Page 31 of A Traitor Sister (Remnants of the Fallen Kingdom #2)

31

RENEL

T he dark sphere still floats above its pillar as if to mock me. I’m at the castle’s heart, its highest room, with large glass walls from where I’ll have the best view of my doom.

The council didn’t come. I chuckle. They didn’t come. Every single one of them sent a silly excuse. This probably means they decided to meet without me and conspire. My only consolation is that if they’re in the Jewel City, their plot won’t go very far. What an incredible consolation.

Now I’m here, staring at this stupid sphere and wondering if there’s any way to bend it to my will. I suppose I should start by not calling it stupid. The Shadow Ring is on my finger, laughing at me and my imbecilic plan to seduce a Tiurian.

“Renel,” Azur calls from the other side of the door. “Are you there?”

I open the door, and he enters. “So no council meeting?”

I stare at the sphere. “No.”

“Do you have a plan?”

“I’ll ask the gods to help me.”

“They don’t interfere.”

“I’m asking for an exception.”

“Right.” He has one eyebrow raised and gives me an unconvinced look.

“I’m serious. Other than asking, I’ll be here, trying to control the castle. Why wouldn’t I have any magic? Not even a drop of it? What if a drop is all it takes? What if I can summon it at the last moment?”

Now he’s staring at me as if I’m insane. “I suppose you can try.”

“I don’t know what to make of your carelessness about your own demise.”

“What would you expect me to do?”

“Care.” I shrug. “At least a little.”

Azur looks down. “You don’t know how I feel.”

“True. And I’m sorry. Sorry for your bond, sorry for my failure.” He nods and stares out the window. I look too. “These fields, this region, it reminds me of a time when things were easier, when I was happy.”

“What’s the next stop? For the castle?” His expression is grim, and I realize it’s true that I don’t know how he feels.

“North,” I say. “Close to Serenade.”

His eyes widen.

I add, “Not close enough to damage that village.”

“Serenade,” he mutters, his voice cracking with emotion.

Apologies won’t help, so I keep silent and walk to the window. As I run a finger over the handrail, it trembles. At first, it’s a soft, almost imperceptible rumble, and yet I know what’s happening.

The sky outside gets dark, and yet it’s not the sky, it’s the castle moving in the space between spaces, going to its final resting place before doom. When daylight returns, we’re near the fae territories and the forests in that area.

Strangely, I feel no fear. I suppose the certainty of my destiny has numbed me.

I turn to Azur. “It’s time. The royal guard was told to evacuate the castle and keep only a safety perimeter around it. Check if they’re obeying. The doors of the Royal Terrace are to be permanently closed. Find the castle workers, such as cooks and servants, and make sure they leave.”

“Enchanted servants have nowhere to go, Renel. And they can’t simply abandon their post. Their enchantment won’t let them.”

“Give them a task that will make them go outside.”

“Then if the castle is destroyed, they’ll be looking for it forever. Let them die with the castle, if it comes to it. It’s a kinder fate.”

“It’s a cruel fate, Azur. Let them survive this catastrophe. Who knows, maybe their enchantments will be broken. Maybe there’s still hope for them. Get them out of the castle.”

“Yes, master.”

He’s saying this to annoy me, but I decide to ignore it.

Then he adds, “The castle could take days, even months to move. Are you sure you want to go without servants?”

“It could take days, yes, but it won’t take months. It’s a pattern, Azur. The intervals got shorter and shorter. Either way, I suppose I can go to the kitchen and find myself something to eat if the castle takes more than a few hours. Otherwise, I’ll be here. Make sure the castle is empty. You can leave too.”

He snorts. “That’s not how my bond works, and you know it.”

“Maybe I should find something useful for you to do outside the castle.”

“Won’t save me. If you die, so do I.”

“Go say goodbye to your soulmate.”

He gives me a murderous glare. “Why would I give her such a wound? Why would I make her miss me?”

I look down and run my hand over the rail. “Sometimes, knowing that you were loved once can get you through hard times. You can miss someone and still treasure your times together as a memory.”

My own words make my eyes misty. Is this about my mother, my father? Tarlia? Not her, since we never mentioned any feelings. Perhaps there were none—and it was still worth it, still a cherished memory.

