by Shannon Lamb
“Your prisoner, Lady Fallon.” The soldier entered a small hut, dumping Marie on the floor as if she were nothing more than a bag of garbage. Pain tore through every muscle in her body, ripping the air from her lungs.
Marie rolled onto her side, grimacing. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of Alex. He was unconscious, but he was still breathing. The fact that they were both still alive was her meager silver lining.
“Alex!” Marie wanted to rush to his side, but she only had the strength to crawl. “What did you do to him? Tell me!”
“He’s fine,” Fallon’s commanding tone cut through her thoughts, forcing Marie painfully upright. “He was shot with a Suripu Dart, which will knock a guy his size out for about...three hours?” She shrugged. “He should be awake by now.” Fallon nonchalantly nudged him with the tip of her boot. “If we used it on someone your size, it would’ve been lethal. You should worry more about yourself, and bask in the fact that we haven’t killed you...yet.” By the crazed look in her eyes, Marie knew down to her bones that it wasn’t an empty threat.
Lady Fallon screamed intimidation. Her dirty blonde hair served as nothing more than a weapon holster, slicked back and fastened with two small sai. Her thick brows knitted together over big amber eyes full of mischief as she cocked her head to the side.
Her body was lean and mean. Perfectly cut and kissed by the sun, she was a hardened woman. She had curves that would make a man melt had she not walked like one, and she wasn’t afraid to show it; her clothes barely covered her.
She vulgarly positioned herself with her legs spread and wrapped around the back of a chair, flashing far more than an eyeful of cleavage. She straightened her thin lips into hard line, suppressing a smile as she looked Marie over disapprovingly.
“You’re going to answer all of my questions. If I like what you have to say, I may let you live.” Fallon circled Marie like a vulture, relishing the thought of sinking her talons into the helpless girl as she slowly licked her lips. “Where did you get this?” Fallon slammed the Agrísta onto the floor, kicking up dirt in Marie’s face.
“A slave from the palace gave it to me. Gustav,” Marie stammered, scrambling through the dirt on her hands and knees.
“You’re lying!” Fallon dropped to her knees in front of her and leaned close enough for Marie to smell the garlic on her breath. “The only way to acquire such an artifact is by being of royal blood, and there’s no way that you’re of royal blood,” she eyed her appraisingly. “The women of Quinque are renowned for their beauty. You have such a boring, forgettable face.” Marie crinkled her nose in distaste, surprised that a grown woman would resort to such a juvenile tactic. “You don’t even look strong enough to be a servant girl!” Fallon laughed in her face, showering her with spittle and disrespect.
Marie’s fingers twitched with violent impulse. Who was Fallon to speak to Marie, or anyone, like that? She briskly rubbed a hand over her face and sharply turned away. Her pride wasn’t worth getting killed over.
“Seeing as you’re obviously not of royal blood, you must’ve spilled royal blood!” Fallon’s laughter cut off abruptly. “You killed Cerin, didn’t you?”
Marie’s heart stopped when she spotted a menacing glint of steel. In a flash of movement, Fallon knocked Marie back and held a serrated dagger flush against the delicate skin of her neck. Beads of blood wove a pathway down the blade, causing Marie to visibly shudder as terror seized her nerves. If she swallowed, it would mean the end of her.
She tried to slide back to give herself some room, but Fallon moved with her like a shadow, refusing to allow her even the slightest increment of space. Fear and dread flooded her features, yielding a sadistic smile from Fallon.
She pressed the knife harder to Marie’s throat, drawing rivulets of blood as a line of fire carved across her flesh. Marie froze, knowing the next breath she took could very well be her last.
“Cerin’s not dead, Fallon.” Alex’s raspy voice sounded like the wings of an angel, restoring the slightest bit of hope to Marie’s heart. She might get out of this interrogation alive, after all. “I thought so too. There’s been no trace of him or his Umbra, Aruzhan, but she was at the castle.” His admission was followed by a moment of silence that spoke volumes. “In the Throne Room, of all places. Cailene had the gall to display her like a piece of art, right out in the open! She’s under Canticum Dormientum. An immensely powerful paralysis spell, as Fallon well knows. I truly thought she was dead when I saw her, but a servant girl Johanna told me otherwise.” Alex grew silent, recounting the image of the tortured Umbra looming in the doorway, suspended in a state of permanent agony.
