"You called me a Queen. But your Chosen were animated by the demons that you handpicked. I was created by the bite of a Neratomay. How can I be one of your Chosen?""Hold up," she said, "This is just another layer of the world, remember? Not heaven or hell. Let's think in terms of spirits and not demons. True demons exist, but they are not what animate the un-living. All kinds of spirits live here. Some are like the one you call Oni, a strong Succubus, and some have speed, strength, or cunning. Others are bad—ones that you don't want walking around in the world—the way you don't want Hitler or Charles Manson walking around."I looked over at Oni, who was still kneeling. I wondered if she could understand what we were talking about. I was happy that my friend wasn't considered a demon. It had been hard to think of her in those terms, anyway."When my Chosen procreated, they created living children, and when those children procreated with humans, they created Golden humans—like you."
Some of the righteousness drained out of me. She was right. Who was I to be judgmental? Hadn't I done horrible things to survive? I had helped kill people who might have been just like me because of my position as a Master Council woman. I enforced laws that I didn't understand, laws that I knew were wrong.And I was meant to continue doing what the other Elders had done before me. Surviving Epic Cu and joining the Elder Council simply meant that I had to agree to support the weaker Neratomay—while in actuality supporting demons that wanted to control the world.Well, fuck that!"No, I can't do that," I said bitterly."That's easy to say when you're safe in my hut," she said. "Millions of others have said the same and have met their final death. You can just be dead like the others who said no or who tried to fight back. Or you can share a seat at the top with the other Neratomay Kings and Queens."It took me a moment not to try to deny my need to survive by any means necessary. I
I started to get tired and hungry, and the Mother seemed annoyed at all of my questions. "Can you send us back to the mortal world?""No," she said.Damn."After the Underlings attempted to evict me from the Underworld, I was brought to this realm and encased by my protectors. It also encased my abilities. I can't do anything to help my Children." I wanted to cry. Here was a powerful being on our side, but she was just as much of a prisoner as we were.Wait, maybe the question wasn't what she could do for me but what I could do for her."This isn't the realm that you created?""No. This is just a small sanctuary…one that is no bigger than this hut. When I first arrived, my friends created an entire world for me. They tried to make it resemble my home, but they didn't understand what my world was really like. How could they when this dark place has been their only existence? So, they showed me how to build it from my memories.""The way the Elders build their world from their m
"Something needs to even the odds, Mother. Something.""Only God can do that," she said softly."God didn't make Vampires. You did!" I stood. "You watched us suffering, dying for nothing. And all you did was watch!""The world has made itself over many times before. It will do so again."I glared at her. "Yeah, but you'll be safe right here in your bubble when that happens." I shook my head. "Thank you for your time." I turned away and walked to Oni, placing my hand on her shoulder. "We need to go."My friend looked up at me with a worried nod then stood. "Kim of Tige," the Mother said. "You still do not understand.""Well, that's probably because I'm too stupid," I said sarcastically.The Mother chuckled. "I like you very much. You have given me words of wisdom. I am one of the most powerful beings in this world and you still speak your mind. You have courage. Come and sit. You have not asked me the most important question."Oni watched me with worry."Give me another minut
I heard the wind before I realized we were no longer in the shelter of the hut. With the first shock of the gritty sand hitting me in the face, I covered my nose and mouth again with the makeshift scarf. I grabbed for Oni's hand and found only wisps of dark smokiness as she fluttered near me.And I was right. We were surrounded by spirits. Some had form and shape, but most were like Oni—billowing and insubstantial.I hated the way this world looked, like film exposed wrong. The sky looked stormy and was tinted with purples and blues, and the ugly trees were nightmarish. It was as if evil had corrupted and twisted it with ugliness.I didn't want to think of having to step through those many wisps of smoke.Stay on the path…Oni seemed to read my mind, and she moved forward, going through the entities that had no solid form. The ones that did have form, like the devil dogs and ghouls, stood their ground, staring at me with desire. Those she went around.I stayed as close to her as
Alexis placed his hands on my stomach. "Is the baby okay?"I nodded. "He's fine, Alexis. We're all fine. I have so much to tell you." We had to come up with a new plan because the Werewolves were now the least of our concerns. There was a chance that we could overthrow the powers in charge of the Neratomay!His eyes met mine again, but Oni arrived before he could speak. Ran pulled her into his arms and hugged her. "Oni…" he moaned. "I thought you were gone.""I am here," she replied while they held each other.I turned back to look at Alexis and was surprised to see that anger had replaced his concern. "I'm sorry, honey," I said quickly. "I went to speak to the Mother, and—""I know where you went," he interrupted. "Why didn't you tell me that you were going to use our child as a means to enter the void?"I didn't want to argue. I had scared him, and I understood that. He had a right to his anger, and I needed to give him his just due."Honey, I'm sorry. I know you were worr
I had messed up so bad. The way he looked at me…I sat on the toilet for a while after relieving myself. Two days I had made them suffer. Two days. As I headed downstairs, I overheard Ran saying, "I know, but she has to understand and this is the only way.""She's hungry and tired," Oni said softly. "She needs to rest. We both need to."I hurried my steps, hurt by Ran's words, but still just as ashamed at what I had put them through. If this was Alexis' way of punishing me then I had to take it like a woman.Alexis turned to me, his eyes seeming only now take in my dirty, gritty clothes and the torn condition of my dress. He blinked, and the severity of his expression began to fade."Do you need to feed?" Ran asked Oni."Yes," she said while still enclosed in his protective arms."I need to feed her," Ran said and guided Oni upstairs."Go home, Kim," Alexis said, his voice no longer cold, but there was no feeling in it. His passionless demand stung. "I've drawn you a hot bath
"No!" I gasped as I woke up in a cold sweat clutching the blanket.I was safe. I was in our bed, in our house, on our beach.I looked over to where Alexis should have been sleeping and saw that his side of the bed was empty. How late was it? I got up, looked out the window, and saw that it was dark outside. He should have been in bed by now, except…he didn't want to be anywhere near me.I rubbed my arms against the chill. How long was this going to last?I went back to bed, and though exhausted, I had a hard time falling asleep.The next morning, Alexis was still not in bed. I pulled on my gown and hurried downstairs where I saw breakfast waiting for me, but no Alexis."This is crazy." Alexis giving me the cold shoulder was childish. Well hell, I'm not going to play. He can talk to me when he's good and ready.I slammed the chair back from the table so I could sit. I scowled because Alexis had come home, cleaned up the mess I had left, and had left the house. I ate warm porridge