Fire and Ice (43 page)

****

I was tossed on the stone floor of a cell, with the strange silver circlet still clamped around my wrist.

“It's a Shaqwa torc. A device for restraining a witch's magic.” Venus leaned against the wall of my prison of invisible bars.

I twisted my wrist to look at the device, which was as beautiful as it was painful. I felt weak and my arm weighed a ton. It only took a second before searing pain climbed up my arm. Wincing, I lowered it to my side.

“It's lined with a row of needles,” she added in a sugary tone that made me cringe. “You
may
want to keep still.”

I sat down on the edge of a cracked stone bench. It was stained with rust colored marks. My stomach lurched at the sight of them.

“Where's Adrius?” It was a struggle to keep my voice steady.

“Does it matter? His reappearance means your death.” She shrugged. “But since you mentioned it, he should be arriving soon. Probably with some inane scheme to get you released. Not that it will help. The curse is binding.”

“He has no reason to hold me here.”

“You still don't understand things, do you? It makes no difference what he wants. Here you're judged not by your actions but by who you are.”

It was like high school all over again. And as usual I wasn't in with the right crowd.

"You pose a potential a threat. That's all they need. These are ancient wounds and rivalries we're talking about.”

I looked up at Venus, her swaying red curls too vibrant for the dank space. “Why haven't they captured you? You say you're Octãhvia's daughter… doesn't that make you as evil as they think I am?”

Her cold laugh ricocheted around the cavern. “My heritage is pure since both my mother and father were sorcerers. My mother shared the bloodline of an incubus demon.”

I tried not to let my jaw drop but failed.

“Yes, yes,” she said with a hint of impatience. “They're
real
too.” She framed the word with dramatic air quotes. “And since you possess her powers, I can't claim succession to her throne. Only you can do that.”

“I don't want it,” I insisted.

She ignored me. “There isn't a drop of Faerie blood in my veins, which makes me relatively harmless by comparison. But
you
… Your existence is an abomination. And you will never have my Adrius.”

“Is that what this is about?” I spat. “Because I'm leaving… he could be all yours again, some day.”

“That day will never come.” Adrius walked through the invisible barrier holding me in my cell, which was no more than a cave carved into the side of a boulder.

I ran to him, and let myself fall into his open arms. His hand stroked my hair and he folded me into him for a blissful moment that was cut too short.

“Hate to interrupt, but there are more important matters to be taken care of,” Venus interrupted, licking her lips. “Like her execution.”

“I'm going to get you out of here. I promise.” His voice muffled in my hair.

Too worn out to speak, I nodded, forcing back burning tears.

“There is no way Lorelei could be a kin of your rancid bloodline,” he said in his usual velvety tone. "It was not dark Faerie magic that caused Octãhvia's powers to
be drained. She received training in the light of the Seelie Court and that awakening is as powerful as any dark magic."

Venus tapped a finger on her dimpled chin. “Perhaps… But certainly a witch-fey who's been given the kiss of memory could conjure that kind of magic.”

“What are you saying?” he demanded. “And don't lie to me Venus, because I won't hesitate to cut out your tongue.”

She threw back her head and laughed, sending dark red curls everywhere, like Medusa.

“That's what I love about you, Adrius. You're so
passionate
. But you should ask your little Faerie Princess what I'm talking about. Or you could go directly to Zanthiel himself.”

Adrius snarled, but when he felt my limbs go rigid, he stopped. Roughly he thrust me away from him. Taking hold of my shoulders, he turned me to face him.

I tried to look into his eyes, but what I saw frightened me, so I stared at the ground.

Lifting my chin, he searched my upturned face. “Lorelei. Is there any truth to what she's saying?”

I didn't know what to say. I was frozen in limbo, where all decisions and actions were impossible. So I didn't say anything.

He shook my shoulders once. “Lorelei, please… Tell me the truth.”

Swallowing back the bile rising in my throat, I met his eyes. They churned like the sea on the cusp of a storm.

“Amaryllis's methods weren't working,” I said softly. “I had to do something. I couldn't let Octãhvia kill everyone I cared about.”

I watched the golden light fade from his face.

He shook his head. “No. Tell me you didn't,” he whispered in a strained voice.

For the first time in a long time, the uncomfortable probing sensation was there, as he searched my thoughts for his answer. I was too weary to block him, and with the Shaqwa Torc clamped to my wrist, controlling my magic, I was powerless to stop him anyway. Part of me didn't want to stop him. It was better this way — put an end to all of the lies.

I reached out for him, but he pushed my hand away. “Why?” he said, the volume of his voice rising. “Just tell me
why
?”

“Adrius, please… It wasn't… it didn't…
mean
anything.”

The words sounded lame and pathetic, even to me. But it
had
been necessary, hadn't it? There was no other way.

