by Wendy Knight
"I jumped. It wasn't Leros's fault," the boy was saying.
Boy. Not even a teenager yet. Too young to be fighting in a war against demons.
"You jumped?" Trey asked. That was new. He'd never had someone actually jump from their unicorn.
Except for Scout. She'd done it a couple times.
"Yeah. I was trying something." The boy grinned. "It didn't work, though."
"Clearly." Trey ruffled the kid's hair and he took off, clambering back onto his unicorn.
Kylin sauntered across the grass as well as could be expected in stiletto heels. She paused when she got to Trey's side. "Scout must be getting tired of being the Paradesos cheerleader, huh?" She pushed her bleached blonde hair over her shoulder.
"She's been working hard, Kylin. Get off her back."
Kylin feigned innocence. "I'm not on her back. I'm just curious why she looks like she got hit by a truck lately. And where she goes at night."
Trey frowned. Last night was the first he'd spent with Scout, and she had been gone when he woke up. But he didn't tell Kylin that. Instead, he turned on her, doubt making his words harsh. "Why are you stalking her, Kylin? She's carrying the weight of a war and her missing parents on her shoulders. Leave. Her. Alone." He jerked away and walked off, headed toward Scout. He stopped, though, when she saw him and her eyes widened. She backed away, her face pale and eyes dark, and ran in the opposite direction.
"Even when she hated me, at least she didn't run from me," he muttered to no one in particular.
"She's struggling, Trey. She needs trust right now because she's on an unsure path."
Lil Bit had appeared at his side like a little ghost, huge, dark, wise eyes watching her sister escape.
"Aren't we all on the same path?" Trey rubbed the back of his neck and squinted at the sky.
"No. We are all on our own paths. Sometimes they cross, sometimes they don't, and we are on our own."
Trey looked down at her, shocked, as always, at how old she seemed—not a child at all. Lil Bit blinked up at him and then ran after her sister.
Sighing, Trey turned back to the recruits. "That's a day, guys. Go get some rest. We'll see you first thing." He waved them on, and they escaped for the huts. He saw Kylin in the crowd, hanging on Kasen. Cole, Trey's best friend from their former lives, waved and jogged over.
"We're thinking of playing some football. Blow off steam for a bit. We need a quarterback." He tossed the football in the air.
Trey caught it easily, eying Kasen and Kylin. Nodding toward them, he asked, "He playin'?"
Cole followed his eyes. "You're not jealous of that, are you?" Shaking his head in disgust, Cole continued. "You wanted Scout when you were with Kylin, and now you're with Scout, you want Kylin. What's wrong with you?"
From behind him, Scout gasped.
Trey closed his eyes and prayed for strength. Turning slowly, he fought not to strangle Cole. And then he met Scout's eyes. "I've been chasing you all day and you show up out of the blue for that?"
Scout was fighting tears. Trey glared hard at Cole, and Cole backed away. "I don't want Kylin back. I wish her and Kasen the best, may they live a long and miserable life together. The reason I asked if he was playing is because I don't like who he is when he's trying to impress her."
Cole nodded, too enthusiastically. "Right. Duh. That makes perfect sense. I'm…I'm gonna go grab some more guys." He fled in the opposite direction.
"Scout…" Trey started. He had no idea what to say. Every time they took a step forward, something pulled them back a mile. Sometimes they were so busy fighting a war he forgot about being a teenager and all the drama that came with it. He didn't know how to handle it now.
Scout sighed, running a hand through her hair. "It's fine, Trey. I know you don't want her. I'm just having a rough day." Her bottom lip trembled, and she stared hard at the ground, fighting those tears for all she was worth.
"Hey." Trey reached for her, caught a hand, and wondered if she'd fight him when he pulled her in for a hug. But she didn't, instead burying her face against his chest. She sobbed, and he stroked her hair and held her tighter, like if he just held on long enough, tight enough, all her broken pieces would fit back together.
She's on an unsure path.
"Whatever you’re fighting, Scout, I'm on your side. When you need me, I'll be there."