Azur huffs. “Lidiane will find love and joy, and I’ll be but a passing, insignificant shadow in her life. When I die, she won’t shed a single tear. That’s my gift to her. I could have given her my heart, my life, but if all I can give her is freedom from the suffering of this bond, then so be it.”

“That’s selfless, I suppose.”

“Maybe. Anyway, I’ll go and evacuate the castle. Anything else, Your Highness?”

“That’s all for now.”

He leaves me here and I approach the sphere again. Could the castle be sentient?

Can I try to convince it to save itself?

My ideas are getting ridiculous, my mind is getting muddled, but at this point, I have nothing to lose.

TARLIA

I explained leverage to Lidiane, and the idea that we could use something as a lever to crack those bars, but the truth is that we have nothing, so my idea was pointless. I tried to hold on to the bars, push my feet against them, then pull, but nothing moved.

“What about your magic?” I ask.

“My element is air, but I’m horrible at it. I would get exhausted and nowhere near cracking anything.”

I try to think. “Wouldn’t Azur… sense you?”

“I’m trying to block him.”

I’m impressed. “You can do that?”

“I’m trying.”

I’m also puzzled. “He’s very powerful. Why wouldn’t you want him to find you?”

“It could be a trap for him. I’d rather escape without his help.”

I glance at both our handcuffs. “What are the odds?”

She shushes me, and I pay attention to the sounds around us. Someone’s approaching. They throw something into the cage. Two small balls.

Drusils. I tremble.

“What’s that?” she asks.

“A candy I like. From human lands—or Krastel, at least. Few people know I like them.”

She frowns. “No fae would know.”

“Renel does, but he wouldn’t tell anyone about it. I mean, even if he were captured and tortured, nobody would ask him about something so meaningless.”

I stare at the two little balls. Even though they were thrown in the dirty cage, I’m wondering if I could wipe them and eat them, but that would be quite stupid, since they could be poisoned.

“Then who?” Lidiane asks.

There’s only one explanation, even though it doesn’t explain much. “It’s my master. But I don’t know how or why.”

Someone pulls part of the canvas covering the cage. Otavio stands there, wearing one of his long robes.

He smiles at me. “Good guess. Finally. I was almost giving up, Tarlia .”

I return the smile and pretend to be happy to see him. “Master, you found me! Did you come to rescue us?” I show my handcuffs.

His chuckle is to my ears what pepper would be to my eyes. “Do not pretend to be stupid. You know well I’m the one who captured you.”

I frown as if confused. “That makes no sense. I work for you.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Do you? Or do you think you can fend for yourself? Do you think you can trick me?” He snorts. “Pretending to be Astra! As if you could come even close to her.”

At least Lidiane is quiet, watching him. I wouldn’t want her to attract his wrath, and I know he can be dangerous.

“Didn’t I do a good job?” I smile again. “I could do better next time. When did you figure it out?”

“Why should I tell you? Now, you’re not very smart, are you? Pretending to be Astra, you were caught just like she was.” He smirks. “Funny that your friend never warned you. Or do you think she’s your sister?”

“No such delusions, master.”

That said, Astra did tell me that she had been located because of the hair coloring, and I realize that’s how he found me. To my defense, I didn’t plan on going to the Shadow Lands or leaving the castle, and didn’t know he would come after me.

“At least you’re finally being useful. You were always by far the prettiest, and yet you squandered all the beauty I worked hard for you to have.” He points at one of the drusils on the floor. “Did you really suck a kitchen assistant’s cock for one of those?”

It was just a hand job, he was cute, and I was hungry. But I’m not going to confess it. I smirk. “Of course not. I let the assistant and the male cooks all take turns fucking me. It was more delicious than the drusils.”

He chuckles. “I’m glad to hear they had some joy before dying.”

A bitter taste comes to my mouth. “Dying?”

“What do you think the penalty is for using royal property, Tarlia? What do you think you are?”

Dead? I noticed that I never saw any man in the kitchen again, but I could never have guessed… That’s horrific. “They were innocent. And I’m lying. They never touched me.”

“We couldn’t take the risk. Their deaths are your fault.”

