Broken Forest: Book One of the Daath Chronicles (26 page)

I opened my eyes and jumped. My chest heaved, the nightmare fresh in my mind. I realized I was in my room. It was night and the soft glow of candlelight came from the lantern beside my bed.

I need water.

I drew back the curtain and gasped. “Lucino! What are you doing here?”

He sat in a chair, staring at me. His mask off and his shirt ripped.

I pulled my robe on. His jaw clenched and his eyes were dark.

The lantern sent shivers of light around his frame, dancing wildly. He had never come to me at night. I knelt on the floor beside the chair and touched his leg. “Lucino?”

“How dare they touch you, attack you so menacingly. I couldn’t allow them to get away with such insolence.”

“It’s all right, Lucino.”

His face scrunched in disgust. “How can you not be angry at them?”

I took his hand. “Because they are fools, and I am not.”

He half smiled. “I think that may be the wisest thing a human has ever said to me.”

“A what?”

His expression changed and he leaned down, clasping his other hand over mine. “I’m sorry, my lady. I meant woman. My mind is crazed with anger. Forgive my strange words.”

Wind blew in from an open window, whipping my robe. It occurred to me, this was the first time a man had seen me in my night chemise. Separated by only a thin fabric, desire stirred in me.

Lucino lifted a hand to my cheek, caressing it. The candlelight flickered. I noticed his blue eyes were solid black.

“Lucino, your eyes!”

He slid back in the chair, breaking the connection. “It’s nothing, just the wine.”

I didn’t believe him. No man’s eyes turned black from drinking. I moved closer to him. “What’s happened to you? Are you sick? Hurt?”

“No, everything is fine.” He withdrew from me and stood. “I think I should leave.”

“Wait.” I didn’t want him to go. The night had been full of strangeness and for the third time since my arrival, Lucino had come to my rescue. The least I could do was calm his nerves. He seemed extremely agitated.

“Will you stay and talk with me? I’m still a bit shaken from earlier.”

I thought for a moment he would leave, but he didn’t. He turned to me, stepping closer, his blond hair covering his face.

“If that is what you wish.” His hand stroked the back of my head, sending shivers through me. His eyes, which seemed dark and empty before, began changing back into beautiful blue.

I took a chance and wrapped my arms around his waist, hoping the gesture didn’t spook him away. “I don’t know what you did, but I know whatever happened was because you care.” He stiffened in my arms, but I pressed against him and continued. “Thank you.”

A small sigh escaped his lips. His arms enveloped me.

When I arrived in Daath, I thought all was lost. Then when I heard about Avikar and Derrick, I thought I’d never breach the sorrow, but now, wrapped in Lucino’s arms, hope swelled. I would be safe and everything would be fine.

It was late at night and no one had seen Raven. I knew she wasn’t coming because of me. I ruined everything. How could I be such an idiot? I should have never spent the day with her. I tried looking for her yesterday, but she’d vanished and now, when we needed her the most, she was gone.

None of this would be happening if I hadn’t lied.

Derrick gripped the sides of the chair in front him, then went back to pacing. I couldn’t look him in the eye.

Where are you Raven?

The door opened and in she walked. I sighed in relief. She looked tired, but calm.

“Avikar, can we talk outside?”

Even in the dark, I could see the slight puffiness around her eyes. Was she crying, again?

“About the other night … I’m sorry. I overreacted. It’s not a big deal.”

“It’s not?”

She smiled that wide warm smile. “Well, maybe a little. I don’t like being lied too. I need to know I can trust you if we’re going to do this.”

“I swear. I’ll never lie to you, again.” And I meant it.

She stuck out her hand. “Friends?”

I shook it, inwardly cringing at the word friends. “Friends.”

“Good, now let’s save your sister.”

We went back inside. Raven explained she’d spent the day scouting different routes in. She’d decided on entering through the sewers.

“What are sewers?” I had never heard the term before.

She bit her bottom lip. “They’re … no, no time to explain. Just know they’re smelly and full of rats.”

“Rats?” Derrick shivered. “I hate rats. How do we even know this is going to work? What if we get caught? This doesn’t sound like a plan.”

Raven put a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry. I know my way around Lucino’s. All the guest rooms are on the second floor. She’ll be in one of them.”

“How do you know that?” Derrick eyed her.

“I got bored one afternoon and pretended to be one of his servants.”

Jericho slapped his knee. “Ha! That’s my girl. Now you understand why I asked for her help.”

Raven smirked, and I grinned. “Seems I underestimated you,” I said.

“Don’t let it happen again.” She winked.

“Good, we should leave now.” Jericho said and picked up a lantern.

Raven grabbed the lantern from him. “Sorry cousin, you’re too clumsy for this mission.” Jericho argued, but she ignored him, repeatedly telling him we would be fine.

“I feel better without him around,” Derrick muttered to me once we were far enough away. “How do you think Jeslyn would react if she saw us with him?”

