by Laura Howard
Other than giving me directions, Aoife didn’t speak much. When my phone rang in my pocket, she held her hand out and told me to give it to her, she rolled down her window and tossed it out.
After about five hours of driving, my eyelids started to droop. I blinked and tried to keep alert.
“This is taking far too long,” Aoife sighed, tapping a finger on the arm rest. “Perhaps carrying you wouldn’t be so bad after all.”
“Do you want me to pull over?” I asked, glancing at her.
She huffed out a breath. “I suppose so. Pull off there, I’m growing tired.”
For a moment, I just tried to absorb how beautiful she was. She made every gorgeous starlet from Audrey Hepburn to Megan Fox look plain with her glossy black waves and porcelain skin. Even with the pinched look on her face, no creature was more stunning.
Shaking my head, I turned onto a sloping dirt road. A hundred yards in, a broken down log cabin was set just off the road. Aoife was out of the car and pacing before I had a chance to wrap my fingers around the door handle.
I stepped out and stood, waiting for her instructions. A small duck pond behind the cabin rippled as a chilly wind raised goose bumps on my skin.
Aoife cocked her head to the side and looked at me. “You’ve been easier to manipulate than I expected,” she said, tapping her lip with her fingertip.
“Manipulate?” I said, not understanding.
“I don’t know why it surprises me, however. At least Samantha put up a little bit of a fight.”
“Where is Samantha?” I asked, mirroring the tilt of Aoife’s head.
Her lips twisted up into a joyful sneer. “Would you like to go find out?”
And just like that, I was airborne, flying through space and time. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the skull crushing pressure on my body. Humans were not built to support the speeds the Danaan could reach. By the time the pressure eased, I was sure my skin had been flipped inside out.
Aoife let my body slide from her shoulder to the ground and my head hit the crunchy dead grass with an audible thwack.
“Oh, by the gods. Get up,” she said as I rubbed my palms over my eyes. A silvery glimmer wavered around Aoife’s body as she walked away, and I almost thought her raven hair was streaked with gray as she moved.
I clambered to my feet even though the world felt like a giant tilt-a-whirl. Blinking furiously, I took in the enormous white house. The paint was peeling and several windows were broken out.
Following her, I walked up the deteriorating wooden steps of the old Victorian. I closed my eyes, still fighting the sick feeling in my stomach. When I reopened them, what had originally appeared as a dilapidated old house shifted and morphed into a glorious Norman Rockwell version.
Once inside, I held out a hand and leaned on the door frame, trying to get my bearings as the door clicked shut behind me.
“What is taking so long?” Aoife’s curt voice called from somewhere beyond the foyer.
I followed the sound into an opulent living room. Green velvet curtains covered tall windows and a plush settee sofa and high back chair completed the elegant arrangement.
The clearing of a throat brought my gaze to where Aoife stood in a doorway. “Follow me.”
A rickety staircase led down into the musty basement. The rest of the house had been restored to its original splendor, but this space was full of cobwebs and smelled like decaying earth.
Aoife walked around the staircase and stood in front of the wall, her back facing me. After a moment, she glanced back at me. “Shall we?” she asked, placing a slim hand on the crumbling stone wall.
Searing light invaded my vision, and a tiny seed of wrongness took root in my mind.
My legs moved despite my foreboding thoughts. Pure, white light swallowed me, stretching me taut before it disappeared, pulling the bright glow with it.
I took another step forward and crumbled to my knees on the cold, stone floor. Picking up my head I found myself in a familiar stone chamber.
Aoife stood a few steps away watching me as I pulled myself to my feet.
“It broke your heart to watch your father fall to his death, didn’t it?” she asked.
I frowned at her question. Several answers came to my lips, but I couldn’t decide which one was right.
I went with the simplest. “Yes.”
She laughed, the sound echoing and bouncing in the chamber. I blinked back at her, not understanding her reaction.
