Shadow's Voice

by Natalie Johanson

Micah started to slip around the corner when Rose grabbed his arm and pulled him back, hard. He stumbled against her and turned to her with a frown. He mouthed, “What?”

  Rose held up a hand.

  “We are being watched,” she whispered. “He knows we’re here.”

  Micah eyes grew wide. “What do you suggest?”

  “We must keep moving. He will come for us soon.”

  They turned the corner and started down the hallway toward the cellar. They made it a few steps before pain exploded in her head. Rose fell to her knees screaming. She felt Micah grab her shoulders but couldn’t hear his words. It felt like claws were being dragged across her mind. She clenched her teeth to stop the screaming, but it only muffled the sound.

  The attack stopped as suddenly as it had started, and Rose could breathe. She choked back another scream and opened her eyes. Micah was being held by two men, two more were holding her up.

  “Finally, the bitch stops.”

  The two holding her threw her to the floor. Rose crashed and tried to roll onto her side.

  “We have the king. Just kill this one.”

  Her head was jerked back by a fist in her in her hair. Rose grunted and reached back to grab the man’s hand. She felt a knife at her neck and heard Micah shout.

  Enough. Rose fell through the shadows and out of the soldier’s grip. She stepped out next to the kneeling man and kneed him hard in the side of the head. She felt something crack, and he fell to the floor without a sound. Rose spun around and landed a fist to the other man’s gut. He doubled over and Rose was grabbed from behind and thrown against the wall. She yelped as her cheek crashed against the stone. She was pulled back and a fist crashed against her face. She cried out and fell to the floor.

  “Stop!”

  The assault stopped and someone pulled her back to her feet. Rose spit blood on the floor and ran her tongue along her teeth. She was happy to find none missing.

  “She’s the one he wants. We can’t kill her.” The three soldiers bound their hands and began dragging them toward the throne room. The one she’d kicked in the head still hadn’t moved and she didn’t expect him to.

  “Are you all right?”

  Rose looked over at Micah who also had a split lip. “I have all my teeth. And you?”

  “I have all my teeth.”

  Right.

  They were brought into the throne room. Dozens of other people were already here, lining the walls and hiding in the alcoves. Guards stripped of their armor and weapons stood in a corner. They all jerked to attention when they saw King Micah. Aristocrats huddled together at the farthest edges of the room. Rose looked around the room and through the people. She easily spotted Captain Sayla sitting against the far wall with several other Light Horse officers around her.

  Their guards pushed Rose and the king to the throne, at the end of the giant room. Lord Damian sat sprawled in the king’s throne. Rose looked at the young lord, so much time having passed from when she last saw him. He watched them approach with a deep frown creasing his face.

  The guards pushed on Rose’s shoulders and tried to force her to kneel. Rose growled and twisted her shoulders away.

  “You will kneel,” Lord Damian spat at them.

  Rose glared at the lord. “I will not.”

  The guards behind them kicked at the backs of their knees. Rose grunted as she crashed hard onto her knees. King Micah cursed softly next to her as he fell to his knees.

  “Long ago,” Lord Damian stood slowly, “when we were just clans across the land, my family was one of the oldest. Largest. When the clans banded together and cried out for a king, my clan, my line should’ve been chosen.”

  “Did you ever stop to think why your clan wasn’t chosen? Why a country already ravaged by war and rouge magical clans would fight a civil war to stop your ancestor?” Micah asked.

  Lord Damian clenched his fists where they hung against his legs. He took a deep breath and slowly relaxed his hands. “It doesn’t matter. My father was afraid to rise against your father and you . . . well I am not afraid of you and I will take what is mine.”

  Rose’s gut churned.

  Lord Damian pulled a metal bracelet from his pocket and stepped in front of Rose. “Cut her bindings,” he commanded the guard.

  Rose felt the knife slide against her arms and the soft tug of the rope being cut. The guard gripped her arm and held it out to the lord. Rose pulled against his grip and the other guard gripped her shoulders, held her still.

