Fire Unleashed (Reign of Fae Book 3) Read online

  Chloe swallowed hard, but couldn’t. The lump stuck in her throat as if it were made of sand. She became keenly aware of just how mortal and insignificant she was at that very moment.

  Should she take the sword, give herself a fighting chance against the vampire? She assumed that as his hunger grew, so too would his threats, especially with how much she seemed to antagonize him and how easily the sword had affected him as well. No. she thought. She had to keep on equal footing with Mordecai and show no fear. Instead of taking the weapon, she motioned for him to place it back on the bed. For now, she was more worried about what the sword might do to her and the hungry vampire than the threat the vampire posed alone.

  Mordecai straightened his shirt. “Best figure out what you’re going to do with it and quick.” He tossed it back on the bed. “Most fae aren’t as...generous as I am.”

  Her expression must have revealed how much she still didn’t trust him.

  “I serve Primu...Bram. I always will.”

  Chloe gathered her courage and remained defiant. “Lock the door on your way out.”

  Mordecai’s eyes sparkled. He seemed intrigued by her spunk and tenacity. “I’ll leave you to it then.” He excused himself, headed for the door, and started to shut it behind him.

  “Mordecai?” Chloe rolled her eyes at herself and stopped him.

  The door slid open and he looked at her.

  “Thank you.” She sighed. Without his help, she didn’t know how long she would have been affected by the sword.

  The master vampire nodded once. “I’ll get you to the Spree, when you’re ready. You have my word.” His demeanor seemed genuine.

  “Still…” Chloe added, relieving the tension in the air. “Keep Talon away from my friends.”

  “Ha!” Mordecai let out a single loud boisterous laugh. “Your wish is my command.” Grinning affectionately, he closed the door. Seconds later he jiggled the knob over dramatically, letting her know it was indeed locked before he chuckled and walked downstairs.

  She laughed, realizing just how easily he could use his vampiristic strength and tumble the door to the ground. It was odd, but she had to admit, the master vampire had his charms.

  Her stomach disagreed though. Another wave of nausea hit her. She ran to the bathroom and heaved into the toilet. Bile and what was left of the black sludge from Mary’s elixir of portal travelling goo splashed against the porcelain. It was a sad sight. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten either. Wiping at her mouth she got up and started pulling her dark-blonde hair into a messy bun as she looked in the mirror.

  The tiny butterfly still nestled in her hair looked back at her. “I’m sorry, Little Blue. I completely forgot you were there.” Still feeling out of sorts from the effects of the sword, she decided to rest for a moment.

  Walking to the bedroom window, Chloe sat on the sill, and took a moment to enjoy the view of an unscorched morning sky. A small group below was planting communal gardens and fields of crops. Farther out, she listened to the hammering of nails as people reinforced their homes, while others trained novices to defend themselves with the clink of metal clashing together. Neighbor helping neighbor warmed her heart. Scattered plumes of smoke against the mass of big beautiful blue sky however reminded her that the damage from the scorch would take quite a while to repair. She quietly hoped the world could recover from the devastation and thrive. Living without electricity, vehicles, and modern conveniences was going to be tough, but it could have its advantages and make the world stronger too.

  Another worry for another time though, isn’t that right, Little Blue? Holding her hand out in front of her, she called the magical butterfly down from her hair. He landed on her fingertip. “You know you don’t belong to me right?” She stated it matter-of-factly more than a question and lifted the window all the way up. “I mean, because if there’s some weird fae oath, or debt, or binding you feel you have towards me, you don’t. You are free from it, okay? You’re free.”

  Little Blue held his front legs out in front of him, like a human clasping their hands together in excitement, and nodded.

  “I mean, you can come visit me whenever you want though. But only if you want to. You don’t belong to anyone. Remember that. Okay?” Chloe gasped with a sudden realization. “Do I owe you a debt?” A price she would gladly pay for all he had done for her.

  Little Blue shook his head. Freeeeee. He spoke inside her mind.

  “That’s right. Free.” A single tear fell down Chloe’s face. She felt like she was losing everything and everyone around her.

