Black Blood

by S. D. Grimm

  Kara swallowed her bread. “Different prisons, different keys. And a key for the spell room. That’s a lot of work once we’re inside.” She tapped her bottom lip with her finger. “When you get the counters book, don’t break any spells inside the castle; Franco might feel something being undone. You won’t have time to risk that.”

  Serena dug in her bag and held up a small drawstring pouch.

  Kara’s eyes narrowed. “What’s that?”

  “Tangle flower seed. It’ll put the guards to sleep.”

  Kara narrowed her eyes. “I know what it does.”

  “You do?”

  “I’m an assassin.” She held out her hand. “You’ll be stripped of your weapons. Let me hold on to that.”

  Dash’s growl was a rumble of thunder as Serena passed the bag over.

  Kara glanced at him askance. “I’ll make sure she gets it back.”

  “In your drink, no doubt.”

  “Dash, please.”

  “You’ve felt her heart?”

  “Yes. It feels like one tainted by a blood sacrifice. We have to help her get her heart back.”

  He snorted.

  Serena turned to Kara. “Where should we meet once I escape with Ryan and Madison?”

  “You needn’t wait for me. I’ll find you.”

  “But how will I know—”

  “You’ll know.” Kara arched an eyebrow. Then she held out her hands. “Might as well give me your daggers, too.”

  Dash’s tail snapped as he thrashed it.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll get these back to you as well.” She rolled her eyes. “So, your plan?”

  “I’ll use the tangle flower to get the guards to sleep, steal the keys, and take Ryan and Madison down to the south tunnel that leads out to the stables where Dash will be waiting as a horse. It’s simple really.”

  Kara crossed her arms. “And how are you going to get the guards to take the tangle flower seed? Were you just going to invite them into your cell for some tea?”

  Serena chewed her bottom lip. “Cell?”

  “You thought you’d be free in the palace? You’re one of the Deliverers. You’ll be a prisoner, remember? I’ll have to get Ryan and Madison into the same dungeon as you. I’ll have to get the keys. And I’ll have to find your counters book. Some simple favor, Serena.”

  Serena? Not Golden One. This was progress. “Are you sure? The counters book will be hidden. I’m not sure you’ll—”

  “If I need help, I’ll be sure to let you know.” Kara’s boot scraped over her drawing of the castle grounds. “We have to get moving.” She pulled out rope. “Get on your ride. I’ll have to tie you to him.”

  Dash snorted and laid his ears flat.

  Kara eyed the unicorn. “Is he going to be a problem?”

  “If you keep calling him my ‘ride,’ yes. Otherwise I’m not entirely sure.”

  Dash was too quiet as Kara led them closer to the city of Filgrum and the palace housed in the city center. His uneasiness as well as clear distrust of Kara grated on Serena’s heart. Perhaps he was right. Perhaps this was a stupid plan.

  “It is.” His welcome voice broke her thoughts finally as they reached the city gate. “But I trust you, little one.”

  “Thank you.” Even in her thoughts, her voice sounded like a choked whisper. It was too late to turn back now.

  Serena stared at the majestic stone wall as Kara escorted them inside the city gates. In all the cities she’d visited, she’d never seen anything comparable. The sun rose behind the highest of five towers, letting warm rays glitter against it. Beautiful, but something here smelled dead.

  Or at least decaying.

  Kara led her mare up to the front gate. Dash followed behind, obsequious for now. The guards stopped her, and she pulled the collar of her shirt aside to reveal a tattoo at the base of her neck. A tattoo? Serena shivered as the guards moved aside for her to enter. She’d never seen anyone tattooed there—except pictures in history books of Healers who were claimed as servants. The tattoos trapped magic inside of them. No one in their right mind would get a tattoo there. Unless . . . Surely Franco knew nothing of the ancient rituals of Healers and tattoos. If he did—her blood ran cold just thinking about it. About what he could make her do.

  They passed wagons of fruits and clothes and jewelry in the outer court and entered the inner court. Serena had to tilt her head back to see the massive structure. It had been six years since she’d seen the inside of a palace.

  Dash halted and stiffened.

  Serena tore her eyes from the building and breath left her lungs. Belladonna.

