Page 46 of Of Stars and Lightning (Sun and Shadows #1)
Its depthless black eyes flashed white as it stood. It had no nose, only slits where one should be. Its eyes dimmed as it walked toward them, so slowly it could have been floating.
“Ninanette Amana Lochar,” the thing hissed, its voice wrapping around her in a slither. “What a treat.”
Nina blew a breath through her nose at the instant debt to Flora. Her very blood heated at the mere mention, demanding release to pay the tithe. With a hard squeeze of her fist, her Wielder ring pricked her palm. “How dare you speak my full name.”
The creature grinned. “Just making sure it was really you, Yarrow Hand.”
“State your business.” Gaven stopped in front of the Mind Slayer’s cell, his sword pointed at the bars. “Why are you within our lands?”
“Are we not allowed to wander around the planet?” The creature ran a long talon along the steel bars. “Your people are the ones who captured me while I was simply minding my own business.”
“Your kind does not belong in Erriadin,” Nina spat. “You will always be exterminated when found.”
The thing watched her with unyielding attention, its smile widening. “Is that so, Amana?”
The locked doors surrounding the cell rattled with shrieks and growls.
“Pity to know you think so,” it continued, its voice lowering while it ran its tongue over its teeth. “I have come to issue you a warning—as a peace offering, I suppose.”
“We don’t listen to the likes of you.” Gaven eased Nina behind him. “We will ask one more time. State your business.”
“My business is with the Yarrow Court, not with you, Semmena filth.” The Mind Slayer lunged at the bars, its jaw snapping inches from Gaven. The man had the creature instantly disabled with a stab to its side. It shrieked. “If it wasn’t for my oath, your blood would already be gone, Wind Dancer.”
“What do you want with the Yarrow court?” Nina sidestepped Gaven, taking the creature’s attention.
It glared at her. “Like I said, I come to issue a warning.”
“Issue it then.”
The Mind Slayer smirked. “Someone within your castle is lying.”
Nina blinked, any fear she felt quickly replaced by annoyance. “That means nothing to me.”
“They are a threat to your Queen.” It unrolled to its full height, black blood seeping from the wound Gaven carved. “You must rid Rimemere of them.”
“Again, why would we listen to anything a Mind Slayer says?” Gaven sheathed his sword and stepped up beside Nina. “All you creatures do is spill lies.”
“Ah, but we have similar goals, the Yarrow Court and us.” The creature sat back on the floor. “It's the others you all shouldn't trust.”
Mind Slayers were notorious liars. They were built to confuse and mock and spiral their victims into madness. It made their blood tastier—or so several had told Wielders before attempting to make them a meal. Naturally, there was no reason to continue the conversation.
But, still...
Nina crossed her arms over her chest, the blood in her palm continued evaporating in a golden mist. The Mind Slayer eyed it. “The others?”
It nodded, attention never leaving the dripping blood.
“How are we meant to care about this if you won't even be direct with your warnings?” Nina asked. “Even if we chose to believe you—which we don't—you've only said a whole lot of nothing.”
“Nothing is free, Amana.” It inched closer. “I will give you direct answers for a price.”
Gaven easily retrieved his sword with a smooth motion, inching it through the bars in warning. “That’s close enough.”
Nina shook her head. “Typical.” She motioned Gaven back the way they came with a wave of her hand. “We aren’t taking your bait.”
They began their way back, Gaven falling into step beside her.
For a second, Nina had a lapse of judgment. Perhaps the thing calling the Semmena Court filth resonated with her, called her attention. The Jinn usually didn't take sides like that, never having shown interest in their political dynamics.
“The day Sawyerlyn’s mother jumped to her death in Melisandre,” The Mind Slayer called after them. “Aren’t you curious how your dear friend escaped? How her killer didn’t get the Fire Wielder too?”
Nina stopped so quickly that Gaven slammed into her back. She narrowed her eyes at the creature, turning back to it.
It had its face pressed to the bars, teeth bared in a wide grin. “Because we all know Melanese Yarrow didn’t truly jump from that tower.”
Her breath quickened as she stomped back toward its cell, blood roaring in her ears. Sawyer had always suspected foul play with her mother’s death. It was never confirmed, but she had also never said much about that day, not even to Nina, who knew her almost down to her soul.
Nina pulled a dagger from her belt and held it directly to the creature’s forehead. “Who are you?”
Its eyes flashed, “My name is Morna. I am—an ally of the Yarrows.”
“Bullshit.”
“You Wielders have us all labeled as evil. You aren't wrong. However, some of us share a common goal with you, Amana. It's the others you should be afraid of. Not us.”
“Who are the others?”
“Nina,” Gaven warned, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Be careful.”
“Everything comes with a price.” Morna ran their tongue over the edge of the blade.
Nina clenched her teeth. “What is your price?”
Gaven sighed and turned away, letting out a string of curses.
The thing turned, walking back to the far wall. Its body moved awkwardly, twitching with each step and breath. From the angle, Nina could barely make out a chain on its wrists, glowing with a white-blue light.
“I will tell you one of the warnings fully,” it turned to look at her, “for a helping of your blood.”
“Oh, fuck you.”
“We may have a common goal, but that doesn't mean I will help you Wielders without getting something out of it.”
Nina raised her hand, blood still oozing from her palm. She closed it.
Instantly, the floor rumbled and shook, the dirt around them lifting slightly.
Gaven was beside her in an instant. The walls contorted, limbs of stone spearing from it, aiming directly at Morna.
The thing laughed. “It’s in your best interest to give in, Amana.
The others already knew your Queen’s location.
It is only a matter of time before the rest of their plans fall into place. ”
“Who,” Nina commanded, “who knew her location?”
The Jinn put their hands up in defeat. “Only a few drops of blood. I swear it.”
She watched the creature for a long moment. Nina squeezed her palm so fresh blood would flow and held it through the bars. Yes, it was crazy. But so was not taking an opportunity to keep her Court safe.
Morna was beneath her palm in an instant, mouth open like a starving animal.
Nina’s blood dripped into it, and she had to look away at the pure delight the creature drank it with. She looked at Gaven instead, who looked back and forth between the Jinn and her. He gave her an incredulous look but said nothing.
“The Jinn have been long divided,” Morna started, wiping the corner of their mouth with the back of their clawed hands. “Some want the Jinn gate closed, such as yourselves. Others want it torn completely open. Those others are the ones who pose a threat to the Yarrow heiress.”
“Why would any of you want it closed?” Gaven said. “It gives you direct access to... food.” He grimaced, eyeing the blood that dripped from Nina’s hand now tucked to her side.
“Our Void Magic, or Dark Magic as you idiots call it, is being constantly stolen.” Morna sighed, “We want it back and in our dimension, only.”
Nina and Gaven were silent. Although she didn’t want to admit it… it wasn’t too unbelievable.
“And these others... are they who found Sol in Yavenharrow?” Nina was too anxious to realize the slip-up, realizing the Semmena Court thought she was from Graniela. The Wind Dancer only gave her a small smile and nod. The secret would be safe.
“Yes,” Morna said. “We had been protecting her all this time. We slipped up.”
“Let’s say all this is true.” Gaven arched his brow. “Why tell us?”
Morna walked back to the far wall, sitting cross-legged on the floor as they had first found them. Satisfied with the snack, evidently.
“Because for us to get what we want, we need the Yarrow heiress alive.” The Mind Slayer glared at Nina. “So, keep her that way.”