“And you like living too much to get killed over this, right?” Soul replied.
Ramus nodded, wiping some of the sweat from his face with a perfectly folded handkerchief he kept in his velvet vest pocket. “We’re all still reeling from what happened. I mean, we all knew this day might come, but we never thought it would… you know, actually come. The Spirit Bender was invincible.”
“Meh. Not really,” I muttered. “I’ll give credit where it’s due. He was very good at his schemes, and he really hit the jackpot with Death and her knowledge, but other than that, he was just a frustrated little wisp who liked to cause pain for his own gratification. You people have been worshipping a fraud for too long.”
“Mind your words! He gave us power! He helped us hold on to our immortality!” Ramus gasped, looking as though I’d just insulted his mother’s cooking.
“He taught you how to keep my sister in an endless cycle of suffering because you were all too scared of dying and moving on,” Soul growled. “You participate in a glorified form of torture against the Reaper who gave you eternity.”
The Whip shuddered, shrinking under Soul’s burning gaze. “Forgive me.”
“Spare me your empty words and help me set things right. Everything you and your people have done has been to the detriment of the universe itself,” the First Tenner replied. “Maybe—and I’m making no promises here—when all this is over and Unending is free, she’ll take pity on those who assisted in her liberation. Because I am already feeling sorry for any fool who thinks they’re going to keep getting away with this.”
“I will tell you everything you need to know,” Rasmus said. “Like I said, just get me out of here. Please!”
Kelara cursed under her breath just as Soul walked toward the Whip. “Crap. No, Soul, wait!” She grabbed him by the shoulder and yanked him back. “Look by the fireplace!”
Soul frowned but followed her concerned gaze. We all did, and we all saw it. A broken glass bauble, its shimmering pieces slowly melting onto the wooden floor into a peculiar substance, inches from the fireplace. A faint streak of smoke persisted in the air above it before it got sucked into the fire. The iridescent liquid evaporated, leaving nothing behind.
“What was that?” I asked, immediately alarmed.
“A signal. Ramus must have broken it as soon as we crashed through his door,” Soul said, lifting his smoldering gaze and focusing it on the Whip. “You’ve been stalling this whole time. You son of a—” Words couldn’t encompass all the nasty things Soul thought about this guy, but it was too late for any form of retaliation. We were no longer on our own inside the cabin.
One by one, a dozen Darklings appeared out of thin air. The thirteenth was Danika, still wearing mechanical prosthetics for hands, her scythe glimmering. Joining them were six Knight Ghouls, each one bigger and scarier than the last, strings of drool hanging from their gaping jaws.
“Ramus, you idiot,” I growled, my blood running cold.
“What can I say? I’m loyal.” Ramus chuckled. “And a very good actor.”
“Not really. We were just too hopeful for a break,” I replied. “You’re a sweating mess, and your desperation was over the top. I should’ve seen this coming.”
“Well, you’re seeing it now,” Danika interjected with a flat smile. “Did you really think I wouldn’t fool you a second time around? Come on… whatever your name is.”
“You planted Ramus here,” Amane murmured, reality finally sinking in. It came with troubling implications, since we’d gotten our intel from Petra Visentis. “Petra, she… she sent us.”
Danika laughed. “Right. I’m aware.” She pointed her scythe at me. “Merizio Furalis!”
I was already calling out to Derek via Telluris in my mind, knowing Danika might hit me with death magic if she heard me. His voice was just coming through, when a pulse left her scythe and hit me smack in the middle of my forehead. I nearly fell backward, watching as the pulse ricocheted into Amane’s head, then Trev’s, both of them wincing from the pain. Silence followed, as we all realized she’d cut off our Telluris. “How’d you know?” I asked, genuinely baffled. “I didn’t say a word.”
“I know how Telluris works. This felt like the right time to cut you off, before you yammered on to Derek about our little rendezvous. Let’s keep this just between us for now.” Danika giggled.
“Yeah, that’s not going to work on us,” Kelara replied, but she looked worried, and the Lady Supreme was quick to catch up on it.
