Ophelia’s hand released her just as Ember took a few steps forward toward the water. She felt as if she was in a trance, as if something was tugging her toward the water. She just kept imagining Sebastian jumping out of a row boat as soon as he was close enough and she would take off running to meet him as he got to the end of the shoreline. Tears burned her eyes as she imagined the reunion they’d share. Her tears begged to fall from her eyes even as she pushed them back.
“Ember! Ophelia! Ember, wait!” Asher’s voice called from down the beach as he ran as fast as he could toward them.
His feet kept fumbling in the sand, but he pushed on as if his life depended on it. Ember ignored him as she watched another row boat like the one they’d escaped on lower into the water. She couldn’t see who was aboard it, but she didn’t have to see him clearly know he would be on it. Her reunion with Sebastian wasn’t going to be just a dream after all.
“Ember, stop!” Asher shouted.
Her heart pounded against her chest the closer the row boat got. The sound of Asher’s shouting became white noise as she focused only on the boat coming closer with each stroke of the oars. Sebastian and the others were so close. Her heart was over flowing with relief and excitement as she stepped closer to the line where the water met the sand.
She knew Asher had reached Ophelia. She could hear his heavy breathing just barely as he struggled to get the words out. Beside her, she could feel Klaus appear. It would seem as if the trance had trapped him as well. It didn’t matter. Sebastian was almost here.
As she reached where the edge of the water met the sand, something made her pause where she stood. Another boat had been lowered into the water with more people on it. More people than she knew Sebastian would want present for the ritual. He’d bring the twins, maybe Reid and Patch, but no one else.
Something was wrong.
“Get away from the water, Ember. The witch is with them. I can feel her magic. Get away from the water!” Ophelia ordered, but it was too late.
As soon as the water slipped over her feet, she felt it. The magic flowing through her body and keeping her from running. A pained gasp struggled out of her lungs as she felt like something was draining her. She wasn’t sure if it was her life slipping away or something else, but it felt wrong and she wanted it to stop.
“Ember!” Asher yelled as he and Ophelia ran down the beach.
She didn’t realize she and Klaus had gotten so far away from them.
Her sight was growing dark as she shifted her gaze to Klaus, wondering if he was as trapped as she felt. With a quick drop of her eyes, she saw he’d been smart enough to not get close enough to the water. Raising her gaze, she studied him as he took another step back. His body shook as he realized who was actually making their way toward the beach.
“Help me. Please,” She begged, reaching out for him to take her hand.
Klaus hesitated and for a split second she thought he was going to help her.
“I’m sorry. Please forgive me.” He whispered.
Before she could say anything, he turned and ran as fast as his feet would let him.
He ran until he disappeared through the trees with no sign of returning to help.
Her knees gave out, sending her body into the wet sand with a hard thud. Her vision blurred as she reached for her friends.
The last thing she saw before everything went dark was Asher skidding to a stop in front of her. He was careful not to touch the water. Above them, Ophelia moved her hands in a way she’d never seen before, muffled words erupting from her lips.
“Stay with me, Starfish. I’ve got you. I’ve got you.” Asher’s voice grew distant as her vision went to black.
“Ember!”
She didn’t hear anything after that.
Chapter 30
Someone’s hand was running through her hair, their hand careful and soft as they stroked the curve of her cheek with their knuckle. A soothing voice was muttering some kind of song, but it sounded too muffled to understand the words. It felt familiar though, like she’d heard it somewhere before. She just couldn’t place where though.
When she tried to remember, it just made the pounding in her head worse. Her head felt as if someone had hit her with a large bolder. The hand ran down her cheek, stroking the skin affectionately again. It almost felt motherly in a way. “Mother,” She sobbed, wondering if there was some chance that she had been reunited with her late mother in the afterlife. The fear of being wrong kept her from opening her eyes.
“Open your eyes, my SeaStar. It’s okay. I’m here.” The voice was only one she’d ever imagined in her dreams, but she knew exactly who it was.
