“You said you dance.” He raised an eyebrow, the black pits seeming to rove her body from head to foot. “You said you were a soother. I am tired of waiting for proof.”
Scout swallowed hard, her heart stuttering in her chest. “You want me to dance. For you. Now?”
He said nothing, just nodded.
Scout knew she could dance. Despite the hurting muscles, she knew she could dance. She was used to dancing in much more pain than she was now. But could she soothe him? Could she do what only Havik and Iros believed she could? And could she do it here, in front of a monster and his pets?
She started to shake. No, no she could not.
But if she didn’t, if she couldn’t, she would die. She would fail everyone.
“He’s not the only one who needs soothing, Scout. Dance for us. Soothe us. Bring us peace.”
Lil Bit’s voice cut through Scout’s doubt and her fear. Inadvertently, her eyes scanned the cage, looking for Lil Bit, even though she knew it was impossible to see her through the tightly woven bones. But she could feel her. Lil Bit was there, and she needed Scout.
“You’re in the middle of the floor. Get out of my way.” Scout was surprised at the fierceness in her own voice. She pulled her cloak off and tossed it to the side.
Ariston’s eyebrows shot up and then a slow smile spread across his cold, handsome face. He brushed past her and sat at his throne waiting.
But she didn’t look at him. She closed her eyes, searching for Lil Bit, searching for an inner music to guide her. She found it — a lullaby she remembered her mother singing to Scout when she was very small, and then to Lil Bit as Scout got older. Lil Bit had sung it to Scout in the hospital when she'd thought no one could hear her.
Scout raised her arms above her head. Slowly, she dragged her right toe up her left leg, stopping at the knee. Keeping her eyes closed, she dipped to the side, bending nearly in half, then straightened and leaped, landing gracefully on her right foot before collapsing to roll across the floor. She came up on her knee, stretching her opposite leg out behind her.
She heard the voices then, the spirits. Their wailing ceased, and instead she heard Lil Bit singing in her mind. Not a memory, but Lil Bit’s small, perfect voice actually cascading through Scout’s head. And maybe she imagined it, but she would swear she heard her mother singing, too. Aloud, from somewhere inside the cage. Scout heard her voice.
And she danced.
She danced for the souls, trapped and frightened behind bars. She didn’t know if they could see her. She couldn’t see them. But she had to believe that they could feel her. She danced for Aella, locked in a cage at Ariston’s side for centuries. She danced for Trey, the boy she loved, the boy she would always love, the boy she had hurt too many times. She danced for Torz and his steady dedication to Ashra, who refused to return his love. And Ashra. Scout danced for her unicorn, who she knew felt like half her heart was gone, because that was how Scout herself felt.
She dipped and swayed, leaped and spun and landed and rolled and came up to do it again. Her heart seemed to swell with every movement as peace overcame the terror in her soul.
And Scout danced for herself.
She danced until she felt her feet begin to bleed from cracked blisters and her arms and legs and back ached beyond the ability to ignore it. She spun, around and around on one foot until her body refused to move again, and she slowed to a stop and bowed in front of the cage.
The room was silent. There were no wails from the souls. No shrieks from the Taraxippus. Ariston watched her as she turned to face him. They stared at each other for several long minutes as Scout fought to control her ragged breathing.
“I see now why my brother is so desperate to keep you,” Ariston finally said, rising to his feet. “This is also why I can never let you go. This is the first time in centuries that I haven’t wished for my own death.”
Scout’s jaw dropped, but Ariston said nothing. He walked past her, nodding politely as if they were strangers on a street. He disappeared into the shadows and was gone. She watched him until she could see him no more, then scooped her cloak up and swung it across her shoulders. It was cold now that she wasn’t moving.
Chapter Twelve
“That was beautiful,” Aella said as Scout limped back to her blankets. “I see why Iros is so fascinated by you.”
Scout grabbed the edge of her blanket nest and dragged it across the floor to Aella’s cage. She laughed softly. “Iros isn’t fascinated by me. Iros is grateful for help fighting his brother. I daresay he’s more fascinated by Trey’s football.”
