MIDNIGHT DIVINE (The Helio Trilogy Book 1)

by Valerie Roeseler

  Solas takes a step back, “Ryker? You think this is about Ryker?”

  “Isn’t it?”

  “This is about you! I thought you would be the one to finally defy him, but you played right into his hands. You’re wings don't lie. You’ve changed. Your essence is tainted, and now you'll be The King's new favorite pet. When that happens, the world will become chaos, and there will never be any hope for the rest of us to try to prove ourselves to the True King. There will be no going back for us.”

  “It’s not what you think, Solas!” I push off of the wall, my own anger surfacing.

  He steps forward to close the gap between our bodies, “Then what is it, Ivy? Enlighten me!”

  “Look,” I hold out my right forearm.

  He stares at the makeshift cuff. I reach for the shoelace to untie it, and he peers at me with knowing. Solas halts my hand, grabbing my wrist with force, and his emotions surge into me again. Anger, confusion, lust, curiosity, wonder. He releases his grasp and hastily unties the string around my arm. As he pulls the tie completely from place, I stop him, “Wait.” He scowls at me with hooded eyes. “Just… I don't want you to freak out. Promise me.”

  His eyes soften as he reaches up and brushes my cheek with the back of his fingertips, “I swear it.”

  In gentle motion, his hand smooths the cloth down my arm until my forearm is nakedly displayed. At first he's confused, then he's surprised. “I don’t understand.”

  “Do you trust me?” I stress.

  “Yes,” he affirms with confidence.

  “Let me show you since you can’t read my thoughts,” I reach up and place both hands on the sides of his face. Closing my eyes, I replay my conversation with Michael in the Veil and push my memories into Solas' mind. When I open my eyes, Solas is gazing at me tenderly. Admiration, pity, pride, loyalty, and affection. I release him before I can feel too many of his emotions. It feels wrong to spy on someone at such a deep level.

  “I’m sorry, Ivy.”

  “It’s ok. You didn’t know. No one knows, and I think it would be best to keep it that way.” I pull the cloth back on, and Solas ties it up more securely.

  “I understand.”

  “I don’t think you do,” I lower my voice. Solas quirks an eyebrow at my statement. I step closer to whisper in his ear, “I know how you feel about Beleth, so I hope you can be on my side. I need him to think I’ve changed. I have to get close to him. Close enough to do to him what I did to Ryker.”

  Solas whispers back to me, “I'll do whatever I can to help you.”

  “Thank you, Solas,” I hug him tight, overflowing with gratitude. I'm going to get out of here.

  As we approach the Throne Room, the doors are closed and the silence is eerie. “It’s best if you play along,” Solas whispers close to my ear, and I nod before he opens the doors. He marches ahead of me, and I follow closely. He stops in the middle of the room and steps aside to kneel in a bow to Beleth. I take my place beside him and mimic his movements. My captor seems pleased with himself as I bow in submission. Neither Solas or I move. My heart's beating so hard I think it's going to burst from my throat.

  Beleth’s footfalls reverberate as he approaches. “Stand,” he commands us, and we rise together. I'm still the same cocky person I've always been and lift my chin with confidence as I meet the roaring flames in his eyes. “You may leave us, Solas.” I don’t dare glance to Solas as he marches back out of the Throne Room. “Ivy, Ivy, Ivy,” Beleth begins to circle me slowly. “After all the trouble I went through to ensure your safety… You kill one of my best soldiers?” He smiles in amusement.

  “It was an accident. I didn’t know what was happening. I suspect my final transformation had a hand in it.” It isn’t a complete lie.

  He nods and appears to consider it a possible coincidence. “Hmm… And how do you feel now that you are fully transformed?”

  “I’m not sure what you’re asking, My Liege,” I add to play to his ego.

  His pacing ceases before me, and he stares into my eyes with a tight lipped grin on his lips, “I am asking if I am still going to have a problem with your insubordination.”

  I kneel in front of him for good measure, “No, My Liege. I'm fully awake. I understand my place and my purpose. I'm ready to be molded by your hands into the instrument you see fit.” Was that too much, you think?