The light was blinding as she let her eyes finally flutter open. A shadow moved forward to block it from her face. The woman was humming a tune she wasn’t familiar with. Something in the back of her mind seemed to stir upon hearing it. It was almost like the song had awakened an old memory she couldn’t quite remember.
As her vision cleared, she felt her heart leap for joy. She recognized those wild fire-red curls as the very ones she had herself. As the face above her became clearer, she knew without a doubt who held her in their arms.
“Mother, you’re here.” She cried. “Am I dead?”
Her arm was heavy as she tried to reach her. The urge to just touch her was overwhelming, but she found herself unable to lift her hand off the sand beneath her. It occurred to her then that she couldn’t move any part of her except her eyes and mouth. “I can’t touch you.” She sobbed, tears staining her cheeks as she tried again to lift her hand with no success.
Her mother’s hand stroked her cheek again, her fingers lingering as if she was savoring the touch. “I know, my darling. You’re not dead, but we don’t have much time. I can’t stay long enough to explain everything. I wish we had more time. There’s so much I wish I could tell you, my SeaStar.” She said as she wiped away the streams of tears falling down Ember’s cheeks.
“W-why can’t I move?” She managed to ask.
Ember wondered if later on she’d always regret asking that question first. If there wasn’t much time for them to talk, had she just wasted one of the few questions she could ask?
She hoped not.
Her mother lifted her head, looking off into the distance as if she heard something. Worry flashed acrossher young face. She couldn’t have been much older than Ember was now. As she lowered her gaze back to her, she forced a smile on her face while her hand pushed back her hair. “You’re sleeping, my SeaStar. This is a dream, but believe me when I tell you it is very real. Your friends need you to wake up soon. You’ve lost too much time.” She explained, trying to explain as best she could so Ember could understand.
Ember didn’t understand, but she wanted to so badly.
Liliana took a deep breath, her finger slipping into Ember’s curls as she pushed the hair from her face. “I need you to listen to what I’m about to tell you and I need you to remember it when you wake up. Do you understand? Don’t talk. Just nod, you’ll waste what little energy you have.” She said, her face growing serious as their time was ending.
Ember nodded.
Liliana’s gaze lifted again pausing as she listened to something Ember couldn’t hear. Her mother was afraid. “Trust Klaus, Emberlyn. He will keep you safe. He is still in there, even as a beast. You just need to reach the man inside of the monster. Do you remember my song for you? I used to sing it to you as a baby. Your life might depend on it.” She started to say.
Ember just felt so overwhelmed with all of this. “Mother, I don't under-”
Liliana silenced her as she stroked her cheek, a shushing noise slipping through her lips. “I’m afraid the fates have big plans for you, my darling, but you need to wake up before those plans can happen.” She said softly.
A sob broke through her lips as the beach around them seemed to grow darker. She, her actual body, was starting to wake up. “Please, don’t leave me again. I need you.” She cried.
As the dream faded away, Liliana’s grip on her tightened. She leaned down, pressing her lips against her head. “I’ll always be with you, Ember. Always. I love you, Emberlyn. I will be here when you need me. Be brave, my SeaStar.”
Even her mother’s voice sounded distant now.
Her eyes were growing heavy, but she fought to keep them open. She knew the next time she opened them her mother wouldn’t be hovering over her.
“I love you too, mother.”
The world went black again.
Chapter 31
It felt like a lifetime had passed before she found the strength to open them again. No light blinded her this time. Nor was there a voice humming to her or arms holding her. The headache hadn’t been part of her dream though as her headache continued to pound against her skull. A sadness fell over her when she realized she was able to easily move her hand to her head.
Her eyes had to adjust to the darkness before she could see what surrounded her. Black steel bars. Raising her gaze, she noted it wasn’t just bars surrounding her. She was in a cage like some monster. Not only was she in a cage, but she was alone.
