Alex flicked his wings as if he planned to launch himself into flight. “Perhaps have a deep conversation with her?”
“I can’t talk under water, let alone breathe.”
“Valid point. But do explore all your options.”
I couldn’t see any at the moment. “You said you’d help me get out of here. Suggestions?”
He flicked his right wings toward the drain. “Why don’t you try that door?”
As I squinted in that direction, he zipped close and turned back into a pendant.
I crept forward and pushed on the door, which creaked open at my touch, the hinges groaning. One giving way, leaving the wooden door hanging.
Cringing, I took in the cobweb-strewn passage ahead of me. What a choice. Spiders or Sirra. Spiders won. Sort of.
Returning to the desk, I grabbed the book. This baby was coming with me.
Back at the passage, I held up my finger glow light and located a stick lying beyond the opening. Lifting it, I used it to slice through the cobwebs, making them flutter to the floor. It took a lot of will to ignore creatures scurrying where my light didn’t reach.
My shoes clunked on the slimy stone floor but at least water hadn’t flooded the passage. I couldn’t wait to get out of here.
The corridor curved slowly to the left, following the same pattern as the Academy above. Was I underneath the classrooms? My internal compass thought so.
When I felt like I must be close to the basement area below the entrance, I ran into a stone wall. A dead end.
Well, there was a hatch on my right. I was beginning to hate hatches, because this one meant more swimming in the moat loomed in my future. I could playsss with the naiadssss. Awesome.
Hopefully, Sirra waited outside the room for me to emerge. Or she’d moved on, wherever ‘on’ might be.
I pulled my blade and fed in power. I’d need it to open the hatch against the water pressure and keep from flooding the passage. Someday soon, I’d return and find a way into the chest, plus read more of the journal.
With no way to keep it dry, I’d have to leave behind. A quick trip back, and I returned to the hatch.
No harm in admitting my hands trembled. I didn’t want to get wet or face the naiads again. I might not survive our next encounter.
“On three,” I whispered. One. Two. Pushing out power, I thought, open while holding back water.
When I shoved the hatch, it flew outward and banged on the right wall, meeting no more resistance that it would in air. Murky water hung beyond the opening like a bowl of rotten yellow and green goo.
No Sirra or anyone else. So far.
After taking a couple of deep breaths, I scrambled up onto the lip of the opening and plunged my feet into the water. Another gulp of air, and I jumped in and thought, hatch close. The metal door slammed shut behind me, and the gasket and a quick spell held back the water.
Up. Go!
I swam as fast as I could toward the main moat bridge. If I could reach it, I’d be clear.
“You leavessss so ssssoon?” Sirra called out from behind me. A quick look over my shoulder told me she was gaining fast, her body snaking through the water like a great white shark after a bleeding body.
“Playsss with usssss,” one of the other naiads said from behind her.
As I reached slime-covered steps leading up and out of the water, Sirra latched onto my leg, her talons digging deep.
No!
Pain made me freeze. The hot rush of my blood woke me up fast, and I found the strength to struggle. I kicked out as I gulped in brackish water.
Sirra’s scaled body coiled around me and squeezed tight. “Stayssss forever!”
My lungs screamed for air.
I latched onto the rusted metal rail and pivoted, snapping my arm out with my dagger. I infused my blow with power, thinking, release me or die. My knife hit Sirra in the fleshy part of one of her four arms, and the blade sunk to the hilt. Sirra screamed and coiled, thrashing. I yanked out my blade as she reeled back, clutching her wounded arm. Her tail snapped around, reaching for my neck. Once she latched on, she’d suck me down to the bottom and pin me in place until I drowned.
With a burst of strength, I spun and clawed my way up the stairs. My head broke the surface, and I gasped in cool air.
I wasn’t safe. I’d never be safe around Sirra. Wounded, the naiad would seek her revenge for the rest of my days.
Scrambling up onto the narrow path encircling the outer wall of the Academy, I whirled, my dagger raised, because I knew she’d be behind me.
As she rose out of the water, her face a mask of endless rage, I stumbled backward and up onto the main platform leading to the front door.
