Poison in the Well

by Jessica Gunn

  Kian sighed heavily. “As do I. And if Ava’s going, I am too.”

  “Why don’t you take the whole Circle then?” the Command member from before chimed in. “All the Hunter Circles, even, for all the good it’s going to do you.”

  “If you screw this up,” said another Command member, “it’ll lead to war.”

  “We’ve been on a war path with Darkness since the Circles’ inception,” Jeremiah said. “And yes, this one will be different. I’m not willing to sit and do nothing while Talon goes rogue with a weapon capable of killing us all—and in doing so, potentially the entire world.”

  “And me?” Veres asked. She’d been so quiet this entire time that I’d forgotten she was even in the room. She regarded Jeremiah with a withering look. “Do you plan to hand me over to the Neuians without care, hoping they’ll not kill me for their own uses?”

  Jeremiah met her piercing gaze with one of his own. “If we do nothing to further appease them, the Neuians will turn on us.”

  “How about we see how this negotiation business goes before we go making the Neuians any more promises,” Krystin said. “If we can sway Landshaft to turn against Talon, or Talon to surrender their Ember witch program, we’ll have no need for an alliance with the Neuians.”

  I scowled. “Except for all the force-changed Ember witches who need to be cured or have their magik neutralized.”

  “Let me worry about Karen and the rest of the Neuians,” Ben said. “They’re my… I have a closer in, and maybe the situation can be reworked if necessary.”

  “So we’re still going into Landshaft,” Kian said. “Willingly.”

  Jeremiah nodded. “Yes.”

  Kian sighed again and scrubbed his face with his palms. “Here we go again. Walking into the city of demons.”

  With a half-baked plan and zero backup. I knew in my heart that was true. My stomach churned. Something about this plan was going to go wrong. Honestly, most of it probably would.

  But Jeremiah was right: It was time to stop waiting for something to happen. For the Ether Head Circle to act. For the Neuians to decide they were done playing with us as we danced around each other waiting to fight. Because as soon as they got bored and started attacking, the Neuians would kill everyone and destroy everything.

  “Actually, this isn’t a terrible plan,” I said. “Kian and I discovered tonight at Hunter’s Guild that most of the demon population—the ones outside the city—are terrified of what Talon is doing. If we can stop Talon, I think we’ll have the support of the general populace.”

  “Will that matter if Aloysius and Darkness’s court are behind Talon one hundred percent?” Krystin mused. “And what the hell were you two doing at Hunter’s Guild?”

  “Recon,” Kian said. “The intel was worth it.”

  “I hope so,” Krystin said.

  Jeremiah nodded as Ben and the rest of the Command stared at Kian and me in utter disbelief. “Well then,” Jeremiah said. “Shall we prepare to go to Landshaft?”

  I paced the hallway, anxiously waiting for the door to Jeremiah’s office to open. He’d spent the better part of the last hour on the phone with the Ether Head Circle confirming his plans. Ben and Krystin were inside, offering advice or moral support. I wasn’t sure which.

  “We don’t have to go,” Kian said quietly, watching me pace. He leaned his back up against the wall.

  I stopped and turned. “Yes, we do. Or at least I do. And I know you’re not going to let me go alone, so… we’re going.”

  Kian sighed and his brown eyes fell to the floor. “I know. It’s just… willingly walking back into that city that’s the issue.”

  Right. Because despite what Kian had told me so far about what had happened to him when his team had left him behind in Talon’s clutches, I knew there was more. But I understood where Kian was coming from. Until Veynix had taken Will hostage, I couldn’t have ever imagined willingly giving myself over to Veynix. Playing along with his plans. Walking into a trap he’d lain.

  But we all do desperate things at desperate times. And that was what made us Hunters.

  I frowned and stopped my pacing so I could stand next to Kian. Leaning my head on his shoulder, I took Kian’s hand in mine, interlocking our fingers. “I know.”

  “But we’re doing it anyway.”

  “Guess so.”

  Kian’s eyes met mine. “You’re not scared?”

