by Eliza Tilton
A picture of a man with a diagram—lines all over the body and words I couldn’t read scribbled along the edges.
Another dead end.
After putting the scroll back, I reached to one of the cubes near the bottom and bumped the shelf. Another scroll fell out and rolled across the floor.
Where did you come from? Black ink covered the parchment from top to bottom. A list of materials scrawled across the top, some I could decipher. Arrows pointed to different steps, starting from the list of ingredients to a picture of a boar and a man with a picture of a teardrop jewel placed between the man and the boar. I traced my finger over the drawing of the gem. Beautiful lines weaved around it, enclosing it like petals on a flower.
Very pretty, but not what I need.
I spent the next few moments searching different scrolls, remembering to put them back the same way I found them, growing frustrated and bored.
“There’s nothing here.”
In the three times I had visited the lab, I learned little, except Romulus owned an extensive gem collection and made a ton of awful-smelling tonics. I walked by the gem wall, giving it one last look before leaving.
When I reached the trap door out, I noticed the birds weren’t chirping. Gripping the sides, I heaved myself out, shut the door, and moved sand back over the hiding spot.
Voices drifted from outside, too far to hear, but close enough I would be caught if I didn’t hurry. The hut had one window, and I rushed toward it, pulling myself over the ledge and plopping onto the sand outside, just as the two voices became very clear.
“We should test the binding. Analyze the results, hmmm?”
“It wouldn’t matter. I’m half human. The results would be flawed.”
I held my breath and leaned against the outside wall of the hut, listening to Lucino and Romulus. If The Creator watched over me, they would enter the trap door and never know I was here.
“Not flawed. They would be accurate for a pure Reptilian and human. At least we would know of any possible … What? Why are you sniffing the air?”
“Do you smell roses?”
“Hmpf. Yes. You stink of the flower.”
I closed my eyes as my heart wanted to burst from my chest and give me away. If Lucino could smell me, he might be able to hear me.
Don’t move. Don’t breathe. Just sit. They’ll go away.
“No, it’s something else… Does anyone visit the island?”
“We have no time for your questions,” Romulus grumbled. “There are pressing matters we must discuss, and quickly.”
“Very well.”
The trap door thudded against the ground, and their steps drifted farther away until I couldn’t hear them.
Run.
I forced myself from my hiding spot and ran to the tree where my dress hung. I grabbed it, not bothering to put it on, and sprinted to Hadda, barely slowing when I reached her.
“Go, to our beach, quickly.” I threw myself on to her back, gripping my dress tightly in one hand. Once we were in the sky, I glanced back at the island, fearful Lucino would catch on and know I was there—but the island sat quiet, Lucino nowhere in sight.
Chapter Four
Lucino
The conversation with Jeslyn plagued my mind, forcing me to imagine her scent everywhere. I knew the truth would upset her, but I could shield her from only so much. I cared for her in a way I could not explain with theory or facts. Humans called the emotion love, and the more I learned about humanity, the more I understood how intense and dangerous emotions could be.
Romulus disappeared into another corridor, separate from the lab. Iron cages aligned the sides of the room—some containing rather large animals, others with only an empty bowl and rags inside.
“I thought you had something important to tell me?” Romulus carried a large satchel over his shoulder and threw two apples in to a nearby cage. “If I don’t attend to the subjects, they will cry and interrupt my research.”
An animal covered in red and white fur with big pointy ears, and standing on two limbs, stuck his hand out of the cage. Romulus handed the creature an orange colored fruit.
“What animal is this?” I crouched by the cage. The creature nibbled on the fruit, ignoring my presence. Its whiskers stuck out like a cat and wiggled as he ate.
“Test subject 453.”
I shook my head. “Splendid. Mind explaining what the subject is?”
Romulus threw a large piece of meat into another cage, and rushed past as the beast inside growled and slammed the bars. “A mix of a fox and a monkey. I was able to splice the genes together.”
Curious, I stuck my hand in the cage. The animal vanished into mist then re-appeared at the back. “Since when can monkeys and foxes teleport?”
“Side effect from the andromeda potion.”
“Can it do anything else?” I waved my fingers, like I had seen Jeslyn do to Hadda when she wanted her to come. The creature titled its head then waddled forward, sniffing the air. Its big, bushy, white tail wagged behind him.
“Yes, when it’s angry it can shoot a fireball.”
Jeslyn had spoken about pets. This was a pet I could enjoy. “I’m taking this one,” I said.
“A feisty creature that is trouble.” Romulus finished feeding the rest of his “subjects” and walked back to me, frowning at my new pet.
I unlocked the cage. “You will come with me now, but you’ll need a name. I can’t very well call you subject 453.”
In a blink, the creature disappeared and reappeared behind me, still holding the rest of his fruit.
“If he could teleport out. Why hasn’t he?” I asked.
“Magic bars, hmpf.” Romulus handed another orange fruit to the creature. “I’m going into the lab. If you’re ready, we need to discuss the gate and the status of your clone.”