Voices dimly registered, but I didn’t turn. I held my blade ready as Sirra hissed and wove in the air, a raptor prepared to strike. Silver blood coiled down her arm, beads of mercury from her wound.
Her gaze fell on whoever was behind me before pinning me in place. “Watch out, little girl. I waitssssss. You seesss. Next you be the one blooded.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “You should’ve left me alone.”
“My moat. My waterssss.”
“The rail gave way. I fell!”
“No excusessss.”
“You were going to kill me,” I shouted, my anger and frustration rising to the surface. Heat boiled through me. “I had the right to fight back.”
“Just playsss.” Her head lowered, coming closer. “You likesss to playssss, don’t yousss?”
“I can’t breathe under water.”
“You sssssure?” She wiggled closer.
What was she trying to say? Only fish—and naiads—could breathe under water.
She lowered her head and her tail crept up the stairs, reaching for my feet. “Maybe you trysssss again?”
Crap.
Tricksy.
Stumbling backward, I spun and prepared to run but tripped over something. No, I tripped over someone.
Arms spiraling, I tried to right myself but I tumbled forward, smacking against the person, knocking us both onto the stone walkway.
He swore as we fell.
Lunging forward, my arm flipped up.
My moonstone dagger sank to the hilt in a man’s thigh.
Chapter 16
Scrambling back onto my heels, I yanked my blade from the stranger’s leg, wishing I’d remained in the moat with Sirra.
I’d hurt someone!
The man writhed and roared in pain, clutching his leg. Blood seeped between his fingers, staining the stone beneath him.
“Sorry,” I whimpered out. “Really. I didn’t mean it.”
I flinched as everyone around us gasped and pointed.
“Your highness.” A woman wearing a pale blue satin dress straight out of a fairytale stooped gracefully down beside him. “Sire. Are you all right?” Her breath caught as she stared at the blood trickling between his fingers. “My gosh. He’s been hurt. A healer!” Her frantic glance pierced the area. “We need a healer immediately.”
The man who looked maybe ten or fifteen years older than me lifted his hands and stared down at the wound in horror. His gaze flicked over to pin me in place, making me want to slink through the stone. “How dare you?”
“I’m really sorry. I tripped.” I waved toward the moat. “Sirra…” A quick look told me the naiad had conveniently disappeared. She’d wisely left the scene of the crime. I wished I could do the same.
Wait. Your highness. Sire. I locked my gaze on his and studied his features but saw no resemblance. “Are you Donovan’s brother? The king?”
The fairytale woman’s gaze pinned me in place. “That is King Niles Edmond Henry William Blanchard to you.”
By the fae, I’d stabbed the king! Was this offense punishable by firing squad?
Moira once said Donovan’s parents would never have approved of us dating. After stabbing him, I was confident King Niles would feel the same.
Dread coiled through me like soot.
The main entranc
e door slammed open and the healer I’d met when I brought Moira to the clinic on the night the slake nearly drained all her power rushed over to us, a small leather bag in her hand. She tumbled to her knees beside the king, her breathing ragged. She quickly conducted an assessment. “A knife wound? By the fae, was this an attempted assassination?” Her voice rose with each word and ended on a shriek that was echoed by the fluttering crowd gathered around us. A few people wore wizard robes while most were dressed in formal clothing like the woman in the ball gown who knelt beside the king, wringing her hands.
Hold on. “No! Wait. I was just trying to get away from Sirra. From the moat.” I flapped my dripping wet skirt and waved toward the water. “I fell in. The naiads grabbed me, and I was trying to escape.” Jumping to my feet, I backed away from the universally accusatory stares. I expected someone to shout, off with her head, at any moment. My back smacked into the wall beside the entrance, and a puddle of murky water pooled at my feet. My hair hung in my face like slimy blue grass.
“By the fae!” Alys said, gaping from the open doorway beside me. Ashton hovered at her left side with his family-trademarked jeer on his face. Guessed he’d gotten away from Roark.
