A Toiling Darkness by Jaliza Burwell Read Free Book Online

blonde hair child. He was looking for someone
more mature, someone I haven’t been since Eithna’s death nearly
destroyed me. “What’s with everyone’s name? I met a succubus this
morning who goes by the name Fantasia.”
    I giggled, happy with the reprieve he just
presented me. “You really are new to all this.”I looked him up and
down. If he met Fantasia, then I was surprised he wasn’t already
enthralled by now and turned into a sex slave. Fantasia was a very
sexual woman and Kalen was her type. As a succubus, she enjoyed
breaking men. And if she was around, it had to be for Kay’s
tournament. That damn tournament invited all kinds of powerful
beings into the city.
    “Names have power. You won’t get a being’s
real name—ever. Unless they are as naïve as you are, Kalen .”
I flashed a predatory smile that didn’t affect him a single bit.
Apparently I was losing my touch to terrify people with a single
smile. I couldn’t decide if I liked that thought or not.
    To be liked or not, that is the
question.
    Kalen stayed relaxed, even with my words.
His shoulders were slumped as he leaned back onto his elbows, his
forearms flexing as they held some of his weight. He might as well
have been lounging around for a photo shoot. The sun added to the
scene as it brightened the air around him, showing where the
natural light was mingling together with his powers.
    “So Darkness isn’t your real name,” he
said.
    I gave him a cryptic smile and shrugged. No
one knew my real name and I wasn’t going to start sharing now. Not
when there are beings out there who could curse you simply with
your name, or gain access to your mind or even control you. Can’t
forget the high volume of spells that could make magic with a
name.
    “I’m guessing your name has to do with your
powers though. Like Fantasia and her ability to make a man’s
fantasy come alive.”
    I didn’t say anything, letting him work
through his thoughts. It was an interesting process to watch. He
was looking at me but not really seeing me. He shifted through each
thought, either accepting what they said or pushing it to the side
to find a better answer. I’m always surprised with how much a human
shows in their expressions. And yeah, Kalen was no longer a human,
I know. It’s just that he hasn’t exactly accepted that yet and so
still acted like a one; making him amazingly easy to read most of
the time.
    “Do you manipulate the night?” he asked,
something like suspicion crossing his face.
    I smiled a little. “I manipulate
shadows.”
    “Then shouldn’t you be called Shadow or
something?”
    I laughed that time, shaking my head.
“Watch.” My powers reached out to the shade we were sitting in and
I pulled it towards Kalen, just beyond his feet. The shade rose and
I manipulated its form until it looked like a little girl’s
shadow.
    Kalen’s reaction was priceless. He scrambled
back a foot or so, his eyes big. He looked around, then back at me,
unable to believe what his eyes were showing him.
    “Th-that’s…don’t other people see that?” He
pointed at the shadow. I made the shadow do a curtsy and he just
watched as the shape grabbed a makeshift dress and lowered herself
politely.
    “Humans only see what they want to see,” I
replied watching him as the shadow walked towards him. At least
this time he held his ground. “I’m not strong enough to manipulate
the night.” At least in this form I wasn’t. My true human form was
on a whole other power level. “But I can manipulate the darkness,
or shadows, around me to a certain degree. No one else has as much
control as I do so I got the name.”
    Kalen examined the shadow for a while, even
moved so he could put his right hand in it. His hand disappeared
into the darkness while his whole body shivered and I knew he felt
the coldness in it. If I wanted, I could steal his warmth while he
touched the shadow. I didn’t though. I stayed still and acted like
a good little girl while he