Seven chanted softly under his breath, the same way he had done in Italy at the Seraphine headquarters. The soil began to shake and shift. The ground gave way and I jumped back just as Chaos grabbed my waist, yanking me toward him. The ground split in two and a spiraled wooden staircase appeared before us.
I broke free from his grip and started down the stairs, my heart beating wildly in my chest. With Chaos and Seven close behind, the magnetic pull grew stronger the further down we went, drawing me toward it, seductive in the way it beckoned.
At the bottom of the stairs a wooden door etched itself into the wall, a blaze of fire and light, repurposed with bits of oak and pine like the inside of a tree. The door swelled and sizzled before us. As I reached out for the knob, Chaos intercepted.
“This is it. Stick to the plan. The Dryads can be…persuasive.” His hand, hovering over mine, trembled slightly.
I nodded, not really hearing him, and pushed open the door. A gasp escaped me as the room came into view, rising up three stories. Techno music blared out, filling the space while sweat-soaked bodies twisted and turned to the hard electronic beats. Redwood trees shot up through the roof, their roots and branches wrapping and winding around each other. Grass and soil pushed through the cracks in the floor. To my left sat a twenty-foot bar made of glass, sprawling and glittering under a disco ball of light. It shone down, reflecting a kaleidoscope of colors over a vast array of potions and elixirs.
A tall man with broad shoulders and hair the color of honey stood before us. He wore a white linen suit, no tie. The top three buttons were undone, revealing the peak of what appeared to be an elaborate tattoo, his rolled-up sleeves showing more of the tree branches that were carved into his skin.
His eyes glowed bright green. “Welcome to Below Soil. I promise you…you won’t ever want to leave.” His full lips turned up into a smirk.
The door slammed shut behind us. I spun around to see it fade away the same way it had appeared. In a blaze of fire and sparks. There was no way out now.
Sixteen
The music pumped loud through my ears, vibrating in my chest. I lifted my head, raising my voice so the man at the door could hear me. “I’m here to see Basil.”
He looked me up and down, amused, a spark of mischief in his eyes. “My lady is busy.” He licked his lips. “Go mingle at the bar. I highly recommend the oyster martini.”
Chaos stepped toward the man, his body stiff and rigid. “Nice try, asshole. We aren’t human.”
“Our oyster pearls work on everyone.” He flashed me a grin, revealing the whitest teeth I had ever seen.
Why was everyone always assuming I didn’t know what an oyster pearl was? “Look, I don’t want an aphrodisiac. It’s important that I speak with your boss. Believe me, she will want to hear what I have to say.”
His eyes cast shadows across his cheeks as they darkened. “I’ll be the judge of that. State your business.” This man was not used to anyone disobeying him. He planted himself like a brick wall in front of us.
Chaos laughed out loud. “And who might you be? Other than the door guy, that is? Step aside and let us speak with someone who can properly help us.”
“You better watch your tone,” the man spat. “When my lady is indisposed, I am in charge.”
I moved in between them. “Look, we don’t want any trouble. Please tell Basil that Arya Frost is here to speak with her on official Elemental business.”
The man’s sneer faded. Underneath the scowl, he was actually quite handsome. “You’re an Elemental?”
I nodded.
He arched an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. “Which coven?”
I hesitated. The less who knew the details, the better. “It’s complicated. That’s why I need to talk to Basil.”
He rolled his sleeves up higher, showing off more of his elaborate tattoo, deeply etched lines that I could now see were covering up a scar of some kind. “I love complicated. Tell me who you really are before I have the three of you thrown into the mud pit.”
“Oh, I’d love to see you try that,” Chaos snapped.
The two of them stood inches apart, nose to nose. Some of the other patrons were starting to notice us now. So much for being inconspicuous.
But there was no getting around him. He wasn’t going to budge until I told him something more. “Fine. The truth is, I have ties to all four covens. I’m here because I need to awaken the rest of my magic. It’s crucial that this happens. Now can you pretty please let Basil know I’m here?” I batted my eyelashes at him in a faux attempt to appear demure.