“But the guards who came to my room were not killed.”

“No. They were doing their job.” He sniggers. “You think you’re some kind of rebel? You think you were defying me? You were not. You were doing exactly what I expected. Those men were doing what they were told would be one of the perks of the position.”

A chill runs down my spine.

He chuckles. “You’re surprised. How can you be surprised? Still, to be honest, your lack of ambition always disappointed me. Any woman in your place would set her sights higher, would use her body to her advantage. Did you ever think Sayanne got preferential treatment?”

“Not really. Astra did.”

“Astra’s a different story. Now, between you two worthless humans, didn’t you notice Sayanne always got what she wanted? Didn’t you wonder how she got it? Ambition, Tarlia. She set her sights higher. First her master, then the princes, and now, look at that, she’s going to be the Krastel Queen.”

I think I’m going to puke. “You made her… Seduce the king?”

His laughter is loud and sounds genuine. “Oh, no. It was her own initiative. Vision, Tarlia. And now she thinks she hates me, just because I left her. And yet she managed to wipe the Krastel royal family from the map. Wipe an entire family, Tarlia. Isn’t it beautiful? A family who would have killed and enslaved my kind, mind you. She’ll be queen soon, and who knows, I might return and she might forgive me. I might see my child on that throne.”

“Aren’t you too old for that?” This was part curiosity, part the need to jab him.

“Not really.” His smirk is creepy and disconcerting. “With proper care and a healthy lifestyle, people like me can sire children when they’re five hundred years old or more. I’m not nearly there.”

“What are you?”

“Someone better than you. Stronger. More powerful. But I was talking about Sayanne. Beautiful, smart Sayanne. She has vision, ambition. Did you know it was her idea to kill you and Ziven?”

“I survived.” And I hope they think Ziven’s dead.

“She thinks she succeeded, and that’s enough for my plans. You were not my target, even if you were such a disappointment. You never looked up. Never dreamed higher. You were the greatest beauty in the entire kingdom, and instead of using it, you chose to be a cheap slut.”

“Not cheap. I don’t recall charging anyone.” I smirk. “And disappointing you made it all sweeter.”

“Oh, no. It wasn’t all bad. I took great pleasure in watching you.”

I chill and tremble from head to toe. My stomach is empty and at the same time revolving.

He chuckles. “Oh. Don’t tell me you’re embarrassed. Worthless sluts don’t get the luxury of being prudish. I enjoyed every second of watching your perfect body. I won’t deny it, I was disappointed you never invited your master to your bed, but I blamed it on your lack of vision. And yet you finally managed to accomplish something. The Crystal Court King. Well done. Very well done.”

“He’s not interested in me.”

His laughter is cruel and eerie. “Oh, don’t be silly! I mean, you do have a valid point. It’s not really you he wants, it’s what he sees in you, what he scents . Why do you think I spent so long working on your hair? Your skin? You think it was just a beauty treatment? It was not. I was turning you into a being so completely irresistible that you could make any man fall in love despite your vulgarity and poor manners. And it worked. This time, I’ll tighten the rope around your neck and make sure you dance to the tune I play. If you don’t, it’s fine as well. You’re also valuable as a hostage.”

“I always had a vision for surviving, and that hasn’t changed. Tell me what to do. I’d rather help you than be a hostage.” Of course I don’t want to help him, but I need him to free me.

“We’ll see. I still need to decide if you’re useful to me alive. And you need to help me find Astra. So your survival will depend on your good behavior.”

The disgusting words he told me earlier come to mind. As repulsive as this thought is, it could be the perfect opportunity to kill him.

I run a hand through my hair, ending at the tips, near my breast. “You should have told me you wanted to come to my bed, master.” Somehow I manage to make my voice husky, seductive. “Perhaps you were right that I didn’t set my sights higher. Perhaps I thought I wasn’t worthy of a man like you, and yet I regret all the days you had to watch me all alone, when you should be the one in my bed. But it’s not too late to remedy that.”

