by Bronwyn Eley
Soon.
The stairs mocked me. Head low, I practically crawled my way up. The hallway had yet to be lit but my body knew the path well enough by now. Glad of the wide halls, I swayed my way to Rennard’s door.
The heat of the room washed over me, as did the sound of a crackling fire, even though I hadn’t yet lit one. My skin crawled as wave after wave of heat forced against it.
I heard a cry, the familiar sound slithering up my spine, assaulting my ears. One hand gripping the door and the other limp at my side, I felt bile rising in my throat.
‘Stop!’
Not that he would listen.
Rennard’s head snapped up. He was crouched over a familiar figure. Jesper’s head was caught between his hand and the stone floor, his knee digging into her stomach.
‘Get off her!’ From the strain in my throat, I knew I was shouting, but it sounded weak over the anger of the fire. I wondered if my expression mirrored Rennard’s. His blackened eyes watched me, waiting to see what I would do next. My feet pushed me forward a step, but then I stopped.
What can you do?
My breathing now a harsh wheeze, I pressed my lips shut. Jesper’s muffled cry sounded from beneath Rennard’s tensed hand. Was she calling for help or begging me to leave? His angry fingers clawed at her skin. I moved forward again, for once welcoming the heat coursing throughout my body.
Instantly, I felt his anger crashing through me. The force of his magic jarring my body to a stop brought on a wave of panic. My hand strained to reach my throat, to pull at my tight skin.
But all I could do was watch.
Rennard pressed against Jesper’s chest to stand up. She cried out and rolled to her side.
He came toward me, collecting a glass cup as he went. His hand knocked a bottle of wine. It rolled on its base, threatening to spill, before finally tumbling off the edge.
I begged my body to fight the magic, to move. But of course I couldn’t. He wanted me still, so I was. It was as simple as that.
I focused on the glass in his hand. Once the fuel to his rage, it now became a weapon. If he wanted to hurt me, kill me, there would be no stopping him. Flames reflected on the glass’ surface as he held it up.
It collided with the side of my face.
My neck wrenched at the impact, shattered glass spewing in all directions, blood trickling down the side of my face. My legs gave way. I couldn’t even cry out; he wasn’t letting me. My throat clogged with unspoken words and my mind screamed with fear as he unleashed his magic on me.
Rennard grabbed the back of my shirt. Lifting me as high as he could, he slammed me into the ground. Pain crushed my chest. With one swift pull, he flipped me over to face him. After months of waiting, wondering how it would end, here it finally was.
Cool wine seeped into my clothes as his hands pressed down on my throat.
He would win.
Suddenly, my hands could move. He must have released the magic’s hold, wanting to enjoy the feeling of me fighting, useless to stop him. I clawed at his thick fingers, but he was too strong, his hands too large around my slender throat.
As he leaned over me, the Relic slipped out from inside his shirt. My eyes followed it as it swung back and forth with our struggle. Tonight, it was the darkest yellow I had ever seen. The eagle glared down at me, its claws tight around the jewel, as tight as Rennard’s hands around my throat.
‘Time for a new Shadow.’
His voice was so quiet, I barely heard him over the sound of my body begging for air. I could feel myself giving up.
He’s too strong. Just rest.
‘Kaylan, stop!’ Shae’s desperate voice cried.
I knew it was a memory, but had trouble placing it. I knew that sound. Her fear. I saw her running, arms stretched out toward me. Little Kye was running alongside her, mimicking her movements. My fingers clawed at the ground.
A warm breeze tickled my ear.
I felt lips brush the side of my face.
‘Write his name.’ Markus’ soft whisper invaded my mind. He placed the dagger in my hand again. I gripped harder. ‘Write it.’
My eyes jolted open.
Rennard’s grip on my throat released and I choked on the air that came flooding in. His wide eyes stared down at me as I felt a strange warmth enveloping my hand. I looked down.
My stolen chisel was buried deep in Rennard’s stomach, his blood coursing down my arm.
With a sharp burst of energy, he pulled back and stumbled to his feet. His terrified eyes saw only me as his hand fumbled with the weapon lodged in his flesh. He wrapped his hand around it and with one swift pull, it clattered to the floor.