  “Of demons? No.” I sighed, knowing that wasn’t what he meant at all. “I’m terrified of what Talon plans to do. And so far that’s overriding my terror of Landshaft and all the demons inside of it who’d gleefully accept the chance to kill some Hunters, especially an interim Fire Circle Leader.”

  Kian looked at me for a long moment without responding. A small smile twisted his lips and his entire form seemed to relax slowly, like an unhurried roll of thunder.

  “What?” I asked finally.

  He shook his head. “Nothing. It’s just… nothing. We should see if they’re ready.”

  I glanced toward the door, still confused. Smiling at me after I’d declared my fear made zero sense. “They’ll find us when they are.”

  He nodded again, still watching the door to Dacher’s office. I reached for him, placing a hand on his arm, and drew his face to mine. Our lips met in a slow dance, one Kian didn’t return for a moment.

  Surprise or something else caused him to hesitate, but only for a moment before he cupped my face and pulled me in tighter against his warm, strong body, changing the angle of the kiss to deepen it. I shuddered as a chill ran down my spine and curled my toes. I kissed him back harder, leaning against him.

  Kian was the first to pull back, breathless, his eyes searching mine for something. “Ava, I…”

  The door to Jeremiah’s office opened. Kian and I jumped apart. I smoothed down the front of my shirt and gave Kian an apologetic look. Something always seemed to break us up. Get in the way. Interrupt our happiness in some form.

  Ben ducked his head outside the door. “It’s time—come on.”

  I pulled in a deep breath and reached for Kian’s hand, giving his fingers a tight squeeze. He interlocked them with mine. “Then let’s go.”

  Kian nodded and led me to Jeremiah’s office. Inside with Ben were Jeremiah and Krystin, Brian, whom I hadn’t seen arrive, and the same two Command members who had spoken out against this plan.

  “This is a bigger party than expected,” I said as I shut the door behind Kian and me.

  Brian gave me a wave before placing a bag on Jeremiah’s desk. “I’ll be accompanying you guys again. This is as many of the anti-aura sickness pills as I could grab, but it should be enough to carry you all through.”

  “As many as you could grab?” I asked, an eyebrow lifting. My eyes narrowed. “Is Hydron not aware of what’s happening?”

  “What they don’t know won’t hurt them,” Krystin said. “They already don’t know plenty.”

  “I’m also not a fan of how they’re handling things,” Brian said. “It’s better off this way. Here, everyone take a sleeve of the pills and take a dose now before you go.”

  Brian didn’t need to tell me twice. I took a sleeve and a dose for myself. If I never had to feel aura sickness again, it’d be too soon. Once geared up and ready to go, we joined hands in the center of the room.

  Jeremiah turned to the two Command members, who were staying behind. “We’ll return as soon as we can. Hold the Circle while we’re gone. And if Dacher’s health vastly improves, reinstate him.”

  “We will,” they said in unison, nodding.

  “Good,” Jeremiah said. “Then Ava or Kian, would you please do the honors?”

  Honors. I wouldn’t call knowing where the entrance to Landshaft was an honor, nor would I call the task of delivering this group of people there the same. But still, I squeezed Kian’s hand tighter and nodded. “Sure. I got it. Teleportante.”

  Chapter 11

  We appeared outside the city’s gates. Two guards standing wa
tch in front of the iron bars barely twitched when we arrived, as if a sudden appearance of people was commonplace. Maybe it was.

  After a moment, they both drew their weapons.

  “What business do you have at Landshaft?” the taller one asked. He wore heavy modern armor, a myriad of sidearms and blades, and a scowl that twisted his dark features. “Humans.” The last word was spat.

  I went to speak but Jeremiah cut me off and stepped in front of our group. “I’m Jeremiah Cole, interim Leader of the Fire Circle. We sent word on ahead to Jerrick that we’d like to speak.”

  The second guard huffed. “Doubt he’ll be wanting to talk to Hunter scum like you.”

  Jeremiah didn’t budge. “Why don’t you leave that up to him to decide? Let us in the city to find and speak to him.”

  “Mark us if you have to,” Brian said from the back of the group. He weaved his way past Krystin, Ben, and Kian to the front. “Last time I was here, I was marked.”

