Phobia (Interracial Paranormal Romance) (Wisteria) (17 page)

“
You should learn to keep silent in the presence of Dy’obeths Felip. It will save your life,” she warned.

“
Bach, why are you worried about the cleansing?” Lluc wondered.

“
I don’t care what happens to the Rats or to the Dogs. I didn’t want to find out about this from Karvas or Maniko.”

“
The cleansing was decided very recently, so do not think I am keeping information from you. Rest assured Bach, the cleansing of the Thayns changes nothing.” She stroked his cheek. “How are you adjusting to your new self?”

“
I feel this fog clouding my thoughts. It is confusing at times,” Bach admitted.

“
Like a second voice?” she asked. “It is not your voice, but it speaks a deep truth.”

“
It is obsessed with blood and death,” he told her.

“
That is your inner shadow and your true Dy’obeth self. It is emerging and is fighting who you have pretended to be for so long. Do not fight against the shadow. It’s the source of your strength.”

“
Lady Coia, the plan didn’t include murdering the humans,” Felip interjected. “This changes everything.”

Sternly, she glanced at him.
“What did I tell you about learning to be quiet? You are not a Dy’obeth and this forwardness is what has almost gotten you killed.”

“
If anything, the cleansing helps us,” Lluc piped in. “Finding, gathering and slaughtering the Thayns will keep High Father and the others busy.”

“
But Malcolm and I are part human. The sentinels and empirics will come looking for us,” Felip suggested.

“
The last of the Dy’obeths have left Mirrin and because of the piron I set up before they arrived, they will not come back here,” she divulged. “Both you and Malcolm are to remain here and the Dy’obeths won’t sense that part of you.”

“
When will the perfection kick in for me?” Malcolm inquired. “Why have I not changed already?”

“
Beloved, it takes longer because you are half human, but you will be perfected. Please do not worry about that now. This is want I wanted you all to see.” Her hands glowed yellow as she picked up a black bottle, which immediately turned silver. “I needed to make sure you were here when I sent this to the home realm. Felip open the threshold.”

Obediently, Felip activated the
threshold a few feet from Bach’s mother.

The group journeyed through and
arrived in a cemetery covered in snow.

“
What is this place?” Malcolm asked.

“
Tombs of the dead Sens of the Third Pillar,” Bach explained. “Aleix’s ancestors are buried here.”

“
We are on Sable Mountain. Why have you brought us here? There is nothing here I want or need.” Lluc fumed.

“
This is the perfect place to give the Family the gift.” She poured out the contents of the bottle over a stone tomb.

The silver liquid ate
into the snow like hot water. Moments later, the ground rumbled and the tomb shook. The head stone cracked and a rotting limb emerged.

“
D’cara
, what is this?” Lluc gasped.

“
Our gift to the Family to thank them for the way they have treated us.” His mother laughed.

A decaying body crawled out of the grave.
It was impossible to determine if it was male, female or even Family at all.

“
You’re bringing the dead back,” Bach stated the obvious.

“
Amazing, but—” Felip backed away from the tomb.

“
What are you afraid of?” Lluc roared into laughter.

“
I was inspired by Nero. What better way to say thank you than to reunite the Family with the dearly departed.” She watched as the newly raised undead moved toward her.

An
other tomb shattered and an elderly woman skulked out, dressed in the long black burial robe. The deformed and mindless monster made its way toward his mother.

“
Mother, get away from it.” Bach pulled out his dagger moving to protect her from the drooling creature.

“
Do not worry my son. Like the draug, the reaper will not harm me. They feed on humans and the Family. We are Dy’obeths, so it shall obey.” She commanded the creature, “Remain.”

The decaying woman stopped, its once green eyes were completely white
, devoid of any pupils or iris.

“
These are a type of draug?” Bach asked.

“
No, the draug infect the living, but reapers can turn the dead. The serum that woke this one, will soon work its way into Sable Mountain’s water ways and this beautiful creature will spread the gift as it journeys looking for more food,” she explained.

Another tomb cracked and a teenage looking reaper rose. Also dressed in a black robe, t
his one had bright red hair. Its blank eyes scanned the group and fixed on Malcolm. Opening its mouth, it groaned, but no noise came out.

“
What about me?” Malcolm asked. “Am I at risk?”

“
You and Felip both are, however once you are perfected you will be able to control them too.” She waved the approaching reaper away. “But they should not harm you since you are part Dy’obeth.”

“
Hmm.” Felip moved away from the reaper then bumped up against Bach.

“
Get away from me.” Bach warned his cousin as a fourth reaper neared.

It
sniffed Bach, but peered behind him at Felip. Springing over Bach, the reaper leapt toward his cousin and roared soundlessly at him before bounding down the mountain.

More reapers broke free from their resting places.

“Why did it not go after Felip?” Bach asked his mother.

“
She said these things will not hurt us,” Felip replied.

“
No, she said Malcolm is safe because he’s half Dy’obeth. You are part Dog and part human. The reaper should have finished you.”

“
I am more worried about what will happen if these things cross into Jarthan or Earth,” Felip said.

“
I still control them,” his mother defended. “They will not attack Felip.”

“
Because you still need him alive,” Bach grumbled.

“
Because she needs a member of the Family to activate all the thresholds to Ajana. The First Pillar made it impossible for the Dy’obeths to do that, so either we get all your brethren out or you can kill me,” Felip explained firmly.

