by Tricia Barr
Her eyes fell on his shoulder and she let out a small gasp. Kol didn’t bother to look. The smart clothing had been torn when his scales were removed, so she could probably see how macabre the wounds were. Kol had an identical wound in his side from the one Draven took.
Char’s hip looked the same. Fortunately, Hair Gel only ripped one from her.
“Come to see dear old dad’s handiwork?” he asked, but regretted it the instant it flew from his mouth and he ducked his head.
“I can’t believe he did this to you... to her.” She pointed at Char, who snuck a glance at Kol.
He kept his eyes lowered.
“Kenzie and I are working on a plan,” she whispered, which brought Kol’s eyes back to hers. “To get you both out. But I couldn’t just stay away and let you suffer.”
The memory of the greenhouse and Myreen healing his injured leg with harpy magic intruded his thoughts. It felt like so much time had passed, so much had happened since, yet he felt like it happened only five minutes ago.
“No,” Kol said. “You can’t risk it.”
“I’m Draven’s daughter,” Myreen said, exuding confidence he wasn’t entirely sure she actually had. “I can do what I want. For instance, I stole this from the Initiate’s medical wing.” She pulled out a white box with a red cross on it. A first aid kit. Then she asked, “Can you come closer?” Something flashed across her face, as if she just realized Char was clinging to Kol and he wasn’t objecting. But he was certain he imagined it.
Char dropped her arms and Kol scooted toward the toxic bars with great effort. If Myreen did notice their closeness, he hoped she also saw the shiver that attacked both he and Char the instant they broke contact.
Myreen studied him. Like she wanted to ask a question, but wasn’t sure how to arrange the words. But the look passed, and she asked, “Any way you could conjure up a fireball for me?”
“I thought you were using good, old-fashioned human first aid?” Kol pointed at the box.
“That’s to cover after,” she said. “I don’t know what would happen if they knew I healed you.”
“I thought you said you could do whatever you want?” he teased. He didn’t realize he had it in him. Her mere presence gave him strength. And stupid humor.
“Draven is the most powerful vampire in the world,” she said. “I don’t want to take any chances. And thanks to Kenzie, he can daywalk.”
“What?” Char practically shouted.
Myreen waved an apologetic hand. “No time to explain. The quicker I do this, the better.” She opened the box. “Hopefully he won’t be too angry if he sees that I’ve just cleaned and dressed your wounds. But please... fire?”
Kol sighed. “I thought you knew? They took away our abilities.” He gestured to himself and Char. “Do you think we’d still be in here if we had our fire power? Do you think we would be freezing to death down here if we could warm ourselves?” The latter he hoped would explain his and Char’s earlier embrace. For survival.
Without responding, Myreen rifled through the first aid kit and pulled out a tiny flashlight that was probably put there to look into mouths for sore throats. She flicked it on, emitting a tiny light not much brighter than the dull glow of the sconces around the dungeon.
“This will have to do,” she said and captured the light with her fingertips.
Kol scooted back to Char causing confusion to flit across Myreen’s face. He prodded his lifelong friend as gingerly as possible back toward Myreen.
“Her first,” he said, then thought, In case there’s only enough for one.
Something passed across Myreen’s face briefly, but she didn’t seem to want to argue and sent the light through the bars, directing it at Char’s wounded side.
Her aim was a little bit off, but as the light swarmed and swirled, part of the wound closed, leaving pink and healthy skin. The other part still looked red and oozing, but Char let out a gasp of relief.
“Any chance you can come closer?” Myreen asked before inspecting the flashlight to ensure it still worked.
Kol and Char eyed the bars. Kol felt like a magnet with the same polarity as the iron, pushing away at any and all cost to resist touching.
“Never mind. I’ll reach through.” Myreen threaded both of her arms through the bars until she leaned in to them at her armpits, giving a brief wince. She turned on the flashlight and manipulated it into another tiny light dancing on her palm.
