Page 27 of In Death’s Hands (The Threads of Fate #1)

“Indeed,” she answers, her voice as soft as the velvet of her gown. “And what did you bring me?” Her lips curl in clear disgust, and I kill every instinct shouting at me to go up to that ridiculous dais and smack the living crap out of her.

The smile that appears on Nathan’s face freezes me on the spot.

It is ancient and cruel and everything Death’s assistant ought to be.

He lets his eyes wander around the room, and a glimmer of twisted pleasure shines through as he finds himself above everyone else, except the woman his eyes eagerly return to before he says slowly, “Hopefully a clue you’ve been searching for.

” His eyes drop to mine for a second, and I find nothing of the friend I’ve made these past few days.

“Definitely a toy worth playing with,” he adds, dropping his head lower, as if honouring her without relinquishing the stance he made by not bending along with the others.

Celestina’s smile deepens as she examines me as you would a piece of gum stuck to the bottom of your shoe.

And I have had enough. “And what are you?” I ask, clearly mimicking her. The sick pleasure I feel as her eyes widen is quickly replaced by dread as the murmurs of the people still bowing echo around the room.

She makes an impatient gesture with her hand that at last allows everyone to stand again. Atys and Thalnus quickly join Nathan, and I feel a strange stab of betrayal as they leave me standing on my own.

“Your name,” Cel demands, ignoring my own question.

“I’m Liv. Olivia,” I answer, lifting my chin as high as it’ll go.

A few people bristle, and I’m sure I’ve made another mistake, but despite the alarm blaring danger in my head, I can’t find it in me to care. I refuse to be intimidated by fancy clothes and a big chair.

Cold seeps into my bones. I let out a pained breath that turns into a cloud as it flies away.

My gaze is stuck once again in hers. The cold is so strong my mind slows, and I can’t for the life of me remember what it feels like to be warm.

I fight to draw in another breath, but no matter what I do, this one gets stuck in my lungs.

I feel a phantom hand on my back, there but not.

It focuses me, allows me to wait until Celestina averts her gaze as Nathan clears his throat to draw her attention.

Only when she focuses elsewhere do I allow my eyes to drop, breathe deeply.

I see the faintest shadows gather at my feet, the hand somehow still at my back despite me knowing there is no one there.

I wonder if—no. I know where those shadows come from. Just like I know that the brightness in the room isn’t a coincidence but a careful play on Celestina’s part. One that’s not stopping Nathan from sending his shadows to reassure and steady me, even if they are so faint I barely see them myself.

I remember his plea for me to see him, back in his flat.

He didn’t want me to doubt him, but he’s too good an actor and I admit that I got lost in his performance for a second.

I fight the urge to look at him, to let him know that I still see the man who helped me despite who he is.

I still see my friend behind the scary mask he’s putting on.

“Tell me, dear one, why Thalnus claimed it was oh so important for me to meet with you promptly.”

I have little doubt whom the endearment is for, but I take the opportunity to look behind me at the three men still gathered there. Nathan’s face is more closed off than ever, although a dip of his eyes to mine makes me wonder what he’s thinking.

Bigger things are clearly at play here. I can still feel the eyes of many on me, but surprisingly, most of the stares are entirely focused on Nathan. My unlikely friend who’s facing his ruler very stiffly, head held high as he ignores everyone else.

I stay silent, not knowing what to do or say.

I do this trick I learned long ago when dealing with bullies in group homes where I stare between their eyes, giving Celestina the impression that I’m meeting her stare but feeling safer that way.

Like her piercing cold can’t reach me. I don’t know if that’s true; after all, they all seem mighty powerful to me and this being in front of us is their queen .

Or I’m assuming that’s what she is. The crown, after all, is all but a subtle hint.

“The Novensiles are acting up again,” Nathan says, voice still full of the shadows he can’t fully wield here.

Celestina starts, a deep concern suddenly etched on her pretty features. “Explain.”

“ She seems to be attracting them.”

All eyes are on me now. It feels like being stung by thousands of midges at once. I fight to keep looking towards Celestina and curl my hands into fists to stop them from shaking.

“Why would they care about such a human?”