  Little Blue flew up and kissed her tear stained cheek. A bright white light flashed between them and a square piece of silver cloth floated down into Chloe’s lap. It looked like the same metallic-silver fabric Mary had used to see past glamours when Chloe first met the witch.

  Hamadryad Forest, see beyond...see Mary. Little Blue waved goodbye and flew out the window. His tiny body shattered into a million pieces of white light, scattering across the blue sky, before disappearing from her world. Never far. His faint whisper echoed in her ears.

  She looked down at the silver cloth still sitting in her hands. What the hell is Hamadryad Forest? She wondered. Little Blue’s direction gave her hope on being able to find Mary, even though she had no idea on how to start, but she had to try. Removing her faery whips from the ribs of the dress’ corset, she wrapped them around her wrists and changed into jeans and a t-shirt from the pile Cat must have collected for everyone to share.

  Chloe folded the silver cloth and put it in her front pocket. Then an idea struck her. She pulled the cloth back out of her pocket, turned her attention to the bed, and looked at the seemingly benign sword handle laying there. It had been her constant companion and security pretty much since the fae had scorched the earth. She didn’t even know if she’d be able to wield it again. Wondering if looking through the cloth would reveal something unusual about the sword the way it stripped away most glamours, she peered at the Horseman blade through the witch cloth. Nothing. She thought to herself. Defeated, Chloe dropped her hands to her sides and spoke to the sword as if it understood her. “Now what am I supposed to do with you?”

  “What the Hell is that?!” Chloe looked at the circular pattern on the ground in Hadley’s backyard and the symbol within it. Mordecai had traced the oddity into the grass with some sort of thick black liquid.

  “I could ask you the same.” Mordecai had his tailored jacket back on and his tie was, once again, perfectly knotted in place. He pulled a neatly folded pocket square from his breast pocket, flicked the paisley fabric open, and wiped the same black liquid from his palm. Patterns of the thick inky fluid smeared across the elegant lavender colored handkerchief like an angry Rorschach inkblot. He folded the silk neatly again, but this time, placed it in an interior pocket. “What the Hell is that?” Parroting her question, he looked to the old rusty metal toolbox she was carrying. “The sword?” He chuckled.

  “It was the only thing made out of iron I could find that was small enough to carry.” Chloe shrugged. “I thought maybe it might dampen the blade’s effect on me.”

  “Clever...and is it?” Mordecai asked.

  Chloe rolled her eyes. “I’m sure you’ll be the first to know if Bladezilla resurfaces.” She motioned to the ground. “Now, what is that?”

  He lit the pattern on fire and purple flames erupted into the air. “That, is the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic symbol for ‘life’...”

  “Yes, I know what an ankh is. I meant, what is it for?”

  Mordecai bowed at the waist overdramatically and gestured to the purple flames. “Your portal awaits, butterfly girl.”

  Chloe watched as conjured snakes materialized and slithered away and cockroaches crawled out of the fiery circle and into the grass before they all vanished from existence. “That takes us to the Spree?!”

  He let out a self-satisfied chuckle. “Not exactly.”

  Chloe gave him a look that demanded answers befor
e she would even consider going anywhere with him.

  “That takes us to Crimson Hollow. We need to keep as low a profile as possible in case Avery has any trackers looking for you through regular means of travel. From there we can get to the Spree undetected.”

  “How do you know we’ll be undetected?”

  “Because most fae don’t know of Crimson Hollow’s existence.” Chloe was giving him a confused look so he elaborated. “Think of it like a VIP lounge of sorts at a rock concert with a backstage pass to the Spree, but only for the cool kids, you know...vampires.”

  “Sounds shady and seedy. What do you mean exactly?”

  “It’s a safe haven for all vampires. All of us, from the Highborn Caste like yours truly,” he gave her a sinister wink, “to your very own humans turned children of the night.”

  Chloe gave him a horrified look. “Great, I’m going to die. Some bloodthirsty human that just turned is going to drain me dry and I’m going to die.” She gasped. “Oh God...or worse!”

