The Poison Within

by Rachel Marie Pearcy

  “I know you love her,” he breathed, “but will you be able to leave her?”

  “I will always do what I must,” Rya answered with a sigh.

  The landscape shifted from the rocky jagged ground of the mountains to rolling hills and low bushes. The area beyond the Craken Peaks was desolate, with poor soil for farming, and the grass held little nutrients for livestock. With no homes to block the view, the border of the Ashen Forest could be seen on one side, and the coastal cliffs on the other, giving the stretch of land the informal name—the gap. The best part about the gap was that with no large trees to maneuver through, and no rocky terrain making the ground unstable, the horses were able to gallop across at full speed, making up for any time they’d lost traveling around the mountain’s base.

  Back in the open, Rya’s mind moved once more to Nix. He was still out there, she could feel it. The Kael were skilled at tracking, even at night, and she knew he was hiding somewhere, waiting to strike. The others weren’t as worried, joking that he’d be a fool to attack them with no cover, and bragging about him being outnumbered. One thing Rya had learned while running before, was never to underestimate a Kael.

  Twenty-Six

  The days flew past as quickly as the scenery around them, and the horses pushed forward. The cool breeze that came up and over the cliff side kept the chill from fading, but at least the snow had disappeared, making the ride easier to handle. The gap was flat with the exception of a scatter of prickly shrubs that dotted the browning grass. The dull colors blurred together like swirls of marble until the sun had ended its journey and disappeared, taking the light with it. Still they rode, pressing forward until they recognized the shimmer of the moonlight on the water’s surface. The horses slowed to stop, and the five them all stared at the vast expanse of black ahead of them.

  “We’ve reached it,” Cam cheered. “Veil Lake.”

  Their arrival had given them all a second wind, and they worked together to put the camp in place. They moved as one unit, finding wood, starting the fire, and laying the blankets. Rya stopped for a moment and watched the rest of them. A smile tugged at her lip as she realized it was the first time in her life that she was part of a team. In fact, it was the first time she’d felt included at all. The happiness that tickled her was quickly pushed aside by guilt and fear. Sora was the only one of them who knew the real plan. The others were blissfully unaware that in the end it would be her, and her alone.

  The fire was still flickering as they finished their dinner. Thane had taken Sora to the lake and when they’d returned, they brought with them a couple large fish, making the night’s meal rather filling. Rya sat back and watched Sora chase lightning bugs on the outskirts of the camp, while Thane and Norell played some game that involved a board drawn in the dirt and the capturing of each other’s rocks. Thane had just mumbled some curse words at Norell’s move when Cam stood up.

  “Come with me,” she said, waving to Rya.

  “Where do you think we’re going?” The queen scoffed.

  “To the lake. It’s been ages since I’ve had a proper bath and I think a swim will make up for that nicely.”

  “Absolutely not. That water will be ice cold, and I’m not getting in there.”

  “Are you scared?” Cam teased, backing away.

  “I’m not scared of anything,” Rya replied.

  She was on her feet, following Cam from the warmth of the fire. The lake wasn’t far, but with the slope downward and the small trees that lined its edge, they could no longer see the others. Standing on the bank Rya reconsidered her decision.

  “This is insane,” she pointed out. “You know Norell is going to throw a fit if she finds us. We should just go back.”

  “No way. I came to swim and that’s what I’m going to do.” Cam stripped off her shirt, and Rya looked away, catching only a hint of the moonlight on her pale skin. Next were the boots and then the pants. Her clothes in a pile on the shore, Cam took a running jump into the water.

  “It’s not that bad,” she laughed. “Get in here.”

  This is a bad idea. Rya removed her boots, kicking them next to Cam’s stack of clothes. Thane will have my head for this. Her arms crossed in front of her, grabbing the bottom of her shirt and pulling it over her head. This is only going to make things harder.

  She jumped.

  “You’re a liar,” Rya shivered. “You said it wasn’t cold.”

  “I know,” Cam smirked. “I wasn’t going to be stuck freezing in here alone.”

