The Fountain of Truth (Tales of the Dark Fae Book 1)
Page 24
Dorian slipped between them and grabbed Iris by the shoulders. "Don't be afraid. And don't let him touch you."
One of the guards grabbed him and pushed him back next to Raven. She watched them both take a step back as the guards crossed their long spears to block their passage. There was something in the way Dorian looked at her that she'd never noticed before, a mixture of fear and regret. She turned around and followed Kane up the steps.
Compared to its façade, the inside of the church was more frightening and beautiful at the same time. The ceiling was made of skull plates, perfectly sutured together. Hanging from it were seven massive chandeliers. They had columns made of long bones welded together, candlestick socket rings in the form of a flower with vertebrae for petals, and pendeloques made of ulnas hanging from every one of the seven arms. They all held burning candles, the main source of light inside the church.
There were six bell-shaped columns sustaining the massive ceiling, made entirely of skulls placed one on top of the other. The walls were covered in tibias arranged in diamond shapes, filled with dozens of small bones, probably from fingers and toes. Along the walls were throne-like chairs, those too made of bones. Just above the chairs, about half way up the walls, ran a long string of skulls, like a circle of ancestors watching over their followers.
There seemed to be no visible spot around her that wasn't covered by a piece of skeleton. At first, Iris thought that the structure was made of rock and the remains added afterwards, but now she was almost sure that the church was made solely of bones. It didn't matter that it defied the laws of physics. They were in a magical place and, if she'd learned anything about magic, it was that it trumped physics anytime.
"Are you scared?" Kane asked.
What kind of question was that? Was she scared? Of course she was scared. Out of her mind scared. Don't be afraid. Surprisingly, Dorian's voice, even if just as a memory, had a calming effect. "A little," she answered.
He smiled. "You're handling it quite well, I must admit. Most humans collapse to the ground just by looking at it from the outside. But you're—"
"Special?"
"I hear you can control the hellhounds."
"Yes. That's why I wanted to speak to you."
"Really?" He seemed genuinely surprised. He came close to her and removed a rebel lock from her face. One hair got caught in his ring and she winced. "I apologize," he said and withdrew his hand, taking out his ring and sliding in inside his pocket.
"I found this through my father's belongings." Iris took out the business card and handed it to him. "I was wondering if you knew him."
Kane took the card and flipped it between his fingers a few times before he raised his eyes and locked them on her. There was something in the way he looked at her, like he was fascinated.
"So, did you know him?"
"No. I'm afraid not."
Iris was disappointed. So much trouble for nothing.
"Is that what you came here to ask me?"
"Well, no. But my question was based on the assumption that you and my father knew each other."
"What is your question?"
"I was wondering if you could tell me what I am."
"You're human."
"I know that. I meant, how come I can control the hounds."
"If I answer that, what do I get in return?"
"I have nothing that could possibly be of interest to you."
"Oh, but you do." He put out his hand. "Would you mind giving me your hand?"
Iris' heart skipped a beat. Don't let him touch you. She hesitated. "Why?"
"Do you know why I'm the ruler of this little kingdom?" Although he kept smiling and his voice was polite, Iris' stomach was tied in a painful knot. "It's because I can tell whether or not someone's lying to me. How? I can see into their past. I can find out everything they've done and everything that happened to them. This ability helps me determine whom I can trust and who's done something bad. Think of it as my way of getting to know someone better. Will you let me get to know you?"
"How's it going to help you tell me what I am? There's nothing in my past that's out of the ordinary."
"It might help, or it might not. But that's your payment for my assistance. If you don't want to, you're free to leave."
Iris thought about the Elwoods and how they would be affected if Kane, or anyone for that matter, had insight into their lives.
"If you're worried about the Guardians, don't be. There's nothing that I don't already know about them. Trust me. And that includes the fact that they're trying their best to deal with the hellhounds without the Council's involvement. If anything, I might actually be able to help them."
"How did you—"
"I have my methods. I haven't been out of this cave in a very, very long time, and yet I know every little thing that happens in the supernatural world. Like, for instance, the fact that you're their little human protégé."
"Fine. Do it," she said, extending her arm towards him.
He took her hand, gently, as if he was taking his time to savor the moment. His hand was warm and smooth. His fingers lingered on the bracelet around her wrist. There was a spark in his eyes, and his face lit up. It only lasted for a split second before he raised his head and looked into her eyes. "Try not to resist, otherwise it will hurt. A lot."
At first she felt nothing. Then her scalp started to tingle and her brain began to press against her skull. Her ears were ringing, just like when she was on a plane about to touch down. Then it really started to hurt. "Stop," she said, but it seemed that Kane was too absorbed by her memories to hear her. "Stop!" She withdrew her hand and took a step back. When he looked at her, he was smiling, but there was something in his eyes that didn't express joy but more like awe.
"So?" she managed to ask, between the gasping and the panting.
"Whatever you do, do not let the Council find out about you."
It had all been for nothing. The struggle for clues, the fights with the Elwoods to defend her quest, all the time she'd put herself and her friends in danger—all for nothing. There was no one who could tell her what she was.
