“Don’t sound so confused, girl. Of course, Seth was involved. How else would we have found you so easily? Thanks to him, we now know every traitor in Avanti,” Uindraely’s voice rose from the shadows near the back wall and Seth shifted his gaze to watch her. He hadn’t expected to see her here, but then he should have. Uindraely Merrodin had a habit of being involved in everything unpleasant. She smiled sweetly as she noticed his attention and raised the bundle in her arms. “Your daughter is simply beautiful, Seth. May I congratulate you on such delightful children?” Her dark eyes flashed and Seth had to fight to keep his hands from clenching. Uindraely was a heartless bitch and the thought of her even touching his daughter drove his fury higher. Davahni was barely four months old, yet she showed such intelligence in her dark eyes that Seth had no doubt she knew something horrible was going on. Like his son, though, he was sure the infant didn’t understand exactly how horrible it was. Uindraely raised a hand to brush back her dark hair and sat down on the edge of the table making a show of cooing over his child. “It’s too bad your mommy is such a fool, little darling. This is just not a memory any child should have,” Uindraely murmured in a childish v oice as she bumped a finger lightly under the infant’s chin. “You wanna say bye bye to mommy?” she asked in the same exaggerated voice as she pulled the child’s hand free of the blanket and bobbed it up and down in a mocking wave. “Bye bye, Dashara,” she grinned and turned her attention back to Seth. Her grin widened into a full smile as she winked at him. “Once she is dead, you are all mine, Seth,” she purred.
“We haven’t discussed that fully, yet. Don’t get ahead of yourself, Uindraely,” Donrey Avanti cut in sharply as he eyed Seth with obvious anger. “Seth turned on me, but he has served me for so long that he is almost like family. Some betrayals can be forgiven.” He paused and glared down at his daughter. “Others can’t,” he added softly as he drew a dagger from his belt and examined the razor sharp blade. “Seth did not turn his back on me alone. He was guided from my side by this little bitch. I don’t believe for a moment that Seth wanted to save the world. Seth is a creature of hatred, not a savior.”
“I doubt it was his love of people that led him to betrayal. I doubt it was Dashara either. Most likely it was simply his hatred for you,”
Uindraely mused softly.
Dashara’s eyes met his again and Seth shifted his gaze toward Dominic and then Davahni hoping she would realize he was indicating the children rather than their captors. He saw the recognition in her eyes and she smiled at him sadly and nodded almost imperceptibly.
“You can kill me, but you can’t kill what I stand for. There will always be someone to take my place. As long as you walk the path you are on, someone will always rise up against you.” The room fell silent as Dashara spoke and even Uindraely’s smile faded. “I love you, Seth, and I know you love me too. They can take everything else, but they can’t take that. I don’t need to hear the words. I can see it in your eyes,” Dashara whispered.
“How sweet,” Donrey hissed as the back of his hand slammed into Dashara’s face nearly knocking her from the chair. “No one else will rise against me, you stupid little bitch. When they see what happened to you, they will cower back into the shadows. No one has the strength of Avanti and no one cares about slaves. You threw everything away for worthless wastes of flesh.” His hand slammed into her, punctuating every word until tears began to stream from her eyes. A faint whimper bubbled through her broken lips and Seth’s heart screamed for him to help her. Dashara had never been strong physically. Pain was a weakness for her and he had always tried hard to shield her from harm. He swallowed heavily and struggled to maintain his iron control. His children depended on it.
“Avanti will fall and you will pay for your sins.” Dashara managed the words barely coherent through her battered mouth and sobs. “No life is worthless,” she gasped as her father grabbed her by the face roughly.
“Yours is, Dashara,” Donrey informed her as he lifted the dagger up high enough for her to see. He held her jaw firmly, preventing her from looking away as he lowered the tip to rest just below her eye. “I am going to kill you so slowly that simply the stories of your death will spread nightmares. Anyone who ever shared sentiments with you will cringe at the sound of your name. When I am done tonight, the name Dashara will be a curse,” he promised as the blade slowly punctured her pale ivory skin. Bright blood welled and coursed down her battered cheek as he slowly pulled the knife down her face, skinning the top layer of flesh. “Bring me the salt, Uindraely,” Donrey ordered in a low voice as Dashara screamed in agony.
