Broken (33 page)

Twelve Gatekeepers stride out from six booths that seem to disappear once the doors close. Surprisingly, they seem genuinely pleased at their king’s return. They form a horizontal line in front of him. As we move closer, I notice four of them are female. Their tight-fitting uniforms give them away, the same ones the Prodigies wear – ankle-high boots, leather trousers that look painted on, sleeveless shirts revealing bulging biceps, metallic vests and the intimidating silver gladiator helmets the Gatekeepers hold under their left arms.

They give their reports one after the other, maintaining an unnatural stillness until it is their turn, while Prince Luca listens attentively, drills them with questions, and occasionally even makes them laugh, smile or blush. Sometimes their conversation becomes serious and Luca fastens his eyes on them with a look that should burn holes in their eyes. Yet they all seem enamoured of him, and this piques my interest. ‘Zavier, can you translate?’

‘They’re welcoming home their king.’

‘I get that much. Some specifics would be helpful.’

He stalls. ‘OK. Well . . . let’s see . . . they’re informing the king of visitors and other goings on in his absence. Don’t ask me why they’re bothering him with such trivial details.’

I feel my brow pinch into a suspicious frown. ‘Can I have a word-for-word translation?’

He stares at me with his mouth open before finally relenting. ‘You will find out soon enough anyway,’ he mutters. ‘Better hearing it from me, I suppose.’

‘Hear
what
?’

‘Nathaneal came through these gates several weeks ago.’

I gasp. ‘I was told he came to Skade, but I didn’t know how, or that he had passed through these gates.’

‘There is no other way in or out. Apparently he made a big scene, burning holes in the gates, which, by the way, is impossible, even for Prince Nathaneal with all his fancy powers. Allegedly, he knocked out a couple of Gatekeepers.’ He shrugs. ‘But I have my doubts.’

‘You don’t believe Nathaneal was here?’ I ask, my heart pounding.

‘I believe
that
part,’ he whispers. ‘It’s the part about burning holes and knocking out Gatekeepers I don’t. It’s more likely the Gatekeepers accepted a bribe.’ Still whispering, he adds, ‘Pink diamonds are highly valued in Skade. With their volcanoes spewing up lava every day, the pink ones still remain elusive. And, of course, what you can’t have, you tend to want more of –’ I squeeze his arm and he cries out, ‘Hey!’

‘Stop babbling! Tell me what Nathaneal was doing here.’

‘
Is.
’

‘Excuse me?’

‘This is the part I didn’t want you to know.’

‘Go on.’

‘He came to Skade with a team of six, and . . . hasn’t left yet.’

It starts to sink in. Nathaneal has been here all this time. It’s what Gabriel hinted at but wouldn’t tell me for weeks. I go over conversations I had with him and try to put together why Nathaneal came –
is
still
 – here. The Courts made him pay restitution for his crimes in the form of good works. They wanted him to regenerate a forest wiped out in a cosmic storm, but Nathaneal nominated his own form of restitution. He was to descend into an underground world beneath a . . . Oh!
Oh! Oh
no!

‘He’s looking for my parents, isn’t he?’

Before Zavier confirms or denies this, I remember something troubling. ‘But you said my parents were stashed on an island that will explode at the slightest weight change. Is that why Nathaneal hasn’t returned to Earth? Did he . . . ? Has he . . . ? Zavier, is Nathaneal at the bottom of some bizarre underground ocean?’

‘Try not to worry, Ebony.’

‘Try not to worry! Are you insane?’ My head begins to ache. This can’t be happening. While I’ve been safe at home, snug in my bed, complaining about
everything
, Nathaneal has been in a horrible place searching for my mum and dad.
My
mum and dad!

‘Where is he?’ I glance at the Gatekeepers. ‘Do
they
know?’ I start to run over, but Zavier drags me back with a stern warning in his eyes and a brief glance at our three guards, who follow every step I make with their eyes.

‘If the Gatekeepers know anything,’ he says, ‘they’re not going to tell
you
.’

