Page 19 of A Spark Of Revenge

I purse my lips as I study him, hating that Meyer is the reason for my brother's rare use of words, but also beyond grateful. Jealousy and anger war within me, and I’m not sure if I want to talk to Razar more; drawing him into conversation like we used to have all those years ago… or punch him in the fucking face for liking what is mine. The urge to let my magic flow, to reach within him and sort through his every emotion, is almost overwhelming. I sigh and shake my head, push my magic down and decide physical and emotional violence is probably a bad idea. Bringing my hand up to my bleeding throat, I wipe at the warm, sticky liquid there and chuckle.

“It’s been a while since you’ve drawn my blood,” I admit, turning from him while looking at the blood that now covers my hand. There is more there than I thought, and my shirt collar is now wet, so I strip off the fabric and use it to mop up the rest of the blood, letting my body heal itself in the process. Razar only grunts in response, his blade already put away as he slowly backs into the shadowed corner of my office, where he likes to dwell like a creepy stalker. I sigh and nod, disappointed with his lack of words, but knowing I can't push him further than he’s willing to give.

“Has any of the damage at the rift been repaired?” I ask him, sitting in my chair and moving the papers strewn across my desk to the side as I watch Razar shake his head in response. My hands ball into fists as I scent Meyer's blood nearby, and I glare at the small droplet of dark red blood near the locked box I keep on my desk—the box these damned papers were supposed to be in. Elaine had said she found Meyer in here and that she was freaking out after putting together some information she shouldn't have had access to. I suppose I now know how she accomplished that. I close my eyes and lower my head into my hands, frustration crawling back to the surface when I see the names of the Regalis brothers on the paper at the top of the pile, Meyer's name is scribbled on the paper next to it in Creed’s handwriting, the mention of Dream Walker blood also listed.

Fuck! No wonder she was freaking out in the courtyard. That she had run…. I figured it was seeing Razar’s Beastia form and that my Demon had accepted her bond, which caused her to run. But now that I know what she saw, what had sparked her fear in the first place, I know Meyer ran because she thought her life was in actual danger, and I can't fucking fault her for it.

Dammit it all to Hell! I shouldn't have chased her, but the look of distrust and fear in her eyes after I shifted cut me deeper than I would like to admit. I hadn’t planned on doing anything more than taunting her, our banter is one of my new favorite pastimes. When she stooped to grab her blade, death burning in her fiery gaze, I knew things had changed. Fury, the likes I had never felt before, coursed through me. The thought that my Little Demon would flip her view of me so quickly brought my anger to the surface at a time when I already had poor control over my Demon. I know I had appeared before her as her nightmare, but hadn't me saving her life all those times meant anything to her? To be fair, I had only saved her in order to use her later, so I suppose her fear and distrust were warranted.

So, I gave her the chance she wanted, knowing I was only setting her up for failure. I decided to play her game, my Demon was all too excited to take her up on her challenge and prove to her that she was far inferior to me. Only... that plan backfired since the little brat somehow slipped through my fingers. I distractedly run my hands through my hair, the beads woven amongst them clicking loudly in the silence. Then I slam my fists on the papers, I am a fucking idiot.

“And you are certain the Beastia were in formation? They weren’t there by happenstance?” I ask, dread pooling in my stomach as I ponder what that would mean. Beastia are the literal monsters from Hell that give even the strongest Demons nightmares. A creation that cost the lives of an entire Demon race, making them nearly extinct and leaving the rest of our world in shambles. As far as we know, they are wild, with no way of controlling them. But if what Razar says about them is true, then whoever is helping the Umbra Hunters destroy the veil and kidnap high-powered Demons has also figured out a way to control the Beastia.

Razar nods when I finally look up at him, and I swallow, then push up from my chair, refusing to let fear have the upper hand here. “Then we need to make preparations. We need to inform Father that the war has moved beyond our borders and crossed the veil into the human realm. These are no longer random attacks led by misguided Umbra Hunters. Someone in our realm has turned on us and is helping them,” I snap just as Creed bursts through my door, his breaths heavy as he leans on the doorframe, acting like he owns the damn room. The cocky little bastard needs to be put in his place.

“Where the hell have you been?” I roar, my attempts to control my anger suddenly flying out the door the moment I see my infuriating brother.

“There is a legion of Beastia heading this way,” he says calmly, hand resting on the kalis he has strapped to his hip, like he’s already bracing himself for a fight.

