by Kate Keir
“Your ambition delights me, Little Dreamer. But I do wonder at your confidence when you have so few around to help you succeed. Mara is dead, Finlay is gone, Pen has a reputation for failing her charges, and I imagine Artair isn’t doing so well currently.”
“It only takes one Soul Keeper to end you, Sluag.” I crossed my arms over my chest and held my ground.
He appeared to ignore my threat. Instead he smiled and held out his scaly hand to me. “I have something I’d like to show you. Come with me, Flora.”
I shot him a look that told him the exact thought inside my head, even before he invaded my mind. Not a chance, Sluag. Go to hell.
“You’ve learnt by now that you have no control here, Little Dreamer. I can make you walk with me—which will be very uncomfortable for you. Or, you can come along of your own volition. It’s really up to you.”
A quick examination of my options told me I had little choice. I made a mental note to focus on stopping myself from being summoned, starting tomorrow. I refused to take his bony hand, but I began to follow him through the trees.
Sluag was surprisingly quiet as we walked. His silence put me on edge, but I chose not to speak, instead relishing the break from his constant threats and criticisms.
I almost laughed to myself as I recognised where we were going. We were almost at the clearing that Sluag’s Draugur had trapped me in on my first trip to the Endwood. I can’t believe this hell hole is becoming familiar to me.
As if sensing my recognition, Sluag stopped walking and turned to face me. I stopped abruptly to avoid colliding with him. He once again held out his hand toward me. I recoiled from him.
“I want to make sure you completely understand the rules, Flora. Firstly, you know that you cannot leave here until I release you, yes?”
I nodded but made no move to come any closer.
“Secondly, you cannot touch anything here. It is as though you are a ghost.”
“I managed to touch that rock when I collided with it earlier,” I argued.
He laughed softly. “Because I wanted you to feel the impact. Call it a punishment for your impudence.”
I growled at the back of my throat. It amazed me how much I missed being able to become a wolf, even though I’d only been able to do it for such a short time.
He held his hand out closer to me this time. “Go on, try.”
I hesitated a moment longer, looking at the grey scales of his putrid flesh. Then, steeling myself, I let my arm dart forward to touch his palm. It was an eerie sensation to feel my fingers pass right through his.
I pulled my hand back to examine it as he laughed aloud. “Good. So now you know you cannot interfere with anything while you are here under a summoning, follow me, Little Dreamer.”
I followed.
Chapter Four
As we stepped into the clearing, my head began to spin when I took in the scene before me.
There were at least thirty Draugur standing in a circle, surrounding the clearing and protecting the tree line. They had their backs facing outward and were all staring at the wooden stage in the centre of the circle.
The Draugur were all dressed in long, black robes, as was the woman who stood on the stage. She looked to be around forty-five and had dark red hair that was pulled back into a neat bun. Her eyes were a familiar sickly orange colour. For a brief moment, I thought she might be Sluag’s daughter. But another glance told me she was a living, breathing human. What the hell was she doing in the Endwood?
Next, my eyes moved across the stage and over to a wooden cross shape that stood around seven feet tall. The base of the cross stood in a large silver basin that was empty. As I looked up the length of the cross, I took in a pair of legs that were tightly chained to the wood. The legs wore jeans, which really didn’t fit in with the scene before me.
The upper half of the body wore a white T-shirt. The muscled arms were both pulled tight against the wood and the wrists were manacled with the same heavy chains that restrained the ankles of the man on the cross.
I realised that the cross was angled forward slightly toward the top, which forced the head and neck of the person to lean out over the basin. The man’s head was covered by a black hood, but the stabbing pain in my heart told me I knew who he was. I looked toward Sluag.
His grin confirmed my fear as he gestured toward the cross and spoke. “Ms Cambridge, remove the hood. I believe we are almost ready to begin.”
The woman didn’t smile as she stepped forward and grabbed the top of the hood. I held my breath, hoping and praying—although to whom, I had no idea—that it wouldn’t be Finlay.
