by Meg Anne
“Are you okay?” Kieran called to her.
Effie slowly lifted her head, her matted curls sticking to her cheeks and neck. There wasn’t an inch of her body that wasn’t covered in gore. “What do you think?”
Lucian’s lips twitched in the barest hint of a smile. She might not be okay, but Effie was going to be just fine.
Chapter 23
Effie warily eyed the rope that Lucian tossed down. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him to keep hold of the other end, but she could barely stand, let alone pull herself up along its length. She might as well try to sprout wings and fly.
“Just tie it around your hips and hold on. We’ll do the rest.”
She could have wept at the words. Her hands were still slick with grime, and the rope slipped from them into a pool of ichor and other things she didn’t want to investigate too closely.
Swallowing back a wave of nausea, Effie grabbed the rope and quickly tied it around her hips. It took two tries to get the knot to hold, and portions of the rope were now as slippery as the rest of her.
“Give it a good tug to make sure it’s secure,” Lucian ordered.
Effie obeyed, even going so far as to let the rope carry some of her weight to make sure it wasn’t going to slip or come untied again.
“Looks good. Hang on.”
That was the only warning Effie got before she shot up. She used her feet to keep her body from slamming into the sides of the hole and clung to the rope with her hands. The men had her out of the hole in less than a minute.
She blinked up at three relieved looking faces. No one seemed to know what to say first.
Her face was starting to itch where the blood had dried. Peeling a piece of hair off her face, she grimaced. “You know, I don’t think I want to go scouting with you next time.”
Kieran blinked.
Kael tipped his head back and laughed.
Lucian just studied her, the bronze flecks in his eyes twinkling.
“Are you going to yell at me for wandering off now, or wait until we get back?”
“Would it do any good?” Lucian asked.
Effie crinkled her nose. “Probably not.”
“Then why bother?”
Kieran moved closer, eyeing her for signs of injury. Other than a deep gash along the side of her right arm, and a few shallow scratches on her cheek and neck, she was mostly fine. She hadn’t even felt the burning throb down her arm until Kieran’s finger traced the skin alongside it.
Effie winced and gently pulled free of his grasp.
He frowned at her, his eyes dark with an emotion she didn’t recognize.
She was lucky. Her familiarity with fighting the Shadows, along with Ronan’s training, had kicked in as soon as the first Shadow dropped into the pit. She never saw what happened to the other one. He’d left in the middle of the battle and she’d been so thankful for the reprieve she hadn’t given it a second thought.
Stiffening, she scanned their surroundings. “There was another one,” she murmured, her voice dropping low.
“We took care of it,” Lucian assured her.
“Oh. Good,” Effie whispered in relief, the burst of renewed adrenaline leaving her in a rush.
The ichor burned where it made contact with her skin, and her muscles felt like pudding. It took more energy than she had left to remain standing.
“If you three aren’t going to yell at me, then would you mind taking me home now?”
Before she finished speaking, Kael had an arm under her knees and was lifting her.
“Hey!” she half-heartedly protested.
“You guys go ahead. I will catch up,” Lucian said, peering into the thick brush behind him.
Kieran begrudgingly stepped back, but his eyes never left her as Kael started walking in the opposite direction.
“My pack,” she called over Kael’s shoulder.
Lucian’s dark eyes bored into hers for a long moment before he dropped into the pit.
Effie gasped.
“He’ll be fine,” Kael said softly, not breaking his stride.
“How will he get out on his own?”
Kael’s lips quirked in a smile. “Won’t be the first time he’s had to climb his ass out of a grave. Won’t be the last.”
The dark certainty of the words coupled with his bloodthirsty smile sent a skitter of foreboding down her spine.
“I’d rather it be the last grave any of us have to deal with for a while, if it’s all the same to you.”
Green eyes dropped to her face. “I don’t think you’ll be going anywhere for a while.”
Even though she’d suspected the same, the words still stung. “I was holding my own.”
Kael’s dimple flashed. “That you were, little warrior, but you’re missing my meaning.”
“How so?”
“The one thing you keep forgetting is that you are not disposable. You overlook your importance to the realm, and in doing so, fail to place any value on your safety. It makes you reckless and it puts you in danger.”
Effie looked at a spot near his shoulder, the gentle rebuke, so kindly spoken, made her feel very small. She hadn’t thought of it that way, but it was exactly what she’d been doing. Running headlong into one bad decision after another, with no thought to the consequences. If something happened to her, what did it matter? There was no one left to care.
“I’ve never been important before,” she said so softly she wasn’t sure he heard her.
After a few long strides, Kael dipped his head, his voice no louder than hers. “Maybe not in your own eyes, Effie, but you have always been important to those that truly see you. Perhaps it is time for you to truly see yourself?”
Tears pricked at her eyes and she squeezed them shut, not wanting him to see how his words affected her.
How can he say that? He’s known me for all of a day, a dark, bitter voice echoed in her mind.
