King of Deception, page 7
part #3 of Helios Mage Series
“Why can’t we portal out?” demands North.
“All magic leaves a trace, idiot,” snaps Damita. “Do you want them to track us down?”
“Of course not!” North huffs. “I thought it was impossible to track magic here? There’s too much.”
“Difficult, but not impossible,” says Sage.
Ignoring their bickering, I wave my fellow escapees ahead, encouraging them to get out of here as quick as they can, only moving forward when Caspian catches up. “Where is everyone, Cas? Why are the castle and grounds empty?”
He answers as we dart across the swaying bridge. “The staff are either otherwise engaged or avoiding our escape route. Rone’s doing.”
Questions swirl through my mind, fighting for precedence. I settle on the most important. “Where is he?”
“He’ll catch up to us.”
He’s being evasive on purpose. I don’t think I’ll get more out of him on the matter, so I move on to the next question. “Otherwise engaged?”
“There was another selkie attack.” I stumble, causing the bridge to sway violently, but Cas catches hold of my arm and tugs me along. “Don’t panic. It was orchestrated.”
With more questions left than answers, we hit solid ground. I open my mouth to demand information, but Caspian cuts me off. “We don’t have time for this, Embry. We’re on an extremely tight schedule. Even a one minute lost could be catastrophic.”
Frowning, I follow him into the trees of Spectral Grove. We weave through the dead trunks and over protruding roots, following Holly and Cleo. Several shimmering ghosts hover close by, but none approach, which I’m thankful for. As the forest grows thicker and our progress slows, my patience thins. “How much longer?”
Caspian nods to the right, where a swirl of indigo awaits. Clove is standing beside our method of escape, waving several girls through his portal while June explains something to Tempest and Sasi.
Oh, thank the fates.
No longer needing Caspian’s guidance, I rush over.
“…you’ll need to get yourselves there,” says June.
“We can’t come with you? What if something goes wrong?” asks Sasi. “The chances of us landing in the wrong location are high. If you could just give us more information, a solid landing place. Come on, Juniper. Be fair.”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t. We can’t risk you being captured and handing that information over to anyone. We don’t know who we can trust,” says June.
“You can trust Sasi and Tempest,” I say. “They’ve more than earned it.”
June rolls her eyes. “It’s not a matter of trusting the girls. If they’re captured, they’ll be tortured for our location. For your location. Even though you’ve been gone for just under a week, I’m still your sword and vowed to protect you. I won’t risk you, Em.”
“My portal is weakening sooner than expected,” says Clove. “Caspian will have to take a girl with him.” Without another word, he jumps into the swirl of indigo and disappears. The portal closes behind him, leaving us to figure out the rest on our own.
“That presents a problem,” says Caspian.
I hold my hands up. “Everyone just stop. Stop thinking about the possibility of being caught, or the likelihood of not landing where you should. Let’s just focus on getting the hell out of here. Sasi, I know you’re scared, so am I. But you can do this. I believe in you.”
She searches my face for any sign of deceit. Finding none, she nods. “Okay. Sorry. You’re right. I can do this.”
Shadows gather around her, encroaching on her body and intensifying. Knowing she’s about to shadow hop away, I turn to Caspian. “What’s the problem?”
“Light mages are not like those with egress power, or even shadow mages. We cannot travel with more than one other person. There are four here. I can transport one at a time, but we lose an opening we may not get back. Our chances of being found increase a considerable amount.”
Tempest raises her hand. “Uh, sir? Professor Foxwhite? I can help. I’m also a light mage. But I’m not sure if I can take another with me—I’ve never tried before. What if we all travelled together? Both of our magic can guide us to the location. I mean, it could work… It might? I’ve read about it…” She trails off, biting her lip instead.
Caspian thinks for a beat before nodding. “I’ve heard of this. Take my hands. Embry and Juniper, stand between us.”