Aoife took two slow steps toward me, looking deep into my eyes. As she did, I began to see everything more clearly. A fog lifted from my mind and I sucked in a breath as realization spread.
She’d compelled me so efficiently I hadn’t even noticed the change. And now she was releasing my mind from her hold. Why?
“What are you doing?” I whispered through gritted teeth. My head was spinning and I couldn’t come up with a reason for her to bring me back here. Back to this place I now recognized as the cave she’d brought us to on Halloween.
“Now, Allison,” she began. “I was content to live a simple life with Liam. There wasn’t much glory in it, but I had accepted it. He was the only thing I wanted, you see?”
I gaped at her, unsure what she was trying to say.
“I didn’t see you coming. I’ll give you that. But here we are now, and you’ve stuck your nose in one too many times for my liking.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
“I can’t live the life I once dreamed of now, can I? No, you saw to that. The worst part is you don’t even know what you’ve done.”
She was pacing as she spoke, an angry glint in her lapis blue eyes.
I opened my mouth to respond, but she continued.
“Well, I have a little surprise for you. Would you like to see it?”
This time I found it impossible to keep my mouth shut. “Do I have a choice?”
Her laughter once again rang out in the chamber. This time it wasn’t a lovely sound, but a harsh chuckle of triumph.
“Come,” she said. Curiosity had me following her without a word.
She led me through the passage I’d seen Ciarán and Samantha sneak through shortly before Ethan and I escaped.
A short hallway led to another chamber. But this one wasn’t empty.
My mouth dropped open. On the floor, exactly as I had seen in my dream, was Liam. He lay on his side with his back to us, shackles on his pale wrists and ankles.
I started to move toward him, but slammed against an invisible wall. I bounced back, nearly falling, and glared over my shoulder to where Aoife still stood.
She remained there, watching me with an eerie intensity. “This is your doing,” she said, her eyes never leaving my face.
I spun to face her. “My doing?”
“Liam will come to realize what a fool he’s been. In time, he’ll understand we were meant for each other,” she said with a shrug. “I’ve got all the time in the world.”
At that moment, Liam’s body jerked. A low rumble sounded deep in his chest and he pulled himself to his knees. He supported his weight on his elbows as a coughing spasm tore through him.
This was no common cold, but a painful sound, raw and harrowing. Each breath came in short, desperate gulps.
“How is Liam still alive?” I demanded, unsure if this was one of Aoife’s tricks.
She watched me with a predator’s grin. “You really know nothing of our power, do you?” she said, shaking her head like a disappointed parent.
“As if I would allow Liam to die while I lived,” she said, as though I was a fool.
My mouth dropped. “You have him chained to the ground,” I said angrily. “He’s filthy and sick. How can you allow that?”
She waved her hand dismissively. “It’s just for a time. He needs to remember this the next time he thinks to be disloyal.”
“Disloyal?” I said, thunderstruck. “Liam hates you, he wasn’t being disloyal.”
“Did you
not hear any of what I said?” she asked, icy blue flames dancing in her eyes. “In time, he’ll understand what side his passion falls on, and you and your mother will be nothing but dust. A distant memory, perhaps. Nothing more.”
“Why did you bring me here?” I asked.
“I admit that killing you had been very tempting, but I wasn’t thinking clearly. Now I realize you have much more important uses. I was willing to settle, as I told you. But now I see I can have everything I ever wanted, and more still. And you are the key to it all.”
“Now we’ve reached a whole new level of crazy,” I muttered, rolling my eyes up toward the cave ceiling.
When I met her gaze, my spine turned to ice. “Who are you calling crazy?”
“If you think I’ll help you with any of your plans,” I said, trying with all I had to sound firm. “Then you are crazy.”
“I see,” she said in a soft voice that filled me with cold fear. “But you will help me. You’ll do anything I ask. And I won’t even have to compel you.”
I swallowed and took a step backward. Aoife raised her hand toward my father.
With a tiny movement of her wrist, the sounds coming from him turned animalistic. He trembled and bucked violently as his eyes bulged.
