5
My darling,
When we can finally be together, we will be together forever. I will always remember your face. Even as it grows older, to me it will never change.
* * *
“I am?” Cassia raised an eyebrow at him.
“She is?” Cecilia said, grabbing her dagger from her boot. “Did you forget that she literally just tried to kill me?”
“No,” said Melech, eyeing both of them. “But yes, She is. You are.”
Cassia looked as if she was about to argue, but instead smiled at them. There was no light behind her smile and Cecilia shuddered. Cassia started walking down the path in the direction they had been going before. “This way.”
Cecilia watched as Melech followed her. She looked at Nevari who shook her head and ran to catch up with her brother.
“Are we really just going with her?” Cecilia asked.
Micah shrugged. “Melech seems to trust her. Right now, she is our only hope to get you home undetected. I say we just see what she can do.” He turned on his heels and followed the Daemons with Venali right behind. Cecilia crossed her arms. She knew Micah was right. She guessed she didn’t have to trust her to have her help them.
They walked until they reached a giant rock wall. Vines were hanging down all along the front, their green leaves made a thick cover over the stones. Cassia passed through them, not waiting to see if they would follow her. They did, filing into a large stone room that was hidden behind the vines. It was lit with torches of fire and candles, casting shadows that danced over the walls in a beautiful but somehow threatening way. There were shelves scattered all throughout the room that seemed to be made out of tree roots. They curved over the walls and held different colored bottles of all different shapes. A large stone table was placed in the center of the room. Smaller rooms seemed to break off in every direction from the main one and Cecilia couldn’t help but wonder how far this place went on for.
“Cas,” Melech cleared his throat. “Cassia, we need a way to transport right to the castle of Aduial Amon or as close as you can get us.”
She crossed her arms, eyeing the strange group that was gathered in the middle of the room. “Why do you need to go there?”
“We are going to talk to the High Priest.” He replied. Cecilia saw Nevari throw up her hands as Cassia turned, heading towards some of the shelves on the far end of the room.
“Melech,” Nevari pushed her hands through her hair, pulling a few strands from her braid. “You are giving up our whole plan! Remember how well the last time we trusted her went?”
“Nice to see you again too, Nevari.” Cassia said, not looking up from a bowl she had grabbed and started pouring ingredients into. Nevari just groaned and walked towards the wall opposite of them. “Aduial Amon huh?” The Ferie continued to put pinches from this and spoonfuls of that in the bowl in front of her.
“Yes,” Melech said, less confidently than he had started. “We are—”
“Ok Melech she doesn’t need to know our whole life story.” Venali shot him a look, warning him not to say anything else that might get them in trouble. Melech looked defeated. What was going on with him?
“Finished.” Cassia clapped her hands together, admiring her handy work. “This should get you there.”
Cecilia’s eyes widened. That seemed easier than she thought it would be.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“Thank you,” Melech said, reaching for the bowl.
She swatted his hand away. “Not so fast, handsome.”
“What?” He looked startled.
“We haven’t discussed payment.” she hoisted herself up on the table and placed the bowl in her lap.
“Cas,” Melech said. His eyes pleaded with her. Cecilia mouthed ‘Cas?’ to Micah who shrugged.
She stirred the bowl with her finger, and looked at Melech innocently. “What? Those are the rules.”
Nevari came up to her brother and put her hand on his shoulder, giving Cassia a sharp look as she did. “Come on, let’s just go. Walking won’t kill us.” She started to guide Melech towards the vines. The Ferie girl looked at her nails lazily, the bowl resting loosely on her lap.
“Bye then.” She said, barely glancing in their direction. “It was nice of you to visit, Melech dear.”
“Wait, wait, wait.” It was Venali who blocked the retreating Daemons’ path. “We should at least hear out her price. It will take another fortnight to return to Aduial Amon now, especially after traveling for 2 days in the wrong direction.”
