Aporia (Young Adult Paranormal Romance) (Wisteria Series)

by Leyton, Bisi

  “Yeah, I understand.” Wisteria smiled while recalling the time Bach worked for Coles. It had been shortly after he decided to live on the Isle of Smythe. She’d been happy that he was there, but not glad about the jobs he had to do or the abuse he took from Coles.

  “You know we even got married here? How idiotic was that, huh?” Frieda pulled her long dark hair into a bun. “Part of me misses him so much and can’t wait for him to get back here. A larger part of me hopes he abandons us and returns to The Family. Because I know that’s the life he loves. And I can’t imagine going through what you and Bach did. It terrifies me.”

  “The Family won’t find out about you, or your baby, from me.” Since The Family couldn’t use the wahr-chart, she doubted they’d ever be able to find this place. Wisteria now wondered if Frieda could get the wahr-chart to point to Lluc. Taking out the artifact, she walked over to her.

  “What is that?” Frieda sniffled with her tears.

  “It’s how I found you. I want to use it to find Lluc.” She tapped the blank chart and the familiar symbols appeared. “Just hold it for a minute.”

  Abruptly, the mirror across from the bed turned dark. Frieda rose and turned to Wisteria. “Hide--if it’s Lluc I want to explain to him why you’re here.” She opened up a metal cabinet.

  “You know what? Don’t tell him I’m here. Please, just tell him about Bach.” Wisteria got inside.

  From her hiding place, she could see Frieda staring at the threshold as a tall, green-eyed Famila stepped out.

  “You," Frieda seethed. “How the hell did you get here?”

  Felip, Bach’s part-human cousin, emerged from the threshold.

  Wisteria prayed, because nothing good ever came from her meetings with Felip.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  “So I know you were expecting someone else, but I have got to say, you are positively glowing.” Felip approached her and reached out to touch her belly. “I’m sure Sen-Son Lluc must be very proud.”

  “Get away from me.” She slapped his hand away.

  “I am fine. Thank you for asking,” he leered.

  “Why don’t you leave us alone? Sen-Son Lluc left The Family and isn’t a threat to you or anyone.” Frieda backed away from him. “You’re trying to destroy us for no reason.”

  “Nular, you do not understand the first thing about what I am doing.” He laughed. “Lluc might have a clue, but you sweetie . . . do not.”

  “Well, Lluc isn’t here.”

  “I know that.” He casually sifted through a pile of papers on her desk. “So I will settle for Wisteria.”

  “Who?”

  “Ask me that again; I will rip out that little mongrel in your belly.” Felip grabbed her face. “I know she is on this rig, so you just have to tell me where she went.”

  “Why, so she can release that lunatic? Lluc would rather we both die than ever see Coia free.” Frieda’s tears rolled down her cheeks.

  “So you do have half a clue.” Felip let go of her.

  Wisteria kept hidden and quiet. How much did Frieda know about Coia? It sounded like a lot. Was Coia really dead?

  “Surprised?” Frieda sneered. “Maybe if you were a full-blooded Family member you’d have a better plan—”

  “How can I release someone who is dammed?”

  “Then why do you want Wisteria?”

  “My interest in Wisteria is a little more complicated than releasing one mass murderer,” Felip continued. “She’s like me: a child of two worlds. I just need someone who will understand me.”

  He’s insane. Wisteria knew both her parents were human. She didn’t display any of The Family’s traits like strength, speed, or regeneration; nor did she have the green eyes. The first three of those characteristics would’ve been helpful while she was fending off Red Phoenix agents who had attacked her years ago, or the Empirics who tried to takeover Smythe, or dealing with Enric. No, she knew she wasn’t any part of The Family.

  “When Coia releases her lunatic, Dy’obeth father, do you think you’ll have a place in the new world order? The Dy’obeth will gut you because you are a mongrel.”

  “Like I said, I need someone who understands.” He grinned at Nular.

  A deep groan sounded from inside the room. Wisteria recognized these sounds, but they weren’t biters.

  “What is that?” Frieda cried.

