Fangs of Fate (Untish #1)

Chapter 27

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

TATE

A strange buzzing sound overwhelmed my senses, I tried to move but couldn’t. I opened my eyes to see clouds above me. The familiar red tint to the sky confirmed I was in the Glenn’s borders, no longer veil side. The sky was just starting to brighten with the light from the pink-orange sun.

How had I gotten here? Strange if this was the afterlife. I sat up, noting my bound ankles and wrists. I was covered in a strange white tunic; it was strapped together with a clip at each of my shoulders and then cinched together at my waist before splitting into two pant legs that flowed down to my ankles where it was laced with a golden string. I pulled at the cloth, it was rough to the touch and itched. My feet were covered in…fuzzy pink socks? If this was death, it was weird. Who wanted to spend eternity bound in a potato sack?

“Hello?” I called out. Maybe I could make a deal with whoever the afterlife guards were. Angels, I hoped. I had killed, yes, but it was in the name of justice—no reason for a ticket to hell, right?

“She’s up,” a gruff voice came. Brown-black hair appeared from behind a clump of trees followed by the well-built body of an angel. His white shirt was translucent, revealing an outline of his abs before tucking into deliciously tight black leather pants. I noted the bulge with satisfaction. Perhaps the afterlife wouldn’t be so bad. I followed the ‘v’ near his pants up to his neck to the masculine face. A face that told me I was dead wrong about heaven, this was hell. And this male was the devil.

“No way. No way in hell that I’m spending eternity with you.”

“I’m flattered and a little offended. You’re not my type.” He smirked. Was he serious?

“What the actual fuck? Let me go. I’ll find myself another tormentor. I’ve seen more than enough. In fact, where is Mother Blood, I think I ended up here by mistake.”

“Mother Blood?” He smiled, his right side curving up more than the left, revealing a ridiculous looking boyish smile—so at odds with the sharp facial features. “You actually think you’re dead?” He seemed genuinely amused.

“I was burning alive for minutes. No one survives that, especially not a vampire. So go get your boss or whoever is in charge so that I can get to where I should be,” I snarled as I raised bound wrists, “because, believe me, you are hell.”

“James, she thinks I’m the devil,” he called over his shoulder as the auburn male appeared next to him, dwarfing Mardi by several inches. He too was wearing a loose white shirt that was tucked into black leathers. He wore brown boots that laced up the calf, and his hair, as it was before, was unnervingly perfect.

“She’s not wrong. Anna, along with half the females in the tribe, would agree with her.”

“Please, let Anna go already.” Mardi rolled his eyes.

“Can’t, she chose you and you were stupid enough to dump her.” What the actual fuck?

“You’re Fae, does that mean you run the afterlife?” My question jarred them from their verbal sparring.

“Afterlife? She really thinks she’s dead?” James chuckled. “You’ve got your work cut out for you, your darkness.” He winked at me. “At least this is cute, unlike her screeching.” My face sported a new shade of red; I may not be the best vocalist, but I didn’t consider it screeching .

“Alright, mistress of fire, let’s get one thing straight: you’re not dead. And in spite of what James or any other female may think, I certainly am not the devil.” He lowered his brows in a way that told me he most certainly was the devil. The things his face elicited in me. I shivered.

“However, you are right about one thing,” he continued, “this is hell. But it’s hell for both of us. You are the worst person I can imagine myself chained to—demeaned to the role of a babysitter. A living hell.” He squatted in front of me, his face mere inches from mine. The overwhelming scent of salt and ash surrounded me. “However, one step out of line and I will make sure you wish you were dead.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. I was utterly confused. I needed to speak to someone intelligent, and in charge. Someone who didn’t unnerve me the way this male did. I was a complete idiot around him. What was the name I’d heard before I lost consciousness?

“Arithi, take me to Arithi.”

His eyes narrowed. “Let’s get one thing straight. I give the orders, not you. And as far as any other intel you have, you’ll tell me right now or I’ll break every single bone in your body with pleasure.”

“Or I could break one bone in your body.” My smile was pure bravado. Where the hell had that come from?

