Broken

by Marianne Curley

  ‘I thought I was seeing Nathaneal today.’ I don’t know why I keep baiting him. It’s not helping.

  ‘Ah, but you will see Nathaneal today. Unfortunately, it will be an occasion you might not want to remember.’

  ‘What are you talking about?’

  ‘Last days are like that.’ His words, like a serpent’s fangs, inject venom into my heart. ‘I’m not blind, Ebony. The only way you will forget him – and make room in your heart for me – is when he no longer exists.’

  ‘If you kill Nathaneal, how could I ever love you?’

  ‘You will learn. We have plenty of time.’

  ‘You don’t learn love. But, wait . . . listen . . . you don’t have to kill Nathaneal. I’ll be your queen willingly if you promise not to kill him – ever!’

  ‘Princess, don’t embarrass yourself by pleading. I may not be a Soul Reader, but I can tell you’re lying to me now. You can’t devote yourself to me as long as Nathaneal exists somewhere in the universe. Every day you will wonder where he is, what he’s doing, who’s making him smile, soothing his broken heart, pleasuring his body, giving him an heir. Admit it.’

  I shake my head. ‘You don’t know me. I can do anything I put my mind to.’ The lies flow out like spilled wine, one after another. ‘I promise I will do my duty. I’ll learn to love you over time like you said I could, and until that happens no one will know the difference.’

  He studies my eyes. ‘You’re good, Princess. You almost convinced me. Our children will be brilliant Soul Readers. We’ll have many of them, and they will pass your gifts to their children, and their young will infiltrate Earth and place an invisible mark on every newborn with the potential to be future soldiers of Skade.’

  My knees weaken.

  ‘We will train them from the beginning when they are most pliable.’

  ‘You can’t be serious.’

  Self-righteous supremacy radiates from his glistening eyes. ‘Do you have any idea how strong this strategy will make our future armies? Stronger than any armies Avena could ever amass, especially after I destroy the young prince in which they have foolishly put all their hopes.’

  ‘So you plan to kill him no matter what I promise.’

  ‘We understand each other perfectly.’

  The eerie sound of horns blasting gets Luca moving again. He drags me to the edge of the balcony again. Fog still blankets the city, but he makes a casual waving motion with his hand and it parts like the Red Sea did for Moses.

  ‘Look, Princess, see those people down there on the streets? They’ve never had a queen before and they’re waiting for you.’

  I stare at a broken city rising out of darkness like the arms of death clawing out of a funeral pyre. It appears to be early morning, grey clouds bleeding crimson streaks across a vast sky. Dark angels and human souls, who look just like regular people, pour out of buildings. The difference between the two species is evident in the way they carry themselves. The shorter humans wear worn-out coats, and rush around without making eye contact, carefully avoiding bumping into the taller, well-dressed dark angels who command an aura of confidence and superiority.

  Both species keep glancing to the sky. They hear the horns and become more animated. The humans gather in groups while the angels keep mostly to themselves or in pairs. Apparently they’ve all heard their king is returning with his . . .

  Jeez, I can’t even think it’s me they’re waiting for.

  My stomach rolls with the reality that’s starting to hit me. I’m going to be living in this world for the rest of my life. Not long ago, I was an ordinary girl with regular dreams who sensed she was different, but if I think about my future now I’ll go crazy.

  A breeze wafts up with the unmistakable smell of sickness, poverty and death clinging to it.

  Prince Luca points out his palace – a glittering white, multi-tiered structure with classic medieval turrets and spires. It sits on top of a hill at the end of a gold-paved street, a high white wall surrounding it, capped with gold tiles.

  It stands out like a dazzling oasis in a barren wasteland.

  I try to imagine myself living there, looking out those square windows, not just for one lifetime but for a thousand more. ‘No.’

  ‘What did you say, Princess?’

  ‘I can’t do it. I can’t live there.’

  He shakes me and I glare at him. ‘Do you mind? I’m not a ragdoll. I’m an angel just like you. And if you expect me to be a leading figure for your people, you had better not shake me ever again!’

