The Daath Chronicles- The Complete Series

by Eliza Tilton

  “You can do this.” Jezebel kissed my cheek before closing the door.

  These girls were so sure of me, yet the thought of what I must do turned my stomach in vicious knots. I had to kill a man, or a Reptilian, not that it made a difference. I sat on the edge of the bed, gripping my dress, and trying to find the courage to face this task. I needed a sign that The Creator was with me. Anything to know I wasn’t in this alone.

  The bedroom door opened.

  My breath hitched in my throat at the site of Daago. He’s here already? I wasn’t ready. I needed more time to think, to prepare!

  This is too soon. I cannot do this!

  Dressed in black from head to toe, he watched me with narrowed eyes, a smirk pulling at his thin lips. “Lovely.”

  “Hello, my lord.” I did my best to hide the trembling in my voice.

  He glanced around the room, his sickening smile making me shiver. “I see you’re prepared.”

  “I’ve learned when to fight, and when to obey.” I forced the words out; this would be over soon if I just focused.

  “A very smart girl, indeed.”

  He sat next to me on the bed, but I didn’t dare look at him. He ran a finger across my collarbone, and the sensation made me recoil away from him. “You’re not angry that I brought you here.”

  Don’t lie, but don’t be weak. “You took me from my family, and yes, I’m angry, but I know my only hope of ever seeing them again is to gain your favor, not anger.”

  He pulled back the fabric of my dress near my shoulder. “Very smart.”

  “My Lord,” I said, abruptly standing. “If you please, I need a drink. Will you have one with me, to calm my nerves?”

  He leaned back on one elbow, eyeing me with an evil hint in his almost black eyes. “Pour.”

  My hands shook, and I silently yelled at them to be steady. Any sign of fear might give me away. I poured the wine into two cups and brought them back to him.

  He took one.

  I raised mine and brought it to my lips.

  “Let me,” he said, taking the cup from me, and looping his arm under mine to bring the drink to my lips.

  No. No. If I drank, I’d die with him, but if I refused, he would wonder why, and that would endanger every girl here.

  “Of course.” I faked a smile and let him lift the cup to my mouth. Once I drank, I took his and did the same. My heart hammered when I swallowed. This would be my end. After everything I had survived, this would be how I died: in the arms of a killer.

  “Feel better?” He took the cups and placed them on the ground. “Now, back to better things.”

  I closed my eyes, picturing myself back on the island with Lucino. I wanted my last thoughts to be of him, not of the monster beside me. Daago gripped my arm, his fingers dug into my skin.

  “Ow,” I cried, opening my eyes. “You’re hurting me.”

  His face cringed in pain and he reached out, clawing my sides. Strangled breaths gurgled out of his mouth as he tugged my dress, nearly ripping it off.

  “Let go of me!” I pushed at his hands and arms, but even with his body shaking, his grip tightened and held.

  Wide-eyes stared at me and blood dripped from his nostril. Wind blew into the room, swirling the lilac scent around me. I would never be able to smell that flower and think of anything other than this moment.

  With a yank, I tore free from his grasp and scrambled off the bed.

  He fell onto his back, gazing at the ceiling, ragged breaths leaving his lips.

  Please, don’t live. Don’t live.

  It was cruel to request such a thing, to want another person to die, but what Daago had allowed to happen to these girls was much worse. A last gasp left his cold lips, and his head lulled to the side.

  “Jezebel!” She and Gwen ran into the room.

  “It worked!” Gwen clapped and ran to me. “You did it.”

  Jezebel checked Daago’s neck and wrist for signs he lived. “He’s dead.”

  “I drank it.”

  Daago’s hands still curled together. Soon, that would be me. Sweat trickled down my neck, and I breathed in and out, fast, staring at the dead man before me.

  “How much? How long ago?” Gwen asked.

  “A little, before he did. I had no choice. If I didn’t, he would have suspected me.” I hugged myself.

  “Jeslyn.” Jezebel smiled. “If that’s true, you’d be dead. The poison didn’t work on you.”

