The Daath Chronicles- The Complete Series

by Eliza Tilton

  The closer we came to the temple, the more the vegetation around us changed. Old trees, covered in mossy green, bent in awkward directions. Branches that should have been reaching for the sky instead touched the ground. I tilted my head to the side, staring at those strange shapes.

  It’s as if the whole forest is broken.

  I walked past a spider web strung between two trees. If I hadn’t been paying attention, I would have walked right into it. I hated spiders. The large web was taller than I and at least seven feet wide. A sparrow flew by, and unlike me, it didn’t see the web. The animal landed right at the top. Its feathers stuck to the stringy substance. It batted its wings in a futile attempt to escape. I watched in horror as a brown tarantula, bigger than both my combined fists, skittered down from one of the nearby trees. Every hair on my body stood in fear. Before the bird had any chance of survival, the spider spit out webbing and began to roll the bird between its long spiny legs. I slowly stepped back, my eyes never leaving the deadly creature. When there was a good distance between that bug and me, I ran to Derrick.

  The air became hot and humid. I took off my shirt and tied it around my head, keeping my hair off my face. I grabbed the canteen hanging from my belt and in two long swigs drained half of its contents.

  “This isn’t natural,” Derrick said, wrapping his shirt around his waist.

  I put the empty canteen back in its place. “I agree. Now I know why the townsfolk stay away.”

  The surroundings filled me with dread. My hand instinctively went to my sword hilt. The atmosphere tingled with a foreign sensation that seemed otherworldly. In school, I’d learned about different climates. This jungle did not belong in Daath.

  Jericho whistled and held up his hand. He pointed to a friend who went to scout ahead. A few minutes later, we heard another whistle and began moving again. I could see the white dome of the temple looming above the trees. No birds chirped and no animals crept through the brush. Even the wildlife knew to keep their distance.

  The trees broke and there, standing in the middle of the forest, was our destination. The ancient structure had two large statues guarding the entryway. Each figure sat atop a large throne with strange carvings running along the sides.

  “What are these?” Derrick stood next to one of the lizard men statues, perplexed.

  The expression on Jericho’s face changed. He looked afraid. “We believe that is the statue of the god Lucino worships.”

  “No, you’re wrong.”

  We all looked at the scrawny man who spoke.

  “What do you mean, Rufus?” Jericho eyed his friend.

  “That’s him.”

  I didn’t want to know how this man knew that and I didn’t want to ask any more questions. This thing planned to marry my sister.

  Derrick growled and kicked the statue.

  My head spun. All the sculptures we’ve seen … they’re all him?

  I breathed in.

  As we entered the temple, Jericho explained the plan for tomorrow night. His comrades were able to find out information about the ceremony and Jeslyn. She would be unreachable until arriving at the temple from a secret location. They weren’t sure what type of ritual would take place with the wedding, but it sounded ominous, and only Lucino’s personal guard would be on duty that night.

  I worried for my sister. Every time I heard Lucino’s name it filled me with rage. I knew my sister was proper; at least I didn’t have to worry about that. Who knew what that creature would do to her once they married?

  Creator, if you’re listening, please watch over my sister. Protect her from danger.

  The entrance opened into a large hallway that broke to the left and right. Every six feet was an archway that led into the main part of the temple. The temple was one gigantic dome, the sky its ceiling.

  The hairs on my body stood. I could feel a presence in the temple, an evil force. I focused on the black center and walked towards it. Rows of steps led down into the pit in a circular formation. An unseen force drew me closer and closer until I found myself standing over the hole peering into its depths. A low humming noise emanated from inside. My sword and dagger vibrated. I tried to see the bottom but there was no end. Only a column of darkness. I took out a marble, kissed it and flicked it into the pit. I waited, expecting to hear the thunk of it hitting the floor.

  Nothing.

  Impossible. I leaned forward to get a better look and wobbled.

  “I wouldn’t get that close if I were you,” Derrick said as he grabbed my arm.

  “What do you think is down there?”

  “I don’t know, and I don’t care.” Derrick rubbed the ribbon around his wrist.

  I patted his shoulder and continued exploring the temple. If this was going to work, we needed to memorize the layout.

  Strange runes were etched into the floor and columns. Next to the runes were lines connecting them together, creating an intricate matrix of shapes. The images reminded me of constellations. I bent down, examining them more closely. I traced the outline of one. The edges were perfectly smooth and round. To cut stone like that would have taken years. The runes looked vaguely familiar.

  It can’t be.

  I slid out my dagger. On the hilt next to the rubies was a tiny rune, an exact replica of the one on the floor.

  This can’t be.

  My father had never mentioned anything about Daath. I flipped the jeweled hilt over and placed it on the floor. There was no mistaking it. The runes were identical.

  Derrick was by my side, staring at the floor. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

  “Me either.” I put the dagger away. Once this was over, I planned to have a long talk with my father. For now, I had to concentrate on scouting the rest of the temple.

  “What are all those lines?” Derrick said, pointing to the floor.

  I jumped onto one of the white pillars in the room and shimmied up. I followed the lines around the room, blocking out the runes that intercepted at various points. The pattern screamed at me.

