The Lightest Dark (The Dark series Book 1) (8 page)

On my arm, slowly winding its way around were the same black vines with metallic undertones as Dark's with two exceptions. One, it was nowhere near as big Two, it had eleven silver roses randomly sprouting out of the vines. I stared at what looked like real roses imbedded in my skin in disbelief.

Closing my eyes, I took a deep, cleansing breath. Regardless of the fact that I had what I was always told were the markings of demons, these men were here to help get Ryan. I could ask Cillian, or Dark what they really meant later… if my lack of patience didn’t win out first. Instead I tried to focus on the task at hand.

If seeing Ryan ordered to be killed hadn't been enough to alleviate the guilt of what we were about to do, these markings sealed it for me. No one likes being lied to and to lie about something so simple made me wonder just how much of what I had been taught was lies. Rather than give in to the feeling of hysteria I felt building, I shook it off.

Cillian moved toward me while the rest of the men he’d come back with began to move deeper into the forest. I forced a half smile as what might happen started to hit me again and while I was upset at myself for falling into old patterns with Dark, I was also grateful to him for a reprieve, however small it had been.

As the last of the men left, Cillian turned to Dark. "They will await their commands at the edge of the forest. They’ve been instructed to try and clear a path to the edge so that we might leave here in peace. We need a plan and seeing as you are the one who has been there most recently, I assumed that you might have a few suggestions."

I looked between the two. I guess I could get why he wouldn't ask me. I had been comatose for a bit there. Still, I knew the best way into the compound that we'd have no problem getting in and out unseen. After all, I’d created it.

I waited to see if Dark suggested anything, but he seemed strangely silent. I raised a finger, "I have a suggestion." They both turned to me startled. I guess they hadn't expected me to have any kind of input. Too bad. This was my brother and no one stood to lose more than me with this endeavor other than Ryan himself.

"What did you have in mind Highness?"

"Okay, first stop calling me that. My name is Cali, not Highness. Second, I need to know what you have planned for those men before we storm the hypothetical gates since Dark destroyed the real ones."

Cillian raised an eyebrow at that. "Well I had planned on letting Dark take the lead on this rescue. Given the fact you just said he destroyed a gate on his last endeavor, I'm now more inclined to listen to you."

"Well, I know a way in that no one knows about." Dark made to speak, but I cut him off. "No. Not even Tristan. Despite what you’ve always thought and voiced
very
loudly, I've never shared
everything
with him. He still to this day has no idea it was you who I was seeing, nor how far it went."

I ignored the look of disbelief, turning back to Cillian. "So I know of a way in that no one knows about. I guess all you need to figure out now is how we’re getting there.”

“Well, I guess we should head out and gather the men then. One of my men has the ability to transport a large group of people so that’s how we’ll be getting there.” He started off into the trees Dark and I following close behind. I swallowed down the lump in my throat and started to prepare myself for the worst.

It took a little longer than planned to get everyone organized, but after we had, it was smooth sailing. Turns out the guy needed some kind of visual description to get anywhere and I was sadly lacking when it came to where I was going to be leading them in since I hadn’t been outside the gates above ground.

Dark was able to take care of giving an image of an area far enough away from the compound that we wouldn’t be spotted by Guardians patrolling, or lookouts since he knew the blind spots outside the walls better than I did. Once there, I started to lead them to my secret place.

Dark stood beside me as we walked. Cillian and the rest followed closely behind us. In all the planning, they had decided it would be best to have Dark and I go ahead and the rest to follow at a distance just in case we ran into trouble.

I was seriously hoping that didn’t happen, but I was happy to have the help if it did. Hopefully everything went according to plan. I'd hate to see how this would turn out if the entirety of the compound got involved.

After about ten minutes of walking along a deserted beach, we finally reached the rock bridge where the underground cavern I’d created as a practice area for my magic was hidden. Granted this being Florida there was always a risk of flooding, but as far as I knew it had been holding up fairly well, although anything can happen in a week.

Just look at what happened to me. I'd blacked out, been attacked, got kidnapped by said attacker, escaped by running into a forest, and learned I was a rare member of the Fae, whatever the heck that entailed. And let’s not forget about the creatures that are suddenly waking after being asleep for hundreds of years. All of that happening in the span of one night and most of the day. So yeah. A lot could have gone wrong in a week.

