Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
BELLAMY
W e walked on the dirt path that led upward toward the dark grey mountain at the end of the village. Palm trees sprouted up on either side of the path. Behind the trees, thatched-roof squat buildings populated the space. Dirt and grime covered the windows while the doors were splintered, chipped and peeling. Roofs had caved in on some of the buildings, while others had trees growing out of them. It was clear no one had lived here for a long, long time.
“What do you think happened here?” I signed.
Leoni’s mouth flattened. “Spirit Shadow,” she whispered, almost as if she was afraid to say his name too loudly, like we could summon him somehow.
My eyes widened at that. “You’re saying he killed his own people? Why would he do that?”
Driscoll swallowed thickly. “We don’t know, but it was confirmed by a shadow elemental who we met a few months ago. She saw it all happen and was the only survivor. She managed to escape and hid for her entire life out of fear that Spirit Shadow would find her and kill her so she wouldn’t expose that he was free.”
That was horrific. I’d already hated him for killing so many of my people, but he’d also killed his own followers, elementals who worshipped him, used the magic he’d gifted them. He’d annihilated two entire races of elementals. And why? Why do all of that and then hide out here in his castle?
What was his end game?
“We don’t know why,” Leoni said, as if she could read my mind. “But we do know he’s trapped here, on this island or in his castle, maybe? He can’t be free until all the elementals are released from wherever they’re trapped. And the only way to release them is with their weapons. He’s collecting them, using his shadows to go searching for them since he can’t. He already has Spirit Water’s trident, his own dagger, and Spirit Earth’s bow and arrow.”
Leoni’s gaze dropped to the satchel strapped across my shoulder. She didn’t have to say what was on her mind. I knew what she was thinking. Here I was bringing this bolt straight to him. A weapon he needed.
I ignored her, signing, “So is that his grand plan? To collect all the weapons, then use them to free the other spirits? Then what?”
She shrugged helplessly. “We don’t know. Based on what he did to the star and shadow elementals, we’re guessing the spirits want to kill us all. Maybe in revenge for being trapped so long ago? But it doesn’t make sense because we weren’t even the ones who trapped them. It would’ve been those of the Old World.”
And all of them were dead. They’d perished thousands of years ago, right around the time the Seven Spirits disappeared. I’d read about it in books that I’d found, had talked about it with my brothers and father. My father’s voice echoed in my head.
“Don’t take everything you read at face value, Bell. There’s always more to the story if you dig deeper, read between the lines.”
He wasn’t much of a history buff. He preferred the fictional stories to the nonfictional ones. Said they were more fun—and they tended to have happier endings than those in the real world. There was always a sadness in his voice when he’d say things like that, and I knew he was thinking of my mother. Of what happened to her when the star court warped and turned into the Wilds. Of the creature she’d turned into before she abandoned us. I rubbed my arms and sighed.
“Do you think he’s up there right now?” Driscoll peered at the castle in the distance. “Watching us approach?”
Leoni stopped. “Well now I do. We’re not being smart. We should get off this main road.” She gestured toward the structures on either side of us. “Keep to the shadows.”
“Ah yes, the shadows.” Driscoll stroked his clean-shaven chin. “Because those tend to keep us safe.”
Leoni began walking off the dirt road and through the palm trees toward the houses. “The sun keeps the shadows from this area, so we’ll be safe as long as a storm doesn’t roll in or something. Besides, I don’t know about you, but I fear Spirit Shadow much more than his shadows.”
Driscoll gulped and followed Leoni off the road. I adjusted the satchel strap that was cutting into my neck and trailed behind them.
Leoni led us behind the cluster of houses, all pushed close together with small alleys of dirt roads between them. She was right. This was a much better cover as we made our way toward the mountain. Random pieces of stone and wood lay scattered on the ground. I stepped on something hard that crunched under my boot and realized it was a bone. A hand from the looks of it. I shuddered as my gaze swept the area, other random bones dusting the ground.
Driscoll gingerly stepped over one. “I could’ve married a king. I could’ve stayed in Fyriad and been a pampered queen. And instead, I chose this.” He pointed at a femur laying on the ground.
I assumed he was talking about Aron, being his consort. If things had gotten that deep between them, then Aron was far more smitten than I’d even realized.
Leoni pointed at him. “First of all, Aron’s not king yet. That has to be ratified by the other leaders since the frost queen’s death. Second of all, you didn’t want to be his queen. You basically ran in the other direction when he said he wanted to court you.”
I raised a brow. Now that was interesting.
Driscol scoffed. “I didn’t run. I’m being noble. I’m trying to help you save the world, in case you forgot. You know, you’re very ungrateful.”
“Uh-huh. Sure, Driscoll. Whatever you say.”
I smirked, but then he turned to me and I quickly glowered at him. I didn’t need him thinking I was entertained by any of this. Then he’d just talk to me more. “Don’t listen to her. I’m not afraid of being in a relationship with Aron.”
Leoni turned as well. “Yes, he is.”
“I don’t care,” I signed. “Whatever is between you and Aron is none of my business. I just want to focus on getting into that castle and getting the nettle weed so I can save my brothers.”
Leoni translated my message, and Driscoll wrinkled his nose. “You know, you might be the least fun person I’ve ever met, and that’s saying something given that I’m friends with Leoni.”
“Hey!” Leoni shoved him.
He turned back around and slung an arm over Leoni’s shoulder, saying something about how he was just kidding. My heart lurched watching them. My brothers and I had had that same kind of teasing, fun relationship. Klaus loved to tease me the most. He was the goofiest of my brothers, always with a smile on his face, green eyes twinkling, blond hair disheveled and spilling over his forehead. He’d tickle my dirty feet and laugh about how I hated wearing shoes. How I fit perfectly in the Wilds with my long black hair that was never combed, my clothes that were always mismatched. My wild girl , he’d called me affectionately.
I wanted that back. With him. With all my brothers. But time and age had worn away so much of the joy and curiosity in my life. I should’ve run up to Driscoll, tapped him on the shoulder, apologized for being rude. I should’ve been honest that I actually did enjoy his company, his stories that I couldn’t help but listen in on as he prattled them off to Leoni. But I didn’t. This would all be easier if I didn’t form attachments. I’d learned that lesson too many times over the years in the Wilds. Nothing lasted.
Everyone I loved had been taken from me. Except Aron, and in the end, I betrayed him and left him. He probably hated me now. He might as well be as good as dead. But if I could get my brothers back, I could change everything. I could find some joy in my life again. And in order to do that, I needed to focus.
So the rest of the walk to the mountain, I kept my distance behind Driscoll and Leoni, letting them talk while I listened but stayed silent.