Chapter 43

Sam awoke in agony. He thought the throbbing pain where his horn used to be had blurred his vision black. After a moment, he realized he was wrapped in the darkness of the cave.

"Selene?" he tried to call out, but the words turned into a cough that wracked his broken ribs. The sound echoed through the walls of the cave. He listened intently for a reply or the presence of Zaybris's guards but only heard the rush of the waterfall and his own heartbeat reverberating in his ears.

I failed her.

He reached out to feel the ground around him, at first encountering only dust. Then his hand bumped against something made of glass and metal. His fingertips explored the object until its shape came to him. It was one of the lanterns from Queen Thema's castle, now broken. They had all been smashed to pieces, he realized. Finding his way out of the maze that had led them in felt impossible without light. Still, he had to try.

Carefully, Sam attempted to stand but collapsed face-first onto the ground. He knew his life-force was ebbing away, but he wouldn't fail Selene a second time. Zaybris must have taken her to the Goblyn castle with the traveler's stone, he reasoned. The vampire was probably putting her in chains right at that moment or harvesting blood from her veins. The thought filled him with such terror and rage it gave him the strength to roll to his side. There, he could see light coming from the rock opening to the waterfall. A way out. Slowly, he used his elbows to inch his body closer to the waterfall and the sliver of sunlight reflected.

At last, he was able to peer over the cliff edge to see what was below. The waterfall flowed into a river, one he knew flowed toward the Goblyn castle. The drop was steep, not much less than the tower's staircase that led to his chambers at Queen Thema's castle. He considered climbing down the crag, but his hands were bloody and raw from fighting. Yet, he knew there was no other way out.

Without stopping to consider the dangers, Sam dove over the cliff's edge. Wind and water rushed past him as he fell, whipping his hair around his broken horn. The resonance of the waterfall pounded from all directions. The murky depths of the river below came toward him faster and faster until he was plunged into a shock of cold water.

He let himself sink for a moment, relishing how the icy water soothed the pain of his injuries. Numbness overtook his body. Feebly, he tried to kick against the water's pull, but his feet felt heavy.

He needed air. Instinctively, he opened his mouth to breathe, and river water rushed in. The more he tried to expel it from his mouth, the more it filled his lungs. Twisting and turning, Sam tried futilely to take a breath, but he was too far below the water's surface. Down and down he sunk until the motion in his limbs stilled. His eyes slid shut, and his head tilted back.

I'm dying.

Demons in the living realm couldn't die of sickness or old age, but they could still perish if their vital functions were compromised. Sam thought again about how he had failed Selene. Betrayed her. Lied to her. He had failed Queen Thema too. He had done almost nothing of worth or honor in this life. He had squandered the love of his fated mate and would now be exiting the living realm with his vengeance for Zaybris unfulfilled. At least he would soon be reunited with his parents.

Sam's heart slowed, and his attempts at breathing stopped. Just before he slipped into unconsciousness, he felt something large swimming behind him. It swam again past his side, then he felt pressure around both wrists. Without warning, Sam's body was jerked up and pulled through the water at top speed. He felt his head breach the water's surface and air race over his face. Then he was flipped onto his back and pulled through the water again as though he were a heavy fishing net. Finally, he felt the bite of river stones against his back and the sun beating on his bare chest. He was no longer in the water but on land.

Sam rolled to his side, vomiting up water and gasping for breath.

"Easy now. Breathe into this," Sam heard a voice say. Something hard and round was pressed to his lips, and glorious, clean air filled Sam's mouth. Greedily, he breathed it in. Feeling rushed back to his limbs and the haze in his mind began lifting. Then suddenly, the air-delivering device was ripped away from him.

Sam made a noise of protest and turned to see someone peering down at him. It was a Nereid, a male with patches of gold-scaled skin. The top half of his body was muscular flesh, but below his waist, he had a golden fishtail instead of legs. Down the middle of his head, strands of blue and green hair were woven together in a braid.

"Slow down, or you'll be even worse off," the Nereid said, holding up a long, slender seashell. The end of his ruffled tail splashed rhythmically into the riverbank. "This shell is enchanted to deliver air, but too much can be deadly."

"Thank you," Sam rasped.

The Nereid smiled broadly, displaying a row of sharp white teeth. "I knew it was you."