Char scooted closer. Myreen’s aim was better because she could nearly touch them. Within seconds, Char’s flesh was healed completely.
Myreen reached back for the box and pulled out a roll of gauze and medical tape.
Char took it from her hands slowly. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I can do it. Heal him.” She seemed to convey something to Myreen with her eyes, but Kol didn’t speak girl and couldn’t translate.
Myreen’s eyes lifted to Kol’s and his heart jumpstarted. “Your turn,” she said.
Kol didn’t allow as much distance between himself and the bars as Char did. Because with those delicate healing hands reaching through, the hands attached to the girl he loved, he had to be closer. He needed to be closer.
She flicked on the light. Kol leaned his shoulder closer and held his breath as Myreen weaved a brilliant and beautiful light show between her fingers. Like delicate lace, it tethered together in intricate patterns and spun until it landed on Kol’s skin. He could only watch from the corner of his eye as the light waltzed to and fro along his jagged and raw flesh, knitting it back together. When the sharp pain finally ceased to exist, he felt the warm pressure of Myreen’s hand on his now-healed skin.
She jerked her hand back as if remembering something.
Probably the fact that she now hated him.
Damn curse.
Myreen made quick work healing his side wound, his broken arms, and then expelled as much of the lead from the dragon’s bodies as her dwindling harpy magic could—which wasn’t much at that point, but at least the awful feeling lessened.
Also, he felt the stirrings of his fire returning. When he tried to access it, it was as fleeting as waking up from a pleasant dream and trying to remember the details. It wasn’t quite usable. Not yet.
When the gauze was taped and the remainder packed away into her box, Myreen stood to leave.
“Thank you,” Kol whispered, standing as she did because he finally could. He finally had the strength.
She looked at him sternly. “You have to act like you’re still weak and injured,” she said.
“Right.” Chagrined, Kol melted back to the floor. He actually noticed the slow burn on his palms when they made contact with the ground. It wouldn’t take long for more lead to seep into his and Char’s systems.
“But hey,” Myreen said, reaching through the bars again to place a hand on his knee. Like before. “I’m getting you out of here.” Her gaze was aglow, staring at him. Clearly the harpy light wasn’t completely gone from her eyes. A sly smile played on her lips and he resisted the sudden urge to reach through the bars and kiss them, damned curse or not. But he didn’t want to create more injuries after everything she’d fixed. “It’ll just be easier to break out healthy dragons than sickly ones.” She looked at Char, including her silently with her gaze. “And I’ll need both of you healthy for the plan to work.”
She turned to leave.
“Thanks, Myreen.” Kol blurted, stopping her. He wished she’d stay longer.
She turned, her mouth agape as if she wanted to say or ask something. But she closed her mouth again as if thinking better of it.
Then, another sort of look Kol couldn’t read crossed her expression and pinched her eyebrows together. “I’ve heard rumors of a curse,” she said. “A Dracul curse?”
Kol kept his expression neutral as his insides played pinball. “I think we should talk.”
Heavy footsteps sounded on the stairs at the end of the hall.
And she left.
Chapter 31: Juliet
The excruciating migraine Juliet woke up with just wouldn’t go away. Nik told her she was pushing herself too hard. But between training with her dad, keeping up with her classes, and everything Dracul, there just wasn't enough time in the day.
And it was catching up with her.
Not to mention that without Myreen there, her spark was gone—although she used that to fuel her fire. She didn't know how, but she promised herself that she would get Myreen, Kol, and Oberon back. And maybe that was why her temples pounded—the expectations were just too much.
Juliet massaged her temples with as much pressure as possible until her head felt almost numb. But it gave her no relief. She shoved her hand into her bag and took out the two headache pills that she’d stuffed there this morning. After swallowing them, she leaned her head against the wall, her foot tapping as she waited for the medicine to take effect.
She cringed when a guard raised his voice to her, a spike of pain accompanying his voice.
“What did you just take?”
