Into the Darkness: A Fantasy LitRPG Adventure (Axe Druid Book 4) Read online

  “You aren’t suggesting we blow a hole into Djurn Forge, are you?” Balmur’s skeptical look said it all for us.

  “No,” Jaken replied vehemently. “But there could be another way. What if we had Pebble take us through the ground?”

  “It’s something.” I shrugged. “I mean, he is an earth elemental, so he can easily move through the ground. I don’t know about taking all of us, though.”

  Bokaj slapped the ground at his side. “It’s an option!”

  “What about that rift with all the spiders?” The others looked at me, clearly horrified at my question. “It makes sense. There’s this huge chasm that these spiders live in beneath the jungle after we fought that asshole minion, Decay. That had been a really shitty time. It stands to reason that it would connect in some fashion to the Great Below.”

  “Yes, but the hollow of Brindolla’s underground is a harsh place. Can you afford to wander aimlessly for who knows how long, blind, and out of your element?” Vrawn stretched langorously. “According to what you have said, there is a recent trail to follow from this Djurn Forge. It seems the best option.”

  “It does. But you know we aren’t going to be able to do a raid on the drow without Farnik sending half the fucking city with us.” Bokaj grunted, then looked at us all and continued with his thought, a soft smile on his face. “Especially if it’s the drow who could be responsible for his wife’s death. And any of them traipsing down there with us would be a beacon to any minions or generals of War.”

  “Maybe.” Jaken frowned in thought. “Maebe has been traveling with us for a while and they don’t seem to be wanting to hide from us, or any wiser to her being near us. And if they’re surrounded by drow, isn’t there a chance that one blip on the radar of possibly thousands of blips could go unnoticed?”

  “That’s a lot riding on a chance,” Yohsuke grumbled quietly. “But we’ve taken bigger risks before. Still, I don’t know how comfortable I am having people down there with us that haven’t proven themselves team players. The seven of us? Yeah. Maebe too? Cool. But anyone other than that is just as much a liability to us as the unknown is.”

  That was…true. Unfortunately. Telling Farnik and the clan that they couldn’t come along would be potentially devastating to them. Possibly even alienating them. Then again, the heat from the water and present company could be playing hell on my mind. Probably time to get out of the bath.

  “We should discuss this more at length sometime... lader ohn.” my eyelids drooped. The sweltering heat taking me slightly. The world swam. I dipped lower into the water.

  I remembered, in my nearly unconscious state, someone lifting me almost effortlessly out of the water. I caught flashes of sight, sounds, and sensations. Soft skin. Murmured questions, and finally, green and orange blurs passed my eyes before I fell gently to sleep. Intense dreams of darkness coming alive at every turn and none of it the void I had trained with.

  Chapter Two

  I woke up some time later looking at the wall of an unfamiliar room with the sound of rhythmic, but slightly obnoxious snoring behind me. The walls were wooden but the planks stood vertical rather than horizontally like the ones in Willem’s tavern.

  A heavy weight on my shoulder made it hard to move and I looked down to spy a large green forearm. I hadn’t noticed before, but there were fine lines along them that looked like scars from something sharp. With little thought, I traced my fingertips along some of them carefully, wondering what had caused these injuries. The bordering-on-bestial snoring coming from behind me suddenly stopped, and the pressure on my shoulder eased a little.

  Vrawn’s face came into view with an inquisitive look, her voice groggy, “How are you feeling, right now?”

  Before I responded, I took a mental inventory of myself. I was nude. Oh boy. I was tired, a little dehydrated, and warm, but not overly so.

  “Okay, I think.” I looked up at her. “What happened?”

  She snuggled a bit closer, making me feel slightly more like the little spoon that I was at that moment.

  “The others are under the impression that your fur in the hot spring caused you to overheat.” Vrawn put her hand over my forehead, it felt cool to the touch, and it was nice, to be honest. “I am of a similar mind.”

  “So, you carried me here.” I looked around to see what I could, but the austere conditions confirmed it. “To your room then?”

  “I did,” she replied simply.

  “Thank you. I appreciate it.” I was caught in a bit of a conundrum, though.