Her body protested as she lifted her upper body enough to sit up. Her head lolled from how heavy it felt, but she managed to steady herself after a moment.
“You’ll feel the effects of the spell they used on you for another hour or so. Maybe less than that. It should pass the more you move around.” A voice spoke, startling her as she searched for where it had come from.
Her eyes settled on a familiar head of straight blonde hair. Ana. She was leaning against the bars locking her in. Then, Ember realized the Ana wasn’t alone. Relief filled her as she took in each face in the cage across from her. Ari. Patch. Reid. James. Her breath caught as her gaze lingered on his small frame. His face was dirty, his clothes ripped, but there was breath rising and falling from his chest as he slept.
A throat cleared, the sound tearing her gaze from the boy as she continued her search of the cage. Her heart nearly broke through her chest with excitement as they landed on Sebastian. His face was badly bruised. There was blood staining his cheek from the cut that ripped the skin there. His jacket was gone, leaving him just in the black shirt and matching pants he’d been wearing before.
It was him.
He was alive.
Sebastian was alive and giving her that
taunting smirk she didn’t realize she would miss so badly. His arm was wrapped around his side, no doubt hiding some kind of wound she had yet to find herself.
“You’re okay. You’re all okay.” She breathed out, relieved as she took in the conditions of the others.
It was then she realized not everyone was in the other cage.
“Where are Ophelia and Asher?” She asked, fear gripping her heart.
The last thing she remembered was Asher trying to pull her free from the water’s grasp as Ophelia used her magic to protect them.
Ana’s gaze shifted to her sister who hadn’t said a word since she’d woken up. Ember was quick to follow her gaze, devouring Ari’s appearance as if it’d be some kind of answer to her question.
Her knuckles were cut, signs of having hit someone pretty good. It was the dark red that stained her fingers that caught Ember’s attention. Her own had looked similar after Tomas had bled out in her arms.
Ari’s stare was blank, haunted almost, as she refused to even turn in their direction. Following her stare, Ember could just barely make out the outline of a med-tent. She had a safe assumption if they were to go in there, they’d find Ophelia. What her condition would be, Ember wouldn’t know until someone told her what happened.
“What happened to Ophelia?” She asked, turning her attention to the sister who was
functioning well enough to answer her question.
Ana watched her sister for a moment before a sigh left her lips, her eyes shifting back to Ember. “The Princess was using her magic to control the water. Her magic wasn’t skilled, but she managed to pull the second boat under, drowning each guard on it without hesitation. She would have sunk the other if they hadn’t thought quick enough to grab their guns. I didn’t see who made the shot, but we saw her go down. They dragged her inside of that tent, no one’s come out since.”
Ophelia had been shot trying to protect her while she had been stupid enough to get too close to the water. The magic had coaxed her closer, giving her images of what she wanted so badly, and she’d fallen for it. She ignored Ophelia when she’d warned her to get away from the water, ignored Asher when he told her to stop. This was her fault.
“Where’s Asher?” She asked, her eyes shifted between them for an answer.
Silence had fallen over them. Not a good sign, she noted. Not a good sign at all.
No one answered.
Reid winced as he shifted around, his gaze lingering on a sleeping James before he rose to his full height. “Why did you leave without James? You were supposed to bring him with you.” He asked as he stumbled to the bars of the cage.
He was hurt too, she realized.
His question caught her off guard. “Asher said he was killed before he and Ophelia found me. He said he was shot dead after saving him from one of the guards who had gotten an upper hand on him.”
Reid’s scoff was angry, his eyes blazing with the amount of hatred behind them. “Is that what he told you? Does it look like he was shot dead to you? I wouldn’t have let that happen. You should have known that. I’d die myself before I let someone else hurt him again. You know that, Ember.”
He was right.
She should have known that, but there had been so much going on and everything was happening too fast. It didn’t make any sense for Asher to have lied about James though. There had been no reason for him to come up with that story to tell them. She couldn’t understand why he would leave James to whatever fate had in store for him. None of this made any sense to her.
