ashen city (Black Tiger Series Book 2)

by Sara Baysinger

  “Why does it matter?” he asks. “You’re dying in an hour. Why the desperate need to know where you daddy and baby brother are?”

  “Are they alive or not, Titus?”

  He grins. “It would be a pleasant surprise if they were alive, wouldn’t it? If I never even had them to begin with?”

  Don’t hope, don’t hope, don’t hope, don’t—

  “It would make this whole ‘kill the chief’ mission seem a bit…unnecessary, don’t you think?” A slow smile eases on his face. He’s trying to make me beg, or make me angry, but I refuse to give him the satisfaction. When I do nothing, he says, “I was going to use them as bait to bring you back to Frankfort, but then you returned on your own accord, and, well, I didn’t have any use for them anymore.” His lips turn down in false pity. “No need to get your hopes up. I killed them myself.”

  And I snap. Rage pumps back into my bloodstream. It ignites my bones. It blinds me. And everything I see is red, and I try to jerk free from Mcallister, but his iron grip refuses to loosen. I almost catch his eye so I can command him to release me and tell him to kill Titus, but then decide I couldn’t live with myself if one more Defender died on my account.

  “You’re feisty,” Titus says, stepping in front of me. “You’re a strong little thing. And a little braver than I gave you credit for. Must run in the family.”

  I blink the tears out of my eyes.

  “I, too, have a bit more courage than I should,” he says. “It’s a flaw in the chief bloodline, I’m afraid.” He taps my nose. “Which would explain why we’re so similar.”

  I glare at him. “I’m nothing like you!”

  He smirks. “You’re everything like me.” He crosses his arms and grins. “I mean, just yesterday you told those Defenders to kill me. You essentially told them to put their lives on the line…for you. And they did, didn’t they?”

  My guilt weakens all resolve, and I feel small. Useless. Dirty.

  Titus’s grin fades, amusement weaving in and out of his eyes. “It felt good, though, didn’t it? Being able to tell people what to do, even if it meant losing their lives for you when they have no idea who you are? It almost makes you feel like…God.”

  I remember something Rain said. About how God gave us all the freedom to think for ourselves.

  “I don’t think God uses his power that way,” I say.

  Titus shrugs. “It doesn’t really matter what you think. In exactly one hour—make that forty-five minutes—you’ll be dead. And you’ll have the next forty-five minutes to think about all your little mistakes. Forty-five minutes to wonder how your dad and brother died, how badly they begged for their sorry little lives. Forty-five minutes to think about the fact that I am all powerful, all the citizens of Ky love me, and no one can take me down. Not even you.” He offers a curt nod at Mcallister. “Torture her. Torture her until she dies.” With that, he whirls around and strides across the room, his polished boots echoing off the tile floor.

  Mcallister drags me out of the room, and all I can think about is Dad and Elijah, and how they’re dead, and how Forest was on my side all along, and I completely left him in the snow, and now I won’t even be able to say goodbye. And all these thoughts roll around in my head until I arrive at three final conclusions.

  Coming back to Frankfort was a mistake.

  Titus is always one step ahead.

  No one will ever be able to take Titus down.

  Mcallister leads me to the vehicle outside. I crawl into the back seat and he shuts the door behind me, then takes the driver’s seat and we’re off to my execution.

  “So. You’re going to be the one to kill me,” I say.

  “According to the chief.”

  “Fitting.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. You were the one who escorted me to the prison pit. The one who was always there, y’know, to take me back to captivity. Makes sense that you’ll be the one to end it once and for all.”

  He bursts out laughing, and it’s so un-Defender-like, that I all I can do is stare at him in shock.

  “You are a piece of work, Miss Carter,” he says.

  “Excuse me?”

  He looks at my reflection in the rearview mirror, and he’s grinning. Grinning. And I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Defender grin like that, and it actually makes Mcallister look younger. He looks like a real person, like he might have a soul or something, and this brief glimpse into his humanity compels me to ask the burning question.

  “You don’t know how my family died, do you? I mean, how Titus killed them?”

