Made From Death (The Darkest Queens Series Book 1), page 8
Ace was getting used to staring up at his back and the muscles that flexed through the linen top. Raindrops were appearing on the fabric and weighing down against his skin.
Ace pulled the hood of her cloak up to cover her hair. "Are you avoiding the question?" She pushed.
"She says in the form of another question."
Ace caught back up to his side this time keeping stride, even as she had to take double the amount of steps he took. "Just answer the question."
"My signature is only left on the page. You do not have any powers so you cannot leave a signature behind. So when the spell is complete, and the page turns to ash, there is no trace of my magic."
"Why don't we just do that now then?"
Shelby came to a stop. "You got paper and ink hidden somewhere on you?"
Heat crept up her neck and settled on her cheeks. "No."
"Well, that settles that."
Water dampened the entirety of his shirt now. Rain soaked through her cloak creating a shiver that chased down her body. Shelby threw his hands up in the air as thunder cracked and the downpour began. Ace smiled a little. Ramdon, the god of chaos, probably thought this entire day was incredibly entertaining. Shelby probably hated that god.
"So, where are we headed?" They sank into the ground in places that got soaked a little too quickly, their boots sticking to the mud, and releasing with slick squelching sounds.
"Why are you still here?" This time he finally looked her in the eye. He didn't shrink back from her as she held his stare.
"Unless you can find me another warlock or can write me a grimoire, you're stuck with me."
"Is that all I have to do to get you to leave?"
"Yes."
"Fine then." He nodded, leaving Ace to wonder which option he'd go with. "We are heading…somewhere safe."
"How specific." They were almost back into few trees that Ace thought would spit them out somewhere downtown Maipeg. They'd have to walk a few blocks through the city to get to the road that led out of town, assuming Shelby wanted to leave town.
The rest of the walk through the remaining woods was quiet except for the steps underneath them, and the ruggedness of their breathing from the exertion. Even the wind didn’t rustle the leaves in the trees.
Ace made sure to stay near Shelby. She tried not to worry so much about where they were going; she had a warlock that could help her. Just the small bit of help made her think that everything was going to be okay going forward. If he found her another willing warlock to work with her in his place that would be fine. That might actually be better. The two of them couldn't quit arguing. She couldn't help but be entertained by him and the way she got on his last nerve.
The other option was that Shelby would create a grimoire for her. She knew she'd have to talk them into including all the spells that were forbidden to the public but that's what she needed. She needed more spells like the one they used today to get into the event.
The closer they got to the edge of Maipeg the more the sounds of wildlife faded away behind them. All of it was replaced with the chatter of people here and there, horse hooves and wagon wheels against the pavement. They paused at the edge of the tree line, hiding behind the largest trunks available to them. Shelby's wide frame stuck out oddly, only hidden partially by the trees. People out walking the streets didn't seem at all concerned about the unsanctioned magic that had been used at the queen's event. They didn't know yet. No, this last corner of Maipeg seemed normal.
A bakery stood amongst rows of houses. Cookies were displayed in the front windows and pedestrians stopped to marvel at the intricate designs of the icing. This wasn't a busy part of town, mostly residential, however, Maipeg was an overcrowded city to begin with. Most people who came to this side of town were either citizens who lived nearby or they were tourists who came to take part in seeing all the bakeries. It was pretty common for people outside of the city to strictly visit the bakeries and buy something from each and every one. They each had their own specialties of course.
"Well, it doesn't look like anyone's looking too hard for us." She walked around the tree and stepped out onto the sidewalk.
"You can't just walk out like that!" Shelby chased after her.
"And why not?"
"Do you think if they were looking for us they would make it obvious they were looking for us?" She settled her hands in her pockets and began leisurely strolling down the paved sidewalk. She stepped around the people peering into the bakery windows and continued looking toward where the path eventually turned to dirt a few buildings away. "The least they would do is have the guard out. Do you see any guards? I don't. They're all closer to the castle right now."
Shelby's head was on a constant swivel. He looked this way and that way, searching for anyone who was watching them back.
"Stop it, you’re causing a scene," she said under her breath. Shelby quit looking around, pointing his attention straight ahead. "That's better."
Behind them, the rattle of carriages became more urgent as a wagon packed with guards came to a stop down the street. Ace took Shelby's hand and yanked him behind the side of the building.
"Check the forest! They were headed this way not long ago. I'll check the businesses."
The two of them flattened themselves against the building where they were sandwiched between two homes. They weren’t far from the road that led out of town.
"What were you saying again?" Shelby asked.
"Shut up! I can get us out of this." Unless Shelby was going to use his magic to get them out of the situation, she knew she would have to be the one to do it. There was no way he was going to be leaving his signature and the direction we were choosing to leave town. Ace leaned into him. "Care to tell me where exactly we are going? To do this, we're going to need to split up.” Maybe that was Shelby’s plan all along.
"What's your plan?" He didn't pull away but he watched her from narrowed slits.
