Wicked Path (The Daath Chronicles Book 2) (35 page)

on’t you find it strange we haven’t seen any adult birds?” Jeslyn stroked Hadda’s coat. “I wonder where they are.”

The bird sat on Jeslyn’s shoulder, picking at her long hair. For a youngling, it was large. Based on its size, by the end of this season it would be larger than the biggest albatross of this world. While I spent most of my time researching the humans, I did know a little about the creatures roaming the lands. This large bird was not one I recalled.

“They’re most likely in their nests,” I finally said.

“I want to take a look.”

“I don’t think that’s wise.”

Hadda squawked and Jeslyn rubbed her beak. “You want to see too, don’t you?”

It was useless trying to reason with her, and I didn’t need her wandering off and being hurt or eaten. “Very well. We need more branches for the boat.”

“Do you really think you’ll be able to build one?”

“Of course.” I stepped in front of her, ignoring her incredulous glare. She hadn’t mentioned our kiss, but I sensed her anger for me fading.

The jungle surrounded the grassland with the high trees. At night, creatures called through the air. Dark shadows whipped around the sky, but I never saw anything more. Based on the size of the nests in the treetops, and Hadda’s current size, the birds that lived here were large.

Ivy clung to the tall trees, and a few animals scurried to their tops. Wildlife hunted on the ground, and we had yet to come across another animal bigger than a rabbit. The carcass we had seen on our first day near here was the largest animal we’d found, yet we’d never seen another.

Jeslyn stopped, staring out across the open space. “Do you think they’re sleeping?”

“Yes. They hunt at night.

Hadda hopped on her shoulder.

“It’s okay, Hadda.” She patted the bird’s head.

Hadda hopped again, this time off Jeslyn’s shoulder and onto the ground.

“Hadda!”

When Jeslyn reached for her, Hadda squawked and leapt in the opposite direction.

“What is the matter with you?” Jeslyn chased after her, trying to catch her, and failing miserably.

The leaves on one of the trees rustled.

“Ouch! That’s enough, Hadda.”

The leaves rustled more.

Scree! Scree!

A bird, large enough to carry two men on its back, soared into the sky. Its wings spanned the length of two carriages. Its feathers had the same vibrant blue as Hadda’s, but with streaks of white.

“Go!” I grabbed Jeslyn’s arm with one hand, and scooped up her bird in the other.

“What’s wro—” Her words failed when she saw the sight behind me. “Is that… ?”

“Yes, now move!”

We ran through the jungle, leaves and branches slapping us as we passed. The bird screeched above in the sky, swooping down in vicious arcs, trying to snap at us. Frantically, we dodged its talons as it separated the foliage, tearing huge chunks of dirt and grass out with each pass. I remembered the cave behind the waterfall. The water would hide our scent, and we could stay in the cave until the bird grew bored. I tugged Jeslyn in the direction of the waterfall. Her breath came out in choppy gasps as we ran faster.

When we reached the lagoon, I handed the bird off to Jeslyn and waded in. “Tell that bird to sit on your shoulders, and you grab mine. I’ll swim us over there.”

Jeslyn nodded and urged Hadda to sit on her, then she climbed onto my back.

Scree!

“Lucino, it’s coming!”

I pushed through the water, speeding to where the waterfall plunged. “Hold your breath and the bird.”

I swam under the rushing water, breaching near the cave opening. I grabbed the opening with one hand and lifted Jeslyn onto the stone floor with the other, then pulled myself in. Jeslyn scooted to the back, which wasn’t that far. I slid in front of her, blocking her body with my own.

The screeching quieted.

Neither of us spoke. Jeslyn held Hadda in her arms and hid behind me. She grasped my waist, and her heated breath beat against my back.

Silence.

Had the bird left? I didn’t think so.

A blue shimmering shape appeared on the other side of the water, along with the rush of flapping wings. I expected the bird to attempt the water, which would be futile. The waterfall would soak the bird’s wings, making it unable to fly.

The falling water in front of the cave parted as if someone opened a curtain, and the bird’s head peeked through. Water separated around the bird, which screeched loudly, blasting us with acrid breath. It moved its head side to side, observing us.

Jeslyn’s fingers dug into my skin.

“Don’t be afraid,” I said, standing. “I won’t let it harm you.”

