by Shannon Lamb
“Sure there is,” he winked. “Are you looking for male comfort? Is that it, sweetheart? You don’t need to concoct some elaborate rouse. Females are in short supply around here, and you’re cute enough,” he shrugged, eagerly anticipating her explosive reaction.
“First of all, I am not your damn sweetheart, nor do I have any desire to be!” Marie spit. “There is a dead woman in the water! I’ll show you myself, damn it!” Marie’s anger sparked an unexpected bravado as she clutched Raeph’s hand and dragged him to the edge of the fogbank.
Her heart stopped as soon as her feet touched the water and the steam began to dissipate. Every muscle in her body pulled painfully tight, and the sting of tension forced her to cower as she struggled to take her next breath. She was happy to have someone with her this time, even if that someone was a sarcastic brute.
A familiar fright crept over her as they approached the spot she’d been soaking. It slithered up her body, leaving goose bumps and tiny raised hairs in its wake. Feeling more proud than afraid, she slowly scanned the murky surface as she held her breath. A small part of her hoped she was wrong about what she saw, but as she quickly discovered, she wasn’t.
Marie’s eyes met with another’s. Her lungs exploded in erratic, shallow gasps that kept rhythm with her frenzied heartbeat, drumming in her ears until she grew dizzy from the intensity. She spun around and slammed her face into Raeph’s chest, shaking so hard she rattled his armor.
“That’s her! You see? I told you!”
“Where?”
“Right there!” she whimpered, pointing to the spot directly in front of her. Please don’t make me look again! The image was already burned into her brain.
Of course, she’s daft. He looked her over and heaved a disappointed sigh. She wasn’t fearless. She was crazy. “You mean this girl, right here?” He reached over and placed his hand atop Marie’s head, gently bobbing it from side to side.
“Stop mocking me! There’s nothing funny about this situation! There’s a dead woman in the water, for God’s sake!” Marie flinched when the woman suddenly pointed at her while a large hand tousled her hair. “WHAT?” she thrust her knees into the muddy banks and edged her face closer to the water.
“I’m sorry you don’t find it funny, honey, but I think it’s downright hilarious!”
Marie trembled uncontrollably as she waited impatiently for the water to settle and sharpen her reflection. Raeph’s boisterous laughter branched out in ripples, making it near impossible for the tide to calm. His mockery incited violence within her that she hadn’t even realized existed before coming here.
“I need a mirror!”
“You’ll attract more flies with honey, sweetheart.”
“Please!” She lightly touched his hand, stilling his laughter. “Please, I need a mirror.”
“Don’t know what that is,” he sharply looked away. She was frightened. A look he knew all too well.
“Something I can see my reflection clearer with. Do you have anything like that?”
“Follow me,” Raeph trudged through the water with Marie dutifully following behind. Once they hit dry land, he mindlessly plucked an Infragilis Lily from a nearby tree.
Marie nearly shot to the ground when he put the full weight of the lily in her hand. He managed to hook his arms under her before she made her descent, unintentionally slamming her face into his chest. When she pulled away, she could’ve sworn she’d seen the slightest hue of color in his cheeks, but he’d looked away too fast for her to tell.
She cupped her hands around the flower, slowly bringing it to her face. The first thing she noticed was her startling blue eyes. It was as if someone stole a piece of the heavens and trapped them within the confines of her irises, reflecting a starry night. Long, black locks shimmered like velvet, in stark juxtaposition to her creamy complexion that put fresh snow to shame.
“I need to talk to Alex right away.”
“Funny you should mention that. He’s the reason I’m here.”
“Is everything okay?” It certainly wasn’t on her end. Her face had changed completely, and she had no idea why.
“He’s fine. You’re both safe within our borders, so long as you don’t piss Fallon off.” Marie nearly laughed at that. Was such a feat possible? “He’s asking for you.”
“I need to see him too. Let’s go.” With a brisk nod, Marie began marching down the path.
“Um, sweetheart?”
“What?” she heaved an irritated sigh.
“You might want to put some clothes on first.”
“Why didn’t you say anything earlier?” she gasped, tightening the towel around her.
