Chapter Seventeen #2
“Stop,” Domino said, and I immediately rocketed my attention to him. The dots faded, and I righted. “Do not read it while fearful. The emotion opens the door to Astan’s essence, allowing it to weave a sticky web through your thoughts.”
Yes, I’d felt that. “I understand,” I told him, girding myself for the next passages.
“Continue.”
I began to read once more, my emotions on lockdown. This time, when images invaded, they didn’t take over my mind, and yet I was there. Living in the past, a time before and beyond.
In this enchanting world of worlds, there lives a radiant woman named Rose. A spirit reminiscent of the wild woods, and a queen as cherished as she is captivating.
As Rose flutters through the lush gardens, her long, white robe sparkles with diamond dust woven into the fabric. With grace and joy, she visits tree after tree, bringing them to bloom with a captivating song that embodies the very life of the land.
When a dashing figure emerges from the shadows, she startles. His potent presence causes the very atmosphere to vibrate. Despite warnings, she is instantly intrigued. His allure is undeniable, his eyes twin orbs of molten obsidian.
“Hello, sweetness,” he calls, his voice as powerful as thunder and yet as gentle as summer rain. He appears carved from magic and stone as he unveils a smile known to make even the bravest of souls falter, for he is Astan, the land’s former king, defeated long ago by Rose’s beloved husband, Tsuri.
She is not afraid. Tsuri warned her that this being would come. The dispossessed royal cannot harm her in any way unless she steps from their territory. “You shouldn’t be here. Nor should you use such an endearment with me,” she admonishes. “It’s improper.”
Astan steps closer to the border of Tsuri’s kingdom, his grin coy, mischievous. “You’re right.” Six golden stars light his irises. “I should wait until I’ve tasted you.”
A blush stains Rose’s cheeks, and her lips curve into a smile both smug and firm. “You never will.”
Astan’s grin deepens, but there’s something more in his eyes. A silent promise, a challenge . . . and an invitation. “Don’t be so sure. My determination is without equal.”
Though Rose stands resolute in her refusal, she cannot deny a hum of attraction between them. He is perfection personified.
“Stay there if you wish, but know I will be ignoring you from here on.” And so, as the sun sets on the realm of light and color, Rose continues to dance in the gardens, her song ever sweet, while Astan lingers, his desire for her blooming with fruit of its own. But her awareness of him never fades.
And so, the tale of Astan and his Briar Rose begins.
“Astan craves what belongs to Tsuri,” Domino said from beside me.
My fingers tightened on the volume, nearly tearing the pages as I recalled Cyrus’s use of the endearment “sweetness” the morning we’d kissed passionately in my cell.
“Read on,” Domino said, and once again, I obeyed, eager to learn more.
Though I quaked, I did it. A secret affair unfolded, Astan working to paint Tsuri as a monstrous husband in Rose’s eyes.
When her husband warred with the other man, she fled and died.
Though Tsuri poured his strength into her, bringing her back to life, she worked with Astan to destroy what remained of Tsuri.
Soal meted vengeance, imprisoning Astan and those in his care.
Sympathy for Astan and his love stirred within me. He only wished to be with her.
“This is why Soal’s books are not allowed to leave the library.
Astan infects everything he touches, and that infection works to distort history, making him the savior and Tsuri the monster.
The reason Soalians who read this without an anchor can be ensnared.
” The librarian patted my shoulder. “We must go.”
No, no. I needed to stay here. To read on and learn more. Maybe Tsuri was a monster. Why not let Rose go? She and Astan clearly loved each other and—
“Close the book, Arden.” The firmness of Domino’s tone penetrated my awareness. “Do it now.”
I obeyed, and the world vanished. Breathing deep, I took in my surroundings, grounding myself in the real world. Theirland. The room I shared with Cyrus. He hadn’t budged from the couch or ceased observing me. Although, he now glared.
My shallow, panting breaths carried me straight to confusion. “Why did you make me stop?”
“You had begun to welcome Astan’s whispers,” Domino said. “In this regard, he’s a grower like you, planting and watering his lies in the minds of vulnerable humans. Today, you sampled the smallest taste of his allures.”
I shifted in the chair and, with trembling hands, placed the book on the coffee table. Domino was right. I had allowed the god’s whispers. I’d been inside the Rock; Tsuri was no monster.
“We should eat breakfast and prepare for the day.” Cyrus stood and strode off.
“Breakfast?” I blurted. I’d been consumed with the book all night? I twisted to glance out the balcony window, and sure enough, morning light streamed into the room.
“He needs to visit the library and read his book,” Domino stated.
My brows drew together. “Do you know something we don’t?”
“Always.”
Frustrating librarian. Rather than press for clarification, I said, “Cyrus isn’t the same guy who turned you in.
A mistake he made in ignorance. I did the same to my mother, and I have yet to shake the guilt.
” I paused, giving my words a moment to sink in.
“I trust you, Domino, with or without a bond. You are my friend, and I’m glad you’re in my life.
