Frost Arch (39 page)

A familiar smell reached my nostrils and made my heart throb, yet not as powerfully as it was meant to. This familiar smell was many things all at once.

It smelled of fresh, crisp winter air, a hint of firewood and a very subtle whiff of perspiration which wasn’t the least bit unwelcome. It was the smell of this particular person’s perspiration that had made throat feel tight. It smelled good.

The scuffing footsteps stopped for several moments. I heard an intake of breath and much fumbling around. Before I knew it I could hear keys jingling and the door to my cell opening. A moment later a shadow had blocked out the light spilling in through the doorway as a tall figure loomed over me and fell to its knees beside me.

Warm, familiar breath washed over my face and I thought that I could hear the most wonderful voice in the world calling my name. The person beside me was panting, their breaths short and panicky. I felt their hands upon my face, holding, stroking.

I was so caught up in this new development that it took me a long while to realise that I was dying. I had been lying in this spot for several days, without food or water. Without moving. Barely thinking. Now I was too weak to even let my visitor know that I was still alive – barely. Come to think of it, I had not heard my tiny human companion move for several days. She had stopped force-feeding me like I had done to her so many weeks ago.

I heard my name being called again. Like the smell, the voice was familiar, and the voice was sad. Sobbing.

“Ava. Oh, god. I’m sorry.” It was barely more than a whisper, his voice breaking as fresh tears flowed, “I couldn’t come sooner, they were watching me so close. I tried. I tried.”

I tried to talk, to let him know what I was still lingering, but my mouth didn’t want to move. All I needed to do was move one limb to signal some kind of life.

Next thing I knew I was being embraced by long, warm arms. I was cradled against his chest. His chest. I felt his body shaking as he sobbed into my hair. It made my heart hurt to hear him so sad. The warmth felt good against my icy skin. I dangled uselessly in his arms, willing myself to move. I concentrated as much as I possibly could in my deprived state.

And then …

“Jah …” It was the faintest of whispers. Almost inaudible. It was all I could muster. I thought for a moment that he hadn’t heard me, for he was crying far too loud. Though I heard a falter in his breathing, Jack did not instantly come to a full realisation. He froze for several seconds and I could not muster the strength to utter another word. My throat and mouth felt like sandpaper. Very slowly Jack raised his head which had been buried in my hair. Although I could not see, I could feel his eyes burning into me as he studied my face for some kind of movement. This time, my gratitude came much easier.

“Jack.” My voice was stronger this time.

With a shuddering gasp Jack seemed to panic beyond belief. He swore several times in quick succession and his hands held my face as though I were about to fade away.

“Oh, Ava, I thought you were dead. I couldn’t feel a pulse. You are so cold, and so thin, I thought you were wasting away. The food has just been piling up here by the look of it. Oh, god, what do I do?” Jack spoke very quickly and I had trouble making sense of it. I had so many questions for him, but I didn’t have the strength right now.

“Water.” I mustered.

“Water!” Jack said panic stricken, laying me back on the ground and fumbling around. It was only a matter of seconds before I felt the blissful, cool liquid spilling over my lips and I gladly open my dry, cracked lips and welcomed it down my throat. Before I had had my fill the water was gone and I was left gasping for more.

“Don’t worry, Ava, I brought lots for you.” Jack said instantly pushing more liquid to my lips.

I drank greedily for several long minutes until my shrunken stomach was expanded to its full extent. I tried to sit up with Jack’s help and the water sloshed noisily in my belly. I was so weak and fragile yet the water had made me feel a little better. I wonder how many days I had gone without food. At least I could talk now.

“Jack.” I said again, my voice cracking with emotion, “How?”

“Don’t talk right now.” He ordered me, brushing the hair from my face, “Everything will be okay. I’ll explain later. First I have to get you out of here.”

“I can’t walk.” I whispered.

“Don’t fret.” I heard a smile in his voice, “I have company.”

