Soulbound (34 page)

Her fingers tangled in my hair as she ran them through, yanking at my roots painfully. I wriggled away, but she refused to let go, lost in her delusion. “Your soul will soon be free, my love. Darrek’s Graplars can punish those that praised Darius for his failings. He returned to Shadow Academy just an hour ago. And now he’ll come for you, to save you as he should have saved you then. And when he does, I’ll pierce his heart and set you free.”

In the distance, the sounds of war filled the campus. Shrill screams reached my ears, sending gooseflesh over my entire body. Graplars’ growls echoed throughout Shadow Academy. Death was in the air.

I laid helpless on the ground, my hands bound, my back against a log, a madwoman’s hands tangled in my hair. All I could do was listen as Instructor Baak’s terrible plan unfolded before me. No one would rescue me, no one could. And I prayed that Instructor Baak was wrong and that Darius would stay far away from Shadow Academy, or else his life would be forfeit as well. I struggled against my bonds, but they were too tight, too strong. I just hoped that Instructor Baak would kill me before the Graplars could. I couldn’t imagine a more painful death.

“Kaya!” Trayton hurried closer, the look on his face one of immense relief.

As he drew closer, one of Instructor Baak’s hands closed over my mouth. “Shh,” she whispered. “There now. It’ll all be over soon, Katelyn.”

Trayton’s chest rose and fell in heavy breaths, as if he’d been running for quite some time. “I’ve been searching the grounds for you. Figures I’d find you here. Are you all right? Graplars have overrun the—”

His eyes fell on Instructor Baak’s hand in my hair, and confusion washed over him. When his attention dropped to her hand on my mouth, he reached back, his fingers lightly grasping the handle of the katana on his back, his eyes dark and mistrusting. “Instructor Baak?”

Her hand loosened on my hair then, and the hand over my mouth retreated. For a moment, the woman that I’d come to know seemed to reappear. She stood slowly, carefully, as if she’d found herself again. Relief filled me, settling my heart’s rhythm. Shaking her head, she said, “Trayton. My word. I don’t know what came over me. Kaya, I am so sorry. I never meant to—”

Then she lunged forward, raising the jagged blade high into the air. I stared in disbelief as time slowed, her dagger shining in the moonlight, Trayton’s katana almost glowing as he withdrew it from its saya. He didn’t bring the sword forward. It was as if he was frozen in disbelief. The dagger came down, plunging into his neck. I wrenched forward, but there was nothing I could
do. Blood spurted from the wound as she pulled the dagger out again, several droplets spattering my cheek. The katana tumbled to the ground, landing softly in the grass at Trayton’s feet. Trayton clutched his neck and crumpled soundlessly to the ground.

T
ime rolled forward, picking up speed as it went, until everything was moving the way that it was supposed to once more. Trayton lay on the ground, coughing against the pain of his injury, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth and pouring from between his fingers. Scrambling forward, I rolled, hoping to heal him, to save him, but Instructor Baak pointed her bloodied dagger at my eye. “Back, girl. There will be no healing this boy. They all have to die. It’s the only way to put Katelyn to rest and bring this war to an end.”

My hand was inches from Trayton’s neck, but it might as well have been miles. There was no doubt in my mind that if I edged so much as a millimeter closer, she was going to stab me. She was going to kill us both, and then kill everyone else on campus. “You’re a monster! This war is Darrek’s doing! And Katelyn’s death was a tragedy, but she died doing what Healers do, supporting her
Barron. You preach about that duty every day in class.”

“It’s a duty that was above my daughter!” Her eyes glossed over again, as if she were having a difficult time staying in the present. “You should have been a Barron, Katelyn. I wish you had been a Barron.”

“Killing innocent people won’t lay Katelyn’s soul to rest, Instructor Baak. And what makes you think it’s at unrest, anyway? Katelyn is dead, and I’m sure she wouldn’t want her mother murdering people.” Slowly, I scooted backward, back to the log, an idea fixed firmly in my mind. To my great relief, she didn’t seem to care if I moved away, only if I moved toward Trayton, who was paling fast, his grip on his bleeding neck weakening. “Killing people isn’t going to bring your daughter back.”

“You know nothing of my daughter!” She sobbed, large tears rolling from her crazy, widened eyes.

