by Todd, E. L.
Vance pulled out the dagger from his belt and stared at it for a moment. He said nothing for a while. Sadie was running across the grass then stopped when she reached the trunk of a tree. She started to climb it.
“Vance!” she cried. “Help me.”
Vance looked at his little sister. Aleco could see the confliction in his eyes. He wanted to play like the child that he was, but he also wanted to learn more from Aleco.
Aleco made the decision for him. “Run along, Vance.”
He returned his blade to the scabbard then followed his sister to the tree. He helped his sister reach the first branch then he climbed up afterwards.
Penny watched them nervously. “Perhaps that isn’t the best idea.” She was frightened that they would fall.
“I can see them,” Aleco said.
She stared at him. “You aren’t even looking at them.” The tree was directly behind Aleco. It was impossible for him to see what they were doing.
“I can still see them.”
“How?”
He looked at her. “There is nothing that happens in this forest that I don’t know about.”
Penelope nodded. “That sounds overwhelming.”
“You have no idea.”
She looked to the children and saw them climb higher in the branches. “Vance looks up to you.”
“I’m honored.”
She smiled at him. “You love them.”
“With my whole heart,” he said. “I love your son as well. You have no idea how much you all mean to me. It—it makes things easier.”
She grabbed his hand and held it in her own. “We are family, Aleco.”
He blinked back the tears in his eyes. She would never know how much that meant to him. He felt alone in the world. Accacia was the only family he had left, but she wasn’t here anymore. “Thank you.”
She nodded. “Of course.” She noticed the strained lines on his face and the despair in his heart. She had never seen the man happy. The only time he ever came close was when he was playing with the children, but Penelope thought that was a distraction more than anything. “I’m so sorry, Aleco.”
He knew what she meant. And he also knew that she was sincere. “Thank you.”
“How long have you been apart?”
Aleco wrapped his arms around his knees and said nothing for a moment. “Over a year.”
She nodded. “That’s a long time.”
“It’s been an eternity.”
“Have you tried moving on?”
“No.”
“Will you ever?”
“No.”
Her eyes softened at his words. “Love like that is very rare. I thought my husband and I were the only ones.”
He smiled. “Well, Accacia and I are your competitors.”
Her smile dropped and her face became serious. “But if Art and I were in your situation, I would want him to move on.”
Aleco shook his head. “No,” he said. “I don’t want anyone else but her.”
“And what about her?” she asked. “Do you want her to be miserable for the rest of her life?”
He sighed. “Of course not. I told her she could move on but I know she never will. We will be committed to one another until we die.”
“That’s tragic.”
“There is no one else for me, Penny,” he whispered. “And I know she feels the same way. There isn’t a doubt in my mind.”
“Can I ask you something, Aleco?”
He looked at her. “I suppose.”
“Why do you love her so much?”
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “There are too many reasons to articulate. She is the one, the only person I could give my soul to. I can’t imagine being with anyone else.” He opened his eyes and looked at her. “Could you imagine being with anyone else but Art?”
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “No.”
He nodded. “Then you understand my feelings.”
“I think I do.”
“Do you have any memories of Accacia?” he asked. “Something that you could give me?”
She was quiet for a moment. “Like I said, I barely knew her. Most of the time, she was absolutely silent. Drake forbade her from speaking.” She was quiet for a moment, remembering the night of wedding in her mind. “On my wedding day, she wore a dark green dress that fit her body perfectly. It contrasted against the olive color of her skin, making her stand out in the crowd.” Aleco closed his eyes, picturing it in his mind. It wasn’t hard to do. “I remember Drake holding her to his side the entire time, never letting her go anywhere. She smiled when he looked at her, but as soon as he turned away, her frown returned. That’s all I can remember. To be honest, as soon as the ceremony was over, Art was ready for the honeymoon.”
Aleco laughed. “With a beautiful bride such as you, I don’t blame him.”