  “They are draug. I am surprised your beloved Lluc did not tell you about them?” Felip sneered.

  “You—you—brought draug here?” she gaped, looking around.

  A deformed Famila man leapt in front of her.

  “It will kill you too!” she shrieked.

  “I can control them. You cannot.” He grinned. “I will find Wisteria without your help, but you will die here without mine. So this is your last chance. I know she’s not in Smythe, so do not say there.”

  “She’s—she’s—” Frieda stuttered. “In Jarthan.”

  “You would rather die? Fine.” Felip’s green eyes darkened in anger. “Enjoy the draug. Do not let them drink all your blood. You might want to find that ninth metal dagger your beloved always takes with him.” Returning to the darkened mirror, Felip stepped through and vanished.

  Wisteria scrambled out as the threshold closed up behind him. “Frieda, we have to go now.”

  The door of Frieda’s room was made of metal. Hopefully that would slow the draug down.

  Another foul-smelling draug landed behind Wisteria. Spinning around, she plunged her sword into its chest and removed the head.

  “There are two more.” Frieda’s took out her knife. “You should use this. It’s made of ninth metal and—”

  “No, weapons will only work on the draug if they’re covered in bean vine extract,” Wisteria informed her. “The empirics’ weapons didn’t work.”

  “The empirics do not use ninth metal for their weapons. Lluc had this specially made before we left. It should kill the draug, and anything else Felip has manufactured.”

  Wisteria didn’t have time to listen. They needed to get to the door.

  Another draug landed in front of them and leapt up to pounce.

  Wisteria swung at the beast, but missed. She’d forgotten how much faster these things were than human biters—much faster. “Run,” Wisteria instructed, but Frieda was already halfway to the door.

  The draug dove at Lluc’s wife, but Wisteria had her hands full with the draug now standing in front of her. The creature charged at her and she sliced open his arm, but it still kept coming. She knew she needed to cut off its head, but she kept missing. You can do it Wisteria.

  The creature lunged again and Wisteria swung at it.

  The draug's head dropped to the ground, followed by its body.

  Bolting toward Frieda, she saw the other girl was now hidden inside a metal cabinet. The draug chasing her was clawing at the cabinet. Creeping up behind it, Wisteria took off the creature’s head. “Nular—Frieda, we don't have much time.”

  With great care, Frieda peaked out of the cabinet and glanced at the lifeless creature. “There’s still one more.”

  “Where?” Wisteria saw no sign of it.

  “Maybe Felip took it with him?”

  Then they heard the draug snarl, somewhere in the room.

  The only thing Wisteria thought to do was run to the door, hoping the metal door would slow the creature down. “Run.”

  They sprinted to the door. Reaching it, Wisteria dragged the heavy door open and got out, managing to slam it shut as the last draug leapt at them.

  They heard the creature banging on the heavy door. Surprisingly, the door held in place.

  “We need to get of here before it breaks through the door,” Wisteria suggested.

  “No, it’s ramming itself against the ninth metal. The metal’s poisoning him, the same way it poisoned Bach when Didan stabbed him.”

  Wisteria pushed the image of Bach, almost bleeding to death, out of her mind. “Will ninth metal kill him?”

  “Event
ually, but it would go a lot faster if we had cut the draug.” Frieda sank to the floor.

  The draug was still throwing itself against the door.

  Having this deadly creature less than a foot way didn’t sit well with Wisteria. She had to do something.

  “Where did you go?” Bach demanded from behind her.

  She jumped and turned to see him standing in the dark corridor, sternly watching her.

  “You were supposed to stay with Radala,” he seethed. “This is not Smythe. Your stepfather is not here to protect you.”

  Ignoring his remark, she checked on Frieda who was still crouched by the door.

  “I’m just a little tired.” Frieda waved her away. “I’ll be all right now.”

  “Nular.” He looked over at her. “Where is my brother?”

  “It is always good to see you too, Eminent Bach,” Frieda panted, as Wisteria helped her up. “I need to tell Barry what’s back there.”