Pressing my back against the log, I pushed myself to standing and stepped toward her, ready, hoping that my plan would work. Narrowing my eyes in a furious slant, I hissed, “I’m ashamed of you, mother!”

“NO!” She howled. “You’re not my daughter! You’re not my Katelyn! He killed her! Darius killed her! You’re not her!”

Her face red, her maddened grin turned into a maddened snarl, she whipped her free hand forward, backhanding me. Pain exploded in my cheek. It ached through my jaw and echoed through my skull. I fell, forcing my body to fall at just the right angle, and when
I hit the ground, something in my left knee popped. Ignoring the pain, I slipped my binds over the katana’s blade, slicing neatly through them. Then, as fast as I could move, I pressed my left hand to Trayton’s neck and lifted the katana with my right.

As I raised the sword, Instructor Baak brought her dagger down. She was fast. Too fast. I wouldn’t be able to block it in time. But maybe, just maybe, Trayton would heal in time to avenge my death. Beneath my fingers, he continued to bleed. There was no tingling in the palm of my hand, no sensation of power as I pressed my skin to his. There was just blood, and the overwhelming feeling that I was losing him.

My heart beat hard and fast, as if trying to get its last workings in before the dagger entered. Time had slowed again, and I watched the blade edge nearer and nearer to my chest. I brought the katana up and sliced into her arm, cutting deeply. But it wouldn’t be enough to stop her. The sound of metal slicing bone grated in my ears, and her blood poured out, drenching us both.

A hand closed over Instructor Baak’s injured arm and twisted it back, sending her flying. She landed several yards away, with shrill cries that hurt my ears. Darius met my eyes with so many questions that I didn’t know which to answer first. Then he looked at Trayton and his expression darkened with concern. In his eyes were the words that I didn’t want to hear:
He’s dying, Kaya. If we don’t get him to the hospital wing immediately, he’s dead.

A sob choked me and I dropped the katana to the ground, pressing both of my hands to Trayton’s wound in desperation. But still, the sensation that I had experienced in our Binding ceremony escaped me. I was failing him and had no idea how to make him well again. “Don’t leave me, Trayton! Please don’t leave me. Heal. Just heal!”

Darius closed a hand over my shoulder. At first I thought he was comforting me, but as his fingers pressed, I realized he was trying to silently gain my attention. Sniffling, I turned my head, and my heart stopped.

Two Graplars were standing to either side of Instructor Baak, who was giggling madly. Her laughter pierced the air, sending a sharp chill up my spine. Her grin had returned, broad as ever, and if a miracle didn’t present itself soon, the three of us were as good as dead.

Stroking the amulet around her neck, Instructor Baak purred to the savage beasts at her command. “Kill the girl quickly, but leave the boy to me.”

My hand found the katana again before I could even think to do so. Slowly, I stood, forgetting about stopping Trayton’s bleeding for the moment. The Graplar to her left lunged forward, toward me. Darius turned to confront it, gripping the handle of his katana in determination. Behind him, Instructor Baak edged her way closer, raising her dagger high. I shouted Darius’s name, but he was already turning toward her, already countering her move with one of his own. He raised his blade and made
contact. Once again the sound of metal on bone filled the air. Once again blood flew. But it was Instructor Baak’s blood. Her hand tumbled through the air, still gripping the dagger.

Instructor Baak didn’t make a sound.

The Graplar moved forward and I readied my blade. Lurching toward me, its foul breath filled the air, making me gag. But I gripped the handle, ready for the beast’s assault.

“Stop!”

Instructor Baak raced forward, her eyes once again clouded, her handless arm gushing blood, and flung herself between me and the Graplar, her eyes wide and terrified. “Leave her be. Leave my Katelyn be!”

The Graplar froze, unable to resist the whims of the amulet’s keeper. I didn’t know what to say, what to do. I also didn’t know how long this madness would carry on in my favor.

Darius slowly returned his katana to his saya. I wanted to scream at him not to trust her, not to believe that this was the end of her violent desire for justice, but my voice froze in my throat. Darius fell on his knees in front of Instructor Baak, his brow heavy. “I’m sorry, Instructor Baak. I never meant for anything to happen to Katelyn. I should have protected her. And I’ll never forgive myself.”

I took a step toward Instructor Baak. She was facing away from me, her eyes on Darius. Both looked pained
beyond belief. Tears welled in Darius’s eyes. “Please. End it. Set her soul free. But spare the others. Katelyn’s death was no fault but my own.”

