Her nose scrunched up adorably. "Something about the basement, he mentioned a secret door …"
I smiled at her and leaned closer, intensifying my charisma as I coaxed out the details. She responded happily, eyes getting more bleary with every breath.
Hopefully, when this was over, it was just one big happy memory.
Gods, their husbands were terrible, though! Every single one of them deserved something better.
"Thank you, dears," I said, then waved. "Don't have too much fun without me now!"
They tittered and waved back as I walked off, strolling casually through the crowd. The basement made perfect sense. It would be easy to connect with the ruins, and this little event provided the perfect cover for whatever it was they were doing!
Now I just needed to locate Lynk.
If what that woman said was right, we needed to hurry!
52
Kaiya
They had sent a maid to "ready me" for the ceremony, just as Lord Ellingsworth had promised.
My hair had been fluffed and curled into submission, my waist had been tightened to the point I could barely breathe, and my cheeks burned with whatever cosmetics the maid had rubbed on.
I'd tried to convince her to help, to go tell someone what was happening, but she'd just done her work with no response.
Finally, I was left alone in my little cell. Now that there were lights, I tried to figure out a way to escape, but we were completely surrounded by bedrock.
So, I just sat.
"Miss Maderoth," the high-pitched, grating voice broke my thoughts. Gods. When had she come in?
"Lady Ellingsworth."
She stepped into the light outside my cell, pearls in her hair, the gold lace on her navy gown glinting in the lyphos light.
"I see my husband had you readied. You look — acceptable. Just think, if you'd come to us all those years ago, you could have looked like this all the time!"
I cringed.
This was absolute torture. Everything about it was barbaric and uncomfortable. Thank the gods Uncle Calix had convinced Aunt Grace to take me!
"Why the creatures?" I was done playing her little games. There was no need to pretend respect now. She knew how I felt about her, and I needed answers. "What was it about them you wanted so desperately?"
A slow smile spread across her face as she slipped that ever-present gaudy pearl ring off her finger. "Just look at my korra, dear."
I closed my eyes and did as she said.
I could see Lady Ellingsworth, or what I assumed was her, except her korra was all wrong. I'd looked at her before, and she'd looked faded, but mostly normal. This time, though, her korra was dark and jagged. There were no sinuous strips of colors! Instead, spines stuck out everywhere. It reminded me of the ghoul I'd seen earlier, but she was not a wraith.
Heart racing, I opened my eyes and met her smug gaze. Were the eggs keeping them from turning to wraiths?
How, though? Was it some sort of natural camouflage to keep the eggs safe?
She slipped the ring back on and tilted her head. "Do you understand now?"
I nodded. "Your husband said you were healing people. How is that healing? You look as though you're about to change into a wraith at any second!"
She swallowed and straightened her already perfectly coiffed hair. "Correct, dear. My husband has a soft spot for those affected by the plague, so he graciously heals any who wish it. Of course, the healing comes at a … cost, both for him and the healed person. Those little pearls waive that cost, for a time. Unfortunately, it's gotten difficult to maintain. He's too far gone to heal anyone else, and so are the rest of the mages we've been able to gather. In fact, we were debating the end to our little program," she leaned close, "until you showed up …"
I grimaced and leaned away.
"Sacrificing a few of those scaly beasts is worth the lives of hundreds of humans, don't you think?" She sighed and tapped her bright red lips. "Regardless, with your help, we can all be healed and we won't need those little pearls any more. You'll be saving them and us. How can you say no?"
My heart twisted. "You're wrong. There has to be another way. Nothing can justify what you've done to those vrytra."
"It is what it is, dear." She shrugged. "You know, I was actually quite furious when I learned your little stunt would force us to have the ceremony the same night as our Ball. But combining them was rather poetic. Wouldn't you agree?"
I grimaced. If using the relics to heal had cost them that warping, what was it going to cost me? Surely it couldn't be so easy as me healing the people like I had Lunei? Their korras were warped in a way I'd only ever seen in wraiths and everyone knew they couldn't be healed …
The door outside clanged. "Lady Ellingsworth, dear. Is Miss Maderoth ready?"
"Yes, my lord! We'll be right out. We just needed a few moments as ladies. You know how it is." The saccharine sweet tone to her voice made my stomach churn.
With a smile, she put the key in the lock and opened the cell.
This was my chance. If I could take her out, I might be able to get away. I had to try, at least …
Sharp pain tore through my body like a knife and I let out a soul churning scream as I fell to the floor, writhing in a fetal position.
"Oh, no! I'm so sorry. I saw that little mind of yours trying to find a way free, but I figured I'd warn you now. See, one relic that Lord Ellingsworth blessed me with allows me to send this little teensy zap through people." She held up a small bracelet wrapped in some kind of porous black stone. "Something about messing with their body essence? I'm honestly not sure, but it is effective …"
I groaned and wiped my wet cheeks. Gods be damned. If they had more of those, I was completely fucked.
She smiled and held her arm out again, as though she were escorting me to some Ball. "Are you ready, my dear?"
I bit my cheek and nodded. It didn't seem I had a choice.
