Dark Ascension

by J. D. Brown

  “He already knows.” Brinnon made a casual gesture with the comb.

  Roman nodded in agreement as if to say, “It’s true, I know everything.”

  “Okay then.” I crossed my arms and sat on the foot of the bed. “Will one of you explain it to me?”

  Brinnon tossed the comb onto the nightstand. It landed next to the incense burner. “Tancred wants me to absolve the contract.”

  “Yes, you mentioned that already.”

  “I won’t.” He looked pointedly at me, gaze stern. As if I had ever doubted him.

  “Good to know,” I said. “So what’s the problem?”

  “The problem is there are other ways for Tancred to get what he wants. He has a seat on the Alpan Council. He’s threatened to take the issue before them if I don’t absolve it quietly.”

  I let that sink in, and then wrinkled my nose. “He’s blackmailing you? Can he do that?”

  “He already has,” Roman noted. He hung back by the closed bedroom door and crossed his arms.

  I looked at Brinnon. “But, would the Council even care? It’s a private contract.”

  “It might be private, but it involves the entire royal line.” Brinnon nodded. “They will care.”

  “Worse,” said Roman. “They could question Brinnon’s rule. They could decide he isn’t fit to wear the crown.”

  “What?” I pushed from the bed and stood. “They can take away his title? After he’s already ascended?”

  “It won’t come to that.” Brinnon glared at his brother. “Don’t be so dramatic.” To me, he said, “I do not believe Tancred has any desire to go that far, but it would help to have all of my siblings’ signatures on the contract so that I can present a united front to refute him. The Council will see no reason to interfere in private family business so long as the family is not divided. To that end, I’ve enlisted my brother’s help.” Brinnon nodded at Roman. “But I need you to do your part with him.”

  “Sure,” I said. “Name it.”

  “That dance,” said Roman. He stepped away from the door and stood next to his bother. It was odd. They looked nothing alike. Roman clearly took care of his body, but he was thin compared Brinnon’s brawny physique, and while he was tall, Roman didn’t stand quite as regally. “It was a bold statement. Now everyone knows you have the crown on your side, but it’s not quite enough on its own. You must be seen to have an interest in the crown as well.”

  “What does that mean?” I asked.

  “Your loyalty might be... questioned,” said Brinnon.

  “Questioned?”

  “We have Auda to thank for that,” said Roman.

  “Our sister is a well of empty threats, but she will be the most difficult to sway nonetheless, and—”

  “And she’s a loudmouth,” Roman added.

  “—And,” said Brinnon, “Tancred knows that. He may use her to rally our other siblings.”

  “So what do you want me to do, talk to her?” I offered. Why not? Maybe we’d get along great if we got to know each other.

  “We just want you to be present,” said Brinnon.

  “Be out among the people,” Roman explained. “Let them see you. Let them get to know you. Don’t hide in your room.”

  Damn. I liked hiding in my room. Or, well, I liked hiding. Not necessarily in my room, because Mom was in my room.

  “You want me to campaign. I can do that.” I hoped.

  “Good,” said Brinnon. “And Roman will help you.”

  Roman nodded in confirmation, but he didn’t look particularly happy about it.

  “Do either of you know why Tancred changed his mind? I mean, Jesu said Tancred spoke highly of me just last night, at the funeral. I thought he was on our side.”

  The guys exchanged glances, then Brinnon sighed. “It would seem he was always against it, but he trusted my father.”

  I shook my head. “What are you saying? Tancred doesn’t trust me? He doesn’t trust you?”

  Roman put an arm around my shoulders in a friendly half-hug. “Hey, don’t worry. We’ll show that blockhead a thing or two about disrespecting his King.”

  I sucked in a deep breath and held it. I was glad Brinnon had such a supportive brother, but I couldn’t help thinking Roman had somehow been coerced into this. Still, I did trust Brinnon. He had absolutely no reason to help me, to put his reign on the line, yet he was anyway. Even if it was just to honor his father. That meant a lot to me, and I would do everything in my power to make it worth his while.

  “I have to go,” said Brinnon. “Mom will skin me alive if I don’t thank our guests before they leave.”