But he’s been surrounded by those that can See so much more than what’s in front of them, a quiet, but just as stubborn, voice answered.
“Did you learn what you had hoped?” Kieran asked, providing a welcome distraction from the ball of emotion lodged in her chest.
Effie cleared her throat, still not meeting anyone’s gaze. “The only thing that was remotely similar to my vision was the fact that I—we—ran into Shadows.”
She frowned, wondering what it meant that her vision hadn’t been tied to Lucian’s task after all. Had the pressing need to go with him just been a symptom of her desire to belong and not instinct guiding her?
“I guess I was wrong,” she murmured, feeling foolish now on top of everything else.
“Or your vision has yet to pass,” Kieran said.
Fear slithered through her at the thought of more of those creatures lurking about the jungle waiting for them . . . and the amount of bloodshed that would result.
“For all our sakes, I hope it never does.”
Lucian caught up to them, her pack slung over his shoulder, and his sword back in the scabbard at his hip.
“All set?” Kael asked. The words sounded casual, but the look that passed between the Guardians was anything but.
“For now,” Lucian replied, not bothering to slow down as he passed them. “We should hurry; the Triumvirate need to know what we found.”
He leveled his dark gaze on Kael who nodded and picked up the pace. Effie looked between them, her brow furrowed. What else happened while we were separated?
“Did you find what you were looking for?” she asked.
The tiny flutter in Kael’s jaw told her they had.
Even though she thought she knew the answer, Effie asked, “What do you think it means?”
Her Guardian spared her a glance. “Nothing good, fledgling.”
They made quick time now that they weren’t inspecting every inch of the jungle. Lucian was the first to step beneath the stone arch that indicated the portal’s location. Effie still wasn’t sure how they knew where the portals w
ere located, other than experience. There was nothing to indicate their presence, which seemed fairly irresponsible, all things considered. What if someone, or something, accidentally came through?
Kieran followed close behind him, leaving her and Kael to enter last.
“Think you can walk from here?” Kael asked, once they were back within one of the citadels many nondescript rooms.
Effie knew he’d gladly carry her wherever she wanted to go, but he was giving her the opportunity to avoid being gossip fodder. She nodded and he set her on her feet, his warm hand on her shoulder as he waited to ensure she was steady.
“I will take her to the healer,” Kieran said. “You two are probably needed.”
Kael looked to Lucian, who dipped his head in approval.
Turning back to them, Kael looked her over. “I think we’ll skip training tomorrow,” he said with a wink.
Effie rolled her eyes. “Who knew a Guardian could be so magnanimous?”
His laughter boomed through the hall as he and Lucian turned the corner and walked out of sight.
“Come on, then. Let’s get you patched up.”
Effie shot Kieran a thankful glance. They’d only made it a handful of steps before the first of the raucous cheers reached them.
“What the hell?” Kieran asked, his brows dipping low.
Effie shook her head. “Beats me. It’s always quiet as a tomb around here.”
They didn’t have to wonder long.
Two men Effie hadn’t seen before came barreling out of the twin doors at the far end of the hall. They were flushed, and the silver steins they held were sloshing liquid onto the floor.
“Is there some kind of party happening tonight?” Effie asked under her breath.
Kieran shrugged. “Nothing I’m aware of; the citadel is hardly known for its social gatherings.”
Not sure whether to keep walking forward, Effie and Kieran remained where they were, watching the two stumbling men with no shortage of amusement. The taller of the two kept stepping on his robe, which caused his partner to crash into him. They’d already bounced off the walls at least twice.
“Should we offer our assistance?” Effie asked.
Kieran eyed her. “I’m not sure they’d welcome it. You are a mite bit . . . frightening at the moment, love.”
Effie followed his gaze to her torn and bloodied clothes and limbs. “Right. Maybe we should head to the bathing chamber before the healers?”
Kieran snickered.
The two men reached them then, both offering wide grins and holding up their cups.
“May her reign never end!” the tall man cried.
“All hail the true Vessel!”
They clinked glasses and chugged, amber liquid spilling down their chins.
“Any clue what they’re talking about?” Kieran asked, a bland smile fixed on his face.
“Sounds like Helena, but Mother knows why.”
“I’m sorry, friends, we’ve been away for the day and seem to have missed the good news.”
The shorter man’s eyes rounded. “Why, it is only the best”—he hiccupped—“news of all time.”
“Of all time you say?” Kieran said, tossing Effie a wink.
She hid her grin behind her hand.
The tall man nodded emphatically. “Oh yes. The Corruptor has been slain. The Chosen are saved.”
Effie gasped. “Rowena’s dead?”
The short man lifted Effie’s tangled mass of hair away from her ear. “Dead as my dear granny,” he shouted, as if she was hard of hearing.
The two men cackled and clinked their cups once more.
If Rowena was truly dead, then it was over. The news should have overjoyed her, but ice ran through her veins and Effie shivered.
For the first time when the now familiar tingles danced up her spine, Effie welcomed them.
“Kieran,” she mumbled.
