Heart of Farellah: Book 1

by Brindi Quinn

  How strange that I only now fully understood my feelings for Nyte as I kissed Ardette.

  When he finally released me, his face was tortured.

  “Ardette, I’m sorry,” I whimpered. “I didn’t kno-”

  “I know. I feel it. It’s him. Damn it! Why did he have to interfere anyway? It could have been us! This isn’t how it was supposed to be!”

  “Ardette, I-” I reached out my hand, but he turned away.

  “Worried about me, are you, my cherry pit? Don’t fret. I’m quite certain I’ll recover from such heartbreak.” Out of nowhere he flashed me one of his dazzling smiles, and my stomach dropped. It seemed his mask was already back on, though it was still lying at the foot of the bench.

  I’m sorry.

  “Follow me. I suppose I’ve no choice but to take you to him. But first, it’s time you knew the truth.”

  Chapter 15: The Lie

  “Let’s see then, how exactly should I tell you this?” Ardette’s eyes were wide; his irises glimmering like polished rubies in the firelight of the small room.

  I shuffled in my seat.

  “Go on,” I said.

  “Your dear Elf, Nyte.” His voice reeked of contempt.

  I winced.

  He continued, “It’s true that I’ve seen him before, only briefly, but I’m sure it was him. How could I forget such a temperamental and gangly person? It was back when I first started with Druelca; roughly a half-decade ago.”

  I didn’t get it, so I just repeated, “Druelca?”

  He gave me a nod. “I assure you.”

  “What? You saw him there? What does that . . . ?”

  But his expression was grave.

  Did that mean . . . The captor was a captive?

  Nyte had been a captive of Druelca?!

  “No way.” The words fell out of my mouth in a blub.

  “Yes.”

  “No, that’s not-”

  But then I thought about it, and it kind of started to make sense. How he’d known so much about Druelca and other ‘things’. His ‘very different upbringing’. A past clouded by darkness.

  This whole time it had been . . . The darkness of Druelca?

  If he’d been a captive, then he was just like Illuma. Was that really possible? And if it was, what had they done to him there? Just what was so painful that he’d been ordered not to repeat!?

  I had to go find him! I had to comfort him! I had to . . .

  But, reading my expression, Ardette shook his head.

  “It’s not what you’re thinking.” His eyes wouldn’t meet mine.

  “Not what I’m thinking?”

  What are you talking about? We don’t have time for this. Nyte’s been struggling alone under the weight of Druelca’s darkness! A wave of urgency flooded me. I understood now, and I had to tell him it was okay!

  Let’s go find him! Inside my head, I screamed at Ardette, unsure as to why I was feeling so defensive all of a sudden, but feeling defensive, nonetheless.

  Maybe it was that I could sense what was coming.

  Why won’t you look at me, Ardette? Say something.

  But he said nothing.

  Say something!

  When the Daem finally looked up, he was staring right through me with empty eyes.

  “Ardette?”

  “He was part of the guard,” he said quietly.

  Something wouldn’t allow the words to process correctly.

  “The . . . guard?” I must’ve misunderstood. But from some instinctive part of my body, I started to tremble as if I’d known it all along. “What do you mean?”

  “Your boy was a member of the Druelcan guard. Please inform me if there’s a way I can make it clearer.”

  “No.” But I was still shaking.

  “Yes.”

  It can’t be.

  Despite my instinctive trembling, I was filled with disbelief. Ardette expected me to believe that Nyte had been a member of the Druelcan GUARD? How could that be true?

  It was impossible. Elder Pietri trusted Nyte enough to place him in my detail, and there was no way something like this would have remained unknown to him, so it just didn’t make sense!

  “You’re wrong,” I whispered.

  “Am I?”

  I nodded a jerky nod, but then images began to fill my head. Nyte fighting off the chime tree branches . . . the Feirgh . . . the Daems with such precision and force. During those times he’d seemed like a different person. Was such behavior normal for a layman Elf? No, I’d always suspected he was different – special.

  Ardette raised his brows, reading the understanding that was slowly crossing my face.

