Septimus marched her into the throne room, a room bigger than Nicce thought she had ever seen. It was full of people, all with pale skin and glowing eyes, all in clusters around small tables, gleaming silver goblets in their hands. With horror, Nicce spied Xenia in one of the clusters. The king’s former mistress was toying with her blond hair and gesturing with her other hand as she spoke.
Septimus yanked her towards the front of the room, where the throne was sitting on a raised dais.
For the first time, Nicce clapped eyes on the goddess.
She didn’t know what she’d been expecting, but it wasn’t this.
Ciaska was so… small. She had long dark hair and she was wearing a glittering black dress. She was lounging in her throne, her face propped against her fist, her elbow resting on the arm of the throne. She peered out at the throne room, her gaze unfocused.
When she saw Nicce, she sat up straight, brightening. “Oh, finally,” she said. “Eithan, where were you, and don’t lie to me, because I can tell when you lie.”
“Lie to you?” said Eithan, reaching over and wrapping his hand around Nicce’s other arm. He tugged, and Septimus let go of her. “I would never lie.”
Nicce remembered she wasn’t supposed to act as though she liked Eithan, and she put up a fight against him, recoiling from him, pushing at him as best she could with her bound hands, doing everything she could to try to get away from him.
Eithan yanked her closer.
She spat in his face.
“Let her go,” came Ciaska’s voice.
Eithan did so.
Nicce lost her balance and went sprawling on the floor. Remembering she was supposed to favor Absalom, she scrambled to her feet and went to hide behind the knight, cowering behind his shoulder.
“Eithan.” Ciaska snapped her fingers. “I asked you a question.”
“Oh, where have I been?” said Eithan. “I’ve been doing as you ordered, hunting down this girl for you.”
“It’s taken you far too long to simply find one girl. I’m sure you found her ages ago. What have you been doing with her in the meantime? I think you tricked me into sending you after her in the first place. You wanted to be alone with her.”
“I assure you I spent no time alone with her,” said Eithan. “I had to seek her across the ocean and drag her back on a stinking ship full of dirty men and then I was immediately accosted by Absalom and Septimus at the most inconvenient of moments.”
Ciaska narrowed her eyes. “You expect me to believe that?”
“I thought you could tell when I was lying,” said Eithan.
“I can,” said Ciaska, sounding petulant. “And you’re lying now. You are awful in that way, Eithan. You will need punishment.” She turned to Absalom. “He’s lying, isn’t he?”
“I can only say that Septimus and I did interrupt Eithan and the girl when we arrived,” said Absalom.
“Interrupt them from what?” said Ciaska. She narrowed her eyes. “You won’t lie to me, Absalom.”
“No, I won’t,” said Absalom. “From kissing, I think.”
Ciaska stood up from her throne, and a great mist gathered up around her, twisting quickly into black tendrils that rather reminded Nicce of the nightmares she’d seen in the forest. The mist moved in the same slithering way. Its movements were unnatural and horrid, somehow unspeakably wrong. Nicce hid her face behind Absalom’s shoulder, and she wasn’t entirely faking her fright.
“What did you do with her, Eithan?” Ciaska’s voice was quiet.
“Well, nothing,” said Eithan. “As I said, I was interrupted.”
“But you wished to.”
“You’re the one who said that I preferred her to you.” Eithan shrugged. “I never said that. But if you’re insecure—”
A tendril shot across the room and snatched someone up off the floor.
Nicce recognized him as the knight who had killed Levid, the one who’d seemed touched in the head. Philo. Eithan had dropped his pursuit of her when he thought this knight was dead.
“Put him down.” Eithan’s voice was tight.
“Fine,” said Ciaska. The mist dissipated and Philo fell to the floor. He let out a little noise when he hit the ground.
Eithan rushed over to him, looking the other knight over, speaking to him in a soft voice, too low for Nicce to make out the words. He helped Philo to his feet.
