When Silver Moons Rise (Lost Immortals Saga #2) (3 page)

“I saw this day coming long before you arrived. Someone else holds my place in your heart.” Olivia speaks with a lispy accent, pronouncing each
s
in a way that penetrates your mind in a bad way.

“I came to ask for a rune.”

“Which one, do tell?” The sleek cat hops into her arms and buries its head in her bosom.

“The Rune of the White Cobias.”

“The river guardians?” Turning around, she studies me with amused eyes. “You waste your last chance to see me on a shabby request? I don’t know, Faris, I think living among the humans has crippled your good sense.”

“And fear of going home has made you into someone you don’t want to be.” I soften my voice, and say, “Especially when the battle that Father’s oracle predicted long ago is still going on. You have to choose sides, Olivia. We all do. Will it be for the good? Or the evil?”

“Unlike your human girls, boy-based demands aren’t sexy to me.” She lifts her nose higher and turns her back to me.

I have the feeling she has already chosen sides. And that choice isn’t going to work in my favor, I’m sure. “Then you choose Bernael’s rage, an immortal life of pain? Do you want that? To be the Angel of Chaos’s slave?”

“What do you expect? I sit here by myself for the longest time. I have nothing to keep me company but my thoughts about how you abandoned me. You made me look like a fool. Anger is all I have to keep me…entertained.”

“You don’t mean that.” I move my gaze toward the white snake that has slithered into the room and place my hand on the schorl in my pocket. It’s white like all the other sacred animals that have found their way onto this side of the veil between our worlds.

“I stand behind every single word. Killing my pets won’t help you plead your case, either.” She turns around and gives me a hard look as I stand in attack mode.

A long silence passes. Her decision to hand over the rune will make or break our success at crossing the River of Sorrow to reach the lake where my sister is being held in Bardonia. Olivia is stubborn and I’m desperate—not a good combination.

“I choose my own side. Bernael’s servants murdered my real parents.” She glances at me, her blue lips quivering. I half expect her tears to fall and freeze. “You win the lucky boy’s prize in the dead parent lottery. Your mother still lives,” she says. A deep tune with violins sails through the hidden speakers. She starts swaying along with the music’s deep bass. And to think, I once thought this girl was sexy.

“Remember when you used to play your violin for me?” she asks, still ignoring me. Right then, I decide I would rather face exile than spend eternity with a girl hell bent on making me angry for her pleasure.

“Can I have the rune, or not?” I ask.

“For you, absence has been marked by a measly twenty human years. For me, it has been forever. I waited for you. Now, you’ve come back to me, asking me to help so you can be with the girl who has taken my place.”

She turns her icy gaze on me. “Have you forgotten your Guardian vows? You can’t marry. I believe those were the words you used to reject me. No worries though. Heartache and doom, those are the colors in your future.”

“Hate to tell you this, but you’re a little late with that prediction,” I say truthfully. I’m starting to feel desperate.

Even worse, I have the feeling things are brewing inside Olivia’s mind that won’t work in my favor. “Do you want me to beg? I can’t reach Lake Tezrith without the cobia’s help.” I step toward her and reach out. She draws back, flinging her tunic behind her with one pasty arm. The cat plunks to the floor and accidentally rips the edge of her shirt.

“Dammit. Be careful, Ginger Cat.” It prances away, not a care in the world.

Turning, she glares at me with her strange eyes. The cat ripped her clothes, and I’ve ticked her off. Not good. “The cursed souls who patrol the river will bleed you dry. Even if you use the cobia’s rune.”

She has a point. The cursed souls have one weakness though, a fear of Neptune’s cobia—a type of mythical fish that is part eel and large enough to swallow a cruise ship. According to the myths, the cobias were blessed by Neptune after rescuing the imprisoned god from his watery grave thousands of years ago. The cobia will be a grim enemy, but a hellacious ally for the one who controls their stone.

“Just bear with me. Can’t we come up with a truce? Give me the rune. Think of ways to enjoy my peril later,” I suggest and smile to add a dose of charm.

“I won’t have to think too hard on that. I’m eighty steps ahead of you. Come to think of it, danger threatens your precious Chela even now,” she purrs. I shuffle on my feet and fumble with my thoughts. Olivia knows Chela’s name. This fact worries me. She starts laughing. It sounds a lot like a choking hyena, reminding me of someone from my past.

