The path was dark and hidden, with the shadows of trees and stones marking it unsafe for travel. Evil echoed from the knotted branches with such warning the birds refused to nest. For the best part of five generations, insects and snakes were the only inhabitants of the Vár Forest. With the exception of Sholdaeth Tiernan.
Shol's feet barely grazed the earth as he flew along the unseen path. His agile body dodged the branches and stones and his breath came in steady pants. The dreams that plagued his mind were strong as only a call could be. Violent, raging fantasies that stirred his blood in the most pleasurable of ways.
Slowing his pace, he pushed aside the brush and entered a clearing. There was a circle of bare earth with a stone embedded at its centre. He approached it warily, keeping his senses attuned to his surroundings. Even the wind refused to pass through the trees.
The stone was smooth and round, its face unflawed. To others it would appear as any other rock. But after seven hundred years, Shol knew better. He knelt down and bowed over the stone chanting words long forgotten by his kin. The words caught in his throat as he felt an energy beckon from the earth. Straining forward he blew a mist across the surface. It shimmered, the gray falling back to a mirrored glass. The face staring back wasn't his.
Shol fought the bile rising at the image of black decay in front of him. "Why have you called us?"
The creatures' red eyes glittered in the glass, "we need the help of your master to take care of a little problem."
"There are powerful beings in the worlds, this one wouldn't hope to rival. Why is it you seek help through the human plain?"
"The girl is protected by other forces. Your powers aren't founded on the worlds. You are immune to their control."
It was an appeal to his pride he shrugged off easily. He'd learned long ago pretty words were best unheard. "So it's a girl then?"
"Is that a problem?"
"Not for us."
The creature pulled out a small wooden box engraved with symbols Shol didn't recognize, "if our sources are correct, your master is already quite wealthy. So I suppose money would do little to sway his decision." He pulled a clear stone out of the box and held it towards the mirror. Shol leaned forward, his fangs lengthening at the sight of a blue mist swirling inside the jewel.
"But everyone could use a little more power."
* * *
It had been a long time since Seere had a dreamless sleep. He looked down at April, clinging to him like he was the sole source of life. Her arms were wrapped tightly around his waist and her legs tangled with his, she let out a soft whimper with every breath. A clutter sounded from the hallway and he gently tried to pull himself from her grasp. She hissed and pulled tighter.
"Well, this is awkward." Rane called from the doorway.
Seere glared at him, still trying in vain to escape. "She had a hard day, she was scared."
"And she just ended up in your bed for you to comfort?" his dark eyes sparkled with amusement.
"There was a storm."
Rane gave him an odd look and stared at the girl lying in his arms, "how much have you told her about the worlds?"
"Hardly anything, she was too tired."
Rane nodded and left the room grinning. Seere forced April's hands away and leaped out of bed. He frowned as she stretched into the warmth where his body had been. It was a mistake to encourage the girl. An even bigger mistake to encourage himself. Learned emotions were all he was capable of, but they were enough to bring him down. He couldn't allow that. Seere slipped on a pair of jeans, and turned away from the figure on the bed.
He steeled himself in preparation for what he had to do, and strolled into the kitchen. He found Rane poking through the fridge. For someone who didn't need to eat, he loved food. He pulled out eggs, tomatoes, herbs and bacon tossing them on the bench with the bread.
"Expecting an army?" he teased.
"Actually I am. The Hije was a soldier. There are going to be more. Charity's brace seems to have heard something about a bounty. Whatever our girl might be she is going to need to find her beast quickly. That is, if she's going to survive."
Seere choked the last of the mortal spiel out of his mind before moving to the fridge and opening the door. "Or we could just leave her."
"Hmm?"
He focused his eyes in front of him, seeing nothing. "It's like you always say. It's not our responsibility to worry about other beings in this world. Everyone's out for themselves. Let her make it on her own like the rest of us."
He barely had time to jump back before the fridge door slammed shut, clipping his shoulder. He met Rane glare for glare. "What was that for?"
"Run that by me again?"
"What?"
His eyes narrowed. "Tell me the part where we leave a helpless girl on the side of the road, with no means of protecting herself and half the worlds after her?"
Seere felt a stab of anger at the tone and turned away, "I just…"
"What? What kind of self-centered bullshit are you going to throw at me to justify the act?"
Seere struggled and failed to suppress the rage flooding his system. On its own accord, his body started drawing energy from the Netherspace. The shred of common sense that was left asked why.
He was nowhere near that far gone. There was no reason. Pain throbbed through his head, as both mind and body lost the battle and surrendered to the more primal chant of violent need.
"
Careful
, Seere." Rane whispered, his eyes turning gold.
But Seere wasn't listening. What was left of Seere wasn't listening. A glass trembled on the bench, energy sending a slight pulse through the room.
Kill…
his mind whispered and he flew forward.
The fridge opened and Seere slammed into it, falling flat on his back. Rane bent over him an amused look on his face. "You didn't actually think you could beat me did you?" Seere glared up at him and he laughed. "I'm not a fan of mortal colloquialism, but I think this case demands it.
Dumbass
!"
Seere took his hand and stood. The rage he'd felt a dull simmer in his chest. His mind whispered violent thoughts, a reminder the conversation wasn't over. He stumbled over to a stool and eased his trembling body down.
"Aren't you going to apologize?"
"No." his rolled his shoulders with a crack.
Rane smirked and turned back to the stove. "Who are you calling?"
Seere's hand paused in midair "I haven't even lifted the receiver yet."
"You're still charged. You might as well be a neon sign in the Netherspace."
He cleared his head and felt a release of energy. "A clairvoyant I met in Mexico last year."