“Why would I?” he winked. Raeph appreciated a woman who didn’t leave much to the imagination. You knew exactly what you were getting into. In Marie’s case, quite literally.
With a comical effort to protect her modesty, Marie shifted awkwardly as she tore a small piece of fabric from her towel. She then hurled the damp cloth at Raeph’s face and gesticulated its intended purpose as makeshift blindfold. She didn’t trust Raeph any more than she trusted Fallon.
Naturally, once Raeph gathered her meaning, she was bombarded with an onslaught of jibes, thick with sexual innuendo. No surprise there, she thought, but at least he wasn’t dangerous.
It was an awkward walk back to camp. Raeph tried to initiate a conversation with the fiery female several times, but she only replied with one word answers, more polite than interested.
Marie didn’t mind her new face. In all honesty, she preferred it to the old one. Pleased as she might be, she couldn’t accept it. When a person is used to staring at the same reflection for twenty-four years and it suddenly changes without any effort on their part, it throws them through a loop, to say the least.
Marie was beginning to feel like she didn’t have control over anything, including herself. While she might appear calm on the surface, in truth, she was beginning to shut down. She felt as if she’d been backed into a corner, endlessly pummeled by surprises. A person can only take so many blows to the head before they lose themselves and go numb, and that’s exactly how she felt right now.
As usual, Marie was lost in her head and oblivious to her surroundings until they’d reached their destination. Raeph parted the crowd as he led her to a small hut she’d recognized as Fallon’s. A knot churned in her stomach as he sidestepped, extending his arm toward the open doorway and bowing at the waist. Normally, she would construe it as a gentlemanly gesture, but Marie had a feeling he was just being asinine.
“This is Fallon’s hut,” she stated, hoping he’d made a mistake.
“Well spotted. Alex is waiting for you inside,” he said the name with obvious asperity as he leisurely walked away.
Marie dragged herself over the threshold, ignoring the gnawing feeling in the pit of her gut that urged her to turn back before she saw something she didn’t want to see.
Her heart tightened in her chest. It felt like an elephant had taken up residence lounging on her sternum. If only she’d listened to her instincts, she might spare herself some pain every now and then.
Marie came to a dead stop upon seeing a hazy amalgamation of flesh. Fallon’s nude body was entwined with Alex’s in a tangle of sweaty limbs. She rested her full breasts gently on his heaving chest with a satisfied sigh, mindlessly tracing shapes over his bared torso while Alex lie fast asleep.
She knew that Fallon was just looking for a fight, but it didn’t matter. Her apathy took a nosedive as her anger clawed its way to the forefront of her emotions, screaming at her to rise to the bait.
Fallon had called Marie here, not Alex. He had better taste and more sense than that, didn’t he? She couldn’t say for sure. She was still getting to know him.
“Do you want something?” Fallon beamed upon seeing Marie, basking in what Marie hoped to god wasn’t an afterglow. She barely knew either of them yet, but the thought of them together boiled her blood.
Fallon’s voice worked like a deton
ator for a hair-trigger inside Marie, setting off an implosion. Marie bared her teeth and raised her clenched fists in a show of resistance. She didn’t have a chance in hell against Fallon, but it would be worth it if she could get one punch in. Just one blow, to smack the smug expression off her face.
“Here on Milités, baring your teeth signifies a challenge. Do you want to fight me, little sister?” Fallon jumped to her feet. She playfully hopped back and forth, completely unabashed over her state of undress.
“The thought had crossed my mind,” Marie’s courage quickly diminished as she took in Fallon’s muscular build.
“Great Lucidus, Fallon!” Cayden shielded his eyes as he entered the hut. “We don’t have time for your games!” He ripped the shirt from his back and blindly threw it in her direction.
“What’s going on?” Alex sat up groggily, confusion written clearly on his face.
“Nothing we can’t continue later.” Fallon yanked the shirt over her head and skipped to Cayden’s side.
