by Tenaya Jayne
"The queen is banished? How? By whom?"
Syrus grimaced as the words came out. "Your father."
Dread stretched through her extremities. "My father," she whispered.
Syrus reached around her shoulders and pulled her close. "I don't know much, Forest. But he has taken over the Onyx Castle and banished my mother to another world. He broke me out of my prison, and he is the very thing you feared: a priest of the Rune-dy."
Forest's panic choked her. "He's coming for me. I always knew he would." She sat upright and grasped both of Syrus' shoulders. "You have to help me. I can't go back there! I have to stay where he can't get me!"
"Forest, we have to go back to Regia."
"No! I have to stay here!" she was speaking in hyper speed. "We can be happy here, Syrus. You'll see. I'll protect you from the sun. It'll be fine. More than fine."
Syrus pulled her tightly against his chest again. "Shh. It's all right. I don't think he means you any harm. If he did, why would he stop the threats against you? Why would he let me out and send me back here to be with you? I don't know what his plan is, but I don't think you need to fear him like this."
"But…what if he…"
"Think about it, Forest. If he can single handedly take over the Onyx Castle, do you really think you'd be safe from him here if he wanted to collect you?"
Forest tried to calm down and allow her reason to speak louder than her panic. "You met him?"
"Briefly."
"What is he like?"
"He's very powerful. His name is Rahaxeris."
Forest trembled. "Oh great. I know that name. I've heard it whispered with terror. He's the High Priest, the leader."
Strangely, Forest felt a shiver of joy through her fear. I know my father's name.
"It's going to be okay. I'll go back alone and see what's what. Then I'll come back for you."
Forest hesitated. "Okay. I guess that makes sense," she said slowly.
"We need more information."
Forest's mind raced. "I could go to the club and talk to whomever has taken over my old job. I'm sure they would know something."
Syrus shook his head. "The portals are closed."
"Why didn't you find out more before you came for me?"
Syrus chuckled and kissed her. "Desperation, Love. I barely absorbed the little information I received as it was." He kissed her again more deeply. "I could think of nothing but you."
"So how are you going to get back, if the portals are shut?" she asked.
"With this." Syrus pulled a silvery chain from the pocket of his trousers.
The light from the bedside lamp slipped along the alien metal, unable to grasp it. Forest took the chain from Syrus and examined the little ball hanging from it. "What it is?"
"An End of the Bridge. The ogre, who opened the portal here, gave it to me. Once I break it, it will take me back."
A solid weight clung to each of Forest's vertebrae as she watched Syrus get dressed and ready to leave. He seemed calm and collected. She felt a faceless distress, and her thoughts were ambushed in countless what ifs. What if the whole thing was a trap? What if the End of the Bridge didn't work properly and took Syrus to the wrong place where he would be in danger? What if her father killed Syrus when he saw that he returned without her?
Syrus kissed her lightly. "Okay, I'll be right back for you. It shouldn't take me any longer than a day."
"Okay." No! Not okay.
Syrus broke the ball between his hands and a black portal opened in the middle of her living room. He walked into it. One single second encapsulated all of the pain of separation she'd suffered over the last months.
"No!" Forest screamed and ran into the closing portal.
Syrus was ahead of her in the rushing darkness. She reached out and grabbed hold of him.
"What are you doing?" he shouted over the noise of the wind.
"We can't be apart again!"
The portal dumped them in a bare, empty room of the Onyx Castle. They both stood perfectly still for a moment, listening and waiting. Nothing happened.
"I thought we'd be in the throne room," Forest whispered.
"So did I. Not that I'm complaining. I can do without the fanfare." He rubbed his hands on her trembling shoulders. "It's going to be okay. No matter what, I won't let you go."
The creaking of the door's hinges had Syrus stepping protectively in front of Forest. She peeked over his shoulder to see a small vampire maid curtsy to them.
"Sir, madam, please follow me."
Forest's mind tripped. What the fraz?
Syrus shrugged and pulled her along by the hand. The hall was completely empty. They followed the swift-walking maid, who led them through a few long passages and up two stories.
"Your room," the maid said, stopping and gesturing to a large, ornate door. "If there is anything else you desire just ring the bell." She bobbed another curtsy and walked away.
"Well, I see they've prepared for our arrival." Syrus chuckled. "It's a little odd to be shown to a guest room in your own house. I guess that means it's not mine anymore."
"Of course it is!" Forest said forcefully. "You're the future king."
He kissed her lightly. "Maybe I am. Maybe I'm not. Come on."
Syrus opened the door and walked into the room, leaving Forest standing on the threshold.
"It's not booby-trapped," his smile was teasing.
Forest came slowly into the vast room, trying to not be impressed at the luxury. Never had she felt so misplaced. The view from the window drew her magnetically, and she drifted toward it when something in the corner caught her eye.