  The queen shook her head, then fumbled through the water with her arms outstretched. When her hands found Cam’s, she pulled the girl towards her. They were naked—hidden under the darkness of night, but still naked. She wrapped her arms around Cam’s body, the cold water pushed aside by their forms. The heat was almost instant, and the orange glow surrounded them both. Rya closed her eyes, trying to keep her mind on the magic, and not focusing on the body pressed against hers. Her senses tingled as every part of her skin came alive. She was aware of Cam’s knee slightly above her own, dangerously close to her thigh. Her fingertips traced the dip in Cam’s lower back, and she steadied them from moving lower. Cam’s hair was over her shoulder, tucked between them now, tickling the soft skin of Rya’s chest. Every nerve was awake and eager, wanting and waiting for the princess’ touch.

  “Rya?” Cam’s voice brushed her ear. She paused, and then louder than expected, the princess yelped. “Okay, something just touched my foot.”

  Rya smiled until the slimy skin of some hidden creature brushed against her leg. With a squeal she released Cam and the two of them started kicking wildly towards the shore. Their arms flailed and splashed in all directions until they reached the bank and clambered onto the cool ground. Lying under the light of the moon, soaking wet and shivering, the two broke into laughter.

  “That’s not what I expected,” Cam smiled. “Sorry I dragged you out here.”

  Rya smirked. “It was worth it.”

  With the moment passed, and their skin turning blue, the girl’s started to put their clothes back on. With their backs to each other, they tried to hide their stolen glances and curious looks, and each of them pretended not to notice the other’s. Rya’s shirt clung to her wet back, and her pants fought against her when she pulled them up. Winning the battle, Rya sat down to shove her feet into her boots when Cam appeared next to her.

  “I love the stars,” Cam smiled. She was leaning back on her hands, looking up at the night sky. Her own outfit was crooked and wrong, as if the clothing wanted to be free from her skin as much as Rya wanted them to.

  “Yes,” she nodded. “They can be beautiful.”

  Cam’s hand moved towards her, the light touch caressing Rya’s fingers. She closed her eyes again, but this time she allowed her thoughts to be of nothing but Cam.

  Twenty-Seven

  The queen looked gorgeous in the light of the moon. The silver glow washing over her olive skin, highlighting the contours of her face. Cam had almost let herself go in the water, almost giving in to what she knew she shouldn’t have. The sudden magical heat mixed with their bodies, and it was too perfect, until some mysterious water monster ruined it. Sitting on the shore next to Rya, she couldn’t help but wish she could go back and recapture that moment, turning it into something more.

  “Can I ask you something?” Rya whispered. She’d pulled her hand away from Cam’s, resting her arms on her knees. The sudden distance was heavy and wrong.

  “Of course,” she nodded.

  “Can you tell me about Hannah?”

  Of all the questions Cam expected Rya to ask, that was not one of them. Hannah’s name should never have spilled over her lips. She’d never wanted to talk about her, not to Rya, but it was too big a piece of her heart and her past. She didn’t want to lie.

  “She was from a kingdom beyond the Halton Sea,” Cam answered. “She came here looking for safety from some bad people, and we took her in. She was given a room in the inner ward, and
we worked hard to keep her safe. She was always so grateful, and so sweet.” The memory of Hannah’s laugh pounded in Cam’s head. It would burst from her lips before fading to a giggle at the end. She could see the curls of her auburn hair hanging over her shoulders, burning bright like fire when the sunlight hit it.

  “You loved her.” Rya added. It wasn’t a question.

  Cam nodded. “I did. I fell for her—hard. That had always been her plan. After a few months of luring me in, she told me the truth. Her father was a king and planned to attack the Ashen Forest from the sea. She was sent as a spy to gain information on our port, our army, our castle, and anything else. She said playing with my emotions was just part of the fun, and that it made it easier for her to get what she wanted. My heart wasn’t just broken, it was shattered.”

  Rya’s hands kept clenching and releasing, the way they did every time she grew angry. She couldn’t tell if Rya’s reflex was from hearing about Hannah’s betrayal, or the simple fact that Cam had loved her.

