by Emma Slate
“What aren’t you telling me?” he demanded.
“I’m bound to Lucifer against my will,” I blurted out. “The reason isn’t important. What is important is that I find a way to that island. If I can get to the island, it will break his hold on me and I’ll be free.”
It wasn’t a complete lie, but some instinct told me to guard the secret of the pearls.
King Aloysius was staring at me like he was trying to sniff out any lies or untruths. “Why should I help you, Stella?” he asked quietly. “It would serve me and my people better if we cast you out into the desert and let you find your own way. Or let Lucifer come for you. I have no desire to get involved with the Prince of Darkness.”
Jax had been correct. Altruism truly didn’t exist. I should’ve known that no one ever did anything out of the goodness of their hearts. Not even me, the empath. Sure, I could attempt to convince myself that I aided creatures that needed their burdens eased, but I did it so that I wouldn’t go insane. It wasn’t selfless motives that had had me out every night, walking the streets.
“What do you want in exchange for your help?” I asked, trying to keep the anger out of my voice.
He peered at me. “Why are you upset? You can’t really expect me to put myself, my people, in the line of danger without something in return.”
“Don’t try and rationalize what you’re doing. God forbid anybody do anything out of the kindness of their hearts.”
“No good deed—”
“Goes unpunished. Yeah. I get that.” I leaned forward. “What. Do. You. Want?”
“You. For a year.”
“I’m going to need you to explain that a little more in depth, because I have an idea of what you mean, and I’m hoping—for your sake—that I’m wrong.”
“Meghan said you threw up when you walked through the market. Why?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Answer the question.”
I glared at him, contemplating answering him. Finally, I said, “I wasn’t shielded. From all the emotions.”
He nodded. “My people suffer. Have been suffering. I’d like you to stay here a year and ease their burdens.”
My gaze narrowed. “You want me here for your people?”
“I do.”
“To ease their burdens.”
“Yes.”
“And nothing else?”
“I do not make whores of women,” he stated boldly. “But clearly he does. Otherwise you wouldn’t have jumped to such an erroneous conclusion.”
“Satan’s whore,” I murmured. “The title of my autobiography.”
He smiled. “Self-deprecating. I appreciate that in a woman.”
“Six months,” I countered.
“Eight.”
“Eight,” I agreed with a nod.
I wondered how I’d managed to—yet again—get myself into a situation where I didn’t own myself or my time. I wanted to sit and stew over the deal I’d made with King Aloysius, but he was intent on charming me with good conversation, heady wine, and dessert.
I still couldn’t detect anything from him except happiness and exuberance. I didn’t get a sense that he was concealing his deeper emotions. Maybe he really was at peace, and the only source of any unhappiness came from his people’s burdens.
A few times during dinner, my thoughts wandered to Lucifer. He’d found a way to hotwire my body and hijack my mind. He consumed me. My heart swam with feelings I preferred to examine in private.
I dabbed my mouth and set my napkin on the table.
“Have you had enough?” King Aloysius asked.
“Yes, I’m finished,” I said, rising. I wobbled and braced myself on the edge of the table.
“The wine,” King Aloysius said with a smile.
I placed a hand to my feverish forehead. “I don’t get drunk. I can hold my liquor.”
“In the mortal realm, I’m sure. But this is Purgatory wine.”
The room began to spin. “Purgatory? Did you say Purgatory?”
“Yes. Stella, what’s—”
“Do you know the Guardians?” I asked as I looked him in the eyes.
They were clouded with confusion as he peered back at me. “Yes. I know them.”
Hysteria welled inside of me. “When was the last time you saw them?”
“A few weeks ago, I believe.” He frowned. “Why? Why are you—”
I collapsed against the table. King Aloysius urged me to sit and brought a goblet of water to my lips. He held it to my mouth as I drank.
“Stella,” he began, setting the goblet aside. “Look at me.”
I glanced up at him. He stood tall and proud. Noble. “You’re pale.” His hand touched my cheek, and I instantly shied away as pain seared me.
“Please,” I gasped. “Don’t touch me unless I invite it. It physically hurts me.”
His hand dropped to his side. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“It’s why I’m telling you.”
“What else is wrong?”
“I—” Shaking my head, I bit my tongue.
“Stella?” he pressed.
“You’ll use the knowledge against me.”
“I won’t.”
I looked up at him and glared. “You found out I was an empath and bartered for my help.”
“For my people,” he stressed. “Not for myself.”
“I don’t trust you.”
“I don’t trust you, either. So it seems we’re at an impasse.” His tone was flat. “I will not let you leave my chambers until you tell me why my mentioning of the Guardians had you nearly passing out.”
His chambers? The last thing I wanted was to be in the King’s private rooms. I needed seclusion and security to sort through the feelings that were welling up inside of me.
What would King Aloysius do if he found out who my parents were? Negotiate a different deal, perhaps? The only thing that mattered was finding the final pearl. If I didn’t, then it didn’t matter what terms I discussed because I wouldn’t be able to keep my end of the bargain. I would be chained to Lucifer, and that trumped any other deal I brokered.
