Asylum

by Kit Bladegrave

  Greyson took up his vacated seat. “She is strong, to endure a wound such as this.”

  “What do you want, sorcerer?” I growled, in no moods for small talk. “Have you come to tell me you’ve found a way to destroy that monster in my dungeon? Or perhaps you’ve finally learned who this darkness is?”

  “Sadly, no, on both counts. However, I fear this is just as important.”

  I waited, but he said nothing else and seemed to be fighting with his conscience over whatever was about to come out of his mouth.

  “Spit it out, man, I don’t have all night.”

  “Sabella, did she tell you anything of her family?”

  I perked up at his question. “She said she had no family, answered while under a truth spell.”

  “Did anything happen to her between that moment and now?”

  “Quite a bit,” I remarked sarcastically. “We went to the maze of stone columns with the castle there, and she faced down the darkness. We came back here, and she risked herself diving into Kate’s mind. What does that have to do with her family?”

  I growled, letting him know my patience was wearing thin, very thin.

  “I believe she may know more now… and I know who her father is.”

  I reacted without thinking, and I grabbed him by his robes, giving him a hard shake. “Why didn’t you say so before?”

  “I hadn’t seen her up close until today,” he stated, completely calm.

  “Who is he?”

  “Crane, a very powerful sorcerer. I believe you knew him before he was tragically killed.”

  I released him, more out of shock and confusion than anything else. Crane was indeed one of the most powerful of their order for centuries. She was his daughter? “I never heard of his having children.”

  “Nor I, but I believe there is a reason.”

  I stared at me intently, waiting for him to go on.

  “Twenty years ago, Crane disappeared from our order,” he started to explain quietly. “We had minimal contact with him and never once did he say exactly where he was, or who he may have been with. Then, seventeen years ago, he returned, but he was far from being himself.”

  “What do you mean exactly?”

  “I mean he was clearly distraught about whatever transpired, but never spoke a word of it to anyone.” Greyson hung his head. “I, of course, only learned all of this after his untimely death. His books and notes were archived as they’re supposed to be when we pass from this life, but for those three years, there was nothing recorded. Not a whisper.”

  It would make sense why Sabella was a seer if her father was a sorcerer, but why wouldn’t Crane tell those he trusted most that he had a daughter? “You’re sure?”

  “Her eyes. It’s like seeing Crane back from the dead. She’s his daughter.”

  “And her mother?” I asked, remembering what she’d whispered before falling asleep.

  “I can’t say for certain, but there’s a chance she knows more than she had before.”

  The name she said, Farrah, she was one of our goddesses. Why would she say that name unless…? I shifted in my chair and held her hand tighter, willing her to wake up. It could not be possible, could it?

  “Thank you for telling me,” I told Greyson.

  “Of course. I will leave you alone with your thoughts, then.”

  I heard him walk through the infirmary and leave, but I only had eyes for Sabella. Crane was her father and her mother… her mother might very well be Farrah. Her hand felt normal in mine, human, not as if she were part god. Since meeting her, she had performed incredible magic that even seemed to catch Lucy off guard. She had seen what the scout had. But saving Kate… and the explosion at the castle, that had all been her, but not the seer part.

  The god part.

  At least now your people can’t get upset with you over it, I thought briefly, but then again, shifters held grudges for centuries. They would hear the word seer and nothing else would matter.

  I sat in the flickering light of the torches, trying to swallow down the tea Forrest brought me, but all it did was churn in my stomach. I set the mug aside and scooted closer, holding Sabella’s hands in both of mine.

  “Who are you?” I whispered, wanting to see those eyes that held nothing back.

  She took a deep breath and whispered my name.

  Her hand twitched in mine, and I held my breath, waiting to see if she would speak again.

  Her eyes fluttered open, and she grimaced. “It hurts,” she said, voice sounding so small.

  “I know, Red, I know.” I tucked her hair behind her ears, so it was out of her face.

