Beneath the Broken

by James Cox

  Swords clashed upstairs.

  I took the steps two at time, elongating my claws as I moved. A guard fell just as I came to the second floor. His blood spread on the stone as the assassin turned toward me. I smiled, showing some fang. “You lose.” I jumped at him, kicking off the wall at the last second so that his sword lunge missed. I fell into his right side and we both went down.

  A woman screamed.

  “Aralynn!” There was more than one assassin. I dug my claws into the enemy’s throat, the warm blood coated my fingers as he sputtered and died. A breath later I was on my feet, rushed the door, and broke it off the hinges.

  The room was empty.

  Another scream, this one from outside the open window followed by the ping of blades hitting. “Aralynn!” I didn’t think, I crawled through the window and landed hard in a leafy bush. The branches poked at my skin as I fumbled to get free. “Where are you?” I shouted, the swords still clanging from the front. I prayed that it was a guard trying to hold off the attacker as I ran as fast as I could around the building.

  It wasn’t a guard.

  Aralynn shoved her sword into the big guy with the knife. Her face was twisted in rage as she pulled the blade free and stabbed him again. He fell to his knees. She swung the sword, slicing his neck low. Another swing, the blade hitting the perfect spot to sever important things. Blood sprayed out in a wide arc as he fell. Aralynn still held the sword, staring down at the man she just killed with a satisfied smile.

  “Aralynn.” Her name was a whisper on my lips.

  Those blue eyes jerked to me and she paused in the motion of lifting the sword. “I-I know you?”

  That sounded like a question. “You do.” I spoke softly, taking steps toward her subtly. I wanted to be close enough in case another assassin tried for her, but I didn’t want to spook her.

  Aralynn dropped the sword. Her face went pale. She fell to her knees and grabbed at her arm.

  Those blue eyes, Dullahan’s dick, they pierced me deeper than any blade could. I surged forward as her eyes closed and caught her before she could hit the ground. She was injured! I gathered her in my arms and ripped the sleeve off her peasant dress. The gash was deep, but it was the odd color that made me panic. What had been on that knife? “It’s going to be okay.” I picked her up, cradling her as close to my body as I could. “I’ve got you now, my queen. You’re going to be okay.”

  But she wasn’t.

  I carried her away from Little Fairaine to the edge of the Durnin river. The wound refused to stop bleeding. I wrapped it up as best I could, but in the back of my mind I knew what I had to do. I had to get Aralynn to Joen. Immediately, I stole some rope from a home and tied Aralynn to me. I tightened the cloth on her arm and threw the length across the river. It took four tries for it to get snarled in a tree. With my grip on her almost bruising, I walked into the water. The chill seeped into my body like a blade. Blood tinted the water pink as I pulled on that rope to help steer me. When the river bed dropped low, I held Aralynn and kept her head above the water. A few times I went under sputtering as we were dragged by the current. The rope held true, keeping us from plunging down Death Falls. By the time I made it to the other side of the river the sun began to peek over the horizon. Dullahan’s dick, she was still unconscious, still bleeding. “Aralynn.” I laid her on the shore. Her skin was clammy and cold, but then again, so was mine.

  She murmured something.

  I untied us, panic making my movements jerky. I had to get her to Joen and there was no way I could carry her the entire way. By foot it was at least a day and a half journey. I picked her up, my knees nearly buckling. I was starving and my normally high temperature was low enough for me to feel weak. With a growl I took the first step away from the river. Avoiding the guards had been the difficult task. My senses were muted by my condition. She looked so helpless in my arms, a state I’ve never seen her in. She slept with a fucking knife under her pillow. The woman had been as vulnerable as stone. Seeing her fight had not only given me hope that the Aralynn I knew was still within her, but that the memory potion may not be as effective as proclaimed.

  Two guards walked along the river talking.

  I rushed forward, nearly tripped and caught myself on a tree trunk. We were in the small gathering of trees in the western part of Fairaine. I could use them to hide us, but the sunlight quickly approached.

  Aralynn groaned.