“You will be called, Fex,” I said, pointing to the animal, “named after the wild mammals back home who roam the vicious wasteland.”
Fex blinked and took two steps forward. I stayed in a crouched position waiting for him to come closer. “I said I would not hurt you. Stay with me, and you will have all the orange fruit you desire.”
It stood on its two back legs, watching me, then vanished, this time re-appearing on my shoulder where it nibbled its fruit.
I left the cages and went in to the lab. Romulus stood over an unscrolled parchment, mumbling to himself.
“What’s that?” I leaned over trying to read the document.
He glanced up, scrunching his bulbous nose at me. “You allow it to sit on you?”
I rubbed a finger behind Fex’s furry ear. He purred, then looked at Romulus and hissed, showing off a row of very impressive fangs.
“What are we looking at, Romulus?” If I didn’t keep us on track, he would rant about the notion of pets and give me a long-winded explanation about the dangers of test subjects, and one I could care less to hear.
“While the gate is destroyed,” he said, “your father may have found an alternate route, here.” He pointed to a location on the map, far from the safety of the Royal Red City.
Communications with Mirth had been limited. Due to our telepathic bloodline connection, I had been able to speak with my parents whenever necessary. Romulus created a scrying bowl that allowed him to communicate with our world, but the message sometimes garbled and would only last moments.
“He mentioned the possibility of another gate,” I said, “but the wastelands are treacherous and the storms make it almost impossible to travel. Even the animals have moved closer to the city.”
Glancing at Fex, I thought of those wild animals leaving their homes to find sanctuary in our city and others. We could never bring all of them through the gate. We could only try to save pairs in hope they would thrive in this new world.
“All that has changed due to the h
uman they found,” said Romulus.
“A human?” Humans were forbidden in our world, even for testing purposes. “Where?”
“By the temple. He’s a human, you know.”
Derrick. “He survived?”
Romulus nodded. “Not only survived: the red crystals in his skin protect him from Mirth’s magic, even climate.”
“Impossible.”
“Not impossible.” Romulus walked over to the wall housing various rocks, gems and minerals and removed a crystal case. Inside, red stones sparkled. “We know the blood crystals found here deter our magical abilities and weaken us. We never brought them through the gate to see how they would interact with our world.”
If Derrick could find the gate, there was a chance the rest of our people could be saved. “He’ll never help us.”
“You underestimate his feelings for the girl.”
Anger, hot and furious, boiled in my chest. Fex teleported to the other side of the room. “He will not have her.”
“Hmpf. What he wants is irrelevant. Your father has agreed to aid him and allow him safe passage, there, and when he returns, in exchange for his assistance with finding the gate.”
Jeslyn would be pleased to know her friend had survived, but I was reluctant to share the news. “If he finds it, it is a good thing. I will deal with him once he’s here.”
“If he finds the gate, we must prepare for the simulacrum to pass through.”
“I still cannot believe how easily it tricked you.” I let out an angry breath, remembering Romulus’ ridiculous excuse that my clone had charmed the guards into stealing the phylactery gem that controlled him.
“I warned you of the danger. He is you!” Romulus pointed a finger at me.
“You should have destroyed the gem as soon as he entered the battle!” I glared at Romulus as I gripped the sides of the table, denting it. “And now because of your foolishness, everything is at risk!” My voice rose, but Romulus met my angered gaze. “The only reason he has not moved on my family is because they know I am not in Mirth!”
I breathed in trying to calm myself. The clone could cause multiple problems, and Jeslyn… Jeslyn would be in the most danger. “If the gate is opened, how do we kill it without the phylactery?”
“We need to imprison it, until I can locate the phylactery which I cannot do without a sample of his blood. His body can be killed, but he will only find another host, and shift from body to body until he claims yours.”
“Very well. Start crafting a cage for my clone. I’ll inform my father of the danger, and as soon as they find the gate, he will alert us.”
Romulus edged away from the table, taking the map of our world and rolling it back up.
“And Romulus… you are certain the clone is not here? It didn’t come through the gate before it was destroyed?”
“If it had, you would already be dead.”
Chapter Five
Jeslyn
Sunlight warmed my cheeks, welcoming me to the day, and tickling me awake. I grasped the fluffy pillow, rolled to my side away from the light, and bumped into something hard.
I opened my eyes to Lucino leaning on his elbow, sprawled out on the bed beside me.
“Good morning,” he purred.
“Good morning.” I yawned and stretched out my arms. “What are you doing here?” He rarely visited me before breakfast. “Everything okay?”
The light beaming in from the open window sparkled his eyes. “I want you to meet someone.”
I pulled the blanket around me and sat up. “Now?”
He grinned. “Fex, show yourself.”
A fox appeared out of the air and on the bed in front of Lucino, but it was different from a fox. I had never seen a fox stand on two legs, or one with ears so big.
“He’s adorable!” I held out my hand and the fox scrambled over, allowing me to touch his furry red coat. “Where did you find him?”
