Resonance Part 2: DarkWorld: Irin Chronicles: A DarkWorld Universe Series Page 2

  Evie nodded. “Sadly, that’s the state of things in my life. I have no clue who to trust anymore.”

  Ralna’s brow twisted and she said, “I think I may know how to assure you I can be trusted.”

  Evie rolled her hand in the air, indicating the gargoyle should keep talking.

  Ralna’s smile was quite self-assured as she said, “Castor has always been a keen judge of character, has he not?”

  Evie’s eyebrows rose. “How do you know this?”

  The gargoyle released an impatient sigh. “We live and work on the grounds of Greylock Estate, Evangeline. And we’re long-lived. We see and hear plenty. Who do you think allowed Castor to hide in the shadowed areas of the grounds where nobody would find him? Who do you think keeps his secret plant-crops thriving and safe from the brothers who would no doubt torch the entire field if they got wind of its existence?” Ralna’s eyes held a darkness which Evie shared, a memory of just such an incident almost a century ago.

  Evie felt her resistance seep out of her, and she sank onto her bed. Surprised when her butt hit the blankets, she shook her head. “I didn’t even know that was going to be there. Good thing I didn’t fall on my ass. Not a very good first impression, huh?”

  Ralna snorted. “I was here to tend to you when they brought you in. Myself, Brother Remus and the Captain of the Gargoyle regiment.”

  Evie stiffened and met Ralna’s eyes. “You saw them?”

  “Myself and the Captain. Remus didn’t see anything.”

  Evie nodded. “Okay. I suppose if I’ve survived an encounter with you while unconscious then my life is safe in your hands. So what’s your suggestion regarding Castor?”

  The gargoyle didn’t miss a neat on hearing that Evie still wanted to have another form of confirmation in order to trust her. Ralna waved a hand at the half-open door. “I can take a message to Castor and ask him to write one in response to tell you I can be trusted.”

  “Just one problem with that.” Evie lifted a finger.

  “Which is?”

  “Castor doesn’t know I’m here. If he did know, he’d be afraid for me. I don’t want him frantic and upset. He could put himself in danger.”

  Ralna was shaking her head. “But he already knows you’re here. Do you really believe Ordantran and Braxus would not take every opportunity offered to them to unsettle the halfling? The only good thing is that those two idiots believe Castor’s level of brain power to be well below their own.”

  Evie snorted. “They should think again.”

  “Exactly. Castor was brought to your cell the day you were brought in. O and Braxus had him stand in the doorway and watch as you were tied to the Seat. Thankfully, their attention was on Castor and not on you so they missed the...uh...designs.”

  Evie chuckled as she pictured the scene in her mind. “I imagine Castor threw a tantrum?”

  “He sure did. He knew you were fine and he saw the Marks. He knew before either of us could tell him that he had to keep them distracted. So he began wailing and crying. Rather loudly.”

  “Bet O and Braxus loved that. They’d have been convinced they could use me against Castor to get him to talk.”

  Ralna clicked her tongue. “You got it all wrong there, Feathers.”

  Evie raised her eyebrow at the name.

  The gargoyle winced, then rolled her eyes. “It’s a good name. Suits you. Let’s just go with it for now.” Evie’s lips twitched but she managed to smother her smile. Ralna said, “Castor’s presence in the dungeons is not for him to suffer knowing you are here.”

  Evie’s mouth dropped open. “They have him here because they know I’ll suffer hearing Castors cries of pain.” She fell silent for a second, biting her lip as she considered Castor’s imprisonment. “But wait. He’s been crying every now and then. I’ve heard him.”

  “Usually only in the wake of a visit from one of the Brothers.” Ralna’s eyebrow curved and her tone was drier than a desert.

  “Ah. I see.” Evie clenched her fists hard, the fury in her blood simmering.

  “Er, Feathers?” Evie glanced at Ralna who said, “You may want to pull back the angelic fury just a tad. Let’s not cause any further mayhem and destruction. We don’t want to upset Lardri.”