It was all she was able to manage before her knees gave out and she was lost to oblivion.
Chapter 24
Fog swirled at her feet, and Effie looked around the wet walls of the cave. She knew this cavern.
She’d been here before.
Reaching out a trembling hand, she ran her fingers along the slimy service, her stomach twisting as her hand came back red.
Not water. Blood.
A small splash confirmed that her feet were already beneath the pooling liquid.
She slipped and slid as she ran, drops of thick red fluid spraying her with each pump of her legs.
Effie looked behind her, horror stealing her breath as the tidal wave loomed and surged toward her.
The need to get away overwhelmed her, and Effie raced ahead. The blood continued to rise, making it hard for her to continuing pushing forward. She trudged on, gagging as the coppery tang filled her mouth.
If she went under, she was dead.
The blood was now at her chest and Effie started to swim, trying to ignore the things that were brushing against her legs.
The fog lifted from the surface, and the first pale limb came into view.
“No!” she screamed.
One by one, more body parts floated to the surface.
Effie paddled away as best she could, but they were everywhere.
Even though she knew it was coming, her terrified screams echoed around her as she was pulled down into the crimson pool. It wasn’t long before the red turned to black and all she could make out were the bodies of the dead as they surrounded her.
A head floated by her on the left and twisted on some invisible axis to stare at her.
Effie pressed her lips together, struggling not to scream. Not to drown in the blood of the fallen.
Black lines began to snake through its milky eyes. Its lips lifted in a horrific grin.
“Never safe,” it hissed.
A brush at her shoulder had her spinning frantically around.
The scream she’d been trying so hard to fight was torn from her and Effie choked on the blood that filled her mouth.
Darrin’s face, his beloved face, stared back at her. His skin was a mottled purple and white, his beautiful green eyes two black pits.
His hand lifted, his fingers weaving themselves through her hair as he tugged her closer.
Effie struggled to break free, but his grip was like iron.
“It’s only just beginning,” he breathed against her lips.
Even though there was hardly any breath left in her lungs, a sob broke free and a few bloody bubbles floated out.
Darrin’s face contorted as if in pain and his fingers spasmed.
The next time he looked at her it was no longer the man she loved.
It was a monster and she was its meal.
Its mouth stretched into a wide, sinister grin and its tongue snaked out to lick up the side of her face.
“We’re coming.”
Effie was still screaming when she came to.
“Effie. Effie, stop,” Kieran murmured, his hands rubbing circles on her back.
The soft brush of skin against her body only served to remind her of the corpses bobbing in their own sea of blood.
She shrank away from his touch and scrambled away from him.
Hurt flashed across his face, but he gave her space, taking a seat across from her on the floor. She could feel his eyes roam over her, but she refused to look at him. Instead, she focused on breathing. Each ragged breath helped slow her racing heart but did nothing to ease the terror of her vision.
“What did you See?” Kieran asked, his low voice holding an authoritative edge she couldn’t ignore.
Her mouth was dry, and her tongue darted out to wet her lips. Effie grimaced at the salty taste it left in her mouth. She really needed that bath.
“Shadows,” she whispered.
“Like before?”
“Worse.”
“How so?”
“I remember what they said.”
“They spoke to you?”
Effie nodded, the
tremors racking her body, growing in intensity.
Kieran pulled his tunic up over his head in one fluid move and held it out to her.
She stared at the dark green fabric without comprehension until he shook it at her.
“Take it,” he demanded.
Once it was in her hands, she looked up at him.
“Put it on.”
She did as she was told. The tunic slid down her body like a caress. It was still warm from being pressed against Kieran’s body, and some of that keep seeped into her own trembling limbs, soothing a bit of the tension.
“Better?” Kieran asked.
“Yes, thank you.”
“Tell me what they said.”
Effie closed her eyes, a lone tear sliding down her cheek as Darrin’s horrific visage reappeared in her mind. “It was a warning.”
“Most visions are.”
The bit of derision pulled her attention back to the present, helping her focus. “They said it wasn’t over. That they were coming.”
“What isn’t over? Coming for who?”
Effie shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“Guess. It was your vision, your subconscious. What is it trying to tell you?”
She blinked back more tears as she replayed her vision once more, trying to suss out details she might have missed.
“The war, maybe? Those men—” she glanced around the hall, just now realizing they’d disappeared.
“No one here is a stranger to the visions. Once it took you, they went off to continue their celebration,” Kieran answered, his intent gaze still locked on her face. “Now, what were you about to say?”
Effie’s stomach hollowed as panic started to claw at her. “What if the vision was trying to tell me that the war isn’t really over?”
“It’s possible,” Kieran acknowledged, although he didn’t seem overly worried by the thought.
“Don’t you think that’s something the Triumvirate should know?”
He tilted his head and studied her. “Do you?”
“Yes!”
Kieran’s eyes fell closed and she watched as his chest rose and fell in one, long breath. “Then you should tell them.”
“I don’t know where they are.”