“The Guardians are my parents,” I said slowly.
“You’re their daughter? I didn’t know they had a child,” he stated, peering at me in shock.
“I was kept a secret and hidden in Purgatory for years. And then I begged them to let me leave. A mage erased my memories, placed a concealment spell on me, and I was able to live on Earth among humans. Until very recently, I thought I was human.
“Lucifer was able to find me and remove the concealment spell, so I learned my true identity. He has imprisoned my parents in Purgatory and I am the only one who can free them.”
“I didn’t even realize they were trapped,” he said.
“Are you and your people part of Purgatory?”
“No. The desert is its own entity. But we have welcome passage to Purgatory, so we travel freely between there and here. For someone who grew up in Purgatory, I’m surprised you don’t know a lot about the Desert of the Forgotten.”
“They spoke of this place once and never again. They probably thought I’d never have a reason to be here. Please,” I pled, “I am bound to Lucifer. If I free myself, then I free my parents. The key to my freedom is on the island I asked about it.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “We will leave tomorrow.”
“We?”
He cocked his head to the side and smiled slightly. “We.”
Chapter 27
We walked in companionable silence as King Aloysius escorted me back to my room. I listened for sounds coming from the market, but all was quiet. Mothers had tucked their sleepy children into bed, young lovers were no doubt cuddled up under the covers.
I tried not to think of Lucifer, of his burning rage, of the showdown that would commence when we were face-to-face again. Though I harbored deeper feelings for the Prince of Darkness, I couldn’t convince myself I meant anything to him. I was a possession, a trophy,
a symbol that he’d one-upped my parents. I was a balm to his burdens and the receptacle of his lust.
When we arrived at the door to my guest room, I turned to face the king. “So, tomorrow, then?”
He nodded slowly. “Dawn.” He looked like he wanted to say more, but then thought better of it. With an incline of his regal chin, he turned and left.
“King Aloysius,” I called after him.
“Aloysius,” he corrected.
“Aloysius.” The name without his title felt odd, naked. The warmth in his eyes when I said his name was unmistakable. “Thank you for your help.”
“It’s my pleasure, Stella.” He turned to leave once more, but I found my courage when I called after him yet again.
“I need you to know how grateful I am,” I began slowly, “for your aid. I couldn’t finish this last leg of my quest without you.” I paused. “It’s an honor to count you as a friend.” I kept my eyes on his, which were no less warm when he understood what I was saying.
He bowed slightly. “Sleep well. We have a long way to go tomorrow.” His smile was genuine when he finally left.
With a sigh, I turned around and opened the door. The room was dim, lit with a dozen candles. The drapes around the bed of pillows had been pulled back.
I closed the door and leaned against it for a moment. Absently, I ran a hand through my cropped hair and sighed. I kicked off my slippers and wandered over to the bed. I leaned back, my head on a pillow, and looked up at the drapery.
Inevitably, my mind began to wander and I thought of him. His lips against mine, the heat of him inside my body. I was entranced, enslaved by lust. I ached for him. I ached for the relief only he could give me.
And then I thought of another king, settling himself in his own bed. Why couldn’t I desire him? Why couldn’t I have given him the signal he’d been waiting for all evening? He cared for his people. I found him handsome. But he didn’t make my heart race. He didn’t make me greedy or demanding.
The wine I’d had at dinner had run its course and now I was sober. Sober and very much awake.
I felt the submarine shift and knew the dunes had moved. I dreaded the thought of having to cross the desert again, but at least this time, I’d have companions.
What would I find when I reached the edge of it? Would there be a ship? Would Lucifer be waiting for me?
The real question: did I really want to find the last pearl? I knew I needed to. For the sake of my parents. And even for myself. Even if, in the darkest part of my mind, I wasn’t sure I wanted to.
I wasn’t sure I wanted to be free of Lucifer.
When I finally fell asleep, I dreamed of him. I dreamed of us under the Hell moon, the leaves of the Tree of Life falling onto my skin, of passion and starlight, of eternal damnation. I dreamed of fire and ashes, of rising from the earth, reborn into a new body.
Dawn came, and so did I.
There was a quiet knock on the door, followed by someone opening it. I was dressed in brown trousers, a loose, white button-down, and brown boots. Whimsically, I thought I looked like one of Shakespeare’s females, dressed like a boy in period clothing. But it was comfortable and I wasn’t complaining.
“You’re awake,” Meghan said in surprise as she closed the door with her hip. “And dressed.”
I nodded.
“Your hair…it grew. How did it do that?”
I shrugged. “No idea.”
“Looks good,” she said gruffly. “Here, I brought you breakfast.” She set down a small basket covered in a towel.
“You’re a servant now?” I teased.
She glowered. “My brother asked, so…”
I hid my smile. “You love your brother.”
“Of course I love my brother.”
“But you don’t like me, and yet here you are. Bringing me food.”
Meghan clamped her mouth shut, which meant she wasn’t going to refute what I’d said. “Out of sheer curiosity,” I began, lifting the towel on the basket and pulling out a warm bread roll, “why don’t you like me?”
“I don’t trust outsiders.”
