Fate Walks

by Brea Viragh

  She gaped, her eyes caught on the remnants of her crystals as he led her into the house. “How dare you!”

  “You asked for it.” Her tone raised his hackles. Leo let the dust settle—literally and metaphorically—before releasing Astix in the living room. Lofty ceilings and original dark wood floors did nothing to contain her fury. She rounded on him with death in her eyes, the doll clutched in her white-knuckled hand.

  “Now, how do you want your coffee?” he asked easily.

  “I don’t ever want to see you again.” She moved to the fireplace. Threw the doll at him. Followed it with something heavier. Leo ducked in time for the silver candlestick to smash against the edge of a coffee table and snap off a corner.

  “I thought you wanted me to explain,” he continued.

  “I want you gone. Period.” She took off down the hallway, leaving Leo the choice to stay or follow. This was not the sweet, mild-mannered woman he knew. This was the dark side of her mistrust, her insecurities coming to the front with confrontation and anything outside her control. Everyone else in her life had left her. She expected it. Dared him to follow the trend.

  Too bad he wasn’t going anywhere.

  He groaned and went after her. “Astix, come back here.”

  “Leave me alone,” she snarled at him, brooding. “I don’t want to talk to you.”

  “Yes. I can see that.”

  He’d reached her when she switched her path, ducking around him and heading back into the living room.

  Leo sent a long-suffering look to the sky. “Will you please stop! You are making this extremely difficult.”

  At last, she skulked to a halt and collapsed into an armchair, burrowing her head in her arms. “How could you? How could you do it? I trusted you.”

  Leo crouched down beside her, making sure not to touch her, to keep several inches between them. “I owe you some answers.”

  Shaking, Astix looked away and leaned as far back as possible. “You’re a liar, Leo. You’ve used my life as your own personal experiment.” She reached behind her and retrieved the folder she’d stuck in the back of her pants. “I found this, too.”

  Leo sucked in a breath. “First, let me say, the doll wasn’t mine. I found it on your doorstep and didn’t think you needed more on your plate. I was trying to use the energy tied to it to find the man responsible. The file, you don’t understand—”

  “Cut the crap,” she interrupted. “Don’t tell me you have no idea, or I can’t understand what it is you’re really doing.” She mocked him. “What is your job, exactly? Given your position in the Claddium and your father, you’ve been assigned to me. Haven’t you?”

  “Not exactly.”

  Astix stood, pushing him away and letting the folder drop to the floor, its contents flying. Everything he said, every word that came out of his cunning mouth, was designed to put her at ease. To deceive her. Instead of listening to sense and reason, she’d lined up eagerly. Ready to hear it all.

  “You’ve practically written a whole novel about me in there. I read it.” She pointed down to the stack. “Explain this to me, Leo. Explain why the Earth Element bureaucrats have been following me. And while you’re at it, tell me where my brother is. I’m sure you know more than you’ve let on.”

  Leo brushed his knees and stood as well, listening to the creaks of his body. He stretched up to his full height and knew there was no way to make her understand, nothing he could say to make his own actions seem a little less vile and a lot more innocent. “Astix…”

  She shrank into herself, looking like she wanted to be anywhere but facing him. His heart froze at the pure hatred behind her eyes. “It was all a game, wasn’t it? Bedding me so you could get closer and report back to Daddy Dearest. That’s your job.”

  “Okay.” Leo held his palms open to her. “I’ve been watching you, it’s true. Yes, the Claddium knew where you were. Have we been monitoring you? Absolutely. But I never bedded you with any motive besides my personal desire. Sex was strictly off the record. You have to believe me.”

  “You’ll excuse me if I don’t.”

  “You want me to tell the truth?” Leo clenched his fists and turned away. “I’m trying.”

  Doubt the size of New Hampshire sank to the bottom of her belly like a rock. “It’s a stretch for you.”

  “We’ve always known where you are. Always known what you are. The higher-ups wanted to use you for what you represent—a woman with a man’s magic. It’s unheard of and warrants observation.” He stepped aside, pacing lightly. “I can’t go back and change it even if I wanted to. Time moves forward and leaves the rest of us behind. I would do anything to make you feel better. Unfortunately, all I can offer is an apology for keeping this from you. I meant to say something earlier, but it seems I was too late.”

  The illusion of him as the one good spot in her life melted away so that when she stared at him, her eyes were dark with shadows. “Why?” That one word, filled with pain, hung in the air between them. “Why wouldn’t you tell me?”

  “Because you’re important,” he answered softly.

  “My brother?” She had to know. Had no choice but to ask. The need circled her mind, threatened her sanity. “Do you know what happened to him? Were you a part of it?”

  “I know he’s in the Vault. I promise I had nothing to do with his capture. I’ve never been present at any of his interrogations.”

  “Interrogations?”

  “They’re holding him until the eclipse. I’m sorry. It’s out of my hands.”

  Astix cried out and dropped to her knees on the floor, uncaring when the bare wood scraped and cut. “You’ve been playing me this entire time.”

  “That’s not true. I’ve done everything I can to help you.”

  “By keeping me in the dark? Seducing me into compliance until I’m too soft and dimwitted to realize what you’re doing?”

