Entangled (Beauty Never Dies Chronicles Book 2)

by J. L. Weil

  “That’s incredible.”

  Her shoulders slumped as she pushed to her feet, tucking a blanket draped on the back of the couch over Dash. “And also an enormous burden.”

  I didn’t want to leave his side, so I stayed put. “Does the Institute know about you?”

  Celeste shook her head, her bracelets clattering together. “No, I’ve been hiding here at the edge of the mist. The Night’s Guard avoids coming too close, but the mist doesn’t bother me, not like it does those who haven’t been touched by its vapors.”

  Interesting. It was probably risky to test out its effects on me. The last thing I wanted was a fifth color added to the rainbow in my eyes. “I don’t know how to thank you. I owe you, Celeste. If there is anything I can do …”

  “You don’t owe me anything. It is my gift, and it does not come with a price tag.”

  “I won’t forget what you’ve done for him, for us.”

  “He still needs to make it through the night. I’m not going to ask if you would like to rest, but if you change your mind, there is a spare room in the back of the house. It is yours if you decide to close your eyes for a bit.” She left me alone with Dash. Ryker had wandered outside not long after Celeste had started the healing process. As far as I knew, he could have shifted into the Blinken again and left me here. I wouldn’t let my mind concern itself with the guard. There was no room for him until I knew Dash would live.

  My eyes drifted over Dash. It was impossible to believe that he had come so close to the brink of death. Invincible to me, seeing Dash hurt made him human. The only good thing about this world was Dash, and if I let my mind travel down the dark path of life without him, fresh tears would fall. I didn’t want to cry anymore.

  Laying my head on the edge of the couch cushion near his face, I let myself waver in and out of a state of unconsciousness that wasn’t quite sleep. A few hours went by before I finally stirred, stiff and disoriented for a few seconds. Then I saw Dash. He hadn’t moved a muscle.

  Standing up, I stretched out my muscles, putting feeling back into them. I leaned down and brushed the hair off his face, and my lip trembled. I needed a moment of fresh air before the waterworks came rushing back.

  Outside, a quarter moon beamed over the marsh. I gazed across the swampy waters, seeing the greenish blue mist dance and sway in the air. A mild breeze fluttered my hair as I took a deep breath, expecting to smell the muddy swamp or the poison on the other side. Instead, the fragrance of flowers in moonlight tickled my senses. It was quiet and peaceful here at the edge of the Heights, even a bit dreamy—not quite as magical as the Wisps, but if someone wanted to disappear, this was the place to do it.

  Sitting on the front stoop, my eyes were drawn to the toxic vapor that had changed the world, and I found myself lost in the past, in that hectic day that changed all of our lives. The terror that perfumed the air. The helplessness we all felt. And the cries for aid as the mist burned the skin, invaded the lungs, and scorched the eyes. I blinked, and the screams shifted as the past morphed into the future.

  The echo of a thousand shrieks pierced my ears, but all I could see was the cloudy mist that blanketed me. I could no longer see the little cottage or the marsh. There was nothing but the mist.

  Don’t fall apart. It is only a vision.

  Lifting my hand in front of me, I reached out, drawing random patterns in the air, and watched the mist wrap around my fingers as I moved. I was alone and lonely… or was I? Something appeared in the mist, a dot or two. I squinted, taking a step forward but careful not to go too far. What was that? Two neon green dots glowed through the hazy fog, moving closer to me, and a chill skirted up my spine.

  Instinct told me not to get closer, but where was there to go?

  My breathing tripled as what could have been a pair of eyes drew near. “Hello?” I called out. “Is someone there?”

  Silence. Not even the wind blew.

  I stood frozen, uncertain what to do. I wanted nothing more than for the vision to end, but at the same time, I was curious. What was out there?

  A hand touched my shoulder and I was jerked back to the present, staring into Ryker’s golden eyes. “Hey, you okay? I called your name, but you just looked right through me, like a ghost.”

  I was cold. So very cold. Rubbing my hands up and down my arms, I nodded. “I thought I saw something.”