  Do I stay? Or do I go, now? I was awake but tired. And she was awake, and I was still coming to grips with the fact that Maebe was weird in her way and was okay with Vrawn hitting on me. Something about Maebe being royalty had conditioned her to a different set of morals that seemed odd to my own. Deviant even. And with her Fae longevity, more so.

  “As a reward for me carrying you all the way here, could you stay with me?” Vrawn asked softly, seemingly guessing at the thoughts in my head. “Queen Maebe has asked that when she is not here to care for you, I act in her place. I have no issue with this, do you?”

  Stricken by her unusual lack of subtlety, I watched her for a moment before answering. “I’m not sure, honestly. Where I come from, it’s normal for someone in a relationship to maintain that bond by not being with anyone else.”

  “Sure, not everyone’s relationship is the same, and not everyone thinks that way, but it’s still hard to get over that initial teaching and training. Does that make sense?”

  “It does. There are people I know of, and entire cultures who think that way.” Vrawn slid her arm over my shoulder, the weight of it suddenly gone. “If you would like to leave, I will not make you stay. I understand that these sorts of changes and differences in culture can be difficult to work thr—”

  I cut her off with a hand on her leg. “Just put your arm back around me, and let’s get some rest, okay?”

  She sighed in relief and the weight of her arm returned, pulling me even closer to her. My heart thumped loudly in my chest, but somehow, it was nice to be held like this. Reassuring even.

  Her willingness to accept that I had different thoughts and a moral difficulty because of the way I was raised, had solidified my staying. She had earned that, and had been willing to accept me for me.

  You done with thinking my moment of enjoying being the little spoon is weird yet, or not? Because I kill shit in this story. Best believe. Yeah. You’d better recognize.

  I settled into her and closed my eyes, her steady breathing pulling me into a deeper sense of an almost meditative state. Close to sleep, but just this side of it. Where dreams cannot find you, you’re alert and aware, but also resting. I’d had naps like that, but this was something else.

  I stayed like that for some time before Vrawn’s fingers began to trace shapes through the fur of my chest, my mind falling deeper toward true sleep. It was…nice. Really nice.

  “Zeke,” A familiar voice whispered almost next to my ear, “time to wake up.”

  I growled deeply from the base of my chest. That was a fucked-up thing to say to someone who had just gotten to sleep.

  “It’s mid-morning, you sleepy thing, wake up!” a teasing voice insisted.

  I turned, blinked my bleary eyes at the figure sitting in the chair, and realized that the snoring person still holding me was Vrawn, and in the chair, sat Maebe. A pleased smile graced her lips, and her vibrant green eyes sparkled in the low light filtering into the room.

  “Hello, Zeke.” Maebe’s body disappeared, and I felt the cool wash of shadows that signaled her moving into the space between me and the wall. Vrawn snorted in her sleep but otherwise didn’t wake up.

  I lay there for a moment, overjoyed by the fact that the woman I loved was there in front of me. She wore a short, white dress that reminded me of a sundress on Earth, made of a thicker material, and some lace about the chest and shoulders. Her starry, night-colored skin making a stark and pleasantly shocking contrast t
o the clothing she wore. While the curves of the body beneath the dress were enticing, it was her face that I found most captivating. Her deep green eyes stared into mine, so close that I could smell her scent; like fresh morning snow and some kind of berry. Her black hair with multicolored highlights was pulled back into a ponytail, with just enough of it loose to frame her face. Her high cheekbones, almost razor-sharp, and her button nose were charming, her delicate chin met by a strong angular jaw and finally, a new smattering of starlit freckles that danced across her nose and cheeks.

  She bit her pillowy lower lip. “I have missed you.”

  Words couldn’t possibly describe the relief soaring through me in that moment of her being so close, safe, and sound. I pulled her against me and kissed her, as much of her as I could touch at that moment would never be enough.

  The air soured slightly, the scent of copper filtering in. As I opened my eyes, I saw Maebe staring back. Lifelessly. Her once beautiful green eyes dull, mouth slack and blood slowly trickling from her lips. A gaping hole in her chest where her heart should be.