  Okay. Say it were true, so what? What did that mean, exactly? If he’d been a member of the Druelcan guard at one point, his knowledge had certainly helped on our journey. Sure, he’d kept it from me, but he’d been ordered to do so.

  Why? Unless – the memory of Nyte meeting with the man in the dark robe filled my mind – he’s still on their side?

  “I know you ‘feel’ for him, but he cannot be trusted. He was not a Yes’lech spy, of this I’m certain, and there’s another tidbit you might find interesting.” He winced before continuing, “I saw him torture a Squirrelean. Quite the atrocious little habit if you ask me-”

  “Torture?!” I cried.

  It was a sharp word.

  “No! There must be some explanation!”

  “You see, this is why I wanted to spare you.” With a conflicted expression, he reached out his hand, but I pulled away.

  For one dreadful moment, I started to sink into despair. Had it all been an act? Was I a fool? Torture. I’d been deceived. Druelcan guard.

  But then – I will protect you – something glimmered inside of me. That trust. That trust was still there. Ardette’s secret had pushed it away, but there it was rising back up, assuring me that there was a logical explanation for this. It wouldn’t allow me to believe that Nyte was who Ardette said he was.

  “This is ridiculous. It’s Nyte. He’s fought with us. Protected us.”

  “Even after this, you still trust? Hm, it’s quite puzzling. Do you really even know him?”

  Do I? My captor. My Nyte. Those midnight meetings . . . His forest eyes. Of course I knew him!

  “Yes. Take me to him,” I said, my eyes brimming with tears. “Please, Ardette!”

  Ardette sighed and stared into the fire.

  “Very well. The scoundrel’s been locked up. I’ll give him one opportunity to plead his case, but then . . .” Fury invaded his flickering eyes. “I assure you, I’ll not think twice before killing him.”

  I won’t let that happen.

  But I nodded to appease him.

  “Come along then, foolish one.”

  ~

  Ardette led me through the fortress, but not once did I marvel at its unexplored beauty. My only thought was clearing Nyte.

  I’m coming.

  I followed the Daem. He kept his back to me. He was shielding me from the brutal fury that was still in his eyes, hiding away the hatred he felt for Nyte, in lieu of my fragile state of being. Even so, his strides were lazy.

  Please Ardette, faster!

  At the end of one dark corridor there was a small spiraling staircase. We followed it down into the depths of the fortress, where the sounds from the ball no longer reached and the air was still and cool. Another winding corridor led us to a single cell, dimly lit by a lone torch. Its light cast a creepy glow down the hall.

  “Nyte?” I called to him, but my voice was a quiet whimper. There was no response.

  I ran past Ardette and to the unyielding gate that barred the way. The metal was cold on my face, but I pressed against it and peered through. Nyte was sitting on a small stool in the far corner, his shoulders slumped over, his face in his hands. I should have felt at least a little reservation, but even under the circumstances, my heart soared at the sight of him.

  He’d managed to change into his formal wear before being locked up, but
it looked like he’d been arrested while still in the process of getting ready. The collar of his black suit was loose and his shirt unbuttoned a ways, revealing a dark pendant hanging against his bare chest.

  I’ve seen that before . . . where? But the quiet thought fled before I could grasp it.

  Nyte looked up, and his eyes were melancholy for a moment until he caught sight of me.

  “Miss Havoc?” He brightened up. “You look . . .”

  He studied me, and I blushed, but the moment was short lived.

  “My, my, still keeping it up, are we? Pitiful to watch, really.”

  Nyte scowled when Ardette stepped into his line of sight.

  “How does it feel, I wonder, to sit like a caged animal while she peers in at you? Quite mortifying, I should imagine.” Ardette fiddled with his cuff.

  I ignored him. The situation was too dangerous to bother with petty comments. I’ll not think twice about killing him. The fury in his eyes had been enough warning to not underestimate him. He would hurt Nyte if things didn’t get cleared up.

  “Nyte, is it true?” I asked, not quite sure how to word the question. “You . . . tortured people?”

