Chapter 14 #2
‘Did you have me beaten beforehand, too? Why?’
His lip curls, showing his perfect, slightly sharp teeth. ‘You were deserving of some pain. All you humans are.’
‘But, if you’re working for Fiana, why try to kill me?’ I ask. ‘She wants me alive.’
He says nothing for a moment, and Lia sits up fully.
‘Don’t try anything, Harbinger,’ Voss warns. ‘Your power won’t work on me.’
‘I already know that.’ Lia’s eyes bore into him. ‘You’ve always underestimated me.’
‘I don’t know what you mean. We’ve barely ever spoken.’
Lia rolls her eyes. ‘Come, come. I have a mate who’s a mage. A conjure to show someone whatever you want them to see? To hide injuries, even make sure they can’t be scented? That’s no simple conjure, Voss.’ She leans forward with a sneer. ‘Or should I call you Rikoth?’
Voss’ eyes widen comically.
‘How did you survive Varrik’s keep that day? They told me you were dead.’
Before my eyes, Voss’ face changes. His hair and eyes grow much darker and his large stature morphs into a male of smaller frame. His expression is cruel. Next to me, I feel Lia shudder, and her hand seeks mine surreptitiously.
‘Fiana returned for me before I succumbed to death, as I knew she would.’
‘So, you’ve exchanged a master for a mistress, Rikoth?’ she asks.
She’s clearly afraid, but her voice is strong. ‘How long have you been spying for her in the Underhill? How long since you killed the fae who’s face you wear?’
'Years!’ he laughs. ‘Ever since you started this place. When did you first suspect, Harbinger?’
Lia’s shrug is nonchalant. ‘In truth, not until the day of Bryn’s trial when you beat her and hid it from everyone in the Hall. But I could see it in the way she walked, held herself. How many times did you do that to me, Rikoth?'
‘So many times, Thalia. So many good memories of those times, eh?'
'I suspected it then,’ Lia continues as if he hasn’t spoken, ‘but nothing came of it.
You hadn't raised any suspicions in the Underhill. By all accounts, you were a normal enforcer. And, of course, you were Calder’s, so he ensured no one spoke ill of you.
When I started trying to investigate you, I was quickly shut down. '
'So,' I say, ‘that’s why your students are so weak and pathetic. Why they have no knowledge of the Dark Realms. You’ve made them so.'
His grin is dark. 'None of them will be any use to the Underhill.
The arrogant little fucks think they're ready.
They think they already know everything.
And I've made sure that when the time comes, they won't do a damn bit of good against Fiana and her army, and they will be about as useful as a chocolate teapot as spies in the Dark. '
'You've ensured the Underhill is weak,’ Lia mutters.
'Yes. As I ensured the village was weak by making sure that Calder was put on the Council. That fool thinks he’s so intelligent.
Always thinks he’s five steps ahead. Idiot.
He spent so much time plotting for power, not enough in his studies.
But then again, some people are just fools. Why do you think I chose him?'
Lia lets out a huff.
‘So, you’re here to take us to Fiana, I suppose?’
‘Not quite. I’m afraid you’re going to kill each other in this very room.’
‘That doesn’t make sense,’ I say, trying to buy time to work out how I pulled Fiana’s magick from her because I have no idea how to do it again. ‘Fiana needs me to find the Black Lake, and I’m quite sure she wants the Harbinger to torture.’
Rikoth takes in a long breath through his nose, looking annoyed and taking my bait. ‘The problem with Fiana is that she…’ his hands rise, fingers curling like claws in his frustration, ‘is her own worst enemy!’
He sighs deeply and dramatically.
‘My mama was killed by humans,’ he mimics Fiana’s high-pitched voice, ‘tortured and killed for being a fae in the Light. Blah blah blah. Who doesn’t have a story like that from those times, I ask you?
But every fae doesn’t waste valuable time tormenting all the humans they can find,’ his eyes find Lia’s, ‘especially dark-haired slave girls who look like a certain Harbinger. Every fae doesn’t try to amass as much power as possible simply to destroy the Light. ’
He looks skyward. ‘Her obsession with dirty humans, especially with you, Thalia, is a liability. It’s pathetic and I could see the same thing beginning all over again when she heard about the human Kismet.
No, I won’t be taking you to her. This is for her own good.
Bryn, pick up the knife on the table. Thalia, you won’t move. ’
I glance at Lia, wondering why Rikoth expects me to just do as he says, but when I see her expression, it’s terrified, and she’s perfectly still.
‘I’m waiting, Bryn.’
I frown at Lia as I walk slowly over to the table, and pick up the knife.
‘Very good. Now, go over to Thalia, and slice her open from throat to cunt. And, after you kill her, Bryn, do be a good little puppet and slit your own throat, would you?’
I turn back slowly, furious at how he’s scaring Lia when she’s already upset from earlier. It’s not good for her at all!
And then I feel it, that pull from before with Locke, with Fiana.
I hear a noise of pain come from Rikoth, and, in front of me, Lia sinks down into the bed with a sigh.
Her body is her own again. She’s no longer being compelled by the fae’s power.
I turn back to find Rikoth on one knee, looking as if he’s about to retch all over the floor.
‘You’re quite the cowardly prick, aren’t you, Rikoth?’ I say with a sneer. ‘Threatening two helpless human women.’
I feel it before it opens. The Breach. Here in the room.
I look over at Lia who gives me a nod from the cot, and, as I turn back, I see its glimmer. Right behind Rikoth. He feels it too and stands up, trying to stagger away from it, but I don’t let him. I run at him, and I push him as hard as I can, straight into the Breach.
It closes immediately and I hear Lia breathe out a sigh of relief.
‘What the fuck is happening?’ a male voice snarls.
A fae I don’t know surges into the room.
I brandish the small knife in his face. ‘Get out!’ I snarl, ‘or I’ll fucking gut you!’
‘No, Bryn,’ Lia calls out. ‘It’s all right. It’s Kal. One of my mates.’
The fae in front of me looks amused, but scowls as he sees Lia on the cot.
I step backwards, lowering the knife, but not putting it down completely. I slump down on the chair by the table as the fae goes straight to Lia’s side.
‘What happened?’ he asks. ‘That wasn’t?—'
‘Rikoth,’ Lia confirms. ‘Yes. It was him. Fiana went back to the keep for him after we left. He’s been her eyes in the Underhill for years. Wreaked havoc by using that power hungry fool, Calder.’
‘Fuck!’ he snarls. ‘Are you all right, my love?’
She nods. ‘Thanks to Bryn.’
Kal shakes his head. ‘Gods, no wonder we could never get ahead of the bitch. She’s had a foothold in the Underhill the entire time.’
‘Fuck, that means none of his students will be worth their salt. He made sure of it. They’ll all need to be retrained.’ He makes a sound of annoyance. ‘They’ll probably make me do it.’
Lia chuckles, but tears come to her eyes.
‘Kal,’ she puts his hand on her stomach. ‘He tried to have Bryn kill me, and then herself.’
Kal sits on the bed and wraps his arms around his mate. ‘He’s gone, Lia, and he’ll never get to you or our family again.’
She calms visibly at his words. ‘I know,’ she says, beginning to chuckle again. ‘Never.’
Lia looks over at me. ‘Thank the Gods his skill of compulsion didn’t work on you, Bryn.’
‘Where did you send him?’ I can’t help but ask.
‘Kitore.’ Lia’s grin is vicious. ‘To the heart of the city without protection. The wards will take care of him.’