Cassareece cringed. She looked genuinely worried. “I can’t, you know that.”
Kaliel laughed softly, almost to herself, but Cassareece heard. She knew what Cassareece was talking about; if she so much as touched her Krishani would hunt her down and torture her. Kill her with his bare hands. She’d seen enough of him fighting and killing to know it was true. He practically defeated Crestaos by himself. There was no telling what he would do if they hurt her. She held onto that thought and pushed away the nightmares of Lotesse, Shezeel, and Cossisea. They were trapped in orbs, waiting for Tor. They were safe.
Safe until the Valtanyana came and took them all at once.
“You want the others,” Kaliel whispered, almost choking on her own phlegm. Her fingers worried away at the sand but her hands weren’t clawing themselves out very fast. The buzzing was getting louder, angrier, and if something didn’t snap soon the jar would tip over on its own.
Cassareece smiled. “There’s the girl I remember!”
“I won’t give them to you,” she said with all the determination she could muster. She squirmed, attempting to loosen the sand around her chest, but it didn’t budge.
“I didn’t think you would, so that’s why I’m willing to offer you a boon.” Cassareece circled the sand cocoon, humming a screechy tune that made goose bumps spread along Kaliel’s skin.
“They don’t understand how important you are. Darkesh, Rahedra and Pendalyn are raising beasts, Joviasson, Grimassi and Zion want to lure Tor out of hiding, while Morgana, Syx and Quinna want to storm that village of yours and kill everyone until the Flames belong to them. I’m smarter. I know we won’t win without your help.” She stood beside the unbearable buzzing jar. She crouched down. “I came to find you,” she said innocently. “You were the one who made all the difference.”
“Why?” Kaliel stuttered. Tears streamed down the hollows of her temple, even though she didn’t want them to. She wished she could call out to Krishani the way she used to, but she was afraid that, because of their fight, he wouldn’t listen.
Cassareece smirked. “You made the stars fall.”
Kaliel gulped. She didn’t want to hear to this. The prophecy wasn’t true. It was only a warning, except for the past. Bitter self-hatred welled in her chest. She wanted to lash out but she couldn’t. Instead she gritted her teeth and glowered at Cassareece, who laughed.
“I promise to help you,” Cassareece said. “You know you can trust me. You used to trust me. Do you remember what the flowers tasted like? The ones I used to bring you? I know you can remember. It’s still a part of you.” Cassareece tapped on the sand above Kaliel’s chest, on her heart, as though the power she possessed to make the stars fall was still within her.
Kaliel didn’t want to remember what she was or what she could be. The volcano exploded; that told her enough about her untapped potential. She wanted to hold it in rather than let it out. All she wanted was a life, a beating heart, lungs, and a body she could call her own. She wanted a perfect life with Krishani in Avristar. She wanted the life she had, the one that was lost forever. Cassareece stared at her like she could hear her thoughts, and a pensive expression crossed her face.
“Whatever you want, it’s yours. I’ll make sure it happens.” Her expression was deadpan, serious.
Kaliel pursed her lips and shook away her dreams and fears. “I don’t want anything,” she whispered, the wood-like splinters scraping her throat.
“Yes you do,” Cassareece snapped. “You’ll tell me what you want because you don’t want what’s in these jars.” She glanced at the buzzing one and shrugged. “You could take my boon, or I can turn you into my pawn and make you retrieve the Flames for me.” A sly smile crept across her face. “Do you remember the game we used to play?”
Kaliel clamped her eyes shut and shook her head. Her heart thumped hard, begging her to tell Cassareece what she wanted more than anything, but she couldn’t do it. She pushed away the memories. She didn’t want to hear about the game; it was vile, uncouth, but Cassareece wasn’t listening.
“The flowers tasted like all sorts of things. I always gave you the good ones, but then I gave you bad ones, too. You let the boys and girls in the village eat them because you didn’t like the colors of the petals. All the boys and girls got sick. One of them died.” She giggled, but Kaliel felt worse–all the innocence she thought she had was gone. She couldn’t run from the bad things even if she wanted to. They would always haunt her, hunt her down, and ruin her.
