“They know our blood is poison to them. And they fear our crutches,” Ayla said.
“The evil eye,” I said, touching the pendant on my neck. “The light cast by its enchantment pains them.” I looked around at the other girls. All priestesses of the order wore the evil eye.
“Did you see the Berkano?” Esma asked.
I nodded. “The Rift-cursed were as I described. The Berkano were not what I expected.”
“What do you mean?” Suzan asked.
“They were…”
“Interesting?” Zeynep offered, smirking slightly.
I winked at her. “Polite, even respectful.”
“And Erlik?” Kamile asked.
“I don’t know how to explain it, but the Berkano, and Erlik, seem to genuinely appreciate the Order of Umay. They paid little regard to Baran, but there was an appreciation for us, for our work protecting Nazar. The vampires may be odious creatures, but they—particularly the Berkano—were not what I expected.”
“You must be wary,” Zeynep said. “The older vampires are supposed to be very powerful. They can enchant and mesmerize.”
“They can mesmerize humans, not witches,” Suzan said.
“The older the vampire, the more powerful they are. In truth, we do not know the limits of their power,” Zeynep told her.
“Why did you go?” Ayla asked.
“The vampires are hunting at dusk and dawn, before curfew. Mehmet the Wise has withdrawn his people behind the walls of the human zone,” I explained, unsure what information Mira had already let slip. “Baran and I went to question Erlik and remind him of the law.”
“And what did he say?” Zeynep asked.
“That he would attend to it.”
“Did you believe him?” Isla asked.
Did I? I had not even thought to question his honesty. I had taken him at his word. “Yes.”
“And Mehmet the Wise?” Suzan asked.
“He is as we have heard, seemingly a kind and honest man, but he is disturbed by the changes he is seeing in Nazar.”
Zeynep exhaled deeply. “So should we all be.”
“Umay guide us,” Ayla said. “I…I have had troubling visions of the future. Much is unclear, but Nazar is in trouble. And I have seen you in the midst of the troubles,” Ayla said, looking at me. “In truth, I have seen us all.”
I felt like my blood had turned icy cold.
“What have you seen?” Zeynep asked.
“Blood. The barrier. A girl with large, dark eyes and long black hair. And Pelin with a man I did not know.”
“Mother Umay protect us,” Suzan said.
The feeling of dread that gripped the room was palpable.
Feeling anxious, the urge within me to run straight for the wall of the palace and escape into the empty city was strong. Instead, I turned back to my wardrobe and, hands shaking, tried to prepare for the day.
“Emine was holding the dome when I returned last night. I need to speak with her,” I said, pulling out one of my blue robes.
The other girls wordlessly went about their business, Ayla scooping up the puppy and heading back outside. By the time I had finished changing, only Zeynep was left in the room. She held her book against her chest and waited for me.
Together, we exited the haremlik and walked into the courtyard. The sun was beginning to rise. The sky was filled with ruby red, tangerine orange, and soft pink hues.
“I wanted to ask you about Erl—” Zeynep began, but her words were cut short.
If Mother Umay had heard our prayer, she had ignored it. As Zeynep and I turned in the direction of the second courtyard, a blast of magical light cracked overhead, smashing onto the barrier. The magical force boomed around us, as if it had bled through the dome and struck the tower itself. A flash of tremendously bright light made me wince.
In the distance, the people in the first courtyard screamed.
When I finally opened my eyes once more, I saw magical light sizzle across the dome, ripping a hole in the barrier. With the protective barrier undone, the magical storms on the other side were free to invade. The torrent of wicked gold and white light blasted across Nazar inside the dome.
Zeynep gasped.
Horrified, I stared as the rip in the barrier widened allowing another bolt of the erratic and destructive Rift magic inside.
The ground rumbled, shifting below my feet.
“No,” I whispered.
I looked quickly toward the tower. Where was Emine? Meryem? No magic was emanating upward to seal the dome, to stop the fracture. No one was doing anything. Had Emine been hurt on the initial blast? Umay forbid, had it been too much for her?
