Chapter 7
Seven
Ziggy- 20 years old
L ydia sits with her back straight and head held high. She has perfected the look of indifference, presenting completely unbothered by our current situation.
“What is so important that you have called this meeting?” Major Ebruis Sybil drawls, rolling his one eye.
This man has a permanent stick up his ass. He’s always too busy or too important to be dealing with ‘menial’ things such as speaking with his only daughter. But I’ve seen the truth. I’ve seen the scared, sniveling man child behind this ridiculous facade—something I will hold onto until the right moment.
“Father, you asked me to report back to you as soon as I made a breakthrough with the elf,” Lydia proclaims with a hint of pride. Perched in the rafters above, I smile. I can’t wait to see how Ebrius takes the news .
“It’s about fucking time. I was beginning to think you may be better suited for the breeding program.”
My smile vanishes at the thought. Lydia’s blood may be elite, but she is no broodmare.
“And she’s ours,” Rune’s broody voice has me frozen in place. I can’t fathom why he would think that.
“Because deep down, you know it too, buddy,” Dorran pipes in, always having to rub shit in.
“Even I know this, Zigmund. You’re a damn fool to think otherwise. You imprinted on the girl long ago.”
What the fuck Kai, you’re supposed to be the reasonable one. Wait! Did you say imprinted?!
Before any of the idiots living in my head get a chance to speak, my attention is brought back to Lydia’s euphonic voice. “I know where his hometown is and I’ve seen some of his kin.”
“Tell me more.”
“He’s from Willow Falls and comes from a big family. Two fathers—lifebringer is unknown—four sisters and one brother. None of them are healers, so that solidifies that he is definitely not one. All of his sisters presented with simple green magic and his brother is too young for his magic type to have presented yet.”
Ebruis leans back in his stag hide chair, steepling his fingers. “And the fathers?”
“One is an earth elemental. Not very strong, but not weak either. The other is a telekinetic with the power of persuasion.”
Damn, my little thief is really selling this.
Dorran snickers. “ Your little thief?”
We’re not doing this right now. But, Malachi, don’t you dare think you’re getting away with that imprinting shit.
“Oh, child, what made you think I was going to let it go,” Kai chastises me.
Wanting a better view I try to shift positions, but slip in the process. A million scenarios flash through my mind. The two that worry me the most are the possibility of getting stuck somehow with no way out, and the other being falling onto the desk or Ebrius below. Not only would that be embarrassing, but would also set all plans on fire. Instead, a third scenario manifests—one I would never imagine possible. My legs pull together into the tail of a snake, the color reminiscent of black opal, and wrap around the beam for support.
“Chill the fuck out up there! You’ll get us both killed.” My coiled lower half tightens when Lydia’s voice plays only for me. I don’t know whether to be terrified or amazed—all I know is that it’s already too crowded in this skull.
“Do you think you can plant memories of being a devoted soldier? At least we’ll be able to get more use out of him while we do some more testing.”
Yes! Yes! Yes! Eat that shit up you big oaf.
“I’ve already started. I’ve been thinking…it might be a good idea to give him a job down in the healer camp. I can get him to spy on, not only the healers, but the crew as well.” Lydia is beaming at this point. This may all be fake, and she would never admit this, but she’s loving the approval from her father. I can tell by the brightness in her eyes and the way she rubs her thumb over her nails.
What’s most unfortunate about all of this is that when it all comes to an end, that child inside her will die along with her father. But I’ll be there to help bury the corpse and sow the seeds of a new life.
“You do hear yourself, right? Just admit that you want her and then we can all figure out what happens next,” Dorran whines.
Fine. I have feelings for her. Are you happy now?!
“Yes,” they all say in unison. Dorran is like a kid whose dreams just came true. Malachi sounds like his indifferent self. And Rune…well Rune emanated a heavy cloak of lust as he hissed out his answer.
“Fine. I’ll place him in the camp, but he’s your responsibility. He fucks up and you pay the price, Lydia,” Ebrius relents. I watch as Lydia sucks in her cheek, biting down as she silently nods. All brightness snuffed from her being.
