by Jill Cooper
****
The table was covered in tactical plans and cups of coffee. Everyone from watchmen to the ranch hands, to the archers gathered around. Henry talked to the strategists and Markus rallied the troops with lore about Creighton and his death hunters.
“They will swoop from the sky, similar to your ravengers, but they will decimate anyone they believe is a threat or a rule breaker if the minister gives them carte blanche rule. Once caught, there’s little any of us can do. Nothing can fight a death hunter except for Tarnish Rose herself.”
“And where is she?” Alfred asked. “Do we have any way of contacting her?”
“None,” Markus said. “I know how desperate you all feel. I feel it, too. I’ve lived my life running from these monsters and living in the shadows. Since meeting Tarnish, things have changed. She’s collected the shards and she’s beaten Temptress, which leads me to believe she’s completed her mission. She might even have found the library by now.”
“And then she can defeat Creighton?” Claire asked as she headed out of a back room, carrying an array of pointed weapons and projectiles. She lay them down on the table.
“If she arrives here in time,” Markus said. “If she even knows he’s planning to strike us.”
Henry sighed. “Women and children must be evacuated before the fighting starts. We’ll take horses out into the plains, into the remote village, hidden by the—”
“No,” Claire shook her head. “We fight. We stick together. The women love our home just as much as the men. There’s no reason for us to leave.”
“You leave because we love you.”
“I stay because I love you,” Claire said and hooked her fingers around Henry’s.
He stammered. He didn’t know what to say, but the look in her eyes enthralled him. Henry realized how much more he loved his wife than he even thought, but he wouldn’t watch her die. If he could somehow get her out of their homestead and away from Creighton and his army, Henry would take it.
“I can’t fight knowing you or the kids might get hurt.”
“We’ll get the kids out,” Claire slid her hand onto Henry’s arm and he felt that much needed spark between them. “I don’t want them here anymore than you, but I’m staying. I’ll defend our home. The kids need something to come back to.”
“Then we get ready,” Markus puffed up his chest. “We put the armor on the horses, we get more bows, sharpen the blades, lay more of the booby traps that Tarnish taught you in the last siege. We get ready to defend our home.”
Chapter: Tarnish Rose
I was given a fresh, white shirt from Sebastian. It felt big but at least it was better than going around topless under my robe. The stiffness in my side was getting easier to ignore and I went on a search for Ella. I hadn’t seen her since she helped me move the tower and I worried about her state of mind.
Finally, I found her in Temptress’s old bedroom. Ella sat on the bed, her hand pressed down on where the first curator had passed away and left behind only dust. The bed was clean, but I guess Ella felt something left behind that my eyes couldn’t see.
“Are you all right?”
“I wish you’d stop asking me that. Of course I’m not. I’m a building.”
“You’re not a building. You’re a powerful being. Nemesis would’ve killed me if it wasn’t for you. For that matter, so would’ve Ana.” I sat beside her on the bed.
Ella twisted her lips to the side as she considered what I said. “Maybe. Or maybe you would’ve found another way. You’re the curator. Powerful and strong. You’re the one who is supposed to make a difference. Not me. I’m supposed to rob, cheat, and steal. I’m better at that than anything. You ever wonder why that is?”
The truth was, I did wonder why. I wondered about a lot of things. “It’s possible when they suppressed all your memories, who you really are, this other version of you took over. Maybe to protect your real secrets.”
Ella laughed. “Tarnish Rose, you really are something. I don’t know where you come up with these stories.”
I laughed and gave a playful shrug. “Me either. And for the record, I didn’t like hearing the news, either. I don’t like the idea of using you to defeat Creighton if it means… if it means things have to change.”
Ella nodded with a sigh. “When we were at camp, you asked me what I saw when I looked in the remnant. I said I saw nothing, but that was a lie.” Tears fell from her eyes. “I saw the inside of a library and it was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” She bit her lip and gaze down.
I wrapped my arms around her and gave her a hug.
