Legacy of the Succubus Page 8

  Shit. I stumbled up and ran for the carcass of the female griffin, grasping my blade in her chest and pulling at an awkward angle. The only saving grace was that her body shielded me as the second one slammed into her lifeless form.

  The air was crushed from my lungs, my head smacking into the maroon ground. I wheezed, fingers searching for the blade I had freed moments before. I hissed trying to draw a breath, working my shoulders in an attempt to free myself. My progress was slow, my vision only of the wine sky. When the crushing weight disappeared, I wasted no time in surging upright and seeking my blades.

  I brought the steel up just in time to slice through my attacker’s beak.

  “Whoa,” I whispered, surprised. Not wasting the advantage, I thrust my blade between his shoulder blades, the scent of burning tickling my nose.

  I stepped back, taking my blade with me as the griffin fell over, dead.

  I looked down at my blade. The edges glowed scarlet and I knew it would be hot to the touch.

  “A little help!” Anna yelled.

  Turning, I saw her battling back the final griffin. Dark blood ran down various spots on his thick coat and face. She slashed, countering the slashing beak. I ran to her, holding my magical blade. I jumped, landing hard on the griffin’s back and thrusting my blade down, carving the beast in the same manner as the second. He fell over without a sound.

  I fell with him onto my side, my calf pinned underneath him, and painfully dragged myself away. Turning to sit on my ass, I saw the smoke drifting up from the wound, the edges of the feathers smoldering.

  “How did you get a magic blade?” Anna asked, out of breath.

  I shrugged. “I don’t know. Their feathers the first time I was here were damn near impenetrable.”

  Anna held up her scratched arms. “I noticed.”

  I pushed up. “The baby fed?”

  Anna nodded. “Get your sword.”

  She was right. Who knew what other surprises we were going to encounter. I cleaned the now cool blades the best I could before stowing them.

  Ox walked out of the barn, his mouth hanging open, with a pail of milk.

  “Let’s go,” I said to him, ushering him into the kitchen.

  The baby was crying. Giv was standing. “I don’t want it,” he said.

  Anna took the baby from him easily, cooing to her, I readied a bottle, handing it over to her.

  “She’s soiled,” Anna said, not looking at me while she fed the tiny infant.

  I nodded, rummaging through the cabinets, finding towels that I took down. “This will have to work until we get back home.”

  “I never thought I’d be happy to see a disposable diaper,” she muttered.

  I laughed, turning to Giv and Ox. “So, not fans of kids?”

  Ox looked at Giv before shaking his head. “We’ve been jailed all our lives. This freedom and space is a little overwhelming.”

  I nodded. “Any chance you know where the library is?”

  Giv shook his head. “After we found the baby, we stayed in the kitchen. We didn’t know what else to do.”

  The baby now fed, Anna adjusted her hold and I helped her change the tiny one.

  “She’s so young,” Anna said. “What’s her name?”

  They shrugged and I was annoyed I was related to such weaklings.

  “She’d be perfect for Jerry and Mark,” Anna whispered to me.

  I stroked her soft cheek with a damp cloth, cleaning off the dirt there.

  I laughed quietly, not wanting to wake her now that her tiny belly was full. “Think they can handle a half succubus baby?”

  “I think it would be great fun to watch.”

  “You’re taking the baby?” Ox asked.

  “Yes. Prove that I can trust you, and I’ll get you both out of here as well. We have an escape plan, but I have to find the books I was sent here for first.”

  They nodded, resolve slowly lifting their chins and stiffening their shoulders.

  “What do we do with her?” Anna asked.

  “Take her along for now. We don’t know what other surprises are waiting for us.”

  She nodded.

  …

  We fashioned a sling for the baby, who needed a name, and gallivanted around the stone-walled palace searching for a massive hoard of books. Every door we opened was another disappointment.

  I walked into my sixth, maybe seventh, room to find another dresser hanging open, clothing hanging out. I heaved a sigh. “Anything?” Anna asked.

  “No, it’s the same as the rest.”

  “We’ve got to be missing something. The only rooms we have entered have been living quarters. Aside from the kitchen, there should be an armory, library, laundry, bathing.”