“That’s right. I already know her name,” she says. “Are you dying to know how I found out?” I am, but she won’t tell me. Instead, she walks over to a cabinet that blends into the white walls. The music player is hidden inside. A slow, dark tune with shrill violins, heavy bass, and tubas fill the room now.

“Here I thought I might be able to drop by and find someone who’s ready to fight for a good cause. People will die if the Tainted aren’t stopped. Both human and supernatural,” I say.

Before I can say anything else, she lunges forward. Her clear eyes turn dark, and her hair splays around her head like a wiry halo. I take a step back. She rams her index finger between my eyes. “I’ll give you access to the cave where the rune is stored. But understand something, my needs come first. Promise me that you’ll destroy the Tainted who is responsible for murdering my parents. Got that, fallen prince?”

“Loud enough to hear on the other side,” I say, glad that I can get ready to be on my way out of this place. I’m game for taking out a Tainted any day. This all feels too easy, though. “Could I have a hint about my target? Like, maybe give me his name, for example.”

“No names, only a hint.” She scoffs a laugh. “Did you honestly think I’d make things that easy? Shame on you, Prince. This person is someone close to your own heart. Good luck.”

Yeah. I already figured I’d hear something vague, but her so-called clue annoys me for some reason. “Sounds easy to figure out. Thanks.”

“Go through my mirror, now,” she says with a smug smile and holds up a black rune with a white serpent’s symbol etched on it. The cobia’s rune looks different from the way I imagined it would. I reach out to take the stone, but she grabs my wrist before I can. Her skin is as cold as the ice land she governs. The sensation bites into my skin, freezing it to the bone. She wants me to flinch. I don’t.

Maybe she should try her juvenile tricks on someone who isn’t possessed by a creature that breaks his bones each time the animal comes out of him.

“Go. Do not dare come back. Or, I’ll feed you to the bulls myself.” She shoves the rune into my hand.

“Understood.” I turn toward the mirror reflecting an inky pool of nothing. An uneasy feeling creeps into my chest.

“One final note before you attempt to use the rune.”

“I’m waiting,” I knew a deal with a witch couldn’t be so easy.

“The rune requires a sacrifice. Hope your seraph girl is worth whatever you choose to give up.” She smiles wide and wicked. The black color of the stone in my hand begins to spread over my fingers and up my arm. 

“What is this?” I try to fling the stone away. No luck.

Olivia flutters her lashes, lifts her hand, and flicks her wrist. Mini lights flash underneath the skin on her forehead. Her victory smile will be the last thing I see before leaving. I open my mouth to question her, but six glass arms emerge from inside the mirror and pull me into it. I hurl backward without a chance to say another word.

On the other side, a group of guards wait. I roll over one last time and find myself staring down the barrel of one of those old sawed off shotguns. I’m not outside, though. I’m inside a cell. The rune in my hand disintegrates into black dust.

“Damn it, Olivia!” I shout.

She played me like a fool. Last thing I remember was laughter coming from the guy who is holding the weapon. I grin too. Why not? A fool should smile when the camera turns his way, right? The man’s grin fades, just before he rears back and hits me with enough force to put me in the dark.

Chapter Four

From In the Dark…(Faris)

A dash of cold water hits my skin, jolting me awake.
Damn, that crap is cold.
Gasping for air, I focus on my surroundings. I can’t move my hands or feet. My entire body shivers as I recover from my unexpected shower.

Metal rings hold my wrists and ankles. Slowly, my eyelids flutter open. Darkness surrounds me. In the distance, I hear muffled screams, the kind that pierces through to your core. An odor that reminds me of something like rotten corpses assaults my nose. There’s only one place I can be. I’m inside the Ice Prison.

I shuffle against my restraints. Another mistake. The iron rings tighten around my wrists, digging into my skin. The way the metal burns and drains my energy tells me that the cuffs are made from a treated iron found only in Bardonia.

Yeah, so Olivia betrayed me. I honestly thought she’d let me pass through the veil. Stupid. I should’ve known better. She’s still bitter because I chose to pledge my life to the Caducean order rather than to go along with my father’s plans to marry us. What she intends to do to me is something I’m pretty sure I’m not going to enjoy.