A faint whimper rose from Dominic and Hemlock shook his head in disapproval. “We talked about this, boy. Do you really want me to cut your sister for your noise?” The sound abruptly faded, though Dominic’s bottom lip still trembled.
The boy turned and gazed hard at his father and Seth wanted to vomit at the expression of betrayal on his son’s face. The child’s words were written so clearly in that look that he didn’t need to hear Dominic’s voice. “Why aren’t you saving Mommy?” Seth had always been a hero in his son’s eyes. Dominic had considered him invincible in every fight and knew he would always protect them, until now. Hemlock’s game had destroyed more than Dashara’s rebellion, and from the smile on the man’s lips, he knew it.
“Violence begets violence, Dominic. Your daddy has been a very violent man. He has killed ten people for every drop of your mother’s blood that is spilling, and I promise there will be a lot of blood spilled. Just think of how many families your daddy destroyed just like this.” Hemlock spoke in a gentle voice, but his attention was focused on Seth as he spoke with just the barest gleam of his eyes visible through the hood of his cloak. “What do you think of that Dominic? It’s OK to talk since I asked you a question. I won’t hurt anyone if you answer.”
“I hate you,” Dominic whimpered, his small voice barely audible over his mother’s screams. Seth swallowed heavily but showed no reaction to the words beyond that. He wasn’t sure if the boy was speaking to him or Hemlock, but it still cut to the bone. No matter how many years passed, he didn’t think Dominic would ever understand why he hadn’t drawn his swords. He might have won against Hemlock, but not Uindraely and Donrey as well. There was simply too much power in the room to gamble. The odds were too far against him, and failure meant losing everything. He would never forgive himself for Dashara’s death, but at least his children would survive. Another scream of agony tore through the room and Uindraely giggled in amusement. Seth let his gaze rise to her and then to Dashara. “I will kill everyone in this room before I rest,” he promised himself silently. He couldn’t kill them now, but he would see them die eventually.
Hours seemed to pass as Donrey slowly peeled the flesh from his daughter and salted the wounds, adding agony to her already unbearable pain. By the time she finally faded to unconsciousness her voice was raw from screaming. Seth stared silently at what remained of her, trying not to picture how her eyes locked on him once the pain had broken her mind. Her screams had turned to pleas for help and then finally curses before she had fallen silent at last. His gaze slowly lowered, tracing a path down the carved chair to the pool of blood beneath her.
“Kill the boy and take the girl back to my house. I’m afraid the boy already has too much of his mother’s taint, but we might be able to salvage the infant,” Donrey ordered as he stood back and surveyed his work.
“According to the rules I set for Seth, if he behaved well his children lived,” Hemlock said quietly as he watched one of the guards take Davihni from Uindraely.
“I don’t give a fuck about your games. Kill the boy,” Donrey snapped. He was paying more attention to the jeweled dagger he held than he was either of his grandchildren. Carefully, he wiped more of the blood from the blade and glanced up at Hemlock.
Hemlock nodded once and shrugged. “Sorry, kid,” he murmured as he drew his dagger from his belt.
Seth moved with every ounce of speed that had ea
rned him his deadly reputation. His sword was in his hand and swinging at Hemlock’s neck before the Assassin had so much as moved Dominic in his arms. With a curse, Hemlock dropped the boy and drew both of his blades. Seth slid gracefully to his knees and caught his son with one arm before the child could crash to the hardwood floor.
“I’m sorry,” Seth whispered as he kissed his son’s head softly and summoned magic. Within a breath the boy was gone from the room and Seth was on his feet once more, blades flashing as he parried Hemlock’s attacks with ease.
“Where did you send him?” Donrey demanded, but Seth didn’t even spare him a glance. He would die here and he knew it. He could already feel magic pulsing off Uindraely. It wouldn’t be long before Merro’s most formidable mage unleashed her spells on him. Dominic was safe, though, in the care of the only person aside from Dashara that he had ever trusted. Rose would know him on sight; she had helped during his birth. The healer would keep him safe in Sanctuary and be his shield against Avanti. The only thing that mattered now was taking some of these bastards with him when he went. With a snarl, Seth picked up the pace and smiled as Hemlock staggered back under the assault. It was clear by the muffled curses that Hemlock no longer wanted a fair fight.