“You’re better off not knowing. Honestly Fallon, I leave you alone for five minutes,” Cayden shook his head. “I hope you’re both feeling refreshed, because we have much to discuss,” he turned to Marie and smiled. Her stomach growled in response, piercing the awkward silence and causing a gentle wave of laughter to roll through the room. “Let’s talk while we eat, shall we?”
Marie was surprised when Cayden handed out bowls of fresh fruit. She was fine with berries and melons, but she’d expected to see flame-tinged steaks marinated in blood. Fallon seemed like the kind of person who lived to hunt, taking down her prey with her bare hands and returning with its head on a pike.
“Fallon has informed me that Aruzhan is at the castle under Canticum Dormientum. If she’s still alive, Cerin must be too. Do you think he’s at the castle as well?” Cayden wasted no time pussyfooting around the subject.
“He’d have to be a total fool. I bet my lifestone he’s in hiding,” Alex scoffed.
“How can you be so sure?” asked Cayden.
“Self-preservation.”
“I’m assuming we’re looking for Cerin solely so we can slit his throat,” Fallon interjected. “He’s betrayed his own Umbra, and in turn, all of us!”
“He’s your blood, Fallon,” hissed Cayden.
“A traitor’s a traitor. For Aruzhan to fall under Canticum Dormientum, he had to have been involved in some way. She wouldn’t go anywhere near the castle unless she was following him. He must’ve betrayed her,” Fallon snarled.
“You don’t have all the facts. You don’t know that he’s a traitor,” Cayden defended weakly.
“Come on, Cayden. Blood means nothing! The whole reason everyone’s even in this mess is because Cailene betrayed Eva-” Cayden’s hard glare stopped Fallon’s tongue cold. Marie didn’t like the idea that they might be keeping something from her, and narrowed her eyes at the thought.
“I believe Cerin was the one who was betrayed,” said Alex, deflating their squabble.
“By who? Cailene? The little brat’s not stupid enough to fall for that,” Fallon rolled her eyes.
“Marcel was at the castle, sitting proudly at Cailene’s side. His Umbra, Arécia, was caged, and she’d been tortured,” said Alex.
“I don’t think anyone’s surprised that Marcel’s turned against us, or his Umbra. Except Cerin, apparently.” Fallon clenched her teeth, feeling the sting of betrayal.
“The creep that was running his hands all over that little girl, Johanna? Why would anyone trust him?” Cayden stiffened at Marie’s words. Marcel had a reputation for taking what he wanted. The serving girls didn’t stand a chance.
“Marcel is our brother,” Fallon’s admission made Marie’s blood run cold. “Cerin can’t seem to get over that fact. I can. Like I said, a traitor’s a traitor.” There was nothing subtle about Fallon’s meaning as she disapprovingly raked her eyes over Marie.
That terrible man is my brother? What’s next? Fallon was bad enough, but she was related to Prince Marcel, too? Marie wasn’t sure which was worse. It was like comparing rotten fruit.
She dreaded meeting the rest of her siblings, and the inevitable question that was sure to surface with each new introduction: How far does the fruit fall from the tree? Like it or not, she was part of that tree, and it was full of nuts.
“Aruzhan is smart, and the strongest of our kind. She must’ve used all of her strength to help Cerin escape. That’s the only way Cailene would be able to place her under Canticum Dormientum,” Alex reasoned.
“Let’s say Cerin is in hiding. How in Lucidus’ name are we supposed to find him?” Fallon leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees and giving Alex a clear shot of her cleavage.
“Your sister, Laylia,” Alex mimicked her position.
“Laylia?” Fallon crinkled her nose in distaste. No one had seen or heard from her in years, and the family was better off for it. “Why would she know where he is? She’d be the last person I’d tell. After Mariella, that is.” To add insult to injury, Fallon talked about Marie like she wasn’t in the room.
“She may know something we don’t. Since we need all five of you to open the Agrísta, she’s the next logical step,” said Alex.
“I agree, but we find ourselves at a similar disadvantage. How do we find Laylia?” Cayden spoke up before Fallon could object.
“There have been whispers among the slaves. They suspect she’s on Anthros,” said Alex.
“Anthros? Why would she go there?” Fallon guffawed.
“It’s Laylia. Nothing surprises me when it comes to her,” Alex said tartly.
