by Eliza Tilton
“She missed you.” Jericho stood in the doorway.
“Jericho!”
He smiled and I slapped a hand on his shoulder as we met.
“I knew you would make it back.” He grabbed me in a hug, and I patted his back before breaking away.
“Not all of us.” I thought of Cael and how at first I hated him, we even fought, but when the attack on The Order came, everything changed. I wished I had taken the time to get to know him.
“Raven told me about Cael.” Jericho’s shoulders slumped and he shook his head. “Not all the details, but enough. There’s a lot we need to catch up on. First, we eat.”
Yoshi wandered toward the pond, and I didn’t bother calling after him when we walked inside. I didn’t think Anna would like his rats.
Being back around Jericho’s table reminded me of how long the journey had been. It started with my sister’s kidnapping. A kidnapping I had no idea would lead me to a mysterious land where I’d not only find the girl I would fall in love with, but a race of shifters that were trying to take over our world.
Raven ate her food and smiled, really smiled. This was her home. How could I ask her to leave it? Our homes were so far apart from one another. One of us would have to leave their family behind. I wouldn’t let her leave hers. I’d convince my father to sell the farm and move here. I’d ask Derrick too. Leaving the shop would be harder for him, but if Jeslyn and he were both in Daath, maybe they could work things out. They were meant to be together.
“Jeslyn’s here?”
Raven’s question jolted me out of my daze.
“My sister? She’s in Daath?”
Jericho grumbled and pulled at his goatee. “Yes. She popped out of nowhere a few weeks back, saying she was shipwrecked while looking for her grandfather.”
“What?” I dropped my spoon.
Jericho sighed. “There’s more.” He paused, and apprehension wrinkled his forehead. “She killed Daath’s regent, rescued a bunch of girls from the dollhouse, and is now with them in the forest.”
I heard what he said, every word, but Jeslyn doing all that? Mother mentioned her staying in Luna Harbor, but nothing about Grandfather missing. “I can’t believe it.” I laughed, shaking my head. “Jeslyn, going on a rescue mission alone, then murdering Daath’s regent?”
“Don’t forget the dollhouse girls,” Raven added.
“Right, that.”
“Your sister is a stubborn girl, and determined. She should be here tomorrow. I told her to check in every three days.”
“Why is she in the woods?” I still couldn’t believe he was talking about my sister. Unreal!
“Daath’s guards are searching for the group of missing girls. She wanted to keep them safe. She knew of a hidden place in the woods.”
“And you just let her walk off?” I pushed away from the table, the realization that my sister was in serious danger hitting me in a wave of anger.
“Avikar.”
“I need some air.”
Raven chased after me. “Don’t be mad at him.”
“I’m not. Jeslyn’s here, Raven.” I wanted to shake the stupidity out of her. “She can’t be here. What is she thinking?”
“Hey.” Raven touched my arm. “We’ll find her.”
“When? How? What about Yoshi?” I rubbed my forehead. The last thing I needed was my younger sister in the middle of another potential catastrophe, and I didn’t want her anywhere near Yoshi.
“I’ll go,” Raven said as she wrapped an arm around my waist.
“No.”
“Take Yoshi to the temple. I know those woods. A group of loud girls should be easy to spot.”
This was a disaster. One more person I had to worry about. It was bad enough I had to worry about Raven; at least she could fight. If Jeslyn did kill Daath’s regent, it had to be by accident. She wasn’t skilled enough to kill anyone, let alone someone who probably wasn’t human.
Raven tugged on my arm.
“What?”
“Let’s go for a ride.”
“Now?”
“Our horses need us, and we could use them.”
I couldn’t deny the urge to go riding. Brushfire always pushed the pain away with her leaps and gallops.
“Race you?” Raven added with a slight smile and bumped my hip.
“You’re on.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Lucino
The first wave traveled through the underground tunnels out of Daath’s territory to secure Thebas, the bordering land. Word from our scouts said a group of The Order prepared to attack Daath’s guardian snake which protected the main entrance through the mountains. Let them be distracted. If they made it into Daath and survived the valley of poppies, they would meet a line of mages. Lucy’s three ships had reached the shores and were spreading throughout the land. A band went to the temple to protect the rest of our kin’s entrance, another headed to camp outside the valley.
I planned to lead the charge against the rebellion before the real war began.
Cages full of humans lined the tunnel, pleading, reaching out, begging for freedom. Freedom I could not bestow. Each Reptilian would need one human form to blend in with the rest of the society. Eventually, our people would walk freely, ruling as they should, but not now.
Blue-violet veins ran across the outside of the structured homes, carved out of the tunnel rocks. Magic pulsated within each home, charging it with energy to run our lights and machines and creating shelter for those too young to shapeshift, and others who would continue securing our lines throughout Tarrtainya. Oval doors with intricate runes carved alongside the outline and blinked warm hues of light. The carvers had done a magnificent job of bringing our ancient culture into this dark rock, changing the dirty, dreary atmosphere into a twilight city.