  “Tortured people?” At first he looked confused, but that confusion quickly turned to horror. “Tor . . . ture . . .” He sputtered the words.

  “So it’s not true?” I wrung the bars and silently urged him to repeat the words.

  “I suggest you give it up. I quite intend to kill you here and now.” Ardette’s tone was uncaring. “I’ve already told her that you were a member of Druelca. There’s no use hiding it any longer.”

  Nyte jumped up from his stool and furiously grasped the bars just opposite me. “It is none of your concern, Daem!”

  “Is that all you have to say, then?” said Ardette, pulling out his saber. “Fine by me.”

  “Wait! Nyte, please.”

  Nyte let out a strange grunt and then violently pulled something from his pocket. “Fine!” He threw the thing at Ardette – who boredly caught it – then turned his back to us.

  “What is this turn of events?” said Ardette. His voice showed only a little interest. I could now clearly see that the thing was the silver envelope.

  “Read it,” snarled Nyte, back still turned.

  Ardette opened the envelope, and a frown crossed his mouth. “What?!” He looked over at me, his expression a strange mixture of fear and disbelief. “But this is . . .” The Silver Command?

  “You see? I cannot tell you, even if I wanted to. The only way is . . . to force me.”

  “Where did you get this?” Ardette sounded a little panicked. “But it’s still her choice, even if it’s undecided? Then we have nothing to worry about.”

  “I know. That is why . . .” Nyte’s voice was grave.

  I didn’t like their ambiguous exchange. What did that mean, ‘her choice’, exactly? I looked between the two men, but neither of them met my gaze.

  “What’s going on?” I demanded. Were they talking about me?

  “Miss Havoc, I-”

  “Ah, ah!” cut in Ardette, suddenly recomposed. Whatever information the envelope had contained, he’d recovered quickly. “Force you, you say? Well, I suppose if I must.” He brought his saber to the bars with an insidious smile that made me doubt it would be much of a chore for him.

  “No!” I stepped between Ardette and the gate.

  “You may try, but it will be of no use,” said Nyte. His mouth quivered slightly. “On my life, I may not break the command.”

  I tried to catch his eyes, but he averted them and stared at the dirty floor. There was something he was hiding, but I was missing whatever it was.

  Ardette lowered the saber. “Ah, I see. But if it’s not your life that’s in jeopardy?” He looked amused. Then, with a sick smile, he began to eye me up and down.

  What? Life? Jeopardy?

  I tried to understand. He had to put someone’s life in jeopardy? But wait, why was he looking at me like that? With roaming eyes and a twitch to his mouth’s corner. It was kind of disturbing. He looked like a lecher!

  He started toward me, and I instinctively backed against the wall.

  “W-what are you thinking?” I asked in a small voice.

  “Even you would not do such a thing!” yelled Nyte.

  “But I must. It is ultimately for her safety, after all. Sometimes risks are worth taking.”

  “I swear, Ardette, I will kill you!” Nyte slammed against the gate. It reverberated furiously in response and filled the hall with echoed clanging.

  Ardette laughed lightly, moved in closer to me, and said,

  “I find these things arousing anyway.”

  “Ardette?!” I searched his eyes, but they were cold and again seemed to stare right through me. He won’t seriously hurt me, right? Then why did I feel so in danger?

  “Sorry, my cherry pit. If you survive, I’ll make it up to you somehow. Just know that your life is in his hands.”

  Was this because I hadn’t accepted his feelings? If that was the case, then this was rash. Way too rash!

  For a moment, I was scared. I reached out to push him away, but something made me stop, for when he turned his back to Nyte, he winked at me with a silly smile.

  “Huh?”

  Nonetheless, he reached out and held his hand to my throat, pushing me tightly against the wall. He held me there.

  Nyte let out an anguished growl. “Damn you! What are you doing?”

  The silly smile left me calm . . .

  Until Ardette squeezed a little, ushering back the feeling of endangerment.

  Ardette? For the sake of Nyte’s secret you want to . . . kill me?!