  “Perfect,” he notes and gestures for me to stand. I meet his gaze once more. “You are ready to be molded then?”

  “Yes, My Liege,” I try to muster enough admiration in my eyes for him to believe my words, though I hate calling him 'My Liege'.

  “It will require me to touch you again,” he adds and hovers his hand over my face.

  “I understand,” is my only reply. I loathe his touch, but I need to keep playing along.

  “If you are truly ready, Princess, you will have to prove to me that you are willing to submit to me.”

  “I’m ready. What would you have me do to prove my loyalty?” My confidence wavers inside of me, but I refuse to reveal it.

  “Bind yourself to me,” his eyes flare with anticipation.

  I knew this was coming. This is my chance. I have to take it. No matter the consequences. “I accept.”

  The astonishment in his eyes changes into arrogance, “Good. Tonight then. I will send for you when it is time.”

  “Yes, My Liege,” I bow my head to him. “Will that be all?”

  “For now. You may return to your chambers and prepare yourself for what is to come. Till then, Princess,” he bows his head and disappears in a black cloud of smoke.

  Fuck. There’s no turning back now. I need to find out what the ritual will entail. Hopefully, I'll get my chance before it’s complete.

  I turn around and leave the Throne Room through the same open doors I entered, realizing this is the first time I've not been required to be escorted around the premises. With this new sign of trust Beleth has given me, I find my way down the corridors. Voices travel from the Dining Hall. My stomach rumbles, and I pause outside the entryway. I wonder if there’s any food. Would I be welcome in there?

  I decide to take my chances and enter the Dining Hall. Twelve men sit around the feast set along the long table. They're laughing and enjoying conversation when I step inside, and every head in the room turns to me, silence gripping the tension in the room.

  What do I say? Maybe I should leave. No. That would show weakness. I'm not weak. “Good evening,” I say with my head held high. I spot Cassius at the left corner of the far side of the table. After a moment of silence he stands and approaches me.

  I'm stupefied when he takes my right hand and kneels before me. He places a light kiss on the back of my hand and bows his head, “What can we do for you, Princess?” He glances up to me and winks.

  The corner of my mouth gradually turns up as I try to restrain my amusement, “May I join you? I haven’t eaten in a while.”

  Cassius stands and guides me to a seat at the head of the table next to him, “Of course, Princess. Have a seat.”

  Remembering appreciation isn't recognized within their ranks, I simply nod my head to play along with Cassius’ ploy to earn their trust. The other eleven men rise from their seats as I step in front of the chair before sitting. Pausing, I look around and search their faces. I don’t recognize any of them, but they're all dressed the same as Cassius, and I assume they're all Griffins like him. I sit down, and they each follow suit. I take an empty goblet from in front of me and turn to Cassius, “What do I have to do to get a drink around here?” I joke.

  “What would you like?” he inquires.

  Hesitantly, I glance around the room of Griffins examining me, and my pretenses fall away. “Does it really have to be like this?” I suggest with a bored and tired expression.

  I'm met with looks of misunderstanding from them. Cassius bends down to speak low in my ear, “What do you mean, Princess?”

  “You know exactly what I mean, Cassie,” I scowl in irritation.
Murmurs resound around the room between the Griffins. Cassius gives me a callous glare with his brows pinched together. “Stop treating me like I'm glass! You’re not going to break my heart, and I’m not going to run crying. And stop calling me 'Princess' or I’ll come up with girly names for each of you.” I point around the table. “My name is Ivy. Use it.” The stunned expressions on each of their faces have me shaking my head, “Look, I’ve been through a lot of shit these last few weeks. I need a fucking drink. I was hoping you guys would loosen up and have one with me.”

  I see some smiles across the table, and Cassius weaves to the middle of the table to pick up a tall dark bottle of wine, “Would you like some wine then?”

  I cross my arms over my chest. “Do I look like wine's going to solve my problems, Cass?" I deadpan. "No. We need some whiskey.” Every Griffin begins pounding the table.

