by Meg Xuemei X
“Is something wrong?” Ashburn asked, peering into her eyes.
Lucienne felt a tingling sensation in her head. She immediately shielded up. The prickle dropped. Had the boy just tried to invade her mind? She frowned, catching a predatory light flickering in his eyes, then his ravaging look gave in to amazement. Lucienne watched him intently and coldly, fortifying her defense. She couldn’t risk counterattacking him like she did Jed. Her grandfather’s warning “—one day you’ll meet a formidable opponent—” had come true.
“I’m sorry for your suffering,” she said, wearing an unreadable mask. “It’s a horrible fate to be stuck in that kind of eternity—bored to death, and death never coming.” But she didn’t feel sorry for him.
Ashburn nodded. “Violet’s singing reached me when nothing else could. I guess the connection between us brought me back.”
“Isn’t that amazing? The great love you have for each other could split time and space and break all the barriers.” Lucienne tried not to sound sour.
“I love Violet,” said Ashburn, his gaze on her intensified, “like a sister.”
Lucienne’s pulse quickened at his hot gaze, and his explanation pleased her. For a moment, she wanted to point out that Violet didn’t regard herself as his sister, but she bit her tongue. What was between Ashburn and Violet was none of her business.
The mesmerizing energy between them resumed, humming. Ashburn watched her expectantly, waiting for her to make a move. Lucienne, however, drew back. Ashburn looked like a little boy who was refused candy, but he quickly recovered. His liquid silver eyes sparkled in respect. “I believe you have the Eye of Time in your possession, but something blocks my sight of it. What’s blocking it?”
“Twilight Water, an object that’s beyond three dimensions,” Lucienne said reluctantly, and immediately tossed her second question to stop Ashburn from further digging into her family’s treasures. “How do you know about the Sirens’ affairs?”
“It’s nagging you that I know, isn’t it?” Ashburn said with a half-smile, and again Lucienne felt her pulse picking up. “You can put your mind at ease. The crazy Eye recorded every piece of garbage since the dawn of the human race. I’ve inherited the collective memories of billions of humans in my head, the living and the dead.”
Lucienne remembered the mass consciousness that almost swallowed her when she probed his mind. “So every Siren’s memories have become part of your collection, too.” She made it as a statement so it wouldn’t be counted as her third question.
“Except yours,” Ashburn said. “I guess the mark is shielding you. While it’s with you, I can’t access your memories.”
Thank God! Lucienne controlled an impulse to touch the mark under her midnight hair. “The Eye of Time gave you great powers,” she said drily.
“I don’t care about the powers. I don’t want them; not at this cost,” Ashburn said. “I have no ambition to rule the world, but that crazy son of a—wouldn’t listen to reason.” His eyes turned dark silver—a gathering storm. “All of the Sirens craved these powers, but if you knew what the Eye of Time has in store for whoever it chooses, you and your ancestors wouldn’t be so eager.”
Lucienne looked at him through her thick lashes. “Convince me.”
“The pain I endured was like a thousand needles sticking into my brain. It wanted to see what I was made of. That vicious Eye even bullshitted me with ‘no pain, no gain,’ and blamed my suffering on my resistance,” Ashburn paused, as if the memory was still raw. His beautiful face became emotionless, but his tone was acid. “What sane person wouldn’t fight against an ancient entity taking over his soul?”
Lucienne blinked.
“And the needle-stabbing torment isn’t nearly the worst,” he continued. “Trillions of images and voices—strangers’ memories—invaded my head like parasites.”
“The Eye of Time uploaded its knowledge of humanity.”
“What’s it to do with me? Why should I care about humanity?” Ashburn said crossly. “I’ve been trying to erase them or get them out of my head but to no avail. Now the trillion of noises have translated into codes and become part of my brain cells.”
“We Sirens believed we were the chosen ones to glean the Eye of Time’s powers. I’d take the pain to have the knowledge. I’d use the ancient knowledge to fulfill my duty and seek a higher path.” And she could find a way to be with Vladimir. “But it went to you instead, and you despise it.” Lucienne tasted bile on her tongue. The Eye of Time picked the wrong person. But then the boy’s birth myth chimed in her head. The worst truth might be that maybe Ashburn was the one destined to inherit the Eye of Time.