  “Hush, my queen.” I whispered into her ear and fumbled forward. Shadows hid us like companions as we made our way further from the river. The sound of the rushing water began to fade, but that didn’t mean the danger was over. I smelled the human before I saw him. A lone guard walking around with … another sniff … two Aos Si. Those tiny fairies were a fucking menace. Nearly undetectable. Blood still seeped from Aralynn’s arm, the cloth now soaked in it. The sight urged me on. The nearest home was hours away. Once there I could steal a carriage and make my way to Joen. He had to be able to help her. He had to know why she wouldn’t stop bleeding. Poison perhaps? I tried to sniff it out, but between my weakness and her blood, it was near impossible to tell. I kept going, fatigue making my senses dulled, but my willpower spurred us on.

  The sun rose, revealing the bright colors of the trees and their full foliage. It also brought with it more patrols. This close to the castle I wasn’t surprised. “Stay with me, Aralynn.” I whispered periodically to her. Why hadn’t she woken? The wound was deep and she bled mightily, but why did her eyes not open? The word poison swept through my mind with a terrifying echo. I ran faster.

  The sunlight and wind dried our clothes. The chill was at least at bay for a few hours now. Still I ran, fumbling forward with the last bits of my energy remaining. Trees seemed endless and yet, were becoming sparse. I had to pause a moment to avoid a patrol and it took me a full minute to gain my feet. Exhaustion was quickly taking me. If I didn’t make it to a home soon then I feared my body would simply give out.

  Each step was a force of sheer will. Whenever I would falter, I’d stare at Aralynn’s pale face and increase my pace. I had no idea how long I’d been going like this. Hours, from the way I felt. The sun had crawled over us. Guards swept past us several times. The last time I worried my growling stomach would have given us away. Just as the sun began to fall I saw the first home. It was an average dwelling with a garden in the back and pies cooling in a window. I grabbed one of them as I ran past and laid Aralynn in the grass.

  She sputtered a few sounds, her eyes moving rapidly beneath her lids.

  I stuck my hand into the pie and shoved food into my mouth. I chewed as I ran to the front of the house. It seemed that there was no one here. Maybe there was some obscure god looking out for us. A carriage was in front of the home. One wheel missing. Fuck! Closer now it looked like there was a wheel in the back. I’d have to fix this shit. Sweating now, I went about the task, checking over my shoulder every few minutes. No one in the house came out and Aralynn remained on the ground motionless. She looked even more pale than before. “Fuck.” I tightened the wheel and went to retrieve her.

  She gasped and grabbed at my arm when I lifted her. The grip was weak and went limp before I could straighten.

  “Aralynn, come on, my queen. You’ve never given up on anything. Keep fighting.” I talked to her quietly as I laid her in the uncovered carriage and hopped in. The crank was the loudest fucking thing I’ve ever heard. It clicked and clanked enough to get the attention of the people inside. We surged forward just as a man came running from the home. I could only hope he didn’t see my face, otherwise, everyone would know for a fact I was still in Fairaine. I didn’t have time to kill him or threaten him with torture should he speak. Aralynn was fading fast and the journey was still long.

  I rode faster than I should have, careening around corners and attracting attention. With my head down and my shoulders slumped I tried not to stare at anyone. I was just another prick in a hurry. In the very heart of Fairaine I managed to snag a hat off a
passing person. He called out, but I was moving too fast for him to catch. At least with this I was a little harder to identify. All the while Aralynn thrashed at the bottom of the carriage. Her fingers would open and close. Her legs smacked against the wood. I kept the crank going, driving us as fast as I could toward the healer. When night fell, I didn’t care whose eye I caught. Let them find me. I didn’t care, but Aralynn needed help!

  My stomach began to rumble again. Even my eyelids began to droop as we passed homes with families sitting down for an evening meal. The market had closed up and the taverns were filling up. A few whorehouses had women outside trying to lure horny customers. I paid it all no heed. We rolled along, the night passing quickly, Aralynn still alive, but losing her grip on this world.

