The Fading Dusk

by Melissa Giorgio

  “It’s too hot!” I laughed, pushing them away.

  “I’m covering you for my sake, not yours!” He proved his point by kissing me; it was sweet and tasted like whatever had been in his glass. After a few dizzying moments, Leonid pulled away, the corner of his mouth curling up. “I’m glad you didn’t choose a fancy dress with all those layers. It covers up entirely too much.”

  I ran a hand through my curls, trying in vain to calm my beating heart. “Maybe I should have, to prevent you from ravishing me on the spot.”

  He let out a loud laugh, making my heart sing. “Lark, you could wear a dirty old sack and I’d still want to ravish you.” His face went red and he held up his hands, shaking his head. “That’s not what I meant!”

  I snorted. “Leonid, that’s exactly what you meant.”

  He dropped his head sheepishly. “You’re right.” Peeking at me through his thick lashes, he said, “I’ll behave. Somewhat.”

  We kissed again and then settled down on the rugs, Leonid’s hand tracing lazy patterns on my bare thigh as we talked. His touch was so distracting, I found it hard to remember my own name. Luckily, Leonid did most of the talking, telling me about his brother, thirteen-year-old Edward, and his sister, eight-year-old Harlin. His siblings were the only reason Leonid visited his childhood home. Apparently Edward idolized his big brother and wanted to join the army as well, but as the true heir to the Ashton estate, he would never be allowed to. “And Harlin thinks she’s going to marry me someday,” Leonid said with a soft chuckle. “I’m hoping she’ll grow out of that.”

  “Hmm, I have competition,” I murmured. “First Vernen, and now your sister…” Belatedly, I wondered if I should have brought up Vernen’s name when the wound was still so raw. And did Leonid even know of Vernen’s feelings for him? I studied his face, watching for a reaction, and Leonid surprised me by smiling softly.

  “He was willing to share me with Harlin, and I’m sure he would have been willing to share me with you,” he said.

  “Did you know?” I asked.

  “That he likes—liked me that way?” Leonid stuttered over the past tense, pain flickering across his face. “Yes, I did.”

  “Why didn’t you say anything?”

  “Because I loved him like a brother,” he said softly. “And I didn’t want to hurt him by telling him that.”

  “You wouldn’t have.” I shook my head. “The only way you would have hurt him was by telling him he disgusted you.”

  Leonid stared off into the distance and I wondered what he was seeing. “I wish I’d known that. I wish I could have told him how much he means to me before he…”

  I placed a hand on Leonid’s arm. “He knew.” Leonid shot me a grateful look, and silence settled over us, punctuated by the crackling flames. I shifted closer to him. “How did the two of you meet?”

  “We met the day I joined the army,” he said. “It was his first day, too. I was fifteen, he, sixteen. For some reason, we took one look at each other and decided to be friends. It’s strange how things like that happen, don’t you think?”

  “Mmm,” I agreed. If someone had told me two weeks ago that I would be lying on a pile of rugs in a mansion in Rise next to a handsome, surly captain, I would have laughed. And yet…

  “Did you know I was the one who taught him how to throw knives?”

  “No, I didn’t.”

  “And he taught me how to swordfight, but I’m not very good at it.” Leonid smiled a boyish grin, making my heart skip a beat. “I prefer knives and fists.”

  “I noticed. Whenever you’re protecting my honor, you beat someone’s face in.”

  His hand drifted a little higher on my thigh and I gasped. Leonid lowered his head, our lips close but not touching. “Who’s going to protect you from me, Lark?” I was so happy he was back to using the nickname I had despised, but had now grown to love. Each time he said it, my heart swelled.

  “No one,” I said, a little breathless. “If anyone tries to interfere, I’ll be the one punching their face in.”

  He chuckled, brushing his lips against mine. Before the kiss could deepen, he broke away. “I have to give you something.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out my necklace. “And this time I won’t take it back, I promise.”

