Thief (Rebel Heart Book 5), page 11
“So you’re a stalker,” I said, a catch in my voice. “That says more about you than it does about me.”
“You admit it then?” Swiping his thumb over a scarlet smear on his chin, Aster sauntered to the bottom of the stairs, ensuring he had the full attention of the Brotherhood. “You lie with darkness. Which is, for obvious reasons, forbidden.”
Cinder’s brilliant white wings flared wide, blazing with the light of a thousand suns. A boom shook the room. I threw my arms up to cover my eyes until the light faded. “This is not why we are here. Ember will admit nothing.” Cinder didn’t shout this time. He didn’t have to. Every calm word he spoke rang with authority.
Jadis nodded and flung a hand in the direction of the portal to the other side. “Agreed. Let’s be done with this. Aster, if you’re through pontificating for the day, some of us have other places to be.”
I sighed, trying not to let the relief flood my face. Cinder had been right. I would have to either admit or deny my relationship with Arrow. But not today.
“Should you somehow manage to survive Flint, I will bring that charge against you.” Aster jabbed a finger in my face as he stalked by, ascending the steps to the table.
Turning to my companions, I said, “Feel free to bail out. I wouldn’t blame any of you if you did. This is bigger than I thought it’d be.”
To my amazement, not one of them showed so much as a flicker of doubt or hesitation.
“Come on now, Spike. You know that’s not going to happen.” Jett hip bumped me and smiled nervously before double checking the wrist and ankle sheaths she wore.
Cinder walked us to the doorway to the other realm. Hooking an arm through mine, he leaned in close. “If at any time you change your mind, I’ll get you out. I promise.”
I nodded, knowing that to change my mind meant having Aster hunt me for the rest of my life, until he finally killed me.
Pulling a handful of small, raw quartz stones from a pocket, Cinder handed one to each of us. “If you get separated or hurt, or you just need to get out, break the stone. I’ll come for you.”
I glanced back to where Aster watched from where he’d perched on the tabletop. He didn’t object to Cinder’s gift. He probably hoped I would give up and ask Cinder to bail me out. So I had no choice but to disappoint him.
Seeing as nobody had objected to the weapons we carried or searched us for anything hidden, they must have felt that anything we brought hardly improved our odds. That was disconcerting. Lightly I touched my pocket, where Nova’s gem sat, dormant for now.
Cinder pulled me into a tight hug that crushed the air from my lungs. The urgency in his embrace worried me. “Take note, the dragon has the power to hypnotize. Don’t look directly into his eyes for too long.”
Not the best parting words. Not by a long shot. Fuck me every which way from Sunday, this shit was getting too real.
“It’s cool. We’ve got this.” Keeping a tough front, I hugged him back and then let go. Before the nerves could get the best of me.
“I believe in you, Ember. I’m sorry if my concern makes it appear otherwise. You are a precious asset to the light. Trust yourself.” Cinder stepped back so we could pass through the doorway.
I had to go first. I knew that. So why weren’t my feet moving?
Ah yes, I had to make them move. One agonizing step after another.
“Fuck me,” I muttered beneath my breath.
With a brief glance back at my friends, I held my breath and stepped through the blue-and-green light.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
A strange wave of energy rippled through me from head to toe. We emerged into a place where the air smelled sweet like flowers but a little burnt.
The first thing I noticed aside from the air was the red haze from the two crimson suns shining down upon us, one on each side of the horizon. The four of us stood just inside city gates, beneath a giant archway. Standing tall behind us was a black iron gate complete with spikes along the top. The rest of the city was surrounded by a stone wall too tall for anything to conquer, unless it had wings.
Beneath our feet the road was paved with a deep-gold stone. A thatch of midnight-purple trees flanked the gate on either side. I eyed them warily, knowing better than to trust any foreign foliage.
“Holy shit,” Jett breathed, taking it all in. “This is so much nicer than the prison realm.”
