A Place Beyond (5 page)

“I thought seeing Liam might help you see reason,” she said in a smug voice. She began pacing the confines of the cavern. The dark stone walls were high and fey lights cast long shadows on her face as she formed her next words.

“Being the second-born daughter of the king and queen of the Tuatha de Danaan is the most humiliating of situations,” she began, still not looking at me. Liam sat back and leaned his head against the wall, his chains clanking as he rubbed his hands over his face.

“From the moment my sister was born, she was bred to be the next queen. Despite the fact that she is not a Seer, as most first born daughters are, Niamh would one day take over as queen of my people simply because she was born before me.”

I watched her pace, long legs fluid and graceful. Her expression was thunderous, full of contempt for her sister.

“As if growing up knowing I would always be in my sister’s shadow wasn’t bad enough, she was granted the one thing coveted by all Danaan: true love. When she brought Aodhan here, I saw how he looked at her. Like the very sun rose and set on her,” Aoife shook her head in disgust.

I stood still, saying nothing as bitterness and jealousy poured from her lips. Her eyes darted to mine.

“I have just as much right to be queen as Niamh,” she said, holding her chin up. “She is neither more powerful, nor more beautiful.”

I wanted to mention that Niamh wasn’t quite as crazy, either, but held my tongue for once.

“I suppose you’re wondering what this has to do with you,” she said, clasping her hands.

“Yes,” I said, gritting my teeth and fighting to keep my composure. Liam’s eyes were closed and his hands rested on his knees. Provoking her would make her do something to make him start coughing again, I presumed.

“I thought about torturing you until you agreed to do as I wish. I considered straight compulsion, as well. But that would be too easy for Niamh to discover and counteract,” she took a few steps in my direction, that predatory gleam back in her eyes.

“But after some thought, I’ve decided the only way to ensure my success is through Liam,” she said with a harsh, derisive laugh. “And you.”

My teeth clenched tightly as I tried in vain to figure out what she was saying. I wouldn’t ask. I wouldn’t give her that.

“I’ve been watching you, Allison. For some time, I’ve seen how Niamh has started trusting you. She’s even begun to care for you.” She laughed with a sneer.

I kept my eyes fixed on hers, inching toward the spot where Liam sat. I didn’t know what I’d do if she let me reach him, but I was desperate to find out if he was real, alive and whole.

“That trust, those misguided feelings,” Aoife said. “Are exactly what is going to bring Niamh down.”

I froze. “What do you mean?”

“What do I mean? Come on, Allison. You’re not stupid, I’m sure you can figure it out.”

My face heated, and I chewed on my lip to keep from saying what I wanted to. Didn’t she know how insane she sounded? And I was supposed to figure out what it all meant?

“You are going to put the wedge back between Niamh and Aodhan. They cannot be allowed to reconcile, or my parents will give them everything that should be mine.”

“You want me to come between Niamh and Aodhan? I would never do something like that.”

“Oh, I think you will,” Aoife said and she turned back to Liam. His back arched, presumably with pain and another round of coughing spasms rocked his body.

“Don’t do this, Aoife,” I pleaded. “How can you do this to him, aren’t you supposed to love him?”

Her eyes bore into mine. “I will
never
let emotions make me weak again. Liam had it all and still he betrayed me. He won’t respect me if I don’t punish him. He’ll understand that everything I’ve done has been for him soon enough.”

“But you’re hurting him, maybe even killing him,” I said, bouncing with the need to go to my father and help him. But knowing she wouldn’t let me near enough.

“All you have to do is simply agree to do what I’ve asked. Like I said, it’s all up to you.”

My heart thumped with dread. So that’s what it came to. I sit and watch my father suffer or betray my friends to keep him safe.

“How is your mother’s cough? I never did ask you that, did I?” Aoife asked, her eyes gleaming.

My head jerked in her direction. “What does she have to do with this?”

“Oh, only that through their connection she’ll suffer as well. Perhaps not to the same degree as Liam, but will you be able to sit back and watch her health grow worse each day?”

My hands curved into fists. I wanted to scream. I pictured myself pummeling her face until she felt the pain as acutely as those around her. But I knew it would only make things worse.

“So you see, those are your choices. Will you do as I ask?”

Wrapping my arms around myself, I shivered. I was cold with horror at what I must do. Aodhan had been a loyal, trust-worthy friend and I had no choice but to destroy the brief truce between him and Niamh.

“There is no choice,” I said, my voice shaking. “I won’t let my parents suffer.”

“Ah, wise choice,” Aoife said, a slow smile creeping onto her face.

“I’ll leave the method of keeping them apart to you. You’ll need to use any means necessary. Which reminds me.” She lifted a cord out from under the sweater she wore and pulled it over her neck, approaching me and placing it over my head.

“What is this?” I asked, holding the metal pendant between my fingers. It was a plain metal circle with an oval carved onto the surface. A slash cut through the oval at an angle.