  “A labyrinth,” I muttered.

  “A what?”

  I rubbed my head in disbelief. “Never thought I’d see one.” I hopped down.

  “It’s a labyrinth. I’ve seen drawings of them in one of my father’s books. They’re used in magic rituals.”

  “Used for what?”

  I looked at him wide eyed. “I don’t know, but they are extremely powerful. We need to find Jericho.”

  Jericho was at the entrance discussing battle tactics. I asked him about the labyrinth but he didn’t know what that was. There were no books in Daath, except the few religious texts Lucino provided. If Lucino dabbled in the dark arts, Jeslyn was in graver danger than I could have imagined.

  Chapter Fifty-Eight

  Lucino

  The torchlight bounced off the stone walls as I headed to the preparation house. The walk was not something I enjoyed. The tunnels were damp and had a foul, wet smell to them, nothing like the burning sands of Mirth, but they were necessary. They allowed us to travel unnoticed throughout Tarrtainya.

  When I arrived at the steel door, the two guards saluted and let me pass. The door opened into an empty basement. I walked up the stairs to the first floor where Abigail was waiting.

  “Hello, Abigail. I’ll be in the parlor. Please bring Jeslyn in.”

  The plump woman curtseyed before leaving.

  The parlor was decorated with gold paneling and ivory white wallpaper. An oversized oil painting of a sunset hung on the wall above the white sofa. The art in this world was intriguing. The humans had a creative side that varied from my people. I admired the small smooth brushstrokes creating the vibrant scene. It reminded me of home and when our sky used to be filled with pink and orange hues.

  Jeslyn stepped into the parlor and Abigail closed the doors behind her. I walked to
her with open arms. Her eyes lit and she fell into my embrace. She smelled of flowers, her skin like satin. She leaned against my chest.

  “I’m glad you came,” she said. “I had a horrible nightmare last night and haven’t been the same since.”

  I stroked her silky hair that hung past her shoulders. “Tell me about your nightmare.”

  She shook her head. “No, it’s too terrible. I just want to forget it. Can we talk of something else?”

  “Anything you would like. How was your day?”

  “Strange …” her voice drifted and I didn’t care for the sound of it.

  “How?” I stroked her again.

  She pulled back, gazing into my face. Her eyes had a dullness to them. Possibly from the prior night’s affliction.

  “The other night when you brought me here, I fell asleep in the bath and when I woke … I was in a different room. Abigail said I walked there, but I don’t remember. It’s as if my head is full of clouds.”

  There was still much about the humans we did not know. Was this a reaction to something or a side effect of nerves? I needed to learn more. Reptilians did not dream and I found the process intriguing in humans.

  “I know what will set you at ease,” I said. “Maybe then you can tell me of this nightmare.”

  She followed me to the piano and sat next to me on the bench. The piano was an instrument I admired, many different chords and only seven notes. Fascinating. I tapped at the keys, playing a symphony I’d created in my first years in this world. Hypnotic notes filled the room. Not even Lucy’s song spell could compare to the melody of the piano. I closed my eyes, focusing on the notes and nothing else.

  Jeslyn sang. Her voice, like a soft bird, harmonized with me.

  “In the night/when the world comes alive/All that breathes/Will sing with me/A song of fate/ To spread love’s joy/ Till the morrow comes.”

  My hands feverishly brushed the keys. I lost myself in her song. I had never had a human sing like that for me, and never while I played. The combination affected a part of my mind I was not familiar with.

  Strange warmth flowed through every one of my fibers.

  When I finished playing, Jeslyn clapped her hands. “That was magnificent! You’re a wonderful pianist.”

  “Thank you. The piano is a fine instrument.” I turned on the bench, facing her. “And who knew my betrothed was such a song bird.” She smiled. Suddenly it bothered me that she would soon be dead.

  If she dies, she will die in bliss.

  I gazed at her, activating the spell held within my eyes. Holding her hands, I spoke. “Our wedding will be a joyous day and nothing will upset you. Do not be troubled this night—”

  “There’s something I wish to discuss with you,” she interrupted.

  “What is it?”

  She breathed in deeply before speaking. “What do you know about the attack on my brother? How do you know he’s dead?”

  “Why do you think of such dark things, tonight?”

  “I need to know,” she said softly.

  I wondered where her curiosity came from. “My Council sent me word about the attack on Crain Village. They had mentioned two young boys were slaughtered.”

  She stared at me with wide eyes. “How do you know for certain it was my brother?”

  Holding her hand, I met her gaze. “One of the men was still alive. When my people had asked of Avikar, he pointed to one of the slain boys.”

  She shook her head.

  “What is it? What do you know?” Her questions stirred questions of my own. Did the Council truly succeed in their actions or had they been fooled? With the ball, the invasion and Jeslyn, I had never thought to inquire further. Even if her brother was still alive, he’d never make it to Daath.

  “Jeslyn?”

  Her head shifted slightly to the left, as if she couldn’t face me. “I know he’s alive. I already lost one brother. If Avikar’s dead, I would feel it.”

  Feel it? Humans and their feelings.