Ahead of us stretched the city. The golden street appeared to lead right through the heart of town to the castle in the distance. It stretched tall and white against the red sky. Three massive towers rose up from various wings of the castle.
“This can’t be nearly as easy as it looks.” Arrow squinted against the strange red light, peering at the castle and the marketplace that separated us from it. “It’s a decent trek from here to there. Be ready for anything, I guess.”
Rowen didn’t speak. He gaped at everything, from the orange moss at the base of the purple tree to the shimmering stones that led the way. He hadn’t seen the prison realm. There truly was no way to accurately describe these otherworld places. One simply had to see it.
“Flint already knows we’re here,” I said, adjusting the small dagger strapped to my forearm. On my back, the weight of the Midnight Star was a comfort.
“That he does.” A voice from behind had us all spinning around ready to defend.
Tall, blond, and a work of art, the demon guarding the gate stepped into view. He’d probably watched us appear from the other side. His long hair was pulled back in many braids, revealing ears that ended in pointed tips. Something like war paint stained one side of his face with a symbol resembling a flicker of flames. Large feathered wings cloaked him. Behind him waved a long furry tail that ended in a puff of fur similar to a lion’s. Brilliant red eyes pinned us with a stare that was more curious than anything else.
Sword in hand, the demon held the weapon in a relaxed grip. “I’ve been sent with a message from the Dragon King for you, daughter of Kai.”
I gawked at the blond work of art, both fascinated and disappointed. “How does he know I’m here already? I literally just got here.”
“He received word that you’d be coming three days ago.” The demon spoke with a slight accent that indicated he spoke in that old ancient language of the immortals more frequently than he used the tongues of man.
Aster, that nasty excuse for an angel. He’d given Flint a heads up that I’d be coming, so damn certain I’d accept the trial. How I loathed him.
“That son of a bitch,” I muttered beneath my breath. Keeping my straight-faced composure, I regarded the demon with the same care I gave all demons. I didn’t trust them. Would never trust them. “I see. So what’s the message?”
I doubted being met at the front gate with a message from the king was a good sign. Although the guard wasn’t swinging that sword yet. So that was something.
“He welcomes you,” the demon said, shocking me. His gaze drifted over us each in turn. “Along with your companions. He genuinely hopes you survive long enough for him to make your acquaintance.”
Ok, not so shocking then. Flint doubted I’d even make it to wherever he dwelled within the castle. But I had his curiosity piqued.
What was the protocol for such an event? Was I supposed to be polite to a dragon king’s guard? Or tell him to stick it in his ass, seeing as he was a demon who couldn’t give less of a crap about me.
“Um, ok then. Thanks, I think.” How much more awkward could I be?
With a dramatic pause, the demon’s expression softened, and he smiled, revealing perfect teeth, upper and lower fangs. Extending his free hand, he said, “If I might say, I’m certain he will be quite captivated with you.”
Was that a come on? As I was about to march off to face certain death? Not cool.
I stared at his offered hand. Rejecting it might piss him off. Playing nice might get me farther. So I accepted. He shook my hand, gentle but firm, tight without crushing my fingers together. Although he wasn’t an incubus, his touch sent a shock of warmth racing up my arm. I couldn’t keep it from flooding my cheeks in heat.
“Well, I doubt that will matter, seeing as he’ll probably kill me.” It was a bad joke that came out sounding stone cold serious. I hadn’t come to die.
“Yes, he probably will.” The demon nodded, releasing my hand with reluctance, allowing our fingers to slide apart. “But if he chooses instead to keep you among his treasure, I do hope we meet again. Best of luck, flame bearer. It was enchanting to meet you. My name is Artem. Use it to gain access to the stone passage in the library.”
Keep me among his treasure? My eyes widened. I hadn’t considered that possibility.
Was this a trick? Demons don’t share their names without a reason, usually a dastardly ulterior motive.
He turned back to his post at the gate.
Confused, I called after him. “Wait, what does that mean?”
