The Pariah Child Evley's Descent: The Pariah Child, #4

By Natasha D. Lane

Bolanile is dead.

Evley's last gift to her was to ensure she was buried in a red dress--her favorite color. But without her the manor feels much emptier, Orisa and Kwento much more distant, and the world a bit more gray.

Still, Evley's managing. He's managing quite well actually, despite what everyone else may think with their constant pestering. Life isn't perfect but it's moving on. Then Orisa begins vomiting dirt while Kwento begins cutting away at his flesh. And no one's sure why.

Things only take a turn for the worse when a family of gargoyles ambushes Evley in his office at the Department of Domestic & Exotic Beasts. They want him to aid them in preventing a human caravan of Lyricans from opening a portal and crossing over to Earth.

But the portals are sealed and humans can't open them. Not alone at least, not until they receive help from a woman in a red dress...

In the fourth book of the Pariah Child series, gargoyles, the undead, and witches are all in need. And Evley's the only one who can help them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Natasha D. Lane
• Release date: Apr 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9780999697757

Natasha D. Lane

Natasha D. Lane is a friend of most things caffeinated, a lover of books, and a writing warrior to her core. As a believer that "the pen is mightier than the sword," she graduated from Juniata College in 2015 with hopes to become a journalist. Instead, life took her on a different path and Natasha found herself digging up a manuscript from her childhood. This dusty stack of papers would become her first novel "The Pariah Child & the Ever-Giving Stone." With one book under her belt, Natasha has gone on to write several other fantasy and sci-fi pieces including "The Woman in the Tree: The True Story of Camelot" and "Plugged In."

Book preview

Character Guide

A not so all inclusive list of main characters and their lineage relevant to this text.

Alexander Alclian- Alex is the once exiled prince of the Alclian domain who conquered his home years later to form the Kingdom of Prexarith and its capitol Erihall; Married to Serwa; Father of Bolanile, Kwento, and Orisa; Deceased; Vampiric lineage.

Bolanile Alclian- Bo is the eldest daughter of Alexander and Serwa Alclian; Skilled in combat and weaponry; Twin sister of Kwento Alclian, elder sibling of Orisa Alclian; Witch and Vampiric lineage.

Evley (Alclian) - Ev is a close family friend of the Alclians who fought alongside them during the Humans’ War after the dragon who raised him, Renu, was killed; He barely knew his blood parents; He is skilled with animals and works in the government’s Dept. of Domestic & Exotic Beasts; Vampiric and Werewolf (Gargoyle) lineage.

Kwento Alclian- Kwe is the only son of Alexander and Serwa Alclian; Skilled in the political play of Parliament; Twin brother of Bolanile Alcian, elder sibling of Orisa Alclian; Witch and Vampiric lineage.

Orisa Alclian- Orisa is the youngest child of Alexander and Serwa Alclian; Skilled in potions and healing magic; Younger sister of Bolanile and Kwento Alclian; Witch and Vampiric lineage.

Serwa Alclian- Serwa is the once wild witch of the woods turned Queen of Prexarith; Married to Alexander Alclian; Mother of Bolanile, Kwento, and Orisa; Deceased; Witch lineage.

Cursed Ones- Ronan is the original Cursed One; After being unfaithful to a powerful sorceress, she placed a spell on Ronan which forced him to remain in his wolf form; He passed this curse on to his children; Werewolf lineage.

Telina Shira- Telina is a member of the Eastern Erihall coven; Advocate for refugee rights in Prexarith, particularly the capitol Erihall; A favorite of the coven’s matriach Shira; Nearly killed in an effort to prevent the trafficking of refugees; She took her matriarch’s first name as her surname to honor her; Witch lineage.

Sarafina Wickeson- Sarah is the Earth human who traveled to Lyrica to save the imbalanced magical world, the Chosen One; Daughter of Lucille and Paul Wickeson; Aunt of Bolanile, Kwento, and Orisa; Deceased; Earth Human.

Table of Contents

Character Guide

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Epilogue

Chapter One

Luma was not the best flier. Of course, Evley would never tell him that. The young dragon was nervous enough because he was the reason they were flying alone through the night sky.

