If the interdimensional bubble fails… I fought the chill that undulated through me, as icy as a dawn dip in one of the mosaiced plunge pools in the subterranean floors of the palace. I could not allow myself to tumble headfirst into such avenues of thought, for once I took that first step into fear, there would be no return from it. Dread would consume me, and that would surely drown us all.
Iso had been in quite the state when I found her, clambering up the atrium in a panicked attempt to manually repair the problem. She had informed me that “the problem” was, indeed, the greatest enigma in this recent spate of glitches and blackouts. She could not comprehend why it continued to occur, not from an engineering or bestial perspective. The Chaos flow held a strong current between the captured beasts and the aorta that maintained the heartbeat of our world. It was only in the dispersal that these malfunctions occurred; the current spread too far and too wide, stretched to a gossamer delicacy that broke when it could stretch no further.
The truth was, Atlantis had expanded too swiftly and too greatly, and now we had a Chaos deficit that could not be remedied.
Not without you, Finch. I grew ever more certain, with each passing blackout, that he was our salvation. Why else would he have arrived precisely when he had, with his lineage and power?
I entered my chambers and halted sharply upon the threshold. Finch was no longer alone. Miss Winchester sat with him, her demeanor indicating some sort of private conversation. I noticed it in the hunch of her shoulders and the way she leaned forward in her chair, and the jolt of her neck as it twisted in my direction. Finch, on the other hand, sat entirely still. Truly, I delighted in Melody’s company. However, on this occasion, I was in no mood for visitors.
“Miss Winchester, this is an unexpected pleasure.” I maintained politeness, as ever.
Melody stood swiftly and bent in what I presumed was supposed to be a curtsey. “I came to see how Finch was doing. I hope you don’t mind. You did say we could come and see him whenever we liked, and I didn’t know if you’d be here with him. I don’t like to think of him all alone up here. He doesn’t like enclosed spaces, you see, and—”
“I do not mind, Miss Winchester. Although, I did say you had to be supervised… did I not? Perhaps that is not important.” I had to interject, lest she burst a blood vessel. “Nevertheless, I prefer you to take your leave of Finch. I have business to discuss with him.”
“Business, Your Highness?” Melody’s eyes shone with intrigue. That was what I enjoyed about her—her unrelenting curiosity for the world around her.
“We are to have a luncheon with the rest of the suitors,” I explained, in the hopes that would satisfy her.
Her nose crinkled somewhat, in a way that was terribly endearing. “I don’t mean to seem rude, Your Highness, and I’m sure you’ve thought this through, but are you sure that’s a good idea? There are at least two suitors who want Finch dead, and I imagine the rest will want to squeeze the life out of him once they find out that he’s the ‘chosen one,’ so to speak.”
I strode over and stopped beside the window. “They will not dare raise a hand against him in my presence. Fear not, Miss Winchester. I have every intention of protecting your friend, and my future husband, with every fiber of my being.”
After all, our city’s survival depends on his own…
“But—and again, I’m sorry if I’m speaking out of turn—that seems like an awfully big risk to take, when you put him in here for the sole purpose of keeping him safe from potential attackers. Why lead him right into the lion’s den for the sake of a lunch?” Melody’s voice harbored a note of apprehension, as though fearing my wrath. She was correct to feel that apprehension. I did not like my declarations being scrutinized in a manner that suggested I was a dolt who had no idea what I was doing.
“I happened to change my mind.” I battled to keep my own tone even. Calm had far greater impact than rage, with the softest warnings often instilling greater fear than those spoken in a fitful howl.
“I’m sure you’ve got everything under control. I’ve got this need to ask questions all the time, that’s all.” Melody offered me a small, gentle smile, which made me feel all the more wretched.
In truth, I could easily have attended without Finch at my side, and perhaps this was foolishly irrational of me, but I did not want to forgo witnessing the expression on Erebus’s face when I strode into the luncheon arm in arm with Finch. And the mask of horror he would surely wear upon the revelation that a husband had been chosen… and it was not to be him. I had earned the right to that satisfaction, not as a princess, but as a woman—a scorned woman who required the healing tonic of seeing jealousy on Erebus’s face.
