Page 8 of Bound By Darkness

It’s the same voice I’ve been hearing in my head since I found myself alone and running from something. I study the beautiful, yet intimidating woman more closely.

Morrigan. The Midnight Queen.

“Before you stand your kings,” she continues. “These men will guide us into a new era: one of peace, balance, safety, and prosperity.” She pauses and walks closer to Baron, offering him a smile which he instantly returns.

“I present to you, Baron, a king of Shadow.”

A female angel walks up to Baron and places a dark crown on his head when he bows. Then, the newly-crowned king steps forward. He’s greeted with thunderous applause. I can’t help but smile to see him standing there.

The Baron I know is a dour, quiet, and menacing man. He’s a man chased by questions he can’t answer, and he trusts no one. But, this man is different. Yes, he’s handsome, just as I know Baron to be, but this Baron is… happy. His eyes scan the room and his chest swells with pride.

Missing are the dark shadows that plague him currently. Even though he’s a man born of shadow, the shadows that chase him now are much darker.

“Next, I present to you,” the woman continues, “Cambion, a king of light.”

The process repeats again. And again, as the woman presents Dragan and finally Variant to their people.

Once the four men each wears his crown, they take their seats and the room erupts into claps and laughter. On either side, trumpeters fill the large hall with the happy sounds of music. The people cheer.

My heart swells and my chest feels full of pride for these men I’ve come to care about.

And Variant…

As I stare at his boyish smile, it seems impossible that this is the same man who wants us dead. He appears just as happy and proud as his brothers. I don’t understand how it’s possible that one day, he will murder Baron, then commit genocide against half his race and steal the power of four, all for himself.

In that moment, he’s simply one of four kings—and he appears to be the happiest of them all.

“Your kings!” says Morrigan as the four men stand and the room’s applause grows even louder.

Then the vision fades to black.

***

My eyes flash open, and I quickly pull my hand away from Baron’s shoulder. I rub at the skin of my palm, which stings like it’s been exposed to a flame. Baron still holds the stone; his eyelids are pressed tightly shut, but the movement beneath them is quick and erratic, like he’s dreaming.

Dragan and Cambion both look suspicious, their eyes squinted in distrust. Immediately, I’m filled with shame.

“You shouldn’t have touched him while he possessed the stone,” Cambion admonishes sternly. The shame I feel worsens. Flumph is the only one who seems unconcerned.

I look back to the vampire, but he’s still deep in the stone’s trance.

“What did you see?” Dragan asks. His body is angled away from me and he avoids eye contact. I stare at the ground, questions flooding me. I can still see the powerful images of the four kings. The pride I held in my chest only moments before has evaporated. Looking at Cambion and Dragan now, I can only feel the cold pressure of their dislike towards me.

I take a deep breath, not knowing how much to share. Putting my shoulders back, I try my best to summon whatever confidence I have left. If these men don’t want to trust me, that’s fine. But trust is a two-way street and at the moment, I have my own questions. As boldly as I can, I say, “Tell me about the midnight queen.”

The men exchange a look I can’t read. Cambion begins to speak but then stops. Dragan’s brows are furrowed in an expression of frustration he wears more often than not.

“What did you see?” he repeats.

“Your coronation,” I reply matter-of-factly.

Dragan and Cambion look back at Baron, who is still stuck in his vision.

“The Midnight Queen is Morrigan,” says Cambion simply. The name stirs something within me, like a half-remembered dream.

“What happened to her?” I ask.

Dragan stares at his feet; his lips are pressed together in what looks like anger.

---