Blood spurted from between his slackened lips. Blood fell from the hole I put in his body. Blood mixed with wine on the floor.
Rennard’s legs buckled at the knees, one foot slipping on red wine and redder blood, and he crashed to the ground. The moment his head hit stone, I knew it was over.
He stilled.
Stopped fighting.
Gave up.
I lay frozen, unable to process the scene. I shook my head. It had to be a nightmare. Another hallucination.
My eyes flicked to the door; it remained shut. The hallway sounded quiet. Rennard lay still, surrounded by shades of red.
Hot blood stuck to my face and neck. Worse – his blood weighed down my hands. The smell made my head spin and I fell forward onto my palms, onto glass, cutting open my skin.
My ragged breaths turned to sobs.
Is he –?
I lifted my head. Rennard’s clothes were wrinkled and stained. His eyes were open. He could have been counting the spots of light on the ceiling.
‘Kay—’
Jesper’s eyes were wide, her mouth trembling. She coughed, hand pressing softly over the bruising already forming on her neck. I forced my body to cooperate, pushing up onto my knees.
‘Kaylan, you have to leave.’
Leave?
Murderer.
I watched Rennard, waiting for a sign of his life returning to his body. But he wouldn’t move. He just lay there.
‘Wake up,’ I said weakly. ‘WAKE UP!’
‘Kaylan!’ Jesper whispered harshly, hurrying to my side. She gripped my arm and pulled me roughly. A sob choked out of me, tears obscuring my vision. ‘Be quiet.’
‘I didn’t mean to!’ I turned to her, crashing into her chest. Her arms wrapped around me. ‘I didn’t mean to –’
‘I know,’ she said softly, her arms like rigid metal. ‘But you have to go before they find the body.’
The body?
I pulled back. ‘What about you?’ My voice sounded strange, as if I had never heard it before. It was deeper, colder, lacking emotion. I cleared my throat. Jesper steadied herself against the back of Rennard’s couch.
Not his anymore.
I pushed up onto shaking legs. If she stayed behind, if she told the truth of tonight, I would become a fugitive. She would have to lie to protect herself from –
I shook my head. Jesper was right. I had to leave. But this didn’t just affect me.
Now I would have to take my family. After everything, after deciding not to run, after choosing to help the rebels to ensure Elias had a future … I had ruined his future anyway. All of their futures.
‘Come with me.’ The plea fell from my mouth as I reached for Jesper’s hands. She shifted back, pulling her hands close. I looked to my bloodied palms. Some blood was mine. Some Rennard’s. My eyes drifted to him, but he still hadn’t woken. His shirt was stained red.
The Relic, too, was soaked in its master’s blood.
I stopped, eyes locking on the stone. I took a step toward him.
‘What …?’ I breathed.
It was blue.
The Relic was blue. A soft blue, like the early morning sky.
I still felt its familiar assault against my flesh, fighting for my attention. It couldn’t have changed that much, if it was still harming me. But why had it turned blue?<
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All of this horror was because of it. The Relic’s magic had poisoned Rennard as much as it did everyone else. I bent down beside him, still watching his face for signs of pain, signs of life. His eyes were like the dungeons below. A black void.
Pain tore at my chest, regret in my heart. How had this happened? It was meant to be my body lying on the floor, not his. This would not save me. It would make things worse. For me, for my family, for my friends. There was no escaping the wrath of the nobles, I was sure of it. Whoever the Relic went to now – Rennard’s brother, perhaps – they would surely seek justice for his murder.
They would come after me with that thing. I would never escape it.
Unless …
I reached for the jewel.
‘Kaylan –’
My hand wrapped around it. The cool stone stung the cuts on my hand. I snatched it toward my body, ripping it from Rennard’s neck. The small jewels decorating the chain scattered in every direction. I squeezed, soaking it further in Rennard’s blood. I turned to Jesper.
‘I’ll get rid of it,’ I explained, noting her wide eyes. ‘Before one of his siblings can get their hands on it.’ I didn’t even know where to begin. Where to go. What to do.