“Who harmed the king?” Alys’s gaze fell on me, and she blinked. “Whoa. Did a rat slink out of the moat when we weren’t looking?” Her snicker rang out, combining with Ashton’s chuckle, while I squirmed.
The healer placed her hand over the King’s wound and, closing her eyes, hummed. The ruby brooch pinned to her robe glowed. She mumbled something and, when she lifted her hand, revealed the wound now sealed over with pink, puckered flesh.
“Thank you.” The king climbed to his feet with the fairytale princess’s help, but he quickly nudged her to the side and stalked over to me, his face showing more fury than a category five hurricane. “You! I will have you—”
“Hold on,” Donovan said, easing past Alys and Ashton. “Fleur?” He placed a restraining hand on the King’s arm. “What’s going on here? This is Fleur, my girlfriend.” He couldn’t hide his double take when he caught my appearance but thankfully, only concern filled his eyes. “Fleur. You’re…” He shook his head. “Are you okay? I see you’ve…um…found my surprise.”
The king was his surprise? More like a popped balloon, now.
“I fell in the moat.” My words sobbed out of me as reaction set in. I couldn’t stop shaking, not just from the chill stiffening my bones from the sharp wind swirling around the Academy, but because everyone watched me with accusatory glares.
A woman and man dressed in stiff suits stalked toward me. Were they the king’s bodyguards? They’d lock me up and throw away the key.
Alys’s face twisted but a gleam of joy filled her eyes. “Girlfriend?” She snorted. “Please don’t tell me you’re doing more than hanging out with this filthy outling.”
“Who would?” Ashton asked, and they laughed together.
Ugh. A black widow spider and a cobra, ganging up together with me as their prey.
But there was no disputing her words. I was filthy. And I was an outling. The combination of the two words made me ache to slink into a black hole and hide forever. Or smack her and Ashton. Probably both.
Donovan stiffened, and the glare he sent Alys and Ashton said he’d be all over them later. “Fleur’s special. Your mistake not to see it.”
“Your girlfriend just tried to kill me,” the king said, lifting his hand toward the bodyguards, who growled and, arms outstretched, stalked toward me. “I want her arrested immediately! Prosecute her to the full extent of the law.”
“No way,” Donovan said, holding his arm between us. For whatever reason, the bodyguards listened. Perhaps because Donovan was second in line for the throne and they were eager to curry favor, just in case. “Let’s talk about this reasonably. I’m sure there’s a good explanation.” The look he sent me held complete confidence.
“I didn’t try to kill him.” I gulped back tears. “I fell into the moat. Sirra attacked me. I drew my blade and was able to escape but as I climbed out, she reared up to attack and I tripped and fell, accidentally stabbing your brother.”
“See, Niles?” Donovan said with relief loosening his shoulders. “This was a simple mistake. Fleur didn’t mean to hurt you. Let’s go inside and—”
“Call the Seekers,” Niles bellowed. “I want her questioned extensively. Even better, I want them to use Serum.”
Roark had already proven I’d be wise to fear Seekers, yet their Serum was considered worse. I pictured myself lying on a slab while knives descended, and a shudder ripped through me. By the fae, they didn’t use medieval torture techniques here, did they? My mouth flashed dry as fear took hold of my bones and shook me. All I could picture was myself stretched on a rack with boulders mounded on top of me.
I reached a trembling hand toward Donovan, confident he’d take it. But one of the king’s bodyguards karate-chopped my arm, making me cry out in pain and yank my arm back.
Donovan bellowed and rushed toward me, but they held him back.
I pressed my arm to my chest and rubbed the sting. No holding back my tears. They streamed down my face.
Alys smirked. Evil witch. Ashton crossed his arms on his chest and nodded as if he was pleased with the show.
“Leave her alone!” Donovan wrenched free and shoved himself between us. He cupped my face. “It’s going to be okay, Fleur. I promise.”
But the look in the king’s eyes suggested otherwise.
Donovan put his arm around my shoulders, and I had to hand it to him. He didn’t wince despite the slimy water that must be seeping through his shirt to reach his skin. “No need to call the Seekers, let alone use Serum. Jeez. It was an accident. Your leg is healed.” He nudged his chin toward his brother’s thigh. “And you’re here for a formal visit, not to interrogate someone. Let it go.”