  The handsome Daem bit his lip and squeezed harder, and I choked for a moment, but then his hand flickered shadow, and something was different. It didn’t hurt anymore. In fact, I didn’t feel any pressure at all, even though it looked like he was still squeezing.

  It’d been a shadowy illusion. He wasn’t going to strangle me.

  At the realization, my raging pulse subsided.

  Regardless, with his shadow inside of my windpipe, I couldn’t speak. The shadow felt thick to inhale, and I started to grow tired. I closed my eyes, but remained conscious.

  “Take me! Take me instead! Release her!” Nyte smashed against the bars.

  “It is not you I want. Her pulse feels so good in my hand, but alas, it is growing faint. You’d best hurry. She’s drifting away now.”

  But this is wrong!

  Inside, I uselessly fought Ardette. I was relieved that he hadn’t put me in any real danger, but I still hated the way he was tormenting Nyte. It was so cruel. There had to have been a better way. And even if there wasn’t, was the secret worth Nyte’s torment?

  Definitely not!

  But you don’t know the things he’s done.

  But I don’t care!

  I tried to call out, but the shadow was too thick.

  Stupid Ardette!

  Nyte made a tortured cry. “I will tell you everything! Just let her go.” He hung his shoulders in defeat. “Please, let her go.”

  “Not good enough. Break the command!”

  But that would be treason. Nyte would become an outcast if he did that!

  But it seemed it no longer mattered. “I was a member of Druelca!” he roared, frenzied.

  At this, the silver envelope flew into the air above Nyte’s head, circled by a blue glow the same shade as Elder Pietri’s power. I’d been right to assume it was his command. The envelope hovered for a few seconds and then caught fire on nothing, burning to ash and slowly falling to the cell’s floor.

  Nyte fell along with the last of the scorched flakes. His body sizzled as though he too were burning. He gritted his teeth, and his back arched in writhing pain.

  Ardette released me and his shadow left my body. My throat cleared. I coughed out the last of the smoke and ran to the gate.

  “Nyte!”

  “Nice work, you two!” Ardette sauntered over, c
ompletely unaffected, and pulled a rusty key from his person.

  I barreled through the gate before he’d even removed the key from the lock. Then I threw my arms around Nyte, unsure how to stop his hurt.

  “He should be fine in a moment or two,” said Ardette. “In the meantime, let’s enjoy this picture, shall we?”

  “What can I do?!” I said, but even as the words escaped my mouth, Nyte stopped sizzling. He looked up at Ardette, his expression reading a murderous intent.

  “Wait!” I tried to hold him back, but it was no use. Nyte leaped up and lunged at Ardette, tackling him to the floor with a thump.

  “Nyte, stop!” I yelled.

  But he raised his fist and pelted it into Ardette’s jaw anyway.

  “He could have killed you!” Nyte readied his fist for a second blow.

  “No! It was some kind of . . . trick! I was fine!” I pulled on his arm.

  He looked back at me, still furious. “What!?”

  “I don’t know what he did, but it didn’t hurt; I could still breathe.”

  Nyte didn’t look fully convinced, but Ardette pushed him off and rubbed his jaw where the blow had landed.

  “I’m okay,” I assured. “See, I’m okay.”

  Nyte’s expression softened, but it was riddled with confusion.

  “So then, my pit,” said Ardette, “how did it feel to have me inside of you? I found it quite exhilarating, to be honest.” He nodded at Nyte. “You should try it yourself sometime. She’s quite warm in there.”

  “Bastard,” seethed Nyte.

  Ardette sat up and brushed himself off and then reached his hand out to me. “Might I have another go?”

  “Pervert.” I pushed his hand away.

  Ardette let out a whistle. Then, brushing his hands together, he said, “Now that that’s been taken care of, spill it, Elf. I knew you’d commit treason for her.”

  I was about to apologize for being bait, but Nyte grabbed me from behind and pulled me to him, wrapping his arms around my shoulders. He rested his face against the back of my neck, and my nose filled with his cherry blossom scent.