The Arrival (Birthright Trilogy #1) (61 page)

Both were dressed in garments that flowed over their slim figures.

The fabric appeared to change color as they moved, from a dove grey to a crisp white.

'What is that fabric?' she demanded, staring.

Vn’Orli smiled smugly.

'Do you like it? It’s a fabric created by an arachnid faere.'

Rumal looked at V’Merna in surprise.

'Where did you find the faere? Citaan’s been hunting for them for months but had no success.'

The elegant sprite gave Rumal a solemn wink then laughed.

'I’ll have a chat to her tomorrow then, but we’ll be making sure she keeps it a secret. Otherwise there’ll be none left for us.'

His wife nodded her face earnest.

'You know how popular it is Rumal.'

I can see why, Kassie thought. She noticed another woman studying the costumes, a tall blond with a fantastic figure.

She looks like a supermodel, thought Kassie, though she couldn’t see her face, and went to move to see better when Rumal touched her shoulder.

'Did you want another glass?'

'Oh! Yes, thanks'

She smiled at him then turned back. What? How’d she vanish so quickly? Kassie looked around trying to catch a glimpse of her. The woman had appeared quite tall, but she couldn’t catch sight of her at all.

'Weird.'

'What’s weird?'

Rumal chuckled when she jumped, and handed her a glass of wine.

'I thought I saw someone, but now she’s gone.'

He shrugged.

'She’s probably just ducked to the bathroom, Kass, not weird at all.'

Sian leaned against Daron, resting a bit. Her feet were a little sore from all the dancing but she still felt good, she tugged his hand.

'Let’s go back out.'

The music had changed and the tempo was quicker, making her want to dance. They merged with the crowd, and Daron slipped his arms around her waist so he could spin her. Sian gave a tiny squeal and grinned when he chuckled.

'What?' She gave him a coy look, 'It’s fun.'

She broke of with a sharp gasp, staring in shock over Daron’s shoulder.

Daron spun, looking around.

'What? What is it?'

The look on Sian’s face had frightened him. He turned back, staring anxiously down at her. She had a hand to her chest and a perplexed look on her face.

'I’m sor-ry,' she half stammered, as she started twisting her head this way and that, looking for something.

'I’d swear I just saw a blond woman peering over your shoulder. She had the freakiest eyes.'

Daron froze.

'What?'

Sian repeated herself. As soon as the words left her mouth the second time, Daron hauled her to the furthest corner of the room, close to a door. On the way he slapped both Sabyn and Rumal on the shoulder, giving them a look. Alek and a bewildered looking Cat joined them, followed by Elena and Yakov.

'What?' snapped the Sorceress.

It was the tensest Sian had seen her.

'She. Is. Here,' Daron hissed the words out.

Yakov’s eyes went flat.

'That’s not possible.'

Elena gave a terse nod in agreement.

'Tell them what you saw, Sian.'

She’d never heard this tone from Daron before.

The girls watched her, curious. Cat had her head cocked to the side with a look of concern.

'Umm, I saw a blond woman,' Sian began and then froze.

Sian stared at me in horror. Before I could ask what was wrong, a voice spoke in my ear.

'Hello, Princess.'

The tiny hairs on the back of my neck stood stiff. The voice, though pleasant, had a tone of malice that made me react before I realized it. I thrust my arm out, pushing as hard as I could with my energy.

Cat hurled the freaky eyed blond away and she smashed into the mirrors at the end of the room.

Kassie couldn’t believe it. The blond woman now stood there, without a scratch on her. Staring at them with her white eyes, her black pupils in stark contrast. The guests hadn’t even had time to react, but now pressed themselves to either side of the ballroom. Alternating looks between the thing at the end of the ballroom, and the Griffon Guard and Sorceress at the other.

'Now that wasn’t very nice,' the blond tsked, as though scolding a child, her weird eyes watching me. I could see the Lieutenants of the Calvary and General Guard move themselves to the front of the guests, attempting to cover as many as possible. I kept my eyes fixed on her and stayed tense, ready. Alek went to move in front of me and I reached out, gripping his arm.

'Don’t,' I hissed at him. 'This is our job remember?'

He looked at me in shock which dawned into realization and horror. The other men shoved Alek back behind them, and I stepped forward with the girls, between the men. We faced the blond.