“But it was empty and alone. I don’t want to be alone anymore, Tarnish.”
“You won’t be alone. I’ll always be with you.”
She gazed off at the wall, but pain etched along her face. “If it means getting rid of him, maybe it’s for the best. It’s what I’m here for, but I’m scared.”
I took her hand and gave it a squeeze.
“You don’t need to be scared any longer,” Muse said from the doorway. “I can remove your block. Allow you to remember everything. It’ll put your mind at ease.”
Ella tossed us both a glance. “I think maybe she’s right. Maybe it’s time.”
“If you want to, I’ll be with you the entire time.”
She considered my offer and slowly rose off the bed. “Will I change? I’m not big on my personality as it is, but I’m not sure I want to lose everything I am.”
Muse moved like she was floating, her hands spinning over each other as if she was about to play a magic trick. “You’ll still be you, but with understanding. Knowledge and love.”
“Knowledge and love?” Ella’s eyes widened and she spoke the words softly. “Two things I’ve never had before.”
“You’ve always had both. You just ignored it.”
I stood beside Ella and took her hand. She squeezed mine back. “Does she ever shut up?” Ella smirked.
“I think it’s her job not to.”
Muse spun her hands faster until a glimmering light filled with glitter and dust shined from her open palms directly onto Ella’s forehead. Her face relaxed until it was serene and her lips gently parted. “She’ll be okay, but the process must be allowed to continue without being disturbed.”
Ella raised her hand and I had the sudden urge to raise mine. I tried to fight it, but Muse whispered, “Don’t fight it. Join. See what the both of you are missing.”
I took a deep breath and raised my hand. A moment later, lightning shot from her palm into mine and I faded away into obscurity and became lost inside a vision.
Chapter: Dani
Dani awoke with the words of her husband ringing in her ears: I’ll leave early in the morning and go to the ministers.
The ministers.
She startled as she sat up in the bed and looked for Timmy by her side. The bed beside her was empty, as was the chair. He was already gone.
Tears filled Dani’s eyes as she lay back down on her side. She could feel the kicks from the baby and it just seemed to make it worse. She thought Alessa would be an important part of her family’s life, maybe even help her give birth—a process that terrified Dani to no end. If Timothy had reached the ministers’ office by now, Alessa and Scott might already be dead.
She didn’t want to think about it. Didn’t want to be overcome with grief. So, Dani rose from bed and supported her belly. It felt extra heavy that morning as she got dressed and tied her hair back beneath it’s bandana.
By the time she waddled through the kitchen, Dani’s heart was lighter, but she could feel a hidden stress nipping quietly inside her.
Breakfast was a simple porridge and as she scooped some brown sugar into her bowl, Dani felt a squeezing pinch in her belly. She sucked her breath in and cradled it. Was it the beginning of labor so soon?
A knock at the door distracted her and Dani quickly hurried over and pulled it open. Her face fell to see Alessa’s sad face on the other side.
/> “Dani,” her eyes were darkened and sad, “please, you have to let me in. You have to let me explain.”
Timothy’s words rang in her mind, but Dani hoped maybe she could fix this. Maybe if Alessa and Scott could explain to Timothy what had really happened…
“Please,” Alessa begged. “I’m not ready to lose you as my friend and I need to keep my family. Is Tim here? I’d like to talk to him, too.”
Dani shook his head. “He’s out in the fields,” she lied.
“Oh, can I come in then? Maybe we can sit over a cup of tea?” Alessa held up a small canister and gave it a shake.
“I’d love some tea. Please…” Dani stepped out of the way and gestured.
Alessa smiled. “I see you already have the kettle on above the fireplace. I’ll get everything ready. You sit down. You don’t need to worry about anything.”
****
Timothy stopped by the barn to feed the chickens and pigs so that Dani wouldn’t need to. He grabbed a small bale of hay and gave it to his horse to munch upon before the long journey into town. Snacking on a carrot himself, he watched his horse lap up some water before he gripped the reins and glanced down at his footing.