  “Kara.” Belladonna’s familiar voice sent gooseflesh over Serena’s skin. “What have we here?” She strode over, and Dash remained perfectly still. Serena kept her head low and scanned Belladonna’s neck for one of the tattoos but found nothing. Only Belladonna’s scrutinizing gaze. “Serena.” Heat flashed in her pupils. “I should have known.” She faced Kara. “What about the other girl?”

  Kara shrugged. “She got away.”

  “With that tagalong boy?” Belladonna grinned. “I can get to him. Between the both of us, we’ll get her every single one of them. But of course you would target the Healer of the group.”

  “I have a certain allure to them, I guess.”

  What did that mean? Serena’s throat constricted. Kara wasn’t a Healer; Serena would have felt it.

  Belladonna’s dark eyes lit up. “You going to make her heal you?”

  Kara cocked an eyebrow. “You think I waited? Franco should have felt it.”

  Dash’s ears laid flat. “What’s this about?”

  Serena swallowed hard. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

  Belladonna tapped her finger against her cheek. “Now that you mention it, he was rather happy about something the other evening.”

  “Good.” Kara smirked. “Now excuse me, Belladonna, but I have something for the king.” Dash used his nose to urge Kara’s mare forward.

  Serena released a breath as soon as they were out of Belladonna’s view. “What was that about?”

  “I need one more oath from you.” She held out her knife over her hand. Her face was serious. One more blood oath in such a short time would make them sister-kin. “The king has to believe you healed me.”

  “Kara, I can’t lie.”

  “I know, but your tongue is quick and your mind quicker. He must believe you already healed me or he will make you heal me, do you understand?”

  “I’m afraid I don’t.”

  “I’m his blood sacrifice. In order to kill him, you must kill me and any Healer tied to him.” Kara grasped Serena’s bound hands and sliced her right palm. “I have kept my side of the bargain, to bring you here and to show you the ways out. I will add helping you get the counters book, but you need to promise this.”

  Serena stared at the woman’s dripping palm. Her own wound slowly closing. Despite Dash’s look of warning and the fact that she could sense his thrumming heart, she thrust out her bound hands. Kara squeezed her hand between Serena’s and shook, palm to palm. As Kara’s blood met hers again, a bond forged. She could sense Kara’s presence. They were connected. They were sister-kin now. Serena had needed no blood to form this bond with Jayden, but it felt the same. She had just bonded herself to a dragon.

  Kara stared at her hand as if she felt it, too. She grabbed her reins and spurred her horse toward the stables.

  Dash hung his head and ambled along behind Kara’s mare. “I hope you know what you are doing.”

  Kara whipped her head around and stared at the unicorn.

  Dash lifted his head. “You can understand me?”

  Kara nodded. “I can tell you things, and you could relay the message to Serena?”

  “Yes.”

  “This could prove useful.”

  “Indeed.”

  “We’ll need all the help we can get.” Kara slid off her horse and helped Serena off Dash. Silently she put both horses into empty stalls.


  Serena breathed deep. A sharp grip tightened around her elbow, and Kara leaned close to her ear. “Here is where I am no longer your friend.”

  Serena’s eyes met Dash’s. “Did you hear that Dash? She is my friend.”

  “Be careful, Serena.” He hid his thoughts so Kara wouldn’t hear him.

  “Wish me luck.”

  “Luck? You’ll need more than that. The Creator has favor on you, Child. I hope you’re truly on your Destiny Path, because if you’re not, we’re in a great deal of trouble.”

  Kara pushed her back out into the court, into the palace, and past tapestry upon tapestry until they reached the anteroom. She pulled Serena close again. “Remember, you’re my prisoner, so act meek.” Kara pushed Serena through the double doors.

  The strange, sickly sweet smell of rotting fruit assaulted her, and she saw why. At the end of the room, seated on the throne, and guarded by ten men in black garb and armed with swords, was the Mistress of Shadows. Bright white, deep black, and scarlet red clashed together in the room. Animal skins made up the carpets of black and white, and red interspersed the marble like streaks of blood.

