Page 23 of Bound By Darkness

“I don’t have an answer for you, Eilish.”

She nods and then looks at me with hopeful longing in her eyes. “It won’t be much longer before I’m able to hold the stone and it will return all my memories to me.”

“And then you’ll unlock many of the questions you have… many of the questions we all have,” I add.

“I’m afraid a little,” she says and the innocence of the angel within her reaches the surface. How Dragan or Cambion can doubt her is beyond me. It’s as obvious as my fangs that the girl has no idea who or what she is.

“Just remain strong,” I advise her. “And remember, whatever the stone shows you, you can handle it.”

It’s at that moment that I hear a noise and realize someone is eavesdropping on our conversation. I’m not surprised as Cambion and Dragan are not what I would consider noble. A few seconds later, the culprit reveals himself to be the sprite. Eilish reprimands him and then departs with him to discuss whatever it is he overheard.

I find my way back to the stone. I’m tired and weak, but a few moments away from the stone have revived me somewhat.

The truth is, I could feel my energy reserves draining while I was under the stone’s influence. I knew if I remained with it for much longer, my physical body would be irreparably damaged, thus I broke away from the stone’s thrall.

Even now, I feel less than revived.

Regardless, I find myself unable to resist the stone’s pull. There’s still so much about myself I don’t know. So much I need to understand. So many answers that still await me. I desire nothing more than to fill in the gaps of a memory that’s been vacant for so long.

I understand more about my companions now, yes, but I still lack useful information about my resurrector—Morrigan, the Midnight Queen. Why was I resurrected? Who is this Morrigan? Why did I hear her voice only upon my resurrection and haven’t since? And why does Morrigan speak to the angel?

Light returns to the forest. Time is now of the essence.

My body suffered twice the damage while I was under the stone’s enchantment, because I allowed myself to be exposed to the sun. Such was a massive oversight and I scold myself for my negligence. I notice with grim acceptance, as I sort through my bag of poisons and tinctures, there’s only one vial left ofEssence of Nightshade.

Logic tells me it would be more prudent to seek cover from the sun and rest. Yet a driving inner voice advises otherwise—it desperately yearns to know more.

The soft orange glow of the stone is intoxicating, beckoning. Yellow flecks of light shimmer and dance around its surface. Staring at the glimmering face of the rock, I can delineate images.

As someone who’s been deprived of answers, the stone provides a satiation I could have never found on my own.

Looking closer at the stone, I see him, the man whose face has haunted every dark corner of my mind since my resurrection.

Variant.

He appears younger now, not the man I recognize from my genuine memories. I reach out to wipe away the sparks and seethe vision more clearly, but before I can, it’s as though the stone pulls me back.

I know it’s impossible, but soon, I’m tumbling down the rabbit hole of surreal images and vivid colors. Lost in the ecstasy of knowing.

CHAPTER SIX

FLUMPH

Mortal Plane

“The vampire’s back at it,” I tell King Shadow Fuck and King Elf Dick after they finally come back to the fire.

‘Course, the jerks won’t take my word for it. Both o’ ‘em turn to look at the stone and, sure ‘nough, the vampire is crouched over it. His face is so close to it, I think he’s about to kiss the freakin’ thing.

First, both kings don’t say nothin’. They just sit their big asses down; both seem a little more bad-tempered than usual. And that’s sayin’ somethin’, ‘cause the twos o’ them are always gripin’ ‘bout something. I notice they sittin’ way far away from Eilish, like she just let out a ripper fart that stinks somethin’ awful. But I’m sure that ain’t the case. Do angels even fart? ‘Course, she ain’t a full-blooded angel from what’s I just overheared from her convo with the vamp. An’ I be pretty sure demons fart ‘cause why else would they be called demons?

“That’s not good,” Cambi-yawn says finally. “Did he tell you he was going back?”

Then I realize he’s talkin’ to me. Not often they ask me anythin’, so I get real tall and stick my chest out, all important-like.

“Didhetell me?” I ain’t sure what the fuck King Angry Cock is asking me. Did who tell who what? “I’se pretty sure the answer’s no, ‘cause ain’t no one tell me shit ‘round here, and frankly I’se sick and tir—"

The elf interrupts me. “Fuck,” he say.

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