She pulled off her hood, the rain had died down so just a sprinkle began to collect on her eyelashes. "I'm going to lead them away. Unless you suddenly learned how to scale buildings or keep your balance on loose shingles?"
"What makes you think I can't do that!"
Was he really getting offended right now? "Can you?"
Shelby froze. "No."
"Exactly. Now, where should I meet you?"
There were voices in the distance, guards who were clearing buildings nearby. Even though the voices were getting closer Shelby took his time to think. There wasn't time to ponder on this!
"If you follow along the road for two miles, then go west into the woods for three miles, you'll run into the river. Follow the river until you get to the waterfall. Under the waterfall is a cave. Meet me there."
Ace narrowed her eyes right back but nodded. At least she’d gotten some information out of him; if it was reliable information was yet to be determined. "Go ahead without me." She grabbed him by the back and shoved him toward the back of the building. "I'll meet you there."
Before Ace could even finish her sentence, Shelby was already moving into the shadows. At least he listened. Now she was alone. There were no gods in her head to direct her, nor the chanting of prayers to give her context of anything going on around her. Ace was utterly alone.
A couple of buildings back there’d been a ladder propped up against the roof where it looked like they were doing maintenance. She knew she had to get there. The plan was already forming in her mind and she wiped away a droplet of water that rolled down her face. The rain was slowing and the sun peaked out from behind the clouds. She took this as a sign. Whether or not it actually was she couldn't know until she asked tomorrow when the gods would be back.
What if they didn't come back? That was entirely unlikely. Ace was both excited and completely disgusted with the idea of just being her and her thoughts again.
The disturbing feeling remained, all centered around the idea of her being alone…forever. She thought she'd enjoy being just herself. Instead, she felt empty and lost. She shrugged it off as she saw Shelby disappear. Then she took one step and then another until she was standing in the street and a ray of sunlight was cast upon her, throwing her shadow behind her and giving anyone who looked a good view of her features.
A few guards stopped and turned to look as she came to a pose with her hands placed on her hips and said, "Here I am. Want to play a little game?"
Ace
The guards did, in fact, want to play a game. They raced toward her, closing the safety of distance between them. Ace stretched her hand out in front of her and felt the holy fire burn a little hotter. She let the brilliant orange turn into a glowing rage.
"Stop!"
Warmth spread behind her eyes, the fire burning fully in her gaze now. Judging by the way the guards skidded to a halt, a cloud of dirt blooming from their heels, pebbles scattering around them, they could see it flashing in her eyes too.
"The game goes like this…" She edged her way to the opposite side of the street. One small step after the other.
Metal whispered against its sheath as a sword was pulled from the nearest guard’s waist. Ace dared to take her gaze off the men to look down at the polished point of the blade where her reflection stared back at her. Not only were her eyes glowing and brighter than normal, she could see the fire moving. It flickered in and out as it fed off her emotions.
"That wasn't very kind of you." She lifted her arms in mock surrender. Another sword was drawn. "You haven't even heard the rules yet."
Then she was running. Her cloak lifted off her back and billowed out behind her. She pushed all her strength into every bounding step. Her arms pumped and her upper body tilted into the movement. This was just another day in the life of Ace, she thought to herself.
She'd run away from guards so many times before and gotten away. Now would not be any different. She wouldn't allow it to be. All she had to do was get to that stupid ladder.
Guards grunted in surprise as she burst into a sprint. Five guards in total followed her. She swore one of them even muttered. "Not again," under his breath before heaving himself after her.
"In the name of the queen, you must stop!" One of the men from the back shouted. How very noble of him.
The rest of the guards surely heard the commotion and would soon be on their way to join in. Passersby froze to watch the spectacle, their attention fixed on the criminal girl with the law chasing behind her. This was the third time she'd caused a scene this week. That was a record and one she wasn't proud of. Would there be rumors about her? There had to be now. Because as she rounded the corner of the alley she'd seen the ladder in, she made eye contact with those who pressed their faces against the shop’s windows to watch.
They gasped and bolted upright. If there were any other signs of repulsion, Ace didn't see it. She was glad she hadn't because she already felt the twist in her gut like a knife blade as she remembered the first people she'd surprised after coming back to life.
Worn wood was chilled by the day in the shade of the alley. It was smooth from likely years of use as Ace's palms met the rungs. She placed her boots on the first step and turned in time to see one of the guards sliding into the alley.
"This would be a lot more fun if you'd let me play my game," she scolded him before she began to climb.
He huffed out a breath—or was it a laugh?—before another guard was at his side. Ace didn't stick around to watch as they piled up and fought over who was going up the ladder next.
Weight tugged at her heel, keeping her from taking another step up. She tried to keep going, tried to keep moving, but that weight turned into further strain. Fingers wrapped around the toe of her boot, hooking into the laces. They'd been faster than she'd thought.
Ace shook her leg and when that did nothing to help she reached for her cloak. The bow that tied it around her shoulder released in a single pull of the string.
Material caught in the wind, fluttering down her body length. Finally, it draped across the face of the man under her that held her so tightly. He shook his head in an effort to clear his vision, and his fingers slipped off her foot.