  I didn’t want our conversation to end yet, but the questions I had—about Valafar and the Adders Tongue and our prior discussion regarding Lilith—would have to wait until Brinnon and I were alone.

  Roman released me so that I could ‘change into something more dignified.’ His words. Instead, I went straight to Jesu’s room. I waited outside the door a moment to make sure I wasn’t interrupting anything—a thought that set my teeth on edge. I could hear Jesu’s slow, even heartbeat as I pushed my senses past the hollowed wood and over the space beyond. Fortunately, his was the only pulse present.

  I knocked. When no answer came, I knocked a little harder. “Jesu? I can hear you breathing.”

  Still no answer. I took a step back and glanced at the guards. One of them shrugged. The other made a sort of nodding gesture to indicate that Jesu was indeed in his room.

  “Hmm.” I tried the knob. It was unlocked, so I opened it. The door caught against some object on the floor, and I had to give it a few good shoves to open it wide enough. Once inside, I saw that it was Jesu’s tuxedo jacket that had gotten caught under the door. His shirt, bowtie, and shoes were also on the floor, leaving a trail that lead to the bed. If there had been even a hint of a lady’s things among them, I would have panicked and left, but there was none.

  Jesu lay flat on the bed, topless, but with his tuxedo pants still on, thank God. One arm was tucked behind his head while music blared from a set of headphones over his ears. That explained why he didn’t come to the door. He noticed me in the corner of his vision and sat upright while tearing off the headphones.

  “What?” His tone startled me, and I took half a step back.

  “Um, I just...”

  “Do not apologize.” His sidelong gaze was dark, patronizing. He placed the headphones over his ears and laid back, crossing his arms over his chest—which did nothing at all to hide his washboard abs.

  Apologize for what? I wondered.

  I crossed the room to the other side of the bed, where a 1980s Walkman sat on the nightstand, and pressed the stop button. The music died. Jesu once again sat upright and calmly removed his headphones, glowering at me.

  “We need to talk,” I said. “Stuff is happening.”

  “So?”

  “So?” I lifted my brow and sat on the edge of the bed. “So I don’t know what to do. I’m in over my head. Tancred wants Brinnon to absolve the contract. He’s even threatened to take it before the Alpan Council. Brinnon seems to think we can convince the rest of his brothers and sisters to sign it before Tancred acts, and that doing so will somehow make it unimportant to the Council and we’ll win over Tancred, but... I’m not sure what all this means exactly. Brinnon’s family knows I’m Romani and they’re not happy about it. What if Tancred tells the Council? What will they do? What will it mean for my family? Should I be worried?”

  I looked at Jesu.

  He gave me a blank stare and then shrugged. “What do I care?”

  I blinked. “What do you... what? Jesu?”

  “Sounds like something you should discuss with your fiancé.” He reached across the bed, pressed the play button on the Walkman, and put the headphones over his ears again. This time when he lay back, he closed his eyes, ignoring me.

  Fiancé? Seriously? My face burned as I bit back the urge to tell him how stupid he was for being jealous. But what difference did it m
ake? We couldn’t be together. He had Bridget. And whatever I did was none of his business. Did I honestly think Jesu would follow me around forever when I gave him every reason not to?

  “Brinnon’s gay,” I said, even though Jesu’s eyes were still closed, and he couldn’t hear me. “He’s gay. We’re not getting married. The dance was a metaphor.” I didn’t know why I was telling him when he wasn’t listening. I winced, remembering my promise to the king. “You can’t tell anyone,” I added. “I promised I wouldn’t.”

  I waited. Some part of me hoped Jesu heard even though he was being an ass right now.

  When he didn’t move, the fissure in my chest grew to a gaping wound.

  “Okay, Jesu.” I pushed away from the bed and glanced at him one last time. Then I promptly marched out of the room, too mortified and heartbroken to stay a second longer.