“You’d think after all this time, you would have learned not to make me angry,” said Ciaska. “You know I can’t control myself when I get in a state. Why, I was so worked up over trying to figure out where you were that I accidentally cut Kliiv in half the other day.” She stuck out her lower lip, and it trembled. “I very much liked Kliiv. He had a very pretty cock, and sometimes he said quite funny things. Now, he’s dead, and it’s your fault. How do you feel about that, Eithan?”
Eithan’s jaw twitched. Nicce could see that he was accepting that blame, as if it truly were his fault. But Ciaska was obviously insane, and it was her fault, not Eithan’s. Nicce understood why they were all terrified of her.
And she’s jealous of me, she thought. Why did I agree to this? I’m such an idiot.
“With the amount of time you were gone, I’m sure you did much more than kiss her,” said Ciaska.
“Well, you’d be wrong,” said Eithan.
“You’re possessive of her,” said Ciaska.
“She’s not entirely…” Eithan looked back at Nicce. “Compliant.”
Nicce hid her face behind Absalom’s shoulder again.
Eithan’s nostrils flared. He went over to her and grabbed her, yanking her out from behind Absalom. He threw her down on the floor in front of Ciaska.
Nicce landed on her knees. She looked up at the goddess, and she quaked.
“It’s all been a waste of time,” Eithan said in a low, defeated voice. “This girl hates me, and I… well, anyway, whatever my schemes, know that they’ve come to naught. You wanted her. You take her.”
Ciaska looked Eithan over. “I didn’t bring her here because I wanted her, but because you wanted her.”
“Well, I still do,” said Eithan. “But look at her.”
Nicce ducked her head down, as if she was afraid Eithan was going to touch her.
Ciaska settled down on her throne again, cocking her head to one side. “I was planning on having her stripped naked and taken by every man in court with you watching. I have fantasized about this, Eithan. I have put a great deal of planning into this.”
Every man in court? Nicce looked around the room. There were more oiled and armored men like those at the gate. How many were there? She tried to count. Her insides felt as if they were turning to sludge.
“Well, then you’ll have to do it,” said Eithan.
What? Nicce couldn’t help but turn and look at him in horror. He said he was going to get her out of this. Why was he egging Ciaska on?
“What?” Ciaska said, an echo of Nicce’s thought.
“Sorry,” said Eithan. “I…” He rolled his head on his shoulders. “Of course you shouldn’t do that to her. She’s an innocent. I wouldn’t want to make her suffer.”
“And if I did,” said Ciaska. “You would suffer.”
“Yes,” said Eithan. “I would.” But he didn’t sound very convincing.
Ciaska drew herself up, squinting at him. “Eithan, you’re not at all like yourself right now.”
“Well, pardon me, Exalted One, but I am exhausted. Seeking this one out, finding her, dragging her back. You do know that she was trained to kill me, don’t you? So, if I’m not myself, it’s her fault.”
Ciaska turned to look Nicce. “You don’t want to share her.”
“No,” said Eithan.
Ciaska screwed up her face, as if she was thinking very hard. She folded her arms over her chest. “You want to watch her get fucked because you want to see her without her clothes. You’re not lying, after all. Nothing did happen, and you’d rather live vicariously. It would be better than nothing.”
Eithan stiffened.
“Well?” said Ciaska.
Oh, Nicce understood now. Eithan was good, wasn’t he? He had twisted the goddess to his will, manipulated her thoroughly.
“Of course not,” said Eithan.
“You don’t want to watch?” said Ciaska.
Eithan turned to look at Nicce, and she saw hunger in his eyes. That same hunger he’d always had for her, the hunger that had awoken an answering hunger inside her. To feel that here, now, while this threat was hanging over her head, it was horrifying. She was angry, and she struggled to her feet. Maybe she wanted to run.
Eithan blinked, his face suddenly expressionless, blank. “I don’t.”
“Liar.” Ciaska leaped up from her throne.
Eithan lifted her chin. “Have her stripped. See if I react.”
“I’d rather not,” said Ciaska. “It’s horrifyingly offensive the way you look at her. You’ve never looked at me that way.”