  Mcallister shakes his head. “Titus only lets a select few in his inner circle. Forest is one of those few. I’m surprised Forest didn’t know anything about Titus’s plans to burn the orchard.” He tilts his head. “Well, not really. Since Forest refused to bring you home at Titus’s orders, I’m not surprised at all that Titus hasn’t been letting him in on his secrets.”

  “Is Forest in trouble?” I ask.

  “Ah man. Yes. He’s in so much trouble.”

  “What?” Now I’m alert, and quickly sit up. “Do you know for sure?”

  “Oh, absolutely. And he’ll be in deeper trouble here in a minute.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You’ll have to ask him yourself.”

  “WHAT?”

  Mcallister looks at me in the rearview mirror. “We’re about to see him.”

  Oh no. Will Forest be the one to torture me? I look out my window and realize for the first time that we’re not headed toward Frankfort Prison. We’re headed out of the city. We’re already at the outskirts of Frankfort, on the south side, at the crumbled buildings and evacuated houses. An image of a slaughter house at the edge of the city flits through my mind, and I shudder.

  “Mcallister?” I say, fear’s fingers curling around my throat. “What’s happening? Where are we going?”

  “Just following Forest’s orders.” He turns down another street. We are in an abandoned part of the city, yet still within the cupola. We approach a large brick building with red double doors, and now I’m really confused.

  Because we’re at the chapel.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Mcallister pulls around to the back of the building. A door cracks open and Rain steps out, Forest behind him.

  And everything stops.

  I’m not exactly sure if I’m supposed to trust Rain or Forest or both or neither. If they’re here to torture me themselves, or if they’re here to help me. But when I open my door, Forest grabs my arm and pulls me into a fierce embrace. And I melt. Forest. My safe haven. My rock. My comfort. He holds me like he’s never held me before.

  “You’re okay,” he says in a husky voice. He pulls away, cups my face, searches my eyes with his blue ones. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

  All my doubt ebbs away. I trust him. I trust Forest completely. Guilt for abandoning him consumes me.

  “I—I’m so sorry, Forest. I thought you were working with Titus. I didn’t know—I didn’t realize—”

  “We can have a reunion, later,” Rain snaps, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Right now, we need to hide. And make a plan.”

  He jerks his chin toward the church and disappears through the doorway. Forest, Mcallister, and I follow. The room is too dark for me to see anything, but once my eyes adjust, I realize we’re standing in the sanctuary. Was it only two weeks ago that Rain tried to convince me to risk my life by shedding light on the truth for the Patricians? I did just that, and look where it got me? The Patricians refused to listen and called me a fame whore.

  The sanctuary is dark, lit only by the faded light coming through the stained glass windows and a shaft of light shining through the gaping hole in the ceiling. The stink of mildew fills the room.

  “Your plan worked,” Rain says turning toward Forest. “Unbelievable.” He looks at me and smirks. “Lucky you, little apple-picker. You get to survive another day. Not because you’re
a hero or a part of a bigger picture, like the Resurgence. Not because you did anything worthwhile your entire life. But simply because of my brother’s undying love for you.”

  “Rain,” Forest mutters.

  “No, he’s right.” I look away, guilt clutching at my throat. I shouldn’t be the one who was saved. The innocent little girl who sang in the prison should be in my place. Or her mother. But who am I to be rescued? “I should have died.”

  “No.” Forest looks at me. “You’re way too valuable for that.”

  “That’s…flattering, Forest. But—”

  “He’s not flattering you,” Rain says. “What he means is, you really are too valuable to die, what, being the chief’s sister and all.”

  Forest rolls his eyes.

  “What we need to do now,” Rain says, “is come up with a plan.” He crosses his arms and glares at Forest. “So. What do you have in mind, brother?”

  “I’m not…sure,” Forest says.

  “You’re not sure?” Rain barks out a laugh and uncrosses his arms. “You set up an entire escape, even compelling one of the Captain of Defenders to help you.” He gestures toward Mcallister who stands idly by the door. “And you’re not sure what to do now? What is it with you two and your pathetic planning strategies?”

  Forest drags his hand across the back of his neck, then looks at me. “We have to get you out of Frankfort. To safety. But how can you be safe in a city wired with cameras and teeming with Defenders?”

