by L B Keen
The two of them came to a fork. Though the cave was pitch black, both were able to see moderately well. Bird released Talon’s hand and walked over to a cutout. Reaching her hands inside, she pulled out a flint and spark. Kneeling, she scratched the flint against the spark, and with a cracking sound, light spread along the line of the cave floor. Talon’s eyes adjusted quickly enough to see the yellow glow reflected off the scenes of battle decorating the walls.
Someone had painted scenes of war and destruction. Blood paint was smeared all over and a large, dark creature with four heads bared its fangs at the people below.
Bird stood, replacing the flint and spark into the cut of stone. She motioned towards the painting. “Until a jealous noble found out his secrets and caused the destruction of his family and all those he loved.” She walked forward. Talon followed her, unable to break himself from the sight of her, or the sound of her voice. “Sold into the slavery he’d avoided, R’or experienced firsthand the horrible treatment of sirens, and one day he met Ilia.”
They came to a portrait of a woman. On her wrist rested a bird of some kind. The brightest thing about her were her eyes. They had been replaced with a bright purple jewel. “Ilia was a siren who fought to free her people. She believed, no, knew that our people were not sexual beast meant for the pleasure of other kinds.”
Reaching out a palm, Bird brushed a finger along the line of the bird Ilia held. “She was the daughter of a king and a slave siren.” She smiled, meeting Talon’s unreadable gaze. “He fell in love with her at first sight, and soon, he fought alongside her. Their love is said to have been something that even pleased the gods.”
“What happened to her?” Talon asked, staring into Bird’s eyes. Stories of heroes and tales of revolution, to his knowledge, never ended pleasantly.
Dropping her hand, Bird was silent for a long moment. She turned her back to him. Continuing along the path, she turned right. He silently followed her, allowing her the comfortable silence. It was odd. Without her, he’d abhorred the silence. It had nearly driven him mad…just as noise had done. Now in her presence, the silence was comforting, a blanket he could rest his mind among.
Bird began talking once more, her voice soft and solemn. “In one of their battles in saving a group of sirens, she was caught.” An archway awaited them at the end of the pathway. “Her identity as the king’s daughter did not save her. Her father decreed a criminal and had her burned before all those as a whore and witch.”
Entering the next room, they came to the top of stone steps. “R’or, who’d been hidden by his man, and maddened with fever from a wound, did not know of her death till he recovered a fortnight later.” Bird motioned downward. Talon glanced down and felt his eyes widen.
A pool of water was being fed by a small waterfall. The stones that lined the wall shined from the light from the moon that broke through from the top. The reflections bounced off the dark water, making the pool appear like a starry night sky. The most breathtaking sight was the statue that stood extraordinarily large. It was a carving of a woman. Her eyes were half-shut and her lips were curved into a soft smile. She held hands cupped, up towards the falling water where it spilled through her hands into the pool below.
She seemed so life like as if at any moment, she would throw her head back and laugh gleefully. At her hips floated candles on little boats shaped into flowers.
Sounding sad, Bird finished her story. “When R’or learned of her fate, he gathered her remains and continued the fight. He swore he wouldn’t know defeat until he’d destroyed all those who’d had a hand in her death.” She observed the water. “When he’d fulfilled his promise, he demanded this be built and within her be placed both their ashes.”
“Why do they refer to it as ‘visiting the night’?” Talon asked.
“Because the statue is made in the memory of the first time he saw her,” Bird said, making her way down the steps. “A night where the heavens sparkled, and the goddesses moved along the realm of men.”
She paused on the final step, meeting his gaze. “Your wish is for my father to agree to your proposal. I cannot convince my father to do such a thing. Yet, I wish to put forth a peace offering.” She turned and pointed at the little boats and candles seated at the edge of the shore. “You are allowed to wish for it here. Maybe Ilia will feel pity and grant you your wish.”