  “Do you seriously expect them to keep the door closed?” Wisteria questioned.

  “Answer me.” Bach stepped closer to them and looked down at Frieda’s stomach. “What has happened to my brother?”

  “Lluc’s gone, Sen-Son Bach,” she said docilely. “He asked me to wait here, and never to go back to Jarthan or—”

  “Nular, my brother left you here alone? Here?” Bach shook his head. “He would not do that. So tell me where he is.”

  “Sen-Son Lluc’s thinking is so highly advanced above mine, I cannot begin imagine what he desires.” Frieda continued to feign she was a Thayn.

  The draug slammed against the door from the inside.

  “What is in there?” Bach jolted back.

  “A draug,” Wisteria responded. “Felip left it behind when he came looking for Lluc, so we should leave now.”

  “Felip was here?” That seemed to shock him more than the draug on the other side of the door. “What did he want?”

  “He was looking for me,” Wisteria said. “I don’t know why.”

  Bach frowned and backed away. “Wisteria, take her back to the others,” he instructed.

  Frieda gave her a nervous look.

  Knowing Frieda didn’t want to rejoin Bach’s friends, Wisteria stepped up to him. “I don’t think we should let the others know Nular is here. Your brother hid her for a reason and we should know what that is before we do anything. Leave her here and focus on finding Lluc. Felip was here and is looking for him too.”

  This did little to reduce his irritation with her. “No.”

  “Your brother must have had—”

  “I know Lluc left her here for a reason.” He leaned into her. “I meant to say no, stop lying to me and tell me what is going on here.”

  “Felip was here and left that monster behind. That is why I’m telling you we need to find your brother before Felip does,” Wisteria maintained. “If that makes me a liar, then you need to deal with your own problems.”

  “No, Wisteria.” Taking her upper arm, he moved her away from Frieda.

  “Please, trust me on this.” She continued to try and convince him.

  “Trust you! Unlike one of us, I have never betrayed you. Never, and you know it,” Bach seethed.

  “Bach, do you really want to talk about our history now?” Wisteria pointed at the door leading to Frieda’s room, as the draug pounded violently against the other side. “Focus on what’s important and stop acting like a spoiled child.”

  “I know exactly why my brother left her here. I am not an idiot.” He glanced over at Frieda.

  *****

  Bach knew Wisteria was right about this not being the time and place to rehash their business. The Delmar was supposed give him control over this, but now he was simply irate.

  She was also correct about Lluc leaving Nular behind for a reason. Seeing the girl pregnant, Bach was sure Lluc was trying to protect her and their child. “How many draug are in there?” Bach neared the door.

  “One,” Wisteria said. “We were able to cure the others.”

  “Key.” He held out his hand to Nular, his brother’s Thayn and Favorite.

  “What? No! You’re not going back inside.” Wisteria grabbed his arm. “Those things kill Famila too, remember?”

  “As long as that thing is in there, it is a risk to the people on this platform.”

  “Since when do you care about other people?” she asked.

  “I am concerned about Lluc. If he ever returns here, there is a risk and it may attack him,” Bach snapped. “Is that what you want to hear? Give me the key, or give it to Enric.”

  “Let him help, Wisteria.” Nular waddled up.

  “Here.” Wisteria placed the small metal key in the center of his palm.

  “Leave,” he ordered.

  Nular moved down the hall, but Wisteria stood watching him.

  “Now!” he commanded.

  “You will probably need this.” She held out her sword. “It still has some bean vine on it.”

  “This is ninth metal and it works better against the draug.” Taking out what looked like a cross between a sword and cutlass, he showed her his blue metal blade.

  She still didn’t move. “I think I should go in there because I’ve got more experience with the draug then you do and if you get infected—” She was pulling at his biceps, almost as if she cared what happened to him.

  He punched at the door. “I told you stay away from me. So—stay away.”

  Glowering, she stepped to the door. “I am here because you begged me to help. Remember? ‘Please Wisteria, help me save my brother.’ So, let me help you.”

