Poisoned in Light

by Ben Alderson

  Gordex walked around her where she was pinned to the floor. Her eyes rolled, following his every move. Her hair spilled around her head, which Gordex didn’t bother walking around. She flinched as he stepped on it.

  “I can’t say I agree, Druid.” Nyah spat blood, which landed on the base of his robe with ease. A grin broke out across her face, pleased with her aim.

  “Do not be like that, my dear girl. Hostility is not needed when this dance for answers could play out very smoothly.”

  “You’ll not get anything from me.” Some color flushed back into Nyah’s cheeks with each refusal she threw at him.

  Her small acts of defiance, although brave, would only end in pain. I knew all too well.

  Gordex released a breath. “Oh, I will.” He raised his arm and opened his palm as if reaching for something within the air. On cue, the Staff of Light flew across the room from where it was placed, resting against his throne. I cringed under the sound of wood slapping into his open, waiting hand.

  “Do you know what it feels like to be impaled by a crystal?” Gordex asked, studying the onyx stone at the end of the staff. His brows knotted with interest as he turned it around for us all to see.

  “Do you?” Nyah sneered.

  “No.” He shrugged, turning his gaze back to Nyah. “That is why I asked. I have always wondered. If you do not answer me, we will find out, won’t we?”

  Nyah arched her back as far as she could. “Ask away. I am in no rush. I have nowhere else to be.”

  Gordex spun the Staff around, so the crystal pointed towards her. Then, slowly, he pressed it against her exposed ankle.

  There was no reaction at first. Nyah’s face lifted into a smile, but it soon melted away as her mouth open in a hushed scream. The noise soon followed, exploding from her mouth as the hissing of the crystal against skin melded with it.

  “STOP!” I shouted. Marthil clapped her hands down on my shoulders to stop my struggle.

  Gordex ignored me. “My first question is one merely of interest. The distraction at the gates, was it your idea?”

  Nyah’s lips pinched white as she kept them closed. “If it was my idea, it would’ve worked.”

  “Good.” He held the crystal on her skin. “I would have been disappointed in you if it was truly your plan that failed. You seem, stronger, smarter than that.”

  “Would you look at that.” Nyah had gained some control on the lingering pain. “You seem to know me pretty well.”

  Gordex’s smile faltered at Nyah’s sarcasm.

  “My next question you will answer without encouragement. Emaline, where is she?”

  Everyone waited for Nyah to answer. Even the air stilled, worried it might muffle her reply. But one never followed.

  Nyah pinched her lips together, cheeks swelling with a scream, but not a sound came out of her.

  “Hmm.” Gordex sagged his shoulders, disappointment marked across his gaunt face. “I truly hoped it would not come to this. But I see your stubbornness is as strong as your stupidity.”

  Nyah’s mouth opened, spit linking her top lip to her bottom as she cried out in agony. Her scream of pain shocked me. I saw the smoke lacing up into the air around the crystal. Then the sound hit me, a light hissing as it burned away at the skin of her ankle.

  “But you are also strong in more ways than one. It truly is a shame to hurt you. My shifters were supposed to be obedient creatures, but I have clearly missed a link in the chain with you.” His lips pulled into a snarl and he pressed the crystal in more. “Now tell me. This pain only stops when you do.”

  Nyah’s screamed, and my stomach lurched. Yet I refused to look away. Then, to my surprise as well as Gordex’s, she stopped her cries. Pain still creased her face, pinching at the corners of her eyes and turning down her mouth, but she did not cry out again.

  “Answer me, girl. Tell me of the final Dragori and her location.”

  “So, you can bring your demons back?” she spat, half in a cry and half in a shout. “I’d rather die than ever be a piece to this plan.”

  “My brethren deserve a chance to return. I will stop at nothing to make it happen. That includes not getting the answers I desire from you.”

  “Then kill me.”

  She shook her head sharply, biting down on her lips until a rivulet of red leaked out the side of her mouth. Veins in Gordex’s forehead stood out as he pressed down harder with the staff. The stronger the force he gave her the louder the hissing of her skin burning became.