  Mom was snoring in bed when I entered our room. I wanted to slam the door shut and rip the gown to shreds. Instead, I quietly closed the door, tiptoed to the dressing nook, and quickly changed into black pants and a maroon halter top with a silk overlay. I really wanted to wear jeans and a sweatshirt, but Brinnon wanted me to be among the people. His people. Royalty and politics. From what I’d seen of his people so far, they didn’t appreciate sweatshirts. I left my makeup alone because it wasn’t too heavy, but decided to unpin my hair. I brushed my fingers through the curls, turning them into loose waves, and then pulled the whole thing back into a modest ponytail.

  “Business-appropriate,” I muttered at my reflection, but all I really saw were the bags under my eyes, puffy with unshed tears. I sighed, feeling completely hollow. But wallowing wasn’t going to help Brinnon, so I swallowed my pride, slipped on some shoes, and went to the door.

  I opened it and nearly crashed into the Princess.

  “Oh!” Sara fumbled with the silver serving tray in her hands, but managed to compose herself without dropping anything. I moved aside, giving her room to put the tray on the nightstand. Then we both went into the hall, and I closed the door so we wouldn’t wake Mom.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked.

  “Oh, well, I noticed you didn’t eat much at dinner, so...” She gestured to the door, indicating the food inside.

  “Thanks, but shouldn’t you be at the ball or, I don’t know, doing something more princess-y with your time?”

  She had already changed out of her gown—it had been a stunning champagne color with a simple cut that accentuated her tiny frame—into her usual modest skirt and blouse ensemble. Color bloomed over her doll-like features and she glanced to the side, her head bowed.

  “Actually, I have been wanting to apologize.”

  “For what?”

  “Prince Jalmari asked me to...” she hesitated as she glanced at the guards, “...do something terrible.”

  That got my attention. “Sara, what happened?”

  She winced, and her voice was barely a whisper. “He asked me to find his father’s ring.”

  Panic wrapped my heart in an iron grip and squeezed. I grabbed Sara’s shoulders and shook her. “I need you to answer me very honestly. Did you find it?”

  “No!”

  The relief was so instant and powerful, I let go of her and sagged against the wall. I didn’t know how much more abuse my poor heart could endure. Sara pressed a fist against her lips and bit her knuckles. The poor thing looked close to tears, and I felt like an idiot all over again.

  “Oh Sara, I’m so sorry.” I wrapped her in a hug.

  She shook her head. Maybe. Her whole body trembled, so it was hard to tell. “No, I deserve it. I’m a bad friend. Simply terrible. I’m no friend at all.”

  “Relax. You didn’t find it anyway, so no harm done.”

  “But I tried. What would I have done if I had found it? Would I have given it to him? Would I have betrayed you?”

  I pulled both lips between my teeth and bit down to keep from laughing. I didn’t think Sara could betray a mouse. I held her at arms’ length and looked her in the eyes. “No, Sara you wouldn’t have. Because I know you are a good friend. I trust you completely.”

  She lowered her gaze. “A better friend would have spit in the Prince’s face. Everyone worships him, you know? But in real life he’s so rude.”

  I chuckled that time. Rude was putting it mildly.

  “You don’t have to deal with him,” I said. “Have a server send him his meals, or heck, maybe you accidently forget a meal or two. I bet that would straighten him out.”

  She smiled, but it quickly faded. “It’s just that...” Her cheeks tinged pink, but it seemed to annoy her this time. She rubbed at them and furrowed her brow. “No, you are right, of course. I am a princess. If he won’t treat me as such, then he does not deserve my company.”

  “That’s the spirit.”

  Sara grinned. A true, genuine smile for once. “Thank you.”

  I shrugged. “What are girlfriends for?”

  That made her glow all over. “Well,” she said. “I won’t keep you.”

  “Don’t be a stranger though.”

  She nodded happily and then disappeared past the stone tower.

  I went in the opposite direction, hoping to avoid any straggling guests who might still be ambling from the ballroom to the foyer. I knew Brinnon had said to be seen—but there was just one person in particular I needed to see first.

  CHAPTER 10

  The heavy medieval-era door opened to a rickety wooden staircase. The steps disappeared into the darkness below. I took the lone torch from its sconce on the wall, closed the door, and descended. A damp chill worked its way into my bones as I reached the ground level. Metal bars rose from the compact dirt floor. Jalmari’s cell was the last one on the right.