  I touched the lark hesitantly, worried it would be different, now that I knew what had been hiding inside. But as the familiar texture glided over my fingertips, I smiled wistfully, thinking of Mother. I lifted my hair up so Leonid could fasten the chain around my neck, and he let his fingers momentarily linger against my skin, making me shiver. With the reassuring weight of the lark pressing against my chest, tears suddenly sprang into my eyes. I clutched the bird tightly in my fist, whispering, “Thank you.”

  “The Essence is in there,” he said softly. “Tomorrow, when we face Bantheir together, we’ll use it to destroy him.”

  “How?” We had been avoiding the topic all evening, but now I reached forward to grasp his hands in mine. “Leonid, how are we supposed to win against him? You saw what he was capable of. And we know he won’t stop until he has what he wants. The Essence and…” I bit my lip. “Me.”

  His expression turned fierce. “That’s not going to happen.”

  “Leonid—”

  “No, Lark. It was bad enough racing back to the prison, thinking I was going to find you dead,” Leonid said, his voice catching. “I’m not going through something like that again.” He leaned forward to place a kiss against my temple. I shut my eyes, breathing in the smell of soap that still clung to his hair. “I can’t lose you, too…”

  It was so unfair. Any chance of happiness we might have, Bantheir was set to destroy it tomorrow. This moment, right now, might be our last good moment together. Leonid would sacrifice his life for mine, I knew that without a doubt. How could I let that happen?

  My hand reached up to clutch the necklace around my neck. I had a way of preventing it from happening, and I would be selfish not to try.

  “We should get some rest,” Leonid yawned, lying down on the rugs once more.

  I curled up next to him, resting my head next to his as I memorized every part of his face. “All right.” A piece of hair curled across his forehead; I reached over and smoothed it back, the way he liked it.

  Eyes closed, Leonid’s lips curled into a smile. “I need to tell you something.”

  My heart thumped madly in my chest. “Go ahead.” My voice, somehow, was steady.

  “I’m falling in love with you, Lark…” He let out a little sigh, his chest rising up and down steadily.

  A momentary flash of happiness washed over me, but it was quickly engulfed by sadness. What could have happened between us, if we didn’t have to worry about dying tomorrow? If we were just two people who’d met and fallen in love?

  I didn’t want to leave. I didn’t want to say goodbye and walk away. I could just shut my eyes and fall asleep listening to the sounds of his breathing—it was that simple. Instead, I whispered his name. When he didn’t respond, I leaned over and brushed my lips against his, feather-light. “I’m falling in love with you too, Leonid.” My voice was shaking, and I had to cover my mouth to prevent a sob from escaping.

  With my heart shattering in my chest, I rose and walked out, leaving Leonid behind.

  I SLIPPED INTO THE ADJOINING room and changed back into my borrowed sweater and pants before I crept to the front door. The house was silent, although I was certain the pounding of my heart would wake everyone.

  I knew what I was doing was insane, and yet I couldn’t stop myself.

  What choice did I have? No one else could die, no one.

  I made it to the front door without anyone stopping me. Taking a deep breath, my hand closed around the knob.

  “What are you doing?”

  I whirled around, managing to stifle a scream at the last moment. Aden emerged from the shadows like a ghost, frowning.

  “Aden, you scared me!”

  “You’re leaving, aren’t yo
u?” he asked. “You’re going to face Bantheir on your own.”

  “I have to.” I pressed my back against the door, turning the knob and pushing it open quietly. I took a backward step outside and Aden followed. “Aden—”

  “Do you really think you can win against him?”

  My hand automatically went to grab the lark around my neck. I had the Essence—I had a chance. A slim one, considering I didn’t know what the Essence did or how to use it, but it was a chance all the same. If it meant saving the others, then I had to take it. “You’re not going to stop me, Aden.”

  He shook his head. “I know that. But I also know if I let you go out there by yourself, the captain will kill me.” He paused. “He already wants to kill me, anyway.”

  I laughed, immediately covering my mouth, fearful I’d alerted the others. When the house remained silent, I let my hand drop. It was strange; the last time I’d been alone with Aden, I’d been terrified for my life. Now, standing a few feet apart from one another, his arm tied up in a sling and his eyes sad, I felt nothing but… pity.

  “You’d really go with me? You know what this means, what’ll most likely happen to me. To both of us.”

