I swallowed my fear and repulsion and stared at the ceiling. I forced myself to answer. ‘Yes, mistress.’
She smiled cruelly, staring at me. ‘You did well under pressure. However, I think we have to take some of the innocence away from you. That way, you will be more useful to us.’
‘I won’t kill anyone,’ I told her resolutely.
‘Yes, you will. You will if you have to, for did I not say there is a speck of selfishness in you? Enough to force you to fight to stay alive, I think and later, perhaps you will find an appetite for power. You will be tested soon. I’ll let you take part. I had thought I would spare you from it. And Dana. Now, I think I have to see you motivate yourself to my cause. What I did yesterday is a red path for me and for my people, a way home through our enemies, one that leads to what will make us happy again. Those who died are my enemies. Therefore, you will find your path the day after tomorrow, in the morning. With Dana. Fight well. I think you won't be so arrogant after that.’
‘Yes, mistress,’ I said again and grimaced, helpless. She nodded at me and clapped her many hands.
‘I have no energy to pull you anywhere now, so walk,’ she told me, and indeed she was exhausted. The travel had left her haggard as she settled into her seat, closing her eyes.
‘Was she sweet, this elf woman?’ I asked. ‘His pregnant wife.’
‘Her terror was, Shannon. They have laughed over the corpses of my followers, human girl. Her terror was a fine, addictive drug. And so was his fear,’ she smiled.
Cosia entered, and I hissed in anger. She pulled her whip. I hesitated, straightened my back and went past her. We made our way down the stairs, the endless amount of them, and I was grateful to finally make it to our chamber’s door. Cosia looked away as she opened it, her face neutral. Was she sorry for the people she had murdered? No, she had enjoyed it.
‘Do you have anyone you care for?’ I asked her.
‘I …’ she began, her snakes twirling hypnotically. ‘No. Not now. The Dark Clans are lost to us. I had love once, girl. Perhaps one day again if I shut my heart down.’ She closed the door instead and left me with the dark room, where the Ten Tears saw me. Lex came forward.
‘Where have you been?’ he asked. ‘Dressed like that? Torn, beautiful clothes! There is a bruise on your chin!’
‘You all right?’ Anja asked, climbing up to stare at me. ‘Are you hurt?’
‘I’m not all right,’ I said and fell into Lex’s arms. He carried me to the corner and even Alexei and Dmitri came to comfort me. Cherry hovered protectively, scowling at me, hoping I would smile. Albine sat near, staring at me, nodding at me, and so did Able. Ulrich stood far, looking down, his mood mysterious and hard to read. Dana stayed put until the others withdrew. Then, she held me as I cried.
‘Remember, Shannon. For us,’ she said. ‘My poor sister. I told you this would be hard. Didn’t want you to come, for you were right to fear this place. And now you are at the forefront of it all.’
‘Yes, sister,’ I said as I fell asleep before Nox came to feed us, dreaming of fiery deaths and many dead eyes blaming me for not being able to heal them. There were limits to my powers.
And my patience.
CHAPTER 13
Next day, we rested. Nobody came to fetch us, there was silence. We sat and waited until Alexei stirred. ‘The year is up and so they are brewing some devilry for us. No?’
‘Going hungry today,’ Dmitri said. ‘First they made us sober, now they will make us cannibals?’
‘Shut up you two,’ Anja said, stretching next to Ulrich after having lain curled on his side. His hand caressed her neck gently, and I felt envious of their feelings, thinking about the dead Elor I had kissed in Trad. She was a gorgeous woman, and I hoped Ulrich would also appreciate her wits. Gods, I thought. What did I know? She saw me looking and nodded briefly, then looked away as Dana was also staring at them.
‘He has a weakness now,’ Dana said softly, and for a moment I thought it was Euryale speaking. But no, it was Dana, speaking of Ulrich.
‘Shut up,´ I told her and stalked around the room. I held my head, feeling hurt by the powers I had released on the hapless boy. I stopped by the dusty ball of robes, Alexei’s rag ball. I toed it and then saw Able grinning at me. I kicked it his way, but he didn’t bite. Albine, on the other hand, was lying there next to him, scowling at the ball until she kicked it back at me, lazily, but she did.
‘Too early for this, Shannon?’ Anja asked with a laugh.