"Oh!" Forest ran to her locker. "Thank you, Syrus!"
"For what?"
"For getting my locker from Fortress." She caressed the carved wooden doors, unlocking them with her touch.
"Forest, I didn't. I didn't do any of this."
"Then who? Kindel must have done it." The doors swung open. Happy tears rose behind her eyes as she spotted her sword. Snatching it up, she held it to her breast, running her fingers along the hilt. "Oh, Syrus, my sword is here! I thought I'd never see it again."
Syrus came up behind her and placed his hands lovingly on her shoulders. "I'm glad you're happy."
Having her sword back momentarily eclipsed everything else, but her questions and nerves resurfaced quickly. She laid it down and closed the locker.
A sharp knock vibrated the door.
"Syrus?!" the voice on the other side was rife with desperation.
Syrus moved toward the door. "Dad?" He lifted the latch.
King Zeren charged through the door and engulfed Syrus in a rib-breaking hug. "Oh, my son! You're safe! I'm so glad to see you!" Zeren released him reluctantly and looked at him thoroughly. "Your sight?"
"No, Father. I will always be blind."
"You must tell me everything."
"I will. And I'll start with the most important. Father, this is Forest."
Zeren fixed his eyes on Forest. Her heart leapt into her throat. She wasn't prepared for formal introductions. She had no idea what her face, hair, or body looked like, and she was wearing plaid boxer shorts and a faded T-shirt. Groaning internally, she straightened her spine and lifted her chin. She would apologize for nothing. If she had a call to be nervous, then so did Zeren. The glare of inspection he used on her, she served right back to him. Zeren noticed. He raised one imperious eyebrow for a moment before smiling at her as though she were the cutest thing he'd ever seen.
Syrus got his looks from his father, Forest noted. Zeren had the same grey in his eyes and the same bone structure to his face. His long braided hair was greying at the top, and his skin was wrinkled with age and decades of worry.
Zeren walked up to her. "Forest, it is an honor to meet you." He took her hand and kissed it. "I look forward to getting to know you. There is so much going on right now. Regia is in such upheaval, but never fear, we shall have a grand party to celebrate your connection, very soon."
&
nbsp; "Oh…" Damn, a party. Crap. "There's no need to…"
"I know there is nothing I can really do to apologize for Christiana's behavior. I swear I did not know about it. I am your servant." He gave a little bow. "If there is anything you desire, if it is within my power, you shall have it."
"Uh, thank you."
"Oh, here. I was supposed to give you this." Zeren pulled a sealed letter from his cloak and handed it to her.
She knew who must have sent it. Everything around her seemed to fade into shadow. Zeren and Syrus talked, but the words turned into an incomprehensible murmuring in her ears. She stared at her name written on the paper. When she finally looked up again, Zeren was gone and Syrus sat quietly on a chair by the bed. Hesitation took its time. There was knowledge in this letter. Did she want the knowledge? Did she need it? Or the man who offered it? He had always known who she was, where she was, and this was the first letter her father had bothered to write. The temptation to burn it or throw it out the window, unread, pushed into her hands.
The temptation proved hollow.
Forest opened it with shaking hands. She didn't know if she was ready for this but it was happening. Her eyes fell hungrily on her father's handwriting.
Forest,
You cannot know how happy it makes me to have you reading this. I apologize if this letter comes off wrong. I do not often suffer from indecision, but the words I should use here elude me. I am anxious for our first discussion and will be waiting for you in a protected and private place. Take your time and when you are ready, ring for the maid, and she will lead you to me.
Your father,
Rahaxeris
Forest took a deep breath. What had she expected? It said nothing really. She read it over twice then read it aloud to Syrus.
"So what do you think?" she asked.
"Seems pretty straight forward to me. He just wants to talk to you."
Forest wanted to ask Syrus to come with her, but pride stopped her. That would look weak. She analyzed her thoughts, amazed to discover the natural desire of a child to please the parent was inside her. Through all of the emotions she had ever had regarding her father—hate, anger, disappointment, indignation, and heartbreak—she still wanted his approval, and she innately knew weakness would displease him.
Why the hell do I care? She couldn't answer her own question.
Well, she knew one thing for sure. She wasn't going to meet her father in her pajamas. She opened the closet and groaned. Nothing but dresses and elegant gowns. Tiny healed slippers, embroidered with designs and shiny beads, winked in the light along the floor. What the devil were those good for except breaking your ankles?
As she ventured deeper into the uber-femine space, she found drawers of stockings, and corsets, and jewelry. A word she had not yet formulated in her mind since completing her connection with Syrus swam sickeningly into her awareness. Princess. She grabbed the skirt of the nearest hanging gown and rubbed the fabric between her thumb and forefinger. She envisioned the grand party Zeren promised they'd have and countless other official functions and dinners she'd be expected to attend. Her heart sank, and the urge to run away overtook her. Fate had made a terrible mistake. She should never have been paired with Syrus.