He blinked before leaning in, his breath caressing my cheek, as he licked the side of my jaw. “You could never break me.”

A chill ran down my spine, anticipation building. Was I out of my mind? My body apparently had a mind of its own as it responded in the most irrational ways to this male in front of me.

“Using magic to elicit excitement from females is purely manipulative and a sign of SDS.”

“SDS?” He spoke slowly as he pulled away from my face, his pupils more dilated than before.

“Small dick syndrome.”

The intensity in his eyes deepened as he swallowed, jaw ticking. I couldn’t read him. Was he turned on or annoyed? Was it possible for him to be both?

“I assure you, there’s nothing small about my build.” His voice dropped several decibels as he spoke, eyes lowering to my lips. I licked them in response. Something was seriously wrong with me.

“Aether. Arithi is waiting.” James’s voice was my savior. Mardi’s jaw ticked and his vision cleared.

Leaning over he gripped my arm and yanked me to my feet. I felt dizzy, my awareness flashing in and out.“You are pathetically childish.”

He jerked me upright and then pushed me in front where he gripped my arms from behind and steadied me as he shoved forward. I stumbled, my left leg’s height discrepancy was, yet again, a thorn in my side. Mardi’s grip on me tightened as he steadied my movement and stopped my fall. I could feel the questions raising, but I refused to acknowledge them. I was already vulnerable enough.

I continued to hobble down the path; Mardi’s grip was loose but still on my shoulders. We cleared the outcropping and were now on a stone path that led down the hill toward a cliff. I’d never been here before. If we were in the Glenn, then we must be far outside the city limits.

We were in the wilderness, so it was unlikely the guara would rescue me. I couldn’t believe I was actually hoping to see the guara. How the mighty have fallen. I rolled my eyes.

We approached the cliff, slow but steady thanks to the fact that my boots, wherever they are, were no longer evening my footing. Several small tents appeared in the distance, people milling about. The cliff came closer and with it a small unlit firepit pit and a single golden chair came into view. We walked closer to the pit, a mere thirty feet from the cliff edge. Rocks crunched beneath my feet as the terrain changed, the stone loosening the closer we got.

Another shove forward had my foot catching on a rock, his grip loosened, and I went careening down. I fumbled, trying and failing to catch myself with my bound hands. My chin hit a rock as my fang sunk into my tongue. Blood and dirt filled my mouth. I looked up in time to see another pair of boots enter my vision. They were small, petite even. I shoved my body upwards to at least get to my knees, ignoring the burning in my mouth and the swelling I was sure was there. A small female, maybe four-ten at most, stood in front of me. She had blonde hair that faded to red. Two thick streaks of white framed her delicate face. Slight wrinkles at her eyes showed her age as weathered hands gripped her waist.

“Really, Aether? You couldn’t have delivered her a little less disheveled?” Aether?

“Just be glad she’s here at all. I know I’ve said this before, but she won’t be any help,” Mardi responded from behind me. So…his first name was Aether?

“That’s not for you to decide.” Her voice was strong, curt even, she clearly had authority. This must be Arithi.

“Alright, unbind her,” she commanded.

“Excuse me?” Mardi’s voice was full of indignance.

“Again, not your call, Aether. James, unbind her.”

James appeared from behind me and outstretched his hand. The blue plastic-like bonds encasing my feet and wrists disappeared, leaving them blissfully free.

“Much better. Now, Aether go fetch our guest a chair please.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me, she?—”

“Now.”

Mardi huffed, clearly displeased, before disappearing toward the camp just down the hill.

“I apologize for the measures we had to take to get you here. We had to be sure.” She smoothed out her red tunic, highlighting the gold collar, cuff links, and golden embroidery with the movement. Black tattoos crawled out from under the tunic circling her collarbones, matching the ones on her forearms.

“Be sure of what?” I was more confused now than ever. Were these members of another Vamp? Perhaps the ones Chance was all worked up over? Were they really preparing for battle? If they thought I could help, they were comically wrong .

“We’ll get to that in a moment dear. First, James, please tell the doctor we’re ready for her.”

