40. Forty

Forty

Cai pulled back the heavy curtains.

Groaning, I blinked away the sleep from my eyes as light broke apart the darkness.

“Good morning, Lady Hyacinth,” Calista said in a soft voice with a gentle curtsy. “We have been instructed to make sure you eat this morning.” She anxiously dusted off her apron, waiting for my response. With lazy, slow movements, I sat up, stretching my arms, then rubbed my palms into my eyes.

“He has control issues too? I didn’t think he could get any more charming,” I deadpanned.

The two women gave each other an uncomfortable glance. I sighed, my effort at a joke falling flat as I pushed myself off the bed. Cai held out a floor-length black robe, motioning me to step into it, then secured it tightly around my waist.

I had never worn silk before I came here, now it seemed it was the only fabric I was allowed to dress in. I pulled my hair out from under the collar as I sauntered over to the parlor table in search of coffee.

“You know,” I started, pouring the black liquid into a demitasse and taking a seat, “you don’t need to wait on me. I’m perfectly capable of dressing and bathing myself.”

“We can request other maidens if you are not happy with our service, Miss.” Cai shifted her weight as she said the words, keeping her eyes cast toward the floor.

“No, that’s—” I sighed. “That’s not what I meant. I’m just not used to being dressed or bathed by anyone other than myself. Neither of you have done anything wrong.” I gestured for them to sit, and their backs stiffened.

I set my coffee back on the table and rested my head in my hands before looking up at them again.

“I don’t know how long I’m going to be here; how long the High Priest intends to let me live. But in that time, I’d rather have a friend, not a servant.” There was a twinkle in Calista’s eyes as I said the words that I almost missed, and I swore if I could see underneath her mask, there would have been traces of a smile lingering there. “I would love for you to sit with me, to eat meals with me, and . . . just talk. I think we may have more in common than we realize.” I traced a finger along the rim of my cup, feeling a little foolish. “But, I understand if that is not something you are allowed to do. I do not wish to cause either of you any trouble or bring you harm.”

Cai nodded, and the three of us sat in silence for a long moment before Calista stepped forward. She placed her hand on the back of the chair, and almost as if the world had slowed, she pulled the chair out and sat.

“Calista,” Cai gasped, her eyes widening as she watched her summon an additional cup and pour coffee for herself. I grinned at her from across the table, lifting my cup in her direction at the apparent act of defiance, and took a sip. Cai stood, watching in disbelief as Calista lifted the china to the slit in her mask and tilted her head back.

I knew I would like her.

The nutty aroma of roasted beans and earthy undertones filled the air as we sat in uncertain silence. Outside, rain began to crash against the window, steadily growing louder as the downpour increased. Without turning my head, I stole a glance at Cai. She stood with her hands tightly clasped behind her back, her eyes glued to the back of Calista’s head.

The longer Calista sat with me, the more tense she became.

She reminded me so much of Ata with her obvious distaste of rule breaking. Calista seemed to be a little more like me in that way, and I wondered if she had gotten in trouble as much as I had growing up.

“We will be back after your evening meal has been served to get you ready for your appointment. If you wish, we will come after you have already bathed yourself,” Calista said, standing from the table.

Cai’s expression was one of pure horror.

“Cal—” she started.

“Lady Hyacinth has asked that she bathe herself. We will respect that.” Calista shot Cai a stern look as she straightened out her velvet dress and headed for the door.

Cai trailed behind her, pausing briefly to glance back at me with a worried expression etched into the visible parts of her face. I offered her a gentle smile before she refocused her attention on Calista and exited the room.

I stepped out of the bath and swiped my hand across the fogged mirror. My fingers traced the necklace clasped around my neck. Landers was safe, and I prayed to the Gods that meant everyone else was too.

“Miss?” Cai’s soft voice sounded behind me. I turned to face her with a soft smile. “May I come in?”

I motioned for her to come through the door and leaned back against the marble countertop. “Is everything okay?” I asked, tilting my head to the side.

“I know you mean well, Miss, and I do not wish to upset you or cross the line.”

“You are free to speak openly with me, Cai,” I reassured her.

