by A N Martin
Dominaze stared straight forward without seeing. Bain’s shadows had not left her eyes since the day she had been dragged from her forest. She was becoming all too familiar with the dark.
“Perfect,” Thora sang. “Have this sent immediately, and make preparations to move out at dawn. We must be at Rockwell well in advance to have everything in place. The days of the Elect are at an end.” She laughed in her throat.
“Of course,” Adora responded to her sister. “And should I bring Dominaze back to her cell?”
There was no answer, but the distinct sound of footsteps approaching let Dominaze know Thora stood directly in front of her.
“My dear Dominaze,” Thora breathed on her, “would you really rather wither away, starving, than tell me where your strip is?”
“There’s nothing that brings me more joy than to see you without it,” Dominaze sneered into the dark in front of her.
Thora stood, “Let your happiness be short lived then. You appear to only have days left on your bones.” She turned away. “Take her away and leave her. We have what we need. She matters little to us now.”
Bain snickered his usual nasty snort behind Thora.
Adora piped up, “We should keep her alive until we know the Elect are on their way. If the Elect don’t take the bait, we could use her again.”
“Fine,” Thora snapped. “Just get her out of my sight.” She waved her off and stomped away loudly.
A frozen hand took Dominaze’s arm and helped her stand.
“Are we alone?” Dominaze whispered in Adora’s direction.
“Yes.”
“Is this what you had in mind when you promised to keep me alive?” Dominaze hissed. “It’s been weeks since I’ve eaten something other than soggy bread or seen the light of day. I will not be able to help you if there is nothing left of me. You can either make it better or forget our deal. Do you understand?”
“Months.”
“What?” Dominaze wrinkled her forehead and glared into the blackness.
“It’s been months since you’ve eaten more than moist biscuits or been able to look upon the sun,” Adora corrected.
“You really feel the need to point that out?” Dominaze jerked away from her and stumbled to her knees. She panted weakly facing the floor. “Get me out of here. You’ve played along with Thora long enough. She wants me dead. What better time than now?”
Adora pulled Dominaze back to her feet. “I will not break my end of our deal. I couldn’t exactly make you comfortable while Thora watched. The fact that you’re given a daily biscuit and occasional blanket is the best I can do without drawing any attention.” She took a deep breath. “It won’t be long now. You better still have access to your strip. I will expect you to hold your end of our bargain.”
Dominaze didn’t answer. She ran her tongue over the top of her mouth. Blisters surrounded the area that held her hidden strip. They stung and begged for the foreign object to be removed. Her jaw ached from being held firmly shut for so long. But even the blistering sting couldn’t make her move her strip. Instead she hung her head and tried to relax her jaw muscles. As bad as it was, she knew it could be worse. Far worse, if someone caught her with her strip in hand and took it before she could act. She had to protect it. But if she were being honest with herself, she knew her willpower to survive with the Cut-Throats this way was quickly diminishing.
Adora helped her down some stairs. Dominaze knew when a wall of crisp air hit her that she was outside. The cold winter months weren’t making her situation any easier. She shivered as they walked across the frosted ground. A door creaked open and Adora helped her into her cell. It was hardly a cell. More of a constantly guarded armored truck she’d been chained inside of for the last few months. Not a day went by that the Cut-Throats didn’t travel, making it all the more impossible for anyone to be able to find her. Adora went about her routine of chaining up her ankles and wrists.
“Why bother? I couldn’t run if I wanted to.” Dominaze sniffed through her congested nose and wiped her watery eyes.
Adora didn’t answer.
“Get me out of here. I’m serious.” Dominaze tried to grip Adora’s icy arm threateningly, but she had no strength to come across as a danger.
“We’re not alone.” Adora warned.
Dominaze laughed, “I’m aware.” She leaned back against the cold truck wall, glancing to where she knew a small single window had been cut out. There were always eyes watching, a guard always perched to watch her every move. She couldn’t even fully trust Adora. It made it impossible for her to safely put her strip back in place and escape on her own. The odds of her being caught with it and having it taken from her and destroyed before she could insert it were far too high. She couldn’t let it happen.
Adora finished locking the chains.
“I’ll be back,” she whispered before closing and bolting the door shut.
“And how about another blanket?” Dominaze called to the door.
The smell of something cooking on a nearby fire was torture to Dominaze’s empty stomach. It was some sort of meat smothered in seasonings. Her stomach painfully turned and cramped at the idea of food. She curled into a ball and held her necklace medallion.
Why am I still in here? she thought to herself. She’d gotten quite good at one sided conversations with herself. Hemrick should have found me by now. She welcomed the tears that came and let them fall freely. It was the most exciting thing she could do, just to cry. The tears couldn’t last though. Even they took more energy than Dominaze had. That’s usually when the anger set it. Hemrick should have found her unless someone was keeping him away. Brike. He had to be the reason Hemrick hadn’t found her yet.
“I’m taking watch.” Adora’s voice came from outside the window.
Dominaze waited as she heard her previous guard hop down from the truck and leave. Once she was sure it was just Adora, she made her way to the little window.
