A Valley of Darkness

by Bella Forrest

  This enclosure was quite big, the mountain’s limestone wall curving inward, leaving room for a half-moon strip of sand to serve as a small, secluded beach, tucked away between giant boulders and crests peeking from the ocean. The water was, indeed, significantly deeper at the shore.

  There was a wooden jetty extending from the small beach strip. Given its height and width, it was big enough to serve as a breakwater, protecting this section from stronger waves, and there were several large bolts drilled into it to confirm that boats could be docked here. However, it looked quite old and was partially covered in algae. No one had been down here in years, for sure.

  The wall at the base of the mountain was even more interesting. Three large tunnels had been carved into it, spacious enough to fit a two-lane highway each, separated by fifteen feet of stone. They were dark, and it was impossible to tell how far they went, but it was safe to assume they all went through the mountain’s innards.

  Hansa and I stared at the tunnels for a while.

  “What do you think these were used for?” I muttered.

  “I’m not sure,” Hansa replied, then looked at the jetty again. “Maybe they brought supplies in from other parts of the coastline. And the tunnels are access routes into the city. Or maybe the tunnels are escape routes from the city, and there should’ve been boats anchored here to take people away, to safety.”

  “Given what we’ve seen in Azure City so far, Minah’s murder included, I’m inclined to think these are escape tunnels, and someone got rid of the boats,” I said, walking toward the wall.

  “I think we should ask the Five Lords first, and see what they say.”

  She had a point, and I certainly didn’t like the prospect of looking at Vincent as a potential murder suspect. Given that he was a Roho and that Arrah was terrified of coming forward about Sienna’s disappearance, however, it really didn’t look good for him at this point.

  Minah’s death didn’t help, either. The topic had been bugging me since we’d left the infirmary, as I had trouble looking at the charming and slightly mysterious Vincent and seeing a killer. I’d been around for long enough to know that when two seemingly unrelated crimes happened in the same place, there was a connection between them. We just weren’t seeing it yet.

  I took out a metal pick and carved a hole into the wall. Hansa gave me Patrik’s satchel from her backpack and I stuffed it inside. The whole mountain trembled slightly, prompting us both to take a couple of steps back. The tremor went as quickly as it had come.

  “I wonder where the tunnels lead,” I said, moving closer to the one in the middle.

  “I don’t think they take you anywhere other than the city itself.” Hansa stayed behind, inspecting the jetty. “There’s nothing else around, besides the plains and the Valley of Screams, and both have their own shore access. Frankly, I’m more curious about what happened to the boats…”

  I stepped inside the tunnel, and noticed an old iron torch on the wall. I’d taken a page from Caia’s book and had learned to carry a lighter with me at all times. It did come in handy, as I used it to set fire to the torch. I took my goggles and head cover off and stared at the walls for a while.

  “This was all done by hand,” I said to Hansa over my shoulder, hearing footsteps at the tunnel mouth while I moved forward. “They scooped it all out…”

  I touched the wall, my fingers passing over the rough surface, with dents and scratches left behind by handheld metal tools. Some had even left residual traces that shimmered slightly under the torchlight.

  “Why don’t we go in deeper and see where this one takes us?” I asked, focused on the path ahead. The darkness swallowing it retreated as I took a couple more steps.

  A thud echoed from outside. I turned and saw two dark figures at the entrance, now thirty feet away. I drew my sword out of reflex. Were they real? The background was blinding light against the tunnel entrance, and I couldn’t make out much of anything from that angle. It was one thing to see in the dark, but my eyes could not work out exactly what or who the figures were, because of the sunlight shining over the entrance.

  “Who are you?” I called out.

  The figures vanished to the side, further confusing me. Had it been a sun glare or some tree shadow playing tricks? Or were they the same dark figures I’d heard Patrik mention?

  I ran toward the exit but stilled as two loud bangs shook the entire tunnel. A heavy rumble followed, and, before I could even think of a reaction, the entrance cracked and crashed, sealed by massive chunks of stone.