“Krishani,” she gasped, opening her eyes and surprising herself. “I hate him being a Ferryman.” She pressed her lips together so she wouldn’t say anything more but there was no holding it in. “And Avristar, I miss it.”
The dam she built for herself broke. She began sobbing because all of it was true and she was so afraid to admit it. She hated living on Terra, hated being away from Krishani. She felt like a fool for crying in front of Cassareece, but the woman reached over and stroked Kaliel’s brow, pulling strands of hair off her forehead.
“I’ll make it perfect again, I promise,” Cassareece cooed, smoothing out her hair. “Will you bring me the Flames?”
Kaliel nodded, tears streaming down her face, but she couldn’t deny it anymore. Her life had become a nightmare, and she would do anything to change it. “Yes, I’ll bring them to you,” she said between sobs.
Cassareece smiled and picked up the jars. Kaliel heard her step away and release the contents into the sky, the buzzing and the clicking dissipating in a crescendo of wind chimes. When Cassareece touched the sand cocoon it crumbled into a pile of dust. She extended her hand and Kaliel took it carefully as Cassareece pulled her to her feet. Her legs were wobbly but she managed to shake them out and brush the sand off her black dress.
“Can you really make it perfect?” Kaliel asked, hesitant about the promise. Her head swelled, salivating over the idea of getting everything she wanted.
Cassareece smirked, the sky churning with thousands of small blue falcons. Their cries pierced the din, and Kaliel blanched. “I won’t underestimate you if you don’t underestimate me,” Cassareece said. She snapped her fingers and whistled loudly. The brown mare raced across the beach alongside the water, a traveling knapsack attached to its rear. It trotted into the sand cocoon and bowed its head to Cassareece. The woman clucked something softly in its ear. Kaliel knew what she was doing–training the horse to be her eyes and ears, to make sure Kaliel didn’t cross her. She turned her perfect glass-like face to Kaliel and Kaliel’s breath caught in her throat. Cassareece was more beautiful than originally envisioned. She was tall and thin with blonde hair falling to her waist, perfectly straight. She had delicate fingers and shocking blue eyes. They were a crackling, lightning blue, the same color as the flattering dress she wore. Kaliel was sure that next to her she looked plain and dirty, like one of the human villagers.
“Hurry now. They’ll be looking for you.” Cassareece clucked. Kaliel cautiously mounted, her eyes trailing over every inch of Cassareece’s perfect body. She felt wary and elated at the same time, but as she met Cassareece’s stony blue eyes she knew what she had to do.
Save Krishani from himself.
She kicked the horse and sped into a gallop, trailing up the winding path towards castle Tavesin.
* * *
30 - Betrayal
It was nearing nightfall when Kaliel broke through the trees and caught Pux on the trail, scouring the field of boulders for something. She pulled the mare to a stop and slipped off, leading it by the reins. She tried to smooth her face into a perplexed expression but she knew she looked upset, maybe even guilty. Pux looked relieved and a bit upset to see her. He wore one of the villager’s gray wool tunics, and it didn’t match the reddish brown fur covering his face and arms.
“What are you doing out here?” Kaliel asked as soon as she was within earshot. Tremors ran the length of her arms and legs, reminders of what she had to do. She tried not to stumble or stutter, but she worried about
slipping up and ruining her one chance to fix everything before it got worse.
Pux kicked a stone out of the way and held his hands out, turning them over and inspecting them idly. His eyes met hers. “I was going to go after you,” he said nonchalantly.
“Nonsense, I wasn’t gone long.” Kaliel brushed past him. They weren’t far from the gates and she wanted to get inside before dinnertime. She hadn’t taken much food with her.
Pux trailed along behind her, rubbing the back of his neck with his palm. “Where did you go?”
Kaliel stopped and waited for the gates to open. They spread, the village coming into view in strips. She threw a waft of black hair over her shoulder and glanced at him. “I went to the river, you know, to get cleaned up,” she said, shrugging it off. Technically she did go to the river, but it wasn’t her only destination. They tarried down the dirt road, Pux walking beside the mare.
“You were gone a whole day,” Pux pointed out.
