by K. G. Reuss
Without a word, Eric lifted me up into his arms. I hung limply in his hold, unable to control a single thing, not even the first tear that slipped out of my eye. Or the ones that followed. I wasn’t sure what was worse—being hunted by the dead or accepting the new life I’d stumbled upon. If I wasn’t at my breaking point before, it certainly felt like I was in that moment.
“Give her to me,” the voice commanded. I was terrified to leave Eric.
He hesitated before speaking, “She’s afraid. A rotwraith bit her pretty badly on her neck. The poison runs deeps. and she hit her head when she fell. She’ll need to be healed.”
The voice sounded frustrated as he repeated his previous words, “Give her to me.”
I whimpered in my throat like a child.
Eric’s arms tightened around me. “You’re safe with him,” he murmured to me. “Trust me. I promise, remember?”
I didn’t get a choice in the matter. I was transferred from Eric to the new guy. He smelled familiar, like something I’d dreamed of. My body grew more rigid against him as I drew in a shallow breath—his clean, woodsy scent taking over my senses.
“Brandon, you good?” the deep voice rumbled, the sound vibrating against my ear. It was comforting in an unfamiliar way. His heat created a pull in my guts that made me what to whimper his name, whatever it may be.
“Yeah, Adam and Jared are sweeping the perimeter.”
“Eric, help Damien and Brandon.” The guy holding me drew in a deep breath and tilted his head down, so his mouth was near my ear, his strange accent sending a thrill of emotion through me. “Everly, you’re injured. I’m going to heal you, OK?”
I wasn’t sure how he thought he was going to accomplish that, but I didn’t exactly have much of a choice, considering I was a barely breathing vegetable at that point. A moment later, a delicious warmth swept through me. The pain left me, and the bleeding stopped. It left me feeling tired but calm. My fingers and toes tingled, and I could move my head slightly.
“We’re going to meld now. It’s faster to travel this way. Trust me when I say that you’re perfectly safe. OK?”
I nodded my head weakly against him, my eyes heavy with exhaustion.
A coldness washed over me, and I shivered. The fire that had been inside of me turned to ice. Strong arms held me tighter, closer, as a tremendous yanking started in my core.
“This may be uncomfortable,” the voice murmured in my ear as the tugging grew more intense. I didn’t care. I let go and let the darkness wash over me, my eyes closing as the loud whooshing of moving fast echoed around me.
Two
Raiden
She was out cold. Her body hung limp in arms. I held her tightly against me as we melded through the shadows. Something about the way her head lolled against my chest gave me a sick sense of satisfaction. I wasn’t losing her. Yet. I needed to, and I hated the idea. But there in that moment, she was still my girl. My Everly.
I took her directly to the infirmary at Dementon.
“General—” Madam Ann, the healer in charge squeaked in surprise as I suddenly appeared in the hallway.
“I’ll send for you when I’m ready,” I growled, stalking past her to a large room divided into sections by curtains. She didn’t argue. They never did if they knew what was good for them. I stared down at Everly in my arms—her plump pink lips parted slightly, her long black lashes resting on her pale cheeks, lush dark hair framing her beautiful face. I didn’t want to let her go, but I knew I had to.
Gently, I placed her in the bed and pulled the covers up around her. I knew I shouldn’t, but I pushed a bit more of my healing at her, wanting her to be comfortable. What Damien had done by borrowing from her had weakened her as much as it had him. But he did it to keep them safe, and for that I was grateful. I didn’t need anyone getting killed, especially while on a mission that should’ve been one of the easiest we’d undertaken in recent weeks. I’d taken the rotwraith’s poison from her. My stomach still twisted with nausea as my abilities did their work, disposing of the toxin. Exhausted, I reached my hand out and gently brushed her hair aside. A tiny whimper escaped her lips as I sank down beside her, cradling her face in my hand.