Ok, this was taking a turn for the worse. I scrambled back on my butt and tried to stand as James nodded and disappeared.

I sat there on the ground, dirt covering my once clean tunic, staring at the female in front of me. She sat down in the single chair on the other side of the empty fire pit. She stared at me, red eyes deepening to a molten shade.

Footsteps sounded as James, along with a gorgeous female, approached.

“Dr. Ferrari, if you will,” Arithi commanded, nodding toward me.

Ferrari smiled at me, feral and beautiful. The juxtaposition of the two emotions never faded, even Glenn side when my life was apparently in danger.

I scooted back, like hell I’d let her touch me. But my body froze. Blue light surrounded me again. Damn bubble—fucking James.

“Sorry,” James spoke as my body was suspended mid-scoot, completely frozen. Ferrari knelt in front of me, brandishing a blade. She reached for my palm, and I was helpless to stop her. With one swipe, she slit my palm.

“There, not so bad.” She winked at me and pulled out a glass vial to collect the blood. I stared at her numbly. I always knew something was off with her, that she was too beautiful to be a vampire and knew too much to be human. Her hair was pulled up in a ponytail, and for the first time I saw the tell-tale sign: pointed ears. She was Fae.

Drop by drop my blood fell until at last, the vial was full. She stood, nodded at Arithi, and then turned and strode off toward the camp. James reached out and a thin blue plastic covered the wound like a Band-Aid. I was released from my frozen state and just sat there, blinking. What the actual hell? Ferrari and James were Fae! I saw their ears clearly and James’s gifts were not that of vampires. The other Vamp was working with the Fae? To what end?

“Thank you, James. The tests, now, if you would.” James nodded at Arithi and then disappeared toward the tents dotting the valley below. He passed Mardi who carried one plastic white chair up the hill toward us.

“I apologize for that too. We just have to take extra measures in times like these.”

“I don’t understand.”

Her eyes sharped and then softened, almost with…compassion?

“This will one day make sense,” she spoke softly. This was the weirdest encounter. Pain, I understood, but kindness from the enemy? Nope, something was wrong. Maybe she was the devil. Mardi approached with the chair and sat it facing Arithi’s makeshift throne before handing Arithi a brown satchel.

“Thank you, Aether.”

He grunted as he backed up a few feet, standing with his arms crossed against his chest, his bulging muscles at odds with his immature demeanor—a child being disciplined. Arithi gestured for me to sit. She was far too calm, kind, and calculated; this had to be a trap.

“Are you the devil?” I blurted out, Arithi’s eyes shot up as she struggled to contain a laugh. She sucked both lips in for a moment before composing herself.

“She thinks she’s dead. Not the brightest bulb,” Aether responded as he rolled his eyes and tapped his forehead.

“It’s understandable for someone like her who doesn’t know what she is. Especially, after just going through a burning.”

“Excuse me?”

“Darling, why don’t you tell us of your mother.” Ok, I was not expecting this. I stood there like a deer in headlights. What were they getting at?

“Please, dear. Do take a seat. We need to have a long chat, and this can be a sophisticated conversation.” Arithi gestured to the chair behind me.

“I don’t think so.” But then Aether was stalking toward me, and I’d had enough of his touch for a lifetime. I lifted myself from the ground and then lowered myself to the plastic chair.

“That’s better. Now, I know trusting is hard and you have every reason to be skeptical. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to offer much comfort as I will be asking the questions and not answering many.” She paused and then reached into the brown satchel and pulled out a manila envelope.

“Your mother dear, who was she?”

“Why?”

Arithi sighed and then extended the package to me.

“I see you’re not one to trust easily. So similar.” She smiled and then nodded at the envelope. I opened it up, and then slowly dumped its contents on my lap. A picture, old and worn, was in it. It was my mother holding a toddler, me. She was young and happy. Her hair was shorter than I’d ever seen it, a pixie cut by all standards, and I was a chubby little thing in her lap. Tears pricked at my eyes. I hadn’t seen a picture of her this happy in so long. It was torn down the edge, obviously half of the photo was missing.

“How do you have this?”