Kaliel glanced at him and caught only parts of his body amidst the horse head between them. “I fell asleep for a while, and it took longer than I thought to find my way back.” Her stomach doubled in knots as she thought about the sand cocoon and the buzzing sound, not to mention Cassareece.
Pux stroked the mare’s mane as they led it into the stables and left it with one of the villagers. “I was worried about you.”
Kaliel softened. She took his hands in hers and looked into his brown eyes. “I’m sorry, too. I haven’t been myself lately.” She shot him a meek smile and ducked her head to the ground. He nodded and slung his arm around her shoulders. He didn’t smell the way he used to; this was more like charcoal, swine, and eggs. She wondered if he had been helping the servants with the cooking. Pux led them around to the mess hall and sat her at one of the tables.
“Promise me you won’t do anything stupid?” Pux asked.
Kaliel sighed and looked away. There weren’t many others in the mess hall, mostly older folks as the young ones hadn’t finished work for the day. It was the way he said it that made her almost lose her cool confidence. She drummed her fingers on the wooden tabletop and cupped her chin in her palm.
“Stupid?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Pux sat straight and began what Kaliel could only call preening himself. He quickly pulled off the tunic to reveal a vest underneath, and rubbed his hands through his hair, trying to make it spiky instead of flat and boring. He shrugged. “You know what I mean. About Krishani.”
Jack joined them, sitting beside Kaliel, and she scooted down the bench to give him more room. Kaliel groaned inwardly at the mention of Krishani but tried to keep a smile on her face. “He doesn’t need my help. He’ll deal with the Horsemen himself.” All of a sudden it killed her to smile, to sit there pretending everything was okay. She stood, brushing her hands along her black dress. “I think I should speak to Elwen. It would be nice to dance in the hall for a change.” Before Pux had a chance to answer, she left and traipsed up the steps to the main hall. She nodded to the guards and they opened the doors for her.
Elwen slaved away at a table full of food, only he and Talina seated at opposite ends. They both looked up in surprise. Talina daintily put down the chicken leg she was holding and wiped her hands and face on a brilliantly decorated red cloth. It had a golden sun embroidered into the corner. Tonight she wore yellow, a color that suited her well. Her strong hazel eyes moved to Kaliel, as did Elwen’s, but he didn’t stop eating.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Kaliel began, tucking her head to the ground. She remembered the way it was with Atara, the woman who saw secrets in her eyes the moment she had them. She shuffled back and forth purposefully to look uncertain and held her hands behind her back.
“There’s no intrusion, Kaliel. What would you like?” Talina asked, piling her hands on her lap.
Kaliel looked at the door and sighed. “It’s just that I thought we could eat together. Us and the villagers …” She wasn’t sure if she was overstepping her bounds. Elwen snorted and said something Kaliel couldn’t understand, but Talina held a hand up to silence him and he began tearing into his turkey leg.
“I think it’s nice of you to think of us. The hall is usually used during the Solstices, but, we could make an exception. Elwen? What say you?” Talina asked, her hand stretched towards him but he was too far away for her touch.
He shot a glare at Talina but his eyes softened when they fell on Kaliel, and he smiled ruefully. “You can stay, and the guards can round up the villagers.” Elwen patted a seat near him at the table. Kaliel gravitated cautiously towards him as the guards disappeared from the hall. She wanted to say something about Samhain, but she wasn’t too sure if it actually was near the Fire Festival she was used to.
“The musicians, too?” she called after the guard. It was only after she spoke she realized she was being too loud. She dropped her hands to her lap and began picking out some of the yellow and green vegetables. She folded them into her mouth and chewed, but she felt more and more lightheaded. The Flames were hidden in Talina’s room. She could feel them. All she had to do was get sick enough to warrant being taken to Talina’s quarters again. She yawned loudly as the villagers trickled in, Pux bounding behind Jack. He took post next to her and nudged her in the ribs.
