Chapter 12 #3
When it finally happens, I tighten my promised’s cloak around me, because I’m on the verge of trembling, and he needs to believe it’s because of the cold. “Bye, Lady! Good girl!” I shout, waving at Tristan, who stands on the shore like a magnificent statue with alabaster skin and hair like blood.
I’m not sure how Gloombane—or should I call him Lorsen?
—is navigating the boat, because it speeds up despite the leathery sails flapping in random directions.
I know I should talk to him instead of focusing on Tristan, but as the cool fog surrounds the vessel, I feel terrifyingly lonely.
The branch that held my head above the waters of the deadly river has snapped, and I’m about to be spat into the abyss.
“Thank you for the cloak,” I try, finally setting my eyes on my promised’s tall form.
We are most definitely moving, but the fog is like a dark cloud around us, and I can now barely see the far off tower.
Gloombane’s not smiling anymore as he assesses me with a glance.
“You see, I’ve had some time to think since we made our bond.
I have always imagined that I would one day have a Dark Companion whose shadow dwarfs all others.
Black as tar, an opening into the shadowild so deep the sea could pour into it and run dry.
So, as you might imagine, I wasn’t exactly pleased when I got you instead. ”
I shouldn’t care. After all, one’s shadow was never part of any beauty ideal I’m familiar with, but my smile freezes, because it dawns on me that he wouldn’t have said that in Tristan’s presence.
It’s deliberately cruel, meant to shame me and wear me down.
“I hope we will still have a good working relationship,” I say, trying to sound casual, so he doesn’t know that he did manage to hurt my feelings.
Even the fine cloak can’t keep the cold out anymore. It envelops the boat in a way that gives me the shivers.
Gloombane sighs, his eyes piercing me like two icicles. “I doubt it. You will grow to hate me, but it will be for the better eventually.”
I stare at him, because… what the heck? Who says that?
“Do you know what gives the shadows of those in the River of Souls its power? Despair, Nate. You must have felt it when you died, but you’ve just not… suffered enough. I will work on that until your shadow is dark as night, and only then I’ll make you my Dark Companion.”
I hear static and a layer of ice spreads under my skin, waiting for the moment he breaks into a smile, revealing it was all a bad joke. But he keeps staring at me so coldly.
With so much disgust.
I will never be good enough, and he resents me for it.
“T—” I rise on soft knees and shout into the dense fog. “Tristan?”
My heart beats faster, as I realize I’m stuck with Gloombane on a boat, headed for a tower out in the sea.
Tristan warned me about the dangers lurking in the dark waters, and how I should never underestimate them, but what if the most dangerous beast stands in front of me?
I’ve got no idea what this man is capable of.
“Tristan!” Gloombane yells in vicious mockery, and my heart hurts. “What do you think this fog is for? We’re done with the outside world. From now on, it’s you and me until your shadow proves worthy of taking.”
Should I try swimming for the shore? It’s been a while since we left, but the waves don’t look crazy, and when I think of all the dangers potentially lurking in the tower, I turn on my heel and leap in.
The water’s cold, and somehow denser than I’m used to, but the fire of absolute terror pushes me forward as I call upon every single swimming lesson I ever attended. Saltwater goes up my nose, stings my eyes, but I swing my arms forward, cutting straight into the upcoming wave.
Maybe Tristan’s still on the shore, taking a moment’s rest. If I can only get him to spot me, I could—
Something grabs the back of my coat, and I get pulled out of the water with such force I’m flung into the air. I screech in panic, flap my arms, but it’s no use. Wet and cold, I slam into the wooden deck at Gloombane’s feet.
I’ve been in a few scuffles, but for the first time I’m afraid for my life. I’m out of my depth. When I look up at the psycho threatening me, I find out what pulled me out of the water. Several thick, shadowy tentacles swirl behind him, no doubt growing out of his back the way Tristan’s wings do.
“If you’re so eager for a swim, we can definitely arrange that,” the monster hiding behind the face of an elf says, and when I try to get up, one of the smoky tentacles lands on my back, pushing me down face-first so hard I taste blood
The world spins around me, and I attempt to rise again when a black mass reminiscent of a thick snake winds itself around my left arm.
Yelping, I attempt to shake it off, but it constricts, I sense a snap, and my hand flops, suddenly ending up at an unnatural angle.
Pins and needles erupt on one side of my body, but when the tentacle retreats, revealing bone protruding through my skin, I scream at the top of my lungs.