by Leyton, Bisi
“Listen.” Wisteria stuck her hand in his face. “First, you’ve got to listen to me or I’m gone.”
“Release me from here and then we will get Bach,” he demanded.
“Enric, I said shut up.”
His green eyes darkened as he rose, towering over her.
“Sit and stop being an ass, or I’ll leave.” She placed her hands firmly on the table. “And you’ll be left with Sabine and her tazer.”
“I am your prisoner.” He sat back down. “I do not expect to be treated with dignity.”
“Wait? You don’t like being held captive? Since you dragged me halfway around the world against my will, I figured you enjoy being mistreated.”
“I had no choice.”
“No choice? That’s all you have to say after everything you did me?”
“Were you not happy helping Bach? I was actually confused you fought so much against making his life better.”
“All you’ve ever wanted was for me to not be a part of his life.”
“And I still do not believe you deserve to be bonded with any Famila, not to speak of a Sen-Son. You are beneath Bach in every way.”
“I saved your life. Have you forgotten that?” Her hand itched to slap him.
“I remember and it shames me.”
“I was wrong to come here.” He’d reminded her that no matter how badly her mother had treated her, the Family was always worse. Why did she think he would even be a better option?
“Do not leave—I—I regret what I put you through.” He seemingly forced the words out. “You are not my choice for him, but I respect Bach and therefore ensured you were not hurt when—”
Ignoring him, she continued to the door.
“You smell,” Enric called out to her.
Now she was going to use the tazer. Marching to the table, she picked it up and then dropped it. “Goodbye Enric.” She couldn’t hurt him.
“Burnt molasses, you smell of burnt molasses. Do you know why?”
“What are you talking about?” She paused. “I don’t smell like burnt sugar.”
“I recognize the scent of burnt molasses and the swelling around your eyes. You find reading and aiming your weapons difficult?”
“My aim was good enough to save your life.”
“Yes, you did that. I still do not understand why, but your symptoms, they aren’t side effects of Coia’s serum.”
“Okay.” Turning back to him, she folded her arms, but she started feeling tired again. “What is it?”
Enric smirked at her suggestively. “Eat a lot more acidic foods and your symptoms will lessen.”
“What is wrong with me?”
“Everything you need to understand your condition and about how to help Bach is in the Hall of Ages in our home realm. Get there and you’ll have your answers.”
“Tell me how to get there?”
“We are going together.”
“No, maybe if Jason trusted you I’d consider it, but he’s kept you detained down here. That speaks volumes.”
“Jason needed my help to escape from the home realm. He’s concerned about helping the humans, not Bach.”
“Ironic, as you’re not bothered the humans.”
“True, but I will do both if you open the Hall of Ages.”
“Jason is amazing at creating artifacts, he’ll find a key.”
“Nothing he creates will work. My father was the Lord of Jarthan and spent years trying to unlock the Hall of Ages, but failed every time.”
“Why do you think I can open it?”
“The structure was built by the First Pillar only to be opened by one of them. You unlocked the Room of Ages and got that wahr chart working without even understanding the written language. You are First Pillar.”
“And what’s in this Hall of Magic?”
“The Hall of Ages is thousands of times larger than largest human library and museum. It is packed with millions of maps, charts, books and artifacts. Something there will break Coia’s hold on Bach and seal the thresholds.”
“You are certain of this?”
“Someone told me. All I have to do is get you in.”
“Who is this someone?”
“My friend is someone who believes humans are—equal to us.” His words came out like bile as if he couldn’t stand saying them. “My friend was friends with Hemlock Zey and will be able to tell you about him, but wants to meet you.”
“My father?” Wisteria closed her eyes to conceal her shock. “Enric, tell me how to get there.” She felt dizzy. “I’m not going anywhere on a promise that may turn out to be nothing.”
“At the very least, do you not want to tell Bach, your moon will reflect in his eyes?”
“What did you say?” The room spun as she dropped into the seat in front of him.