  “No, no, no!” I rushed to it.

  I placed the torch back on the wall and touched the massive slabs of stone that had collapsed into the tunnel. I tried moving them, but there were too many, and they were too heavy even for me. I pushed hard, beads of sweat blooming on my forehead, but none of them budged.

  “What the hell!” I cried out with frustration.

  I kicked and punched, cracking and chipping away at the stone slabs, but I soon realized it would take hours for me to get out through so much stone. I couldn’t hear anything beyond the rocks. Not even Hansa.

  “Hansa!” I shouted. “Hansa! Are you there? Is there anyone else there? Can you hear me?”

  There was no answer. I glanced around, surrounded only by silence and the torch’s warm orange light flickering against the round walls. I coughed from the substantial amount of dust released by the tunnel’s collapse.

  “Hansa! I’m going to try and get out the other way, okay?” I called out, hoping she could hear me. “If it doesn’t lead anywhere useful, I’ll come back and punch my way out, but it will take some time unless you get some help from the city!”

  The fallen rocks were too big and tight on top of one another. Even my bare hands couldn’t resolve this issue quickly. I was also getting increasingly curious about where the tunnel went, and equally puzzled by the dark figures I’d seen… or thought I’d seen.

  “And, most importantly, who the hell blew the tunnel up?” I growled, with no one but myself as company.

  I had to move fast. Kicking and punching my way through those stones was inefficient. Whatever had happened outside, I hoped Hansa could handle it.

  There’s something terribly off here…

  In the meantime, I could make myself useful and explore the tunnel for a while.

  “What’s the worst that could happen?” I muttered, and retrieved the torch from the wall.

  I could’ve just used my eyesight, as I had no trouble seeing in the dark, but I figured fire might help deter potential hostiles. Of any kind.

  Harper

  (Daughter of Hazel & Tejus)

  I was almost done painting the symbols Patrik needed to fuel his spell. I’d gone through the city, keeping a low profile, wrapped up in a dark brown cloak, and did a decent job of mingling with the locals. I’d done nine rounds of symbols on all four points of each level.

  One round was left, on four walls at the top of Azure Heights.

  My stomach tightened as I cast the brown cloak aside, thankful the awnings were out and providing enough shade, so I wouldn’t have to cover my head. The Five Lords’ mansions were heavily guarded by Correction Officers—a new measure that had most likely gone into place after Minah’s murder. They were all wearing their blue badges on their arms, visible enough to make themselves easily recognizable.

  There were four stationed outside each main entrance, with two more doing the rounds. They noticed me as I reached the top of the stairs, the symbols list tucked in my back pocket and the paint mix tin can in my hand.

  I walked over to the Correction Officers guarding the Roho mansion. Their grayish gazes settled on my face as I gave them a brief nod and pointed at the southern wall of the house, wearing my cool, downright nonchalant expression.

  “Hey guys,” I said. “I’m going to paint a symbol on four walls on this level, for a protection spell.”

  They didn’t answer.

  “Okay.” I shrugged. “Just thought you sh
ould know. I really don’t like weapons drawn on me, so I’d appreciate it if you let me do my job of protecting this city, and I’ll happily let you all live to do yours. M’kay?”

  I put on a faux grin and walked over to the southern wall. The Correction Officers didn’t react, but they didn’t let me out of their sight either. I painted a symbol with my bare hand, then went back to the front of the Kifo mansion, giving the Maras a sideways glance.

  Caspian’s home was right in the middle, and its front wall was perfect for a west-facing swamp witch symbol. The four Correction Officers posted outside the main door straightened their backs as I reached them, holding my can up, along with three paint-smeared fingers.

  “This is perfectly reasonable vandalism, I promise.” I winked and drew another symbol right next to the front door, large and dark red with purple shimmers. I took a couple of steps back to admire my handiwork and couldn’t stop myself from grinning. It looked terrible on that pristine white façade. Caspian was probably going to have a stroke, provided he saw it before it dried up and turned invisible. “Yep, looks fabulous!”