Talon stared down at Bird. She wished to offer peace? A feeling of desolation overtook him. Slowly, as he approached her, he wondered if she truly knew what she offered. No. He was sure she merely meant it as a friendly gesture, but…he would gladly misconstrue her words and take her offer. When he arrived on the final steps, he peered into her eyes. They were open and guiles. Nothing hidden, nothing dark mucking the pure dark depths.
Not saying anything, he moved over to the water edge, not afraid for his boots. Leaning down, he took a boat and candle.
“Here.” A short blade appeared in his view. He looked at her in question. “It is to write your name in. The wish is spoken within, and your name must be written on the candle.”
He took the knife from her. “How does one know if their wish has been answered?”
Bird kneeled beside him, a companion like air surrounding them. “It will sink. If Ilia sees your wish as worthy, she will sink it.”
“And if it floats?” he asked, slowly carving his name on the side. His eyes narrowed in focus, his brow furrowed. “Does that mean she believes your desires to be foolish?”
Bird laughed. “No, she merely needs more time to think on it.”
Finished, Talon turned his head, but he hadn’t estimated how close Bird had come to him. Soft purple clashed with somber red. As if tied, both remained there simply staring into each other’s eyes, neither shifting away. Again, Bird felt the recognition, but there was no memory to support it.
A connection pulled at her chest, calling for her to explore. As the prince’s eyes grew dismal, she wondered what he was thinking that caused him to look at her in such a way. She wished to reach out, to comfort him, but something prevented her hand from touching him. A fear that resided from her years of reaching out towards the Wellings.
No matter her desires, she could not become close to a vampire. She knew only cruelty from them, and though her curiosity pulled her gaze towards the man, she couldn’t allow it to go further. With that passing thought, she rose suddenly to her feet. “Have you finished?”
Talon didn’t rise as quickly as she did. After a beat of silence, he stood and kept his eyes focused on the candle in his hand. “Does one simply let it float? Is there no ritual?”
Clearing her throat, Bird’s eyes avoided his and she motioned towards the water, still flustered. “O-over there. One must pray and then set it to sail.”
Talon nodded, moving over to the water’s edge. He tried to focus his mind solely on his desire to win the mine rights, but his mind didn’t remain on the mine. Instead, the picture of Bird standing on the Cawell estate, with her eyes closed and chin lifted to the wind passed through his mind. Another image of her speaking with Pinwin appeared.
Nothing he could do would remove the image from his mind. Her smile, laughter, and blood, all of it, he wished it in his grasp. As he knelt, he knew then what his true wish was: he wished for Bird’s love. For her to desire him with the same adder he’d come to desire her. He wished to own all of her, inside and out.
Even as she stood behind him, her eyes burning into his skin, he desired her to be his, and as he released the boat onto the water, it drifted slowly, the candle flickering in the chilly desert wind. “I wish to be forgiven for my selfish desire to be loved by the one woman who has every right to hate me the most. Still, I cannot quell my desire for her love. Even if I must burn in hell, I still wish for her to love me.”
The boat wobbled, as it drifted over to Ilia. As it tapped the side of the stone heroin, it slipped beneath the cold waters.
“So, it seems, Ilia blesses in your quest.”
Turn
ing, Talon met Bird’s amused gaze. His face unreadable, he nodded. “It would seem so.”
“What did you wish for?” she asked, clearly curious. “The mines or…the country itself?”
Smirking, Talon shrugged, “Something more…precious.”
“Precious?” her expression turned thoughtful. “What is more precious than our metal?”
He didn’t answer and instead made his way back towards the steps. “I believe, Princess, it grows far too late. We must return you to the palace before I am accused of abducting your highness.”
Bird rolled her eyes and reluctantly followed him. “I am not a desert flower to be protected and watched. You have no need to escort me to the palace.”
He ignored her complaint. “As a man of honor, it is only right that I escort you back.” He looked over his shoulder at her. “As your father has warned, the Gahiji may attempt to take you.”
She scoffed. “No Gahiji would dare. I am safe enough.”