  His inky black silhouette unfolded from the shadows before the torch light ebbed over his hunched form. He sat, legs sprawled out in front of him, with his back to the wall. He watched me, his pale green irises the only thing that moved. The scars on his hands and face were nearly invisible, his raven hair thicker than when I saw him last. He wasn’t broken anymore. He’d healed, and now he was a predator in a cage. My gaze slid to the electronic collar around his neck and the metal cuffs on his wrists.

  Jalmari chuckled. “Wondering how long they can keep me here, rat?”

  I stiffened at the cadence of his voice. Only Jalmari could sound so sure of himself while rotting in the dark, but he wasn’t wrong, and that’s what made him so scary. I drew a deep breath to calm my nerves. You can do this. I should’ve thought of it before. Jalmari lived with Apollyon in his subconscious for a thousand years. If anyone understood what was happening to my children, it would be him. He helped me beat his father once. Why not again?

  “Do you know what Apollyon did to our child?”

  His gaze narrowed. “Don’t you mean children?”

  I tensed. How did he know? Who could’ve told him? My gaze slid to a small pile of books inside his cell, and I sighed. Sara...

  The chains rattled slightly as Jalmari leaned forward and pulled his legs under him. “I told you he wanted out—one way or another. You can’t give birth to him, Ema. The twins must die.”

  “You’re sick.” I scowled. This wasn’t going to work. Even if Jalmari knew some way to save our children, he wasn’t going to use it. He was convinced they needed to die. I rolled my eyes and turned away.

  “I’m surprised the alchemist couldn’t help.”

  I froze and then faced him. “What alchemist?”

  He stood. The chains whined as he dragged them across the ground, coming closer. I backed away. His mouth curved as though my fear pleased him, and then he pressed his face against the bars. “Maria knows.”

  My brow furrowed. “Maria knows what?”

  “About the alchemist.”

  I shook my head. “You’re messing with me. Nice try.”

  He shrugged. “I won’t be in here forever. One of us will eventually deal with my father.”

  “Listen, you.” I held
the torch between us, angling the flame end toward Jalmari. He hissed at the light and backed away. “Yeah, don’t think I won’t burn you again. You stay away from my children, and stay away from Sara. She’s done with you.”

  I ran up the stairs, pausing only to return the torch, and then hurried back to the guest wing. Jalmari was lying. If Maria knew about another alchemist—a real alchemist—she would’ve told me. Or maybe she did find a real alchemist, but he was evil? Maybe he worked for Jalmari and Maria didn’t think it was safe. Whatever the reason, I had to know. Because if we’d really reached the end of the line, then I needed to talk to Naamah about finding Lilith.

  I knocked on Maria’s bedroom door. Naamah opened it. He still wore his tux, though the bowtie and jacket had been discarded. Concern creased his brow.

  “Is everything all right?”

  “Is Maria with you?”

  He pulled the door with him as he stepped aside, and I entered. Maria sat in bed, wearing a beige dress slip. Her peppered black hair spilled over the length of her arms. I paused and averted my gaze.

  “Sorry if I’m interrupting.”

  “Not at all, darling. Come. Sit.” She patted a spot on the bed, but I stayed where I was while Naamah shut the door. It was the first time I had ever seen Maria in so little clothing. She always kept her arms and legs covered. Now I knew why. A patchwork of scars crisscrossed her arms, starting at her wrists and climbing past her elbows. I didn’t know where they ended as they disappeared beneath the long locks of her hair.

  She turned her arms inward and rose from the bed. “Those are very old,” she said, taking a shawl off a hook and wrapping it around herself.

  “Sorry,” I murmured.

  “Maria told me about Lilith,” Naamah offered. “But I must agree with my wife; involving the succubus would not be wise.”

  “What other choice do I have?” I said. “Unless you’ve found another alchemist?” I glimpsed at Maria. Her arms were crossed under the shawl, holding it tight. She lowered her gaze and shook her head. “Not yet, but I am not giving up hope. We must exhaust every option and not allow ourselves to become desperate.”