  She lifted her lips in a silent snarl as Lord Damian clasped the cuff onto her wrist. She recognized the sheen to that metal, the luminescent color to it. “He told me about you, how you like to disappear when it’s convenient for you.” Lord Damian jerked his head at the guards behind them. “Move them.”

  Rose was yanked to her feet and pushed to the far wall. Captain Sayla caught her eye and Rose and Micah made their way to her. Their captors disappeared from their backs and returned to Lord Damian. Micah’s guards quickly moved from their corner to encircle their king. He clasped many of them on the shoulder as they spoke. Rose spotted Aaron and Carl among the group. Aaron spotted her as she walked to the wall near the captain and he nodded to her. King Micah separated from his guards and leaned against the wall. Rose sunk to the floor next to Erik.

  He nodded to Captain Sayla, who was talking quietly and quickly to the king. “Anyone with magic has one. Somehow Damian knew who has magic.”

  Rose closed her eyes briefly. “His spy has been busy.”

  “Why have they brought everyone here?” King Micah asked Captain Sayla.

  Rose turned to the two as they sunk to the floor next to her.

  Captain Sayla shrugged as she answered. “I don’t know. When the guards saw the attack on the road, they went to meet them. Soldiers began entering the castle through the royal family tunnels. At first, they simply locked people in their rooms. By the time we realized what was happening and started fighting back, most were either locked in rooms or out on the road. They started moving the lords, guards, and the Light Horse in here not long ago.”

  “So, he can have an audience,” Rose muttered. “He’s going to take over with an audience so everyone loyal to you can see you fall. Same reason he probably planned the assassination during the ball, at the height of you showing off your political power.”

  Micah sneered. “Smart bastard.”

  The doors to the throne room opened and whoever walked in caused the crowd to mutter and shift. Rose turned her eyes to the front, waiting for whomever was walking in to reach them.

  “Did you see Sasha?” Erik asked quietly next to her.

  Rose glanced at him before turning back to the crowd. “No.”

  “They were locking the servants in their rooms. What if something happened?”

  “I’m sure she’s safe, Erik,” Captain Sayla reassured him.

  Finally, the crowd and soldiers parted and shifted to the edges of the room enough for Rose to see the newcomers as they came to stop in front of her.

  “Oh,” Rose breathed as her eyes fell on the two standing in front of her. “I think she’s more than safe.”

  Erik followed Rose’s gaze and saw, finally, the two standing in front of them. Master D’ray, standing tall and looking sleek in dark colored clothing. And next to him: Sasha. Stripped of her servant’s skirts and wearing trousers, high knees boots and simple tunic with a whip coiled at her hip. Erik might’ve made some sound, but Rose was too focused on Sasha to notice. Sasha stared at her with the same intensity.

  “Damn,” Rose breathed.

  Sasha stared at her with a tight, close-lipped smile. “I was nervous you had discovered me. It was you who sent the guards to speak with me.” She shrugged when Rose didn’t correct her. “I knew it was you. But, the guar
ds were easier to fool than expected. I expected you to come after me, but you never did.”

  Rose pressed her lips together in a grimace. She felt more than saw the others staring at her, their eyes going from Sasha to Rose. D’ray watched the two silently, almost bored, as if allowing Sasha this was something he’d agreed to before and was merely waiting.

  “What do you know of me?” Rose asked in a whisper.

  Sasha tilted her head. “I’d heard your name, in passing, but never knew you. I, however, have the same gift of magic Nico had.”

  Rose berated herself internally. “You see memories.”

  Beside her, Erik’s face was wet with tears.

  “Where have you hidden it?” D’ray spoke at last.

  Rose turned her eyes to him. A whisper appeared through the shadows.

  “Where?” he asked again.

  Rose lifted her lips in a snarl. “Find it yourself.”

  Sasha took a step forward, her hand moving to her hip.

  D’ray glanced at Sasha and raised a small wave at her. “You have ten minutes.”