  “If there’s any chance The Council is mistaken, I will find out. This I swear.”

  She nodded, satisfied with my answer. “I know you are a good man, Lucino, but I do not trust this Council of yours. I do not think they have your best interests at heart.”

  How right you are my dear. “I will be careful.”

  I lifted her hands to my mouth and kissed them. “Sleep, well, my lady.”

  “There’s one more thing,” she said, her cheeks flushing with color. I lowered her hands.

  “Yes, my lady?”

  She leaned forward.

  What is she doing?

  She moved closer and then pressed her lips against mine.

  No!

  This was forbidden. The law stated no intimacy with a human until after the ceremony. The ceremonial wine contained a sterilization element that would affect the human, making our human brides unfertile. A Reptilian/human offspring was considered an abomination. If The Council found out, I’d be stripped of my position.

  Yet her lips were inviting and I found I could not pull away. The touch set off different sensations, very overpowering sensations. A red haze clouded my mind.

  I scooped her into my arms, forgetting the law, forgetting the consequence. I wanted her in a way I didn’t understand. Desire to touch her and kiss her skin. It was unexplainable. As we landed on the sofa, she broke the connection. When her lips left mine, I regained composure.

  This must end, quickly.

  Strange feelings blocked out the logical side of my brain. Her hands reached for me, pulling me closer to her face. I activated my spell, before things turned worse. “Jeslyn, we must stop this.”

  She ignored the order.

  What? My spell. I jumped away from her. “What have you done to me?”

  Her eyes were glassy. “I’m sorry.” Her hand went to her mouth. “I don’t know what came over me. You’ve never kissed me before, and I … I’m sorry.”

  I placed a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t be sorry. After we are married you may do as you please.”

  “Forgive me,” she whispered. “That’s not like me at all. I’ve wondered what it would be like to kiss you … then this strange urge came over me …”

  “Of course. I must say goodnight.” I should have removed myself from the sofa, but I was drawn to her. Inexplicably. Her eyes met mine and I kissed her. I could feel the beast inside breaking free, the animalistic part of our nature. The part I had buried. Giving into desires was considered a weakness.

  I stood, pulling her to her feet and wrapped my arms around her, kissing her with a severity that worried me. Our lips parted. I could see the hesitation in her eyes, but also the desire.

  My control broke.

  Chapter Fifty-Nine

  Lucino

  No!” Lucy ripped Jeslyn out of my grip. I growled as she passed her off to Abigail.

  “Take her upstairs, now!” Lucy ordered and locked

  the parlor doors behind them. She met my hard stare and screamed a mental order: Pull yourself together!

  Roaring, I leapt at her, wanting to rip her apart. How dare she take what’s mine. Slamming her against the door, I grabbed her neck and squeezed.

  Lucino, snap out if it!

  I squeezed and squeezed.

  You leave me no choice, brother.

  Bursting pain shot through my groin and into my stomach. I grabbed myself and fell to the floor. I couldn’t find the strength to do anything more than breathe. When the pain passed, I stood.

  “Was that really necessary?” I grunted.

  Lucy swiftly moved out of reach. She rubbed her neck, adorned with red hand imprints. “Considering you almost killed me, yes, I think so.”

  “My apologies. You know I would never willingly harm you. I don’t know how I allowed things to get out of cont
rol.” “I do,” Lucy glared.

  “Explain.”

  “Abigail contacted me about Jeslyn acting strange since her bath last night. I went to the washroom and found this.” She held out a finger with a yellow substance on it.

  “Is that sulfur?”

  “Yes.”

  “Demons. Take her back to her room and put a ward over it. No one except you or I will enter that room. I must see Romulus.”

  When I entered the laboratory, Romulus was working on another one of his lavish experiments. He had moved on from lizards to actual humans, dead ones. Normally his work didn’t bother me, but seeing the human’s chest ripped open with metal prongs, its organs arranged on a table, was a bit revolting. The putrid smell was enough to gag me.

  “Hmm, the prince pays me a visit.”

  I walked around the large metal table and stood further from the stench. “I’ve been busy, but now I seek your counsel. Lucy found the trail of a demon near Jeslyn.”

  “That is interesting. Only the elders possess the power to call demons. Perhaps your brethren have turned on you, hmm?”

  “No, Falcur is loyal.”

  “Hmm.” Romulus bobbed his head and dug into the human’s chest with a scalpel. “These specimens are very interesting. Did you know humans are the only animals to have emotional tears? This one cried obsessively before it died. Fascinating creatures.”

  “There is another issue I wish to discuss.”

  Romulus scrunched his fat bulbous nose as he removed another organ.

  I averted my eyes. Experimentation was critical, but I preferred not to see it.

  “My captivation spell had no effect on Jeslyn,” I said.

  That piqued his interest.

  “That is very interesting.” Romulus wobbled to the door and called outside for one of the guards. “Bring me Specimen D from the cage.” When he entered the room, again, he ushered me to the side. “Sit and we will test your powers.”

  The guard brought in a woman, battered and skinny. Romulus pointed to a chair adjacent to mine. “Place her here.”