Forest took a deep breath, scrubbing her hands over her face. These clothes might be her size but they would never really fit. She would be ridiculous to everyone who witnessed her attempt and worse, she would make a laughingstock of Syrus. The idea of anyone laughing at Syrus put a fire in her belly and she instantly snapped out of her self-pity.
What was she thinking? She used to be a Fortress operative. Playing a part was easy for her. More than anything, she just wanted to be herself, but she could do the public stuff…for Syrus. Parties and functions aside, no way was she going to meet her father dressed like a Disney character. She pushed further back into the closet and discovered a small treasure. Three basic, unassuming drawers, filled with clothes she could actually use. Shirts, socks, pants, all made of Regian fabric, but there in the very bottom, four neatly folded pairs of jeans and a stiff new pair of combat boots! Yes!
Forest bathed quickly, hardly noticing the elegance of the private bathroom. Wrapped in a towel, she wiped the steam off the mirror and considered how to arrange her appearance. She shifted through a few faces, but nothing seemed right. Forest looked at her true face for a moment. Physically incapable of showing her true face to anyone but Syrus, she decided to mimic it as closely as she could.
She ran her hands through the length of her hair, enjoying its natural appearance. She altered the color of her warm chestnut curls to a slightly metallic bronze. When she finished creating her look, she could have been mistaken for her own sister. Bracing her hands on the sink, she looked directly into her own eyes in the mirror. I know who I am. I'm ready.
Chapter Nine
Forest stared at the wood grain on the door, wiping her sweaty palms on her jeans. The servant had vanished as soon as she showed Forest where her father was waiting, leaving her utterly alone. Did he know she was there, just on the other side of the door? Could he hear her heart thrashing? Smell her fear?
The thought appalled her. She shook herself and squared her shoulders. The door swung open a little faster than she had intended and banged loudly against the wall. She submerged a grimace and kept her face blank.
Rahaxeris rose fluidly from his chair, his red eyes fastened tightly on her. She visibly absorbed everything about his appearance. His hair hung straight to his shoulders, and the light glimmered on the golden shafts. His face was narrow and harsh like a manga character. His hands were long and sharp as if they could slice through skin just by touching. His eyes were the same shape as hers. Aside from that, she didn't see any other physical resemblance to her true form. He had an odd kind of beauty but beauty nonetheless.
Father. Her mind tested the word carefully. No rejection or denial arose inside her.
She licked her lips. "Father?"
"Yes, I am."
Silence. Just a moment, necessary after verbal confirmation. Rahaxeris sat back down and gestured to the empty chair opposite his. Forest closed the door and sat down. She stared openly at him. He was terrifying, yet she was not afraid. He waited passively for her to speak. A whole minute passed.
"I know you have questions, Forest. I swear I'll answer anything you ask honestly and unedited."
Forest took a deep breath. All right. Here goes. "Why? Why now? You could have contacted me at any time. Why now?"
"It's the first time I have been at liberty to contact you. If I could have been a part of your life before now, I would have."
"I don't understand," Forest said slowly.
"I think we should begin at the beginning, don't you?"
Forest hesitated, feeling as though she were standing on the edge of cliff. She could go on without this knowledge. Did she really need it? Did she even want it?
"I'm listening." Her voice was barely more than a whisper.
Rahaxeris nodded his head approvingly and began. "I haven't always been the High Priest of the Rune-dy. Before you were born, I worked in the science department. I began a proposal for a long-term experiment that I presented to my fellow priests. They all agreed, and everyone was involved on some level."
"I don't care about how you rose to power. I want to know if you loved my mother, and why you abandoned me." Forest cut in.
"I'll get to it. May I continue?"
Forest crossed her arms over her chest. He plunged ahead.
"The experiment was my idea, so I was the foreman. My fellow priests followed my instructions with the exception of Menjel, the High Priest at that time. He was mildly interested in the project. However, it's important that you know I only had limited control."
"So what was this all important experiment?" Forest demanded impatiently.
Rahaxeris took a slow, shaky breath. "Splicing."
Run. Plug your ears. Leave. Leave now!
Forest's mouth fell open, and
she turned her eyes to the floor.
"The experiment was designed to discover what, if any, combinations of our races would create a superior being. Women and men of every race were screened for the trial…there was no sex. Every child was created in the lab…except one.
"I never intended using my own DNA in the process, but when I met Liasia… I had a premonition. She was so strong, had such a fire in her spirit. I reviewed every male donor and found I couldn't stomach the idea of watering down her fire with lesser material. I knew, instinctively, it had to be me. It could have been there, cold and sterile in the lab, but she attracted me. We became lovers."