“What’s the matter, Reaper? Can’t reach your friends?” She laughed. “The cabin and its entire surrounding area is warded now. We made sure of it. So, like I said…”
“You traitorous piece of trash,” Soul hissed, eyeing Ramus. “We could’ve saved you.”
Not really, but why reveal the truth now?
“I am loyal!” Ramus repeated himself. “I am loyal to the Spirit Bender. My life means nothing if he isn’t alive to save us. I give myself willingly to our cause!”
Kelara shook her head. “The Spirit Bender was never alive in the first place. It takes dying to become a Reaper, you abominable tool.”
“Semantics!” Ramus snarled. “The truth remains! The Spirit Bender shall come, and he shall save us all!”
“Except you.” Danika rammed her mechanical hand into his chest. He froze, his eyes round and glassy, as blood spurted from the wound, splattering on the wooden floor. No one moved. No one even breathed as Danika pulled his heart out, her metal fingers glazed in a darker shade of crimson. “This feels like progress.”
“Wow…” Kelara gasped.
Danika shrugged. “He kept trying to get under my skirt, since before I even married Acheron. I can’t say I’m sorry to see him go.”
She’d just retrieved the fourth shard, and I doubted we had any chance of taking it from her. We were surrounded and outnumbered. Ramus was dead, though still standing for another second or two. The thud that followed made my stomach churn. He’d died a fool. And now Danika was one step closer to resurrecting the Spirit Bender.
The potential horror this entailed made my skin prick, shivers rushing down my spine as I looked at Amane. All we had were a couple of pissed off Reapers and some pulverizer weapons. Well, and we also had my inner dragon, which was now roaring… all fired up and eager to make some noise.
Whether we’d survive this moment or not remained to be seen, but as Amane gave me a confident half-smile, I remembered other terrifying situations she and I had found ourselves in before. We’d nearly died, more than once, yet we’d always managed to pull each other back to the surface. We’d fought, tooth and nail, not only to live, but also to be together and happy and free.
She was with me, and I was with her. It would have to be enough.
Esme
I left Petra with Derek for the rest of the interrogation. Not only could I barely stand to be in the same room with her, but I also felt I’d be more useful checking on her sons. They had to be rattled by seeing their mother after the rift that she’d driven between them.
The northern tower loomed above me like a silent giant as I walked out. Looking up, I wondered what Tristan and Valaine were up to and how far they’d gotten with their work. Making my way through the city, I tried to imagine what life here must’ve been like in Roano’s prime with the cobblestone streets flowing up and down the low hill the city been built atop. The white watchtowers and the buildings rising proudly all over. Aeternae living and thriving here. Children laughing and playing.
As I walked through the streets, I could almost see them. To my right, merchants opened their shops, displaying rivers of colorful silks and twinkling jewels, elegant hats and fine leather shoes, glasswork and ceramic objects, perfect for the most discerning homes. To my left, there had to be at least one seller of Rimian and Nalorean blood. In a bid to make the conquered people more comfortable with their new lives as blood suppliers, the Aeternae might have opened up regular food stores next to theirs.
That w
ay, the Rimians, the Naloreans, and the Aeternae would’ve shopped for food in the same district. Sustenance would have been treated equally, regardless of who required it. At least, that was what I’d noticed in the imperial city, and it was what I would’ve done, too, as a conqueror. The Aeternae had set up an interesting system with the Rimians and the Naloreans being remunerated for the blood they surrendered. Granted, it wasn’t a fair system, because they didn’t have any other option. They were denied the right to refuse.
Farther down the road, I pictured neighborhoods with three- or four-level houses and small front yards. They would’ve had flowering trees and brightly colored shrubs. Perhaps some decorative statuettes and dainty little fences. It must’ve been a beautiful place once, but no more. Death had been here, merciless in its advance. The innocent and the guilty had all perished with no discrimination until Roano had become… this.
All I imagined disappeared like a mirage in the middle of a scorching desert, and only old stones and faint impressions of a road remained. Ahead, I saw the boys. Ansel, Tudyk, and Moore sat cross-legged in front of their makeshift shelter. Thayen was with them, and I could tell they were in a foul mood.
