Page 70 of Crimson Shadows
We approach the shore. The surface is like glass, reflecting the starry sky above. It’s beautiful, in a haunting sort of way. But I know the dangers that lurk beneath that placid surface.
I drop her hand and close my eyes, reaching out with my powers. The world around me fades away, replaced by a landscape of energy and life. I can feel the creatures beneath the water, their magickal forces pulsing like beacons in the depths. The merfolk are down there, their energies bright and complex. And something else... something ancient and powerful, slumbering in the deepest part of the lake.
“Watch and learn, princess,” I murmur, opening my eyes. I can feel the dark power swirling around me, responding to my call.
I raise my hands, magick swirling around my fingers like living smoke. With a swift motion, I plunge my power into the lake. The water begins to churn, frothing and bubbling as if boiling. The placid surface erupts into waves, the peaceful night shattered by the roar of disturbed waters.
Suddenly, a mermaid bursts from the surface, her scales glittering in the moonlight. She’s beautiful in an otherworldly way, with iridescent scales and long, flowing hair that seems to move of its own accord. But her face is contorted with anger, her eyes flashing dangerously.
“Dark Fae,” she hisses, her voice like broken glass. It echoes across the water, filled with ancient power and barely contained rage. “How dare you disturb our waters!”
I smile, cold and cruel. This is a dance I know well, a game of power and intimidation. “Now, now. Is that any way to greet an ally?”
The mermaid’s eyes narrow, and she bares her sharp teeth. They glint in the moonlight, razor-sharp and deadly. “We are not allies, Zephyr Nightshade. State your business and be gone.”
I can feel Adelaide tensing beside me, ready for a fight. Her hand brushes against mine, and I feel a jolt of energy which does something to send my magick into a state of frantic chaos. It’s distracting, but I can’t afford to lose focus now. I want that Captainship. Nothing else matters.
“We need a vial of mermaid tears,” I say, my voice smooth as silk. I infuse it with a hint of my power, a subtle compulsion that most creatures find hard to resist. “Surely that’s not too much to ask?”
The mermaid laughs, a harsh, grating sound that sends ripples across the water’s surface. “And why would we give you our tears, dark one? They are precious, not to be wasted on the whims of land-dwellers.”
I smile, letting a hint of my true nature show through. The air around me darkens, shadows writhing at my feet like living things. The temperature drops, frost forming on the grass at the water’s edge. “Because if you don’t,” I say, my voice low and deadly, “I’ll freeze this lake solid and every creature in it.”
The mermaid’s eyes widen in fear, and I can see the moment she realises I’m not bluffing. She glances at Adelaide, perhaps hoping for some intervention, but my precious Little Dollie remains silent, watching the exchange with horrified fascination.
“Very well,” the mermaid says, her voice trembling slightly. She raises a webbed hand to her eye, and a single, pearlescent tear falls into the vial I hold out. It glows faintly, containing magick beyond measure.
“A pleasure doing business with you,” I say, tucking the vial away. The mermaid disappears beneath the waves without another word, leaving only ripples in her wake.
As we walk away from the lake, I can feel Adelaide’s eyes boring into me. The weight of her gaze is almost physical, filled with unasked questions and conflicting emotions. I turn to face her, expecting disgust or fear. Instead, I see inquisitiveness and admiration and a growing understanding of the power dynamics at play in this world she’s thrust into.
“That was interesting,” she says, her voice low. There’s a slight tremor in it, but whether from fear or excitement, I can’t tell.
I shrug, trying to appear nonchalant. “Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind, princess. Or, in this case, cruel to win.” I pause, studying her face.
She nods slowly, and I can see the wheels turning in her head. She’s learning, adapting to this world faster than I’d given her credit for. It’s both impressive and slightly concerning.
“What’s next?” she asks, a new determination in her voice.
I grin, feeling a surge of something that might be pride. “Now, we go hunting for a phoenix.”
As we set off towards the aviary, I feel a growing respect for Adelaide. She’s tougher than she looks, this Little Dollie of mine, and as this night grows, so does my interest in her.
We approach the towering structure of the aviary, its spires reaching towards the starry sky. The building is a marvel of magickal architecture, designed to house creatures of flight from the mundane to the mythical. I can hear the rustling of feathers and the soft coos of sleeping birds as we draw near.
“So, how exactly are we going to do this?”
“A simple case of pluck and run,” I grin, brimming with the thrill of how dangerous this is. But I want to test her.
“Pluck and run?” she repeats in disbelief. “Jesus. I have a bad feeling about this.”
“Jesus won’t help you here, princess. Ready?”
“Ready?”
I grab her hand, and we run into the aviary, laughter bubbling up as we aim straight for the sleeping phoenix. I snatch a feather from its tail, earning ourselves a loud squawk as we dash away, whooping with delight that we are three items down and making excellent time as well.
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