‘Kaylan.’ Jesper’s voice was breathless. Her eyes flicked between my face and the Relic now hidden in my palm. ‘There’s something –’
A soft knock cut her off.
Within a second, the door had opened, an unsuspecting guard entering the room. His body halted as his eyes took in the scene. I tried to imagine what it must look like.
Without moving, I dropped my eyes to the evidence in my hand. When I looked back up, the guard had crossed the room, so quickly.
His fist knocked me into a dark sleep.
Chapter 28
I could hear Kye’s voice on the other side of the door. His cheerful energy made coming home at the end of the day more bearable. I put down my bag and took off my shoes.
‘Welcome home, Kaylan,’ Rennard’s deep voice greeted me. He sat at the table with my two littlest brothers as my mother hurriedly prepared a meal. I took a seat next to him and wrapped my hands together.
‘I like your necklace,’ Rhey said softly, keeping his head lowered. His eyes flicked to it. I touched a hand to my throat, feeling the heavy stone, the flare of the eagle’s wings.
‘Thank you, Rhey,’ I replied. ‘It’s new.’
I stole a glance at Rennard. His eyes were on the table. Liquid had spilled from his glass and it inched toward the edge, much too slowly for wine. I reached out, blocking its advance with my hand.
I cried out as something pierced my stomach. I slowly looked up from the table, meeting Rennard’s black stare. My shirt grew damp as my breath and blood left me.
Rennard slowly withdrew his knife, drawing me closer. His black eyes filled my vision, consuming everything.
He wrapped a gentle hand around my throat and squeezed.
I jerked awake, grazing against the ground. I knew it had been a dream, but I reached down to inspect my stomach. My shirt was damp but there was no pain.
The darkness of the room was so familiar. I sat up and stilled, listening for the cries of those locked up around me. The thick walls brought only silence.
I reached around, feeling only the rough, sodden ground. My stiff arms objected to the movement. My throat throbbed and burned from Rennard’s onslaught.
You killed him.
I choked on the memory. His flesh hadn’t even fought my attack, welcoming the weapon into his poisoned body. I shook out my hand, feeling the chisel there still. It had fit so perfectly, slid in so easily.
The sound of metal locks working broke the silence. I shuffled back, knees scraping on the ground. The door swung open and I turned my head away as light poured in. My heart tried to jump from my chest.
He was coming for me.
He was here.
‘Kaylan?’
I turned to face the door, the light playing tricks with my eyes. Jesper’s figure slowly came into focus.
The blood was gone, bruises hidden, perfect gown covering her frail body.
My eyes flicked to the guard behind her. It was Anders.
‘Kaylan,’ she said again. ‘Are you alright?’
I wanted to speak to her, but my throat closed. I dropped my head, feeling the familiar pain returning.
‘Where’s Rennard?’ I forced out.
Jesper’s brow furrowed. ‘You don’t remember what happened?’
Murderer.
‘Of course I do.’
Rennard was dead. He was dead. I had killed him. But I felt him, the pain he brought me, the pleasure he took in my agony. Even in death, had he won? If he wasn’t here, if he really was dead, then why –
I shook my head and shut my eyes. I had taken it from his stiff neck. There was no way the guards would have let me hold onto it. So why did I feel it?
‘I can feel the Relic.’
‘Yes,’ Jesper confirmed. I opened my eyes in time to see her free hand come into view, her fist closed around the toxic jewel.
I pushed backward, falling to the floor.
‘Why do you have it? I never want to be near it again. Don’t make me –’ A choking sob cut off my plea.
Jesper remained in her position, lips tight.
‘Kaylan.’ Her tone was serious. ‘Earlier tonight, before the guard came in, I was about to tell you something important.’
Jesper turned the stone over in her hand. It somehow didn’t seem as powerful in the darkness of her shadow.
‘Jesper!’ I exclaimed. ‘It’s yellow again.’
She looked down, a crease between her brows. ‘Yes,’ she said absentmindedly. ‘When I picked it up, it changed from blue to yellow. I didn’t even know it could be blue.’
