The Whispering Echoes (Smoke and Mirrors Book 3)

by Melissa Giorgio

  I couldn’t help but agree with him.

  “Irina!” Claudette called from where she’d mounted her horse. As she gave me a cheery smile and a wave, it was clear she’d had no difficulty saying goodbye to West. “See you in Fairfield!”

  I waved back. “Until then!” Climbing into the coach, I settled down next to Leonid. “And then, hopefully, this nightmare will be over.”

  He kissed me on the top of my head. “Soon, Lark. Soon we can put all of this behind us and go home.”

  How I missed Dusk. Not just the city, but the routine we’d created as a couple living together in our home. I’d only lived that life for a few short months, but I missed it immensely.

  I knew life was always changing, but I didn’t expect it to change so drastically. It seemed like since I’d met Leonid and the others, my world had turned upside down more than once.

  Vernen entered the coach, shutting the door behind him and sitting down with a frown. As the coach began moving, Leonid leaned forward in his seat and asked, “Did you kiss him yet?”

  This time both Vernen and I hit him.

  Laughing, Leonid settled back in his seat and produced a deck of cards. Vernen’s eyes lit up and he held a hand out for the deck. During our lunch break, Leonid had gone to where our belongings were stored in the exterior of the coach and rummaged through his satchel, not telling me what he was looking for. Figuring he was looking for something to distract us during the second half of the journey, I went through my satchel as well, but all I’d ended up with was my obsidian horse. I’d slipped it into the pocket of my coat; now, watching Leonid and Vernen argue over what game to play first, I touched the horse’s cool surface with my fingers and smiled. Maybe we couldn’t go home yet, but we’d brought a little bit of Dusk here with us.

  AFTER LOSING EVERY ROUND TO Vernen, I begged them to let me skip a few rounds. Leonid suggested a different game, one for two people, and Vernen agreed. Despite continuing to lose, Leonid was determined to beat his friend.

  Yawning, I curled up in the corner of the coach and closed my eyes. The road was slightly smoother, and I found the constant rocking soothing me to sleep.

  I don’t know how long I’d been asleep when the coach came to a jerking halt. With a shriek I went flying off the bench, Leonid and Vernen both lunging to catch me before I crashed into the seat opposite me. As Leonid pulled me into a standing position, his hands gripping my waist tightly, Vernen went for the window. “Why’d we stop?” I asked, trembling.

  Something didn’t feel right.

  “Maybe one of the wheels broke?” Leonid asked. “Or a horse got injured?”

  “Leonid,” Vernen said in a choked voice. Something about his tone made the two of us tense as we exchanged an uneasy look.

  Pushing me behind him, Leonid reached for where his sword had fallen onto the floor of the coach. When he joined Vernen at the window, Leonid swore.

  “What?” I whispered, my heart hammering. “What is it?”

  Both men recoiled, and I didn’t understand why, until, a split second later, the door was blown open. I cried out and threw my hands over my face as shards of wood flew through the air, slicing through my coat and my exposed skin. A second explosion rocked the coach, and then Leonid was dragging me out of it, with Vernen right behind us. Angling his body in front of ours, Leonid unsheathed his sword and pointed it at—

  Aeonia.

  Everything stumbled to a halt.

  She was standing in the field, twenty feet from us, with both of her hands raised in the air. Dressed in a long dark coat with her hair pulled back into a simple braid, her face free of cosmetics, she looked younger than usual. But no less dangerous. Even from here I could see the malice on her face as she readied herself to attack again.

  How’d she found us? Weren’t we the ones who were searching for her? If I wasn’t so terrified, I’d laugh at the irony. We thought we had more time to prepare for this encounter, but now here we were, separated from our friends and completely caught by surprise. Without Claudette and the amplifier, or Jaegger and his brute strength, what chance did we have against her magic? She’d already managed to destroy the stagecoach; she’d blown the doors off and half the roof. The driver was slumped over in his seat, bleeding from his throat. My hand went over my mouth. She’d slit his throat? But how?

  The three of us turned in unison at the sound of footsteps. Aurora emerged from the other side of the coach, wiping a bloodied knife against her pants. She eyed Leonid’s sword and reached for the one that hung at her back.