Funny, a peculiar shadow was spreading across the ground encompassing him.
He wasn’t alone.
Someone grabbed him from behind, placing a hand over his mouth. Timothy reefed his body to the right, driving his elbow back. The person loosened his grip enough so he could get away. Spinning around, he saw it was Scott and he held a sharp knife in his hand.
“Don’t make this harder than it has to be.” Scott kept his body low, slowly advancing on Timothy. “Give me the paint. Go inside to your wife and we can pretend none of this ever happened.”
“You stole a kid. Alessa drove a woman to kill herself. You think I can just ignore that?”
“If you want to live, you have to. What should we do? Our love is the most forbidden. No one here understands. No one ever will. Our union wouldn’t be allowed and I love her as much as you love Dani—even more. Without a kid, we’d be thrown from society.”
“Just like what you did to poor Lucy?” Timothy shook his head. “It’s not right what you did. You don’t get to steal someone else’s life.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way. Truly. We like you, Tim. We adore Dani. This isn’t what either of us wanted.”
“So end this. Come clean. Admit what you’ve done and maybe the minister—”
Scott laughed. “They’ll what? Forgive us? Please.” Scott lunged for him and Timothy grabbed his wrist and spun him around. Scott’s back faced the barn door as they fought for control of the knife. Timothy had the upper hand, his strength superior to Scott’s, and he knocked the knife away.
Scott’s eyes widened as he reached for the hook meant for the hay bales and Timothy threw him down onto the ground. “This is over. This ends now.” Timothy took the hook for himself, striding toward Scott.
“It’ll never be over.” Scott wiped his mouth. “Do it then. Kill me. If you have the stomach for it.”
“He doesn’t have to.”
Timothy gasped at the voice of the minister. He arrived unannounced with two death hunters on either side. They swarmed Scott and Timothy backed up. He kept his eyes closed as Scott started screaming as if he was torn from the inside out. When the screams tapered off, when everything went silent, Timothy peeked ever so slightly.
Scott was gone and only the Minister stood in his place. He wiped his hands off on a handkerchief. “Distasteful as it is, sometimes it’s necessary. Do you have it?”
Timothy stared at him with confusion, but then remembered what he spoke about. “Here. Paint and brushes.”
The minister gladly took the satchel and peered inside. He made a face. “Grotesque, all that color. Isn’t it? The names of the other ladies who have joined Alessa and her little illegal rebellion?”
“Georgia. We saw her last night. I don’t know if her husband knew.”
“We’ll find out. Thank you, Mr. Richardson. You’ve been a most helpful and willing informant.” The minister shook his hand.
Timothy felt like he went ice cold. He did what he needed to, but he didn’t work for the ministers. He didn’t want to think he had done something that would help them or Creighton. What had he done? What had he agreed to?
“I didn’t want to say anything earlier, but informants like you are rewarded. You’re of fine stock. I’ve had my eye on you since you got here and I’m most impressed. Your father was pardoned by Creighton and has been a faithful employee of our office for years. I’d like to extend the same offer to you. You and your wife leave the farm behind. Come stay with the ministers in our offices. The accommodations are plush, the food is plentiful and delicious. You’ll never have to want for anything again.”
The offer was tempting, but Timothy loved their home and the farm. He liked tending to the animals.
“Can I… discuss your offer with Dani before I reply?”
The minister pouted but in the end accepted. “You have until the baby is born to consider my offer, but take it seriously. I won’t be making this offer again if you change your mind.”
In a flash, the minister was gone and Timothy was left standing alone. Wondering if he had been bartering with the devil all along.
****
Dani dropped the teacup from her hand, the liquid spilling out onto the rug. Sitting in the overstuffed chair by the fireplace, she lay her head back and let out a slow moan. Contractions were suddenly regular and she was so hot, she felt like she was on fire. “What… did you put in my tea?”