When she first pulled the hood away, he looked completely disorientated as his blue eyes adjusted to the light. His blond hair was tufted in places, disturbed by the hood. In his confusion and with his messy hair, he looked a lot younger than his nineteen years.
“Finlay,” I whispered.
His head snapped up as far as the jutting cross would allow. “Flor.”
As our eyes met, I began to walk across the clearing toward the stage. I was unchallenged as I passed by the Draugur and crossed the vast space until I reached the bottom step.
“Stop.” Sluag’s voice rang across the clearing, and I found myself glued to the spot. He approached me from behind and stopped walking as he drew level with me.
“I am in control of everything you do while you are here, Flora. That’s far enough.” He started up the steps toward Finlay.
“What are you going to do to him?” I whispered as I fought to lift my foot and begin my own ascent of the stairs.
Sluag reached the top of the stairs and stood in front of Finlay on the stage. Turning toward me, he pulled a twisted dagger the colour of bone from his sleeve.
“Since you stole my chance to have your Soul Keeper blood to open the veil, I will have to settle for the next best thing.”
“No,” I growled as I tried again to move my feet. They wouldn’t budge, and I cried out in frustration.
“Even if you were to break free, you can’t help him. I showed you before, your touch cannot be felt here, Little Dreamer.” Sluag smiled.
“It’s okay, Flor. I knew what I was signing up for.” Finlay tried to shoot me a brave smile.
The woman, who had been quiet up until now, spoke. “Why would you care whether he lives or dies? He betrayed you?”
My eyes landed on her. “You’re human, aren’t you?”
She looked surprised by my question. “Yes.”
“And you’re going to let this happen?” I gestured toward my best friend and betrayer.
“It has to. Ironically, his blood will be what fuels your final downfall.” She didn’t even have the decency to look sorry.
My lips pulled back in a snarl. “If you’re human, then you will have to return to the real world at some point, and when you do, I will find you and I will take revenge for his death.”
Sluag chuckled. “She’s a feisty one, Laurel. I will almost be sorry to kill her.”
Laurel Cambridge looked a little white in the face, but she soon regained her composure and hardened her jaw again. I made a mental note of her name. I will find you, you bitch.
My attention was drawn back to Finlay as Sluag approached him with the knife. Finlay paled at the sight, but he turned his attention to me.
“Flor, listen to me. I know you hate me. How could I ever blame you for that? One thing hasn’t changed though. I still love you more than anything in the world.”
My cheeks were wet as the salt water spilled from my eyes. “Finlay, I just don’t know how you could. Mara is dead. How can you love me when you did the things you did?”
“Remember when Pen and me went to Edinburgh, just after you found out what you were, Flor?” His voice was urgent now as Sluag drew closer.
I nodded, remembering how they both hid something from me, something I still hadn’t discovered.
“Tell Pen, I betrayed you completely. Tell her the prophecy has been fulfille
d now. Tell her she can share it with you finally.”
Sluag reached forward and took a handful of Finlay’s white hair. “I think that’s enough chit-chat. Any final words Finlay Michaelson?”
I wanted to ask Finlay about the prophecy, but instead I met Sluag’s firepit eyes. “Please don’t do this? Let me go, and I’ll come to the Endwood right now. I’ll give myself up and you can have the blood you really wanted. Don’t kill him?”
Sluag studied me. “Is there no end to your misplaced loyalty, Soul Keeper? This boy betrayed you. He would have given your life, and still here you are begging me to take your blood instead of his. Why?”
I could barely see for the tears now. “Because I loved him long before I hated him. Please, Sluag? Me for him?”
Finlay fought against the chains for the first time. “Flor, no. Don’t you dare do it,” he howled.
The woman stepped forward. “This is all very touching, but we need to get on with it.”
Sluag’s reply was menacing. “We’ll get on with it when I’m ready. This is my kingdom, Doctor Cambridge, don’t forget it.”
