by Leyton, Bisi
“You owe me nothing and you never will.” Felip headed down the passageway. “Let us go.”
“What do you really want?” She seethed. “You weren’t happy murdering Ollie, so now you want to see me suffer too?”
Closing his eyes, he dropped his head. “I did not and would never hurt your child—ever. I loved her like she was mine.”
“You’re so full of crap.” Forcing a laugh, she felt hot tears roll down her cheeks. “When Bach wakes up and rips you apart, my only regret will be not seeing it.”
“We do not have time for this.” Enric tapped her shoulder. “We all need to go.”
“Not Felip,” She protested. “He stays here.”
“If that is what you need, then I will stay here. Go and—” Felip started.
“Do not worry, Felip will answer for his actions when this is all over.” Enric attempted to assure her. “But we need him right now. He found out Bach brought you here and after you were taken, he got us a place for us to lay low and that is where your friend is now.”
“You have Garfield?” She asked as they moved toward the end of the hall. “If you’ve hurt him, I promise you’ll pay.”
The walls trembled with her voice.
“It that—?” Enric turned to Felip.
“We are wasting time. Once Coia figures out her sons are missing they will come looking for us,” Felip explained.
“He also found—” Enric continued to try and explain something to her.
“If Wisteria dies we are all dead. Do you not get that?” Felip implored. “You can tell her everything else when she’s safe, Enric.”
They hurried into a large room furnished with a couple of chairs. The remnants of a table lay scattered on the far side of the wall. On the other side of the room stood a wall made of glass.
Enric handed her a shard of obsidian crystal before placing the small tile of dark glass on the window.
Wisteria went through the threshold first. Emerging on the other side, she stepped into a large barn. Scanning around, she saw Merce’s empty overland parked a few feet away.
A moment later, Enric arrived and then Felip stepped out.
“Where is Garfield?” Wisteria asked Enric.
“He’s in the main house.” Enric pointed to the main doors.
Felip walked ahead, but Wisteria didn’t move.
“We have to go outside again?” She wasn’t prepared to do that. “What do you have out there Felip?”
“Nothing. Come on, if I wanted to do anything to you I would not have done it by now,” Felip remarked.
“That sounded like a threat,” Wisteria retorted. “It’s good to see you’re honest about something at least.”
“Listen Wisteria—” Felip paused as if he was thinking about what he was going to say. “About Oleander, I am sorry I did not stop Doc.”
“Doc—” Wisteria stuttered. “My father—stepfather never—”
“He killed Oleander and I should have done more to try and stop him. You have no reason to believe me because I have never been worthy of it,” he revealed.
“Enric, please take me to Garfield...” Her voice trailed off when she noticed Enric was gone. “Where is he?”
“In the main house. He went around the other way.” Felip pointed.
Upset Enric left her, she hurried out.
Felip overtook her, closing the door before she could leave.
“What are you doing?” she demanded.
“I am sorry I hurt you. I never wanted things to turn out this way.”
“Felip, you got all the artifacts, the obsidian crystal, the maps and the dark glass. You brought them together to release Coia and the Dy’obeths. You set this madness in motion.”
He frowned.
“Now the Dy’obeths are rounding up all the humans in this realm to kill them.” She sighed. “You’re part human and you let this happen?”
“I did not think things would turn out this way. Coia said she would bring equality to the Family by ending the caste system and creating a world without Thayns. She said she would remove my human side and free me from my shame.” There was pain behind his words.
“Is being part human really that bad?”
“In this realm, it is hell, but you cannot understand. You have lived in a world where all people are treated equally.”
“There’s no equality in my world.” She could relate to that because once she left Lagos she’d always been the weird outsider who endured the abuse of others.
“I did not realize she was crazy,” he explained with desperation. “Now she is going to destroy everything and everyone unless we stop her.”
“Even if that means helping Bach?”
“Bach and I have our differences, but I never dreamed of anything this bad. Listen, I was doing what I felt was right—getting Bach’s mother back and breaking the Family’s elitist system. Instead, I released these monsters.”
“Felip, I—”
“Believe me, the Dy’obeths are going to kill me too. Why would I want that?”
“You’re saving yourself. Finally, some truth, like always, you’re servicing your own agenda.” She backed away.
“No.” Seizing her hand, he stopped her from leaving. “You are my only agenda Wisteria. Do you not see that?”
“Tell me this, why would Coia let Dy’obeths kill the humans when she has two half-human sons she clearly cares for?”
“Malcolm has been perfected the same as Bach. He is no longer a half-human mongrel, but was transformed into a full-blooded Dy’obeth. It no longer matters what his father was.”
“But she didn’t transform you?”
“No, I am not her son.” Felip forced a smile. “Just a Famila Dog.”
“At least you now understand what it feels like to be called a Terran Rat.” She lowered her voice.
“Yeah.”
Stepping past him, she headed out of the barn. “Why are they keeping the humans alive?”
“High Father is using them to get information on the Pillars to blackmail them into swearing the loyalty oaths more quickly.”
