Page 118 of Unraveled
“Mia, are you paying attention, or are you daydreaming again?” He frowned at me as I looked down at my cold breakfast and my half-empty cup of black coffee.
“Sorry—I’m here,” I said, and I tried to ignore the headache. And the weird emptiness in my chest. “What were you saying?”
“Never look a fae in the eyes, Mia,” my father whispered. “They’ll see it as a challenge and will never let you go. It will mean your death.”
I gasp for air. The muddy ground spins around me. My entire body shakes as I try to clean tears from my face.
My parents were always strixes. They feared for my life and hid me in plain sight. My mother disappeared right after. I wonder if they were intending to escape together at some point.
Did he know Ash would eventually come for me, because we were mates? I was always dreaming of his broken prophecies.
Magic flows through my body, warming my cold limbs, undeterred by the curse. Even the remnants of the sedative evaporates. White light flashes from my fingertips, and the lockof the shackles snaps off as I wield the unraveling spell so easily, it’s like breathing.
I lift my hand toward the cell’s door and wield another. So much power courses through me, the curse can’t consume all of it. The darkness on my skin recedes—just a little—as the gate twists and opens with a squeak.
I walk out of my cell enveloped in a ball of light, with death—my curse and companion—trailing closely behind.
Chapter 40
Orange torchlights guideme as I follow the breeze to the end of the tunnel. I walk away from the lingering scent of stagnant water until I find drops of blood—hisblood. Gold and freely flowing on the ground. I follow his tracks up the smooth, slippery steps.
This is familiar. I came down this stairway with Naheli. The tall steps make the ache in my body worse as I run up them, two at a time. My magic—and a healthy dose of adrenaline—aid my strength. I’m tired, but I will endure.
It takes me a while, but eventually I make it to the machine room, chaotic and buzzing with the clamor of scientists rushing about. Morla didn’t leave anyone guarding the halls, likely not expecting trouble. Steam rises from the brass pyramid in the center, occluding most everything from me. Hiding behind the curtain of shadows provided by the hallway, I wait for the perfect moment to sneak in.
I spot two cages on the other side of the massive room, hastily pushed against the stone wall, with a group of men lingering nearby. One is Morla, under the guise of Skylar.
They speak loud enough I can hear them from where I stand. “After tonight, we’ll be free,” someone says.
Fool.
My stomach sours when I find Ash through the smoke. He’s slumped over, holding onto the bars of his cage. I imagine he’s whispering comforting things to Nera.
No one’s looking my way. My breaths are shallow as I step over puddles that remind me of the first night I was here. Body pressed against the wall, I inch closer and closer.
I have no plan other than possibly using my revealing spell to blind them all. Then perhaps using fire to get Ash out of his cage. We can both figure out how to help Nera after that. Perhaps once he’s free of the shackles, he’ll regain enough strength for Naheli to return. It’s not ideal for her to be here, but I need help. Especially since I don’t know who’s a hybrid hiding behind a human disguise.
I watch intently as Skylar rounds Ash’s cage, his arms behind his back as he speaks to the group of men. Harper stands meekly to the side, her gaze averted to the ground in shame. She hates this... I’m sure of it. Perhaps if the scales tilt enough, she might help me? Even though she’s in this mess because of me. My heart grows so heavy with guilt that I can hardly breathe.
But if I focus on the bad things, I risk being frozen by them. Instead, I think of Skylar and his lack of magic, other than the glamour that hides his true appearance. He seems to rely heavily on weapons.
Did crafting such a curse zap Morla’s power completely?
“I said to weaken him further,” Morla says with Skylar’s voice to Harper, who visibly flinches at his command. “I don’t want him talking or moving at all.”
“And here I thought we were having fun.” Ash’s words drag through the noise.
I crouch down, hoping my squeaking soles won’t call their attention. Steam rises in the distance, and scientists shout as metal clanks and hinges hiss.
Harper shakes her head, and strands of her silver hair stick to her shiny skin. “I-I’ve already done all I can. The laws of librarians demand I don’t hurt living things. I can keep him subdued so he won’t hurt you all, but I won’t injure him...”
Even though Harper growing a backbone would’ve normally made me happy, I fear for her safety. Morla is bloodthirsty, and has a gun strapped to her belt. Skylar looks around and surveys all of those that surround him, watching their every move.
Most of these people didn’t watch Skylar kill Kyle down in the cave. Most probably think this is the way to protect Penumbra, but seeing the fae looking so unbeastly is making them question the whole thing. I watch as a few scientists shift closer to the cages, their faces set in hard expressions.
“Whatever.” Skylar pulls a pair of fine leather gloves from his pocket. Slowly, he puts them on as he walks toward Ash. “Load the princess into the machine first. The king gets to watch until he repents for every life he took for granted.” He points at Ash, who says nothing in return, though I see him stiffen. His head lifts, and he stares at Skylar like he’s seeing him for the first time.
Did he figure out who’s really behind this? Perhaps her glamour flickered, like it did down in the cave?