  When the wee hours of the morning came upon us, I used even more speed. Darkness concealed the speeding carriage and its frantic passengers. I nearly plowed into a building and had to slow when a pair of guards turned a corner. Cursing them silently, I pressed on.

  Night had come and gone. The first wisps of light were on the horizon. I was so fucking tired. It was like I was going through motions, but not really seeing or feeling anything. The sun was up when I finally slowed the wagon. I’d crossed the city in record time, shaving hours off our route by nearly killing us. “Aralynn?” I whispered her name.

  No response.

  I leapt from the cart and carefully gathered her in my arms. She was chilled and no longer twitching. The breath barely escaped her lungs. Fuck! Fuck! I kicked at the carriage, not watching but hearing it fumble through the sandy beach and smack into the water. It would sink in a matter of minutes, erasing any evidence we’d been there. The streets were lined with drunks and whores. None of them gave me a second glance, not even at the fact that I was carrying someone in my arms.

  There.

  Hope. Joen’s house was only a block away. I could see the barest of lights flicker from the window. The sight gave me that last ounce of energy to move on. I was so tired, my body nearly collapsing as I took those few last steps. “Joen.” I called his name and kicked at his door. The motion nearly toppled me.

  Aralynn groaned and pressed her face into my shirt.

  “Joen!” Louder. The kick harder.

  “I’m coming, I’m coming.” He opened the door with the hood over his head. “What the … fuck me!” He stared wide eyed at the woman in my arms.

  “She’s hurt. Poisoned maybe.” I leaned against the door frame. My legs shaking. “I don’t know how to help her.” For the first time in my life I begged. “Joen. Please. Please help her.” Not even my fucked up childhood had gotten me to beg—the beatings, the fights, or the intense hunger. Not even when they cut off my tail. But this moment I would get down on my knees and plead. “Joen. Please. Save her.”

  Chapter Five

  I remembered laying Aralynn on the bed and then … nothing. With a head as heavy as stone, I opened my eyes.

  “The flowers weren’t worth this.” Joen’s voice.

  I rolled my head upward to find him sitting on the floor beside me. “She alive?”

  “Better than you. It wasn’t poison.” He brushed hair off my forehead and removed a wet cloth. “It was a sleeping tonic. The former evil fucking queen of Otherworld woke up about five minutes ago and locked herself in my bathing room.”

  “What?” I struggled to sit up. Holding onto the bed when the room spun. “Sleeping … tonic?”

  “My guess is that they weren’t trying to kill her, the assassins you were yelling about when you barged in here. They were trying to kidnap her.” He added dryly. “The former queen of Otherworld who tried to destroy this town and kill our kings … is in my bathing room.”

  “Aralynn.” I ignored his sarcasm and fumbled to my knees. “Is there a window in there?” She might have already climbed out and run.

  “Nope. This house has one window. Anymore and this place would be a pond.”

  I got to my feet. “Aralynn?”

  The door squeaked open and her beautiful blue eyes gazed out. “You took the wrong girl. My name’s Lynn.” She swung the rest of the door open and threw a damn bucket at my head.

  I ducked as she flung a vial of something toward Joen then she tried to bolt right past us. Not fucking likely. I surged out, grabbing her around the waist. Despite the way she scratched at my arms and kicked at my legs, I dropped her gently on the bed. “Stop fighting us.”

  “Let me go!” Aralynn punched the inside of my elbow, a move I fucking taught her, and nailed me in the face with her other hand. Correction, fist.

  “Aralynn!” I shouted, my voice going deep and animalistic.

  She froze mid-leap for the front door. Her wound was wrapped up, but a strand of bright blood began sliding down her arm.

  “You know me. We’re … friends.”

  She tilted her head, sending locks of blonde hair over her shoulder. “I do? We are? I can’t remember anything. Those men said I survived a sickness and that’s why I couldn’t…”

  I was already shaking my head.

  “Y-you know who I am?” She asked, her voice hitching and she leaned forward a bit.

  Joen muttered something.

  Aralynn’s head jerked to him. “Evil?”

  He paled a bit. “I didn’t think you heard that.” Joen cleared his throat.

