by Tenaya Jayne
Syrus looked closely at Journey again, his eyes locking on hers. There was a recognition in his gaze.
“You are a Storyteller,” he said slowly. “I remember one such as you in the castle when I was a child. Redge told me about you…I thought Storytellers couldn’t come back once they left.”
“I risked a great deal. It’s illegal. But I came back to warn the keeper of my heart that he is in danger.”
“What danger is that? Can you see the future? Did you know what Copernicus would do to him?” Syrus asked her.
“My world has regular trade agreements with the wizards. They are planning to take over Regia, along with other worlds that suit them. That is the danger I speak of. They are coming, soon.”
Syrus blinked at her as though she had spoken in a language he didn’t comprehend and then looked back at Redge.
“I thought Forest was still a prisoner. I came to tell you where to find her,” Redge said. “Journey has made it possible for me to break Copernicus’ orders. I’m not his slave anymore. Please believe me. Please forgive me for hurting Forest.”
Syrus let out a ragged breath. “What Forest and I have gone through is unspeakable.”
“I’m sorry,” Redge said again.
Journey stepped around Redge and took a step toward Syrus. “You two have a very close bond. Friends for many, many years. If you will let me, I can help you communicate with each other with a greater level of honesty.”
“What do you mean?” Syrus asked.
“I’ve read what’s in your heart. Let me help Redge to understand what you’ve been through by translating that to him with my gifts.”
“I warn you, you can’t overcome me with your stories,” Syrus said harshly. “You can’t disable me.”
She gave him a small bow. “You’re right. You’re too powerful, mage, to be rendered weak with my influence. You have nothing to worry about. I don’t know you. Regia is not my home. I have nothing against you or your mate. I couldn’t hurt you if I wanted to. And Redge, formidable as he is, is not your match either.”
Syrus looked at Redge, who raised his eyebrows and shrugged in a male gesture that meant it’s up to you.
“Fine,” Syrus said, sheathing the sword.
Journey stood in between them and began to hum. Her voice pulled it all out of them, and they both looked at the apparition hanging in the air. It showed them things they knew. Just memories of the two of them as young men, but Journey pushed Redge’s feelings on Syrus and Syrus’ feelings on Redge. So they both knew exactly how the other had felt in the moments she showed them. They both laughed at a particular foolhardy and happy time.
She had them right where she wanted them, where they needed to be, before experiencing the intense pain she was about to inflict on them both.
The vision morphed into the very recent past. She started with Syrus, transferring onto him, and showing him everything Redge had gone through and felt as he became a slave. His heart responded fiercely as he absorbed it all. His hatred for Copernicus grew a new layer at what he had done to his friend.
Both Redge and Journey stepped back from Syrus as his eyes flashed electric red, lightning snapping through the grey of his irises. On the tail end of experiencing what Redge had endured, Syrus also got a flash of how he felt about having Journey come back into his life. He was impressed at the complexity and breadth of this love, over time and distance, and especially because they were not destined life mates. What Redge felt for Journey was different than the bond of life mates, but it wasn’t fair to say it wasn’t almost as strong.
Journey felt sorry for Redge as it was now his turn. She wished she could spare him from feeling Syrus’ pain because reading Syrus’ heart had broken hers. It was necessary, she told herself. Redge stumbled back, clutching at his chest as it all went in: the fear, twice over, of losing Forest, having to listen to her heart as it died, losing the child along with her. Having his best friend be the betrayer who took her away. The nameless emotions he’d suffered as he got her back almost too late and what he had to do to save her life.
Journey ended it and stepped aside as the two men looked at each other.
Redge was winded, holding on to his chest, a string of curses came pouring out of him. “I knew it was bad, but hell…”
Syrus smiled, satisfaction all over him, at Redge having to feel it all. He extended his hand to Redge. Redge took it. Syrus jerked him forward into a rough, brotherly hug. They slapped each other a few times on the shoulders. It was over; they didn’t need to talk about it again. Journey smiled to herself. Boys, she thought. They could whack each other a few times when they were feeling something and then be fine, the balance of friendship restored.
“Can I see Forest?” Redge asked. “I’d really like her to meet Journey.”
“Not until Merhl comes back. She’s under a serious amount of security, and your blood wasn’t in the construction of it.” Syrus turned his full attention onto Journey. “Thank you, for…helping us mend our friendship.”
She smiled. “I’d say it was my pleasure, but I didn’t really enjoy putting either of you in pain.”
“So the wizards are coming?”
“Yes, I’m afraid so,” she said.
Syrus shook his head and rubbed his temple. “Why can’t I have one crisis at a time? I need Rahaxeris’ help. But he’s been kidnapped by Copernicus, and the rest of the Rune-dy are dead.”
Redge’s eyes rounded. Syrus returned his meaningful look and nodded. “What does Forest think we should do?”
“She’s only just woken up from her ordeal. And she doesn’t know everything yet. When she gets a little stronger, I’ll tell her what’s happening.”
Redge crossed his arms and pursed his lips. “I’m going back to Halussis and wait for someone from the Aluka Circle to come and find me. I’m going back in, only this time I know what I’m up against, and my slave mark has no hold on me anymore. But no one else needs to know that.”