  Cassius puts the wine down, an amused grin plays across his face, revealing dimples in his cheeks. He reaches over and plucks a square bottle full of liquid gold from next to a platter of enormous turkey legs. “Will this do?” he chuckles, and the pounding of fists on the table gets louder and faster.

  “Shots for everybody!” I cheer and throw my hands up. Another Griffin leaves and brings back two trays, each holding thirty shot glasses. They're passed along the table and filled to the brims. Once the first bottle is emptied, more is brought to the table from the bar along the wall.

  Cassius jumps into the seat of his chair, shot glass in hand, “A toast!” The room echoes with the repeated phrase and raised glasses from every Griffin in the Dining Hall. “To Ivy! May your future nor your past never take away your class. For we will never be the same without it, my dear lass.”

  I lift my shot glass to Cassius, and shouts explode through the room, “To Ivy!” We throw our shots back and cheers ensue.

  Food is passed along the table like Thanksgiving dinner. We eat and laugh as the Griffins tell stories of how they've been getting away from The Keep under the radar to find women to bed. As soon as I finish my first plate, another randomly replaces it as Cassius comes to sit beside me and pours me another shot before dropping the bottle down in front of me. It's a bottle of Jack Daniels. Jack. I’m so sorry, Jack. Please forgive me. I send up a silent prayer and throw back the shot. “What has you drowning in your sorrows, sweet Ivy?”

  Without meeting his gaze, I snatch the bottle of Jack and pour another shot. “Beleth,” I mumble. I hesitate with my hand around the neck of the bottle as I place it back down. “I agreed to bind with him tonight.” I throw another shot back and revel the burn down my throat. I've lost count of how many I've had, but I have to keep drinking to keep my buzz going.

  Cassius nods his head, “Maybe it is for the best, now that you are one of us.”

  I don’t look back at him. I regret the lie they believe—that I'm Fallen as they are. “I’m afraid this will only make things worse for me.”

  “How so?”

  I falter at the thought of my declaration. I lean in and whisper close to his ear, “My heart belongs to another.”

  “I see… This may be difficult for the both of you. I wish I knew what to tell you to make this easier, but I have seen the way Solas looks at you. No matter what you choose, he knows you do not have a choice,” he whispers back to me.

  I sit back and look at him in bewilderment, “Solas?”

  Cassius tilts his head and leans back into me to keep his voice low, “Is that not who you speak of?” I shake my head. I catch sight of someone coming through the door. It's Beckett. Cassius addresses him, “Brother! Are you here to join us?” His deep voice bellows with merriment.

  “I do not. Though, I wish I could,” he tells his brother, then looks to me. “I'm here to escort you back to your chambers so you can get ready for the ritual tonight.”

  The entire room stills with his words and every head snaps to my direction. I clear my throat and stand, “Thank you for the momentary reprieve gentlemen, but I must leave your good company earlier than expected.” I'm met with looks of astonishment, disbelief, devastation, and alarm. I nod and let Beckett leads me back to my quarters.

  Beckett opens the door to my chamber, and I follow him inside. A thin white gown lays across the foot of my bed. It's more of a toga in design than a wedding dress. I run my hand across the fabric. It’s soft and layered with lacy vines across the waist.

  “Is there anything you need?” Beckett offers.

  “I need to speak to Solas.” Beckett bows his head and leaves me to prepare.

  Soaking in the steaming water of the stone tub, tears run down my face. I'm finally alone and able to release my sorrow in private. My latest nightmare begins to make since to me now. The dress on my bed is the same from my dream. Dream, vision, omen. Whatever it is must have been symbolizing the binding.

  I dunk my head backwards to drown my thoughts in the hushed whir of water. When I can’t hold my breath any longer, I surface and wipe my face. Standing up, I reach for the white towel hanging on the corner of the cabinet and wrap it around my body. I twist another around my head so my hair won’t drip while I dry the rest of my body. I stare at myself in the full length mirror. More tears seep from the inner corners of my eyes.

  I turn away from myself and return to the bedroom. Solas stands facing the fireplace and flames dance across the black suit he's wearing. “You wanted to speak to me?” he prompts without facing me.

