A Dark Collection Read online

  “Stay with us... stay forever...”

  ... hands on his thighs, the trail of long, damp hair ...

  He tried to remember why he had come - it was important ... He clung to the idea and drew away from Nia, his breathing heavy. “No.” But she pulled him close once more.

  “Love us...”

  There were too many sensations to process ... lips brushing the small of his back, the graze of teeth at his hip bone...

  “No ... I ... I can’t.”

  “Come with us ... come into the water ...”

  “No, no,” he moaned. “No!” He flung out his magic and the girls squealed and dived back into the river, leaving ripples that glittered in the moonlight like fractured diamonds. Corin gasped, horrified as he came back to reality to find the kelpie standing so close to him he could feel the heat rising off his skin. He was watching Corin with those glass green eyes, silent as his thick black hair dripped water down his massive chest. Corin drew in a shaky breath, his heart thundering and began to step away, fear creeping up his spine with icy fingers.

  “Your magic grows.” The kelpie observed, a covetous look in his eyes. “The last time you would not have resisted us.”

  “Lucky for me that you did not try it then,” he said, wary as he watched Abhainn with growing mistrust. “I grow weary of this, I want to bargain for the Prince Laen’s and my own safe passage from this place. What would you have from me?”

  Abhainn smiled and kept moving forwards as the nixe watched from the water.

  “Perhaps I don’t want to bargain? Niella will not be pleased to lose her Unseelie Prince and perhaps ... I have discovered a taste for Elven magic?” Corin felt his heart thud hard and fast in his chest but said nothing. The kelpie snorted and shook his head, amused. “You would really bargain with your own life to save his?” He gestured down stream to where Laen remained and then tilted his head, considering Corin who still hadn’t spoken. “Why?”

  “He is my friend.”

  Abhainn pursed his lips, displeased with the answer. “You may not think so if you lose your life in place of his.”

  Corin shrugged, unwilling to talk to the creature any more than he had to. The kelpie sighed in frustration.

  “There is something, if you are really certain you do not wish to join us?”

  “Quite certain.” Corin replied, trying hard to keep his voice even under the weight of that heated green gaze.

  The Kelpie frowned, his disappointment giving him a sullen air as he sat down on the bank. He laid back, leaning on one muscular arm while he scratched his taut belly with a leisurely hand. He sent Corin a provocative look which was ignored. There was a huff of impatience before he spoke again. “One of the nixe was taken by a man from your realm. I would have her returned to me.”

  “Taken against her will?” Corin asked, wanting to know exactly what he was getting into.

  The kelpie sat up and shook his head and Corin felt cool drops of water flicker over his skin. He shivered. “No, she was willing, if foolish but she cannot stray far from the river for too long, she will die.”

  “Doesn’t she know that?”

  The marble green eyes watched him, remorseless and wanton. “No.”

  “Do you know the man that took her?”

  “I know not his name but he had silver hair and eyes. He had a dark aura.”

  “Ravendell.” Corin spat the name out like it left an unpleasant taste in his mouth. It did. As if he wasn’t in enough trouble, now Devil had to stir the pot. Either way, he had no choice but to accept. “Very well, I will return her to you.”

  “Nyssa,” said the kelpie, a dark smile flickering over his mouth. “Her name is Nyssa, and if you fail - you must return to me and we will swim together, you and I. I would like to see your golden eyes in the depths of the river, your mouth open in the ecstasy of death. It would be such a pretty sight.”

  Corin shuddered but forced himself to smile. “I will bring her to you, have no fear.”

  Nia and Neera swam to the edge of the river splashing and giggling, whispering to each other and looking at him with hungry eyes. Corin looked back with a pounding heart, seeing other shapes moving below the water, silvery and ethereal in the depths of the river. Abhainn got up and took several, slow steps back into the river before he turned and extended his hand.

  “Perhaps you will ... Perhaps you will not.” He smiled, his deep voice pure invitation. “But there is no hurry, your friend is safe. Neither of you will die this night, you have my word.” He looked at Corin, gesturing to the water and the nixe who were swimming closer to him. “... stay with us awhile.”

