by K.N. Lee
Nodding, I knew not to look at him. If I did, I might betray the truth of my feelings. Of course, I knew she was captured by the sun elves. And, it was my fault. It was the reason I sat there, drinking moonshine, recounting everything I knew about Veruth Prison and what would happen next.
Nothing ever got done the easy way, and I knew she wouldn’t perish within those walls. It just wouldn’t make sense. She was brought to us for a greater purpose.
I always knew she was destined for greater things. I just hated it had to be this way. Memories of rooftop meetings and sunset chats had become something more—something I’d failed to recreate with any other girl since.
“Right,” he said, and I glanced back to see him scratch the back of his neck, a look of confusion on his face. With furrowed brows, he lifted his gaze to mine.
“She won’t be there for long,” I said with a sigh. “Try not to fret too much. There’s work to be done.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Why?” I asked, eyes narrowed. “Did you fall in love with her in that short amount of time?”
He shook his head, jaw clenched. “No,” he said.
I noticed his fingers ball into fists, and stood.
Come on. Do something.
I was prepared to fight for supremacy. It was the cost of being leader of the rebels. There was never a moment of rest—not a moment to let one’s guard down.
“Fine,” he said. “I trust you.”
You’d better.
It would be terribly inconvenient to lose my second-in-command.
“Very well,” I said, and gave him a nod.
He turned to head back through the narrow tunnel. I waited to hear his footsteps fade before pulling off my shirt and turning back toward the pool of water.
The waterfall poured frothy foam into the dark water before me.
Without hesitation, I leaped off the edge of the cliff, and into the darkness below. The splash of water crashed into my ears, and the coolness encircled me, claiming me. All sounds were sucked away, and I was utterly alone.
The lads knew me as a ruthless leader, and showing even a second of being soft would just not do.
But, Ava was a childhood friend of mine, and she was special. I remember her chasing behind me and Ford as children. Her smile would brighten the entire lower East End. I hoped that spark of hers would never fade.
If my hunch was correct, she might change everything.
One fact remained; that there was no way I’d let any harm come to her. I swam downward through the pool. Once I reached the floor of the underground river, I held out my arm and activated my gauntlet. Powered by pixie wings and crushed orbs I’d won during a game of marbles with an elf, it glowed a bright golden light.
The glow lit my immediate surroundings, highlighting the only exit. While I still had enough breath in my lungs, I swam to an underwater tunnel. It was a tight fit I’d taken many times throughout the years, but never ceased to frighten me once the walls narrowed and became tight around my body.
Relief flooded me as I came out the tunnel to a bigger pool. Once I weaved my way through the dark, following my mental map after years of navigating the underground waterways, I emerged in a cavern.
My lungs burned, and I gasped for breath. Air was sucked in and sated my craving. I pulled myself onto the slick ground, and stood. Dripping wet, I slid my hand over my hair.
Glowing stones and crystals lit the area around me.
I stood there a moment, marveling at the beauty of it all. If the sun elves knew this was beneath their torrid city, it would all be exploited and destroyed.
As I walked through the cavern, I knew it was up to me to keep that from happening—for if we lost this sacred space…all would be lost.
The cavern went on for nearly an hour. I finally came to the end of it, and climbed the rocks that led to the exit. Bright sunlight awaited, and beckoned me as I pulled myself to the surface. I checked my surroundings to make sure no one was around to discover The Crow’s secret hideout. Behind the bridge, no one dared to venture. It was clear of humans and elves.
I stood, and began toward the Lower West End, where one of my contacts lived.
I needed new clothes.
And, a weapon.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Veruth was as I’d left it; a pitiful, desolate place.
Still, in its heart, there was beauty.
I traveled to the Lower West End, where the slightly more fortunate humans lived amongst the lower-classed sun elves.
Not all elves profited from our enslavement, and spent their days toiling in their respective jobs just the way we did. There were also the gnomes, who were forced to leave their lands long ago.
I stood tall amongst them, and slipped into an alley where a small door awaited at the end.
I gave it a tap, and a tiny voice echoed out to me.
“What do you want?”
I grinned.
“Let me in, Bella,” I said, and the door was quickly thrown open.
There stood a small woman—a gnome. She was barely as tall as my knees, and had long grayish, brown hair kept in two buns over her pointed ears.
She frowned at me, looking me up and down. Then, she grabbed me by the hand, and pulled me inside.
“Hurry up and get inside, you naught little sod,” she said, and closed the door once I was inside her little cottage.
With a sigh, I slumped onto the cushions on the floor. There was a warm fire burning in the hearth, and the smell of stew.
While she stood, hands on hips, and looked me over, I took a ladle of the stew and poured myself a bowl.
“Well, just make yourself at home, why don’t you?” Bella said, frowning.
“Any bread?” I asked, slurping the hot, flavorful concoction.
Rabbit.
Delightful.
She rolled her eyes and scurried over to the little kitchen toward the back of the cottage. As I ate, I glanced around and saw the changes she’d made to the place—changes she made with the money I’d made after a very profitable heist.
There were now shelves with fine pottery and tins of foreign spices.