“My beautiful, brave girl,” I whispered, awestruck as I sat staring down at her. Taking her hand in mine, I intertwined our fingers. The raging ache of knowing I’d have to let go made my pulse race. “I should’ve been there. I’m so sorry. I just wish you knew everything. I want to tell you so much. But I want your happiness more. I want your safety. I want you to smile again. If you’re with me, you won’t have any of those things. So, forgive me, Everly. For everything.”
Her lashes fluttered again, her breathing deep. She was stunning, even lying there recovering. All I wanted to do was sweep her into my arms and hold her forever. Kiss her. Tell her how much she meant to me, even if I didn’t know how to show it. Tell her how every moment I spent awake, she was on my mind. Every moment I spent asleep, she occupied my dreams. I was too busy staring at her, I didn’t hear when Adam and Brandon arrived in the hallway. Adam came in the room but stayed on the other side of the curtain.
“Sha-I mean, Raiden,” Adam called out, catching himself.
“Yeah?” I still hadn’t torn my gaze away from her. She was here. This was real. She was going to be safe, and I’d get to see her everyday now. But I’d vowed to keep my distance. Aside from necessary Conexus business, she and I would have limited interaction. I’d promised that I wouldn’t let what we were command us. She was mine in a sense, but she’d never really be mine. And that sucked.
“We’re here. Do you need Brandon?” Adam asked, poking his head around the curtain.
“Yeah, she could use a little more healing. I’m tapped out. Just give me a few more minutes, OK?”
Adam gave me a nod of understanding, his eyes flicking over to Everly. “I’ll go get him.” He disappeared around the curtain, leaving me with Everly.
“I have to go, sweetheart,” I murmured, staring down at our intertwined fingers. Slowly, I removed my hand from hers, but left my heart, and got to my feet. “I’m sending Brandon in. He’s going to finish up.” I leaned over her and planted a kiss on the corner of her lips and one on her forehead. My eyes burned with unshed tears. Angry that I was even close to crying, I forced my eyes shut, concentrating on her warmth beneath my lips and not on the tears threatening to fall. Breathing out, I rose to my full height and turned, leaving her to rest.
“Sorry, man,” Damien mumbled weakly, the moment I was away from Ever. “I didn’t know what else to do—”
“You did the right thing,” I cut him off, holding my hand up to silence him. “I’d have done the same.”
He gave me a relieved smile and a nod. “I was just worried.”
“No need,” I answered. “She’s a fighter.”
“Is she OK?” Eric asked tiredly, rubbing his eyes.
“She’s out. Exhausted. I’m guessing this probably wasn’t the best or easiest way to introduce her to our world.” I sighed, glancing over my shoulder to the curtain that hid her from me.
“Did you heal her?” Eric yawned, his words slightly garbled from exhaustion.
“A bit. I’m feeling a little ill from the poison, but I should be better soon,” I muttered, already itching to go see her again. “For now, she’s resting.”
“So that’s it?” Eric frowned at me.
“That’s it.” I gave him a sad smile. “She’s here. She’s safe. It’s all on you now.”
“Raiden—” Eric started.
“Listen,” I interrupted. “I saw how you protected her today. I’m not saying she’ll ever be in danger like that here, but I like knowing she has you to look out for her. She’ll get notice of her official training with you on Friday after she goes through the trials. It won’t be hard for you to be around her then, and no one will look at it any differently. I’ll work with her at the workshops like I do everyone else. I’ll answer her questions in orientation if she has any. It�
��ll be fine.” I breathed out knowing damn well it would be anything but fine. My heart was aching knowing she was just a few steps away from me. I had to guard that damn, treacherous heart of mine. And I would. And in return, it would guard hers. “Rest in here until she wakes up. Be by her side when she does. She’s going to be afraid.”
“You know this is a bad idea, right?” Eric pressed. “You could train her. I mean, who better than her reever—”
“No,” I snapped, glancing between him and Damien. They needed to understand I was trying to help her by doing this. “I want everything to do with that girl, which is why I will do nothing for her. After this moment, she will be nothing to me. Another face in the crowd. She has to be,” my voice was rough and harsh, my words searing a hole in my chest. But it’s what I had to do. My mind was made up.
