17. Flesh May Bind
Flesh May Bind
ALASTAIR
Mystery far more potent than what shrouded Thornebay clung to the clouds cloaking Hollowmere. Its eeriness derived not only from the shadows lining every crevice of its lethal mountainous terrain, but from the stillness that lingered in every interaction.
The fog swallowed all sound, and the pale figures who drifted through it seemed more like apparitions than residents.
They carried themselves with a peculiar quietness, not unfriendly, but distant.
That subdued nature quickly made Hollowmere uncanny, a location where everyone guarded a secret or listened for something just beyond hearing.
It was all practiced, near-ritualistic. Every street corner, each glance, carried an undercurrent of unease, as if the town itself preferred not to be fully understood. And that stirred something within me.
Analyzing everything while my thoughts fixated on the interaction with Rohen, the large palm that settled on my arm hardly registered.
“Your mind is distant. Do not allow it to wander. Not here.” Parran’s warning came as a whisper before they moved from behind me to grab the knob of the pub we had approached.
Peeling one of the double doors open, that same unsettling silence enveloped us.
There were no boisterous shouts or laughter, no building swell of music.
Instead, the patrons turned to peer over their shoulders and stared for a breath.
They returned to what they were doing, but the sense of them watching lingered, even with their backs to us.
A male approached, his gait sluggish but intentional.
His cropped gothic jacket was made of many fabrics.
From its structured shoulders, long sleeves, wide lapels, and layered ruffled detailing, he embodied the aura Hollowmere emanated.
Trousers fitted to his lithe legs, the chain dangling from his right hip bounced against his thigh.
Its chime became the only sound alongside his booted footsteps as he closed the gap between us.
Ethereal in appearance, his high cheekbones, slim nose, and sharp jawline seemed to be carved by the gods with intention.
Even in the dim light, his porcelain skin glowed, its vibrancy seeming to increase as he gave us a soft smile.
His inky lips accentuated the shift in his expression, clashing with his platinum hair, which matched his complexion and fell in soft waves to his waist.
His pointed ears extended through it, each heavily adorned with multiple silver earrings—hoops along the outer rim, gemstone studs scattered across the cartilage, several helix piercings, and a dangling chain connecting the upper cuff to his lower lobe.
Pearls and white crystals decorated the skin beneath his eyes, while a ruby choker rested against his pale throat.
“Welcome to the Hollow Lantern.”
I went to respond, but Parran’s voice replaced mine. “Do you have any booths available?”
The host’s all-white eyes lifted, scanning them. “Ah, another Fae. Lovely to know that more of our divinity still roam the lands.”
“Divinity?” I asked, unable to prevent the question from falling.
Lifting a brow, with no hair to accentuate the gesture, he craned his head to the side. “You are unfamiliar as divinity yourself?”
What? Divinity?
Leilani brushed her fingers along my spine before slipping from behind me. “Pardon my bluntness, but out of respect for you and the Damned we believe worthy, my partner and I are but mere humans traveling with a gods-blessed being.”
Striations danced along Parran’s jaw, a frequent occurrence when they wished to speak, Sorva’s bind preventing them from doing so. “Apologies, they aren’t—”
“My name is Ignis,” the host interrupted as if sensing Parran’s discomfort. “If you don’t mind following me, I will get the three of you seated somewhere more private.”
Without argument, we fell into the same stillness that fused to the walls of the pub.
The tavern itself was built directly into one of the mountain faces, its structure relying on the rough, jagged stone that shaped the lands of Hollowmere.
Thick wooden beams disappeared into the shadows overhead, their presence adding more to the atmosphere than to the building's integrity.
Behind the spanning slab of dark crystal, the bar housed an array of bottles.
The large stone hearth to its left crackled softly, illuminating the glassware, barrels, and mugs, as well as the old maps pinned to the descending, decorative oak.
As we moved toward the back of the structure, lanterns hanging from iron hooks cast a warm amber glow across worn tables. With every step that brought us closer to the back of the space, the floorboards creaked to signal our presence. Not that the patrons needed anything of the sort.
Lifting an arm, Ignis motioned to our elected booth. “Take a seat.”
I stepped back, mirroring his gesture for Leilani to slide in before I would. Only once she had did I follow, sinking to meet cracked leather. Exhaling, I allowed myself a moment to relax, to take a breath; the air in Hollow Lantern carried irrefutable comfort amid its mystical qualities.
