“And where in the Gods name were you last night when Devina poked her nose into my business?!”
Arii rounded on Nem the next day as they met in the library. The morning was overcast, calling for more lanterns to be lit along with the wall candelabras in the domed space, the pool in the centre of the room reflecting the grey sky above.
Nem lounged on a padded settee and tapped her long silver nail against her bottom lip, her legs crossed.
“Devina is a bitch, you know that. The woman hates to be refused.”
Arii groaned and was about to proceed with some other profanities that matched her thoughts when Nem lifted a finger.
“Why not have just let her slit the King’s throat? It would have saved you a whole lot of trouble.”
Arii’s fists balled at her sides. Nem was right. Why had she not just let Devina take the kill? She could be headed home by now, back to the School to continue with her work. No more strange feelings foreign to her. No more sapphire eyes watching her from across the room. No more static in the air under a hooded man’s unimpressed, eyeless glare.
Why did the thought of leaving confuse her more?
Arii swallowed before responding.
“Having the King alive will give me a better chance of finding out who is tampering with the Kryverns.”
Nem sighed and stood slowly. “Why do you care? Why does that bother you so much, Ariiaya?”
Arii paused as she envisioned a woman then, with features almost identical to her own. The angle at which she saw her mother was from below, warm hands cupping her cheeks as her mother’s face lowered to hers. Her eyes were violet, just like Arii’s, and they were also filled with fear as her blood-streaked face hovered above her own.
“We must go!” cried her mother, grabbing Arii’s arm and dragging the six-year-old girl through the forest. In the distance, there was the drone of alarm bells in the direction from where they were fleeing.
“But what about Papa!” wailed Arii, clinging to her mother as the woman pulled her into her arms and ran - ran as quickly as she could over the damp terrain. Her breaths were laboured, and Arii remembered it was raining.
Water was in her eyes, drenching her clothing, and that of her mother. Her eyes lifted, watching the clawing fingers of the trees sway against a darkening sky.
She did not understand what was happening, why they could not go back for Papa.
“I’ll explain soon, little Violet. I promise,” her mother gasped and continued their escape through the forest.
In the distance, thunder boomed like a war drum.
Arii gazed out the window, and Nem seemed to register where her friend’s mind had faded to.
“Whatever this is, Arii, you know you cannot prevent it. If the past is to repeat, who are we to interfere with fate?”
Arii turned to her friend. Thankfully, she had not read the additional feelings smattered across her face.
It was not just the Kryverns which kept her here.
Lorch was not who she had believed him to be.
Never before had Ariiaya Trillia questioned fate.
~~~
Water gently lapped against the banks of the lake as skin glittered in the moonlight. A woman emerged from The Sapphire Depths, completely and utterly naked. Her silver hair rippled in waves to her lower back, modestly covering her breasts; from hips to toes she was covered in iridescent fish scales.
She rolled her head as if she had just awoken, stretching the soreness from her neck and wiggling her toes in the grass.
Her eyes, as dark as onyx, slid languidly to gaze at the golden castle above. Colourless lips lazily pulled into a smile and teeth flashed as she turned to the water to watch the shadows of other women emerge in her wake. Behind them, a full moon hung in the midnight sky.
She spoke, her voice like the hiss of a snake, rough as if she had not spoken in a year.
“It is time, sisters. Let us hope for a better harvest this year.”
Behind her, a small sea of smiles began to appear, excited and hungry.
The castle grounds were silent save the murmuring of the waterfall and the gentle swish of trees swaying in a steady midnight breeze.
A soldier stationed just behind the main castle doors yawned long and wide before rubbing the heels of his hands on his eyes. It had just ticked past midnight, and the full moon loomed in the dark inky sky.
The man sighed dramatically and hitched his belt uncomfortably, tired and aching from watching the castle gate for hours. He had only slept for a short while prior to his shift, having spent time in the local tavern drinking mead with other soldiers off duty. He was paying for it now, it seemed, as his eyes drooped and his face split in another wide yawn.
Out of habit, the soldier slid open the metal slat on the window, peering out to the bridge beyond the castle gate. Not expecting any movement on the stone pavement that stretched into the distance, the man’s expression remained bored as he surveyed the moonlit night.
He turned away to shift his belt again then peered back through the window. A shift of movement caught his eye.
Blinking, the man straightened and squinted, wondering if his eyes were playing tricks. He swore he could hear a woman singing, a gentle, sweet melody that made a warm feeling course through his body.
“Chay!” the man called.
Another soldier joined him as he gestured to the window.
“What?” the second man barked, his expression just as tired as his companion.
“Can you hear that?”
Their eyes fixed on the stone bridge beyond, the melody became louder in the night air as a figure came into view. Hips swaying, the woman stepped into the golden firelight of the torches along the castle walls. She was draped in a long traveling coat, silver hair shimmering in the dim light as the song washed over the men again.
Stunned, they looked at one another before turning back to the woman.
“Excuse me, miss? Are you lost?” called the first man, watching as the women paused just before the window. Her eyes were as dark as pitch, her lips in a gentle smile. Her manner was meek as she dipped in a quick curtsy.
