by Dawn Brower
“That bird is the reason you’re here walking beside me. Show her some respect,” she demanded. “As far as normal—I’m not sure what that even is. I’ve had to adapt to so much in my short life. This is one more thing to add to that list.”
Cale remained quiet. His bodily reactions gave away his thoughts. He clenched his fist at his side and the muscles in his cheek twitched. Elodie was certain if she could see into his eyes he’d have a hard glint reflecting back. She couldn’t blame him entirely for that. The world they were trapped in was harsh and determined to kill them.
“Do you know where we are?” he finally asked.
She shrugged. “Not exactly. The little I’ve been able to ascertain is its some kind of nightmare induced world.”
Lulu floated over them and landed on Cale’s shoulder. The bird seemed to like the knight and had attached herself to him several times—something Cale had not found amusing. She pecked at his ear and he attempted to swat her away. Elodie giggled at them. Lulu’s machinations were starting to grate on Cale’s nerves, but for her, they were endless entertainment.
“You find this funny?” he glared at her.
“Enormously so,” she replied. “Lulu, can you tell us a little about this world?”
“What do you wish to understand?” the bird asked as she flapped her silver tipped wings blowing Cale’s hair over his forehead. He blew out an exasperated breath and brushed the locks out of his eyes.
“Where are we?” Cale demanded.
Why was he so dead set on finding that out? What did he expect to do with the information? It had to be important if he was hell-bent on grilling Lulu for the answer.
“You’re in the realm of Malediction,” Lulu said. “Many come, some die, others make it their permanent home, and rarely does anyone escape.”
“But it is possible,” Cale pressed.
“To live?” Lulu asked. “Of course, but you must proceed with caution. Dying is easier.”
Cale swore under his breath. That hadn’t been the answer he was looking for. Elodie was not surprised at Lulu’s evasive answer. The bird wasn’t big on answering direct questions. Her answers generally led to even more questions. The fact that she had actually given them the name of the realm was something to go on. It was an ill-fated land, and that meant, somehow, they had all been cursed to be there.
“Will Queen Kalypso be able to help us leave?” Elodie asked. “What is her skills?”
“She’s the claws,” Lulu whistled. “Beware her bite.”
That sounded ominous and not human. Was it another animal they were seeking? If so, Cale was going to have a raging fit. He was barely tolerating Lulu. If the queen they sought was equally as annoying… Well, they would see how he reacted. No sense in contemplating what might or might not yet.
“Elle, I think the bird is saying the queen might have us for dinner.” He met her gaze. “And I don’t mean as guests.”
That might very well be true… “It’s a good thing you’re a trained knight with a handy sword at the ready. I’m sure you can handle whatever we have to face.”
He rolled his eyes. “It might be more prudent to forget about the queen and find a different way out of Malediction.”
“And leave Daire behind?”
She might not like Daire, but she didn’t want to sentence him to death either. He had been all right, charming even, since the last time she had seen him. Most people weren’t all bad or all good. They fell somewhere in-between. Daire wasn’t the evil person she’d made him out to be in her mind. He was not any different from her or Cale, and he deserved a chance at a life. The curse they were all stuck in must have been directed at her, and they had been caught in the crossfire. It was enough to give a girl a guilty conscience.
“You don’t actually want to marry that fop do you?”
Elodie stopped, spun and stared at him. Her mouth fell open as she fought for clear rational thought. How should she respond to that? Of course she didn’t want to marry Daire. He had never been her first choice. Hell, he’d never been any choice. Cale had been the one she’d wanted, or at the very least had hoped to spend enough time with to see if they had something worth keeping. No one had asked her what she’d wanted though. Fiona and her other guardian had decided for her that she’d marry Daire as if she was too stupid to know her own mind. Now Cale questioned her as if he had a right? When he was the one who decided to abandon her when she needed him most?
“Does it matter what I want?” she lifted a brow. “It’s not as if you cared enough to find out.”