“Are you okay?” Sabine rushed in. “What did you do to her?”
“Nothing. I need to go home.” Wisteria rose.
“Get him back in his cage,” Sabine ordered as she ushered Wisteria out. “You shouldn’t let him get you so aggravated.” She took Wisteria back upstairs and sat her down in Cheung’s now empty office. “Rest here for a few minutes and I’ll take you home.”
“Don’t bother.” Coles appeared at the doorway. “I’ll make sure she gets back.”
“Elliot, before you have a heart attack. Nothing happened to her. She’s got a bit dizzy from the serum that’s all.”
“You took her to see Enric! Are you out of your mind Sabine?”
“He couldn’t do anything to her.” Sabine forced an uncomfortable laugh.
“We’ve had a member of the Family secured and sedated here before, but he escaped.”
“Well, Tom Hindle oversaw that patient and Tom, rest his soul was bloody thick. He got into Oxford because his father was the Lord of nowhere.”
“I’d like to talk to you.” Bottling his rage, he pointed. “Come with me.”
Sabine marched out, slamming to door behind them.
The pair argued in the hall. Most of what they said Wisteria couldn’t hear as they spoke in hushed tones.
“Whatever, Major Coles. If you want to arrest me, do it, but that girl in there isn’t a kid and she can handle a lot more than you think,” Sabine hollered.
“Sabine, stay away from Wisteria,” he threatened.
“I’m not one of the brain dead women in this town,” Sabine retorted angrily. “Who trembles at your feet? You don’t scare me. I’m not leaving you here with Wisteria. Not in your mood.”
“My mood? You think I’m going to hurt her?” He growled. “You’re the one who has to worry about my mood. Cross me and you’ll wish you’d fed yourself to the biters years ago.”
“Are you threatening to hurt me?”
“I’m promising you what will happen if you ever—”
“Go Sabine.” Wisteria opened the door. “I’ll be fine.”
Sabine opened her mouth to speak then nodded. “I’m going to get Lara.”
“Go won’t because she’ll do worse to you.” Coles re-entered the room, closing the door in Sabine’s face.
Wisteria dropped down into the sofa in Cheung’s office.
He stood at the door with his eyes closed and his fists clenched.
She expected him to yell at her.
“What did Enric tell you?” He finally spoke.
“Not much.” She wasn’t sure what to make of what Enric told her, but it was a lot more than anyone else had.
“He’s trying to drag you back into the madness going on in his realm. This will be the last time you see him.”
“I get it you’re mad, but he’s one of the few people who understands what’s going on and will actually tell me anything. So, unless Mum’s going to change her mind, I’m going to come back.”
“You think it’s that easy?”
“I expect to get my rations cut and given additional shifts at the wall or whatever punishment you or the leadership council deemed fit. But you can’t stop m
e from getting—”
“You’ll never get back in to this building while he’s alive. Once we’ve taken care of him we’ll see.”
He wasn’t a killer. The encounter with Charles proved that. “I’m sorry.”
“For what? Going behind my back or allowing Sabine to manipulate you?”
“That wasn’t her fault. I made her—”
“Half our scientists want to dissect his brain as well as run some more colorful experiences. I wasn’t sure I was going to allow them to do that.”
“You won’t do that.”
“At this point, I honestly haven’t decided what I’ll do.” He opened the door. “Let’s go home. My car is parked out in front. If you’re not up for walking, I’ll carry you out.”
“I’ll try to walk back now.” Placing one hand on the arm of the chair, she forced herself up. “Don’t punish him because of me.”
“I’ve no need for a Famila on this island I cannot trust, especially one who’s hurt my family. And you’ve made it clear you will continue—”
“I won’t go back. I promise.”
“If you’d been any other person on the island you’d have to face the Leadership Council. But instead, I let you wander out after curfew because I trust you.”
“You knew I was out?”
“Yes.”
“You have people watching me?”
“Yes and I should’ve had more.”
