by D. D. Miers
I missed my old life. How could I have ever imagined it to be complicated? Hell, looking back now, it’s clear I didn’t have the faintest notion of what “complicated” entailed. Since I’d entered this world under duress, I hadn’t had a chance to pack a bag with the necessities, like my tablet, computer, or clothes.
I needed a distraction, so I’d begged Reagan to bring me some good books, but that had also been a mistake. Not because the books were bad but because most of the ones she’d had dropped off had done nothing to quell my desires. In fact, all of my favorite authors had caused this impenetrable itch to transform into a dangerous emotional rash threatening to dominate every inch of me.
Shit. Stockholm syndrome. I needed to escape.
I grabbed my sweatshirt and headed downstairs, intending to take a long, refreshing walk outside and cool my head. The sound of Kieron’s voice drew me toward the parlor. I knew he was talking with someone, and from the sound of it, it wasn’t a pleasant conversation. I slowed my steps until they were almost inaudible and watched from the hallway. I could only see Kieron’s back as he sat, facing the fire, Luca seated to his right. The sour smell of dead flowers left me no doubts as to the other guest.
“Not only was the sanctuary destroyed, but an entire legion of Necros landed on the attending Council members. We’ve lost too much to continue on this way any longer.”
“I don’t like games, Daegus. What are you asking for?”
“It may be time to bring Abigail to the Druids. It’s clear the Black Walker is almost ready to make her move. The Necros attacking so boldly on the elders can only mean one thing. Yasinda’s nearly in full possession of her power again.”
Unexpectedly, I heard Dorian’s voice. “It’s only a matter of time before she returns.”
“And?” Kieron stated.
Daegus sighed. “The Celtic magic surrounding the O’Shae druids is the only thing strong enough to withstand her attack.”
“Now her safety is your concern?” Luca asked. “What you did at the last meeting—”
“Was necessary,” Daegus replied. “We needed to see where she stood mentally. She’s weak, easily manipulated, and far too susceptible to suggestion.”
“Still.” Kieiron swiveled in his chair and flames danced across the shadows of his face. “The next time you choose to interrogate someone in my possession, I expect to be notified . . . and not after the fact.”
“You’ve never vocalized your disapproval.”
“And I’ve never given my approval.”
Daegus dipped his head. “Of course.”
Kieron rested his head against the back of his chair. “The druids hold strong to the Fae—and the Fae can never be trusted.”
Daegus said, “Yes, but we’ll have both Celtic magic and the power of the elders and others to ensure her survival. Time is running out. Even you must see that.”
“Ms. Davenport will remain here. If the time comes, I will choose when and where.”
Dorian stepped forward, but Daegus placed a hand out to block him from stepping any further. “I must argue against the idea, Lord Blake.”
“I said no.”
Listening to all of them discuss my life as though I was Kieron’s pet, really pissed me off. Why exactly was every decision about my life made through Kieron and without my input?
I waited anxiously for the silent standoff to end.
Daegus tapped his finger along his chin. “Since she is yours, I will allow you the final word . . . for now. But if we see another sign, we will have no choice but to order you to move her.”
“Order me?” Kieron threaded his hands together. “And how exactly do you plan to do that?”
“The hourglass. You’re still awaiting its arrival, if I am correct?”
Kieron smiled, the side of his gorgeous face lifting into a crooked smirk. But the tension was obvious. I’d grown accustomed to reading his expressions over time, and I hated that I knew his looks so well. Watching Kieron debate whether to allow them to mentally torment without even considering my welfare hurt too much. I remembered how eagerly he’d argued to obtain the hourglass, back when he’d first agreed to take me. Why did he want it so badly?
“If I allow you to do this to her again, I’ll be present.”
Kieron’s response sent a shockwave that stilled my breath. I waited for him or Dorian to disagree. Or for Luca, who’d known, who’d seen what I’d gone through, to defend me. Protect me. Fight for me. But their silence was louder than any words they could’ve spoken.