“Please, Tate, tell us who your mother was.”

“Irene Aaralyn.”

Arithi nodded satisfied. Mardi just stood there, watching my face as he remained emotionless.

“She…she was amazing. A legendary fighter, a member of the guara’s elite taskforce. She was kind, she was loving, and she was brave,”my voice broke at the end.

Arithi’s eyes softened. She nodded. “Yes, I remember that.”

“You knew her?” My eyes lifted from the photograph to Arithi’s face.

“She was loyal,” Arithi said. An undecipherable look crossed her face. “What happened to her, Tate?”

“She was murdered.”

“By whom?” Arithi’s voice got very still as she leaned forward—hands folded in on themselves.

“President Collin Dale. That bastard killed her.” I clenched my jaw, images of Lucas’s crushed body filled my mind—images of my mother’s body, contorted and purple, crumpled on the floor, lifeforce completely drained of magic and blood. I shook my head. No, I couldn’t picture her death like that. Maybe she didn’t look like that, perhaps it was a quick death.

“Why? Why was Irene killed?”

“For supposed espionage,” I spoke, the words falling lifeless from my tongue. Arithi looked at Mardi and nodded. He stood there, unmoving. A statue.

“What is all this about?” I gestured to the photo. “Who are you? How did you know my mom?”

“Unfortunately, most of that is classified. For now, let’s just say we were friends working toward the same ending, the same goal.”

“What goal?”

“Who is your father, Tate?” This was getting so strange.

“My father? I don’t know. I never met him. How did you know my mother?”

Arithi paused, unfolded her hands, and gestured at the contents on my lap. I’d forgotten there was more besides the photo. A small golden locket lay there. It had a dragon symbol on it and the back had fire etched into it. I tried to open it, but it was sealed.

“Only once you accept who you are will you be able to open it. And when you do, you’ll get many, many answers.”

“What kind of bullshit game is this?” I demanded. I was sick of this. I wanted answers. The locket began to warm within my hand, responding to my emotions.

“One you’ll have to play if you want answers. I’m sorry. But I’m not the one to offer you answers and there is a way for things like this to be done.Now, tell me, who was your father?”

“I never met him.” The admission stung. Abandoned as a baby had left an unhealed wound.

“Did your mother not speak of him? Have you not at least seen a picture?” Arithi prodded.

“No. Apparently, he didn’t want a child.”

Arithi nodded. “Did you volunteer for the guara?”

“What? Never. I would never help them.”

“And yet, she bears their tattoo. She’s one of them,” Mardi’s voice cut in; the first time he did anything other than stand there as a sentry. Arithi shot Mardi a silencing look and then refocused on me.

“Why do you bear the symbol of the guara, Tatealia?”

The use of my full name threw me. Very few knew my full name. My mother called me Tate, it was more human than the full vampirical name.

“I asked a question, dear.”

“Uh, it was forced enlistment. And it’s just Tate. I don’t go by Tatealia.”

“Very well, Tate, why were you forced to enlist.”

I was done with this round of questioning. If they wanted me dead, they’d have killed me already. Then again, they burned me so perhaps that was their failed attempt.

“Answer her.” Mardi’s voice was closer, too close. My blood began to jump in response.

“I violated the no-kill law veil side,” I responded, willing my pulse to slow.

“She’s a murderer. No better than the guara.” Mardi’s accusation stung.

“And you are?” I shot back, focusing on him rather than the matronly female.

“You don’t know what I am.” His face was unreadable.

“Aether, please remove yourself from the circle. Now,” Arithi spoke, breaking the trance-like focus he had on me. I could swear I felt his energy increase. Was he affected by me like I was by him?

“Tate, do you know how you survived the burning back in the warehouse?” Arithi waited for an answer. Mardi backed up and I turned back to face Arithi. Was that irritation on her face?

“What?” The locket in my palm remained warm. I pressed it closer between my fingers as if it would somehow shield me from the truth Arithi was revealing.

“How did you not die when burnt alive?” Was that her admission of attempted murder?