“Stop! You’re killing him,” I shouted and started to run toward him.
Just before I hit that invisible wall again, she laughed. “Very well.”
And with another hand gesture, Liam stopped coughing. He stayed on all fours for another moment trying to catch his breath before pulling himself up on his knees. His eyes passed over Aoife and landed on me. Swallowing hard, he attempted to speak but the sound was like nails down a chalkboard, raw and alarming.
“Shh, Liam. Don’t try to talk, everything will be okay,” I said with a calm I didn’t feel.
“That is up to you, Allison,” Aoife said, the smile never leaving her face. She reminded me of the Evil Queen from Snow White with her chilling composure.
I raised my eyebrows, prompting her to continue. If I could get her to explain what her plan was, maybe I could come up with a way to stop it. Going along with her, or acting like I would, seemed to be my best bet.
“I thought seeing Liam might help you see reason,” she said in a smug voice. She began pacing the confines of the cavern. The dark stone walls were high and fey lights cast long shadows on her face as she formed her next words.
“Being the second-born daughter of the king and queen of the Tuatha de Danaan is the most humiliating of situations,” she began, still not looking at me. Liam sat back and leaned his head against the wall, his chains clanking as he rubbed his hands over his face.
“From the moment my sister was born, she was bred to be the next queen. Despite the fact that she is not a Seer, as most first born daughters are, Niamh would one day take over as queen of my people simply because she was born before me.”
I watched her pace, long legs fluid and graceful. Her expression was thunderous, full of contempt for her sister.
“As if growing up knowing I would always be in my sister’s shadow wasn’t bad enough, she was granted the one thing coveted by all Danaan: true love. When she brought Aodhan here, I saw how he looked at her. Like the very sun rose and set on her,” Aoife shook her head in disgust.
I stood still, saying nothing as bitterness and jealousy poured from her lips. Her eyes darted to mine.
“I have just as much right to be queen as Niamh,” she said, holding her chin up. “She is neither more powerful, nor more beautiful.”
I wanted to mention that Niamh wasn’t quite as crazy, either, but held my tongue for once.
“I suppose you’re wondering what this has to do with you,” she said, clasping her hands.
“Yes,” I said, gritting my teeth and fighting to keep my composure. Liam’s eyes were closed and his hands rested on his knees. Provoking her would make her do something to make him start coughing again, I presumed.
“I thought about torturing you until you agreed to do as I wish. I considered straight compulsion, as well. But that would be too easy for Niamh to discover and counteract,” she took a few steps in my direction, that predatory gleam back in her eyes.
“But after some thought, I’ve decided the only way to ensure my success is through Liam,” she said with a harsh, derisive laugh. “And you.”
My teeth clenched tightly as I tried in vain to figure out what she was saying. I wouldn’t ask. I wouldn’t give her that.
“I’ve been watching you, Allison. For some time, I’ve seen how Niamh has started trusting you. She’s even begun to care for you.” She laughed with a sneer.
I kept my eyes fixed on hers, inching toward the spot where Liam sat. I didn’t know what I’d do if she let me reach him, but I was desperate to find out if he was real, alive and whole.
“That trust, those misguided feelings,” Aoife said. “Are exactly what is going to bring Niamh down.”
I froze. “What do you mean?”
“What do I mean? Come on, Allison. You’re not stupid, I’m sure you can figure it out.”
My face heated, and I chewed on my lip to keep from saying what I wanted to. Didn’t she know how insane she sounded? And I was supposed to figure out what it all meant?
“You are going to put the wedge back between Niamh and Aodhan. They cannot be allowed to reconcile, or my parents will give them everything that should be mine.”
“You want me to come between Niamh and Aodhan? I would never do something like that.”
“Oh, I think you will,” Aoife said and she turned back to Liam. His back arched, presumably with pain and another round of coughing spasms rocked his body.
“Don’t do this, Aoife,” I pleaded. “How can you do this to him, aren’t you supposed to love him?”
