by Shari Cross
Everything shifts, becoming instantly clear: the final piece falling into place. And though I don’t know how or why, I know that it was more than a dream. “She’s in Incarnadine,” I say as much to myself as to him. He tenses underneath me and I lock my eyes onto his. They’re filled with surprise, telling me I’m right. My body surges with equal amounts of hope and dread. I press the tip of the dagger against his neck. “Any last words? Now is the time for you to beg me for your life,” I repeat his own words from the day of my arrest back to him. He continues to stare at me, refusing to speak. I picture Addalynne one last time, and then slice the dagger across his throat. A gurgled cough escapes his lips and the blood flows from his neck. Looking at his eyes, I watch the life fade from them.
Once I’m certain he’s dead, I push myself to my feet and drag his body across the ground to the stream. It’s not large at this sect, but it’s big enough to carry a body in its current. I move behind him and shove his body forward with my boot until it splashes into the water.
From the corner of my eye I see Gregory run into the clearing. He’s disheveled and covered in dirt and blood, but thankfully seems unharmed. His gaze falls on me and his face noticeably relaxes. Then his gaze trails to Charles’s body, which is floating downstream. We both watch as his body drifts farther away, bumping into rocks. A blood trail follows its lead, sanguinating the water with crimson curls.
“Tell me you got information from him before you killed him?” Gregory says with frustration.
“I take it that you got none from Henry,” I reply, a small smile tugging on the corner of my lips.
“No. Grimy bastard wouldn’t say a word.”
I nod my head in understanding and stare toward the south. Sir Alsius’s words drift through my mind; It has always been in your destiny to find your way back.
“She’s in Incarnadine.”
Gregory’s response is a silence so deep it seems to take the air with it.
I turn toward him. His face is pale and his hands are tightened into fists, but I can still see them shaking. He closes his eyes. “Tell me your wrong,” he says, his words pained and breathless.
“I know it’s not ideal Gregory, but we know where she is now. We can find her.”
He opens his eyes. The pain in them is consuming. “Drake. I know you want to believe that. But she’s gone.”
“No, she’s not,” I say, shaking my head. “She’s just in Incarnadine. We will find her!”
Gregory shakes his head and drops down to his knees. He sits back on his heels, his hands gripping his thighs, his chest rising and falling with his breaths. I want to punch him.
“Why are you acting like this?” I shout.
He doesn’t answer me, he just stares out, his eyes glazed over in despair. My heart pounds in anger. “Gregory!” I shout, but he doesn’t even spare me a glance. “We need to leave now, Gregory. If we leave now we can be half way to the Glass River by tomorrow night.”
“She’s gone, Drake,” he says again and this time a tear trails down his cheek.
“Stop saying that!”
“Why should I?” he shouts and pushes to his feet, his anger finally finding him. “It’s the truth Drake! If she’s in Incarnadine, she’s probably already dead, and even if she’s not, Incarnadine is three times the size of Silveria. We’d never find her!”
“She’s not dead.” My words push through my clenched jaw, my anger barely contained. “But it’s true that she’s in a dangerous place and every minute we waste arguing here is a minute that she could get hurt.”
“Or killed. If she hasn’t already been.”
I take a step toward him, my hands tightened into fists. “If you say that she’s dead one more time, I’m—”
“You’ll what Drake? You’ll fight me too? Are you going to fight everyone you come across for the rest of your life, hoping that one of them will lead you to her?”
“If I have to.”
“Well, that’s very rational. Good plan,” he says with a humorless laugh.
“At least I’m not giving up on her!”
His punch is unexpected and momentarily blinding. I stagger, my hand clutching my cheek.
“I’m not giving up on her,” he snarls. “But I know a lost cause when I see one.”
I drop my hand from my face and look at Gregory. He no longer looks angry, just defeated.
“If you want to get yourself killed in Incarnadine, then go ahead,” he says, his voice emptied of emotion. “But I won’t follow you. I have my family and Mary to think about. I can’t abandon them to go on a suicide mission in Incarnadine. If I thought we had any chance, any chance at all of finding her, I would take it. But there’s not.” He walks toward me and places his hand on my shoulder. “I know you don’t want to accept that Drake. But if you want to live, if you want to see your father again, then you’ll come back home with me.” He drops his hand and then walks away, not waiting to see if I’ll follow. He knows me well enough to know that I won’t.