“Hawthorne?” I said as hopeful as I could muster.

Jack sighed, “Don’t talk.”

I didn’t want to press the matter further. Clearly Hawthorne was still missing after all this time.

“How long have I been here?” I breathed as Jack took me into his arms and I lolled hopelessly.

“Twenty-Five days.” Jack muttered, “You are so light … oh, Avalon.”

Squinting through my eye lashes I caught a quick glimpse of Jack’s tear-stained face before being consumed by darkness and passing out.

When I awoke I felt relatively pain-free. My ribs no longer ached after they had been fractured only twenty-five days ago. I assumed Jack had given me the once-over and checked for any damage. My stomach felt completely empty once again, and my bladder screamed at me for release. However I felt well rested and quite comfortable apart from the fact I was starving, though it seemed the water had done me a world of good. I did not recall much of my rescue.

Opening my eyes I found that I was in an unfamiliar place. It was a beautiful, elegant and very feminine bedroom adorned with several expensive looking things. I lay in an enormous four poster bed with red velvet hanging open around it. There was a charming vanity table to my right laden with bottles of fancy perfume and make-up. An enormous chest of draws was to my left which sat upon a very fluffy gold rug. In a corner upon an androgynous life-size prop hung a beautiful, flowing blonde wig that was so long it almost reached the floor. The featureless mannequin also wore a dress of flowing silver that glittered in the candle light. These things were very familiar, yet comforting at the same time for I now knew that I must be in the home of Ræven Blacklock. Yet I had no idea that she lived this kind of life style. It made me wonder why she even bothered with her messenger service counter-part. If I were in her position I would be more than happy to live in the lime light.

Realising that I was quite alone I turned to look at the bedside table and noticed for the first time that it was laden with an astonishing amount of food and water. With a great rush of affection towards Jack and Ræven I started eating the food instantly. It tasted like heaven after the month I had just been through. I noticed that my body was still very weak, and my hands shook from malnourishment yet I managed to eat alarmingly fast. Grapes, bread, chicken, bacon, all my favorite things sat before me. As I gulped down the water I thought that it looked much more reflective than normal liquid, and tasted far better than usual. Though perhaps it was because I was so happy to be drinking it.

There was a very large window to the right of the bedroom and I could see snow swirling past outside, I was quite warm and comfy however. My attention was then drawn to the large wooden doors on the wall opposite the bed. I heard footsteps drawing closer and I sunk lower into the bed and pulled the blankets up to my chin defensively. A moment later I saw the large brass doorknob turn and a very welcome face poke their head in inquisitively. When Jack saw that I was awake and half the food provided was gone his face broke into an unforgettable smile as he hurled himself into the room and was by my side in less than a second. What proceeded however was quite unexpected.

Jack threw himself upon me, grasping my face in his large, warm hands and began kissing my cheeks, my forehead, my nose, chin, and eyelids all very quickly.

Staring at Jack, my face blank, he managed only to smile down at me with that ridiculous grin of his.

“You’re happy to see me.” I breathed, my heart pounding uncomfortably.

Jack’s face flickered momentarily to a look of distress, but he hitched his smile even higher afterwards, “You have no idea.”

I locked my eyes with Jack’s and whispered very seriously, “Thank you … I would have died if you hadn’t-”

He held up a hand to stop me talking and I cut off abruptly, “I should apologise.” He muttered.

“Apologise?” I breathed.

Jack nodded and pressed his lips together tightly. He seemed to be burdened, though I couldn’t possibly imagine what he could have done.

“I’m so sorry, Avalon.” He looked down and started picking at fluff on the bed sheets, avoiding any eye contact with me.

“Why-” I began, but Jack cut me off once more.

“For leaving you down there so long.” He had a pained expression upon his face, “The way I saw you down there … I can’t … It’s just … I won’t ever be able to get that image out of my mind.”