  He stares back at me, his lips parting as if he wants to say something but can’t find the words.

  Not long ago I couldn’t wrap my head round being an angel. And while I still don’t resemble one, and I have no wings or memories like angels are supposed to have, apparently, I know I’m an angel. I feel it in every breath I take, in every beat of my heart.

  I straighten up to my full height, not an easy task with Luca’s arm clamped round me, but I do it, and raise my head. The horns continue to play out their spine-chilling notes as the fog continues dispersing. And to my horror I now see what Luca’s been hiding – endless rows of soldiers dressed in black uniforms, complete with polished chest armour, glistening silver shields and an array of weapons attached to their belts. My breath catches in my throat.

  This is what Prince Luca wants me to see, the power he’s going to use to annihilate the angel who fills my heart with love, and leaves no room for him.

  44

  Jordan

  I’m having a great dream. I’m picnicking with the girls at the lookout at the end of the ridge. The sun is shining, the sky is clear and sparkling blue, the view is spectacular in every direction, whether we look west over the Oakes valley, north to the ranges, or straight down the cliff where the Windhaven River separates the two ridges.

  I’m whistling a tune I’ve never heard before, and both Ebony and Amber are smiling and clapping along to it. We’re all happy and, man, it feels good.

  Amber gets up and tries to coax me into a dance. Her blonde hair is bouncing around her shoulders, her eyes inviting and warm as she moves to the tune.

  ‘I can’t,’ I say, lifting both hands into the air by way of apology. ‘I can’t do both at the same time.’

  Sitting on the rug, Ebony looks up at me with a questioning frown. So I explain, ‘I can’t dance and whistle at the same time.’

  ‘Oh!’ Ebony exclaims, and still frowning she says, ‘But, Jordy, you’re not whistling.’

  ‘I’m not?’

  Both girls shake their heads at me. I glance up at the sun, but it’s gone behind a black cloud and suddenly it’s so dark I can’t see a thing.

  I open my eyes, my heart beating hard and fast. It’s a rude awakening – realising that even in my dreams I can’t get anything right. I lift my head, careful not to lean too far forward and pull on the chains. After they left me here, I tried yanking on them as hard as I could, over and over, hoping to work the chains loose from the rock wall, like they do in the movies. Huh! Reality is so different, man. The cuffs cut into my wrists, blood dripped down my arms and the chains didn’t budge a single bit.

  If only they’d left me a lantern. Or water! Now that would have been considerate and could maybe even have extended my life by a day or two, giving someone time to find me.

  But who in hell is gonna come looking in a redundant gold mine previously used by the Dark Prince to create demons? The truth is, nobody knows where I am except Mr Zee, and he’ll be in Skade by now, celebrating Ebony’s capture.

  My arms are beyond aching, my shoulders are pretty much gone and my hands are so dead that I haven’t felt them for hours. At one point there was numbness and I tried to keep my arms and legs moving, but eventually I got too tired. Now I can’t feel much of anything except for pressure in my chest that’s steadily getting more intense and making it harder to breathe.

  I hear whistling, just like in my dream. It stops abruptly and now I’m not sure whether I
really heard anything. I’ve been down this tunnel so long I can’t be sure whether I’m imagining the sound, or having another dream.

  I hear it again. Someone is down here.

  But who? More dark angels? The same dark angels? Have they returned to finish me off like an annoying loose end? Who else would know about this place?

  Maybe this whistler isn’t an angel at all. Maybe it’s kids who think it might be cool to check out an old gold mine, maybe even find some gold if they’re lucky.

  Whoever it is, maybe they can get me out of here, or at least get me the help I need, like bolt cutters and water.

  Then I can finally find out what happened to the girls.

  45

  Ebony

  A general, wearing a gold-trimmed black helmet with two long, curved blades sculptured on either side like horns, stands before his army. He passes an order to his first lieutenant, standing on his left, who relays the command to the soldiers in a loud shout. The first row performs some kind of quickstep pivoting movement, ending front-facing and at attention. The second row follows and so on. It’s an intimidating display of precision and discipline.