  I sighed, turning and exiting the room. We had left Ox and Giv in the kitchen as they weren’t much help. It would take work to rehabilitate them into society, and I didn’t have time to start that at the moment.

  “I think I can get us to the armory.” I walked into the hallway, taking a moment to orient myself as to where The Magician’s workroom was.

  “I can take you to the armory,” Ox said softly. Anna and I turned as one to see his form move away from the shadows.

  “Lead the way,” Anna said, her hands checking on the baby strapped to her while her eyes stayed squarely on Ox.

  He nodded, walking slowly and casting watching glances behind to be sure we still followed. We twisted around to another wing of the palace.

  Ox kept sending us discrete glances, once stopping to open his mouth before he closed it again and led on.

  “What?” Anna finally asked, her clipped tone annoyed.

  I gave her an equally annoyed look and she shrugged. “Clearly, he wants to ask us something.”

  “Yes, but he wasn’t ready yet,” I told her.

  “Who has time for ready?”

  “Whatever, Anna, your tact needs help, and trust me, that’s saying a lot coming from me.”

  She huffed in agreement, well at least I was taking it as agreement.

  “What is your world like?” Ox asked, the words spilling out quickly before he lost his nerve.

  “Everything isn’t red,” Anna scoffed.

  “We aren’t governed by a Queen,” I added. “Supernaturals are free to live their lives, so long as they don’t harm humans.”

  That got Ox’s attention. “Supernaturals don’t harm humans?”

  “Some do,” I admitted, “but we try to take care of those quickly.”

  “Take care of?” Ox repeated, walking closer to us.

  “Kill. We kill the Supernaturals who harm humans or other Supernaturals.”

  “Why?” Ox asked.

  I raised my eyebrow. “Why do we kill them?” I asked, needing clarification.

  Ox shook his head. “No, why do you protect Supernaturals?”

  I shrugged, “Many aren’t strong enough to do it for themselves.”

  Ox looked at me, his dark eyes searching my own. He was daring to hope, I recognized it. Daring to think of a life outside of pain and mere survival.

  “How long were you locked up for?” Anna asked.

  Ox shook his head. “Forty-two years.”

  “Wow, that makes our sixteen years seem pale in comparison,” Anna commented. I nodded, agreeing. Forty-two years? He didn’t look that old. No gray hair, no crow’s feet, but didn’t time move differently here? I swear The Magician had told me that.

  “You two were slaves as well?” Ox asked, tentative hope infusing his voice, pushing his shoulders back for the first time.

  “Yeah.” Anna’s voice was clipped.

  “How did you escape?” Ox asked, entranced.

  “We killed everyone,” Anna said, moving around Ox to look down the hallway.

  He indicated the hall to our left and Anna moved down it. Ox walked next to me.

  “We were traded or sold to a vampire on Earth who trained us to be killers,” I explained.

  “Don’t forget, she traine
d us to be whores as well,” Anna called out.

  I nodded. “She exploited our natural succubus abilities.”

  Ox nodded, clearly deep in thought, his brow furrowed. “But you escaped and have normal lives?”

  Anna laughed, “Nothing about us is normal.”

  I shrugged as we came to the next junction, turning to face Ox. “Our past defines us. I kill to deal with it. Anna has her own coping mechanism, but yes, we have semi-normal lives.”

  Ox nodded before moving down another hallway.

  “The food is way better on Earth,” I continued on, trying to lighten the mood. “Let me tell you about pizza.”

  “Not to mention dessert,” Anna added.

  “One course at a time,” I responded. We made lighthearted chatter about Earth for a bit until Ox finally stopped outside the armory.

  Anna pushed open the iron gate with her foot. “Empty.”

  I looked over the barren shelves. “Clothing got left behind, weapons didn’t.”

  “That doesn’t bode well if they are on Earth,” Anna stated, evidently feeling a need to point out the obvious.

  “It does not,” I agreed, my jaw clenched. I turned away. “Let’s see what else is down this hallway, maybe we will get lucky and find the damn library.”