Chapter 37
HIM
The sound of footsteps behind me causes me to glance back, but all I see around me are the trunks of the trees and the dark green shrubs—a deserted forest. Turning back around, I continue to walk, but I hear them again. I whip around and see the tail end of a cloak darting behind a tree. I move quietly toward it and extract the dagger from my belt. As I approach the tree, I see the toe of a black boot sticking out from behind it. I move to the side of the trunk and reach my free hand forward. Wrapping my hand around the collar of my pursuer’s neck, I pull him around to face me.
“It’s me. It’s me,” Walter says in a hushed, but frantic tone. I release my grip from around his cloak.
“Why are you following me, Walter?”
“Where are you going?” he counters.
I place the dagger back into my belt. “Did anyone ever tell you that it’s rude to answer a question with another question?”
“Well, then you’re being rude yourself, aren’t you?” he replies with a chuckle.
I raise my eyebrow in annoyance. “I don’t have time for this, Walter, so if there’s a reason for your being here, please tell me or be on your way.”
He nervously runs his fingers through his light brown hair while glancing to the treetops above us. “I went to tell you and Gregory that Charles and Henry were missing. But then I saw that Gregory was asleep next to both of your horses and you were gone. I tracked your footsteps to another tree and then to a clearing. I found a large blood stain, which I’m now guessing belongs to Charles, and then I found more tracks which led me here, to you. It’s a good thing that it rained recently right?” he finishes with a laugh, but when I don’t respond the smile leaves his face. “Where are you going, Drake?”
“Don’t worry about it,” I say as I move around him. I can’t handle another person telling me that she’s dead and that I should give up. “Go back to camp. Charles is gone and there’s no need for you to look for Addalynne. I will find her.” I continue to move quickly through the forest, hoping he’ll turn back around. But I’m not that lucky.
“So you did kill Charles?”
“Yes.”
“Good. That bastard needed to die.”
A small smile forms on my lips, but I push it away with a shake of my head. I’m not here to talk to Walter. “Good bye, Walter.”
“I’m coming with you.”
I stop moving and turn to face him, my body rigid. “No, you’re not.” I place my hand against his chest, stopping his forward motion.
“What are you going to do, Drake, fight me?” he asks, reminding me of what Gregory said, and making part of me want to punch him in his freckled face anyway. Instead, I drop my hand and let out a frustrated breath.
“You can’t come with me, Walter. I’m sorry, but you need to leave.”
“If you don’t let me come with you, then I’m going to tell the Schilds where you are and convince them to come after you.”
I place my
head in my hands, tugging at my hair. “Why do you want to come with me, Walter?”
“Because, you’re my friend and a fellow Schild.”
“I’m not a Schild.”
“No, but you used to be, and we’re still bound by our oath to protect each other. Besides, no matter how strong you are, you shouldn’t do this alone. You may find yourself needing help, Drake, and you owe it to Addalynne to have someone to help you. Two are always better than one.”
I know he’s right, but after Gregory refused to come with me, I convinced myself that it was better to go alone anyway. Less footsteps to cover. But I don’t think Walter’s going to give up, and I don’t have time to waste arguing.
“You’re not going to leave, are you?” I ask exasperatedly, dropping my hands back down to my sides.
“No.”
“Fine,” I growl, and continue to move forward. “But I won’t slow down for you, and you will do everything I say. Is that clear?”
“Yes. I give you my word,” he replies excitedly, hurrying to catch up to me. He has to jog to make his slightly shorter legs match my pace. “Do you mind telling me where we’re going?”
“Incarnadine.” I don’t look at him when I say it, but I hear his breath, a distressed intake. But his footsteps don’t falter.
As the sun begins to rise, I look toward the south, the sky above tinged with red, and find myself plagued by the irony of it all. Addy was the one who jumped into the river that day, saving me and bringing me from Incarnadine. Now I have to do the same to save her. I will finally go back to the place that has held the keys to my past, in order to find my future. My entire life rests in its uncertain grasp, and it’s up to me to put my life back together, by bringing her home.