  After showing me this, Luca drags me into the tunnel. It’s here his eleven remaining Prodigies wait for his orders. He disperses them in small groups to strategic positions along the edge, then commands the six remaining Gatekeepers to form a protective unit around us.

  The general flies in, retracts his wings, swings his sword across his back and lopes over on all fours like a giant spider.

  My mouth goes dry. I force myself not to scream the closer he gets, but it’s hard not to freak out. Instinctively, I move backwards and hit Luca’s chest, who chuckles and whispers in my ear, ‘He won’t bite you.’

  When he reaches us, the general swings his body back into standing position, drops down on one knee, removes his helmet and bows his head. His long silver hair, tied back in a ponytail, flops over his shoulder. In a deep voice he says something in his native language but Luca cuts him off. ‘Speak English before your future queen, General Ithran.’

  He stands and nods at his king. ‘Good to have you back, sire, and looking so well.’ His piercing gaze drops to me. ‘My lady, your beauty and youthfulness surpass the imagination. Welcome to Skade.’ He glances across the short distance between where we’re standing and the tunnel edge. ‘Well, you’re almost there. It’s a pleasure to meet you.’

  He seems to be waiting for some kind of acknowledgement. I glance up at Luca and he raises his eyebrows.

  I can’t believe I have to do this!

  I take a deep breath and nod in the general’s direction. ‘The pleasure is mine, General.’

  Luca chuckles. The noise turns my stomach. ‘Have you sighted the enemy yet, General?’

  ‘They lounge on Hornet’s Nest, my lord, depleted by their travels. I dispatched a squad to shake them up. We can’t have them too rested, sire.’

  I look up at Luca with venom, but I bite my lip. The general is after a reaction from me that will clue him in to Nathaneal’s strategy. And the way Luca’s jaw is twitching, he either did not know, or did not want me to know about this latest attack.

  So I do the only thing I can. I urge Nathaneal to fly as fast as possible in the opposite direction.

  But who am I kidding? Nathaneal is a pure soul who loves me with his pure heart. How our love came into being isn’t the question. We met, and our meeting activated a love that was ordained by destiny or something. And now separation is impossible to endure. He could never abandon me, even if he died trying to save me from this monster.

  A sob bursts from my chest. I catch it in my throat and hold it, swallow it, and bury it before anyone notices.

  It’s then I hear his heart beating, faster than usual, but I would recognise that deep, solid, reassuring thud anywhere.

  And the anticipation of seeing him again after so long, knowing he’s walking into an ambush, is almost too much to bear. Sweat beads across my forehead as I force my eyes not to look in the direction of his heartbeats in case I give his position away.

  He flies in, his eyes searching for me, his team behind him in the formation of an arrow. Their hair is long, and they look scruffy and unkempt, as if they’ve just stepped off the battlefield, but otherwise they are just as I remember them – stunning blue-winged Jezelle, golden Michael, Isaac with his silver eyes and bright copper hair, and three others, whose names I don’t know.

  But it’s Nathaneal who has all my attention, as beautiful, as intense and as perfect as ever. I want to jump into his arms and kiss him. I want to hold him, lay my head over his heart, and stay there for the rest of my days. I would run to him right now if Luca weren’t holding me with his unnat-ural strength.

  But all thoughts of Prince Luca disappear as my eyes and Nathaneal’s meet, and he lets me know he’s not leaving without me.

  How I’ve missed him!

  Memories stolen from me at birth suddenly burst through their hiding place, memories of my mother’s beating heart, of healing fingers splaying across her stomach, of reaching for them with my tiny hand, and feeling frustrated with the pulsing wall keeping us apart. Someone, somehow, had just shown me my future and I needed to reveal it to the boy who would share it with me, so I forged a connection between my pre-natal spirit and the pre-pubescent prince who was standing over my mother’s body with his hand on her belly.

  Noticing how Prince Luca’s arm crosses my chest, Nathaneal stiffens; every muscle of his beautiful face hardens, and my heart breaks with the knowledge that more pain lies ahead.

