The screams continued, growing closer now. A shuffle in the hallway. The clash of metal.
I looked down at Liam sucking on his hands, not a hint of alarm in his wide, innocent eyes. He had no idea that danger was near. No idea what those crashing sounds in the hallway meant. No idea that my heart felt as if it would burst from my chest. My knuckles were white as I squeezed the edge of the bassinet, fighting the urge to pull Liam out of it. As clever as I knew the bassinet was, at that moment, it looked more like a coffin.
What if Ailan is already dead? What if I’m next?
I heard the door to my room burst open, and without thinking, I gave in to my instincts and took Liam from the bassinet. The sound of clashing steel erupted as I threw myself under the table, Liam pressed in close as I curled in on myself. I watched between the legs of the Elvan soldiers who surrounded me, seeing flashes of red, bodies dropping to the ground.
The protection of the table seemed suddenly inconsequential. Darius was here. And once he cut down the guards, he would see me. I need to be invisible, I thought, mind spinning. How does Cora do it? How will I do it?
Though my body was still wracked with tremors, I forced my breathing to steady as much as I could, closing my eyes and trying to ignore the screams. I thought of Liam, let the weight of his tiny body grow heavy against my chest plate, let the scent of him fill my nose. Warmth spread through me, and I let it wrap around me and Liam, let it cover us like a comfortable blanket.
You can’t see me. No one can see me. There is nothing here. Nothing to see.
I opened my eyes and watched as pools of blood crept toward me, soaking into the hem of the blue robe I wore beneath my armor. More bodies fell, piling on top of one another. I ignored that, ignored the blood, the wails, the empty eyes that stared up from the floor, focusing only on my glamour.
A thud sounded behind me—like an armored body dropping to the ground. Then silence. Creeping footsteps came toward me, stopping just behind. With a slam, the tabletop shuddered, the ring of metal against metal echoing in my ears. A moment later, the bassinet tumbled to the ground, paired with an angry roar.
“Where are you, Mother of Prophecy? Blood of Ailan?” Footsteps circled the table until a pair of legs came into view. They were plated in black armor, splattered with dirt and blood. “Come out from hiding. I won’t hurt you.”
Darius stopped in front of me, then walked away from the table, stepping over bodies. His full form came into view the further he moved from the table, revealing a face stained red, black hair plastered to his head. He scanned the room, hands behind his back as if he were taking a casual stroll, the hilt of a dagger clasped in his fingers.
I held my breath as I watched him, putting all my effort into holding my glamour in place.
“Come out, come out,” he called as he opened the doors of my wardrobe. “I promise I won’t kill you or your son. Let’s make a bargain instead.” His voice was gentle, and a smile played on his lips, a disturbing contrast to what he was doing to my furnishings—slashing pillows, kicking over chairs, slicing through the curtains. He walked in front of the table again, facing away from me as he squatted down.
Liam reached a hand to my chin, and I fought to keep my concentration as Darius turned his head and stared straight at me.
Nothing to see. There is nothing to see here. Nothing. Empty.
Darius furrowed his brow as he continued to look my way. Liam began to squirm, face turning toward my chest, hungry mouth finding nothing but my chest plate. He was growing restless, and I knew what would come next. Next, he would cry.
Nothing to see. Nothing to hear. Nothing. Empty.
I pressed my lips to Liam’s head, though I didn’t take my eyes off Darius. Darius cocked his head.
Something flew through the air, and Darius brought a hand to his neck as he shot to his feet. He pulled an arrow from his collarbone as if it were merely a splinter.
I looked toward the other end of the room, where Cora, Ailan, and Fanon emerged from a swirling tunnel.
“Garot, get the others!” Ailan shouted, and the tunnel disappeared. Ailan and Fanon raced toward Darius while Cora shot another arrow. Before it could meet its mark, Darius worldwalked away, only to reappear behind Ailan, sword drawn. She was ready for him, spinning to meet his sword with hers, while Fanon charged from the side.
Darius swiped out with his knife, scratching Fanon’s chest plate, then disappeared again. He materialized at the other end of the room. “Now, dear sister, is three against one fair?”