I wondered how awful I must have looked. I couldn’t see my reflection anywhere in the room and I suddenly became very self conscious. I nervously flattened my matted hair, though to my surprise it felt silky and knot-free. Looking down at my hands for the first time I saw that they were perfectly clean, and there was no longer any grime under my fingernails. Someone had cleaned me up. I was grateful, yet awfully embarrassed.

“How long have I been asleep?” The last thing I remembered was Jack taking me into his arms back in the dungeon.

“Three days.” Jack frowned.

I gasped, “Three days?” He looked sheepish and I suddenly understood, “You put something in the water.” I said with a frown looking over at my empty glass, “That’s why it tastes so good.”

Jack shrugged, “There was a Mage in the marketplace who was a maker of remedies and cures. I stocked up before attempting to rescue you.”

“But you’re a healer.” I frowned, “Can’t you-?”

“I can’t put my healing powers into a consumable form, no.” Jack smiled a little, “I can only heal simple things like broken bones, burns, and wounds. Things like starvation, insomnia, and dehydration are beyond me.”

“Clearly not.” I smiled and took Jack’s hand. He rubbed the top of my hand for a moment, avoiding eye contact.

“I feel quite well, considering.” I gave a small shrug, “Whatever you gave me did the trick. I’m only a little shaky and weak.”

Jack forced a smile, “I really am sorry I couldn’t help you sooner.”

“Oh, Jack.” I rolled my eyes, “The point is I’m fine now. But tell me, how did you do it?”

Jack took a deep breath and began explaining.

“They were going to lock me up as well, they thought I was human. It turns out Sebastian Forsythe specifically called upon Human Control to hunt you down, because as you know you destroyed his most prized possession and his way of revenge was to have you treated as badly as possible. He learned from Charles that your Powers were currently … inactive and used it to his advantage. So when the guards attempted to take me away all I had to do was prove that I was a Mage. Easy enough. That particular squad doesn’t arrest Mages, it’s not their area, so I got off scot free.”

I frowned and Jack gave a smile, “They weren’t too bright, apparently.” I muttered.

“No, they weren’t.” Jack replied, “Anyway my plan was to get you out of there as soon as possible but Forsythe didn’t seem to trust me.”

“You were helping me.”

“Once or twice I think I caught people watching me, following me. I’m rather sure Forsythe put them up to it. I couldn’t get anywhere near the dungeons to rescue you. Many nights I tried to sneak in, but to no avail, even with Camryn’s help.”

“Camryn tried to help?” I said. I’d barely given the red-head a single thought lately, and this made me feel guilty.

“A few times.” Jack nodded, “In the end she said it was no use, and got worried that we would be put down there as well. We fought about it a lot, and we aren’t really on speaking terms at the moment, so I didn’t ask her to help after the fight.”

“There was no need to lose a friendship over it.” I said quietly, feeling quite hurt that Camryn had given up on me, and even tried to convince Jack that it was hopeless.

Jack shrugged and I saw guilt flicker across his face, “I did stop trying for a couple of days, though I sat in my room night after night thinking up new ideas. I considered trying to find Hawthorne but I remembered that Ræven had told us about the Creeley brothers capturing him, so I knew it would be useless.”

My heart panged at the sound of Hawthorne’s name.

“But then I realized.” Jack smiled, “Ræven.”

“You sought her out.” I smiled. It wasn’t a question.

“I cornered Ræven after her shift at the Messenger Service shop and told her what had happened to you, where you were, and how long you had been down there. At first her face was blank and I was certain she would just walk away, but then she took my hand and led me here, to her house.” Jack looked around the room in awe, “Of course she didn’t talk much. I gathered that she wanted to help so I made some plans, explained them to her and she merely nodded.”

I smiled, “So you both came to get me?”

Jack nodded, “We snuck into the dungeons and met no guards for a long while, but as we got closer to the cells they were everywhere. At every entrance. Oh lord, Ava, did we ever leave an enormous trail behind us.” He shook his head.