  I moved to the north side and painted the third symbol on Farrah’s mansion, then went behind the massive estate, where the stables lined the entire eastern side. A dark forest rose beyond them, before the steep drop into the ocean. There were several narrow spaces between the stables, leading into the woods, blocked by waist-high iron fences, most likely meant to ward off animals that might spook the horses.

  The two patrolling Maras were at the front of the Five Lords’ estate, and I was on my own back by the stables. I rushed over to the back wall of the Kifo mansion, biting the inside of my cheek to stifle another grin as I painted the last symbol. It was the perfect east-facing wall for Patrik’s spell, after all.

  Not my fault it happens to be Kifo’s.

  I heard horses neighing behind me, and hooves clacking over the pebbled road. I turned around and instantly thought of rushing out of there before anyone could see me, but it was already too late.

  “Harper, is it?” Amalia’s crystalline voice made me freeze on the spot.

  She dismounted her indigo horse, gently guiding the animal back into its stable. It was a beautiful mare with a long black mane and strong muscles. I would’ve loved to ride that creature over the plains—the ones back on Calliope had left me breathless and exhilarated after a few races around Luceria.

  I suddenly felt like a kid caught vandalizing the neighbor’s wall, my hands behind my back, clutching the paint can.

  Technically speaking, you did vandalize the neighbors’ walls. One of them twice. And you enjoyed it a little too much.

  Amalia gave me a warm smile as she reached me, taking her black velvet hood and cover off to reveal her elegant, dark green riding outfit and knee-length, brown leather boots. Her pale blond hair was caught in a low ponytail, and her blue eyes glimmered with curiosity.

  “Yes, Harper Hellswan,” I managed, my tone surprisingly firm for how nervous I felt. “Of GASP.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She smiled, then took her gloves off and extended a hand.

  I instinctively reached out and shook it, then stilled when I realized I’d used the hand I’d painted with. Amalia’s hand was left with smudges of Patrik’s red paint mix. My eyes nearly popped out, and my cheeks caught fire.

  “I am so… so sorry about that,” I croaked, wishing for the ground to split open and gobble me up.

  She was delicate and refined, so ladylike and beautiful. I felt like a scrappy kid in front of her. Her laughter befuddled me even more, as she looked at the paint on her hand.

  “Oh, it’s okay!” she replied, then glanced at the wall behind me, visibly amused. “I know Caspian was exceptionally rude last night, but do you think painting symbols on his house will make him change his ways?”

  I blinked several times, then shook my head.

  “This isn’t… This isn’t what it looks like.” I sighed. “It’s for a spell. Our Druid is putting together a protective shield for the city tonight, and he needs these symbols painted on specific walls.” I then pointed at the wall behind me. “This one just happens to be one of those… specific walls.”

  “As was the façade, right?” Amalia grinned. “I saw your artwork when I came up…”

  “Not my fault if Kifo built his mansion in the middle.” I shrugged.

  Amalia seemed pretty cool, from where I stood at this point. Elitist, but friendly and nice. Didn’t exactly look down on me, but I didn’t see her bending over backward to accommodate me as a guest at her regular tea parties. At least she wasn’t snide and stuffy, like most upper-class creatures I’d met on Earth.

  “It’s okay, Harper. I won’t tell him you did it.” She chuckled.

  “Nah, by all means, please do,” I replied with a smirk. “You can even describe the face he makes later. I know I’ll enjoy it.”

  She laughed again, but quickly turned serious, her brows slightly furrowed.

  “Harper, about last night,” she said, her voice low. “Please accept my apologies on behalf of the Five Lords for what Caspian said. I didn’t know your hearing was that good. I knew we shared some crucial similarities, despite our different species, but I really didn’t think you could hear us, so… I’m sorry. I would’ve stopped him sooner, before he made a fool of himself…”

  That was an interesting fact to learn. Neither Jax nor Heron had ever told me the reach of their hearing ability, but Amalia had just clarified that for me. I made a brief mathematical calculation in my mind, and stored the result somewhere in my memory palace, knowing it would come in handy at a later date. I then gave her a half-smile and a polite nod.

