by Irina Argo
* * *
Arianna sensed his response before he spoke.
“Antar, please, take me out of here,” she repeated, staring into his deep, sorrowful eyes, reaching for the irrational male inside of him, for the wild, primordial instinct to protect. Antar was her last chance to get out of here and she had to make it happen, no matter what. Since they’d locked her in the Guardian’s dungeon, they’d been draining her daily, keeping her barely conscious. She felt worse than she ever had, but that very suffering had made her realize the truth: they did it because they were afraid of her power, of what she might be capable of if they weren’t taking so much of her blood. What they inflicted on her was a reminder of how important she was to her people. She had no right to die. For their sake, she had to survive. She must survive. She must. Goddess, help her.
“I can’t.” Antar forced himself to maintain eye contact with her so she could see how hard was it for him to say it. “I can’t, Arianna. The Legacy cannot grant you Sanctuary. You present a threat to all of us.”
“A threat to all of you?” She tried to look as harmless as she could.
“I know that you’re one of the Keepers, and I know what the Keepers want to do. You can’t be allowed to turn the Key. You can’t imagine the disaster you will create. You’re too young to have seen mass destruction. I’m not.” Antar stood up. “I’m truly sorry that I can’t keep my commitment to you. And I do feel for the plight of the Amiti. But the Legacy is accountable to all immortals, responsible for the safety of every immortal family, tribe, and pack. There’s too much at stake here; it overrides our granting of Sanctuary. Goodbye, Arianna. I pray that you can find another way to help your people.”
* * *
Anock escorted Antar back to the building’s entrance. Outside, rain was falling in a steady downpour, but instead of waiting in the vestibule, they both descended the front steps. Antar turned his face to the sky and Anock did the same. Neither spoke; they just stood there for a moment letting the icy droplets burn their skin. It felt cleansing.
Sargas pulled up in the car and Antar climbed into the passenger seat. Anock watched the car move down the driveway to the front gate. Then he went back inside, scrubbing his hands over his face to wipe off the water, and returned to his office.
He found Ken standing by the window watching the rain. Wordlessly he handed Anock an envelope bearing the King’s seal.
Anock broke the seal and removed the single sheet of paper inside the envelope.
He sank into his chair to study the document, his eyes shifting from the text to Tor’s signature and back again, over and over. At first, his mind refused to assimilate the information; then it began methodically expelling anything—thoughts, feelings, sensations—that might prevent Anock from fulfilling his assigned task.
Once that process was complete and Anock was totally numb, he leaned forward to push the intercom button. “Blade.”
Blade immediately appeared in the doorway.
“The Keepers are to be executed at sunrise,” Anock told him. “Take care of the preparations. And ... there’s one other thing. Please inform Arianna of the sentence. And ... ask if she has a last request.”
Chapter 81
Blade took the elevator to the cells, rehearsing in his mind, word for word, what he was going to say to Arianna. Just do it and get the hell out of there. He signaled a handler to let him into Arianna’s cell.
She lay motionless on the floor in the middle of the room.
Blade rushed to her and lifted her tenderly, cradling her. “Are you okay?” Then realized how stupid his question sounded. “Which way do you want to go?” He nodded toward the bathroom and then the bed.
She pointed to the bed. He laid her down and put a blanket on her, covering her up to her chin like a child, and was flooded with memories of his lost mate and blood-bond, Marina. She was also tiny; he’d adored cuddling her, taking care of her. He even sang to her when she asked. No one else knew how he could sing, how beautiful his voice could be. He turned his eyes upward as if studying the light on the ceiling, blinking out his frustration with life. No, Blade didn’t cry. He was done with that.
“I have bad news for you, Arianna. This is not easy for me to convey. The King has signed your death sentence. You are to be executed tomorrow morning at sunrise.”
“Excuse me? Can you repeat that please?”
* * *
There was a loud humming in Arianna’s head that was interfering with her hearing. What had he just said?
“You heard it right. I’m sorry. I’m also here to ask if you have a last wish.”
“So, you must have captured all of the Keepers.”