“I am going to make you my toy, Seth,” Uindraely promised as her magic lashed out, wrapping him in tendrils of darkness. He s truggled against the magic as the spell attempted to immobilize him.
“Where did you send the boy?” Donrey demanded again in a louder voice filled with fury.
Hemlock moved in quickly as one of the tendrils pulled his arm back and Seth felt the bite of a dagger in his side as the Ass assin took advantage of his current situation. Flicking his wrist quickly, Seth managed to bury a dagger in the man’s leg before he could dodge.
“Like a little puppet,” Uindraely chirped behind him as the tendrils wrapped around his wrists and ankles with bone breaking strength.
Seth knew magic, but the sort that Uindraely worked was the most complicated to counter. It was dark magic that had been forbidden by every culture aside from Merro. Hemlock started to move in again, but Donrey raised a hand to stop him.
“I want the child dead. You don’t allow weeds to grow. Keep him alive until we find the child,” Donrey snapped.
“Going to be rough to do,” Seth informed him with a savage grin as he glanced down at his side. “That dagger was poisoned. I can already feel it coursing through me. The tendrils holding me in place are draining me as well. I just sat in silence while you killed the woman I loved and you think you can break my will in the amount of time I have left to live?” Seth spat at his feet and nodded firmly. “Come try, Donrey,” he urged as he summoned his own magic. This was the exact delay he needed. Uindraely’s magic was complicated to counter, but not impossible.
“I’m going to make you a broken one, Seth. You won’t even remember Dashara,” Uindraely purred in his ear. The woman had actually moved directly behind him. Seth had to fight back the smile as he continued his spell in silence letting them all believe he was simply avoiding answering them. With as much magic as Uindraely had summoned there was no way they could sense his own spell, and not even Donrey knew how adept he was with magic, despite the years he had served House Avanti.
“Can’t you make him answer with magic?” Donrey demanded.
“I can, but it will cost you,” Uindraely replied in an overly sweet voice.
“Name your price,” Donrey growled in response, his hatred for Seth showing clearly on his face as he glared at them both.
“The little girl. Such a sweet thing and I don’t have any children of my own. I need someone to train in my arts. I think Seth’s little girl will excel in it,” Uindraely murmured as she walked slowly around him to stare into his face. She smiled up at Seth and patted his cheek lightly. “Don’t worry, Seth, I will take such good care of her,” she promised.
Seth stared down at her coldly as the last words of his spell rang through his mind. The room shook as his magic exploded against the tendrils and his hand was around Uindraely’s neck before she could stumble away. He didn’t spare time for words; he had never been the gloating sort. His other hand flashed driving his dagger into her eye to the hilt. She convulsed in his grasp, but he didn’t spare time to ensur e she was truly dead. He was already moving for Donrey with another dagger ready in his hand. The High Lord stumbled back with shock clearly written on his handsome face as he quickly summoned his own magic. Seth’s blade was a breath from Donrey’s throat as magic seized him, once more freezing him in place. Panic flared as he recognized the spell, it was time magic, and there was no counter for it.
Hemlock moved slowly forward and smirked at Seth before turning to look at Donrey. “There will, of course, be an additional charge for saving your life and remaining silent on how you squeaked like a little girl when he turned on you,” he informed the High Lord quietly. “As for the boy, I’ll find him for an additional price, but this one needs to be killed. He isn’t going to tell you what you want to know, regardless of what you do to him.”
“Fine. I’ll pay whatever you want. Just end this. I want that bastard dead,” Donrey snarled as he took a quick step farther from Seth.
Hemlock nodded and turned back to Seth, slowly pulling his hood down as he did. His expression was neutral as he studied Seth’s frozen form with deep blue eyes. “It’s not often I’m impressed,” he informed him quietly. “Pity you let yourself become shackled with love. You quite possibly could have been the most formidable person on Sanctuary. Instead you die a stupid death to save a child.” Hemlock shook his head in disgust.