  “We have to get her to an abandoned part of the city,” Rain says. “Like, the outskirts of Ky.”

  “What?” Forest’s eyes widen in alarm. “No. No way. It’s too dangerous out there. Too close to the borders.”

  “Well, what else do you have in mind?” Rain crosses his arms again and arches an auburn brow, waiting.

  Forest hunches down on a bench, leans forward, and clasps his hands between his knees. Then he looks at me. And the look in his eyes rips my heart open, and I know I’m not going to like what he’s about to say.

  “You need to run,” he says to me. “I’ll send Mcallister with you to act as a bodyguard.”

  “You have to come with me,” I say.

  “No. I have to hang back. Because if I go with you, Titus will not stop searching for us. He’ll send Defenders out to every corner of the city, even throughout the abandoned outskirts. He will not stop until he finds us. Because you’re his sister. And because I’m a politician who knows too much valuable information.”

  What information, I’m about to ask, but Forest isn’t finished.

  “I will stay here,” Forest says. “And I will face Titus myself—”

  “No,” I say. “Titus—he’s already mad at you for not bringing me back to Frankfort. He’s psychotic—”

  Forest lifts his hand, cutting me off. “I know how to deal with Titus. You don’t have to worry about me.”

  I wonder how he can sound so sure.

  “Once I’m in Titus’s circle again, I’ll convince him to clear your records, to stop holding whatever vendetta he has against you. I’ll tell him that I’ll keep an eye on you—”

  Rain snorts. “Yeah. We all saw how well that worked out last time.”

  “—and when the smoke clears,” Forest continues. “Then you can come back. And you’ll be safe. With me.”

  “How will I know when the smoke clears?” I ask.

  Forest blinks, but then Rain steps up. “I’ll come with you. Someone needs to keep an eye on you and this—” he gestures toward Mcallister, “—brainless Defender. Titus doesn’t know I’m helping you. In fact, he has reason to believe I hate you, thanks to my turning you in a couple weeks ago.” He grins. “So my disappearance won’t cause any suspicion.”

  I swallow. Nod. But I’m not so sure about this plan. Because last I spoke with Titus, he was pretty angry with Forest.

  “Why don’t we just leave Ky?” I ask. “Let’s cross the bridge, get out of this shoddy country forever and live free of Titus.”

  Forest looks at me like I mentioned traveling to the moon or something, then shakes his head. “No. Don’t even consider leaving Ky. Are you serious? You think this is a corrupt government, Ember? You don’t even know. You don’t even know what else is out there. Believe me.” He lets out a half-hearted laugh. “Ky is a safe haven protecting us from what’s out there.”

  I stare at him, shocked that he knows so much. Hurt that he hasn’t shared it with me in the two weeks we were together in the Community Garden. I mean, I knew he had inside information that he was probably sworn never to share, but this?

  “What else is out there?” I breathe.

  “We don’t have time for this.” Rain grabs my arm and begins leading me out, but I jerk away from him.

  “Wait.” I stare at Forest. “What if Titus kills you on the spot? You went behind his back to rescue me. He’s not going to be forgiving.”

  Forest stands and walks toward me. He offers a small, unconvincing smile, his blue eyes shining. “Did you forget, Ember? I’m the chief’s best friend.” He shakes his head and his Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows. “He won’t kill me.”

  Sirens begin wailing in the distance, growing louder and louder, and my heart takes a violent leap.

  “Forest,” I whisper. “You can’t take that risk. You have to come with—”

  “I’ll be fine.” His gaze is wary, and I know he’s trying to convince himself of that just as much as he’s trying to convince me. He looks at Defender Mcallister. “Take her, Mcallister. Take her someplace safe and defend her with your life.”

  “Of course.” Mcallister bows at the waist and grabs my arm.

  “No,” I say.

  Forest places his hand on Rain’s shoulder. “Brother,” he says. “Stay safe.”

  Rain blinks, and they stare at each other for a moment. This is the first time I’ve ever seen any sign of affection between the two brothers.

  The sirens are growing louder and so is my heartbeat thrashing against my eardrums.

  “I’m not leaving without you, Forest,” I say.