We do as instructed. Caged between Tempest and Caspian, I take June’s hand and give it a squeeze. She squeezes back with twice the strength, almost crushing my fingers; she laughs when I wince. “That’s for getting yourself kidnapped. Don’t do it again or I’ll break your finger.”
“I didn’t mean to,” I say, flexing the pain from my fingers.
Shaking my head, I place my free hand on Caspian’s shoulder. Bright white surrounds us, bringing with it a scorching heat. The inferno pulls at my skin as we hurtle through the void of light. I’m in a tornado made of fire, spinning closer to the source of the flames.
Just as I’m ready to scream from the pain, my feet collide with solid ground. Caspian and Tempest’s still joined hands prevent me from falling when I stagger sideways.
Tempest offers an apologetic smile. “I’d heard tagging along was difficult. Judging by your expression, it was rather horrendous?”
“Another minute of that and you’d all be eating roasted Embry for dinner tonight.” I try for the joke, but it falls flat, my quivering voice revealing my unease.
I hadn’t put a lot of thought into where we’d go once free of the dungeons, but if I were to guess at a safe hiding place, it wouldn’t be here. Oberon caves is on my shit list of places to avoid in Talaron.
Damita seems to echo my thoughts. “Why in the fates are we here, of all places?”
Neither June nor Caspian offer any insight, and Clove just grimaces as he leads the way to the upper level. Closing in on the entrance, I have to keep reminding myself we’re not in a game anymore, even though it feels like it at times. These caves are not another trial. There’s no blue and gold box waiting to release Pandora’s sins into the world. There’s—with any luck—no Shadow Man waiting to take us to a torture chamber.
The reminders die down as we walk through the dark cavern and turn left toward what was a solid wall. Instead of the unnaturally smooth dead end, I’m faced with the breathtakingly beautiful sight of the Faerie portal.
The cavern forms an arch overhead, where moss hangs in a curtain of silvery-green. The algae-covered lake ripples from careless feet disrupting its natural stillness as ten maidens rush for freedom. Opposite our entrance, a rainbow of light and colour swirls in a transparent portal, Rone flanking it on the right.
His face is one of concern until he finds me at the rear of the group. Where his eyebrows were dipped seconds ago, they now lift above wide eyes. The corners of his lips tilt upwards into a smile.
I take a step toward him, but Caspian holds me back. “I have to return to Orion House. Be safe.”
“I want to say thank you, but I don’t think the words do justice to how absolutely thrilled I am to be free of that place. Why can’t you come with us?”
“Rone will explain. Your thanks aren’t needed, Embry. It was my honour.”
Knowing he wouldn’t appreciate any fanfare, I nod and turn back to Rone. The burning look in his eyes has me frozen. My feet plant on the ground so I can appreciate this moment.
Rone, on the other hand, disagrees. “What are you waiting for, Bloom? Get over here.”
Laughing, I race across the cavern and into his arms. Our lips collide in a rough kiss and I feel whole again, like a fracture in my heart has healed.
I pull back and shove him. “You have a lot of explaining to do.”
“And I will,” he says, rubbing his shoulder. “But first, there’s someone you should meet. A couple of people, actually.”
Assuming he means some kind of fae royalty, I weave my fingers through his and let him lead me through the portal. No longer am I a captive of King Silas Alston and his sick mind, whether it be in a sick dating game or locked in a dungeon. No. I’m free.
Finally free.
ten
Walking through the portal is just like walking through a door. I’m relieved we don’t have to spin through space and time to reach Faerie. I’m not sure how much more I can take tonight.
As we exit the portal, several lithe strangers rush in, muttering about clay formations and rigidity. I spare them a raised eyebrow as we walk further into an opulent room. A roaring fireplace sets the tone, instantly warming me to our new lodgings. The twinkle of stars dotting a clear night sky catches my attention through the arched window opposite. It’s been so long since I appreciated the stars.
Too long. Damn dungeons.
I’m surprised the maidens and twins aren’t here; I’d expected everyone to be crowding around, waiting for the last of us to arrive. Perhaps they’ve been shown to rooms or a healing centre. I don’t believe Rone would lead us into danger, not on purpose. He’d want us safe. He’d want me safe.