“Good. Now, off you go. I have adult issues to deal with.” Ebrius peers down at the papers on his desk and waves her off.
Sliding from the chair, Lydia doesn’t bother with a rebuttal. Dejection mars her face as she leaves the room without a single sound. Meanwhile, I’m up here begging these beams to stay silent as I try to figure out how to move around in this new body so that I can get the fuck out of here.
As I manage to finally uncoil myself, a low chanting starts below me.
“ From the blood of the living may the dead rise. Take this offering as a small token for the greatness that is to come. Keirmodius, Keirmodius, you are needed on this plane. Come. ”
On a slate stone he drags his finger, painting the stone in his blood. The line arcs left, is dragged down in a straight line, then hooks back up to the right. He lifts his finger and draws a diagonal line from right to left through the center, finishing it off with a single dot on each side of the intersection. Ebrius continues to chant the words over and over until his blood sizzles and burns through the stone.
The clacking of hooves moves across the floor, stopping at the front of Ebrius’ desk, just beneath me. “I’m a demon, not dead, Ebrius.” The heavy drawl comes from thin air, not a single being in sight.
“Forgive me, Keir. I appreciate you coming.”
A cloud of black smoke appears just as quickly as it dissipates, revealing a small, husky man. Dressed in a velvet overcoat and brown fitted trousers, Keir screams wealth. His pale head may be shaved but the beige ram’s horn makes up for the lack of hair.
“You didn’t give me much of a choice, now did you?” The demon’s voice drips with condescension. Running his fingers through his gray beard he continues, “You best make this visit worth my while.”
Ebrius drops his eye, afraid to meet Keir’s gaze. “I need you to trace a bloodline for me. My daughter claims to have extracted the information from the elf, but something doesn’t seem right.” His voice is small and shaky.
Keir sighs, dropping down into the seat Lydia just occupied. “You know my price.”
Ebrius drums his fingers against the smooth wood of his desk. “Yes, yes. My soul is yours for one year, during which I can be called at any time to do your bidding.” Pausing, Ebruis opens a drawer to his left and pulls out two vials of blood. “I have something better to offer though.”
Keir raises an ashy brow, clearly intrigued. “Out with it.”
“In exchange for all the information you can get me on this elf, I will give you my daughter.” Ebruis swirls one of the vials, crimson swishing inside. “I am willing to sign a blood contract.”
A heat like I’ve never felt before washes over me. I will not allow Lydia to be sold for my secrets. I’d rather this ugly fuck know everything. I can kill him, but breaking a blood contract is nearly impossible.
My body tightens around the beam, forcing a low moan from the wood. Keir’s deep indigo eyes snap up meeting mine, a smirk curling up the side of his mouth. Quickly redirecting his gaze to Ebrius, his smirk turns into a full fledged smile, showing off rows of razor sharp teeth.
“Hmm, that is quite the tempting offer.” Keir stands, tripling in size. “I’ll take your daughter, but I refuse a contract in her blood. Instead, you will sign your soul away, bound in your blood. I will not collect until the favor is completed, granted I get you the information you so desperately need,” he coos, leaning over the desk. “But you know I always follow through.”
A bead of sweat drips down Ebrius’ temple as he contemplates my importance. “For someone who has never met this boy, Locren is way too interested in his past—I want to be the one to hold the key. Plus, I don’t plan on dying anytime soon.” A quill appears between Keir’s fingers, the tip deathly sharp, waiting for Ebruis’ shaky hand to take it from him. With the lightest tap blood blooms from the Major’s finger, soaking the nib. Keir gives Ebrius his palm and watches as he writes his sigil into the flesh.
“Always a pleasure doing business with you, Sybil. Now, let's see this daughter of yours.” Keir speaks to Ebrius as if he is a child, guiding him out the office door.
When Ebrius is out of sight Keir stops, glancing back at me. “I can’t wait to find out what makes you worth a man signing his daughter and soul away. I’ll see you soon, Zigmund .”