Darkness Splintered

fierceness of battle, but rather the desire for vengeance. And that scared me, because as good a warrior as he was, there was still only one of him, and many more of them.

“It would not matter how many there were, because I am no longer one, but two.”

“Which is just about the most confusing statement you’ve ever uttered,” I said. “And you’ve uttered a few.”

He smiled. “Our life forces have been leashed. That means it’s harder for each of us to be killed, because we can draw strength from the other.”

I frowned. “So I’m drawing from you now? I mean, I’m not exactly in tip-top shape at present.”

“No, because it will only ever happen when whatever form we are wearing is in danger of complete failure.”

“But that doesn’t stop them from weakening you to the point where neither of us can fight,” I commented. “And it doesn’t stop them from kidnapping me again.”

“Yes, but the other benefit of our energies being leashed is the fact that there is nowhere they can take you – not even deep underground – that I will not be able to find you.”

“That still won’t stop them from snatching me.” Or trying to tear me apart yet again.

“That is something they can no longer do. You have the life force of a reaper within you, and while they may be able to kill you, they can no longer render you to particles.” He caught my hands, and squeezed them lightly. “You have nothing to fear from them. You are not what you once were. You are stronger. We are stronger.”

“Forgive my pessimism, but I’m thinking we still need to fear them. They’ll find a way to make us do what they want.”

And it would be easy enough – all they have to do is echo my father’s methods and threaten one of my friends.

“But they are impervious neither to attack nor death,” he said. “And if we remove the brains of the beast, the beast itself will not function.”

A shiver ran through me, despite the warmth of his touch. Though it was cold down here, and I had only a light dress on, neither of those factors played a part in the chills assailing me. Rather, it was the notion that I’d be confronting the brains of the beast – Malin – sooner rather than later. Clairvoyance, I thought, sucked big time.

“Great theory, but I’m guessing it’s going to be a trifle difficult to put into practice. Malin doesn’t always show up when they kidnap me.”

He shrugged. “We can always hope.”

I half smiled. “I think hanging around me has made you a little bloodthirsty, reaper.”

“It has nothing to do with a thirst for blood,” he replied, voice flat. “And everything to do with revenge. As you well know.”

“It was revenge that made you a Mijai in the first place,” I reminded him.

“And if I had not become Mijai, I would have not met you.” He stepped to one side, and motioned toward the tunnel. “But even so, I do not regret the actions that made me Mijai, and I certainly would not regret seeking revenge now for what the Raziq have done – not just for what they did to you, but for making the keys that have the potential to cause so much destruction across two worlds. Shall we go?”

There was little I could say to that. Revenge might be a dangerous desire, but it was one I could totally understand.

The main cavern was still empty of everything but hellhound blood and gore. I stopped underneath the hole in the concrete, and looked up. What I was looking for I had no idea. It wasn’t like Lauren would suddenly appear, thereby making our hunt a whole lot easier.

“What do we do now?” I asked, after a moment.

“You need to rest —”

“I haven’t got the time, Azriel. Mirri’s life —”

“May well depend on you being strong enough to complete the task ahead.” His voice held an edge that was an odd mix of concern and frustration. “You run yourself into the ground, Risa, and that is not good for anyone.”

Not for the hunt, not for those you seek to save, and not for our son. The words echoed through me and made me smile. And yet a vague sense of irritation stirred. He wasn’t telling me what I didn’t already know.

Wasn’t saying what I really wanted to hear.

“I know, and I will rest, I promise, when Mirri is safe.”

“Then at least let us return to your apartment so you can get something to eat.”

“That I can do.” I wrapped my arms around his neck, then, as his arms came around my waist and drew me even closer, added, “Home please, James.”

“Another ridiculous Earth saying, given my name is hardly James,” he said, as his energy snapped us home in no time flat. As we reappeared in the stinking blackened ruins of the living room, he added, “Nor do I actually think I look like a James.”

I grinned. “Agreed. You need a name more befitting of your bright and sunny nature.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “I believe that is what you would term sarcasm.”

“I believe you could be right.”

My phone rang, the tone telling me it was Ilianna. The noise was sharp in the dark and smoky silence. Tao, I realized suddenly, wasn’t here.

Concern surged. I swung around, noting the front door was wide open as I dug the vid-phone out of my bag and hit the Answer button.

“Is everything okay?” I said, the minute Ilianna’s image appeared on the screen. “Is Mirri okay?”

“For the moment, yes.” Her voice was calm but worry had etched fine lines around her eyes. “Both Mom and Kiandra are currently studying all the different threads of magic woven into the energy collar, in the hope it will give them some idea how to dismantle it.”

It was a long shot, but right now, I guess it was the only one we had. “Tell them to be careful, because it’s Aedh magic they’re dealing with.”

“They know, trust me.” She hesitated. “Have you got any idea where Tao is? I’ve been trying to contact him, as we need some fresh clothes. We’re going to stay here for the next day or so.”

I frowned. “He hasn’t called you?”

“Not recently, no.” Meaning he’d disappeared not long after Hunter’s phone call to me. I scrubbed a hand across my eyes and tried to ignore the growing sense of loss. Tao wasn’t lost, not yet, no matter what my inner voice might be saying.

I said, “As to where he is, I don’t know. He was supposed to be home keeping an eye on the place, but the door is wide open and he’s gone.”

“Nor is he in the near vicinity,” Azriel said.

Damn, this is all we needed. Not that it was Tao’s fault. He was trying his best not to succumb to the elemental, but the desperation in his eyes haunted me. He was losing the battle, and he knew it. “Have you tried the cafe?”

“Of course. And I rang Stane, but he’s not there.”

“God,” I muttered. “I hope the fucking elemental hasn’t gotten hold of him again.”

“How was he when you last saw him?” Ilianna said.

“Jittery.” Scared.

But wherever Tao was, whatever he was doing, I just had to pray he was in control rather than the thing inside of him. Because as much as it tore at me, he couldn’t be my priority. That honor belonged to finding the keys and saving Mirri. “I’m sure Stane will keep an eye out for him.”

“He is,” she said. “He’s aware of the elemental problem, Ris. Tao must have mentioned it.”

He might be aware, but he was as helpless as the rest of us.

“Then there’s nothing else we can do. I’ve got keys to find and the clock is ticking.”

“I know.” She hesitated, her expression suddenly holding a touch of fear. “How is the search going? As badly