29. Twenty-Nine

Twenty-Nine

“Hyacinth.” Landers’s voice cut through the silence of my sleep. “Hyacinth, we need to leave. Wake up.”

My eyes cracked open as I pushed myself off the pillow. “What time is it?” I croaked. My throat was dry, and my head pounded as a result of the wine. I groaned, stretching my arms before pushing the palms of my hands into my eyes, trying to rub the veil of sleep from them.

“I need to tether you out of here. Now.” Landers’s voice was sharp as he gathered my belongings from around the room.

“What’s going on?” I tossed the blanket to the side and swung my legs off the bed.

“Get dressed,” he demanded, setting clothing next to me on the bed.

“Landers,” I snapped. “Tell me what’s happening.”

He turned to face me. His dark eyes met mine, and I knew the moment I looked into them that something was very wrong. He ran his hand through his hair and let out a frustrated breath. “Our location is no longer concealed.” His jaw tightened as he said the next words. “Taft, after leaving here, decided he would drink at a couple of taverns in the city.”

My heart sank, and I stood quickly, dressing as fast as I could.

I wished I could say that I was surprised, that he would never tell anyone who we were, but I wasn’t. He was angry, and when he was angry, he was irrational.

“Why does it matter?” I pushed my arms through my leather jacket. “Why can’t anyone know where we are?”

He threw my satchel over his shoulder and extended his hand to me.

“Answer me.” I looked at his hand but did not take it.

“Hyacinth.” Landers’s voice was stern as his eyes bore into me. “Let me get you to safety, then I will give you answers.”

I stared at him momentarily before nodding and taking his hand. He pulled me close and we tethered across the hall.

Landers’s eyes narrowed on Taft as tension rippled through the air. I gripped his arm tightly, feeling his muscles tense as a low growl escaped his lips. Taft moved back as Andrues quickly stepped in front of him. My eyes frantically scanned the room for Ata and Ardan, but they weren’t there.

Panic set in, my heart racing as I turned to Andrues.

“Where are they? Where’s Ata?” I blurted out, my words rushed.

Andrues replied quickly, “They are safe, I tethered them to the safe house as soon as we knew our location was compromised.” His words were meant to soothe, but as I caught Taft’s gaze lingering on me from the corner of the room, I felt rage .

It was a mixture of anger and hurt, fueled by the realization that our past was nothing but a facade of love hiding abuse and manipulation. And now, because of his recklessness, we were all in danger.

I turned to face him, shadows writhing and twisting out of me like snakes.

“You,” I seethed, taking a step forward as he backed away. “ You did this.” My shadows gathered around me, preparing to strike. I took another step forward, my fists clenching at my sides. “You just couldn’t control yourself,” I spat as I felt Landers slip into the shadows with me and place his hand on my shoulder.

“Breathe, Darkness,” he said softly and I sucked in a deep breath. I kept my eyes fixed on Taft as I pulled my shadows back, grounding myself with the breath work Landers taught me during our first training session.

Andrues nodded to Landers, and within a few seconds the tether swirled around us, pulling me into oblivion before landing us in a warm room I didn’t recognize.

Ata’s arms flung around me before I realized she was there and I clung to her, thanking the Gods she was okay.

“Do not leave here, I will be back.”

I whipped my head to Landers. “No,” I said frantically. “You can’t leave us here.”

“I have to. I have to cover your scent,” Landers said, keeping his eyes locked on mine as he cupped his hand around my cheek. “I swear to you, I will come back.” In the next breath, he was gone, the ghost of his touch lingering on my skin.

I stood there, staring at the spot where Landers had vanished, my heart pounding in my chest.

Panic threatened to drown me.

“He will be back,” Ata said, as she rubbed my arm. I nodded and as we turned to walk deeper into the house. A soft drift flowed through the room as Andrues and Taft appeared where Landers had stood.

“You fucking piece of shit.” Ata’s voice echoed through the room as her body came rushing by me. I snapped my neck to her, and before I could grab her, her fist met with Taft’s face. I gasped as a small trickle of blood slid out of his left nostril.

“What the hell is going on?” Ardan hissed, rushing down the stairs behind us as Taft lifted his hand, wiping away the blood and inspecting the remnants of it on his fingers. A slow, menacing smile crept across his face as he looked down at her.

“You could never let her fight her own battles, could you?” Taft said as Ata snarled back, ready to launch herself at him again. Andrues stepped between them.

“Enough,” Andrues said firmly, pulling Ata back gently with one hand while keeping an eye on Taft. “We cannot afford to fight amongst ourselves.”

Ata huffed and crossed her arms over her chest, glaring daggers at Taft, but she stayed silent. Taft shoved past us with a smirk and headed up the stairs as Ardan looked at Ata, confirming she was okay before quickly following after Taft.

Ata lifted a brow at Andrues, gesturing her head in the direction Taft fled and murmured, “That’s not going to end well.”

Andrues groaned and muttered something unintelligible as he walked away, leaving us standing alone in the center of the dimly lit room. I turned to Ata as Andrues disappeared up the steps, our eyes widening as we looked at each other.

“You punched him,” I exclaimed incredulously.

“I know,” she replied. Her eyes still wide as she inspected her fist before looking back at me.

We exchanged a knowing glance, then erupted into peals of laughter. I clutched my stomach, trying to catch my breath between the fits of giggles as she leaned against the couch for support.

“Gods, that felt good,” she choked out between laughs. “I’ve been wanting to do that for so long.” She grinned up at me as I struggled to contain my amusement.

“I wish I had done that.”

“Oh it’ll happen, I can feel it,” she said with a wink as she flipped her hair over her shoulder and headed for the stairs.

Ata explored the house, as I made myself comfortable on the couch; locking my eyes on the spot Landers disappeared from and counting down the minutes until he came back.

The house was so similar to the one in Redelvtum, almost as if it had been built by the same being, but without the same love and care. A couch and two chairs sat across from the hearth that was blackened by ash and a round table sat at the far end of the room that opened into a large kitchen.

“Hyacinth,” Andrues said, his voice breaking my trance. I looked up to see him lighting the fire.

“What time is it?” I asked, bringing my knees to my chest as he settled into a worn armchair across the room

“Six.”

I nodded, placing my cheek on my knees and turning my eyes back to the empty space. It was still early.

Landers would be back soon.

The sun made its way into the sky, casting long beams of light through the windows that lined the wall behind the kitchen table and painted the living room in the warm golden glow of morning. I pulled the pocket watch from my jacket and glanced down at it.

It had been five hours.

Five hours since he left.

My heart raced with each tick of the second hand. Every moment that passed by made my stomach tighten with anxious anticipation.

Where was he? He should have been back by now. The minutes dragged on like hours, and I could feel my unease growing stronger with each passing moment. My chest constricted as I waited for him to walk through the door.

The clock continued its relentless ticking, and the once comforting glow of the living room began to fade. Shadows crept in, stretching across the walls like skeletal fingers, casting an eerie gloom that seemed to match the knot of dread forming in my stomach.

The air grew stagnant, suffocating me with its oppressive stillness. I tried to shake off the nagging dread that prickled at the back of my neck. Each creak of the upstairs floorboards amplified my unease. I strained my ears, hoping to catch even the faintest sound that would signify his return. But all I heard was the low hum of the bath Ata was running in her bedroom upstairs, mocking me with its indifference.