Acknowledgments
Eight years ago I sat down and started writing a story about a boy and a girl who loved each other more than anything, but were forbidden to be together. (Is it obvious that I grew up obsessed with Romeo and Juliet and Wuthering Heights?) This first dive into writing became chapter 23. From that moment, Addalynne and Drake climbed into my heart and never left. I outlined their story and after about six months, Masked was complete. What would follow would be years of editing and rewrites; queries and speed bumps. This entire process wouldn’t have been possible without so many people in my life.
Thank you times infinity to . . .
Martine Bowers for reading every chapter as soon as I wrote it and for helping me edit this book and bring it to life. You are always there for me to bounce ideas off of and to offer encouragement, advice, and a laugh. You are not only my writing partner but my best friend of 22 years! Yikes!
Kate Brauning for not only editing this book and other ramblings of mine, but for answering my millions of questions and offering invaluable guidance.
Jennet Grover for being the first editor to look at this book and tell me I had a shot. Your belief in me helped me see this through, and for that I am forever grateful.
Bianca Barela for writing an incredible poem for my book. To read more of her beautiful words go to www.biancabarela.com
DiDi, my amazing cover artist who worked tirelessly all the way from Indonesia. Thank you for designing such a breathtaking cover! If you ever need any graphic designs or cover art done for you, contact Didi at [email protected]
Lisa Ortiz for being my friend and my fellow fantasy fiction lover. You are my favorite person to obsess over stories with. Thank you for obsessing over mine with me and for your endless support.
Danielle Webb for helping me hone in on my writing skills with our cowritten butterfly tales. Your friendship means the world to me.
Maura Casados of Maura Jane Photography for your friendship, support, and for being the amazing photographer that captured my author photo.
Minuet Sandifer for your encouragement, friendship, and for helping me navigate the maze of marketing.
Margie Baca for all the laughs, tears, and name searches. Oswey!!! You were one of my first readers and fans. I will always be grateful to you!
Rose Clark for being a fellow nerd and one of my best friends. Thank you so much for your support and assistance in all areas of my life.
Sue Liming and Karen Drysdale for your friendship, guidance, encouragement, and endless laughs. You helped me through many stressful times and I’m so thankful for you both.
Karen Shepherd and Jeanie Williams for believing in me and helping me navigate my writing career.
My mother and father in law, Paulette and Mike, for welcoming me into your life when I was just a teenager and instantly treating me like your daughter. Your support over the many years has been invaluable to me. I love you both.
My sister, Jennifer, for your support, advice, courage, and work ethic. You have always been an inspiration to me and have always been there for me; from the times I would climb into your bed when I was a scared five year old to now when I call you for advice as a scared mother. I love you!
My nieces: Danielle, Loren, and Natalie for filling my life with so much joy; and to Danielle and Loren for reading my work and supporting me. (Natalie, you can read it when you’re older.) Danielle, thank you for helping me navigate through many choices and letting me play you song after song that reminded me of my book.
My grandma for supporting me from day one and for reading every word I wrote. Your love for your family and the endless love you’ve always shown me has meant the world to me. You and Grandpa were one of my first examples of a great love story. I love you both so much and I wish Grandpa were here every day.
My mom and dad for teaching me about unconditional love, laughter, and imagination. You are the most amazing parents and gave me an incredible childhood. Watching you dance together in the headlights and seeing how much you still love each other year after year is what turned me into the hopeless romantic I am. Thank you, Mom for reading and rereading every chapter and talking me through every heartbreak and victory. And thank you, Dad for always offering advice, jokes, and encouragement. I couldn’t do anything without you both! I love you more than I can say!
My husband and best friend, Kyle, for teaching me what true love feels like. Without you this wouldn’t have been possible. We were kids when we fell in love and through every obstacle that came our way, we held on to each other. I could not have written about love if I didn’t experience it from you. Thank you for your love, your friendship, your encouragement, and your patience when I’m obsessing (which is pretty often). I love you! You are my person, my soulmate.
Lastly, to my daughter, Layne. You bring endless light and love into our lives. Watching you find the beauty in every moment has been such an inspiration. It was you who motivated me to find my passion again. I want you to learn to follow your dreams and overcome obstacles, which means I have to do the same. So here’s to dreams followed and obstacles overcame. I hope you all enjoyed reading this book as much as I enjoyed writing it.