She trailed him to his SUV and got in.
He drove out of the compound in silence. Surprisingly, he took her to Amanda’s house instead of back to her mother’s.
“Can I ask you a question?” she finally spoke when they parked outside Amanda’s gate.
“Yes,” he answered cautiously. “But you may not like my answer.”
“What would you do if you were me? If all these things were happening and no one was telling you anything? Wouldn’t you work to get at least some answers?”
“I’d leave.” Exhaling loudly, he turned off the engine. “Wisteria, you’ve got to leave Smythe. Go up to Shetland. Things are tougher up there, but it’s safe.
“Scotland? This was my mother’s idea right?”
“Before you blame her understand this, your mother and I don’t want you to leave, but she is right. You need to get away from here. The way she did it—may not have been the best. You won’t be gone forever, but it will be until Jason figures out how we can seal the thresholds from that realm. The Family knows you’re here and even if most of them can’t locate you through the Piron net, Bach and Felip can. And one of them will come looking for you.”
“Bach won’t hurt me.” She hoped, but with what Enric and Jason told her she couldn’t be sure. “At least not intentionally.”
“At this point, his intentions don’t matter it’s what he’s actually going to do that does. And let’s imagine Bach doesn’t come back here to try to turn you into a Thayn or sleepwalker, what about Felip? Even on a good day, that kid is a sociopath.”
“What do you think he’ll do when he comes back to the town and doesn’t find me?”
“Felip has never shown any interest in how we work. He’ll scamper off once he figures out you’re gone.”
“Or he’ll torture everyone here until you tell him—which is why my mother didn’t tell you. Aunt Jenny and Sabine are ex-Red Phoenix, so they can handle torture and resist the renewal.”
“Exactly.”
“And Captain Benisah? If Felip suspects he knows anything—”
“Benisah won’t realize who or what he’s talking about, so even if Felip interrogates all the pirates he’ll have no clue who took you where. I wouldn’t be suggesting it if I hadn’t thought it through already.”
“And you?”
“I’ll leave Smythe.”
“Where?”
“Somewhere far from here, so when he comes he won’t find anyone who can tell him where you are.”
“Then come to Shetlands with me.”
“I need to make a false trail and lead the Family in the wrong direction. By the time they catch up with me, you’ll be into another safe haven.”
“Felip is crazy. He might kill you.”
Coles brushed her hair from her face and tucked it behind her ears. “I’m tougher than I look.”
The front gate of Amanda’s house opened and her father Nathan emerged in a dressing gown. He smiled. “Hello Major, I see you’ve brought Wisteria back. Thank you.”
Nathan Weiss seemed generally a harmless, albeit creepy old man. His weirdness seemed to be largely due to him being renewed.
“You let me stay here because he’s Jason’s Thayn right?” She realized.
“Yep.” Coles nodded. “And Jason’s told him to make sure you don’t run away again.”
Chapter Nine
Throne room of Trogia Palace
It’d been twelve days since the Dy’obeths started arriving from Ajana. Over five thousand had emerged, but more were still coming, thanks to Felip. Up until now, they’d been living in Mirrin Castle but that was soon coming to an end.
Bach entered the stone crypt of the castle. Deep within the labyrinth of tunnels of the crypt were the resting places of the Lords and Lady’s of Jarthan before his mother, but he wasn’t here to pay respect to the dead.
“Bach,” Maniko whispered as she emerged from the darkness, dressed in a long black gothic dress that made her normally tanned skin appear very pale. “I’ve been looking for you.”
“I have not been looking for you.” He walked past her.
“Wait.” She pushed him to the wall and pressed herself against him. “I want you to take me.” She ran her fingers up along his chest and whispered in his ear. “You want to take me.” She nuzzled his neck.
This felt beyond wrong. It made him sick. She wasn’t the first Dy’obeth girl to hit on him. Snap her neck, the darkness told him. Slowly, he placed his hand on her slender neck and jerked her head back.