Artem’s red gaze flicked about. When he seemed satisfied we were not being eavesdropped upon, he said only, “I owed your father a debt. Consider it repaid in full. Repeat this to the Dragon King, and I’ll kill you myself.” He resumed his post without so much as another glance in my direction.
We were dismissed.
I turned back toward the town, dying to fling myself at the demon and beat more out of him. It was pretty shitty to say just so much and leave me hanging. It wasn’t like I could waltz into the prison realm any time I liked to ask Kai myself. It took a special key to get in and a personal price to get out.
Damn demons. With just two sentences they could leave you squirming like a worm on a hook.
“Ok.” I drew myself up to my full height, squared my shoulders, and glanced at my companions. They all waited expectantly. “Let’s do this.”
Steeling myself the best I could for whatever lay ahead, I stepped from the shade of the archway and into the strange red sunlight. Even with two suns it wasn’t as bright as our sun, nor was it as hot.
“Smells like fire,” Jett observed, ambling along, watching our surroundings with a predator’s wariness. “Like the air is stained with soot. Still better than the prison realm.”
I nodded. Couldn’t argue with that. The prison realm had been a greasy place that left me feeling stained long after I’d left.
A brilliant-green flower grew between the cracks of the golden stones. I dodged it. The flower stretched in an attempt to reach me, leaning hard toward me as I kicked at the skinny feeler it snaked out at me. My boot hit the feeler, and the whole flower recoiled with an angry buzz.
“Did that flower just fucking hiss?” A shadow drifted lazily around Arrow as he glowered at the offending flower. Despite his calm exterior, the shadow proved he was on edge.
“Leave it.” I stopped him from reaching for the dagger on his hip. Our hands touched, and I grabbed hold of his for a quick touch. “We can’t hurt anything unless it tries to hurt us first.”
Arrow slid his fingers between mine and raised our joined hands so he could brush his lips over my knuckles. I allowed myself a moment to enjoy it. The shadow cloaking him began to thin.
Flipping her purple braid over one shoulder, Jett paused to tease the next flower we came across. Poking at it with a finger, she jerked away before it could latch on. “Unless the flowers bust out of the ground and give chase, we probably don’t need to waste energy battling the plant life.”
Rowen frowned, giving the flowers a wide berth. “I don’t think you should tease the angry flowers.”
“Why? Do you think, if we piss them off enough, they’ll Hulk out and beat our asses?” With a chuckle, Jett jabbed an elbow playfully in Rowen’s side.
“Well for one, it’s kind of tacky.” Rowen’s step faltered as he pointed up toward the tops of the trees that lined the stone trail. “Also, I think it’s pissing off those guys.”
I stumbled, almost tripping, as I looked up to find two horrifying creatures glaring down at us. Those two monstrous things lived in the place where my nightmares dwelled. A pair of hideous bald vultures watched us from the treetops. My heart stuttered.
“Oh, hell no,” Jett swore. “Not those things again.”
Arrow wasn’t any happier than we were to see the awful creatures that had attacked us in the prison realm. “Shit. Does that mean you-know-who is here somewhere?”
The gold road stretched long before us. We still had a distance to go before we reached the town itself. The marketplace was a blur from here, gradually becoming clearer as we drew closer.
I searched the treeline on the side of the road. Oh please, no. Not that thing.
“You know who?” Brow furrowed in confusion, Rowen edged closer to Arrow. “You’ve seen those things before?”
“In the prison realm,” Arrow confirmed. “They weren’t alone.”
Rowen swore. “Starting to think it’s better that I missed out on that one.”
“It is.” Jett and I said in unison. We couldn’t even laugh about it.
Because up ahead, lurking in the shadow of a large, overhanging purple tree was the vulture-headed demon from the prison realm. And clutched in his bony, clawed fingers, as expected, the creepy little cup of eyeballs. At least I presumed it to be filled with eyeballs. It had been last time.
We continued on toward the thing, because we didn’t have any choice. Keeping an eye on the vultures that followed among the treetops, I swore when my fingertips burst into flames. The last time we’d encountered the strange, robed demon, I’d struggled to control my reaction as well.