“You saw Aruzhan, did you? The only way that’s possible is if you’re an Umbra. If you are, change,” she challenged.
Marie watched him with bated breath. Every second felt like an eternity as tension knotted her stomach. Why isn’t he changing?
“I knew you were lying! You’re spies from the palace, aren’t you?”
Marie gasped when the paralyzing pressure on her neck abated, allowing her to finally breathe again. That is, until Fallon made a beeline for Alex. She pounced on him with the vigor of a young lioness, straddling his chest with her mighty tree trunk thighs.
“I should slit your throats right now,” Fallon narrowed her eyes, tracing patterns over Alex’s bobbing Adam’s apple with the dull edge of her knife. She applied just enough pressure to break skin.
“Alex, change!” Marie groveled beside him.
“He can’t change,” said a male voice, cutting through the tension. “I think you’ve had enough fun, Fallon. Off,” he commanded, ripping Marie’s attention away from Alex for just a moment.
The voice came from a middle-aged man. He was built like a gladiator and filled up the entire doorway. Being well over six feet tall, he had to crouch down just to enter.
For an older man, Marie found him quite attractive. He had a chiseled face with a pronounced chin, framed by wavy tresses of mossy brown hair peppered with gray. Traces of crow’s feet framed his starkly green eyes that shone with starbursts of sparkling gold.
Laugh lines wove across his face beneath a five o’clock shadow, lighting up his kind eyes with a contagious smile that showcased shockingly white teeth. Marie watched him cautiously as he slowly closed the distance between them, wondering if he too was an Umbra. The Umbra seemed to have distinct eyes that were unlike any others’.
“You’re no fun!” Fallon pouted, jumping to her feet. “I just wanted to see how they’d hold up in an interrogation. By the way, you failed miserably,” she rolled her eyes at Marie.
“You knew we weren’t spies?” Marie choked out.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t here earlier, brother. I didn’t arrive until just now,” Cayden spoke up, sensing Marie’s rightful agitation. Fallon thrived on provoking people, and he didn’t want to give her the chance to stir up more trouble.
“You ruin everything, Cayden!” Fallon sighed, spiraling her dagger through the air with a flick of her wrist. Marie’s eyes widened with horror as it bit into the doorframe a mere breadth from her face.
“Fallon, enough!” Cayden cut her an angry glare, causing her to sink down into a nearby chair as she defiantly crossed her arms over her chest.
“I’m sorry you didn’t receive a warmer welcome.” Marie nearly snorted at Cayden’s understatement. “Times are tough. Our soldiers are under strict orders to capture all outsiders. There’s not many you can trust these days.” Cayden helped Alex to his feet, and they embraced each other in a brisk hug.
“I’m just happy you’re actually on our side,” Marie mumbled. “Why can’t Alex change?”
“The arrow you pulled out of me was a Dingu arrow. They’re laced with Baindingu poison. Once the poison is in an Umbra’s bloodstream for a certain amount of time, they can no longer transform from their human form. That’s why we had such an impromptu landing,” Alex explained, flashing her an apologetic smile.
“I could smell the poison
as soon as I approached the hut. Foul stuff! I imagine that’s why he brought you here first, Mariella. The cure for Baindingu poison lies in the venom contained in Infragilis Lilies,” Cayden broke open a lily with the sound of crackling glass, pooling its contents into a clay bowl. “Only problem is,” he sniffed, pouring the venom over Alex’s wound. “It burns as hot as Lucidus.” Marie instinctively cowered as Alex’s terrible scream tore through the room. Cayden clumsily caught him before he shot to the ground. “You should be fine now, Alex.” A sheen of sweat broke out over Alex’s brow as he softly trembled in his brother’s arms.
“Why did you call me Mariella?”
“Because that’s your name, of course! I remember how excited your mother was when she decided on that name for you.” Cayden smiled warmly while Fallon rolled her eyes.