  Mordecai laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous. None will turn you without your permission, and most vampires have their bloodlust under control, even newly turned humans. The stereotype has been highly exaggerated and quite offensive, really.”

  “Okay.” She drew out the word, not believing him, but decided to change the subject anyway. The thought of drinking blood, especially anything resembling the black demon fluid on the ground and Mordecai’s handkerchief, turned her stomach. “Can all vampires travel this way?”

  “No,” Mordecai admitted. “Only a select few.”

  “Then why don’t we just take it directly into the Spree?”

  “Now why didn’t I think of that?” He mocked. “Nothing gets passed the Spree’s wards, nothing. Especially now since...” Mordecai got quiet, possibly contemplating what had been powerful enough to penetrate the Spree’s defenses.

  “Is it...is this dark magic?” Her skin was still crawling from the thought of the realistic snakes that had slithered out from the circle.

  “In the simplest terms...yes.”

  “I was wrong. I’m not going to die; I’m holding you to that too by the way...” Chloe huffed. “I’m going to Hell, for using your demon portal.”

  “Then I shall have the best company for all eternity.”

  Chloe’s eyes went wide.

  “Kidding. Well, about you going to Hell anyway.”

  She furrowed her brow.

  “I have no disillusions of what awaits me on the other side of death.” Mordecai pulled what looked like a black metal business card from his side pocket and began turning it in his hand. An ankh appeared in the center of the card and began to glow a bright shade of amethyst. “Let’s just say an unsavory deal I made long ago has given me the extreme desire to stay alive.” He flung the card into the fiery circle on the ground and the card disappeared. “Assisting you seems the best way to ensure War does not relieve me of my head.”

  “Crimson Hollow, huh? Okay, what the hell...I’m ready. Let’s go.”

  “First, we must welcome one of my personal consorts. Nefra will be keeping Talon company in our absence.”

  Chloe shot him an appalled look.

  “What? You said keep him away from your friends, did you not? She insures that.” He took a step closer to Chloe. “I know what the Four Horsemen mean to your society throughout history and still, you chose to bed one of them. I can still smell him on you!” Mordecai tugged at his lapels and made sure they were smooth against his chest. “So, don’t go getting all judgy on me now, butterfly girl.”

  “I, uh…” Chloe was spared having to defend herself by the consort’s arrival.

  Nefra looked like an Egyptian Goddess reincarnated as she glided, burn-free, through the circle of purple flames, and towards Mordecai’s awaiting arms. Long lean legs swept passed Chloe and the Goddess’ neck, that went on for days, carried an air of aristocracy. To say she was stunning was an understatement. Her gold dress poured over her body like molten metal that matched the shimmer of her skin. Simple gold rings decorated each of her fingers, and reminded Chloe far too closely of her own claiming bands. Chloe blushed, wondering what the life of a vampire’s consort entailed.

  “You’ll find Talon in the house.” Mordecai gestured to Professor Hadley’s cottage. “He’s not to touch the other humans.”

  Other hu...she’s human? Chloe had to contain her gasp of shock. She had been so certain Nefra was a Highborn Fae or another immortal of some kind. But human?

  Nefra nodded her head as Mordecai caressed her wrist at its pulse point. She didn’t seem in any rush to excuse herself and go in search of Talon. Her master vampire had a deep hunger lingering in his eyes and she remained at his side, possibly to satiate that desire.

  Chloe had only seen a glimmer of that hunger once before, when he had grabbed the sword from her bed. “This all seems like a pretty big gamble.” She said, hoping to distract herself from what she knew was about to take place.

  Mordecai gave Chloe a curious look.

  “You, betting on me, the underdog?” Chloe felt small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things compared to the power and magic everyone around her wielded so effortlessly. “I’m sure Avery…”

  “Avery killed her own brother on a whim, simply because she wondered if she could. Do you honestly think a very killable vampire means anything to her?!”

  “How do I know I can trust you?”