His mouth formed a thin white line, and the muscles in his cheek twitched in rapid succession. He reached for her, but she backed away from him. “Elle…”
“No,” she spat out. “Don’t look at me like that. You were leaving me, and I don’t owe you anything.”
Elodie stomped forward and caught up with Lulu. She did not want to have that particular talk with Cale. It was too soon, and her heart too raw from the pain of it all. His actions had gutted her in ways she couldn’t describe.
Cale caught up to her in quick easy strides. He brought his hand up and clenched her arm in it. “Stop and listen to me,” he demanded. “You don’t understand”
The arrogant swain… She spun around and glared at him. Why had she wanted to save him again? Oh yeah, because it was the right thing to do. Damn her and her conscience. At that particular moment, she wasn’t feeling especially generous and wanted to leave him to his own devices. The idea of having a little alone time sounded wonderful. The image gave her pleasure but she held back the bloodthirsty urge. It made her question her sanity. Not that long ago she’d been wishing for someone to talk with to decipher the prophecy. Now that she had someone to discuss it, with she wanted him to go away. Nothing seemed to make her happy anymore.
“I don’t want to understand,” she said. “The time for that has long passed. You made your decision, and it is time to live with it. There are more important things that demand our attention. Keep your explanations and regrets to yourself.”
His blue eyes drew her in and sorrow wrapped around her like a cold blanket. Cale’s regrets floated around them, and they stuck to her like glue. There was no shaking free of them. “If I could change things…”
That was the worst part of it all. Nothing could make that happen and dwelling on it did not help them. “It doesn’t matter.” She shook her arm free of his grasp. “What’s done can’t be undone.”
She stomped away and tried to let it go. Unfortunately, that was easier said than done. Cale had a lot to make up for, and she was not sure if she’d ever be able to forgive him. For the moment, though she’d concentrate on what they had to do to save Daire. The rest could wait for another day.
* * *
The path inclined until they were walking through a large canyon. The river that had carved it out had dried up long ago. The walls were splashed with a rainbow of metallic and jeweled colors. Emerald green, copper red, silver, bronze, and gold all glittered the sides in a kaleidoscope of shades. It was breathtaking to behold.
In the center of the sparkling ravine, a carved-out cave sat prominently. The sun shined down on it like a beacon announcing the arrival of a queen. An appropriate assumption to make considering who resided in that particular cave. It may even be the reason why Kalypso had claimed it for her home.
“How are we suppose to climb up there?” Cale asked.
He asked as if she had some insight she’d chosen not to share with him. She was as clueless as he was. Several ridges spanned the side of the canyon that, in theory, could be jumped from ledge to ledge—if one of them had the ability to gain the trajectory needed to complete such a feat. Something neither Cale or Elodie had. Of the three of them, only Lulu could gain access easily, but the bird was no match for whatever resided inside. The little hints Lulu had given them told her that much. It was a beast of some sort, capable of killing them all. The climb would be treacherous, but it had to be done.
&
nbsp; “Very carefully,” Elodie responded dryly.
Cale turned his head and glared at her. His blue eyes darkened until they almost appeared black. He stared at her for several seconds before he shook his head and turned his gaze toward the rocky incline in front of them.
“It’s impossible,” Cale said. “We will die trying.”
“Instead of finding ways it won’t work, why don’t you use that brain of yours to find one that will,” Elodie said, exasperated. “I want to go home and not become a permanent resident of Malediction.” She didn’t want to die either, but her choices were limited. If she had to climb the steep rock before her to escape the nightmare she was trapped in, so be it.
“Up is not always the answer,” Lulu flew over their heads. “Although it can be fun if done right.”
The bird landed on a nearby ledge. The silver in her wings blended with the same shade filling the rocky edge. She pecked at the silver until some of it dropped at her feet.
“What are you doing,” Cale demanded. “How is that helping?”
Lulu flapped her wings and sent the wind flying through their hair. “Silence,” she said. “I thought you were smarter than the fool.”