The man’s eyes widened. He looked back and forth between the three of us, trying to gauge if we were telling the truth or not. He lowered his voice to a whisper. “Go sit at the bar and talk to no one. Basil is in one of her moods and does not want to be disturbed at the moment. So go make yourself comfortable. You might be here a while.”
I stifled a groan. Time was the one thing we were running out of. I had no idea how close Echo was to succeeding, the Keeper was being tortured, and the gods were doing everything in their power to keep my ancestors locked up in Purgatory. And now I was stuck down here with a choice I didn’t even want to make. Maybe a drink was exactly what I needed.
I made my way over to the bar and plopped down on a wooden stool. Seven of course ordered a whiskey while I opted for a glass of emerald green absinthe.
Chaos shook his head, waving the bartender away. “I need to keep my wits about me.”
I shrugged and slammed back the green liquid. “Suit yourself.” I needed to drown mine.
Minutes turned to hours as we sat in silence, each of us wrapped up in our own private world, lost in our own thoughts. I counted the minutes like a ticking time bomb. My head spun as the temperature rose inside the club. The music pounded in my ears. Was it getting louder?
A soft breeze tickled the back of my neck. Footsteps approached from behind, snapping me out my daze. The doorman leaned over me, his breath warm and reeking with the cloying scent of rum and opium. “She will see you now.”
Chaos and Seven jumped to their feet, ready to escort me to my next ceremony.
“No. Just Arya,” the man said without taking his eyes off of me.
Chaos hovered over him. “Do you take me for a fool? There’s no way I’m letting her go anywhere alone with you.”
He raised his chin, defiantly. “It’s not up for debate.”
“I don’t trust you,” Chaos snapped.
“You don’t have to. But if she wants to awaken her magic, she will need to come alone.” He tilted his head to the side, a little too casually, as he waited for my answer.
My vision was a bit fuzzy, and my head buzzed from the drinks, but it was clear that Basil’s man was not going to take no for an answer. “It’s fine. I will do as she asks.”
Seven gave me a nod and turned back toward his drink, but Chaos was seething. He pulled me in close, coiling a strong arm around my waist. “If anything happens to you, I will tear this place apart.”
I touched his cheek. “I know. Don’t worry, they aren’t going to hurt me.” I gave his hand a light squeeze and he released me.
As I followed the man up the spiral staircase around the redwood tree, a sinking feeling started in the pit of my stomach. “You know one of the men I’m with is a god. If you are walking me into a trap…you don’t know what he’s capable of.”
“Oh yes we do. That’s why we have them.” He looked up toward the ceiling.
Their glowing eyes peered out above their pointy beaks, gazes fixated on the bar below. My heart caught in my throat. Harpies.
We climbed past twisting branches and slithering vines until we reached a small square platform leading to a rope bridge. It swung back and forth gently, but with enough force to make me nervous. I followed the man across, careful of my footing as I took each step. I gripped the sides of the rope so tight it burned my palms as it rubbed against my flesh. The doorman glided across with ease.
T
he presence of the harpies only added to my apprehension. Now I had to worry about more than just my own safety. A surge of adrenaline coursed through me as I gritted my teeth. They should be guarding the gates of Elysium, not parading around as hired hands for the Dryads. This act of aggression was just a small taste of what Basil was like. If anything happened to Chaos, I would tear this place apart myself.
The man watched me, amused. “The god you speak of, he is more than just a friend, is he not?”
It was impossible to hide anything from witches. A gnawing ache burned in my gut. Magic always found a way to reveal the truth. I averted my gaze, willing it to stop. “I’m not sure I know what you mean.
“I’m sure you do. Who could blame you? He is a sight for sore eyes. Absolutely intoxicating.” His lips quivered as he inhaled deeply.
I kept my head down as we walked, begging my pulse to slow. The last thing I needed was for all of this to get even more complicated. If Basil knew about me and Chaos...if any of the coven leaders were to find out… Pull it together, Arya.