  She looked back at me. “Tell me.”

  “I will.”

  “Now.”

  She never did have any patience. Apparently, that little quirk transcended memory. I sighed. “I’ve just run for about a day, haven’t eaten in nearly two, and my head feels like a bunch of Aos Si were jumping on it. How about tomorrow?” I gave an exaggerated sigh and landed on the bed. Yes, I was exhausted and starving, but I’d still chase her down if she ran. I was a werewolf—chasing prey was as tempting as kissing a merman. Better left to those who are looking for death.

  Her shoulders fell. “My name’s not Lynn?”

  “Aralynn.” I said then yawned.

  “Why did that boy call me evil?”

  “Man, not boy. I’m twenty-three years and to be completely honest … I didn’t think you would hear me.” He smacked his lips together.

  “That’s Joen, a healer. I’m Darrow. You are Aralynn.” She was still beautiful without the elaborate gowns and the servants making her hair up. Joen handed me a fruit and I greedily began eating. Dullahan’s dick, if my stomach rumbled any louder, it’d wake the whole street. Outside, the two moons glowed brightly on the town. I had no idea how long we’d both been asleep. Now that the headache was fading, I did feel better.

  “I’m still waiting for the whole evil part.” She crossed her arms under her pert breasts, not realizing how it drew both of our attention. “Did I roast small children? Was I some kind of assassin?”

  I winced. “Not exactly.”

  Joen handed me another fruit without me having to ask.

  “You used to be a queen.”

  Aralynn’s mouth fell open and that husky, rarely heard laugh came out. It was so hypnotic that I saw Joen snort and grin at her reaction. “Me? A Queen? Of what, ugly dresses and age wrinkles?”

  “Of Otherworld.”

  Her laugher instantly stopped. “Y-you’re not joking.” She sat abruptly on the wooden chair beside the table.

  I shook my head.

  “Then my … my dreams are memories?” She shivered. “I’ve been having these vivid dreams about terrible things.”

  Joen knelt in front of her.

  Normally that would get my hackles up, but for some reason my instincts didn’t recognize him as a threat. He could be, though. I didn’t know much about him and humans were easily swayed from purpose by something as simple as coin. I stood.

  “What do you dream of?” Joen asked softly.

  “A battle. Since they brought me to Fairaine. Creatures and humans fighting with swords. Blood and death. I watched it all from a window high in the air.” Aralynn rubbed at her arms. “Who brought me to Li
ttle Fairaine? Who took my memory?” Her gaze fell right on me, piercing and intense. “Why am I evil?”

  “You are not evil.” I reached and touched her shoulder, something that would have made her slap me in the past. “Aralynn, you are strong and smart. You are a survivor. Just like me. We do what we have to.”

  Joen glanced at me then, his expression unreadable.

  “Aralynn…” I took a deep breath. “Your memory loss was an accident.” Meant for her daughter, but I wasn’t going to tell her that. “I think in time you will remember. If you’re dreaming already, it might be sooner than you think.”

  “You answer me without answering me.” She narrowed her eyes in a completely queenlike expression.

  “Because he doesn’t want to influence your memory.” Joen said and stood. “You will eventually remember everything.”

  “How do you know that? Have you heard of this potion before?” I asked.

  “I made it.” Joen locked eyes with Aralynn. “Right after your men beat me.”

  Aralynn’s eyes went wide and she covered her mouth with her hands.

  See, everyone can be a threat! I shoved to my feet, jerked her to a stand and pushed her behind the table. “Then why the fuck did you let us in?”

  Joen yelled back, “Because this is no longer the woman that ordered my fingers broken!” He kicked the chair. The leg cracked and the entire thing fell to the floor. “Dullahan’s dick!”

  “I’m … I’m so sorry.” She was stepping around me before I could tell her not to. “I have no idea why I did such horrible things.”

  Joen stared at her quietly for a full thirty seconds. “That’s why I let her in. She’s not the same person and you, Darrow, had desperation in your voice. I’m not the kind of man to turn down someone who needs help.”