by Frost Kay
“She drugged me and took the keys,” Matt said flatly. Her eyes darted to her best friend. He scrutinized her, his expression hard. “It explains how she managed to escape this room but not how she got past Jameson at the stairs.”
“She didn’t come from my set of stairs,” the man with brown wings said. “I checked with those on duty at the other exits, and she didn’t get past them, either. Unless she has the power to become invisible, somehow she managed to escape out of our maze of tunnels.”
“She didn’t do it on her own,” the monster supplied.
Matt stiffened and scowled across the room, presumably at the monster. If she was a stronger woman, she would have been able to look her best friend in the eye. But part of her worried she’d look at him and he’d pull all of her secrets from her soul.
“I didn’t tell her how to get out if that’s what you’re insinuating,” Matt barked. His angry gaze flashed back to Hazel. “If I did help her, I can tell you my plan wouldn’t have been so sloppy and half-baked. She certainly wouldn’t be torn up and bleeding to death.”
Hazel stiffened and narrowed her eyes at Matt. That jerk. She’d tried to get him to help her, and he hadn’t done a thing. And if she did say so herself, her escape plan was damn near genius. It had gone off without a hitch until the very last second. It was a bloody miracle she was able to pull off stunt after stunt. Hazel would like to see someone else do what she did.
“I need you to turn,” Doc cut in.
Hazel carefully scooted to the side and let her legs drape off the side of the bed. She faced Doc, Matt, Jameson, and the still-silent Clint. What was the lizard man thinking?
“I still want to know how she escaped,” the monster mused.
Her breath stilled in her lungs as heat suffused her back and a heavy hand settled on her right shoulder.
Never turn your back on a predator. She was an idiot.
Hazel peeked from the corner of her eye and stared at the fingers tipped in short, pointed onyx claws. A shiver ran up her spine when he squeezed her shoulder and ran a finger along her collarbone, the tip of a nail snagging on her filched blue linen dress. It felt like a warning and a threat. Hazel swallowed hard, but kept quiet and returned her gaze back to the wall above the men examining her. They wouldn’t get anything out of her. If she got another chance, she’d escape through the baths again.
Lantern light cast a soft glow on the group as Doc changed the gauze and she zoned out, trying to pretend there were no watchers, no Tainted, no enemies.
“Don’t ignore me, Untouched,” the monster’s voice crooned. “Tell us how you escaped.”
A self-satisfied, yet hollow laugh escaped her throat, something haunting and chilly even to her own ears.
“You’d never believe how I escaped.” They wouldn’t. Hazel hardly believed she managed it.
She frowned as Doc held up a threaded needle.
“It needs stiches.”
She exhaled and nodded, her fingers curling into the material of her dress. She could do this. What was a few little stiches compared to being thrown from a moving jeep? Despite her bravado, she hissed when the kitsune pierced her tender, torn skin and began to stich her wound closed without anything for the pain.
Hazel groaned and her body broke out in a cold sweat as she forced herself not to pull away from the healer. In their eyes, she supposed she deserved the pain for trying to escape. A tiny part of her felt like it was penance for tricking her best friend and hurting Doc.
“She hit me while I was in the pools,” Doc whispered.
Hazel’s belly bottomed out, and an apology sat on the tip of her tongue when her gaze strayed back to the dried blood matted in his fur. She never wanted to hurt the doctor who treated her with kindness, but there hadn’t been another choice. He was guilty by association, and he may have cared for her, but not enough to help her get free. He allowed the Tainted to keep her there. That made him her enemy even if he was kind.
He was still a monster. She needed to remember that.
“Jameson,” the monster barked. “Find a hound and go to the pools. See what you can discover.”
She watched Jameson leave the room and prayed she’d hidden all of the evidence well enough. With feathered wings, she doubted the hawk man swam very often. Hopefully, her linen-covered rock would not be discovered.
