Kelly Gay - The Better Part of Darkness

“You may release her,” Mynogan said to the jinn. As soon as his hands were off me, I leapt to my feet and moved to counterattack, but an invisible hand had me by the throat. My chest burned with hatred. Power swirled around Mynogan like a vicious wind. Big fucking deal, I thought, refusing to be scared. He was a bully hiding behind power, the same kind of power flowing through my veins. Everything in his makeup was in me, too. I had to remember that, to distance my emotions and remain calm.

“You have a choice, Charlene. I’ll make it simple so you can understand. Your lifeblood, for your daughter’s.” A brutal eyebrow cocked, and I wanted to wipe the slimy smirk right off his face. “All of it.”

“Why not just kill me now?” He had me. He had Emma. Why make a deal?

“You must do it yourself. A willing gift to the primordial darkness of Charbydon.”

I blinked. “Suicide?” Aaron’s words came back to me. The ritual. Mynogan’s belief that only a person with the blood of all three worlds in their veins could raise the darkness. Funny. Aaron never mentioned the suicide part. An unbelievable laugh swelled up, but lodged in my throat. “And I suppose we just happen to be standing on unconsecrated ground.”

Triumph swelled his chest. “Civil War burial ground for criminals and traitors.”

Weigh your choices, Charlie. Carreg’s deep voice glided through my mind. There’ll be no light. No food will grow. Unlike our world, yours cannot be sustained by darkness. If it comes, it’ll spread over time.

“I want to see my daughter first,” I told Mynogan, and then to Carreg, If you’re so worried about it, get your ass out of hiding and fight with me.

Fighting Mynogan now will start a war between the Houses of Abaddon and Astarot. I cannot help you openly. She is one child. His honey-slick voice was nonchalant, almost goading me. What is one child compared to thousands, millions? You can have others.

His words lit a raging fire in the center of my chest, burning a path through every neuron and cell until it engulfed me. I had to clench my fists tightly, nails digging painfully into my palms, to keep from cursing him out loud. He knew nothing! Emma was my world. How could I look in her eyes and sacrifice her? How? Carreg was dumber than a doorknob if he thought for one second I’d make that choice. I’d find another way because I wasn’t giving up my kid. I’d die before that happened.

So, you’ll just stand by and let the darkness come? I shot back at Carreg.

I will not try to stop him, no. There are things, reasons, you don’t understand.

Agreeing to my demand to see Emma, Mynogan motioned to a dark figure standing next to the pavilion.

My mind racing, I thought, I’ll make a deal with you. Carreg didn’t give a shit about me or Emma, and he certainly didn’t know what it meant to be a parent. He obviously didn’t care too much for my city or the planet, either. He wasn’t about to put his plans on the line to help. But I knew the one thing he’d find beneficial. Mynogan dead. When the time comes, you keep my family safe.

And in return?

I’ll kill Mynogan.

Carreg’s laughter filled my head. You’re going to try to do that anyway.

Not if you don’t promise me. His DNA is inside of me, Carreg. I have the same powers, the same strength. Who do you think has more to fight for? Who do you think won’t quit until he’s dead? I can do this. And if you don’t keep Emma and the others safe, I’ll let him live within an inch of his life and turn him over to ITF. How long before you think his lawyers get him out? How long until he’s back in control of the Council of Elders and realizes you helped me? You want him gone? You want control? Then you place your bet with me. You have nothing to lose. Just free the others from the lab and get Em out of here when I spill my blood. That’s all I’m asking.

Desperation nearly overwhelmed me, and I wasn’t even sure I was making sense, but he was the only one I knew who could do it. There was no one else. I’d run out of options. And I needed insurance. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that whatever happened, the jinn would kill Titus and Emma if Carreg didn’t act.

Get her to my sister, I said softly. Please.

“Momma?”

That one small, terrified word burst through the night like the brightest shooting star. The hold on my throat vanished, and I spun to see Emma being led from the pavilion by a dark-figured Abaddon.

It wasn’t an Abaddon. It was Carreg.

“Emma!”

“Mom!”

Carreg released her and she ran to me, launching herself into my arms. I caught her and held on for dear life. My chest swelled with her presence. I breathed her in. My hand cupped her head, the other on her back. I squeezed her hard, nearly bursting with love. It sang through me with such wonderful relief, tears spilled down my cold cheeks. She was all that mattered.

Finally, I lessened my hold and held her back from me, cupping her face and staring into her eyes. So happy she was all right, yet heart-stricken to be here, like this, with her. “Are you okay?”

She nodded, her bottom lip quivering, tears trailing lines down her cheeks. “Are you?”

I grinned, denying my tears, refusing to show her the fear coursing through my system. “I’m much better now. I told you I’d come.”

The urge in me to become hysterical was overwhelming. I hugged her again and kissed her cheek. “Listen to me. You trust me, right?” She nodded. “You see that man over there?” I glanced at Titus.

“Amanda’s uncle.”

“Right. He’s gonna take you somewhere safe while I finish up here.”

She glanced around the field, her face so pale and full of fear. “Hey,” I said, drawing her attention back to me. “I know what I’m doing. This is what I do, remember? The superhero of Atlanta and all that.” I squeezed her arms and smiled, remembering her words only a few days ago when I’d wanted to transfer to a desk job. A half-hearted laugh escaped her. That’s my girl.

I gazed over her shoulder to Carreg’s stony face. His head dipped in a faint nod. Deal on. Relief washed over me. I winked at her. “Chin up. I’ll see you in a bit, okay?”

She lifted her chin and swallowed hard. “Okay. But hurry up.”

My heart constricted, but I forced a light voice. “You got it, kiddo.”

I hugged her tight one last time and drew on the emotions coursing and building, hoping that it would be enough. Opening my mind, I tapped into the same emotions as I had earlier to heal myself. Our bond. Mother and daughter. I imagined a path to her mind, a link open and accepting. Once the familiar hum of energy pushed against every cavity and crevice of my body, I poured it into her. “Sleep,” I whispered to my daughter. “Sleep, baby.” Please work. Profound gratefulness went through me as she went slack in my arms. I braced for the full force of her weight.

Whether using my power weakened me or not, I didn’t care. I was determined to keep Em from witnessing what was about to follow.

I faced Mynogan. Emma was not going back into that pavilion. “Once this is done, she goes with Titus. They walk out of here alone and unharmed.”

“Agreed.”

I kissed the top of her head, letting my lips linger as I carried her over to Titus. Gently, he took her in his arms, but his gaze was fixed on me. “Charlie. You can’t do this,” he whispered, glancing at Emma. “I understand, but the city …”

“Just … don’t say it. I know what I’m doing. And if you don’t keep her safe, I’ll be coming after you next.”