“My mother?”
“I hate to trouble you, brother, but we could really use some food,” Alex possessively snaked his arm around Marie’s waist as a means of distraction.
Why do people keep bringing up my mother if they’re not willing to talk about her? Marie internally pouted. She desperately wanted to know everything she could about the woman.
“I could sate your appetite,” Fallon winked. “I’m sure a young, virile male like you is insatiable, but I don’t mind.” Fallon skipped circles around Alex, eyeing him like he was a piece of candy. “We have a beautiful hot springs here. How about you and I take a dip? The warm water feels like velvet against your naked skin,” Fallon rubbed her hand over Alex’s bare chest, sighing sensually. Marie did all she could to keep her jaw from dropping. The woman had no shame.
“You just gave me a wonderful idea, Fallon.” Alex slowly ran his tongue over his lips. It would’ve brought a blush to Marie’s cheeks had she not been so appalled by his responsiveness. “Marie was able to get some rest on the way here. I think a relaxing dip in the hot springs is just what she needs. It will allow me to get some rest while you and Cayden gather some food.” Fallon scowled once she realized he was mocking her, pulling a stifled laugh from Cayden.
Fallon practically bore a hole into Marie’s skull with the seething hatred burning in her eyes. Marie wasn’t the kind of person who needed everyone to like her, but she couldn’t understand how someone could hate her so much upon simply meeting her.
She was the one who’d been wronged, not Fallon. The crazy wench knew exactly who they were and tormented them anyway! The reason why still eluded her.
When Fallon drew blood, Marie nearly lost control of her bowels! She embarrassed herself enough on a daily basis. She didn’t need help from anyone else. I don’t need her to like me. I don’t like her! Marie returned Fallon’s glare, taking her by surprise.
Fallon suddenly stormed out, shoving Marie to the wall as she bustled through the door. Cayden trailed behind her, shaking his head. Fallon must’ve been, quite literally, a constant pain in the neck for the poor man.
“What is wrong with that woman?” Marie snapped, glaring at the space Fallon previously occupied.
“You need to learn to ignore her. After all, she and Cayden will be traveling with us,” Alex sighed, bracing himself for Marie’s reaction.
“What?” Marie choked out. “Why?”
“We need all of your siblings to open the Agrísta, and she’s your eldest sister.”
“No. Frickin’. Way.” Her expression soured. This adventure sucked so far.
“Cayden’s not so bad, at least. He’s her Umbra.”
“Ah. That explains why he puts up with her. He doesn’t have a choice!”
“Come on,” Alex laughed. “I’ll show you where the hot springs are. You need to unwind.” She couldn’t argue with that.
Alex had to stifle his laughter every time he took in Marie’s shocked expression. He could tell by the pensive look on her face that there was an internal diatribe raging in her head, and wisely stayed his distance as they made their way to the hot springs. He found her constant contemplation endearing, and often wondered what she was thinking; though right now, it was obvious.
Marie made short-work of the mile walk to their destination. She kept a brisk pace in rhythm with the thrum of angry thoughts swirling through her head, reflected in her aimless glare. If the rest of her siblings were anything like Fallon, she sure didn’t want to meet them.
“Here we are,” Alex announced as they approached the hot springs. “Take as long as you need. I’m exhausted,” he admitted reluctantly. “When you’re finished, follow the path back to camp and come find me.”
Alex struggled to suppress a yawn as he wearily dragged his feet back up the dirt path. Marie stared at his taut honey skin, stretched thin over wide shoulders and clear lines of muscle. She briefly entertained the thought that she wouldn’t mind him joining her in the hot springs before quickly shoving it away. No need to complicate things.
I still can’t believe Fallon’s my…Marie ground her foot into the dirt. She refused to even finish the thought. I’m here to relax, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do! Her angry determination directly contradicted her good intentions.
Marie nearly ripped her clothes as she angrily tore them from her body. She threw them in all directions, not caring where they ended up. She’d most likely regret it later, but she could only focus on this single moment.
