Chapter 39 #2
Holding back the dingy window curtain, Elysia ignored the ache in her chest as Topp and his older sister walked away from the safe house.
Given Kava’s godless beliefs, it was rare that the current generations passed from their realm to Aidan’s.
Instead, their souls skipped the pleasant respite of the death realm, and went straight into the beyond.
The god of the dead had explained this as gently as he could to her.
That Grim knew every soul meant for their rivers, and Beatriz was not on the list. Forced to acknowledge that Beatriz was never going to step off one of those shitty old boats, she’d stopped working from sunup to sundown after that.
Gaze on Topp’s strong wide back, she remembered the festering grief inside him—how years after losing Maya, it hadn’t relented but only darkened.
Looking out the window at Maya’s soft brown hair blowing back in the wind, Elysia swore she’d end the bitch if she hurt Topp after he’d lost so much of himself to the grief of her death.
She knew how bad Maya wanted vengeance and that Topp wasn’t far off in that desire.
It had been a risk to connect them. He threw his head back, roaring at something Maya had said.
A hand on Elysia’s arm drew her attention, and she dropped the curtain.
“Are you ready?” Emmellin asked.
She nodded, following her into one of the dilapidated safe house’s bedrooms. Blindfolded and huddled in the corner of the plain mattress lying on the floor, Daphne was terrified.
The others who had hidden out of sight from Maya’s arrival were already pressed against the wall, waiting for Elysia.
She lifted the opaque blindfold from Daphne’s face.
“Hello, Daphne.” Elysia spoke calmly. “Apologies for the rough travels, but we needed to talk.”
Her old friend gaped, shaking like a leaf. “You don’t understand.”
“What don’t I understand?” Elysia’s hand settled on the handle of the dagger at her waist. She almost felt bad about it, but she needed her to talk, and it seemed fear was a heady motivator for Daphne Reynolds.
Blonde hair unkempt and pale eyes frantic, Daphne pleaded. “You were gone, and he started issuing all those bounties. He placed one on Topp, his own son. And then he went to my parents, saying he needed a new heir because of Topp, and I didn’t have a choice.”
Someone made a sound of disgust from the back wall, but Elysia ignored it, understanding all too well what Daphne was saying.
Nonetheless, she pressed her. “But you always wanted a crown. We all saw how you looked at Topp. Heard your little comments about him. I just never thought you were fucked-up enough to go after his father instead.”
Daphne flinched, drawing back even further into the corner as she quivered.
“Who wasn’t jealous of you? But I’m just trying to stay alive, and if that means being with an old man, then I will close my eyes and do it.
You don’t get to judge me.” She hissed, suddenly coming off the wall only to fall back when she realized what she was doing.
Elysia smiled and ran her blade along the edge of her finger until the point pressed into the tip. “I have an offer for you. If you take it, you’ll be bound by magic and blood because not everyone believes or trusts you.”
Suspicion entered her gaze. “What’s the deal?”
“We need you to summon a few people for us, but the deal will prevent you from speaking of it to anyone.”
“And what do I get? I’m next to Garrison all the godsdamned time. Do you think I can just leave and do a summoning without it being noticed?”
If the situation had been different, Elysia would have laughed. She liked this version of Daphne. Less frill, more teeth. “You get to keep your head.”
Her old friend went ghost-white.
“And…your disappearance could be arranged.”
Daphne froze, hope entering her eyes.
“Or you could agree to help and stay where you are. It may turn out that we need someone there.”
“Need someone where I am,” Daphne repeated back dryly as she licked her lips.
“Yes, in his bed. In the court. We may have eyes and ears, but they can’t be everywhere, and Garrison is about to lay siege to every kingdom he can.”
Daphne looked down at her bound hands, shaking her head, and adjusting her awkward position on the mattress. “You have no idea what he has in store.”
Fear sluiced through Elysia, but she ignored Daphne’s baiting. “So, what will it be?”
“How would you get me out?”
Elysia shrugged. “It’s not foolproof, but we have people who can keep an eye on you. Could have a traveler grab you and take you out of Kava. There are people you could stay with where no one would ever find you.”
“How reassuring,” Daphne muttered, suddenly scanning the people in the back of the room. “Remy?” Her brow wrinkled and her voice softened to a more familiar sound.
Remy walked over the stained carpet to stand beside Elysia. Her mouth was a hard, flat line as she stared at their tied-up friend. “I’m the one who demanded you be bound by blood and magic.”
Daphne was speechless, but Remy wasn’t done.
“I have made endless excuses for you over the years. I thought you would grow out of it—the utter lack of self-awareness, the blind climbing for better position, never giving a shit how anyone in our kingdom is affected by what’s going on within our protected castle walls.
I don’t know that I’ve ever seen you do a single thing for another human out of the goodness of your own heart.
Let me be clear, I will handle you myself if you screw this up and Elysia dies. ”
A mixture of shock and shame held Daphne in place.
She rested against the wall in defeat, but still her voice was scathing.
“Not all of us are smart enough to be philanthropic, local business-saving mavens, Remy Peraldine. I might not have given a shit about the people outside the castle walls, but that was because I knew I was one bad day away from being one of them.” She flicked her eerie gaze to Elysia.
“You’re not so different from me. That’s why you’re the one offering me a chance. ”
Elysia shook her head. “No, we’re very different, but someone helped me climb out of a hole, so I’m throwing you a rope. Do you want it or not?”
Daphne refused eye contact, staring at the water-marked thin plaster wall. “I’ll do the summoning. If I disappear, he’ll kill my parents. The only reason yours aren’t dead is because your father had all his apprentices executed for being cursed. There’s no one to replace him yet.”
This news should have stunned her, but it didn’t.
She’d waited and waited for Beatriz to casually mention their parents had been killed for her betrayal of the Crown, but as the months went by and they remained alive and at the castle, she knew Jack Parker had done what he did best, and pulled every string he could to keep his position.
She tapped her nails on the handle of her dagger.
“You’re sure?”
Daphne ignored Elysia’s question to glower coldly at Remy. “You think you’re better than me, but you’re not. Just be thankful you’re not the one warming his bed.” She turned her face away from them all again.
Elysia sighed. This wasn’t the outcome she’d been hoping for. “If you change your mind, get word to Jessa at the Salty Rim.”
Daphne’s shoulders curved, but she didn’t face them. “The steamships leave soon for Sagondia. You should do it then. He won’t know I’m gone.”
Grim’s reapers had already gathered the intel, but Elysia thanked her, knowing Daphne was struggling to make sense of how to keep herself safe.
It wasn’t so long ago someone had called her selfish and given her a chance.
She glanced at Remy, who was still staring at Daphne like she wanted to slap her.
They’d always been closer, and she knew Remy hated nothing more than not being able to help someone who needed it.
Gaze on Daphne, Elysia spoke. “Everyone out.” Quiet but commanding, everyone filed out except Emmellin, who hung in the doorway.
“You sure you don’t need a hand?” Her already split red knuckles held onto the peeling door frame.
“I’m good,” Elysia answered with a low laugh, giving her dagger a pointed wave.
“Fine, fine.” Emmellin swaggered off with her blonde hair rippling, leaving them alone.
Elysia turned back to Daphne. “Before we get to the deal. I have another request.”
“What else could you possibly want?”
Elysia shut the door. Five minutes later, she drew blood from them both and sprinkled Deathlands dirt into the wounds, whispering the words she’d been taught. Daphne Reynolds would see her part through or the magic of the Deathlands would take her.