“He will be safe with me, Miss Winchester. I assure you.” I dismissed her and focused my attentions on Finch. “Now, if you would accompany me. We are likely already late.”
Finch stared at me with wide, alarmed eyes. Evidently, something in his discussion with Melody had distressed him, but I could coerce the details from him later. Right now, we had a gaggle of suitors to disappoint.
* * *
Almost twenty minutes later, we emerged through a gilded door of white marble onto one of my favorite terraces. A suntrap where succulents grew in an abundance of shapes and sizes, from the rotund little blue ones with the white spines to the tall emerald-green spikes which blossomed with vivid, purple flowers. The city’s talented botanists, all gifted with powerful Earth abilities, had also created palms with leaves of jeweled red and bronze, conjuring a perpetual autumn that never failed to delight and astonish.
The dining table had been set, positioned upon a central platform with a trickling rectangle of intersecting streams surrounding it. It provided the perfect lookout to view the intricate patterns of succulents and desert flowers. Squares of white desert roses were interspersed with intentionally crumbling statues and broken pillars, to give the impression of a secret, bygone oasis.
The suitors rose as I neared, offering elegant bows. Davin and Erebus were not as elegant in their bows, but that was hardly a surprise, given they had far less practice.
“Thank you all for coming,” I said as I led Finch up the shallow steps to the platform. Our chairs had been set at the nearest end, in a position of honor. Finch seemed intent on dragging his feet, but he followed regardless, keeping his chin to his chest as though he did not dare to look upon the other suitors. I could hardly blame him; there were such mighty glares and glowers coming from them that had I not been their future queen, even I might have felt a jolt of intimidation.
“Of course, Your Highness.” Faustus spoke first.
“Finally left your cage, did you?” Erebus directed a violent stare at Finch. He had not quite given me the reaction I desired when I had walked in with Finch. Indeed, he had looked away rather too quickly.
Finch looked up. “I wouldn’t need one if certain wolves would stop prowling around, working together to try and kill me.”
That was more like the Finch I had come to know, though there was an unusual rigidity to his words.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I would never prowl, nor would I harm a soul. I would leave that to someone else.” Davin flashed a twisted smile that made me despise him even more. He could have been a rather handsome gentleman, with fine features and the potential for charm, but he had an oily, cloying quality to him that could not be ignored, and it rendered his charm sleazy.
“Of course he does not! Why, Davin here is in the field of giving life, not taking it!” my father chirped from the opposite end of the table. From the glazed sparkle in his eyes, I suspected he had already begun imbibing. Davin, naturally, had the seat beside him. I did not know why my father had insisted upon attending this luncheon, but there he was, with his prized Necromancer at his side.
“Finch, if you would sit beside me.” I ignored my father and tried again to get the reaction I wanted from Erebus. At first, Finch faltered, staring at the chair as though it were aflame. In th
e end, I was forced to grasp his arm and physically maneuver him into the seat, which was not at all becoming of me, but I could not have him embarrass me in such company.
“Why is he sitting at the top of the table?” Cassius asked, rather gruffly.
“Because that is where I desire him to sit,” I said, a warning in my tone. I would not tolerate any affront.
“Is there any particular reason for that?” Thebian added, narrowing his eyes as he looked upon the two of us sitting so close together.
I held on to my patience. “We shall discuss such matters in due course. Now, let the drinks be served.”
As the servants flocked in, pouring opal peach fizz into the waiting glasses, a movement in the corner of the terrace attracted my attention. Luke and Melody lingered there, though I certainly had not invited them.