“Every witch has to have a little fun now and then, right?” Just breathe. Make him think you don’t care.
We came to a stop outside a large steel door, which seemed a little out of place amongst all the wood and glass.
The man’s snarky grin faded. “A word of advice—hold her interest. Basil is most dangerous and unforgiving when she’s bored.”
I swallowed hard as he shoved me inside Basil’s chambers. My heart raced at the sight of her. She had long dark silky hair and tanned golden skin, breathtaking as she sat on her throne of pillows in the center of the torchlit room. Her almond shaped eyes were lined thick with black kohl. It sped across her lash line sweeping up to a fine point that ended in a cluster of tear-shaped ruby jewels. Surrounded by two attendants, she resembled royalty as one rubbed her shoulders while the other massaged her feet.
I suddenly felt out of place. So plain and simple next to her. “Thank you for seeing me,” I stammered.
Basil grinned wide, revealing perfectly white teeth. “Come, sit by me. Tell me all about your powers.” Her voice was sweet, high-pitched like tiny bells.
I shuffled over, uneasy. Scents of rose and jasmine wafted through my nose as I plopped down on the pile of pillows across from her. A tray of brightly colored vials was placed between us by a third attendant, who appeared out of nowhere, her head cloaked and lowered.
I fidgeted absentmindedly with the edge of one of the pillows. “Well, I still don’t know much about it. I’m learning. I’ve awakened all of the elements except for earth. That’s why I’m here. I need your help.”
Something stirred in her eyes, a flicker of excitement. “I see. But no Elemental witch can control all four elements unless they are the Aether. You must be Gaia’s daughter. The one who everyone wants.”
A lump formed in my throat. She was the first coven leader to take aim at me. “That’s why I need all of my magic. So I can protect myself and save the ancestors from Purgatory.”
Basil picked up the blue vial and poured it into a shot glass. “Drink.”
My stomach lurched. I was already pretty buzzed from the absinthe. “I’d prefer not to, if you don’t mind.”
“I do mind.” She nodded at the third attendant, who in one swift move, yanked my head back, pulling a fist full of my hair tight into her palm. Her other hand pressed the tip of a dagger into the base of my throat. My heart raced as panic set in.
Basil tapped her long, jeweled nails against the vial. “I make the rules here. You will do as I say, or my gravedigger will slit your throat. Do you understand?”
The one she called gravedigger pressed the dagger further into my flesh. Tiny droplets of blood dripped down my chest. I bit the inside of my cheek in my attempt to gasp for air. “Please…let me go…I understand.”
She yanked my head further back, forcing me to look at her, staring down through two black holes where her eyes should have been. My vision started to blur as bile rose in my throat. “Pl—please.”
Basil snapped her fingers. “That’s enough. Sit her up.”
The gravedigger released her hold on my hair and pushed me forward. I hunched over, choking on my own saliva. Clutching my neck, warm blood oozed out between my fingers.
Basil threw a silk handkerchief at me. “Clean yourself up.”
With trembling hands, I carefully wrapped the cloth around my neck. Basil shot me an expectant glare, her arms crossed. Not wanting to piss her off any further, I picked up the shot glass and raised it to my lips, my hands shaking. I prayed that I wouldn’t spill a single drop.
As the liquid trickled down my throat, I braced myself for some sort of sensation to accompany it. But other than the stinging flesh from where the knife had been, I didn’t feel any different.
Basil held out her hand, feigning boredom as she admired the jewels adorning her nails. “Did you think I was going to poison you?”
I was too afraid to speak, or move, or even breathe. Too afraid I’d say the wrong thing. But her eyes darkened at my silence. I shook my head. “No, of course not. I apologize if I offended you.”
Basil licked her lips, the sparkle returning to her eyes. “Good. Have another.” This time she poured from the red vial.
Without hesitating, I drank it down. The essence of cherries and clove swirled against my tongue. She then poured from a clear vial, notes of licorice, eucalyptus, and ash. Still, I didn’t feel any different. I didn’t even feel drunk.