Aella’s perfect face wrinkled in confusion. “What is a football? Who is Trey?”
Scout settled in the blankets, wrapping them around her like Lil Bit’s pet hamster used to do with his little cotton bed. “Trey is my—” She swallowed. “He is my friend. Sort of. He’s Torz’s rider now.” He sort of hates me. She looked curiously up at Aella. “How do you know me but not Trey?”
Aella shook her head. “Ariston did not mention Trey. Only you. And Iros.” The way Aella said their names together implied that she and Iros had a thing. They did not have a thing, no matter how hot Iros was. Scout’s heart could only ever belong to Trey.
“Iros keeps your body in his hut,” Scout said, wincing when she realized how weird that sounded. “I mean, he’s protecting you. All the unicorns are protecting you. Waiting for you to come back.”
Aella sucked in a breath. “He — he doesn’t forget me, then?”
Scout wished she could grip Aella’s hand through the cage. “I don’t think a beat of his heart goes by that he doesn’t think of you.”
“Ariston implied… he suggested that Iros was so protective of you because—”
When she couldn’t finish, Scout cut her off. “He’s so protective of me because he made me a promise — that he would help me find my sister. And he needed my help. Mine, and Trey’s, and Trey’s… well, his girlfriend? I think? Although I don’t believe they’re still together.” Scout sighed, leaning her head against the cold, black wall. “I don’t know. It’s complicated.”
“How is he?” Aella whispered.
It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know Aella wasn’t asking about Trey. Scout rolled her head to the side so she could see Aella as she spoke. “He misses you. There is a pain, always, in his eyes. But he never says an unkind thing. He never lost his patience, no matter how difficult I was. He’s a good man.”
Aella smiled, a broken-hearted, soul-crushed smile. “He always was. You must soothe him as well, if he’s in pain.”
Scout shook her head. “I’m not very good at it. I’m better with Havik.”
This time Aella’s smile was brighter. “The mighty Havik. He’s still fighting with Iros?”
Scout nodded and they fell silent. Aella’s soul darkened, just a bit, and Scout could feel the agony emanating from her in waves.“Tell me about him. Before the war, before you were taken. How did you meet?” she asked.
Aella’s eyes stared into the distance. “We grew up together. Our parents were riders. We knew we would be riders. We were born and raised in Paradesos. Our huts were only steps away from one another’s. I loved that boy from the day I was old enough to realize I had a heartbeat. It beat for him.”
The story sounded remarkably familiar to Scout and Trey’s. Scout clutched at her heart, where it felt like it was crumbling in her chest, and, with monumental effort, she focused on Aella.
“We grew. We trained together. We found every opportunity to be together. Our dearest friends were Ariston and Eleni.”
Ah, the girl who caused this centuries’ long war had a name. Eleni. Scout leaned forward, waiting for the rest of the story.
“We planned to wed. It would have been a grand reception.” Aella smiled sadly. “Ariston was a Corste rider. Eleni fought with us on the Irwarros, and in one battle, the Taraxippus tore her soul. She grew weak. And then sick. And Ariston grew desperate to save her. We all looked for a cure. The
Leerhas could not heal her. There was nothing to be done.”
“But Ariston found a way,” Scout whispered.
Aella nodded, eyes searching Scout’s face. “He somehow made a deal with the Taraxippus master. The creature was dying. Only the horn of a unicorn would heal him. If he died, the Taraxippus died as well. An entire world’s lifetime of fighting would be done. But Ariston could not see reason. Only the master could fix Eleni’s soul and make her well, so Ariston agreed to trade the horn if the master would heal his beloved.” Aella’s voice became mechanical, lifeless, like she’d relived this memory so many times that it was a mere nightmare now. “He lured his unicorn away from the others and killed him. He cut off his horn and tried to leave Paradesos. But Iros saw the rest of the Corstes fall. He and Havik attacked Ariston and took the horn, using it to pull Ariston’s soul and keep it in Paradesos, away from his body. Then they threw him from Paradesos.”