I had no idea how I survived, but I wasn’t going to tell her that. Information was valuable and if she wasn’t going to answer my questions, then I certainly wouldn’t answer hers.

“I see. Well, let me enlighten you. You are not a normal vampire. You are a rare breed Tate, a legend. Fire cannot kill you. You are, in many ways, one with the flame.” What was this nonsense? One with the flame? Was I a fricking fairytale? Nope.

“I can see your skepticism, it’s natural for one who’s been as sheltered as you’ve been. But believe me, there will be a day when you will understand. Lean into your heart, into the flame’s song, and you will know I speak the truth.” She paused and leaned forward. “Tell me, girl, what did you see in the flames?”

How did she know I’d seen anything? “Nothing.”

“Come now,” skepticism filled her face, “do not insult me with a lie. I am a truth decipherer. I can tell when someone is lying. What did you see?”

“Why does it matter?” If she was a truth decipherer, something I had previously believed didn’t exist, then I needed to offer her partial truths. I didn’t trust her, something in her eyes had me on edge. Or perhaps, it was the fact that she’d just had me burned not long ago.

“They say that what you see in the flames is your destiny, your identity. Some see their past, some the future, and still some, a glimpse of their true being and power.”

“What did you see?” I challenged. If she knew so much, she must’ve gone through a burning herself.

“Smart. I can see why you unnerve Aether so much. I saw despair, a throne that called to me, and a future world dependent on the rightful leader. But you wouldn’t know what any of that means.” She waved a hand in the air before her face.

“I don’t,” I answered truthfully. “I simply saw symbols. The sea, streams of fire, a song. Nothing.” I gave her selective truths, just like my mother had shown me when the school principal was interrogating me on my abilities after I transitioned.

“Indeed. Streams of fire, a song.” She looked to Mardi. “One of us.”

“What does that mean?”

“For now, we have more pressing things. Have you seen Fletcher Backshy?” I supposed I would not get any more answers from her.

“Fletch? What does this have to do with him?” Arithi exchanged a glance at Mardi.

“See, I told you she was useless.” Mardi shook his head in annoyance.

“We’ve been in communication with him and recently he’s gone silent. He was supposed to check in, but we haven’t heard from him. When was the last time you saw him?”

“I don’t know, day before yesterday? Or two days ago?” My mind was fuzzy, the timeline a blur. I’d come home and he wasn’t there.

“I see. Alright then.” Arithi stood. “Hand me the locket.”

My fist tightened on it. It was mine, there was no way she would get it back. With a sigh, Arithi motioned to Mardi who was already at my side, prying my fist away from my chest.

“It’s mine.” I tightened my hold on it, but he was stronger. He forced my fingers open and plucked the golden heart right out of my palm. I snarled at him.

“You can have it back if you light the fire.” She gestured to the unlit pit.

“Impossible.” I looked around, desperate to spot wood or sticks, flint, or lighter fluid. None. The locket dangled from Mardi’s fingers and then he chucked it through the air to Arithi who caught it.

“Someday you will understand.” The decision was clear in her eyes and body language as she stood. “You will go back and join the guara and gain their trust. You will be a good soldier and not breathe a word of this to anyone. And above all, you will get in contact with Fletcher and notify us immediately. Aether, you will take her back.”

“Wait! Why do you need to hear from Fletcher? What is all this about?” Arithi tucked the locket in her waistband.

“Let’s go.” Mardi approached me. I sprung up from my seat and darted toward Arithi. She held up a hand and red flames erupted before her, a line in the sand.

“Look, Tate. I knew Irene, and you’re right, she was kind and yet brave. I owe her, which is why in part I’ve been lenient with you. You have promise, and are in some ways, one of our own. However, you are unproven and untrained. Mardi fears your loyalty. We do not have room for risks right now, only assets.” She paused, eyes calculating. “There is a war coming. When it arrives, you will have to choose. In the meantime, I’m afraid you must return to your life and move on. Breathe one word of this to anyone and our faith in you will be broken and, friendship with your mother or no, we’ll dispose of you.” The female before me was hard, ice cold. Nothing like the kind, elderly female I saw a moment ago.