That was the only explanation for the timing. They’d execute everyone else first and save her death for the end, the coup de grace. The death of the Queen would mark the end of the Amiti.
“I’m not supposed to talk about it. My assignment is to ensure that your last wish is respected—within reasonable limits, of course. I really recommend that you take advantage of this opportunity. I’ll give you some time to think about it.”
“No, I don’t need any time. There’s someone I want to see.”
“Not Tor, I hope.”
“No, it’s someone else.”
Arianna was having an out-of-body experience. She was an observer, sitting in the back of the balcony, watching the drama unfolding on the stage, watching the performers. One was a girl named Arianna, but it wasn’t her. Everything that was happening now was someone else’s experience, not hers. She felt sorry for the poor girl and grateful that it wasn’t happening to her.
Another part of her, also watching events unfold, knew that the dissociation was the only thing enabling her to think clearly from where she stood: on a precipice, about to fall into the unknown.
“When I was imprisoned by Khay’s pride, they brought me an Amiti girl to keep me company. She’d also been captured by the Sekhmi. Her name was Zlata, and she had the most amazing golden hair, like sunlight. We became friends. My last request is to have her brought to me. I’m sure you can locate her.”
“Yes, we’re familiar with her. I’ll let Anock know.”
After Blade left, Arianna leaned against the wall and pulled her knees up to her chin wrapping her arms around her legs. She rocked silently back and forth, staring straight ahead, seeing nothing.
It wasn’t possible; Tor couldn’t condemn her to death. She’d believed he loved her, been sure of it. How could you destroy something you love without even a second thought? It had to reflect what were truly your highest priorities. Obviously, Tor’s highest priorities didn’t include Arianna. Her courage was faltering. Her eyes stung and an invisible hand gripped at her throat, suffocating her.
But what about her? She had also tried to push love away out of her consciousness. Over these last months of imprisonment she’d tried so hard to convince herself that all she wanted was freedom, and she’d refused to think about love. Well, it was time to be honest: Arianna needed both freedom and love, needed them more than the air she breathed. Her rational mind yelled that it was crazy, but she would have given anything to see Tor one more time, to throw her arms around his neck and keep him close, feeling the comfort of his heartbeat. He was the one who’d made her suffer, the one who was about to kill her, and yet ... she still loved him. How was that possible?
She sat there for a long time, completely still, in quiet contemplation of this great mystery. Eventually, without her knowing precisely what called it forth, a deep knowledge began to glow within her, and the meaning of love was revealed to her. Love at its best, she saw, was a reciprocal flow of energy, but even when it was not flowing in, it could still flow out. Like a bird, love made its nest in every heart, and like a bird, it needed to be nourished, fed with incoming love. But even in the absence of that nourishment it wouldn’t die. Abandoned love would find its way to the bottomless well of the Divine love within and feed on it instead. At that point, l
ove became immortal and could flow freely into the world, never being depleted. It became a manifestation of the Gods themselves.
Now Arianna knew why she’d failed so wretchedly to root out her love for Tor. She’d been fighting against the Goddess.
At that realization, it was as if the sun had risen inside her. Tranquility spread through Arianna as she basked in its light. The answer she had been seeking was right here. She wasn’t alone anymore and never would be again. Hathor, her Divine Mother, was with her ...
She startled at the click and whoosh of the opening door. Blade stepped aside, allowing a slender girl with brilliant golden hair to enter the cell.
“Ari!” Zlata flew at her. Arianna stretched out her arms and wrapped them around her friend. For several minutes they just hugged each other, feeling the exchange of love between them, absorbed in their emotions and memories.
Then Arianna focused on her task. Making sure not to change her body language, she hid her face in Zlata’s thick hair, ensuring that Blade wouldn’t see the expression on her face. An intense flow of blazing energy streamed from her to Zlata. Arianna summoned a vision of herself in the full regalia of the Amiti Queen. She was handing Zlata an Ankh and saying I name you Keeper of the Mystery of Life. The picture in her mind grew brighter and brighter, fleshing out into three dimensions until it was nearly real—and then she projected the vision into Zlata’s mind.