Her eyes bore into mine. “I will never let emotions make me weak again. Liam had it all and still he betrayed me. He won’t respect me if I don’t punish him. He’ll understand that everything I’ve done has been for him soon enough.”
“But you’re hurting him, maybe even killing him,” I said, bouncing with the need to go to my father and help him. But knowing she wouldn’t let me near enough.
“All you have to do is simply agree to do what I’ve asked. Like I said, it’s all up to you.”
My heart thumped with dread. So that’s what it came to. I sit and watch my father suffer or betray my friends to keep him safe.
“How is your mother’s cough? I never did ask you that, did I?” Aoife asked, her eyes gleaming.
My head jerked in her direction. “What does she have to do with this?”
“Oh, only that through their connection she’ll suffer as well. Perhaps not to the same degree as Liam, but will you be able to sit back and watch her health grow worse each day?”
My hands curved into fists. I wanted to scream. I pictured myself pummeling her face until she felt the pain as acutely as those around her. But I knew it would only make things worse.
“So you see, those are your choices. Will you do as I ask?”
Wrapping my arms around myself, I shivered. I was cold with horror at what I must do. Aodhan had been a loyal, trust-worthy friend and I had no choice but to destroy the brief truce between him and Niamh.
“There is no choice,” I said, my voice shaking. “I won’t let my parents suffer.”
“Ah, wise choice,” Aoife said, a slow smile creeping onto her face.
“I’ll leave the method of keeping them apart to you. You’ll need to use any means necessary. Which reminds me.” She lifted a cord out from under the sweater she wore and pulled it over her neck, approaching me and placing it over my head.
“What is this?” I asked, holding the metal pendant between my fingers. It was a plain metal circle with an oval carved onto the surface. A slash cut through the oval at an angle.
“Just a little something to ensure you keep your end of the bargain,” she said lightly.
“How can it do that?” I asked, thinking ab
out the amulet containing the geis she’d placed on Liam.
“If you think to defy me, it will remind you of your… commitment. Visions of your father can be very motivating, can’t they?”
“How can this thing tell what I’m thinking?” I asked, letting it fall against my chest.
“The amulet can’t tell, but I can.”
I didn’t really want to know how she would know what I was thinking. But I didn’t doubt her. Not after all she’d done.
“And don’t even think about taking it off. I will know and I will punish you. Or I will punish Liam, rather.”
I licked my lips in misery. I was really going to do this. I could feel tears welling behind my eyes, but I couldn’t allow them to fall. Not in front of Aoife.
“Before you leave to begin your task, I have one more thing to show you,” she said, beckoning me to follow her.
Down the dim tunnel, there was another odd-shaped cavern, but it was too dark to make out the two shadowy figures laying in the corner.
Aoife raised a hand and a series of fey lights flared to life. My knees turned to jelly as I recognized the inky tendrils of my half-sister, Samantha’s hair. Like Liam, she was covered in dust and chained to the cave wall. Her back was to me, but I knew it was her. Lying a few feet from her was her boyfriend and Aoife’s former guard, Ciarán. Their fingertips just barely touched.
“Samantha dear, your sister is here for a visit,” Aoife said in a mockery of parental kindness.
Samantha, it’s me, I thought, trying the link to her mind. Like Niamh, she was a telepath.
Neither Samantha nor Ciarán stirred for a moment. Aoife cleared her throat and Samantha moved her head to the side slowly. She blinked and swallowed before throwing a hand over her eyes. Groaning, she said, “Allison.”
I rushed forward, forgetting about the invisible barrier Aoife had placed around Liam. I hit the wall and fell to my knees. “Samantha, oh God,” I whispered.
“It’s not as bad as it looks,” she said with a weak attempt at a smile. “But, Ciarán… these chains are iron and he’s so sick.”
I looked at Ciarán, who hadn’t moved an inch. “I’m going to help you both. Don’t worry,” I said with false confidence I hoped she couldn’t see through.
