oh, please. Is that supposed to be a threat?" she asked, placing her cup on the counter, freeing her hands in case she needed to slap the shit out of his face.

"If you prefer. You always have your hackles up, waiting for the next opportunity to unleash your sharp tongue. Just once, woman, let it go."

Kyna sat there in wide eyed surprise and admiration of Rían, before Branna really unleashed.

"Well, excuse me if my attitude doesn't please his royal highn
ass
-"

Rían captured her lips in a fiery kiss. Thoroughly stopping her tirade when his tongue invaded her mouth, as his hands fisted in her hair. He pulled her head back, almost to the point of pain. Branna had never been kissed with such passionate anger; her mind was swimming in sensation. She reached her hands up under his shirt, running them over the ridges of his abs, needing to touch him. Rían pulled his mouth from hers with a growl and grabbed her hands to stop them. Stepping back, he looked down at her with anger and lust warring in his eyes.

"Looks like I found a way to shut you up, woman." Rían said, turning and walking out of the room.

"Holy shit, fairy boy." Branna said under her breath; stunned and a little off balance from the toe curling kiss. Bringing her shaking hand up to her mouth, she touched her swollen, tingling lips.

"And stop calling me fairy boy!" He yelled, as he stalked through the doorway, disappearing down the hall.

Branna, feeling aroused, embarrassed and pissed because
he
had
left her that way; flipped the bird at his retreating back.

"Wow, someone got the best of Branna O'Reilly. I'm so happy that I got to see that for myself or I never would have believed it." Kyna said, laughing like a fool.

Branna gave her the worst stink eye she could manage and flipped her off too, but she ended up laughing right along with her because, truth be told, he had gotten the best of her. Man oh man, was his best smoking hot! Branna was startled from her lustful thoughts when Kyna cried out, falling from her chair, back arched in pain.

"Kyna! What's wrong?" Branna dropped to her knees beside her sister, searching for the source of Kyna's pain.

Kyna's eyes were scrunched in pain, and she cried out again. "It's Nova; it feels like my back is on fire. She must be in trouble." Looking up at Branna, her eyes filling with tears, she said, "We need to find her now." Getting to her feet, Kyna she ran into the living room. Branna followed, already putting herself mentally in battle mode. Vaguely, she heard the front door open, but kept going, not caring who it was.

"Girls!" Decklin called out as he closed the door behind him. Seeing Kyna's distress, he hurried to explain what he had found in Tir Na Nog. "Wait, I know yer feeling Nova's pain right now, lass, but she's fine. She was in a battle and somehow we were able to locate her. I believe Drake lifted whatever cloak he had on her powers, and King Magnus was able to see her in the pool of light."

"The pool of light?" Branna asked.

"The pool of light is really just a small well inside the castle at Tir Na Nog. My father uses the pool to see things. He can locate people, see the past, and sometimes see future events if the fates deem it necessary." Rían answered as he came into the living room. "Like your grandfather, I am going to assume that Drake had a reason to lift the block he had on Nova in order for her powers to be returned and my father to locate her. He knows how this all works; he has been around for a very long time."

Branna and Kyna both sprang into action, gathering their weapons and anything else they thought they would need.

Kyna strapped her knives to her legs and looked at Decklin and Rían, "So why are we still standing here? My sister is hurt, so let's go, now." She finished forcefully when they stood there staring at her.

"Yes, lass, we can go." Decklin finally replied, surprised by Kyna's aggression. It was out of character for her to act that way.

Rían led them all out the front door. After receiving Nova's location telepathically from his father; he waved his hand as if to erase the air, opening a portal to take them there. With no hesitation, the girls stepped through the strange,glimmering screen. Kyna was the first to come through on the other side. She was greeted by the sight of a beautiful keep surrounded by what were once majestic castle walls. The crumbling stone spoke of centuries past and the battle that befell the people that had lived within its protection. Being an intuitive, Kyna could feel the torment and sorrow that seemed to seep from the soil.

Branna, coming through behind her, stopped short when she saw a familiar look on Kyna's face. A look that said Kyna was lost in someone else's emotions. "Kyna, these people died a long time ago, your grief is wasted here. We need to move on."