Echoes: A Second Skin Novel (Second Skin Book 6)

by M Damon Baker

  “Perhaps, but that’s not what I mean,” the corners of Rissa’s mouth curled up in a very disconcerting way as she replied. “I’ve been wondering where to leave my poison, and I think I’ve found just the thing.”

  That had been an issue he’d been trying to resolve as well. Tainting the water was the first thing Endreí had thought of, but Dreya’s army probably had their own supply, so not all of them would be drinking from the wells. On the other hand, the ale stores they’d be forced to leave behind would be greedily consumed by everyone, leaving few survivors once Rissa’s toxin was flowing through their veins. It was just as she’d said—the perfect vehicle for their revenge.

  Endreí raised his cup in recognition of her stroke of genius, and Rissa’s predatory grin widened slightly as her mug tapped against his with a dull ‘clink.’ Now that the last piece of the puzzle was finally in place, their plan was ready to be set in motion. With Nate and Kara already on their side, all they needed was for one more vote on the council to go their way.

  A short while later, Khael came knocking at their door, summoning them back to Nate’s cabin again. Despite the dire circumstances, the dwarf offered one of his ever-present smiles as the two downed the last of their ales before following him outside. Ignoring the bustle of activity as they made their way across the village, Endreí was consumed with worry over the outcome of the upcoming vote. Although he already had half the council on their side, he wasn’t sure what he would do if the rest of his friends voted against them. The desperate course of action was his only hope of escape, and it hung by two slender threads: the cooperation of his friends and Tási’s unwitting compliance. Should he lose either of those, Endreí’s only option would be to flee with Rissa into the wilds.

  Even that offered him no guarantees. Tási’s curse was that he’d find no happiness without her. Although the only form it had taken so far was in the guise of another woman, it certainly could manifest in some other way. With her jealous nature already having been stoked to dangerous levels, Endreí could imagine Tási’s spell working its venom into Rissa’s heart, poisoning their relationship even without working through another. His mind began feverishly trying to find some way to rid himself of Tási’s influence even if the vote went against them, failing miserably until he was forced to give up as he walked through the front door of Nate’s cabin.

  Nate cast him another baleful glare as he took his seat at the table, letting Endreí know that despite the understanding they’d reached, he was still very much on his friend’s bad side. Hopefully, once Tási’s curse was lifted and things returned to normal, he could work to repair all the damage that had been done. But that was a thought for another time. Right now, there was a very pivotal vote Endreí had to try and sway in his favor.

  “We usually cast our votes anonymously,” Nate began as soon as everyone had taken their places. “But not today. No matter what we decide to do, it may cost us our lives. Whether we stay here under the thumb of this so-called army or head off into the wilderness seeking freedom, either course has its own risks. I’m going to go around the table and ask each of you to not only tell me what you’ve decided but also why. Once we’ve finished, we can discuss things further.”

  Endreí swallowed the lump in his throat when Nate turned to him first but recovered quickly before responding to the unspoken command clearly present in his friend’s eyes. He recognized both the difficult situation he was in as the first to speak and also the opportunity that position provided him. Anyone still on the fence might very well be swayed by his words, so he chose them carefully as he began.

  “They’re going to kill us one way or another unless we act, so my vote is to eliminate them,” Endreí spoke slowly, imparting each of his words with as much conviction as he could muster. “We take the ‘Empress’ up on her offer and head out, but not without leaving her a final parting gift. With the conditions they’ve imposed on us, there’s much we’ll have to abandon, so they won’t be surprised to find the casks of Khael and Runil’s ale we left behind. That’s where we place the poison.”

  “I expect that finding it will spark something of a celebration,” Endreí continued, unable to suppress the smile that turned up the corners of his mouth. “While we get as far away from here as possible, they’ll be dying by the dozens. I’m not sure if we’ll be able to return even after that; we’ll have to scout out the situation carefully to see how many may have survived. With any luck, we’ll get nearly all of them.”