Instructor Baak’s eyes filled with hatred as she looked down at Darius. Her grip on the amulet tightened, and I knew the next words that left her mouth would cause Darius’s demise.

I reached out to snatch the necklace from her neck, but she yanked it away before I could. Cursing at us, she ran off into the growing darkness with more strength than I thought was possible in her current state. Instinctively, I moved to go after her, but then felt Darius’s hand on my arm. The look in his eyes was more serious than I had ever witnessed. Darius stood, hoisting Trayton into his arms. “We have to get him to the Master Healer, Kaya.”

Trayton’s skin was a deathly pale. His arms hung limp, his eyes were closed. If I had to guess, I might have thought him to be dead already. But I clung to the hope that Darius was right to believe there was a chance at saving his life.

With a determined nod, I gripped the katana tightly in my hands and led the way. Instructor Baak would have to be dealt with later.

W
e made our way through the darkness to the hospital wing, which was packed with people—many moaning, some screaming in pain. Darius laid Trayton on an empty gurney and was checking his pulse when I grabbed the shoulder of a passing Master Healer. “We need help. My Barron is—”

“We’ll get to you in a minute.” He turned as if to rush down the hall.

My skin flushed, almost burning. “No! You don’t understand, he’s dying!”

It was only then, when Darius’s hands closed over mine, that I realized that I was holding Trayton’s katana up in a threatening manner. He slipped the blade from my trembling hands and met my eyes with complete understanding. Then he looked back to the terrified Master Healer and said, “She’s very upset, as you can
understand. But she’s also right. Trayton is in dire straits. Please.”

“Trayton?” As if his name was well known—and it likely was, due to his father’s fame—the Master Healer forgot all about me and hurried to Trayton’s side. After just a moment, Trayton was rushed away, and Darius directed me to a bench in the hall. I sat down, tears welling from my eyes, and when Darius sat beside me, I cried into his shoulder, soaking his bloodstained shirt. After a while, I shoved him from me, so overcome with the bitter mixture of grief and rage. “Where were you? You could have saved him!”

His shoulders sank, as if weighed down by guilt. “You’re right. I should have been here. I traveled to Haruko, not far from Darkmoon Academy. I like it there. It’s where I go to clear my head sometimes. But the moment I overheard two of Darrek’s drunken guards in this pub I frequent discussing a teacher at Shadow Academy who was loyal to Darrek’s cause, I hurried back.”

My eyes ached from crying. “You shouldn’t have left in the first place.”

He said nothing. Mostly because there was nothing to say.

My Soulbound Barron had died. Now I was about to lose my Bound Barron too. The pain was overwhelming. Before this moment I had never truly understood what my father had meant by the term “soulbroken.” But I
did now. My heart ached. My insides felt hollowed out. I was hurting, and there was no end in sight for my pain.

After minutes, maybe hours, with my throat raw from crying, I finally asked the question that had been burning through my soul since I’d laid a hand on Trayton’s wound. “Why couldn’t I heal him, Darius? What did I do wrong?”

Tightening his arm around my shoulders, he breathed into my hair. “You did nothing wrong. Being Bound isn’t as strong as being Soulbound. It’s not as reliable. More serious injuries are questionable. You may be able to heal them. You may not. But you tried. And that means everything in the world to Trayton right now.”

I dried my tears and sat up, tugging his sleeve. I was still mad at Darius, still so angry that he’d ever exposed me to Trayton’s watchful eye. But for the time being, I needed him. “Come on.”

Darius looked at me with one eyebrow raised. “Where are we going?”

I stood and picked up the katana, determination replacing my immense sorrow for the time being. “We’re going to find Instructor Baak and get that amulet.”

D
arius and I moved across the campus, sticking as close to buildings as we could. Graplars ran by, their giant, muscular forms pounding the ground all around us. Some glistened with sweat from the effort of their assault on the school’s occupants. Others were dripping with blood. But it was those who seemed to grin as they passed us that bothered me the most. I didn’t know for sure whether or not Graplars were capable of emotion, but their lips stretched so wide to reveal their teeth in a horrifying grin. The absolutely worst part of it was that between the rows of razor-sharp teeth were bits of chewed meat—meat that had likely been a person just moments ago.