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Chapter 29: Memory
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Darkness Chapter 30: Nexus Point
On my walk back to the apartment, I read through the paper. It had a list of ingredients, a drawing of a pentagram with mathematical looking symbols in it, and, as would be proper for any insane black magic spell, a chant to go along with it. However, to my surprise, it was in English. The first task was to find a nexus point. Scratch that. The first task was to figure out what the hell a nexus point was.It was still before sunset, so I took a detour to the local library. It was small, but still open. I nodded to the librarian at the desk as I walked past the entrance. There weren't many people around, or other "people" either. I did see one with pink skin, but she looked fairly normal. I hoped she didn't catch me staring.I sat at one of the computer desks. It had a flat screen monitor, one of those all-in-one PCs, a small mouse, and keyboard. Once upon a time, I too had a computer, but not recently. I had to pawn it to pay rent a few months ago. I logged in under my library userna
Darkness Chapter 31: Store
I kept my steps lively as I marched down the street towards the store. I only needed a few things. I jammed my hand in my tote bag and fished around for my wallet. I had twenty dollars and some change. That should be enough for some campfire food. I ducked into Grocer Outlet. I knew I shouldn't be here, but it was the cheapest place to get food.I darted around the aisle to avoid eye contact with my manger. If I was careful, I could get out of here without getting seen by anyone that would rat on me. I sunk in low as I waited for the manger to pass."What are you doing?" Angie asked.I nearly jumped out of my skin. I knocked several cans of beans from the shelves as I danced around in an awkward spin to avoid stepping on them and to get a better look at the intruder trying to blow my cover."Shut up," I breathed. "I'm trying to be covert here."His stony face stared at me."What are you doing?" He repeated."Why do you care?" I whispered harshly. "I'm not in any danger so piss o
Darkness Chapter 32: Ice Cream
I pushed the door open. To my surprise, Matei was still there. Mila and Anton sat with him at the table eating straight from the tub of ice cream. I gritted my teeth and smiled warmly."There you are!" Mila jumped to her feet. "We waited a long time for you." She rushed over waving a spoon in my face. "You have to try this. We found butterscotch."My eyebrows rose. Butterscotch ice cream was impossible to find on the shelf. I'd only ever made it at home. It was definitely my favorite. I couldn't help myself and accepted the spoon. I joined them at the table. Matei and I shared a glance. I slapped the spoon on my tongue and narrowed my eyes at him."Where did you go?" Mila asked.I pulled the spoon from my mouth. "I got a phone call, then had to go pick up something."Mila waited for more information, but when I didn't offer it, she turned to Matei. "How long are you visiting for, Daddy?"He shook his head. "Not long, pumpkin. I just had some business to take care of and thought I
Darkness Chapter 33: Sister
The scream died. The darkness cleared. The glow of the symbols dimmed until they were just dirt again. My stomach ached, but my balance returned as my eyes stopped spinning. A body lay slumped at the center of the star.I took a tentative step forward, testing to see that I could. When my foot moved freely, I leaped the two steps forward and crouched down at the center."Mila?"At first I thought she was dead. Her body didn't move, but then I realized the body wasn't right. It was too big to be Mila. I fumbled to turn the flashlight on. It was hard to tell in the light, but the hair wasn't right either. It was too dark, not Mila's bright blonde.The head lifted. The hair fell back. Two grey eyes stared out at me. I stumbled backward. The eyes staring back at me were mine. The face staring back at me was mine."What the fuck!" I cursed as I jumped back and my butt hit the dirt.The eyes staring at me blinked. "Can you get this light out of my eyes?" The woman leaned away from the
Darkness Chapter 34: Guilt
Lanie dragged me out of the forest. My feet felt wooden. My legs barely moved even though I was consciously make every step to follow her. I felt like they just wouldn't move fast enough. We walked through the empty darkened streets. With her here, I didn't feel the darkness pressing in around me like before. I felt safe. Maybe it was the first time in my life that I felt this way.I pointed her in the direction of my apartment then fumbled with the keys as I unlocked the front door. When it opened, Anton looked up from the couch in the living/makeshift bedroom."Where's Mila? Whoa, there are two of you?" He asked.I stared dumbly at him. I felt so empty inside. I didn't know how to handle this. Lanie rescued me. "I'm her sister. I'm visiting from Salt Lake."A skeptical look went over his face for a moment.She continued to look at him. "I'm sure Kira must have mentioned me. I was studying to be a teacher.A strange sensation hit me like a wave. It felt like it rippled through
Darkness Chapter 35: Book
I stood at the checkout counter moving mechanically. This job required no thought, which was good because my mind was zipping through countless scenarios where I could have saved Mila's life. It always came down to two things: I trusted too easily and I wasn't brave enough. I wished I could be like my sister. She seemed so confident and so knowledgeable. I needed to learn from her so nothing like this happened again.I was the last one in the store again. I hated working last shift, but I had no choice. It came with a little pay bump. I stepped out into the night air. I was glad my car was working again, but I had left it for Lanie to use. It was another walk in the dark home for me. My eyes shifted from side to side as I walked through the parking lot. I was getting that feeling again, like it was okay if the darkness got me. I was pretty worthless, after all. But nothing seemed to appear. No black clouds, no burning embers, no shadow man tonight. Everything was just normal. It was a
Darkness Chapter 36: Offer
After sitting for a few hours at the dining room table looking over old languages, Lanie and I hadn't gotten much farther on the translation. The old book, which we brought out after Anton went to sleep, lay open in the middle of the table. Lanie stared hard at the laptop mumbling jibberish and jotting notes as she scrolled through various sites.I stared at the circle and triangle pattern on the page without really seeing it. As my eyes focused and unfocused I caught a hint of a symbol I recognized. I squinted, trying to get a better look at it. I tilted my head sideways."What are you doing?" Lanie asked."It's a delta."She raised an eyebrow at me."The whole triangle on the outside is a delta. The spell is a transformation spell, right?"She nodded."What if all these runes around the spell are variables in an equation?"She blinked at me, not understanding what I meant."It's all math, well physics." I started flipping through the book. "Ooh, here. Look this one shows up.