One of the dragonlings had gone missing while under Luma’s care, and all the nests were anxious. Evley breathed deeply through his nose, hoping to ease his own anxiety. He didn’t enjoy stress. Actually, he usually avoided stress entirely; most things weren’t worth the time. But this was different.

Ev scratched his chin. Spirits, when was the last time he had shaved? The stubble was rough against his palm. He’d never managed to grow a full beard, but the stubble grew just long enough to irritate him.

I don’t think we’re going to find him, Luma said without looking at his rider.

Ev stroked the dragon’s side. The night’s still young.

No, it’s not.

We don’t quit when faced with a challenge, Luma, he replied, waving a finger at the dragon. Besides, we’re not the only ones looking. The Field Retrieval Unit is on the ground.

Luma shook his head. It was as if the fire in his belly had been extinguished completely, though Ev knew that wasn’t all that bothered the young dragon. Both his siblings had been selected for courting six months ago. All of Luma’s offerings had been rejected and no one had selected him. Now, he’d have to wait until the next mating season to approach another female.

It was a hard blow for such a young and sensitive buck as Luma. He was already insecure because of the particularly striking yellow shade of his scales. Both his brother and sister had inherited the lovely blues of their parents. Luma’s yellow, well, it was an oddity considering his lineage, and even more so among male dragons.

A flash of light caught Evley’s attention. The light glowed beneath them, then flashed again before darkness covered it. A code.

Luma—

I see it!

If Evley had been a lesser rider, he would have been thrown to the ground with the dragon’s sharp turn. But he had anticipated the urgency, so he gripped with his thighs and leaned forward holding Luma’s neck. Together they sped toward the ground and found a nearby patch of grass to land.

When they touched down, Evley didn’t have a chance to dismount. Luma didn’t pause before racing off through the trees toward where they had seen the light. Though not a fully-grown dragon, and so not as big as his mother had been, he was still large enough to trample a few trees to the side. The poor youth was driven by guilt.

Evley shook his head. Guilt was never a trusted guide.

Mez!

They had broken through the trees and Luma was staring down at the Field Retrieval Unit Lead. The group had already put some distance between themselves and the dragon. Evley gave a short wave to his old team. The lantern light showed they were just as exhausted as he was. No one had expected a simple nest check to turn into a search and rescue. And yet, it had. Life had a funny way of piling on the surprises. He wiped his brow.

You’ve found him? Luma asked, his voice a near whine. Is that what your code meant?

Iklo, Evley’s appointed lead for the team, raised a hand and then slowly lowered it. He kept his gaze locked on the dragon, breathing slowly.

Easy, Luma, he said, approaching the dragon. He held a small bundle in his arms. He’s right here. Just a little sleepy.

Waiting for the zlee to approach, Luma sat down and took a long breath. Iklo offered the bundle to him, and Luma quickly tossed the covering aside. As expected, Mez was safe and sound. He rested curled up around himself, peaceful aside from a few nose twitches. Evley’s heart eased. Luma sniffled.

I thought poachers might have gotten him, he whispered, shaking his head.

We never would have let that happen, Iklo replied, stroking the baby dragon’s nose. Kelora would have chased them to the western deserts. Isn’t that right?

The centaur raised her hand in acknowledgement. She was the latest addition to the unit, since Evley had taken a desk job in the capital and Iklo had filled his leadership role.

Luma nuzzled the bundle before turning to Evley. I have to return him immediately.

Of course. We’ll—

Actually, Iklo looked him over, "because this is official field business, one of my unit will see the dragons home. Tolly?" He had turned to a half angel, half human who was glancing between the two men.

Evley pressed his lips together, fighting the urge to argue. Yes, he was technically no longer part of the Field Retrieval Unit, and yes, he was supposed to be behind a desk coordinating the different teams. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t participate in some field work here or there. It was good, kept him alert. Not to mention, he was always the first to come when either Luma or his siblings were involved. After their mother died, he had been charged with raising them, and even Iklo had remarked on previous occasions how good Evley was with dragons. It didn’t hurt that he’d been raised by one.