“Good idea,” Pux said, taking a piece of white breasted chicken. Kaliel glanced over his shoulder. Jack was with his parents, not paying any attention to Pux anymore. Elwen stood and addressed the crowd quietly, explaining the feast had been laid, and ushered the musicians into their corner. It took a few more minutes as the noise inside the hall grew to a crescendo. Kaliel felt claustrophobic and nauseous. She was sure it was the guilt, but she continued eating, long after cramps formed in her stomach. When the musicians finally began playing, Pux pulled her up and began the first jig.
Kaliel twirled around and around in his arms growing more and more dizzy. Other villagers she recognized began dancing, too; everyone was in high spirits. Pux acted like they’d never fought; the villagers acted like they’d never seen hardship in their lives. Kaliel tried to let the nausea die down but she caught Klavotesi watching her from one of the pillars.
“Wait,” she said to Pux breathlessly. Pux tried to pick up the pace, matching the speed of the fiddler’s notes. She stopped and put a hand on his chest, pushing him away lightly. “I need to talk to Kla.” She hiked up her skirts, wending her way through the people.
“You left without my permission,” Klavotesi said flatly.
Kaliel tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and took a deep breath. “I was angry.”
Klavotesi nodded. “I was harsh. I’m sorry,” he said abruptly.
“It’s okay.” Kaliel dared a glance at the dance floor. Pux was trying to get Jack’s attention, but the younger boy was dancing with a girl no more than five summers old.
“If you’re ready to go back to your lessons, I thought I could teach you some magic. Homegrown–it might help strengthen the Flame.”
“I would like that.” Kaliel glanced back at the dancing. Pux was with one of the other girls. Jack wasn’t anywhere near him; he danced with one of the little girls, both hands in hers, skipping around in circles.
“Magic is fragile, like the Flame. If you aren’t careful about your intentions, it could change the outcome,” Klavotesi said, pulling her back to the conversation with him.
Kaliel frowned. “The Flame is like magic?”
Klavotesi nodded. “I’ve failed to tell you a lot of things you need to know about the Flames themselves. They are the embodiment of magic. You could say it originates with us, although that’s only a half-truth. The full truth is much more complex.”
“Oh.” She felt sick to her stomach while she thought of Cassareece waiting for her at the cabin by the lake. She couldn’t cross the woman; she had to bring her what she wanted and stop the Valtanyana from mounting an attack that would destroy them all. Cassareece wasn’t like the others; she was gentler and kind. Kaliel knew Cas
sareece had no interest in destroying the land, but how she knew was beyond her. Something pricked at the back of her mind, something from the First Era, a memory she couldn’t quite conjure.
“You want to dance,” Klavotesi said knowingly. He nodded, sending her off to the crowd, and Kaliel exhaled loudly, glad she didn’t have to explain herself, glad he didn’t read her thoughts and know all about her run-in with Cassareece. She stumbled away and tried to get back into the jig but pain lanced across her temple, mushrooming through her skull. She bent over and someone caught her arm.
“Careful, child. You’ve looked pale since you came into the hall. Come with me.” Talina’s gentle tone cut through her mind-numbing headache. Kaliel couldn’t see straight as Talina pulled her down the hall. She pushed Kaliel into the soft covers and fluttered away for a moment. Kaliel stayed still, realizing too late she wasn’t faking it. Her eyelids slid shut and she fell into blackness.
Kaliel woke up hours later, the room deserted. It wasn’t the feeling she wanted to have. Talina trusted her because she was a Flame, because she had no reason to believe Kaliel would ever do anything wrong. The headache was gone; a faint throbbing in her stomach persisted as she forced herself up and slipped soundlessly onto the floor. She scoured the room, checking the drawers in the bureau and the end tables. She found nothing and decided to try the floor boards. She checked each of them until she found the one that slid open. The box was wrapped in a black silk scarf that fell away when Kaliel lifted it out. It wasn’t very big, but beautiful panels of jewels covered it all in squares or triangles. She lifted the lid and her breath caught as she gazed at the six of them nestled into the red velvet. She shut the box and slid the slip around it.
Kaliel didn’t say goodbye to Talina, Pux, or Klavotesi. When she left the hall the villagers were all drunk and she felt dizzy. She kept her eyes to the ground, her feet moving to the stables. She mounted the brown mare and took off into the night.
Vulture Page 24