“You’re a traitor,” she hissed. “Have you no remorse for what you’ve done? Innocent people died because of you. Your own son could have died because of you.”
His face flushed, from anger or from the wine, she couldn’t tell. “You have no right! You are just as much at fault as I am.”
She drew back, stunned. “What do you mean?”
He jerked a finger toward her neck. She’d completely forgotten about the teardrop. “Haven’t you ever wondered where that thing came from, why your life has been turned upside down since the day it found you?”
She looked down, fingering the jewel thoughtfully. “It was a gift.” Or so I hope.
“It was a curse!” He laughed. “Make no mistake, girl. That thing chooses its masters, not the other way around. Gods.” He downed the rest of the ale and slung the bottle to the floor, where it shattered. “It has nearly cost you your life several times, yet you still treat it as if it were the grandest treasure in all of Eresea. And perhaps it is.” His voice trailed off, and she saw the lust reflected in his eyes as he stared at the gem. “Oh, it is very special indeed.”
She stiffened and twined the crystalline chain around her cold fingers. “I don’t understand.”
Orris took a step closer. “You’ve never wondered why creatures that couldn’t possibly exist now seek you out? Murdels, the Watcher in the Water?” He paused and lifted his eyes. “It calls to us, to anything bearing the touch of magic, good or dark. As long as you have it, you will not be safe.”
She chewed on her lip. Was it true? Could something so beautiful really be so deadly? She thought of the murdels and the water demon, of how the necklace had protected her from drowning and how it had scorched the murdel when it tried to take it. Yet it had not burned away the poison when the murdel’s dart pierced her skin. She remembered the dreams, how horrible and frightening they had been.
“Those weren’t dreams, were they?” she asked, staring at the gem. She peeked at it through her fingers. It did not glow this time. “They were warnings. From this?”
Orris grew eerily still. “What did you just say?”
“I’ve… had visions.”
“Don’t say another word!” screamed the dream voice.
He looked at her sharply, taking a step closer. “Visions? What have you seen?”
She shook her head, forming a fist around the gem. “I… I can’t tell you.”
He took another step forward, and the hunger returned to his eyes, which were slowly turning crimson. “What have you done, Lianora?”
“Nothing.” She trembled and pushed back against the wall.
His eyes flared. “I must know what you’ve seen!”
He lunged for her, fingers curved like talons. She rolled to the side as he slammed into the wall, swearing loudly as his head hit with a sickening crack. Terrified, she scrambled away from him so fast that she tumbled off the stone slab and landed hard on her knees and elbows. Slivers of pain shot through her legs and arms, but she hauled herself up. The moment she tried to stand, her knees shook, and she was once again on the ground. She had forgotten how weak her body was from fighting the river and malnourishment.
“Fight,” ordered the voice. “Run.”
The dream voice edged her on, and Lian began crawling toward the entrance. The rough floor of the cave scraped her palms and feet to pieces, but she barely noticed the pain over the fear in her heart.
Behind her, Orris did not stir. Perhaps he had been knocked out from the hit. Maybe she had a sliver of hope after all. She wanted so desperately in that instant to live, more so than anything she had ever wanted in her life.
Her breath quickened as she inched along. Sunlight poured from the mouth of the cave, spilling onto her fingertips. Suddenly, something seized her hair and jerked her hard backwards. She cried out as she was flung across the floor and into the stone slab. She slumped to the ground, her head and back throbbing fiercely. Something jolted through her; it felt like a piece of her was being ripped out. Her mouth opened in a silent scream as a stream of shadows was yanked from her throat. The shadows soared through the air and writhed down Orris’ open throat. His eyes rolled back, and he slumped forward for a few seconds before slowly rising and opening his eyes.
They were black.
“It is near impossible to kill a Dracor. We heal twice as fast as mortals.”
She groaned and blinked her eyes as he sauntered toward her. “I can’t believe my luck,” he said. There was something odd about his voice, almost as if there was another mingled with it. The effect was chilling, like two sets of vocal chords were being used at once. What was even spookier was that she recognized the voice.