“Would the bargain be applied to me?” said Eithan. “If I bed you, do I get to bed the other women in court?”
Ciaska gaped at him. “You dare to ask me that? I don’t want you if you are only with me because of her.” She pointed at Nicce. “In fact, I don’t want you at all, Eithan. I never have.”
Eithan shrugged.
Ciaska dug her fingers into her hair. “Oh, take her away. I don’t want to look at her anymore.”
“Surely,” said Eithan, crossing to Nicce, taking her arm again.
“Not you,” said Ciaska. “Absalom, find her a room. Eithan, you go to the blue room and wait for me there.”
Eithan stiffened again, revulsion flitting over his expression. But he tamped that down, let go of Nicce, and gave Ciaska a stiff bow. “As the Exalted One commands.”
Nicce gazed after him as he walked out. What was the blue room?
Absalom’s hand settled on her shoulder. “May I untie her, Exalted One?”
“I don’t know, what do you think?” said Ciaska, looking Nicce over. “Is she dangerous?”
“I think she’s overwhelmed,” said Absalom. “She’s been through quite an ordeal. You can see how frightened she is.”
“Yes,” Ciaska smiled. “Poor fluttery bird.” She blinked, gazing at Nicce for too long with a strange, predatory interest. “I don’t care what you do with her. I don’t wish to look at her anymore. It’s all very dull now, and I had hoped for a very exciting show.” She pouted, slumping in her throne. “It’s truly not fair, Absalom. Not fair in the slightest.”
“You have much to endure, Exalted One,” said Absalom without a trace of irony. “I can hardly imagine.”
“You always understand, Absalom,” said Ciaska. “I don’t know what I would do without you. If only Eithan were more agreeable.” Then she shook her head. “No, perhaps he would be dreadfully dull if he were agreeable. Oh, I can’t decide.” Then, suddenly, her mist flared out, a wide wall of black smoke. “Well, why are you still here? Take that girl away. I cannot stand the sight of her.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Nicce sat down on the bed in the room that Absalom had brought her to. It was large and rather luxurious. She noted that there was a sunken tub built into the corner, and the bed was swathed in velvets and furs. She ran her fingers over them.
“There are no servants here,” said Absalom. “We must all do for ourselves. But if there’s anything you need now, let me know. I can see to it for you.”
“I’m all right,” she said. “Surprised I’m being given a room like this and not locked up somewhere.”
“You can thank Eithan for that,” said Absalom.
“Yes.” She nodded. “He knows how to play on her weaknesses.”
“He does,” said Absalom.
“What is the blue room?”
Absalom grimaced. “She has various sorts of rooms. That one is devoted mostly to chains and spikes, I believe. She gets in moods.”
“Chains and spikes,” Nicce whispered softly.
“The goddess enjoys inflicting pain when she is bedding men sometimes,” said Absalom. “She’s usually careful with the knights. She knows not to damage us too much. The other men are expendable, but then they are like the women here, changed, but without the ability to change others. We were made to be able to hunt. We have fangs. We crave blood. The others… it’s not that way. Anyway, she is too fascinated by Eithan to hurt him badly.”
Nicce shoulders sagged. “But he’ll be enduring it for me. So that I didn’t have to be…” She thought of the oiled men in the court and she felt horror rise up in her. For some reason, she thought of her mother, maddened by whatever contact she’d had with the sun god, all of the men in the Guild chanting magical words while—
But she cut the thought off.
She didn’t want to think of that.
“It’s Eithan’s way,” Absalom murmured. “We all owe him. Many times over. But don’t worry, he’s quite resilient.”
That didn’t reassure her.
“Well, if there’s nothing else, I suppose I’ll leave you for now,” said Absalom. “I want to see to Philo. I think he was limping.”
“Philo, he’s…” She licked her lips. “He’s not altogether…”
“He’s not as resilient as Eithan,” said Absalom bitterly.
Now, Nicce remembered something that Eithan had told her, about how Ciaska had concentrated her torture on Philo, because he was the youngest of the knights and they all wished to protect him. She didn’t know if that was enough to make her forgive Philo for killing Levid.