“Sirs, I have been traveling all day and most of this night. Might I not come in to warm by the fire?” Her voice was alluring, thick lashes fluttering as she tilted her head to gaze up at the men.
Silent for a few moments, their heads disappeared as they ducked behind the mahogany gate.
“What do you think? It is the middle of th’ night, the woman just wants a place to stay.”
“You got to be kidding me, Chay, ya’ know what night this is! What if she is one of those… Water Nymphs?”
The man named Chay blew a dismissive breath.
“Nah mate, look at her, she is so slight and not a fin in sight! Beautiful, innshe? Perhaps she’d like some company, warm her bed? Eh?” The man smiled slyly and began to straighten, heading for the lock on the smaller door connected to the colossal gate. The first man was quick to follow Chay as he began unfastening the lock.
“I don’t feel this is wise, Chay, you know our orders!”
“C’mon, mate!” hissed Chay as he pulled on the door, opening it to the moonlight beyond. “What’s the worst that could happe-”
A shadow flashed, and the man named Chay was suddenly on his back on the stones, a ray of moonlight illuminating the man’s glassy eyes and torn out throat. The cobblestones where he lay bloomed in a pool of blood. The first soldier screamed before stepping back, eyes locked on the slain man. His legs quaked, but he soon snapped into action, fleeing for the emergency bell nearby.
Stumbling, the man grasped the rope, pulling with fumbling fingers, causing a shrill ring to echo through the silent courtyard.
A shadow leaped upon him, and the piercing toll of a bell was soon replaced by sh
rill, dreadful screaming.
“So, what do you think, Miss Clearwater? King’s Head or Dragon’s Tail?”
The throne room flickered with candlelight as Lorch turned to gaze at Arii, who stood against the far wall in her guards’ uniform. Arii’s expression was lightly stunned at being directed a question as the King and his father sat at a table, a chessboard before them.
To progress in the game of King’s Chess, a coin had to be tossed. For reasons unknown to Arii, Lorch seemed to be asking her what side she believed the coin would land on. She had always loved the embossed imagery on the royal coins. One side had the impression of a man’s face – his features not resembling anyone she knew. The other side held a symbol of a dragon, wings splayed and tail curling around the circle of the coin.
Across the table, Valdis sat with his hands pressed together in contemplation, elbows resting on the wood and knuckles pressed lightly to his lips. His blue eyes flickered to his son, and then to the guard who had his son’s attention.
Nearby, Hawke lingered by the window, gazing out into the night.
Arii was surprised that Lorch was not tucked away in his rooms, guarded and secure. Instead, he insisted they play King’s Chess in the throne room. It seemed the King preferred they all be awake and alert. Arii found that she agreed with him.
“Erm…” murmured Arii.
“Just toss the coin, son,” hissed Valdis, the word son almost sounding like a curse on his lips.
Arii’s mouth snapped shut, almost thankful to Valdis that she had not needed to reply. Lorch chuckled gently, his attention back on his father and the game. The air in the room felt tense tonight, as if everyone were waiting for something to happen. Arii knew the significance of the night, but she could not deny the heaviness in the air.
Or perhaps that was the dark cloaked figure of Elijah, standing across the room from her.
The air constantly felt weighted, charged, as if a current of electricity lingered wherever he stood. It was peculiar, the tension around the bodyguard. Arii often found herself gazing his way, drawn to him, and wondering what he looked like beneath the hood, and what history had moulded him into the deadly man she had witnessed on the balcony.
Lorch placed a white marble figurine on the chessboard with a light tap, breaking her reverie and drawing her attention back to the game.
“Fine, Father. Gods you are impatient.”
Valdis’s brows twitched, the only expression on his scarred face. With a sly grin, Lorch moved his figurine towards one of his father’s on the board, just as a bell began to toll.
Lorch paused, as did the entire room.
Soon after, a soldier burst through the doors and Arii recognised Quinn’s eyes through the helmet, perspiration visible on his brow. He breathed heavily, as if he had just run the length of the castle.
Lorch stood quickly, his chair scraping against the marble.
Quinn entered the room and dropped to a bow.
Commander Hawke stiffened to attention by the window.
“My King, the alarm bells by the west gate have been rung. There has been a breach.”
Arii felt her stomach drop. A breach? How?
Valdis was standing and moving to retrieve his sword, propped against a wall nearby as Elijah moved to the King, his voice a swift murmur.
“We must get you somewhere safe.”
“You and Miss Clearwater go and find out what is happening, I will go with my father and Commander Hawke to the royal quarters. I need to make sure my mother and sister are safe.”
Lorch slapped a hand on his bodyguard’s shoulder, offering a smile as he said, “If the Nymphs have indeed breached the castle, you have my full permission to let loose on them, Elijah. Send them scurrying back to The Sapphire Depths.”
Arii felt a shiver.
If the night Devina had threatened the King was any indication of Elijah’s combat prowess, she was eager to see him in full action. Without the King to worry about, she imagined he would be a sight to behold.
She almost felt sorry for the Nymphs… Almost.
Elijah’s hood bobbed as he bowed to the King, before turning to face her.
“Let’s go.”
