by Eliza Tilton
Numbness filled my right arm, and my ears rang. I tried to roll over and get up.
“I’m going to kill you!” His shout muffled in my head.
I turned in time to avoid the killing blow, but at great cost.
One of his swords tore deep into my chest by the shoulder, tearing through muscle, pinning me to the floor, the pain so intense I lost my breath. A blood-curdling scream rose out of my throat and white dots filled my vision.
But I would not fall. I would not die here.
I would see Jeslyn again.
My clone crouched over me, wobbling, and blinking his eyes.
We were both badly injured, but only one of us could live.
He put his knee on my chest and reeled back for the killing blow. With no sword by my side, I ripped the metal shard out of my bicep and slashed it across his abdomen.
Blood erupted from my arm, and his gut, but warmth spread into my bicep. By some chance of wild fate, the shard still held its enchantment.
Howling, he stabbed downward at my face, but I shifted to evade the blow, and the tip broke against the stone. I got my hand up in time to grab his arm as he tried to push the blade down on an angle and cut my throat. My shoulder burned, but the shard from Soul Drinker had given me some strength back, the regenerating ability working its magic.
He tore the sword from my chest, causing my vision to blank. If Soul Drinker hadn’t begun to heal me, I would have fainted from the maneuver. With the shard still in my hand, I struck his side. Glorious waves of warmth seeped into me, tingling my body and mind.
My clone dropped his sword. I tore the shard loose and stabbed again. He dodged and jabbed two fingers into my shoulder, re-opening the almost healed wound. The clone hovered over me. Spit fell from his lips, landing in my eyes.
“Die,” he growled, pushing on the blades.
“Never,” I spat back.
Romulus appeared behind the clone and shoved a dagger into his back. He roared, and the pressure of the blades lessened as he spun to attack Romulus.
Renewed by the enchantment in my blade, I sprung to my feet and lunged at my clone. He grinned, and as I came forward, he spun out with the broken blade and stabbed me through the stomach. Still moving, I fell into Romulus’ embrace.
He had never meant to attack Romulus. It was a ploy….
“Prince!” Romulus pulled me back from the clone who heaved and laughed.
“I told you, you would die!”
My vision faded in and out as I watched myself cackle.
Romulus whispered our ancient tongue in my ear and pressed something to the back of my head. The room began to swirl, colors flashed around me, and my clone’s laughing stopped.
“What is happening? What have you done?” The clone screamed.
“Goodbye, my prince. I will watch over your lady,” Romulus whispered those last words as my body began to fade. Was I dying? Did I lose?
My clone screamed and ran forward, stabbing his blades, but neither pierced my skin. “No!” He screamed, spittle flying out of his mouth.
I blinked once more, then I was flying in a tunnel of light. I closed my eyes from the hurricane swirling around me, lifting me into oblivion.
I had failed, again. Now Jeslyn would marry me, never realizing the beast in my place. My people would go to war, maybe win, but possibly die, and the simulacrum would be there, laughing, and destroying all I had worked for.
I hit a hard structure. The spinning stopped, and I opened my eyes.
“No! No!”
Fluorescent lights flickered above me. “Romulus!” I roared out his name, distraught and furious his idea of saving my life was to send me back to Mirth.
Heaving, I grabbed my side, and sat up. Blood gushed around my fingers. I dragged myself upright and searched the metal shelves for the closure tool to seal the wound. My fingers shook as I fumbled with the black laser. I ripped off my sheath and used it to bite down on, then leaned back and clicked the laser on. Fire erupted in my abdomen as the wound began sealing shut. I held on; nausea flooded my mouth with the taste of copper and my eyes refused to stay open. When the wound had sealed, I tossed the tool aside and slid down to the ground, a second before losing consciousness.
Chapter Eight
Jeslyn
Tears streaked my cheeks. Jezebel promised to get me the moment Lucino arrived, but the waiting tore me apart. Hugging my pillow, I curled on my side, listening to the soft snores coming from Fex. The little fox slept beside me, content.
I can’t sit here anymore.
I grabbed my robe, slipped it on, and hurried downstairs. If Lucino wasn’t back, I’d sit outside and wait. The fresh air might help to calm the storm of worry and hate beating my chest.
Candlelight flickered in the quiet mansion. The servants all turned in for the night. I pushed open the front door, and the warm night air rushed out to greet me. My mother told me stories of how she used to wait outside at night waiting for Poppa to come home. When he first started breeding race horses, he traveled a bit, choosing the finest breeds from all the lands.
Did she fear he would never return? That he had met some horrible fate on the road? Because that’s what I thought of now. I wanted to scream and yell at Lucino for ruining our night, but what if… what if something terrible had happened? What if he lay in the woods, hurt, wounded, and unable to reach me?
Wrapping my arms around my waist, I tried to picture him caught up in some boring conversation with Julian and time just passed by. This whole time I had been worried and angry, he had been desperate to leave and come to me.