Sam wiped water from his face. "What?"

"You're Samael!" The Nereid said his name like a victory cheer. "What happened to your horn?"

"Do I… know you?"

The Nereid shook his head, "No, but you saved my life many years ago. My name is Kye." His tail rippled, sending droplets of water into the air. "When I was young, a group of vampires tried to get me to fight for them. They took me from my waters, made me don legs, and locked me in a wagon."

Sam nodded weakly.

"On the night I was supposed to fight, you set fire to everything and freed me. It was amazing! I always wanted to repay you. And then today, you just showed up! In my river! What are you doing here?" Kye said.

"I've been injured." Sam tried to sit up, but the motion made him dizzy. "I was trapped in a cave above us and escaped over the waterfall. I'm trying to get to the Goblyn castle."

"What for?"

"My mate," Sam said thickly. "She is being held there against her will. By vampires."

"Oh no, we can't let that happen," Kye said. He began twisting his torso in a stretching motion and rolling his shoulders. "I'll take you to her. There's nothing I hate more than vampires."

The fear of what danger Selene could be facing at that moment made Sam's words come slowly. "No. I can't swim now. I'm too weak."

"Yeah, I know," Kye replied. "Don't move. I just have to grab something from home." Quickly, the Nereid dove back into the river. A few minutes later, a thin boat-like structure shot to the surface, followed by Kye. He emerged wearing a chest harness made of netting with two thick straps secured to the boat at his back.

"Climb aboard," Kye said.

Sam crawled on his hands and knees toward the water. When he gripped the boat's edge, black spots clouded his vision. He felt Kye come up behind him and unceremoniously push Sam in until he was lying with his back against the shell-like bottom of the boat.

"Hey, sorry about that, but I had to get you in somehow," Kye said cheerfully. "Just relax. I'll get you to your mate soon."

With a splash, Kye dove underwater and began swimming at a fantastic speed, pulling Sam behind him. The steady motion made it impossible for Sam to keep the darkness fogging his consciousness at bay. He couldn't say if the journey between the waterfall and the Goblyn castle took two minutes or two days, but the next time he opened his eyes, Kye was poking his shoulder.

"Samael, wake up. We're here!"

He sat up, noticing that the rest he had gained made his head feel clearer. The sun was setting, and the air was cool. When he laid his eyes on the Goblyn castle before them, vengeful anger strengthened his will.

I'm coming for you, Selene.

Gingerly, Sam hauled himself out of the boat. "Thank you, Kye. You have my gratitude."

"It was my pleasure." Kye bobbed in the water and gestured to the castle. "It's pretty grim in there. You need a hand? I haven't been on land for a while, but I could change into legs."

"No, you've given me enough help," Sam replied. "This is my vengeance to take."

Kye shrugged. The motion flipped his blue and green braid over his shoulder. "I'm glad I could help. Now we're even, demon!"

"We are. Farewell, Kye."

"Bright blessings," Kye replied. Sam watched the Nereid wave and then swim away, dragging the boat behind him. Sam was grateful that his time in the blood wagons had brought him such a boon.

Slowly, Sam approached the decrepit castle. No lights were shining in the windows, and it looked like no one had inhabited the castle for decades. The outer gardens and orchards were so overgrown Sam nearly walked straight into the iron gates defending the castle's entrance. No guards stood outside, which Sam found odd. Wouldn't Zaybris be more careful to protect himself? Perhaps the vampire assumed Sam was dead and wouldn't be coming for Selene.

Wrong.

The rusted gates opened easily with a push. Sam crept toward the large oak entry doors that bore a brass plaque depicting a bat in flight—Queen Lilith's royal crest. One door was ajar, and Sam slipped in. He tensed for a surprise attack. Nothing happened. Only the sound of his ragged breathing filled the empty entry hall, then the scuttle of a mouse disappearing under a loose floorboard.

"Selene!" Sam shouted repeatedly. Each time he paused to see if he could somehow connect with her through their bond and find where Zaybris had hidden her in the castle. He waited for some kind of response, either by sound or internal feeling, but nothing came. Enraged with fear and desperation, he began tearing through the castle. With what little strength he had, he started opening doors, searching each room he encountered, and even destroying bookcases and walls in search of secret passages.