  “You don’t.” He gave her a smile that was purely devilish. “I go whichever way the winds of self-preservation blow. And right now they are blowing your way. My remaining in the land of the living is in both our best interests.”

  A jolt of panic shot through her. Chloe tried to back away and was met by the unmoving rough bark of a tree trunk. “I’m not naming you a Horseman, if that’s what you’re after.”

  “Ha!” Mordecai gave a single resounding evil laugh. “Now wouldn’t that be interesting.” He stared Chloe down with a seductive glint in his eye that was all for her as his fangs extended and he sank his teeth deep into Nefra’s wrist.

  “How about now?” Mordecai’s voice came up from behind her.

  “No.” Chloe rolled her eyes. He’d been asking her the same annoying question over and over, trying to get under her skin, and not really believing she’d ever say yes to the request.

  “What about…” Mordecai paused for dramatic effect, “now?”

  “No.” She had to laugh.

  “Now?”

  “Okay, now you’re just being fucking obnoxious.” Music she could only describe as Gothic Rock was blaring at ear shattering decibels ever since they portaled into Crimson Hollow. Still, Chloe looked around suspiciously and whispered. “I’m not naming you a Horseman.”

  “Can’t even dare to make life just a little bit more interesting, can you?”

  “More interesting for who, you, or the millions you’d torment?”

  “I would never!” Mordecai feigned feeling offended by her stinging jab. “Okay, you got me. But come on, this little quest of yours is boring. Wouldn’t you rather stay here and have some fun?” Mordecai seemed drunk off the ambience within Crimson Hollow and feeding from Nefra’s vein. “This mansion is an oasis compared to what’s out there. C’mon, live a little.”

  The expansive mansion slowly began to reveal itself as Chloe’s eyes adjusted to the darkness. Chloe couldn’t be sure, since they had portaled into the center of the room, but what appeared to be the entrance into Crimson Hollow was a wall of stone, lined with not just one, but dozens of Gothic arches, and heavy wooden doors. Each door was painted bright red, with large pointed metal forged hinges, and brass knobs. The rest of the walls she once thought merely painted black were actually flocked in wallpaper with scrolling patterns of dark greys. Massive chandeliers dimly lit the grand room. The hundreds of black crystals looked like melting glass, dripping from each pendant in a macabre elegance. Intimate seating vignettes were scattered throughout the space, draped with curtains mad
e of silver chainmail. And each contained Victorian-style sofas and oversized chairs in rich red velvets, black leathers, and gray paisley fabrics. Sitting within each vignette were groups of people, vampires and consorts mostly, Chloe assumed. Most groups were simply chatting, drinking from crystal glasses, and laughing, enjoying each other’s company, but others were gorging on blood straight from the veins of their consorts. Each intimate embrace was less gruesome than she would have imagined. Some were so discreet that if she didn’t know what she was witnessing, she would have missed it.

  Chloe looked away in disgust anyway. “You and I have very different ideas of what it means to be alive.”

  Mordecai stopped and gave her a grin that said otherwise. His pleasurable smile was so evil, she could have sworn he was the Devil himself. He arched an eyebrow, “Oh?”

  “I’m nothing like you.” She declared.

  “Are you so sure?” His voice dripped with a lust for everything decadent. “The Horseman’s blade only amplified what you were truly feeling. So tell me, are you and I really that different, butterfly girl?”

  “Stop calling me that.”

  “Touchy, touchy...as you wish.”

  “You keep trying to make that name sound derogatory, but it reminds me of Bram, from the time we first met to the last time we were together. It will always remind me of him, not you!” Chloe spat.

  Mordecai hovered over her, his body only a breadth away from her own. “Then why would you want me to stop?”

  She pushed the iron toolbox into his chest and shoved him away as hard as she could. He stumbled backwards with the grace of a predatory cat who always landed on his feet. More importantly, she knew he had let her overpower him.

  One of the arched red doors flew open. Several vampires and their consorts entered laughing and clinging to one another, carefree to the horrors still plaguing the world outside. Chloe swore she caught a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France behind them before the door crept closed on its own.