Lightning crashed again and a streak of red light zipped through the barrier, zapping the ground like lightning. This time, the ground shook hard.
“No,” I shouted. I summoned up all my magic and projected my hands skyward.
And then, the barrier owned me.
Chapter 14
In the confines of the tower, attended by other priestesses and enclosed away from distraction, connecting your personal magic with the barrier over Nazar is done in a meditative state. The spell feels like a dance. You ground yourself, feeling the earth below you and the sky above. In the world in-between lies the magical aether. With patience and focus, you call it into yourself like taking a giant inhale that you do not release. Instead, you channel that magic to the barrier, casting a web of magic into the sky, draping it like silk over Nazar.
This time was nothing like that.
My body shuddered hard as I felt both the earth below my feet shaking apart and the sky over my head threatening to crash down. Blasting my magic outward, I fought back the magical storm that had leaked through the barrier. Like fighting smoke, I pushed and pressed it away. I envisioned the magic coming from my fingers like a shield of blue and silver, scooping up and blasting back the erratic Rift energy.
I felt myself fall to my knees. There was a sharp pain which I recognized as cuts as I fell hard on the stones, but I kept my hands overhead. I envisioned the rip in the barrier like a wound that needed magical healing. Inhaling deeply then exhailing, I sent magic spiraling into the sky. My lungs burned as I panted from the exertion, my heart beating hard as magic radiated out of my whole body. I had almost sealed off the crack in the dome, but I was fading.
A moment later, I felt fiery magic basting upward beside mine. I could not see her, but I knew Zeynep’s magic, recognized it like I would recognize her. Where my magic flowered like a cascade of blue light, Zeynep’s fire blasted hot. Together, we worked our spell, holding the barrier, sealing it using our minds’ eyes.
It was working, but my magic was starting to fizzle as my strength left me.
I rocked as a third blast of magic met with mine and Zeynep’s. It was Suzan. Her golden light swirled upward, joining Zeynep and me. Completely lost to the dome, all three of us sent our magic spiraling upward. The massive shield absorbed our magic like a fresh coat of paint. We sealed and coated the cracks. The storms above Nazar raged, but the dome, refortified, did not buckle.
The ground below me stopped shaking.
Zeynep let go first.
Through my mind’s eye, connected to the barrier, I saw Baran, Cain, Taavi, and Endur rush across the courtyard toward us, their eyes wide. Endur struggled to keep pace, his face looking ashen.
Suzan collapsed.
A moment later, I felt strong energy erupt from the tower.
Emine.
I let go slowly. Smoothing the transition to Emine. The movement was subtle, gentle. Emine took control. I carefully pulled my hands back.
Disconnected from the dome, I opened my eyes and looked around the palace. Several buildings and the outer wall had collapsed.
“Pelin?” Endur called, a look of fear on his face.
“It’s all right now. We’re safe now,” I told Endur. Black spots swam before my eyes, and then there was nothing.
Chapter 15
“Pelin?�
� Meryem called softly. A wet cloth swiped across my forehead. I opened my eyes slowly, the sleeping chamber of our haremlik coming into focus. I was in my bed.
Meryem exhaled heavily. “Thank Umay.”
“Is everyone all right?” I whispered.
“Yes. The earthquake caused some damage, but no one was harmed.”
“The barrier?” I asked, looking toward my window. It must have been late afternoon. The sky was beginning to shimmer golden.
“It’s all right now. Baran said it was a fluke storm. Your quick work—you, Zeynep, and Suzan—repaired the tear and got the barrier back in place before more damage could be done.”
“What happened?”
“I don’t really know. I had just exited the tower to summon Merel to attend Emine when a storm struck overhead. I tried to get back to Emine, but the earthquake made the tower shake. I…I was scared. By the time I got back, everything was in confusion. You and the others had taken over. Once she was back on her feet, Emine stepped in before I had a chance to help.”