Their minor argument continued even after they left the cave and Bird had returned everything to its right place. Her hands untied the reigns, but as she prepared to mount, two large hands reached around and lifted her. Her heart caught in her throat and she felt the oddest sensation in her stomach. She looked down at him speechless. “I wonder how your father allows you out with no guard or ladies maid to protect your virtue.”
Hearing this, Bird’s choice of softening towards him immediately vanish and she jerked her hand from his hold. “I wonder at your worry, Prince. You are more likely to suffer in Katari than I.” She pulled up her reigns, her eyes narrowing on him. “Some would say you seem the type to lose his purse and not be aware of it until a kind stranger pointed it out.”
Blinking at her detailed example, Talon tilted his head, his eyes meeting hers, which were filled with feigned suspicion. “How did you know my purse was stolen?”
Remembering she’d been disguised, Bird tried to pull away from him, but Talon gripped her hand over the pommel. His eyes had narrowed before they widened. Nervous, Bird attempted to pull her hands from under his. “I-I must away—”
“You were the woman who mocked my skills!”
Bird flushed and struggled. “I’ve no memory of what you speak.”
Knowing she lied, Talon reached up, pulling down her scarf, giving view to her face. He glared. “You laughed at me. I see now why you wished to offer me peace.”
Caught, and unsure of how to deny, she sniffed, lifting her chin. “I offered you peace for my words in the courtyard. I saved you from being cheated. I do not need to apologize for my words in town, you were clearly out of you depth.”
He grimaced. “Your opinion of my kind seems harsh, as this is our first meeting. I did wonder at your seeming hatred for my kind.”
Leaning away from him, Bird gave him a look of agitation. “It is not hatred that you saw. I’ve no hate for people, only an awareness of the cruelty your kind is capable of.”
Hearing this, Talon felt a sliver of suspicion. Did she remember him? Had she been pretending this whole time? Would she now confess to remembering his sins towards her? Fear, as he'd never felt, took him over. “I spent my youth in the hands of a vampire.” Her answer brought him back from the binding fear that had held him. She spoke softly. “My mother and I were taken to your country years ago, and sold as damphir fodder.”
Her lips were grimly set as she stared not at him, but at her hands that his still held. “I wonder now if the way I lived is the same way my ancestors lived so many years ago.”
Lifting his hand suddenly from her own, Talon retreated a few steps. Not meeting her gaze, he spoke abruptly. “We must hurry, the night grows long.”
Walking over to his own horse, he untied the reigns and mounted. Turning it, he spoke once more. “I do not wish to be accused of attempting to seduce the princess.” Clicking his tongue, he kicked the side of his mount to move it forward.
Bird watched him; the vampire seemed uncomfortable with her talk. She wondered whether he was uncomfortable because he wasn’t interested in her story of woe, or if he was uncomfortable with the idea that she may convince her father to never give him the rights to their metal.
Chapter Seven
As the two made their way back through the cavernous road, where the hills stood high, she found herself not so much worried for the silence that surrounded them. Instead, her focus was on learning more about the grim prince that rode before her. He didn’t seem to smile often, and when he did, it seemed with a sardonic twist to his lips. Only, she didn’t know why she felt responsible for his mood. She’d known nothing of him till he’d arrived.
They were a few feet from the exit when he stopped short. Lifting a hand, he signed for her to stop as well. Confused, Bird asked, “What is it?”
Talon tilted his head, listening. The lack of light did not harm his senses. In fact, they were sharper. Something wasn’t right. He slowly released the reigns in his other hand and reached for the long dagger he hid in his boot, his eyes sharpening on the exit. “I believe we have company.”
“Company?” Bird repeated, squinting at the exit, only for her eyes to widen at the bodies covered from head to toe in black robes and scarves hiding their faces. The clinking sound of their weapons caused her back to stiffen.
“Lady, your man is good at seeing the unseen,” one of the Gahiji thieves spoke out. He held a sword loosely in his hands and motioned to his men. “But even if he sees us, we are more than one.”