‘We have to work together soon,’ I told them.
‘What if they actually plot us against each other?’ Dana asked. ‘Then we won’t.’
‘No, I doubt it. We have to work together.’ I attempted to kick the ball to Dmitri, but I was a terrible player, and the ball ended up in the middle of Anja and Ulrich. ‘Tomorrow, they will test us. It will be deadly,’ I added.
‘And you know this?’ Ulrich asked brusquely. ‘Tomorrow?’
‘Yes,’ I told him. ‘I know it. She said. Tomorrow morning. It will change us all.’
‘I saw my brother burn, girl. That changed me,’ Ulrich grunted. He picked up the ball and hesitated. Anja tried to take it, but he shook his head. ‘Here. Tomorrow, or as long as we stay here, I will work with you lot. All of you. No matter your sister’s cruelty,’ he nodded at her venomously, ‘or your strange issues.’
‘You fear when I speak to myself?’ I asked.
‘Who told you?’ Dmitri grinned. ‘It’s creepy as hell. So, truce it is.’
‘Will you work with us?’ Ulrich asked Dana. ‘Until we are all free?’
Dana got up with a shrug, running her fingers through her hair. ‘Yes. I promise you this. Together unless they make us fight each other. I’m on your side.’
They stared at each other for a while and then Ulrich nodded. As if that was their cue, Dmitri got up with a whoop, his brother following him. Soon, we played a mad ball game, did so for hours, save for Dana, who stared at us in a strange mood. I ignored her.
Night came, and there was no sign of Nox. Something was up indeed.
‘They’re keeping us hungry, bastards,’ Lex growled before we fell asleep. ‘Probably trying to make us hungry enough to kill. They’ll have us fight some poor bugger next to a delicious feast and only the winner gets to take part. That might work.’
‘I think so,’ Anja agreed. ‘I want that slop now. So badly.’ Her belly churned loudly and even Ulrich chuckled.
‘We will do what we must,’ Dana said softly. ‘No matter what they ask.’
‘Whatever to survive,’ Albine added. ‘Gods help us.’
‘They don’t care,’ Dana grimaced. ‘Not one ounce. The gods.’
‘They cannot hear us,’ Albine said. ‘If they did, they would.’
‘You going religious on us?’ Dmitri quipped. ‘Say a prayer for me as well. I think I won’t survive this place. The monsters will kill me.’
‘Shut up,’ Ulrich growled. ‘Gather strength.’
And we did. Yet, in the night, I was startled by a shake of my foot. I shot up, terrified as I had dreamed of Euryale, but it was not her. It was Anja.
‘Come,’ she whispered.
I looked around. Ulrich was asleep, so were Dmitri and Alexei, the latter snoring thunderously. ‘Where …’
‘Shush,’ she said, her blonde hair brushing my knees. ‘Come.’
‘But …’
‘They are all asleep,’ she said softly and impatiently. ‘Come or go to sleep.’ She got up and walked away. For the door. I saw Able was sitting up, and I stared at him. He shrugged curiously, and we both got to our feet. I detangled myself from Cherry’s arm and checked that Dana was deep asleep. Anja went to the door. She closed her eyes, leaning forward. Then she pushed the door open, looked at me and grinned.
She went out.
‘What the hell …’ Able said.
‘I’ll go and see,’ I answered.
I slipped up, went out cautiously, peeking through the door. She was there, Anja,
leaning on the wall, she gave me a curt nod and an impish smile and gestured downstairs. She began to walk that way, the stairs icy with rime though it did not bother me with my boots on.
Anja came to the foyer. She waited for me. ‘There is never anyone about at this hour. They likely feast somewhere. Or sleep. Or torture puppies.’
‘Surely they guard the tower?’ I breathed, my teeth chattering a bit. ‘And what do you mean, never anyone around? You did this before?’
She grinned, blowing her blonde hair aside. ‘Yes, I have. You lot are usually all asleep at around three in the morning. I’m a bit of an insomniac.’
‘We don’t have watches,’ I complained.
‘I’m smarter than I look,’ Anja said with a hint of pride. ‘I’ve developed a method …’
‘Fine,’ I told her, rubbing my arms. ‘You know the days and birthdays as well. Nevertheless, how do you do that burglary bit? They don’t actually lock them? Or does Nox leave them open?’