She smiled. “Thank you.” She cradled her son in her arms and held him closer to her chest. “But I think Accacia’s beauty rivals my own. Even I was captivated by it.”
He nodded. “A more beautiful woman I have never seen, nor will I ever.”
She frowned. “There is still hope, Aleco. She may return to us.”
Aleco felt the tears return to the surface of his eyes. “Please don’t say that to me,” he whispered. “If it doesn’t come true, I won’t be able to go on. Don’t tease me.”
She nodded. “I’m sorry.”
The Lorunien Tree entered his mind and soul, calming him with her natural abilities of healing. She offered to relieve the burden of his memories, but he rejected the offer like last time. She soothed him with her song and returned his breathing to normal. Suddenly, alarm flooded his body and he jumped to a stand then rushed to the tree. Screaming, Sadie fell from a branch and landed directly in his arms. Her curls covered her face and her eyes were red with tears.
“I got you,” Aleco whispered to her. He held her to his chest then looked into the branches. Vance was climbing back toward the bottom of the stump. Relieved that he was coming back to earth, Aleco retuned to Penelope while he held Sadie in his arms.
She stared at him with a look of fear. Her hands were shaking and her lips were trembling.
“What is it?” Aleco asked.
“Am I in trouble?”
He smiled. Aleco could never be mad at something as adorable as she. “No.”
She took a deep breath. “Please don’t tell Lydia. I’ll be in trouble.”
He pulled her toward him and kissed her on the brow. “Your secret is safe with me.”
She nodded.
“But only if you do something for me.”
Her eyes widened in fear. “What?”
“Please be more careful,” he said. “I’ll always catch if you when I’m around, but I may not always be there. I want you to be safe.”
“Okay,” she said quietly. “I’m sorry.”
Aleco nodded.
“You’ll always be around, Aleco,” Penelope said. “You couldn’t stay away from them if you tried.”
He looked away. He knew he would be leaving the forest soon, and he didn’t know when he would return. In fact, he didn’t know if he would return at all.
Penelope caught the look. “Where are you going, Aleco?”
He sighed. “I would rather not say.”
She continued to stare at him. “When will you be back?”
He ran his hands through her golden curls and stared into her blue eyes. The idea of being gone for a long period of time pained him. He knew he was a father to these children now. “I don’t know,” he said honestly. “But I will return as soon as I can.”
“What about the forest?” she asked. “How will you know what is happening in your own realm?”
“I am connected with the Lorunien Tree at all times. I will be informed of the activities of my realm. Do not worry. You will be safe here. If something happened to my province, I would be here before the enemy could breach the first line of trees. I will always p
rotect you.”
She smiled at him. “I know you will.”
The Hideaway
43
Aleco descended through the maze of boulders until he reached the winding passage that dug deep into the earth. His frame was hooded and cloaked, his identity kept hidden, and he carried the guildsman sword on his hip, along with his bow, quiver of arrows, and his other weapons.
The small tunnel became darker the further down he went, heading toward the center of the earth. He listened for the sound of the guildsmen ahead, but he couldn’t detect the presence of anyone besides himself. Aleco finally reached the large cavern that housed the entrance to the hideaway.
The torches flickered in the room and cast shadows along the walls, giving the cavern a feeling of hollowness and emptiness. He felt the chill of the stone walls as he stood in the enclosure where the sun’s rays couldn’t penetrate. He smelled the moist dirt below his feet, and it reminded him of the years he spent in the guild. His mind recalled every crime he had committed. Aleco knew he deserved death years ago. His past was unacceptable.
He approached the doorway and examined the surface of the wood. Time and filth had no effect on the outside of the door. It sparkled in the light of the torches, exemplifying its lack of grime. Aleco felt the guild sword at his waist but knew the weapon was useless. He needed another blade to open the door. He remembered when he escaped the hideaway with Accacia. Together, they had inserted their swords and opened the doors then fled into the wilderness. It wasn’t long after that when Accacia ripped his heart from his chest, took a bite out of it, then burned it in an inferno. He shook his head. He couldn’t think about her right now. Aleco couldn’t believe he decided to return to the Serpentine Guild. He could imagine how furious the Chief and guildsmen were with him. Aleco had stolen their immortality, an act that would never earn forgiveness.