‘Maybe it turns yellow when it’s possessed – blue when it’s free?’
‘I don’t know,’ she said flatly. ‘And I don’t care. Kaylan, there are more important things to discuss.’ She paused. ‘Rennard was the last one. He received word this morning that his last brother was murdered by Bellamy.’
My mouth fell open as her words sank in. I shook my head, trying to clear room for the information. If Rennard was the last –
‘I don’t understand.’ I sat forward, Jesper avoiding my gaze. ‘If Rennard was the last one, then …’ Bile flooded my throat.
Then …
‘I picked it up,’ I whispered. ‘Oh Lords. It can’t be. Not mi—’
‘No,’ Jesper said hurriedly. ‘That was what I thought when you took it from Rennard tonight. I was terrified for you. I thought the magic was yours.’
‘It’s definitely not.’ I rolled my shoulders back. ‘It’s hurting me.’
Jesper nodded and held the Relic in front of her. I drew a sharp breath and moved back. I had killed Rennard. The man who had subjected me to its pain. With him dead, I never wanted to be near it again.
The yellow stone caught the firelight in the hallway. My hands trembled as I pushed against the back wall.
Jesper fingered the stone, brushing along the disfigured chain. Her hands were so gentle, so relaxed. I stared.
‘It’s yours?’
Her eyes fluttered, pushing away tears. ‘No, it’s not mine.’
She lay a gentle hand on her stomach, her fingers softly caressing her silk dress.
My body went limp. ‘You’re pregnant.’
Jesper nodded, tears now streaming down her cheeks. ‘Now this becomes my burden. I suspect Thorn thinks it’s yours. He doesn’t know about …’ She glanced down to her belly. ‘And I haven’t been able to find him in hours. The sooner he knows it’s mine, the better for us all.’
She chuckled sadly. ‘He didn’t know. Lords, I didn’t even know until I picked it up.’ She wrapped her fingers around the stone. ‘He was so angry,’ she whispered. ‘So drunk. His hand just –’
She made a harsh gesture with the hand that gripped the Relic.
I sat forward on
my knees and reached for her. ‘Jesper, I’m –’
‘As for you,’ she interrupted, sniffing, tears blinked away. I waited for my sentence. I had killed the Lord of this city, had been seen grasping his most prized possession in my bloodied hands. I could only hope it would be a quicker death sentence than my previous one. But –
‘I’m going to get you out,’ Jesper said.
I laughed. ‘How?’
You’ll never get out.
‘The guards are looking to Thorn now, but he hasn’t given any solid instructions since he found out,’ she whispered hurriedly, leaning close. ‘Luckily for us, not all of the guards are loyal to Rennard. Anders, here, is with us. When I’ve figured a safe way out of this city for you, he will come for you.’ Jesper gestured to Anders, who nodded. ‘You and your family have to leave. It won’t be safe here as long as Thorn and his men remain.’
Did Jesper believe Anders was loyal to her? He and I knew the truth – that he was loyal to Bellamy. And now that Jesper was pregnant with Rennard’s child, she was the last person who stood in the way of Bellamy getting his hands on the Relic.
‘Jesper –’ I grabbed her hands. ‘Where’s Bellamy?’
She frowned. ‘I don’t know, and I don’t care.’
‘He’ll kill you,’ I whispered, eyeing Anders. Would he turn on us? ‘When he finds out you’re pregnant, he’ll kill you to kill the baby.’
‘Now you care?’
I jerked back. ‘I’ve always cared about you, Jesper. I didn’t care what happened to Rennard or his family, as long as you were safe.’
‘I can take care of myself now.’ Jesper held the Relic high.
She thought she could protect herself from Bellamy by using it. Maybe that was true. But she didn’t know she might have to protect herself from Anders.
‘But he –’ I leaned around her to point at Anders.
He was gone.
Thorn’s huge form towered in the doorway instead.
Jesper shot to her feet. ‘Thorn,’ she said breathlessly. ‘I’ve been looking for you.’
‘Get out,’ he spat.
Jesper bristled. ‘You do not tell me what to do anymore, Thorn.’