I needed to get out of there. Ignoring The Keeper as he called out after me, I bolted down the hall and headed straight for the catacombs. The marble floors cracked with each furious step I took.
There was only one thing I wanted to do right now—drink alone. Without Aldric, there was no reason to even continue on this mission. Who gave a shit if the world burned down? I was done trying to save everyone.
As I reached the last steps leading into the catacombs, I heard footsteps behind me. I pulled out my dagger and whipped around. A pair of blood red eyes glared at me through her matching curls. Valentina.
Her lips tightened. “Get that knife away from me.”
I hadn’t even realized I was holding it to her throat. I opened my hand and let it fall to the ground. I turned around and lowered my head.
My throat was hoarse. “You shouldn’t have come. How did you even know I was down here?”
She snapped, “The whole island knows you’re down here. You didn’t exactly make a quiet getaway.”
I let out a deep sigh. “Aldric hates me. He wants nothing to do with me.”
Valentina rolled her eyes. “He’s in love with you. He’ll get over it. Look, I’ll do my best to talk him into going to Tartarus, but you need to get your shit together. Come back up when you’re ready to walk across the floor without breaking it.”
I nodded as she spun on her heel and went back upstairs. She was right. I was losing control. I was doing exactly what Jezebel wanted. Aldric might hate me forever, but I couldn’t let her win. If she did, it would all be for nothing. This war would have casualties. I knew that. I just didn’t think my relationship with Aldric would have been one of them.
Seventeen
The ground was cool and damp underneath me. I lay on my back with my dark hair sprawled out around me. It was quiet down here. I could breathe easier in the silence. If I could just get my mind to shut off, I could truly find some peace. I tilted my head to take another swig of whiskey, praying that it would wash away the ache in my chest. I cursed and spit it out as I realized that it wouldn’t.
I rose to my feet. My limbs were stiff and heavy, like the blood in them had stopped flowing. I had lost track of how long I had been down here. I was wasting time, but I didn’t want to face him. If he was even still here.
Footsteps down the stairs shook me out of my reverie. I groaned. Valentina was coming to fetch me. I rolled my eyes and dashed over to meet her at the stairs.
I froze in my tracks. It was Aldric. He leaned against the wall, halfway down the stairs, and looked down at me with contempt.
A rush of adrenaline shot through my veins. “You’re still here.”
He folded his arms to his chest. “Are you in love with him?”
My head pounded. “I love you—”
He snapped, “That’s not what I asked.”
I swallowed hard. “A part of me will always love Dragos, but it’s not the same. Not anymore. I had a moment of weakness, but I will always choose you.”
He let out a deep sigh. “I don’t know if I can get past this, Gray.”
I nodded, lowering my eyes. “I understand. If I could take it back, I would. I thought you were lost to me. In that moment, I believed it.”
My heart was breaking, twisting and contorting like broken glass. A sharp pain pierced through my gut. I could only imagine how he must have felt.
After what seemed like an eternity of silence, he let out another sigh.
His eyes softened. “You always do what you want to do. It’s one of the things I love about you, and one of the things I hate. I’m going to need some time to deal with this.”
A little spark of hope surged in my chest. “Okay…I will wait as long as it takes.”
He gave me a slight nod and walked back up the stairs. As soon as he was out of ear shot, I collapsed to my knees. I let out the breath I had been holding and burst into tears. My body trembled as I sobbed. Aldric might forgive me someday, but he’d never forget. It wasn’t the fear of losing him that shook me, it was the fear that he might never look at me the same.
Valentina and The Keeper were in the study discussing strategy when I walked in. The look on both their faces was all I needed to know that I looked like a hot mess. They stared in silence as I sauntered in.
I shrugged it off. “So, what’s the plan?”
They exchanged a worried look. Valentina raised an eyebrow at me. “You look like you crawled out of a sewer. You sure you’re up for this?”
My jaw tightened. “I’ve been ready for this for four hundred years.”
She nodded, her eyes still hesitant. “Seven will bring us in here.” She pointed to an unfamiliar location on the map.
The Keeper interjected, “Valentina and Seven will slip by first and head to the back of the dungeon.”
I nodded as I paced around the room. “And where do I come in?”
Valentina pointed to another spot on the map. “Here is where you’ll enter. You and Aldric will—”
“No. I will not ask Aldric to do this. I’ve already put him through enough.” The taste of bile was on the back of my tongue.
Valentina snapped, “We need him, Gray. You two are stronger when you fight together.”
I shook my head. “We’ll find another way. I’m not putting this on him.”
She darted over to me, her eyes flashing red. “My brother is dying in there. I’m not going to risk his life because you are too proud to ask Aldric for help. This plan only works if he comes with us.”
I stepped closer to her, my eyes darkening. “It’s not about pride. You don’t understand. I can’t ask him to do this.”
I could feel the veins popping out of my neck as we glared at each other.
“Stop. Both of you.” Aldric’s voice commanded the room.
He stood in the doorway, armed and dressed for battle. His hair was slicked back off his face, revealing thick strokes of blood, smeared across is face like war paint.