Panting with exertion and covered in sweat, Sam finally made it up to the throne room on the top floor. He had found nothing in every space he searched but bats and cobwebs. Everything stank of mold and dust, leading him to a heartbreaking realization.

Her scent isn't here.

Even if Zaybris had hidden her someplace, Sam was certain their bond would make him able to catch her scent. She wasn't in the castle. Sam didn't know where she was. Every bit of rage and frustration rose and came out of him in an ear-piercing roar. Before the throne of the lost queen, Sam fell to his knees and dropped his head in his hands.

"We don't have any gold," a voice called out. "There's nothing here of value."

Sam's head whipped up. A well-dressed but tired-looking vampire was watching him from behind a table Sam had overturned. Sam shot to his feet and charged toward him.

"Where is Zaybris? Where did he take the human?"

The vampire's mustache twitched fearfully. "I don't know. Zaybris left with some guards a few days ago. I haven't seen him since."

"Do you know of the human he sought?"

"He went out to find her but planned to return here. Do you wish to drain her too?"

"She is my mate! I have come here to save her and destroy Zaybris! Where is he?"

The vampire held up his palms defensively. "Please, I am no ally of Zaybris, and I don't wish any harm to come to your mate. But I don't know where he took her."

Sam took a step forward. "How do I know you're not lying?"

"Waldron speaks the truth," a new voice called out. "Zaybris isn't here. Have you come to rescue us?"

Sam turned and saw a petite Goblyn in a pink dress hovering on leathery wings. More Goblyns began to emerge from dark corners and around doorways. A few vampires shuffled out, looking more weary than fearful.

"Where have you all been hiding?" Sam asked. "Is Zaybris there with you?"

"He isn't here, and may he never return," a vampire said in a rasping voice.

"Does your kind not serve him?" Sam asked. "Why are you all here if he is so despised?"

The Goblyn in the pink dress floated closer to Sam. "This is our home. Please, sir. Can we bring you something to eat or drink? At least let our healer dress your wounds."

The vampire called Waldron said, "Zaybris is nothing but a tyrant. Our kind has been lost without Queen Lilith, but when Zaybris returned, he didn't bring order and integrity as he promised. He only riled up the greediest among us."

"To serve his own needs," another vampire echoed.

Sam eyed them cautiously. The rush of adrenaline that had propelled him into the castle was nearly spent, and his legs were shaking. It seemed that neither Selene nor Zaybris were in the castle. Although part of him was compelled to search all of Aurelia for Selene, he knew he was far too weak.

Zaybris could have taken Selene as far as the Vowa territory with the stone, which would take Sam weeks to reach, and doing so was a poor strategy when Zaybris could return her to the castle in a blink. The feeling of powerlessness he had was overwhelming. It wasn't wise to trust these strangers, but they posed no threats to him and seemed truthful in their hatred of Zaybris.

"You truly believe Zaybris means to return here?" Sam asked Waldron.

"It was his intention, yes. He had prepared a suite of rooms for her and… ah, well… devices to collect her blood."

Sam growled, and when his knees threatened to buckle, Waldron swept a chair under him.

"Sir, please sit and rest. May I ask your name?" Waldron said.

"Samael."

"Welcome to our home, Samael. We will do whatever we can to reunite you with your human."

Sam nodded weakly, resigning himself to living with the agony of waiting. He patted his side in search of the switch pouch before realizing it was left behind in the cave. "Do you have any means of communication here? I need to get a message to the Malkina queen."

Waldron reached into the pocket of his tweed suit jacket. "We have this crystal that once contained a message from Queen Thema. Would that do?"

"Yes." Sam took the crystal and considered how to phrase his message. He had to tell Queen Thema of the disastrous end to their scheme and demand that she organize a massive search among the queens for Selene. Unwanted images of Selene lying still and pale with death came to him, inducing panic. What if Zaybris had been so greedy that he drained her? What if he had beaten her or violated her? What if she was somewhere crying out for him, but he couldn't hear her? Surely he would feel it if she had died, Sam reasoned. Zaybris needed Selene's living blood. It was in his best interest to keep her healthy and whole.

Sam asked the Goblyns if they could bring him some water and food. He clutched the crystal and tried to transform all his fear, regret, and despair into determination and strength.

It's not too late for us, Selene. It can't be.