That’s the dark voice I’ve heard in my head; the imposter. Did the spirit somehow transfer to him?
“The necklace. You must give it to me.” He held out his hand, but she shook her head.
“No,” she said, but part of her wanted to give it up. She was scared. She was tired of fighting, tired of running, but most of all, she was tired of all the bloodshed and loss. If giving over the necklace could somehow make things better, then why shouldn’t she?
“Because if you give it up, dear child, then Darkness has already won. You cannot let him have it, no matter what happens.”
But why? Why did it have to be her and not someone else?
Orris loomed in front of her, his hand twitching in excitement at his side. He licked his lips. “I cannot help myself, child,” he said, sounding more like himself. His eyes flickered back to life, but as soon as they did, they became dark and hollow again. “Give it to me,” hissed the imposter. “I must have it.”
He reached for her hand, where the necklace lay splayed between her fingers. The light faded as Orris leaned closer, blocking the light. She gritted her teeth as his breath drifted across her cheek and he pried her fingers loose.
He hissed, and her eyes flicked to the shadow that had suddenly appeared behind him.
A black saber was drawn at his throat.
Orris grinned and slowly turned around, not looking the least bit surprised to find Vishka standing behind him. He placed his hands in the air in surrender. “I knew who you were the moment you set foot in the palace. Sooner or later, I knew you’d come for me.”
Her mouth was set in a hard line. “How long have you known?” Vishka asked, glancing behind her.
What is she talking about? Lian looked from Vishka to Orris. A third figure stepped from behind Vishka.
Rowan.
He looked exhausted, with several nasty cuts along his brow, arms and legs. He stared at Orris evenly. “Since he left a man and came back a monster.”
Vishka’s fingers tightened around the hilt of the saber. “I kill all in allegiance to Darkness. Whose side do you stand with?”
Rowan didn’t answer.
Orris grinned. “I knew you wouldn’t let me down, son. Perhaps you weren’t a waste after all.”
The hurt registered across Rowan’s face.
“Answer me.” Vishka’s eyes hardened. “Do you side with him?”
Rowan shook his head. “No, never. Yes, I knew what he was, though I didn’t understand entirely what had happened. I was very young.” He looked at Vishka. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t know if I could trust you. I thought you were one of them.”
“In a way, I am,” she said, never taking her eyes off Orris. “We are abominations, you and I, selling our souls to postpone death.”
Orris laughed. “Two sides of the same coin, and yet we couldn’t be more different. What your master doesn’t know is that He’s already lost,” he crowed. “Now that I know what Lianora can do, who she is –”
“Why should I believe you?” Vishka hissed. “The word of a Dracor?”
“Don’t pretend you didn’t see it yourself!” he cried. “Look at her! The crystal is proof. She is the key to everything!”
Vishka’s eyes flickered toward Lian, who sat watching all of this with wide, frightened eyes.
Vishka’s gaze locked onto the gem, and something flashed across her face – fear, realization, euphoria – she could not tell.
“Get her out of here,” Vishka said. Rowan made to move around her when Orris laughed, low and sinister.
Rowan froze, the color washing from his skin. Orris bowed his head as his laughter rolled through the cave like distant thunder, sending chills along Lian’s arms.
“Did you think I would let her go so easily?” he said in his two voices. “Oh, no. Not now. Not ever.”
Orris’ voice morphed to a growl as he fell to his knees. His features became more animal-like as his muscles twitched and spasmed out of his control.
Vishka and Rowan realized what was happening at the same time.
“Run!” Rowan cried as Vishka yelled, “We must leave now!”
But it was already too late.
Orris was shifting into a Dracor.
CHAPTER 24Destiny
IT WAS MESMERIZING AND horrible at the same time.