The fact he so easily agreed to the potential of that kind of torment again was inconceivable. I wasn’t a child anymore, I hadn’t been for a long time, and whether or not anyone else believed it to be true, I still had choices.
Kieron expected me to simply listen and obey? To readily submit to repeated torture?
Like hell I would.
It was time for Plan B. Months ago, I had doubted my instincts. I ignored the warning signs of danger and told myself I could move on. Forget. Pretend. Even after everything fell apart, I believed that someone—anyone—would have my back. But after the last Council meeting, not anymore. Anyone who did have the power to help me, clearly wouldn’t.
Quietly, I went upstairs until reached my bedroom. I clicked the lock on the door and rested my back against the frame
I couldn’t stay here. That was for damn sure.
If no one was interested in my safety, I had to ensure it on my own.
I’d grown sick of the constant threats of what would happen if I disappeared in the mortal world, that I’d basically put myself right into Yasinda’s hands.
But what about the First Realm?
There was so much magic and power, there had to be places I could go, people I could find, where I could vanish among the crowd. At least until I gained control of my magic. Once I had my powers, I wouldn’t have to be at their mercy.
Risky? Absolutely. But that risk had slowly come to match the risk of remaining here.
There was only one option for escape. One outlet that I knew of. I’d contemplated this idea a month ago but talked myself out of it, seeing it as too dangerous, too risky. Now I ran toward it.
So where was this potential escape? Hidden in plain sight.
The door inside the lounge room
Over my entire time here, I’d seen Kieron and his men use it. I’d never been taken through the door and after much persistence, I’d finally discovered why. Reagan had reluctantly told me when I’d joked about running through it just to find out. It was a portal connected to the underground city. The dark network of inner tunnels within the First Realm. When I’d pushed her for more info, Reagan had warned me, explaining that surviving the part of the First Realm took some badass skills—or a hell of a lot of luck.
I was willing to try my luck.
It seemed cruel to disappear knowing she would flip out when they discovered my disappearance. Part of me wanted to leave her a note so she wouldn’t worry. But better to not give clues as to what happened or where I’d gone. She’d be angry at first, but in time, she’d forgive me. Just as I did her. And I’d contact her again when I could. When it was safe.
Set on my decision, I gathered up the small backpack Reagan had bought for me and placed only the few necessary items I could fit inside. I slipped on my boots, black jeans, and black top. All black seemed cliché, but I had every intention of going incognito. No makeup, nothing fancy. I borrowed the heavy coat Reagan had left me, slipped a sable scarf around my neck, and sat on the floor beside my bedroom door.
Over the course of time, I’d gained more and more freedom. More trust. My security detail of overgrown babysitters had shrunk from six men to just one—but only when we were at the estate. Sometimes, they didn’t even bother with me the whole day if I remained in my room—or at least they thought I did.
When the moment came, I’d need to be quick. There would likely be only a small window of time to do this.
Two hours passed
until the sounds in the house grew silent and the burn of Kieron’s presence nullified, signaling he’d left. Doors closed, and cars started outside. I watched from my window as the others left, counting who had gone and who was still here. Finally, when only Marcus—another member of the Triae or what I called Kieron’s personal army—returned inside, I knew it was time. I stuffed my backpack underneath the bed and hopped in, pulling the sheets over my chest but keeping my hair obvious. A few minutes passed, as the sounds of footsteps echoed through the hall. My door cracked open and I heard Marcus’ voice.
“Abby?”
I didn’t answer.
He stepped farther into the room, no doubt for a closer inspection. When he realized I was asleep in bed, he crept back out quietly and closed the door. I laid there for five more minutes until I got up and grabbed my things and headed out.