Clint startled her when he finally moved from his spot and approached the bed. Hazel pressed her lips tightly together when the scaly older man knelt and reached out to take her hand. She watched him dully and said nothing as she shook with the need to move, the pain from the stiches making her twitchy.
He squeezed her hand once, and his scales slid across her skin when he pulled away, his yellow and black eyes studying her.
“What you did tonight was reckless,” he said. She didn’t disagree with him. “But it was also brave. You should be proud.”
That, she didn’t expect. Hazel studied him and cocked her head, her tangled hair sliding over her shoulder. What game was he playing? Why was he trying to cozy up to her now? What did he want?
“It would be a lot easier if you just let me go.”
“You could be happy here.”
She snorted. “I doubt it. Release me.”
“It’s not so simple.”
“It could be,” she pointed out. “I was forced into trying to escape, and look at the consequences. I won’t ever be happy here. I’m not sure what your aim is, but I have a feeling you don’t want me to hate your people. But if you keep me trapped like this, I will. I promise you, I will. You can’t rip someone from their family and expect them to live with monsters without consequence.”
Immediately, Hazel regretted using the word monster, but she couldn’t take it back. Her voice rose as she gestured to the room. “I’ve been threatened, hunted, abused, and kidnapped. If this is what you think happiness is, then I pity the Tainted.”
“It’s not all bad.”
“True.” She eyed Clint. “But what in the whole world would possess me to want to stay with your people after all the bad? How can I forget everything else?” Hazel shook her head. “Your son has called me a monster, but until tonight, I’ve never harmed anyone.” Her throat clogged up and she had to swallow hard, her gaze flicking to Doc when his ears twitched, but he didn’t comment. He squinted and tied the last knot in her stitches.
“It’s hard to forget sometimes. That I understand, but don’t let the bad outshine the good.”
“I don’t think I know what good is anymore,” she whispered to herself.
Clint patted her knee and stood from his crouch. “I think it’s not as far away as you think. I’m glad you’re alright, Hazel.”
She blinked at the man when he smiled at her. He slapped Matt on the shoulder and left the room without another word. What in the blazes was that all about?
“Just a bit more cleaning and you’ll be as good as new,” Doc hummed.
Silence once again descended on the room, and Hazel imagined that they only needed a clock ticking on the wall to make things more uncomfortable. She examined her ripped-up palms and scratched at the dried blood that had gathered in the grooves of her hands.
“I would’ve never believed you capable of such…”
She slowly lifted her head, her blue eyes clashing with Matt’s foreign ones. He rubbed a hand over his mouth and shook his head. “Capable of what?”
“Of such betrayal.”
Oh, that was rich.
His lip curled. “You’re supposed to be my friend, and you tricked me. You hurt Doc. My Hazel never would have done that. She would have never hurt others to gain what she wanted.”
Something cracked in her chest at his words, and hysteria bubbled up. A manic laugh slowly built up in her throat and a giggle slipped free, followed by laughter that shook her entire frame. Hazel clutched her middle, and tears dripped from the corners of her eyes as she gasped for breath. She stabbed a finger at him, drowning in hysteria.
“B
etrayal,” she gasped. “Let’s talk about betrayal, Matty.” He flinched at the nickname, but she continued. “You know nothing about betrayal. I made you tea, which you took willingly. I never forced you to drink the stuff. You did that all on your own, so don’t act so wounded.” Another fit of laughter seized her, and she wiped at her face. “You’re the one who betrayed me. You let them chain me to this bed—that monster threatened me—and you said nothing, did nothing. You left me here to rot.”
“I visited you every day. You weren’t alone.”
“You’re right, you did visit me, but you never gave me what I really needed. Freedom. You let them cage me. I would never do what you’ve done to me.” Her laughter turned into sobs as bitter pain and anguish assaulted her. “I would never have imprisoned you and kept you from your family. Do you know what my family must think? What your friends must think? They mourned you just as surely as they are mourning me. How could you allow such a thing to happen? How could you do it?”