I faced the bird and let the fury roar through my veins, igniting my Reptilian power. Red hazed around my body, and the bird screamed. It struggled to go deeper into the cave, but the cave walls wouldn’t allow its thick body to pass.

My left foot slid forward and I crouched. “You should not have followed us.”

I leapt at the bird, grabbing its neck in a lariat, using the momentum to pull it away as I swung onto its back. The curtain of water crashed down on me.

“Lucino!”

My hands twisted feathers. I dodged its snapping beak. We spun in a downward spiral and collided with the lagoon. Claws raked my side as we sunk into the water. Slipping around its neck, I wrestled with the bird while it thrashed beneath my grasp. I could hold my breath. I doubted the bird could.

Water from the lagoon shot up and under us, lifting us like a wave into the air. If the bird caught flight, this battle would be much more difficult. I took hold of the scruff on its neck, punching the creature’s head. The water tugged at my arms and body as if it were a sentient being that protected the bird.

A rock hit the bird’s face.

I glanced back. Jeslyn stood on the grass, throwing rocks, her aim impressively good.

Claws raked against my arms, and I had to dodge the snapping beak. If I could get my arms around the bird’s throat, I could crush it.

Squawk squawk!

Hadda dove at the larger creature, pecking its eyes. When the bird turned its attention to Hadda, I got out from under it, and spun onto its back, taking control of the fight. The water rose around us, whipping out at Hadda and Jeslyn like a lance.

I wrapped my arms around the bird’s neck and squeezed with all my might. As I did, the waterfall shot out at me, like a titan’s fist, swatting me off the bird. The feathered monster screeched and flapped into the sky. I landed on the ground, the watery fist dissipating into a shower of rain.

“Lucino!” Jeslyn ran to me, sliding on the ground. “Are you hurt?”

I sat up on my elbows. “No. Did you see the water?”

“Yes. I couldn’t believe it. Was the bird controlling it?”

It was a very good question, and yet, a better question would be how could I control the bird if it had the power to control water?

don’t remember.”

Ezekiel couldn’t seem to grasp the fact I couldn’t remember the fight.

“You must remember.”

“Well, I don’t.”

“You don’t or you won’t?”

Where was Cael?
I’d had enough of the scroll man.

“You were there. Your eyes saw. Your ears heard. But your mind will not recall the memory. What are you afraid of?”

“I’m not afraid of anything. Lucino is dead.”

Ezekiel put his quill down. “There are other ways to extract the memory.”

He walked over to me, rolling up the sleeves of his robe. Black geometric markings covered his thick arms.

“What are you doing?” I leaned back against the chair as he reached for me.

“Helping you remember.”

He grabbed the sides of my head and began chanting. “Dominus regit me, et nihil mihi deerit…”

Heat filled my body. I didn’t want this guy touching me. There was nothing wrong with me.

“In loco pascuæ, ibi me collocavit…”

The black markings on his arms glowed blue.

“What are you doing to me?”

Ezekiel’s eyes closed and his forehead scrunched.

My heart raced.

“Super aquam refectionis educavit me…”

I have to get away from him.

“Animam meam convertit…”

Sweat pooled at the back of my neck and dizziness swept over me. I blinked, forcing myself to focus. The heat from his touch burned through the rest of my body. Was this invocation or magic? What if this chant twisted my mind or made it worse? How could I trust a priest from The Order?

He continued to chant, and even though I wanted to move, fear kept me in my seat. The fear of not knowing what happened with Lucino overpowered the fear of Ezekiel’s chanting.

“Et ut inhabitem in domo Domini in longitudinem dierum.”

Ezekiel released me.

Dizziness left my mind, and a tingling sensation ran though my body. “What did you do to me?”

Ezekiel unrolled his sleeves and returned to his seat. “That’s enough for today. We’ll try again tomorrow.”

He puts a spell on me with no explanation, then says ‘that’s enough’?
I shook my head and stood.

“Tell Cael I left, and not to come looking for me.” I was getting Raven and we were leaving. I wasn’t going to be a test subject for The Order.

The priests gawked as I stormed past, and I didn’t care, even when I knocked over a scroll. Whether The Order wanted to acknowledge it or not,
I
saved them from Lucino. No one else. Me.
I
fought him, and it almost killed me.