She was a great cook. I was more than happy to provide her aid in exchange for her gifts.
She was the best cook in all of Veruth, in my opinion.
She handed me a chunk of bread, and sat beside me.
I dipped it into the soup, and watched her as she stared into the fire, the glow highlighting the golden freckles on her high cheekbones.
“What is it you want now, Kem?” Bella asked, in a soft voice.
I poured the rest of the bowl’s contents into my mouth, and chewed as I ladled a bit more.
“Clothes,” I said. “And, a weapon.”
She shot me a glance. “Ah, you plan on doing more killing, I see.”
I paused, mid-chew. My stomach churned with dread, and my brows furrowed. I swallowed, and set the bowl down.
“I do what I have to,” I replied, and she shrugged.
“Of course, you do. You take and you break laws.”
“I don’t see you complaining,” I said, motioning to all of the new things she’d brought herself with the spoils of one of my jobs.
“But, a life was never part of the plan.”
Closing my eyes, I sighed, and remembered the last look the dying elf gave me as life left his eyes.
“They deserved it.”
“Perhaps, but we aren’t anyone to pass judgement.”
I smirked. “And, who is? The gods? Where are the gods while our people toil away to their deaths?”
She shot me a look, silencing me. “They are watching. Waiting. They will judge who is worthy—who has suffered well—and who is at fault. You’ve taken it too far. You’ve put yourself into the lot with the sun elves—with those who have been at fault since the rise of Veruth.”
Sighing, I shook my head. I pushed myself up to my feet. “I didn’t come here for a sermon or a lecture. I thought
you were a friend, and I needed help. That was all.”
She took me by the hand, stopping me. Her big eyes looked up and met mine. “I didn’t say I wasn’t going to help,” she said. Then, she looked back to the fire. “I’ve just been having dreams—dreams of fire.”
That was interesting. I sat back down.
“Fire? What else?”
She turned back to me, her cheeks paling as she looked through me. “Judgement.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
A V A
We sat on the rooftop, just before curfew. With Kem beside me, all was right with the world. I could suffer happily in the drudgery of my life, as long as he was by my side.
“We’d better get home,” he said, softly.
I smiled up at the sky, as the sun began to set. Soon, we’d be forced inside to await inspection. But, for now, Kem and I were all that mattered—all that meant anything.
“Not yet,” I said. “Just a moment longer.”
“Anything for you, bright eyes.”
I was awakened by a tap on the door. Flustered, I sat up. I was still exhausted, and almost rested my head on the pillow and went back to sleep—back to my dreams of the boy who left us.
The boy who left me.
The tapping came again.
“Miss,” a child-like voice called.
Though drowsy, my eyes darted from one corner of the room to the other in a fog from my deep slumber.
It was quiet and calm inside, and I remembered all that had happened.
With a sigh of relief, I left the comfort of my bed and grabbed the heavy cloak to wrap around my nude body.
I opened the door, and peeked through a sliver to see two female elves dressed in purple gowns with golden tassels tied around their waists.
“Hello,” I said, and they smiled up at me.
“‘Ello, miss,” the purple-haired one said. “I’m Keely and this is Rose.”
“At your service,” Rose said, her grin widening.
As exhaustion surged through my veins, excitement fought for dominance.
My guard relaxed and I opened the door a bit more. “Nice to meet you,” I said. “I’m Ava.”
“Come to show you to the baths, Miss Ava,” Keely said, and they stepped aside.
My cheeks reddened. “One moment,” I said. “I’m not dressed.”
Keely took my hand, and pulled me forward. “No worries, miss. The monks are all at worship. We can get you to the baths and back before sunset.”
I didn’t have a choice, Keely pulled me along, and out into the warm afternoon. I followed them along the white path that weaved through the entire Sky Keep system of temples and outer buildings. With the cloak wrapped tightly around me, I gazed upward at the other floating pieces of land, and how their soil and mountains jutting downward but didn’t release even a single grain of dirt or debris. Magic was an incredible thing, and the Sky Keep was luminescent with it.
Rolling hills lined the temple, and we walked past the main building to head into a small, circular hut.
Inside, it was kept warm by a fire hearth in the center. Steam caressed my face as we entered and they slid the door shut.
As I stood and observed the pool of water that encircled the hearth in the center, Keely and Rose removed my cloak.
“The water is from the natural springs, and has minerals and salts to soothe and cleanse,” Keely said. “But, there is a bit of soap in the clay bowl near the hearth. Don’t use too much.”
“Step inside,” Rose said, and handed me a brush with a long handle. “Use this to get your back.”
Rose handed me a sponge. “And, this for the rest of your body.”
I turned to them, and tried to shield my breasts. “Will you stay?”
They exchanged a look, and then glanced back up at me.
“No, miss,” Rose said. “We’ve work to do.”
“You have bathed before…” Keely began, brows furrowed over big gray eyes. “Haven’t you?”
My cheeks burned red again. “Of course. I just thought…”
“Thought we were maids?” Rose finished.
My shoulders slumped. I was embarrassed to even have thought that.
