“And so, your choices are laid before you.” Cadmus leaned back in his chair, spreading his hands wide. “Work for me. Go on missions and bring the rogue dregs to justice. Otherwise, I have any number of willing Magi and disciples capable of planting a baby in your belly, if I am so repulsive to you.”
She pushed back her chair and gagged. “You’re disgusting.”
“Have you forgotten my promise already?”
Mara swallowed, lowering her gaze to the table. “Forgive me.” The words tasted like vinegar on her tongue, but she couldn’t risk angering him. Not when the lives of her parents were at stake.
“Perhaps you have had enough excitement for one day.” Cadmus gestured to James and Redmond. As one, they pulled her to her feet, but before they reached the door, Cadmus said, “I do hope you enjoy the present I brought you.”
The disciples dragged her back to the dungeons, not caring if she stumbled the whole way. Even when her shoulder was nearly wrenched from the socket, she couldn’t bring herself to feel the pain shooting down her arm. For all his talk, Cadmus wouldn’t really slaughter an entire town just to punish her, would he? But if he would . . . did she even have a choice? The cost was too high.
They shoved her inside the cell and slammed the door behind her with a thunderous clang that echoed through the halls. Mara edged back to the wall, nearly tripping over her chamber pot. What was she going to do now? How could she agree to work for a monster? But with the lives of her family at stake, how could she refuse?
“Mara?”
She jerked at the sound of her name. The voice sounded familiar, but Mara couldn’t place it. “Hello? Who’s there?”
“Mara, is that you?” the voice asked again.
Squinting into the darkness, she caught a glimpse of something white through the bars of her cell. She crawled closer, and a face she knew well appeared in the shadows.
“Opal?”
2
Mara crawled closer, her hands gripping the bars as she pressed her face against the cold iron. The disciples had left a torch on the wall—on purpose, no doubt—enabling her to just barely see the old Seer where she huddled in the corner of the cell. Her once vibrant, white hair fell limp and matted in her face. Those proud eyes now sunk into her face, and skin hung loose on her arms. Overall, she looked like she’d been trampled by a herd of deer, dragged through a mud pit, and tossed over the side of a cliff. And that was being generous.
“Opal, what happened to you?” Her heart thudded in her chest. Why was she here? And where were the others?
“The Order. After all these years, they finally found us . . .”
“What do you mean they found you?” It was impossible. Their community was expertly concealed from the Order. The tent itself was buried under snow, and anyone who went outside covered their tracks, leaving no trace of their presence behind. No, she must have misunderstood.
“Tregydar is no more. They destroyed everything when they came. Years of careful planning… gone.”
“And Wynn? Steel and Halder? Are they? Did they . . .” Mara held her breath, both eager and terrified, to finally know for sure. What if she said they hadn’t made it?
“I was able to warn everyone in time. They are fine. At least, they were.” Opal’s voice wavered, sounding uncertain. “Now, I’m not so sure.”
“What do you mean you’re not sure?” Mara’s hands tightened on the bars of her cell. “Can’t you See them?”
“No,” Opal said, her voice quivering with barely suppressed pain and rage. “No, I can’t See them. The Guardian stole my Gift. I can’t See anything anymore. They should have just killed me. I was ready to die. Now, I’m just a useless old husk.”
Mara gasped and covered her mouth. “I’m so sorry, Opal.”
“Sorry isn’t much use to me now, is it?” she hissed, leaning forward to glare at Mara, the light from the flames flickering in her glassy eyes. “This is all your fault!”
She recoiled, rocking back on her heels. “How is this my fault? I didn’t tell them where your home was!”
“You didn’t have to. Didn’t I tell you to never remove your Augeo, hm? Now look what happened! It’s in the hands of a monster. Do you have any idea what he can do with that much power?”
“It’s not like I had a choice,” Mara shot back defensively. “He would have taken it, no matter what. What was I supposed to do?”
“Embrace your destiny and fulfill the prophesy.”
Mara shook her head. “Cadmus said that the prophesy didn’t refer to me.”