Scout didn’t know what to say. What did one say after a story like that? But Aella wasn’t finished. “Iros was inconsolable. He loved his brother so much. The betrayal was more than he could bare, and the fact that he’d had to take his own brother’s soul nearly killed him. He still fought in our battles, but with only half a heart.”
She looked down, and Scout could see translucent tears tracing their way down her cheek.
“I tried to make up for Iros. But I could not. I was not strong enough. I didn’t see Ariston’s trap until it was too late.”
“And he’s kept you here ever since? Tormenting you with half-true visions of Iros?”
Aella nodded.
“I wish I could kill him.” Scout growled, her fingers clenching into not-very-menacing fists.
“Don’t let bitterness rule your heart, Scout. Ariston pays for his sins. He is tormented by pain.”
Yeah, well. I’d like to torment him with a little more pain. She didn’t say that aloud though. Instead she said, “Why doesn’t he lock me up like he does you?”
“Perhaps he knows these cages couldn’t hold you.”
If Scout didn’t know better, she’d think Aella was grinning mischievously. It was unexpected from the soul’s somber countenance.
“Well, if I could figure out how to break them, I’d set you all free.”
“If you set us all free, the Taraxippus would feast. It is safe in our cages until there is a better way to escape.”
“Oh. Right. Good point.” That was what Ashra had said, too. Stupid, Scout.
“Sleep, Scout. Rest while you can.”
Scout’s stomach growled, loud and angry. She hadn’t eaten for over twenty-four hours.
“I didn’t think about feeding you.”
Ariston’s voice nearly caused her to jump out of her skin. She spun, tangled in her blankets, to see him standing right behind her.
“Awesome. You’re supposed to feed the dancers, Ariston. Otherwise they can’t dance.”
“I can purify your food the same way your unicorns can.” He tapped his chin, glancing around the room like he thought perhaps the food would present itself. It didn’t. “I suppose I’ll have to go out and collect it.” He eyed her. “I don’t suppose you could be trusted to go get your own.”
“Yes. I absolutely can.”
He chuckled, the sound actual amusement and not evil mocking. “I will return.”
“I won’t eat your food,” Scout said as he turned to go.
Sighing, he turned back to her, raising his eyes heavenward as if pleading for patience. “Why ever not?”
“I’m not stupid, Ariston. I know the food will steal my soul.”
He stared at her for several seconds, as if waiting for her to come to the obvious conclusion on her own. She did, and felt a blush creeping up her cheeks. “If you wanted to steal my soul you would have done it already. Right.”
He smirked without malice and left, disappearing into the shadows.
“Why does he care if I eat? Why isn’t he torturing me?” she whispered.
“Because you bring him peace. The one and only thing he’s desired since Eleni died.”
“So what you’re saying is, if I don’t want my soul locked in a cage for eternity, I better not break my leg.”
Aella smiled, dangerously close to a grin again. “Yes, that would be wise.”
Ariston fed her. He brought the fruit and water back, purified it with his orb while she watched, and handed it to Scout. His soulless eyes watched her curiously as she devoured it.
She didn’t die, which was a bonus. “Don’t you eat?” she asked, hoping she didn’t have paper-tasting fruit juice dribbling down her chin.
“No. I do not eat.” Without another word, he left, leaving the orb behind to protect her.
Scout glanced at Aella. “This is gonna be a lot of fun.”
Chapter Thirteen
They settled into a routine. When the souls started to wail again, Ariston would ask her to dance. Scout realized that he fed off their pain, but not in a good way. When they hurt, he hurt. She could see it in the tightness around his eyes and mouth, the way his hands clenched and unclenched. Sometimes, she danced twice in one day, and those days hurt. Sometimes it was only one time. The days started to fade into each other until Scout lost track of how long she had been there. Sometimes, Lil Bit would whisper in her mind, and Scout realized it cost her little sister dearly to try to speak to Scout. She could feel Lil Bit’s exhaustion. So she tried to drive Lil Bit’s pain away, too.