“Where?” I ask, my mind immediately shifting and going on the defensive, every weak spot of the castle's walls and protection spells coming to mind as Razar perks up at Creed's words. Spinning on my heel, I walk to my weapons cabinet, letting one of my nails lengthen into a deadly claw and nick the tip of my finger, allowing a small drop of blood to bond to the protective spell I have weaved into the grain of the wood. The cabinet clicks open, and I grab my ax, letting its heavy weight ground me as the blare of a war horn sounds ominously through the air.

“At the gates,” Creed murmurs, red-faced and grinning, his teeth sharpening. I smile ferally at him in return, happy that he has let some of his restraints go now that our secret is out. His excitement is tangible as he turns and leaves the room without a second glance. As angry as I am at my brother, I know he feels twice as much anger and resentment toward me. He needs to blow off steam, and killing a few Beastia without holding back will help.

“Irrational boy is hot-headed,” Razar growls, surprising me once again with his free use of words. I nod but grin, rushing to follow my brother. I may not like him right now, but I enjoy watching him fight. His lethal skill with his blades is unmatched, and it does something to my dark soul to watch the fear and death Creed can inflict with a flick of his wrist.

I may be the monster mothers tell their children of at night, but Creed is the shadow you don't see until it's too late. The bloodlust is riding my brother hard, and I pick up my pace, casually tossing my ax over my shoulder as we move from my office, and Razar falls into step at my side. I ignore the weary glances of the Rangers, then nod in greeting as Monroe steps from his room, his eyes narrowing on me, lips thin before he sighs and steps up to my other side.

He’s still pissed about everything that went down and the fact that we didn't tell him who we were. If it weren’t for Elaine talking to him and convincing him that we are honestly here to help, I think he might have tried to kill me already. I’m still unsure about his intentions toward me, but I know he only wants what's best for the Umbra Hunters, and he hates the Seniorem. There were no lies in his words when I questioned him a few hours ago, which is the only reason he’s here and not locked up with the other Hunters unwilling to work with us.

“What are we dealing with?” he asks stiffly.

“Beastia… Alpha Demons,” I correct, using the term he knows since we haven't been able to correct the Umbra Hunters yet.

“Great,” he grumbles, running a hand through his crazy red hair before side-eying me. “And… you're still planning on killing them, right?” he asks, and I grin, looking down at the one and only friend I have made on this insane mission. If I’m being honest, I hope he will trust me again one day. Gaining his friendship here surprised me, and I will sorely miss it if he chooses not to stay.

“Absolutely. Every single one of them,” I agree. Monroe’s frown lessens the smallest amount, and he nods, looking around me at Razar, who ignores him completely. “Probably best to stay away from him,” I add, making Monroe pale but nod.

“Always knew there was something off with you fuckers,” he grumbles, then shoots me the smallest smirk. I chuckle as we rush down the castle's stairs, through the brightly lit and newly cleaned and restored entryway toward the sounds of fighting.

NINE

Meyer

Ifollow Valen as he keeps close to the wall of the castle. The sounds of men shouting and fighting become louder as we skirt the perimeter, carefully avoiding where the pack of monsters are attacking.

“What's happening? Shouldn't the Demons all be on one side? Why are they attacking the castle when Lennox is in charge?” I ask in confusion, then frown. What if Lennox isn't in charge anymore? Maybe the Umbra Hunters have taken back the castle, and that's why these beasts are here? The thought unnerves me, and I’m not sure if I’m excited by the prospect or worried.

“Beastia and Demons are not on the same side, Mi Sol,” Valen murmurs, slowing his pace as we come to one corner of the castle wall. He peers around it and smiles with a nod before he continues, moving closer to the main gates.

“They aren’t?”

“No,” Valen whispers, grinning as he looks over his shoulders. “Calling the Beastia a Demon would be the equivalent of calling your wolves human. They are from the same world, but different from each other. The Beastia are the monsters in the Demon Realm, a corrupted version of the Therion that have mutated and lost all sense of self. They are bloodthirsty beasts that can’t think past their hunger for death.” I shiver in response to his words and frown when we come to the front of the castle.

“So, Dream Walkers aren't Hunters, and now those things aren't Demons?” I grumble, trying to keep things straight in my head. Valen nods and then gestures ahead of us. “What is Razar then?” He continues to peer intensely ahead, face tight with concentration, either missing my follow-up question or unsure of the answer. Rolling my eyes, I move to follow him. “We won't be able to get in through the front gate. Even with the distraction of the Demons.”

“Beastia,” Valen corrects, and I roll my eyes. Yeah, that's going to take some getting used to.

“Beastia,” I grind out, flinching when I hear another roar of the monster we are talking about. “Going through the main gate will be impossible. As much as I hate Lennox, he’s not stupid. He’ll notice me the moment I set foot in the courtyard.”

---