Matt inhaled sharply and looked as if she’d struck him across the face. More tears rushed down her face as his mouth bobbed, empty of all excuses.
“You’re just as bad as they are,” she whispered brokenly.
He shuddered, and then left the room.
Three monsters down, one to go.
“You vile, little wench,” the monster growled behind her.
A tremor shook her body, and she blanched at the anger in his voice. A little red flag rose in her mind telling her she was in grave danger. The hair at the nape of her neck rose, and she curled around herself, her shoulders hunching forward. She wanted to stand tall and fight him, release all her rage and disappointment, but that would have been dumb. He could slit her throat without her so much as seeing death coming.
Her breathing sped up, and spots dotted her vision. There wasn’t enough air in the room, and to her horror, she realized the monster’s hand still rested on her shoulder. How could she forget something like that? What was wrong with her?
Hazel jerked out from beneath his hand. “I can’t breathe.”
Doc paused his ministrations and stared passively at her face. A small pucker formed between his brows as he studied her. “Noah, you need to leave.”
“I’m not leaving you alone with her. Look at the damage she’s already done.”
The kitsune touched his neck and back of his head slightly. “It’s just a little bump, and I doubt Hazel can take me unawares again.”
The room wavered. She was going to pass out.
“You need to leave,” Doc commanded. “She’s having a panic attack.”
The monster prowled around the bed, his wings rustling with the movement. Hazel hiccupped and tried to get her lungs to work properly as she stared down the creature glowering at her. He was an ugly brute, but she’d rather look at him than have him hovering behind her where she couldn’t see his movements.
“You’ve completely screwed yourself over,” the monster rumbled. “My family made a case for you among the people and the council. You would have been welcomed and accepted into the village. Your little stunt has cost you everything. How stupid could you be?”
Hazel snarled at him. She’d show him how stupid she wasn’t.
He lifted one finger. “Your crimes can’t be ignored. None of us can protect you now. You’ve hurt the good doctor, stolen, and wounded one of the Blooded. The consequences of your actions will not be easy.”
Easy? When had life ever been easy? “If your aim was to make me afraid, you failed your task. There’s not much more you can do to me. If you plan to toy with me, I’d appreciate it if you’d just kill me now.” Numbness settled over her as the words seemed to bounce around the room. Hazel wouldn’t take them back.
She tipped her head back as the monster took a menacing step closer to the bed, his fingers curling into fists.
“Believe me, little girl, you’ve suffered nothing. You don’t know what pain is if you think to try anything else.”
“Noah,” Doc barked. “You need to take a break. Get out!”
The monster glanced from Doc’s face to hers and held her gaze for a long moment, emotions passing between. He bared his teeth and hissed before spinning on his heel and leaving. Hazel spat on the floor and glared at the darkened doorway. Good riddance.
Only one Tainted left.
Doc huffed and hung his head. “High emotions always cause problems.” He eyed her as he stood. “You certainly know how to rile him.”
“I don’t mean to.”
“Yes, you do.”
“I don’t like how he talks down to me.”
Doc nodded. “No one likes to be treated as an inferior.” He cleaned his needle and packed up some of his supplies. His ears twitched when he pulled another strip of gauze from his bag of medical tricks. “No one likes their trust betrayed either.”
Shame soured her belly. “I didn’t want to do it,” she whispered. “I panicked, and then… you know what happened.” Her words sounded flat and insincere in her own ears.
He placed the linen over her fresh stitches and considered her for a long moment. “The world is capable of tremendous violence,” he said. “But we all have to be accountable for our actions. I trusted you, and you betrayed that trust by drugging Matt. I still care for you, Hazel, but what trust we had built is lost.”