Tolly rocked back-and-forth on his heels, drumming his fingers against his thighs. I suppose I should...

Go with Luma and Mez, Evley said. He had appointed Iklo for a reason. He wouldn’t question his judgment.

Tolly took the small dragon from Iklo, then moved toward Luma. He bowed before looking at the dragon. Can I ride you?

Luma turned to Evley, who provided a slight nod. He had always needed more coaxing than his siblings. Evley often wondered if he had coddled him too much. Maybe a sharper kick from the nest would’ve done him some good. But he also knew what it was like to grow up alone, even for a brief period. He didn’t want that for any of his children.

Once Tolly and Luma had taken to the sky, everyone else prepared to leave. The unit had received reports about missing sea unicorns by the southwest coast. They’d be gone for weeks before even returning to the kingdom, much less the capital, Erihall. Not that Evley had been looking through their assignments or anything.

Iklo handed Evley his luggage. Ev.

Ik.

The zlee crossed his arms and ticked a brow. How long are we going to do this?

Oh, come now, Ik. Evley laughed. You know the unit doesn’t have official working hours. That’s why it’s all done in shifts, or at least it should be.

Ik’s skin sighed. Zlee had gill-like skin across their entire body that could open in slits if they were angry or frustrated enough. Judging by the tick in his brow, he was.

You can’t keep using fieldwork as an excuse, he said.

Evley shook his head, casting his gaze at the moon, the ground, the darkness. Anywhere but at Iklo.

His friend squeezed his shoulder. Evley still refused to look at him. Instead, he sent him a quick smile before patting his back and stepping around him.

Until next time. Stay safe, everyone!

His old team shouted their farewells as Evley marched east.

Ev, Iklo called after him.

Have to go, he called back.

You’re days away from the capital.

Evley pretended not to hear. He continued heading east until his feet grew too tired and the discomfort from his twisted leg too much to bear. He was forced to rest. He leaned against a tree, then sank to the ground beneath it. For some reason, he was breathing rapidly, his chest rising and falling too quickly. Like there wasn’t enough air. But there was. There was.

He shook his head. Must be my old age getting to me, he said with a laugh, pushing the corners of his mouth up.

Groaning, Evley tossed his head back and pulled at the ends of his hair. He breathed sharply through his nose, focusing on how the air expanded his chest and flared his nostrils.. There was air and he could breathe.

Just don’t think about it, he said before taking another long breath. Think about...hm, yes, that.

Opening one of his packs, Evley retrieved a flask. The container was small, not large enough to carry substantial amounts of alcohol. Just a bit.

Twisting off the top, he moved the rim to his lips and drank. He had purchased the alcohol from a group of nomadic merchants while traveling outside the kingdom, Prexarith. The liquid initially gave a sharp taste, only to quickly smooth out into an earthy flavor on the tongue.

After a few sips, Evley felt calmer. He stretched his limbs out and leaned against the tree. His head lolled from side to side while he sat in the darkness. The feeling was good, almost like he was on a ship and the waves were rocking him to sleep. It had been some time since he had been sailing. The first time had been with Lady Sarafina, Kwe, Bo, and the other children who had survived the Humans’ War.

Hm. There it is. Evley sighed and peered up at the moon.

He could almost feel Bo’s shoulder pressed against his as they rested on the deck together while the other children slept. If he closed his eyes, he could picture her telling him the stories Queen Serwa and King Alexander had told her. He could hear her promising him they would stay together when they found her parents again.

Evley’s hand began shaking.

Bo was always thinking about him. She’d planned to be with him forever since the first day they met. She had taken care of Evley...until she couldn’t.

Evley slammed the back of his head against the tree, balling his hands into fists. He tried smiling, but his face distorted and he found himself crumbled over with his head between his knees. Wretched, shattering throbs ran through him, slamming against his chest. He held on to that feeling. It felt like holding on to a piece of Bo.

His skin began hardening against his will. The reaction had become common over the last several months.

Once he had control again, Evley sat back up. As expected, his head hurt. It felt...cloudy? Was that the right way to describe it? He wasn’t certain. What he did know was that suddenly it was a battle to look ahead into the darkness. He yawned.