  Nyah kept quiet. Her eyes, full of determination, were pinned to the Druid. But she didn’t speak, nor cry out.

  “Now she is quiet,” Gordex said, lifting the staff finally.

  I wanted to break free, to run to Nyah and hold her close. Her eyes fluttered into her head, as if she battled to keep consciousness.

  “How will you get answers from her if she is not conscious?” I shouted at Gordex, hoping he would cease her pain at least.

  He turned on me. “You are right, Zacriah, we cannot have her passing out. Not yet anyway. I will just have to alter my methods.”

  My muscles clenched as Gordex stepped for me, anger burning the whites of his eyes black.

  Marthil clenched down harder as I tried to resist. I could see my own confused reflection in his large eyes as he got closer.

  “If Nyah can resist the pain and stay quiet, then I will see if she can resist seeing you in the same pain.”

  “Zac,” Nyah panted, eyes staining down her chin to see me. A single tear leaked out the corner of her emerald stare and dribbled down into her lips.

  “I can taste the answer now.” Gordex smiled, shrugging his shoulder as he placed the crystal onto my forearm. “So close. Nyah, I shall ask you again. Tell me where I can find the final Dragori.” Gordex looked over his shoulder at her as he spoke.

  Her lips trembled as she held my gaze. I shook my head at her. Don’t tell him, I thought. Don’t do it!

  “Nothing to say? Then you leave me no choice, girl.” Gordex shrugged, looking at the space on my forearm which the crystal hovered over. He truly looked shaken by his next action, as if he really didn’t want to hurt me. Then he pushed the crystal forward until it touched my skin.

  At first, I felt nothing. Then it was cold, freezing cold, as if I had placed my hand in a mound of fresh snow and held it till my skin turned blue. I sucked in a breath, shocked by the sudden addition of flaring heat.

  My scream brewed in the deep pit of my belly. It rumbled through my body, exploding out of my mouth as the pain intensified. I arched my back, trying to pull free, trying to get away, but Marthil clamped down harder.

  “Nyah,” Gordex sang over my screams, “I can keep this up for as long as you need.”

  It was getting harder to hear him above the throbbing in my mind. I could feel myself slipping into an oblivion, a peaceful place where no pain existed. Peace, that was what was waiting in the darkness in the corners of my consciousness. If only I could grasp it.

  Nyah was speaking, but I could not make out her words. Not with the welcoming sleep seeping into my body. I could only hear the sweet tones of her voice.

  The crystal was removed from my arm, and my awareness slammed back into the light. Gasping, I slumped back on the chair and felt the lack of Marthil’s strong hold on me.

  My lungs burned as I sucked in a breath. My mind throbbed along with my body.

  “Thank you, my dear. It would seem we have a journey ahead of us,” Gordex said. “Take the boy to his room, clean him up. Leave the girl with me and return for her after.”

  The constraints around my wrists slackened, freeing me. But still my head spun in circles. With a light mind, I looked down to the lingering whispers of agony that crawled up my arm, yet there was nothing to see. My skin was perfect, untouched, yet the pain still sang. It’s memory strong within my arm.

  Marthil yanked me from my seat and pulled me from the throne room. She had to hold me up, for my legs still would not listen to my commands. All
I could manage was a single glance over my shoulder as we left the remains of the doorway.

  Nyah was still sprawled across the floor, chest heaving. Gordex now sat in his throne above her. His following words to her chased after me.

  “You will be rewarded for your cooperation, my dear girl. I promise you that.” He smiled down at her, like a cat above a bowl of fresh cream.

  And I have a promise for you, I thought, smiling to myself as I imagined the pain I would cause Gordex in return for his actions.

  THE FAMILIAR ARRIVED a long while after Marthil dropped me on the floor of my room. Whereas my mind whirled with anger, my body was numb. I couldn’t stop feeling the pain Gordex caused Nyah. How he used her greatest weakness to get the answers he desired most.

  Marthil left promptly. She refused to speak to me, even as I threw insult after curse her way. The bolt on the door scrapped shut, locking me in, keeping me away from Nyah. If I had had the energy, I would have smashed the door down, but I couldn’t move from the floor. I stayed on it, face pressed to the cold slabs, waiting for the pain to leave my body.