The halls of the estate were still. Silence had become the norm over the last few weeks. The Triae and Kieron were constantly absent as they battled an ever-growing threat. I stopped in the kitchen, grabbing what last few items of food I could and continued on. I walked on my toes until I’d reached the lounge and peeked my head inside. Empty per usual. I rushed across the room until I arrived at the portal doorway
I took one last deep breath and grabbed for the handle
I’d expected it would be locked or I’d need some kind of magic to get through it, but instead the handle simply clicked and pushed open. Startled, I tugged it shut again.
I walked through it, no consequences, no alarms, no magic. A part of me had hoped it was locked—the fearful girl who didn’t really want to escape and face everything on her own. She had hoped that after all of this effort, there would be no choice but to go back to my room and hide. No such luck.
Last chance to turn back, Abby.
I desperately wanted to listen to that voice, to run away and hide. But I didn’t. Instead, I grabbed the handle and stepped down into the unknown.
Chapter Four
Whoever designed the portal was an idiot.
The stairs directly through the threshold were a deathtrap. If I hadn’t grabbed the stone sconce hanging on the wall, ripping it off as I landed three steps down, I would have broken my neck. Cool, damp air rushed me in one swift wave. The only path led down a tunnel illuminated with a white-blue light.
I staggered to my feet, brushing off my knees as I stared ahead of me into the creepy dark, reminding me of an ancient dungeon or an abandoned mine. I half-expected something to jump out of the shadows between the stone pockets that lined the rough walls.
As I took each step forward, anxious fear crept in my stomach, but I shut it down. I was already this far. At the farthest wall stood a stone archway, carved from the earth. Smoky swirls of white encircled the interior, forming a never-ending vaporous spiral. Above the utmost center of the arch, resting on the stone, lay a strange symbol that luminesced unnaturally from within.
Rich hues of blue, like waves in the ocean, covered the entire uneven roof of the cave. It looked like whipped cream had been mixed and played with, causing many peaks and points to hang down from every direction. The muddied and damp floor caused my boots to stick in the goo. The walls went from a rich, slate gray and transitioned into the beautiful blue covering the ceiling. An eerie light illuminated the interior of the cave, which made no sense. It was almost as if the room glowed of its own accord. Within the space it felt as if a hundred years of moisture coalesced inside. Three gorgeous shades of blue and perhaps a purple peeked out of the corners where the cave walls met.
I hesitated, my hand outstretched toward the portal. Was this, like, the stupidest thing I had ever done?
But I was here and so far, safe. Nothing had stopped me; no one had discovered me. I took a deep breath and stepped forward.
I walked through the arch, same as I had done the first time I’d entered the First Realm. My feet sloshed in water that reached my shins. Why would Kieron and the Triae travel here of all places?
I blinked as my eyes adjusted to the dim, gray lighting.
From the odor lingering in the air, this had to be some underground sewer. The lanterns hung sporadically along the rough-hewn stone walls and flickered irregular shots of light on the path before me. Sludge crept along the sides of most of the streetlights blocking the light of the flames within. The living flame gave me comfort that someone had to come down here regularly to keep them going.
The stench gagged me and sucking in a breath became torture. I covered my mouth and nose with my sleeve, but it made little difference. The slimy black grime covering the walls was another disgusting feature.
There was no outlet in sight, just a long stretch of stone walls disappearing into the darkness. I swallowed my nerves and started forward. Navigating slick ground under my feet, I pressed on.
I followed the lanterns for almost half a mile until I reached the opening.
So far, everywhere I’d traveled in the First Realm had been nice, beautiful, or unique.
But this . . . this scared me.
Shadow overtook the sky and I couldn’t tell if it was day or night. Figures—some terrifying—scattered along the muddy, broken paths that passed as streets. Goblin-like creatures, ogres, and abnormally huge men with distorted faces skulked in corners and haunted alleyway entrances.
I gathered my nerves and reminded myself only an outsider to this world would stare or show fear.
