"Normally, yes," Elal says, crossing his muscled arms over his chest. "But they've been on maternity leave since their baby was born. Newborn gargoyles have become rare in recent years, so they're keeping to themselves more than usual."
"Indeed," Ifi says. "I was surprised to see them at the Midwinter Festival. But, oh, that baby. So cute." The Ifrit looks up at his lover with large glowing eyes, and I smile. One way or another, those two are getting a baby sooner than later if Ifi has any say about it.
Sebastian frowns. "Rare bodies being stolen? You don't think it could be…"
Ifi nods. "It very well could be. But there's no way to tell."
"The body is ready," Elal says, interrupting the conversation. "We should extract her dying wish."
"Right, yes. Of course," Ifi says. He kneels at the head of the basilisk and lays his hands on her, then closes his eyes.
Sebastian and I back up, but Elal stays by his side.
Fire erupts from him and spreads flames all around them as Ifi chants in an ancient language. When the flames die down, the body is aglow with some kind of preternatural power.
The basilisk rises from the ground, turning her head to face us. Her voice is more snake than human, a hiss on the wind that loosely forms the words. "Do not ssssearch for the egg. Do not sssssearch."
With that, her body collapses back to the floor and we all let out a collective breath.
"Well," Says Ifi. "That's not what I expected. It's more like a message than a dying wish."
"Can last wishes be tampered with?" I ask. "Like how certain paranormals can mess with Memory Catchers."
Elal shrugs. "It has never been done to my knowledge. But that does not mean a very powerful being couldn't have found a way to do it."
"There's another explanation," Derek says, finally joining us and speaking for the first time since we entered the cave. "She was in on it. She helped steal the egg."
"But… she was killed," I say.
"Her partner could have betrayed her in order to cover their tracks and eliminate witnesses. It's happened before," he says. "Not everyone is as they seem." He looks at us. "Think about it. Why were her eyes still covered? If someone was attacking, she would have uncovered them. They are her greatest weapons, after all. And how would anyone have gotten in here without a crystal to open the cave? It hasn't been damaged or tampered with in any other way that I can see. Her being a party to the crime is the only explanation I can see that makes sense."
His logic is sound. "But, why? Why would she do this?"
Derek shrugs. "Why does anyone commit a crime?" he asks. "All criminals have their justifications that they think exonerate them from their own evil."
I wonder if he is still talking about the basilisk or my brother. I try to brush the thoughts aside. “If she was in on it, why frame Liam? And what was she intending to do with the egg?
Before Derek can respond, the Enforcer who escorted us here returns, speaking promptly. "The Great Ava'Kara wishes to speak with you," he says.
Sebastian, Derek and I turn to follow him, but the Enforcer pauses. "Only the Water Druid and the woman," he says.
Sebastian shrugs. "You go ahead. I'll keep looking around here, and I'll dig into the basilisk's past a bit. Maybe there will be a lead."
Derek and I follow the guard, and when we are out of earshot of the others, I whisper to him. "How long will you keep ignoring me?" I ask.
He smiles, and it would almost look sincere if not for his eyes. "Is this what you want? Me to pretend? While my brother is facing an eternity in prison or worse? These may be his last days of freedom and I'm lying to him for you." He spits out the words like acid, and I recoil from the anger.
"I…I'm sorry," I say sincerely. "I shouldn't have asked you to lie. You..." I force myself to say the words I know I must. The words that will damn my own brother while giving his brother answers. "You can tell him the truth if you wish. I won't have you hurting yourself for me."
Derek freezes, visibly blanching at my words as if he's seen a ghost.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
"Just…I've heard those words before. Long ago." His voice softens into memory. "So very long ago."
"Proceed inside," the guard says, interrupting us once again and pointing us through a door just ahead.
We walk into a great hall with a throne in the center made of seashells and gemstones. Behind the throne is a waterfall that opens up to a large body of water somehow magicked not to enter the throne room itself. Through the water I see blue scales, the giant body of a dragon swimming underwater, like a great sea serpent of legends.