“It was a means to an end.” I choked back a sob.

His reproachful glare was unbearable. To know this time, once again, I was the one causing the pain contorting his beautiful face.

“Yes,” Venus chimed in. “It was a means to an end…
Your
end.”

“Not another word, Venus,” he snapped. “Release the Shaqwa Torc.” Every word was clipped.

Venus lifted her finely boned porcelain hand and flicked it. “
Veneficus,
” she said, and liquid waves of light flowed from her fingertips to my wrist. The manacle broke open and clamored to the floor, the metallic din echoing in the dank cave.

Dried blood caked over purple bruises circled my wrist. I massaged it lightly, marveling at the rapid healing already taking place.

Venus wore the smug look of victory. “I knew you'd make the right choice,” she said, and Adrius flinched slightly closing his eyes.

His hand wrapped around my upper arm so tightly his fingers dug into my flesh, and he tugged me toward the mouth of the cave. “Let's go.”

Before I could protest, his fist slammed into the stone, as we exited. Vein-like cracks spread across the surface as a soft rain of powder fell to the ground, leaving Venus behind in a cloud of chalky dust as he towed me into the forest toward the Citadel.

We were alone.

“I'm so sorry, Adrius.” The words came out sounding wrong. My voice was too weak to convey everything I was feeling. And I couldn't find what I wanted to say. I held my wrist briefly, forcing back the nauseating smell of dried blood that circled it like a crimson bracelet. My arm was throbbing. The puncture wounds from the Shaqwa had already healed, but I didn't care about that now. I tried to touch his arm and he pushed me away. Waves of fury rolled off him, and his eyes flashed like a stormy sea.

“Lorelei? Do you have
any
idea what you've done?
Do
you?” His hands clenched into fists, the sinewy muscles of his arms stretched with tension. “You have just sentenced yourself to death.”

I'd die for him. When all was said and done, that's what it came down to. I would give my life in exchange for his. Only he was immortal, blessed with eternal life… and I was the one who was dying. Even after everything we'd been through I still wasn't sure what he'd be willing to give in exchange for my life.

Climbing out of bed, I wandered out to the courtyard, toward the south border of the Wyldewood Forest. Apparently, I'd been granted one last night to sleep in my room. Adrius had given the guards posted outside my door his assurance that I wouldn't try to escape, although there was the unmistakable click of a lock when he closed the door. Even if it had occurred to me to use magic to free myself, I wouldn't have k
nown how. The powers I'd somehow summoned with Octãhvia had receded to some inaccessible place deep inside me.

The message which had arrived hours earlier was as short and curt as the messenger who'd delivered it. Golden scrawled parchment simply read ‘
Meet me in the glen bordering the south forest before daybreak.'
I'd been awake ever since, too anxious to sleep.

Sunrise dragged. I wanted to see Adrius again, see that he was past the worst of whatever he was thinking. I wanted everything to go back to normal…
Normal
—
that was funny. Nothing had ever been normal here. In truth, nothing in my life ever had been.

I waited for what seemed like an eternity, pacing an uneven groove in the dew-soaked grass. It wasn't yet daybreak and the sky was still laced with Mediterranean hues. A soft breeze carried the fragrance of wild herbs. It caressed my skin and the tiny hairs on my arm stood on end. I didn't have to turn around to know who was behind me.

Adrius. I would recognize the electricity of his presence blindfolded. He was surreally gorgeous… even now, as he regarded me with distant, unreadable eyes. He was aloof, not as angry as he'd been last night, but still not himself. He had sent for me and so of course, I came. And now here we were in the same place we'd been when I first arrived in Mythlandria so many weeks ago. There was a familiarity but also an unnerving strangeness. I didn't like not knowing what to expect. Or what he was thinking. I attempted to use the Inner Eye necklace to access his thoughts, but a seer can see when he's being read. And his mind was completely closed to me, leaving me in the dark.

“Follow me,” he said with a fleeting look.

I took a deep breath and I followed him to what could possibly be my end. He was an Elven knight bound to his father's will. And right now his will equaled me dead.

The thickness of the forest encircled us, swallowing us in its mist. Twigs snapped and crunched beneath our steps and occasionally his arm brushed mine, but he made no attempt to take my hand. Given the circumstances, it was pretty insane for me to hope that he might.

By the time the sunrise peeked through the trees, the silence had become deafening. It was clear I would have to be the one to break it if I wanted any answers. I didn't like feeling so unsure about him. I knew what the curse could do, but I'd always felt comfortable. Safe. It was different now and I hated it.

“Where are we going?” I asked, a little breathless from the quick pace he'd been keeping.

“Not much further.” He looked back at me. “Are you cold?”