  The guards spared each other a quick look before the taller one shook his head. He walked off into the small building beside the city gates and disappeared. His partner stood there glaring at us, his eyes narrowing on every movement made.

  “I hate this,” Krystin murmured from behind me.

  “We all do.” Those words came from Kian as he stepped closer to me. “Let’s just focus on getting to speak to Jerrick.”

  This second guard huffed again. “That’s what they all say—right before Autumn Fire burns them to the ground.”

  “Enough,” the taller guard said as he returned to us from the small building beside the front gate. His shoulders had slumped a little, but he straightened himself as he stood before us once more. “It’s your lucky day. If you want to call it that.”

  “We’re good to go?” Jeremiah asked, sounding perhaps a bit more hopeful than he should have.

  Somehow I knew they’d let us in. We were too good of a party to ransom to not allow us entry. Among us were the interim Leader of the Fire Circle, a Neuian, and the Daughter of Alzan after all. Really, the question wasn’t if they would let us continue on to Jerrick alone. It was would we be escorted by guards or dragged to Jerrick’s feet?

  The first guard gave a measured nod. “A small party of Talon soldiers are on their way to escort you to Talon’s Drum. Jerrick will be waiting there for you.”

  And there it is. Escorted after all. I eyed the demon guard, his own uniform made from Talon’s colors in leather and other protective gear. He didn’t have manacles on him—none that were visible anyway. And neither he nor his companion had moved to find some. We weren’t even going to be bound?

  I thought back to the last time I’d been here. Brian had handcuffed me to keep up the act. But I hadn’t been the only magik-user in chains. My eyebrows lifted with this realization. Talon wants the war. Landshaft doesn’t. And we already knew most of Darkness, its general populace, didn’t either.

  Except that, now, Landshaft was controlled by Talon. By Jerrick. Which made it potentially untouchable.

  I turned back to Kian and the others. Krystin’s jaw had locked hard, her gaze roaming past me to the guards between us and the gates to Landshaft. I closed my eyes for a moment and pulled in a deep breath, reaching out to her with my thoughts.

  We won’t get stuck here, I thought, hoping her telepathy would pick it up. Krystin had said before that although she had a pretty good grip on blocking out others’ thoughts, mine still sometimes got through.

  Krystin nodded slightly, but her jaw remained locked in place.

  They can’t afford to take us hostage at this stage, I told her in my thoughts. Not you. Not Jeremiah or Ben. They may hate the Neuians but as much as Talon wants a war, they’re not ready for it yet.

  Which was the only reason this meeting with Jerrick was happening in the first place.

  Krystin finally turned to me. “You’re right. But that doesn’t make walking into what’s clearly a trap any easier. No matter how necessary.”

  Ben took Krystin’s hand in his and squeezed tight. “We’re going to be fine.”

  “Let’s hope so,” Jeremiah said as he gestured toward the door. “Our escort party awaits.”

  I peered through the front gates’ tiny windows. A party of four Talon soldiers decked out in full gear and various magiks swirling around their palms was making its way up the path toward us. I forced a deep breath into my lungs to settle my nerves.

  We’re going to be fine.

  The soldiers’ heavy footfalls echoed in the silence on this side of the wall as their boots ground down into the dirt and gravel. As they approached, the two gate guards went back into the tower and released the holds on the gate. The heavy metal doors swung open, creaking with age and size, and allowed the soldiers passage.

  Nothing about them screamed individuality. Even up close, only their faces were really different. All four of them were male, of the same sturdy body type. Each wore the same red and violet leather armor, and each had the same shade of burgundy in their irises. All were demons. All were puppets.

  I supposed most of us were puppets in the end. Just some of us had better—or at least good—masters.

  Or so I’d been told.

  The gate guard who’d done most of the talking stepped up to meet our escort. “Take these Hunters to Talon’s Drum. Do not let them out of your sight.”

  The four soldiers stood to attention and nodded before separating out.

  “Thank you,” Jeremiah said, watching them. He walked past me and the others and stood between the four guards. The rest of us followed suit.