“So why did it choose you, Ashburn?”
The storm swirled back into Ashburn’s eyes, clashing cloud on cloud. “I don’t know.” He lowered his gaze, his long, thick eyelashes veiling his expression.
“I don’t believe that,” Lucienne said.
“It mistook me for someone else,” said Ashburn. “It implanted a hidden agenda. I must find the bomb and take it out! That’s all I know and all I want.”
It felt like a blast of icy air hitting Lucienne in the face. Ashburn’s statement was opposite from the partial prophecy on the first scroll.
“What is between you and Vladimir Blazek?” he asked softly.
The tiny hair on Lucienne’s arms bristled. Her eyes darkened and narrowed to slits.
“I’ve blocked the satellite,” he said. “I’ve also disabled the audio sensors your men placed in the range.”
“Do you realize you’ve just asked me a very personal question?”
“I count it as my second question nevertheless,” Ashburn said with a shrug, “and I expect it to be answered to my satisfaction, as I’ve done for you.”
He has Vladimir’s memories, but he doesn’t have mine, Lucienne thought. Her mind flew back to how she and Vladimir had their first fight three years ago in Desert Cymbidium, her family’s training school. She played dirty and defeated him. The notorious playboy fell for her afterwards. Of course, she rejected him, as she refused all the other boys. She treated Vladimir the worst, though, taunting his feelings and tormenting him as far as she could go. But then, Vladimir acquired the information on an ancient scroll that her family had been pursuing for centuries. They made peace in the glider on the way to Tibet, and when he dove into that cliff to go after her, her heart belonged to him.
Until her kiss burned him. The picture of Vladimir collapsing to the ground and thrashing in excruciating pain flashed behind her eyelids. His hot tears and agony had become part of her recurring nightmares ever since, and she bore them alone.
Lucienne wanted to slap Ashburn for making her relive the aching past. She hated him even more for storing Vladimir’s memory of pain, her kiss, and their most intimate moments. “Vladimir has my loyalty as I have his,” she said coldly.
“You met him when you were fifteen.”
“You’ve seen his memories. Why do you ask me about him? You’ve just wasted one of your questions on something trivial.”
“It’s not trivial to me; neither is it to you. I know how he feels about you from his memories, but I don’t know how you feel about him.”
“Why is it important to you how I feel?”
“It’s just important,” Ashburn said softly. “It’ll help me solve a puzzle.”
Lucienne held his gaze, trying to read through his mask.
“Are you a mind reader, Lucienne?”
Lucienne noticed that he dropped the title of Queen. “You won’t have my answer since you didn’t answer me truthfully when I asked you why the Eye of Time chose you.” But Lucienne knew it was an empty gesture. The boy already knew. He had Jed’s memories, including his last moment with her.
As she stared at him in spite, a gust of wind carrying raindrops passed through her mind. Lucienne immediately knew he was probing her again. She had been practicing her shielding since she had parried with Jed. She was ready. Come and see, she sneered. His min
d was dangerous chaos. Her mental landscape would be an endless void for him, like the plane where he had been imprisoned. He forced her to revisit her painful moments with Vladimir, now she would return him to his former prison, if only for a few seconds.
Ashburn withdrew from Lucienne’s mind.
“Like the show?” She flashed a sweet smile.
Ashburn looked both frustrated and amazed. “You created static amid the void?”
“You got lucky.” Lucienne’s smile turned cold. “It’d be lightning bolts if you had stuck around.”
“I guess I was wise, then, to leave while you were still merciful.”
“Don’t you feel ashamed prying into other people’s heads?” Lucienne wasn’t amused. “What kind of person are you?”
“The same kind as you,” he said. “You read a piece of my mind when we first met, but you didn’t like what you saw either.”
Lucienne thinned her lips.
“If it’s any comfort, I’ll admit that your mind is the only one I can’t access, and you’re the most close-lipped girl,” Ashburn said, studying her bitter complexion. “I’ve outstayed my welcome, haven’t I?”