Juliet gave him an incredulous look, her eyebrows raised, her fists clenched at her sides. Does he have to assume the worst? “I have a headache. I'm done for the day and I'm going to my room.” All the warnings her father and boyfriend repeated rang in her mind, so she gritted her teeth and tried to respond as respectfully as she could.
“I’ll escort you to the infirmary to make sure that was all you took.” His voice was thankfully lower, but it still rumbled with authority.
“Um, no thanks? I swear, I'm clean. Check my record.” All she wanted to do was close her eyes so the light couldn't hurt her head.
She thought luck was on her side when the guard gave her a nod and stepped out of the way. But when he opened his tablet, he wrote something down. From what Nik and her dad had told her, that wasn’t good.
She shuffled on, looking over her shoulder every other minute until she got to her room. When she was sure no one had followed her, she changed course and tiptoed to the supply closet.
She couldn't help but look around at the deserted common room as she crept through. It was usually boisterous, packed with students hanging out. Now, it was dark and empty. No one dared get caught lounging around. Punishment for such a “crime” was more defense training. And not going straight from class to class? Expect impromptu push-ups, sit ups or wall sits. Juliet sadly turned her back to the silence of the avian common room and entered the closet.
Inside their small, secret sanctuary, Nik, Brett and Jesse sat on the floor with a laptop open, Leya and Alessandra a little further in. Their backs straightened and their eyes widened, but when they saw it was only Juliet, their shoulders relaxed. With guards on constant patrol, there was always the possibility of getting caught.
Juliet joined the guys.
“Hey. Are you okay?” Nik said. She didn’t like his tone, but he wrapped his arm around her and she scooted into his chest. “You don't look so good.”
“Gee, thanks. No, I'm not okay. I have a killer migraine and a guard just wrote in his tablet about me ‘cause he thought I was taking drugs.” Juliet sighed, massaging her temples again.
“Well, did you?” Brett teased, but Juliet was in no mood to play along. Even rolling her eyes brought pain to her head.
“Have you met my father?” she asked. “Imagine all the wonderful things he would do to me if I was ever stupid enough to take drugs. Out in the open. In front of an armed soldier.” She didn't mean to sound sour, but he chose the wrong time to joke around. “I just took some over-the-counter stuff for my head.”
Brett lifted his hands in surrender, then turned back to the game on his laptop.
“How did training with your dad go?” Nik asked, thankfully changing the subject.
“It was fine. Making progress, I guess. He wants us to train for another hour a day, but it’s not part of the approved time that the director agreed to. He thinks the general will know we’re up to something if we request more time. But we’ll need someone to keep watch.” She didn't say that to get an offer, but she was glad when he did.
“I can do that for you. Just let me know what time.” Nik kissed her forehead and rubbed her arm.
“Thanks. First one will be after dinner tomorrow.” She leaned her head back to rest on his shoulder.
Brett scoffed. “Dude, we have plans.” His ears turned red as he shut his laptop.
“Sorry, I forgot. We’ll just reschedule.” Nik shrugged and playfully punched Brett’s arm.
Brett shook his head and stuffed his computer into his bag, his eyebrows scrunched. “It is a big deal. Kol’s gone. Don't you get that? Everything just sucks now. I'm over it. I’ll see you around.”
Without another word, Brett quietly stormed out of the small supply closet. If the circumstances weren't so grim, it would’ve made Juliet giggle. But with her pounding headache, she didn't have the energy.
Jesse, Leya, and Alessandra packed up their stuff and waved a subtle goodbye to Nik and Juliet as they followed Brett out.
Finally alone, Nik placed his hands on the back of Juliet’s neck with his thumbs against her hairline. As he massaged the area, Juliet couldn't help but groan from the relief it gave her.
“Sorry about that, Jules.”
“What’s his deal?”
“He’s just... worried. And lonely. With Kol as Draven’s prisoner and Lord Dracul taking over, he hasn’t been taking things well,” Nik said.
“None of us are taking things well,” Juliet agreed. “Did you see that new broadcast? The one about Draven being a daywalker and Kenzie being the one to help him?”