I’m about to ask him just where everyone is when my sight lands on her. The woman from the portal in trial five, the tall blonde with the familiar smile. The smile that mirrors my own. Why is she here?
Standing behind who can only be my twin is a man, his hands resting on her shoulders. The echo of a laugh still shines from his silver eyes, even though his ebony hair is in disarray and his mouth is set in a grim frown. He’s the kind of person you warm to as soon as you meet them; how can you not with such a kind face? He steps forward and grins. “Welcome to the Spring Court, Embry.” His voice catches on my name, but he powers through. “It’s been an anxious wait these last few days. I’m glad you made it.”
Rone tries to lead us closer, but I pull back. “Is it safe here?”
“You’re safe, Bloom. No one will hurt you here.” He cups my face. “Come meet your sister and father.”
Father? What?
This time, I allow Rone to drag me closer to the last remaining members of my family. He shakes Rigel’s hand and kisses my sister on the cheek. While they’re distracted with Rone, I look closer at Rigel. The similarities between us are obvious now. There’s a mischievous glint to his eyes that mine once held, our hair is the same shade of black, and we have the same shape to our chins—they’re both set in stubborn determination.
“Thank you for this,” I say. “For allowing us to come here.”
“Twenty-five years and those are your first words?” scoffs Octavia. “You could have led with how we look the same, or how Dad’s crow’s feet are deeper than any ravine. Even hello would have been sufficient.”
What. A. Bitch.
“Tavi,” chastises Rigel.
“Sorry, Octavia. There’s no handbook for how to handle situations like these. I’ve had a trying week, and I’ve just been rescued from Alston’s dungeon, so if you don’t mind…” I turn to Rone, not in the mood for a family reunion. “Where are the other maidens?”
“They’re safe,” he says. “Resting.”
“Take me to them.” My voice comes out sterner than I intend, but I can’t believe they’re okay until I see it for myself.
His eyes flick to Rigel and Octavia. “Wouldn’t you rather spend time with your family? Get to know them?”
“Right now, making sure everyone arrived safely is my priority. I made a promise to protect those girls. This can wait. It’s the middle of the night. I’m tired. I don’t have the energy for this tonight. Please.”
Not to mention I don’t need a reminder that Octavia knows our father well enough to joke about his laugh lines and I don’t. That while I was bounced from foster home to orphanage and back again, she spent her childhood with him, laughing the days away. Or that our father calls her Tavi but doesn’t call me Em. Jealousy isn’t a feeling I’m familiar with and I don’t like it.
It’s not me.
“Let her go, Your Highness,” says Rigel. “I’ll come by in the morning.”
I begrudgingly thank Rigel as we exit the room. He gives me a sad smile in return. Octavia doesn’t offer anything; her face is a mask of indifference. Whether that’s because she doesn’t want me in her life or she doesn’t know what to expect… I’m not sure I want to find out just yet.
When I was younger, I would spend days on end envisioning moments like this. I’d play make believe that my family missed me, that they were looking for me. I’d dream about how I would react when I found them at last. What they would say, and how tight our embrace would be. None of my imaginings prepared me for the hollow feeling of jealousy. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be angry.
All this time, they’ve been here. They’ve been living in Faerie, happy. They’ve been together. Did they even try to find me? Didn’t they ever wonder how my life turned out?
Obviously not.
My thoughts are so busy, I miss the opportunity to take in all that surrounds us. It’s clear to me we’re in some kind of building—a freaking nice one—and I’m aware we’re in the Spring Court, thanks to Rigel’s welcome. But that’s it. My mind is so occupied, I can’t even remember the colour of the walls, the firmness of the ground, or even if we’ve passed people in the halls.
Rone leads me through a set of double doors. The sound of muted chatter bursts the bubble of my thoughts and I’m dragged back to the here and now. Twelve people sit around one end of a long dining table, their heads bent low as they whisper back and forth. They look up upon our arrival.