  “What happened to her?” she asked. “I’m assuming you punished her after learning the truth.”

  “She left,” Cam replied. She knew it wasn’t the answer Rya wanted, but it was the truth. “She ran off that night, escaping into the woods. I could have stopped her, but I didn’t. I could have sent the guards to try and find her, or shut down all boats leaving our port, but I said nothing. I allowed her to flee with the information she’d gained. In a moment of weakness, I forgot to put the good of the Ashen before myself, and it could have cost us dearly. Thankfully, nothing ever came of it. I never saw Hannah again, and no one has ever tried to attack us. I mean—until Kasen, but that’s a different story.”

  “Is it?” Rya had that look, the same one she’d had each time she tried to push Cam away. “I came to you looking for safety. I used you for my own reasons, and in the process, I’ve drawn you too close to me. I’ve done horrible things to people, and I can’t guarantee that you won’t be one of them.”

  “I can,” Cam replied. She shifted her body and knelt down in front of Rya.

  “You aren’t safe with me.” Rya was shaking her head. “I’m tainted. My heart is as black as they say, poisoned by my past and my actions. You can’t know who I am based on our time in the forest. I forgot my true self since I’ve been with you, and now you’ve been deceived again.”

  Cam lifted Rya’s chin, forcing her to look at her. “Will you stop saying that I don’t know you. They call you the Black Queen. They say you’re evil. You don’t get a reputation like that for handing out puppies to orphans. I know exactly the type of person you are, and I think that scares you. You say you lost your true self when you appeared in my kingdom, but I think the truth is the opposite, I think you found it.”

  Rya’s dark eyes bore into hers, burning with either rage or desire. Cam took a breath, waiting to see which would come forward, knowing either reaction would burn her in one way or another. In a flash, Rya’s lips were on hers, and Cam melted into them. Both pairs of hands grasped fistfuls of clothing, desperate to eliminate any barrier between their flesh. The ground was cold against Cam’s lower back, and Rya was over her, their lips parted and their tongues dancing together. The queen’s fingertips grazed her stomach, moving upwards under her shirt. Her mouth moved to Rya’s neck, nipping at the curve that met her shoulder and then kissing it gently.

  “Wait,” Rya gasped, and Cam froze.

  “I’m sorry,” Cam panted. “I shouldn’t have—”

  “No, not that. Listen.” They both waited, trying to calm the quickness of their breaths. Cam was confused, and opened her mouth, wanting to ask what she was expecting, when the awful shriek cut through the air.

  “Norell!” she yelled. “We need to get back to the camp!”

  The scene Cam imagined as she ran back up the hill was nothing compared to the reality in front of her. Norell was on one knee on the far end of the campsite, holding herself up with her spear, ignoring the blood that ran from her busted lip down her chin. Her free arm was stretched out, shielding a terrified Sora behind her. Both of them were staring in horror at the bodies in front of them.

  On the ground near the fire the two men struggled against each other. Thane was on his back, both his hands holding the hilt of the large dagger, trying to keep the tip from plunging down on him. Nix was on top, doing his best to force the knife closer to Thane’s throat. They were so focused that neither noticed the girls had returned.

  A growl escaped Rya’s lips followed by the bolt of white-hot lightning that stretched from her hand to Nix. The electricity hit him square in the shoulder and the force of it thrust him backwards. He landed with a thud on the dirt, still holding his weapon in his hand. Cam rushed to Thane’s side, helping sit him up as he gasped for air. Rya stood over them, teeth clenched together, and a ball of blue energy growing between her palms. With another grunt she pushed both hands out in front of her chest, throwing the orb towards the assassin with all her strength.

  “You’ll never win,” he laughed, watching it coming towards him. He’d barely spoken the words when he rolled across the dirt and scurried into the low brush, completely dodging the attack.

  Cam was just helping Thane to his feet when Rya glanced back at her. The queen looked over at Sora who was cradled in Norell’s arms, trying to stop his hands from shaking. Without a word, she darted off into the darkness after Nix.

  “Rya, no!” Cam shouted.