“I think you’re an idiot,” Eric muttered. “Just remember, I told you so.”
Damien shook his head at me, the look on his face telling me what a moron he thought I was too.
“I won’t forget it,” I answered tightly, backing away. Grinding my teeth, I yanked my gaze from where she was resting and forced myself to leave.
I felt sick. Dizzy. Weak.
It was going to be agony on my heart being so close to her but never getting to know her the way I wanted. I knew that. But for her, I’d do anything, even endure the torment of never having her in my arms.
Three
Everly
After we arrived at wherever I was being taken, I’d slept like the dead. When I opened my eyes, sunlight streamed in through the window. Squinting, I let out a groan and rubbed my eyes.
“How’d you sleep?” Eric’s voice called out to me.
“Is that what you call it?” I asked weakly, dropping my hands back to the bed I was in.
“Not really. You were out cold. I’m glad you’re back.”
“Well, I have you to thank for that.” I gave him a tentative, nervous smile. He returned it with his own version before clearing his throat and sitting forward in his chair.
“Where am I?”
“You’ve been recovering in the infirmary. Headmaster Brighton is sending Harper Sanford over to escort you to your dorm. She’s on the student council. You’ll like her.”
“Why can’t you take me?” I sat up quickly and immediately regretted it as my head spun and my stomach lurched. Eric must have sensed how crappy I felt because he was at my side in an instant, a small pail in his hand. The bed sank under his weight next to me.
“Here,” he offered me the pail. “Rotwraith poison can make you feel like crap for a few days. Even if you did get healed, it leaves its affects.”
“And if you don’t get healed from it?” I grimaced as my stomach rolled again.
“Well, it’s not exactly fun. Usually, you’re dead because the carrion syphoned the magic from you. Feasting on flesh is just a bonus. They like it more when the body is alive because the blood and magic flow more freely. Then, of course, the rotwraiths finish off your body by eating you. Most of the time they feed while you’re still alive—”
“OK. I get it.” I shuddered, feeling sick for a whole other reason.
“Sorry,” he apologized. “Sometimes I’m awkward.” His cheeks flushed as his eyes swept over me. My heart skipped a beat as I stared back at him.
Was he Shadow? Just ask him!
“It’s OK. I’m awkward, too,” I answered instead. I was already clutching a bucket ready to barf. No need to make the situation any more uncomfortable. Or maybe I was just scared to know. Either way, I had to hold off until a better moment.
“Uh… I need to get going.” He cleared his throat. “I have to a lot to do before tomorrow… uh… for the start of the school year.”
“Um,” my voice was small, “will I get to see you again?”
He shifted uncomfortably beside me.
“It’s just… that you and Damien are the only ones I know here. I’m a bit nervous,” I admitted in a rush.
“I won’t be far away.” His blue eyes came to rest on me. “Members of Conexus don’t really associate with other students on campus. We’re pretty exclusive.”
“Oh.” I fiddled with the handle on the pail feeling let down. “I see.”
“It’s just for now, Ever. I’ll be seeing you soon. Promise.” He gave my hand a squeeze.
“OK. I understand. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
“I know you will be. You’re tough.” He bumped shoulders with me playfully. “You just survived a Carrion attack without getting eaten by a rotwraith. I’d say you’re doing good.”
I managed to smile at him, letting out a soft chuckle in the process.
“Tell you what,” he said softly, his eyes focused on me. “I promise that whenever I see you, I’ll smile at you to let you know I’m thinking about you.”
“OK,” I breathed out, my heart fluttering with his words. He rose to his feet and contemplated me for a moment.
“You’re going to like it here, Ever. I know it seems scary because it’s all new to you, but I promise you’ll find your place. Before long, you’ll have all sorts of friends.”
“Thank you,” I murmured, my eyes locked on his.
“For what?”
“For everything. You’ve been there for me when no one else could be. It means a lot to me. I hope I can repay the favor someday.”