“Our Master, he—” She hesitated, wringing her hands together. “He watches you very closely, Miss. He has eyes everywhere and they all report back to him.”

My back straightened at her words, and I clutched the towel tighter against my body.

“I do not mean to frighten you,” she said quickly, seeing me tense. “I only tell you this because . . . Calista, she is my friend, and I do not want to see her hurt.”

The corner of my lips curled up and I nodded in understanding. “I understand the fear you have for her more than you know.” I sighed, my shoulders slumping forward as I spoke. “I know the pain of seeing your best friend, your sister, hurt and not having the power to do something about it. If it is safest for the both of you to stay away from me, I will understand that.”

“Thank you, Miss.”

“Just Hyacinth. Please?”

Her unseen smile reached her eyes as she bowed her head.

I could have done without the satin tonight.

My skin was crawling underneath it as I paced back and forth in front of the door.

Where was he?

I wanted this over with. I wanted to crawl back into bed and disappear from the world.

The heavy doors pushed open and I took in a deep breath as Dukovich stepped into the room.

“Well, I must say, black may be your color after all,” the High Priest said with a smirk as he circled me—examined me.

I scoffed at him, ripping a golden pin from my hair and tossing it on the floor. “You might as well sew a scarlet letter to my chest.”

He chuckled and pulled his arms from behind his back. “I think this will do, don’t you?”

My chest tightened and I took a step back, lifting my hands to my neck. “No. I won’t wear that. Not again.”

“Yes, you will.” He took a step closer and I recoiled.

“I will not let you chain me in that thing,” I said, forcing my back straight. Panic was rising, threatening to blur my vision. Clenching my fists, I steeled myself.

You will not break.

I let my thoughts drown out the dread and locked my eyes to his.

“I may be your prisoner, but I will not let you chain me like a dog on a leash.”

The High Priest lifted a corner of his mouth and a chill shot down my spine. “I hoped you wouldn’t fight me on this. I hoped you would see that you have no power here. But it seems that I have not made that clear to you.” He whistled that same tune, the tune that haunted every one of my nights.

The tune that hung Ata’s body in front of me.

A high-pitched whine filled my ears, drowning out all other sounds. The edges of my vision blurred and pulsated with red and black spots as I struggled to grasp onto my sight.

A guard walked into the room at the summon, his hand clenched tight around a wide-eyed Cai. My eyes shot to the High Priest as a growl rolled up my throat.

Rage.

Pure, unadulterated rage coursed through my veins at the look of terror in Cai’s eyes.

A second guard dragged Calista into the room, trying to wrangle her into submission. She was fighting.

I would not let these men hurt them.

Shadows burst from my body like daggers, slicing through one of his guards. The guard staggered back, pressing his hand against the deep gash to his arm. A snarl escaped my lips and as I met his eyes.

A wicked smile spread across the High Priest’s face.

“If you do not comply . . .” Dukovich gestured toward Cai and the guard lifted a dagger to her throat. “Then an innocent life will pay the price. All because you were afraid of a little collar.”

I would not let him do this again. I would not let him take another person from me. I would not let him hurt anyone else.

A roar left my body and for the first time since arriving, I let my magic consume me.

The room crashed into darkness.

Screams rang out around me, sucking me back to the academy—pulling me back to the night that started this.

The sound of Ardan’s body cracking against a stone wall.

Ata’s screams of horror in a blackened forest.

The sound of my friends’ pain—their fear—all echoed in my ears.

Tears fell from my face as I slammed my hands over my ears.

Make it stop. I need it to stop. I can’t breathe, I can’t hear this. I can’t do this again.

A deep, guttural sound burst from my lungs as black and green flames detonated from my every pore.

With one last push of my power, I collapsed to my knees and gasped for air.

My shadows slowly retreated to me, letting light seep back into the room as a spine-chilling silence echoed through the chamber.

Shattered glass and wood hung frozen in the air. The curtains looked as though they had turned to stone as a breeze flowed through them.

First, I saw Cai and Calista, their faces bone white as they clung to each other, huddled behind the bedside table.

Then I saw the massacre.