BOUND (#1 in The Crystor Series)

by C.K. Bryant

Chapter Forty Nine

  The last thing Kira remembered hearing was Octavion’s ferocious roar. When she woke hours later, it was dark and she could hear muffled voices coming from outside the cave entrance. She recognized Shandira’s, but the others were unfamiliar to her. She rubbed her head, healing the large lump that pressed against her throbbing skull. Her shoulder was next and much easier.

  A single candle burning on the table near Octavion’s collection of potions kept the cave from falling into utter darkness. A quick glance told her she was alone. She couldn’t believe they hadn’t tied her up. Maybe they thought she was dead.

  Being careful not to make any noise, she crept to the wool blanket and pushed it aside. She quickly made her way to the inner room. Once there she felt her way to the door, untied the rope and slipped inside. She wrapped the rope around a jagged rock sticking out from the side of the cave. She knew it wouldn’t hold them back, but it might give her a few more seconds if they came for her.

  She carefully slid her feet along the small corridor, feeling her way along the icy wall. Not far from where it opened wider, Kira caught her toe on something and stumbled, smacking her shoulder against a rock. She stayed upright, but the sudden surge of adrenaline ignited something inside her and she felt her eyes burn cold. The dark walls slowly came into view.

  At first it was like candlelight, barely illuminating the space in front of her, but after a few seconds it was as if the entire space was filled with a million fireflies, all flitting about and giving off a soft green light. It gave an eerie glow to the wall of ice. Now she could see the enormous size of the frigid cave and the cavern that opened up in the center. To her right rested the wooden crates she’d found before and beyond that another opening. She inched her way around the crates and along the wall, being careful not to slip from the narrow path. She heard the rush of water below her feet and felt a cold breeze swirling around her.

  Only a few moments passed before the darkness returned. She blinked hard, trying to bring the light back before she realized it was a direct result of the adrenaline that surged through her when she stumbled. Closing her eyes, she focused on how angry she was at Shandira for attacking her and Lydia. When she opened her eyes again, she could see even more clearly than before. She smiled at her newfound gift and continued scooting along the wall.

  Kira?

  She stopped and searched the cave. “Lydia?” she whispered.

  Kira, are you all right? Can you hear me?

  She forced back the tears. Yes, I’m here. Are you okay? I didn’t think this would work between our worlds.

  I’m so sorry. I should have let you go first. I saw Octavion’s face and thought it would be safer. Are you hurt?

  I’m fine, Kira thought. I’m in the ice cave, trying to get over to the other opening so I can escape. Shandira and her men are blocking the entrance. I’ve got to get out of here.

  Kira, you can’t go that way. It’s a dead end.

  Wrapping her arms around herself, Kira tried to stop the shivering. How do I get out then? I can’t go back out there and I’ll freeze if I stay in here.

  There was a long pause before Lydia answered. Her thoughts seemed broken and jumbled. Jump . . . water will take you . . . falls.

  What? You’re not making any sense. Kira felt the Crystor warm around her wrist. Lydia, how bad are you hurt?

  I’m okay. Gregor is trying to stitch it up. He wants to give me something for the pain, but it will make me sleep. I need to be awake for you . . . for Altaria.

  With all the commotion, Kira had completely forgotten about Altaria. Can you hear Altaria? Can she hear you?

  No, I tried, but there’s nothing.

  Altaria, can you hear me? But only silence answered. “Altaria, can you hear my voice?” As she listened for a response, her shivering slowed and a warm sensation swelled within her. It continued until she felt as if she was completely engulfed in a thick wool blanket. It felt strange, almost foreign, like their souls had somehow bonded. Like finally, they were friends.

  “Okay, you can hear my voice and not my thoughts. That’s good.”

  Lydia, she can hear me. Tell me what to do. Is Octavion there?

  But Lydia didn’t answer.

  Lydia?

  Jump . . . the water will take you to the falls . . . it dumps out there. You need to be . . . careful . . . watch for jagged rocks. When you hear a loud rush . . . deep breath. Another long pause. Kira?

  I’m still here. Then what?

  Hurry.

  The urgency of Lydia’s thoughts caused her heart to race and her night vision to brighten. “Okay Al, this water’s gonna be really cold, so keep that warmth coming or we’ll never make it.” Kira stepped to the edge of the cavern and looked down. She couldn’t see the water, not even with her new gift of sight.

