Page 45 of As Above, So Below

“He’ll tell Netharis.” The concern in her voice matches the expression upon her face.

“It won’t matter if we don’t find the nyraphim.”

?????????????

Turns out, being lectured by the heir of the hells is a lot like being lectured by the god of death himself.

So many little things I never noticed before make themselves apparent—gestures, facial expressions, the way he speaks… Netharis has molded my twin to be like him, and the realization sits heavy against my chest.

“Are you even listening to me?” Vaelyn snaps his fingers in front of my face and I wince. He sighs. “You’re not.”

Crossing the room, he throws himself into a high backed chair near a bookshelf.

“I have a lot going on,” I admit quietly.

“Clearly,” he counters in a displeased tone.

“I’ve made my decision, Vae,” I shrug my shoulders.

“A decision that will result in you being locked away for eternity,” he snaps back sharply.

“I don’t care.”

“And you,” he turns his irritation to Ylara, “you didn’t stop to think of the dangers of helping her in this?”

Ylara gives him a wicked smirk. “Are you going to threaten to lock me away too, heir?”

“Ylara,” I urge tiredly.

Having Ylara and Vaelyn in the same room is an argument waiting to happen. Vaelyn likes to be the dominating personality in the room, and Ylara feeds on it, challenging him at every turn. Over the centuries, I’ve learned to keep the two separate.

Vaelyn pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs. “Yes, I’ve seen the jar. No, I don’t know what lies within.”

“Where?” My body tenses.

“His study. On a shelf behind his desk.”

“Look at that, the heir has his uses after all,” Ylara digs, rising from her seat on the couch.

“Where are you going?” Vaelyn asks, bewildered. “You can’t just go and take it.”

“Sure I can,” Ylara laughs. “He never notices me.”

“He’s in there with Kassil and Arzak right now. Even if he doesn’t notice you,theywill.” He pauses, “How in the nine hells will an obsidian jar help Ves?”

Both Ylara and I remain silent, staring at our sibling.

“I see,” he sighs, nodding. His cerulean eyes meet mine. “Ves, I need you to really think this through. Doing something like this—trying to escape—I won’t be able to protect you from him.”

“Because you’ve done an immaculate job of protecting her thus far,” Ylara unleashes herself, her voice dripping with venom.

Vaelyn springs to his feet, snarling. “And what have you done, Ylara? How often do you stand against Netharis on her behalf?”

“You know exactly what I’ve done,” Ylara growls in return as inky fog begins to drip from her clenched fists. “And what I’ll continue to do.”

My own irritation begins to rise. “Enough!” I shout and theirheads swivel. “I’ve never asked either of you for anything. But I am asking now. If I want any chance of escaping the hells, Ineedthat jar. Sooner rather than later.” I level a pointed stare at Vaelyn. “If you do not want to help, fine. But you cannotbreathea word of this to Netharis.”

“Ves, you know—”