“Of course he said that, foolish girl. He’s trying to get inside your head and turn you against us. You must be strong and fight! Do you think he would hand his executioner a sword?”
“Some executioner. If you haven’t noticed, I’m a captive here, just like you.”
“You are exactly where you need to be. There is little you could do from a distance, but up close? You can take him down the moment you have the opportunity. Unleash your powers and destroy him! Tear it all down, leaving nothing but ashes behind. Make him pay for what he’s done!”
“I can’t do that again. I won’t!” Mara squeezed her eyes shut as the visions of dying disciples played through her head. “You don’t understand what it was like. Besides, Cadmus threatened to destroy my home and kill my parents unless I agree to work for him. I can’t risk it.”
Opal’s voice turned venomous. “Selfish, that’s what you are! Some sacrifices must be made for the greater good. Do you think you’re the first person to question? Do you want Ansel’s death to be in vain?”
Mara froze. “What did you just say?”
“What?”
“I never told you he was dead.”
Opal winced and turned her face away. “Cadmus told me.”
“No . . . I’ve been here for two weeks, and Cadmus refused to tell me anything about my friends. He wanted me to agonize every moment of every day, believing that I might have killed them. No, you knew, didn’t you?” Understanding dawned on Mara, blowing away her grief, replacing it with rage. Why hadn’t she questioned it before? When they’d left to rescue Tova, Opal had given them a map of Order Headquarters along with her blessing, not warning them of the danger. As a result, they had assumed that everything would go smoothly. She rounded on Opal, thrusting an accusing finger through the bars. “You did. You knew Ansel would die. You Saw him die, and yet you sent him anyway. You didn’t even warn him!”
Opal’s silence was confirmation enough.
“Why? How could you do this to him? To me?”
Opal swallowed audibly, but when she spoke, her voice was forceful. “And what if I did know that he would fall? What is one man’s life compared to the freedom of thousands? Do you think there are no casualties in war? That you could waltz into the heart of the Order and come out unscathed? His death serves a greater purpose now!”
“Don’t you understand what you’ve done? You’ve taken everything from me!”
“I watched the Order raze my home and slaughter thousands of my people. Do not play comparisons with me, little girl. You will lose.”
“Do you care for anything but yourself? Ansel was my best friend! He was the first person who loved me despite me being a dreg. He deserved better than a bloody end at the hands of a Guardian.”
“His sacrifice was supposed to motivate you!”
“His death has ruined me!”
“You are a foolish, selfish, spoiled girl! Do you have any idea what Cadmus did to my sister?”
“It doesn’t matter what he’s done. Nothing can justify sacrificing an innocent person for revenge.”
“That’s exactly what I’ll do. He stole her from me forever, and I would sink this entire continent into the sea if it meant ending him once and for all.”
“I can’t believe I fell for your lies. You knew it was a trap from the very beginning. You knew everything! You knew I would be captured. For all your hatred toward Cadmus, you are just as evil and self-serving.
You used me!”
“Mara—”
“Don’t speak to me again!” Mara spat. “I will never forgive you for what you’ve done.”
Ignoring Opal’s pleas, she marched over to the opposite side of her cell and slid to the floor, leaning against the wall. She burrowed her face in her arms, unable to stop her tears from falling.
Mara never wanted the responsibility of fulfilling the prophecy, and now she was more confused than ever. Who was telling the truth, and who was lying? And in the end, did it even matter? She was trapped in the dungeon with no friends, and no way out.
One thing was certain. If she wanted to get out of here alive, she had to convince Cadmus that she would work for him. It was the only way to protect her family. And the moment she had the opportunity to escape, she would take it. But first, she needed allies.
Was there anyone left that she could trust?
***
Footsteps echoed down the dark hallway. Mara blinked, pushing herself up from the hard floor where she lay. The torch had burned out hours ago. Was it morning already? Had she slept through an entire day and a night? Wait… She tilted her head to the side. Only one set of boots? And something sounded off with those footsteps. One thump came a little too soon, followed by a muffled scraping sound, as though the person was favoring their leg.