  The Mistress’s heart knocked on the door of Serena’s talent, begging to be read. It was a dark, porous sponge for other people’s suffering. Serena cringed.

  Belladonna stood near the Mistress’s throne on one side and Franco on the other. Serena had never felt so much evil all at once. Her eyes fluttered to the still, silent man who stood beside Belladonna, and her heart nearly missed a beat. Ryan.

  He stared ahead, not focusing on anything, but watching everything. No smile graced his face. Emptiness coated his features. And his heart felt dangerous, hardened, hopeless. The sliver of taint he’d once held prisoner in his heart had grown. And instead of being closed and contained, the darkness was an open, pulsating wound. And her chest ached.

  What had they done to him? Suddenly it was hard to breathe. Was she too late? No. She would fight for him. She’d get him out of here if it killed her.

  His eyes met hers for a brief moment, but no recognition glimmered there.

  Kara muscled Serena forward. Her knees gave way and she fell to the floor. Kara grabbed Serena’s hair at the base of her scalp and yanked, sending pain through Serena’s head. “I’ve brought you a gift, Mistress.”

  The Mistress smiled, making Serena’s skin crawl. “A Deliverer. Now I have two.”

  “And I can get you the last two.” Belladonna sauntered closer.

  “Don’t make promises. Just get them.”

  “The one they call Ethan draws nearer to the palace with the Deliverer as we speak.”

  “I know. They travel through my maze of creatures.” The Mistress looked at Serena while she spoke. It was as if she could hear Serena’s pounding pulse. “Yes, my guards let you pass through. They know you by scent. Franco, I trust you will see to it someone makes her comfortable in the dungeons?”

  “Yes, Mistress.”

  “Now, I must retire. After all, I will need my strength very soon.” She seemed to look into Serena’s mind. “Believe me, by the time your friends show up, they will see that I am more powerful than they imagined.” She rose and exited, taking six of the guards with her.

  Serena remained with Kara, Belladonna, and Franco, who took the throne. In the absence of the guards, she saw a young woman who looked just like Morgan. Madison. Her heart thrummed in her chest.

  Franco rounded on Kara. “Don’t just stand there. Make her heal you.”

  “Your Majesty.” Kara bowed humbly. “Didn’t you feel it? I have not waited until now. It is already done.”

  “Done? I felt nothing.” He placed long fingers under Serena’s chin and craned her neck up uncomfortably. She tried unsuccessfully to cringe away as he leaned closer. “Have you healed Kara?”

  Serena glared at the king.

  Kara’s grip tightened on her hair. “You will answer when you’re spoken to.”

  Franco smiled, and it was wicked and cruel. “A simple yes or no will suffice. Did you heal her?”

  Simple? No. Nothing about that was simple. Serena swallowed. A lie would kill her. So would the truth.

  Chapter 27

  Shattered Dreams

  Black vines stood out in stark detail against the evening fog. At least, Jayden thought it was evening. Something about all of this was strange. Like a dream. Or the memory of a dream. She shook her head. Where was everyone? And how had she gotten here? She wouldn’t just wander into a strange forest alone, would she?

  The fog parted, like smoke, and the vines moved. A figure hidden in the shadows glided closer and stood before her. “I wasn’t sure you’d come.” Her voice echoed inside Jayden’s head and fill the void between them.

  “Where am I?”

  The woman stepped into the misty moonlight. Red moonlight. The color bathed her face. A beautiful face. Pale, blue eyes. Rich, auburn hair. She smiled. “I don’t wish to scare you. Not yet.”

  A dream. She was dreaming. This had to be from the beast. The infection still infiltrated her blood. Her heart raced. The woman before her changed. She looked like death. Pale skin, stringy, dark hair.

  “No, don’t be scared. I need you. Your mind. I already have the tall one’s heart. That’s how I will get the Creator’s power. The prophecy states I need the heart of one, mind of another, the soul of one, and strength of her brother.”

  “You can’t have my mind!”

  The woman changed back into her beautiful form. “My poison already works through you. I need you to bring your friends to me.”

  “Never. Get out of my head!” Jayden reached for her daggers.