  Soon enough, I no longer felt the agony. It almost didn’t seem real in the first place, not when I was left unmarked. It was the pain that took place in my heart that didn’t fade.

  I pulled myself from the floor, stumbling over to my bed, which I proceeded to lie on for more silent moments. Then a strange sound, followed by a high-pitched series of clicks and screeches, caused me to look out of the window. Looking up to the open balcony, I could see that the sky had faded to a navy blue, highlighting the heavy snow clouds that pulsed above the remains of the city. But it was the dark outline of the creature perched on the windowsill that conjured a gasp.

  My sudden movement must have frightened it. The creature screeched and hopped on the spot. I expected the noise to draw in the shadowbeing guards who stood watch beyond my door. With a hand on my mouth, I listened to hear if they would come in. But to my luck, they didn’t.

  A knowing sensation flooded me, a feeling of familiarity that made me brave enough to raise my arm for the creature. It soared across the room to me, no longer more than a shadowed outline, and I could see the entirety of the bird.

  An owl.

  Talons exposed, the owl reached for my arm and rested upon it. Where I expected the sharp cut of its expenditures, nothing happened. Its touch was gentle.

  I raised a hand and ran it down the speckled feathered wing, admiring the black and white circles that looked like mystic eyes. Even the owls face gave it a sense of mystery. Sharp and wise, large amber eyes with long white lashes only enhanced its unique appearance.

  How this beast had made it to my room was beyond me. Yet here it was.

  The owl hooted and twisted its head. It was only a small movement but enough for me to notice the roll of parchment wrapped around its scrawny leg.

  “For me?” I said, pulling it free with a gentle tug and unraveling it in my hands.

  Scribbled on the parchment was a short note. The handwriting was both beautiful and rushed. And my name stood atop it.

  Over and over I read it in my mind, the words melting into one string of relief.

  “The flame burns strong. Bide us time.”

  I read it aloud, being careful to keep my voice no more than a whisper.

  That was it. Seven words that calmed the raging storm within me. Answered the one question that had kept me awake, alive and hoping. I sagged in relief, closing my fist around the small note until the crunch of paper became music to my ears.

  It didn’t last long, not while I knew Nyah was still with Gordex in the pits of the palace. Was he hurting her? No, he needed her. I’d missed what she had told him about Emaline’s location, but perhaps he would still need her alive to reach it.

  I glanced up at the owl, expecting it to spew more secrets regarding my Hadrian. The flame. No longer did the owls eyes hold the golden amber of color. Now they were pitch white. This was no ordinary creature, not that I had thought that. But the milky gaze that peered at me solidified the fact that this owl was a familiar. But whose?

  Looking into the pearl orbs, it reminded me of Jasrov’s familiar. How Bell’s eyes would change to white when she shared through her bond with him. Only an elemental could have such a power.

  Was one looking at me now?

  With one great force of its wings, the owl hopped from my arm and flew for the window. I almost cried out for it to stay. Looking around the room, I searched for anything I could relay a message back to the sender. But by the time I looked towards the window the familiar was long gone.

  “What do I do?” I put my head in my hands.

  Rustling behind my room’s door sent shivers of panic up my arms. I had to get rid of the note. If Gordex found it, he would know I had contact with someone. There was no fire to burn it, and ripping the note would not stop Gordex piecing it together. I only had one option.

  I never expected paper to taste nice, but it didn’t matter. I popped the now scrunched ball into my mouth and chewed until it was a moist paste. Then I swallowed, feeling every part of it trailed down my throat as I removed it from existence. Taking the vial of Forbian I gave myself two drops as a chaser. The smooth liquid of the herb helped me take down the parchment but also relieved the aches of the bruising Marthil had gifted me.

  “Thirsty?” Marthil said from the door. I bolted upright, surprised that I’d not heard her entrance.

  “Have you been demoted to staff?” I replied, trying to keep my voice straight despite the anger that burned through my veins the moment she walked into my room unannounced. I couldn’t show any sign that her sudden arrival had spooked me.