‘Where would we run?’ she smiled but shook her head. ‘But they do. You can heal. I can open locks. It’s a skill like they told us.’
‘The healing is not a skill. It’s a spell. Can you see the Shades?’ I asked her, bewildered.
‘No, it’s a skill I said,’ she told me as she moved to the main doors. She pushed at them, not budging them. She grinned, closed her eyes, and pushed again, and they swung open effortlessly. ‘I did this accidentally at first. I tried to run that first night and came here. Thought the door was open. I understood this was a skill when I was trying to open Ulrich’s robe. He makes this knot on the belt and …’
‘I got it,’ I told her, wondering at her casual skill.
She walked out.
There was a bout of winter whirling around the Grey Downs, and she retreated back inside. Anja shivered as we stared at the horizon. A strange, dark front of clouds was rushing over us, racing from the north, billowing snow filling the sky, heaping fine white particles around the Fanged Spire. ‘Must make the gorgons think of home,’ I muttered.
‘Really?’ she asked, surprised. ‘They hate the cold. When I have sneaked around the tower, they are always hovering by furnaces and fires.’
‘You said there is never anyone around,’ I told her with chattering teeth.
‘Not in the foyer,’ she grinned, and I stared at her, now admiring her bravery.
‘They come from Niflheim, their clans are native to ice and frost,’ I told her casually.
‘Hmm So much you know, and so little we,’ she said unhappily. ‘I’ll leave the door open, nonetheless. Makes them miserable in the morning. They’ve been going crazy with the open doors.’ We giggled at that, and indeed, snow was gathering on the floor of the main foyer, decorating the railings and the stone steps with a blanket of brilliance. I turned to look over the island, white patches dotting the craggy valleys. Apparently, it did not get cold enough for the sea to freeze, but the winds were bitter enough to make us take shelter in the doorway. She folded her arms under her ample breasts and cocked her head at me. ‘No questions?’
‘Have you gone down there?’ I pointed to the tower.
‘No,’ she answered. ‘I’m sure to get lost.’
‘But you dare to come here?’ I lifted an eyebrow at her.
‘I come here to think,’ she shrugged. ‘I figured if I get caught, all I have to do is spill the beans about my ability, and they make me a prized burglar to be sold at a higher cost.’
‘I see,’ I nodded. ‘I’m not sure why you asked me here? Is Ulrich coming along in a bit? Ready to pummel me for Ron? Finally?’
She shook her head empathetically. ‘No. He sleeps soundly at this hour, as well. He and Ron, they were not very close. But Ron was his brother.’
‘Dana is my sister, and I don’t wish to …’
‘I know,’ she told me. ‘I know very well. I’m bored with this ghost haunting us. Yet, blood is important, and he won’t forget. I see that. And Dmitri and Alexei are my brothers. They are idiots to boot, and I used to dread every morning one of them would be dead. We drank a lot ever since we were fourteen. We had no prospects at all. None. They were going to go to prison. The law would have dragged them off one day. Perhaps they would have ended up in the army. Does not matter. They are not really evil, just … stupid. No, not that either. They are careless. Now, ironically, the boys you know here are not the boys I knew back home. I like them more than I did. Moreover, Alexei likes you. More than Dmitri does. You know what I mean.’
‘I … like him. And Dmitri,’ I said neutrally. ‘Is this intentional? Their fondness.’
‘That they like you?’ she asked me incredulously. ‘I told them to be careful with you, but they are also so free and happy, not troubled like they were at home. I cannot stop them from making friends. Even with the one who is dangerous to us. And you are. Or were. Seems your sister does not have to protect you at our expense anymore.’ Her voice softened. ‘And I think you should have a higher opinion of yourself. I see it’s been hard for you, as well. Life.’
‘It’s been confusing,’ I agreed. ‘But more sheltered than yours. Now I know I speak to myself. I never know when I do that, and I just have to endure the snickers. Difficult to have a high self-esteem when you keep seeing the looks people give you. Not fun.’
‘Ah, that,’ she said and looked troubled. ‘You speaking to yourself is … interesting.’
‘See? You are doing it as well,’ I said. ‘Pitying me. Or finding it funny, at least.’