Somewhere along the way, she realized Ariston wasn’t to be feared. He wasn’t to be hated. He was to be pitied. Because Ariston didn’t wish for world domination. He didn’t even wish to rule Paradesos.
He wished for death.
She settled into her blanket nest next to him after a particularly long dance. Her back and legs ached, and she rubbed them while spying on him from the corner of her eye.
“Can I ask you something?” she asked suddenly.
He lounged on his throne, staring at the cage, at nothing, at everything. He turned toward her, his shoulders tensing. “I don’t suppose if I say no you’ll care.”
“Why won’t you let them go?” Scout nodded toward the cage. Toward the souls whose hands fell lower and lower each day.
“Because without them, I can’t build an army to march on Paradesos. Honestly, Scout. Every time I think perhaps you’re more clever than I gave you credit for, you ask a question like that.”
“But you don’t want to rule Paradesos. You want to die.”
He stood abruptly and smoothed the front of his jacket. “If I want to die, Scout, I have to have a soul. My soul waits in Paradesos.” He whirled away and stormed from the room.
“He’s tried to kill himself. Many times. He cannot die,” Aella said, watching him go. There was no anger in her voice, only pity. She, who had more reason to hate Ariston than anyone, did not. She felt sorry for him, just as Scout was beginning to.
He did not bring her food that night. It made it easier to forget her pity and remember her hate.
****
“We’ve got to get closer. I can’t hear her from here.” Ashra tossed her head anxiously, her feet pawing at the empty air. Without Scout, her razor-sharp wit had all but disappeared, and now she was almost polite.
It was terrifying.
“We can try to go around the back. If we stay in the shadows…” Torz suggested half-heartedly, but even he didn’t have any faith in that plan.
It hadn’t worked before. Ariston had sent his soul stealers after them the last time they’d gotten too close. But Trey had seen her, as they fought the demons off. Scout was in there, and she was alive. She had been dancing, unaware of him only a hundred yards away. Ariston had been so distracted watching her that he hadn’t thought to send his soul stealers after them until she’d finished and collapsed on the floor.
Dancing. That was it. “We wait until Scout dances.”
Ashra had already explained that Ariston would force her to dance because it would soothe the
Taraxippus and the souls. He’d never liked noise, Ashra said, and their constant wailing had to wear on him after so many hundreds of years. When she danced, she held them all enthralled, even Ariston.
Torz glanced at Ashra, and she snorted. “Your rider might be useful yet.”
They got close enough that they could see into the castle’s many windows, but not close enough that Ariston could sense them and send his demons. It also wasn’t close enough that Ashra could talk to Scout, and it wasn’t close enough to see anything except a toy-size version of the girl he loved when she moved into the center of the floor. They spent the day in the shadows, watching. Scout did not dance. Long into the night, Torz and Ashra took turns sleeping while the other kept watch.
But Trey didn’t sleep. He rarely blinked. He ran his fingers against the leather bracelets on his wrist and prayed he’d have the chance to add another.
An entire day passed. Torz left to find food, they ate, and Trey watched. And prayed. And begged her in his mind to keep fighting, to not give up. And in his sleep-deprived brain, he started having conversations with her. “Scout? I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I know you must hate me. I know I deserve it. I pushed you too far. But if you could just not give up on me, then I promise I’ll get you out of this.”
Sometimes, he imagined her answer. Sometimes, he didn’t like her answer. Other times, it wasn’t so bad. “Trey,” she would say, her sea-foam green eyes glinting mischievously. “When have I ever needed someone to get me out of anything? Just give me time. I’ll get myself out.” He imagined stroking her long, silky curls. The feel of it against his rough fingers. She’d lay her head against his shoulder and wind her fingers through his, and he could listen to her breathe and know she was alive.
“She’s up. She’s stretching. That means she’s going to dance, right?” Ashra’s voice held more hope than Trey had heard in all the days they’d been trying to figure out how to get Scout out.
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