  “There’s no need to apologize on Lord Kifo’s behalf,” I replied. “He’s a big boy. He can do it himself, if he wants to. Although, to be honest, I don’t care—and his elitism means nothing to me. It means even less to GASP. We’re not here to dress nice and pretend we like you. We’re here to help and protect your people.”

  I must’ve hit her hard with my statement, based on the brief flicker of pain in her expression. She took a deep breath, then nodded.

  “You are absolutely right, Harper. Will you at least accept my personal apology for not shutting him up, regardless of your physical presence at the time?”

  “I do. It’s okay,” I said. “We come from different worlds. I know very little about yours, and you know even less about mine. There’s bound to be a cultural clash, sooner or later.”

  “You know,” she chuckled, “Caspian isn’t usually so rude and mean. He’s actually very kind, honorable, and noble. I think he likes you, and that’s why he acts like such a—”

  “Jerk?” I offered with a raised eyebrow, prompting another chuckle from her.

  “Well, yes. And he seems to be very interested in you. I’m not sure if he’s just curious or if he’s attracted to you, though. It’s too early to tell with him, because he always puts on this brooding and quiet mask. Caspian is a good Mara, but he’s not very good at expressing his emotions.”

  My heart started beating a little bit faster, enough to tell me that I wasn’t indifferent to the idea of Caspian’s interest in me. But that was very difficult to digest, as a premise, especially after all the things he’d said and that motherlode of glares he’d reserved exclusively for me. I scoffed and shook my head, once again annoyed by what he’d said last night.

  “Please don’t go there,” I replied dryly. “First of all, I highly doubt Caspian has any interest in me whatsoever, unless it involves pissing me off, in which case he’s first in line. Second, I wouldn’t touch Caspian with a ten-foot pole, especially given his rotten behavior from the very moment we landed on Neraka.”

  Amalia stared at me for a few seconds, looking genuinely confused. She clearly hadn’t expected me to reject the idea, though I wasn’t sure what part of my behavior had made her think I might like him.

  “Excuse me, but I need to go back to the infirmary now.” I decided to end ou
r little exchange there. “Thank you for your kind words, though. I appreciate it.”

  I gave her another curt nod, then turned around to leave and bumped into something tall and solid. I moved back and felt my temperature drop below zero in an instant, then spike to volcanic levels.

  Caspian stood before me, elegant in dark blue, his hands behind his back, glaring at me.

  Judging by the muscle twitching in his firm jaw, he’d heard everything I’d just said. His jade eyes drilled into my soul, and I felt terrible. He’d sort of apologized earlier in the morning, but my anger had yet to subside. Nevertheless, I had to admit, at least to myself, that I’d been a little too harsh with my ten-foot pole reference.

  The embarrassment burned through me, but my ego refused to subside, not in front of Caspian. He raised a critical eyebrow at me, and it was all I needed to swiftly regain my composure and raise my chin in defiance.

  “You can make that a twenty-foot pole, in fact,” I announced primly, before walking off.

  I turned the corner without looking back and headed down the stone stairs, eager to put more distance between myself and the mansions. Well, between myself and Caspian. It was too late to take back what I’d said, and my heart was jerking frantically beneath my ribcage. I needed to get away from him so I could think clearly again. I couldn’t even focus anymore.

  The sound of footsteps behind me made me turn my head. Two Correction Officers were following me, keeping at least ten yards between us. I rolled my eyes and kept walking.

  “Of course, because that’s what I needed most—your henchmen shadowing me,” I muttered as I reached the level below.

  I quickly pulled my head cover on, along with my mask and goggles, then made a sharp left turn through a narrow alley, then a couple more, and quickly climbed the wall of a house, crouching on the edge of the roof and watching as the Correction Officers ran farther down. They’d already lost me.