  His gaze hardened. “Don’t say anything you can’t take back.” He refused to turn away from her. He couldn’t. It was impossible when she crouched there looking vulnerable and afraid and more than a little angry.

  Astix pushed at him when he came closer, falling to her butt. “Stop trying to placate me. Damn you, Leo.” She scooted on the floor until her back hit the cold marble of her fireplace mantel. “I was fine without you! Don’t you understand? I could have gone on forever without you and been perfectly happy. Now you’re here, and I know nothing will ever be the same. Why did you have to come and make me trust you? Why did you have to change everything?”

  “Change is coming. It’s inevitable.” Leo wanted to kiss her and wipe those tears away. He wished to brush her hair from her face and tell her everything would be okay.

  They both knew it wouldn’t, especially not now. Her trust was broken, and it wouldn’t be easy to mend. He had his work cut out for him.

  “Will you let me touch you?” he asked.

  Astix sucked in her breath through her nose. “No.”

  She wasn’t sure anymore. Of anything. Anyone. Truth flittered in and out of her life like the play of light across a bottle. Beautiful. Taunting. So many endless possibilities. Whatever happened with Leo, she wanted the light. She wanted the truth. The curse of her blood had destroyed any chance for them to be together. She thought knowing would allow her some power over her life, her future, her destiny.

  Astix was wrong. She couldn’t catch the light. There was nothing there for her to find. Only darkness waited.

  She was tempted to let the darkness take her, let it consume every inch of her shattered soul and devour everything left. Anything to erase what had happened.

  “Let me do something for you. Something to take the pain away.”

  “Touch me and risk a limb.”

  “You’re angry and I understand,” Leo said, “but there are bigger things here than dealing with the Claddium. The rogue magic is real. The man threatening your family? He’s real, too. Focus on what you need to do now instead of on the past.” He moved clo
ser when she refused to answer. “Can you please look at me?”

  Astix drew her knees up to her chest, suddenly exhausted. “No.”

  “I’ve been meaning to tell you, I’m following a line of evidence I hope will bring me to the man from the club. It has nothing to do with the Claddium or what my father wants me to do.”

  Astix focused on the floor. Tears sparkled in the corners of her eyes and one slid out, followed by another. Suddenly they were everywhere, coming down in a torrent.

  Leo’s breath hitched. An unfamiliar emotion tugged at him. It wasn’t sexual desire. It wasn’t sympathy. Something strange had pressure building in his chest and his skin tingling. “Believe me, I have feelings for you. I may—I think—I…love you.”

  “May. Think. That makes me feel much better.”

  “What do you want me to say?” he snapped. “Do you want me to tell you my heart aches for you every moment we aren’t together? Life is not something to toy with and I’m doing the best I can. The least you can do is listen to me, to trust me. To know my heart is in the right place.”

  She slammed a mental door on him and shut down. Her face went slack. “Believe me, Leo, I know life is not a game or a fairy tale. I just can’t forgive you for this, and I think it would be best if you left.” Cold settled gleefully into her bones, turned her solid.

  Leo took a seat across from her and stared, their hands inches apart. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Suit yourself.”

  CHAPTER 16

  Astix went to bed sometime in the wee hours of the morning. She left Leo in the living room after hours of silence, disinclined to sit there any longer waiting for him to leave. It became a game, to see who would move first. Who would speak. She ended up the winner. For what? For the satisfaction of being stubborn? It didn’t seem worth it.

  Part of her ached to believe him, believe in his pure intentions. It was easier to chalk up the deception to something or someone bigger than they both were. It was Orestes’ fault, or the Claddium. Anyone but Leo.

  Sometimes the easy thing wasn’t always right.

  Bedding her may not have been part of his job, but it had happened. Once broken, the pieces of a heart rarely fit back together the same way.

  She was angry with herself for letting him in. There was no one to blame but herself. Blame she had in spades. Astix lay in bed with frustration and anxiety circling the air above her head like starving vultures. She turned and punched her pillow. Punched it a second, third, fourth time, wishing it was Leo’s face instead of plush down.

  Now things were back to the way they were, before her family got involved, before Leo assured her his aims were genuine. Why did she still feel horrible? Ugh, what a night.

  When Astix rolled over again, a dark piece of wood caught her eye. She reached a hand out across the sheet and withdrew a single twig.

  Cypress.

  She knew what it meant. Cypress was a sign for sorrow, death, and mourning. Despair.

  With a cry, she flung the stick across the room. The only people she knew with the ability to call up plants were her mother and sisters. The magic passed down through the female line, after all. Their powers were almost completely gone, which meant death really was looming on the horizon. Who had sent the message?

  The idea of someone in her house while she slept left her physically ill. Only Leo had been with her, as far as she knew. Was he responsible?

  It was a threat. A warning, maybe. Someone wanted her to know what was coming. Was the symbol connected to the rune? The crows?

  The need to call Leo rose in her and she viciously tamped it down. She would not give in. Was he even still here? She couldn’t feel his presence. Quietly she slipped out of bed and peeked in the living room. No one there. Nor in the kitchen. No sounds, no sign of life except her own. She glanced at the destroyed front door, wondering how she’d been able to sleep at all knowing her defense system was damaged. Had Leo stayed to protect her until she woke?