I was doubly puzzled by his cryptic behavior. Wintry and detached one minute, worried about my comfort in the next.

I shook my head, suddenly aware I was shivering.

That was all he said before dropping into another uncomfortable stretch of silence. I realized he didn't answer my question. It made me cringe to consider why.

Light dappled through the leaves. Something in the way the beam hit the ground reminded me of my mother. She'd always loved the play of sunlight. That was one of the reasons our house had been designed with so many large windows. My stomach twisted. I missed my mother, my house, my life. I had to go home… but, he could come with me… That was the best solution. We'd be far from his father and Venus, and the spell which bound his soul to her and his mind to his father… Far from Zanthiel. We could pretend to be normal. Human. Finish school and then head off to college. Together. That was the plan. It could still work. We just had to get past this. If he could find the strength to spare my life, we'd be halfway there.

He glanced at me, his lips pressed in a thin line, and for a moment I wondered if he had been listening to my thoughts. Then I remembered the chain hanging from my neck, and the protective pendant blocking his access to my mind, tucked safely inside my dress.

We climbed uphill over thick coiled roots still sleeping on the forest floor, which confirmed how early it was, the trees weren't even awake yet. Then he stopped so abruptly I nearly slammed into him. High above the forest below, we stood, still enclosed by the thickness of trees.

He'll get over this. We can get over this. He needs some time
, I told myself. The words weren't terribly convincing. I could feel something burning a hole in my chest. Panic maybe.

He turned to face me. The air was thinner here and I shivered, but not from cold. I felt sick and a little dizzy, like I was teetering on the edge of a precipice, about to fall. I tried to steady my breathing. I kept telling myself it was all going to work out. That everything would be fine. But the look on his face made it impossible to believe that was true. I twirled a lock of hair around my finger. His eyes followed my hand, and for a split second his gaze softened. The ghost of a smile touched his lips, the same slightly crooked smile that melted my heart. Only it didn't have time to reach his eyes before it faded. Then it was gone as quickly as it had come, leaving his emotions carefully shielded behind expressionless eyes. They were still beautiful. They were always beautiful, but the chill had returned. More than anything I missed their warmth.

I stood motionless, unable to breathe, barely noticing the coiling mist that had risen and was swirling knee high.

Being alone in the forest with him used to be my favorite place to be. Now I was choking from the dread rising in my throat. For an agonizing length of time he stared at me with those eyes that once lit up when he looked at me. His jaw tightened, and his hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. He shifted his weight, and frowned. A vein in his temples pulsed. Gritting his teeth, his hand reached for his sword. But then fell away. Raking a hand through his hair once, he finally broke the throbbing silence.

“You … have to go home.” His voice was cold and he separated each word.

“Wh-what?” Not what I was expecting. I took a deep breath, already shaking my head before he could answer. “No. I'm not leaving. Not until you listen to me.” My voice quivered with disbelief.

“I've heard everything you had to say, Lorelei.”

“You couldn't have. If you did, you wouldn't be standing here with that look. As if the only choices we have are you ending my life or us saying goodbye.”

He sighed. “Those were the only choices we ever really had. From the beginning.”

“That's bull and you know it. Zanthiel's kiss… it didn't mean anything.”

“You don't understand.” He cut me off, his words biting into me. “This has nothing to do with
him
. It's about us. It's about you and me and the impossibility of us being together.” A lock of hair fell over his eyes and he shoved it back roughly. “It was a dream, Lorelei… nothing more.”

Pain sliced through me. “You can't mean that.”

“You belong in your world.”

“We belong together.”

“No.” He shook his head, determination flaring in his eyes. “We don't.”

“Don't you remember what you said when you told me you loved me? You said I was all you wanted. All you'd ever want.”

Adrius examined my face for a long moment. The furrow between his brows deepened. “None of that matters now. Things have changed,” he said, the emotion stripped from his voice. His vacant eyes penetrated mine.

I felt numb. I couldn't feel my legs, or arms, or anything below my neck. Frowning, I shook my head. What he was saying didn't make sense.

“No, they haven't.” The words exploded out of me. “What was the point of fighting to save my soul if giving it to you means I lose it anyway? We can't let this come between us.” I felt the heat of tears stinging the corner of my eyes, though there was little chance of crying in front of him. I was too numb for that.

“You still don't get it. There is no
us
. I'm bound to someone else. I can't love you.”

His voice faltered as his gaze fell away. But it didn't mean much in that moment. I was still reeling from the windless sensation of being sucker punched in the gut. I wrapped an arm around my waist, my breath coming in short spurts.

“Then you might as well kill me,” I said quietly, sounding way too calm, as if it was a reasonable request. The debilitating pain from his words was already spreading, taking me over… what difference could a little more make? It would all be over soon anyway.

