The 7th Lie

by Tamara Grantham

  Yellow smoke thickened, obscuring the hallway. The miner dragged me into the fog of fumes. My eyes watered and my lungs burned, demanding I cough, but I only gagged with the cloth tied in my mouth.

  Smoke fogged around the queen’s guards crowding in. I lost sight of Morven. Scuffling and shouting came from every direction. The man holding me dragged me down the hallway. Tears blurred my eyes, still stinging from the smoke. Shouting rang in my ears. Bodies pressed in around us from all directions as the palace erupted in chaos.

  Guards rushed through the packed bodies. Hallways blurred past.

  Where are you taking me? I wanted to scream but couldn’t speak through the gag.

  Chilly, blustering wind picked up as we stepped outside the palace. Across the lawn, the dome of the greenhouse rose against the backdrop of the gray wall and a looming stormy sky. Thunder rumbled with a drawn-out growl.

  Dozens of people poured out of the castle. Some had yellow-tinted eyes and dirt-smudged faces. Metal glinted in their hands as they aimed their weapons for the crowd. Shots exploded. People screamed. A few fell to the ground while others ran frantically back to the castle.

  The miner dragged me away from the crowd, holding me against his body. I twisted, using my shoulder to loosen my gag. I wriggled in his grasp, but he grappled me down. I kneed his midsection. Screaming, he fell back, and I tore the gag from my mouth.

  The miner cursed as he grabbed for me.

  Adrenaline fueling my movements, I stomped the man hard in the groin, then I spun around and sprinted toward the greenhouse.

  Bullets whizzed. One hit the greenhouse’s glass panels. Shattering rang in my ears. I burst through the doors and ran inside. Humid air thickened around me, dampening my clothes and skin. Echoing voices came from outside, muffled by the greenery growing on either side of the pathway.

  “Sabine,” Cade called, his surprised voice coming from the back of the greenhouse. I followed the path to the source of his voice. His white shirt and blond hair stood out against the greenery. “Back here!”

  I dodged the rows of plants and tables. Gunshots echoed outside. Screams and shrieks of pain cut through me like a knife. How many people were dying because of this?

  “What’s going on out there?” he whispered frantically as I crouched beside him.

  “The miners,” I answered in a rush. “They’re taking over the castle.”

  His blue eyes widened. “What?”

  “They captured the prince and tried to force him to kill his aunt. It didn’t work. We got separated. I have to go back for him. They could’ve...” I was going to say killed him, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. “He could be hurt. I have to save him.”

  “I’ll help you.”

  I eyed him. “You will? You realize there’s a good chance we’ll be killed?”

  “I think our chances of that are already pretty high.”

  “Good point,” I said.

  Cade pulled a pen knife from his pocket.

  “Is that the only weapon you’ve got?” I asked.

  “Yeah, sorry. I only use this for whittling.” He knitted his brows. “We could arm ourselves with the gardening shears, I suppose.”

  A shot blasted. Glass shattered, raining shards. I held my hands over my head, sharp particles cutting like razors as we ran to the door. Adrenaline pumped through my blood. We reached the open exit and raced outside.

  Flames crackled from the palace windows, and smoke billowed from the open doors. People sprinted, screaming, from the castle.

  My breathing labored, with the scent of pungent smoke, I searched the faces for Morven.

  A behemoth of a guard blocked me. He held his pike inches from my face, his lips drawn into a tight line beneath a thick mustache. The plaid over his shoulder and his broad frame reminded me of a genuine Scottish highlander.

  “Ye’re not to enter the castle,” he barked with a deep voice, his accent thick.

  “She’s searching for the prince,” Cade said behind me.

  His bushy eyebrows knitted together. “The prince?”

  “Yes,” I said haltingly. “I have to find him.”

  The guard grunted. “The prince and his aunt have been escorted to an undisclosed location.”

  Smoke stung my eyes. “They’re hiding?”

  “Maybe, but ye didn’t hear that from me.”

  “Please,” I pleaded over shouted orders from inside the palace. “Can you take me to him?”