When she walked out of the church, she saw Dorian and Raven in the same spot as before. Dorian pushed through the two guards in front of them and ran to her.
"Are you alright?" He grabbed her shoulders. There was genuine concern in his voice.
Kane showed up in the church door and Dorian led Iris to Raven. "Watch her, will you? I must talk to him."
Raven nodded. "We'll be waiting at the front gate."
Dorian ran up the stairs and followed Kane inside. Iris and Raven turned around and headed back the way they'd come from.
"So what did he say?" Raven asked as they made their way through the crowd.
"Nothing. He doesn't know what I am. Or, if he does, he wouldn't tell me."
"Did he—"
"Look into my past? Yes."
"And still nothing?"
Iris nodded and for a few minutes neither of them said anything. Raven spoke first. "Don't despair. It took me five years to discover my power. Plus, it doesn't really matter what you are. It's what you can do that's important."
Iris didn't have time to answer. A tall, slim girl caught her attention—well, not so much the girl as the giant green plant with dozens of dark blue tentacles that she was carrying and which seemed… alive. As the girl passed by them, one of the tentacles attached itself to Iris' hair. Iris winced and grabbed the lock that was about to be pulled out from the roots. The owner stopped and slapped the tentacle, which immediately withdrew and hid among its sisters. The girl took a bow and apologized a few times, even though Iris reassured her that it was okay. As they moved forward, she heard the girl scolding the plant behind them.
Iris ran her fingers through her hair, up until then carefully gathered with small pins at the back of her head. It was a mess and she could tell. On top of that, the lock that she'd nearly lost was wet and sticky.
"Yuck." She looked around
to see if anyone else saw her, when she spotted Logan. She ran to him but the vampire that was guarding him stopped her before she could reach him.
"Please, I don't want to cause any trouble. I know he's with you now. But we used to be friends and I just want to say goodbye to him. That's all. I promise."
The vampire didn't say anything. Iris took that as a yes and stepped towards Logan.
"Iris." Raven's voice was cautious.
She ignored it and put her arms around Logan. "I'm gonna get you out of here," she whispered, lowering her right arm to hold his hand.
"Enough," the vampire barked.
She kept whispering. "Just hang on, okay? I'll find a way."
"I said, enough." A cold hand grabbed her arm and snapped her away from Logan.
"Hey," Raven intervened. "Let her go."
"You're the Guardian's human doll," the vampire said, staring at Iris like he'd just stumbled onto a long-lost treasure. "I'm gonna make a fortune on you."
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Dorian emerged from the crowd with a deadly expression on his face and stopped next to Iris.
"I know you said not to get myself into trouble…" she started.
"I said, don't do anything stupid."
The vampire spoke before she could answer. "Really? What's stopping me from adding the famous human who can control hellhounds to my pet collection?"
"Only the fact that she's claimed, and the owner is a killer whose reputation is only matched by his good looks and sense of humor."
"The Guardian?"
"No, you bloody idiot. The Guardians have yet to grasp the concept of humor. I'm talking about me. As the song goes, the girl is mine."
Iris didn't see when the vampire threw the first punch. In a fight where everyone had superhuman speed, everything was a blurry mix of colored lines, blended into one another like in a painting. She did hear howls and grunts, curses, and the cheering crowd in the background. A pair of strong hands, which she supposed were Raven's, dragged her away but only for a few feet before they let go of her to block a wooden staff whooshing towards them. She stumbled and lost her balance but someone caught her before she hit the ground. He heart skipped a bit when she lifted her eyes to look at her savior.
"Connor? You shouldn't be here."
He looked angry. "Neither should you, yet here we are. Come on!"
He put his arm around her shoulders and led her through the crowd towards the exit. But they didn't get far before someone recognized him.
"A Guardian!"
In a split second they were surrounded from all sides by dozens of hatred-filled eyes. Dorian had been right. Connor and his family really were personas non-grata inside the Underground Society.
Her eyes darted left and right, waiting for the angry mob to descend upon them. Her temples were throbbing and every breath she took made her chest hurt. Connor's grip on her hand numbed her fingers.
Raven and Dorian were behind them. They were all back to back now, as the crowd was closing in, and Iris had one sole thought in her mind—they were not getting out of there alive.
Then, just as they were about to be swallowed, a voice resounded from the distance and everyone stopped, like someone had just pressed the pause button.
"Enough!"
She couldn't tell where it was coming from until the crowd split open, making way for a group of guards to enter the circle. Behind them, Kane.
"You should know better than to cause trouble in my house."
"Listen—" Dorian began, but he was cut off by a wave of the hand.
Kane looked around at the crowd. "No need to explain. I'll find out myself." His eyes locked on Logan's master. "You. Come here."
The vampire didn't seem to have any wounds but his clothes were torn and bloody. He came forward with careful steps. Kane put his hand on the vampire's forehead and closed his eyes. A few seconds later, the vampire was on his knees, writhing and screaming. Iris shuddered, remembering how painful having someone look into your memories was. When the process was over, the vampire crawled away and hid among the crowd.