“Are Zeynep and Suzan all right?”
Meryem nodded. “Sleeping.”
I sat up slowly, looking around for the other girls. Zeynep and Suzan were resting in their beds as Meryem said.
Meryem handed me a glass of water. “You should rest.”
“Who is with Emine?”
“Isla and Merel. We’ll change the rotation, keep two of us with Emine at all times from now on.”
“And Baran and the others?”
Meryem shook her head. “I don’t know. The men’s order is meeting inside their own chambers.”
I lay back down. “That’s comforting.”
“Can I bring you anything?”
I shook my head. “No. Thank you.”
A moment later, there was a soft knock on the door. Meryem set the cloth aside and went to answer the door. I closed my eyes, but I could hear her talking. There was a soft voice on the other side of the door. It was Asla, a woman from one the magical families.
“Very well. I’ll tell her,” Meryem said then shut the door.
Meryem crossed the room. A smile played on her lips. “Someone has come to the gate inquiring about you.”
“To the gate…to see me?”
She nodded. “Asla brought the message. There is a man there asking for you. His name is Aydin. He’s come from the human zone.”
Moving slowly, I sat up. What was Aydin doing here?
“You’re not well enough,” Meryem chided.
“I’m almost well enough. So, you’re going to walk with me.” I glanced out the window. It was late afternoon. Aydin was foolish to travel so far at this time of day. As well, if I was planning to meet with Erlik later, I needed to get myself together.
When I stood, the room spun, and black spots swam before my eyes. I held on to Meryem until I steadied myself then headed toward the door.
“Are you sure? I can take a message to him.”
“I’m sure. Let’s go.”
“How do you know this human?”
I didn’t meet her eyes. “He is one of the human leaders. He works with Mehmet the Wise.”
“I see. I thought maybe he was the one you’ve been getting your boots muddy for.”
“What?”
“Your boots have been muddy every morning for the last month, at least.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking—”
Meryem laughed. “Your secret is safe with me, sister. I’m glad you asked me to come along. I need to see what all the fuss is about.”
I chuckled. “We’re friends, that’s all.”
“Of course,” Meryem replied, but she made no effort to hide the sound of disbelief in her voice.
I slipped on my boots—and they were muddy, she was right—and Meryem and I walked from the third courtyard toward the main gate. As we went, I saw that a section of the wall had come down during the tremor. As well, the roof on one of the newly built interior structures had buckled.
Both the third and second courtyards were quiet. Baran’s order had themselves hidden away somewhere. In the first courtyard where the magical families lived, however, people were milling about making repairs. Among them, I saw my sisters Kamile and Esma helping the families.
The wall that surrounded the entire palace had a massive stone arch entryway where a double gate protected us from outsiders. Inside, two men stood guard.
“I’m told I have a visitor,” I said.
“Yes, Priestess,” one of the men stationed there replied.
“Open the gates.”
The men pulled open the heavy wooden doors. The interior doors opened to a massive domed entryway made of solid stone. Meryem and I crossed the space to the second set of doors. The guards knocked on the second set of doors. A moment later, the doors swung open to the street outside. Another pair of guards stood at attention on the city side of the wall.
Aydin stood waiting.
He smiled softly when our eyes met then inclined his head to both Meryem and me.
“Aydin, this is Meryem, another sister of my order.”
“Pleased to meet you, Priestess,” he said.
“And you,” Meryem replied. I could hear the smile in her voice, but to an outsider, her tone would sound cordial and steady.
“Is everything all right?” I asked.
Aydin nodded. “Mehmet asked me to come. We saw the storm and were concerned. Several people in the human zone have family here.”
“There were no injuries,” I said, turning to Meryem for confirmation.
“Some structural damage, but no one was hurt. And among your people?” she asked.
I smiled at her. The question had come naturally. She really did care. If my sisters felt as I did, if their hearts were also moved to change things between ourselves and the humans, maybe a new future was actually possible.