Shadows whirled around Orris’ writhing form. Hisses and snarls spilled out of him as bulky black wings sprouted from his shoulder blades. They all watched, open mouthed, as his body lengthened and shifted into a slender feline form, but with sharper angles. His fingers and feet became oversized paws dripping with long, curved talons, and a long, razor-sharp beak sprouted from his mouth. Worse of all were his eyes; they burned a fiery orange, but they were still distinctly human.
She saw it; a slender shadow figure rose from Orris and sailed straight toward her. It slammed into her with the force of a thousand horses, and she reeled for a few seconds, feeling suddenly sick at her stomach.
No! Not again. Please, let this thing just go away!
Rowan grabbed Lian, oblivious to her inner turmoil. “We must leave. Now.” He pulled her to her feet, and no sooner had she stood did Vishka seize her other arm. “Climb onto my back,” she ordered.
Lian did as she was told, awkwardly hooking her ankles around Vishka’s waist. Then they were off, quick as a shadow, as they streaked into the sunlight with Rowan trailing behind. “Run faster!” Vishka called over her shoulder.
Rowan grunted behind them and then said something that made Lian blush. She dug her fingers into Vishka’s shoulders as she took a turn too sharp and they nearly careened off the edge of the narrow path. Dust kicked up behind them, and the incline steepened as they ran farther and farther down the spiraling path.
A great, terrible roar sounded above them. Lian gasped as Vishka plunged to the left when the path suddenly veered into a small clearing surrounded by red-leaved trees.
The beating of massive wings was directly above them now, and Lian shivered as Death kissed her back with each gust of wind.
“Down!” Vishka yelled, and they all slammed into the ground as the Dracor’s talons brushed the air where their heads had just been.
Lian toppled off as Vishka whirled and drew her saber, snarling as the Dracor arced above her, preparing to dive again.
Lian scrambled to a tree and clutched it with trembling fingers, wishing desperately that she had a bow.
Rowan ran to her and kneeled. “Are you all right?” he asked, placing a hand on her arm.
She nodded. “I’m fine,” she lied, hugging herself.
Rowan pulled her to him in a fierce, quick hug. “It will be all right. But if anything happens to us, you run. Accalia needs you.”
Without giving her time to reply, he grabbed a hefty, fallen tree branch and joined Vishka.
The Dracor swirled and ducked in the sky, toying with them like a predator dragging out the catch of its prey because it knows they have nowhere to go.
They were trapped.
It dived, and Vishka and Rowan swatted at it, but it rose back into the sky just as their weapons would have made contact.
Then it hurtled toward Rowan, talons stretched wide and beak parted for the kill. Vishka cried out to him, but he didn’t have time to move. He turned his head just as the Dracor’s talons pierced his flesh, digging deep into his back. Rowan screamed as it dragged him along the ground, finally tossing him to the side like a ragdoll. He crashed into a tree and fell to the ground.
“Rowan!” Lian wanted to go to him, and she would have had Vishka not seen her and shouted, “Don’t! You must not attract its attention!” The Dracor dove and snapped at Vishka, but she leapt out of the way, nicking it across the chest with her saber.
Across the glade, Rowan trembled and stumbled to his feet. His tunic was soaked through with blood, and his skin was the color of chalk.
The Dracor curved through the air and flew toward Vishka, not seeing Rowan. He picked up his branch and swung it hard into the Dracor’s mouth as it flew by. It fumbled for a second as a wing flapped clumsily through the dirt. Vishka ran forward and pierced its wing through with her saber, tearing a streak of blood through the mass of black feathers. The sound of ripping muscle and breaking bones trailed the metallic zing of her saber.
The Dracor wailed and rolled along the ground, righting itself on all fours and wheeling around to face them a few feet away. It snarled and growled at them, snapping its beak. It pawed the earth restlessly, shifting its weight back and forth as it studied them.
Rowan and Vishka braced themselves as it roared and charged, its broken wing trailing behind it.
Lian wrapped her fingers into knots around the chain of her necklace so tight they went numb.
Something slithered within her, and she felt the being smile. “They are going to die. Then you will truly be alone. Who will protect you then?”