I nodded thoughtfully as I tore into the bread. I stuck a piece of it into my mouth. “This is really good. Thank you.”
“It doesn’t bother you?” she asked bluntly.
I met her eyes. “What? That you don’t trust outsiders? It makes sense to me.” I shrugged. “I needed something from your brother.”
“A ship to sail into the sea. We are desert people. We do not venture where we don’t belong.”
I had to swallow before replying. “You’re a warrior. A hunter for your people? You and Dorian venture out into the desert and even into the forests of Purgatory to hunt and bring back food. Right?”
“What’s your point?” Her stance was pugnacious and she was ready to battle.
Leaning back, I shrugged carelessly. “I just wonder how someone as brave as you could be so scared of the unknown.”
“I’m not scared.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You’re not?”
“No.”
“So you’ll be on the ship, then?” I pressed.
She gritted her teeth. “Now I really don’t like you.”
I smiled, but it dimmed. “What’s in the sea that scares you?”
“I never want to find out. But since my brother refuses to leave you until you are done with this”—she paused—“voyage. Then I have no choice but to remain by his side.”
We stared at one another, two women, strong in different ways, loyal in different ways too. I answered the question she couldn’t bring herself to ask.
“Your brother’s heart is safe. I promise.”
“Aloysius has always led with his heart. That’s his greatest blessing—and his greatest curse. He’ll fall in love with you because he can’t help himself.”
“I offer him nothing but grief and heartache. Why would he let himself fall in love with me?”
She stared at me with understanding eyes. “Did you have a choice in falling for the man you gave your heart to?”
It was my turn to fall silent.
“Valid point,” I said softly.
“Finish your breakfast. We leave in an hour.”
Meghan moved to the door, but my voice stopped her. “I meant what I said. I want nothing from your brother. I will gladly take his friendship and aid, and offer whatever I can in return, but my heart is not on the table.”
Her smile was sure. “If anyone has a chance of making you forget about another man, it’s my brother.”
I let her go, not bothering to tell her that the man I’d fallen in love with was no mere mortal, so what human could possibly measure up to the broken, destructive Prince of Darkness?
And what did it say about me that I wanted Lucifer anyway?
Chapter 28
By the third day of our journey, my insanity was at its height. Because I was with humans who needed rest in ways that I didn’t, we camped at night. They slept. I tried to rest, but it was useless. By the morning, I’d be muttering to myself, having no recollection of the day before. Only when we started moving again did the madness clear from my mind. My human companions did not suffer the same fate because they belonged to the desert. Thankfully, the heat no longer bothered me due to the metal armor I was given. It was smithed with some sort of magic to repel the heat.
It took six days for our four-person band to reach the edge of the sea. Meghan stared at it with something akin to fear. When she caught me looking at her, she haughtily squared her shoulders and schooled her face into a bland expression. As Dorian and Aloysius looked at each other in obvious trepidation, I stripped off my armor, removed my boots, and waded into the salt water.
“Stella!” Aloysius cried.
I laughed and floated on my back. What would they do if they saw that I could breathe underwater, knew that I’d been to Atlantis and befriended a merrow?
“I’m fine!” I called back.
“You don’t know what lives in
the depths,” Dorian bellowed. “Get out!”
Not wanting to cause them more worry, I swam back toward the shore and came out of the water. My clothes stuck to my skin, but for the first time in days, I felt like my lungs and skin were no longer coated in dust and sand. I was done with the desert and I wanted to sail away immediately.
There was just one problem…
“There’s no sign of a boat or a ship,” I said to them.
Aloysius stood with his arms crossed over his chest and a glare on his face. “You may be immortal, but you can’t do whatever you want whenever you want.”
I raised my eyebrows but said nothing. If he was asking for an apology, he wasn’t going to get it. In fact, I felt my own anger beginning to simmer. I was tired of high-handed men ordering me around. “The ship?” I pressed. “Where is it?”
“At the bottom of the ocean,” Meghan voiced. She looked from me to her brother, silently asking us not to engage in a battle of wills.
“The bottom of the ocean?” I repeated.
She nodded.
“And how do we get it?” I asked.
“We make an offering to the sea,” Aloysius stated.
“What kind of offering?”
He walked until the toes of his boots were in the water and held out his hand. With a quick movement, he removed the blade from his belt to cut his palm. Blood welled and he balled his fist, squeezing out three drops of blood into the water.
“A blood offering,” he voiced.
“I would’ve done it,” I stated. “If you’d given me the chance.”
Aloysius looked at me over his shoulder and smiled. “Poseidon prefers human blood.”
He turned back to the sea. We waited. Nothing happened. And then finally, the water began to swirl and toss. Waves crashed against the sand, and we hurried back so they wouldn’t overtake us. I would’ve survived, what with my odd ability to breathe underwater, but I was with a band of humans. Humans I wished to protect.
I cared for them, I realized. More than I’d ever cared for any others, aside from Herron. In that moment, I understood what it meant to have a piece of Hunter’s essence in me. I understood what it meant to be a merrow. My empathy for humans was greater than even I realized.