“Rescued him from Romulus.”
I gently pulled Fex closer until he allowed me to cuddle him and rub his head. “I can only imagine what that old scientist has done to you.”
Fex cooed and tugged at the string hanging from the neckline of my slip. I patted his head, admiring the white patch running across his back and under his belly. “And the teleporting trick?”
“One of his many talents, courtesy of Romulus’ testing.”
“Poor thing.”
Lucino pulled an orange fruit out of his pocket and Fex snatched it out of his hand. “Would you mind watching him today? I have to meet Julian, and I’m afraid Fex isn’t used to people yet.”
“I’d be delighted.” I smiled and rubbed behind Fex’s ear.
“Very good.” Lucino leaned over and kissed my cheek. “He also spits fire when he’s mad, so keep him away from Willis.”
“Will you be gone long?” I moved Fex aside, wanting nothing between Lucino and I. “I want to talk more about yesterday.”
“I’ll be busy until supper.”
I frowned and tried to hide my disappointment. After I returned from the island, I thought more of our conversation, and really wanted to understand the binding process.
“I could stay for a few moments.” He reached over and lifted my chin with his fingers.
“If you stay, I don’t think I would let you leave.”
Wind blew in from the window, whipping my hair in front of my face. Lucino pulled it back, his gaze sending a shudder through my body. “Yes. I don’t think I would.” Another kiss on my cheek, and he bumped his forehead to mine as he slid his hand across my face and through my hair. “Tonight, I’m yours. Whatever you want to do.”
“Can we go to the grotto?”
A smile pulled at his lips. “I will have it arranged.”
Giddiness fluttered in my chest at the thought of us spending a magical night at the most magical place in Daath. “Till tonight.”
Lucino kissed me once more, careful not to kiss me too deeply. Anything more than a quick brush of the lips, and neither of us would leave this room. Though we had yet to do anything more than kiss, the desire remained, and the closer our wedding day came, the harder I found it to control myself.
In one year’s time, I had been kidnapped, rescued, shipwrecked, almost killed, and now I was going to marry the golden-haired boy who started it all. I laid back against the pillow, smiling at the craziness of my life. While Father couldn’t leave the farm just yet, Mother and Calli were already on their way here. I wished Avikar could be here for the wedding, but even if things were different, he would never attend. His hatred for Lucino would only end in the two fighting. I couldn’t let that happen. I loved Lucino, but Avikar was my brother. My big brother who fought his way to Daath to save me, and lost so much because of it. I would never allow Lucino to harm him, regardless of the reason.
Fex circled around the bed and nuzzled against my side, his bushy tail curling around him. I sighed, wanting to relax in bed all day instead of talking about flowers and desserts, what color banners we should hang in the village square….
Someone knocked at the door, forcing me to get up.
“Come in,” I said as I grabbed the robe from my side table and slipped it on.
“Morning!” Gwen walked in carrying a tray of food. The buttery smell of the rolls made my stomach grumble. “I ran in to Madara on the way up.” She placed the tray on the corner table and I eagerly rushed to grab a bite.
“What is that?” Gwen squealed and smiled at Fex who snored on the bed. His whiskers twitched at her voice.
“His name is Fex. We’re babysitting him today.”
“He’s so cute!”
Gwen grabbed a roll and plopped on the chaise beside the table. “What’s our grand agenda?”
“Wedding stuff.”
She bit into the roll. “Aren’t we done yet?”
I wished my mother would arrive soon to help.
“Have you seen Jezebel this morning?” I needed to talk to her about the binding ritual. There was no way I could sneak that past her, and I didn’t want an uprising in my ladies.
“No, but I did see Julian. The servants weren’t kidding. He is… magnificent.” She flicked her hand up in the air as she drawled out the word.
“Yes. He’s very handsome.” We giggled and I shoved the roll in my mouth before I said anything more.
“Even Jezebel couldn’t say no to him,” Gwen said with a full mouth. “We need to arrange a meet.”
Fex appeared on the tray and grabbed one of the rolls.
Gwen jumped back, eyes wide. “Did he just?”
I nodded. “He’s a very clever fox.”
Fex turned the roll over in his hands, brought it to his nose, and sniffed it.
“I want one.” Gwen leaned closer, her face alight with intrigue.
“He’s the only one of his kind.”
It was sad to think this special creature could never find a mate, or anyone like him. I thought of Hadda, all alone, never being around other birds like her. It would break my heart to take her back to her island. I don’t know if she would even stay, but I had to give her the choice.
When I finished eating, I went to the wardrobe to put on a dress. My wedding gown hung on the rack to the side. Six more days.
“You’re going to be the most beautiful bride.” Gwen came up behind me and squeezed my shoulders. “Are you nervous?”
“Very.” And I was. Not to spend my life with Lucino, but about the binding ceremony. What kind of children we would have—a topic neither of us had discussed. The more I thought of all the uncertainty surrounding our future, the more I desperately needed my mother.