Sofia and Kalla were nearby, giving the boys some privacy to talk among themselves. I could only imagine the torment in their hearts. My position on the matter was a difficult one, if I were to be honest with myself. I was fond of the Visentis brothers because they were innocent pawns in this affair and because they were Kalon’s siblings. I wanted only good things for them, but I also hated Petra, and I would’ve liked nothing more than to see her dead and gone.
Ansel was the first to spot me. He got up, his eyes bright and alert. “Are you okay?” he asked, and I liked him even more for caring about me when he was the one with the murderous mother locked in a nearby tower.
“You don’t need to worry about me,” I told him. “What about you?”
“I’m fine,” Ansel said. “As well as one could be under these circumstances.”
I looked at Tudyk and Moore. “It couldn’t have been easy to see your mother like that. I apologize for having to restrain her, but I’m sure you understand why.”
“Of course,” Tudyk replied. “She is dangerous. Any one of us could tell you that.”
“But how are you holding up?” I asked. “Tell me honestly.”
Moore sighed softly. “Why did we lie to her about Kalon?”
“Because if she knew, it might make her do something dangerous or irrational,” I replied.
“But she’s cuffed and under Derek’s supervision,” Moore insisted.
I shook my head. “That could change. We’re constantly on edge when we’re around her. I’m afraid that won’t go away, because of who she is and what we all know she’s capable of.”
“You’re worried she’ll go after Valaine or something,” Ansel muttered. “She’d want retribution for getting her son sick.”
“And if Petra kills Valaine, it’ll ruin any chance of healing him by awakening the Unending,” Thayen chimed in. “Maybe you should tell Petra about Kalon. It might keep her in check with regard to Valaine.”
I hadn’t considered that. This kid was truly phenomenal. There was definitely leader material in him. He didn’t speak often, and when he did, he chose his words carefully. Thayen was by far one of the most valuable Aeternae I’d ever come across, and he had been long before I learned about the soul shard implanted in his heart.
Ansel nodded his agreement. “That’s a good point. If Mother is made aware of this connection, she might be easier to work with.”
“I’ll consult with Derek and Sofia about this later. For now, I’m letting the interrogation proceed without me. He’ll relay all the details to us when he’s ready.”
“Esme, will you be keeping my mother in the western tower?” Moore asked.
“Yes.”
“Wouldn’t it be better if you take her somewhere else?” he asked, and I shook my head.
“It’s the safest place for her. Rest assured that she is well protected. Time is in the north tower, but he’ll be able to intervene if she becomes a danger. Though I doubt she’ll try anything. We have you, so she has to play nice.”
Moore’s eyes turned suddenly white, and the blood froze in my veins. “But do you have us?” His voice sounded different, infinitely colder.
“What’s going on?” I murmured, my senses overwhelmed and confused.
Before anyone could respond, Moore lunged at me. I’d forgotten how fast and deadly this kid could be. Big mistake on my part, because even though he was only six going on seven, he’d already fought in the Blood Arena. I heard Tudyk shout, “Brother, no!”
Moore missed me by inches as I dashed sideways and swerved around for his inevitable return. He came in for a second attack with his claws, and I managed to push him off. It caused him to stumble and fall, but only for a moment.
“Esme, be careful!” Ansel said, pale and sweaty as he analyzed his youngest brother’s behavior. “There’s something wrong with him!”
“Yeah, I can see that!” I replied, my muscles hard and tense as I braced myself.
Moore glided across the dried dirt, both sets of claws glinting in the retreating moonlight. He slashed at me with his left, and I moved back a couple of feet. He pursued me, slashing at me with his right, and I avoided him again as I worked to find an opening or the right angle to approach him.
“He’s not himself,” Tudyk said. He tried to pull the boy away from me, but Moore hit back hard, and Tudyk fell tumbling backward, groaning from pain.