  He snapped his fingers and soldiers moved the remaining people to the edges of the walls. They stood in the empty space, hands on their mismatched swords. Sasha smiled and nodded at D’ray as he walked away.

  Rose turned back to Sasha who unraveled her whip in a slow, casual movement. “So, we’re doing it this way then?”

  Sasha gave her whip a small flick. “What better way is there?”

  Rose gingerly crouched on the balls of her feet and turned sideways.

  “Where’ve you hidden it? This . . . book . . . he wants?”

  Rose shook her head. “Why are you working with him?”

  Sasha chuckled and adjusted her grip on the handle. “He pays very well.” She expertly flicked her whip, and Rose flinched as the sound echoed through the hall.

  “There’s more to it than that. There has to be. Why overthrow a king? The pay couldn’t be better than the chance you’d be hung.”

  Sasha cocked her head at her again. “Why not? Your secrets . . . your memories.” She sighed. “They haunt you. My memories do not haunt me. I revel in them. Now,” she gripped the whip. “I’ve entertained your questions. Where is the book?”

  Sasha snaked her whip across Rose’s thigh. Blood quickly soaked her trouser. She tensed, and tears streamed down her cheeks.

  “Oh? No scream?”

  “You think you’re the first to whip me, woman?” Rose bit out. “It takes more than that to make me scream.”

  Sasha hummed. “Do you know why I choose whips? You can do so much with them. Cause such pain and minor damage. Or . . . .” She whipped it again, harder, and it landed with a crack across Rose’s shoulders. “I can cause a lot of damage.”

  Rose gasped sharply at the pain that burned across her back. She had to drop a hand to the cold floor to stop herself from sinking. She could feel warm blood soaking her shirt.

  “Where?” Sasha asked again.

  “Do you even know what you’re asking for?” Rose panted.

  “I’m not paid to care.” Sasha spoke low, the sound almost a feral growl.

  She raised up her head and saw Sasha pull back for another whip. Rose took a fast step forward and raised her arm just as the whip flew. The whip hit her hard in the arm before the tip could lash out. It coiled around her arm and Rose gripped the thick leather braid and pulled. She jerked Sasha off her feet toward her. Just as Sasha stumbled close Rose stood and landed a fist right to her nose.

  Sasha fell to her knee, blood spattering her shirt.

  “I told you. You weren’t the first,” Rose growled at her. “I’ve learned a trick or two.”

  Sasha pulled her long knife and stood. The watching soldiers inched forward, and a few drew their blades.

  “No!” Sasha shouted at them, and they stepped back.

  Rose didn’t wait. She kicked Sasha hard in the calf and Sasha again fell hard onto her knee. Sasha slashed out with the blade, but Rose spun behind the kneeling woman and slammed her clenched hands into her shoulders. Sasha fell forward into a roll and kicked Rose hard in her stomach. Rose’s breath rushed from her lungs and she sunk to the floor. Stars dotted her vision as she tried to get a breath. An elbow slammed into her head and she swung her fist. Her knuckles popped as her fist hit Sasha’s jaw. Rose kicked Sasha off and surged to her feet. She settled into a crouch as Sasha picked up her fallen blade.

  “Enough!” D’ray shouted.

  “This isn’t finished,” Sasha hissed. Her lip was split and bleeding.

  “Your boss says it is.”

  “Sasha!” D’ray hissed and she put her blade away. She glared at Rose, her eyes promising a slow death later, and returned to her master.

  Chapter 37

  What did you do?” Erik demanded. “Did you know?”

  Rose counted inside her head to calm her racing heart. She pressed the back of her hand to her bleeding lip. I can do this. I can do this. I need to do this. Once this is over, I can bury it again . . . move on . . . leave this place . . .

  “Rose, answer me!”

  Rose snapped her gaze to Erik and he recoiled at whatever he saw in her face. “You do not command me!” she hissed at him. Calm down, she told herself. Fighting among themselves would help nothing. “Erik. She is the spy. I’m sorry, but you need to accept that and move on. Grieve later.”

