Chapter 26 #2
Silas moves across the room to Malachi’s desk and quickly begins to look through the stacked papers.
Larkin heads to a nearby bookcase, examining each spine to see if we can find the book that Yara mentioned containing the Rigil.
If she isn’t here, she must have returned to her room once Malachi finished with her.
I make a quick mental note to find her tomorrow to get an explanation for standing us up.
Even though relief fills me, my hair stands on end, and my senses scream at me to pay attention.
The office looks the same as when I first entered.
Nothing is out of the ordinary, and nothing seems to be misplaced or disheveled.
I look up at the large painting above his desk that I didn’t notice during my first visit.
A family portrait hangs there, and I see Silas as a child—no older than twelve.
Instead of a scar above his left eye, a deep wound rests freshly above his swollen, black eyelid.
He doesn’t smile, and he doesn’t have the face of a happy child.
My stomach rolls.
I turn and face the fireplace, unable to look at the painting any longer. Only a monster would force a child to sit through that, only days after almost losing their eye. Disgust fills me, and I focus on the area before me, squinting.
A darkness—darker than the other dim pockets in the room—radiates from a chair directly facing the three of us.
I freeze.
An outline of a prominent figure sits in one of the tall chairs, and fear courses through me. I attempt to yell to get Silas and Larkin’s attention, but I’m too stunned to react. I can only stare at what I see.
“Your tattoo is gone,” the dark figure’s voice says, as it slithers into my mind.
Tears begin to well in my eyes.
“It’s a shame the creature didn’t get more of its claws into you,” he hisses. “But, lucky for me, beautiful, I can sink my claws into you just fine now.”
I feel as if a razor-sharp claw drags down my freshly healed wound, and I cringe against the pain, my shoulder blade dipping in response.
The fireplace ignites, quickly filling the room with a bright light that stings my eyes.
Silas and Larkin spin and rush toward me as I stand in shock.
Malachi reclines in a chair with his legs crossed—as if he’s been waiting for hours.
A large, ancient book rests on the table before him, and my eyes widen.
That’s it.
I pan my gaze to the left, and tears roll down my cheeks, noticing the figure on the ground I didn’t see before. Yara lies motionless on the couch beside him. Her white hair pools over the edge of the sofa. Her body seems unharmed, but knowing Malachi, it’s her mind I’m worried about.
Larkin and Silas move around me, like two opposing forces of nature. One pure darkness, the other a brilliant light of protection.
Malachi lets out a deep, haunting chuckle and says, "Hello, boys.”
“What the fuck is going on?” Silas rages, and I notice his chest begin to heave.
“Do you know how long I’ve been waiting? I’ve grown impatient as I've gotten older, Silas.” He casually picks at his nails. “You know you shouldn’t do that, boy. It only makes me angry and creative.”
“Stop toying with us, Malachi,” Larkin growls. “It’s obnoxious.”
“Me?” Malachi snaps. “I’m sitting in my office, minding my own business. You three are the ones who charged in.”
“Yara?” I whisper toward her, before glaring at Malachi.
“Poor thing isn’t very sly,” Malachi says, tsking as he looks at Yara’s still body. “You should have prepped her better, Briar.”
I step around Silas and Larkin’s large bodies. “She’s breathing, right?”
“Yes.” Malachi stands and traces his fingers along her profile.
“I knew something was at play when she arrived tonight. She had a pep in her step and asked more questions than usual, not about anything in particular, of course.” He sighs, annoyance leaking off him.
“She’s not stupid, but she was inquisitive, which isn’t why she’s here.
You know why she’s here.” He winks at the men.
“Once she fucked me, quite well I may add, it was easy to slip some Dyisen in her water.”
I fight the urge to gag and step toward her.
“I wouldn’t do that,” he warns, and I freeze. “You all will stay right there and fucking listen.”
Larkin and Silas stay still, and he nods in approval at our obedience.
“I’m offended that you all think I’m the stupid one here. I know what tomorrow is, and I know Yara was going to offer you something.” Malachi traces his jaw with his fingers. “There are things in the Archives that I’ve wanted my entire life, and if you think I’m letting you in there, you’re wrong.”
Malachi reaches forward, grabs the dark leather book, and tosses it into the fire.
“Wait,” I shout, and defeat hits me like a blow to the face.
The book sizzles in the flames, slowly beginning to wilt around the paper edges.
The leather cover turns a charred shade of brown, and the spine quickly catches fire.