“Just an herb to speed things along.” Alessa circled around her and placed a cold cloth on Dani’s forehead. Alessa’s cool hands held Dani’s head in place. “It wouldn’t have worked if you and the baby weren’t ready. Don’t worry.” She smiled but Dani realized it was full of malice.
“I thought we were friends.” Dani groaned and her back arched. She grabbed her belly and tried to blow through the pain. Oh, it hurt so much worse than she thought. So much worse.
“We are friends. Through and through. I need to know what Timothy told you. I need you to tell me things can go back the way they used to be. Either way, I’m helping you birth this baby, but I can decide whether you both live or… die.”
Dani shook her head and leaned on her arm rest to stand up, as she started to she called out in pain and sat back down. “It hurts. Please, don’t do this.”
“You can’t birth this baby alone, Dani. You’re not strong enough. You’ve been weak since the moment I met you.”
“Tim, he’ll be back.”
“No,” Alessa smirked. “He won’t.”
Dani’s eyes opened wide and she swelled with panic. “What did you do? Where’s my husband?”
“We took care of him, just as I’ll take care of you. Unless you promise to keep our secret.”
They killed Timothy? “He was right about you.” Tears welled in Dani’s eyes. “I should’ve listened to him.”
“I did like you, Dani. I did. But, I love my wife more.”
Dani applied pressure to the top of her belly and let out a long call of pain. Alessa bent over her and forced her to lay back in the chair. “It’s going to happen, so why don’t you just relax? Allow the baby to descend naturally. Then we can figure out what it is we’re going to do.”
The front door slammed open and Dani yelped when she saw Timothy stride inside. He was alive. Thank goodness he was alive, but as water rushed out between her legs, Dani turned her head and screamed.
****
Dani’s voice yelled with agony and she twisted in her chair. Labor had come fast and hard. Timothy curled his fingers together tightly as he approached Alessa. “Game is over, Alessa. Time for you to get out of my house. Leave my wife alone.”
“Where’s Scott?” Alessa demanded as she backed up into the kitchen.
“Oh, I saw her. We had words, but in the end, it was the minister who had the f
inal word. Him and his death hunters.”
“What?” Alessa’s face crumbled as she backed up against the kitchen counter. “You… mean… No, that can’t be.”
“Scott was taken by the death hunters. They did what they always do to rule breakers.”
Alessa shook her head. “That’s not what was supposed to happen. None of this is what is supposed to happen. You and your wife, you’ve been a curse to us. To all of us.” She grabbed the butcher knife laying on the counter and charged for Timothy.
If Timothy ducked or moved, she might hit the back of Dani’s head, so he stood strong and deflected her arm away with one move and grabbed her by the throat with his other. “I’m sick and tired of your family trying to kill me.” He lifted his right hand where he still clung to the hay hook and cleaved it straight into her chest toward her heart.
Alessa’s eyes widened and she gagged, gasping for air as Timothy dropped her like a bag of rocks onto the ground—the hay hook still deep inside her chest. Her body seized as blood spilled out beneath her, puddling on the ground.
Damn her for making him do that. Damn both her and Scott to hell for what they did to Dani.
Speaking of, she tossed her head back and groaned. Timothy rushed to be by her side and took her hands as her feet pushed into the floor. “I’m sorry,” Dani winced. “I shouldn’t have let her in. I shouldn’t have—.” Her eyes widened and she pushed her chin into her chest.
She was pushing, Timothy realized, even if she didn’t mean to, she was pushing. “We should move you to the bed.”
Dani shook her head. “Hurts too much. I want to stay here.” She licked her lips, a brief smile dancing across them. Timothy supposed the pain was gone, at least for now. He kissed her forehead and stayed close. He rubbed her shoulders as she tensed with another round of pain and began blowing through her mouth.
It was going to be a long night and a dead woman sullied the floor of their home.
****
Dani fell into a restless sleep, calling in pain every few minutes and Timothy sat on the coffee table in front of her, holding his head in his hands. Outside, nighttime had fallen and Dani seemed no closer to giving birth than she had in the afternoon.