We walked through the room and I gagged at the stench as we passed cell after cell full of monsters …
The creature to my direct left seemed to be made of … wood? How was that even possible? A shiver went down my spine at the memory of that groaning sound. Was that this creature's scream? A dark cloak hung ragged around their form, and I gasped.
A Seeker? What were they doing down here?
The next cell held a person covered from head to toe in oozing, bloody boils, and I recoiled at the rotten scent emanating from them.
"Don't trust him …" the creature said, words barely audible. I grimaced, but nodded. I'd never planned to trust Lord Ellingsworth.
The creature looked up, and I hissed. Their face was ravaged, but it clearly belonged to the Seeker who'd taken our coats at the Institute.
Was this where the missing Seekers had disappeared to?
"You see?" Lady Ellingsworth whispered. "Our relics are tainted, and no matter what we do, we haven't been able to remove the corruption from the relics or ourselves. The eggs hide it, but that's it. These poor Seekers can attest to how hard we've been trying to find a way. But you, my sneaky little bond mage, may allow us to finally get what we want. And to think you've been hiding here in our midst this whole time."
My heart ached.
"Why the Seekers, though?"
She shrugged. "They're the closest thing to a bond mage that we've been able to find. Then that idiot husband of mine had them all killed! Honestly, without you, we'd have been doomed."
The way she discussed ending people’s lives made my stomach twist, and I ached to hit her, to make her feel some of the pain she'd inflicted on those poor souls.
But at the moment, I was as powerless as they.
Finally, we crossed out of the cell block and through a pair of double wooden doors into a large atrium area.
Orange glowing lamps dotted the walls and were held up by tall stands throughout the room. The ceiling had to be at least fifteen feet high and the room twice as big as the lab with the vrytra.
It was
bordered by stone columns that stretched from floor to ceiling.
Had Ellingsworth made this? Or was it from before like the rest of the ruins?
At the center of it all stood a tall stone statue — a dragon?
Wings protruded from each side, as though it were about to break into flight. And its neck curved down, making a sinuous S-shape before it ended in an open maw lined in sharp teeth. A sharp gash split the side of its face and extended down to its belly, splitting the skin there and showing the creature's innards spilling to the ground.
I swallowed my bile as we drew closer and the details got more clear.
Burns marred the entire left side of its body, resulting in thousands of little blisters.
Who in the seven hells had carved such a grotesquely detailed piece of art — if it could even be called that?
Oh gods. Those burns reminded me too much of the melted stone in the storage room.
Could this be the object the queen had tried to burn? What was so special about it that she'd tried to destroy it?
I tried to examine it more closely, but Lady Ellingsworth jerked me forward, then turned me to face the room.
The very full room.
I'd been so absorbed in the statue that I hadn't noticed all the people. Each was dressed in a dark robe with a hood covering their head to obscure their identity.
Were these all Ellingsworth's followers? Surely so many people hadn't followed him! Were they all warped like Lady Ellingsworth, too?
There had to be over a hundred people in here!
She tightened her grip on my wrist and spun me around, pointing to a still figure tied to a chair by the dragon's right wing. "Ah, look! Your gift arrived just in time."
Aunt Grace? She was so still …
What had they done to her?
I pulled at my arm, but Lady Ellingsworth tapped on my wrist. "Uh uh. I'd prefer not to use that relic again, but I will if needed … maybe on your aunt this time?"
My fingers twitched, and I debated risking it, but Aunt Grace was too out of it. I couldn't risk her getting hurt further.
"Well, well. My husband was right! You care far too much for other people, Miss Maderoth." She tugged me along towards the front.
Finally, we reached Aunt Grace. Lady Ellingsworth tied me to the second chair, pressing a rancid tasting cloth into my mouth and tying it behind my head. I stared at Aunt Grace, praying for her to make some kind of movement that would tell me she was all right.
Gods, let her still be alive! Please?!
My heart beat wildly and my fists clenched on the chair arms.
Lord Ellingsworth was speaking to the crowd of people, his voice echoing through the large chamber. "Today, this young woman will lead us to our salvation. She has been chosen to receive the gift of connection and will grant us use of its power."
The room grew quiet, as everyone strained to hear his next words.
"You, the chosen ones, have been blessed. You will receive the first of the Druid's gifts. He will fulfill the promise he made eons ago. Finally … the corruption will be healed."
The people let out a loud cheer and I gasped.
What in the seven hells was Ellingsworth talking about? Surely he couldn't think that I could bring back the Druid? He'd been lost in the Fall!
Oh gods. Was he responsible for the renewed interest in the Druid? And that statue suddenly reappearing in Ellesmere?
A familiar figure stepped in front of me, his face barely visible as he strode to Lord Ellingsworth and the vicar's side.
Lynk?
What was he doing here? Was he going to save us?
"Miss Maderoth." That booming voice of Lord Ellingsworth was directed at me this time, and I froze. "You are precious to the Great Druid. Tonight, your faith will be proven in the safe restoration of your aunt."
Conviction strengthened his words, and he stared at me with those kind eyes.
How did he not see how terrible this was? There was no way that I could bring that man back! No one alive had that kind of power! Even if Ellingsworth was right, the supposed Druid was still a grotesquely injured stone dragon, not some living person to be healed, let alone heal others.