  “I know.” Aden looked determined. “I messed things up badly with you, Irina, and I want to fix my mistake. I want you to know how sorry I am for what I did.”

  I hugged myself, wishing I knew what to say. “Aden, you really scared me that night. I told you no, but you didn’t listen.”

  His gaze dropped to the floor, his voice a whisper. “I know. If you hate me for it, I understand. I hate myself for ruining whatever could have happened between us.”

  I no longer feared Aden, not when real monsters like Bantheir existed, but he had hurt me. “I don’t… hate you,” I said slowly. “But I need time. I don’t know if things will ever work out between us, if we can ever be friends, but if you’re willing to try…”

  “I am!” His eyes brightened. “Whatever it takes, Irina, I’ll do it.” Aden pushed past me to step outside. “And I’m going to start by helping you do whatever you need to do to stop Bantheir.”

  I sucked in a breath, honored that he was willing to sacrifice everything in order to win my forgiveness. He really does want to fix things, I thought with a sense of wonder as I shut the door softly behind me and took my first steps toward Bantheir.

  I expected to feel something when I crossed Parnaby’s wards, but nothing happened. I also thought Bantheir would be waiting to attack the moment I showed my face, but the street was deserted.

  “Where to?” Aden whispered.

  I pictured the map of Dusk in my mind. The five points made a pentacle; each point was important, but I didn’t think Bantheir would revisit any of those sites for the final stage of the spell. No, it would have to be somewhere different, somewhere significant…

  My feet began carrying me forward, heading southwest toward the center of the star, and the center of Dusk. I couldn’t explain why I went that way and was grateful Aden didn’t expect me to. While I was certain the manipulation spell had been completely severed, I still felt a strange pull tugging me to where I knew, without a doubt, Bantheir waited.

  How ironic. My final destination was the site of our last street performance together. Only a little over two weeks ago, I’d gathered coins in a hat until the burly man had threatened me. Bantheir had stood a few feet away, chatting with that young couple, all the while imagining slitting their throats. I trembled, not with fright, but rage. I hated feeling so used, so betrayed. When had he stopped caring for me? Had he ever cared? Or had he looked at the little girl who stumbled into his arms thirteen years ago and saw a means to immortality?

  My hands clenched into fists. I’d be damned if I let him succeed today.

  “You’ve come at last, my pet.” His voice, velvety smooth, broke through the silence. I whirled around, squinting in the predawn darkness. I didn’t have to look too hard; Bantheir emerged, arms outstretched as if to embrace me. His shoulder was stained with a round patch of dried blood from where Leonid had hit him, and I felt a flash of satisfaction. Good. I hoped it hurt. “Sweet Irina, I knew you would come.”

  I’m sure you did. I glared at Bantheir as I felt the pull to go to him wash over me. The bastard—he was trying to manipulate me again! My hands found the bandage on my leg and I jabbed a finger at my wound, stifling a cry. Aden was at my side in a flash. “Irina, what is it?” He held out an arm for support and I leaned against him gratefully.

  “He’s trying to make me go to him,” I said through gritted teeth. “Aden, you should leave.”

  Aden smiled; it was strained, but it was a smile nonetheless. “I already told you, I’m not going to let you do this alone.”

  “Irina, come here,” Bantheir snapped, showing signs of impatience. The spell on me increased, and I involuntarily took a step forward.

  “Aden, please,” I begged. “I can’t let anyone else die. That’s why I snuck out; no one else should die for me.”

  “And you shouldn’t die either, Irina.” Aden’s uninjured hand went to his boot and he pulled out a knife that looked suspiciously like one of Leonid’s. He caught my gaze and smiled wider. “Yes, I stole it. Don’t tell the captain.”

  “I leave you for two weeks and you’ve amassed yourself a whole slew of male admirers,” Bantheir said, watching the exchange between me and Aden. “Naughty Irina.”

  Aden’s grip on his knife was steady. “Be quiet, magician.”

  “Ooh, the little boy is making threats now.”

  Something flashed in Aden’s eye and before I could stop him, he charged forward, shouting, “I said be quiet!”

