by Ellie Margot
“What good is it if she won’t talk to me?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Well, it’s about to be all the more complicated if she gets killed doing this shit.”
“Guy, it’s not going to happen.”
He let out a breath. “We don’t know what’s going to happen. It was half your appeal before, but I’ve known Samantha. She never wanted to return here.”
“Why?”
“Fuck if I know,” Guy said. “So her being here is weird as all shit. Us being here is all the fucking dangerous I can handle. It doesn’t feel right.”
“Hardly anything does.” Riette closed her eyes and saw the tree where her father lay under the ground. She thought of her grandmother inhabiting that tree. Then she thought of the burning embers and pictured them crawling and blowing their way to the two people she loved the most, who were the most vulnerable.
Riette opened her eyes with a shudder.
Guy coughed into his hand. There was a restlessness in his stance. He shifted his weight from foot to foot as he looked back at the others. Riette joined his gaze to see Trinity talking with Cassian.
Trinity was touching his arm. Cassian looked stiff. The same worry that Riette had seen on his face too many times was in plain sight, but there was something else in how he stood. There was something different in the way he held his shoulders.
Riette didn’t like it at all. There was something wrong with it and the lack of connection she could witness between the two of them. It wasn’t like Cassian, but what did she know about Cassian in a relationship?
She let out a breath.
“The very least we should do is move this shit-show somewhere else if you all are going to wax poetic about this even more,” said Samantha. Damian stood at her back like the shadow that he was. His body seemed to thrum with energy he’d gained from his kill.
Riette knew that had to be the origin. She had never seen him more animated, even though to someone who hadn’t been around him, he would have still seemed quiet and still.
It worried her that she now knew the nuances of these people. She wondered if she would ever fully see them as anything different. If that would be conscious, or if it would be something that happened over night, like growing another inch, or never at all.
At Samantha’s words, Cassian walked closer to where Samantha stood with Damian.
“She’s right,” he said softly. “We’re not safe here, and we shouldn’t linger.”
“Fucking robot,” Riette heard Guy said under his breath.
Riette wasn’t the only one to hear him though. Mekhi stood in the gap between Riette’s small pairing and the others, and he and Riette shared a look.
“We’re vulnerable here,” said Guy begrudgingly. “But that doesn’t mean we should do anything stupid.”
“You wound me, friend,” said Samantha, smiling. “Like I would ever put you in harm’s way.”
Corin stiffened at Mekhi’s side, and Riette took it all in. Her palms started to heat. There was a warmth brewing behind her eyes. Her tattoo throbbed on her shoulder as if she were about to enter a war.
Everything inside her spoke of the danger suddenly pressing upon all of them.
“We need to act,” said Cassian.
“So fucking be it,” said Trinity.
They all moved closer together, but Riette grabbed Trinity’s side as they started to head toward the floating structure. They still had the cover of the woods where they were, but the clearing necessary for Samantha’s plan to dangle Trinity hypothetically like prize fruit was just up ahead.
Trinity stiffened at the feel of Riette’s hands on her, but she didn’t look at their owner.
The others kept moving ahead. Guy hesitated the most. He didn’t watch the women together, but he didn’t let there be much distance between himself and Trinity as they moved closer to what could be their doom.
“You don’t have to do this,” said Riette.
Trinity laughed. Her pale skin seemed almost clear in the light that came down through the branches. Her skin was flushed. Her lips were slightly parted, and her eyes, when they found Riette’s, were in a daze.
Riette had the horrible thought that she had seen this look on Trinity before, but it had been so long since they’d gotten Trinity from her grandmother. At the memory, Riette thought of Frank, the monster in Trinity’s home and the horrors she must have seen while under that roof.
“I mean it,” said Riette, gripping her side harder. She felt the power in her hands and released her, but the thrumming energy inside of her was looking for a way out and recognized the untapped potential in Trinity. She knew it did, and it sickened her.
“Cassian was right,” Trinity said. “We listen to the monster girl, or we die discussing it in the woods. At least I’ll be useful this way.”
“You’re useful. You always are. We’re not fucking tools to be taken out when we best serve a purpose, and we’re not lambs to be slaughtered to serve a purpose either.”
Trinity looked at her again. She pulled at her bottom lip with her teeth before smiling. It looked almost normal on her face if you could ignore the emotions in her eyes. “I’m okay with it.”
“Trinity,” Riette started.
Trinity turned at looked toward Guy, who was only a few paces ahead of them, before looking back at Riette.
“You know what’s sadder?” Trinity asked. “It’s not being used. It’s getting used to it.”
And with that, she walked ahead until she was by Cassian’s side near Samantha at the front.
When they got right before the clearing, Samantha turned to face them all. “We need to cut her.”
“Cut her how?” Riette asked quickly, not wanting to think about if anyone else would have even bothered to ask.
“Her wrist probably, the right one,” Samantha explained. “Just a knick. It will alert the guards that there’s a snack nearby.” She looked at Trinity with her head tilted as she considered her. “It will move this shit along quicker.”