Perhaps Melody had misunderstood when I had told her of this luncheon and dismissed her. Perhaps she had thought Finch’s friends were expected to attend, also. Well, there was little I could do about it now. As long as they did not interfere, I had no concerns about them hovering around the terrace. Everyone deserved to enjoy this beautiful place and the astonishing view of Atlantis below. And I really did like Melody very much. Had she not been so invested in that handsome, yet rather dull, fellow at her side, I might have taken it upon myself to find her a suitable Atlantean to wed. However, I could not think of matchmaking for others when I had my own partnership to contend with.
“What are you doing?” Erebus leaned in, his eyes blazing.
“Whatever do you mean?” I replied, taking up my flute of fizz.
“You know what I mean. What are you doing with him? Will you really go so far, just to spite me? I knew you could be impetuous, Kaya, but I did not take you for a fool.” His mouth thinned to a hard line, little whorls of black smoke drifting up from his muscular physique. Perhaps I was a fool, for I could not help staring at those lips and thinking of kissing them.
I gathered myself and met his eyes with a cold stare. “You will not address me so informally, Erebus. As for what I am doing—I would not expect you to understand. You have always thought that everything was about you, but this is not.”
A loud explosion of laughter allowed me a brief reprieve from Erebus’s interrogation. At the far end of the table, my father clapped Davin roughly on the back, descending into hysterics at something that had been said. It irked me to see my father fawn over that wretch, especially now that I knew more of Davin’s history with that Katherine Shipton harpy. Evil begat evil. I believed that Davin was the most underhanded of all my suitors. For one, he had barely tossed me a glance since I entered, yet he sat there in a state of smug confidence, as though he had already crowned himself champion.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I do not think it amusing.” Faustus looked somber as he addressed the king. I pricked my ears, intrigued by what had caused my father to roar with laughter and yet forged such a pained, worried look on Faustus’s features. Davin, meanwhile, looked entirely calm, pleased to be the center of attention.
“Whyever not?” Ovid’s laughter faded. “Davin here has just told an entertaining tale of Necromancy gone awry, and you can barely muster a chuckle.”
“Because Necromancy is no laughing matter, Your Majesty. As he has just informed you, there are risks and dangers that come with the art, and yet that does not seem to perturb you in the slightest.” Faustus shook his head. “How can you listen to such words and still be eager to prolong Atlantean life through such means? I cannot comprehend it.”
Ovid took up a bottle of opal peach fizz and poured more into Faustus’s glass. “Perhaps a few more glasses of this will change your mind.”
I listened with interest. Faustus had remained staunchly against the very notion of prolonging Atlantean life, and though I also had my qualms, which had increased after hearing Finch speak of the afterlife, I could not deny that the topic continued to intrigue me. In my mind, a scheme began to formulate. There was a conceivable chance I could still utilize Davin without having to marry him.
I might as well make use of him, since he has endeavored to make himself a nuisance to me… Perhaps it was time the Necromancer received a bitter taste of his own medicine. A wedding gift to Finch, perchance. I had to dwell on it some more.
“Is all well with the Bestiary?” Thebian asked. “We noticed another blackout a while ago, and it seemed to last longer than usual. Is it another recalibration? Have you spoken with Iso?”
“Recalibration?” Erebus hissed, keeping his voice low. “Is that what you’re calling it?”
I ignored him. “I have indeed spoken with Iso, and there are some adjustments to be made, but I am confident in her abilities. Atlantis will go on, and it will only become greater. I am certain of it.” I cast a look at Finch, who had not said a word since we sat down. Whatever Melody had said to him, it had resulted in a rather peculiar effect. Truly, I had never witnessed him so silent, though there had been moments when I had longed for this sort of quietude from him.
“Do you think Finch has some sort of magic energy tree that you can use to keep your city from floundering?” Erebus landed another blow, precisely where it hurt me the most. “He is a mere magical, Kaya. I am a Child of Chaos, imbued with exactly the energy you need to protect Atlantis and keep it from failing.”
“I think Atlantis would rather drown than have you as its ruler,” I retorted. “I know that I, for one, would rather exhaust every other possibility before I resorted to relying upon you.”
Erebus snorted like a bull. “Is this what we have come to? Petty insults that I know are insincere?”
