Chapter 45
Istep backward, uncaring of the resurrected that remains frozen in the face of Nolan and his burning gaze. The creature growls at my closeness, and I pause.
“It’s nice to see you again,” Nolan says.
“Can’t say the same.”
“You look awful.” He tilts his head.
I don’t respond; I can only stare at his condition. Deep white scars mar his face and trail down his neck. His once-white hair has dulled to gray, and his eyes are darker than the night swirling around us.
“No,” I bite back. “Actually, you look like shit.”
His vicious laugh bursts into the air, and I create distance between us.
“You look surprised to see me. I can’t imagine why,” he says, as he takes a step forward.
The creature hisses once more, and I spin, dragging my golden axe along with me. The sharp blade finds its mark directly across the throat of the creature. The beast screams and claws at its neck before falling to the ground with a heavy thud.
“Someone’s been practicing,” he exclaims, clapping before stepping even closer to me.
I narrow my eyes. “What the fuck are you doing here? Calia let you out of your cage for an outing?”
“Still with that sarcastic fucking mouth,” Nolan laughs. “I’m glad the trauma hasn’t changed you.”
“It has.”
“It’s not killed you.”
I step forward, picking up my second axe, and clutch my fists around the cold metal. “A lot of things have changed, Nolan.”
The battle rages around me as the water quickly rises once more on the ship.
The creatures hiss, and Wielders swing their weapons through the night sky, like shooting stars of death.
When the timing allows, some of the warriors tap into their powers, flaring shadows or light across the ship in chaotic blasts.
I need to lower the lifeboats soon for any Wielders too weak to shift, then I must work on getting myself toward the pier.
However, both of those options seem impossible right now with Nolan before me.
“Where is your tether?” Nolan asks, as he angles his head.
I glance toward the shore to see the third ship nearly arriving. Fear drenches me, and I snap my gaze back to Nolan. The screams pouring from the nearly docked ship die down, and my heart races as the nerves settle in that something has happened.
He smiles. “Oh, good, they are almost there. The real fun can begin.”
“You are fucking awful,” I spit out, growling in his direction.
He shrugs. “I do hope your friend is okay.”
Larkin.
Oh, Gods.
“He is fine,” I bite back, moving toward the dangling lifeboats.
“I wouldn’t be so sure.”
Nolan stalks forward with each step I take backward.
“We are here for something. Well, you could say many things,” he laughs, wickedly. “I know you are aware of that, though. We came for the book I’m assuming you took from the Archives, for the stone that weighs down your pocket, and that other tether.”
Shock rattles my core. “Fen?”
Nolan nods. “Indeed.”
“Good fucking luck getting near her,” I snap.
Nolan glances toward the shore. “I don’t think we’ll need any luck.”
Carobon.
Rohhit.
“Is Rohhit here?” I shudder at the thought.
“Rohhit? He’s long gone, and we want to make sure it stays that way, which is why we need Fenmore.”
“I won’t let you touch her.”
He laughs wildly.
“As for Carobon,” Nolan pauses, and my heart thumps. “He is here. And there. And over there. He’s wherever he wants to be, Briar.” He looks back at me, and continues, “I’m merely here to set the plans in action. Then, you won’t see me again until it’s time.”
He’s here.
Rohhit is here.
The water rises around my ankles, and I lunge backward, slamming my axe against the ropes holding the lifeboats in place.
The wood caves in from the force, and the ropes spiral out of control.
They barely fall into the water before floating next to the sinking ship.
The creatures continue to hiss as water pools around them.
They claw at their skin, as if the liquid burns them to the very core, and I cut the other ropes.
“Go,” I scream. “Wielders, leave the ship. Head for the pier or board the lifeboats. Warn the others while you still can.”
I turn, watching the third ship grow closer to the shadowy black wall with each passing second.
“The third resurrected ship is about to dock,” I shout again. “Hurry.”
The Wielders scramble as I keep a close eye on Nolan, who continues to study me from a few feet away. His hands remain in his pockets, and I realize he bears no weapon for defense.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Briar. Not yet, at least. Too much is in the works for that part of the plan to unfold yet.” He remains still. “Plus, what would be fun about that? I will most enjoy watching you suffer from afar.”
“Afar?” I step forward, gripping my axes so hard my knuckles whiten. “You stand right in front of me. You are so close that I could swipe this blade across your fucking throat.”
My eyes catch sight of movement behind Nolan.
I see Captain Darcy creeping up behind him with his sword drawn. I try to remain calm, not to signal his presence, and as badly as I want to stop him, I remain motionless.