“Please, I can help! I want to. Allow me my necklace as a trinket of trust.”

Arithi assessed me, her frame beginning to hide behind the wall of flame she commanded. “Trust is earned. You want to help? Find Fletcher. Once you do, I’ll need you to contact us. If you can do this, then perhaps you’ll be an asset after all. Understood?”

I still wasn’t sure I trusted them, not one bit. But I did know I trusted Fletcher and finding him would be a start. “Yes, I know I can.”

“Very well, Aether take her back and instruct her on how to reach us. Tate, contact us the moment you find Fletcher. Should you fail to do so, or speak of this to the guara, we will not hesitate to eliminate you as a threat, Irene’s child or not.”

“I understand.”

“Good. Aether.” Arithi waved her hand and the wall of fire disappeared, leaving only a woodless fire in the pit. She turned and began slowly making her way back down the hill.

“Of course, I’d get stuck with babysitting duty, again. Like watching your reckless ass veil side wasn’t punishment enough. This way.” He turned and led the way back that we came, not waiting for me before he began climbing the hill.

“Veil side? I knew it was you!” I called after him, but he just continued his trek up the hill. I hesitated for a moment. Maybe I could get Arithi to talk, follow her to the village and get some answers.

“I wouldn’t if you want to live,” Mardi called over his shoulder. Asshole. Fine, I’d follow him—for now. I needed to find Fletch anyways. I moved with quick, uneven steps and caught up to him; he didn’t slow as he began climbing the hill.

“How will I contact you?” I hated that my breath came out in pants. I was out of shape.

“Let’s get one thing straight.” He turned abruptly and towered over me more than usual given the hill’s advantage. “Arithi may have decided to give you a chance, but not for one second am I willing to trust you. That said, I have eyes everywhere and one step out of line and you will pay for it, do you understand?”

“Got it.” I glared at him, leveling my best challenging stare that I could muster. Even at five-five, I could intimidate. Never mind that he was well over six feet.

“I will take you back and you will act as if nothing has happened. You’ve been sentenced to the Eastern Outpost. You leave the day after tomorrow. You will need to locate Fletcher before your departure.”

“And how do you suppose I do that?”

“Not my problem.” Naturally, it wasn’t. We continued to walk back to the clearing, his single stride the same as three of mine. Finally, he stopped.

I bent over, hands on my knees. My heart was pounding, too much cardio. Usually this wouldn’t faze me, but now, whether it be the weird encounter, the burning, or hunger, I could barely catch my breath.

“Turn,” he commanded as he pulled out a blindfold.

“No way, uh-uh.” I stepped back into a solid wall of muscle.

“Scared of the dark?” James spoke. Just great, I was now stuck with both of them.

“You guys aren’t my type and that,” I pointed to the scarf, “is not my kink.” James loosened a hearty laugh. Some tension eased…at least there was that. Mardi didn’t look the least bit impressed or moved, like he was made of steel. Whatever.

“Tate, are we going to have a problem?” Mardi approached me, James still stood behind.

“I don’t know, Aether, she seems to have rejected you. Tell me, how many times have you experienced that?” I could hear the amusement in James’s voice; a joke that neither Mardi nor I shared.

“No, no problem,” I responded, ignoring James.

Mardi reached near my head and then wrapped the fabric around my face. This was absolutely absurd.He secured it to the back of my head and brushed my cheek with his fingertips as he pulled back; warmth exploded over my skin. My heart rate accelerated from his touch.

“James.” I felt the muscles behind my back flex as two arms wrapped around me and then suddenly, I was twisting, falling, fading. My existence as I knew it was altered. I felt immaterial and yet my nerves were firing everywhere. The weightlessness ended and my feet touched something solid, allowing the dizzying sensation to pass. I bent over and vomited. I could hear someone else vomiting next to me.

“Looks like you finally have a companion for your weak stomach.” James’s voice was filled with far too much mirth. I reached up and yanked the blindfold off only to see that instead of grass and rock beneath my knees, I was in a bed of flowers. Bluebells. I knew them well. We had returned to the Glenn.