But if you do anything to hurt him, even withhold information, I’ll go nuclear. ”
“You should learn more about your opponent before you make such a threat,” he quipped. “I’m very good with bombs.” He flashed a small smile that rattled me to my core, then vanished like smoke in the wind.
Grumbling under my breath, I followed Cyrus’s trail.
And I was proud of myself. I only cast a longing glance at the book on the coffee table twice before entering a small kitchenette, where the prince was in the process of preparing a feast of toasted sweet bread, fruit jams, and scrambled eggs.
All delicacies for an average citizen like me, used to those tasteless nutrition bars.
But I was more interested in the chef. He was so close, yet he felt so far away.
“I received a call while you were . . . otherwise occupied,” he said, spreading an apple-and-fig mixture over the bread without looking my way. “We’ve been summoned to the throne room. Twenty minutes.”
He didn’t ask what I’d read, and I didn’t explain, more worried about his distant demeanor than comparing stories.
I clasped his wrist, stalling him. “You are my favorite person. That hasn’t changed, and it won’t.
If you believe nothing else,” I said, using words he’d once spoken to me, “believe I’m dedicated to you. ”
He cast me a quick smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I know you favor me, Pink.”
But he wanted my love. And I wanted to assure him I’d reached that point. Yet, if I spoke the words now, when I wasn’t yet certain, we’d both regret it.
We ate in silence, and I hustled to the bathroom, where I brushed my teeth, braided my hair, scrubbed up, and dressed in clean fatigues. Three seconds remained on the timer when I joined him in the foyer.
The moment I was within reach, he cupped my nape and swung me into the wall.
My new favorite position. With his face hovering inches from mine, he blazed all kinds of fire at me.
“I requested this before, and I’m requesting it again.
I’ll request it every day forever. Whatever you must do to survive, do it. Promise me.”
I licked my lips, my throat going dry. Today, we began the trials, and as the emperor had noted, not everyone would come out alive. “I promise. You too. No dying, Cyrus Dolion. I have plans for you.”
“Schedule me for a discussion of these plans. I demand every detail.” He swooped down and pressed a swift kiss into my lips, then ushered me into the hall. Two guards jumped to attention, moving into our path.
“I’m here to serve you, High Prince Dolion,” one guard said.
The other kept his attention just over my head. “This way, Lady Roosa.”
They were odd, these men. Handsome and strong, but as robotic as the meta, evincing no emotion. They reminded me of the soldiers King Tagin had turned into mindless drones who obeyed his every command.
Had the emperor altered them? I couldn’t ask Cyrus. He was already on the go. And wouldn’t you know it, Lolli sidled up to his side, acting as if being choked by him yesterday was already forgiven and forgotten.
She winked at me over her shoulder before smiling up at him and saying something that made him bark out a laugh.
I bit the inside of my cheek. Either I trusted him, or I didn’t. And really, look at everything I was putting him through with Domino.
Sighing, I followed my guard down the hall. Other trainees exited their rooms and rushed over to join us. Any meta we came across, we avoided, moving out of their way.
Only Roman appeared well rested and at ease. He slung his arm around my shoulders. “You ready for this?”
“Let’s hope so,” I grumbled, missing Cyrus, and yes, Domino too. A fact that filled me with immense guilt. Anyway. I’d rather be with the emperor, finding the key to the energy field. But that would come later.
The guard led us through a series of tunnels, archways, and winding staircases.
Finally he stopped, stepped aside, and motioned to an open doorway.
My knees quaked as we entered . . . a torture chamber?
Crumbling stone walls, stained and splattered with dried blood.
A rack and other instruments of torture waited here, there, everywhere.
“Yeah, I’m suddenly not so glad I’m here,” Miller muttered.
“No one will be upset if you return to the base,” Winslet retorted, doing her best to appear unaffected. Impossible, considering she’d turned ashen.
“Excuse me. I see someone I’m soon to know.” Roman released me and bounded over to a beauty with the most severe case of perma-scowl I’d ever seen.
The only other female among us, other than Winslet, caught my gaze and winked. “Lolli says hi.”
My eyes narrowed.
“Attention,” the guard called.
All of us jumped into the correct formation and pose. Mr. Vyle entered the room, wearing his customary suit, looking quite dapper. Chipper, even. He motioned to another guard, who entered with a large box. “Each of you pick a weapon.”
When my turn came, I peered into the box. Everything we’d trained with and more. What were we going to do with these?
Nervous sweat beaded my brow as a thousand scenarios dashed through my mind. We’d either act as a team or fight as individuals. Maybe feeders would flood the room, and we’d need to kill or capture as many as possible. Worst case, we’d be forced to interrogate a glower in front of everyone.
I selected the netter, the most familiar to me—and the least damaging to others.
“We have a problem,” Mr. Vyle announced. “There are twenty of you, but we need only fifteen.”
Tensions rose in an instant.
“You will take care of the problem however you deem best.” He adjusted the lapels of his jacket, merciless. “But rest assured, no one leaves this room until five of you are dead.”
With a pointed glance at me, he strode from the room. The door closed behind him, sealing us in.