  “Wisteria, leave, I do not need your protection.”

  She backed into the dark corridor and Bach unlocked the door. The room was silent. He saw shelves full of parts and broken equipment. Banging on the door, he saw a discolored draug that Wisteria had cured.

  A pale and bloody draug slammed down on top of him. He sliced the creature’s head off before he landed on the ground. Racing leviathans did make him a lot more nimble. Throwing the creature aside, he looked at the infected to see if he knew who it had been, but he didn’t know them. They looked like they were from the Fifth Pillar. Walking out of the room, he found Wisteria by the door watching him.

  “What?” She scowled as he walked past. “Do you expect a thank you?”

  “Where is Nular?” he asked.

  “Bach—”

  “Where is she?”

  “I think I know where Lluc is.” She took out the wahr-chart. “Frieda touched it and it’s mapping something out. Do you know this place?”

  Bach grabbed the wahr-chart from her. “I need to talk to the Thayn, so you are taking me to her or not?”

  “Then you’re going to have to break my neck,” Wisteria warned. “Because I’m not telling you.”

  “It is not a large rig. I will find her, or Enric will. Which do you prefer?”

  “Please, leave Enric out of this.” Wisteria’s bitchy demeanor seemed to soften as she moved ahead of him.

  Bach knew it was only because he’d threatened Enric. “I am not stupid, Wisteria. Nular’s probably pregnant for Lluc and that is why he hid her.” Bach trailed behind her. “I understand, more than most people, how The Family will react to the fact he did not renew her, and how they will respond to the mixed child.”

  “So you’re not going to tell Enric then, or your beloved?”

  “I trust Enric with my life and I know he would never betray me.”

  She stopped and spun around to face him. “Well, he is Alba’s brother. Trustworthiness must run in the family.”

  “Alba was a mistake, Wisteria.” He had apologized hundreds of times when they had been together, not because she ever said anything, but because he wanted to. He had once thought he had been so lucky when she forgave him. But now he knew she had been pretending.

  They came out on the deck and made their way through the crowd of people who were buying, selling, or loitering.

  She led him throu
gh another doorway and up a set of stairs that led to the control room.

  “Hey, there.” Barry entered the room through another door. “I hear you kids are moving on soon. I’m sorry to see you go.”

  “We have only been here three hours,” Bach remarked. “Why do you think we are leaving?”

  "Frieda said I should meet her up here,” Wisteria said to Barry.

  “I don’t think so.” Barry shook his head. “It’s best you all leave right now.”

  “Not until I talk to her. She has information I need. She knows what it is about.” Bach stepped up to him.

  “Ah, this is Lluc’s brother, Sen-Son Bach?” Barry turned to Wisteria.

  “Who are you?” Cautiously, Bach inquired, “How do you know who we are?”

  “Well, I don’t know who she is.” Barry gestured at Wisteria.

  “Who are you and what have you done to my brother?” He moved between Barry and Wisteria.

  “First, tell me who you are and why you two, and your cohort of Family Freaks, are here,” Barry demanded as he shut the door. “And why I have dead draugs in C deck? Or I promise none of you are going to get out of here alive.”

  “You cannot threaten me, human.”

  “That was a promise.” Barry’s eyes turned dark green. “Do not make the mistake of thinking you are among friends.”

  “Who are you? What Pillar are you from?” Bach grabbed Barry.

  The older man smacked Bach to the ground. “I am not from your Family, and believe it or not, I have no interest in getting involved in your war.”

  Wisteria backed away.

  “It’s all right, Wisteria.” Nular hurried over to her. “He’s not a member of The Family. He’s something different altogether.”

  “Wisteria Kuti, Hemlock Zey’s daughter?” Barry asked, wearing a shocked expression on his face.

  “Hemlock Zey? You’ve got me mistaken with someone else. My father is Deji Kuti.”

  “You look a lot like your sister, Ivy.” Barry continued to advance, but there was something off about the man.

  Standing up, Bach blocked his path. “You do not go near her. Not until you tell me who you really are.”