She let out a trill of laughter, the sound making most in the room shudder in disgust.

'Elena, I come to wish the last of the Thalian line a happy birthday, and this is how I’m received? Really, have your manners diminished so since my last visit.'

She smirked at Alek standing behind me.

'Happy Birthday, your Highness, and I believe congratulations are in order.'

Her hands out on either side, I only heard a whisper of noise as she gathered her energy.

Loi threw her energy into a shield at the same time the blond, who had to be Jenviet, began to scream.

It happened so quickly. Our group, standing in the protective shield thrown up by Loi, watched in horror as it appeared to play out in slow motion. The scream pierced the air like a knife. Guests dropped to the floor, clutching their ears and then all the mirrors in the room shattered, the shards hurtling across to the opposite wall.

The aftermath was like a scene from a horror movie. People lay on the ground, screaming and moaning in pain, while pools of blood begun to appear. I’d never seen so much blood before, all those who weren’t under the shield were splattered with it.

Laughter broke through the screams.

Alek stared aghast at the appalling display before him and felt an intense fury as he lifted his eyes, to glare at his father’s murderer.

'Jenviet,' he snarled.

She laughed again.

'Oh you do remember me then little prince? I thought you might have blocked the memory out.'

He growled, incapable of speech.

'Not to worry, I’m not here for you. I just want the Thalian Princess,' she looked pointedly at Cat, whose eyes bulged in shock.

I gaped at the psycho blond in astonishment.

Really how do you reply to that? Other than, "you’re nuts"?

My rational voice took charge.
Well, if she’s focused on you then she isn’t harming anyone else, I think it’s time to flee. Let’s get her as far away from here as possible.

With as much a plan as I could hope for at that moment, I turned and ran for the doorway, sprinting down the corridor.

As soon as Cat had Jenviet’s attention, Elena blasted the evil creature out of the ballroom and felt a sense of pleasure at the smacking sound when she hit the corridor wall. Alek took the opportunity to dart past her, after Cat. Elena and the others ran to the corridor just in time to see Jenviet vanish from where Elena had thrown her and appear only meters behind Cat and Alek. She turned back to the group, rushing down the corridor after her, and chuckled.

'Catch.'

Kassie started back-pedaling, along with everyone else, as Jenviet sent a thick black cloud of something their way. Rumal grabbed her by the waist, swung around and deposited her behind him. As she got her footing she saw Sian lunge through the gap between Daron and Sabyn, both arms outstretched. A torrent of water thundered down the corridor, drowning the black cloud. Waiting to see if the water would wipe out the sadistic bitch, Kassie cursed to see her still standing there.

'Clever,' Jenviet cocked her head at them. 'But what about…?'

A rush of sound was heard from both Elena and Jenviet as they released bolts of energy down the corridor at each other. Kassie and Loi wrenched their shields up.

My dress hampered my normal speed. I reached down, grabbing a fist full and yanked it up. I’d heard the others confront Jenviet, but hadn’t turned back to check, knowing it was still in the best interests of all if I could get her far away from everyone. I had the image of the little balcony Alek had shown us this morning. God that sounded funny—it felt like days ago. I heard feet pounding behind me and glanced back.

He’d almost reached her when she gave a brief glance back, her eyes wide. He snatched her hand just as they hit the bottom of the turret staircase.

'Balcony?' he gasped.

She nodded, panting hard as they scrambled up the stairs.

'They’ve made it to the staircase!' Yakov sounded jubilant and Elena felt a surge of hope.

'Sian, Kass, joint attack now!' she cried.

Both girls drew their energy in. Hearing Jenviet gather hers again, Elena hastily flicked her fingers at the white eyed woman, turning the floor beneath her feet into liquid then back again—freezing her feet within it.

'Oh, very clever', the blond snarled.

Indeed, thought Elena, it has given the girls enough time to swell their energies. 'Release!'

Sian sent out another torrent, but this time of ice. Kassie blasted it with the strongest gale she could manage. A blizzard roared down the corridor, and the group stood tense, waiting. Simultaneously, Kassie and Sian both dropped their energies, groaning and cursing.

'What?' demanded the men, while Elena gave them a look of sympathy.

'Vanished?'

They nodded.

'Time to go then,' snapped Loi, fed up with the half fight and she took off down the corridor, heading for the turret that Cat and Alek had disappeared up.