Hazel swallowed hard and felt like sobbing at the look of utter disappointment on Doc’s face. It was worse than any beating he could have doled out. As a child, she’d always hated when her parents said she’d disappointed them. Sometimes, she wished for her papa to just give her a swat instead of the talking to he always resorted to. It always hurt her heart, and looking at Doc’s disappointed eyes? Well, it was like he’d stabbed her in the chest. He’d done so much to help her, and she’d attacked him.
A big, fat tear leaked out of the right corner of her eye. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered brokenly, hanging her head. Her family would be ashamed of her actions.
Doc surprised her by pulling her into a hug. Hazel wrapped her arms around Doc and sank into his warm embrace, her emotions breaking loose. Everything she’d been holding back tumbled free in the form of an ugly cry. Sobs wracked her body as she pressed her face against his chest and cried all her terror, sadness, guilt, shame, and disappointment into his shirt.
“I’m so sorry,” she cried, over and over.
Doc crooned softly and ran his left hand over her hair. “I know, hun. I know.”
“I feel so bad.”
“That’s a good thing. It means you have a conscience.”
He held her until she cried herself out and lay limply in his arms, the numbness slowly seeping into her veins. Hazel pulled back and rubbed at her gritty eyes, knowing they were surely bloodshot. She regarded the only Tainted that had treated her with complete kindness since she’d been abducted.
Doc brushed away the remainder of salty tears from her face and hugged her one last time. “I forgive you. We’ll be okay, Hazel.”
“How do you know?” she croaked, her throat sore from sobbing.
His mouth hitched up at the corner in a half smile. “Because you’re not a bad person. We all make mistakes. And a word of advice: if you stop fighting everyone around you, you’ll be surprised by those who are willing to be your friends. You can have a good life here.”
“How am I supposed to forget my family and my people, Doc? I have responsibilities to others. I can’t just leave them.”
“I can’t answer that question. I’ve never been in your position.” He shrugged his shoulders. “But you’re making it harder on yourself than necessary. I know you’re not a negative person. Start looking for the good around you. It will change your view of the world. I promise.” Doc stood from the bed and held out a hand to help her up. “But for now, sleep is wise. You’ve lost a bit of blood, and you’re emotionally worn out.” He pulled off the soiled blanket and shirt, then produced a clean set from his magic bag. Numbly, she helped Doc make the bed, so thankful
that he was kind enough not to make her sleep in blood soaked linens.
Her gaze darted to the bloody gash on his head and then dropped to her toes. She didn’t deserve his friendship.
Doc tossed back the clean blanket on the bed. “Lie down and get some sleep.”
Hazel clumsily crawled into bed and pulled the covers to her chest while the Tainted doctor gathered the rest of his supplies and took the lantern from the hook imbedded in the stone wall. He slung his canvas bag over his shoulder and paused with his hand on the steel door.
“Tomorrow will be better, I promise.”
More blasted tears seeped out of her eyes and dripped down her cheeks and neck. She nodded but highly doubted tomorrow would be better. She was almost certain that it would be worse.
“Sleep tight,” he murmured, closing the door behind him.
She registered a key scraping against the door, locking her in her cell. Hazel listened as Doc padded away, his footsteps disappearing.
Alone. She was truly alone now.
Look on the bright side.
Hazel choked out a small huff of laughter. At least she could release all her pain with no one witnessing how damaged and scared she was.
Tomorrow, she would fight.
Tonight, she’d mourn everything she lost.
Three
Hazel
Bored.
Hazel watched as dust motes swirled in a merry dance among the morning rays of sunshine that cut through the bars of her prison in slashes.
If her captors’ plans were to bore her to death, they were doing a fine job.
She lifted her right leg from the floor and lay across the bed. The skin around her wound pulled with a faint tinge of pain, but nothing more. Lifting the edge of her filthy, stolen dress, she eyed the grisly line of black stitches and puckered skin. It would leave a nasty scar.
Your failure has been etched into your skin.
With a hiss, she tossed the frayed fabric back over her thigh and glared at the red stone floor.