When he didn’t discover anything of interest, he huffed in complaint but wandered into the room she’d just exited to see to his own bath.
Anna nearly laughed at his lack of enthusiasm. Typical kid. More interested in food than getting a good scrub.
Twenty minutes later servants returned carrying several platters of food. Anna separated one servant from the group and tried to talk to the middle-aged woman, but she merely shook her head and touched her lips to indicate she couldn’t speak.
Strange. Anna knew they understood her because Gryton had issued orders in the same language, so they must be under orders not to talk to them. After all the food was laid out, the servants bowed and then left.
Anna eyed the table. At least they’d been informed how much a young gargoyle could put away.
“Shadowlight, the servants brought our meal,” she called through the door. An excited huff issued from inside and she heard a great sloshing and water hitting the floor. A short time later the door was nearly ripped off its hinges as a gargoyle burst forth into the main room.
His hair was still dripping water, but he had donned a long, blue loincloth woven of the same fabric as her tunic. He hadn’t bothered to wear the wrist or armbands his father had given him.
Her eyebrows drawing together, she turned and marched back into the drenched bathroom and retrieved Shadowlight’s warded jewelry and then shove them under one of the nearby chair cushions for safe keeping. She didn’t trust someone not to take them.
When she made her way back over to the table, the platters had been uncovered, and Shadowlight was already sniffing at the fourth dish in line.
Bless his suspicious little heart.
“Do you detect any taint of drugs or other substances?” Anna asked along their mental link.
“No,” he said, but his reply was accompanied by a little uncertain flick of his ear. “But I’m unfamiliar with some of their scents and spices.”
He sniffed deeper at the platter he was holding.
“They won’t poison us with the intent to kill. It would defeat the purpose of capturing us. That doesn’t mean they’re not above drugging us to make us more compliant with their wishes.”
Anna scooped up a dish of what looked like stew and sniffed at it. Her stomach chose that moment to remind her that she hadn’t eaten in hours.
“We’re dead if we don’t eat,” Anna said and then shrugged and grabbed the strange, two-pronged fork that sat next to the platter with the bowls of stew. Then with stew and fantasyland spork, she retreated to the north side of the room where she’d spotted the thickly padded benches in an earlier search. Shadowlight joined her with two platters of his own food.
The thought of drugs didn’t stop her and the kid from polishing off the first course and going back for seconds and thirds in Shadowlight’s case. Shortly after she and the kid were finished, the servants returned like magic. They gathered up all the dishes and left as silently as they’d come.
The next hour was spent exploring the rooms in more detail. Exploring soon descended into a disagreement as to which one of them would take the room that adjoined to Gryton’s quarters. Anna was dead set on taking that room because she didn’t trust Gryton any farther than she could toss his heavy, metal-covered ass.
Unfortunately, Shadowlight wanted the room for the same reason.
“Fine. We’ll settle this like adults,” Anna said as she leaned against the door causing all the contention. “Which one of us is more likely to cross that threshold and try to kill Gryton and get both our asses tossed back in the dungeon?”
Shadowlight continued to level his death glare at the door.
“There! Hah! That look is answer enough. I sleep in this room. You get the other one. If either of us hears something we don’t like, we call out using our mental link. Agreed?” Anna stated, already knowing she’d won the argument by the way Shadowlight’s ears drooped.
Then he surprised her by walking over to a massive wardrobe and gave it a mighty shove. It was a floor to ceiling wooden storage unit that was a good fifteen feet long and likely weighed close to a tonne. When Shadowlight shoved his shoulder against it a second time, Anna figured out what he was up to and joined him in pushing it to block the adjoining door.
“Good plan. It won’t stop a raging fire elemental, but neither will it be a quiet entry.” And it might be enough to give the kid some peace of mind while he slept, and that was good enough for her.
With a bit more shoving and pushing, they got the beast situated in front of the door and then sat on the edge of the bed to admire their work. Shadowlight yawned and stretched when they were finished.
“Go on,” she said with an affectionate pat on his shoulder. “Get some rest. I’ll be here if you need anything.”
Shadowlight nodded, but still didn’t leave.
“Will you read to me until I fall asleep?” He shoved his muzzle under her hand, so she gave his ears a good scratch.
During their earlier exploration, she’d found a few ancient handcrafted books. She’d marveled at their drawings and the fancy script, but while they were quite beautiful to behold, she couldn’t read a word of it.
“I’m sorry. I don’t have anything to read to you.” Anna gave his ears another scratch.
He nodded but glanced sidelong at her with a hopeful look. “Would you tell me a story then?”
Poor kid just wanted to hear a familiar voice to reassure him. “Sure kid.”
They relocated to his room where she proceeded to tell a very sad-assed version of Snow White. She only made it halfway through the story before the kid fell asleep. If Anna survived, she’d take a parenting course or some shit, so she didn’t totally ruin a perfectly good kid with her abysmal parenting skills. When she was satisfied he was deeply asleep, Anna returned to her own rooms and fell face first into her bed.
Chapter Eleven
Anna wasn’t at all sure she wasn’t already asleep and dreaming when the beautiful male voice first started whispering in her head.
