Calling All Heroes Read online

  This felt so right, the three of us right here, right now, naked under the moons. “Tell us, Aneen.” I spoke quietly as the warmth from the fire kept us from shivering.

  “The story goes that there was a beautiful virgin who was to be sacrificed to Dullahan, but she was in love with another. Despite her short life, the boy was hopelessly in love. He planned to go and attack the Dullahan, saving her and freeing Otherworld of his reign. But the girl was smarter—she knew he would be able to do no such thing. The girl lied to the boy and on the day she was to be sacrificed, she told him she was going to the market. When the boy saw her family in tears he ran to the alter which was stained by his beloved’s blood. The boy held her bloody body in his arms. His love for her was so potent, so strong, so overwhelming, that he didn’t wish to live in this world without her. He lay her gently on the alter and then stabbed himself in the heart. Their blood mingled, but so did their souls.”

  I brushed my fingers over her nipple and cupped her breast.

  Aneen snuggled closer. “The story goes that their souls drifted into the sky together, unable and unwilling to part. They were scattered by winds and then by the clouds, but that night they rose as the moons. The boy forever chasing the girl. Their souls would not separate even in death, so they remain in the night sky, surrounded by stars where their love can be eternal.”

  It was a beautiful story, one of the few in Otherworld with a happy ending. I stared up at the two moons and the glittering stars beyond. “Do you think the stories are true?”

  “Nope.” Alexander whispered.

  Aneen didn’t reply.

  I glanced down to find her sound asleep in my arms.

  Alexander used his vamp speed, spitting sand around us. He came back with a damp piece of cloth. I watched as he gently eased her legs open and cleaned her. Then he used that cool rag to clean me. It was stimulating, but I was too exhausted to do anything between the traveling, and the fantastic orgasm and the blood loss.

  Alexander cleaned himself up then tossed the rag in the fire where it sputtered then smoked. He gently scooped Aneen into his arms and she moaned in protest.

  Kierce’s three-walled house wasn’t much protection, but it’d have to do. There was a bed in the middle of the big room, covered with pillows and blankets. A thick strip of cloth was hanging one way horizontally, like a homemade flimsy seat. The other side of the hut had a small handmade table with sea shells.

  Alexander tucked her in the middle before lying beside her.

  I carefully slid under the covers as she turned into Alexander and hugged him close. I wrapped my arm around her, my hand resting on top of Alexander’s. The moment my head hit the feather pillow I fell asleep.

  Chapter Five

  I woke up with the sun, something that became habit as Aneen’s bodyguard. The only time we were apart was when I was sleeping or using the bathing room. I was her shadow and that wasn’t going to change now that she was my lover. I moved through the surrounding grasslands without finding any berries, but I managed to discover a tree just before the eerie Breen Swamp that had big orange fruit hanging low. That would have to do. By the time I peeled the hard outer skin and warmed them on a low fire, the others were beginning to stir. I only knew because I heard a sudden gasp and soft, feminine, moan. “We don’t have time for that.” I shouted and pulled the warm fruit from the fire.

  “My dick hates you right now,” Alexander yelled back.

  “Alexander!” Aneen said softly before she rolled out of bed. I placed her dress on the table earlier and couldn’t look away as she changed into it. Her hair was in wild tangles around her head and as she walked toward me, she combed it with her fingers.

  “We have to get to Crimson Pass.” I gave her a fruit and then ate my own. “Alexander, you hungry?”

  “Nope.” He trudged completely naked toward us. His morning wood bounced and swayed as he took a seat next to Aneen. “Not for food or blood anyway.” He winked at the blushing Aneen.

  With some prodding, I got Alexander to get dressed and just as the sun completely rose, we were on our way. There was a sandy path between the Aos Si lands and Breen Swamp. It was maybe ten feet wide and I made sure to keep my sword out. “Alexander, have you ever been in there?” I pointed the tip of my sword at the dark tree line of the swamp. I could smell water and hear it, but couldn’t see into the dark depths.

  “Actually no. I think I’ve been everywhere but that fucking place.” He eyed it then slowed down so he was between the trees and Aneen. “The Aos Si ain’t exactly friendly either. They tend to look at vampires like, well, like we’re about to kill them. I heard their blood is the sweetest ever tasted in Otherworld.”