  Chapter 4

  A soft mist swirled over the surface of the river as Corin made his way back to where he had last seen Laen with Niella.

  The blood was thrumming in his veins still, though exhaustion pulled at him like a warm blanket. All he could think about was laying down and sleeping as the sound of the river murmured through his dreams. That simply wasn’t possible though, he had to get Nyssa back and fast before his luck ran out or he would discover just how dangerous the nixe and their water horse king could be.

  He found Laen asleep on the bank of the river, his clothes scattered where they had been flung the night before. With relief Corin noted the steady rise and fall of his chest as he looked a little like he’d been washed ashore in the heat of a storm. His long limbs were heavy with sleep, his blonde hair fanned out over the damp, sandy soil at the edge of the water.

  “Laen.” Corin stood over him, but his voice was clearly unable to penetrate the depth of dream Laen was cocooned in. Corin sighed and crouched down. The morning sun filtered through the canopy of trees, dappling Laen’s face but he didn’t stir.

  “Laen!”

  Still finding no reaction, Corin reached down and gave his face a gentle slap.

  “Niella?” Laen sighed, catching hold of his hand.

  “No, you fool.” Corin snorted, pulling his hand free as he shook his head. “It’s me, wake-up.”

  Laen’s eyes flickered open and he groaned. “Corin?” A look of undiluted pain crossed his face as Laen sank his hands into the white blonde tangle of his hair. “Gods, my head.”

  Corin sat down on the bank beside him, watching the dark water as it rushed past and tried hard not to think about getting back in. “It’s no more than you deserve, you damned idiot,” he said, angry now that the fear for his friend’s life had passed. “What on earth possessed you?” he demanded.

  Laen pulled himself upright with a tortured groan and held his head in his hands for a while before he answered. “I don’t know.” He sighed. “I don’t know.” There was a another groan and then a long pause. “I can hardly remember. I was just ... tired.”

  Corin looked at him, incredulous. “Tired of living?” he snapped.

  “Perhaps ... Yes.” He avoided Corin’s eyes.

  Corin sighed. He was angry with Laen for putting him in this position but he knew too well the details of Laen’s life to be without compassion at his desperation in coming here. “Laen,” he said, his voice soft but intent, needing him to understand. “If I hadn’t come for you, you would be lying dead at the bottom of the river now, you do know that? You couldn’t have changed your mind.”

  Laen winced. “I know ... it was stupid.” He was massaging his temples, eyes screwed up in pain.

  Corin sighed and shook his head. “Come here.” He knelt and placed his hands, one each side of Laen’s face, sending his healing into his friend whose face relaxed with a blissful sigh as the pain left him. He gave Corin a broad smile. “Gods, Corin, I know I’ve said it before but that is a most wonderful gift you have there.”

  There was a short bark of laughter as Corin reached up and stripped some willow leaves from the tree beside him. “Yes, for you! It doesn’t work on me though.” His voice was as bitter as the willow as he chewed the leaves with a grimace. Anything to chase the pounding from his own head. “Why did you come, Laen?”

&nb
sp; There was a shrug of broad shoulders before Laen got to his feet. “I was at The Black Kelpie and I ...” He ran a hand through his already unruly hair. “I got into a fight, I was angry.” He glanced at Corin and his eyes slid away, guilt flickering beneath the surface.

  Corin watched it surface and looked away.

  “I just wanted ...” Laen closed his eyes. “I remembered your story, about the nixe and what had happened to you here ... the things they did, and I knew they were close by.” He paused and gave an apologetic shrug. “Like I said, I was tired and angry and ...”

  “... and drunk out of your skull.” Corin finished for him.

  “That too.” Laen gave a wry smile of acknowledgement. “I don’t know, Corin. It just seemed very appealing last night, the way you spoke about them. I wanted it ... very badly.”

  Corin snorted. “I don’t doubt but you clearly forgot the bit where I was terrified I was going to die.”