“Do you want Journey to stay with us? We’ll protect her.”
“No, or at least not yet. I need her.”
“Are you sure? She’d be welcome.”
“That’s kind, but she wants—“
“Excuse me! You see me don’t you? I’m right here.” Journey interrupted them. “Don’t talk about me like I’m not here. Or that I don’t have a say where I go or what I do.”
Both Redge and Syrus looked shamefaced. “Sorry,” they muttered in unison.
“What do you want to do?” Redge asked her.
“I go where you go. I’m not finished helping you, and you’re my slave. Remember?”
Syrus raised his eyebrows in question at Redge. Redge smirked and shrugged his shoulders.
“Okay,” Syrus said slowly. “Not my business… So, I guess this is goodbye for now.”
They hugged again, and Syrus kissed Journey’s hand.
“Keep him out of trouble, won’t you?”
She laughed. “I was never able to before, but I’ll try my best…When we finish off Copernicus, I need to share all I know about the wizards with Regia’s leaders.”
Syrus nodded and turned away from them, fading back into the darkness as he left.
Redge sighed and leaned over, his hands on his knees, still coming down from the emotional wave. Journey panicked as she saw the self-loathing come back into Redge. Guilt rushed on him hard in the aftermath of truly feeling what his friend had been through, and he was blaming himself again.
“Look at me,” she whispered.
He straightened, facing her. She kissed his mouth softly and began to hum again. His eyes snapped open, looking into hers, but she continued, keeping her lips against his, a low note vibrating in her throat. She took something from her own heart and pushed it on to him.
His eyes dilated as she showed him her daily experiences, waiting for his messages. She made him feel what it meant to her. He closed his eyes and pulled her tightly against him. He pressed back on her, forcing her mouth t
o open to his, silencing her song.
“It’s impossible,” he said.
“That’s what I thought, too. But it happened anyway.”
“I never thought you could hear me. I never really knew why I did that every day, only that I felt I had to.”
“Will you continue?” she asked.
“What?”
“Hearing you in that way, in my head, right as I wake, has become as much a part of who I am as my eye color. Losing it would break my heart.”
“But you’re right next to me,” he argued.
“Doesn’t matter. I watched you do it two days ago. I was only twenty feet away, and still I heard your written words like a whisper… Please?”
His expression softened completely, and he smiled a little. “Okay. I promise I’ll never stop.”
****
When Syrus came back under the blood lock, Kindel was pacing the far end of the garden.
“Why are you out here?” he asked.
“Netriet came in early. She’s inside with Forest. I just thought I’d stay till you got back.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it. If you see Redge again, he’s back on our side.”
Kindel left as Syrus went into his house. Netriet’s and Forest’s voices traveled into the entryway. He walked to the bedroom and leaned against the open doorframe. Netriet sat next to Forest, and they talked companionably. His heart lifted a little. Forest was sitting up and moving her head more normally.
“Merick and I went to the Wood to see if Shi might be of any help in locating you. But she didn’t answer us. The whole place was still and silent, as though she wasn’t there at all. We waited and called out for a while, but nothing.”
“That’s really weird,” Forest said. “I don’t understand it.”
Both women looked over at him suddenly as though they just became aware of his presence.
“Did you find Redge?” Forest asked.
“Yes. And everything is all right.”
“What happened?”
Netriet got up. “I’m going to leave you two alone.” She headed out, and they heard the front door close behind her.
Exhausted, Syrus flopped onto the bed next to Forest.
“What happened?” she asked again.
He sighed loudly, resigned to telling her everything. Damn he was tired.
Chapter Fourteen
Copernicus paced in the dim light of his unassuming hideout in the lower middle-class suburbs of Paradigm. Rahaxeris was curled on the floor in the corner. He looked like a large, sickly baby, incapable of doing anything on his own. Copernicus was torn when he looked at his father, so he made a point not to. He had to focus on the next strike. His ultimate success hinged on his next move. It must be flawless.
His faithful ones were doing their jobs, gathering the slaves in the shadows, but Shreve had not returned. It had been too long. Something ill had befallen him. Copernicus was sure of it. Shreve must be dead, grievously injured, or trapped. He needed Shreve. But he didn’t have the time to go looking for him. Plus, looking for him might endanger his own life. He thought back to his fight with Syrus. He couldn’t risk going head to head with the mage again, not without some other advantage at least.
He looked at the map of Halussis he’d laid out on the table, stylus in hand, ready to mark strategic points he needed to place his slaves. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the sudden swell of fury rising inside him. He had no more ogres left in his ranks, having lost them all in the first strike. His original plans for taking the Onyx Castle were heavily dependent on his ogres. He’d needed them to open various portals for his slaves to use. So it was left to him to open portals during the next strike, a job he would have passed to Shreve.
Copernicus fiddled with Forest’s portal ring that dangled from a chain around his neck. If only he had a few more of these. Or a handful of regular Ends of the Bridges, then he wouldn’t have to worry about anything else because everything else was falling right into place. How could he get his hands on what he needed? Who could acquire them for his captains?