  “No…no, no, no!” I tried to stop the bleeding, a torrent of new, fresh blood bubbling from the wound. But it just kept coming. The weight behind me shifted.

  “You’re not strong enough to protect her from us, little fox.” Vrawn’s voice but somehow not her voice whispered into my ear. “We’re on to you now. And we have so many more wonderful plans to make you wish you had just left us to our own devices.”

  I whirled on the threat with a snarl and tried to slash at the creature holding me. Vrawn’s face was slack, the eyes purely white. “Get used to losing those you care about.”

  “Wake up, Zeke!” An insistent voice urged me, as if underwater.

  The eyes blinked at me once. “Nothing can save you now. Stay away and enjoy what little time you have left in this pathetic existence.”

  “Zeke!” Another call, a fleeting flurry of sensation along my chest and muzzle.

  “We’re going to kill you all, and while I don’t know who you are,” my voice was more beast-like growl than words. Flecks of spit flew from my jaws as I spoke, “I will find you, and I will make you suffer for this.”

  The possessed Vrawn grinned menacingly, and a sudden pinch and pull on both of my cheeks caught my attention.

  The world around me faded, and I came back into focus in the same place. My clawed hands were stuck into the bed, and something warm and sticky was on my left hand.

  “Zeke! What’s wrong?” Vrawn hissed in pain. I blinked, the growl escaping my chest stopping as I realized I had dug my claws into Vrawn’s shoulder.

  I gently separated my claws from the wounds and cast Heal on her, the holes sealing and leaving not so much as a scratch, immediately.

  “I am so sorry Vrawn, are you okay?” I searched her for other wounds, she was still nude and I cast all thoughts of vengeance away without a second thought while focusing on her.

  “I could ask the same of you.” her large hand cupped my cheek softly. “You were growling and snarling so ferociously, and I heard you threatening someone?”

  “It was a really bad dream.” I growled and sat up, casting my gaze about with no luck gleaning anything from the shadows. You guys all okay?

  Fuck that, whatever it was, Bokaj spoke softly.

  James grunted, and the others made similar noises. Didn’t seem like something any of them had enjoyed, but they were okay.

  “I don’t know what it was, but I think the generals are onto us, they’re trying to get us to leave them alone, and that isn’t something we want to do—are you sure you’re okay?”

  She frowned. “I’m fine. Those wounds were nothing. If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s alright. But there is still quite some time before the sun rises, would you like to try and get some more sleep?”

  I thought about it a moment. As angry and outraged as I was that something was able to infiltrate my dreams, I had definitely had worse nightmares in my time. Though… I shifted form to that of human so that I wouldn’t accidentally gouge the poor woman again.

  “We can try to get some more sleep.” I went to turn over, but she stopped me.

  “Sleep facing me. So that if you start to have a bad dream again, I can help you.” She rubbed my shoulder comfortingly.

  She had been doing a lot lately. Not just for me, though. She had been so kind. She’d come to help guard the village, befriended the painfully shy Vilmas, helped to protect the Sunrise from the undead sent by a lich. Then she was training the recruits, helping us, and probably even more.

  Vrawn was an admirable woman, thoughtful, kind, and beautiful to boot.

  Her soft smile and intense eyes were so observant and full of curiosity.

  “Thanks for always being so awesome, Vrawn.” I took my hand and ran it gently up her neck until I cupped her cheek. “You’ve always been so kind. You’re amazing.”

  “I simply am who I am. I do not think I’m ‘awesome’ or amazing. I just care for the people I care about.” She flashed her dainty tusks in a wider smile. “I throw myself into the now so that I have no regrets—no more regrets, rather.”

  Her smile faltered, and it hurt a little. I knew why, as she had held her adoptive brother, who had fallen in a battle during some kind of war, as his life ebbed away. It had been beyond shitty for her. She had lost her station in the army she served with and all of her remaining family, except for her adoptive sister.

  “Well, everyone seems to like you.” I pulled her head closer so that she rested on my shoulder. “And you’ve done so much for everyone around you. I think you’re amazing. And so do the others.”