“Why would he lie about it?” She asked, her voice small as she tried to make sense of any of what she was being told.
Patch helped Sebastian to his feet, confirmation to the fact he was indeed hiding another injury from her. Sebastian reached forward and used the bar as a crutch as he crossed the gap from where he was sitting to the side of the cage. “Your bastard friend was playing all of us, I’m afraid. Has been since he let me capture him back at Owl’s Head, I think.” He informed her, his face scrunching up as the pain hit him.
Ember shook her head, not wanting to believe any of this. Asher was her friend, her best friend. She loved him so much. He had been her family growing up. Him and Cassius. It was the three of them against the entire world.
“That can’t be true.” Her voice was barely louder than a whisper.
Footsteps approached, turning her attention to the intruder. Her heart felt as if it had shattered when she saw Asher standing there in a fresh uniform. His hair was washed, his face clean of any speck of dirt or blood. He looked every bit the royal prince he wanted to be.
“Asher? What is all of this? Let us go. Why are we locked in cages?” She said as she used the bar of her cage to pull herself up on her feet.
His hands slid into his pockets, that familiar easy-going grin bouncing on his face as he took in their appearances. She had used to love that grin, but right now all it did was sicken her. It looked more sinister than it did mischievous as it had used to. “I don’t believe I’ll be doing that. You’re a pirate traitor now, Ember. The games are over. Battle lines have been drawn and we’re not on the same side.” He said as he brushed an invisible ball of dust off his sleeve.
The idea of him betraying her just didn’t make any sense. “Is your father making you choose his side? What does Cassius think of any of this? He can’t possibly agree with this madness. Let me speak with him. I can tell him the truth about everything.”
Asher’s dark eyes shifted to Sebastian, a taunting smirk crossing his face as his head tilted. Sebastian’s entire body tensed, his eyes widening when he met Asher’s smirk
. “Do you want to finally tell her the truth or shall I?” Asher said, daring the pirate captain to reveal something he clearly never intended to.
Ember watched the exchanged with confusion. “Tell me the truth about what?”
What other lies could Sebastian have kept from her? He’d promised he’d told her everything he could. Her grip on the bars tightened, realizing how he’d found a way to work around her question. He never promised he’d told her everything earlier when she’d asked him before the attack. He’s only said that he’d told her what he could tell her. Meaning there were things he couldn’t tell her. He was keeping more secrets from her, and apparently Asher knew what they were.
Ember felt her heart breaking all over again.
“Ember, look at me. I’m sorry. I didn’t know you. Not really. I didn’t plan on how I’d feel once I did. I didn’t plan on-” Asher’s scoff stopped whatever he’d just been about to say from leaving Sebastian’s mouth.
“If you say falling in love with her, I will be sick.” Asher said, his eyes narrowing on the pirate captain.
Sebastian didn’t deny it.
Asher’s glare sharpened before he shifted his attention back to Ember. “I paid him to invade the party that night. I told him how to get inside undetected. I paid extra for them to do my dirty work for me.”
With every word, she felt her heart chip away. She didn’t understand why Asher would do this to their home or to his family. “What dirty work?” She asked, her eyes shifting between Asher and Sebastian, making it clear she didn’t care which answered her.
Sebastian’s glare burned into Asher, but he just brushed it off as it was another speck of lint. “You always assumed Cassius was okay after the attack, Ember. You never actually asked me if he survived the night. I’ll fill you in though. He didn’t.”
Ember felt the world suddenly stop.
Cassius couldn’t be dead. Asher couldn’t have paid someone to kill his brother. He loved Cassius and Cassius loved him more than anything. He looked up to his brother, and he never once spoke badly of him. Asher was his hero. “How could you pay someone to kill your brother? He loved you, Asher.” She said as she tried to make sense of this.
The Black Moon's Curse (The Stellara Trilogy Book 1) Page 26
