Page 49 of Heir of Illusion

The rope-like limb tightens against my stomach, squeezing the air out of me as I struggle to hold my breath. With my arms trapped at my sides, I use my limited mobility to stretch my fingers toward one of the blades strapped to my thigh. I manage to pull it from its sheath and twist my wrist, jabbing the creature. For a brief moment, it loosens, allowing me to free one arm before it tightens its hold again and slams me against the riverbed.

My head smacks off a large rock, sending a flash of hot pain through my skull. Momentarily disoriented, my eyes drift to the surface where light and dark dance above me. A vibrant red glow illuminates the water as inky shadows battle pale tentacles. I briefly wonder if the gormags have returned when I’m suddenly dragged across the muddy bed of the river.

Terror fills me as I realize it’s pulling me toward a large hole about twenty feet away. Suddenly, a pale squid-like creature rises from its depths, opening its wide mouth to show me two large black teeth shaped like a bird’s beak.

My heart hammers in my chest and panic sets in. A scream tries to claw out of my throat, but there’s no air to give it voice. Thrashing around, I use my free arm to reach out, searching for anything to grab onto. My fingers cling to another large rock. I use all of my strength to curl myself around it as the long tentacle tries to pull me toward the monster’s open mouth.

The creature yanks harder, squeezing me tight enough to crack a rib. I want to cry as the stone begins to loosen from the sand. There’s no way it’s going to hold much longer. My mind races as I search for a way out, but the only solution I can think of might just kill me.

A violent scream tears from my mouth as I roar at the monster. Water fills my throat as the familiar pain rips through me. My very core is being split in two. I’m sure my head is about to explode as theeidolonmaterializes in front of me. Her vacant eyes stare into the distance as I silently command her to swim toward me.

Obeying my orders, she grabs one of the knives strapped to my thigh, quickly using it to slice through the thick tentacle. Dark blood leaks into the water as its detached limb floats to the floor. A horrible, high-pitched shriek fills my ears as the creature leaps from its hole, gnashing its hideous black teeth at us as several more tentacles race forward.

My lungs burn as I use what little strength I have left to wrap myself in an illusion and push toward the surface, leaving my duplicate behind to distract the squid.

Kill it!

She obeys, swinging her blade at the monster while dodging its angry tentacles. I swim faster, knowing she won’t last long on her own.

The lights above me are brighter now, but I don’t have time to question their source. The pressure in my lungs is nearly overwhelming as my body urges me to breathe. Horrible screams come from the surface as a large creature crashes into the water. Another squid. Its body is blackened,burned. It’s completely still as it sinks to the bottom.

A moment later Thorne dives into the water, his shadows following behind him. They move through the dark, searching for something. His eyes widen with fear as the water turns red around me.

A sharp pain slices through me, making my body jerk.

Myeidolon.

Agony burns inside of me as I turn back, squinting through the crimson haze to find her floating in pieces. The image of my own likeness ripped apart in such a way has me gasping. The river fills my throat once more, the taste of it unlocking the secret prison within my mind. That fateful day so many years ago, I drowned in water just like this. Then, I felt as if I was being cradled in its embrace as it lulled me to sleep. This time is different. Brutal and unfair. I kick my legs harder as the strength begins to leave my body. My illusions dissolve, leaving me visible as myeidolonwinks out of existence.

Thorne’s gaze lands on me, and the last thing I see before my eyes drift shut are dark shadows speeding toward me.

Chapter

Fourteen

“Open your eyes, Angel!” a rough voice shouts. “Come on. Open your eyes, Ivy!”

Something hard pounds against my chest, and my eyes shoot open. Wet coughs rack through me as water pours from my mouth. Rolling onto my side, I purge the river from my stomach until there’s nothing left. My ribs protesting with each violent heave. Nausea still churns as I wipe my mouth and finally become aware of my surroundings.

I’m lying in the bottom of the canoe with Thorne sitting a few inches away. He watches me, his expression unreadable. Water drips from his soaking wet clothes, and I recall the horror on his face when myeidolonwas killed. In the confusion of the battle, did he think she was me? The memory of his behavior is completely at odds with the indifference he displays now.

Tremors scurry over my skin like invisible spiders as my mind races to catch up. I scramble to my knees, ignoring the pain as I peer overboard. I should be thrilled by the absence of pale tentacles and large teeth, but instead I stare at the placid water with eerie suspicion. There’s a certain type of paranoia that surges in the wake of violence. The shift from chaos to calm is too sudden to be trusted, leaving one with a pervasive sense that something is wrong. Itcan’tbe over just like that.

“They’re gone,” Thorne says as something dark swims out from beneath the boat. Barely a second passes before I’ve unsheathed a blade, my arm already cocking back to throw it.

“My shadows.” He plucks the knife from my hand. “They are guarding us.”

My brows pinch together as I lean further over the side to investigate. Several snakes circle the water beneath us, no doubt hoping for a snack. I nod as I sit back down. Forcing myself to meet his gaze, I speak the words I’ve been holding back.

“Thank you.”

He shrugs as he hands me back my weapon. “I’d hate for you to lose more of your pretty knives.”

“No.” I shake my head as I sheath the blade. “For pulling me out of the water.”

“Ah.” He smirks, but it doesn’t sit quite right on his face. There’s something forced about the casual way he leans against the rail, reminding me of my own performances. “I imagine your death would put a damper on this alliance.”

I suppose it would. A shiver skates over my chilled skin as I imagine what would have happened if he hadn’t saved me. Despite the rumors people spread about me, I don’t think I’d survive being eaten alive. Drowning, however, is a different matter entirely.

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