Aleco studied the doors, pondering how he should open the entrance. He could wait for the guildsmen to enter or leave the premises, but he didn’t know how long that would take. Also, he didn’t know how many guildsmen he would be up against. It could be dozens.
He stood before the door and closed his eyes. Aleco used his powers as the Chief Nature Priest to control the air around him, manipulating the wind with his mind, and insert it into both locks simultaneously. He forced the air to turn the lock, and when he heard the audible click, he opened his eyes. It was the second time he used his abilities as the Chief Nature Priest, and Aleco still felt unsure of his powers. The first time had been when he extinguished the torches of Paso Robles when he couldn’t reach the flickering flames himself. Even though the task was simple, it had taken all of his focus. The doors swung outwards and allowed him to walk through.
Aleco stepped through the entryway and walked through the tunnels in the forefront. Some of the guildsmen glanced at him when he walked by, but paid him no attention. All they saw was his black cloak and assumed he wore the same uniform.
The farther up the tunnel he walked, the more stares he received. The guildsmen turned towards him and recognized the hood that hid Aleco’s face. Only one traitor did that. Aleco walked faster up the tunnel, practically running through the walkway. Aleco reached the bridge that stretched across the chasm. When he stopped on the bridge, he looked down into the crevasse below and whispered under his breath. He could hear the shouts of the guildsmen behind him but he continued to speak.
“That traitor has returned. Seize him!” one man said. Aleco didn’t recognize the voice.
Aleco continued forward, ignoring the alarm of the guildsmen behind him. He walked through the Vast and passed the line of shops that lined the roadway. Aleco felt something slip up his leg, but he paid it no mind. He knew what it was. Hissing sounds filled his ears as he ascended the steps of the Chamber of the Vast. He pushed the doors aside then strode into the room.
The lobby was empty, and the torches were the only witness to his entrance. He walked across the marble tile and saw his own reflection in the pristine material below his feet. His legs grew heavy as his body became burdened with the extra weight. The sound of a rattle made his skin prickle with unease.
He marched through the hallway and passed the doors on either side of him. He knew he would face the Chief’s wrath at the end of the tunnel, but he was prepared for the battle. Aleco knew he couldn’t afford to lose; therefore, he wouldn’t. Failure was not an option. Accacia’s soul was on the line.
Aleco pushed opened the doors before him and entered the heart of the chamber. The fire to the right of the desk burned in embers, and when the air entered through the doorway, the flames grew taller. He looked at the man seated in the desk before him. He was expecting to see Nolan, but it wasn’t him. It was Pons.
Pons looked at him with a stoic expression. It took a moment for him to realize who stood before him. When he recognized Aleco, he rose from his chair and pulled his sword from his scabbard. He approached the front of the desk. The guards watching the entrance to the doorway looked at him and waited for further instruction.
“You have a lot of nerve coming here, Aleco.” Pons walked closer to him, but stepped back when he saw the serpents crawling across his body. The snakes slithered over Aleco’s feet and climbed up his legs. There was a massive one that covered his shoulders. “I hope there’s only one reason why you have come—to return what does not belong to you.”
Aleco took a step forward. He did not withdraw his blade. “Nor do they belong to you, Chief.”
Pons glared at him. He watched the snakes crawl over his body, not harming him as they slivered over his frame. “So now you are a freak? You think I fear your snakes?”
“You should.” Aleco glanced at the guards. There were two of them, but they didn’t approach Aleco. With looks of fear, they watched the snakes slither across Aleco’s body. They knew some of them were poisonous. “Where is the Chief?”
“You are looking at him, you idiot.”
Aleco knew a fight was unavoidable. “The real Chief,” he said. “Chief Nolan. Or did you kill him?”