“Can’t Dy’obeths beat out what they want or brainwash them, like they did the Drones.”
“The fear of humiliation creates more terror than physical pain. Plus, the Dy’obeths want willing slaves. They see a person of a broken race as more entertaining and more pleasurable to torture than one who has no mind.”
“What?”
“A free-minded Famila will be terrified of the New Elders making them a more enjoyable opponent than someone who willingly does your every wish.”
“New Elders?”
“High Father has enthroned his sons as the heads of the Pillars.”
“What happened to the original Sens?”
“Our Seven Elders have either been killed or imprisoned. Most Famila are going along with it and swearing the oaths because they are terrified. You can help end this, but you have to let me keep you safe. If High Father learns Hemlock Zey’s daughter is back, he will come after you like a wraith out of hades.”
“It won’t be the first time a supernatural has come after me.”
“You thought Didan or the empirics were bad or the draug? They are nothing, nothing, compared to how High Father will rip you apart piece by piece over weeks, simply because he wants to hear you scream.” Tilting down until he was at eye level with her he added, “I will never let him do that to you.” His cold breath washed against her skin.
“What do you want from me? Really?” She got goose bumps along her arm.
“You. The first time I saw you at the Hunter Tower, I wanted you.” His voice broke as he spoke.
“So why did you want to renew me?”
“That was stupid, but you were—are bonded to Bach. I had no chance of being with you any other way. Wisteria, I know you do not feel the same—”
“I don’t feel the same. You destroyed my life, you killed my daughter and you killed Piper. You’re mad to even open your mouth a
nd say that.”
“No,” he protested. “Doc murdered Ollie. Enric beat and sent Piper to her death. I was the one who looked out for your daughter in Franklin and the last Famila in the world who gave a damn about Piper.”
“Don’t you ever get tired of lying? Enric told me what you did—”
“Of course Enric would say I did that. He blames me because Alba killed their father.”
“You killed her father. I was there. I saw you,” Wisteria reminded him.
“I stopped Alba from torturing the man to death, but I did not want him dead. Right now, he would have been our greatest ally because no one understands how the artifacts work or the truth of the Dy’obeths more than the Lord of Jarthan.” Gripping her waist, he held her in place.
“Let me go or end me, because either way I’m done listening to your rubbish.”
His green eyes darkened and he released her. “When you get into the Hall of Ages you are going to need me since I understand a lot about the First Pillar’s artifacts.”
“Your help? You don’t get it. Listen to me—listen...” She dragged out the last word. “Your help is poisonous. You might’ve tricked Enric somehow, but you’ll never get me on your side.”
“Wisteria, you are right. At first, this was a game to me and I thought I could win, but I am in over my head. I need your help more than you need me.”
She stopped for second. “Where is Garfield?”
Staring at her intently for a few seconds, his eyes did not move from hers.
“Which way?” She pointed at the two opposite exits.
“Do not move.” Taking out a dagger, he advanced toward her. Without a word, he tossed it in her direction.
Before she could process what was happening, she heard a scream behind her. “What the—?” When she glanced back, she saw a chalky skinned reaper holding an axe while staggering back with the danor in his chest.
“Cousin, I have missed you.” The reaper hissed. “Felip, come to me.”
“Stay back.” Felip charged at him.
Pulling a plank off the wall, she said to Felip. “Set it on fire.”
“What?” he called back puzzled as he sliced off the reaper’s head.
“Only fire stops them.” Hurrying toward him, she held out the plank.
“No need, it is dead now. How do you know fire stops these things?”
“We’ve dealt with them before.” She pointed the wood at him. “Humor me and light this up.”
Pausing, he lifted up a finger and produced a streak of blue light, which he used to ignite the wood. “I do not see the point.”
The fallen reaper rose behind Felip while reattaching its severed head.
Felip stood in shock. “I see.”
Not waiting for him to get his bearings or figure out what she was going to do, she set the reapers clothes on fire just as it swung its axe at her.
It let out a bloodcurdling scream as the flames consumed it.
Felip pulled out an old-fashioned handgun and shot the reaper between the eyes. Then he drew Wisteria away from the creature. As if to protect her, he stood between the reaper and Wisteria.
Moving back, she watched the reaper fall again.
They waited, watching for the reaper to move. The seconds turned to minutes and nothing happened.
“Fire actually works?” He seemed amazed. “Reapers are supposed to be unstoppable.”
“Apparently there were stories, but I’m surprised you can’t control them like you can the draug.”
“These are different.”
“We should get out of here before more of your relations show up.”
Nodding, he took her hand.
“Don’t touch me.” She pulled herself free.
Getting to the barn doors, he peeked out. “There is nothing out there. We have to move now.”
The pair darted out and up a steep sandy incline. The air felt dry, hot and burnt her skin. The ancient barn, a few coconut trees and giant rocks were the only objects in view.
“Where are we?” she asked.
“We are back in the Moon Desert.” He was halfway up the incline.
After walking for several minutes, they came to an old dilapidated bungalow. Its windows and front door were boarded up. Any paint or decorations on the exterior were long gone and all that was left was a mash of grey bricks and cracking cement.