  “Aden, no!” The fool! Was he trying to prove himself to me? Or atone for what he’d done? I just said I hadn’t wanted anyone else to die!

  Eyes narrowed, Bantheir waved a hand and Aden faltered mid-step, dropping his knife to grab his head with his good hand. Shouting in pain, his body convulsed, his eyes wide with panic. He fell to his knees.

  “Aden!” I ran over and dropped to the ground, putting my hands on his shoulders to steady him. Blood dripped from his nose as he gazed unseeingly at me. I looked over my shoulder and shouted to Bantheir, “Stop it!”

  “All you have to do is give me the Essence,” he said over Aden’s shouts, “and I’ll stop.”

  “Irina… don’t!” Aden let out another cry, half shriek, half groan, and his eyes rolled back in his head. Blood continued to spurt from his nose, staining Aden, staining me. I tightened my hold on his shoulders as I desperately tried to figure out what to do.

  “Irina, the Essence,” Bantheir said.

  Tears blurred my eyes. I’d lost. Stupid! Why did I think for a second that I’d be able to stand up to Bantheir?

  Why did I want to fight Bantheir, anyway?

  An acid fear filled my mouth, nearly choking me. No, not again!

  Bantheir watched me, smiling triumphantly. He held out his hand palm up, open and waiting. I let go of Aden and my fingers reached up to undo the clasp on my necklace.

  “Irina, don’t!”

  There was a blur of motion from the ground. Somehow through the pain, Aden managed to snatch up his knife and fling it toward Bantheir, and we all watched in astonishment as it sunk into his leg. Howling, Bantheir fell to his knees, wrenching the knife out with one solid tug. Aden propped himself up on his elbows next to me. “Did I get him?”

  “You got him,” I confirmed, staring at the blond in shock.

  He grinned. “Good.” Then his eyes rolled back and he slumped over.

  “Aden!” I grabbed him before his head could hit the ground. Lowering him gently, I rolled him over while I checked to make sure he was still breathing. His body was coated in sweat, but his chest rose up and down steadily.

  “Irina, come here now!”

  I was jerked to my feet as his spell hit me full-on. As I took a few stumbling steps toward him, I tried to move my hands back to my wound to inflict more damage, but they were frozen at
my side. Helpless, I joined Bantheir, who reached up to snatch the necklace from my neck, breaking the chain in the process.

  Blood flowed freely from his leg wound, and he was breathing hard as he smashed the lark onto the ground, shattering it. “No!” I cried out, watching the last link to my mother destroyed in one simple, heartless movement. “How could you?”

  “Shut up,” he snarled, fishing the Essence out from the shards, “and prepare yourself to die for me, Irina.” He caught me in his ice-blue gaze, and I found myself nodding.

  My lips worked on their own accord. “Yes, Bantheir.”

  BANTHEIR BEGAN MUTTERING UNDER HIS breath. A dark shadow formed around his body, growing larger as his chanting increased in volume. I watched, sick to my stomach. Magic wasn’t supposed to kill, not anymore. The wars were over; those days behind us. Bantheir was playing with something forbidden, dark, frightening. There was a reason magic was banned: People abused the power that came with it.

  Magic of the past had nearly destroyed the world. I thought we had seen the last of it. Watching Bantheir cloak himself in shadows of dark magic, I curled my hands into fists, angry at myself for being so naïve.

  Whispering the final words of the spell, Bantheir ran one hand over the Essence. We waited.

  And waited.

  Bantheir frowned, poking the stone with his finger. An irritated look passed over his features, and he hurled the stone away with a shouted curse. I shrunk back in fear. “Where is it, Irina?” Bantheir demanded, raising a hand to strike me. “Where’s the Essence?!”

  “Were you looking for this?” I whirled around to see Leonid leaning casually against the wall, tossing a shiny, small object up and down. I felt a flood of panic. What’s he doing here? And why did he have the Essence?

  He switched it, I realized with a sense of dread. Leonid had somehow known that I would face Bantheir alone, so he’d switched it and followed me. Stupid Leonid, didn’t he know I was trying to protect him?