And to think Elodie believed she’d risen higher in Lulu’s estimation since they rescued Cale from the flowers. What would she have to do to become more intelligent and capable in the bird’s mind?
Cale’s face darkened. “Don’t make me kill you.” He reached for his sword. “It would be my pleasure to watch you bleed.”
Elodie lifted her hand and placed it on Cale’s chest, halting his progress. Lulu could be—difficult. They would have to find a way to deal with that because killing her was not the answer. Elodie had to figure out a way to reason with Cale before he did something that could not be undone.
“Don’t,” she warned, and then turned toward Lulu. “What do you suggest we do?”
Lulu preened before them. She fluffed out her chest and held her wings regally against her small frame. The silver tips of her wings were hard to see when she stood that way. The gold of her beak matched the colors in the wall behind her, and then the sun shifted and seemed to focus on Lulu in all her glory. The rocks sparkled behind her, and the silver at her feet floated in the air. It burst into tiny sparkles of glitter and flew up into the cave. They shot inside and a small explosion rocketed the canyon. A roar echoed back in response.
“Who dares disturb me,” a female bellowed from up above.
Cale glanced at Elodie, his face going momentarily white before he regained control of his emotions. The female voice reverberated with power. Elodie couldn’t help the spike of fear shooting through her. What had Lulu unleashed?
“We’ve come for the prince,” Lulu chirped back. “Release him now or pay the price.”
That was not how Elodie would have handled it at all. What game was Lulu playing? Did she not realize that they could die? She had lived in Malediction far longer than they had, and must certainly know all of its perils intimately. Hell, she could fly away from it too. She wasn’t putting herself in harm’s way at all. What did she care if she unearthed holy terror on them? Lulu would ultimately survive, but Cale and Elodie might not be so lucky.
Elodie glanced up to the cave and gasped. A large white tiger with black stripes appeared. The bite and claw marks made sense now that she beheld the queen in all her glory. She was remarkable, and reminded her of Zelnon’s flag. The tiger had always been regal to her people, and now she understood why. Kalypso was magnificent and beautiful.
“He is mine,” Kalypso roared. “Go now and I’ll forgive the slight.”
Daire certainly evoked strong feelings in the females around him. Elodie was not sure if it was a good thing or not that Kalypso insisted on keeping the prince. Did she want him because she liked him or planned to have him as her dinner later?
“The prince belongs to no one.” Lulu whistled. “As you well know.”
Elodie had a bad feeling. Cale moved closer to her and kept his sword in hand. She should pull her blades too, but something was holding her back. Uncertain what to do she glanced over at Lulu once more. The bird stayed on her perch and didn’t budge and inch. She’d held the same pose through the entire exchange, speaking when necessary.
“We shall see where he belongs,” Kalypso raged and then headed back inside her cave. When she came back out, she held Daire between her teeth. He was more or less hogtied—his legs and arms both secured with rope. His long blond hair flapped in the wind as the tiger held him over the side. Daire tried to wiggle back onto the ledge, but Kalypso’s grip was too firm. When she leaped over the edge, his terror-filled scream echoed through the canyon walls. The tiger landed on all fours before Elodie and Cale, then dropped Daire at their feet.
Elodie met the tiger’s gaze. She had eyes of the purest silver, and one of her black stripes wrapped around her head like an eye patch. It was quite roguish and dashing. In another world, and if she were human, Kalypso might have presented a striking figure. Danger fell off of her in waves, and it added to her appeal.
With a curtsy, Elodie said, “Your majesty, it’s a pleasure.”
Daire stared up at her as if she had lost her ever-loving mind. He would be fine, and he’d realize that in time. Elodie had an idea on how to appeal to the tiger’s vanity. She thought herself a queen and royalty expected a tribute along with admiration. This was something she had experience with and Daire should have learned a long time ago. While they were both considered noble by birth, they still had to deal with neighboring kingdoms and their arrogance.
“Who are you and where did you find the bravery to tread on my territory?”