  Laen nodded, his expression rueful. “Yes ... perhaps.”

  “Now,” Corin said, his voice hard. “Maybe you understand why I had you lock me up when Nia called me?”

  “Oh, gods yes.” Laen looked back at him in wonder. “Completely. I don’t know how you resisted coming back. I couldn’t, I know it.” Laen frowned then and looked at him, puzzled. “Which begs the question - why aren’t I dead, why aren’t we both dead?” He frowned harder and looked at Corin, accusation in his expression. “What did you do?”

  Corin picked up a stone and considered it before throwing it into the water. “Made a deal with the kelpie,” he said, as the stone made a small splash.

  Laen’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Gods! You never did? You saw the kelpie again and you bargained with him? And you question my sanity? Are you completely out of your mind?” he demanded. “I don’t know whether to admire your nerve or put you in a padded room.”

  “A thank you will suffice,” Corin muttered, stifling a yawn.

  “Oh.” Laen frowned at him. “I guess I owe you - for coming after me?” He looked back at Corin, curiosity burning in his black eyes.

  Corin nodded. “Oh yes, you most certainly do and I’m collecting right now.”

  Laen got up and began to hunt around for his clothes. “Oh?”

  “You’re going to come with me to find a missing nixe so that we can return her, or it will be me swimming with the fishes.”

  Laen paused, trousers in hand. “What?”

  Corin shrugged. “It was the only way to free you.”

  “You traded your life for mine?” Laen sounded choked and Corin returned a reassuring expression.

  “Don’t worry, Laen, I have no intention of giving it all up just yet.”

  Laen looked back on him and his eyes took on a steely, determined glint. “I will make sure of it. I swear.”

  Corin smiled. “I know.”

  “Do you know where she is?”

  The smile fell away to be replaced by a harder look. “Oh yes, it gets better I assure you. Guess.”

  Laen groaned in disgust. “Not, Ravendell?”

  “Quite.”

  Laen cursed as he pulled on his trousers and picked up his shirt, shaking sand from the folds before looking at Corin again with wide eyes as realisation hit. “Your hair’s wet.” There was no little accusation in his tone.

  Corin started and avoided Laen’s gaze. “What of it?”

  “Tell me you didn’t swim with them?” Laen demanded, furious. “Gods man, are you completely and utterly insane? Even I didn’t get in the water with them you damned fool!”

  Corin frowned at him in annoyance. “As I said ... we would both be dead, if I hadn’t bargained! And that was more luck than judgement on your part I assure you. You were so lost to the girl’s song you’d have done anything she asked!” He huffed and folded his arms, silent as Laen tutted at him and continued to dress. “Besides,” he added, laying back against the bank. “I had a guarantee of our safety, it is not an offer likely to come my way again.”

  Laen’s mouth dropped open. “You bastard!” he yelled. “You swam with the nixe with a free pass and you didn’t think to invite me to your little party?”

  Corin laughed at the envious expression on Laen’s face. “You were with Niella, and to tell the honest truth I could hardly think to breath, let alone anything else.”

  Laen grunted still looking at Corin with jealousy in his eyes. “That I believe, damn you. You haven’t heard the last of this,” he grumbled. “You have the time of your life and I come out of it owing you a favour! Damned typical if you ask me.”

  “Well I didn’t,” Corin replied, folding his arms and frowning. “And before I am treated to any more righteous indignation, I might remind you that you are alive this morning because I came after you and it’s my life that will be forfeit if we don’t return the nixe, not yours, so forgive me if I take my pleasure while I can.”

  Laen frowned and then nodded, conceding the point but continued to regard him with envy.

  “Anyway,” Corin continued with a grin. “You looked to be having a fine time yourself.”

  “You saw?” A sly smile flickered over Laen’s face. “Gods, I’m not sure what I will do if she ever calls for me, I don’t think there is a lock strong enough in either of our kingdoms that could hold me.” The humour vanished from his eyes. “Actually it’s terrifying.”