  Ryker stiffened. “Where?”

  “In the mist. I can’t be sure, but I thought I saw a pair of eyes. That’s crazy, isn’t it?” I kept my voice low.

  “Do you really have to ask yourself that?”

  “If what I saw is true, then is there a possibility of life beyond the mist?”

  “I’m more concerned with what kind of life it is. Nothing can live within the mist for long periods without being affected, not even us who have been touched by it. Is that all you saw?”

  Dumbfounded, I tilted my head. “You know I have visions?”

  Ryker chuckled. “I know many things about you, Charlotte Winston.”

  Any other person would have made that statement sound creepy. Yet coming from Ryker, it seemed more curious. “How long have you been watching me for the Institute?”

  Ryker shook his head, waving a hand in the air. “You have it all wrong. I’m not a spy for the Institute. I’ve been feeding the network information about the movements of the Night’s Guard.”

  My brows drew together. “Why would you do that? If they found out what you’ve been doing—”

  “I know the risks,” Ryker cut in. “Remember when I told you that Dash found me? I owe him my life and my sanity. What the Institute did to him was wrong.”

  “So you feel obligated to help a friend.” I could get behind that.

  “It’s more than just that. The Institute isn’t some monster organization trying to rule this new world. Something has them nervous.”

  I bit my lower lip. “Nervous enough to build an army. I’ve come to that conclusion myself. But what is it?”

  Alert and tense, Ryker glanced out beyond the marsh. “We don’t know, but if the Institute doesn’t succeed in finding a way to defend the Heights, we’re going to need to be ready. They might want to keep this on the down low, but I refuse to be a sitting duck while they play in their labs.”

  “And no one has seen what the threat could possibly be? What if it is the mist? What if it is not receding as the Institute thinks?” We could throw possibilities at each other all day, yet it wouldn’t give us the answers we wanted, but still, I couldn’t help contemplating.

  “They have seers with the sight constantly looking, but you of all people know how unpredictable the future can be,” Ryker pointed out.

  I did. It was frustrating to say the least. For example, why didn’t I have a vision of Dash getting stabbed? That was one event I would have done everything in my power to change. “Gah. This is so messed up. What am I going to do if he doesn’t wake up?” I let myself voice the question that had been running on repeat in my head. My biggest fear.

  “Celeste is good at what she does. If the Institute got wind of her abilities, you can believe she would be taken from her home. Dash is in good hands. And he needs rest.”

  “That’s what Celeste said, and I know that rest is the best medicine, but I really want him to open his eyes.”

  “He will.”

  I sighed. “I wish I had your confidence. How long can we stay here and be safe? The Institute could already be on their way. They will have figured out that one of their guards is dead. Dash left the other one wounded and alive.”

  “I will try to buy you time, a couple days at the most. I have to go back for a few hours, but I promise you I will return. I won’t leave you alone.”

  It was hard to be wary of Ryker when he made it too easy to lean on him. “How do I know that you’re not going to tell them where we are?”

  “Blood oath?” he offered.

  I shuddered, hoping he was joking. “I’ve seen enough blood.”


  “And I am sure there is more to come. I know it’s a huge leap of faith, trusting me, but let me point out that I did get you to Celeste as I promised.”

  “You did. I want to trust you; I really do, but I’d be a fool not to be cautious. How many times did you tell me to only trust myself?”

  His lips twitched. “I lost count. So what does your gut say?”

  “It’s all twisted up at the moment and not really reliable.”

  “Understandable considering. You’re the only person who has ever seen me shift.”

  I met his gaze. “Really?”

  He nodded. “Cross my heart and hope to—”

  “Don’t you dare say it,” I hissed.

  “Bad timing.” His lips curled. “You know the Institute went into an uproar when they found out you escaped.”

  “I just bet. You helped me. Why?” I was still coming to terms with Ryker being Blink. It was hard to think of them as the same person/bird.