  “In the end, though, it doesn’t really matter,” he concluded. “Whether we can come back here or have to settle somewhere else isn’t what’s important. What matters is ending the threat that this army represents; so long as they’re around, we won’t be safe anywhere.”

  He was hoping for something far more eloquent, but words had never been his strong suit. Still, as he leaned back in his chair, Endreí was satisfied with what he’d said. He’d laid out the facts as clearly as possible, leaving little choice but for the others to follow his example—at least that’s what he’d hoped.

  Nate called on Rissa next, and he wasn’t surprised to hear her far more… forceful appeal. Although she echoed many of the same points he’d made, his wife did so with much more emotion, clearly inspired by her fear of what might still happen if Tási came looking for him again. Yet he also sensed just how effective her brief speech was as well. His more straightforward appeal only lent Rissa’s emotional words even more power.

  One by one, each of his friends rendered their verdicts, surprising Endreí with their unanimous result. Both Daisy and Stephanie were remarkably… strident in their remarks, while the dwarven brothers’ support was only tempered by their dismay at having to taint their beloved ale. By the time the votes were counted, the sun had fallen low in the sky, marking the time for them to make their decision known to the army that sat camped beyond their walls. Despite his anger with Endreí, Nate volunteered to deliver the news, sparing him from another possible encounter with Tási. Yet Endreí was not quite that lucky. As Nate opened the front door, he found the same young man standing there once again.

  “That Tási woman is back again,” he announced his reason for being there, shifting uncomfortably in place as he did so. “She said she’s here to find out what we’re gonna do, but that she’ll only listen to Endreí. I had her wait in the same place as before. I… hope that’s alright.”

  Endreí’s heart fell into the pit of his stomach as he heard the man’s words, knowing that he’d been backed into a corner—by his own actions as much as anything else. Although he didn’t doubt that Tási was indeed here to receive their verdict, Endreí also knew that he may very well have to give in to any other… desires she might have as well. He could feel Rissa’s anger beginning to boil over as she sat beside him in a nearly powerless rage, yet she managed to hold her tongue, knowing that the circumstances were far beyond their control. For now, Tási held all the cards, and all she could do was hope that the woman didn’t push too far. Endreí knew that the longer the moment took to play out, the more likely it was that Rissa’s temper would get the better of her—that would do neither of them any good. Without giving her a chance to lose the tenuous hold on her composure, he rose silently from his chair and headed out the door.

  His legs grew heavier with each step he took towards the old oak tree, yet all too quickly, Endreí found himself gazing into Tási’s eyes as she sat waiting for him again. The sparkle of happiness he saw there filled him with a sense of bitter resentment, one he tried his best to push down as quickly as possible, lest she sense his revulsion. He took a seat beside her, far closer than he truly wanted to, and told Tási what she’d come to hear.

  “They’ve decided to leave, just like I thought,” Endreí feigned reluctance as he carefully left out his own role in that process. “They’ll be heading out in the morning, and I’ll be going with them. I know that my happiness depends on you, but I just need some time to absorb everything you’ve told me. I hope you
understand.”

  It wasn’t exactly a lie. Endreí knew that the path to his happiness truly did depend on Tási, just not in the way he’d led her to believe. Her death would be the key to his freedom, a subtle nuance she didn’t need to know just yet. Apparently, his little deception paid off because she returned his pleading look with a pleasant smile.

  “I do understand, Alex,” she slid next to him as she spoke. “You’ve been through a lot, it’s only natural that you’d need some time before you could accept that it’s finally over.”

  “I promise that I’ll be back soon,” he replied. “As soon as I’m ready, I’ll come looking for you.”

  Your fucking corpse! He wanted to cry out, but Endreí held his tongue.

  “I know you will,” she answered, all too sure of herself.

  Her hand slid up his arm, leaving an uncomfortable tingling in its wake. Once her arms were around his neck, Tási pulled him closer, bringing his face next to hers before speaking softly once again.