  “Um… yeah. Let me get dressed. Give me just a minute. Please, don’t go.” I grab my garments and the dress from my bed and skirt into the bathroom. I towel dry my hair and slip on the ensemble. Without regarding my reflection, I return to the bedroom once more to find Solas standing in the same place. His arms are extended in front of him, and his hands rest on the mantle above the hearth. His head remains downcast as he stares at the rug beneath his feet. He appears tired and sad. Is he upset about the binding? “Solas?”

  “What did you need to speak to me about?” His body is unmoving.

  “Um… I don’t know exactly what’s going to happen. I was wondering if you could enlighten me on what the binding ritual entails,” I request.

  His head raises, but he continues to gaze ahead of him at the cold candles lining the shelf. He lets out an audible sigh. “Cassius and Beckett will be waiting for you at the doors of the Throne Room. I'll let them know when we're ready for you. Everyone will be inside. You'll walk to the front and meet Beleth at the bottom of the steps where you will kneel to him, then stand. I'll begin the ritual—”

  “—Wait. You lead the ritual?”

  He finally turns to face me, “Yes.”

  My face falls, “I’m sorry, Solas. I don’t have a choice. I have to do this. This may be my only chance to get close enough to kill him.”

  “I know, but maybe you don’t have to go completely through with it.”

  “What are you talking about? I have to do this. I can’t turn him down now. It’s now or never.”

  “I hate to ask this of you, but…there's a point in the ritual where it's required you both slice your palms open and mix your blood in the Cup of Unity. Your essence is contained within your blood. After it's mixed, you're supposed to drink from the cup first, then Beleth.” Solas steps closer to me. “Maybe you don’t drink, and only he does. When it comes time for the kiss to seal the first part of the bond, it will give you a chance to strike.”

  I shake my head, “What if the others attack?”

  “There are many that will protect you. I'll be by your side and keep the others away. The Griffins are on your side, as well as many other Fallen. The few that will try to attack will be immobilized and thrown into the dungeons.”

  “Do you really think it'll work?”

  “Yes,” Solas reaches for my hands and turns my palms up. Devotion, fondness, affection, regret. “We need to cover this,” he notes, examining the rank on my right forearm.

  “How? Gloves?”

  “I can get you some. Finish getting ready. I’ll
be back shortly.”

  Solas is only gone enough time for me to brush out my hair. I'm admiring the falling layers of the gown across my chest in the mirror when he returns. It startles me enough that my wings burst out of my back of their own volition. “Jeez! You scared the shit out of me!” I laugh at our reflection, fold my wings back, and turn around to meet his gaze.

  “Don't hide your wings. You should leave them out. They’re divine,” his voice is low and soft. He steps forward and brushes the edge of my wing with his fingers. He utters, “Midnight divine.”

  I blush, “Thank you.”

  “Here. Try these,” he holds out a pair of black lace fingerless gloves, long enough to reach my elbows. They're embellished with tiny water crystal droplets that reflect the light elegantly. They complement my wings, and I become a split imagery of black and white—yin and yang, light and dark, good and bad.

  “They're gorgeous,” I slide one onto my right arm and secure the elastic over my middle finger so the point of the glove rests against my middle knuckle. They're perfect. I put the other on and behold both arms out in front of me. “Thank you, Solas.”

  “You are very welcome.”

  My bedroom door flies open and hits the wall in an explosion. “Ivy!”

  Solas and I dash into the bedroom with angelic speed to discover Beckett huffing and sweating. “Beck? What’s wrong?”

  “Your friends tried to storm The Keep,” he huffs. “We had no choice.”

  “Where are they? What happened?” I rush to him with angry questions.

  “The guards took them to Beleth. The Griffins didn’t know who they were. They thought they were protecting you!”

  “Beckett! Where are they?” I demand.

  “Beleth has them in the dungeons. He’s injected them with Qeres. There was nothing we could do.”

  I put my hand on his shoulder to calm him, “Ok. Calm down. I’m going to take care of it.”

  “How?”

  “You just let me worry about it. Ok? You did nothing wrong. Let all the Griffins know I don't hold anything against them.” Beckett nods his head.

  Solas voices, “It’s time. Are you ready?”