Part Six: Return to the Nether Realm

The sun is unnecessarily bright as we cross through the Nether Realm. Who needs this much sunlight? The plants are mostly dead, and the earth is completely dry.

"I didn't think mom would be that angry," Night says for the third time since entering the Nether Realm, "on the bright of things at least she and dad are taking care of the first Shadow Queen's heart."

I let out an exasperated breath, "as far as she's, concern, we desecrated the Cave of Reflection and the River of Sorrows; to add insult to injury it means we dishonored the Underworld."

"Ru… Jaya how were we supposed to know that was the Cave of Reflection?" he continues rambling aware we're being followed, "Only the folk from the Shadow and Dark Realms know such things."

I step into a desolated alley between what used to be a pub and a pizzeria as the fallen sign reads, "perhaps because everyone knows the River of Sorrows is the Dark & Shadow Realms domain regardless of where it may lie."

"I still think punishing us is highly unnecessary, so we had sex in the cave what's the worst that can happen?"

"I don't," I whirl around catching a small glimpse of a hooded figure, "they're getting sloppy," I send, "perhaps it's the equivalent to fucking on our ancestors' graves," I say, loudly enough to possibly be heard through the entire Nether Realm.

"I've noticed," Night sends, "honestly I was expecting them to be pissed didn't think they'd find it amusing."

I lean against the brick wall the heat from the stone seeping into my clothes, "the King was amused, the Shadow Princess not so much."

Night moves towards me bracing his hands over either side of my head, "look, sweetheart, they'll get over it. Besides there are worse things we could have done," he lowers his head lips brushing my ear, "wouldn't you agree," he swirls around sword pointed at the hooded figure.

I summon my bow and pull back the string pointing it at the second figure, "he asked you a question," I say, watching with amusement as the hooded figures struggle to break free of my shadow hands, "the more you struggle the faster the poison seeps through."

"You shouldn't have magic here," the figure facing Night says, "this place doesn't allow it."

Night snorts, "what nonsense, why are you following us?"

The figures remain silent, with one of my shadow hands I pull the hood down the male under it screaming the moment rays of sunlight hit his skin.

"What the fuck?" I pull the hood back down the male still shaking from the slight exposure to sunlight, "I haven't seen a Vamp of he's breed before."

"Oh, there around they just avoid leaving the Vampire Realm," Night says, "the Dark King won't allow them in the Dark Realm since they have this nasty habit of feeding, of the Fay and children."

"We've never fed on children," the male hisses.

"No just fay innocent maidens or really anyone that crosses your path," I say, "why else would you be here."

"They're defectors," Night says, "sent here after the war I recognize that ugly mug anywhere," he points his second sword at the male figure, " the Twelve Vampire Lords tossed them in here after they tried to start an uprising of setting the delicate balance they've created."

"What do you know?" the female growls.

With a snap of my fingers, her hood is gone silvery hair spilling out, she screams as sunlight touches her exposed skin, "we don't have time for you, so tell us why you're wasting our time."

Night sheaths his swords and pulls the hood on the female back up, "Orianda I suggest you and Zack answer my lovely mate before she incinerates you."

Orianda tries to spit at Night only to have a shadow hand dig into her throat, "that's quite rude," I look over at Night, "we did ask nicely I suppose whatever happens now is their fault."

"Agreed," Night says as he dives into Orianda's mind, I do the same to Zack once I have what I need I remove his cloak and let him burn.

"I have to say the smell of burning Vampire isn't that bad," I say, "too bad his burned to a crisp," a gust of warm wind blows what remains of Zack away.

Orianda screams trashing against my shadows for someone that isn't there anymore. To die in the Nether Realm is to never be reborn or so the saying goes.

"I'll kill you," she growls if you can call it that.

"No, you won't" Night's swords come down in a crisscross manner cutting of Orianda's head, he tosses it inside a sack as the rest of her turns into ash.

"To the tower?" I ask grateful for the setting sun.

"Why not?" Night swings the sack containing Orianda's head around, we hop up to the pub's roof for a better vantage point, he tosses the head towards the spiraling building. Thanks to his fay strength and magic the head makes it all the way to the tower breaking through the glass wall. Even from here, we can hear the screams as the last rays of sunlight sip in. Let them burn.