  “I know you’re not ready yet, but I need to kiss you just once before you go,” her lips gently grazed his as she stared at him through half-lidded eyes, enticing Endreí despite how much he loathed to admit it, even to himself.

  When Tási’s lips parted, Endreí forced himself to return her affection, desperately trying to make their kiss feel ‘right.’ In his mind, he recalled the good times they’d shared, forgetting for just a moment that those memories were all lies. Yet Endreí couldn’t hold back all his reluctance. He only hoped that if Tási sensed it, she would interpret his hesitation as something other than what it truly was.

  Mercifully, their kiss was brief, and Tási pulled away to stare deeply into his eyes after only a moment. Kimberly had always been quite… intense with her kisses, and Endreí didn’t have to pretend that she hadn’t stirred something within him when he gazed back at her.

  “Cinnamon,” Tási remarked as her tongue traced along her lips. “I didn’t believe it when Dreya told me elves had their own distinct flavors. It suits you, Alex.”

  Endreí had grown so accustomed to the taste of Rissa’s kisses that he’d almost forgotten about that. Having her remind him of such an intimate detail about himself was… disturbing. Fortunately, Tási misread the expression on his face.

  “I know you’re still confused, Alex,” she brushed her hand across his cheek as she spoke. “But everything is going to get better, you’ll see.”

  “When?” He couldn’t resist trying to free himself from her grasp. “Things have been so difficult for me these last few years; can’t you put an end to it right now?”

  “Not just yet,” she smiled back at Endreí, seeming to revel in the near-complete control she had over him. “That will be my gift to you when you return, and you’re ready to be mine again.”

  Endreí smiled back at Tási weakly, biting down on the impulse to tell her that would never happen. As she took hold of his hand once again and began leading him towards the front gate, he consoled himself with the thought that by this same time tomorrow, she’d most likely be dead. While they made their way through the village, the sight of him walking hand-in-hand with a woman who was certainly not his wife raised more than a few eyebrows, and Endreí shook off several inquisitive glances that were thrown his way.

  “Not used to seeing you happy, are they?” Tási obviously misread the situation.

  “I guess not,” Endreí lied, cringing inside at the thoughts their closeness must have provoked.

  With the gate open before her, Tási turned towards Endreí once more. The mixture of satisfaction with her victory and the distinct sense of… mischievousness he saw there immediately made him uneasy. Springing up on the tips of her toes to plant a quick kiss on his cheek might have been an endearing gesture under different circumstances, but Endreí had to suppress the urge to vomit instead.

  “I’ll see you soon,” Endreí forced out the pleasant-sounding farewell.

  “No more than two weeks, Alex,” despite her broad smile, as she stepped even closer to him, Tási’s tone of warning was quite clear.

  “I… I thought,” despite not needing quite that long to resolve the situation, her sudden imposition caught him off guard.

  “Any longer than that, Alex, and I might begin to have doubts about your sincerity,” her smile didn’t waver, but Endreí detected a distinct note of suspicion in her voice.

  “I understand,” he gave in, knowing that, ultimately, it wouldn’t matter.

  “You’ve been so patient with me, I guess it’s only fair,” Endreí added for good measure.

  “It’s going to be so nice to finally have you back again, Alex,” Tási sighed, her mood rapidly swinging to one of obvious happiness and relief. “If things go well enough, I may not even feel the need to kill your wife.”

  “Oh, you thought I didn’t know about her?” Her head tilted slightly to one side when she saw the sudden look of shock on his face.

  “I know everything, Alex,” Tási’s tone turned menacing once more as she stepped close enough to brush against him. “I know about your wife and your mistress.”

  “If I thought for even a moment that either of them brought you any happiness, I’d kill them both right now,” Endreí struggled to breathe as she trailed a single finger along the contours of his face. “But I know that’s not possible. You only sought what little comfort you could find in their arms, and I can accept that.”

  “But understand this, Alex,” Tási’s nail began scraping into his skin as the threatening notes resurfaced. “If you don’t return to me in two weeks, I’ll come looking for you, and I’ll blame them for your… misbehavior.”