But she didn’t have to forgive these men.
She only had to use them for her purpose.
She was here to kill a goddess. She nodded at Absalom. “Thank you. Goodbye for now, then.”
Absalom gave her a small bow, and he closed the door on her.
Nicce flopped back on the bed, wondering what she should do next. She didn’t have any of the jewels, so she had no protection. She couldn’t go on the offensive against the goddess, not that any plan had been made for that eventuality anyway.
They were all making it up as they went along, which seemed to suit Eithan, but not her.
She had been raised to train for every eventuality.
Of course, that hadn’t served her very well, had it? Because she’d been surprised when she confronted Eithan, and everything had changed. She’d managed to cope with the shifting landscape then. She’d do it now, too.
Her door was opening.
Nicce sat up.
She was stunned to see that Xenia was coming into the room.
Nicce got off the bed. “Xenia.”
“I need your help,” said Xenia.
“What?” said Nicce.
“You owe me,” said Xenia.
“How do you figure that? I’m told you were the one who betrayed my location to the knights. You got Rhodes killed.”
“I had no choice in that matter,” said Xenia. “And I have taken your place and been turned into this.” She pointed at her glowing eyes. “I think I’ve paid the price.”
“Well, it’s not my fault,” said Nicce. “I don’t owe you.”
“You’re not changed.” Xenia looked her over. “And you said things to me when we were in the library that day. You said you fought Sir Eithan off. And then you did it again, because you got away.”
“Yes, but I’m here now,” said Nicce.
“And you’re going to get out,” said Xenia. “I know you wouldn’t simply roll over like a trained dog and stay. That’s not the kind of woman you are.”
“Well…” Nicce didn’t know what to say to that.
“All I’m asking is that you take me with you.”
“I’m not trying to leave.”
“Please. I have a small daughter. I haven’t seen her in months now, and I just want… I don’t know what they’ve made me, but a child needs her mother, and I can’t be denied watching her grow up. I simply can’t.”
Nicce was speechless.
“Is it the king’s child?”
“No, no, I…” Xenia sighed heavily. “I would never have agreed to be with the king in that way if I hadn’t thought it would be a boon to my little girl. She lives with my mother, and the king never knew about her. Her father, he was killed in an accident. He was thrown from a horse, and he left us with nothing. Being the king’s mistress, I got a lot of jewels and a lot of gold, and I squirreled it all away, because I knew the king would tire of me eventually, and then I’d go off with my little girl and we’d be taken care of, you know. There wasn’t much else I could do on my own. And when you showed up, I panicked. I thought I’d have at least a few more years with him. I got greedy. I wanted more wealth. But I wish I hadn’t been that way. I wish I would have taken what I had and left.” She hung her head. “I’m sorry. Please, if you’re truly angry about that—”
“I’m not,” said Nicce. She went to Xenia, and took the other woman’s hands. “Listen, I’m not going to try to escape. I have something I’m trying to accomplish here. But if I accomplish it, I don’t see why you’d have to stay.”
Xenia furrowed her brow. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“I’ll see if there’s a way to get you out earlier,” said Nicce. She squeezed the other woman’s fingers. “I’ll do my best.”
“Thank you,” said Xenia. “I knew I could count on you.”
Nicce tried to smile reassuringly, but she wasn’t feeling especially confident at the moment. Everything seemed to be getting more complicated.
* * *
Eithan was kicking around a blue glowing ball, watching it illuminate shackles on the wall when the door opened, and Ciaska entered the blue room.
Her tendrils of mist crawled along the floor, coming for him. They wrapped around his legs, cold whispery things that chilled his already-cold skin. They picked him up off the ground and slammed him into the wall.
Pinned there, he struggled to keep his breathing even. He was more frightened of this than he wanted to admit to himself.
Ciaska peered up at him. “Dull, Eithan. Dull now.”
The Dead and the Dusk (The Nightmare Court Book 2) Page 6