Returning the flask to his packing, Evley looked to the sky once more. At some point, he found rest.

Chapter Two

Uncle Evley! Garo tackled him to the ground as he opened the front door.

Evley allowed himself to fall over, grunting as he did so for added effect.

Oh, you got me! I don’t think I’ll ever walk again. He flopped a hand across his forehead and whined. Garo laughed.

Though it had only been six months, Garo had already grown two inches. His curly, dark hair had grown as well, though Evley didn’t expect cutting it would be an easy task. Even after Orisa had managed to reverse the pack’s curse, the pup hadn’t slowed down. He now spent nearly all of his time at the Alclian Manor, while his pack remained at their home in the surrounding woods. They weren’t ready to fully enter society. According to their pack leader Ronan, at least.

Where’s James? Evley asked. The minotaur took his duties as a parlor boy seriously, but he hadn’t been present to open the door.

Not here. Garo shrugged, and scratched at his cotton top.

Why?

His school tests.

Oh, spirits! I forgot his recommendation letter. Evley had been having trouble remembering a lot lately. Young James was dedicated to his studies, but every student needed at least one letter of recommendation for entrance into the academies. Unofficial rules.

No, that’s next week, Garo said. He doesn’t need your letter for the tests.

He doesn’t?

He shook his head.

How do you know all of this?

Because James talks to me all the time. Even when I don’t want him to.

Evley laughed a little and patted Garo’s head. He sat up, lugging the pup with him before placing him on the ground.

The Alclians had a grand staircase, decorated on either side with portraits of their family. Bo was in almost every painting, and Evley had avoided looking at them any time he was home. Lately, that hadn’t been often.

Have you had lunch? he asked Garo. Ronan is scheduled to take you in a little over a week’s time. We don’t want him thinking you’re wasting away here.

The child nodded. Orisa fed me, and then she went to talk with Auntie Bo. Did you go on another vacation?

Speaking with Auntie Bo meant Orisa was visiting her gravestone in the back portion of the estate. Bo wasn’t actually buried there. She had been laid to rest beside her parents, and the stone on the manor grounds was simply a way for them to feel closer to her.

He scratched at his chin. They’d thought perhaps with some magic the stone could at least make them feel like Bo was near, make them reimagine what had happened to her. Instead, to Evley it had simply become a constant reminder of her absence.

Uncle Ev? Uncle Ev, are you listening?

Hm? Oh, right. Yes, yes...a vacation.

Orisa must have used vacationing as a way to explain away Evley’s sporadic disappearances. Though technically, it was a vacation from his daily desk job, so it wasn’t a complete lie.

Evley pinched the bridge of his nose as a heavy sensation came over him. He already needed fresh air. The manor suddenly felt too small, which made no sense.

Where’s Orisa? he asked Garo.

Is Uncle Kwe bringing Oliver and Rosemary from the orphanage today?

Garo.

The dark-haired boy pouted. I told you already. She’s visiting Auntie Bo.

Thank you. And I’m not certain, Evley replied, tossing his luggage off his back and onto the floor. If I see Kwe before I depart, I’ll make sure to ask him. Now, go get a treat from the kitchen. I’m sure Cook will have something for you.

Can we play later?

Of course. Off you go now.

Garo pattered off to the kitchen, while Evley moved up the stairs to the second floor. He made a right and continued down the hall until he reached his room. Because he didn’t have much to his name, the room was nearly empty. He tossed his bag inside, then headed to the very back of the manor.

Cutting down side stairs and across hallways, he found the farthest window from the front of the house. Of course, he still couldn’t see Orisa well, but he recognized her figure in the distance. Once she left, he’d take his leave, too.

Orisa had not spoken about Bo to him. She went about life as if nothing had changed, yet so much had and he knew she was hurting. It simply wasn’t in her to show it. And despite her less than kind feelings toward him in the past, Orisa was like his sister. He had to ensure she wasn’t suffering alone, even if far away.

After Roth’s illegitimate businesses were revealed, painting him as a corrupt member of Parliament, the newspapers had reported on nothing else. His wife had moved away, then killed herself.