“Ever,” he scoffed, his blond hair falling across his forehead. “You don’t owe me a thing. I did it because I wanted to. And I’d do it again. And I’ll keep on doing it. No thanks needed.”
“Just the same,” I replied evenly. His eyes swept over me again.
Ask him! Ask him if he’s Shadow! My fingers twisted the sheet as I worked up the nerve.
“Harper will be here soon. I’ll see you around, OK?”
“Sure.” I gave him a tight smile.
“Bye Ever.”
“Bye Eric.”
Two hours later I was walking down a massive marble staircase after Madam Ann released me from her care, warning me to take it easy and to return if I needed anything.
A slender girl with long, curly blonde hair and flawless porcelain skin who looked my age met me at the bottom of the stairs.
“Hi.” She flashed a big smile at me. “You must be Everly Torres! I’m Harper Sanford. I’m here to make sure you get to your room, so you can get rested up!”
“Really?” I asked, breathing out a sigh of relief. This was who Eric had been talking about. “And call me Ever. Please.”
“Ever, OK. Got it. How was your trip? Rough go of it?” She smiled warmly at me. I felt immediately at ease, the panic ebbing away.
“You could say that,” I answered, returning her smile. She must not have known about the attack because she didn’t mention it.
“Don’t worry. The first day—week, actually—is always the worst. It gets better,” she assured me, her hazel eyes twinkling. “Come on. They already took your bags to your room.”
I fell in step beside her as we left the lavishly decorated infirmary, our shoes clicking along the polished marble floors. We walked across the sprawling manicured lawn of Dementon. The grounds were amazing from what I could see. The buildings looked like something out of a fairytale. They were gothic castles with twisting turrets and intricate stones. The place was beautiful. It was like a small city with the large fortress-like buildings and other smaller stone buildings. Cobblestone walkways zig-zagged among the buildings, and signs pointed residents to different places. A massive fountain adorned the center of the grounds. It was like I’d stepped back in time with the exception of the streetlamps which were just coming on. The best part of it all was the silence. I couldn’t hear one of the deads' voices. They were simply nowhere to be found.
“This is incredible,” I breathed out, looking around. “How did I go from being at Rolling Thunder to here? Do-do regular people come here at all? How does it stay hidden if they don’t?” I had a million and ten questions as I gazed around in w
onder, my eyes aching to take everything in.
“It is really nice here,” Harper agreed. “I’ve been coming here since I was twelve. And to answer your question about how it stays hidden, it’s because this is basically a different realm. It’s a world within a world. Everything from the Nattie world exists around us. They, Natties, just don’t possess the sight to see it. Dementon sits just beyond the cemetery through the mausoleum, which acts as the gateway to this world. The Conexus keep us hidden with their wards. It’s basically hidden Earth if that makes sense.”
“Really?” I asked shuddering at the mention of a cemetery. “We’re still in, um, the real world?”
“Of course!” She chuckled at me. “We have the same things that the Natties have. Like, we can stream movies here, eat snack cakes, and drink alcohol, although if you get caught with alcohol you’ll find yourself in Headmaster Brighton’s office. And he’s been known to send students to Conexus to be dealt with, and they like to send people to Xanan.” She grimaced. “And in case you didn’t know, Xanan is our capital city. It’s where the sigil and Order are.”
“What’s a sigil?” I asked, trying to soak up all the information I could.
“He’s the king over all factions. He’s first chair in the Order, which is the council that rules over all factions.”
“There’s a king?” I inquired in awe.
“Yep.” She grinned. “There sure is! A lot of Specials move there or to one of the smaller cities in the realm. Some choose to go back to the Natties and try to be like them. They usually don’t last long there, though, especially lately since the Cipher have been attacking so frequently. Anyway, I love it here. Everyone is so nice, and you don’t have to worry about fitting in. I mean, there are cliques and stuff, but it’s so much easier to just be yourself and not hide who or what you are.”
“Um, and what are you?” I asked delicately, needing clarification.
“I’m a witch, or a caster, as I’m called here.” She chuckled again.