  Marthil had changed since I last saw her. Gone where her dusted clothes; now she was dressed in a gown of deep brown with a clean-cut bodice of beads and threads. She seemed as uncomfortable as she looked in the dress. She didn’t look the part of royalty. It was all an act after all.

  “Drink it,” she said again, voice deeper and riddled with command. She extended the cup for me, water sloshing over its side and spilling on the carpet. I took it, hoping she’d leave if I listened to her.

  “What do you want?” I asked, regarding Marthil with wary eyes.

  The sky was obsidian. Midnight must have greeted the city beyond. So why was Marthil dressed for a ball?

  She paced around the end of my bed, pulling a small brown satchel from her waist. I had not noticed it before, as it blended seamlessly into her dress.

  “Come to check on your wound.” Marthil began emptying contents onto the bed. I knew she referred to the stabbing mark, but sine I’d last checked, the Forbian had healed it completely.

  “You’re a marvel,” I said. “One moment you wish me pain, the next you want to help heal me.”

  “Trust me, Zacriah, this is not something I’ve chosen to do. But it seems that a certain shifter boy is refusing to come up here alone.” Marthil raised one corner of her lip. “Scared of someone’s reaction he said.”

  Petrer.

  “Then at least one person in this place understands that I’m a threat,” I replied.

  Marthil laughed, ignoring my comments. “Gordex needs you back to full health. Take your top off and let me see if my concoction has worked.”

  If I refused, she would stay until she got her way. And with the lack of food, heavy head and tired body, I obeyed. I stripped the shirt off and showed her my skin.

  Marthil studied it, talking to herself. “I’m impressed. The Forbian worked quicker than I expected. The dosage must be potent.”

  This side to Marthil unnerved me more than any other. Her voice was sickly sweat, almost maternal. To anyone else it would be hard to imagine she had the possibility to hurt anyone.

  “See? I am fine. You can leave now.”

  She ignored my jab at her. “I see your bruising has already faded from earlier. You’re not taking too much Forbian, are you? We wouldn’t want your body to begin relying on it.”

  From her
smile, I didn’t trust her worry for me.

  Marthil prodded and poked at my head, moving the silver strands of hair out of the way to see the marks she’d left me.

  I didn’t move or push her away.

  “Are you planning on patching up all of my injuries?” I asked as she tipped a vial of water onto a clean cloth and dabbed it across my hairline. “Even the ones you leave me?”

  “Quiet, Zacriah,” she said, pressing slightly harder than she had before. “Your voice grates on all of my nerves.”

  “Can’t say I am not glad.” I smiled.

  We didn’t speak until Marthil was done. Her hands, harsh yet gentle, ran across my arms and neck, coating the bruising with the cool water. It was a pointless act. What was she trying to prove? She knew as well as I that in a matter of time, the Forbian would have cleared all my marks up. This water she doused over me would do nothing.

  Just when I thought Marthil was ready to up and leave me, she came out with more unexpected news.

  “Gordex has asked me to fetch you for a feast,” Marthil said. “And since you have nothing suitable to wear, he has provided you with a new uniform.” Turning for the door, Marthil clapped her hands. The door was kicked open by a shadowbeing who walked inside. His face was lifeless and gaunt. A painting of death. As he walked in I spotted a large trunk of sorts being carried between the shadowbeing and the next one who followed in after.

  “I don’t want his gifts,” I spat.

  “I’m sure you don’t. But this isn’t a game of what you want or not. You’ll get changed into it. It’s only polite to become presentable for the guest of honor.”

  The shadowbeings drop the trunk and leave, the bang makes me jump.

  “Nyah?” I asked, hands clenched on the sheets around me.

  “The one and only. Pretty girl, beautiful hair. Shame about the voice. Still, I have a feeling this feast is going to be the best yet, for Gordex is readying for an announcement.”

  “Wait,” I shouted, reaching for Marthil who bent over to pack her satchel. “Is she… is she badly hurt?”

  “Get changed.” Marthil kicked the trunk on the way out. “And come and see for yourself.”