I walked up to the side of the bridge and pressed in a small black rock buried under the sand before quickly moving away as the stones that made up the door began to shift outward revealing a set of stairs. I started to step in when Dark pulled me back, stepping in front of me.

He gave me a guarded look, “I’ll go first just in case.”

I shrugged, “Suit yourself, but there’s a reason no one knows about this place. If anyone had found out about it, I would have had some serious problems. Tristan included.” If they made it out alive that is. I wasn’t about to mention that though. Let him find out on his own. It was definitely going to be amusing.

“Well then why are you showing me, let alone the rest of those guys?” he sounded genuinely confused and I could understand why. I hadn’t exactly been quiet about the fact that I didn’t entirely trust him earlier.

“I’m showing this to you all because keeping my secret isn’t as important to me as my brother’s life, even if that secret could ruin mine.”

He stopped mid step to look back at me, his brows furrowed as he searched my face. “You’re serious aren’t you? You would really give up your life to save his?”

“In a heartbeat. He’s not just blood, he’s family. If losing a part of myself means saving him then I won’t hesitate. Not even for a second and I know he feels the same for me. That’s what family is to me. Looking out and being there for each other through the good and the bad no matter what.”

He seemed torn about something as he looked away and started down the small hall at the end of the stairs. I had a split second to grab his shirt and pull him back as he stepped on a stone that activated a booby-trap. Good thing I heard the click.

He gave me an incredulous look as three arm length axes embedded themselves in the opposite wall. I just shrugged again. I seemed to be doing a lot of that lately, but then nothing explained the feeling of indifference, or not knowing quite like a shrug.

“What the hell was that?”

“Booby-trap. There’s another five of them before we reach the cavern then when we get inside I’ll have to be quick and hit a switch on the other side of the room, or it’ll start to fill with sand.”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously. In fact, we should probably set off all the traps so none of the others get hurt. Might be detrimental to our goal if a man lost an arm, or someone got burned. Both could happen down here and I'd rather not have that on my conscience.”

“Yeah, we don't want that.” He was wide-eyed and looking at me like I’d lost my mind. Honestly it was a real possibility at the time. I’d been creating all these things two years ago after my mother had died and they told me Dark was dead as well.

I think this was my coping mechanism. I should probably mention that. I don't want him to think I'd lost it when we were in a hall full of traps. Might end up being detrimental to
our
health as well. Especially if he decided I needed to be tied up again.

“In my defense, this was after they told me about you and my Mom. I had also just gotten done reading a few books about ancient Egypt and the pyramids, both real and fiction. I told you no one knows about this place. No. One. Not even Ryan and I tell him just about everything. So do you still want to be in the lead?”

“No, I think it’s safe to say no one is down here lurking. We would have caught sight of a body part and a bloody weapon.” I raised a brow at that one, but made no comment. He was probably right despite how gruesome that sounded.

I made my way forward and started activating each of the traps I’d set into place years before. In all honesty, I was surprise at how well they worked. It just let me know that all the practice had been paying off at the time, regardless of how irrational I’d been. Still was, if I’m being honest. Being down here at all after everything in the last day and a half was proof of that.

The second trap I’d set were flames shooting out from all sides of the wall. Third had been Throwing knives. Fourth were a set of three inch spikes coming out of the floor and ceiling and was a bit difficult to avoid, but I’d managed and last but not least the ball. My favorite trap at the time, but now I was questioning what I’d been thinking.

“So I have to ask before this last trap just in case. How strong are you?”

“How do you mean?”

“I mean; this last trap is a giant rolling ball that takes out everything in its path. If I’m not able to do what I want, which I doubt will happen, but still. If it does, are you going to be able to stop it from trampling us because there is no way in hell that I can.”

“I’ll be able to stop it.”

I sighed. “I’m both happy and disappointed. It seems that everyone, but me has that ability.” Well, and Ryan, but I think I remember Mom saying he’d get that ability at around my age. Not fair.

He chuckled. “That’s because you’re a female. Your strength isn’t meant to be physical. The men of our race are said to have physical strength so that they’re able to protect the women and children from bodily harm while the women nurture and protect the soul. That’s how it’s always been, although there have been a few females who gained that ability on rare occasions.”