“Venali’s right.” Cecilia replied. She even surprised herself at how willing she was to trust a Ferie bargain just to return home. “We don’t have any more time to waste.”
“Fine. What do you want?” Nevari asked Cassia, narrowing her eyes.
“One of you needs to stay behind with me. We will be bound together until you all return. I have to give you something to make the journey, and I want it back. Think of it as an insurance policy.” Cassia said.
Micah looked at Cecilia, worry in his eyes. Though it seemed harmless, they were thinking the same thing— any deal with a Ferie was a dangerous one.
“I’ll stay.” Melech said. Cassia smiled at him, that same terrible yet beautiful smile she had before. It made her features sparkle with more beauty than Cecilia thought possible, but not the sparkle of something beautiful like stars; it was more like hot cinders that sparkled in front of you before burning through your clothes.
“Like hell you will.” Nevari said, pushing herself in between him and the nymph. “Bind me.” She stuck out her arms expectantly.
“Does anyone object?” Cassia asked, looking over Nevari’s shoulder at Melech.
“Yes, I do.” He replied, everyone else was silent, not sure what to do.
“Too bad, It’s one to four. Bind me and send the rest to Aduial Amon.” Nevari said, not taking her eyes off the Ferie.
“Okay,” Cassia said, the smile still playing on her lips. Melech protested helplessly as she grabbed Nevari’s wrist and wrapped a vine around their arms. Little beads of blood began to form around where a few vines poked them. It didn’t look like anything special was happening to Cecilia. There was no glimmer of light or puff of smoke. The two girls stood there bleeding slightly, Nevari towering over Cassia. It was like watching two titans face off, both staring daggers at each other.
After another second, it was over. Cassia took the vine off of their arms and let go of the Daemon’s hand. Aside from a small trickle of blood running down her arm, Nevari seemed unchanged.
“How do we know it worked?” Nevari asked, looking at her hand.
“You’ll know if you ever stray too far from me. It will feel like your soul is being ripped out of your body.” She said sweetly, wiping off her arm with what looked like a flower petal.
“Great.” the other girl replied. “Well, it’s done now, send them to Aduial Amon.”
“Now wait,” Melech said. “Maybe I should stay here and make sure you both don’t—”
“Don’t what? Kill each other?” Nevari said humorlessly. We’ll be fine. A Daemon needs to tell the High Priest what is going on in Daemon Country. Honestly Melech, sometimes I wonder if there’s just air between your horns.”
Melech crossed his arms but didn’t say anything else. He looked so helpless. It was a strange thing to behold. The fact that a seven foot tall Daemon looked on edge added to the feeling of the atmosphere— dangerous and hostile. She shuddered. Nevari could take care of herself though, that she knew.
Cassia walked over to a nearby shelf and grabbed a green crystal that was in the shape of a flower. She dropped it into the bowl then lifted it out again, now covered in a slight powder. She handed it to Melech, who closed his fingers around it.
“This crystal will get to you to the port right by the castle in Aduial Amon. You have five days to return it. It will turn blue when those five days are up. To get back here, return to the port and walk into the water. I don’t care who comes back and who doesn’t, as long as the crystal is returned to me. It’s my only way out of Ratini without being caught by the king.” She explained.
Melech nodded. “And when it is returned to you, you will unbind my sister?”
“Yes.” Cassia assured him. “She’ll be safe with me.” She looked over at Nevari who narrowed her eyes at her. Cecilia knew Ferie’s couldn’t lie, yet somehow, it was hard to trust her word.
“Okay, now that this is all settled, let’s go.” Venali said.
“Not so fast.” The Ferie replied, putting the ingredients she pulled for the bowl away. “You have to wait for the moon to rise for it to work.”
“What? Why?” Cecilia asked. “It’s really important that we get there right away.”
“A couple of hours won’t kill you.” Cassia said. “Make yourselves at home until then.” She put the last jar away and sauntered down the hall, leaving the rest of them to stare after her.