“I won’t rest until you are dead.” Seth forced the words through lips that refused to move. Every syllable was mangled, but both men obviously understood. Donrey took another step back.
Hemlock sighed and shook his head. “You shouldn’t be able to speak at all, let alone threaten me,” he said softly as he rammed his dagger roughly into Seth’s gut and began to draw it painfully up toward his neck. “Evisceration is such a messy death, but it’s always a guaranteed one. If you don’t die from the poison and the shock you will most definitely die from everything spilling onto the floor,” Hemlock murmured as he glanced back at Donrey once more. “I’ll stay until he is dead and then find the boy.”
Seth braced himself against the waves of agony and summoned a thread of magic. The mental link he formed with Rose was so fragile that any magic used to detect it would shatter the spell. “Take care of him, Rose, and hide him well. They will be looking for him.”
“Where are you Seth? I can help you.” Rose’s voice was frantic in his mind and he had to fight back a chuckle. The idea of the small healer saving him was ridiculous. Rose didn’t know a single thing about battle. Her life revolved around repairing the damage people like him created.
“There are some things you don’t want to live through, Rose. Worry about Dominic, not me.” Seth felt his strength fading and the spell flickered. It was the only answer he could think to give to keep her at bay. The last thing he wanted was his son’s guardian appearing in Avanti. Even though she couldn’t fight, she would try, Rose was simply that kind of friend. She would do anything to help those she cared for.
“What about Dashara and Davahni?” Rose demanded, her voice rising in panic. She could feel the delicate connection between them fading as clearly as he could.
“Gone,” Seth answered softly as his magic faded completely. Spots had begun to dance before his eyes as Hemlock’s poison tore at him.
Hemlock moved closer to him, his dark blue eyes locking on Seth’s. “I won’t find him,” he whispered, the words barely audible despite how close he stood. “Honor among rogues and all. I told you the boy would live, and he will.”
“How fucking noble,” Seth growled as Hemlock released him from the magic that held him in place. His legs buckled beneath him and he dropped to his knees staring down at his entrails. His own blood was pooling thick on the floor, making a slow trail towa
rd Dashara. His gaze trailed slowly up the chair once more past her ruined body to her face. Her dark eyes were fixed firmly on him. A strangled gasp broke from his lips as he realized she still lived, he had thought her dead.
“Suffer,” she hissed, her voice harsh from her torn throat. He knew her mind had fractured from the torture, yet the word still tore into him with more pain than any physical wound.
“Let go, Dashara,” Seth whispered, hoping she would listen. His agony was nothing compared to what she must be feeling right now.
“Please, just let go,” he added in a choked voice.
“By the Divine, is that bitch still alive?” Hemlock gasped as he turned to face Dashara. “Don’t ever take up the life of an Assassin, Donrey, you fail at killing,” he added as his dagger slashed across Dashara’s throat. Turning back to Seth, Hemlock smiled coldly. “I promise she has let go now and it’s time for you to do the same.” His dagger was already moving as he spoke.
Seth rubbed his face as the vision cleared and slumped back against the wall. The room made each memory painfully real, as if he was living it again. He had avoided remembering Dashara for so long, despite all the little reminders Death had forced him to endure. Now it was all back like an old wound torn open. The fact that he hadn’t been able to kill Donrey himself simply made it worse. Hands pressed over his face, he slid slowly down the wall and tried not to think of her, or of anything for that matter.
He couldn’t handle another vision and the door to the room wouldn’t reopen for several more minutes. Death had intentionally designed the room that way. It was difficult to avoid thinking about something once you had just re-lived it, and if he wasn’t careful, he would be caught in a loop of torment. It was one of the reasons he avoided this room as often as he could, and he was sure it was the reason Death had created it this way. It ensured that he did everything she asked of him quickly, and without question, no matter how much he hated the task. Over the years, he had whored himself to the Divine, killed innocents, stolen souls, and countless other sins, simply to avoid facing his past.
The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 4 The Blessed Curse Page 22