I watch in horror as the book slowly turns to ruin before my eyes, and realize that our chances of getting into the Archives burns with it.
I glance at Yara, and she stirs.
I need to buy us some time to get her out of here.
“What’s so important in there?” I ask.
I take the split second to quickly snap my fingers toward Silas behind me to get his attention, and he notices her small movements.
“You truly have no idea how rare this is, do you?” Malachi tilts his head. “Two tethers and vessels alive at the same time? This is one in a million.”
“Two tethers?” I ask.
“Of course, I have to explain everything to you.” He lets out a heavy exhale. “Every vessel has a tether. Whether they ever connect or are even born at the same time is entirely up to fate. Yet, here we are.” He motions between Silas and me. “The luckiest I have been in centuries.”
I glance at Silas, and his face is filled with rage.
Malachi moves to the back of the couch and rests his hands on it above Yara.
“Oh, so you told him. Perfect.” He glances at Silas. “How does it feel to be forced, forever linked to someone? To be their dog, to follow them no matter what, to love them even if you don’t want to?"
“I’m not forced to do a fucking thing,” Silas fumes.
“So, you think,” Malachi responds. “But, your sister may not feel the same.”
Silas steps forward, “What are you talking about?”
“Still haven’t figured it out, have you?” He laughs. “You Nastrondes, are something else. Although you are something much bigger, Silas.” Malachi pauses. “If you ever opened your eyes.”
“Keep speaking.” Silas’s shadows dance off him in chaos. “Right now.”
Malachi pinches the bridge of his nose in annoyance. “Briar isn’t the only vessel.”
Silas goes rigid.
“And you aren’t the only tether,” I whisper, glancing at Silas.
I grimace as I put the pieces together. I open my mouth to speak again, but stop as another voice speaks.
“If this is a Nastronde thing…” Larkin cuts in. “And Silas is Briar’s tether. That means...”
He trails off, and a heavy silence sits in the air, threatening to take the oxygen out of the room. Silas pans his gaze slowly in my direction as the words sink in. I don’t break eye contact with him as I speak the words I’m fearful to let out.
“Then, Fenmore is Rohhit’s.”
“Ah. Maybe you are smarter than I thought,” Malachi says.
Silas’s stance shakes, and I grab his arm, steadying him.
“You are fucking lying,” Silas says, letting his rage fuel him. “We would know this if it were true.”
“Oh, Silas. You don’t even know the half of it.” He points at me. “But Briar knows. Well, at least more than you. Like always.”
Silas slowly turns his head back to me and gives me a puzzled look, and guilt floods me.
Yara stirs once more on the couch and slowly opens her eyes.
She sluggishly lifts her arms toward her face, rubbing her head for a moment before snapping to attention.
In one smooth motion, she sits upright on the couch, her eyes widening—filled with desperation—as she sees us all standing before her.
“Finally,” Malachi says, as he claps his hands together. “Now, the fun can begin.”
Yara attempts to push off the couch toward us, but Malachi slaps both hands around her shoulders, stopping her.
“Silas can tell you how much I hate being disobeyed or lied to. Isn’t that right?” Malachi asks.
Silas doesn’t respond.
"As I mentioned, I know Yara was actively trying to betray me, which doesn’t really sit well with me. It’s alright, though, I was growing tired of her anyway.” An unnatural grin spread across his face. “She can always be replaced.”
“You are disgusting.”
“Briar, are you available? Or possibly Maines?” Malachi pets Yara’s head. “I know she hides just outside that door. She would work just fine, too.”
“I’ll fucking kill you before you could ever attempt to touch either of them,” Silas rages.
“Fuck. Stop being so dramatic all the time. You know you can’t stop the plans I already have in motion.
But the torturous moments you three made me wait sparked new ideas in my twisted mind.
” Malachi raises a brow and glances toward the exit.
“You’ll regret coming here, Briar. I’ll make sure of that.
We didn’t have to be enemies, but I quite like it. You’ve started a new war.”
I disregard Malachi’s hollow threats and can only imagine that Maines stiffened upon hearing her name in the hallway. I narrow my eyes at Malachi and vow to myself that if he lays a hand on Maines, he will die.
I look to Yara. Tears fall down her flushed cheeks. She was right about everything. Horror floods me, and I try to step forward once more.
Malachi clicks his tongue, and his haunting voice travels into my mind.
“If you move an inch, I will murder Silas and Larkin. It’s fun having creatures you can’t see at your mercy. Two Travelers are right behind them, ready to drive their claws through their hearts. Should I give the order?”