“It is when one of us has the advantage of worldwalking.”
Darius’ eyes found Cora. “Only one of us? Hello, my naughty heir.”
Cora sneered and trained her arrow on him.
Ailan held out her hands, one toward Cora, the other toward Fanon. “Stand down,” she said, then took a step toward her brother. “Why don’t we end this, one on one.”
“Am I supposed to trust your two little lapdogs won’t cheat?”
Ailan raised a brow. “Am I supposed to trust you won’t either?”
“Very well,” Darius said, sheathing his knife but keeping his sword as he began to close the distance between them on foot.
Ailan nodded at Cora and Fanon, who each took hesitant steps away from the siblings, giving them space to begin circling each other. Darius assessed Ailan with narrowed eyes, while Ailan watched Darius with a seething glare. Darius swung his sword in attack, which Ailan parried. They circled again, then exchanged blows, as if testing each other’s abilities.
“Mother would be so disappointed,” Ailan said.
“She always has been,” Darius said through his teeth, swinging at Ailan. “I’m half human, remember?”
She blocked his attack. “Not disappointed in you. In me.”
Darius let out a false laugh. “You? Her perfect daughter? How so?”
Ailan charged, spinning toward him like a dancer. “Because I have to kill you.”
He met her attack without effort. “She’s the one who wanted me dead.”
“Dead?” Ailan shook her head, eyes filled with malice. “Everything she did was to keep you alive. Everyone else wanted you dead. Why do you think she tried to banish you in the first place? Her love for you was her downfall.”
Darius swung for Ailan’s neck, but she arched back, barely avoiding the blade. “She betrayed me,” he growled.
“She loved you. And so did I. You betrayed us.”
“Love? When did you show me love?”
“You were too blind to see it,” Ailan said, “and it’s too late now. All I can do is show you death.” As Darius raised his arm to swing his sword, Ailan ran closer to him instead of darting away, crushing herself against his chest. Darius froze, and for a moment, I thought Ailan was hugging him. Then I noticed her hand just beneath his armpit, the black hilt of a knife locked between her fingers.
Darius blinked, then narrowed his eyes. “So much for no cheating.”
“This isn’t cheating. This is justice.” She kicked him in the stomach, pulling away to swing her sword at his head.
Darius was faster.
His sword cleaved through Ailan’s neck, separating her head from her shoulders. A spray of blood splashed on the floor, followed by her limp body falling to the ground.
I opened my mouth, hearing screams from Cora and Fanon, not sure if my own mingled with theirs. Fanon charged Darius, but Darius spun to the side, pulling the knife from beneath his arm and tossing it to the ground. It slid on the floor, landing in a pool of blood next to the hem of my dress. My stomach heaved as I stared at it.
When I looked back up, Darius was gone. Fanon kneeled at Ailan’s body, sobbing, while Cora trembled behind him. I could do nothing but stare, not even aware of Liam’s cries as he squirmed in my arms. Nothing to see. Nothing to hear.
Cora’s voice shocked me from my stupor. “Mareleau, wherever you are, stay hidden.” She moved through the room, as if searching for something. She bent over, looking und
er my table, then turned away. I was surprised to realize my glamour still held. Cora returned her attention to the body on the ground and placed a hesitant hand on Fanon’s shoulder. Just then, a clash of swords and shouts came from outside the palace. “We should go, Fanon. He’s still out there.”
Fanon’s sobs dried to a whimper, and he rose to his feet.
“Did you see what Darius did with the blade?” Cora asked. “We need that.”
Fanon shook his head, not meeting her eyes.
“He must still have it. Let’s go.” Cora grabbed Fanon’s arm, and they disappeared.
“It’s here,” I said, but I knew it was too late. Why didn’t I speak up earlier? Why didn’t I do anything?
Heat flooded my cheeks, shame scalding me from within. I looked at the bodies littering the ground, the pools of blood, wondering how I could have let such a slaughter happen around me without lifting a single finger.
I was useless. Evil. Narcuss.
Love myself. Love myself.