“They will enslave you and the child if you remain in the Battle Goddess’ domain.”
“Tell me something I don’t know,” Anna replied to the disembodied voice. Because, really, what did one do when an otherworldly voice insisted on whispering into your mind? Why, you answered it of course, like any good mental patient would do.
Unfortunately, she wasn’t mentally ill and the voice, wherever it originated, was likely very real. It was also equally likely that it wasn’t looking out for her best interests.
She wondered which of the captains this was. Gryton was familiar enough now that she was relatively confident she’d recognize his voice in her head.
“You don’t have to allow that to happen,” the stranger whispered.
Oddly, he didn’t make her gargoyle instincts flare in warning like most of the denizens of the Battle Goddess’ domain did. Anna decided to pursue this strange exchange just to see if she could later place which one of Gryton’s henchmen this was.
“You have it within yourself to find freedom.”
Well, that was a line of bullshit if ever she heard one.
“The Lady of Battles cannot hold ones such as you and the child.”
Anna rolled her eyes. “Looks like she’s doing a pretty good job.”
“Only because you are too afraid to find your way to me.”
She was done with mystical beings spouting bullshit. “Unless you plan on a rescue, screw off.”
“Unfortunately, I am not permitted to enter the Lady of Battles domain.”
“Okay then. Bye.”
“However, the duality curse runs both ways. She can enter my domain no more than I can enter hers. If you come to me, you will be free of her manipulations.”
“And, yet, you’re in my head.”
“Because as much as she seeks to bend you and the youngling to her will and lay claim to the power in your blood, you are gargoyles. And gargoyles have ever been mine to command.”
/> Duality curse. Master of gargoyles. Anna wasn’t up on all her fantasyland mythology, but she’d heard enough from the Avatars as well as Shadowlight to now have a solid idea of who, or rather, what she was talking to.
Death. The Lord of the Underworld. Master of all gargoyles.
She was so screwed.
Anna would have closed her eyes, but they already were, so she settled for fisting her hands and fought to calm her thoughts and to keep the fear from leaking through to Lord Death.
“You are gargoyle. You know me. You belong to me,” he continued in that tenacious way of his.
“I belong to only myself.”
“Young one, even you know that is not true. The cub already has a firm hold on you, your magic, and your soul, one that is almost greater than mine.”
“That’s not his fault. He didn’t mean to.”
“Yes, he did. He just didn’t know it was wrong. You are correct. He is innocent of any willful intent to harm you.” The melodious voice in her mind fell silent for a moment before continuing. “But if you stay, he will be corrupted until his intentions are no longer pure.”
Anna already knew this stranger’s words were true. It’s what she’d feared would happen if she was unable to escape with Shadowlight. “You’re not telling me anything I don’t already know.”
“Perhaps not, but if that is the case, you should also know deep in your soul that all gargoyles have the ability to return to me anytime they need.”
Anna frowned unhappily in her waking dream. “I think the thousand or so guards between me and the gate would disagree with you.”
“It doesn’t matter what the guards think or do. It won’t prevent you and the cub from returning to me. You simply have to will it.”
“And if I was to believe you, just how do I ‘will’ my way to you.” Anna had no intention of going. She distinctly remembered Gregory had feared that Lord Death might kill Lillian and her brother for what the Battle Goddess had done to them.
Sure, as gargoyles they might be able to somehow magically ‘will’ themselves to Lord Death’s side, but then what? Die? No thanks. There was no way she was ready to just roll over and give up.
“All you have to do is reach for me in your mind and surrender everything.”
Yep. Nope. Not going to happen. Anna strove for calm even though her heart was pounding, and a chilled sweat now coated her body.
“And just like that, we what? Magically transport ourselves to your realm?”
“My magic calls you home. It’s a spell built into your very soul. No other magic can prevent it.”
Wondering if he’d be truthful, she asked, “What happens to the cub and I once we reach your land?”
“I will judge you and try to cure you of my sister’s taint.”
“And if you can’t? What will you do then?”
“What I have forever been tasked with: ridding the three realms of the taint that does not belong. You understand?”
“Yes.” All too well. If she wanted to live and protect the kid, she was on her own.
“There are many fates worse than allowing me to end suffering and return a soul to the Spirit Realm.”
“I actually agree with you there. But I’m not that desperate yet. I think I’ll trust to my own survival skills to get the kid and me out of this mess.”
“Only you can make this choice, but remember I’m always here. Simply open your mind and call. Do not allow yourself to become what my sister wants.”
“I’ll remember that.”
Now go away. I’m tired, she thought to herself.
To her surprise, the other consciousness retreated from her mind.
She lay there and blinked up into the darkness. A minute or two crawled by while she wrestled with the rush of adrenaline that was demanding she get ready for battle.
If she wasn’t sleep deprived, or been startled into full, jittery wakefulness, she might have realized something sooner.
Oh my god!
“Shadowlight!” She tossed back the covers and lunged out of bed. She made it to the door, her hand on the latch when the door jerked open and Shadowlight nearly impaled her on one of his horns as he ran into the room.