Hooves pounded in the distance. I squinted, trying to see who rode up the path, but they were too far away. The desperate desire for it to be Lucino tugged my feet forward, barefoot, down the path.
The rider came closer and my heart leapt with relief.
He’s back
Lucino halted the horse as I ran to meet him.
“What are you doing out here so late?” He jumped off the horse and grabbed the reins. “It’s the middle of the night.”
“Where have you been?”
He led the horse to the stables. “I had to meet with Romulus for a bit. It took longer than expected.”
“Why didn’t you send someone? I waited for you all night at the grotto.”
“You did?” He arched a brow at me, but made no apology.
It was then, in the faint moonlight, I saw the blood.
Blood everywhere.
“What happened to you?” I tugged at his shirt. “You’re bleeding!”
“I’m fine.” He winced as I gently moved the shirt up and examined the wound on his chest. The gash crossed his whole stomach, but it was closed, burned.
“Romulus sealed the wound.”
Carefully, I let the shirt down. I looked over the rest of him. “Oh no…” Tears pricked my eyes at the sight of his neck and shoulder all bandaged. “What happened?”
“I was attacked by a creature when I went to visit Romulus.”
“That’s why you were late… and here I was angry at you. I’ve been worried something happened to you.”
He laughed and shook his head. “As if that were possible. These are minor cuts. I’m already healing.”
I followed him to the stables, every step caused the worry to turn to anger and I wanted to wallop him. He put the horse in the stall. Once the latch had been secured, Lucino turned and grabbed my waist. Before I could speak, he kissed me, hard and fast.
I pushed against his arms, breaking the kiss. His brow knit together as if my response was completely uncalled for. “You need to rest.”
“I broke a promise to you,” he said. “Name anything, and I shall grant it.” He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed my fingers.
“Anything?”
“Anything.”
Th
is was my chance to finally see the tunnels. “I want to see the tunnels.”
He kissed my hand again. “Then let’s go.”
“Now? I’m not even dressed.” I tugged the robe around me.
He grinned and held me at arm’s length, his gaze traveling across my body. “I don’t mind.”
If Lucino truly meant what he said, I couldn’t wait. “Let me put on traveling clothes, and then we can go.”
“I will wait for you outside.”
I ran back to the mansion, hurrying to find an outfit suitable for traveling underground. When I reached my wardrobe, I realized I had nothing but dresses, fancy dresses. “There must be something I can wear.”
Rummaging through the different gowns, I found one simple dress. A plain lavender gown with maroon satin strips running along the long bell sleeves and torso with a matching hood attached.
“Perfect.” I threw off my robe and nightgown and slipped into the dress. It tied in the front, which made it easy to put on by myself. Once I had my shoes, I ran back downstairs.
Lucino leaned against the white pillar outside the front door.
“Ready,” I said while trying to catch my breath.
He gave me a quick glance, nodding at my clothing. “You look exquisite.”
“Do you think it will be all right to go in to the tunnels? I only had dresses.”
“Yes. Shall we?” He held out his hand awaiting mine.
Excitement and bubbling curiosity made my heart race and hands sweat. Lucino gripped my hand tightly, leading me down the path and away from his home. I still couldn’t believe he was taking me. I wondered if Romulus gave him some sort of tonic for the pain and it made Lucino extra accommodating.
We headed off the path and into the nearby woods. An owl hooted, flying right above us, carrying a dead creature in its mouth. Other night noises, like the crickets sounding like violins and the night birds that cooed instead of chirped, played around us and my excitement grew until the smile on my face couldn’t be contained.
Lucino stopped at an old tree. The roots crawled across the ground, and the massive trunk blocked out anything behind it. He let go of my hand and walked around the trunk. He placed his hands on the lock and twisted open the hidden door.
“I will go first.” He winced as he moved to go in. “You follow and close the hatch above you.”
I nodded, and wiped my hands on my dress, trying to dry them.
Lucino pivoted around and climbed down. Once he disappeared, I carefully grabbed the first rung of the ladder, climbed on, then reached up and closed the latch, sending us in to blackness.
For a moment, I couldn’t find the courage to move.
“Climb down,” Lucino said, but his voice sounded far, like he had already reached the bottom and left me alone up here.
You can do this. Breathe.
With steady breaths, I focused on my footing and descended into the dark. My hands shook with anticipation. Lucino never described what the tunnels looked like, only that they housed his people until they could fully integrate above land. Many had refused to shapeshift into humans, and vowed to stay underground until they could walk freely. From what Lucino heard, a large portion of the Reptilians preferred war over peace.
My thoughts carried me down into the dark, and it wasn’t until Lucino’s hands grabbed my waist, I realized I had made it.
“I can’t see.” I reached out for Lucino’s arm and held on to him.
“There should be a torch somewhere…” He broke away from me. “Ahh, found it.” Light filled the tunnel as the torch lit. “This way.”
Flames danced across the dirt tunnel walls. The musty air tickled my throat, causing me to cough. We walked in silence, my mind burning with questions. Each time I wanted to ask one, fear held me back. I was afraid if I said the wrong thing, Lucino would realize I shouldn’t be here and force us back to the surface.