  The guard shook his head. “Nay. Move along. The castle is being evacuated.”

  “No! I can’t go. I have to find him. Please, take me to him. I’m his caretaker.”

  “His caretaker?” He scrunched his brow. “Ah, yes. I’ve seen you around the palace. His Majesty the prince has been in much better spirits since you’ve arrived. Miss Sabine, is it?”

  “Yes!” My hands shook, so I balled them into fists. “If you’ll take me to him, I promise I won’t cause any trouble. I’ll leave.”

  The guard sighed. “Very well, lassie.” He leaned closer, motioning me to him. “But only because you’re his caretaker. I wouldn’t do this for anyone else. You’re not to repeat this. Understood?”

  I nodded, my pulse thrumming lightning fast.

  “They’ve been taken to a safehouse in the southern district,” he whispered. “I don’t know where it is exactly. But ye can ask around. I’m sure some of the locals will know more.”

  “Thank you,” I said, stumbling away from him. “Thank you so much. I won’t forget this.”

  He gave me a solemn nod.

  A combination of happiness, relief, and anxiety flooded me, my head spinning.

  Cade and I raced away from the palace, dodging the crowds until we reached the main gate. I glanced back as we crossed under the cold shadow of the portcullis. Black smoke billowed into clouds, and the charred scent of death carried on the wind.

  Chapter 25

  Cade kept a brisk pace alongside me. Velocipede engines rumbled through narrow lanes. Stone and brick buildings towered over us, their windows tinted orange in the waning sunlight.

  “The southern district,” I said. “Do you know the fastest way there?”

  “Yeah, I can get us there. Just stay close.” He cast a nervous glance over his shoulder. “Miners could be anywhere.”

  My breathing came in labored gasps as we made it to a bridge. Water gushed beneath the arching structure. Our footsteps echoed over stone.

  “Sabine,” Cade said as we crossed. “How did they capture you and the prince in the first place?”

  “Morven and I were out in the desert near a cave when they found us. We’d stopped in Edenbrooke. They were organizing, which we thought seemed strange. Then they must’ve followed us, because they caught us and brought us back to the city.”

  We dodged a passing velocipede.

  “What were you doing in the desert?” Cade asked.

  “Checking on some information people in this world will want to know. I shouldn’t say more than that.”

  He only nodded and didn’t press the issue as we crossed the bridge. The water running beneath us made it seem as if I were putting a chasm between me and my brief life in the palace. Would I find Morven again?

  Yes. I had to find him.

  Cade led me down the busy streets until we took a narrow lane. We strode to a quiet district where two story, thatched-roof homes stood along cobbled lanes. I couldn’t stop looking behind me, thinking the miners would be following, but only an empty street stretched into the distance.

  Our footsteps echoed the blood pounding in my ears. As my adrenaline drained, exhaustion caught up to me.

  Cade ran his hand through his tousled blond hair, his expression pinched with anxiousness, which didn’t suit him. I much preferred carefree Cade.

  “My mother lives in the southern district,” he said. “We can stop by her house and see if she knows where the royal safehouse is.”

  “Do you think she’ll know?”

 
“No idea. But she usually keeps up with the other locals. If anyone will know, it’ll be her.”

  “Then we’re lucky she lives there.”

  “That’s one way to look at it.” His eyes met mine, bright mesmerizing blue, but his handsome face only served as a reminder of the man I’d lost.

  I glanced back, wondering if I’d be better off searching for Morven and his aunt on my own, but it would take too long, and I didn’t know where to start searching in the first place.

  “It’s this way.” Cade led me down another lane, this one narrower than the others. Buildings rose on either side, the sunlight only hitting the upper stories, casting the ground in shadow. Bits of ash floated around us. Charred gray bits, feather-light, gathered on the benches and lamp posts.

  Yells echoed. Behind us, firelight flickered from a mob of men carrying torches.

  Cade’s face fell. “I think the miners are torching the city.”

  “Why would they do that?”

  “I don’t know. I suspect they’ve been angry for so long that they’re doing anything to take out their rage. Hurry.” He ran ahead, and I followed. The maze of buildings spun in my vision. Muscles cramping, energy drained, I ran because I had no choice.