Copernicus should have been able to create End of the Bridges using his ogre blood, but it was a skill he had never learned, since he wasn’t raised as an ogre with a family to teach him. He wasn’t any good at constructing weapons either, as most ogres were. The only thing he could really do with the part of him that was ogre was open portals.
The most skilled ogres lived in the Onyx Castle. How could he get someone in there to take what he needed? His muddy hazel eyes slid out of focus as he remembered forcing one particular person to tell him everything about them, and he had lived in the castle…Redge. Where was Redge?
He’d ordered him to stay in Halussis and to keep away from his other slaves.
Copernicus closed his eyes and lifted the order, replacing it with a new one.
****
Redge and Journey were back at the ruin, resting in each other’s arms on the hard, bare slats of the bed. Their time there was almost over. They only had a few more minutes really, but Redge refused to waste the fleeting moment in anxious stress over what they were about to do and the terrible danger they were throwing themselves into.
He gazed into her magenta eyes, his heart holding firm and steady. This was the only moment he had. The soul of everything, the world, love, loss, joy, and pain shrank down into this moment. One last fragment of what they could have had all these years and what they might have in the future, if only fate would be kind to them. He ran his fingers over her satin skin, committing the sensation forever in his memory.
“It’s odd, isn’t it?” she asked quietly. “Being together.”
“In some ways, it was in the beginning, too. You, strangely gorgeous creature, deciding you would be mine. When your origins were from another world, another universe. You came such a long way to love me.”
She caressed his face and smiled. “You’re still so arrogant after all this time. I didn’t come here for you. I just stumbled over you and found myself in a snare.”
“Snare?” he repeated, insulted.
“Yes, and quite the snare you were, too. But that was before. This time, I did come a very long way for you.”
He kissed her, taking hold of the end of this peace. It was time now for him to go. He pulled away from her with a heavy heart.
“Remember the plan, Journey. I’ll be back as soon as I am able to. Don’t come looking for me, please. If I’m lucky, I’ll be back here by tonight. If fighting breaks out, be careful. Use your gifts to protect yourself… Please.”
“I’ve been reading your heart. I promise I won’t put myself in unnecessary danger. I know what losing me would do to you. I don’t want to hurt you like that. And I appreciate you not trying to shut me out of this, even though you want to lock me away somewhere safe. Your faith in me to help with this means a great deal.”
He kissed her one last time. His whole body hurt as he let go.
“Read me again,” he said.
She looked at his chest and read his heart. She smiled at him. “I know,” she replied to the unspoken words. “I love you, too.”
He left, walking swiftly toward the city. He forced himself to leave his heart back there with her and closed his mind to thoughts of her. Redge took a deep breath, going hard and icy. He knew where to go. His mind had to be sharp, his lies quick, and his eyes open. He would fix it. He would reverse it all.
He went straight to the city square and stopped dead center. Fear hung in the air like an invisible toxic fume. Vampires moved around as normal, going about their business. The calm was a veneer. Redge took it all in. The strain was there, in their eyes, the tightness of their shoulders, and their smiles were determined, not happy or relaxed. Everyone felt it, even if they didn’t know it consciously. The actions of the people told him clearly there was something going on under the surface in Halussis.
He took off down a side street and into an alley. He ducked under a doorway he knew would lead him to some of the Aluka
Circle. A narrow, dark stairway took him up to the shabby living space. He almost tripped over the legs of a young man. Redge looked down at the vampire. He was on the point of adulthood, but he cried silently like a child. He looked up at Redge, his eyes slightly glazed, and rubbed at his slave mark. Redge felt the solid rock of his resolve grow a layer of calcium. He would fix this.
He entered the unfurnished space. Copernicus’ slaves paced around the edges like animals in cages while three believers, the vampires that followed willingly, talked in hushed tones. They looked up at him as he approached. He didn’t know their names, but he had come in contact with them before. A look of recognition came into the tallest one’s eyes, and he reached out and grabbed Redge by the collar.
“Where have you been?” he demanded. “You’re a day late. Everyone else responded to their summons. King Copernicus has new orders for you.”
Redge looked down, acting subservient. “I’m sorry. I was taken hostage by a band of werewolves. They’re a part of a new uprising.”
“What’s this nonsense?” the believer snarled.
Redge looked up and met his gaze, assuming an expression of shock. “You mean you don’t know about the werewolves?”
The believer narrowed his eyes and cleared his throat. “Of course I know! I know everything.” He turned to the two other believers. “You guys knew about the werewolves, didn’t you?”
The others nodded emphatically. Redge laughed inside but kept his face schooled. The idiots. Anything to not lose face.
The believer who had him by the collar let go. “How did you get loose?”
“There were only a few. I killed them easily. I was a royal soldier before I joined the Aluka Circle, you know.”
The believer scowled, obviously trying to hide that he was impressed. “Well, Copernicus needs you to go to the castle and get as many End of the Bridges you can. Since all the ogres who joined the Circle are dead, we need them to get into the castle so Copernicus can take the throne.”
“When is the strike?”
All three believers gazes turned intently on him.