Taking a deep breath, she prepared for her meal with Cadmus when she would have to tell him her decision. A thread of uncertainty wiggled its way through her abdomen. Would he see through her ruse? Perhaps it would be better to wait a few days before accepting his offer to make it seem genuine. He promised her a week, but was he being honest? What if he already had disciples in Stonehollow, ready to carry out his orders? No, she couldn’t wait.
She stood and dusted her trousers, firming her resolve.
A long figure came into view, limping noticeably. Mara’s jaw dropped when she recognized Ethan. What was he doing here? Though his robes were pristine, his face was mottled with bruises, and he clutched his side like it hurt to draw breath.
“Ethan! What happened to you?”
His eyebrows pulled down into a scowl as he approached her cell. “Give me your hand.”
The intense, almost rabid gaze on his face made her take a step back, cradling her hand to her chest as if he’d asked to bite it. “What?”
“Give me your hand, please.”
Reluctantly, she stretched it out through the bars. He snatched it up in a firm grasp, leaning over her hand with his eyes shut. Was he Reading her? Why? She resisted the urge to pull it back. A moment passed, then two. The only sound was his labored breathing.
His eyes snapped open, and he dropped her hand as if he’d touched a hot coal. “It’s true then. You’ve decided to work for him,” he said through clenched teeth, his hands balled into fists at his side.
“Why do you care what I do?”
“I told you I would get you out of here, didn’t I?” His voice strained as though he wanted to yell but was trying his best to keep quiet. “I promised I would help you.”
“So you said, but I haven’t seen you since that first day. What else was I supposed to do?”
He winced. “I’ve been . . . occupied.”
“Occupied, right . . .” she said, drawing out the last word sarcastically. “The point is that you haven’t been around.”
“I’m here now.”
“Why should I believe you’d help me?”
“Have I ever given you a reason not to trust me?”
“I’m going to need some parchment if you’d like me to write a list.”
His eyes flashed with hurt. She felt a pang of sympathy as she traced the bruises marring his beautiful face, but she couldn’t let that affect her judgment. Blind trust had gotten her into this mess, and she wouldn’t make the same mistake again.
Mara crossed her arms as much as her cuffs would allow, arching her brow. “And what about my home, my family? You might—might—be able to help me escape, but can you protect Stonehollow, too? Because he’s threatened to destroy it if I don’t cooperate. I don’t have a choice, Ethan.”
“No.” He shook his head and stepped closer, pulling a set of keys from a hidden pocket inside his robe. “You always have a choice.”
“Now you sound just like Opal.”
“Opal?”
“The Seer from Tregydar in the cell next to mine.” Mara stepped to the side as the door creaked open. Ethan stilled and looked back into her cell with an almost pensive look on his face. Did he know Opal? Mara asked, “Where are my usual guards?”
“Cadmus sent them on a different mission this morning, so I’ve been sent to escort you. And we’d better hurry before he comes down to fetch you himself.” He reached over, gently taking her arm, which was a nice change from being handled like a sack of beans.
She glanced over at him as they walked toward the stairs. Some of the bruises were yellowed with age, while some were a bright purple. From what she knew, Ethan didn’t strike her as a fighter, but it looked like he had been in a scuffle. “Are you ever going to tell me what happened to you?”
Ethan’s lips tightened, and he avoided looking at her. “Let’s just say that Cadmus gave me my own private suite for the past few weeks, but unfortunately, my accommodations were far less grand than yours.”
“I find that hard to believe,” Mara said, eying his clean clothes. His freshly-washed hair was pulled back in a leather thong, giving her a glimpse of his skin. From what she could see, the bruises continued below the collar of his robe. Had he been involved in a brawl?
“It doesn’t matter anymore. Not now.”