  I glanced over at the softly rolling hills covered in loose dirt and vivid green grass. Nothing stirred as I watched, but I still felt something’s gaze on me. It made the hair on the back of my neck stand. For as far as I could see there were empty hills, some with colorful flowers atop and others sporting green leaves sticking into the ground. The dark swamp was motionless and windless on our other side. I wanted to tell them to walk faster, but how dangerous could it be with a half vampire and whatever Aneen was? Eh, dangerous enough. With a terrible feeling in my gut, we kept walking away from Keirce’s home. This war was going to be worse than I could imagine. War always was, but I couldn’t think of Otherworld without them in it. Honestly, I was the liability. They each had unique skills to protect themselves while I was just a human with a sword and above-average reaction time. This had been weighing heavily on my mind lately. Maybe they were better off without me, but even if that were true, I’d never leave. I couldn’t leave. I loved them. As my thoughts rambled on, the day continued.

  It was nearly three hours later that Alexander suddenly paused.

  Aneen lifted her hands.

  I didn’t hear anything or see anything. My gaze immediately went to the swamp to our right. The shadows in there, despite full sunshine around us, made me completely uneasy, but nothing stirred. Nothing I could see or hear at least. “What?” I whispered.

  “Buzzing.” Alexander spoke quietly and then his shoulders slumped. “Shit. Aos Si.” He grabbed Aneen’s arm and then mine, shoving us both behind him. A low growl left his lips as he elongated his fangs.

  “Put t’ose away, ya ugly fucker.” The voice was a man’s, deep and yet I didn’t see anyone.

  I lifted my sword and my mouth fell open as the two fairies as big as my hand came buzzing toward us. “Aos Si.” I whispered.

  “Aye, t’is one’s a fucking genius, ain’t he?” This hand-sized male fairy stopped a few feet away.

  I’d never seen one before. Their wings looked delicate with intricate clear veins running through them. He had black hair to his shoulders with red highlights. I couldn’t believe my eyes. A real Aos Si. He wore strange black armor and there was this tiny sword hanging from his hip. If I hadn’t heard stories about their magical powers I would have thought them delightful. Another fairy flew beside the first. This one had the same shoulder length black hair, but with orange highlights the color of the sunset on the water. He wore the exact same clothes and the same tiny sword that I could probably use to clean beneath my nails.

  “Greetings.” The one with the sunset hair bowed. His wings fluttering wildly behind him as he hovered at eye height. “I am Dusk. This is Thorn.”

  “Greetings.” Aneen said softly and took a step toward them.

  I grabbed her arm, keeping her behind Alexander and beside me.

  “What do you want, Aos Si?” Alexander asked, his teeth still bared.

  “Aye, fuck you.” Thorn said, lifting higher. “We’re ‘ere to aid yer sorry arses.”

  Dusk knocked his hip into the other fairy, causing him to sway and then addressed Alexander. “Vampire, there’s no need for your fangs. We are here on behalf of the Aos Si. There was a vote and we have agreed to help you in the war against the queen of Otherworld.”

  My mouth dropped open. Kierce. Kierce had actual
ly come through for us.

  “You will?” Aneen slapped at my hand. “All the Aos Si?”

  “Our warriors.” Dusk spoke. Despite his size he had a look about him that said confident leader and his voice was as normal as ours. I thought they’d be softer spoken on account of how small they were. He continued, “The queen has been a plague upon us for some years. She wants us in her service and although some have joined, most refuse to be slaves. We value our lands and would not see them in her hands.”

  “Fucking bitch, t’at one.” Thorn added.

  That fairy reminded me a lot of Alexander.

  Another soft buzz caught my attention and another fairy came flying along. This one had brown hair with soft yellow highlights. He looked just as warrior clad as the other two.

  “Ah, this is Fall, our third. We will accompany you on your journey as our warriors prepare.”

  “An entire fleet of Aos Si warriors.” Aneen said. She clasped her hands in front of her chest. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

  “Be a better queen, aye.” Thorn mumbled.

  Dusk gave him a pointed look and then turned back toward us. “For our help, we wish to keep all our lands and begin a peace treaty when you are on the throne.”