I cursed that voice. How could I love myself when I’d let so many die? How could I love myself when I’d done nothing?
Liam’s cries seemed louder now, breaking through my clouded thoughts. As if waking from a dream, my mind became clear. “I’m so sorry, my sweet,” I said, surprised to find my voice so calm. In that moment, it was as if nothing else mattered. I could forget the gore around me, just for a time, if it meant caring for my son. I tore off my chest plate and undid the top of the robe beneath. His tiny mouth sought my breast, and I allowed him to nurse.
It was then I could admit I hadn’t done nothing. I’d protected Liam. That was all I could have done, and I’d succeeded.
From what I could hear, the fighting was escalating, but I focused on my one duty. After awhile, Liam fell asleep at my chest. I sighed, fixing my robe, then rocked Liam in my arms. It was as much to calm myself as it was for him. Maybe more so.
I jumped as something barreled through the balcony doors, sending shards of glass and shattered wood to mingle with the blood. Ferrah squeezed through the broken opening in the wall, screeching, tail lashing as she dashed toward Ailan’s body. I barely had time to scramble out from under the table as she knocked it to the side in her haste.
Once Ferrah found Ailan, the dragon began to make a rumbling sound, like a mournful purr, as she nudged Ailan with her snout. My heart wrenched as I watched the dragon, and I realized I now had yet another duty.
I approached Ferrah with careful steps, Liam cradled in one arm as I held my other arm out toward the dragon, palm facing her.
When Ferrah noticed my approach, her head snapped back, and she hissed. I continued forward. “I know, Ferrah. She’s gone. Shhh. Shhh. I’m here, though. I’m here.”
Ferrah lowered her head and resumed her mourning purr, looking from me to Ailan and back again. I stopped before her, hand outstretched. Ferrah whined, taking one last look at Ailan, then pressed her head to my hand. Her pain was so palpable, I wanted to cry.
“Mother of Prophecy!”
I froze, and Ferrah whipped her head toward the opening in the wall where the balcony once was. The voice was coming from outside, rising over the fighting.
“You’ll want to come out here,” Darius said. “I have your husband.”
My heart leapt into my throat. Larylis. I took a deep breath, replacing the glamour I’d discarded when Ferrah had entered, and crept toward the opening. There, strolling across the lawn, was Darius with a knife at Larylis’ throat. The armor was missing from Larylis’ arm, and blood streamed down from elbow to wrist.
Darius continued to call out. “Come on out, girl. I know you’re hiding somewhere. Bring me your son, I won’t kill him. Let’s make a bargain! Now that Ailan is dead, I will make Liam my heir. You and your husband can live happily ever after with your son.”
Larylis struggled in Darius’ grasp, but it was no use. Soldiers who clearly belonged to Darius surrounded them, keeping all others at bay.
“I’ll give you five minutes to surrender to me,” Darius said. “Bring me your son. Let me make him my heir and give you the life you deserve. Otherwise, your husband dies. Don’t think I won’t eventually find you too.”
I shuddered, and Ferrah nudged my arm with her snout. Instinctively, I reached up and scratched her scales. “What do I do?” I whispered.
Darius continued his stroll, Larylis’ face turning red in his grasp, until they were out of sight.
I looked down at Liam, taking in his content, sleeping face, then at the massacre within my room. My eyes fell on the knife with the black hilt, still where I’d left it, then at Ailan’s lifeless form. I turned away and looked back through the opening to the lawn. I could still hear Darius calling for me as he rounded the palace.
With a deep breath, I closed my eyes. “I know how to save you.”
39
INFERNO
Larylis
I was losing blood. A lot of it.
My vision swam as Darius tightened his grip, gauntleted arm pressing against my windpipe as he paraded me across the lawn. Swords clashed around us, though I couldn’t see much of the fighting anymore. Darius’ men constantly circled us, and when one was felled, another would take his place, running from the fray to join his guard.
“He’s not going to last much longer,” Darius called out. “Come out, come out—”
An ear-shattering screech came from above, and I struggled to crane my neck toward the source. A white dragon slithered around the lower turrets of the palace.