His body moved with ease as he walked in. “You don’t have to ask. I’m coming with you.”
My mouth dropped open. “I didn’t think you would want anything to do with this rescue mission.”
His body stiffened. “I might be furious, but I’m not going to let you die down there.”
Valentina let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you. My brother will be grateful.”
Aldric snapped, “I’m not doing this for Dragos.”
She nodded. “Either way, thank you.”
I looked him up and down. “Why are you dressed like that?”
He gritted his teeth. “I was letting out some steam in the armory.”
Aldric’s eyes burned into mine. The sadness mixed with rage broke my heart. He was better than me. After everything I put him through, he was still willing to fight by my side. I would spend an eternity making it up to him if I had to.
The Keeper broke the awkward silence. “As Valentina was saying, the two of you will enter Tartarus here, the main entrance. They won’t be expecting it.”
We spent the rest of the evening memorizing the map, discussing all possible scenarios, and devising an exit strategy. We exchanged formalities and pleasantries like two warriors meeting in a war room for the first time. There were so many times I had to stop myself from grabbing his hand or kissing his lips. I didn’t have the right to anymore.
The walk back to my room was lonely. I shivered, not from the cold, but from the emptiness. I thought back to the first time we had come here together. When I turned him into a Dhampir and we joined our blood in Nectunt. We were the first of our kind to forge the true link. It was the happiest day of my very long life. Now, we were barely speaking to each other. How had I managed to screw everything up in such a short amount of time?
My heart stopped as I entered my room. Aldric was sitting by the fire, swirling the whiskey in his glass. His skin glowed fresh like morning dew. He still took my breath away.
I stood still in the doorway, unable to move for fe
ar that he would vanish if I took a step closer. For just one moment I wanted to pretend that we weren’t at odds and that he loved me like he used to.
The moment didn’t last long. He snapped, “Did you sleep with him in here?”
My heart sank. I closed the door and slumped into the chair next to him.
“No. Only in Romania.” My fingers trembled.
He ran a hand through his pale blond hair. “I’ve been thinking—obsessing actually. I should be angry at Jezebel, not you. She did this. If it weren’t for her, we’d be eating beignets in my apartment right now. But I am angry with you. Not for what you did, but for why you did it.”
The guilt scorched my insides. “Ever since I ingested the Narcissus magic, I haven’t been myself. My thoughts are darker, more desperate. It comes in waves.”
He looked sadly at me. “I wish you would have told me you were struggling. I wouldn’t have pushed so hard to go after the Consilium. I guess now we know that they aren’t the enemy at least.”
My stomach turned. “No, but I still don’t trust any of them. Especially Tobias. Whatever their intentions were, it still got Elemi killed.”
He reached out and placed his hand on mine. A singe of electricity shot through me and I let out a tiny gasp. The heat from his skin was like a warm bath, soothing and invigorating at the same time.
Our eyes locked, and for the first time since he had woken up, he smiled. I let out a little sigh of relief. There was hope in that smile. We sat by the fire, holding hands, for the rest of the night. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a start.
Valentina burst through the door, almost knocking it off its hinges. “We need to go. Now.” She was breathless, and her red curls were matted to her forehead from sweat.
I sprang to my feet, my heart racing. “What’s wrong?”
Her eyes were as wide as saucers. “Jezebel burned an entire village to the ground. There weren’t any survivors. She sent word that she’ll continue to do this until you surrender.”
It felt like the ground was moving underneath me. I staggered forward and my knees buckled. Aldric caught me before I hit the ground.
I took a deep breath. “The descendants…we have to stop her.”
Valentina paced around the room. “Tobias is on his way with the humans. The Keeper is prepping the ceremony room for the linking ritual. By the time we get back with Dragos, we will have an army of hybrids to take her out.”
Aldric stiffened. “How much time do we have before she burns another village?”
Valentina’s eyes welled up. “As of right now, twenty-three hours.”
The three of us exchanged a look of panic as we bolted out of the room and headed straight toward the armory.
Eighteen
Seven’s ship towered over mine in the harbor of the Sea of Magia. Its black sails flapped furiously in the wind. Seven stood at the bow, ready for battle. His eyes blazed like fire, amber and gold.
“What changed your mind?” The last time we spoke, he had refused to enter past the Mourning Fields unless there was a way to save his dead wife’s soul or he risked imprisonment in Tartarus.
“If Cerberus wants me, he can try. He will die trying.” Seven wasn’t looking at me, but through me. His mind was already at war.
We each had something to lose and something to gain. And both were worth dying for. If we didn’t succeed, there’d be nothing to come home to anyway.
Once again, the four of us headed into the storm. We parted the skies and made our descent into the Underworld. The only difference was this time we were going in the back door. They wouldn’t see us coming until it was too late. There were no coins for the Ferryman, no fields of suffering souls to pass through. We headed straight to the Ninth Gate. To the prison of the damned.
The air was balmy. It reeked of sulfur and rotting flesh. Aldric stood by me, holding his breath.
I passed him a vial of willow bark. “This will help with the nausea.”
He drank it down in one gulp. “I have a bad feeling about this. Why is it so quiet?”