  “You said The Magician is going to be pulling you out of here?” Ox asked, walking next to me again.

  “He should be. We had to solicit the help of a djinn, Amin, to help boost his magic. Once they are both recovered they will be opening a portal to get us out of here.”

  “Pending the djinn doesn’t double cross you,” Anna reminded me.

  I sighed, “Yeah, I’m aware.”

  “How long?” Ox asked.

  “A few days on the short end, a week on the long end.”

  Ox nodded thoughtfully. “I don’t think we have food to survive that long.”

  “We have some provisions in our packs back in the kitchen. As long as the baby is fed, we can stretch our rations out,” I told him.

  He nodded and I turned to Anna, who was stopping in front of double doors.

  “Will you stop leading with the child?” I hissed at her.

  She huffed. “There has been nothing so far,” she complained. Clearly the griffins didn’t count in her estimation. Funny, though, my shoulder was still sore.

  I gave her a pointed look, pulling my sword, and something crashed inside. I turned my attention from Anna to the closed doors in front of us.

  “Stay here,” I commanded.

  “Oh, hell no. Here, take the baby,” Anna said, carefully shifting the small bundle to Ox. He took her gently.

  I rested my hand on the door, waiting until Anna was poised and ready. Together we each flung open a door, swords raised.

  “Holy fuck,” Anna whispered, taking a step back.

  I steeled my nerves, not moving an inch. We had the baby to protect. Anna groaned, probably thinking the same thing as me.

  I took a forced step forward and the door disappeared behind us.

  “This isn’t a good idea,” she hissed right beside me.

  “What we need is in here,” I told her.

  “You don’t know that.”

  “Why else would they leave me behind?” a voice drifted down to us.

  Anna and I stopped our forward movement into the humid jungle. Tall trees with thick leaves hung above our heads, our footfalls cushioned by lush ferns and overgrown grass.

  “Who are you?” I asked, infusing my voice with confidence.

  “I am Baqer, the God of Knowledge. Welcome to my humble home. I’ve been waiting for you, Olivia.” Hearing him say my name with that kind of familiarity made me sick, helplessness washing over me for a moment before I trampled it back. We had just killed three griffins, we could figure out how to kill a Fae. Plus, I had a magical sword. Nothing to be scared of.

  “Great, another fucking Fae who knows my name,” I muttered.

  “Hey, maybe keep this one alive to find out why this time,” Anna added, always helpful.

  I leveled her an annoyed glare before returning my gaze to the rainforest we had walked into. As I watched, the thick clouds above the canopy parted, and thousands of books nestled in cases lined the walls.

  “We’ve come for The Magician’s books. We don’t want to hurt you.” Again, I pushed confidence I didn’t feel into my words.

  The laughter from Baqer rang across the treetops, curling my stomach. Anna and I turned in unison, trying to follow the sound. I wasn’t confident where it was coming from, and based on Anna’s still-roving gaze, she wasn’t, either.

  “She said you would be confident. She forgot to mention foolish,” Baqer taunted.

  “Who?” Anna asked.

  “Why, your mother, dear girl. She knew The Magician would be back, or rather he would send you back to obtain his books.” That didn’t feel like the truth, considering we hadn’t even known I’d have to come back for his books. Unless it was all a careful ruse.

  Maybe she knew The Magician and his magic better than I’d realized, or at least the spell that bound me.

  “Ever get the feeling your dad isn’t telling you everything?” Anna asked.

  “All the time, but I need his help on this,” I answered. “He wanted her brought back alive.”

  “Guess he got that wish,” Anna muttered.

  Guess he did.

  We stood there for a few long moments, surveying our surroundings, waiting for Baqer to make a move. When he didn’t, I called out, “So, you going to give me the texts or what?”

  “Or what,” came the answer. A short man hobbled out from the mist to our left.

  Anna and I shifted to watch him push up the sleeve of his cobalt blue rob. He leaned heavily on a gnarled wooden staff, the pleasure he was drawing from this situation evident on his heavily wrinkled face.

  “You have created quite a name for yourself, Olivia.” I didn’t like the way he said my name. It instantly made me feel dirty.