The dragon approaches the waterfall and as she moves through it, her body begins to glow a blinding blue. She shrinks, the closer she gets to the throne, until she steps out of the water not as a dragon, but as a beautiful woman where the dragon had just been.
She is naked and her body shimmers a striking blue. Her hair is white and flows around her, long and wild. She stretches her dragon wings to fullness, revealing their width and beauty, then they settle at her back, becoming a cloak around her. Tiny white horns dot her forehead, and her blue eyes are large—larger than any human—and still very dragon-like.
"Good to see you again, Son of Water," she says in a silky voice. She takes a seat at her throne, crossing her long legs. "I received your petition to speak with me. You have come to argue the innocence of your brother." It's not a question, but Derek nods.
"Approach," she says.
We walk forward until we are about five feet from her throne.
"Speak," she commands.
"Liam was not part of this attack," Derek says, bluntly. "But we need your help to prove it."
She cocks her head. "The Son of Fire was seen exiting the explosion unharmed. He's known for his temper. And the event was clearly a distraction for someone to steal my egg. Why should I believe he wasn't part of this conspiracy? Many would pay well for the egg of a dragon."
"We have no need of money," Derek says.
She leans forward. "Money is not the most valuable currency, as I am sure you are aware."
"Kara, you know our family. You know this is not what we trade in nor is it how we work."
Her eyes narrow. "I know many things," she says. "But foremost I know my egg is missing and there are many who would like to see the Eternal Dragons fall. I can no longer be sure who are enemies and who are friends. Someone has betrayed us, and someone will pay."
She closes her eyes for a long moment, then opens them again, the reptilian movement of them a bit unnerving on her nearly human looking face.
"While I have no doubt about that, it just isn't possible that Liam was behind this," I say, and they both turn to look at me.
"Ah, the human who is not human has found her voice," the dragon says. "Tell me, Eve Oliver, why isn't this possible?"
"This took planning. Time. Liam—and all of us—have been wrapped up in a case that only recently resolved, resulting in the reemergence of his powers. In fact, they came back that very night. And they wouldn't have come back had we not won the case. Whoever planned this wouldn't have relied on something as untenable as Liam getting his powers back. Things could have easily gone the other way and the plan would have been ruined as a result."
The dragon stares at me a long time, and I wait, knowing that sometimes it's better to shut up and let the other person make up their own mind. If I keep talking, I might inadvertently say something that pushes them in the other direction.
"Tell me, Eve," she says softly, "Do you know what you truly are?"
I sigh. "I don't. Everyone keeps asking me and I don't know."
"Approach," the dragon says once again, and this time she means that I should come up to her throne.
I glance at Derek, but he nods, so I move close enough to her that she can reach out and slide a finger along my forehead, closing her eyes as her body begins to glow blue again. A wisp of power washes through me, disappearing as soon as she pulls her hand away.
"I
nteresting," she says. "You are most interesting. I can see why so many are fascinated with you."
"Can you… can you tell what I am?" I ask, desperate to know myself better.
But she doesn't answer my question. Instead, she asks another. "Why do you work for the Night brothers?"
This isn't a question that I expect, and it throws me off. I flounder for an answer and then give up, trying instead to bring the conversation back to Liam. "Please can you help us find the truth?"
"Silence, girl. I am asking the questions. And you have yet to answer mine."
So much for avoiding the issue. "I started working for them because I needed a job and a new life after my twin brother killed himself. I stayed with them because they have become my family. Maybe dysfunctional at times, and full of conflict, but family, nonetheless. I would never abandon them, which is why it's so important to me to find out the truth and exonerate Liam. He is a father now. He is my friend, and something more. He is needed in our family."
She leans back, studying us, twirling a gold ring on her middle finger. After a moment, she pulls the ring off and gestures for me to come forward. "Take this,” she says. “It is my mark. And it will help you in your investigation. Use it to travel through the Otherworld unhindered.” She holds out her ring to me and I accept it, studying the sapphire stone and signet within.