“Laylia is unique, I’ll give you that, but Anthros? The planet’s under Mahömasén! She may be reckless, but she’s no fool. She values her life, at the very least.” Cayden shot Alex an incredulous look.
“What’s Mahömasén?” Marie had kept quiet until now, listening and digesting, but she was starting to get confused.
“It means no magic,” Alex explained.
“For instance, if Alex and I went there, we’d be trapped in our human form, unable to change into our Umbraic form. That fact alone makes Anthros an incredibly dangerous place,” Cayden elaborated.
“Oh,” Marie nodded, taking everything in. “And that’s where we’re going?” she asked, failing to keep the slight quaver from her tone.
“That’s not even the best part!” Fallon’s eyes widened with excitement. Whatever she had to say couldn’t possibly be good. “There’s no place to hide in the Southern borders. The land is barren of night and shadow, dominated by the Anthro Pophagos – cannibals! The second they scent your blood, it’s over.” Fallon dramatically dragged her pointer finger across her throat. “The North knows only night and is ruled by the Nocté Bellatores. They thrive in darkness. They’ll slit your throat before you’re able to detect their presence, and that’s if you’re lucky. If they think you’re good breeding stock, they’ll steal you away to bear their young. If you’re not strong enough to survive the conception, they’ll toss you to the cannibals, half-dead. The Anthro Pophagos will smell the blood in seconds and rip you to pieces, so slowly that your heart will beat until the very last bite. You’ll be kept alive in agony for hours. Sometimes days, even!” Fallon leaned back, folding her arms behind her head. “You wouldn’t think you could survive that much pain, but you’d be amazed what the body can endure.” She smirked upon seeing Marie tremble.
“Are you done?” Cayden asked flatly. “All of that is true, unfortunately. You should know what you’re getting into, Mariella. Anthros is dangerous.”
“Know what I’m getting into? It’s not like I have a choice!”
“You always have a choice.” Alex softly grazed the side of her hand with the tip of his pinky. The sudden spark of pins and needles momentarily distracted her from her racing thoughts.
“Neither Alex nor myself will let any harm befall you. We will protect you with our lives.” Cayden placed his hand atop hers, forcing her attention.
&nbs
p; “What if you die?” Marie blurted out, unable to mask her worry.
“A little faith goes a long way.” Cayden gently tousled her hair as if she were a child, but offered her no reassurances. “Now that we have food in our stomachs and know our next course of action, we should take this time to reflect and get some rest. We’re going to need it. We’ll reconvene first thing in the morning.” Cayden rose to his feet. “You two can stay here. Fallon and I will bunk elsewhere.”
“I want to stay with Alex!” Fallon pouted as Cayden shoved her out the door, slamming it behind him.
He expects me to rest after that? That’s a joke! Marie stared at the bed in awkward silence, willing Alex to say a friendly word to break the tension.
“How are we going to do this?” Alex finally asked.
“I don’t know if I can.” Marie took a shaky breath and threw herself down on the bed.
“I was referring to the sleeping arrangements,” Alex teased in an attempt to lighten the mood.
“We can share the bed, but don’t get any ideas,” Marie said, half-joking.
“Upon my honor, I would die before thinking impure thoughts of you!” Alex’s words came out harsher than he’d intended, yielding an unsatisfied look from Marie.
“Thanks,” Marie bit out, rolling her eyes. Alex meant well, but his heart and his tongue seemed to be of two different minds. “After Fallon’s little bedtime story, I don’t want to sleep alone tonight,” she added softly.
Marie stuffed herself into the far corner of the bed, clutching her stomach while butterflies ran amok. Alex meticulously placed himself beside her, close enough that she was cognizant of his every move, yet just out of reach.
Each warm exhale danced along the nape of her neck. The sensation brought a rose to her cheeks, stirring up repressed desire that was better off buried deep.
Marie was by no means inexperienced, but after several sloppy breakups, she’d sworn off men for good and stopped putting an effort into her appearance. It may have been a cliché tactic too well-known among her gender, but so far, caution kept her out of harm’s way.