“Well, we’re not. Ocura Maga just asked us to direct you to the baths. She usually sleeps during the day when the sun is out and her power is weak,” Rose said.
“I’m terribly sorry,” I said, softly.
Keely gave my arm a squeeze. “Don’t worry ‘bout it, miss. Just get washed up and dress in the gown hanging over there. Take the path back to your room, or to the dining hall. The monks usually eat at sunset. But, they won’t let you eat with them. You can take your meal in the garden behind the dining hall.”
I nodded, chewing the inside of my lower lip. They left me alone and slid the door closed.
With a sigh, I took the brush and sponge and stepped into the flowing, river of warm water. It was euphoric, with a perfectly hot temperature. The fragrant scent wafted upward with the rising steam and soothed my senses and muscles.
I stood in the water, and let the flow pulse against my back and rush between my legs. This was almost worth languishing in the dirty cells of Veruth’s prison.
My stomach began to grumble, and reminded me that I hadn’t eaten in ages. I ignored it for a bit longer, and began to scrub my arms and legs with the sponge. I dipped it into the bowl of creamy soap and ran it up and down my flesh. I rubbed the soles of my feet vigorously, removing the caked on black dirt and grim.
Just as I began to climb out of the water, the door opened and in walked a cloaked figure.
My heart skipped a beat and I let out a yelp. My arms shot over my breasts to shield them.
He froze, eyes locked with mine, and cheeks flushed.
“My apologies,” he said, and shielded bright blue eyes. “I didn’t know anyone was in here.”
“The elves said that the monks would be in worship,” I blurted. “I thought I had time to get in and out.”
He backed away, and reached for the knob. “No need to rush. I will return later.”
He vanished through the door before I could say another word.
Once I was alone, I realized I was holding my breath while I stared at the door.
Who was that?
The question vexed me as I hurried out of the bath and dried myself with a heavy towel. I dressed in the simple gown and robes, wrapping the long pieces of fabric around my waist and tying it until it was secure.
As I slipped my feet into a fresh pair of slippers, I stood there for a moment.
There was a mystery about him that I couldn’t shake from my mind. Those eyes glowed in the dim light of the bath house, and seemed to peer into my soul.
When I left the bath house, I stood outside and glanced at him as he sat on the lush, green grass, his legs crossed before him, hands on his knees, and eyes closed.
Nearly breathless, I watched as the gentle breeze slipped through his silver hair.
It was like mine, but cut short and choppy. Everyone knew that elves kept their hair long, unless a royal…
…or an elf who had committed a crime—an elf who was marked for death.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
That evening, Ocura Maga and I dined outside under the moon and stars.
My nerves still had me a bit shaky. I’d just been plucked from a prison and handed a new life of grandeur unlike anything I could have ever dreamed. My greatest aspiration had been to work in the palace, or escape entirely to sail the seas on a ship.
Now, I was clean, well-rested, and prepared to learn hidden truths.
Our setting was on the back balcony that overlooked the valleys to the east of the floating island. I couldn’t believe I was actually above Veruth, and surrounding by such ethereal beauty. The flowers and trees were in abundance, and I just wanted to run through them, letting the petals touch my fingertips.
Later, I told myself, hiding a mischievous smile. To think—the humans in Leeds were free, and probably enj
oyed such luxuries all of the time.
I wore the simple gown that had been set out for me in the bath house.
She was dressed in her usual robes and her long hair was braided into two braids that were coiled into buns on either side of her head.
I feasted, unable to sate my hunger until the third course. I slurped hot spiced soup made of potato and beans, and devoured the roasted duck.
To have real meat, and not just fat, trimmings, or peelings.
I was in bliss.
During the meal, I looked out to the lush jungles, and how the trees swayed with the wind and sang beneath the stars.
My eyes fluttered closed as I tasted a bit of peach pie.
Peaches—I hadn’t tasted one since I was a child, and Mother was sent home with a tin her employers had given to her at Winter Solstice.
“Have you enjoyed your supper?” Ocura Maga asked, sipping wine as she peered at me from across the glass table.
I nodded, wiping my mouth of any remnants of food or sauce. Finally, I was stuffed. Nonetheless, I was perfectly content.
“That was the best meal I’ve ever had,” I admitted, truthfully.
A smile came to her lips. “Good. I wanted to make sure you ate well after your time in Veruth Prison.”
Frowning, I looked down into my glass of wine. I took a sip and shrugged. “I’d very much like to forget that entire experience.”
“What made you stay out during curfew?” Ocura Maga asked, a curious glint in her narrow eyes.
Shrugging, I resolved to keep Kem and The Crows a secret.
“I’ve always been intrigued by night,” I said, gazing up at the bright moon. “Perhaps its because the sun elves have made it illegal to be out at night has only made my curiosity greater.”
She ran her finger along the rim of her glass, watching me. She nodded, thinking. “Perhaps.”
“Why are you here?” I asked, a bit bold. “I mean—you’re a moon elf. Aren’t your kind not welcome in Veruth?”
A smirk came to her lips. “That is true. And, yet, here I am.”