  “How’s that?”

  “Oh, come now, ruler of The Council, Mate to the Alpha, and now here, trying to unlock your powers.”

  I regarded the short man silently. “No one was meant to have that much power,” he stated, the serious tone running chills down my spine.

  “According to who?” I demanded.

  “Me, the Fae, the night. Does it really matter? All great empires fall.” He pointed his staff at me. “And today is your demise.”

  “Technically, it’s night,” I pointed out.

  Baqer thumped his staff against the mossy green undergrowth and the mist disappeared, revealing a large-paned window behind him. Another echoing slam of his staff, and the hues of red lightened to shades of yellow.

  “To-day,” he repeated.

  “Well, ain’t that fancy?” Anna muttered. “So what’s the plan? Keep us here so The Queen can conquer Earth?”

  Baqer sighed, an annoyed sound, before resting both twisted hands on top of his staff. “In laymen’s terms, I suppose that would be correct, but it lacks the finesse and creativity we Fae are known for.”

  I’d have to agree; the fuckers were creative.

  “So, you got the short straw being left behind?” I asked, playing a hunch.

  His blue eyes burned with fire—literally, they ignited in white plumes. “I was selected to meet you for my exceptional skills.”

  I laughed, “I doubt that. If they really wanted me, they would have come and gotten me.”

  “Did you miss the Tree of Life visit?”

  My eyes narrowed. “How did you know about that?” I asked.

  Baqer smiled. Clearly, my interest was feeding his ego. The fire leaving his eyes, he bragged, “I know all.”

  “Bullshit,” Anna called, twisting her wrist, loosening up the muscles.

  Baqer snarled at her. With a flick of his staff, Anna’s sword flew from her grasp.

  “Shit,” she hissed, drawing her other blade.

  I fucking hated the Fae. T
hey were far more powerful than me. I had no weapons that would last against him and his staff; my only hope was the magic bound inside of me. Maybe if I could touch him, I could fry him. I couldn’t fail, too many were depending on me.

  I really should have gotten that damn flamethrower already.

  “How do we handle this?” Anna hissed.

  “You die!” yelled Baqer.

  “Not today,” I yelled back, charging him. He shifted the point of his staff from Anna to me. The energy from the small man slammed into me. Instinctually, I brought my swords up to form an X, willing the metal protection properties it just didn’t have.

  To my surprise, it held. I looked up to see Anna’s shocked face. “It’s your guards,” she began. Baqer didn’t give her a chance to finish, blasting her surprised form with the same energy he had just unleashed on me.

  With a yelp, she was flung into the tall trees.

  I pulled my swords down, “I’m not sure what is going on, but I know I’m getting stronger. You should run.”

  I watched with dark glee as fear flicked across Baqer’s features. “I fear no mortal.”

  I stepped closer to him. “I’m not so sure I’m mortal anymore.”

  I shouldn’t have been able to cut through the griffin’s feathers of steel as easily as I had. If Logan had evolved, it seemed I was doing the same.

  Baqer’s dark gaze roved over me, appraising. “You are bound, you pose no threat to me.”

  I shrugged, twirling my blades, a dark energy spreading down my limbs. It felt divine. A small voice of warning spoke up, but I ignored it. I needed the magic and the ability to kill the Fae.

  Baqer’s eyes narrowed and he muttered a word under his breath before slamming down his staff and tossing me back into the foliage.

  I shouldn’t have relaxed my grip on my swords. I let them go and flew into a wall of books, tumbling down into the thick trees.

  “Fuck,” I hissed, pushing up on all fours. I reached down and touched the abused flesh cut open on my side. With a groan I sat back on my heels, before standing up. I wasn’t feeling so magical at this particular moment.

  Maybe it was something to do with the swords. I needed them back, otherwise I had no idea if Anna and I would be getting out of there alive.

  “Hey asshole!” Anna called out. I groaned, pushing away the ferns and thick, waxy leaves, rushing to find my blades before Anna got herself killed. I spied the silver of one instantly, snatching it up while I continued my search. I gave thought to hacking at the overwhelming greenery, but decided against it.