Scout clung to him and sobbed harder. Around her tears, she was making words, but he had a hard time understanding them. He caught, "Sometimes good people do bad things for the right reasons, right?"
He had no idea what to say to that.
Trey was still holding her, his chin resting on her head, when Iros walked up. "Training over for the day? Did everyone survive?" Then he noticed Scout and his forehead creased. "Scout? Are you okay?"
There had been a time when Trey wanted to hate Iros. He was handsome, apparently, and Scout had seemed to worship him at a time when she wouldn't even look at Trey. But Iros was too good. Too kind. It was impossible to hate him.
Scout didn't raise her head from Trey's chest. She only nodded.
Iros looked to Trey, eyes wide. He had never seen her cry before. Scout wasn't a cryer. She'd been beaten nearly to death and never shed a tear. Aella didn't particularly seem the crying type, either, and Iros looked as lost as Trey felt.
"I think she just needs a break. She's under a lot of stress," Trey finally said. It sounded lame even to his own ears, and Iros didn't believe it either, but with no other answers, all he could do was nod.
"Yeah. Get her some rest, huh?"
"Yep." Trey scooped Scout off her feet, holding her against his chest, and started up the hill toward the huts.
"I can walk," she said with a small smile as she scrubbed away her tears.
Trey shrugged. "I need the exercise."
Her smile widened just a bit, and she poked him in the chest. "No you don't."
He chuckled, focusing on not sliding down the hill and breaking both their necks. Once at the top, he ducked through her hut door and set her on the bed. "Sleep."
She glanced out the window toward the setting sun. "If I sleep now, I won't be able to sleep tonight."
Was it his imagination, or did her face get even paler?
"I think if you sleep now, you'll sleep until next week and be just fine."
She sank back on the pillows, curling on her side. Trey sat on the edge of the bed, watching her. "What's going on, Scout?"
She shook her head, and her eyes filled with tears again. "I can't tell you."
"Why not?"
She curled in on herself even more, refusing to meet his gaze. "Because you'll look at me like Ashra did."
Tate had been right.
"What could you possibly have done to warrant that reaction?" When she blinked at him, he smiled. "Iros and his habits are rubbing off on me."
She smiled back, but it didn't chase away the hopelessness, and she seemed so small. "I haven't done anything, yet." Again, she looked outside at the sun.
Apparently, whatever she was going to do that would make them all hate her was happening after dark.
He took her hand, rubbing his thumb across the smooth skin. "Scout, whatever you do, I've got your back. Always."
For the first time that day, he saw some hope in her eyes. "I know."
She studied their entwined hands, her eyes growing heavier and heavier. Within minutes, she was asleep, and whatever she'd been so worried about was forgotten. Trey kicked his shoes off and stretched out next to her, listening to her breathe until he fell asleep, too.
Scout slid out of Trey's arms, brushing a light kiss against his temple. He didn't stir when she climbed over him and landed lightly on the floor. Lil Bit had come in to bed an hour ago, and she was sleeping fitfully, tossing and whimpering, sometimes calling for Scout, sometimes calling for her mama, and once, begging for Eirene. Scout pulled the blanket up over her sister's thin shoulders and silently promised to kill Ariston if he was trapping Lil Bit in one of his
nightmares. She backed away, out the door, and turned to the night. "Eirene, she needs you."
She waited silently in the darkness, listening hard. The tiny white unicorn emerged from the mist as if she were created from it, her gold horn glowing brightly. She brought peace with her. Scout felt the warmth encase her soul and calm her heart as the little unicorn nudged her hand and then disappeared inside. Scout turned, watching as she lay down on the floor next to Lil Bit. The little girl stopped whimpering, stopped fighting whatever she fought, and smiled.
"Thank you," Scout whispered. Eirene didn't speak, unlike the other unicorns. She was as strong as the Irwarros, as fast as the Eske, and Scout knew from personal experience she could heal as well as the Leerhas. But she never spoke.