  “Done.” Aneen blurted then smiled. “Consider it done.”

  Dusk smiled softly as Fall finally caught up to us. He was breathing heavy and despite being in shape he seemed weak. “Good.” Dusk said. “The warriors of Aos Si pledge our allegiance to Princess Aneen, daughter of the evil God.”

  Aneen’s smile fell.

  “We will join you on your journey. In one sunrise our warriors will be beside you in battle.” Dusk rose above all of us, staring into the swamp with narrowed eyes. “Perhaps we best move along now.”

  Alexander finally retracted his fangs.

  “Ya gonna to be able to control yerself around us, vampire?” Thorn asked as we all started moving forward.

  Alexander gave the fairy a once over. “You going to be an annoying asshole the entire trip?”

  Thorn grinned, “Probably.”

  “Then I may just eat you.” He licked his lips and led us down the dirt path.

  ****

  The Aos Si stopped about midday and flew to the nearest gently sloping hill. I watched, fascinated, as they knocked on the side and a door I didn’t know was there opened. So the hills were, what, homes? No one knew much about the Aos Si culture in all the centuries they existed. They came back moments later with large fruits like the ones I found on the tree this morning. I don’t know how they carried them. It had to be half their bodyweight. They must be stronger than they looked. As we ate, Aneen talked to them. She smiled and laughed when Thorn would talk, but with a more serious expression with Dusk. Fall was watching the swamp, hovering above our small group sitting on the ground. Some army we were.

  “So you really have magical powers?” Aneen was saying.

  “Aye, but t’at’s w’at all the ladies call my dick.” Thorn said with a cocky grin. I swear I saw that same look on Alexander’s face.

  “Watch it, little man.” Alexander leaned forward. “She’s the next queen of Otherworld.”

  Aneen rolled her eyes. “You’ve said the same thing to me.”

  Alexander grinned—yup, the same wicked look. “Yes, but I’m also the one that tasted you.”

  Aneen gasped and turned as red as Dusk’s highlighted hair. “Alexander,” she whispered. It was her angry, hissing voice that I knew to avoid.

  Fall lowered, his wings flapping wildly. “We shouldn’t linger.”

  “What’s in there?” I asked as I stood, then reached out to help Aneen to her feet.

  “Dark things.” Fall answered just before landing on my shoulder. “Very dark things. They slither and watch, always hungry.”

  Great.

  Dusk sat on Aneen’s shoulder and Thorn preferred to fly as we started walking again. The pace was faster, thanks to Fall’s descriptions. I just hoped, as we made our way slowly through the lands, that Kierce was gathering more beings for our side of the war.

  We continued on, keeping a great pace. Thorn was started to lag, but still refused to sit on one of our shoulders. I offered, but he told me to fuck off before Dusk shot him a glaring look. When the sun started to dip and the shadows grew in the forest beside us, we slowed.

  “We may take shelter here.” Dusk said before all three fairies fluttered off the dirt path and onto the grassy hills of the Aos Si lands.

  “Don’t trample t’e fucking ‘ills.” Thorn added.

  We made a small fire in the grass with sticks we collected from the very edge of the swamp. Water somewhere in there sloshed a few times and died down when the flames roared to life. The fairies buzzed about a hill that would have served as a seat for a human. It was huge and they came back with enough food for all of us. When that was devoured all three of them settled in a bush. The green tuft of leaves and branches was as high as my waist. They sat at the top, laying easily among the foliage. Alexander and Aneen curled up together beside the fire, so I took first watch. I may just be a human, but I wouldn’t be lazy. I sat crossed legged, facing the swamp. No creature in Otherworld would get past me without a very bloody fight.

  I sat underneath the moons and starlight with my focus completely on the swamp. It was just before midnight when I heard the soft buzzing, I tilted my head and Fall landed on my shoulder. “Your turn?”

  He nodded, rubbing at his eyes. He lifted off me, moving to the top of the mound and began his watch.