Darkness Chapter 37: Trust
I woke in the early afternoon. My mind felt heavy. It took me a long time to fight through it to wake up. I availed myself to a hot shower as I tried to straighten out my thoughts. I needed to confront Lanie about what Mother accused her of. Had she lied to me or was Mother just twisting her words? I leaned my head against the wall as the water ran down my shoulders. I didn't know who to trust. I didn't know what to do anymore. It felt like every move I made was the wrong one. I needed to make a choice.I dug down deep, replaying Mother's words, Lanie's, and Remi's over in my mind. I even played Angie's... wait Angie."Angie," I said, my voice clear in the hot steam of the shower. "Angie," I repeated with force, picturing him in my mind."You are not supposed to be able to summon me," his deep angelic voice echoed. I could see his tall muscular frame silhouetted through the shower curtain."Shit, it worked," I said."You are not dying. And you are naked. I should be going.""Wait
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Darkness Chapter 132: Olympus
I don't know how long I lay there crying and wailing and sniffling. I couldn't believe he was gone. I'd been played. I'd let the darkness use him and use me. I needed to be smarter. I needed to figure out what she was doing before it happened. How did one even learn those sort of skills? I was no hero. I was nothing.The deep pit of depression pulled at me throughout the hours as I lay on the cold hard ground. I couldn't pull myself up. I couldn't go on. I had killed Mila and now I had killed Remi. I let Kezia and Matei die. No matter what I did, I was never good enough to save the people I loved. I'd even killed my own mother. What was wrong with me? I was living ball of bad luck. Bad Karma.I raised my head. Had Karma done this to me? Was that the reason? I slowly pushed into a sitting position."Karma!" I screamed. I had nothing left; otherwise, I would have pushed so much power into her name; it would have knocked the rest of the castle over. "Karma! Did you do this to me!?" M
Darkness Chapter 131: Dragon
Yes, I was looking at a freaking Dragon in front of me. It must have been three stories tall. What is that, thirty feet? It was freaking huge. Its black scales glittered in the moonlight, and if I weren't shaking in my boots and worried about being eaten alive, I would have thought it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Atlas, it was terrifying. Complete and utter terror gripped my throat, even more than the ominous darkness that used to chase me home from work. This thing had fangs and claws and wings! It was the embodiment of a predator and it was assigned to kill me.The thing reeled back its head after in a great roar as if to bellowed out fire on me, the tiny figure standing in front of it. I instinctively rose the Aurora sword in front of me. Instead of normal flame, it blew out a steady stream of black and purple fire. The sword sliced it in half, protecting me. After the breath, it turned its head and gazed at me with one bright golden hazel eye. The fearsome intel
Darkness Chapter 130: Dungeon
I woke up bound and gagged in a very cold and dark place. I could hear water dripping somewhere far off. The smell of mold and dirt filled my nostrils while the wet, cold air penetrated my clothing made me shiver. I pulled at the power I had stored inside me, but it was gone. It felt as if I had been completely drained. I even felt drained of life.I wiggled in the grime until I was able to free my gag. "Hello?" My voice echoed off what sounded to be stone walls.I could be anywhere. For a moment, I thought I was dead, but I think I was too uncomfortable to be dead just yet. After much struggling, I was able to sit."Remi?" I whispered. "Angie? Sandriel? Natalia? Anyone? Can anyone hear me?""No one can," a familiar voice echoed.It surprised me at how close it was, maybe only a few feet in front of me. The deep smooth female voice was easy to place. The water dripping in the background grew silent. Even the air around me stopped."Karma," I said."Oh, aren't you just so smart
Darkness Chapter 129: Life
The dark forest started to clear as I flew forward on my delicate wings. The first thing to catch my eye in the firelight was Kezia strapped to a pole in the middle of the nexus circle surrounded by what looked to be human bones. The rose bushes that were planted six years ago were the size of people, bushy, and well cared for. Their blooms were just starting to fade as the fall equinox rose. A hundred or so crystals sparkled in the moonlight spread out over the complicated circles drawn in the dirt. Mila stood at the edge of the circle chanting in a language I couldn't make out.Kezia's eyes darted towards me as I appeared out of the trees. Mila immediately stopped her chant as she looked in my direction. A wicked, too big smile gaped open. Pointed teeth spilled across her face. She extended her fingers out and flicked them at me.Dark tendrils of shadows leaped from the trees. They wrapped around my ankles and wrists, pulling me down to the ground. I could feel the familiar fear gr