Rowan raised the branch over his head, but the Dracor saw and swatted him out of the way. He flew several feet before landing. This time he lay still. Lian gritted her teeth and covered her ears as the being inside her laughed. “No!” she shouted. “Stop it!”
The being’s dark laughter grew.
Vishka’s eyes followed Rowan, her hair whipping around as a series of wild emotions crossed her flushed face. She blinked slowly, her face paling, and turned to the Dracor with rage in her eyes. She rushed forward to meet it, crying out as she did. The Dracor’s beak opened around her neck as the tip of her saber pierced its chest.
“See what you have cost your friends?” shouted the being. “You’re the reason they’ve all died!”
Lian closed her eyes. “Stop it right now!”
Something was burning her hands. She opened her eyes and cried out as blinding white light radiated from the crystal. Lian gasped and dropped it, but the crystal remained suspended in the air. It glowed brighter and brighter until the entire clearing was enveloped in a blinding white light.
There was a whoosh of sound, like time and space was closing in on itself, and then there was nothing.
Lian waited with her arms still shielding her eyes, listening intently. There was something gurgling nearby and a soft chirping in the distance, almost like crickets and birds. The snarls and growls of the Dracor were missing from the peaceful silence that enveloped her, which seemed much too quiet against the pounding of her heart.
Slowly, Lian lowered her arms and peeled her eyes open. What she saw took her breath away.
The clearing was gone, and the Dracor with it. Vishka was also observing the scenery, with her saber at the ready. The afternoon sun had been replaced by midnight sky. Stars twinkled above them. Lian had never seen so many stars in her life. The air was still, and it shimmered with the yellow glow of a hundred tiny fireflies.
They were at the edge of a great lake. Its waters were perfectly still, and a line of lilac trees grew along its border, forming a circle. A large statue of a lovely woman rose from the center of the lake. Moss and vines crept up her arms and legs, and small pink flowers blossomed along the vines. It was wild and beautiful.
Beyond the grove, Lian saw a tangle of vines and plants that might at one time have been a beautiful garden. It was clear the keeper had not tended it in many years.
“Where are we?” Lian asked.
Despi
te her tense posture, Vishka’s voice was calm. “Somewhere safe,” she said.
The lake was so peaceful and calm. Lian took a deep breath and collapsed onto the grass with a sigh, her nerves slowly easing. She knew she should be worried, or at least bewildered, at how they had suddenly appeared here, and yet she wasn’t. She felt an inner peace she had only tasted a handful of times throughout her life.
They were safe. She, Vishka, and –
Rowan.
Lian looked around but didn’t see him anywhere. He should be to her left, where he had fallen in the clearing, but there was only grass. He was gone.
Lian sat up too quickly, and stars fired before her eyes as she stumbled around, trying to find her footing. “Rowan’s gone!” she called to Vishka, who was suddenly at her side steadying her.
Vishka looked around and nodded. “So is the Dracor.”
Lian gaped at her. “Did you not hear me? I said Rowan’s gone. We have to find him! What if he’s still back in the clearing with the Dracor?”
Vishka’s face remained placid. “You are safe. That is all that matters.”
“Welcome, Asileans.”
The voice was a tenor, with a musical lilt to it. It had spoken from directly behind them.
Lian gritted her teeth as the imposter hissed at the sound of the voice and withdrew, tucking itself away so that she couldn’t even feel it anymore. The stomachache was gone.
Confused, frightened, and relieved, she turned to find a tall, slender man standing with his hands clasped in front of him. His gleaming hair was cropped short and white as the moon. A silver circlet with a blue gem sat on his brow. His skin was pale, as was his clothing, like he was made of ice and snow. But the expression on his young, handsome face was warm and welcoming.
Vishka drew Lian behind her. “Who are you?”
The man smiled. “I have come at the request of my queen. She wishes me to assure you that your trio will be safe here.”
“Wait,” Lian said, “You said trio. There are only two of us.”
Veiled Innocence (Book One, The Soul Cycle) Page 23