  An eruption of voices echoed through the narrow corridor. Shandira shrieked out several commands right before something solid hit the wooden door. Fear surged through Kira and for a brief moment, she couldn’t move. Then she heard door explode off the hinges and Shandira’s voice ordering her men to hunt her down. It was now or never. Kira took a deep breath, closed her eyes and jumped.

  The water came sooner than she expected, drawing her down into its depths. She frantically kicked to the surface and gasped for her next breath. Rushing fast and wild, the underground river forced her into the jagged walls and pulled her under with its current. More than once, she had to duck to avoid being struck by low hanging rocks. When her ears filled with the rush of the falls, she took a deep breath and held it. An instant later she was airborne as she shot out with the water and plummeted into the deep pond below. She came up flailing for something solid to cling to. Pulling herself up on the rocky ledge, she collapsed there, soaked and shivering violently. Whatever warmth Altaria had given her before had been lost in the frigid water.

  “Al, I’m cold.” By the time Kira rung out her hair and shirt, the warmth had returned and so had most of her strength. Her determination to escape with her life propelled her forward with renewed confidence.

  After checking for leaches, she weighed her options, deciding to make her way down the narrow canyon to the meadow instead of hiding out at the falls. If Shandira’s men figured out she’d jumped, they’d be right behind her and she couldn’t risk being captured again. She’d have a better chance of getting out through the canyon.

  Kira ventured down the trail that wound alongside the river. It didn’t take long for her to reach the place where Cade had hidden with a full view of the meadow. She scanned the canyon where the bodies still lay where they’d fallen. An eerie silence gave way to the rumbling of thunder in the distance. A flash of light, followed by a loud crash startled her enough to bring her to her knees. She had to be sure it was safe before going out in the open. She waited and watched.

  Only a few moments had passed before she caught movement in front of her. The Royal that injured Cade was still alive. Kira ducked behind a rock. She had to get past him. It had been hours since the battle and he still lay exactly where he’d fallen, yet he’d not bled to death, nor had Shandira and her men come for him. It didn’t make any sense.

  A clap of thunder made her jump. Her heart raced. She peeked around the edge of the rock and searched the area around the fallen man. A sword lay at his side. If she could get to it without him seeing her, she could finish him off and be on her way. She sat back on her heels and inhaled deeply. It was one thing to kill a man from a distance—quite another to do it face to face. She’d have to summon all her courage and try not to think about it—to just do it. Then she remembered he was a Royal. With his enhanced senses, he would surely hear her approaching. He probably already knew she was there.

  She let out the breath she’d been holding. She had no choice. If she was to get away, he had to die. She slowly stood and walked the distance between them. As she approached, the man reached to his side and took the sword by the hilt. He made no attempt to lift it from the gr
ound, but held it firm in his grip.

  “You are Octavion’s pet.” He breathed in, cringing with pain. “And now you mean to kill me.”

  Kira didn’t respond. She knew she wasn’t as strong as him, but the adrenaline flowing inside her was fueled by Octavion’s blood, and it boiled within her. Like when she shot Luka, she didn’t even think about what she was doing—she let instinct be her guide. She took the two steps to his side, kicked the sword from his weak grip, and bent to pick it up. It took both hands to lift it from the ground, the heavy point dragging across the dirt before she brought it up in front of her and let the tip rest over his heart.

  A sinister grin crossed his face. “They are coming now. You will not escape.”

  Another loud crack came from behind her, but this time there was no flash of light. The sound echoed off the walls of the canyon and didn’t seem to stop. It was enough of a distraction for the man to grab Kira’s ankle and pull her off balance. He grabbed the blade between his palms and pushed it from his chest. Kira stumbled back, dropping the sword.

  With another crack, the canyon filled with a bright flash of light. Near the creek, a funnel cloud appeared. Coming closer and closer to the ground, it stirred a strong wind that snapped small branches from nearby trees and sent them flying into the whirlwind.

  As it touched down, it turned on its side and slowed. The center opened up to expose a black hole. Another portal to Ophira? she wondered. Kira’s senses began to shut down and she realized more Royals were coming. She jumped to her feet and took off running toward the trees, passing the man she’d killed with her arrow. She managed to get to an outcropping of rocks before she heard men’s voices yelling and cursing. Ducking behind one of the boulders, she tried to catch her breath.