“I mean every word. You are nothing but trouble, Erebus. I should have known that the first time you came here to woo me.” I would not allow him the last word.
“You did not seem to mind back then. I still remember how you leaned against me at any opportunity and swooned at the merest touch of my hand. If other entities had not involved themselves, you and I would be blissfully happy by now,” he said, a smirk upon his lips. Goodness, I wanted to slap that smirk away and kiss it, all at once. A confusing dichotomy.
“Or I would be dead because of your… cosmic manner of conception!” I blushed slightly as the table went suddenly silent.
“I changed all of that, for you.” Erebus’s hand snaked across the table toward mine, prompting me to pull back in a manner that was rather too sharp.
“Too little, too late.”
“It doesn’t have to be, my love. We can take up where we left off, utterly in love and content to be in one another’s arms. Let us have that again, and I will protect your beloved city. All you have to do is say the word.” He left his hand there, but nothing would inspire me to take it.
“I have a few choice words for you, actually,” I replied coldly. “But it would be impolite to utter them in pleasant company. Not that your company is at all pleasant. As far as I am concerned, you are only here to fill a chair.”
He flinched as though I had struck him. “I know you still love me, Kaya.”
This time, I flinched, though I prayed he had not noticed the subtle movement. It would always pain me to hear him use that seemingly innocuous four-letter word. And, though I fought against listening for any subtext, I thought I heard the unspoken addendum to that utterance… “And I love you, too.” I drew upon my reserves of courage, using every ounce of my bitterness to prevent my resolve from crumbling to dust.
“Call me ‘Kaya’ again, and I shall have you thrown from this terrace.” My tone held the jagged edge I had hoped it would. “You will, of course, survive the fall, and I will have you thrown from it again and again, until you finally understand that you are not wanted here. You had your opportunity, and you lied and deceived and caused injury and death.” I grasped the fabric of my skirts for comfort. “Did you think I would forget all of that, and simply forgive you if you lingered long enough?”
“I did not think you would take pleasure in punishing me. That is not
like you,” he replied, his tone softening. Indeed, he almost sounded as though I had been the one to cause a grave injury. But I would not falter, not while Atlantis looked to me for guidance and leadership away from the perils of this failing dome.
“Much has changed since you were expelled from this city. I am not the woman you hurt. I will soon be a queen, and that means my only concern is Atlantis, which, in turn, does not concern you at all.” I gulped down an enormous mouthful of peach fizz to prevent myself from saying more than I intended.
“May I say, Your Highness, you look radiant today.” Davin’s voice came from the other end of the table. “There is a new glow to your cheeks, or perhaps it’s a new shine in your eyes. I wonder what the cause could be? I’m a touch jealous, actually—I wish I were the one making you blush. I could be, if you would take a walk with me?”
Erebus cast daggers of fury from his eyes, hurling them at his former servant.
“I do not think so, Mr. Doncaster. I do not enjoy walking after I have dined, and I prefer to wander in quietude, which I doubt would be possible in your company.” I could not resist a small slight. His eyebrows raised, and a faint shadow of discontent passed over his features. With a lift of his chin, he returned to talking with the other suitors and, of course, my father. Everyone descended into idle chatter, granting me a moment to speak privately with Erebus.
“Erebus, how may I even contemplate trusting your word, or your actions, when you align yourself with the likes of him?” I whispered. “I know now what sort of person he is. A disease, slinking from one pool of power to another, until he gets what he desires. At present, he is dipping his toe in my father’s pool of power, trying to court him with promises of prolonged life. You will be judged by those you surround yourself with.”
Erebus sat back and pulled his hand from the table. He did not remove his gaze from me, but he did not look as though he intended to say anything more on the matter. Along with the beverages and appetizers being served, I had evidently given him further food for thought. Which was, of course, my plan. I wished to drive a wedge between Erebus and Davin, if only to save Finch from their unified endeavor of destruction.
Harley Merlin 15: Finch Merlin and the Everlasting Vow Page 9