The development of the tunnel system started one hundred fifty years ago when we began to move through Tarrtainya for observation. All these years, the humans had no idea the danger traveling beneath their feet.
I entered the larger structure to the north where I’d meet with the commanding officer who was taking the first group to Thebas. The command center had jagged onyx rising around the walls. Red protection runes ran up and down the stone creating a sense of movement. A wine colored serpent head loomed over the entrance, its eyes a blazing crimson, its maw opened and ready to spew forth fire.
Inside the stone hall, Reptilians stood over bound humans, with their hands held out in front of them. Red mist swirled from the humans and siphoned into the palms of my brethren. Faces withered and decayed as each Reptilian transformed into the husk before them, their faces smiling from the transfer. Stealing an essence always filled the user with pleasure.
A pile of corpses lay to the side, waiting for disposal. A gruesome sight, and one I could never allow Jeslyn to see. She still did not understand, nor grasp, the true cruelty of my kind.
“Prince Lucino. Commander Vela waits for you.”
I ignored the screams coming from the helpless and followed the guard into another room.
“Prince Lucino.” The Commander pounded his chest with a salute.
“Commander.”
Scrolls and maps arrayed the table, maps of the tunnels, maps of the thirteen lands above, and maps of the various trade routes we would need to take control of, including the main one running by Jeslyn’s home.
“What’s the status of the war between the human king and mages?” I hovered over the table to read a map of the tunnel system to determine the best route to Thebas.
“The mages are keeping the human king’s army busy on the western shores. Both sides have shown losses, but with The Order’s assistance, the king may soon gain the upper hand.”
“How long before your team is ready to move?”
“Within the hour. The first group will secure Thebas w
hile the rest will head west to assist the mages. It will take us ten days to reach the Nomad King’s base.”
“A lot can happen in ten days.”
“In ten days, the rest of our force will be here. We have the allegiance of thousands of human mages. The ground war will end in our favor.”
“Have you met this Nomad King? Why is he so willing to align with us?”
“He searches for his sister who was taken by The Order as a babe. His hate for them rivals any bargain. We offered to assist in her capture and aid his war in return for his allegiance.”
Commander Vela rolled the tunnel map up. “If you’ll excuse me, my lord, I must prepare.”
I waved him away and sat to think of what I would do once I liberated Daath. While I believed the mages would assist us, I wondered if they knew our true identity. I would need to speak to Lucy to learn more of this Nomad King. Rare is the man who wages war and doesn’t want the power that follows victory.
Lucino.
My sister … always quick to call on me, but conveniently, absent anytime I required her assistance. I often dreaded our telepathic link. Yes?
We should speak.
Very well. I frowned. I’ll meet you at the temple.
Lucy and I spoke very little since my return to Tarrtainya. Father said she negotiated the deal with the Nomad King after failing to destroy The Order’s stronghold. Once father had passed his crown to me, Lucy’s fate would be tied to mine. She could not disobey or defy any order I executed. Her intentions had been unclear during our last conversation, and I sensed anger behind her words. Whether her anger bloomed over my failure to kill Jeslyn’s brother or my sudden return to Daath, I didn’t know.
However, I knew enough to no longer trust her.
I ran through the underground until I reached the tunnels that exited into the forest near the temple. Tents the shade of trees blended with the forest. Humans young and old mulled around them, sharpening swords, sparring with blades, and meditating. I admired how the mages did not disregard the importance of weapon training or hand-to-hand combat.
In the center of the encampment sat a larger tent with two Reptilian guards, in their natural form, posted outside. Interesting how no humans stared at the green-skinned males or even shied away when walking past. I was curious to hear how Lucy explained the presence of Reptilians. She was not careless enough to leak our identity to these unimportant mages, which meant she must have created some ruse about their appearance, surely an entertaining story.
I passed the guards and entered Lucy’s tent. A human with dark cropped hair and a great sword strapped to his back stood before her.
Lucy looked past him and smiled. “Hello, brother.”
The boy turned.
“Why is he here?” Fury boiled beneath my skin. This fool had no purpose here. He should have died the moment his sword pierced Jeslyn’s chest all those months ago.
Lucy placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder. She whispered in his ear, leaning into him, and stroking his arm. His attention remained on me.
Yes, I want to kill you, too.
“Give us a moment,” she said. “My brother and I need to chat.”
He nodded and shoved into my shoulder as he exited the tent.
Lucy grinned as she watched him leave. “Derrick is here with me.”
“With you?”
“Are you the only one who is allowed to have a human pet?” She smirked and I bit down the fury filling my fists.
“Jeslyn is not a pet. She will be queen.”
Lucy barked out a sharp laugh, flipped her hair, and turned her back to me. “A human queen? It will never be accepted.”