I didn’t think of that. We walked faster, heading farther away from Jericho’s dimly lit house and deeper into the dark woods.

“Here is where we go in,” Raven said, pointing to a small hill with a carved-out entrance, resembling a cave.

Derrick entered first. The shaft led us deeper until our only option was to climb down a ladder. We descended into a larger stone tunnel through which ran a small river of unknown liquids. The walkways along the water were wide enough to walk on, but scurrying rats made it difficult.

“This place stinks,” I gagged. “Why would you ever come here?”

Raven crept past me. “The herbalist in town pays me good coin to gather herbs for him. I stumbled across this while searching for devil’s claw, and even though this place does smell terrible, it’s intriguing. These tunnels run all around town and through the surrounding area and they go on forever, ending in tons of different places. Some will take you to the temple, others outside of town and one will even take you straight to Lucino’s place. I’ve wanted to see if one would leave Daath, but at some points the way is blocked.”

I found it fascinating that the rodents didn’t bother her. Derrick seemed to be the only one flinching. Anytime a rat came too close, he’d yelp and kick it away.

“Won’t there be guards at Lucino’s?” I asked.

Raven jumped over a piece of wood. “Very few people come here, and the tunnel leading to Lucino’s is difficult to follow, lots of turns, and if you take the wrong way, you’ll end up going in circles.”

The walkway narrowed. We had to lean our backs against the wall in order to walk. I watched Raven carefully, making sure she didn’t fall forward. We walked like that for a while until the path widened.

“Now where?” Derrick said, holding the lantern high.

“I’ll lead from here,” Raven said.

She took front and we followed her through one giant maze. Making turns and sliding through smaller tunnels, and in my eyes, getting lost. I’d never be able to find my way out.

“How do you know where you’re going?” I asked as we made another right.

She pointed to her head.

“No one is that good,” I said.

She shrugged. “It’s just this thing I can do. I remember things, even if it’s only once. I got lost down here and ended at Lucino’s.”

“How many times have you gone this way?” Part of me didn’t want her to answer that.

“Just once.”

You have got to be kidding me.

“I’m sorry, did you just say you’ve only done this once?” Derrick stepped in front of her.

“Yes, but … .”

“I can’t believe this!” Derrick threw his arms up.

“She’ll get us there,” I said, trying to diffuse his anger.

“We don’t even know her and you’re trusting her with Jeslyn’s life?”

“Yes, I am. She said she could do it, and I believe her.” I could see the anger boiling in him.

“If I can interrupt?”

We both looked at her.

“We’re here,” she said.

At the end of the tunnel, a stone stairway curved all the way around and up until you couldn’t see the top.

I whistled. “That’s pretty high.”

Raven led first. “Watch your step.”

The stairs had no railing and parts of the stone had crumbled off. I stayed close behind her, nervous she’d fall, but every step she took was calculated.

One slow step at a time, we walked up and up. I could see a wooden platform ahead with a large wooden door in the wall.

Raven quickened her steps. “That leads to the wine cellar.”

I turned my head to the right and looked down. We had to be more than fifty feet high. A wave of vertigo hit me, and I steadied myself with a deep breath. Heights and I didn’t get along.

Raven made it to the landing and turned to smile at me. A huge rat jumped down from above the door, hitting her in the face.

“Raven!”

“Eek!” She swatted the rat off, but moved too far to the left.

“You’re too close to the edge!” I moved as fast as I could to reach her.

She glanced to the side and slowly began backing away, but her foot slipped and she fell.

“No!” I dove and grabbed her arm just as she went over. I would have gone over with her, but Derrick grabbed my feet.

I gripped her arm with both hands. She clutched a foothold in the wall with her free hand.

“Avikar, help!”

My grip slipped, and I growled. “Give me your other hand and I’ll pull you up.”

“I can’t,” her voice quivered.

“Derrick.”

“I got you,” he said.

“Raven, you have to trust me. I’m not going to let you fall.”

Tears formed in her eyes. “I don’t know if I can do it,” she whimpered. “I’ll fall.”

“No, you won’t. I’ll pull you up. I promise. Raven, please.”

She nodded.

“On three, okay … one … two … three.”

She let go of the wall and reached to me. I caught her hand and pulled her onto the platform. Derrick let go of my legs and leaned against the wall, catching his breath. I grabbed Raven and hugged her. Her chest heaved against mine.

This is bad. I don’t care how skilled she is. She shouldn’t be here. It’s too dangerous.

I held her in my lap, squeezing her.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

She wiped her eyes. “I think so.” She glanced back at the drop. “If you hadn’t caught me.” She looked at me with big wet eyes, and I fell apart inside.

“We should keep moving,” Derrick said and stood.

I helped Raven to her feet, but even when we were standing, I couldn’t let go. I lost Jimri, Jeslyn is missing.

I can’t lose anyone else.

“Avikar?” Raven’s soft voice pulled at my heart, making me afraid to look her in the eye. Her hand touched my arm. “I’m all right.”