Page 62 of Taken By The Dark Three
Rage simmers in my gut. My initial plan was always to cause Orthani’s downfall from within. But Selene changed the calculus. She isn’t merely another weapon or tool; she’s a fierce, unstoppable force shaping her own destiny. And Ai… Selene devotes herself to protecting that child. The thought of the Red Purna forcing Ai to explode in some cataclysmic surge churns my stomach.
“How many innocents will die?” I murmur bitterly. “You realize Orthani houses humans, slaves, random laborers who had no say in the city’s cruelty, right?”
Ravana’s gaze turns hard. “Collateral damage. They side with Orthani by existing under its roof. Don’t lose your spine now, Eryx. We kept you alive when you were left broken and wandering. You owe us.”
Her reminder stings. Indeed, the Red Purna found me after Orthani’s purges, gave me resources to hone my assassin skills. But do I truly owe them my soul? My mind flickers with an image of Selene’s triumphant face last night, how she orchestrated that swirling unity of bodies. She stands for more than aimless destruction. She craves freedom, yes, but not in exchange for Ai’s life or wanton slaughter.
I swallow, forcing composure. “Fine,” I say, lying through my teeth. “I’ll relay your orders. Orthani will burn.” My voice sounds hollow even to me.
Ravana offers a curt nod, stepping back. “Three days. Meet us in the catacombs near the ruined temple district. We strike at dusk.” She disappears through a back passage, leaving me alone with the flickering gloom.
I remain rooted, the parchment in my grip, shame and fury warring in my chest. The Red Purna unleashed me to carve vengeance, but now they plan to kill Ai if her power can’t be harnessed. Selene would never stand for that. Nor can I, if I’m honest with myself. She’s somehow changed me, or maybe just reminded me that my hatred for Orthani doesn’t justify trampling an innocent child. A snarl tears from my throat.
Clutching the parchment, I exit the cellar, stepping into Orthani’s damp midnight air. Overhead, the moon slides behind a bank of clouds, plunging the alley into gloom. My footsteps echo as I hurry toward Vaelith’s estate. Despite my reluctance, I have to warn Selene. She must know the Red Purna’s plan.Without the full picture, she might walk into a war that ends with Ai’s destruction.
My heart drums a frantic beat. I recall the recent memory of sharing Selene with Vaelith and Zareth, how the four of us tangled in that sultry chaos. In the afterglow, I saw her forging new alliances, stepping from captive to queen. We might be on the brink of Orthani’s downfall, but not like this. Not by feeding Ai to the Red Purna’s ambition. Selene must be told.
Slipping past the guards with practiced stealth, I infiltrate Vaelith’s estate for what feels like the hundredth time. The wards remain partially adjusted from my earlier escapades, letting me slip by with minimal alarm. The corridors are quiet, the hush of late hours pressing in. My boots scuff on polished stone, and I move carefully, ears pricked for patrolling soldiers.
At last, I reach the hallway leading to Selene’s wing. Two guards stand watch, but I know a side route that leads through a servant’s passage. Sure enough, the door is unguarded, and I find the hidden stair that emerges near her suite. Tension coils in my gut. I can’t barge in if she’s sleeping, yet time is short. The Red Purna’s assault looms.
I slip into her antechamber, hearing muffled voices—her voice and Vaelith’s, talking in hushed tones. A spike of jealousy flares in me, but I smother it. We all share her by her decree. I push open the door softly, stepping inside.
Vaelith stands near the window, arms crossed, wearing only breeches. Selene sits on a cushioned bench, one leg tucked beneath her, hair tumbling around her shoulders. She’s still clad in a thin robe that reveals glimpses of smooth skin. The sight knocks the breath from my lungs, recalling last night’s fire. Her eyes snap to me, surprise flickering. “Eryx?” she says, softly. “What brings you here at this hour?”
Vaelith tenses, scowling. “Indeed. Sneaking in again?”
I ignore Vaelith’s hostility, breathing heavily. “I have news. Urgent.” I hold out the parchment. “It’s from the Red Purna. They plan a mass invasion of Orthani in three days—unleashing Ai’s power or taking her by force if they must.”
Selene’s expression darkens. She glances at Vaelith, who cocks an eyebrow, tension carving lines in his brow. She beckons me forward, taking the parchment. I watch her face as she scans it. Anger, worry, and resolve flicker in her eyes. “They want Ai as a weapon,” she murmurs, voice tight. “So it’s more than sabotage?”
I nod. “Yes. They’ll storm the catacombs, slip into the city, and attempt to claim Ai. If she can’t be tamed, they’ll sacrifice her in some catastrophic detonation of magic.” My voice trembles with disgust.
Vaelith curses under his breath. “What vile strategy is this? You allied with them, Eryx. Did you know this was their endgame?”
I bristle. “I never condoned harming Ai. I wanted Orthani’s elite destroyed, not children used as bombs. That’s why I’m telling you now.”
Selene rises from the bench, robe swirling around her. I can almost taste her fury radiating in the air. “We can’t let them take Ai. She’s been through enough. We have to safeguard her.”
Vaelith narrows his eyes. “Safeguard? We’re already on the brink of Orthani turning on us. If we help the city defend Ai, we might become targets from both sides.”
Selene stands firm. “We’ll rescue Ai ourselves before the Red Purna’s attack. Keep her hidden until the chaos settles, or slip her out of Orthani entirely.”
I exhale, nodding. “I’ll help. I joined them for vengeance, but I won’t be complicit in murdering a child. My family’s blood is on Orthani’s hands, but Ai doesn’t deserve to be the tool that takes them down.”
Vaelith rubs his jaw, a flicker of respect crossing his features. “Then we must coordinate. We can’t rely on the council. They’d probably seize Ai for their own twisted experiments if the Red Purna fails. We do this quietly.”
Selene sets the parchment aside, stepping closer to me. Her eyes, brimming with urgency, also carry a spark from our recent union. “Thank you for telling me, Eryx. I know your loyalty to the Red Purna ran deep.”
I let out a ragged sigh. “I owed them for saving my life once, but they’ve lost all sense of restraint. They want to burn Orthani, and they don’t care who gets caught in the flames. That’s not the victory I wanted.”
Vaelith shifts behind her. “We need a plan. The city’s wards, Orthani’s guard rotations—Ai is likely kept under strict watch. We must strike before the Red Purna does, but carefully.”
Selene paces, the robe parting to reveal glimpses of supple thighs. My gut twists with lust, but now isn’t the time for such tangents. She glances at Vaelith. “You have access to Orthani’s inner corridors. We can use that to bypass the official guard. If we extract Ai discreetly, the city might not suspect until it’s too late.”
He nods. “Yes. But I can’t vanish with her openly. My men would question it. We need a ruse—like a false alert or a staged incident that draws the guards away.”
I interject, excitement stirring. “We can trigger a minor sabotage near Orthani’s southwestern perimeter. That would divert the city’s vigilance. Then we sneak Ai out from the opposite side.”