He was right. It was too quiet. Like before, when Dragos and I came in and there were no banshees guarding the gates. It was like it was deserted, or maybe it was just another trick. Either way, something was off.
I scanned the terrain. “Just stay alert. It’s probably nothing.”
The nerves in my stomach were firing off in every direction, but I had to stay calm. Or I had to at least appear calm. It was my duty to keep everyone safe, even from mental chaos.
Aldric raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. “Whatever you say, darlin’.”
Valentina stood a few feet away, her eyes peeled and sword out in front of her. My heart broke for her. Dragos was the only family she had left. If anything were to happen to him, I’d never forgive myself.
Valentina’s eyes remained fixated on the river as we approached. “This isn’t right.”
I cocked my head to the side to look at her. “You feel it too?”
She nodded and drew in a sharp breath. “Where are the demons? We’re just sailing through without any interference. It’s too easy.”
A knot formed in my throat. “Maybe they’re expecting us. Waiting for us at Tartarus. They took Dragos because they knew they couldn’t take me. I stole the Narcissus flower. I’m probably the one they want.”
She gasped, her eyes widening. “If you really believe that then why did you come?”
Shadows fell across my eyes. “I won’t let anyone else suffer because of me.”
She lowered her voice. “Lycos doesn’t know I’m here.”
I grabbed her shoulder. “Val, you should have told him. What if—”
“I don’t want anyone suffering for me either. He would be too distracted trying to protect me. We both know I can protect myself. Besides, it’s better if he doesn’t worry. He has enough wolf drama to deal with it.” She stuck out her chin and bit her lower lip.
I raised an eyebrow. “And what are the wolves up to these days?”
She shook her head. “More of the same. Ancient feuds and mystical prophecies. You know, the usual wolf stuff.” She rolled her eyes and chuckled.
She was trivializing it, but I knew my friend better than that. There was something she wasn’t telling me. When all of this was over, I would have to find out what was really going on.
As we sailed further down the river, black clouds swirled in the sky. There was a storm coming. A storm of black rain. The air around us filled up with smoke and the stench of charred bones. We were close.
Tartarus was made up of two marble towers connected by one giant dome, carved from obsidian. It was surrounded by jagged rocks, making it impossible to dock. Seven steered us into an embankment just outside of its walls. As we climbed off the ship, lightning cracked and sizzled in the distance. Tiny droplets of rain water gathered on my forehead.
The plan was simple—find Dragos, free him, and then fight our way out. But I knew nothing was ever simple in this world. We’d paid a price every time we set foot on this forsaken place. I just hoped that this time it wouldn’t cost me everything.
We crossed the river and took cover in the skeleton trees. There was no sign of movement near the entrance. I closed my eyes and focused on the Narcissus before taking another look.
A chill ran up my spine. We were not alone. “Shadow demons. They’re everywhere.”
Shadow demons were souls caught in limbo, much like the lost souls in the Mourning Fields. The only difference was that shadow demons were not lost, they were hunting.
Aldric shivered. “What are they doing?”
Seven eyes darkened. “Looking for a host.”
Aldric swallowed hard. “To do what, exactly?”
Valentina grimaced. “To feel alive. Only problem is a demon can’t be held by flesh. The body will decay from the inside out.”
Aldric’s face twisted in horror. “That’s the only problem?”
I crouched down. “They’re slow and mindless. We can
get through them if we cloak ourselves. They don’t have eyes, but they can sense energy.”
Aldric rubbed his temples. “I thought our magic didn’t work here.”
A smirk formed on my lips. “Mine does.”
Seven stretched out his arms. “So does mine. We stick to the plan. You take Aldric to the front while Val and I go around the back. Keep your shields up.”
Valentina looked back. “Be careful.”
Aldric and I crouched down together as they darted off toward the left tower. They flew past the shadow demons with effortless speed. Seven’s cloaking shield was working.
I took a deep breath and locked eyes with Aldric. “We’re up. You ready?”
He grabbed the back of my head and pulled me toward him. His lips came down hard on mine. Butterflies danced in my belly. I cupped his face, tracing my fingers along his jaw and neck.
He leaned back and winked. “Now I am.”
My heart fluttered. “When this is all over, can we do that again?”
He chuckled. “Let’s just worry about staying alive first.”
Was it a kiss of desperation? A hope we don’t die kiss? Or was it something more? Maybe he wanted to remind me of what he tasted like as we were about to rescue the one person who stood in his way.
There wasn’t time for that now. I shrugged it off and wrapped the Narcissus magic around us as I unsheathed my daggers. Shadow demons weren’t the only creatures lurking around Tartarus. There could be hellhounds, banshees, and Apollo knew what else. Aldric followed my lead and whipped out his bow.
We crept across the ground like it was a mine field, careful to stay out of the shadows’ reach. They slithered and dragged their feet across the ground as they walked.
I made the mistake of looking into one of their mangled faces. Black sludge oozed out of its eye sockets. My whole body seized up in terror and my limbs trembled.
Flesh and Bone (Blood and Darkness Book 2) Page 10