  So much for being inconspicuous. Not that I’d really expected us to be.

  “Let’s go,” one of the soldiers said, his voice thick and gruff. As soon as he took a step back into the city, the other three did the same. They walked in unison like automatons more than the fearsome Talon demons I’d come to know and loathe.

  Brian’s eyes narrowed as we followed the soldiers into the city. I watched as his gaze lingered on the front gates, realization hitting me too.

  We hadn’t been marked like Brian had been the last time we’d been here.

  Talon wasn’t afraid of losing us.

  What did they have planned?

  The demons of Landshaft stared at us as our party was led through the streets. Like my last misadventure through the city, it struck me again how almost normal this place looked. How human demons appeared.

  Hunters spent so much time training to kill them, to combat them, to disassociate demons from humans because of their demonic souls, that I thought we’d been programmed to also forget they were just like us.

  The streets of the demon city were lined with taverns and stores. Not department stores or a mall, but smaller shops each dedicated to a certain niche. Apothecaries and clothing, liquor and spell supplies. And weapons. Weapons were everywhere, and each inch of steel blades called out to me and I to them. We hadn’t come here armed, save for our powers, but the fact that weapons were within reach calmed my heart some more.

  That was the other weird thing. These soldiers hadn’t used requirem on us. Even Ben still had his magik.

  I was still debating if that was a good thing.

  If the demons of Landshaft made money through the selling and buying of magik-users’ souls and powers, Ben and Krystin were some of the most powerful around.

  Maybe Talon couldn’t risk their magik being messed with. Or maybe they needed it for their plan to take out the Neuians.

  “Stop,” Krystin said as she gave me a sidelong glance.

  I gave her a confused look. She tapped the side of her head with two fingers. Shit. I smiled sheepishly. She’d heard every word. “Sorry. I can’t shut off the worry.”

  “That’s fine,” Krystin said. “Be worried. I don’t care as long as you’re also able to think straight. My worry is what others might hear you thinking if one of these demons is also blessed with telepathy.”

  And given that Landshaft housed thousands, if not
tens of thousands, of demons, anything was possible.

  I nodded and swallowed hard, trying to push away my thoughts. I cleared my mind as we walked down the narrow streets of Landshaft and focused on my breathing. In and out. One breath at a time. No thoughts. No worry. Just focus.

  Focus on not dying.

  Familiar as the streets were, the walk seemed to take longer this time. Probably because since we had an escort, we drew even more attention than when we’d been here on our own with Brian posing as a magik-user trafficker. Some demons just glared and those looks were easy to ignore. But the further we marched into the city, the bolder the demons became.

  “Another pathetic Leader,” a male demon with shaggy brown hair said. “The Fire Circle will never get it right.”

  “No, the Fire Circle will burn!” another jeered before breaking into laughter.

  I swallowed hard and took an instinctive step toward Jeremiah. Not because I didn’t think he couldn’t handle himself, but because Jeremiah was one of the good ones, temporary or not.

  Our party ignored the jabs and kept walking, ever under the watchful eye of Talon’s soldiers. After another few minutes, we arrived outside the wood and brick building known as Talon’s Drum. Jerrick’s favored hideout and business office, and Landshaft’s most famous source of magik-user trafficking. This was where Brian had taken us last time and this was the building where too many Hunters and witches disappeared, never to be seen again.

  After all, not every soul survived being turned into a demon. That was why magik-users were captured so often leading up to Autumn Fire. Darkness’s empire needed every soul it could get its hands on.

  “This way,” the Talon soldier at the lead said as he climbed the steps onto the front porch area where demons sat drinking from pint glasses. Each of them, mostly decked out in leather or dark clothing, raised their eyebrows as we passed. None said a word.

  The Talon soldier pushed open the front doors of Talon’s Drum. Light washed over us from inside, where electric lanterns hung at odd intervals along the ceiling. All in all, Talon’s Drum didn’t look so different from Hunter’s Guild. Wood floors, wood paneling mixed with brick on the walls. A bar, some tables, and stairs that led up to a second floor.