Darkness Chapter 128: Plea
I stood looking out at the stars in the night sky from the roof of the Ardor bar building. The power from the crystals thrummed beneath my skin as I swirled it inside me, converting it to my pink energy. I needed to do this. I had to go all out like I had done for the brothers in order to save Kezia. It wasn't fair that she was taken hostage because of me.I closed my eyes. I searched deep inside the well of power within me and whispered, "Remi." The word escaped my lips with a deep insistence with power behind it.The night pressed in thick around me like a cloud that descended and hung about in a fog. I realized it was Remi's shadow fighting his summoning."Remi," I bit out. The power behind the word was sharp.The shadows merged into his figure. He stumbled forward on to his hands and knees before me."Kira," he heaved a breath. "Where did you learn that trick?""I need you to take me to Kezia."He lifted his head. "Don't do that. Forget about Kezia. She's lost. Just let it b
Darkness Chapter 127: Spark
The evening died down. I was left sitting alone again, but this time my basket of crystals was full of energy. Their surfaces pulsed with pink light. The elves' energy was different, but it was intense. It wasn't as easy to mix with my own, but when I did, I felt powerful.I collected the basket and went downstairs. I bid good night to Cherry with a nod. I carried my basket through the back then started up the stairs."Beloved," Liam's deep voice drew my eyes up from the stair steps.I nodded. "Liam.""Where are you going with all those crystals?""I was taking them to my room to practice."His eyebrow ridges knit down. "Practice what?"I smiled innocently. "I'm just testing what I can do. Don't worry; I'll be careful."He eyed me suspiciously. I tried not to let my smile waiver. I felt like he could see right through me, but I held firm. I had to do this. I couldn't just let Kezia die, not like Mila."Alright, be careful. Good night, Beloved.""Good night." I inched around h
Darkness Chapter 126: Signature
I sat outside in the parking lot were a bar counter, numerous tables and chairs, and many lights decorated the area. The elves sat politely at the tables, drinking their fancy top-shelf drinks. The Ardor Brothers pretended to be having a good time, but the suspicious glances between the two factions put a damper on the party.Lord Quillion finally strode across the parking lot towards us. He took a seat in front of me with a pained look.I remained silent with a smile on my face. No more plastic smiles for me. This one was genuine."Lord Quillion," I said."Beloved," he responded. He said it as if it tasted bitter on his tongue.That made me smile wider.Cole spread the contract out on the table between us. "This claims The Kingdom will be allies to the Ardor Brothers for the next fifty years. They will aid us with whatever we require, including sharing materials and funds. The territories will remain separate, but the people of either territory will be allowed to move across the
Darkness Chapter 125: Duel
"I accept the terms," Lord Quillion said.I extended my hand to him. We shook, then I backed away. Both armies stepped back to give us space.Liam squeezed my shoulder. "Let me fight for you."I shook my head. "This is my fight."He gave me a worried glance but gave a slight nod. "Good luck, Beloved."Granite gave me a soft punch. "We're counting on you." They both turned and stood to block the entrance to the bar. They watched me with their iron-grey eyes. I couldn't help but smile. For such cold, hardened warriors, they had such warmth in their hearts.I turned my attention back to Lord Quillion. He stood at the center and lifted his long sword to the sky. Dark clouds appeared and swirled overhead. Blue lighting ripped from the sky on to the sword. He held pointed it toward me, then screamed a battle cry.I cringed. It sent a primal surge of fear through me. I stood my ground as he ran forward with the sword. For a moment, I felt frozen, but I calmed my thoughts and felt for
Darkness Chapter 124: Challenge
I didn't sleep. I paced the room. I tossed and turned in bed, but I never managed a wink of sleep. Hours ticked by. Painful minutes ticked by. There was nothing. No word. No text or message. I was just stuck in the dark and I didn't dare bother them because it could mean life and death. At seven o'clock in the morning, I stumbled down the stairs on tired legs. I wanted to sleep, needed it, but I couldn't. I made some cereal and sat looking out at the sun in the sky over the city. The harsh sun reminded me of my garden. I let my mind wander to that peaceful place. I thought about the blooms, the sun, and the pink glow. Before I knew it, I was standing in my garden.The plants were still there, but they looked wilted. The ones next to the stream were okay, but the rest looked a little frazzled. I added more of the glittering water next to them and they slowly perked up. I touched others and they blossomed again. The tiredness slowly drained from me as I walked through my creations.I