  “Wait,” Aeonia said and Aurora paused. “Since Irina was so willing to help me out last time, let’s see if she’ll cooperate again.”

  “No,” Leonid snarled. “Stay away from her, witch.”

  Aeonia’s eyes flashed. “The last time someone called me that, I burned his friends alive.” Pointing a finger at Vernen, she said, “Do you want to watch him die?”

  Summoning flames in his cupped hands, Vernen stared her down. “You’re not the only one who can use magic.”

  “But I’m the only one who can use it well.” Aeonia cocked her head. “You’re both being rude. Irina is perfectly capable of making her own decision.” She nodded at me. “What do you say, Irina? Will you come with me? Or will you watch me kill your friends?”

  I curled my hands into fists, both hands scarred thanks to her. “I’m done helping you.” And, as an afterthought, I added, “Witch.”

  She hurled magic at us. Not fire, but some sort of invisible energy that I could feel flying over us as we dropped to our knees to avoid getting hit. It smashed into what was left of the coach and the horses, who up until this point had just been standing there as if frozen, let out high-pitched cries of terror as they bolted, taking the dead driver’s body and the frame of the coach with them.

  There was no time to watch them go because the sisters went on the offensive, attacking us from both sides. Leonid’s sword met Aurora’s, his arms straining with the effort as he fought against the taller, heavily muscled woman. Vernen and Aeonia exchanged blasts of magic, but it quickly became clear Vernen was no match for her. As Aeonia threw spell after spell, showing no signs of fatigue, Vernen stumbled, his face slick with sweat. Horrified, I watched as a blast hit him square in the chest and he went catapulting through the air.

  “No!” The scream ripped from my throat, sending me back to the prison where I watched Bantheir kill my friend so effortlessly. Not again, not again, not again!

  “I did give you a choice,” Aeonia said as something seized my ankle. I looked down to see a green vine slithering around my leg, squeezing tight. Before I could react, it gave a hard yank and I went flying, toward Aeonia.

  “Irina!” Leonid’s voice was etched with fear and I heard, rather than saw, him chasing after me. My arms flailing, I dug my fingers into the ground, searching for a root or anything to stop me from being dragged to Aeonia.

  Leonid dove for me, wrapping his hand around my wrist. I cried out as the vine pulled at me relentlessly, determined to rip me in two. “I’ve got you,” Leonid said, his dark eyes wide and panicked. He reached for me with his other hand—

  And then Aurora was there, driving her sword down. I screamed again as it pierced Leonid through the shoulder. He let out a noise of surprise, his mouth a perfect “o,” and let go of me.

  There was nothing I could do but watch as Aurora cruelly ripped the sword free from his body and kicked him swiftly in the abdomen. He let out a single, low groan, his face tight with pain. Our eyes meet briefly before his fluttered shut and he collapsed on the ground as Aurora loomed over him.

  Leonid didn’t move.

  I screamed his name as the vine ripped me away from him and deposited me in front of Aeonia.

  Leonid still didn’t move.

  “No,” I moaned, my panic squeezing around my throat and choking me. “No, no, no—”

  “Quiet.” Aeonia slapped me across the face, momentarily stunning me. And then—I was back, the
panic fading, my vision clearing, and I was a snarling, cursing, screaming beast as I jumped to my feet and attacked her. Taken by surprise, she stumbled, and then we were on the ground and I was punching her, kicking her, telling her I would kill her—

  “Enough!”

  I didn’t recognize the voice, but when Aurora yanked me away from her sister, I realized she was the one who’d spoken. Aeonia got to her knees, breathing hard as she touched her bloody lip. I felt a surge of fierce pride when I saw the damage I’d inflicted on her and I snarled at Aurora to stay out of my way, because I wasn’t done.

  “I said enough!” Aurora shouted, her voice deep and raspy, like she didn’t use it much. Her grip on her sword tightened, and I realized she was going to use it on me next.

  “Stop,” Aurora said. “We need her alive, remember?”

  A single thought sneaked through the rage—why? What did Aeonia need from me now?