I bit down on the gag in my mouth and pushed at it with my tongue. If I could just speak …
But it was too late. The vicar already had my aunt's head tilted back and was pouring in a small vial of blue liquid.
"NO!!!" I cried out, the sound muffled by the gag in my mouth as I struggled against my bonds. Hot tears traced patterns down my cheeks, and I slumped back in my chair.
"Do not fear, child. She handled the first one just fine. The Druid will make all right. You'll see." Lord Ellingsworth's voice was gentle beside me and I ached to punch some sense into his damn addled brain.
I looked up, though, and that smile was so sure! He genuinely thought that what he was doing was right. There was no way that I would convince him he was wrong without actually showing him.
Perhaps if I could do as he said, finish quickly, and get Aunt Grace to a healer when his plan failed …
"Miss Maderoth." Ellingsworth's cool hand tugged on my jaw, forcing me to meet his eyes again. "Eat this. It will help you with what's coming."
I fought him, jerking my head away, but he was stronger, and forced a small capsule past the rag and into my mouth. I kept my teeth clenched, but the powder dissolved into my mouth immediately.
A strange sense of weightlessness flooded over me. Oh gods. What had he given me?
He stepped back and gestured towards the darkness. "My friend here has told me you're not ready yet … something about your magic being blocked?"
I stared, heart pounding wildly, as Lynk stepped out of the shadows, his silver eyes perfectly clear.
No relic was messing with his mind.
No.
That ass knew exactly what he was doing.
53
Kaiya
"Little thief," Lynk said, voice gentle.
I stared at him, those silver eyes tight and lips pressed together.
No. No. He wouldn't do this. Perhaps he was undercover and trying to save me?
Surely that was it.
Then he was pulling me forward, exposing my back, and I had to face the truth. Lynk had betrayed us. Betrayed me.
"I'm sorry. It wasn't supposed to happen this way," he whispered as a sharp fiery pain traced the length of my lower back. I arched away from him and cried out against the gag, eyes burning as my tears came faster.
Why was he doing this? Had he been using me this whole time for some sick ritual with Ellingsworth? The conversation from the forest replayed back in my brain.
He'd accused me of lying to myself, of not trying hard enough!
Was any of it true?
The lies twisted around my heart like thorns, stabbing and shredding worse than any physical pain he could deal. My ears rang, and my body was numb.
I felt nothing as he continued doing whatever he was to my back.
A side effect of his magic? The drugs Ellingsworth had given me? Or the reaction of my brain to his betrayal?
I didn't really care. I just wanted to be done with this.
Finally, he stood up, holding a small, black shard in his hand. The piece was gone before I could study it much, but it looked like a splinter … a porous, black, stone splinter.
"It's gone. She's whole." He shot one more look at me, then stepped back.
That had been inside me? Why? Who’d put it there? How did he know about it?
Questions bombarded my brain, and I desperately tried to get the gag out of my mouth, to scream, to demand some answers … but it was stuck firmly.
"Miss Maderoth. Dear. It won't do to struggle." Lord Ellingsworth's voice was calm, as though he hadn't just watched a man rip a piece of stone from a girl's back. "I know it hurts, but honestly, he's done you a great favor. Someone thought to dampen your power, to keep your true self from you. He has freed you from that! Touch the korra realm now and you'll see w
hat I mean."
Wha — is that what Lynk meant by whole?
I wanted to refuse them out of spite, but the image of Aunt Grace smiling and telling me we could do this together rose unbidden in my mind.
It was up to me to save her. I'd do whatever it took.
So I closed my eyes and reached out. Further, then further still. Where was the usual resistance?
Suddenly everything started spinning and instead of seeing a couple korras, hundreds of them surrounded me.
Bright korras shone everywhere, different colors, different intensities … some twirled quickly, while others were more sinuous.
It was beautiful. And completely overwhelming.
I tried to pick out someone familiar, but there were too many! The more I looked, the more lost I felt.
It was like a flood of korras, and I was just a small stick being washed away.
"Miss Maderoth." That voice … Lord Ellingsworth? Finally! Something familiar. Desperately, I grasped onto it and pulled until I found myself again.
What in the seven hells was happening?!
"What have you done to me?" I asked, finally able to talk, tracing his words back to his korra. As I watched, it took the shape of him. That had never happened before! Was it something I was doing? Or him?
"As I said, do you see that your friend there just set you free? Neither he nor I mean you any harm."
He said that, and yet there I was, tied to a chair with blood flowing freely down my back from where they'd cut into me. Ha. If that's them meaning me no harm, I wouldn't want to see them trying!
"Now, the first step," he continued, "we're going to go to the korra realm, but it can be quite confusing. So, I want you to bond me to you."
That was a terrible idea. "NO. Absolutely not. Besides, even if I wanted to, I have no idea how."
His brow rose. "You must, though. Just reach out to me with your korra and connect. I'm much weaker than you, so it should be easy."
I glared at him.
Bonding him was the absolute last thing I wanted to do.
Forsaken Secrets: A slow-burn new adult fantasy romance (Isle of the Forsaken Book 1) Page 24