Turning away, Scout jogged down the path to the forest. She had no way to get to Aptavaras without a unicorn. She couldn't fly; she couldn't split the sky. She was useless against the Taraxippus. If Ariston didn't keep his word, she had no way to fight back on her own. Her scepter hung at her waist, but she could only use it as a bat without Ashra. And she didn't have Ashra.
But she wasn't going to let Lil Bit cry anymore. Scout had to rescue her parents. And she only knew one way to do that.
The pond was silent as she approached it. No waves lapped at the muddy beach. Even the waterfall seemed muted. Scout studied the water for long moments, wondering if she would survive this. Iros had told her the water was from the tears of brokenhearted unicorns. It felt invasive to wade in and flail around trying to find the doorway to Aptavaras.
Not that she hadn't done that many times already.
“You're still going.” It wasn't a question. Scout didn't turn toward Ashra. She couldn't bear to see that look of betrayal in her eyes again.
"Yes."
“You DO realize it is likely a trap?”
Scout shook her head. "I trust him."
The water was so deep. She didn't know if she could hold her breath long enough to find the bottom.
“You are a fool.”
Scout nodded. "I know."
She unhooked her scepter and set it aside, then sat down to pull off her boots.
“You are not going alone.”
"I can't ask anyone else to take this risk, Ashra. You were right before."
The knots in her shoelaces were stubborn. Scout broke her nail trying to get them undone.
“If I had come to you with this crazy idea, you wouldn't care about the risk to yourself. If it were my loved ones he held, you would be the first to volunteer.”
Scout's hands stilled, and she shrugged. "You probably wouldn't even ask. I'd have to chase you down and force you to let me help."
“I will take you.”
Scout turned quickly, nearly falling over. "What?"
“I don't trust Ariston. But I trust you. If you say we can survive this, then I believe you.”
Scout didn't dare hope. Scrambling to her knees and then her feet, she stared at the giant unicorn, black horn glowing, wings fluttering gently, a nervous twitch Scout had noticed Ashra had. "I can't ask you to do that."
“You already did.”
Scout nodded too quickly and felt like a bobblehead doll. "Yes. But I was wrong."
“You were desperate. And you will not make it to Aptavaras through that pond. The moon is rising. We must go now if we want to make it back before morning.”
Scout sobbed, shoved her fist against her mouth to keep from crying, and nodded again. Picking up her scepter, she ran to Ashra's side and leaped onto her back before she could change her mind. She felt awful dragging Ashra into this, but every time she closed her eyes, she pictured Lil Bit's face, heard her sobs. "Okay."
Ashra reared, her front legs pawing the air, lightning shooting from her horn. The sky cracked, and Ashra soared through it. On the other side was darkness. The moon wasn't bright here—dark clouds obliterated it, and everything below them. But the screams of the soul stealers could be heard from this side of the gate and the smell was overpowering. That was all Scout needed to know exactly where they were.
Aptavaras rose in front of them.
Ashra didn't hesitate. Once she made up her mind, there was no stopping her. She pumped her wings hard and they flew through the gate. There, on the ground below them, stood Ariston.
He was more beautiful in real life. More tragic. Pain emanated from him in waves. He was alone—none of his pets waited nearby. Only…
Scout's parents.
Ashra landed hard, the ground shattering under her feet. Her horn glowed dangerously, sparks and flames leaping from its tip.
Scout slid from Ashra's back, landing lightly on the cracked, blue ground. "You found them."
Ariston inclined his head, but didn't take his eyes from her.
"I told you not to chase them."
"I don't take orders from a little girl." He sounded amused.
Scout looked from her parents' souls to Ariston and back again. They'd been missing for months, yet their brightness hadn't faded at all. "We're okay, Scout."
Ashra moved forward, black horn glowing dangerously. Ariston held up his hand. "We've struck a bargain, and I will not hurt you, nor will my pets. However—"
Scout cringed. She'd been afraid there would be a however. She glanced nervously at Ashra, whose dark eyes were shooting daggers.
"If she attacks me or my pets while you are here, our bargain is off."
Ashra snorted, jerking her head up. Scout's eyebrows shot skyward in surprise. "That's your however?"