  “Up there,” Cade said breathlessly. We stopped at a building made of red bricks. Cade led me inside, through the front room, and into a kitchen.

  Stillness settled in the small space, as if we’d entered a refuge from the world. It reminded me of my own home. A wooden butcher block took up the center of the area. Garlands of garlic and pearl onions hung from the open cabinets, scenting the room with their spicy aroma. Earthenware bowls and mugs crowded the shelves. We sidestepped casks of dried beans and oats as we paced through the kitchen.

  “Mam,” he called, searching the house. I walked with him through the silent rooms. All empty.

  “Where is she?” I asked.

  “I don’t know.” He shrugged, attempting to act casually, though his worried gaze revealed his emotion. “It’s possible she’s hiding at her sister’s house in the market district.” He shook his head. “I hope she’s okay.”

  “Cade,” I said, daring to rest my fingers on his. I wasn’t sure how he’d react, but it seemed like he needed it. “I’m sure she’s okay.”

  He gave me a single nod, eyes softening a bit at my touch.

  Outside, enraged voices echoed. Cade clasped my hand and we crouched behind the butcher block. Through the window overlooking the sink, the crowd of miners marched past. Flames crackled from their torches. I prayed they didn’t set fire to the house.

  Cade held tightly to my hand. I wanted to tell him to let go, but I couldn’t move. Fear paralyzed me as I watched the mob trample past.

  The miners disappeared from view, their shouts echoing behind them. Seconds ticked past. Silence replaced the yells. I let out my pent-up breath, finally pulling my hand free of Cade’s, my fingers stiff and cramping.

  He made no argument as he continued to stare out the window, as if he weren’t sure if they were really gone.

  “What do we do now?” I whispered.

  He paused before speaking, his eyes wide, haunted. “I’ve got to find Mam. She could be in danger. I’ll go down to the market district and look for her. You’ll have to hide here until I come back.”

  “Are you sure?” I questioned. “What if the miners catch you?”

  “I know the back passages. I’ll be safe enough.” His glance darted. “I hope.”

  “Shouldn’t I come with you?”

  “No.” He shook his head. “Stay here until I return.”

  I gave him a concerned glance. “You’re sure?”

  “Positive.”

  The idea of hiding while he went to the streets on his own unsettled me. He could be killed. But common sense told me that this was the safest place for me, and if I went with him, I could be killed, too.

  He stood, grabbing a knife from a kitchen drawer before he crossed to the door. “Stay here,” he said firmly. “Don’t leave. I’ll be back soon.” He turned to go, then stopped. “Sabine, I...”

  “Yes?”

  He glanced down at his crumpled white shirt, then brushed at the dirt smudges.

  “Cade, what is it?”

  He shook his head. “I know we never had time...”

  I eyed him. “Time for what?”

  “I just...” He shook his head, as if reconsidering what to say.

  I cast him a sidelong glance, and he pursed his lips, then crossed the distance between us and took my hands. Warm fingers brushed a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers trailing down my cheek. “Take care, all right?”

  Confused, I nodded. As I looked up into his bright turquoise eyes, anxiety squirmed through me, the touch of his skin too overwhelming. All I could do was wish I were looking into Morven’s eyes, and feeling his hands instead of Cade’s.

  As if sensing my unease, Cade released my hands. Without another word, he stepped away from me and crossed the room. As he swung the door open, a smoke-filled sky came into view, then he left, closing me off from the world outside.

  A leather chair sat in the parlor, and I collapsed on the seat. After pulling an all-nighter, being beaten, and fleeing from crazed miners, weariness seeped into my bones, compelling me to close my eyes. But how could I possibly rest?

  Glancing at the door, I had the urge to run outside and try to find the queen and Morven on my own. I could knock on every door in the district until I found them. But rationality overrode my emotions. The miners had almost killed me once. What would happen if they caught me again?