Meanwhile Prince Luca moves on to hear the last Gatekeeper’s report.

‘Do you think Nathaneal is all right, Zavier?’

‘The truth is, Ebony, I don’t know.’

I point with my chin at the tall female Gatekeeper practically preening herself before her king. ‘What’s
her
name?’

‘Lailah.’

‘What is Lailah telling Luca now?’

He sighs. ‘She’s just flirting.’

‘You’re kidding! Well, she can have him!’

‘Ebony,
shush!
’

The prince notices. He stops and turns his head to me. His eyes meet mine and I scramble my thoughts like Jordan told me works for him. Thinking of Jordan makes me wonder where he is. The last time I saw him was . . . was . . . in the cave, chained to a wall. Thanks to the sedatives, I have scant memories.

The Gatekeepers’ reports over, Prince Luca selects two Prodigies and snaps orders at them.

‘He’s sending them on ahead to notify the palace of our imminent arrival,’ says Zavier.

‘And . . . ?’

‘He has asked for the handmaiden Mela to prepare a room for you in the north tower, and to have a warm bath waiting, along with the kinds of things you like.’

I raise my eyebrows at him. ‘Such as?’

‘Your favourite toiletries. Shampoo. Clothing.’

‘How does “Mela” know what toiletries I like?’ I sneer.

He shrugs. ‘Mela is very intuitive. You will be safe in her hands.’

Safe?
In Skade? ‘What did Luca mean by preparing a room for me?’

‘Your own bedroom, of course.’

‘I won’t have to share
h-his
?’

‘I assure you, Ebony, he won’t share your bed until you turn eighteen and are married.’

‘Goodie, I have a whole year and a bit.’ I glance down at the bridge, the very same bridge Nathaneal crossed an unknown number of weeks ago. If only he were here now. ‘Prince Luca has warned me he
is
going to share my bed, if not tonight, then tomorrow.’

Zavier stares at me, and is quiet for such a long time I think he’s not going to say any more. But then he shakes his head. ‘No, I don’t think –’

‘Zavier, I saw his intentions. I
felt
his obsession. He wants to own me and
he
doesn’t think he can wait.’

Zavier turns me so my back is to the prince, our profile away from the guards. ‘Listen to me,’ he whispers. ‘I’ve noticed the way he looks at you. It’s just that after waiting thousands of years to choose his perfect bride, why would he take risks that might endanger the health of his unborn children? Making a mother out of you before you’re ready, before the law allows, could result in an illegal marriage or, worse, imperfect babies that he would drown like a litter of unwanted kittens.’

My stomach churns. ‘Zavier, help me. You can’t leave me with this monster.’

His eyes fill with shame, regret and pity.

And I know then Zavier isn’t strong enough to fix this.

His inability to protect me, his gutlessness, makes me so angry it’s no surprise when I see a red haze in front of my eyes and feel my power begin to pulse inside. I hammer at his chest with my fists. He does nothing to protect himself and the sad thing is this doesn’t surprise me. ‘You should be defending me, guarding me, saving me, not handing me to the vilest creature in the universe in exchange for ten million dollars. It’s despicable. You are despicable. I hope, for as long as eternity lasts, I never set eyes on you again!’

Prince Luca suddenly appears between us, and taking my wrists he covers my fists with his hands. ‘Enough, Princess,’ he says calmly.

Over the top of my head he barks orders at the three perplexed bodyguards. Bringing my hands together he holds them gently, warming them while his hungry eyes burn into mine.

For the first time I notice he’s taller than Zavier. He might even be taller than Nathaneal. His hair is like Nathaneal’s too, except a few shades darker. For someone recovering from horrific injuries, his hair and skin are in amazing condition. His face is a vision of unblemished perfection, except for some minute areas of loose skin around the eyes and neck.

‘Come,’ he says, turning me towards the gates. ‘So that you may see your new kingdom, I have ordered the gates be thrown open.’