“Hush, you!” Darius shouted at the dragon. “If you burn me, you’ll burn him too. I don’t think the Mother of Prophecy would like that.”
The white dragon roared again, watching Darius from its perch, but made no other move.
“Your time is up, Mother of Prophecy.” Darius released his grip, then kicked the back of my legs until I fell to my knees. His knife grazed the skin at my neck.
I gasped, choking for air.
“I’m here.”
My blood went cold at the sound of Mareleau’s voice. “No.” My mouth formed the word, yet no sound came out.
“I’m happy to see you, Mother of Prophecy,” Darius said. “It seems you are intelligent after all.”
Darius’ guard parted to reveal the door to the palace, Mareleau standing on the top step of the stairs leading to it. Her hair was disheveled, her hem torn and soaked with blood that I hoped hadn’t come from her. In her arms was a bundle held close to her chest. My son.
“No!” This time, my voice carried, cracking with pain. “Go back Mareleau! Don’t listen to him.”
“Come,” Darius said, his tone oddly gentle. “Or your husband dies.”
Mareleau descended the steps in front of the palace, eyes locked on me, terror twisting her pale, blood-splattered face.
I launched myself forward, letting Darius’ blade cut into my skin. “Just kill me already and let her go.”
“Larylis, stop!” The distress in her voice gave me pause. She continued forward, one trembling step at a time. “You have to let me make my own choice. I choose for you to live. I choose to make this bargain. Please don’t make this harder than it already is.”
My heart crumbled, and my shoulders slumped as I sank further down, not caring about the fresh gash in my neck. Tears streamed from my eyes. I blinked them away, only so I could see Mareleau. And Liam. It would perhaps be my last time.
When my vision cleared, I shivered. Something about Mareleau’s bearing had changed. No—not changed. I was seeing something else, something…different. She continued to make her way across the lawn, shaking, sobbing, hunched over as she held our son. Yet, at the same time, I saw her standing upright, chin held high, not a single tear on her face. She was confident. Certain.
She stopped a short distance away. “You promise you’ll let us live?”
“Of course,” Darius said.
“Then let Larylis go.”
Darius brought a knee to my back, sending me toppli
ng to the side. “Go on, then,” he said to me. “But not to her.”
I rose to my feet, hand pressed against the wound at my neck. The guards parted to my right, allowing me to pass. My eyes lingered on Mareleau, still seeing two visions of her. The calm version nodded. With a deep breath, I left the ring of guards, stopping just outside their circle.
Mareleau proceeded forward, and Darius went to meet her halfway. My eyes followed. I held my breath as Darius reached for my son.
Mareleau set the bundle in his arms, but as he touched it, the blanket unraveled, revealing nothing. In that same moment, Mareleau plunged a black-hilted knife into Darius’ throat. “Now, Ferrah!” she shouted.
Fire rained down from the turrets above, engulfing Darius, engulfing Mareleau, lapping toward his guards like a burning wave. It swallowed them all in a pillar of flame, until smoke seared my eyes and nothing else could be seen.
* * *
Mareleau
I’m dead. I know that, and it’s all right.
In fact, it’s more than all right. I saved them. I saved them all. My life was worth living just for that.
Memories surfaced, flashes of the first time I met Larylis when we were children, the first time we ran together, played together. The vision shifted to a secret kiss shared amidst a haystack in a stable, then to another kiss, held beneath the flickering light of a lantern in a bedroom. I smiled—perhaps not with my lips, but with whatever part of me remained. My soul? Was I a wraith now?
The visions continued, and I saw a tiny body, limp in my arms. I felt myself giving my newborn child life as I poured everything I had inside me to bring him breath. Now that I was dead, I knew I’d nearly died then too. It had been worth it, then and now.
It had also been worth it to twist that knife into Darius’ throat, see his eyes widen with terror as the fire melted our flesh, burned us to puddles of ash. I poured everything into that final act, drained every inch of my power with that glamour, with that thrust of the blade, with that shout to Ferrah. I’d hardly felt any pain when the fire came.
Shades of Prophecy Page 29