His eyes flicker over my body. Disgustingly devouring eyes. Then he laughs. “Tarlia, Tarlia, I’m not that stupid. I don’t want a dagger on my back. You think you disguise it, but I can sense your hatred. It seeps through your skin, girl. The only reason I kept you alive was because somehow I thought that anger could eventually be useful to me. And I was right. Oh. And I never watched you alone. Either Andrezza, Sayanne, or a maid kept me company. I’m not that pathetic.”

Sayanne. That’s why she kept calling me a slut. And yet I can’t even be angry at her. Is it true that it was her vision and ambition ? Or was she more malleable to his manipulations? Perhaps more afraid than us?

“So what now?” I ask.

“You’ll remain in this cage until I have the need of your services. Don’t try anything funny. I don’t truly need the fae.” He points at Lidiane. Oddly, I had forgotten she was here—and now I’m worried.

“Oh,” he adds. “Also, Astra was never your friend, nor your sister . She was always ashamed of you. Don’t let any misplaced loyalty make things harder for you.”

I want to think it’s a lie, but I’m not sure. “Didn’t you want me to help you find her? Let me help you.”

I’m hoping that perhaps he could free me, get me out of this cage. Once I’m out, I won’t hesitate to strangle him. I hesitated too long, and now I’m paying for it.

“Oh, you will. Don’t worry. For now, you’re exactly where I want.”

He places the canvas over the cage and walks away, his steps quiet on the earth. I keep imagining him watching me in bed with my companions, then I wonder if it’s a lie, if he’s saying it to mess with my mind. And yet I still have a lump in my throat while angry tears gather in my eyes. How dare he humiliate me like that?

Lidiane exhales, then whispers, “I have a plan.”

Her confidence is enough to change my mood.

ASTRA

W e’ve been walking north for hours. At this point, both Ferer and I know that there’s no turning back, that we’ll still be here when night falls. I trust the light that has always guided me, the light that protected me and Nelsin, and I know that I can brave the night here, but I’m not so sure if Ferer trusts me. I can sense his worry, and a lot of it is about Nelsin.

The Amethyst Palace is like a scent the wind sometimes blows in my direction. Sometimes, it’s the fragment of a known song. I can feel it’s near, can even feel it calling me, and yet I still don’t know where it is. I look at the forest and see no hills, even if there were always hills in my dreams.

The sky is getting darker and darker, the sun touching the top of the forest on the left of us.

“Night’s falling,” Ferer says. “You might want to… Whatever you do for protection. Soulsuckers are deadly.”

“Walk closer.” I think about light and the Almighty Mother. She is real, even if Tiurians might have given her a different name. I can feel her light and protection enveloping me, enveloping Ferer. It’s a real light, casting a visible glow around us, now that the daylight is fading.

“We’ll find the palace,” I add.

“I know you will. Even the giants trust you, why shouldn’t I?” He chuckles, but it’s a chuckle full of sadness.

“Yes. And they’ll release Nelsin. Have you considered forgiving him?”

“Every day. Every hour. Every second. I want to touch his skin, kiss his lips, feel his embrace. And yet he needs to take the first step.”

“He’s giving you space, waiting for you to be ready to forgive him.”

“I suppose the giants just gave me the space I need. I want him back. But we’ll figure it out.” He stops. “Do you hear that?”

“I don’t have fae super hearing.”

He points outside the circle. At a distance, I see strange creatures, brown as if made of mud, and yet shaped like humans. I look up and realize the sun is now completely hidden behind the horizon. Chills run up my spine.

“Ghouls,” he whispers. “But your light’s keeping them at bay.”

Indeed it is, and I trust it enough not to let fear overcome me.

I’ve heard tons of stories about ghouls, but I don’t know what’s true and what’s a lie, so I ask, “What do they do?”

“Bite, mostly. One or two is not a problem. A large group of them can be an issue.”

“They won’t approach us.” I can sense the light repelling them. It’s a resilient, stable light that doesn’t even demand that much effort or focus. “When I was young, I was told they could steal us from our beds at night if we misbehaved, but I was also told that Tiurians commanded them, and that made me quite confused.”

“I’m glad most of that confusion is clearing away.”

“Yes. I can’t deal with any confusion now.”

I glance at the ghouls surrounding us.

I can’t fail, can’t let my light fail, can’t fail to find the Amethyst Palace.