  Corin nodded. “I know.”

  “Promise me you’ll lock me up ... somehow.”

  “Of course.”

  He looked back at Corin, an expression somewhere between horror and longing on his face. “Tell me ... what was it like, to swim with them?” Corin’s eyes flickered towards the water before he turned away, an uncertain smile lingering on his lips.

  “Perhaps worth dying for,” he replied.

  Chapter 5

  They stood outside the imposing doors of Ravendell House. It was an austere building, harsh and dominating the landscape, much like the man himself. They could feel the shiny black-eyed gaze of the birds that gave his lands their name. The weight of their attentions like a storm overhead as they cawed, the sound as harsh and raucous as drunken laughter in the late morning sun.

  “Gods, this place give me the creeps.” Laen muttered. “Damn birds, watching your every move, no wonder the family is mad.”

  “Hush, Laen,” Corin said, looking uneasy. “I’m not sure they just watch.”

  Laen’s eyes widened but he said nothing and they waited for the butler to open the door to them.

  Laen scratched the stubble on his jaw with an irritable expression and stifled a yawn.

  “He’s probably still abed,” he muttered, shifting and looking uncomfortable, his eyes returning to the ravens darkening the rooftops and trees.

  Corin shook his head. “I doubt he will have retired yet,” he said, his expression one of distaste. “Devil likes to push his debauchery well into the daylight hours.” He caught Laen’s eyes. “All the better to see their shame,” he added in an undertone, looking away.

  Laen grimaced and acknowledged the truth in his words with a curt nod. The door opened and a stern looking butler cast his eyes over them with an expression of contempt. Corin returned his a haughty sneer, knowing both his and Laen’s crumpled, unshaven appearances would not impress. “Tell your master, Prince Corin of Alfheim and the Prince Laen of Mechstrana wish to speak with him immediately.

  The butler’s expression changed to one of stunned surprise. “Forgive me, Your Highness’s I did not recognise you!”

  Corin waved away his apology. “It is of no matter.”

  The butler showed them into the parlour to wait and hurried away, his footsteps echoing on the glossy black and white marble floor of the entrance hall.

  “What, exactly, are we going to say to him?” Laen asked looking around the room with a curious expression.

  “Damned if I know.” Corin shrugged. “I guess I’ll think of something.”

  Laen turned to face him but Corin knew what was coming an
d turned away from the anxiety in his eyes.

  “Don’t let him rile you.”

  Corin snorted. “I’ll do my best.” He could feel Laen’s eyes on his back but then the butler returned and with cool dignity the man led them through the house. They were taken to a black lacquered door which opened upon a steep flight of stairs leading down into darkness. The only light came from sconces, flickering on the red walls and adding to the oppressive, wicked air that seemed to permeate the very structure of the great house.

  Corin looked into the gloom with dismay. He did not welcome the idea of walking into Devil’s lair of his own free will but there was little to be done about it. He suppressed a shudder and glanced at Laen who grimaced and went ahead of him down the stairs in the wake of the butler.

  The air as they descended was heavy and sweet with the perfume of Ophia and under it the sickly odor of Hypnium. Corin stopped. The drugs had different effects, one would heighten sexual arousal the other - would ensure complete submission. Devil had created a particular blend laced with his own magic that he was fond of. He always made a point of saying that his guests partook of their own free will, but there was rather more to it that that. Corin was grasping the ornate handrail so hard he knew his knuckles must be white. His skin prickled, heat and sweat, nausea swirling in his stomach as the familiar stench, mingling with the heady scent of sex and Devil’s magic, assaulted his senses. He did not want to go any further. Somehow aware of his reluctance Laen turned and looked up at him, his eyes glinting in the lamp-light.

  He made his way back up the stairs and grasped Corin’s arm. He gave a reassuring squeeze and Corin managed to prise his fingers off of the handrail.

  “Come on,” he said. “Don’t worry.”

  Corin looked at him and blinked, silent, but made himself move forward again.