Nik’s mouth hardened into a straight line. “How could I miss it? Kenzie really screwed us all over with that one.”
“If it’s real.” Juliet had a hard time believing Kenzie would just hand Draven daywalker abilities. And she looked so different with her hair cut short and dyed red. Not to mention the circles under her eyes. Maybe Draven had tortured it out of her?
Juliet sighed. “But I get it. Maybe now that I'm training with my dad again, you can spend some more time with Brett.”
Nik stopped massaging, and she immediately regretted saying anything. “I think I will. Thanks!” He gathered his things, then took her hand in his. “So, I’ll meet you at the avian training room tomorrow after dinner, right?” Nik walked them to the door, still holding her hand.
“Yes. Right. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Juliet said, her voice dropping to a whisper.
Nik kissed her forehead, then opened the door for her to sneak out first. “Hope you feel better.”
He gave her a light push when she didn’t immediately move. Once out the door, she rushed to her bedroom, wanting nothing more than her bed and darkness.
Hopefully she’d wake up without the migraine.
***
It would be too obvious if Nik walked her to the avian training room, so their plan was for Juliet to go five minutes ahead of him.
It was a good plan... until Juliet reached the Grand Hall. Her stomach sank. Students lined against one part of the wall, sitting as if on invisible chairs, some of them in tears from the pain in their legs.
A student on the opposite wall was hunched over a trash bin, vomiting his brains out. A group of students were precisely lined, their hands raised in a salute to the soldier standing in front of them. Another soldier yelled in a girl’s face because her hair was down instead of in a bun.
Usually the Grand Hall was a place of motion and emotion. Groups of friends would gather to talk, exchanging ideas, teasing and joking, and sometimes even flirting. That was normal. Now, everyone was synchronized and dull. Their footsteps marched, happy conversations replaced by silence or canned responses to orders. Everyone looked scared. One wrong step could get anyone into serious trouble, and all the rules were nearly impossible to follow. Juliet’s heart broke to see what had become of the school she’d come to love.
“What are you doing?” came Nik’s clipped voice as he walked up behind her. “You were
supposed to get there before I did.”
“I just... Look at what that monster has done to our school.” Juliet regretted saying it as soon as it left her mouth. Both she and Nik looked around to see if anyone had heard her.
“Juliet!” Nik hissed. “Just... go meet your dad. I’ll find a way to delay myself. Go.”
Nik was right. Juliet lowered her head and fell into step with the other students anxiously passing through. She had to fight the sting behind her eyes because she knew she’d get in trouble for it. For crying.
Juliet slipped out of the crowd, discreetly heading toward the avian training room.
The second she walked through the door, she burst into tears. Malachai came out of the darkness and wrapped his large arms around her shoulders.
“Are you all right? What happened? Did someone touch you?”
He would go straight to the worst. “No. It’s just so... unfair,” she said through her heaves. “What the general has done to the Dome, to the students...”
“The Grand Hall?”
Juliet nodded. Of course he knew what had upset her. “But not just there. Everywhere.” She sniffled, and her dad handed her one of the handkerchiefs he always kept on hand.
“I know, hon, I know. I feel sick knowing I contributed to this. If I had known... But I did it for us. And because the general didn't give me a choice.”
“I know.” But his words—the general hadn’t given him a choice... Juliet had to ask. “You don’t think...?”
“Think what, Juliet? Spit it out.”
Juliet looked at her hands. “You don’t think General Dracul is using his abilities, you know, to influence your decisions, do you?”
Malachai studied her for a moment, his eyebrows drawn, and then realization lightened his face. “You mean those dragon hormones? No, I don’t think so. I’m too bullheaded for that, really. But I signed up for all this a long time ago. I’m contractually obliged, nothing more. Why do you ask?”
Nik walked through the door just then. Juliet cleaned herself up and stood, trying to shake off everything that had happened in the last five minutes.
“Is everything okay?” Nik asked, giving Juliet a once-over.