  Tási’s disclosure threw him completely off balance, and Endreí struggled to recover. Having delivered her ultimatum, she favored him with one last smile before turning away and heading out the gate.

  As he slowly walked back towards his home, all Endreí could do was console himself with the fact that Tási would be dead soon. Thankfully, his plan to escape her didn’t rely on merely running away into the wilderness, as she clearly suspected might be the case. Given her abilities, he doubted very much that course of action would have met with any success.

  Although he was startled to find out that she knew about both Rissa and Kara, Endreí realized it was probably better than her only discovering one of them. A single woman in his life might imply a degree of satisfaction that Tási simply would not tolerate. Thinking that he had both a wife and mistress had led her to conclude quite the opposite, very likely sparing both Rissa and Kara from her wrath.

  Falling heavily into one of the chairs around their dining table, Endreí waited for the inevitable. Although she hadn’t heard a word of what had been said, he assumed Rissa had seen the entire drama play out, including witnessing him kiss Tási in a way that he was certain had provoked her anger yet again. Pouring himself a mug of ale, he drank heavily from it as he took in the brief moment of silence before the oncoming storm arrived.

  Chapter 9

  Endreí was surprised when the door opened slowly, and Rissa stepped inside, closing it gently behind her. Without saying a word, she drew her own mug of ale and sat down beside him. He’d been anticipating her arrival to be accompanied by a slew of bitter accusations, yet he found Rissa’s silence far more difficult to endure than that.

  “You may have fooled her, but I could tell how difficult that was for you,” she laid her hand on top of his, offering Endreí reassurance despite the fact that she was the one who probably needed it most.

  “I’m so sorry; you deserve better than this,” he couldn’t bring himself to look her in the eyes. “I love you, but all I do is bring you pain.”

  “We’ll get through this, just like everything else,” she tried to soothe him before the traces of her anger resurfaced. “We can get back to our lives again once I kill this bitch.”

  “She knows about you,” Rissa’s eyes flew open in surprise, and Endreí didn’t need to elaborate on the implications of th
at revelation.

  “…and Kara,” he added after hesitating for only a moment.

  “How?” Rissa’s bewilderment was obvious.

  “I don’t know,” Endreí could only shrug. “Either they’re watching us more closely than it seems or maybe they’ve been scouting the village for some time now. That would certainly explain it.”

  Thinking that someone might have been watching him and Kara as they returned from their scouting mission made Endreí shiver inside. Not only had their intimate moment most likely been observed, but the details of it had been reported back to Tási as well. Even though that fact might very well have saved both Kara and Rissa from experiencing Tási’s wrath, it was still quite unsettling to consider.

  “I’m going to go make my poison now,” Rissa calmly announced as she stood up from the table and began heading back outside. “No matter how closely they’re watching, they can’t see inside your workshop, so it should be safe. I’ll have to be more careful when I put it in the ale barrels, but I think I can manage it.”

  “Do you want me to help?” Endreí rose and moved to join her.

  “No,” Rissa shook her head slowly. “If there’s someone keeping an eye on you, it will be safer for me to do this by myself.”

  It was hard for him to believe that anyone could be observing him behind the high walls that surrounded their village, but after Tási had disclosed what she’d already been able to find out, it wasn’t worth taking the chance.

  “I’ll go do something else while you’re busy then,” he decided. Rather than sit idly by while others took care of things, he’d have to find something to occupy his time. If he was being watched, it just might keep those prying eyes away from Rissa.

  With his own workshop unavailable as she crafted her deadly toxin, Endreí wandered around the village almost aimlessly for a while. As he shuffled about, he considered what would happen in the aftermath of the planned slaughter of the false Empress and her army. Should they succeed, it might be possible to return home again, but that would be too dangerous to consider if even a handful of their enemies remained. Regardless of how things turned out, knowing the eventual outcome would be critical to determining their next moves.