There was a sudden gust of cool wind and movement in the distance. I looked around to see Zanthiel making his way toward us.

I shook my head. This was so not a good time.

His lips were pressed tight and his expression lacked its usual twinge of dark humor. Though his eyes held more depth than I'd ever seen before, his steely gaze was locked on Adrius.

“What are you doing here?” Adrius was clearly irritated, but his voice sounded tired, drained of all fight.

“I'm here to make sure you don't do anything we'll both regret later.” His sharpened glare took on a protective edge.

“I'm fine, Zanthiel” I said, feeling anything but.

“It wouldn't be the first time you'd been wrong,” he retorted, still eyeing Adrius.

Adrius shook his head once. “I'm not going to end her life, Zanthiel. Not by execution… or by staying with her.” His eyes remained glued on my face, watching my reactions closely, then they shifted to Zanthiel.

“Was this what you wanted? The end you envisioned?” His voice was savagely calm. “It wasn't enough to poison her with your kiss of dark magic, you had to see to it she was put to death?”

Zanthiel stared him for a moment. “Not death. Just not with you. I was not the one who betrayed you this time, Adrius.” His gaze turned to me. “Follow me, Lorelei, I'll take you home.”

Zanthiel took hold of my arm and I pulled away. “I'm not following you anywhere!” I shouted. “You don't get to control me anymore!”

“Lorelei, your mother is waiting for you,” Adrius said quietly. Renewed tension worked his jaw muscles as his gaze shifted from Zanthiel to me.

“Adrius, please… just don't. Don't do this.” I choked on soundless words. My voice was drained. More than anything I wished we could turn back time and relive every wonderful moment we'd shared. To have one more chance to laugh with him, hold him. Share another secret smile. Another electric touch. We were falling apart too soon. It wasn't supposed to end this way.

In the forest behind us, came a distant cry followed by the pounding of hooves.

Adrius looked at me gravely, but spoke to Zanthiel. “Take her home. Try to keep her alive.”

I struggled to remember how to breathe… how to speak, but everything was blank.
Please let this be a bad dream
. I closed my eyes, praying this was another of my nightmares. Vivid and agonizing and intense, but not real… and when I opened my eyes it would all be over and everything would be like it was.

When I opened them, my heart leapt for the briefest moment, because Adrius held my face lightly in his hands, their warmth radiating heat into my cold cheeks. He pressed his lips to the top of my head. I inhaled the deliciousness of him, clinging to his nearness. My mind was void of any threat of danger and my eyes fluttered closed. When I opened them again, he was gone.

I looked down and stared blankly at my hand, in which was nestled a small package wrapped in a leaf.

“We have to go now,” Zanthiel insisted, taking my arm again. This time I let his icy hold pull me through the Wyldewoods, down winding paths toward a destination I didn't want to reach.

He dragged me up a hillside and I struggled against his strength, forcing him to stop.

The distant pounding of hooves grew closer, louder. The ground vibrating as they neared.

Zanthiel scowled impatiently. “Do you hear that? It's the sound of a dozen king's guards coming to kill you. I made a promise to keep you alive. So are you going to move, or do I need to throw you over my shoulder and carry you? Because I will.”

“Zanthiel,
please
— You have to take me back to him.” I panted, desperate to catch my breath but unable to. “If they find out he let me go…”

“You cannot save the elf if you're dead. And then Venus wins.” He looked down at me and some of his hostility turned to sadness. “You heard what he said to you?”

I nodded, the lump in my chest grew bigger. “I know, I know. But…”

Zanthiel exhaled a long sigh. “One day, when things have cooled, I will bring you back. But right now you have to get out of here. Now run.” He gave me a shove forward as the beating hooves started to close in on us. I started forward but Zanthiel headed in a different direction, fading into the mists. “Keep running, Lorelei. And whatever happens, do not stop.”

The forest had grown darker, colder. It made no sense to follow him. I had no idea which direction he'd gone or where I was, and he was impossibly fast. But the riders were getting closer so I stared up the hill. Scrambling faster and faster, I eventually broke into a full run. Painful howls and the bray of wild horses echoed around me, and for the first time that morning I felt afraid for my life.

I had to find somewhere to hide. Wait it out. Then I could go back and make sure they didn't harm Adrius. The mist had become a thick fog, blurring my vision. That combined with the silent tears streaming down my face made it impossible to see. I sprinted, blindly through the haze until my chest was pounding so hard I thought I might collapse. Branches and twigs snapped under my feet. Leaves crunched and stones scattered as my feet pummeled the forest floor. The air was damp, musty, and I was vaguely aware of the rain soaking through my clothes. Up ahead there was light, and instinctively I forced myself toward it, pushing my burning legs to keep going.