  “I’ll be fine,” he says. “I can’t imagine running the rest of our lives, hiding from the chief. We’ll all be much better off if I just stay behind and attempt to explain everything.”

  “You don’t understand,” I say. “Titus is out of his mind. He already thinks you’re a traitor. You can’t—”

  “Come on.” Rain snaps his fingers and Mcallister drags me out of the sanctuary.

  “No!” I fight him. “Let me go!”

  I look back at Forest, but he just stands there, staring at me with that honest look in his eyes. How could I have ever thought him to be a traitor? And now he’s placing his life on the line. For me. Because he betrayed Titus by saving me. He compelled Defender Mcallister to bring me to the church instead of taking me to my execution. He helped me escape. And now he’s hanging back to clear my name. So, yeah, I wouldn’t be surprised if Titus had Forest burned on the Rebels Circle this time tomorrow.

  Or worse.

  I try to pry Mcallister’s fingers off my arm. “Let me go!”

  He swings me over his shoulder and carries me out of the chapel like a sack of apples, and now I really can’t compel him from this angle. So I pound on his back. I scream and kick, but his grip is firm. His build holds more strength than I thought. His back is like a brick wall. No wonder he’s a captain. I look back at the church doors. Forest doesn’t exit with us. Mcallister shoves me into the back seat and shuts the door behind me, then takes the driver’s seat while Rain takes the passenger’s seat.

  I try to open the door, but it’s locked, so I resort to banging on the windows. If Forest wasn’t in trouble before, he definitely will be now. And I don’t—I don’t know if I want to live if it means his death. Dad and Elijah and Leaf and Judah are all gone, and Forest—he’s the only person left that I care about. And now—now he might be executed. Because of me.

  I would rather be on the run with him by my side
than risk him talking to Titus. Titus the psycho. Rage and grief rise up in my chest, choking me, and I bang on the window again, tears burning my eyes.

  “Let me out!”

  But the jeep takes off at a neck-breaking speed, and I’m thrown against the back of the seat, the breath knocked out of me. I scramble to my knees and look out the back window. Through the blur of my tears, I can make out Forest finally stepping out of the back door of the church, his politician uniform crisp, his hands in his pockets, and his hair glowing gold in the sunlight. He’s anointed. He’s pure.

  And because of me, he’s going to die.

  Then the Defender vehicles speed into the street and dart into the church parking lot. And the last thing I see is Defenders leaping out of their jeeps, yanking Forest’s hands behind his back, and slamming his face against the jeep windows. Then the jeep darts down another road and the scene vanishes behind a brick wall. I cover my mouth in shock and whirl around to face the front.

  “We have to go back,” I say.

  “Too late for that, Carter,” Rain says, keeping his gaze straight ahead.

  His lack of compassion shocks me. “How can you be so callous? He’s your brother and they’re going to kill him!”

  “Kill? No,” Rain says. “Titus may torture him a bit. But he won’t kill him.”

  “Torture him? That might be worse!”

  “Nah. It won’t be anything Forest can’t handle.”

  I roll my eyes. “Wow. You sound so concerned for your brother.”

  “Believe me,” Rain says, not bothering to turn around. “I would have chosen to save his life over yours if I knew he would be compliant. But this is what he wants. He wouldn’t have it any other way. And when Forest wants something…” Rain heaves out a sigh. “He gets it.”

  I don’t know whether that news comforts me or not. If something happens to Forest on my account, will Rain hold a vendetta against me?

  “We shouldn’t have left him,” I say.

  Now Rain turns to face me. His gray eyes are steel. “It’s because he’s my brother that I left him. Didn’t you hear what he said? If he stays behind, he has a chance of creating some story to explain why he rescued you. He and Titus are seriously best friends. I know Titus may seem like a heartless jackal, but he does have a soul. He won’t kill Forest, and staying behind will give Forest a chance to convince Titus that they’re on the same side and that you’re not dangerous. He’s persuasive like that. He’ll probably just explain his undying love for you, and how he couldn’t bear to watch you die. Titus will most likely be forgiving.” He waves his hand impatiently in the air. “Then, when your records are clear, I’ll bring you home. You and Forest can get married, and you, little Cinderella, can live the fairy tale every farm girl dreams of.”