When Kane spoke, his voice was calm but there was something in it that reminded Iris of the old bosses in mobster movies. There was a tomb-like silence around them that made it seem like he was talking on a microphone."I like this town, you know? It's small, secluded, it has plenty of mountains to hide in, and the humans are nice. Plus, lately I've noticed that it's a very entertaining place to live in. So I don't want it destroyed, which is exactly what's going to happen if you don't kill those hounds tonight and the Council steps in to do it. That's the only reason the four of you get to leave this place alive." Iris felt relieved, hearing his words, but she was afraid to show it. Kane went on. "Dorian, next time you come in here with a human, explain them the rules and make sure they understand them. Iris, your friend stays with his new master. It's the law and there's nothing I can do about it. And speaking of claiming, I hear you now belong to Dorian? I thought you were the Guardians' pet."
"I—I'm not…" Iris looked at Connor. There was horror in his eyes.
"Well, I know from your memories that the Guardians haven't actually claimed you, so," he raised his voice, as if he wanted to make sure everyone there heard him, "let it be known that the human officially belongs to Dorian now."
Dorian's eyes narrowed. Connor's face was grey.
Kane took a step towards Raven. "Your Highness, you shouldn't put yourself in such disadvantageous situations. As much as I would love that, I don't think you'd like to fall unconscious in my house now, would you?" He then turned to Connor. "And you, Guardian. Are you stupid? What possessed you to come in here?"
Iris looked at Connor. His eyes moved to her for a split second before they returned to fixing Kane, but it was enough for the latter to understand. "The girl? If she's so important to you, then why haven't you properly claimed her? She's Dorian's now." He chuckled. "I will enjoy watching this love triangle unfold. Especially with so many things that will need to be sacrificed—titles, life missions." He fixed each one of them for a long time before he spoke again. "You can leave now."
They all turned around and headed towards the open entrance. Before they stepped outside, Kane issued one last warning. "Make sure you don't screw this up. Like I said, I don't want to lose this town."
26
The Hellhounds
"So? What did Kane say? Is there a possible positive outcome to this suicide mission?" Raven asked.
"The hounds only listen to one master at a time and that master must wear Satune's Seal. The girl is some sort of anomaly." He turned to Iris, who was walking by their side. "No offense, love."
"That's alright. You're not the first one to call me that. I'm actually starting to get used to it."
He chuckled and went on. "The mark makes the connection between the master's mind and the hounds. The only way to take Vincent's power over them is to sever that connection. That's usually done by shifting the Seal from one master to another, but that ship has sailed, since Elwood used the last Mawi silversword powder available on a fifty mile radius." He raised his voice. "And failed."
Connor, who was walking a few feet ahead, looked back. There was contempt in his eyes. Iris remembered the night the Elwoods tried to transfer Satune's Seal from Vincent to Connor and wondered how things would have turned out if she hadn't stopped the hounds. At the time she thought they were going to die, but was it right for her to interfere when they were ready to make that sacrifice?
She left Dorian and Raven and caught up with him. "Connor…" He didn't react. She knew that he was mad at her. She'd broken her promise, betrayed his trust and put their mission in danger. Again. "I'm sorry."
He looked at her. The disappointment in his eyes struck her like an arrow to the heart. "You let him claim you?"
She was shocked. Of all the things he could be angry with her for, that was the last one she would have thought of.
"Do you even know what that means?" he went on.
&nbs
p; "I guess it means that since everyone seems to be afraid of him, no one with try to hurt me?"
He scoffed. "It also means that all his enemies are your enemies now. And trust me, he has a lot of enemies."
When they reached the clearing, the sun was almost touching the mountain peaks. The sky was a clear mixture of pink, purple and orange. Lorelai and Aeryn were pacing on opposite sides of the clearing. As soon as they saw Iris and the others, they both ran towards them. Cyrus was nowhere to be seen. Remembering their conversation back at the Elwood mansion and his promise that he would be there to watch them burn the hounds, Iris wondered whether he was hiding somewhere behind the trees.
"Oh, thank God you're okay," Aeryn said to Connor.
Lorelai looked at Iris like she wanted to kill her, then at Dorian and Raven like she was about to throw up.
Connor looked around the clearing. "Is everything ready?"
"Yes. All we need now is Vincent."
Iris jerked. "Vincent?"
"He's bringing us the hounds." Connor explained.
"I don't understand."
"He's giving us control over him so we can burn them."
"Just like that?"
Iris was confused but didn't get the chance to ask more. Connor took a step forward and cursed, looking at his feet.
"What is it?" Aeryn asked.
"The ground is still wet."
"I can help with that," Raven stepped in. Without waiting for an answer, he walked into the middle of the clearing and put his arms out, palms down. He closed his eyes. A few seconds later, thousands of little drops rose from the ground, like rain in a zero gravity environment. They stopped about seven feet in the air and dispersed into the woods around the clearing. When he opened his eyes again, the ground inside the circle looked like a piece of landscape from the Death Valley.
"It's such a shame you're a hunted criminal. You could do so many great things with that power of yours, Your Highness." The voice came from the woods to their left. Iris shuddered, and fought the rage building in her chest. They all watched him reach the edge of the forest, with the hounds close behind him. When he stopped, they stopped.