“His whereabouts are none of your concern. What I do with the guildsmen is my business, not yours, traitor.” Pons stepped closer to Aleco and pointed the sword at him. “You think I won’t behead your friends. I do not fear them. But it’s obvious that you fear me.”
“Pons, listen to my words before you aim your sword.” Aleco kept his arms at his side, feeling the snakes slither across his body. “I have no interest in fighting you.”
“That’s because you know you’ll lose.”
Aleco shook his head. “The King of the Continent has stretched his havoc to every realm—it won’t be long until the guild is affected by his hunger for power. You will not be free of him much longer.” Aleco stepped further into the room, away from the guards to his left. He focused his gaze onto Pons’s eyes, which were heavy under his thick eyebrows. It was hard to distinguish his emotions. He always looked upset. “Join me in an uprising with the people of the Continent—together we can defeat him.”
Pons laughed. He sheathed his blade and continued to laugh hysterically. The sound of high pitched chuckles reverberated off the stone walls of the chamber, increasing the volume of the noise. Pons’s laughter scratched against Aleco’s eardrum, and he fought the urge to cover his ears. A more annoying sound he had never heard. “Is that a serious offer, Aleco?” Pons wiped the tears from his eyes then faced the traitor. “You expect us to turn against one of our most profitable clients and sabotage his ascension to power? I sincerely hope that is a joke.”
“The relationship will not last long,” he said. “Eventually, Drake will weather his use for you and utilize you in other ways—such as slaves or soldiers. He has command of all the armies of the Continent. If the king wants to destroy you, he will.” Pons leaned against his desk and faced Aleco, smiling like an idiot. “I do not seek to lead the Serpentine Guild, Pons. You can retain your position as the Chief. All I’m asking for is your aid in this. We have mutual interests.�
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Pons shook his head. “I owe you nothing, Aleco. And I have no reason to help you. Your request has been denied.” Pons withdrew his blade from his scabbard and held it has his side, threatening Aleco without the use of words. “Now it is my turn to make a request. Where are the stones?” His earlier laughter had evaporated and was replaced with a look of hatred. “If you answer me, I will spare your life.”
Now it was Aleco’s turn to laugh. “You have no intention of releasing me, Pons. Please do not insult my intelligence. I have not insulted yours.”
“Are you denying my request?”
“Yes,” Aleco said. “I will never return them to you, nor will I help you find them. You will never have them, Pons. I suggest you let it go.”
Pons glared at him. The light of the flames highlighted his features, and Aleco could see the hatred burn in his eyes. “Let’s see if your cooperation changes under pain of torture—if you survive it.” Pons nodded to the guards. “Grab him. I am finished listening to this imbecile.”
Aleco held up his hand to the guards. “I have no wish to harm you,” he said. “Step away and I will spare your life.” The snakes hissed at his words, exemplifying his truthfulness. The guards stared at the snakes. Clearly, they were frightened of the formidable reptiles. The creatures’ pointed fangs dripped with venom, and the guards involuntarily stepped back. He turned back to Pons. “I will not kill you if you give me no reason to,” he said. “Step down and I will spare you. I will seize control of the guild. You have been removed from office.”
Pons stared at the guards. “I told you to seize him! Are you deaf?”
“Why don’t you challenge me yourself?” Aleco asked. “Are you frightened of me after all?” Aleco took a step forward, but Pons did not move. He glared at his guards. “Admit it, Pons. I threaten you. I have always done so since I joined the Serpentine Guild. The Chief loved me like a son and he never cared for you. I’m his shining star—you are just a pawn.” Pons flashed him a look of anger as he stepped toward him. He clenched the hilt of his sword. “That’s why you won’t fight me—you know I’ll win.” Aleco withdrew his blade and stepped closer to the new Chief. “So let me extend my offer once more. Either commit the guild to my endeavor, or step down from the position—either choice allows you to escape with your life.”