  I didn’t care. Whatever it was, I wasn’t helping her. If Leonid was—no, I would not finish that sentence. I needed to go to him, I needed to help him, and these two sisters were not going to stand in my way. Reaching for the plant still wrapped around my ankle, I pulled at the tough, green vine, tears of frustration flooding my eyes when I couldn’t get myself loose. Why wasn’t I carrying a knife? Hadn’t Leonid told me to carry one? I’d stuffed it in my pack, thinking I wouldn’t need it during our ride on the stagecoach. How could I be so stupid?

  Aeonia watched me struggle, amused, before she grew tired of it and stood, raising her hand. “See why you should always cooperate?”

  “Aeonia!” Claudette’s voice rang through the air as she came charging up on her horse, her sword drawn.

  Frowning, Aeonia turned to face the newest arrival with a weary sigh. “And who are you, and how do you know my name?”

  “Really? It’s only been four years and you’ve forgotten already?” Claudette’s voice was awash in hatred. “I didn’t forget you, or what your family did that night to my city.”

  There was a pause as Claudette’s words hung in the air between them. Then Aeonia took a step back, and another, her movements jerky with shock. “C-Claudette?” she whispered, paling. “Is that… Is that really you? I finally found you?” She reached for Claudette, hesitant.

  Claudette, meanwhile, was a blur of action as she urged her horse forward, aiming for Aeonia. Aurora shoved her sister out of the way before Claudette’s horse careened into Aeonia. Cursing, Claudette wheeled the horse around and prepared to charge once more. Then her eyes flicked to Leonid, to Vernen, and her expression grew horrified. “Aeonia, what did you do?”

  “What I had to,” Aeonia said simply. “For you.”

  “Me?” Claudette shook her head in disgust. “You hurt these people for me?”

  “Let me explain—”

  “No.” Claudette gripped her sword tighter and the sun winked off the blade, momentarily blinding me. She looked like a goddess come to life, sitting high on her horse, and Aeonia sucked in a breath, stunned. “Get away from my friends.”

  It was the wrong thing to say. Blinking away her previous astonishment at the sight of Claudette upon her horse, Aeonia’s voice went cold. “These aren’t your friends. I’m your friend.”

  “You’re mad,” Claudette said, staring at her. “We are not friends. Your family destroyed Ayres, remember? You burned my friends alive, remember? Gilbert died because of you and your family, remember? My parents are dead, remember?” Her voice had risen to a shout, echoing off the trees behind us. “We are not friends, Aeonia!”

  “Enough!!” Aeonia jumped to her feet and threw out her hands. More of her magical energy flew from her fingertips like a blast of wind, pushing me down to the ground. It stole my breath away, my vision going spotty as I clawed at my throat, trying to get air into my lungs. Before I passed out, I saw Claudette topple from her horse, her sword bouncing uselessly from her fingers.

  I fought against the blackness, searching for Leonid, for Vernen—

  But all I found was nothingness.

  I WOKE TO THE STRONG smell of incense. My eyes fluttered open, taking in an unfamiliar room. No, “room” wasn’t the right word. As my gaze traveled, I saw I was in some sort of tent. It was spacious, with a tall ceiling and enough room to fit numerous pieces of furniture. The tent’s material was a light blue, the same color as the sky on a sunny spring day. I was sitting in front of a circular table draped with a silk purple cloth; across from me was an empty chair with a high back. I made to move forward and was met with resistance.

  It was only then that I realized my arms were tied behind my back, the ropes woven through the chair and twisting around my wrists painfully. My legs, too, were tied to the feet of the chair. Aeonia’s not taking any chances.

  As soon as I thought her name, the previous events came crashing back and I let out a quiet sob, pulling at the restraints. I need to get out of here! It wasn’t my own safety I was concerned with, but Leonid and Vernen’s. Especially Leonid. I didn’t know the extent of his injuries, and the thought of him lying in the dead grass, slowly bleeding out…

  Alone.

  No. I tugged at the ropes, groaning with frustrating when they didn’t give. I wanted to lash out at something, maybe knock the table over in front of me, but with the restraints, it was impossible.

  “Stop wasting your energy,” came a voice to my right. I looked over my shoulder to see Claudette sprawled on the ground, her legs and arms tied behind her back. A lock of golden-brown hair had fallen into her eyes and she blew it away impatiently before speaking again. “Please tell me you have a knife on you. They took my sword and the knife in my boot…” She trailed off when she saw me shaking my head. The only weapon inside the stagecoach had been Leonid’s sword. Everything else—all of our possessions—had been stored on top of the coach, which Aeonia had blasted with her magic.