I had to see the tunnels.
Gwen tried finding them on her own, but even the servants didn’t know about the race of shapeshifters living in Tarrtainya, except Willis. Besides Willis and Lucino’s personal guard, I was pretty sure all the servants were human.
A red light bloomed in the distance, cascading in to the tunnel. As we got closer, red runes etched along the ceiling, walls and floor. Lucino left the torch on a metal hook near the strange carvings then picked me up into his arms.
He groaned at the movement, and I worried he was too hurt to be down here.
“I can walk,” I said. “You’re injured.”
“Only a Reptilian may pass through the gates,” he replied. “And I’m fine.”
My heart thumped. I looped my arms around his neck, the anticipation making it impossible for me not to smile. With his gaze firmly on mine, he stepped forward. A slight tingle rippled through me we passed to the other side.
The light from the runes reflected off something on his neck. I pulled at the cord, revealing a sparkling, iridescent crystal. “Where did you get this?”
The gem refracted so much light, a thousand rainbows danced inside. While working for Grandfather, and using the light board in Mirth, I had seen every gem and stone, but this one… there was none like it.
He placed me down and put the necklace back under his shirt. “A gift from Romulus.”
“It’s beautiful.” I reached to peek at it again, but he shoved my hand away.
“The necklace is very delicate. I can’t have you touching it.”
“I’m sorry. Is it special?”
“It has magical properties that could be dangerous to a human.” He furrowed his brow at me. “Are you ready to move on?”
I nodded, hiding the disappoint in my heart, and followed him.
The tunnel opened into a massive cavern. Carved out of the surrounding rock were homes and large structures made out of onyx and thrumming with red and yellow runes. I stared in awe at the various Reptilians milling around. While I had pictured them living in squalor, dirty and starved, they had brought the beauty of the royal Red City here.
Women wore flowing gowns hanging on every curve, the material swaying with their equally stunning hued hair worn in varying styles from long and free to tightly braided. I touched my own hair, remembering the amber color it had been while I was in Mirth. A young girl with striking golden eyes and the darkest moss-green skin walked by holding a basket of roots. I smiled at her.
She stared at me, stopping for a minute then glanced at Lucino before moving on.
“She didn’t bow,” I whispered, watching the girl disappear behind a house.
“Why would she?”
“Because you’re the prince.”
“Our customs are not the same. You would be well to learn that.”
My happiness faded at his callous response. I only knew what he told me, and the time I had spent in Mirth was too little to learn everything.
“I’ll show you some more,” he said. “But then we need to leave.”
I nodded, and he walked forward. Feeling very out of place, I raised my hood and hid within it. A large purple stone stuck out of the ground, around it a black metal well gushed clear water. Looking around at the intricate detail to some of the structures, I wondered how they were able to create such a unique settlement in so little time. Had they been building this for years?
Lucino turned down another tunnel, this one smooth and made out of the same black stone as the houses. Glowing runes covered the ceiling like red twinkling lights. The tunnel opened into another large passage, this one holding a wide, luscious green garden with flowers and vegetables… all too amazing to be thriving without any sun.
Yellow runes covered the ceilings and walls in this cavern, creating an indoor sunlight. Magic.
A male Reptilian pushed a large cart past us. A blanket covered the irregular shaped heap underneath. The cart bumped
a rock and a pale arm popped out from beneath the blanket.
“Stop!” I ran to the cart. “What is this?”
The male glanced to Lucino, but said nothing.
“Nothing to worry about,” Lucino said behind me.
I ripped the covering off and my heart dropped.
Humans. Dead humans. Piled corpses like a bunch of garbage. “What… what is this?”
“Well, this is unfortunate.” Lucino folded his arms. “I was hoping we wouldn’t run in to any husks.”
“Husks?” My hands shook. I held them to my face, horrified at the withered state of the people before me. Their skin wrinkled, almost falling off, eyes white or sunken in, faces twisted with horror.
“You may go.” Lucino covered the cart and the Reptilian continued on.
“How… how could you not tell me?” Tears sprung from my eyes as I watched my people hauled off to some dark place. No proper burial. Who were they?
“How do you think we shift into humans?”
“You told me you take a piece of their aura.”
“Did I?” Lucino smirked and it caused my heart to break.
“What happened?”
“In order for us to shift into a human, we must take your essence, and that is the end result.”
“You kill us?”
“Yes.”
My heart raced with fear, confusion, and terror. “I want to go home.” This couldn’t be real. Was this why he had tried keeping me away? To hide this horrible secret? How could I marry him now?
“I haven’t shown you the best part.”
“Take me now!” I screamed, and the bored expression he wore held none of the compassion I knew he had.
“If you are going to marry me, you must accept our ways. There is no alternative.” His normally warm gaze turned cold and sent a shiver through my body. Every hair on my arm stood in fear, and suddenly, I wasn’t sure if marrying him was what I still wanted.