“What can I get you three to drink?” White orbs darted between us, Ignis’ attentiveness notable in their pools.
Parran’s cornflower stare met his. “Veilberry?”
“I’ve got you, darling.” Ignis’ tongue darted between his black lips, its hue an exact match to their color. Turning to Leilani and me, he offered us another friendly grin. “As for the two lovebirds?”
“What is Veilberry?” Leilani asked, her curiosity evident.
“Fae wine.” He nodded toward me before continuing, “If your broody yet… delectable partner doesn’t mind carrying you out of here, I could bring you a small glass.”
“She’ll take some rum,” Parran answered for her. With both of us stunned by their sudden domineering nature, they added, “Actually, get him the same as well.”
“Certainly,” Ignis stated, drumming his fingers against the wood as he nudged himself away from the lip of our table. “I’ll be back.”
Moving with near-feline grace, he vanished around the corner, undoubtedly heading toward the bar. Only once his footsteps faded did I spin toward Parran. “What is going on?”
Their frosted brows narrowed. “Regarding the prophecy, this territory is uncharted, and your attitude surrounding my intervention suggests that you wish for Leilani to be dysfunctional while we scour the streets of Hollowmere. As I said before, when we set foot in this tavern, clouded judgment is not an option.”
My reply came far harsher than I intended. “That is not what I am referring to.”
“Any curiosities surrounding what our host has spoken of are ones in which I cannot answer,” Parran returned, matching my tone. “As much as I wish to share prophetic details and guide you on the correct path, I am unable.”
My fingers raked through my hair as I loosed a breath.
“I’m sorry,” I muttered before dropping my elbows against the worn surface.
Rubbing generous circles over my eyes with my palms, I inhaled before lifting my head to meet Parran once more.
“Everything that’s happened has… impacted me more than I’ve realized.
Which I’m certain is what Sorva wants—diversion, distraction, loathing controlled by her influence.
I mean, it’s already begun, hasn’t it? With Rohen?
And it’s infested my behavior as well. But regardless of the fact, it’s not acceptable. ”
Adam’s apple bobbing, Parran offered me a gentle smile as they reached across the table to settle their touch on my forearm.
“An apology is not necessary. Not when my attitude has also shifted due to the corruption responsible for the darkness cloaking our lands. The orchestration Sorva has pulled off is unmistakable and felt in earth-shattering ripples. It is how she took over the throne and how she plans to take over the rest of Wraelira, but if we can remain vigilant and—”
They winced, free hand quickly moving to press against their abdomen. Hissing through clenched teeth, their hold on me tightened as they worked to ground themselves amid the swell of anguish flooding their senses.
Pushing herself up to lean across the table, Leilani stroked their jaw. “Parran. It’s okay. You don’t have to tell us anything more. Not when it costs you.”
“She’s right,” I reassured, twisting my wrist so I could hold their hand. “Your safety and well-being are of utmost importance to me. What you were able to share with Kael is already monumental, and I haven’t thanked you for that, so please, refrain from anything further.”
“I-I just…” Blinking, their cornflower stare met me, emotion clinging to their lash line. “I just want to help… I don’t want to watch… what she did to my race… h-happen to yours.”
“And you have!” Leilani cupped their face, concern clouding her flawless features. “Gods, please believe us when we say you have. Without you, we would not be this far in uncovering the prophecy. We would not—”
“Have found me.” The ethereal hum came from my left, Ignis seemingly appearing out of thin air.
“The Dark Woman, as we refer to her, may have your truth fisted in her grasp, but she does not have mine. My knowledge of the prophecy spans just as far and wide as yours, darling, and it was woven by the fates that we would cross paths.”
Stroking over Parran’s knuckles, I focused on the man working to disperse our drinks across the table. “What do you know exactly?”
Ignis leaned back, that defining smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“The pulse below of the power we trust. A slumbering spark slithers through your borrowed veins. Flesh may bind, but mirrors do not, and fate will always remember what you’ve forgotten.
” With a subtle shift, he slipped into the booth beside Parran, holding my gaze.
“Why don’t we start at the beginning, shall we, Alastair Seridean, the Child of Jaskor? ”