Moving quickly, Bird lifted her bow that rested on the back of her horse and pulled an arrow out, notching with quick fingers. “I believe you’ve miscounted, Bhat!” Her eyes narrowed on him, though she was sorely put out. It was hard for her to see.
He laughed and his man followed his lead, their eyes seeming to glow though there was no light. “Aha, yes, pretty lady, I’ve miscounted, but enough of this.” He motioned with his sword towards their mounts. “We’ve interest in making this easy. Leave your horses and valuables and all will end well.”
Talon shifted his horse back and closer to Bird’s. He shook his head. “I am not comfortable with the idea of losing my horse.” He turned his gaze to Bird. “When I shout, I wish for you to ride, hard… Do not look back.”
Bird looked at him incredulously. “I cannot abandon you here.”
“You can and you will,” Talon said, his eyes and voice hard. “I am not as weak as you believe.”
Before Bird could argue, he suddenly shouted, slapping her horse hard on its rump. With a neigh, the horse jerked its forelegs high and Bird lost her hold of her bow. Forced to reach for the reigns, she couldn’t stop her horses sudden lurch forward.
The Gahiji scattered, avoiding being run over by the horse. Some attempted to run after her, but Talon called attention back to him by calling out, “I never knew Gahiji were such cowards!”
They stopped at his words and turned, a murderous glint in their eyes as they faced him, but Talon showed no fear. In fact, as he’d hoped, they all drew closer and felt the tension change. Something wasn’t right as they hadn’t immediately gone for his horse’s reigns, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.
Swinging his leg over, he jumped down.
The leader of the group suddenly seemed to notice the dangerous air that came from Talon, as he tightened his hold of his sword. “D-don’t move!”
Talon ignored his warning and moved in front of his horse, his red eyes glowing brighter. “I’ve been concerned about whether I would be able to feed while in the country. Though I am able to go for long times without sustenance…it’s been difficult.” He glanced around at the number of men and without a word, lifted his right hand.
With a cry of pain, they all fell forward as if a great force of gravity had slammed into their backs. Talon’s lips curled, revealing his lengthened fangs. The Gahiji robbers whimpered at the sight of them. They knew now he was the cold person rumored to have come to their country for metal.
His boots crunched over th
e gravel as he approached the leader. “I am, of course, grateful that you came when you did.” He leaned down and grabbed the back of the leader’s neck and slowly lifted him so that the paralyzed Gahiji stared into his eyes. “I’ve never been more grateful.” Talon had grinned before he lunged forward.
A scream pierced the night as he fed until he was full. Each man screamed and cried, pleading to their gods to be saved from the demon that seemingly moved amongst the night, picking each one off like insects.
***
It hadn’t taken long for Bird to gather a small retinue of soldiers, and as usual, Dua had appeared just when he was needed. Soon, they were racing back to where she’d left the prince. She didn’t understand her panic, but when they arrived, with bright lights from their torches giving view to the sand, she felt a chill.
The supposed threatening thieves were strewn across the ground like dead locust. Shocked by the sight, her men muttered under their breath behind her, speaking of demons and evil. A switch of wind brought her eyes to the corner of the cavern. Without thinking, she dismounted.
“Princess…” Dua called to her, his own tension high from the sight of the many bodies.
She lifted her hand. “I am fine.”
Her eyes were focused on the shadows further ahead where it felt something called to her. With slow steps, she approached it. She felt sure that the prince lied there in the darkness.
“Prince Talon,” she called, her voice barely above a whisper. As she drew closer, her skin prickled with awareness. “Prince, are you there?”
With a sudden rush, he stood before her, his eyes blazing and his skin nearly white. Her heart caught in her throat, as he reached out to her, his mouth covered with blood. In that moment, Bird wished to scream but held back. His hands gripped her arms in a vice-like grip and before she knew to push him away, his hungry eyes scoured her face and his lips claimed hers brutally.
Bird’s eyes widened, her body jerked against his. Her body thrummed with a sudden awareness of him and all that was around them. As he demanded more from her with his lips, Bird felt her body weaken and with a sigh, her own body leaned into his claiming.