  “Because you and Dash are important.” He raised his hand and tucked a frazzled curl behind my ear, his fingers lingering for a few moments as regret stirred in his eyes. “As much as I might not like it, the two of you need each other.”

  “Why?” I asked, confused. People kept making comments like that, but I didn’t understand what they meant.

  “The seers haven’t seen why, just that together you and Dash are formidable. You’re both vital for what is coming.”

  “If that is true, then Dash must wake up, because if he doesn’t, what hope is there?”

  “You ask all the difficult questions, but there is always hope.” He shifted his weight, and I knew he was about to leave.

  “You swear you’ll come back, and you’re not going to betray me or send the Institute straight here the moment you get there?” I asked.

  His bright eyes held mine. “I swear it.”

  In a blink, the man was gone. A beautiful black bird with an impressive wingspan took off into the sky, leaving me to wallow alone in my fears. I had a bad feeling… about everything.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Tiny pinpricks of light glimmered through the branches as the black dot of Ryker faded off into the distance. I hadn’t slept and wouldn’t now that morning was on the horizon. According to Celeste, Dash should be waking soon, and I wanted to be there when he opened his eyes. I needed to see that he would truly be okay.

  Moseying back inside to check on him, my heart ached at the sight of him still fast asleep. I leaned a shoulder on the wall, not trusting myself to support my weight, my knees suddenly unsteady and wobbly.

  “He is still unconscious?” Celeste asked from the doorway leading into the kitchen.

  I glanced up. “Yes.”

  Her long silver hair was knotted at the nape of her neck, a red ribbon woven through it. She didn’t appear to have had as rough a night as I did. Gracefully, she walked across the room, laying a hand over Dash’s forehead. “He has slipped into a deep sleep, one further than my reach. There is nothing I can do for him. His body has healed and is free of the poison, but his mind isn’t ready to return.”

  “A coma?” I asked.

  She nodded. “Yes, much like the slumber we all endured to wake up here a hundred years later.”

  “No,” I whispered, shaking my head. “You’re saying he might never wake up? At least not during my lifetime? How?”

  “It could be that some of the Ceraspan is still in our bodies even after we wake,” she mused. “Who knows what that could do to the body?”

  “I can’t believe it. I won’t. He has to wake up.” I could hear the franticness in my voice, but I couldn’t stop it, not when I felt so powerless. The ground slipped out from underneath me as I slid down the wall. There was nothing. Only emptiness.

  There is always hope, Ryker had said, but right now, hope was out of my grasp. It had never felt farther away. I took a deep breath, but the stupid tears I thought had run dry started falling and kept falling.

  Celeste came to where I had sunk, her soft hands slipping under my elbows to help me to my feet. “You need to rest. You’ll do him no good if you’re dead on your feet.”

  Choking back a sob, I started to refuse, but she wasn’t having it.

  “I’m not taking no for an answer, Charlotte.”

  My vision started to waver. “What did you do to me?” I asked, my hand catching on the wall.

  “Giving your body what you deny it,” she said, but her voice sounded distant. My feet didn’t feel like they touched the ground as she led me to a small room in the back of the house. Before I could utter another protest, I was lying down, my eyes fluttering shut of their own accord.

  I was so tired, but Dash, he needed me.

  It was the last thought I had.

  Sleep might have been what my body needed, but when I awoke hours later, I became increasingly restless. Ryker hadn’t come back yet and Dash was still out cold. Our time was running out, and I didn’t know what to do. I knew what Ryker would tell me and what Dash would want me to do, but there was no way on earth I could leave him here. It was one thing to be on the run with Star or Dash, but another thing entirely to survive in the Heights on my own.

  I wandered into the kitchen after checking on Dash and found Celeste. Right at home surrounded by pots and vegetables, Celeste whipped up something that smelled divine, making my stomach growl.

  When was the last time I ate?

  I couldn’t remember, a sure sign it had been too long.

  Celeste turned as I approached, a friendly smile curving her lips. “Good. You’re up and just in time for dinner.”