  “How? That’s impossible?”

  “Who cares? We’re free!” Gwen bounced on her feet.

  “Not yet,” Jezebel said. “We still have the guards downstairs to deal with. Take his weapons.”

  Gwen unhooked the sword on Daago’s belt and searched his body for another weapon. She found three daggers hidden inside his pants and cloak.

  “What’s the plan?” I shook the fear of death away. I had no idea how I survived. Was it possible Willis created a poison that wouldn’t hurt me, one that might only harm a Reptilian?

  Jezebel took one of the daggers. “Daago stays for most of the night when he comes, and leaves in the morning. He has one of his personal guards stay by his carriage. The house guards will be asleep except for one who will be on watch. That’s the one we need to kill.”

  Gwen and I followed Jezebel to the outer room.

  “My friends,” she said, addressing the group. “Our time in this cursed place is over, but we have two more obstacles in our way before we can be free of this dungeon. Jeslyn and I will head downstairs. The rest of you listen to Gwen.”

  “Gwen, when you hear me whistle, that means Daago’s guard will be on his way upstairs. Don’t let him leave this room alive. When he’s dead, take his clothes. One of you will need to dress as him just in case someone sees us. Throw the body in the bedroom with Daago and quietly come outside. We’ll be waiting with the carriage.”

  “How will we all fit?” There were nine other girls in the room. A carriage could only seat four.

  “We’ll lie on top of each other if we have to. We’re all leaving tonight.” Jezebel glanced around the room, reassuring every terrified face. “Let’s go.” She followed me to the door.

  “Be careful,” Gwen said, shutting the door behind us.

  “What do I do?” I whispered once we were in the hallway.

  Jezebel ripped the front of my dress.

  “What are you doing?” I lifted the fabric, pulling it back into place to cover myself.

  “Trust me.” She yanked on my hair, pulling a few of the braids out of the pins.

  “Ow!”

  “Sorry. Hunch over and hold your stomach like you’re in excruciating pain.”

  I grunted and did as she asked. We walked down the stairs where a guard sat in a chair, bouncing a tiny ball off the opposite wall.

  “Please, help,” Jezebel said, placing her hand on my back and pretending to help me down the stairs.

  The guard dropped the ball and stood. “What’s wrong with her?”

  “Daago … he was too rough. I think he broke a rib. She’s having trouble breathing. Will you look?”

  “Bring her in here.” The guard folded his arms and watched us walk into a sitting room on our left. “Put her down over there.”

  Jezebel held onto my side, then gently helped me lay on the couch. The front of my dress fell away, and the guard’s eyes widened. He hovered over me, examining the patch of skin exposed.

  “Please, her ribs.” Jezebel stepped closer to the guard, positioning behind him.

  “Fine, fine.” The guard pressed his fingers against my chest. “Tell me when it hurts.”

  I nodded.

  He pressed on the first rib, then the second. Jezebel stood behind him, dagger raised. In one slice, she swung the blade into his neck. Blood shot out, spraying me. I jerked to the side
, rolling off the couch.

  “Grab him, quick! Before someone sees!”

  Jezebel grabbed under his arms and I lifted his feet. “Behind that chaise.”

  We carried him to the back of the sitting room. She glanced around the room until she spotted a blanket and used the old throw to cover the body.

  “The blood?”

  Jezebel ripped part of her dress off and wiped my face clean. “Nothing we can do. The blood only caught your face. Ready for the last one?”

  No. Nausea spread through me, saliva filled my mouth and I held my stomach. “I feel sick.”

  “Hold on. We’re almost done.” She grabbed a bottle from a nearby rack and took three long sips before tossing it on the chaise.

  I held the top of my dress together, my heart thundering in my ears. Daago’s guard waited outside the carriage, rigid and alert. When he saw us stumble out, he reached for his sword.