Quinn led the way through the castle halls, heading for the courtyard where he claimed there had been fatalities. Luckily, it had been sealed off, but the soldiers there needed backup. They passed other soldiers as they hurried to their posts, the scent of fear tangible in the air.
As they entered the courtyard, Arii realised she had never seen a Water Nymph before. When she saw the array of bodies strewn on the stones of the inner courtyard, their skin ashen and throats torn out, she realised she really did not care to.
Drawing his sword, Elijah surveyed the carnage. Ahead, a cloaked figure leaned over one of the bodies as if in mourning. Arii drew her own sword, feeling adrenaline begin to rise within her.
Something felt terribly wrong.
The woman - for the figure was slim and feminine - slowly began to rise and turn to them. Beside Arii, Quinn began to shake, his own sword wobbling in his hands.
She was stunning. Her skin was pale like milk, her eyes large and dark. Her hair fell in thick silver curtains as she pulled back her hood. Her lips curled as she unclipped her cloak, allowing it to fall and pool around her feet.
Oh shit.
Standing before them, scales glittering across her breasts and down her legs, her body was like an hourglass. Fins sprouted from her sides, fanning out like wings as the Water Nymph’s lips pulled back to reveal jagged teeth.
Her entire expression changed from serene to that of a nightmare as the woman shrieked. “Finish them, my sisters! Break through the doors and feast upon the castle!”
Suddenly shadows were upon them from all sides, their small group breaking apart as chaos erupted.
Quinn screamed as a shape slammed into him and knocked him to the stones. His attacker had black hair, her scales catching the moonlight as her teeth headed for his throat. He screamed again, flailing with his sword in panic.
Suddenly a dagger was lodged in the woman’s back, and she turned to shriek as Arii lopped her head off with her sword.
Dark blue blood flecked Quinn’s helmet, some beading on his eyelashes as he blinked rapidly. Swiftly, Arii grabbed Quinn’s plate armour and forced him to stand. “Don’t let them near the doors!” she growled, grabbing Quinn’s hand and pulling his sword into position before him. Her fingers curled around his, tightening his grip. “You can do this, Quinn!”
Quinn’s terrified eyes hardened as he nodded.
“Right,” he said, heading for the doors to defend them with other soldiers. Arii briefly watched him go, hoping to the Gods that he survived the night. Strangely, she had grown to like the boy.
Her gaze snapped to the courtyard, and she felt her blood run cold.
Elijah was surrounded.
His sword lifted, and suddenly she found herself fixed to the spot as she watched in utter awe of what unfolded. The air crackled, and she swore she heard thunder in the far distance. White light strobed behind the dark, clouded sky – flashes of light illuminating the hooded figure as shimmering bodies closed in.
The first Nymph launched herself at the man with a scream, face contorted in ravenous hunger. With a fluid motion, Elijah’s sword took her head from her shoulders in one swift swipe. The other Nymphs screamed in anger and pain at their fallen sister, launching with looks of revenge. Elijah dodged and slashed his sword, movements fluid and controlled, each attack precisely aimed to deliver death. He danced, rather than moved, his body twisting to meet each attacker, one after the other.
One Nymph flew at him after another. Elijah slashed one across the chest, dipping down to swiftly pull a dagger from his boot, tossing the weapon as quick as lightning, burying it in the second Nymp
h’s chest before she had even come close. His fist flew, snapping another’s head to the side, before following through with a swift stroke of his sword, dark blood spurting like a violent fountain as he opened the creature from groin to neck – her entrails spilling upon the stones. Elijah stood and spun, meeting each flash of scales with his sword.
Gods he moved like a Fury.
Before Arii could think any longer on how his movements had her blood aflame, she twisted to slash an attacking Nymph. The silver haired beauty stepped back in the nick of time, her face alight with fury.
“You will do well to give up now, girl!” she hissed. “The castle will run red and we will feast.”
“Not if we can help it,” Arii grunted, pressing forward.
“Hah! Why do you aid these men? Place down your sword and we will let you live. Men’s blood tastes all the sweeter than women’s, anyway.”
Arii’s lips quirked. “It seems I need these men alive, sorry to burst your dirty bubble.”
With that, Arii advanced on the woman, her sword flying in a blur to take off her head. The Nymph dodged and snarled, her glittering form spearing in Elijah’s direction. She had no doubt Elijah could handle himself, but these foes were swift and fierce.
Arii found herself pausing.
If the Nymphs took down the bodyguard, she would have better access to the King. The thought was followed by the memory of Lorch’s eyes, filled with fear for Elijah the night Devina attacked on the balcony.
That look had Arii backtracking in her thoughts. An unfamiliar feeling fluttered in her chest at the memory.
Nyx’s arse, this place was making her gentle, pulling at the strings of feelings she kept buried deep, deep within.
Perhaps part of her wanted to be the one to end the bodyguard’s life.
Yes, that was it.
He looked to be a challenge, and a Fury liked a challenge. He had been nothing but a hindrance to her, and it was obvious that the man disliked her. She knew his suspicion was warranted, and he was doing his job.
But still…
Love, Blood & Fury Page 13