To conceal my face, I lifted the black scarf over my hair, tightened my jacket, and kept my head down. With no clue where I headed, I walked until I could see beyond the disheveled city. I avoided the gaze of those who passed by me, though I felt their eyes on me, watching me warily.
This city was dangerous. And I had to get out, get away. I recognized nothing or anyone. And that was when the regret set in.
Finally, a gate that led out of the city revealed itself. I hurried toward it, careful not to break out into a full sprint like I wanted to. My heart pumped in my chest, flooding my face with heat. My breath stuttered in ragged gasps—the picture of fear.
Not too far in the distance was a road that let outward into the open and over some hills into a distant thicket of trees, where I intended to go.
I made a beeline for it.
Not paying attention, my shoulder bumped into someone, and I lost my footing. I slipped across slimy mud, landing in a thick pile of sludge. My scarf slipped off, leaving my face exposed.
A moment of sheer panic passed, and I counted my heartbeats as I stared around in horror. I hurried to hide myself, but I knew I was too late. I slipped in the mud again, uttering a shriek as I landed in another thick pile of sludge. I’d fallen and now rested on the ground, looking up into a crowd of creatures and immortals. No one offered to help me.
I scrambled to my feet and pushed through, hurrying my steps, wanting to get as far away from them as possible All of their eyes followed me. They had to have known I didn’t belong here. I didn’t look back. I could still salvage my plan to hide.
Yeah, not likely.
I’d made it three blocks, when I glanced over my shoulder to spot a shadowy figure, twenty feet back, hot on my trail.
Shit. Shitty. Shit.
I reached to my hip, my hand ready on the saber at my side as I continued moving. I’d only used the blade against opponents who’d never intended to hurt me, so I didn’t want to get into a fight. Hell, I didn’t even know if I could compete against these massive creatures, but I was ready if forced to.
When the figure behind me didn’t stray, I turned down a different street. But with every new turn, it followed. I’d stopped paying attention to what was in front of me instead of behind and found myself in the worst position possible.
A dead end with no outlet.
The sound of snickers at my back froze me. My hands shook, but I reached for my blade and turned anyway. Instead of one opponent, I found four goblins only six feet away, blocking any chance of an exit. Their olive, lizard-like skin, ruby glowing eye
s, and clawed hands were enough to terrify me. With gaped-tooth sneers, their jagged-edged teeth telegraphed how they tore apart their enemies. The creatures were small, shorter than me by a foot, but size did not diminish their sinister appearance.
The one in the center stepped slightly forward as he spoke. “Looks like you found yourself in the wrong position, love.”
“Oh yeah,” another said. “What’s a creature like you doing here?”
“She’s a human,” a third said, as he sniffed the air toward me.
I dropped the jacket off my shoulders and let it hit the ground. I drew my blade from its scabbard with a rush of steel against leather and brandished it with my feet apart in a defensive stance. The others looked to the one in the center. He must’ve been the leader.
Be calm. Pay attention. Don’t overthink things. Little nuggets of wisdom I wished I had listened to more closely during training, as my mind scrambled to bring them to the forefront.
“It’s going to be like that, love?” he asked, stretching out his hand into the empty air toward me. I watched as the edges of his nails grew four inches into razor-sharp points. Shit! He had four blades on each hand.
“Yes, it is,” I said. Not that I felt confident. But what was I going to do? I couldn’t just roll over and play dead. I’d die trying to protect myself.
Either way, the odds didn’t look great.
He nodded and the first two lunged for me. Like serpents, their movements were swift and fluid. The one on the left leapt to land behind my back. I spun and dropped to duck as his nails came within an inch of my face. My blade flung outward, catching the edge of his hand, slicing two fingers off and into the air. He dropped onto his knees, clutching his wound as the other grabbed my hair from behind. I flung my elbow up, twisting against the pain of my hair getting pulled at the roots to catch his windpipe with my elbow. He bobbed back, dropping his grip on me as he clutched his throat, gasping for air.