  From the corner of my eye I spot flashes of blue, then purple wings, beating fast into passing blurs. It’s Jezelle and another female angel. They sweep across my vision carrying two lamoraks, surrounded by golden halos. My parents?

  And now Nathaneal and his remaining team are going to try to bring me home too.

  ‘Tell your soldiers to throw down their weapons,’ Prince Luca commands from over the top of my head. ‘It’s not as if you are in a position to do any bargaining. You must have noticed the legion of soldiers outside awaiting my command. You’re in my world now, Nathaneal.’

  Nathaneal glances over his shoulder at Skade’s grey sky. ‘I believe I just left it.’

  Luca growls like a bear. ‘You know you can’t win this, so why put your team through the ordeal of a battle. If you haven’t noticed, I hold the prize right here in my arms, and this time she comes home with me.’

  ‘Don’t speak too soon,’ Nathaneal says calmly, prompting another rumbling sound from Luca’s chest.

  ‘You’re an ambitious young prince, but your heart is bigger than your brain. Hasn’t your team done enough for your foolish romantic quest? Look at them. They’re exhausted.’

  When he doesn’t look, Luca shrugs. ‘You fell in love with the unattainable and yet you expect your friends to fight for you. Your inexperience is showing. Real kings fight their own battles.’ His smirk is disturbing. He turns it on Nathaneal’s team, lingering on each of the four remaining angels. ‘Feeling a smidge weary after that lengthy journey, are we?’

  ‘What’s your point?’ Nathaneal snaps.

  ‘How long do you think you can hold out against an army that will keep coming a dozen, a hundred, even a thousand at a time? They have orders to annihilate you all, to do whatever it takes. Once the battle begins, there will be no mercy for your team. But if you accept my terms the four standing behind you will be allowed to leave immediately. They’re good soldiers, I’m sure you’ll agree. No need for them to die. Are you willing to put their needs before yours, give them the reward they deserve?’

  Michael says softly, ‘Remember you’re negotiating with the one who talks with forked tongue.’

  ‘Michael, my past adversary,’ Luca drawls, ‘I see the high court has found a new job for you as a consultant. How interesting that you would accept a position so clearly beneath you.’

  ‘What are your terms?’ Nathaneal snaps.

  ‘It’s
simple. You will lay down all your weapons.’

  ‘What of Ebony?’

  ‘She stays with me, I thought that was clear.’

  Michael says, ‘Nothing is ever clear with you. What of Nathaneal? What is your intention?’

  ‘You ask a lot of questions for someone who is second in charge. Nathaneal will cease to exist. That can’t come as a surprise,’ he spits out over the team’s sudden cries of outrage.

  Nathaneal lifts his hand and his team falls silent. ‘We didn’t come here to negotiate.’

  But that’s not fair! Not to him, and not to his remaining team members. Nathaneal . . . I forge a mind-link though I probably shouldn’t because I don’t know yet how to select who can and cannot listen. But right now I don’t care. I have to talk to him . . . negotiate for your life, please.

  His eyes plead with me to understand.

  But I don’t want you to die!

  ‘Perhaps you should check with the rest of your weary team before you make such a selfish decision on their behalf,’ Luca says.

  Michael’s voice suddenly resonates through the tunnel as clear as church bells ringing, ‘Cousin, I will fight alongside you until the end of days.’

  Isaac follows with his own declaration, ‘Bring on the first hundred!’

  ‘Is this your view too, Uriel?’ Luca asks the angel with white hair and unusual yellow irises. ‘To follow a prince into a battle you cannot hope to win, a prince who is a mere fraction of your age?’

  Luca gives a mocking laugh, but with each word Uriel utters, the Dark Prince’s smile tightens.

  Uriel shrugs. ‘This isn’t about age, or whether the odds are stacked against us. It’s about doing what is right. And you have taken what is not yours to take.’

  ‘What about you, Solomon?’ asks Luca.

  Solomon, a big angel with stunning sea-green eyes, black curly hair and chocolate skin, straightens his broad shoulders and spears Luca with a look of such deep loathing it makes me wonder what past grievances have passed between the two. ‘I’ll do whatever it takes to dismiss this scourge, my prince.’