Ansel did his best to take Moore down himself, but that also ended badly. With one quick move, Moore gained the upper hand and stood over Ansel, his boot pressed against his brother’s neck.
“It’s a spell,” Tudyk managed, pulling himself off the ground.
Sofia and Kalla rushed over, and Thayen stayed with them. They were all stunned and confused. Tudyk and I carefully approached Moore as he focused on Ansel. The teen Aeternae tried to fight back, but his kid brother was merciless, nearly suffocating him.
“I recognize the death magic. It’s a sleeper spell. It’s probably been in him for a long time and was activated somehow,” Tudyk added. We moved around, gaining inches as we drew closer. “Someone must have used specific words to trigger him.” He paused, his eyes round with horror. “Oh no. Mother… he’s been active since he hugged her…”
My breathing grew ragged as I tried to find a solution that wouldn’t hurt Moore. He was only a child. He had no idea what had been done to him or why he was behaving this way. “How do we stop it?”
“We need to subdue him,” Tudyk replied. “I’ll tackle him, then you can help me hold him down.”
“Are you sure?” I asked, and he gave me a slight nod.
He darted toward Moore and used his full body weight to knock the boy down. As soon as they landed, I rushed over and caught Moore’s hands, twisting them behind his back. He cried out, squirming like a restless and ridiculously strong worm, but I managed to hold him down. Kalla brought over a thread of steel, which we used to bind Moore’s hands.
“Why do you carry that around?” Tudyk asked Kalla, panting and shivering.
“It’s one of the few things that work in holding an Aeternae, at least for a while. Steel wire is made from the same material used for prison cells, only it’s much lighter and easier to carry around.” Kalla looked at me. “We brought a couple of rolls with us from Orvis, in case you need some.”
“Yeah… thanks,” I murmured, allowing myself to sit.
Moore’s eyes were still weird. His sharp fangs were supposed to appear threatening, but all they did was make me feel sorry for him. I ran a hand through my hair, trying to understand and accept what had just happened. Ansel sat next to me, feeling his throat. There would be bruising, I was sure of it. There were already red blotches blooming where Moore’s boot had pinned him down.
“A sleeper spell, huh?” Sofia asked, unable to take her eyes off
the kid.
Thayen nodded. “It’s still in him, isn’t it?”
“Yes. We need to find whoever cast it and either kill them or get them to break the spell.” Tudyk sighed as he fought back tears. “I can’t believe she’d do this.”
“Your mother,” I said.
“No one else could’ve gotten so close. And very few others have such knowledge,” Tudyk replied.
“I wouldn’t be able to do this,” Ansel said, his voice raspy and broken. “Kalon either. This has our mother’s signature written all over it. And I think I know when she activated it.”
It didn’t take a genius to unravel this one. “When she whispered in his ear earlier.” My tone sounded flat, but I didn’t care. I’d had enough of Petra’s nonsense. Once again, she’d put one of her sons in harm’s way while claiming her family mattered the most.
“She might have been telling the truth about what words she actually said to Moore, but she definitely neglected to mention what those words would do to him,” Tudyk said. “She’s a liar. She’s a filthy, manipulative liar. This stunt could’ve gotten Moore killed if you hadn’t been here, Esme.”
“Even worse, he could’ve hurt us. Or killed us,” Ansel said quietly.
“Moore was gunning for me,” I said. “Petra’s had it in for me since the day I laid eyes on Kalon. What irks me is that despite her claims of being a good mother, she keeps hurting you. All of you.”
Sofia scoffed. “What the hell is she trying to prove with this?”
“Oh, we’ve got a problem,” I realized, my breath running short as the whole picture came into focus. Moore watched me, growling and trying to get out of his bindings, but he couldn’t. A grin slit his face—a devious, hateful grin that mirrored his mother’s hatred of me. Poor kid. “Petra isn’t here to make amends to us or to her sons. She has some kind of endgame, and it doesn’t involve her staying a GASP prisoner for long. Moore’s situation is proof of that, and I’m afraid it’s only the beginning.”
A Shade of Vampire 84: A Memory of Time Page 20