“I do not need acceptance.” I gritted my teeth, holding back the urge to yell. “I will be King. Our marriage will show the rest of the humans that we will exist together or they will die.”
“Let’s hope you’re right. Thirsty?” She lifted a pitcher and poured red liquid into a goblet. “War can be exhausting.”
“What do you want, dear sister? Surely it’s not to chat.”
She drank, then stepped forward. The goblet splashed red around the rim. “You should be thanking me; I brought you fodder.” She lifted her drink, winking at me.
“Yes,” I drawled, getting more aggravated with her. “The mages will come in handy. I assume you know of this girl the Nomad King is searching for?”
“Soon. I have spies throughout the lands searching records.”
“What’s our status here?”
She emptied the goblet, then poured herself another one. “The rebellion has made no move to the woods. They keep their men focused on the entrance. They have no reason to search an ancient temple.”
“And the transition?”
“Two more waves have successfully transitioned. When the main branches are all here, the transition to move the more Reptilian commoners will begin.”
“Good. I will go and strike the head of the rebellion, then return here to oversee the rest of the passage.”
Lucy raised her goblet. “To your successful return.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Avikar
Jericho relaxed in an old rocker, smoking his pipe.
I sat, stood, paced, sat again. Where is she?
The wind howled through the trees, sending a chill into the air. Clouds blocked the stars and a low fog rolled across the grass. I dug in my pocket for a marble. The smooth, round surface slid across my palm.
Come on, Raven.
She left early this morning to go search the woods for Jeslyn. Of course, I argued she shouldn’t go alone, but Raven ignored it, these were the woods she grew up in. If anyone could find Jeslyn, it’d be Raven.
Smoke puffed from a small fire on the far side of the barn. Yoshi. I still didn’t know whether to trust him or not. I leaned against the house, too many questions and worries running through my mind. How did Yoshi plan to stop the shifters from coming in? What if Raven was right about him and he is one of them?
What if we fail?
A lone figure walked the path leading to Jericho’s. The hooded cloak covered their face, but not the dress brushing across the ground. Jeslyn.
Relief flooded through me and I ran to meet her. “Jeslyn!”
The figure pulled back their hood. “No, she’s not here.”
“Why do you look familiar?”
The girl smiled, and I tried to remember where I met her. “I believe you’re the guard who burnt down my home.”
I tilted my head. “You’re from the dollhouse?”
She nodded. “My name is Jezebel.”
“Oops. Sorry about that!” I said, scratching the back of my head. “Did you all survive?”
“Yes. Lucino had a new home built for us before he disappeared.”
“Where is my sister?”
Jericho left the rocker and began walking over. Did he know this girl?
“Jeslyn is your sister?”
I turned back to the girl. “Yes. Where is she?”
“She’s in the woods.”
“She was supposed to come here, not you.” Jericho furrowed his brow. “What are you doing here?”
“Nice to see you too.” Jezebel and Jericho glared at each other. “I didn’t want Jeslyn running about while the guards are searching for us. It’s too dangerous.”
“Guards?” I swung back around to Jericho. “Do you purposefully forget to tell me everything?”
He held up his hands. “I have my men patrolling their movements. They haven’t begun to search the forest yet.”
I sighed. “Hopefully, Raven found her.”
“Who’s Raven?”
“That would be my girl, the girl you fought with that night at the dollhouse. She went into the woods to search for Jeslyn.”
Jezebel pulled her hood back on.
“I must go then.”
“Wait!” I grabbed her arm before she left. “Take me to her.”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.” She pulled her arm out of my grip. “You would frighten the other girls, and I can’t risk anyone knowing our location. I’ll bring her in the morning.”
Jezebel walked back into the darkness, leaving me with more questions. Why wasn’t Jeslyn at Jericho’s? What was she doing hiding out with these strangers?
I headed back to the house, Jericho followed. Glancing back, I searched for Jezebel, but she had already disappeared. “I should follow her.”
“And then Raven will go back out searching for you. Wait until she returns. I might not like Jezebel, but she seems very protective of Jeslyn.” Jericho sat back in his rocker and tapped the ash off his cigar.
“Why?”
He smiled. “Your sister killed the man who abused them, then rescued them all from the dollhouse.”
When Jericho mentioned what she did during dinner, he never gave any more details. Though, I didn’t give him a chance.”
“Tell me,” I said, suddenly curious to hear my sister’s feats.
“Sit down.” Jericho nodded to the chair next to him. “This is going to be one interesting tale.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Jeslyn
“Let me in.”
Guards stood outside Lucino’s chambers. Still statues who would neither move nor glance in my direction
“Was I not loud enough? I demand to see Lucino!”
“Let her in,” Lucino said through the doors.
The guards parted and I pushed open Lucino’s chamber doors. He stood in the candlelit room unbuttoning his doublet.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I stomped toward him, clenching my fists. If he lied, I was ready to pop him. If having a brother taught me anything, it was how to throw a punch.