  Dinner? How long had I been out for? I assumed it had only been a few hours, but it had to have been much longer, not that I should be complaining. I hadn’t slept so soundly since what seemed like forever. “Something smells amazing. He didn’t wake up while I was asleep?”

  She shook her head. “Do you like pasta? I’m making spaghetti.”

  “You can make spaghetti here? I figured that was a dish of the past.”

  Celeste laughed, a husky, warm sound. “It’s definitely not as easy as before. I have to make the pasta from scratch, but it is oh so worth it.”

  “Can I help?” I found myself asking. The simple task of cooking suddenly seemed like what my hands needed to keep busy.

  “If you would like. Stir this while I boil the water for the pasta.” Handing me a wooden spoon, she sprinkled in some dried herbs to the sauce.

  “I think I can handle that.” It was the most normal thing I’d done in weeks, sitting at the stove, simmering a red sauce. There had been a time when I had been eager to help my mom in the kitchen. No one in my family was much of a cook, but Celeste made it look inviting.

  I hadn’t had homemade spaghetti for over a hundred years.

  When everything was to Celeste’s liking, we sat down at the little table near the fireplace, and after the first bite I swore I died and went to Italian heaven. “Where did you learn to cook like this?” I asked, twirling a fork of pasta.

  I kept watch over Dash as we enjoyed our meal. “My mother.”

  Often a touchy subject, but I felt compelled to ask. “Did she survive the mist?”

  Her pretty eyes grew sad. “No. She never made it to a safe house.”

  Not the pleasantest of dinner conversations, but getting to know Celeste a bit more was comforting. “I’m sorry. So you’re alone?”

  “It’s not as lonely as it sounds. I enjoy the solitude, and the visits from people needing my help keeps me busy.”

  She was like the local doctor in a way. I glanced down at my half-eaten plate, wondering if I would ever get the chance to eat a home-cooked meal in a kitchen again.

  “Tell me about your awakening and how you came to cross paths with the Slayer,” Celeste said.

  A smile tickled the corners of my lips. “Dash found me in a holding house. He claims he kissed me awake.” It was an ongoing joke between us, and he liked to remind me of it often—the magical powers
of his lips.

  Celeste’s lips pursed. “Interesting.”

  “He’s joking of course. It’s all about timing. He just happened to be in the right place at the right time to save me.”

  “Possibly. Or you were destined to find each other.”

  I scrunched my nose.

  Celeste laughed. “A skeptic. Don’t believe in destiny, do you, Charlotte?”

  I swallowed a forkful of pasta. “I also didn’t believe in shape shifters or trees that can strangle you. Fate should be a whole lot easier to digest.” But I didn’t buy it, and my thoughts turned to my future. “It’s not safe for me to stay here, not for you or Dash.”

  “But you can’t bring yourself to leave?” Celeste guessed, reading my mind.

  “No. We’ve been apart before, but it’s different now.”

  Sipping from a chipped teacup, she looked at me from over the brim. “You love him, that’s evident.”

  Was it? My gaze was drawn across the room to where Dash lay. “I care for him very much.”

  “Sometimes it is hard to remember that this isn’t all a dream.”

  No truer words could have been spoken. “You’re telling me. I still get that hazy feeling each time I wake up.” I had managed to polish off my plate. “Thank you for dinner. It was amazing.”

  She gave me a soft smile. “The pleasure was all mine. It was nice having actual dinner conversation with someone other than myself.”

  “I don’t know how entertaining I’ve been. It still doesn’t seem real seeing him lying there. People keep saying we have a calling, but how can that be if he never wakes up?”

  She laid a hand over mine on the table. “Give him a reason to. You have extraordinary gifts, powers many can’t fathom, but through all that, you need to keep hope and the will to stay strong.”

  I squeezed her hand. “You’re right.”

  I chewed my lip and wrung my hands, wondering where Ryker was. Worry began to set in. As time stretched on, I cast anxious glances at the door, expecting a horde of guards to come bursting through.

  “Maybe we should go for a walk. Get some air,” Celeste suggested, laying a hand on my shoulder.