I bristle but keep quiet. I need to trust Nathan and let things play out.

“We don’t know, Supreme,” answers Thalnus with an obsequious tone that makes me snort.

I can feel the cold of Celestina’s stare on my skin, but it goes away quickly as Nathan says, “We went back.” Ripples of shock travel through the space like lightning. Apparently, they all know what he means by that.

The frown on Celestina’s face grows deeper, and I notice how her knuckles become white as she grips the armrests of her throne. “Brave, to step into that cursed place again.” Her lips tighten for a second.

“We stayed in the antechamber, Supreme. We would never enter the cave itself without your permission, of course,” adds Thalnus, throwing a hard look at Nathan.

“And have you learned anything new?”

“We remembered,” answers Nathan, causing Celestina to stand suddenly and more gasps to echo around us. I wonder if Nathan has taken lessons in how to be dramatic. “We remembered a fight from Before.”

I frown. I knew something had happened, but the bastards didn’t share shit, as usual.

“How?”

“We don’t know.”

Shock catches my next breath and holds it. I want to turn and see their faces as they lie to their Supreme . But I stay rooted, focusing on Celestina’s now crinkled brow and fighting to get my breath back.

“ What do you remember?” she barks.

“We were in the cave, fighting the Novensiles. We only saw glimpses of it before it went black again.”

“That’s it?”

“Yes.”

“Nothing else?”

“No.”

“They have been fighting us since even before we lost our ways, then,” Celestina says, now talking to the entire room. “They are but men who have been granted too much power by the Fates. We know humans cannot handle such responsibilities. The Fates should have seen their greed rising.”

I frown, struggling to understand, and Celestina sees it. “Oh, I see your greed too, Oh. Lee. Via. You are unusual.” Her eyes feel all too probing, and I fear she might see what Nathan didn’t reveal directly written beneath my skin. “Why are the Novensiles after you?”

“We—” starts Nathan, but is cut off by the hand she brings up.

Her stare is anything but inviting, and yet I find myself answering her.

“I don’t know. I only recently learned of their existence.

But I think they’ve been trying to kill me for a long time.

” Celestina paces back and forth on her dais, and I decide to break the uncomfortable silence.

“How can the Novensiles fight you? You all seem…” The words fail me.

“Yes, we are, aren’t we?” A proud smile on her lips, she waves a hand in the air as if she finds the question annoying but is so very magnanimous for answering me.

“The Novensiles are human. They live and die and reproduce as such.” Her lips curl in disgust. “The fact that they can fight and survive us makes it clear the Fates have intervened in their lineage somehow.

We Awoke and there they were, fighting us.

It took some effort, especially there, but we did manage to kill them. Rats that they are.

“This new memory is surprising but could be a gift from the Fates. It certainly confirms that they’re the ones who robbed us of our memories.”

“Then let us use her,” says Nathan.

I swallow, trying to remember he’s helping me. I’m sure. Probably. Celestina stops her pacing to look me up and down.

“You say they’re after her too?” I keep my eyes on her but hear a grunt of confirmation at my back. “Then yes, she could be useful. I’m curious, though—how did you find her?”

“As usual with lost souls,” he says flippantly, “she found me.” People chuckle around me, and I think I’ve missed the joke.

“And after the last time… Let’s just say I wanted to make sure she was a worthy gift for you, so I asked Thalnus for help.

We took her to the cave to see if she’d attract the Novensiles there but found a memory waiting for us instead, confirming what you always thought. ”

I try not to react to the lie told so smoothly. Too smoothly. Who knew he could lie that well? Has he lied to me ?

“Fine, I accept your apology. It’s a pleasure to see you so involved again.”

“I needed time to learn.” Nathan’s voice seems strained, but the way Celestina smiles makes me think she hasn’t caught that.

“I give you free rein.” She makes a shooing motion with her hand before settling back on her throne. “Use her, capture one and come back to me for your reward.”

This time, I can’t keep my shudder in check at her seductive smile. This woman is their leader, and clearly wants to find out what happened to them. She should deserve a modicum of respect, but I somehow can’t shake my powerful dislike of her.