She felt Zlata stiffen slightly and then relax again: she understood. Relieved, Arianna sent Zlata another message: when you get in touch with your powers you’ll know what to do. Just follow the Goddess’s guidance. Zlata nodded against her and Arianna ended their embrace.
“Blade,” Arianna called, looking toward the doorway where he still stood. The Guardian’s sorrowful, misty eyes surprised her; she’d thought Blade was made of steel, heartless and ruthless to the core and incapable of sympathy. “I want her free, and I want someone in the Elite to protect her until she gains her powers and learns to shield.”
Blade nodded. “She’ll be protected, Arianna, and she’s already free. It’s time to go.” He took Zlata’s hand and led her to the door.
“Bye, Arianna. I’ll be praying for you.”
“Goodbye, Zlata.” Not a single word or gesture, not a hint to betray that what had just happened could shred the Sekhmis’ anticipated victory to pieces. No one knew what would happen if the Amiti Queen died without leaving an heir to the title—but now at least one Keeper remained. After the Queen died—after Arianna died—along with the others, maybe Zlata would become the Center and gain the power to name other Keepers. Maybe, after the death of Arianna and the Keepers, Zlata would be the One.
The dread Arianna had been experiencing about her imminent death melted away. Given the choice, of course, she’d prefer to live, but it was comforting to know that she’d die having done what she could to take care of her people, having acted as their true Queen.
Now she had to prepare herself, to muster the courage she’d need to go through her final ordeal with the dignity of a Queen. She closed her eyes and envisioned what would happen. It would be swift, a quick flash of a sword. She wouldn’t even feel the pain. The body would die at the instant the sword sliced through her neck.
And then ... she’d meet the Goddess.
Chapter 82
“How long are you going to keep me here?” Zlata stopped in front of the door to the guest apartment and turned to glare at Blade.
“Our responsibility is to keep you safe until Odji’s conscious. We’re all here, so you’re staying here. After that you’re his responsibility again.” Blade opened the door and nudged her inside.
“What will happen to Arianna?” She pushed him back.
“I’m not supposed to talk about it.”
“Blade ... ”
“Go to your room, Zlata.”
“Blade. What will happen to Arianna?”
“Go to your room.”
“Listen, Blade. You think I don’t see you, but I do. You think caring makes you vulnerable, so you hide behind a mask of indifference, scared that someone will see your true face. Well it’s too late for that with me, Blade, because I saw your eyes. You can’t hide from me: you have a soul, and you have a heart even though you pretend not to. Please, Blade. Arianna’s my friend; I need to know what’s going to happen to her.” She stood stubbornly in the doorway so he couldn’t close the door. “Are the Guardians going to kill her?”
There was a flicker of pain in his eyes. He nodded.
“Why?”
Silence.
“You captured all the Keepers,” she guessed.
Blade closed his eyes, part wince, part nod.
“Are you going to kill them too?”
He nodded again.
“When?
“At sunrise,” he exhaled, and she couldn’t tell whether he was exasperated with her or the situation. “That’s it, Zlata; that’s all I’m going to say. I’ve already told you more than I’m supposed to.” He pushed her into the room and shut the door between them.
As soon as she was alone, Zlata felt something like an earthquake or hurricane: the floor and walls twisted and a heavy gust of winter wind slammed the windows open, tearing the silk curtains and smashing a crystal vase of roses to the floor. Zlata covered her face with her arms, hands clenched in tight fists.
After a few endless moments things seemed to quiet back down, and she lowered her fists from her face. Her room looked just at it had before, everything in its proper place, undisturbed. She stared at the lush roses without seeing them.
So, they were going to kill Arianna.
The massive grandfather clock in the entry struck eleven, jolting Zlata back into the flow of time. She grabbed a pad of paper and pen from the desk drawer and rushed to the bathroom, cranking the shower on to cover unexpected sounds and discourage curious Sekhmi from wondering what she was doing. Then she sat down facing the long, mirrored wall opposite the shower and stared at her reflection as she waited for her colleagues to appear.