“
You make it sound like you are going to have a quick death. You have had an easy life and you are going to die gloriously slow.” Bach simpered.

“
You think my work is easy? I’m surrounded by people who hate me,” Felip retorted.

“
Do not be concerned cousin. I intend to be the one who puts an end to your existence.” Bach shoved Felip back, sending him careening to the ground.

“
Do you plan to do that before or after you murder your father?” Felip sneered.

“
What did you say?” Bach’s mother hissed. Within seconds, she threw Felip to the ground breaking his arm in the process. “You never call that Dog Bach’s father. Do you hear me?”

“
Lady Coia, why did you—” Felip looked at her in bewilderment.

“
Do you hear me?” she shouted.

“
Yes—yes—” Unsettled, he got up as he clutched his wounded arm.

S
tepping back, she produced a piece of dark glass. “Once you have cleaned yourself up, I will meet you back at Mirrin Castle.”

“
Wait, you’re leaving me here?” Felip pleaded. “If the empirics find me, I will be dead.”

“
Do not be so dramatic. You are an expert at taking care of yourself.” His mother activated another threshold. “Felip, you and Bach will settle up at the right time, so I suggest for now you try to earn his forgiveness.”

“
He’ll never get my forgiveness, but I look forward to the day when we settle up.” Walking past Felip, Bach headed away from the cohort after the reapers, certain Felip would be too scared to follow.

*****

Bach’s mood improved by the time he got to Beraz’s castle. Instead of seeking out the new Sen of the Third Pillar, he went to his old chamber to be alone.

Staring into the now pitch black night sky, he wondered why the perfection hadn
’t made him happy. He felt angry all the time.
We need our first blood. Go out tonight and drain the life of a Dog with our bare hands.
The dark tempted him.
We’ll feel pure happiness then.
Bach wanted his first kill to mean something, so Didan, Felip or his father would be ideal.
Or Wisteria? It’d be a rush to see the light fade from her eyes.” S
top,” Bach shouted, hitting his head. “I will never—” B
ut we want to. Bach, you want to.

Ripping of
f his shirt, he decided to shower and drown out the dark fog trying to take him over.

“
Where have you been?” Maniko burst in. She wore a loose black dress that hung over one shoulder. “You went off to see Lady Coia, but did not come back. I decided to check on you and stay with you tonight.”

“
I want to be alone—”

“
Why? Do you not like me?” she teased and sauntered in. “Because I saw the way you looked at me before you attacked Beraz.”

“
I didn’t attack him because of you.”

“
Sure you didn’t.” She unclipped her grown and it dropped to the floor, revealing her extremely slender and long body, hidden behind a black slip. “Now, tell me what you think?

“
You recently got out of Ajana and the first new Dy’obeths you have seen in years. You’re confused.”

“
Well, let us see where the night takes us. We’ll talk in the morning.”

“
Get out now, Maniko.” He quietly turned and headed to the washroom. “If you’re here when I am done, I will throw you out.”

“
I like my men feisty.”

“
I am not joking.”

“
Only if you promise to toss me from the window. A fall from Sable Mountain is high enough to injure even a Dy’obeth.” She rushed over to him and put her arms around his waist. “And if you break my ribs, it is considered lucky. Good relationships are formed with blood.”

“
What happens if you die?”

“
I’d be honored if you attempted it. I might try to kill you too. There is nothing more passionate than Love-Death, killing your mate out of pure love.” Walking up to him, she ran her fingers up his chest. “But the best pairings are after a rabja when the male kills a rival.”

“
What rival?” Gripping her hands, he pulled her from his skin.

“
Beraz, then you would become Sen of the Third Pillar and then you can mate with me.”

“
Right.” Brushing past her, Bach laughed and entered the washroom. “I’m going to pass on your suggestion, but feel free to run it by Karvas or any others. You might find some takers.” He shut the door.

“
Are you out of your mind? Do you not see I am beautiful—Bach?” she yelled.

His washroom was
completely covered with deep blue mosaic tiles and in the center sat a ten-foot pool of almost boiling water in which he bathed daily. Before he could take off his trousers, the door opened and Maniko appeared again, still barely dressed. “
D’cara
, Maniko.” He gasped. “Why are you doing this?”

“
You were right. I have been imprisoned with Beraz and the brethren for so long I am desperate to feel someone who has not been tormented for hundreds and hundreds of years.” Slinking toward him, she tried to undo his trousers.

“
Stop!” Bach yanked her hands away with such force he inadvertently flung her into his bath water.

“
Maniko.” Furious, Beraz now appeared at the door. “What is this?”

“
Beraz.” She climbed out of the bath completely soaked, her short slip clinging to her frame. “This isn’t any of your business.”

“
You’re mine, so this is my business.” Moving toward her, Beraz heaved her out of the water. “You’ll suffer for this, both of you.”

“
Unless you’re prepared to declare a rabja, there’s nothing you can do.” Maniko struck as she wiggled out of his grip. “And seeing how Bach pounded you into the ground in Jarthan, I doubt you can face him.”

“
You want me to declare a rabja over Maniko?” Beraz asked Bach. “You do know what a rabja is, right? Seeing how you grew up among the Dogs, I’m not sure how much of our culture you were exposed to.”