Ariston frowned. "Were you hoping for something else?"
Scout shook her head.
"Fine." Ariston waved his hand lazily through the air, and his throne appeared in a burst of smoke. He settled on it and steepled his hands, waiting.
From somewhere in the distance, music played. It was a haunting melody, full of pain and unrequited love. Scout turned in a slow circle looking for the source, but there was nothing.
"It's my heart, Scout. That's what you hear," Ariston said, his voice low and broken.
And Scout hurt for him. His tragic past had turned him into a monster, but a monster who hurt all the time.
Scout started to dance. She closed her eyes and pretended she was in the empty gym at school, just her and the music. She swayed through the melody, twisting and leaping, bending and sinking before rising up into a spin. The music continued, and she flowed through it, feeling her soul reach Ariston's. It was as if he was torn and bloody, and she could heal his wounds—as long as she danced.
The music changed as time went on, from something bleak and heartrending to something calmer and hopeful. Scout didn't open her eyes, just followed the music until the skin on the bottom of her feet tore and her arms and legs shook with effort. Finally, she sank down into a low curtsey and opened her eyes.
She knelt on the ground in front of Ariston.
She could feel Ashra's panic, but the unicorn stayed still. Ariston reached out one cold, white hand and brushed the hair away from Scout's neck. "If only you would never leave me," he murmured.
Scout rose and stepped back, away from him. His face fell, and already she could feel his pain returning. "I'm sorry, Ariston."
He shook his head and waved his hand toward Ashra. "You are free to take them. I will keep my word."
Her parents' souls both hurried toward Ashra. Before, when they'd rescued the souls from the cage, hundreds of unicorns had been there to help with the evacuation. Scout wasn't sure how they were going to get out of here now, but Ashra didn't seem worried.
Scout turned back to Ariston, who watched her with hungry, desperate eyes. "Thank you."
He nodded once and said nothing.
She turned away and was nearly back to Ashra's side when she remembered Trey's parents. Pausing, she turned back. "Have you found—"
"I know of them," Ariston said. "We have not caught them yet. When I do, you will hear from me."
Scout nodded, swinging up to Ashra's back, her parents' souls secure
d and ready to go. “Can you carry us all?”
“Souls are far lighter than bodies. I'll manage.” Ashra's wings spread, and she leaped into the sky. Ashra took them quickly out of Aptavaras, and Scout waited until they were at the gates before she risked a glance back.
Ariston still stood on the bluff, watching her.
“We'll take them to your home to be reunited with their bodies. Then we will go to Paradesos.”
"Okay." Scout had no idea how she was going to explain their presence to Iros. Or Trey. She gnawed on her lip, trying and failing to think of a way to justify her secrets.
“What if we don’t take them to Paradesos? What if we take them to the sorcerers to protect?” Ashra was in Scout's head again, but for once Scout appreciated it.
She leaned low over Ashra's neck, patting the sleek hair. "You are brilliant."
Ashra flicked an ear toward her before she shrieked, lightning splitting from her horn and tearing the sky. Before the thunder rolled, they shot through the gash and out the other side. Scout recognized the beauty of her hometown below them as Ashra swooped low and landed in front of the hospital.
The ground was still cracked and broken, the walls of the hospital bent and shattered from the last time they'd been here, fighting Ariston and his demons. But this time there were no monsters, no broken hearts. It was silent except for the hum of the machines inside. This was one of the few places with an actual population—it was small, but there were still people alive here. Scout had no idea how Lil Bit was doing it, protecting their loved ones. But it was a haven Ariston left alone.
Her parents’ souls disappeared inside, and Scout watched them, terrified they might not come back out. She was exhausted and hurting, her entire body spent from the dance.
“And your lack of sleep”.
Scout nodded. That, too.
She slid from Ashra's back and wandered through the parking lot toward the road. It had only been a little over five months since the Soul Stealers had attacked, but already the weeds were encroaching, lawns dry and brittle. The people that still lived here were focused on food and survival, not road maintenance and landscaping.