Trinity shrugged. Riette wondered how far this would set her back and how little Trinity would trust them after this, but she had to go with her word that she was okay with this. She didn’t know how else to move forward.
“I’ll do it,” said Cassian. He pulled out the knife he had at his side at all times.
Riette thought about how far that knife had traveled. He had used it on the ship and with her when she was first used by Mark the Angel. Now here it was, doing its first act of evil.
“You must have a knife fetish,” said Samantha. She looked him over. “Kind of hot.”
“Can we not?” asked Trinity. “For fuck’s sake.”
Corin snorted.
“She’s right,” said Guy. “Make it quick.”
“I should do it,” said Riette. The others looked at her in question. “I’m the only one who thinks this is all fucked, so at least I wouldn’t cut her too much.”
“You’re the one who power trips off of her,” said Samantha. “Not that I wouldn’t enjoy the show.”
“It’s fucking mutual,” said Riette. “Key bit of info there.”
“I’m doing it,” said Trinity. She muttered something about it being ridiculous under her breath as she grabbed Cassian’s knife from his hand and slid it across her wrist.
The ruby-colored liquid seeped from the slit instantly, coloring her skin and sliding down her arm.
Trinity watched it and then looked up at the others, finding each of their eyes in turn. “Let’s do this.”
Chapter 22
They stood in a line facing the clearing from a few feet into the woods’ edge. The prison floated above them still. It seemed to move and sway with the wind around it, but Riette knew that was her eyes tricking her. The height of it and its proximity to the clouds around it were messing with her eyes and what she knew of the world.
She wondered how many souls guarded it and how many mistakes they were making by just being there. Each o
f them faced the structure ahead of them, and even as Riette snuck a glance at the blood running down Trinity’s arm and dripping softly on the ground, she knew they were all in this together, even if it killed them.
Riette hoped Zekariah would be worth it. The weight of the book in the bag on her back emphasized how much she needed it to be true. He needed to help them. He had to.
Samantha walked until she stood in front of Trinity. She wasn’t nearly as tall as Trinity was, but she always stood as if her shoulders scraped the sky above her. The large black boots that took up most of Samantha’s small frame were the only thing that seemed to weigh her down.
“Don’t pour it on too thick,” Samantha said. “We don’t want them to have their hackles up.”
“I should look pretty helpless though, confused,” said Trinity.
Samantha looked her over. “Yeah, it’s a balance. But don’t look like you’re after a fight. They’ll give it to you, and we don’t want that shit to come up earlier than it has to.”
Trinity stifled a laugh. “Don’t be too strong, but don’t look too weak.” She rolled her eyes. She said something like, “It’s cliché as fuck,” under her breath, but Riette guessed at the words since she couldn’t fully hear them.
Riette’s laughed barked out of her chest before she bothered to stop it. Then she realized she didn’t want to. She was just glad Trinity was getting her spunk back instead of accepting everything like a broken doll.
“Maybe I should cry?” asked Trinity. “Not sob. That would be too obvious, but like slow tears down my cheeks?”
“Yeah.” Samantha nodded. “That could work.”
“And what if I made it sexier too? Ripped my clothes a little?”
“Yeah?” Samantha smirked. “I like the way you think.”
Trinity rolled her eyes and then leaned into Samantha until her face was a hair away from the fiery blonde. “Fuck you,” she snarled, and then she shouldered past her and walked into the clearing with her shoulders back.
Guy stepped forward to follow her, but Riette grabbed his arm and wrenched him back. “She knows what to do.” She cut him a look.
“It’s fucking suicide, and you know it,” said Guy. “For fuck’s sake.”
But they didn’t have time to argue about it. They had to watch Trinity as she twirled around, looking up at the prison and looking back toward the woods as if she were scared. Confused.
They watched as she took a stumbling step toward the structure which took her farther into the clearing.
“Smart,” Riette whispered.
“What’s she doing?” Samantha barked.
“She’s playing the part,” Riette said. “You said no Elf would be in this area unless they were a pet or were dragged in. She’s acting like she’s escaped from someone and is lost.” She looked back at the show Trinity was putting on. “It’s fucking brilliant actually.”
“We’ve got two dead ahead,” said Mekhi. He was in warrior mode. His fists were clenched, and Riette thought about the water power he possessed when she watched a breeze go through his red hair, ruffling it softly. She closed her eyes and felt saltwater against her cheeks. She knew it wasn’t there. It couldn’t be really, but Mekhi was gathering the storms themselves to aid them.
It spoke to the power in herself too. Something inside of her itched for this. For carnage. For power. For the sport of it, and it was coming.
The guards that were quickly approaching Trinity were male. They were about Trinity’s height. They were tall and wiry. Riette knew even through their clothes that they were run through with the lithe muscles of athletes who trained often and well.
And because of where they were, Riette knew they were powerful too. They were dark mages after all.
They spoke to Trinity, but even though Riette could hear the authority in their voices, their words were muffled, and Riette couldn’t catch their words.
“We need to get to her,” said Cassian. He kept his eyes trained on Trinity. “Now.”
“Wait a sec,” said Samantha.