“This way.” Taking her around the waist, he leapt off the ground.
“What are you doing?” she exclaimed, but managed to keep her voice low.
“There is no backdoor.” He landed on the roof. “This is the way in.”
“I could’ve climbed up.” Moving away from him, she adjusted her top as it’d ridden up.
At the center of the roof was a spinning black orb. She recognized it as a Biel core used by the Family to generate power.
“Here.” He knocked on a flap on the roof.
Moments later, the flap opened and he started to climb in. “You coming?”
She really didn’t want to, but Garfield was inside and she needed to see him. Peering through the hole in the roof, she saw a ladder propped against one side that led into the house with Enric looking up at her.
“Hurry,” Enric barked.
When she climbed in, she saw Garfield in the dimly light room. “Garfield?” She jumped down.
“Are you all right?” He hugged her tight.
“Yeah, they got me out in time,” she answered.
“What’s your name?” Garfield asked to check if she’d been renewed.
“I’m Wisteria Oluwamodupe Kuti. What’s yours?” she whispered.
If either of them had been renewed they wouldn’t be able to state their names.
“Hmm,” Garfield hummed in her ear. “That’s a little complicated.”
“Please no.” She studied his light grey eyes. “I need to be sure Felip hasn’t turned you into a sleepwalker.”
“I did not do anything to him,” Felip defended. “I swear.”
Garfield took off the earplugs she still had from Bach’s den. “My actual name is Richard Augustus Stephen Hanover.” He spoke so softly she could barely hear him.
“What?” Cocking her head back, she stared at him. “Who?”
The name sounded familiar, but she couldn’t place it.
“Garfield Simon.” He laughed. “You need to learn to relax more.”
“Not funny Garfield.” Wriggling her way out of his grasp, she shook her head.
“We’ve got to find something to laugh about.” Garfield sighed. “Who knows what we’re going to face next.”
“You’re sure Felip didn’t do anything to you?” Inspecting Garfield, she saw he now dressed in the dated get-up of the Family.
“He’s been—okay —so far.” Garfield scratched his head and glanced at Felip. “But we need to talk…alone.”
As Enric secured the roof, Garfield took her through the dusty and neglected house, lit with a small candle. It appeared to be falling apart. He took her to a tiny sparsely furnished bedroom with no windows.
“Is it safe here?” she asked.
“Felip put up a piron net, so we’re as safe as we can be. We’re not sure how it’ll hold up against the Dy’obeths or the reapers, but so far so good.”
“Right.”
“Did Enric tell you the real reason Felip is with us?” she asked in a whisper.
He closed the door and whispered back, “Because Felip gave you refuge and understands which artifacts we’re going to need to stop Coia?”
“No. A lie I’m sure.”
The door opened and a tall girl about their age entered. She wore shoulder length blonde hair that looked almost pure white and her eyes were a light green. Holding a faded green dress over one arm, the other girl wore an elegant deep green satin dress that looked a thousand times more elegant than the one she was holding.
“Alba.” Wisteria gaped at Enric’s sister.
“Enric thought wearing our clothes would be bett
er for you as you travel through our realm. If it does not fit, I do have a larger size.” Unemotionally, Alba held out the faded and slightly torn dress she was holding. “If you are hungry, I can arrange for that one to get you something to eat.” Alba pointed at Garfield.
“Felip brought you here?” Wisteria’s jaw dropped.
Chapter Sixteen
The Hall of Ages.
Enric burst into the room.
“Why is she here?” Wisteria demanded.
“I told you not to come in here.” Grabbing Alba, Enric dragged her out. “She is not your concern.”
“Not my concern?” Wisteria echoed.
“Get some rest. We will discuss this later,” he continued.
“Once we get to the Hall of Ages, you will see you need me,” Alba called from outside the room.
“Enough, Alba.” Enric snapped. “Wisteria, this will all make sense once we have discussed it.”
“There’s nothing to discuss,” Wisteria replied.
“Do not order me. I do not answer to you or anyone.” He stomped out and slammed the door behind him.
Opening the door, she peered out into the darkness. At first, she wanted to storm after him, but didn’t.
If Enric lost his temper, he might make enough noise to attract trouble.
Instead, she closed the door and picked up the dress Alba brought.
“What are you thinking?” Garfield asked.
“I can’t do anything about Alba or Felip at the moment. Right now, everyone wants to get to the Hall of Ages, so we’ll play along. I have the feeling we’ll have the upper hand once we arrive there.”
“But you don’t know what you’re looking for,” Garfield noted. “And from what they’ve been saying, there are millions of artifacts and stuff in there.”
“I overheard my mother say there is away to seal all the thresholds from there, maybe there’s a way to get home.”
“What if you can’t find it?”
Dropping onto the bed, she shook her head. “Merce told me that I’m driven, or rather the First Pillar is driven, by a powerful instinct. I’m hoping I’ll figure it out.”
Sitting next to her, Garfield wrapped one arm around her in silence. Neither seemed to have the words to make each other feel better, so there was no point trying.