Page 1 of Darkness Consuming
Chapter One
The Reveries
Nollix
I hate this shit.
I hate the bullshit mystical atmosphere that comes with a visit to the Reveries. But I need them. So I’ll sit through the demanding chants that make the heavens rumble, the smoke that makes my lungs burn, and the chilling way their bodies flicker white like their spirits are trying to tear away from here.
The three women sit on the ground. They’re slender. Long pale hair blows in the breeze as they recite low and ominous words I’ve never heard before. And their hands; they’re sewn together. Palm against palm they’re attached to one another by dark thread. They sway just slightly, huddled around a burning bunch of herbs. The smoke wafts white through the night air.
Dark clouds flash with a brewing storm overhead.
The Reveries practice the Ancient Darkens. I think centuries of this smoke has made these Witches batshit crazy. I can’t get straight sentences out of them to save my life.
I would never have come to them. Not in a thousand years.
But I have to find her.
It’s been weeks and I haven’t found a single trace of Violence. The King made her disappear from society once before. He sent her away from the real world to live within the veil of the Wild Hunt. I guess he’s rather good at taking her away.
He also took away the Warlock she was tied to, but that’s not really my concern. He can keep Cameron for all I care.
I promised her I’d find her.
It makes anger shake through me just thinking about it.
Link stands respectfully at my side. His pale eyes glow in the darkness as he watches their every move.
“So you see her, yeah?” My jaw tics as their chanting grows deliberately louder over my words. “I said, you see Violence Starling, right? She’s there in the smoke? In a real place? She’s there?”
At once, the chanting halts, the swaying becomes still. The eldest sister turns her head slowly to me. Big eyes—white eyes—stare up at me. The other two sit in the dirt with spines like steel rods.
When the Witch speaks, I truly wish she wouldn’t.
“Violence is in us all, is it not?”
Fuck, not this babbling again.
“Yeah, most definitely. But Violence Starling specifically, where’s she at?”
“Violence is within you, my child.”
My nails sink into my palm as I snap my mouth tightly closed to prevent myself from spewing profanities at this insane woman.
A strong hand settles on my shoulder. It’s as if my friend is attempting to hold down the rage that’s rising within me.
“I think we should just go. I know this was a last resort, but I don’t think this is what we need right now.” Link’s voice is so quiet. A tired sound clings to his words.
We failed.
Again.
My head shakes slowly back and forth. I shove my hand roughly through my hair as frustration builds higher within me. The dirt billows around my feet when I turn abruptly to leave.
“Have you looked within yourself?” Her voice is the sound of innocence. It sounds sweet but dangerous.
It reminds me so much of Violence that I give the Reveries a second glance.