“For what?” barked Guy. His tone made a low and rumbling sound come out of Damian’s chest as he stood by Samantha.
“Wait for it,” she said, ignoring his question.
The guards reached out for Trinity with the intent to grab her arms. Trinity shook her head. She trembled. Riette could see it from there. Something like fear was making Trinity shake.
“Samantha,” Riette warned. She knew her eyes glowed, especially the one, not unlike the tattoo that burned her back. The heat grew more and more intense until it was crawling over skin like something alive was brewing within her.
When the guards made contact with Trinity, she reached up quickly, grabbed them both by their heads, and slammed them together with more force than she should have had.
The thud of their skulls connecting and the soft crack of at least one of them by impact could be heard from where the group stood watching.
The guards fell to the ground. If they weren’t dead, they were, at the very least, disoriented enough to not stir.
Trinity looked back toward the others. She tilted her head and waited for them to join her.
Samantha and Riette looked at each other. Riette knew the look on her own face matched the astonishment on Samantha’s.
They looked back at Trinity.
“What?” she yelled. “Did you all think I haven’t had to defend myself before?” She rolled her eyes. “The name ‘Parlor Girl’ ring any bells?”
Chapter 23
They walked into the clearing. Riette’s guard was up. She could feel the flames flickering under her skin. There was a heat throbbing behind her eyes and at her temples.
“Bad ass, girl,” said Samantha. She shook her head. “Didn’t think you had it in you.”
“I think you thought I’d die and you’d have less to worry about,” said Trinity. “But I’ll take it. What’s the point of being bitter if you can wow the shit out of them instead?”
“Motto maker,” said Guy. He smiled as if he were a proud father, and the smile was shared with her.
Trinity let out a laugh that stopped abruptly when a snort left her lips. She slapped a hand over her face, and color found her cheeks.
“Okay, okay, let’s not get too excited,” said Samantha. “The real fight is up there.” She pointed at the floating structure above them.
“How the fuck do we get there exactly?” asked Mekhi. Corin grabbed his arm as she took it all in.
“We learn to fly?” Guy suggested.
Cassian made a noise in his throat as he stood next to Trinity and put a hand on her shoulder.
Riette watched as Trinity smiled at him, and she wondered again about their relationship, just for a second before she cut off that line of thinking. She had bigger things to worry about.
Riette looked behind her toward the tree line. Except for the clearing directly under the imposing structure, the trees were surrounding them on all sides.
It gave her an idea, but she also thought about whether or not there were other parties around them watching them from the safety of the woods. She didn’t want to give anyone, or anything, time to make a similar advance.
She turned toward the others. “The trees.”
Guy turned to look where she just had. “You’re saying we should climb them?”
“Yeah, why not?” Riette asked.
Samantha shook her head. “For one, they’re not tall enough. And for two, we’d be vulnerable from the ground while we tried to climb.” Samantha looked at the trees closer. “If we time it right, hustle like shit, and you all use your wind forces, maybe. Like fucking maybe your birthday came early, some kind of luck will take pity on us, and we could make it work.”
“We have to,” said Riette with the same resolve that made her leave home in the first place. “We will.”
The trees weren’t nearly as tall as the ones in Vitan. The Vitan trees of her home were structures that hadn’t been touched since their ince
ption. They were groomed and encouraged to reach toward the sky as high as they possibly could. The Elf world depended on it. Their ancestors were in those trees. Their world.
These trees were just there because nothing had been built in their place yet.
Everyone but Samantha, Damian, and Trinity took to it easily. They had been climbing since birth. This was something their bodies knew how to do, like taking in air or like calling their powers. It came to them like a second heartbeat.
There had been a fight about whether Damian should join them at all. The climb would be arduous for him. Riette worried the tree would simply snap under his weight, but Samantha had made the point that he would be needed at the top. Every able-bodied fighter would be. It didn’t matter that he could keep them protected from ground attacks as they climbed upward.
It was hard fought. The power of Cassian’s wind lifted them the final precious feet they needed to reach the bottom tip of the floating structure. It was the only thing that let them make it.
Corin almost fell to the ground beneath them, but Guy and Mekhi caught her on either side to pull her up and save her from falling to her death.
When they finally made it on the structure, there was a small ledge where they could gather before making it fully on top. Samantha was the first to speak as the others struggled to catch their breaths.
“Don’t look down,” she warned.
“We’re not afraid of heights,” said Corin. “We were born with them.”
“Other people have made it this far just to fail by looking down instead of at the dangers around them.”
“What’s with the lack of security?” asked Guy. “I thought the mages would have more defenses. Maybe even some traps.”
“No one is usually dumb enough to free the shit inside of here,” said Samantha.
“You mean people?” asked Trinity.
“Loosely and in rare cases.” Samantha trained her focus on the little bit of lip that stood between them and being on the ground floor of the floating structure.
“When we get up there, we kill everything that looks at us. There’s no hesitating. They will drain you and toss you off of the side of this thing without giving half of a shit.” She swallowed. “Or worse, they could keep you up here.” She looked at Riette with a hard stare. “Use everything. Spare no one. Kill first or become a memory.”