  Good, because my eyelids were drooping badly. Dragging my sword, I crawled, rather than walked, toward the fire. Alexander was laying on his back, Aneen was curled up on his left side. I felt more comfortable sleeping with her between us, so, I quietly crawled between the crackling fire and the bush. I stopped abruptly when I heard a noise from within. Dusk and Thorn were no longer lounging at the top. I tightened my grip on the hilt of my sword.

  “Thorn.” Dusk’s voice, but it was raspy and…

  Dullahan’s dick. I shifted my head and could see them inside the bush. They were very naked and very busy. It was oddly erotic to watch as Thorn wrapped his hand around Dusk’s cock. It was so tiny compared to ours, but that was a species thing. I assumed he was average for an Aos Si. Why the hell was I even thinking about this? As Thorn lowered and began to suck on Dusk’s cock I finished my crawl to Aneen’s side. I laid my arm over their heads, sword still gripped loosely, then curled up behind her. She gave a soft sigh. The fairy getting the blowjob let out a muffled moan.

  I snorted, curling my hand over Aneen’s body and gently laying my palm over her breast. In moments the shadows of sleep took me.

  ****

  A gentle, warm rain fell on us the next day. The Aos Si didn’t seem to mind the wet wings. Clouds drifted over us, grey and low. If I was paranoid I’d say it was almost as if they followed us. Their hovering made me more aware of the silence in the swamp beyond. It was near mid-day as we ate on our feet. Alexander looked ready to start a fight with anybody that bothered to look in his direction. “Calm down.”

  “This is taking too long.” He walked beside me, kicking at rocks in his path. “I want to run to the pass to speak with Kierce, but I don’t want to leave you two alone with just three fucking fairies for protection.”

  “Aye, vampire, go stuff a dick up yer arse,” Thorn said, fighting the rain to speed up.

  “Calling them fairies is almost an insult,” Aneen said, slowing down to join us. Dusk was perched on her shoulder.

  “It is?” I asked.

  “Dusk was telling me their history. It’s fascinating.” She smiled, wet hair stuck to her cheek. “Fairies were their original name, their ancestors. They lived in another realm, but humans bred too quickly and the magic in that land was dying. There was a rift between the species, those who wanted to remain and a fraction that wished to come here to Otherworld.” She brushed her hair back and wrung out some of the water. “They split up. Fai
ries remained on…”

  “Earth.” Dusk provided.

  “Yes, on earth, but Aos Si took their place here in the ancient land of Otherworld where their kind was first created.”

  “Did you ever think of going back there?” I was curious.

  Alexander was suspicious. “If this war turns bloody are your kind going to abandon us like fucking cowards?”

  Thorn flew up and jumped on his head, tugging hair as hard as he could.

  “The fuck!” Alexander swatted and yelped when Thorn’s tiny sword pierced Alexander’s earlobe. “You little shit!”

  “Thorn!” Dusk flew off Aneen’s shoulder.

  Thorn shoved away from Alexander, but not before taking another swipe at the vampire’s cheek and drawing blood. It was Dusk who pushed the angry Aos Si away and blocked his path. “’E called us fucking cowards, t’e blood sucking arsehole!” Thorn hissed.

  “Thorn.” Dusk hovered before his winged friend. “We are here representing the Aos Si and you will stop acting like a wild, low class beast.” There was a sharp look between them that said there was more to this argument.

  Thorn grumbled something and then flew ahead of us.

  “Alexander.” Aneen eyed our vampire.

  “I’m not fucking apologizing to him, princess.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

  “They could be brothers.” I muttered.

  Aneen stifled a smile with her hand.

  Dusk returned to her shoulder. “The Aos Si have not been able to contact the fairies of earth for generations. Most of my people believe the fairies there no longer exist or there are too few to heed our call. Returning to earth would prolong our life, but only defeating the queen will protect our offspring and our offspring’s offspring.”

  Alexander grunted in answer.

  Aneen smiled at the being on her shoulder. “I, for one, am grateful for their help.”

  She made me hope. A hope for a better Otherworld. Despite her isolated upbringing, she was handling other creatures with grace and kindness. Like a queen. I reached out and clasped her hand. There was always this sweetness inside her. Even when she was a beautiful girl that liked to watch us train and the nervous young lady that always had her eyes open for hidden assassins. A loud cawing noise in the sky made me release my sword.