“Just a little something to ensure you keep your end of the bargain,” she said lightly.

“How can it do that?” I asked, thinking about the amulet containing the geis she’d placed on Liam.

“If you think to defy me, it will remind you of your… commitment. Visions of your father can be very motivating, can’t they?”

“How can this thing tell what I’m thinking?” I asked, letting it fall against my chest.

“The amulet can’t tell, but I can.”

I didn’t really want to know how she would know what I was thinking. But I didn’t doubt her. Not after all she’d done.

“And don’t even think about taking it off. I will know and I will punish you. Or I will punish Liam, rather.”

I licked my lips in misery. I was really going to do this. I could feel tears welling behind my eyes, but I couldn’t allow them to fall. Not in front of Aoife.

“Before you leave to begin your task, I have one more thing to show you,” she said, beckoning me to follow her.

Down the dim tunnel, there was another odd-shaped cavern, but it was too dark to make out the two shadowy figures laying in the corner.

Aoife raised a hand and a series of fey lights flared to life. My knees turned to jelly as I recognized the inky tendrils of my half-sister, Samantha’s hair. Like Liam, she was covered in dust and chained to the cave wall. Her back was to me, but I knew it was her. Lying a few feet from her was her boyfriend and Aoife’s former guard, Ciarán. Their fingertips just barely touched.

“Samantha dear, your sister is here for a visit,” Aoife said in a mockery of parental kindness.

Samantha, it’s me,
I thought, trying the link to her mind. Like Niamh, she was a telepath.

Neither Samantha nor Ciarán stirred for a moment. Aoife cleared her throat and Samantha moved her head to the side slowly. She blinked and swallowed before throwing a hand over her eyes. Groaning, she said, “Allison.”

I rushed forward, forgetting about the invisible barrier Aoife had placed around Liam. I hit the wall and fell to my knees. “Samantha, oh God,” I whispered.

“It’s not as bad as it looks,” she said with a weak attempt at a smile. “But, Ciarán… these chains are iron and he’s so sick.”

I looked at Ciarán, who hadn’t moved an inch. “I’m going to help you both. Don’t worry,” I said with false confidence I hoped she couldn’t see through.

“Yes, your sister is here to save you Samantha. Much like you came rushing to her rescue, hmm?”

Samantha turned her face, as though she refused to acknowledge Aoife.

“Oh Samantha, where are your manners?” Aoife’s hand came up again and Samantha cried out. A shudder passed through her body and then she lay still.

“I already said I’d do what you want,” I said, turning to glare at Aoife. “You don’t have to hurt her.”

Aoife appeared to delight in my outburst. I’d reacted exactly as she’d wanted me to. “Oh, I know that,” she said with a malignant grin. “Samantha is a bit of a… fail-safe, just in case you think to defy me.”

With a flourish, she turned to leave the cavern.

Even though I was pretty certain she couldn’t hear me, I attempted to speak in Samantha’s thoughts again.

I’ll be back for you as soon as I can.

Without a moment wasted, Aoife whisked me through the portal and back to the abandoned cabin where we’d left my car.

She paced back and forth as I opened the door to climb in. “What will you tell them about your disappearance?” she asked.

Gripping the top of the car door, I glared at her. As if she needed me to tell her. It was all planned out for me, down to the last letter. “I was on my way to follow Niamh and Aodhan to Thunder Bay when my car broke down. I couldn’t find my phone so I had to spend the night sleeping in the car.”

Aoife appeared directly in front of me in the space of a breath. Her eyes were laser sharp as she leaned in. “You will not speak of this meeting to anyone. You will do as I’ve told you, right down to the last detail. If you think you can fool me, or trick me in any way, your father will suffer. Do you believe me?”

I nodded, her compulsion too strong for me to resist.

“Good, go then,” she said, pushing my face toward the car with one finger.

I got in, the burden of what I must do heavier than I thought I could bear. So many lives were in my hands and it settled like a lead cannon in my stomach.

As I backed out of the overgrown lot, I looked over my shoulder where Aoife had stood seconds before. I saw nothing, but I knew she was there.

By the time I made it back to Stoneville, it was nearly forty-eight hours after I’d gone dress shopping with Nicole.

I pulled into my driveway and looked at the house I’d lived my entire life. I’d called the house from a payphone to let Gram know I was okay, but no one had answered. Everyone’s cell numbers were programmed into my own cell, which now lay on the side of the road somewhere and I couldn’t remember them from memory.

Taking a deep breath, I climbed out of the car and made my way to the porch. As I took the first step, the front door slammed open. Nicole and her mother, my Aunt Jessie walked out wearing identical expressions of confusion and relief.

“Oh my God, Allison,” Nicole said. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” I said, not meeting her eyes. “Did you get my message?”

I told them Niamh left abruptly after a fight with Liam and I’d gone after her. My family thought Liam was Niamh’s brother and one lie blended into the other. I was appalled at how easily the lies came to me. But relieved as well, since there were many, many more to come.