She wrapped the towel Alex had given her around her and clinched it closed over her breasts. She didn’t trust Fallon not to do something terrible to her when she was her most vulnerable. The wretched woman seemed to have no inhibitions and thrived on irritating Marie. What better opportunity than when she’s naked and alone?
She harshly adjusted the towel, grinding the rough, grainy fabric over her tender flesh as she ground her teeth. Leaping before she looked is how she wound up here, and she certainly wasn’t taking any more chances.
Marie charged through the fog, letting out a blissful sigh as the hot water rushed over her feet. She immediately immersed herself in the warm rushes of silk, and all her cares melted away. Every negative thought piggybacked on every bead of sweat that rolled down her rosy cheeks until she finally felt calm. This was exactly what she needed.
She took slow, deep breaths, letting the steam fill her lungs and soothe her soul as her limbs undulated softly beneath the water. The subtle pressure felt like a full body massage that sent her to the edge of euphoria.
She spent hours soaking, refusing to think of anything outside of this moment. That was a challenge all on its own. It was far too easy to stay here forever, for her mind was at ease and the water would never chill.
“I guess I should get out before I turn into a prune,” she sighed, examining the puckered skin on her fingertips.
Marie lazily dragged her hand through the water, hypnotized by the ripples pulsing from her fingertips as they languidly stretched across surface of the water. She wished everything in life was so predictable.
“What’s wrong with me?” That was exactly what Marie was running away from: predictability.
She draped her head forward and sighed wistfully, bringing her knees to her chest. She’d gotten exactly what she’d spent years wishing for – adventure – and now that she had it, she wasn’t so sure she wanted it anymore. She was beginning to miss the mundane, and she hated herself for that.
A peculiar image slithered into her periphery with an ocular shudder, abruptly disrupting her pity party. Marie tersely looked away, feigning ignorance. She convinced herself that there was nothing there, and that she was simply imagining things. Because that worked so well the first time, she scoffed.
She kept her eyes closed as she slowly turned her head. Each shallow breath imbued her with courage. “There’s nothing there, right? Right. Okay, I’m going to open my eyes now.” Marie took a deep breath and flung her eyes open. What she saw below the surface ripped a scream from her lungs and sent her wading through the water in a tizzy.
MYSTERIES OF MILITES
Marie sliced through the steam, clutching the heavy, wet
towel close around her as she screamed expletives at the top of her lungs. It was near impossible to see anything through the sheets of mist, and Marie wasn’t paying attention to where she was going. The second her feet touched dry land again, she heard a loud metal clunk as she ran face-first into an armored soldier.
“What’s wrong?” The soldier took hold of her shoulders and steadied her.
“There’s a dead woman in the water!” Actually saying the words out loud made her squirm.
“A woman?” the soldier arched an inquisitive brow. “A dead woman, you say?” he clarified with mock concern. Marie slowly nodded. “The only woman among us, besides yourself, is Fallon, and you’ve seen firsthand that no one can penetrate our borders without us knowing about it. I think you’re seeing things, sweetheart.” he snickered, reclining against a nearby tree with his arms folded behind his head.
“What. Is. Your. Name?” Marie’s anger fractured her speech, marking each word with a staccato.
“Raeph.”
Raeph was a solid man who’d been through hell on more than one occasion and survived. He towered over Marie. Most people cowered in his shadow, intimidated by his sheer size alone, but she stared up at him with fire in her eyes. It was a welcomed change. One that he found most attractive.
Layers of black silk cascaded over his muscular shoulders, reaching all the way down his unnaturally straight back, postured perfectly to look as intimidating as possible. He kept the top half of his hair loosely tied back, away from his pitch black eyes. They burned like hot coals, framed by thick, shapely brows.
Light scars wove a helical pattern across his face, mapping out a story of every battle he’d ever fought. The white puckered skin cast shadows over his olive hue, but the scars by no means marred him; they gave him a dangerous edge that only added to his appeal. A patchy shadow beard detracted from his charismatic smile, flanked by two large dimples that reached all the way up to his eyes.
“Listen, Raeph,” she practically growled his name. “I know what I saw. There is a dead woman in the water!” He’d struck a nerve when he implied that she was seeing things.