She looks to Derek. "I am surprised you are so convinced of your brother's innocence, Son of Water. You know better than most, not all Druids follow their own code."
Derek frowns and the dragon flicks her wrist dismissively. "You may leave but know this. We are the Eternal Dragons of the Otherworld. This will not be like any other trial. Someone will pay, and if my egg isn't returned to me by the end of this, that someone will be Liam."
We are escorted out of the throne room and back to the nesting cave where Sebastian is still investigating. While we walk, I reach for Derek. "What did she mean? About Druids not following their own code?" I ask.
Derek frowns and caresses my hand with more tenderness than he's shown since finding out about Adam. "It means I too have secrets… secrets I must hold close," he says with a sigh. “And given that, I will keep your secret for now. Perhaps we are more similar than I wanted to accept."
His words don't sit well with me, but it's clear he doesn't want to talk more about it, and his words at least ease my fears of losing my brother, for the time being.
When we get back to the cave, Sebastian is finishing up a conversation with another Enforcer. "How did it go?" he asks when the Enforcer leaves.
I hold up the dragon ring. "We have some privilege, but she's not convinced of Liam's innocence. And she seems weirdly interested in me," I say.
Sebastian frowns. "As word of your powers and unknown origin spreads, more and more will become intrigued. That worries me."
Derek puts an arm around my shoulder. "We’ll keep her safe, if it comes to that."
Sebastian nods, his eyes flicking to my mine with unspoken questions about the change in Derek.
“I’ll keep myself safe, thank you very much,” I say, smiling. “Just as I did before. Now…did you find out anything about the basilisk?" I ask.
"She was well-respected," Sebastian says. "No known enemies. A rule-follower to the letter. Not much of a personal life that anyone can attest to. There's not much to go on."
"That's disappointing," I say, and I notice the body is gone along with the Ifrits.
"There is one more thing," Sebastian says. "None of the crystals that open this cave are missing. That further reinforces our theory that she was in on it."
"We've found all we're going to find here," Derek says. "It's time to head back and regroup, see if Elijah and Liam made any progress."
Once in the carriage, Sebastian by my side and Derek driving, the earth Druid leans into me. "You two worked things out?"
I shrug. "For now. It's…complicated."
And then I turn to him with a question I've had for some time. "Is this…is this okay?"
"Is what okay?" he asks.
"Well, I've…I've got this thing…" I say, flailing my hands as if that adds meaning to what I'm trying to convey, "with all of you. I mean. I haven't like, gone all the way with anyone, but…" I blush and don't know how to continue, but Sebastian spares me with a hand on mine.
"Eve, this isn't the human world. We don't do things the same way. There aren't the same taboos. This isn't the first time we have all been in love with the same woman, though it might very well be the last."
I swallow through a dry throat, my eyes widening. "In love?"
He nods. "It's maybe too soon, I realize, to talk about that, but you must know that you have done something to all of us. You have brought light back into our world. Hope. A reason to live. What is love if not that?" He brushes wisps of hair from my forehead, his gaze penetrating mine. "There is no jealously, only a desire to be with you, to make you happy, to protect you. And there is no pressure, not from any of us. Trust your feelings. We aren't going anywhere."
My heart expands with his words, and the fear I hadn't fully articulated turns to joy. I don't have to choose one of them! I can actually have them all. Because in truth, I can't imagine my world without any of them, and though it's taking me time to get there, I know the Night brothers are my future.
I just hope his words are true, that none of them are going anywhere. I hope we can, in fact, prove Liam's innocence before the worst can happen.
My mind wanders back to our investigation in the cave and I recall a conversation that never finished. "Who do you think is stealing the corpses?" I ask. "You mentioned someone to the Ifrits."
"He calls himself the Collector. He procures rare artifacts and sells most of them to the highest bidder in secret auctions. It's well known his means of acquiring said artifacts are rarely legal."