She groaned as if his violence made her feel good.
“Stay away from me.” He stormed away, further into the crypt.
Scattered around the dimly lit room were hundreds of Dy’obeths, most of whom he didn’t recognize. No longer dressed in rags, the men were dressed in black suits and the women were clothed in long dark gowns like Maniko. In the center of the crypt, High Father sat at the head of a black stone table, surrounded by seven men. Bach’s mother stood in the corner of the crypt with a cluster of amber-eyed women. Bach recognized Beraz and Karvas.
“High Father—” Maniko hurried in behind Bach.
Beraz appeared visibly disturbed when she entered. “Bach, where have you been? We don’t have time for your games. If not for your mother, we would’ve continued without you, boy.”
Boy? Bach seethed. “Don’t ever call me boy. I am a man.”
“A man?” Beraz crowed as he rose. “Sorry, you’re not. Being among the Dogs and Rats has made you milk-hearted. I can smell their repugnance on you.”
Most of the Dy’obeths laughed.
His mother didn’t seem amused. “My son is not weak.” She assured the group. “He’s stronger than every single one. When the time is right, he’ll take his seat as one of the seven Sens.”
This made them laugh even more.
“Only if you magically turn him from a female into a man.” Karvas laughed.
Lluc walked into the crypt.
The room shook from the vibration of the Dy’obeths’ jeers.
“Look, Bach’s sister has arrived.” Beraz sat down.
“Sister?” Lluc looked bewildered.
“We are about to step into our destiny and you decide to—oversleep, Lluc. Coia, you should’ve drowned them both at birth,” Beraz remarked smugly.
Make them see blood. Bach heard the darkness within him say. Marching over to Beraz, he couldn’t deny it seemed like a good idea. “Too bad for you, she didn’t drown me.” He pulled Beraz up and flung him against the wall. Charging at Beraz, Bach kicked the man into the s
tone and bashed his head repeatedly into the wall.
The Dy’obeths roared in excitement.
“Take your first blood, brother,” Lluc encouraged.
Bach paused and watched his hands. They were caked in a mixture of blood and dirt. What was he doing? He stepped back. “I—I—”
Beraz’s motionless body slumped to the ground as the room fell silent.
“Insolent Dog, I will break your neck for touching my brother.” Karvas rose.
Before he could move, Lluc appeared behind him and got Karvas’ head in a headlock. “You should not waste so much time talking.” He squeezed tightly.
Karvas’ limbs flapped around as he struggled to breathe. He wasn’t powerful enough to take on Lluc.
Watching his brother choking Karvas, Bach’s face broke into a smile, he felt glad to see it. Perhaps there would be blood.
“Enough boys,” High Father yelled. “I don’t have time for these games. We can indulge your playfulness, but we need to meet with the Seven Elders.”
“Father, that isn’t how it is done,” Maniko protested.
High Father gave Maniko a cold stare, but then nodded. “Bach will have time to address Beraz, but first I need to take my place back from those seven qwaynides. This is the most important thing. Everything else can wait.” He pointed at Maniko. “You challenge me again girl, and it’ll be the last thing you do.”
Reluctantly, Lluc released Karvas.
The nearly unconscious Dy’obeth dropped to the ground.
“Clearly, I need a little more time to recover from Ajana. Wait three more days and you’ll never be able to touch me.” Karvas croaked.
Bach’s mother forced a smile and then stepped forward. “We should make our move, unless anyone else has anything to say about my sons?” Bach’s mother’s voice echoed in the quiet room.
High Father rose and smiled. “Activate the threshold.”
“Eminent High Father, are you certain you will be able to take on the Elders and their sentinels? Perhaps you should wait until you are up to full strength,” Felip muttered from the doorway. “One on one you can take them down, but there are literally millions of them and a few thousand of you. Wait until there are more of you and you are stronger.”
Bach felt shocked to see his cousin hunched at the side of the doorway as if he were trying to hide himself and be seen at the same time.