  Astix sighed. Despite everything that had happened, she could never go back to ignorance again. Somehow, she’d become entangled in a web of fate, something outside of her control when all she wished was to be left alone.

  Though she’d initially refused, destiny had intervened, moving her as surely as a pawn in a game of chess. There was only so long one could escape before the reaper came knocking. She’d better get off her ass and move.

  **

  Karsia woke, grumbling as she cricked her neck. Ugh, no more late nights, she thought. She was getting too old to handle the hangovers that came with booze.

  She stretched—and knocked her head and heels against metal. Wincing, she cracked an eye open and came face to face with Aisanna. An unconscious Aisanna.

  What the… Then she remembered. It wasn’t booze at all, but something much more dangerous, much more insidious.

  There was just enough light in the dark confined space to inform her that both she and her sister had been stuffed into the trunk of a vehicle. “What is this?” Karsia kicked out, her foot hitting metal again as she struggled. Her hands, tied behind her back, attached her to the limp weight of her sister and stifled her movement. “What the hell is this?”

  Karsia tested her constraints until her wrists protested and the synthetic fibers rubbed her skin to the point of bruising. Synthetic. Of course. Something she could not manipulate. She thrashed with all her might, groaning when pain shot through her head, a lump on her temple throbbing. Panic turned her limbs to lead and had her heart pounding out of control.

  The same voice from before spoke. Inside her mind. Worming through her ear canals. Welcome, Karsia Cavaldi. Sorry to meet under these circumstances. You understand. Yes?

  She jolted like a frightened deer before slamming her feet against the walls of her prison again. “Let me out. Help, somebody help!”

  Not before you do something for me. I can assure you, help isn’t coming. No one can hear you.

  “Where am I?” Karsia knocked into her sister. “Please, wake up. Wake up!” Wiggling her knees, she continued to nudge her sister.

  She’s out until I tell her to wake.

  Karsia continued to struggle though she found her prison unyielding. She screamed until her voice turned hoarse. No matter how hard she kicked, she couldn’t get out. She’d read somewhere that with the taillight pushed out you could signal cars from the trunk. That knowledge didn’t help if she couldn’t even reach the taillight. Still, she floundered in the dark.

  “Help!” she screeched, hoping to garner attention. “Someone, please!” Her voice caught as the presence in her mind tightened her vocal cords. The vibration cut out and Karsia choked.

  I need you to send a message for me. The car moved along steadily, tires flying over the pavement. To your sister Astix. It’s a simple thing, really, something well within the limits of whatever power you have left.

  Whoever spoke in her mind retained possession of her voice box.

  A picture was presented to her, the image flashing behind her eyes. Can you do it?

  Karsia started, aware of the underlying meaning. She shook her head and squeezed her lids closed until they burned.

  Do it!

  A not so gentle pressure exerted on her mind until Karsia found her magic rising up against her will. Before she could stop it, the swell of power released, doing exactly what her captor wanted. A single push that all but drained her life force.

  Good, you did a perfect job. Now we wait.

  The ride in the trunk lasted an eternity. They were far beyond the city limits, unhindered by stop signs and red lights. The vehicle hit a smooth stride on the highway and carried them away from any chance of rescue.

  Karsia closed her eyes and focused on her irregular heartbeat. Why had she not listened to Astix and been more careful? Listened to her mother and stayed home? Listened to Aisanna and refused to help?

  Soon her mind wandered and she found coherent thought impossible. Each time she thought she had an out, th
e idea slipped away. She found herself struggling to focus, to pinpoint where she had been in her mind and where she wanted to go. She’d lost possession of her mind, thoughts disappearing almost before they had been born. Soon she was lulled to sleep by the steady hum of tires on pavement and the gentle rocking motion of the car.

  **

  Deep down, Astix knew something was wrong. It went past her heartache and betrayal, powers stirring beyond her control. Tension filled the air. She choked on it.

  In a moment of weakness, she broke down and called her sisters. When neither one answered their phone, her nebulous worry turned to dread. Coupled with the cypress twig, she assumed the worst.

  She gave in and dialed the house phone. Thorvald answered after the fifth ring. “Cavaldi residence.”

  “Daddy?”

  “Astix? You know you aren’t supposed to use this line.” He paused before continuing, “What’s wrong?”

  “Did Aisanna and Karsia come home last night?”

  “They’ve been in bed all morning.”

  “Can you go check on them?” she asked.

  “Tell me what’s going on.”

  “I will, after you check. Please. I’ll hold.”

  The line clicked off with a buzz of static and Astix held her breath. Minutes later, Thorvald returned to the line. He didn’t need to say anything. She heard it in his voice. “You better start explaining right now, young lady,” he raged. “What is happening in my house?”

  So she told him. She recounted everything from their unfortunate night at Constance to the cypress twig. The only thing she left out was her fact-finding mission to Leo’s office. Certain things even Daddy didn’t need to know.

  “You found it in your bed,” Thorvald reiterated. “This stick.”

  “Yes, I did.”