  Lightning flashed, an electric burst that glowed through the window, giving a purplish luminosity to the room. Thunder rumbled in the distance. An uncontrolled chill shook my body. My head still ached, and the gouges on my neck stung. I gingerly touched the cuts, blood sticky beneath my fingertips. Was there anything in the house I could use to clean the cuts? Better yet, maybe I could find some green cerecite.

  Shelves lined the wall across from me. I crossed to the books and knickknacks arranged along the rows. Labeled jars rested in a neatly arranged row, labels facing out. Oil of primrose. Seeds of lavender. Herschpringer’s potion.

  A painted skull at the end of the ledge caught my eye. A depiction of Ithical Island decorated its cranium. Golden lines connected around the capital to form the major rail routes. More lines spread across the curve of the skull, out to the other cities. Each landmark and township were painted in golden calligraphy. Bright blues, greens, and yellows glowed in pearlescent colors to form fields and mountains, all in such vivid detail, I had to run my fingers over the bumpiness of the paint.

  I cradled it between my hands and lifted it off the shelf. The chill of the smooth bones unsettled me.

  I replaced the skull on the shelf, glad to have it out of my hands. Why would someone paint something like that on a skull? Then again, this was a foreign land. Perhaps decorations like that were commonplace.

  Taking a step away from the shelf, I searched the rest of the house, looking for healing ointments of any kind. In the water closet, I found a washbasin with a lump of soap placed atop the wooden bowl, and I cleaned my wounds as best as I could.

  Anxiety squirmed through my stomach as I paced back to the front room. Cade and his mother will be here any minute now, I told myself. And if they weren’t, I had no choice but to go back and search for them.

  I reflexively reached for my bag, only to remember I’d lost it, most likely taken by the miners. I had no choice but to get it back, but how?

  Another flash of lightning lit the room in a bright glow, followed by a booming crash of thunder, rattling the skull on the shelf. A chill crept down my spine at the sight of the object—and of the white dot just above its left temple.

  When I neared the shelf, I reached for the skull, but hesitated. The dot had been there a moment ago, hadn’t it?

  I blinked in disbelief. Hesitantly, I lifted it up. A white circle stood out against the gree
ns and blues. Beneath the marking, the words Project Ceres.

  What?

  I studied the location of the white dot on the map. West of the capital. Just north of Edenbrooke.

  Cradling the skull, I collapsed on the chair.

  My breaths came in shallow gasps. This was wrong. Everything was wrong. This skull must’ve been the sixth piece of cerecite. What had the last clues been?

  It came back to me in complete clarity, as if Rosa’s journal were sitting on my lap.

  Mundo. World.

  I didn’t like where my thoughts were taking me. I needed to get out of this house.

  Tucking the skull under my arm, I raced for the door when it boomed open. Cade’s silhouette stood out against the dark sky behind him. His eyes sparkled blue, the strange color I’d noticed when I’d first met him.

  “What are you doing with that?” He stepped inside, his gaze fixed on the skull I carried.

  “I...” My mouth grew dry.

  “What are you doing with it?” he repeated.

  “I’m...” Behind him, wind gusted from the open door. My escape. Could I make it past him?

  He stepped toward me. “I’ll ask you one last time, what are you doing with that skull?”

  “Cade, please,” I begged. “I need to leave.”

  “Leave?”

  I rushed past him when he caught my arm. He pushed up my sleeve to reveal my bracelet, then he gripped the metal disc and pried it up until it revealed the V logo etched on the back.

  “Vortech,” he hissed, eyes narrowing. “I should’ve known.”

  He squeezed my arm.

  “You’re hurting me,” I gasped.

  “I’ll do more than that,” he growled.

  My eyes widened. “What?”

  “You’re Vortech.” His cheeks burned red. “Vortech! Sabine, how could you? Don’t you know who they are?”

  “Cade, no...”

  “Listen to me, Sabine. They’re the enemy. You’re the enemy.” He looked to the ceiling. “How did I not see it?”

  “Cade, let me go.”

  “No!” Rage burned in his eyes. “I can’t do that. I don’t care who you are. I’m so sorry, Sabine. I have to kill you.”