Go! Her mind screamed. Now was her chance to make up some lost ground.
She scampered up the last of the rungs and began darting over the shingles on the roof. The top of this building was older and the shingles were missing in large patches. It would give the guards a rougher surface to help them run faster. Another disadvantage for her.
But could the guards jump?
For twelve months Ace had worked on the skills needed to keep herself hidden from the public. She'd become a better thief too. One skill she was getting quite good at was jumping between buildings.
The guards were rolling themselves onto the roof and forcing their way to their feet when Ace reached the edge. On this end of the city, the buildings were farther apart than where they'd all been crammed together near the castle. She had seconds to examine the length before tossing herself over the edge.
A rush of air left her lungs as she hit the roof. Her feet dangled over the edge and gravity pulled her down. Her fingers scratched at the shingles, trying to catch the lip of one before she fell two stories to the ground.
Her jaw was set with determination. The tips of her fingers catching on the smallest edge. In one fluid motion, she yanked herself to a stop and began pulling her body up. The shingle loosened at her weight.
Oh gods… oh gods…
She cursed under her breath and then said an extra curse for Shelby just for good measure. There was no way he would have been able to hold off the guard as she had. Ace was confident this was something only she was great at.
A guard thudded against the roof to her right. His boots landed only a couple of yards away, he watched her from his crouch. What the hell? Most of the guards who worked outside of the castle were lazy sons of bitches. Not him. Had Queen Sienna sent out her personal guard to find them?
Another guard smacked into the clay tiles between them with a yelp on her other side. He skidded against the tile as she had. His hands reached out for anything to take hold of but couldn’t quite get a hold of any one shingle. The guard—the one on his feet—flattened to his belly trying to catch his comrade.
The man slipped over the edge and a shout of surprise left him. It was only a moment later, when Ace was already up and standing again, positioned to sprint away, that he landed with a sickening crunch. Ace winced at the noise of bones breaking. She tried to push away the flashing images of blood that immediately came to mind.
The guard behind her didn't stop to mourn his friend. Maybe they just hadn't been close. Or maybe he was just good at his job.
Below them, voices were calling out for help. Someone was shouting for something to stop the bleeding. At least people on the street weren't looking at her.
At the end of this roof, there would be another jump. Ace was already preparing herself. A tree grew next to the building offering a few thicker limbs toward Ace and her grand escape. She pushed all that she had into this last run knowing just how close the guard was behind her. Too close.
For a split second, she thought about praying to one of the gods. If she didn't make this jump, she’d either be in the hands of Queen Sienna, leaving this world in cosmic imbalance, or she’d be broken. Splattered on the ground just like the last man who couldn't make the jump. Either way, she was as good as dead.
As her feet sent her propelling through the air toward the limb she remembered how useless the gods had been during moments like this. They hadn't saved Ace on her deathbed. They’d let her die. She was now the hands and feet of the gods; they themselves were useless. That was the thought traveling through her head as she smacked into the tree limb and wheezed the last of her air out.
She took a chance and glanced behind her, wondering if the guard would land next to her again. He hadn't left the roof. He'd been the only guard that made it across the buildings going as far as she had. And he didn't look as if he was even going to attempt this one. Not that it was much farther than the last…
He didn't move from where he was standing as Ace made her way down the tree. Here and there bark splintered against her cheap clothing and poked her skin as she scaled along the trunk. She kept eye contact with the man until her boots hit the ground, then she was running into the sanctuary of the forest. He didn't call after her or point anyone in her direction. The man stayed silent. Ace couldn't shake that thought.
She pushed through the brush and leapt over the shattered bits of debris that collected on the forest floor, her momentum creating a wind that blew her hair off her face. Occasionally, raindrops that had gathered on the canopy above her dripped down onto her still wet clothing. Sweat and rainwater kept her damp.
Her ears strained to listen for anyone following her as she made her way to where she thought was the two-mile mark. The entire way she hadn't stopped thinking about the guard who’d said nothing. He made the jump…he could have made the second jump… he could have shouted for someone on foot to chase her when she got to the forest. He could have… He could have… He could have… Why didn't he?
Ace turned west. Eventually her sprint slowed to a walk. She hadn't had to distract the guards for too long, leaving her to wonder if she moved fast enough if she'd run into Shelby before she reached the cave. The man's legs were longer than the river that ran the length of Maipeg.
Ace tried to keep her focus on the stretch of land between her and the cave. She wrapped her arms around her body as the wind traveled through her thin clothing. All of her was still damp and her hair was only getting frizzier by the second.
Occasionally, she stopped and leaned against a tree, catching her breath and listening. Her skin goosebumped on the back of her neck. Her eyes were on a constant loop of her surroundings. Were the guards so certain that they would be able to track them with the help of the warlocks? Twice now Ace and Shelby had made the escape into the woods and no one followed. Twice couldn’t be coincidental. It just couldn’t. That last guard had practically let her go.