  Then I remembered the horse in my left pocket. Not a weapon, but something. A good luck charm.

  Hope.

  Claudette pulled herself into a sitting position. “What does Aeonia want with you?”

  Again I shook my head. Last time, I’d had Jaegger to help me find the Essence. This time, it was just me. Unless… Maybe she thought the dragon was still with me and wanted to use his power for something terrible?

  “Does it have something to do with the thing she stole from Dusk?”

  “I don’t know.” I tugged at my restraints, the chair moving slightly in the process. “And I don’t care.” My voice rose with frustration. “Her sister stabbed Leonid. And Aeonia blasted Vernen with magic. That’s all that matters right now, Claudette. Getting out of here and going to them before it’s too late!”

  “Emile will find them,” she said quietly. “He was behind me, letting his horse drink from a stream when I heard you screaming. He would have followed and seen them and gotten help. The other stagecoach couldn’t have been that far behind either. And West is a medic, isn’t he?”

  Her words combined with her soothing voice and slight accent helped calm me. She’s right.

  “Right now,” she continued grimly as shadows appeared on the other side of the tent, “the ones we need to worry about are ourselves.”

  A flap in the tent parted and Aeonia and Aurora walked in. Shucking off her coat, Aeonia threw it on one of the couches. Under the coat she wore a pair of pants and a dark sweater. Her lip was swollen and there was a spot of blood on her chin. I eyed it, smirking. Catching me, she marched over and slammed something down on the table.

  I recoiled when I saw what it was.

  The stone—the prison stone. Iridescent, it glittered in the sunlight, looking like nothing but a pretty stone meant for jewelry. But I knew better. Even though I couldn’t hear the whispers, I knew the three magicians trapped inside were there, watching.

  I risked a glance at Aeonia, wondering if she heard them. When her bruised lips pulled back in a smile, I knew she did.

  She gracefully sat down in the chair across from me, cros
sing one leg over the other. “Remember this?” she asked, tapping the stone with one long finger.

  “Is that the damn thing you stole from Dusk?” Claudette asked from where she sat on the floor. “Is that your thing, now, Aeonia? Go from city to city, destroying them—”

  “Be quiet,” Aurora barked, striking Claudette across the face. The sound of flesh striking flesh echoed across the tent and I winced, knowing from experience that it had to hurt. But without hesitation, Claudette launched herself at Aurora; even with her arms and legs bound, she was still fighting.

  “Stop it!” Aeonia jumped from her seat, pulling Claudette away. Glaring at her sister, she said, “I told you not to hurt her!”

  “You’re acting like a fool,” Aurora replied. “Letting your emotions cloud your judgement. You should have let me run my sword through her, like I did with the captain.”

  I snarled from where I sat, but they ignored me.

  Aeonia, with her hands on Claudette’s shoulder, said quietly, “Get out.”

  Shock registered across Aurora’s face. “What?”

  “I said, ‘get out’!” She let go of Claudette to point to the tent’s exit. “I don’t need you here. They’re subdued. So go!”

  Aurora paused, as if waiting for her sister to change her mind. When she didn’t, the taller woman cursed under her breath and pushed past Aeonia to charge out of the tent. Aeonia shoved Claudette so she toppled over. “Keep your mouth shut or I’ll gag you.”

  Fire flashed in Claudette’s eye and I knew she wasn’t going to listen. “You witch—”

  Aeonia snapped her fingers and a cloth appeared in the air, flying into Claudette’s mouth and knotting behind her head on its own. Thrashing, Claudette’s cries became muffled.

  “I did warn you.” Aeonia walked back to me and sat down in the chair once more. “This stone speaks to you,” she said to me. “I can tell by your reaction that this isn’t news to you. You heard it, didn’t you?” She took my silence for confirmation. “I didn’t hear the voices right away. But maybe that’s because I was trying so hard to use it.” Aeonia ran a finger along the smooth surface, gazing at it almost reverently. “When I fought Parnaby, I wasn’t using the amplifier, despite what he may have told you. I couldn’t even begin to tap into its power. But I wasn’t concerned. I knew I’d have all the time in the world to figure out how to use it.”