17. Chapter 16

Chapter 16

N o one said a word as they stumbled from the temple ruins. Elaine kept one eye on Sabra, trying to make sense of what they'd discovered. The ruins suggested that Zari had been in this realm, returned to the demon realm, and was now back. But why? To what end?

She still had no idea why Zari's mark was in the ruins. There was a chance that Zari was the artist but, if so, why? Demons, to her understanding, had very little to do with their realm and gods; they were simply creatures of another realm, no more wicked than any other being simply living within its nature. Even if time worked differently, it was apparent that Zari either had the ability to traverse realms freely and perhaps without an anchor. That or she was summoned both times.

She didn't like either option.

Out on the grass, Tarla stopped suddenly beside her. Elaine paused, glancing back.

"Is everything okay?"

A sharp laugh erupted from Tarla, like glass shattering upon stone and all the fragments scattered at their feet. "I think everything is far from okay. I thought you might find it curious these ruins possessed such paintings…Never did I imagine that the damn poem and mark would be from a demon. One your friend knows."

"Knew," Sabra corrected. "I knew them but that was over fifty years ago. Back then, they never mentioned crossing realms. I thought they were the same age as me, which isn't exactly old by demon standards—certainly not old enough to have left those marks."

Elaine's lips parted but Sabra cut her a withering look. Heat burned along her collar, creeping up along her neck and cheeks.

"If you're about to say I could be wrong, I'm not. That is their mark." Sabra raked a finger through her thick black hair until her hand fell back down at her side. "All that damn ballad tells us what we already knew; that Akaria and Aurora were in love, they were found out, then Aurora was imprisoned. And then , after all of that, a demon I thought was as young as me, made those murals and returned to my realm. All to pretend to be a damn soldier! And for what? I don't know but we're not going to figure it out here."

It fell so quiet that if a pin dropped, it'd strike the ground like a clap of thunder. Elaine released a quiet breath, wondering just what it all meant. She wished she had answers, something to give a little comfort to Sabra.

Sabra turned away first, seeking space from them. Unsure how to ease the pain in her friend's eyes, Elaine left her be. Sometimes that was all that could be done. Tarla rubbed the back of her neck, seemingly a little unsure of what to do herself.

"This troubles me deeply."

Elaine nodded, silent in her own uneasiness. She turned away to find somewhere to rest when a flash of movement caught her eye. The next second, hands clamped on her shoulders, forcing her down. Her knees struck stone, a yelp tearing free from her lips. Something cold and sharp pressed against her neck. Elaine froze, her breath catching in her throat.

"Sabra!" the husky voice behind her bellowed.

Sabra spun around, paling. Tarla pressed forward, light sparking through her fingers but Sabra's hand shot out, stopping her. A firm shake of her head and the grand matron stepped back, scowling. Elaine didn't need to turn around to know who held a blade to her throat. Sabra's expression told her everything she needed to know—and that she needed to play it very carefully. One wrong move and she suspected that blade would be slashed across her throat too fast for her to even try to heal it.

Elaine allowed her body to calm, her heart slowing to a steady beat. She turned her focus inwards, calling upon Vikra's power—

Silence answered.

Fuck.

Her gaze flew up, finding Sabra but her friend was staring at Zari.

Look at me! She tried to scream.

Sabra needed to know Elaine couldn't magic her way out of this. She certainly hoped Sabra wasn't counting on her fighting her way out of it.

"First you try to kill me, and then Aya—now Elaine?"

Zari stiffened faintly behind her. "If you truly believe I tried to kill you or your necromancer, you really have forgotten all that we learned together."

"Oh?" Sabra tilted her head, lips curling to a coy smile. "Curious since it seemed I must have also forgotten the part where you lied about your entire past. I mean, was any of it true?"

Zari hissed out what Elaine suspected was a curse before they spoke again. "I was trying to sever your bond to that woman. No demon should be anchored—it's unnatural— certainly not to one of her spawns . "

The smile dropped to a bored mask, a mirror of Aya's own classic indifference. Sabra idly picked at the underside of her nails, as if they were far more interesting than Zari or the blade at Elaine's throat.

"So, what do you want? Because I somehow doubt it's to discuss all of your lies."

"I want you to come with me."

Sabra's mask slipped—just for a split second. The blade pressed a little harder to Elaine's throat. A tiny jewel of blood welled on her skin.

"And why would I do that?"

"Because your necromancer is far enough away right now and somewhat lacking in her own skills that if I slit this witch's throat, there won't be any bringing her back."

"Why me? I thought you hated me."

Zari snorted. "I know you tried to look for me and that you ended up here. I came to look for you, but circumstances changed, and I couldn't complete that mission anymore."

The forest heaved a deep breath, claiming silence in its grip. She'd only glimpsed a hint of the deep pain Sabra bore from her time imprisoned by a witch, that it pained her even years later.

Sabra's voice was glacial as she took a step forward. "You left me in chains?"

Zari stiffened. "It wasn't that simple, but I can explain. Come with me and the witch lives; take another step forward and I will carve a smile on her throat, ear to ear."

Sabra's gaze flicked down, sorrow blooming in those fathomless pools, regret already pulsing the air between them. Her heart was a fist of thunder in her chest. Ash dried her mouth.

No.

No.

NO!

The wind howled mournfully, whipping the leaves into a haunting melody. Elaine's own heart danced in tune, thundering and raging, straining against the confines of her chest. She summoned her powers again but again, silence answered. The cold absence of her magic chilled her to the bone. She dared not move either, all too aware Zari was more than capable of their promise. That if she moved too quickly, she'd be dead before she realized it, drowning in a puddle of her own blood.

Sabra dropped to her knees, her head bowed. Elaine's heart sunk at the sight, the plea for her to run, that she wasn't worth it. She wanted to scream the words. Run, run, don't give in. Go find Aya! But the words never came as Sabra spoke.

"You win."

The pressure off her neck vanished suddenly in a gust of wind and shadow. Zari appeared before Sabra, one hand lifting her chin up. Soft whispers passed between them before Sabra rose, making no move to attack her friend.

Zari slid their hand down to capture Sabra's, and the pair spun away into darkness.