  Jezebel curled her finger at the guard, playfully motioning him to come closer. “Daago is in a bit of an embarrassing situation.” She hiccupped and threw herself onto the guard who awkwardly caught her. “Our new girl,” she nodded to me, “was a bit nervous. It’s her first time.” She whispered the last part and my cheeks flushed. “Daago thought we could ease her spirit, but we all drank too much.”

  The guard pushed her back. “Where is he?”

  “Upstairs, naked, and snoring into the night.” She giggled. “I sent the guard to fetch water from the well. You only have a few moments to get your lord out before the rest of the guards see him in that state. Better hurry.” She swayed into my side and hiccupped. The guard grunted and ran inside. Jezebel whistled once the guard had made it to the stairs.

  “Are we just going to wait out here?” The moon hung round and bright in the night sky. With no clouds, the stars provided more light than I cared for.

  “Yes.”

  Jezebel and I hung on to each other, silently awaiting the fate of our friends. Would they succeed? Moment after moment passed without a single sound and no movement from inside the silent house.

  “I can’t wait here any longer,” I whined. “We have to go. What if something happened?”

  “Look.” Jezebel pointed. “They’re coming.”

  The girls quickly filed out of the house. Each one silent and wide-eyed.

  “Gwen?” I stepped forward, searching the faces.

  “Here.” Gwen, dressed as the guard, popped out from behind the other girls.

  “Everyone into the carriage.” Jezebel began ushering the girls forward “Fit any way you can. Gwen, you take the reins.”

  “I know where we can go,” I said, instantly thinking of the only person in Daath we could trust.

  “Then sit upfront with me,” Gwen whispered. “Hurry.”

  I climbed onto the front bench and positioned myself as Jezebel helped the rest of the girls into the carriage and closed the door, then climbed next to me.

  “Where to?” Gwen slapped the reins and I pointed north.

  “I have a friend north of the village. He’ll help us.”

  We rode through the forest, constantly looking behind us. The carriage bounced against the ground, and I held onto the seat before I was thrown off. When the guards woke, we’d all be in danger, and now Jericho. Bringing nine girls to Jericho’s would warrant a lot of explaining and put Jericho at risk, but what choice did I have?

  I wouldn’t abandon them.

  A light shone in Jericho’s home. Before the carriage fully stopped, Jericho walked out the front door with his sword drawn.

  “Jericho!” I waved from the front seat.

  “Jeslyn? Where have you been?” He sheathed his sword and slowly approached the carriage.

  I jumped down. “It’s a long story.”

  “Is that the royal carriage?”

  “Yes. We have a bit of a problem.” I opened the carriage door. “It’s okay, girls, come out.”

  Jericho’s eyes widened as he watched the girls exit the carriage. “What is this?”

  “The girls from the dollhouse.”

  He pulled at the sides of his hair in exasperation. “You’ve put us all in danger. How did you do this and why?”

  “You should thank her.” Jezebel said while meeting Jericho’s frantic gaze. “She killed Daago.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Lucino

  Sixty-five Reptilians waited inside the pyramid, arms wrapped around large bags of any personal possessions they were bringing over. Each wave contained figureheads from each of the main branches, workers in agricultural and architecture, warriors, servants to assist with the transition and settlements, and synergists.

  I stood on a dais addressing the large contingent. “When we enter the temple in Daath, you will follow Commander Vela to the underground tunnels where you’ll be assigned a housing station, a human husk to shift into, and your duty in the new world. Are you ready?”

  All sixty-five stomped their feet in unison and pounded their chests, a sign of their commitment and obedience.

  “Proceed!” I raised my arm, signaling for the first line to enter the gate.

  Each line followed the spiral stairs into the glowing portal. Up here, I had full view of them disappearing into the swirling purple vortex. One step off, and they fell, vanishing from sight, and landing in Daath.

  Romulus broke away from the group, frowning.

  “I thought you’d be pleased to return to your experiments?”

  “Hmpf. Your bird made a mess in my lab.”

  “Hadda will return with me, and I’ll make sure she stays away from your lab. Go with the rest. I’ll see you soon.”