“Anna, what’s wrong?” He shoved her aside and paced around the room on all fours. When he didn’t find a threat, he turned back to her.
She couldn’t see much of his expression in the dark, even her gargoyle-enhanced eyesight wasn’t helping. But she didn’t need to see. She felt his presence as he searched through her thoughts.
Rushing to his side, she hugged his head and just rocked back and forth. He was here. He was safe. The Lord of the Underworld hadn’t succeeded in calling him home.
“Promise never to go to him.”
“Him?” Shadowlight licked her fingers. “Anna, are you crying?”
Damn. Was she?
“No,” she answered gruffly. “I just had a scare.”
“What scared you? Lord Death?” He whispered into her thoughts as he glanced around the room looking for threats again.
“Yes,” she said truthfully.
Shadowlight sighed a breath across her fingers as he continued to lick them. “Silly human, Lord Death doesn’t mean us harm.”
“You’ve talked to him?”
“Well, no. But my father’s memories...”
“Don’t apply to us. We are the product of the Lady of Battle’s manipulations.”
“Yes. But Gregory says we’re not to blame for that.”
God. What did she tell the kid?
“Just...if the Lord of the Underworld tries to communicate with you, promise me you will contact me. Don’t do anything he says without consulting me first.”
“Very well. I still think you are being silly, though.” Shadowlight growled unhappily, but he soon curled his tail around her waist and leaned in for more scratches.
Slowly Anna’s fears faded, and she felt foolish for panicking. And then she just felt tired. Bone weary and ready to sleep for a year.
“I’ll take the first watch,” Shadowlight said. “You stood watch all last night while I slept. It’s my turn.”
Anna would have protested but knew she needed rest if she was going to be useful at all tomorrow.
Chapter Twelve
Six hours later the servants returned. Shadowlight barely had time to warn Anna, but she rolled out of bed and was standing at his shoulder by the time a servant girl pushed the door open.
“Lady Anna, Lord Shadowlight,” the girl bowed, making her brown curls bounce. “I’ve brought clean clothes for you both.”
Anna shook herself awake and then thanked the girl. Once the servant bowed and left, Anna chased Shadowlight out of her room. He stalked away to change into his own new garments, but also to see if there was any food in the main room. A deep sniff told him the disappointing truth. Sighing, he plodded into his own room.
Not long after they’d dressed in their new clothing, Gryton returned as he’d promised.
“Good, you’re ready. Come,” Gryton barked out the order and then exited the room as quickly as he’d come. Shadowlight stumbled before he regained his balance. He really hated the collar’s compulsion; he briefly debated fighting it.
Not because he or Anna were in immediate danger, but because he hated Tin Man.
Gran had once told him he was too young to hate, but every time Gryton appeared, something hot and ugly rose up within his soul.
Though, perhaps it was only his gargoyle nature responding to the presence of evil or simple deceit. Gryton certainly excelled at both those things. Whatever it was, he would listen. Besides, Anna hated the commander, too. The scent of her dislike rose from her skin every time she set eyes on the Battle Goddess’ top soldier.
The bitter musk scented the air around him even now as Gryton and a large group of soldiers marched them back to the room with the strange mirror-like floor.
Gryton hadn’t enlightened them in what to expect, so when they finally arrived at the t
op of the first set of stairs, Shadowlight froze. Unlike yesterday, the polished black floor was no longer empty. Two alter slabs made of inky-black stone sat in the middle of the floor. Surrounding them were four large pillars topped with shallow metal cauldrons filled with burning oil.
Then he noticed the chains hanging down from the sides of the altars.
“What the actual fuck.” Anna’s voice echoed his thoughts perfectly.
When he looked at her, it was to see her glancing between the altar and him and back again.
“Kid, whatever they do, don’t fight. We can’t escape if we’re dead. Remember that.”
“I won’t fight,” he replied along their mental link.
When Gryton ordered him forward, he wanted to resist, but the collar merely reached into his nervous system and forced him to follow.
“Get off me,” Anna snarled at one of her guards. “I’m going.”
She soon caught up to his longer strides, and they reached the polished floor at the same time. They walked the rest of the way to the altar slabs together. With her chin up and shoulders squared, Anna refused to be cowed by the Battle Goddess’ soldiers, but she didn’t do a good enough job shielding her thoughts, and her dread bled across the link to him.
It made him less ashamed of his own fear.
When Gryton ordered him to lay down on the nearest slab of stone, he didn’t resist.
Anna’s movements were stiff, but she didn’t fight either.
“Whatever this is, the sooner it’s over, the better,” Anna whispered into his thoughts.
He silently agreed.
They didn’t have long to wait, which was a blessing. Shortly after the altar chains were secured to their wrists and ankles, Shadowlight heard the rattle of a different set of chains as the demigoddess walked down the second set of stairs, her chains trailing behind her. She halted a few steps from the altars and stared down at them, but she didn’t say a word.
When the demigoddess raised her hands and summoned magic, Shadowlight’s heart began to pound. His growing fear was warranted. She stepped closer to him.
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