“Last one. Drink this and the ritual begins.” My heart raced as she poured me a glass from the green vial. And then it dawned on me, hitting me like a slap in the face. I was drinking the elements.
I hesitated for only a moment, and she nodded at the gravedigger again. Before that vile creature could get her hands on me, I knocked back the green liquid in one swoop.
Basil threw up a hand and smiled. “Very good, Arya. Now take a deep breath and let the earth magic fill you.”
I did as she said, but with each breath my chest tightened, my lungs shrinking. Branches and vines wound up out of the floor, encircling me and pulling me down. They curved around my limbs like snakes, suffocating my skin. The bark scratched against me, sharp like razors. I cried out.
Basil leapt to my side. She whispered in my ear, “Don’t fight it. Let it become you. Merge with it.”
I squirmed in its grip, desperate to break free. The vines climbed up around me, twisting and squeezing. Each time it flexed around me, my throat tightened, my chest ached. “I—I can’t breathe…make it stop.”
“Stop fighting it. Do you want to die, Arya? It will kill you if you don’t let it in.” She shook my shoulder, digging her fingernails into my flesh.
I closed my eyes and tried to exhale slowly out. Relax, Arya. My pulse was slowing as I turned my attention to my breath. In and out. Nice and easy. A warmth began to radiate inside of me as I focused my thoughts inward. Don’t think about the pain.
I imagined the thorny vines as silken feathers, soft and light. I imagined them tickling my skin. I called to the water, picturing waves crashing against a sunlit shore, remembered the cool ripples lapping against my bare flesh in the Fairy Pools. The vines began to loosen. It was working. They began to slither and glide across me, soft and gentle like a lover’s touch.
I opened my eyes and looked down to see myself covered in fresh soil. Branches extended out from my palms, entwining and weaving out of my fingertips. I felt rooted, grounded as the scent of wood was all around me.
I let out a gasp. “I did it.”
Basil sat back, a smug look on her face. “You mean, we did it. I will let you know what I want in return after you get cleaned up.”
I chewed on my lip. I hadn’t even thought about what I would owe her. My heart sank. She was the last witch on the planet I wanted to be indebted to. I should have asked her to begin with, but everything happened so fast. It was obvious to me now that she had intended for it to be that way.
I c
lenched my fists to keep them from shaking. “What could I possibly give you that you don’t already have?”
She leaned forward, smiling sweetly. “It’s not about what you can give, but what you can do for me. I’ll let you know what I decide.”
First Shade, and now Basil. All these promises were getting harder and harder to keep. I was supposed to be the one uniting them, leading them. Instead, they were taking advantage of me. Using me for their own gains. Basil was the worst of the them. There was no telling what sadistic thing she would demand me to do.
I sank into the cool tub of perfumed water. Basil’s attendants were stationed on either side of me, but thank Apollo, the gravedigger was nowhere in sight. They took turns—while one would pour different colored elixirs into the bathwater, another would apply soothing ointments to my cuts and bruises.
Then they eased me out of the tub with and onto a pile of pillows. My muscles ached from fighting the branches, but the pain was beginning to subside. I lay back and closed my eyes, allowing them to dab at my wounds with more creams and oils. One of the women massaged my head, the spot where the gravedigger had yanked, taking with it all the memories of the pain. I was starting to realize why Basil kept these women with her. There was magic in their touch. Healing magic.
After they had gone, I nestled deep into the pillows, resting for what seemed like an eternity, drifting in and out of peaceful sleep. I’d almost fallen into a dream when the chamber door swung open.
Basil sauntered in, that knowing look of amusement in her eyes. She dangled a jeweled dagger between her fingers, tossing it back and forth between her palms like a toy. “I have decided what you are going to do for me.”
Seventeen
Basil loomed over me, the vein in her neck throbbing. “I want you to destroy the Luminaries and bring Shade to me.”
Smoke and Ritual (Beautiful Dark Beasts Book 1) Page 15