  He grumbled as he left and rejoined our kin through the gate. While we had many Reptilians already in Tarrtainya, this was our first group, the first of many.

  Harsh wind swirled sand into the air. The giant lizards that normally roamed this area had retreated further away from the abandoned fields, leaving the scarce landscape of bubbling sulfur pools to find shelter elsewhere. Far beyond the gorge, muddy clouds filled the sky. Violent lightning crackled inside the storm, striking the gnarled trees. Black spots stretched across the little sun, almost covering the entire surface. How much time remained before it exploded?

  Hadda squawked from inside the speeder, flapping her long wings.

  “Calm, Hadda.” I opened the door and grabbed the chain wrapped around her neck. Without Jeslyn to ease her spirit, the bird tended to fly off on her own. Once in Tarrtainya, I’d bring Hadda to the beach and set her free. In time, I would return her to her island, but for now Daath’s shore would have to do.

  Memories of Jeslyn on the beach with the wind blowing around her hair, plagued my mind. I pushed away the images of her, unable to deal with the sharp pain in my chest that followed. Anger roared through me and I gripped Haada’s chain. Krischa was dead, and Jeslyn avenged, yet I still could not let her memory rest.

  Hadda nudged my leg as if she knew my thoughts were on Jeslyn. Would she feel the loss? Would she realize Jeslyn was never coming back? Hadda tilted her head and peeped. A soft cry, different from her normal squawking.

  Yes. I believe she did know that something was wrong.

  “Time for you to go to your new home.” I lifted the chain, allowing Hadda the freedom to glide on the air as we walked into the pyramid and back to Tarrtainya.

  Daath’s luster shined a little less this night. Even though the moon, full, and brightening the sky, made the surrounding scenery sparkle with clarity, despair tainted the imagery, dulling it to a somber blue. Everything I planned had fallen into place. The underground tunnels we created were the perfect passage through the various lands and provided ample living space until we fully integrated with the humans, or took their lands.

  My heart hadn’t decided on which outcome.

  My heart. I laughed at th
e irony of it. Somewhere between falling in love with a human and terminating another species, I had found my more dominant side, and it wasn’t Reptilian.

  Lucy would be furious if she ever discovered the truth.

  The thick foliage of the forest broke apart, revealing the rushing waves and white sand. The sea crashed on the shore, loud and forceful. Large waves rolled in with the night, and a deep ache filled my chest. A sense of loss so empowering it fueled the rage inside. I clenched my fists and glared ahead at the open beach.

  Hadda squawked beside me, and I found it difficult to move my feet and step out onto the sand. How could I be back in this place without Jeslyn?

  Hadda nudged me.

  “All right.” I took off the chain and patted her head. “You are free.”

  She nuzzled my hand before flying forward.

  I crested the lip of sand leading to the beach, curious to see if Haada would stay or attempt to fly home. When I made it to the top, someone sat on the shore, their back to me.

  With quick steps, I headed toward the female. Moonlight caressed the auburn brown waves that reached the middle of her back. My breath hitched in my throat. I would never forget that shade of color or the girl it belonged to.

  But it couldn’t be. I paused, unable to take another step, my heart pounding. “Jeslyn?”

  She looked back over her shoulder. When our gazes met across the sand, she leapt to her feet and ran. “Lucino!”

  I dashed forward and wrapped my arms around her, lifting her into the air.

  “It’s really you.” She slid her arms around my neck. “I thought I’d never see you again.”

  “As did I.”

  I held her in my arms and kissed her soft cheek. “I thought you were dead. What happened in Mirth?” I pulled her back to see her face again.

  She sighed and pressed her forehead to mine. “Krischa discovered the truth about me. I don’t know how … I was so careful. She attacked me when I snuck away to see Hadda, ripped off the locket, and knocked me out. She poisoned me, Lucino.” Jeslyn dug her hands into my shirt, scrunching the fabric between her fingers. “But, somehow I ended up here, at the temple. I was so terrified.”