  She nestled into my body a little more, her warm breath puffing against the skin of my throat. It tickled a little. She lifted her head back, breathing against the base of my jawline, sending a thrill down my spine.

  “Hey, that tickles,” I murmured against her forehead.

  “This is nice.” Vrawn sighed, her eyes opening to stare into mine.

  “It is. Thank you again for taking care of me.” I ran my fingers through her hair.

  She closed her eyes once more in rapt enjoyment. While she was distracted, I leaned down to kiss her forehead. Just a soft brush of lips against her forehead. A reward of sorts.

  As soon as my lips would’ve touched her skin, she lifted her chin and claimed my mouth with her own. At first, my heart skipped a beat, and I stiffened.

  Vrawn broke the kiss first. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have been so forward.”

  Her dejected composure was deeply saddening, and I couldn’t help but feel responsible.

  “I saw you dead in that dream, Vrawn.” I whispered, fear and anger almost getting the better of me. “Mae too. That’s why talking about it is a little rough.”

  I lifted her chin so that I could look her in the eyes. “I’m not going to let that happen to you, or Mae. Not so long as I draw breath, okay?”

  She nodded, still looking uncertain of herself. The cold and confusing loneliness clouding me at that moment was almost unbearable. Mae wasn’t here to help make us feel better, and I didn’t know what to do right now to try and help Vrawn feel better, either. So, I kissed her back of my own volition. She had been kind. And I had permission. Besides, for now—this was as far as I wanted to go. And if the need arose, I would make that known. But I think at this moment, we both needed this sort of comfort.

  Her lips weren’t as soft as Maebe’s, but the sensation wasn’t unpleasant, and the feel of her tusks digging lightly into my lips was also different. Her hands found their way onto my back and kneaded the flesh there. It was nice. A deepening kiss that I halted, likely sooner than either of us wanted.

  “Thank you, again.” My breath mingled with hers as I murmured the words.

  “Always.” Her lips pressed against my chest, but she didn’t push the issue. That gained a good deal of my respect.

  Shortly after, Vrawn’s snoring vibrated my chest a little. I couldn’t help my smirk. My
eyes closed into a blissfully blank sleep.

  ***

  I woke up to several small kisses on my shoulder, smiling, I whispered, “That’s a nice way to wake up. Good morning.”

  Vrawn’s voice vibrated against my chest, “Good morning.”

  A scent of fresh snow, and night sky reached my nostrils and I breathed deeply. “Good morning, my Queen.”

  Maebe chuckled from her place in the darkened corner. “Good morning, my busy little champion.”

  Vrawn stiffened, and her breath caught in her throat. I put a hand on her shoulder. “My Lady Darkest, you grace us with your presence.”

  “Forget the formalities, my love.” Mae was gone and then suddenly behind me, almost like the dream, and I felt the cool of her body against mine opposite the heat of Vrawn’s large form.

  “Hi Mae, I’ve missed you.” It was hard to keep the jackhammer that was my heart from leaping from my chest. This isn’t a dream man; it’s real. They’re alive.

  “Hello, My Queen,” Vrawn’s voice sounded slightly uncertain, but she greeted Maebe, anyway.

  “Vrawn, I will say this only once, and I want you to take it to heart,” Maebe’s voice took on a stern tone. “At this moment, you are my friend. In settings such as this when we are alone, or in company that I deem safe, you may call me Maebe, or Mae. I trust you to discern the times that have need for formality, if I do not tell you beforehand. Is this agreeable?”

  “Why?” Vrawn’s voice was still uncertain.

  “Sit up, please,” Mae ordered. I went to move, but she put a hand on me and kept me lying on the bed.

  Vrawn obeyed, and I turned onto my back so I could watch them both. Maebe leaned up and then sat with her legs crossed easily, her small frame almost levitating in the shadows. Vrawn’s bed was larger than mine had been in the tavern below.

  “When we first met, you showed great respect to me, to Zeke, and yourself, by addressing something with me,” Maebe began. “You had paid me the courtesy to state what you thought of as wrong, risking much to do so, proving that you could be trusted with someone important.”