  Her lips twitched in a smile, but she winced again. “How long… have I been out?”

  “Less than a day. You were burned by something,” I told her. “Do you remember?”

  All the other questions I wanted to ask were right at the tip of my tongue. I doubted bombarding her with who her parents were would help her condition at all.

  “Kate… I got her free of him, but he attacked us.”

  I growled, knowing exactly who she meant.

  “Tristan, before… I was trying to tell you, but I don’t want you to hate me.”

  “Hate you?” I asked, startled. “Why the hell would I hate you? You saved a dear friend, you’ve helped me since the moment I met you. Why would I hate you?”

  Tears shimmered in her eyes, and when they seeped out, I wiped them away gently with my thumb. “Because I know who the darkness is because I know who my mother is, and it’s not good. I’ll understand if you throw me out, I will, but you have to let me explain everything first. I don’t want you getting hurt, or your pack, or anyone—”

  I cut her off with a finger to her lips. “Slow down. I’m not throwing you out. Besides, I think I know some of what you’re going to tell me.”

  “How?”

  “Greyson, one of the sorcerers, he told me he knew your father.”

  “What?” she gasped and tried to sit up, but the pain made her cry out, and I scowled at her.

  “Stop trying to move, just lie still.” I glanced at her back and found some of the white goop turning red from her tearing the wound open again. “I have to get Lucy.”

  “No.” She grabbed my hand in an iron grip, and I froze. “Tell me first, who was he?”

  I shot another worried glance at her back before I sighed. “His name was Crane, and he was one of the most powerful sorcerers known to their order.”

  “He’s dead, isn’t he,” she asked.

  I nodded once.

  “Just wanted to check… but I think my mom’s alive. I saw her, when I was at the castle. The darkness, he showed me images of what was happening to her, but then I saw her again, here. That’s what I was seeing when you came in to get me.” More tears filled her eyes, and she buried her face in the pillow. “I know who the darkness is, too.”

  “What do you mean? How?” I asked, trying to understand what was happening. “Sabella, whatever it is, I won’t hate you. Help me out, here.”

  She lifted her head as much as she could so her eyes met mine. “My mom’s name is Farrah.”

  “Farrah, the goddess of light?” I asked to be certain.

  “That’s her, and the darkness, he has her trapped.” Her mouth opened and closed a few times until the next words tumbled out in a messy heap. “The darkness is my uncle, Tristan. His name is Baladon, and he’s my damned uncle.”

  For a solid ten seconds, my mind went completely blank, then everything came at me in a rush.

  Baladon. I knew the name, but he was rarely spoken of, or even associated with the gods, not for centuries.

  “How…” I stopped and started again. “He showed you this? Told you the truth when you were with him?”

  She nodded and buried her face again, her shoulders shaking as she cried. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. He’s my family, but I want nothing to do with him. He’s killing my mom, and I think there were others, but he’s planning something worse, so mu
ch worse.”

  “The storm of death and this tidal wave you keep seeing.” I ran a hand over my face, mind refusing to acknowledge what she was telling me. “This can’t be right.”

  Not only was she a seer, but she was the daughter of a goddess and technically related by blood to the darkness threatening to consume my entire realm along with all the others.

  If she had dark intentions, they would have come out when we used the truth spell on her, but then again, she hadn’t known what she really was yet. Or who she was related to.

  I pulled my hand from hers and paced away.

  A dark voice in my mind said she was dangerous. Anything to do with that darkness was a potential threat and needed to be dealt with. Years of instinct and distrust for others like her rose up within me, and I forgot where I was.

  Seers were never to be trusted and though I respected the gods, if it was indeed Baladon driving this death closer to us, the dark god of all monsters and hellish spawn, who’s to say Sabella hadn’t been corrupted by him? She’d been with him, alone. What else had he shown her aside from the truth and why? Why show her that unless he wanted her to join him?

  I growled furiously, torn between my gut instincts and what my heart was telling me to do. I needed more time, or needed it to stop, so I could think clearly and understand every possible angle, dissect this new threat.

