Page 40 of Lured By the Dus
Once my horse carried Tanith away, I was alone with naught but the breeze to sustain me. I reached inside my cloak and pulled out the crystal pyramid Tanith had used to awaken me. She didn’t know what it was. In fact, there were many things I hadn’t told her—stories of my past, the lore of my people, the magic of the music, what eternal life truly meant and what would happen when the magic-thralls were free. We could go home. Not to this world full of mortals, corrupted by their greed and grasping fingers that reached for more and more because their lives were so short, so frail. But our true home, where I’d be freed from my duty. For now, I held up the pyramid.
It was a source of power given to me by the King of Hearts, only to be used in a time of dire need. It was never far from me, which was why it had been carelessly left on my coffin. I suspected the sorcerers back then assumed it was pure evil, a tool only I could unlock. In part, they were right. My power was devastating, too strong at times for even me to handle, so I had funneled it into the pyramid and used the flute to pull what I needed. I’d been cautioned against using it, but now, as I stood in the meadow holding the prism up to the light, I considered what I would wrought on this day.
Tanith’s words about my strength and power had gotten me thinking. All this time, I’d relied on terror and fear to push Lord Faren to let the magic-thralls go, but it had not been enough. The citizens of Dowler were too frightened to strike back, to demand that he save their land. But if I took what was most precious to them, they would.
I closed my eyes, standing on the edge of a dangerous and difficult decision. I’d sent Tanith away so I wouldn’t have to see the look in her eyes when I enacted my plan. Eventually, though, she’d find out. Would she forgive me? I suspected not, and that stayed my hand because with her, I’d come alive and with her was the potential of everything. I’d toss away a future with her if I moved forward with my dark plan. But it wasn’t fair to the magic-thralls to force them to wait because I was falling in love.
My memory tunneled, taking me back to the dark times when I’d been caught and punished for wrong doing. Back in those days, I’d had great wings. I used to fly, soaring high above the clouds into the very heavens themselves. That sort of freedom was a rush of intoxication, and ever since my wings had been taken, I’d been forced to remain landlocked, flat-footed on the ground, moving slower than ever. A fair punishment for what I’d done, and yet, I’d hoped in time I might be forgiven, that I might regain my wings. Now I knew the truth of it. The past was gone, what’s lost was lost, and now, I could only focus on the future. Which was why Tanith was so important. With her, the future wasn’t all dark and gloom. It was bright and beautiful. In it, the version of myself I created would heal and mend and never cause destruction to rain down again.
I had to free the magic-thralls in order to get there, and the pain of what they were experiencing in the crypt was nothing compared to the pain I’d experienced when my wings were ripped from me. The bones that had held them to my back had been broken, sending sharp shards of pain into my spine. It took weeks to heal and every time I moved, excruciating pain had shot through my body, marring my vision, making me bend over, unable to eat or drink until I healed. During those days, I wished to die. Anything to take me out of that pain. I imagined that was how the magic-thralls felt, caught in an endless cycle of torture, unable to die as they suffered pain, grief, and humiliation again and again. Well. No more.
The pyramid was pure power, enough to keep me asleep, enough for Tanith’s blood to awaken me. Enough to give me the extra power I needed to ruin Dowler once and for all. Scraping the tip of the pyramid against my palm, I watched my blood cloud the crystal. It emitted a small sound, like the tinkling of bells.
Closing my eyes, I waited, allowing my power to build and grow. Unlike the river of blood, I would not collapse from using too much power here. I was awake, doing what needed to be done. No more games, no more delays. This was probably what I should have done first, but I had wanted to give the mortals a chance to repent, to see the error of their ways. But time after time, it had done nothing. Lord Faren was taking Dowler on a dark path, down which there would be no forgiveness. The most I could do was save the innocents, as Tanith requested. Although, after knowing her, I was sure she wouldn’t see it that way.