“Oh, thank the fates,” says Larry, sagging in her chair.
I squeeze her shoulder on my way to a pair of empty seats. “Everyone got here okay?” I direct my question at the twins.
Clove unstraps his shield and sets it against the wall. “Everything went according to plan.”
“Where’s the twelfth maiden?” Rone asks, his tone laced with anger and confusion.
“It’s nothing you did wrong,” says Dove, ever the peacekeeper. “We lost Reed.”
“Don’t look so confused, prince,” says Sage. “She died.”
At his demand to explain, Astrid leads us into a long tale none of us wishes to hear or tell. I’m thankful for her bravery; I don’t think I could recount our story without throwing bolts of lightning at the walls.
She details how most of us were taken, when we each arrived, and our rooms; white upon white. She tells of the security cameras and how the king knew our every move, how they even restricted our bathroom access. “It’s as if he wanted us to believe we were safe but in reality, we were in so much more danger than we thought. The living space, the white, the lights, the comfort even though we were in a prison… it was all a façade,” she says.
“A deception,” I correct.
Cleo takes the reins. “Each day, his advisor would take one of us into a room…” Her words transform into a sob.
With Cleo unable to take the story further, Holly takes her hand and continues. Her voice remains steady as she tells Rone, June, and Clove about the torture room. With each word, their faces grow more and more outraged. The details Holly retained from the ritual are in depth. So in depth, I wish she’d withhold some of them. Her eyes flick to me as she finishes her side of the story. “…and we all endured it. Apparently, it was always the same. Until…”
Oh, shit.
After a long pause where Holly does nothing but bite her bottom lip, June demands, “Until what?”
“Until Embry arrived,” says Larry in a whisper.
Rone’s attention snaps to me. “What does she mean? What did he do to you?” His voice comes out in an animalistic growl.
I shift uncomfortably; I never wanted this attention. So many of these girls had it a lot worse than I did. Some of them were there for weeks and endured the king’s twisted ritual many times. Their scars run deeper than mine; they deserve Rone to be angry on their behalf, not me.
“I was the first person to endure the amended ritual,” I say, looking anywhere but at Rone as I lift the sleeves of my white top. “Magic is stronger in a circle, right? They represent wholeness, unity, and contain energy. The other girls all have straight cuts, but me, Larry, and Astrid, we have these. Magic thrives within spherical objects, even carvings in skin.” I show the scars of many cuts over my hands and legs, too. “The idea was I had to bleed constantly for the ritual to work. So, the crone kept cutting.”
In my peripheral, Rone is unnervingly still. If his fury were any stronger, it’d manifest and claim us all. I cover my scars, ashamed of my body for the first time in my life.
The twins are both enraged; June’s hand shakes as she clenches the pommel of her sword. Clove, who I have seldom seen this irate, has a vein twitching on his forehead. “I’ll kill him,” he says through gritted teeth.
Tempest tries to calm the situation by continuing the story. She tells us about the crone’s part in our torture before moving on to Finch and how he helped us. She gives our rescuers the smaller details, like how we’d all wait in the living room for our friend to return, how we’d help each other shower, and how I rallied them all in the face of grief.
“How did Reed die?” asks June. “Did the crone take too much blood? Did something go wrong?”
“We’re not sure. All we know is King Alston is not only an earth elemental but also a verdure mage,” says North. “That fucker killed Reed and stole her magic. He would have killed all of us if you didn’t get us out.”
Clove is contemplative, drumming his fingers against his chin. “I’d have to research this to be certain, but it sounds to me that without a soul in the body, there’s nothing to hold the powers in. For the ritual to be successful, the original… owner of the magic must die.”
“I’m so glad we got out of there,” says Damita. “But I’ve lived that hell and I don’t need to hear these stories any longer. I’m going to bed.” She claps her hands, and a blue-haired fae male enters through a side door. She appraises him before saying, “We wish to retire for the night. Show us to our rooms.”