She almost tripped over the last few stairs, trying to understand what he was saying. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Without responding, he led her outside into the courtyard. She could have cried. Despite the seasonal chill, warm sunlight bathed her face for the first time in weeks. She stopped, closing her eyes, and turned her face skyward to soak up the golden rays. The fresh air was like balm to a wound. When she opened her eyes, she caught Ethan watching her with an unreadable expression. Suddenly self-conscious, she tried to brush off the discomfort. “What are we doing out here? James and Redmond usually take me to Cadmus’s office for breakfast.”
“I’m sorry, Mara. Orders.” He paused, his face tightening with something akin to regret. “Just . . . don’t make this worse.”
“Make what worse?” She tensed at his expression. Why were they out here, and why wasn’t he answering her question?
Before he could respond, Cadmus emerged on a balcony on the newly erected Guardian building, looking down at her with a gloating smile. “Mara, so kind of you to join us. No need to share the happy news, but I must say how pleased I am that you finally came to your senses. You will make a fine addition to the Order’s disciples.”
Mara stared back in silence, wishing she had stayed in her cell. She’d never agreed to be his disciple!
“Ahh, back to this are we? As I’ve told you, your silence does not make me uncomfortable.” He rested his hands on the railing of the balcony. “You have been enjoying our hospitality for far too long without giving anything in return. That ends today.”
“What . . . what do you mean?”
Cadmus motioned to the disciple building across the courtyard. Two dozen armed disciples walked out, taking places around the perimeter. Their faces were grim as they watched her, as if they were preparing to watch an execution. Maybe they were. A tremor of fear flashed down her spine. Six more disciples followed, spreading out around the courtyard in a half-circle ten feet from her. Some looked almost bored, while others narrowed their eyes, clenching and unclenching their fists, as though they couldn’t wait to tear her apart. Heart thudding, she resisted the urge to run back to the relative safety of her cell.
“You will spar with these six disciples. If you can make them submit, you will earn your meal. If you forfeit, or if they can defeat you, you will go back to your cell hungry. Magi Ethan
, remove her bonds.”
Ethan approached, and Mara took a step back. No! What if she hurt someone? These Deleos were the only thing standing between her sanity or becoming a monster. She couldn’t risk it, no matter what Cadmus wanted.
“Please . . .”
“You made your choice, now you have to live with the consequences,” he said, grasping her wrist and unlocking the cuffs with practiced skill. Tears sprung to her eyes, and he paused. “I’m sorry. I truly am. I… I know this must be difficult.”
Difficult was an understatement. With the Deleos gone, unrestrained power surged into her body, threatening to drive her to her knees. Now that it wasn’t suppressed, it swirled around her core like an old, sadistic friend. She bit her tongue as it stretched through her limbs. Now what? No matter what Cadmus said, she couldn’t risk using her Gift. What if she lost control and hurt them? Or worse, killed them! They weren’t the enemy.
Could she even stop it if she wanted to?
“Mara, you need to focus,” Ethan barked, but his voice sounded muffled, like he was shouting underwater.
She dropped to her knees, clawing at the cool brick beneath her fingertips, shaking her head. No… her breaths came in short pants. She couldn’t do this. For all she knew, the disciples were innocent. She wasn’t a monster. She wasn’t a villain. She couldn’t hurt them. No, she would just need to put on a show. That’s what Cadmus wanted, right? She would let them beat her. She’d gone longer than a day without food, and she could do it again.
Cadmus motioned for the disciples to attack. They moved to surround her, palms out. Mara stood slowly with her arms loose at her sides, making no attempt to fight back, though, her eyes tracked their movements. She couldn’t tell what Gift they possessed just by looking at them, but she was about to find out.
She squeezed her eyes shut and waited for the pain.
A Caeli blew her off her feet with a sudden gust of wind. She fell on her backside with a groan, the pain radiating up her spine. Before he could get in a second shot, she leapt to her feet. The moment she stood, a Saxum launched a handful of apple-sized rocks at her. She ducked but made no move to block the attack. A rock thudded into her side, prompting a moan as it bruised her ribs.
The Dreg Trilogy Omnibus Page 34