“We also sustained some structural damage, but no one was harmed. On my way here, however, I saw that the city was badly shaken. Several of the unused buildings have fallen,” Aydin replied then turned to me. The look in his eyes spoke a thousand unspoken words.
“Pelin, I need to talk to the guards. I’ll be back in a moment,” Meryem said then turned and walked back toward the gate.
I motioned for Aydin to join me as we walked a few paces back toward the city.
“You’re out late. It will be dusk soon,” I said.
“I’ll be all right. I brought a bicycle,” he said, pointing to the red bike leaning against a tree.
I chuckled. “Very practical.”
Aydin smiled. “Are you truly well? You look pale.”
“I’ll be all right. I helped repair the fracture in the dome. It was…difficult.”
“You helped? Not Emine?” he asked.
“It’s…well…Emine is not the only one who works to hold the barrier, of course. Two of my sisters and I stepped in to help repair the fracture.”
“I see. Your sisters, they’re unharmed?”
I nodded.
Aydin smiled softly then reached out to touch me, his reach faltering as his eyes flicked toward the guards.
“I’m glad you’re all right. Will you still be able to meet me at the observatory as planned?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“Very good. I…I should get back. You’re right that it’s late. I just needed to see if you were all right.”
“We’re all well here. Please let Mehmet know.”
“Oh. Yes. Of course.” Aydin stepped close to me. “So, if I try to kiss you, they’ll shoot me, right?”
“Either a magic missile or a bullet. Not sure which would be worse.”
“Then please know how desperate I am to kiss you,” he whispered, leaning closer than was probably wise.
I smiled, but at that same moment, the vampire Erlick came to my mind. My stomach felt like it had tied into a strange knot.
“Aydin,” I said softly. I looked back at his bicycle. “Please be safe. And be fast.”
He chuckled. “I’ll see you again soon.”
I nodded. “Soon.”
Aydin nodded, grabbed his bike, and with a wave, headed back into the city.
I stood and watched him go.
A moment later, Meryem rejoined me.
“Muddy boots?”
“Yes,” I said with a heavy sigh.
“It’s good that Mehmet is working to improve relations between our people. That is an alliance that has, I think, faltered under Emine’s and Baran’s care. We’ll need to do our part going forward.”
But had Mehmet sent Aydin? Now I wasn’t sure. Regardless, I agreed with Meryem. “We will bring change to the order. There will be nine of us where there was only Emine’s voice in the past.”
“Change sounds good. And I am sure we are not the only ones who feel that way. But still, you forget one huge problem. Baran. And his ambition.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know what game he’s playing, but whatever he has planned for what happens when Emine passes, I don’t think it includes the kind of changes we’re hoping for.”
Her suspicions were an echo of mine and of the distrust Ermine seemed to feel as well. “What makes you say so?”
“A dark cloud hangs on him. I can feel his ill-intent, but I can’t make out its shape.”
“Time will reveal him.”
“As it does all things,” Meryem said. “Including Mister Muddy Boots.”
I chuckled. We’re just frien—”
“Friends. Yes. I know. So you told me.”
“And?”
“And, I don’t believe you.”
Laughing, I linked my arm in hers. “Time reveals all,” I said with a wink, and we headed back inside.
Chapter 16
Meryem, assured I was feeling well enough, stayed in the first courtyard of the palace while I headed back to the tower. When I finally reached the top of the stairs, my head felt dizzy, my stomach sick, and black dots swam before my eyes. I held onto the doorframe.
“Pelin,” Merel said, crossing the room to meet me when I entered.
Isla rose and looked carefully at me. Taking in the room, I saw that Emine was, once more, holding the barrier. I watched her as she spun. She looked so fragile, so thin. Her body seemed to glow with magic as she twisted on her toes in her trance. The scene filled me with so much despair, so much loathing, that I stopped in my tracks.
The Dark Bazaar: Division 8 (The Berkano Vampire Collection) Page 8