  “I can’t have you screaming. See this path?” The mist hiding the vines moved to clear a path. Leaves brushed away from the dirt and dead grass trampled with use. “It leads to the palace. Those escaping to join you have been using it. But I think you’ll want to use it as well. I could have someone waiting for you here. If you want. Someone you love.”

  Jayden closed her eyes. This was nothing more than a dream. She shook her head. Nothing about this woman felt safe. She smelled like poison.

  Jayden clutched her head again. “This isn’t real.”

  “Maybe not. But that’s the fun part. Taking what isn’t real and twisting it until you believe it.”

  “You can’t do that.”

  “I can if I control your mind.” Her smile dripped honey. Honey turned black, like venom.

  Venom in the saliva.

  Venom in the blood.

  Jayden shouted, “You can’t have my mind!”

  The dream shattered.

  Jayden woke to darkness. Sweat covered her, her pulse pounded, and her hands were curled into fists, yet she had no memory of a fitful sleep or a nightmare that would have caused those reactions. A soft nose nuzzled into her, and she patted Stormcloud.

  A strange worried look resided in Stormcloud’s eyes that matched the mood pulsing over the bond. “It’s the middle of the night. Are you all right?” Her words seemed innocent enough, but Stormcloud’s unspoken question beat through Jayden’s every pulse: did she have any nightmares?

  Nightmares.

  The feeling of claws and teeth digging into her after she’d pulsed lightning at the tree wouldn’t leave her alone, but she couldn’t recall a single dream.

  She felt the hidden wound on the back of her shoulder. Last night it had looked black. Felt hot. When she’d poured water from her waterskin over it, steam sizzled against her arms. Now, burning pain pulsed into her. A stabbing heat.

  Stormcloud drew closer. “Jayden, I feel your worry.”

  “I don’t think it’s anything.”

  Stormcloud nuzzled her shoulder and Jayden stroked Stormcloud’s soft nose and stared up at the stars. She still hadn’t been able to talk to Ethan about her impending death. But she’d seen him with Chloe. Maybe her dying wouldn’t hurt him so bad if he had Chloe there to comfort him. Sooner or later he’d find out how Chloe felt about him, anyway. Ma
ybe she should just spur the process.

  “What makes you so sad?” Stormcloud fluttered her wings.

  “My heart is heavy from all we are up against.”

  Stormcloud pulsed a burst of calming emotion into her, and Jayden smiled. She stood and found Quinn sitting near the base of a tree, the book open in her lap and fire giving her light. With Stormcloud following, Jayden approached Quinn. The Whisperer’s eyes were closed, and she looked more Jayden’s age now. Wind played with strands of her hair. Jayden wasn’t sure she should interrupt whatever Quinn was thinking about, but Quinn opened her eyes and smiled. “Can I help you?”

  A weight lifted from Jayden’s chest, and she sat beside Quinn. “What does the book say about me?”

  “Much.”

  “When I met Anna, the previous Whisperer, she said the Creator always chooses the right Child.”

  Quinn didn’t respond, just watched Jayden like a captivated listener.

  Jayden pulled a stray blade of grass from the ground. “I’m not so sure.”

  “You don’t think you’re good enough?”

  “I know I’m not. Look how many times I’ve messed up. And I’m not very strong. I mean, I can strike lightning, but everything has to be lined up right, and I can’t do it more than once without resting.” And she wasn’t strong enough to lose more.

  “You know the Mistress feeds on fear and doubt. If she sees yours, she will try and overcome you.”

  “Then maybe I shouldn’t be here.” Jayden stared at the ground. A tear spilled out of her eye, but it wasn’t from sadness. She fisted a clump of grass, wanted to rip it from the ground and throw it. This was all too hard for her. She couldn’t handle it. Everyone expected her to persevere through so much. To pick up the pieces and calm others’ nerves and just keep fighting.

  Everything she wanted to fight for—everyone she wanted to fight for—what if they were better off without her mistakes?

  Quinn placed a hand on Jayden’s back. “I’m sorry you feel so alone.”

  Alone.

  She didn’t just feel alone. She was alone.

  Quinn’s hand warmed. “You don’t have to carry it all by yourself. We’re all here for you. We all have a part to play.”