“I can get you out at the towers of Rockwell,” Adora whispered. “I’ve already taken action to make it so.” She passed Dominaze a moist biscuit.
Dominaze’s heart skipped a beat. “How soon will we be there?”
“Within two days.” Adora leaned closer to the window. “You must remember our deal.”
Dominaze laughed sarcastically and pulled away from the window.
“I kept you alive,” Adora huffed through the window.
“Is that what you call this?” Dominaze continued to laugh to herself.
“I warned you,” she scoffed. “I told you that even if you begged for death, I would keep you alive.”
Dominaze nodded. “Here’s the deal. In two days’ time, if I’m free and back with Hemrick and can see again, I will do what I can to fight for your home against the Elect. Only then does our deal still stand.” She folded her arms around her goosebump-covered body. “No more guessing how many cold nights and hunger-pained days are ahead.”
“Like I said, I’ve seen to it. Your freedom is coming.”
Dominaze leaned back and smiled weakly. Freedom. Was it really so close?
Deep string music began playing outside as the Manick Cut-Throats started dancing around. Dominaze could picture the cello-like instrument that filled the air with an enthusiastic beat. Clapping and cheering, the Cut-Throat’s animated footwork vibrated the ground and seemed to warm the chilled night air. She could hear Adora humming and stomping along to the beat. Bain’s whiny singing was never far away. Dominaze longed for the day she could cover his world in black as he had hers, but for now she did her best to tune him out. She would be free soon and this time she would be ready to train. She had to be able to defend herself if she was going to stay free.
Like so many nights before, Dominaze was rocked to sleep by her shivering movements as she listened to the deep lullaby of her grumbling stomach.
_________
Loud arguing outside Dominaze’s cell woke her from a heavy sleep.
There was a ratty blanket covering her that she didn’t remember falling asleep with. Feeling around, she found a dried biscuit at her feet. She didn’t hesitate to cram it into her mouth while still being careful not to disturb her hidden strip.
“I’m not comfortable with how involved you’ve gotten with her.” Thora’s displeasing voice was at the window of Dominaze’s cell. “Since when do you care for anyone as much as you have this Demon?”
“Don’t mistake my actions for compassion,” Adora snapped coldly. “I merely keep her breathing to see your plan through.”
“And since when have you cared for the plan? You wanted the strip destroyed more than anyone else here. You hated the mere idea of postponing the destruction of the strip for anything, yet you show mercy to the Demon hiding it by giving her blankets and biscuits.” Thora slapped the side of the armored truck.
The chill in the air grew colder and Adora’s voice was stern. “I cannot destroy something that is hidden. She lives for now to serve a purpose. If anyone is going to find her strip, it will only be by the means of the Demon.”
Thora was quiet for a brief moment before answering. “I want you nowhere near her while we’re at Rockwell Tower. I don’t trust your cold heart and your puzzling devotion to this Demon.”
“And I don’t trust the hate that fills your heart. You wanted her dead from the beginning. It’s only by my suggestion that she live, that you’ve been able to use her as bait to lure the Elect into your trap—a trap I hardly see succeeding. If Dominaze is left with you, you will kill her and be out of the best bait we’ve come by and I will be tormented with the fact that her strip remains for anyone to find and use against us.” Adora took a long breath. “I will not leave her life in your hands, not while her strip is still a real threat.”
There was another slap on the cell wall and angry footsteps receded.
“Move out!” Thora’s voice was far away.
The truck roared to life and Dominaze rocked as it launched forward.
“We arrive today.” Adora’s whispers could barely be heard. “You will have but a few hours before your escape. Then you must get as far from Rockwell Tower as you can. If Thora’s plan works the Elect will not be far behind. I will not say anything more about it except that I trust I will see you again.”
Dominaze nodded, still trying to swallow the dried biscuit.
The truck jerked from side to side as they continued to move forward. Dominaze was sure they weren’t following any marked road. She could hear the Manicks call to each other and run back and forth as they forced their vehicles over the rough terrain. She couldn’t help wishing for the smooth ride of Hemrick’s wind vessel as she was knocked from one side of the truck to the other. The chains around her ankles dug into her skin with each jolt.
Dominaze was used to being left for hours and days at a time chained up. Today was no different, but today there was a hope inside her that it would soon be over, that she was actually going to get away from the wild Cut-Throats. This eager hope made the next few hours slip by more quickly.
She didn’t know how much time had passed when she heard a shuffling movement by the window, but Dominaze was sure that someone had joined Adora’s watch post. Dominaze slid away from the window, trying to be a bit more out of sight.
Bain’s whiny voice was hushed, “Did you hear?”
“Hear what?” Adora asked with little interest.
“Soomi has chosen an understudy.”
“I see.” Adora continued to have little concern.
“Well?” Bain whimpered. “Are you not the least bit curious as to whom she picked?”
“Bain,” Adora snapped, “there is very little I care about outside of my Arctic City, but if it will make you feel better, then by all means, tell me.”
“Marinetta Scott.” Bain snickered, clearly pleased with himself. “It does interest you, doesn’t it?” he teased.