  Some of the voices seemed to get further away, but one she heard clearly, and he was close.

  “I have found Eros,” he yelled.

  Kira leaned around the rock. There was a mass of underbrush between her and the voices, but she could still see fragments of the canyon through the branches. Not far off, a young man lifted the dead Royal from the ground, then vanished, reappearing an instant later near the opening of the funnel. He handed the limp body to an older man. A few seconds later, the young one knelt near the man Kira tried to kill. He leaned down and listened to what the man whispered. Slowly, his rescuer lifted his head and looked in Kira’s direction. He drew in a deep breath and smiled. He’d caught her scent.

  “Draego! Collect your cousin. We must go.” A man near the opening raised his hand into the air and motioned toward the funnel.

  “Another day, perhaps,” Draego promised Kira, his voice carrying easily over the distance. He transformed, exposing his teeth in a snarl. Then he was gone.

  Kira couldn’t move. She wanted to run, but she couldn’t take her eyes off the scene in the canyon. Several men had stepped through the hole into the meadow, collected the bodies and were now being sucked into the funnel one by one like they were at the end of a powerful vacuum. Only two remained when Shandira appeared, ordering the men to hold the doorway open until she could collect her men. Draego stepped from the opening and blocked Shandira’s path to the hole. There were no words, but Kira understood what was going on.

  He’d refused her entry.

  Shandira vanished, reappearing an instant later near the entrance, but Draego was faster. He took her to the ground and held her there until the rest of his men had been drawn into the funnel. He let go and dove for the opening as it sealed shut. The force of the wind was so strong Kira had to tuck her hand into a crevice in the rock to keep from losing her balance. It lasted several seconds before the funnel blended into the storm clouds with another flash of light and deafening crack of thunder. The ground trembled under Kira’s feet for a moment—and then, suddenly, the eerie silence engulfed the canyon once more.

  Shandira still lay on the ground, holding a wound in her stomach. She rolled onto her elbow and pushed to her feet. She glanced to where the funnel opening had disappeared before slowly turning her focus in Kira’s direction. Her face twisted into a mask of hatred and rage.

  “Al, we’re in trouble.” Kira whispered. She was pretty sure Draego had given her location away, but regardless, she had to get out of there.

  Kira wasn’t ready for what came next, nor was she surprised. Shandira disappeared from the meadow; Kira sprang to her feet and took off toward the boulders where she’d hidden during the battle. If she could get to her bow, she might have a chance against Shandira. She was half way there when Shandira’s sudden appearance affected her senses. Kira’s legs sluggishly fought to move through the dark fog that surrounded her as Shandira blocked her way.

  Kira changed direction to avoid her, but was blocked when Shandira appeared in front of her again. She grabbed Kira by the neck and took her down in an explosion of fury, her razor sharp teeth only inches from Kira’s face.

  “Let go of me!” Kira struggled to get loose, but Shandira’s hold on her was too powerful. Kira had landed on her back with Shandira straddling her hips. She had both her arms pinned to the ground. Kira kicked and squirmed, but Shandira didn’t budge. She merely smiled.

  “Perhaps you are ready to meet my new friends. They like feisty, little things.” She jumped to her feet and jerked Kira from the ground. When they leapt to a wooded area, Shandira threw Kira to the ground, her face in the dirt.

  “Here boys, I brought you a gift.” Shandira laughed, giving a swift kick to Kira’s ribs.

  The pain seized the first breath Kira managed to take after the violent leap and left her gasping for air. Grabbing her side, she pulled her legs up underneath her and brought her head up just enough to see two sets of boots. The Darkhords—Zerek and Nigel.

  “A tasty treat,” Zerek said. He grabbed her hair and pulled her up to face him. “Don’t fight me.”

  Shandira grabbed at her stomach again, this time stumbling back against a tree. “Tie her up and don’t let her out of your sight.” Her face paled more with every word.

  Kira took a swing at Zerek’s face, barely missing. He grabbed her wrist and twisted it behind her, sending a jolt of pain through her shoulder.

  “Stop,” she cried.

  “Perhaps she could be of use to you Princess,” Zerek said. “She is your sister’s healer.”

  “Is this true? You can heal?” Shandira still leaned against the tree, glaring at Kira from behind several strands of long dark hair. She pulled up her blood soaked shirt to reveal a make-shift bandage wrapped around her middle, the stained section in the center slowly growing.