When she’d blood-bonded with Riona, it had been a reflex reaction to seeing another being in agony, but then afterward, her vision had cleared when she’d found herself at Guardian headquarters, surrounded by the enemy—including more than a handful who had literally tried to kill her and were now her blood-bonds. That first night, frantic to find a way of reaching out to the Avengers, she’d remembered the mirror communication technique used by Amiti elders. It was usually beyond the capabilities of younger Amiti, but since she couldn’t think of any other options, she tried it anyway. Finding bath salts in the cabinet under the sink, she dissolved them in water and wiped down the mirror with the solution, and then she sat in front of the mirror for hours in hopes that someone would sense her trying to contact them.
Finally Serena had appeared in the foggy mirror and explained that the two of them had been able to make contact because they both had strong, psychically oriented powers. Zlata would be able to communicate with the other Avengers using the mirror, but they couldn’t hear her calling them unless they were close to a mirror. Once Erec, Kassi, and Lex had joined Serena and Zlata, they’d set up a schedule: they’d check in every night at eleven; if Zlata wasn’t there, they’d try again every two hours after that.
Shortly after arriving in Brussels, the Avengers had started talking to Zlata about going to live with the Royal pride as Odji’s blood-bond, but she hadn’t been ready. Of course, the blood-bond with Riona had changed all that—and now moving in with Odji sounded fantastic compared to staying here with the Guardians. Zlata had thought Erec would be livid about her rescuing the blood-bond he’d been trying to kill, but they all knew he could be hot-headed, and everyone was delighted at the outcome, especially given Zlata’s ability to enter her blood-bonds’ minds and share their experiences. All Erec could do as Riona’s blood-bond was wait for the right time to kill her—which, Serena pointed out, he hadn’t done very well—but Zlata could use
her power to tap into Riona’s knowledge of the Hunter pride’s activities and provide valuable intelligence.
A few minutes after eleven, the mirror began to fog up, and then the mist dissipated and Zlata saw Erec, Kassi, and Lex, their faces grim. Clearly they already knew about Serena’s capture.
She bent over the notepad. They have Arianna, she scrawled in big letters on the first page, then tore it from the pad and held it up with one hand so they could read it while she kept writing.
A. named me K. of Life. Guardians have 4 rem. Keepers. Execution @ sunrise. Need Plan!! She underlined plan three times and held up the notepad, watching their eyes travel across the words and then back to her. Flipping the pad back onto her lap, she scribbled again.
How many BBs do we have? She flipped the pad around to face them, bracing it between her elbows and abdomen to free her hands, and held up eight fingers for her blood-bond count: Odji, Riona, and the six Sekhmi Guardians who’d fed on her at the Project. The Avengers in the mirror each raised their own fingers with their blood-bond counts.
Erec calculated for a moment and then wrote a number: 95.
Zlata scribbled some more. Ultimatum?? “Free Keepers or we kill 95 BBs”—Incl. Odji, Riona, ...
After reading what she’d written, Erec pointed at her and then mouthed You going to kill Odji?
She nodded, trying to look like she meant it. Honestly, she had no idea whether she’d be able to go through with it when the time came.
Erec had written a reply: We’ll discuss & let you know.
The mirror fogged up again, obscuring the Amiti in the mirror, and when it cleared, Zlata could see only her own reflection, her eyes wide and frightened, her skin wan.
* * *
Erec closed the connection with Zlata and dropped onto the couch. Reaching over to the side table, he picked up a lit candle and held it in his hands, his eyes transfixed on the flame. “Thoughts?”
“It won’t work.” Kassi sat down next to him and also stared at the candle flame. “They’ll sacrifice the ninety-five of those, no matter who they are—and actually the number’s a lot lower; you counted Serena’s, but she can’t burn hers. We’ll just waste the reserve we’ve been building up for decades. There’s no way they’ll let the Keepers and the Queen go. Really, guys,” she said, her serious gaze moving to Erec and then Lex, “it will not work.”