Facing me again, Sluag gave me his reply to my plea. “The time for your blood has passed, for now. I have new plans, and your little traitor is going to be the one who helps me with them.”
Turning back to Finlay, Sluag pulled his head back cruelly by his hair. Finlay’s eyes were wide with terror as Sluag began to chant in a language I didn’t understand. I understood now the silver basin was there to catch Finlay’s blood.
Fighting to move, I cried out Finlay’s name. No matter what had gone by, I couldn’t forsake him. He was my best friend, the one who had been there for me through every heartbreak, except the heartbreak of his own betrayal.
“Flor, I love you so much.” Finlay still refused to allow himself to cry even as the knife began its journey across his throat.
“I love you too. Always.” I landed hard on my knees.
“And forever,” he managed before the blood started to bubble and gurgle at the back of his throat.
I threw back my head and howled as Sluag stepped aside. I felt the release of his hold on my body and sprang forward, two steps at a time until I landed on my knees next to Finlay. I tried to caress his pale cheek, but just as before with Sluag’s arm, my hand passed though Finlay as though I were a ghost.
Sluag’s final cruelty was to make me watch as Finlay breathed his final laboured breath, but I was unable to offer him even the comfort of my touch.
Chapter Five
I woke screaming. Although this time, they were not screams of fear and despair; they were screams of blind rage and hatred. I thrashed against the bedcovers, determined to make my way to the Endwood and confront Sluag.
Firm hands gripped my shoulders and shook me, but I paid them no mind and when I felt the hands start to push me back onto the bed, I lashed out blindly with my closed fist. I was rewarded with a yelp even as I felt a tremor of pain shoot through my hand.
A second figure appeared next to the one I’d punched, but this figure was taking no prisoners, and my ears rang as Freya landed a hard slap against my cheek. I blinked in shock, before taking in Lyall’s bloody nose.
“Lyall, I’m sorry,” I whispered.
“It’s all right, Flor. Tell me what happened, please?” He was pressing his fingers against the bridge of his nose in an attempt to stem the bleeding.
Pen came rushing into my room in a blur of blue robes. She quickly took in the messed-up bedclothes, my red cheek, and Lyall’s bloody nose. Shutting the door slowly behind her she turned her focus on me.
“Tell us what has happened, Flora?”
I had a strange and unreasonable feeling that Pen knew what had happened, but I spoke for the benefit of everyone present.
“I was summoned by Sluag. He killed Finlay tonight.” My voice almost broke as the name left my lips.
Lyall didn’t speak; instead, he wrapped my hand in his and gently squeezed, letting me know he was there for me. I figured he was probably terrified I was going to plunge headlong back into my depression of the last few weeks, but I was far too filled with fury to let that happen.
Pen’s face had become deathly white. She staggered backward until her legs collided with a chest in the corner of my room. She bowed her head as she sat heavily on the chest and whispered Finlay’s name over and over.
I let go of the safety net of Lyall’s hand and stood up, my eyes wet with tears. “Pen, I’m so sorry. I know what he meant to you. He meant the same to me. But I can’t give myself over to grief again. If I do, I won’t come back this time.”
Pen looked up at me, and for just a moment, I thought she wouldn’t speak. But after a few seconds, she wiped the tears from her cheeks and inhaled a deep, cleansing breath before speaking in a cracked voice. “You’ve come a long way in a short time, Flora.”
I knelt on the floor before her, not sure I wanted to trust my legs. “Pen, Finlay told me to tell you that he had betrayed me completely, and the prophecy has been fulfilled.” I sat back on my heels and narrowed my eyes at her.
“What did he mean?”
Pen surprised me with her reaction, which was so out of character. I had never seen her lose control before now. She let out a strangled sob and allowed more unshed tears to fall freely down her face.
“Stupid boy, what have you done?” she whispered.
Lyall and Freya both looked stunned as they approached us, clearly as desperate as I was to know what was going on. I reached out and gently touched Pen’s cold fingers. She jumped in surprise, before reaching out to stroke my sweat-slicked hair.