“That’s stupid.” I grumbled and he laughed at me again. I was starting to get irritated, but then I always had at this subject and he knew it. I didn’t like being the only kid in the sandbox with a shovel, but no pail. If I had it my way, I'd have both plus my own sandbox so no one could bother me while I built my sand empire. Sadly, life doesn't work like that. At least not when you play fairly anyway.

“Quit your pouting and look at it this way. Let say- hypothetically of course- that you’re pregnant and someone, or something is after you. Would you want to have to protect not just yourself and your unborn child, but everyone around you,
or
would you rather be able to rest and keep yourself safe for the child while your mate protects you and anyone else in danger?”

“That’s a stupid example.” I'm sure I was still pouting, because he looked about ready to burst out laughing.

“Why?”

“Because it makes me feel like my anger at being left out is petty and unwarranted. I don’t like it. Let me hold on to my unrealistic expectations of egalitarianism. I’m still young enough that I won't be in that kind of situation, so I’m allowed and I’m taking full advantage. Besides what if my mate gets knocked out? Who’d protect me then?”

He laughed again. “You really haven’t changed all that much, have you?”

“No, but you have.” It wasn’t meant as a jab, and thankfully he didn’t take it that way.

“I did, but not as much as you think. I’m not the monster that the Council would have you believe. In fact, being outside the compound, I’ve learned a lot of what they fed us was lies.”

I sighed, looking at my arm that now had what I was always told were the marks of a demon. I was pretty sure now that that wasn’t the case. “Yeah, I’m starting to get that. I always knew that some of the crud that they told us was bunk, but this goes way beyond what I imagined.” Instead of dwelling and getting upset, I set my mind back to the task at hand. “Is there anything we need at the moment, or maybe for later? Clothes, food, a year supply of funny hats?”

“What?”

I rolled my eyes, “Just answer the question.”

“There’s nothing I can think of off the top of my head right now.”

“A wardrobe for me it is then.” He gave me a confused look as I hit the stone that would activate the huge ball and ultimately reveal the power that I’d been hiding for the better part of a decade. In all honesty I was more relieved than upset about it.

I concentrated, waiting until it was three feet from us before changing it. Now instead of a giant ball set out to squish us, there was a duffle bag filled with the clothing I’d always wanted, but was never able to have because it was too flashy to have been found or made at the compound, or found in one of the preserved buildings.

“The wall was you!” He sounded accusatory and as hard as he’d hit that wall I couldn’t blame him.

Still, I couldn’t help but say, “In my defense, I didn’t know what the hell you were. I couldn’t see you and as far as my knowledge goes, only fallen and seekers have wings like yours.” He picked up the bag before I could grab it and we were on our way again. I shook my head, “I can’t believe that was only last night.”

“Yeah, it’s amazing how fast things can change.”

“Speaking of last night, I have a strange question.”

“Ask away, although, I reserve the right to refuse to answer.” I smiled at my words being thrown back at me.

“Fair enough. Last night while you were trying to breaking through the gate, I had a really weird reaction and I want to know if that was because of you, or was it just a coincidence.” I thought about all that had happened that night. “Or maybe, considering recent events, it may have been Tristan for some unknown reason, but still I’d like to figure out what the hell happened to me in those few moments.”

“Okay. What exactly happened to you?”

Before I could answer we were at the cavern I’d created and I was running down the second set of stairs and across the room to hit the switch. Thankfully I’d made it just in time.

I gave him a minute to take it all in before answering. “So, in all honesty, I’m not exactly sure what the hell happened to me. One minute I was okay and the next I’m blacking out and I have a feeling like I’m swimming through fog, trapped in my own mind. I've never felt, nor heard of anyone feeling like that. I thought maybe you might have.”

He stood studying the walls while he answered, “I think it was a reaction to my echo. It’s a very rare reaction that sometimes happens to younger Fae who are almost in their growth stage.” his voice sounded slightly distracted, but at least he was answering me.

Not that I understood the answer, but still. Something was better than nothing at this point. At least I knew there was an explanation and I hadn’t had a mental episode, or something of the like.

Honestly, the way things had been going I wouldn't have been surprised. Good to know I hadn't completely lost it. It really is the little things we should be grateful for.

Seeing as how he didn't look like he was going to be moving away from my walls anytime soon, I settled myself in to wait.