“Wrong again, sis,” Nolan teases. “Gods, you should really stop being so cocky all the time.”
Nolan lifts his hand and snaps his fingers, the click rattling into my mind.
A blood-curdling scream leaves Captain Darcy’s throat, and I watch his leg break at his shin, his bone splintering as it protrudes from his leg. He falls to the ground, and I slap my hand across my mouth, muffling my scream. I start to race toward him, but Nolan raises his hand.
“Not yet.”
I pause, frozen in fear and sorrow.
Darcy lies on the ground, clutching his leg. If I can get to him, he’ll be fine, but if I can’t, he will likely go down with this sinking ship.
“I need that stone in your pocket,” Nolan says, as he steps forward. “Now, or I’ll make sure every single person on that island dies.”
“Just let me go to him,” I plead.
“I don’t think so.”
“Please,” I beg.
Darcy lifts his head, and the pain that sits behind his aged eyes shakes me to the core. Our time is running out, and I need to get to him.
“Nolan, I swear to the Gods,” I snap, and point my axe in his direction.
I step forward, but am stopped by an invisible force that keeps my feet rooted in place. I attempt to lift my leg, but it’s as if a weight keeps it pinned to the ground.
“Give me the stone,” Nolan barks.
“No.”
“Then he will die,” Nolan says. “And his blood will be on your hands because you couldn’t fucking listen.”
Nolan lifts his hand again, and I watch in horror as time slows and he moves his fingers to snap again, likely to bring down another injury to Darcy, lying helpless on the ground.
“Stop!”
Nolan pauses, and a sinister dazzle fills his eyes.
“I’ll do whatever you want,” I whisper. “I’ll give you the stone.”
Nolan smiles. “Amazing choice.”
The invisible force keeping me still lessens, and I sprint toward Darcy, crashing to the ground beside him, turning my back to Nolan. His pained, aged eyes stare into mine, and I prop his head in my lap.
“You’re going to be fine,” I whisper. “I’m getting us out of here.”
“Don’t give him the stone,” Darcy deeply rasps.
“Trust me,” I squeeze his hand, and shake my head that nothing of the sort will happen.
I wink at him, and while Nolan turns toward the shore, I put the shining green jewel in Darcy’s jacket pocket and pull out the fake stone. Nolan snaps his gaze back to us and taps his foot on the soaked wooden deck.
“Hurry up,” he barks.
I extend my hand containing the dark green jewel. Nolan studies it for a second before smiling and reaching for the stone.
“If you weren’t so weak, Briar, you’d come to realize the actual powers you had from the Great Wiitch. Carobon has done many things for me.”
“Clearly,” I snap. “He’s a talented tattoo artist, I see.”
“He’s changed me for the better, you sarcastic bitch, and I can’t wait to watch you suffer. It’s coming, sis, and I’ll smile through every scream that rattles your throat.”
“Do you ever shut the fuck up?”
He huffs a laugh, and stares into my eyes. A shiver runs up my spine, but I don’t back down. Instead, I think of driving my axe into his chest.
“He’s here,” Nolan whispers.
Nolan begins to tap into his power, and a bright light shines around him, brighter than the sun. I watch him intently, staring through the blinding light. A large hand snakes up to Nolan’s shoulder, and through the blaze, I see his face.
Rohhit.
Now, wholly possessed by Carobon.
His face is the same, yet different. He appears aged, but still just as beautiful as I remember, if not more.
His dazzling dark eyes gaze into mine, and tears begin to fall from my face, pooling like the sinking ship around us.
I don’t break my gaze as they fade into the light, and for a moment, I swear to the Gods that Carobon blinks, revealing Rohhit’s true face shining through.
“Rohhit?” I cry. “Oh, fuck. What has he done to you?”
He's neither lost nor gone, and I must ensure we bring him back.
“Wait,” I say, in an attempt to move forward. “Rohhit.”
A sob escapes my throat as they disappear, and I look down at Darcy.
His eyes are shut, and I quickly assess the damage to his leg.
I glance toward the pier and see the shadowy wall still standing tall.
Silas has warded the wall so that only civilians of Andorwood can pass through while it remains standing.
“Silas?” I plead in my mind. “Can you hear me?”
No response.
“He is here,” I weep. “Rohhit is here.”
Defeat churns in my system, and I know time is running out as the water continuously rises around us like a darkness.
“This is going to hurt, Captain, but hold on,” I speak to him.
I burrow into my magic, letting sadness and fear pull me toward the shore. I dive deeper than I have before, thinking of my people on the pier, and praying the one who stayed with me has made it.
Larkin.
Oh fuck.