  She was quick on her feet, but Rya was fueled by rage which made her just as fast. Cam pushed her legs harder than she had before. The queen’s shadow was ahead of her, growing closer with each step she took.

  “You coward,” Rya screamed into the night. “I’m right here, come get me.”

  Cam slowed down as she approached, taking timid steps towards her.

  “Rya,” she said, her voice quivering. She gave no reply. “Rya,” Cam repeated, this time with a hushed voice. “Rya—you need to come with me. This is what he wants. He wants you alone and vulnerable. It’s the only way he can get you.”

  She screamed again, this time a vicious, haunting sound that sent a chill down Cam’s spine. She reached out with trembling fingers, hesitating for a moment then wrapping her hand around the queen’s arm. Her body was on fire. Instinct told Cam to let go, as if she was grabbing a hot coal from the oven, but she couldn’t. She could feel Rya’s fury, her hurt, her pain, all in that touch. The burning inside her spread into Cam’s fingers, pumping through her blood until it reached her heart, connecting them.

  The pain was overwhelming as the raging inferno that burned in Cam’s veins consumed her. Still she held on, not wanting to break free from Rya, fearing that if she did they might lose her forever. Her vision was turning white, and the world spun around her. She didn’t know what to do next, but she knew that she needed to protect Rya. She needed to keep her safe.

  “What the—” Rya gasped, looking down at Cam’s hand. Her fingers were still wrapped around her arm, but now they were outlined in a cobalt light. A blast of cold energy flooded from Cam’s flesh, soothing the fire that inflamed them both. Cam fell to her knees, and as the connection between them broke, the glow on her palm disappeared.

  Rya dropped to her side, holding Cam’s arms to help steady her. Cam was drained, like she could fall asleep and never wake again. She looked at Rya with heavy eyes.

  “What happened?” She asked.

  “You saved me,” Rya cried. “I’ve heard of it happening before. People unleashing dormant bits of magic in a moment of emotion. I’ve never seen it myself until now.”

  Cam shook her head, not wanting to admit the truth. She’d felt everything Rya had. It wasn’t only the physical pain, but the emotional scars that she’d developed over the years. She had crawled inside Rya’s skin, had become her in that moment, and all she wanted to do was help her. She wanted to take Rya’s pain away. She wanted to stop her hurting. She wanted to protect her and heal her. Then all of a sudden it was like someone dumped a b
ucket of ice water on her, and extinguished it all.

  “Cam,” Rya whispered, staring into her eyes, “if you hadn’t stopped me, I don’t know what would have happened. I was overcome with my emotions, and I could feel it ripping me apart from the inside out. If you hadn’t—I’m afraid I would have lost myself in one way or another.”

  “Your welcome,” Cam joked in a hushed voice. She was so tired, she could barely form the words.

  Rya gave a light chuckle, then leaned Cam forward resting her head on the queen’s shoulder. Her soft lips pressed against Cam’s forehead, while Rya’s hand stroked her hair.

  “If it weren’t for all this,” Rya sighed. “If I didn’t know how this was all going to end, I could really let myself fall for you.”

  A tear drifted down Cam’s cheek and hang under her chin, desperate not to let go. She understood the feeling.

  “That’s a shame,” Cam replied. “Because I already have.”

  Twenty-Eight

  The look on Thane’s face as they appeared was nothing short of pure relief. Rya held Cam up as they shuffled along, the same way she’d been carried to the cave during Nix’s previous appearance. Other than a little fatigue, the princess was unharmed, and thanks to her so was Rya. Thane rushed forward and took over, using much less strength to keep Cam upright. Norell was on the ground with Sora, but he was no longer cowering in her arms. He sat next to her with knees pulled to his chest, and his arms hugged his legs, still looking like the little boy Rya remembered.

  “Are you alright?” Rya asked, sitting next to him. She smoothed down a piece of his hair. “Tell me what happened?”

  “He almost had me,” Sora answered. His words didn’t match his posture. He was in a ball, scared and small, but his voice was sharp and hard with his anger. “He grabbed me, put a knife to my throat, and said I was his key to getting to you.”