Everything was going well so far. The tiger had not attacked them, and Elodie took it as a promising sign. If she handled everything right, they would walk away with Kalypso’s help and free Daire from her claws. When she had the chance, she had to ask him how he’d managed to come into the queen’s care. He had not been an honored guest by any means. The prince was used to much kinder and gentler treatment. Elodie kept her focus on Kalypso so she would not insult her and give her a reason to kill them. The way her knight kept grasping his sword led Elodie to believe he was itching for a good fight. His honor had probably been hurt when he had been captured by the flowers—poor guy, he did not handle defeat well. It must have been devastating to be felled by several plants.
Elodie kept the smile on her face benign and unthreatening as she met the tiger’s gaze. “I am Princess Elodie of Zelnon, Your Grace,” she replied. “I’ve come to seek your aid and the release of my betrothed from your gentle care.”
The tiger sat back on her haunches and studied Elodie. She opened her mouth and showed all her teeth for them to appreciate. As if they needed the reminder of her ability to tear them to shreds, she lifted her claw and picked at her teeth. It was a gruesome sight to behold.
“You claim this feeble male as yours?” Kalypso finally said. “He’s not worthy or your courage and valor.” The tiger nudged him with a paw, rolling Daire back and forth like a ball. “He’s a puny, inconsequential male. He challenged me and lost.”
Daire’s hair was filling with dust as the tiger played with him. It was almost as if she believed him to be a toy to entertain her at will. Elodie had to admit, it was rather amusing to watch, but entirely unfair. It was time to call this to an end and make a deal with the tiger.
“Your highness,” Elodie began. “Is any male truly worthy enough to grace our presence?” She lifted a brow. “In the end, they all let us down in some way.” She didn’t bother looking at Cale or Daire. No doubt they’d both be glaring at her. Elodie had no desire to find out how much hate they were throwing at her. This was a necessary evil to ensure their survival. Besides, she wasn’t exactly happy with either one of them
Sadly, that had been her experience far more than she liked in her short life. First, her father died and left her in Fiona’s care, and now she had Cale’s betrayal to contend with. Daire, at least, was ex
actly as he seemed. At least thus far—in time, he too could end up disappointing her.
“You are wise for one so young,” the queen said. “If he is so contemptible, why do you wish him returned to you?”
This was the hard part. While she did not want Daire to die, she really didn’t want him in her life. Until they returned home, they had to rely on each other the best they could. According to Lulu, they needed Kalypso. Where was that pesky bird anyway? Elodie glanced to the ledge to where she last saw her and found her missing.
“He may be loathsome, but he does belong to me. Will you return him?”
“What do you have to offer me in return?”
She did not have anything of value besides the blades and her locket. She patted her chest to feel the necklace for comfort and gasped. It wasn’t there… Had she lost it somewhere along the way? Her heart broke at the knowledge her treasure was gone and possibly forever.
“She offers you nothing,” Lulu hovered above the tiger. “You know your duty, and it is to serve the true queen. You’re the pretender.”
Kalypso roared and tried to swipe Lulu out of the air. The bird was faster though and flew high into the sky. She hummed as she flew upward and then dropped silver onto the tiger. Popping sounds filled the air around them, and the tiger rolled onto her side. While the tiger was subdued, Cale used his broadsword to slice the ropes binding Daire. The prince rolled to his feet and away from the tiger’s claws. He scrambled to his feet and put as much distance as possible between him and the tiger. His clothes were rumpled and dirty. Daire brushed his hands over his tunic to wipe away some of the dust coating it.
“You’re an evil bird,” Kalypso said. “Why do you keep hurting me?”
Lulu held her beak up in a superior manner. This world was the strangest thing Elodie had ever encountered. How was it possible for a bird to make a tiger cower before her? Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Lulu should have been food for Kalypso, and instead she’d showed her belly faster than Elodie could blink. The bird landed at the tiger’s feet and pecked her nose. One day someone might strangle Lulu for doing that. With the way Cale glared at her on a regular basis, it would probably be him to attempt it first.