  But there was no time. There never was.

  With my eyes scrunched tightly, I dug through the mess of thoughts in my head, searching for one that told me what to do, without doubt. Sabella was an unknown, she had been since I found her curled up and freezing to death in the woods, hearing voices inside her head. What if I trusted her and my realm fell to ruin?

  A cry of pain and the sound of flesh on stone made me turn.

  “What the hell are you doing, Red?” I snapped, rushing to Sabella.

  She was trying to push herself up off the floor, but her knees buckled, and she collapsed.

  “I’m going to leave before I cause any more trouble. That’s what I’m doing.”

  Tears streaked her face when I gently lifted her chin.

  “Just let me leave. I can’t stand to think of you not wanting me around so let me go now before… before…”

  My world slammed to a sudden halt, and every fiber of my very being told me this was right.

  Sabella, she was meant to come here. She was meant to be mine. Without hesitating another second, I lowered my lips to hers and kissed her, softly at first until her arms wrapped around my neck. Then it was all I could do to remember she was injured and that hugging her to me would only hurt her more.

  All these years, I hadn’t realized how much I needed someone in my life, and then she showed up. She might have thought she was the crazy one, but right then, I felt like I was losing my mind at the idea of not having her with me.

  “You are not leaving me,” I whispered when we stopped to breathe. “Do you understand me, Red? You are not going anywhere.”

  “But my family,” she started, so I kissed her again.

  “We’ll figure it out, but if you try to disappear on me, I will hunt you down and bring you back.”

  I cupped her face in my hands, kissing her forehead as she sagged against my body.

  “I believe you,” she said, but the words came out weak.

  A tremor shook her body, and when I peered over her shoulder at her back, I was yelling for aid.

  “I believe you,” she repeated again.

  I held her until two guards rushed in.

  “Get Lucy, now,” I ordered one while the other helped me get Sabella back onto the bed. “We’re going to get you taken care of, I promise.” I kissed her hand and was rewarded with a brief smile despite the agony she must be feeling.

  Lucy rushed in moments later, another dose in hand already to knock Sabella out while she tended her wounds again. When she fell asleep this time, there was a smile on her lips, and she looked peaceful.

  “When you’re finished here, you and I need to talk,” I told Lucy.

  “About what exactly?”

  I thought of a gentler way to tell her what I found out but learned being blunt was always easier. “About Baladon being her uncle, and Farrah her mother.”

  16

  Sabella

  I kissed Tristan.

  Or well, I guessed he kissed me. Either way, a day later that was the only thing I could think of. That and finding a way to accept what I found out about my parents. I wished the kiss was the only thing on my mind, so I could relive it repeatedly, but sadly that wasn’t how my life was working out.

  My back healed enough for me to walk back to my room and have some privacy. I was able to wear a very loose-fitting blouse, too, changing out of the ruined one, finally.

  Tristan had stopped by every few hours to check on me.

  The last time, I was half-asleep and heard him come in.

  He’d kissed my forehead and left again, but that one sweet gesture confused and elated me at the same time. What was happening between us? Was it happening all too fast? Or was it just like this when you found that one special guy. To be fair, he was a bit older than me, and I’d never had a relationship. Hard to do that when you live in an asylum your whole life. I should’ve been worried about our more pressing situation, but how could I when all I wanted was to find him and just sit with him? See him?

  “Great, now you sound clingy,” I muttered to myself as a knock came at my door. “Come in.”

  My heart leapt at the notion Tristan was back so soon, but that’s not whose face appeared.

  “Sabella? I wanted to see how you were doing, if you were okay.” Kate.

  She looked better, still pale, but her strength appeared to be coming back, and there was clarity in her eyes when she looked at me.

  I waved her in. “I’m alive, does that count?” I teased.

  “It does.” She laughed with me for a moment. “I never thanked you for getting me out of there. I couldn’t imagine being stuck like that forever.”