Dominaze moved back toward the window at the sound of Marinetta’s name. She had all but forgotten her first friend in Domicile.
“I wasn’t aware the Scott girl had imprinted with the sea. Soomi chose her understudy wisely. No doubt to have better access to the Scott’s armies.”
Bain grew unusually quiet. “I’m scared, Adora.”
Adora groaned, “Go tell Thora.”
“It’s her plan that scares me.” He confessed even quieter. “It’s stupid. Stupid to think we can trap and destroy the Elect and now they have the Scott’s army.”
“They were told to come alone.”
“We don’t even have what they’re coming for.”
Dominaze could feel Bain’s eyes on her. The darkness pulsed on all sides.
“Bain, stop it,” Adora scolded. “If it’s your life you fear for, then leave. Fear can hurt you. It doesn’t let you think straight. If you pass this fear along you are going to get someone seriously hurt or killed. Do you understand?”
Bain was quiet for a moment. When he spoke again he sounded unusually mature. “I used to be brave, didn’t I? Before Kyro made me an idiot.”
Adora patted him on the leg. “Yes, you were brave, big brother.”
“I think fear would have saved me then.” Bain sobbed quietly. He choked on his words as a child trying not to cry. “I wasn’t afraid when I saw him. But I should have been. I should have run, but I tried to fight. If I had run, I wouldn’t be an idiot today.”
“Then run, Bain.” Adora’s voice was flat. “When we get to the Towers of Rockwell, don’t stay. You just keep going. Only come back when you’re sure it’s safe.”
“Run?”
“Run.” Adora nodded.
Bain was silent as he contemplated running and hiding, but he suddenly jumped to his feet filled with excitement.
“Wow, look!” He snickered his nasally snicker. “Look, look! It’s the towers!” he cheered.
Adora pulled him down. “Why don’t you go run with the other children Bain?”
He didn’t hesitate. Bain hopped from the moving truck and ran and cheered alongside some laughing kids. Dominaze moved back to the window. There was a thick musty smell in the air and she could barely make out the sound of seagulls in the distance.
“We’re on the coast?”
“Yes.” Adora admired the tower ruins. “The Towers of Rockwell used to be a part of the thriving Rockwell City. It was the biggest trading post in Domicile. Now it’s mostly abandoned rubble. We have your Demon ancestor, Rizor, to thank for its destruction. Since he saw to its downfall, the trade of goods and authority have not been the same. The Elect have taken over what they could, but it will never be what it was when it was here.”
Dominaze wished she could see the ruins for herself. She promised herself she would remember to look back as she escaped, when she could finally see again, when she could finally run away. Her thoughts suddenly turned to Bain.
“What did Kyro do to Bain?”
“Torture,” Adora snapped. “We don’t know the details of what he experienced, but when he was found he cried and screamed at the voices in his head. Kyro filled his mind with voices on the wind. Even after we had rescued him the voices taunted him for months. He’s never been the same.”
Dominaze sank back against the truck wall. “Sorry.”
The truck struggled up a steep hill and came to a stop. The door opened and immediately someone was unchaining her ankles.
Thora spoke from outside the door. “Quickly get her to the top of the smaller tower. She must be bound inside, away from the windows.”
Dominaze was dragged by her ankles from the truck and dropped onto the rocky ground. A man’s deep laughter stood over her.
“We need her alive,” Adora warned. “Can you try not to kill her before this is done.”
The laughter stopped and thick hands lifted Dominaze to her feet. It was impossible not to trip every few steps as she was roughly guided forward. The ground was uneven and broken and even worse as they cl
imbed the narrow staircase of the tower. Dominaze could hear Bain’s echoes as he ran through the tower ruins. They grew quieter the higher she was forced to go.
“How much further?” she panted.
“Do not make me drag you, Demon.” The deep voice growled and shoved her ahead.
Dominaze tripped over the uneven steps and fell forward. There was a blunt blow to the back of her head. Her face hit the stone stairs, crushing her nose making a distinct cracking noise followed by warm liquid dripping down her lips and chin. She scrambled to her feet while holding her bloody nose. With her free hand she tried to feel for where the man was, but there was nothing. Without Adora here to protect her, she was completely vulnerable to anyone’s attack on her. She aimlessly waved her hand in the air. She was helpless in the dark.
“Don’t…touch…me.” Dominaze stuttered through her blood-drenched lips.
A deep snicker echoed around the stone walls, making it impossible to know where it was coming from. Dominaze cautiously backed her way up the stairs, away from where she last thought her attacker was.
“I’m serious.” She tried to sound strong, but the amused laughter that responded made it clear she wasn’t intimidating.
Continuing to walk backward up the stairs, Dominaze tried to breathe calmly as she listened for any movement. The only sounds were from the wind whistling past the cracks in the wall and that of the loose rocks under her feet. She didn’t have a clue where she was going, but needed to keep moving. Just when she thought she’d actually been abandoned to find her own way to the top of the tower, she backed into a thick large body. It grabbed her and held her arms down.