Hearing this, Zavier shrugs off the bodyguards. ‘All twelve, my lord?’ He sounds shocked. I flick him a glance, but he’s not taking his eyes off Prince Luca. ‘Is this wise, sire? We’re a small group. We could pass virtually unnoticed. It would give Ebony time to rest and freshen up before her first public appearance tomorrow.’

The prince’s green eyes glow. ‘You have lived so long amongst the humans you’ve picked up their ways of questioning their superiors.’

‘My lord, I assure you, my words are borne out of concern for Skade’s future queen. If you recall, it was the plan.’

‘Are you questioning my memory now?’

‘No, not at all, my lord.’

The gates are heavy. Spaces open up between each pair slowly. My first sight is of a dark sky with bulbous grey clouds, streaked blue and red. It could be dusk or dawn, I wouldn’t know.

I start to tremble. This is really happening.

A dark purple orb, maybe a moon, sits high in the sky but is so large it looks as if it might drop at any moment.

This is certainly not my beloved Earth. I’m so far from home! A sob rises into my throat. I take a deep breath and force it down. Now is not the time to come unstuck.

As the gates open a little wider, I find myself walking towards the edge, where I catch my first glimpse of a city far below, though I can’t see much because of a dense layer of grey fog obscuring almost everything. The top portion of a high-rise building and the towers of a white palace are the only structures tall enough to rise above it.

But it’s the sky that tells me so much. I lift my eyes and fall backwards with a gasp as a second orb comes into view, low on the horizon. Another moon? Or is this the sun, obscured behind the toxic grey clouds that apparently surround this world?

Oh, Thane, where are you? This place . . . This place is so strange.

While dwelling on Nathaneal, I miss what’s going on behind me. Prince Luca has ordered Zavier to leave, and not just for now, but for all time.

‘Your job is done to my satisfaction,’ Prince Luca announces formally. ‘But from this day forward you are forbidden to pass through the Gates of Skade unless I summon you.’

‘But, sire, the arrangement was to deliver Ebony to your palace and see that she settles into her new surroundings.’

‘You’re not listening!’ Luca bears down on Zavier with an arm outstretched, staring at him and pointing down to the blue light. ‘Leave now!’

Zavier stumbles backwards, cowering and wincing with pain. Prince Luca is squeezing his brains.

‘My lord, what has changed?’

The prince stops right in front of Zavier, but doesn’t speak.

Zavier moans and grips his head with both hands.

I run over and help Zavier to his feet. ‘You should go. I’ll be all right.’

‘It appears I have no choice but to leave you, my lady.’

Zavier takes my hand as he straightens to his full height. ‘My lord, I ask permission to say goodbye privately to my niece.’

Luca’s eyes narrow as he stares at Zavier without speaking.

‘After all I’ve done to ensure she becomes your queen, don’t I deserve this one request? My lord?’

Prince Luca assesses us both with a look that chills my bones to the marrow.

Sensing defeat, Zavier growls, ‘No one else
could have pulled this off for you, my lord, and you know it.’

Prince Luca peers at the gates, nearing half open, and looks at me. ‘Do you wish this foolishness too, Princess?’

Not sure why, I give the Prince a slight nod and he says, ‘You may say your goodbyes until I call you.’

Zavier scoops me up in his arms, shoots out his big brown wings, and whisks me off to the solitary southern end. ‘Listen carefully,’ he whispers as he sets me down on my feet. Keeping his back to the prince, he grips my shoulders.
Something has changed. I don’t have time to explain how I know this. Blink twice if you can hear me.

I blink twice without realising it, startled by how clear his thoughts are in my head.

This is a trap. I don’t know what shape, or form it will take, but I’m sure of one thing: right here on this bridge is where he wants Nathaneal. Now that he has you, Luca will use you to lure his one true enemy into an ambush.

I start to gasp but pull myself up quickly, close my mouth and try with all my might to forge a mind-link with the person, who until recently I have hated with all my heart.
Why?