  “Insane?” I asked, my brow rising, and she gave me a sheepish smile. “Don’t worry, you weren’t as bad as I was, not at my worst moments at least.”

  When I was younger, the fits I had were short and rare. It wasn’t until I became much older that they became more frequent. I’d lost count of times I’d been strapped down to stop myself from hurting, well, myself.

  “You really had no idea you were a seer?”

  “Nope, not a clue. I thought I was just crazy and am pretty sure I still am.” I stuck my finger in my ear, giving it a wiggle, but there were no voices, not yet. “It’s better here, but I don’t think it’s Torolf helping me. It’s…”

  She smiled then as she said, “Tristan? I thought there was something between you two.”

  “What? Oh no, there’s not,” I said in a rush. “Really, he just found me, and I’ve been trying to help him, well, all of you, and no, we’re just… just…”

  “Friends? Sabella, it’s only me. You don’t have to lie.”

  I sagged and gave a nervous chuckle. “It seems so weird to have a normal girly moment in the midst of all this chaos, but… we kissed last night and granted, I’ve never kissed anyone in my life, this felt so much more. Like we’re connected somehow? And now I just sound like a crazy person again.”

  Kate glanced toward the door, and her smile was soft, filled with love. “No, it’s not. I felt the same the first time I kissed Craig. Forrest is an important part of my life, too, but with Craig, it’s like I’m more than just me. I’m who I’m meant to be, and the idea of losing him kills me inside. He’s my world, just as I’m his.”

  In another life, where we might’ve been friends, I would’ve called her out for sounding so cheesy. But here and now, not knowing when the next attack would come, the intensity of her words struck me deep. Could I get by without Tristan? The voices would come back, and the visions, they wouldn’t be clear. I’d be lost in the madness again, and what if I forgot about hi
m? I rubbed an ache in my chest, grimacing at the notion. I’d tried to leave last night, knowing what would happen, but he stopped me. Told me if I tried to leave, he’d track me down. Was this love, then? Could it happen this fast?

  “Don’t overthink it,” Kate warned, dragging me from my worried musings. “If you feel it’s right, then it is.”

  “Guess it’d be one less thing I have to worry over.” There, a silver lining to simply letting myself feel whatever it was I felt for Tristan. I watched Kate and felt a power humming off her. “Vindicar. That’s what Tristan said you were.”

  “Sadly.”

  I tilted my head confused.

  She sighed. “Don’t get me wrong, I love my life, but a year ago, I was like you. Living like a human, except I found out I was a dragon, and a warrior destined to save us from the darkness.”

  I have come to find the warriors.

  She was still talking, but those words came back to me, again and again.

  I have come to find the ones… who will either save us, or kill us…

  “Sabella? Are you alright?” Kate asked, grabbing hold of my hands.

  I flinched.

  “Do I need to get Lucy? Or Tristan?”

  “Huh? Oh, no I’m fine.”

  “Were you seeing something?”

  “No, not this time, it’s what I told Lucy and Tristan, about why I was here. I don’t understand my own words, and it’s infuriating.” Who was I kidding? Everything about my current predicament was infuriating. “What do you remember? From being with Baladon?”

  “Baladon?” she asked sharply and then relaxed. “Sorry, Craig told me his name this morning.” She rubbed her arms as if she were cold. “God of all monsters… and apparently your uncle?”

  How could I forget? “Yeah, sadly. Can’t choose our family, right?”

  I pleaded silently for her to talk more about what she went through. I was far from ready to discuss my parents. In true girl understanding, she smiled lightly, and I sighed in relief.

  “I remember the shadow coming to Darrah,” she started to explain. “He took me away, and Craig was there. We were thrown into cells, but he dragged me away to another one, in that room.” She stood abruptly and paced to the window. “I don’t know how long it took, but he broke through into my mind. All I remember was pain, so much pain and then… a strange peace. As if my life was perfect there by the pond. A place I could stay for all eternity.”