I was stronger now. Quickly I brought the flames under control, extinguishing them. But I couldn’t keep my palms from tingling. My defenses were ready to burst forth.
“Think we’ll have to fight them off again?” The shadows cloaking Arrow had thickened at the sight of the eyeball collector. These otherworld places seemed to bring out the worst of us.
“That depends,” Jett replied, dark wolf gaze locked on the demon. “Do you have an eyeball to give it?”
In a loud whisper Rowen repeated, “An eyeball?”
Despite the unease that had crept over our group, I managed a small laugh at his sheer incredulity. “You don’t want to know, Rowen. But you’re probably about to find out anyway.”
As expected, the demon thrust his cup toward us as we reached him. Again he stayed put, never moving other than that snake tail rattling softly behind him. This time, however, he raised his other hand and pointed to Rowen.
“Why’s it pointing at me?” Understandably uneasy, Rowen eased closer to me.
Jett beat me to the answer. “Because you have the prettiest eyes here. Gotta say, I’m a little relieved.”
Of course she was. The thing had wanted her eye last time. It had settled for the eye of a hellhound.
Rowen seemed to choke on his next response. He shook his head, those pretty amber eyes wide as he gaped at the demon. For a second his stride faltered, and I caught his arm, urging him along.
Facing the demon as we passed, Arrow held both hands up in a plea for understanding. “Remember us? We’ll try bring you what you want on the way back. Just like last time. Can’t make any promises though.”
The thing had given no real sign it understood us last time. It did now. With a slow shake of its beaked head, it pointed again at Rowen. Above us the vultures gave a warning scream. They’d taken flight and began to circle overhead.
“No. Not him. He needs his eyes. We’ll owe you one. Better than a hellhound eye. Ok? Work with me here.” Tone firm, Arrow came to a halt, waiting for the demon’s agreement.
Shadows drifted around him, swirling faster as his instinct readied him for defense. For just a moment they hovered behind him, shoulder to ankle, in the shape of perfect wings. I blinked, and before I could be sure of what I saw, they broke apart to flail wildly about once again.
The rest of us eased to a stop, waiting. Watching the shrieking birds above. It couldn’t be a coincidence that this creature was here. Clearly it wasn’t a fixture in the prison realm, free to move about at will. Why did it seem to know when we’d crossed into the otherworld?
The creepy cup of eyeballs didn’t make sense at first thought. But there had to be a reason for it. What the hell was this thing up to with its eerie collection?
It eyed Arrow with beady inhuman eyes. Cocking its head to one side, it considered him. One of the vultures swooped down, well out of reach. Just close enough to keep us on our toes.
The bony hand it extended toward Rowen dropped. It withdrew the cup back closer to its body. With a scream that sounded to me like a protest, the vultures resumed their position high in the trees.
We continued on our way without any further issue from the vulture demon and its minions. I glanced back several times to ensure we weren’t being followed. Having four of us made it easier to watch every side.
“Are you seriously going to bring that thing an eyeball?” Rowen asked when we were a relatively safe distance away.
Arrow shrugged. “If I can get my hands on one. I gave him one before.”
“I don’t know whether to laugh or scream at the thought of that.”
“Just laugh,” Jett advised Rowen. “Cuz I doubt that’s the craziest shit you’re going to see here.”
The trees began to thin, and the stone street widened as we reached the main street running through the center of town. Opposite from where we stood, the castle rose tall and intimidating in the distance. Less than a mile away, it managed to appear both terrifying and mesmerizing.
Between us and our destination stretched a marketplace of demon wares. Any number of possible dangers lay in our path. We were outsiders. Unwelcome here. Yet we had no choice but to venture on.
“Did I mention that I wouldn’t blame you guys if you wanted to turn back?” I joked, nervous as we made our way, sticking to one side of the street rather than strolling right down the center. Although I thought Arrow would have boldly done so.