  “No,” Kira said. “He’s lying.”

  Shandira leaned forward and pushed up the hem of Kira’s shirt. “If he’s lying, where is your wound?”

  “You missed.”

  “Then why do I smell your blood?” Shandira let go of Kira’s shirt, slipped her dagger from its sheath and touched the point of the blade to Kira’s throat. “Heal me, or I will slit your throat.”

  “Go ahead, kill me. I don’t care.”

  Shandira smiled. “Perhaps you will change your mind after I let these boys have their way with you.”

  Zerek leaned close to Kira’s ear, a sweat-soaked lock of hair flopping over his face. “Don’t worry about them, they won’t want you when I am finished.” Then he kissed her full on the lips and cupped his hand over her breast.

  Kira felt Octavion’s blood boiling insider her as she shoved him away. “Don’t touch me!” When he leaned in for another kiss, she twisted around, delivering a swift kick to his leg and drove her shoulder into his chest. He stumbled back, hitting his arm against a tree. The force of the blow loosened his grip on Kira’s arm and she was free. She grabbed the dagger at his side and thrust it out in front of her.

  Shandira laughed. “Cael, she’s all yours.”

  The Royal who’d escaped from Octavion appeared, grabbed the knife and picked Kira up by the front of her shirt. He held her there long enough to draw in her sce
nt before tossing her aside. She hit the dirt and rolled, striking her back on a stump. It took her a minute before she could refill her lungs, but by then Cael had her on her feet with his hand knotted in her hair. He pulled her head back with a jerk and brought his face close to hers. “Run again. I’d love to avenge my brother. Or, don’t you see the resemblance.”

  She’d never seen him that close before, only from a distance in the canyon. Now that they were closer, she could see it—he looked just like Bastian. Both had long dark hair, pulled back at the nape of their neck. High cheek bones set off the thick black lashes that surrounded their evil stares. Even their voices were similar. “Bastian . . . is your brother?”

  He smiled. “She’s a smart one. Perhaps we should keep her as a pet.”

  “She’s wild,” Zerek said. “We’d have to tame her.”

  “But the rewards would be sweet,” Cael said. His laugh was deep and throaty, like someone had stuffed a bag of rocks down his throat.

  “Enough,” Shandira ordered. The color had completely washed from her face and she seemed to have trouble keeping her balance. “Nigel, help me to the cave. Cael, you and Zerek bring her in. If she gives you any trouble, break her legs. That should keep her from running.”

  Kira hadn’t realized they were so close to Octavion’s lair. She’d come full circle.

  Nigel helped Shandira onto a pile of pelts while Cael forced Kira to the ground next to her. “This better be your best work. I’m quite inventive when it comes to torture.”

  Kira nodded. She felt the warmth within her increasing and knew it was Altaria’s way of telling her not to do it. When that didn’t stop Kira, a slight pressure began to push against her chest and her heartbeat increased. “Al, stop,” she said under her breath.

  Shandira’s eyes shot up. “What did you say to me?”

  “I said, ‘I’ll stop.’ I won’t run.” The pressure subsided and her pulse slowed.

  Shandira lay back on the makeshift bed and pulled up her shirt. “Cael, help me with this.” Several thin strips of linen wrapped around her waist, holding the bandage in place. Cael drew his knife and slipped it next to her skin, cutting the fabric so the bandage could fall away.

  Zerek shoved Kira forward. “Heal her.”

  “It’s not that simple. It takes a lot of energy and it’ll be very painful for both of us.” Kira sat back on her heals and looked down at Shandira. “Are you sure you want me to do this?”

  Shandira groaned. “Nonsense. I’ve taken much more pain than you could possibly cause.”

  Kira tried not to smile. What she had planned for her captor would be sweet revenge. The heat rose inside Kira’s body and she knew Altaria was giving her the added strength it took to give her sister what she deserved—a massive jolt of excruciating healing from the Crystor. Kira placed her hand on the wound, pooled all her energy into her healing and didn’t hold back. She could feel Octavion’s blood burn through her veins, her eyes sear from the cold and her heart slam its erratic rhythm against her ribs with each agonizing beat. Shandira collapsed into unconsciousness.

  Completely spent, Kira slumped to the dirt floor of the cave, unable to move. She’d delivered the blow Shandira deserved, even if it had cost Kira all her strength in the process.