  Evie laughed softly and Ralna joined in. “What’s going to upset me?” Lardri asked as he entered the cell with a small wooden toolbox in hand.

  He stared from Ralna to Evie and then back again, then snorted and took his toolbox over to the door. Ralna went to the table where a notepad sat, Evie’s scribbled to do list scrawled across the page.

  “Want to write the message?”

  Evie almost wanted to say she didn’t need to, but she didn’t want to seem like a pushover. And of course, she wanted Castor to know she was ok. She sat and wrote out a short note.

  Castor,

  I’m fine. Please don’t worry about me. I am being taken care of. I promise I’ll find a way out of this for both of us.

  Please can you do me one favor. Tell me if you think I can trust Ralna?

  Much love

  Evie

  Evie spun the note around for Ralna to read, though the gargoyle didn’t appear to be interested in screening the message. She was already on her feet and folding the note into a small square before Evie looked up.

  “I’ll be back shortly. I think O would have left by now. Anyway, just keep an ear out. If you hear me screaming, you’ll know I’ll be dead in seconds so don’t even try to come save me.”

  The blood drained from Evie’s face and she surged to her feet. But before she could say anything to stop Ralna, the gargoyle walked to the doorway. As she disappeared into the hallway she called over her shoulder, “Just kidding.” Evie was relieved only for a few moments because the next thing she heard was Ralna muttering “At least, I hope I’m kidding,” under her breath as she hurried away.

  Chapter 4

  In Ralna’s absence, Evie sat on the bed and watched Lardri screw a hook in the door just below the small barred opening. The gargoyle dusted his hands, took his tools and left, though he returned moments later with a bulky black cloak which he proceeded to arrange so well that nobody would have known anything was wrong with the door.

  Evie spent a moment considering the incongruity of her current reality.

  So many things had gone wrong since she’d returned from Hades. Yes, the new Grand Master of the Irin appeared to be just and fair and had given Evie far more privileges than the brothers of the Irin currently believed was her due.

  But the people Evie cared about the most were either gone forever, or in trouble, being used against Evie for reasons she wasn’t yet sure of.

  And someone wanted her dead. Someone had sent the shade, a splinter of the darkness, an ancient evil that very few people had access to. Who would have such power as to summon the shade in the first place?

  She’d seen the shade in Marcellus’ office before she’d left for Hades. Which begged the question of whether the old Master of the Irin had been so powerful and had never revealed it. Or had Daniel used his angelic power to summon the shard of darkness forth and instruct it to target Evie?

  But it didn’t make sense. Firstly, because Daniel was in the wind, gone—if he knew what was good for him. It didn’t seem likely that he’d return to the Irin estate. Although Evie suspected he’d been the true mastermind behind the search for the Seals, Daniel would know by now that the Seals were lost to him and that his lackey was dead.

  And killing Evie would not be useful to anyone. However she examined the possibilities, capturing Evie alive and keeping her breathing was in the best interests of anyone who wanted her imprisoned.

  Aside for that, If someone wanted Evie to go down for Marcellus’ murder, then why would they want to kill her before she was pronounced guilty and punished for her crimes? Surely the Brothers wanted her to die for killing their beloved master and leader?

  As she paced, Evie’s thoughts also went to another Master of the Irin who had
been murdered. And this time, she knew the identity of the killer. She’d revealed her suspicions to Mykia and the Master had been shocked at the accusation.

  Evie had to admit to being tempted when Mykia had asked if she had wanted to press posthumous charges against Marcellus. Evie would have loved to tell the world that Marcellus was guilty of killing Patrick, but the timing would have made everything look suspicious. The brothers and perhaps even the supreme high council would think the timing was too convenient should she step forward and lay her charge. Any attempt at getting justice for Patrick’s murder would fail if it were considered a lame attempt at redirecting the attention from her alleged crime to painting Marcellus as the bad guy.