"Let me guess. He's rich and powerful and so he's untouchable."
"Don't forget well-connected," Sebastian says bitterly.
"It's the same in the mundane world," I say. "The powerful do as they please and they rarely even get a slap on the wrist." I shake my head, disgusted with the imbalance that exists everywhere, even in other worlds. "Do you think he stole the egg? That would be quite the item to add to his collection."
"It's possible," Sebastian says. "But this feels too risky, even for him. Still, it's worth investigating. If he didn't steal it, he might know something about who did. He has eyes and ears everywhere. In the highest levels of government and law, and in the lowest alleys."
When we arrive at the castle, we find Liam and Elijah are in the library talking.
"We have a lead," I say, grabbing an apple from a fruit platter someone has taken to leaving out for me. "The Collector."
I bite into the crunchy sweetness as Elijah raises an eyebrow curiously. "We have one as well, but it's not good," he says.
"Who?" asks Sebastian, taking a seat by my side.
"The Beggar Queen," he says, closing a book on his lap. "She disagrees with the policies put in place in the last few centuries by the Council of Dragons and could have taken the egg for leverage in those discussions."
"Or out of spite," Liam says, folding his arms over his chest and staring into the fire.
Elijah stands and paces the room. "The problem is—"
"She won't meet with us," Sebastian says, finishing his brother's sentence as he looks to me. "We've tried before."
"It won't be easy to reach the Collector either," Elijah says. "He doesn't exactly deal with lawyers. Well, not honest ones, anyways."
We all take seats and continue discussing possible avenues to reach our two biggest leads. I don't have a lot to add to the conversation, given my newness in this world, so I listen and pull out my sketchbook to draw. I flip open to the drawing I've been working on of the mysterious man who keeps finding his way into my dreams. I add some details to his eyes and blend the shadows around him. There is something…familiar…about his features, I realize. As if I should
know who he is.
As I work to make the sketch more detailed, Liam glances at the drawing, and his expression hardens. "What is this?" he asks.
I'm surprised by his intensity. "It's just someone I saw," I say. “You’re not jealous, are you? It’s just—"
"Where?" he asks. "Where did you see him?" His voice is urgent and angry. This is more than jealousy. Something is wrong.
"At the Midwinter Festival,” I answer. “Before the explosion. Why? Who is this?" I ask, holding up the drawing so they can all see better.
The other three brothers lean in, their eyes going wide at the picture.
"It can't be him," Derek says, his eyes haunted. "It's impossible."
"Look at the drawing," Liam says, taking the sketchbook from me to study more closely. "She saw him. He's back."
Sebastian pales, his jaw hardening, but he says nothing.
"Who?" I ask. "Tell me." Lily's words come back to me then. She said she saw him. Is this who she meant?
Liam's rage turns to ice, his glare glacier as he studies me. "Our brother."
The Brother
When you light a candle, you also cast a shadow. ~Ursula K. Le Guin
"Brother?" I ask, confused.
Sebastian lowers his head, still silent. Derek shifts in his seat. Liam begins pacing again, and Elijah just looks like he wishes he were reading—or doing literally anything else—rather than having this conversation.
Finally, Derek clears his throat. "There are five us. Five Night brothers, not four. Who you've drawn," he says, pointing to my sketch, "…that's the fifth and youngest of us. The likeness is unmistakable."
My jaw drops open in shock and I snap it closed. "Why…how did I not know this? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because he betrayed our Order," Sebastian says with clenched teeth. “Long ago, before we became vampires, before we became cursed, our brother betrayed the Druidic order. In turn, he was punished. Whipped. Imprisoned.”
I look over at Liam, who seems stung by the words, by the vehemence in them, as he stares at the recent scars on his own arms and hands. It was him, I realize. He was the one who whipped his own brother. Who punished him.
I Am the Storm (The Night Firm Book 2) Page 6