As Ashburn pulled away from the gate—from her—a sudden sense of loss overcame Lucienne, and she didn’t want him to leave. “If you haven’t had breakfast,” she offered, “you’re welcome to join me.”
“I haven’t, and I’d love to,” Ashburn said. “But the sun will be up soon, and the neighbors, too.” He strolled away, and then looked at her over his shoulder with a smile. “See you around.”
That dazzling smile sent a twirling of rose petals in Lucienne’s stomach.
As he merged into the shadows, a wave of sadness and incompleteness blanketed Lucienne, but she had no time to dwell on her feelings. The Eidolon hooked onto her belt was vibrating. She waited until the fourth ring and connected it.
“Ashburn blocked Dragonfly the moment you joined him,” Ziyi reported in a curious tone. “We didn’t get anything.”
Lucienne knew Vladimir was beside Ziyi, and he must be dying to know about her private conversation with Ashburn. He’d bring it up casually when they were alone. Vladimir never liked her keeping secrets from him.
“In the future, don’t waste Dragonfly on him, unless I say so,” Lucienne said, then added, “Only turn the lens on him when the auto-light in Nirvana goes out. I want to see if he actually sleeps or he goes somewhere else.”
“Yes, Lucia.” Ziyi giggled. “Blazek says ‘hi.’”
“Well, hello back,” Lucienne said in a hurry, not ready to interact with Vladimir right now. “I’m going to have breakfast with Kian. That damn kid woke me up before dawn.” She hung up and went to look for Kian.
CHAPTER 16
Lucienne started visiting the Fury house regularly, and each time she brought gifts. Clement and Peder particularly enjoyed California wines. They were amiable, but Lucienne hadn’t been able to find time alone with Ashburn. Violet was always present, like Ashburn’s lapdog, fighting tirelessly for his attention. Worse yet, whenever Lucienne sat down at the table, Prince Felix would show up at the door, smirking.
The natives were spying on her for their prince and informed him whenever she arrived in town. The blond boy made passes at Lucienne all the time, like a dog that wouldn’t give up on a bone. Each time the prince flirted with her, anger flared in Ashburn’s eyes, but she knew Ashburn would contain it, as he’d done all these years for his parents’ sake. Violet, on the other hand, was eager to fix Lucienne up with her half-brother. And perhaps for the first time, the redhead was even agreeing with the prince.
One day after an early dinner, Ashburn offered to help his mother prepare sweet peanut soup for the visitors. When Ashburn headed for the kitchen, Lucienne excused herself from the table, saying she’d like to freshen up.
Ashburn stood before the stove, his back stiffening as she advanced. He could sense her presence, as she could sense his whenever they occupied space within each other’s energy field.
“Hey,” Lucienne said.
“Hi,” he greeted back but didn’t look at her.
“It’s always crowded out there.”
“They follow you around.”
“They can’t stand us being alone,” Lucienne said. She could have just found an excuse to have Ashburn brought to her tent for questions, but she chose to approach him in a normal, friendly environment. It seemed her tactic hadn’t proved effective. “Why did you refuse a phone from me?” she asked.
“I don’t need it.”
“Why not take it as an emergency measure? If anything happens, my soldiers can get here quickly.”
“I can protect my family.”
“I know you can,” Lucienne said, moving nearer to Ashburn. “I want to invite you to Sphinxes. I heard you’ve been looking for the path to the outside world.”
“I’m not going with you.”
“Why do you try to avoid me? What is all this passive aggression about?”
“I’m keeping us both alive!” Ashburn’s voice turned ragged.
“What are you talking about?”
“There you are, Queen Lucienne.” Prince Felix flashed Lucienne a wolfish grin, which faded instantly at the sight of Ashburn. The prince looked daggers at his enemy, then turned back to Lucienne. “Is that bug bothering you?”
“Actually,” said Lucienne, cocking her chin in the prince’s direction, “it’s that big bug that’s bothering me.”
Prince Felix chuckled. “You’re as funny as you are beautiful.”
Ashburn’s eyes turned the color of the dark sea.