  Micah was staring at her, his mouth ajar. She tried to ignore the sorrow she felt creeping up her throat when she saw his face. This is why I should never stay in one place. She swallowed. “You knew I used to spy for my father.”

  Micah took a deep breath and nodded slightly. “Yes; but there is more to it, isn’t there?”

  Rose nodded once, briskly, and turned away from them. “It was why I left. I worked for a long time to bury that part of my past, that part of me.” She limped back to the wall and sat a small distance from them.

  Micah tried to gather himself. “Let us hope your past helps us.”

  D’ray stormed back over to them. He was dressed in black armor and his boots clacked on the polished stone floor. He turned his wide, red eyes to Rose and the harsh color made her recoil. His soft footfalls echoed through the silent throne room. He stopped in front of Rose and she forced herself to stand under his gaze.

  “I tire of this. Where is it?”

  Rose felt the shadows roil at the edges of the brightly lit room.

  Micah stood next to her. “You will direct your questions to me.”

  D’ray glanced at him and back to Rose, utterly dismissing his presence. “Where is it?”

  “I am still king here—” With a quick slash of D’ray’s hand Micah slammed against the wall and slid to the floor.

  “Silence, human.” D’ray took one long step forward and had Rose’s jaw in his hand. He craned her head back and squeezed. “Where. Is. It.”

  Rose grabbed his wrist as he stared to lift her off her feet. Her toes were all that was left on the floor as he lifted her level with his eyes. She couldn’t stop the soft mewing sounds that escaped her lips as it felt like her jaw was going to be pulled off. D’ray released his hold on her and Rose crashed to the floor in a heap.

  “Last time. Where is it?”

  You failed. We must hide it again. He will overpower us in time.

  Rose heard the soft whisper and resisted looking for the red eyes. She looked up at D’ray and rubbed her jaw. “Looks like they’re not listening to you.”

  D’ray hissed a long sharp sound that wasn’t a human sound and shivers shot down Rose’s spine. She saw people cringe out of the corners of her eyes. He turned to Sasha, standing a small step away from them, her nose bleeding and swollen already.

  “Which reads minds?”

  Sasha
pointed at the captain. “The blond one.”

  “Bring her,” he ordered Sasha.

  D’ray grabbed Rose by the elbow and dragged her along the floor to the center of the room. Behind them, Sasha dragged the captain by her foot to the center of the room. “Hold them.”

  Two guards leapt forward and forced them to their knees, holding them still. Rose stared at Mariah. She was pale and her eyes were wide, no doubt a mirror of Rose’s own face.

  D’ray stood between them and put a hand on the side of both their heads. Rose cringed at the touch and saw Captain Sayla flinch away. “I will find what I need.”

  Rose saw Mariah’s eyes widen and a streak of blue light flashed through her eyes a second before she started screaming. Then Rose felt the knife slice through her mind, and she was screaming, too.

  She opened her eyes and Rose was in the castle gardens. Sun was shining on her shoulders, the roses in bloom. What is this?

  Rose stood and clipped a yellow rose from the bush and smelled it. She smiled at the flower and turned back to the castle. It would look pretty in her drab room.

  As she was walking back to her quarters the king met her in the hallway.

  “You’ve another rose?”

  Rose frowned. I’ve done this before.

  The king was smiling at her. Rose frowned at him. I’ve been here before.

  “Sire? What happened? Where is D’ray?”

  Pain flared in her head and she fell screaming to the floor in front of the king. Rose clutched her head and suddenly the pain stopped. She took a deep breath and wiped her eyes. When she looked up, she saw the records room. Peter sat behind his pile of parchments. Rose looked down and she was holding the battered old book in her arms.

  “No!” This isn’t real! These are my memories!

  The knife cutting through her mind withdrew and Rose sagged but the guard holding her shoulders kept her upright. Her face and shirt was wet from the tears that poured out of her eyes. Blurrily, Rose glanced at Mariah.