“Pretty boy’s awake,” the thug beside me says. He stands close enough for me to smell his breath. Sewage is too good a word to compare to the stench coming out of his mouth. I squint and can’t resist as I stand here shivering, fully aware of my exposed body now. Somebody has stripped me down to my boxers and nothing else. 

All right, think. You can get out of this situation.

Still there’s a part of me that doubts myself. The door to my cell creaks open. Two big hulking guys enter the room, stand on either side of the doorway, and wait at the entrance. Olivia strolls in behind them. My room or cell or whatever is pretty large so she has a way to go before she reaches me. The guy standing beside me moves to the side as she approaches.

I yank against my restraints, even though I know my strength isn’t enough to break the cuffs. Sharp pains pierce the underside of my wrists. Before I get the chance to see what’s causing it, the thug steps in front of me. He’s only about a foot away from my face, so I’m staring at a chest covered in black leather.

“Keep squirming like a girl and I’ll knock you out again,” he hisses at me.

I lift my head and grin. “Fine by me. Anything is better than smelling that rancid breath of yours.” He growls and sends a swift punch straight into my ribcage. His aim is precise probably because he’s used to doing this kind of thing on a regular basis. A hand gathers the hair on the back of my head and wrenches it backward. I’m now staring the weirdo with the iron fist in the face. He’s even closer this time. “Now what did you say about my breath?” he growls.

Keep quiet, I tell myself. Not my style. “I said your breath smells like—” I don’t get the chance to finish the sentence before my face meets a pair of brass knuckles. No wonder his punches hurt so damn much.

“Come now, Tank. Let’s not abuse the house guests. What’s this? Poor baby,” Olivia says as she steps in front of me and runs her thumb across my busted lip. Of course, the ogre’s name would be something like Tank. The guard shuffles and looks to the other two hulks still guarding the door. It humors me that the big ogre is terrified of his warden. I wonder if he knows that she’s an angel-blood in disguise like me.

“I told you not to touch him. Did I not make myself perfectly clear?” She uses a calm, but deadly tone.

“Yes, Mistress. He was being unruly, so I—”

“Bull! Touch him again, and I’ll nail your jewels to a wall.” She turns toward my jailor and says, “Adjust his straps.”

“Yes, Mistress,” the ogre says and steps toward me.

I buck at him. No way is he getting anywhere near me again. I’m quickly reminded of what’ll happen when I move too much. The pain in my wrists along with the fist imprint in my stomach and lip make me wince.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Prince Indrail,” Olivia says to me. “Take a look.” She nods her head toward my wrists.

I know that what I’m about to see won’t be pretty. Slowly, I turn my head, glancing at my wrists. Now I understand where the sharp pains come from. Needles attached to the top of the metal cuffs are in my wrists, digging into the fleshy part closest to my palms. Tubes are attached to the cuffs and lead down out of the containers connected to the needles. Rubber hoses end inside of metallic containers sitting on either side of my ankles.

Curse it. I’m hooked up to a bleeding machine.

“Yes, it’s a bleeder. Angel-blood is in high demand. Even I have to make a living,” she says, moving closer to me.

“You’re a hypocrite, Olivia,” I say between clenched teeth. I hate being restrained.

What does she want besides my blood? I don’t even think I’ll ask. Scratch that thought. I better ask if I ever hope to break away. I can’t punk out and leave Chela all alone. I promised her I’d return, and I intend to keep my word.

“Leave us,” she says to the guards at the door without looking away from my face. Tanks scoffs and walks out behind the other two men.

“I’m not into kinky things. Sorry,” I say through a ragged breath. Something about seeing the needles now makes me painfully aware of their presence.

The most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen on a maniac lights up her face. The harsh white hair flowing against the long, tight navy blue dress she wears today makes her look exactly like what I know she is, a Witch of the Silver Magic. “You used to be so much more fun, Faris. That is before you left me looking like a fool in front of the congregation.”

“Our parents set that up.”

“We were promised to each other,” she hisses.

“I never agreed to it,” I say.

“Beside the point. I waited for you to return. You never came. They laughed at me for months afterward.”