Violet appeared at the entryway to the kitchen, her dark, green eyes darting between Ashburn and Lucienne. “Ash, I can help you with the soup. You don’t need anyone else.”
“Come, Queen Lucienne,” Prince Felix said, offering his hand to her. “The kitchen is for the servants, not for nobles like you and me.”
Lucienne brushed past him.
At the dinner table, the air was cold between Ashburn and Prince Felix. Violet glared at Lucienne. Clement and Peder were nervous and uncomfortable. Only Lucienne was untouched. She shared warm stories with the Furys and learned many words in the Nirvana tongue.
That night, Violet came to Lucienne’s tent in Hell Gate, carrying a letter.
Lucienne studied the wax-sealed letter. It had been opened and skillfully re-sealed. Other people might not have detected it, but Lucienne was well-trained. Judging from the gloating light in the redhead’s eyes, she knew the letter didn’t carry a pleasant message.
“Could you please read the letter right now, Queen Lucienne?” asked Violet, who very much wanted to see the hurt on Lucienne’s face. “Ash must have your answer.”
“Then why didn’t he deliver the letter himself, so I could give my answer directly to him?” asked Lucienne, knowing even as she spoke now, Ashburn was probably watching them through Violet’s current memory.
“He can’t. The prince has his minions watching Ash all the time,” Violet said impatiently. “Could you please read the letter now? I can’t stay long, either.”
“I’ll read it,” Lucienne said and clapped her hands.
The giant, who was nearby, immediately came to her service.
“Cam, escort Miss Violet to the guest tent and have her wait there. Be sure to entertain her with refreshments,” Lucienne ordered.
“Will do, Your Majesty.” Cam bowed, gesturing for Violet to follow him.
“I’ll just wait here, Queen Lucienne,” protested Violet. “After you finish reading the letter, you can pass the message onto me, and I’ll relate it to Ash.”
“That would be rude, Violet,” Lucienne said. “Ashburn took time to draft this letter; I must return the same courtesy.”
“This way please, Miss Violet,” Cam said. His tone suggested he’d execute his queen’s order by whatever means necessary.
Throwing Lucienne a hateful look, Violet followed the giant.
Inside her quarters, Lucienn
e read the letter. The handwriting was beautiful as if the writer spent many years learning calligraphy. “Dear Queen Lucienne,” the letter said. “I regret to write this, but your favored visits upon our humble house have brought with it the constant and tiresome company of the Crown Prince. Our family is but commoners. Entertaining royalty isn’t our forte. If my poor parents continue to stretch themselves beyond their capacity, they’ll break. I’d appreciate it very much if Your Majesty would relieve my parents of such duty. The king’s palace may be a more suitable place for Your Majesty’s noble status.
Thank you very much for your kind understanding.
Very truly yours,
Ashburn Fury”
Interesting, Lucienne thought. He sought her out in Hell Gate, then all of a sudden avoided her. He said he was trying not to get them both killed, but who had the power to touch them? The king and his army couldn’t hurt her, and they wouldn’t dare try again. They knew their fate if they did. So did Ashburn mean the pull between them? It had been growing more intense, but it was ridiculous to think this attraction could be any threat to them.
Lucienne radioed the giant to bring her the redhead.
While Violet waited outside, Lucienne emerged from her tent with an Eidolon phone. The message she typed contained three words: please call me. She knew Ashburn would be able to retrieve the text.
Violet tried to see a hint of hurt on Lucienne’s face, but Lucienne flashed the girl an amused smile. “My answer is inside it.” She waved the Eidolon in her hands.
“Did you put a spell on it?” Violet eyed the phone suspiciously.
“A spell? Do you mean love spell? Oh, no, no.” Lucienne smiled wider. “It’s all technology. Ashburn will probably read my message to you if you’re curious.”
“I’m not curious!”
“Very good. As cliché says, curiosity killed the cat.” Lucienne handed the Eidolon to Violet. “Don’t let anyone catch you with this if you don’t want to get Ashburn in trouble. If you can’t handle the quest, I can have one of my warriors deliver—”