“Flora, it’s time I told you the truth. When Finlay and I went to Edinburgh, just after you arrived at Castle Dion, we discovered a prophecy that was of extremely evil portent. Well, in truth I discovered the prophecy and tried to hide it from Finlay, knowing that he might do something stupid. I’m guessing he read it anyway.”
She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. I sat unblinking, waiting for her to continue.
“The prophecy is one of the few original predictions, made by the first Dion. Those predictions will always come true.”
“What did it say?” I had a good idea of at least part of the prophecy.
Pen stared at me as though she was afraid to continue.
“Pen, I’m strong enough for this. I’m not going to stop fighting until Sluag is dead or gone. Tell me?” My voice was low and angry.
“The prophecy gave your name, so there was no doubting it was meant for you. It stated that you would either be betrayed or killed before you reached your twenty-first birthday, Flora.”
I felt a wave of complete desolation sweep over me. I had just watched my best friend die, and I didn’t even realise he’d sacrificed himself to save my life. Even though I’d fought for him, I’d still believed him to be a traitor in the end.
“He did it to stop the other half of the prophecy from coming true,” Lyall murmured.
“He knew Sluag would kill him, didn’t he?” I asked.
Pen nodded.
“You knew it too.” I didn’t pose this statement as a question.
She nodded again as she spoke. “Flora, I didn’t know he was aware of the prophecy. I didn’t know his betrayal was a ruse. I believed he was a traitor just as you did. I only suspected that Sluag would kill Finlay once he had failed to hand you over.”
“That was why he sent the texts.” I was pretty sure Freya hadn’t realised she had spoken out loud.
“What texts?” I stood and turned on her.
Freya glanced nervously at Pen, and only after Pen nodded did she speak. “When you were at the Endwood with Finlay, he sent a group text to us all. How else did you think we found you in time?”
My mind went back to the night my best friend betrayed me. When he crossed the boundary into the Endwood, he had his back to me and completely ignored my shouts of warning. Then when I turned him around, his phone was in his hand. That must have been the moment he s
ent the message.
“It was all done for show. To try and stop the prophecy. He never intended to hand me over to Sluag, and now he’s dead.” I whispered.
Lyall pulled me into a comforting embrace. “But at least you won’t be dead within the year now, love, and the veil is going to be staying put too.”
Pen stood. She had regained her usual composure and was back to mostly being the strong leader we recognised. “Not necessarily, Lyall. Finlay didn’t truly betray Flora…not in his heart. It isn’t always that easy to fool fate and prophecy.”
“So even after everything Finlay has given up, it might not work?” I asked.
Pen sighed. “I’m not even certain how we would find out if it has worked, and even though Finlay is no traitor, he will lose his memories within the week and will be lost to us. It could all be for nothing.”
It was impossible to control the growl of anger that came once again to the back of my throat. “It will not be for nothing, Pen. Listen to me. When I was studying, I came across a ritual. We couldn’t help Mara, but maybe we can help Finlay.”
“What sort of ritual?” Pen fixed her gaze on me.
“One that enables you to stop a soul from losing its memories. At least temporarily.” I held my breath, waiting to see what she would say.
“I’ll need to see the ritual to know if I can do it. But, Flora, to what end do you want to do this? What happens when we can no longer suppress the memory loss?” Pen gave me a worried look.
“Sluag makes Draugur with his rogue souls. We’ll find a way to turn Finlay into a pure soul equivalent.” I fired a challenging look around the room, daring anyone to disagree with me.
Lyall raised his eyebrows, and Freya stared open-mouthed at Pen. Pen ignored the others and crossed the room until she stood before me. She took my hands gently in both of hers.
“Flora, I know how you feel right now. I loved him as much as you did, and I would do anything to get him back. But even if we can preserve Finlay’s memories for long enough to do it, there would be no guarantees.”
“If we sit and do nothing, then I can guarantee Finlay will disappear from our lives as though he never existed. We have to try, Pen. He died for me.” My voice was firm.