She nodded. ‘I was doing it before, pitying you for that problem, but not now. For a reason. Wait for it. As for the two dolts. They’ve had some six broken bones since they turned ten, and Alexei had a near-deadly bout with fever disease. I took care of them since I was eight, Shannon. Eight. They were seven. We ran the store with the relatives, but I ran the brothers. I’ve done things to keep our family going, despite Uncle and Aunt nominally looking after us. They were drunks, and so were we. Now, they are different. So am I. While I took care of them, I never worried about the future. Now I worry about that, as well.’
‘Dana took care of me. Still does.’
‘Really!’ she said too loudly, and we went silent for a moment, trying to figure out if we should run. ‘Fine,’ she went on, quieter this time. ‘You have lain in her lap for all your life. This lack of the … Shades … made you weak, Shannon. Weaker than she was, no doubt. Here, despite your obvious issues, you are strong and just like anyone else. Here we all found out who we really are. Back home, we were all pretending.’
‘So,’ I said hastily, ‘your’re saying Dana’s care was not real? Or is not now?’
‘I’m saying she lies a lot,’ she told me frankly.
‘She killed for me,’ I reminded her.
‘She did. Alternatively, perhaps she wanted the one ally she was sure would always follow her around,’ she said spitefully. ‘You don’t see her as we do. She lies. A lot.’
‘You said that, yes,’ I breathed, holding back anger. ‘Albine said that the day we met. Back home, she had a dozen popular, beautiful friends, handsome boyfriends, admiring teachers and family, and nobody ever doubted her.’
‘Did she have any ugly friends?’ Anja laughed.
‘I … no,’ I said.
‘She did what she thought she had to do. Here, she is no longer crippled by the absence of the Shades. Here she is Dana, and by burning Ron so publicly, she cannot hide and pretend. Perhaps that was our blessing, after all. She can’t manipulate us. So all she has is you. She sees you have grown into a new Shannon and seeks to manipulate the old Shannon, who is still lurking there, very close to the surface.’
‘I’ll not stand against her,’ I said. ‘And I have no idea why you think she is dishonest.’ My voice broke a bit on that.
She tilted her head. ‘Yeah. However, you do have an idea why that is so and still won’t share it. For you have that old Shannon there, whispering you need her, at any cost. And that cost is high, Shannon, if she is evi
l. I think there is a great part of her that is strange, uncaring and evil. If Alexei died, you would suffer for you like him. She would not. But she could pretend to if she wanted.’
I shook my head. ‘I … perhaps.’
‘We are worried; can you not see that? Have been since day one. I’m not worried about Ron. He seemed like an asshole. First he thought Albine would go, and then he pointed you out just like that and had he done that to Dmitri or Alexei, I would have loved to roast him. But your sister smiled. You didn’t see it?’
‘I saw it,’ I told her hollowly.
‘I would not have smiled. I would have thrown up,’ she added. ‘And now, soon, we are to be tested. You and she have a deal, no?’
‘We are sisters. As you said, you love your brothers and that’s the deal,’ I agreed.
‘And there is a lot that is taking place, things we know nothing of,’ she added with frustration, stepping forward and running a finger across my burnt sleeve. My skin was pinkish under it, and I realized I had been hurt. She saw my face. ‘What is going on?’
‘Cherry?’ I said as she came into sight.
Anja stared at her, displeased. ‘I’m speaking to Shannon,’ she hissed. ‘Can you give us some space?’ Cherry hesitated, looked at me, and I nodded, indicating she should stay put. She sulked, apparently, but did not leave. Instead, she sat down on the stairs, staring at Anja like a sullen dog.
‘I just don’t like her,’ Anja complained. ‘She is stranger than you. I have no idea who she is.’
‘I speak to myself, and she speaks not at all. We complement each other,’ I grinned, and Anja shrugged with a wry smile. ‘Why did you call me here?’ I asked. ‘To convince me to let Ulrich kill Dana? Because you think she lies?’
‘Because your Dana is right, in some small way,’ she said. ‘She is right in protecting you, even if I think she is actually protecting herself. She is right in thinking we must all change and forget the past. Yet I won’t turn inhuman, whatever being human really means, and I won’t murder people unless I have to.’
‘We will have to, I think,’ I told her frankly.
The Dark Levy: Stories of the Nine Worlds (Ten Tears Chronicles - a dark fantasy action adventure Book 1) Page 22