“I will not let this go,” Niles roared. “You need to step away from this…outling and end your relationship immediately.”
“Not happening, bro,” Donovan said with steel in his voice. He kissed me. Actually, kissed me, despite me being mud-coated and mucky. Which made my eyes sting even more. His voice lowered as he leaned closer to his brother. “Please, Niles. It was a mistake. Can we forget about it? As a favor to me?”
Niles’s back ramrodded straighter than the tall evergreens peppering the campus, but his face softened slightly as he studied Donovan. Eventually, he gave a chipped nod though, when his gaze slid to me, his brows narrowed to a sharp V. “We’ll be watching you, outling. One wrong move on your part, and we’ll see you thrown into Darkwater Prison.”
“What’s Darkwater Prison?” I whispered, the ache in my bones proving I already knew but needed final confirmation.
The king’s nose twisted above his thinned lips. “A penitentiary located in the middle of the largest ocean in the fae world, where…unredeemables are sent to rot for the rest of their days.”
“Not happening, Fleur,” Donovan said with surety, though an edge of terror had entered his voice. “And it’s actually a school. Darkwater Academy, not Prison. Stop fooling around, Niles. You said you’d forget this.”
“You must know by now that I never forget.” Whirling, he held out his arm toward the fairytale woman. “Come, Lilianne. I wish to go inside. I need a stiff drink.”
“Of course, your highness.” She curtsied then delicately laid her fingers on his forearm.
Niles lifted his eyebrows our way. “Donovan?”
Donovan spoke low, beside my ear. “I have to go with him. I’m sorry. It won’t be for long. I’ll find a way to—”
“Donovan,” Niles ground out, turning toward the door. Not waiting for confirmation—which I assumed he wouldn’t need because it would automatically be given at his every request—he swept into the school with Lilianne and his entourage, leaving Donovan and I alone in front of the Academy.
“It’s okay,” I said. “Go. I’ll flit to my room and change.”
He stared at me
a long moment before nodding.
Alys and Ashton stood nearby with satisfaction oozing from their pores, a black sheen hovering around them.
“Don’t worry. I’ll get this straightened out.” Donovan squeezed my hands. “This was a surprise visit. I only found out he was coming this afternoon.”
“How long is he staying?”
“Not more than a week. He’ll get bored. Leave and return to his palace. The accommodations here…Well, they won’t suit. The Headmistress has arranged for him to stay in chambers prepared for him on the third floor. Essentially a Presidential Suite. But it’s nothing like what he grew up in. We grew up in, I suppose.”
Which solidified the gaping difference between us. How had I ever believed this guy—this prince—would be happy with someone like me? He belonged with someone like Lilianne. A perfect girl for a perfect guy.
Donovan frowned, though he couldn’t be aware of the hit my self-confidence was taking. “Bad thing is, I know my brother will expect me to hang out with him. He’ll want me to entertain him.” No hiding his wince. “He’s an okay guy. Really. It won’t be bad. You’ll like him once you get to know him.”
This assumed I’d meet up with him again. At this point, I’d be happy to hide in my room for the next week and emerge after he left. Maybe he’d forget about me by then.
“I’ll make him understand that you meant no harm and, once you two have talked a bit, he’ll feel the same way I do about you.” He gave me a quick kiss and released my hands.
I couldn’t stop the uncertainty rushing through me like brackish water. It was drowning me as easily as Sirra.
Donovan had started toward the entrance but turned. “I’ll ping you later, okay? When things are settled, I’ll bring you to his suite and we’ll make this work.” Not stopping again, he strode into the Academy.
The Headmistress pinged me. We need to talk.
Ugh. Word sure travels fast around here. Sure.
While I’d love to have this discussion immediately, my day is full. Please come to my office after classes tomorrow.
I’ll be there, I replied. I rubbed my face then groaned when I saw how gross my hands were. Here was hoping my face didn’t look worse.
Crystal Wing Academy- The Complete Series Page 35