  Though frustrated, Evie couldn't do anything about it. If she wanted justice for the guardian, if she wanted to have his killer pronounced guilty, she would have to wait until her own trial was over.

  And what if she was judged as guilty? What then? Would anyone care what the killer of the Master of the Irin had to say then? And would Evie be allowed to live long enough to lay the charge?

  She shuddered at the thought.

  Footsteps resounded along the outer corridor and Evie watched Lardri as he gave the person a cursory glance then returned to staring ahead at nothing.

  Barry entered the cell, his smile wide and triumphant.

  His satisfied smirk widened as he flourished his hand and performed a half bow. “I got you a shower and a change of clothes. You’ll be escorted up to your rooms, but I’m responsible for you so I’m to accompany you.”

  “Not inside the bathroom, I hope?” Evie asked, worried now.

  “Heck, no. I get to put my feet up while you clean yourself up.”

  Evie was so ready for bath time that she was halfway to the door before she remembered. “How long do I have before the first meeting?”

  Barry shrugged. “A couple hours, I think.”

  “Ugh. Barry, I have to know how long I have. Bathing takes planning.”

  Barry caught up with Evie as she strode down the dungeon halls. “What’s so complicated? Soap, water, a little scrubbing. And you’re done.”

  Evie barely paid him any attention. She was more concerned with the fact that Ladri hadn’t stopped Barry and herself when the pair had left the cell. Surely the guard ought to have at least attempted to guide them out, perhaps pretend a little that Evie was a prisoner?

  Not that she was complaining.

  Still, she hadn’t yet spoken to Darthh, and she was beginning to worry. Maybe for no reason, but she did care that he’d be okay.

  Chapter 5

  Their boots thudded hollow and brisk on centuries’ old stones laid into the floor of the corridor, as the dreadlocked demon overlord and the bound angel navigated their way out of the dungeons.

  Cool air currents undulated around the unlikely pair, swimming through the dungeon passageways, funneled in through ducts along the exterior walls around the castle in order to eliminate odor as much as possible.

  The smaller cells were situated along the exterior walls of the dungeon and were far more accessible to fresh air. The interior cells though, didn’t provide their occupants with the pleasure. From those cells came the thick and overpowering scent of rot.

  Evie was familiar with those cells. The very ones in which years ago she’d thrown a berserk paranormal to cool off or to await judgement and execution. Her heart thudded as she passed the main corridor that would take her back into her memories, but she stiffened her spine and her resolve and ignored the darkened entrances, stalking steadily past while her body pulled with nerves.

  Barry gave her an odd look, his eyes keen enough to sense her trepidation. He glanced quickly into the dark mouth of the stone hallway, then met her eyes, his question clear. But she chose to ignore him and continued walking, her racing heart slowly returning to a more comfortable pace.

  At the entrance to the dungeons. Evie slowed her steps, suddenly a little nervous that they had reached the exit and hadn't yet been stopped.

  Barry slowed and looked over his shoulder at her. “What’s up?” he whispered as she reached his side.

  “Something isn’t right about this,” she muttered.

  “About what?”

  She glared at him. “Being able to leave the dungeons without an armed escort. I’m not sure that it’s ok to be leaving the cells without proper supervision.”

  “What? Suddenly you want someone to be tailing you wherever you go?”

  “No. That’s not what I meant. I just feel like surely the brotherhood would have major issues with me walking around the castle as if I wasn’t currently incarcerated and awaiting trial for murder.”

  Barry snickered. “They weren’t happy about it, just so you know. But Mykia was adamant that you could be trusted. I’m to supervise your journey there and back. I’m also as responsible in this, you know.”

  “And they actually trust your word?” Evie asked, realizing too late the insult held within her comment.”

  But Barry smirked and took the stairs two at a time. “They don’t have much choice now, do they? The Grand Master had decreed it and so shall it be. And just for the record, there are guards posted along the entire route there and back. They just don’t feel the need to be hands on and to have you in chains. Especially now that the Titan is on board. Even the Brotherhood found it hard to believe that you would run with the SHC rep present.”

  “They know me well enough, Barry. I’ve never been the kind of person to shirk my responsibilities.”

  “Yeah they know you so much that they thought it was reasonable to claim that you murdered Marcellus?”

  “Good point.”

  Evie led the way up to the first and then the second floor, then hung a right and walked down the dark wood-paneled floors to her bedroom. When she opened the door she was somewhat surprised. She’d expected the place to look like a tornado had passed through, not unlike the way it had looked the day Marcellus had barged in with his men in search of the seals he accused Evie of taking.

  Of course, his information had been correct but even with his mole, he had no way of knowing for sure.

  “What’s up? Changed your mind about the bath?”

  “No. It’s just something I remembered about what Marcellus did just before I left.”

  Barry made a circling motion around his head and Evie understood the warning. She threw a shield up quickly, the spell now coming with ease and little need to concentrate.

  “Thanks. I almost forgot about that. I think I may already have told you about this, but Marcellus and his guard raided my room in search of seals that he thought I’d kept back.”

  “That’s because Kara had told him, right?”

  Evie nodded. “Yeah. She did tell him that but why had he been so certain to target me?”

  “He checked Ash and Ling’s rooms too, right?”

  “Eventually he did. But he started with me.” Evie frowned. “Maybe he sees me as a simple extension of Patrick. A constant reminder of a better Master, the kind of person he’d never be able to come close to being. He never commanded the kind of respect Patrick drew to him. Patrick had an air about him. Maybe something about his immortality. But he was good and kind and just.”

  “All things that people gravitate toward. He sounds like he was an amazing person and an even better Master.”

  “He was. No matter what was happening around us, he always came to our aid with advice or solutions. He never held back. Though there were times….”

  “Times like?”

  “I can't talk about that right now and get all bathed and changed. Didn't you say we had a time limit?”

  He shrugged. “Nothing crazy. They gave you a couple hours but Mikia bumped it up to three. But that’s about as good as it was going to get. Three hours apparently sounded like a lifetime to those guys.”

  “Just another thing to thank her for. The woman is racking up a list. And I still don’t get why she’d be understanding of me. Like, should
n't she also be on the same side as the Brothers? Won't it be in her best interests to crucify me the way the Marcellus’ cronies want? That way she’d be able to pander to them so that they would at least make her feel welcome.”

  “I think Mykia has a little more integrity than you’re giving her credit for.”

  Evie bit her lip. Hard enough to taste the iron in her blood. “I know. I’m just frustrated. This whole thing is like one huge bad dream.” She didn’t wait to hear the demon lord's answer. She grabbed a towel and hurried to the bathroom, the thought of a soak in the tub now controlling her every movement. She had to slow her movements deliberately to maintain at least a modicum of control over her rushed movements.

  Her bathroom had always been her own personal haven. Today, just as she would have done at any other time, she ran the bath and moved around the room, lighting candles and scented oils. She was partial to frankincense and myrrh, and of course, jasmine. Something about the scents helped to revive her senses no matter how jaded she became.

  It seemed like it had only been seconds ago when Evie had settled her head against the back of the tub and closed her eyes to inhale the scented water and fragrant air. But

  The knock on the door and Barry’s concerned question of, “You doing okay in there?” was enough to pull her back to consciousness.

  She cleared her throat, the water sloshing around her as she shifted to engulf her muscles deeper within the heat. “Yeah. Just tired,” she mumbled, all too aware of the incongruity of wanting to spend more time within the comforting warmth of the water when not so many hours ago water had been used as the weapon in an attempt to end her life.

  The bathwater had grown a little tepid and Evie stood and dried off while her feet remained soaking. The oils and scents had rendered her skin baby-soft and luxuriously smooth. Something she’d not experienced in a while what with having had to use the facilities provided for her in Hades.