I’d seen Lord Faren’s household, the look of fear on his servant’s faces, and heard Tanith’s words, describing it as hellish. She thought I didn’t know that they had abused her in that house, although she was strong enough to escape. So many weren’t or had been blackmailed and blindsided, forced to comply with corruption. I suspected her aunt was one of those who suffered in silence, unwilling to end the cycle or stand up against Lord Faren. It was a generational curse, the abuse of magic, and their children would do the same thing again and again, unless I stopped it.
Time passed like nothing as I basked in my full power, standing like a tree firmly rooted against the coming storm. Black clouds rolled through, shutting out the light from the sun as though hiding the view of what would happen from those above. I was sure the stars winked out, unwilling to be silent watchers of tragedy. Taking my flute out, I lifted it to my lips and poured all of my power, anger, rage, and determination into a song.
Threads of it swirled around me, visible strings of silver and gold before twisting into a rope and shooting out. Even though my song was wordless, I heard the echo of the would-be words, calling, summoning. But this time, it wasn’t my army I called. This time, those I summoned had no allegiance to me, no reason to come, which was why my song had to be strong, to overrule their desires for comfort and fear, to surpass their inclination to stay with those they loved and come to me.
I felt it the moment the first one answered, standing tall, eyes glazing over as if in a trance. I saw them in my mind as they trudged toward the invisible rope, as the song promised them their hearts’ desire if only they followed it. Beyond the magic came shouts and wails as those who were found became lost, and those who were loved became empty shells. The people would never forget this day. This time, they would rise, and Lord Faren would have to set the magic-thralls free.
30Tanith
Ipaced back and forth on the balcony, anger and abandonment in my every step. Fingers balled into fists, I crossed my arms and glared once again at the forest, the summer breeze making the trees sway and dance as though they were listening to some song. Oren had left me alone for three days, with only the animals in the barn and Pip for company. The cat had followed me into the castle once I was brave enough to go back to my room, badly in need of a bath. I washed and put on a bright red dress with crimson and lace. He still hadn’t come and today was the third day, the day he’d promised to face Lord Faren and enact his terrible plan. What was it? Did he plan to leave me behind to ensure my safety, to protect me while he put himself in grave danger? I didn’t want that, but he hadn’t given me a choice.
Glaring at the trees—which really were dancing—I froze as a melody floated to my ears. No, it was a flute.Hisflute. A high, seductive song wafted from it, so enchanting my fingers loosened and I closed my eyes to listen. The notes of the song weaved through my mind and embedded themselves within my heart. The notes of the flute promised that all my secret hopes and dreams would come true.
Leaving the balcony, I ran out of the bedroom and down the stairs, Pip trailing at my heels as though I would run away—but I had no place to go. I paused on the second floor, and then dashed into one of the inner rooms and opened a window that overlooked the front of the castle. I leaned out, sure that Oren would come, sure that I’d see him at any moment. Indeed, his red hair blew in the breeze as he walked steadily, the flute in his hands. My jaw dropped as I stared at the unending line trailing behind him, hypnotized by his song.
Children. All ages, from toddlers careening on two feet to as old as Kinder. I sucked in a deep breath, my vision going dizzy as I covered my mouth with my hand. No. This could not be happening. This was the terrible thing Oren said he would do? Steal all of Dowler’s children and bring them to his castle? Dumbstruck, I watched as he stopped in front of the doors and continued to play while line after line of children trailed into the castle. What would he do? Hold them hostage until Lord Faren gave in to his demands?
I recalled my younger self, my parents torn away from me, and the fear I’d felt at being alone in the world. Those poor children! Balling up my fists, I stepped back from the window, one thought resounding clearly. I had to stop him, beg him to return the children before this went much further. This was wrong. One did not take children away from their parents. No matter the cost.
Oren hadn’t been terrible to me. In fact, after our nights together, I thought I might be falling for him. But once again, he’d shown me who he was, and that the tales weren’t completely wrong about his nature. Cold. Cruel. Callous. Unafraid of anyone and anything, ready to go the distance if he believed others stood in his way. I recalled my words to him, acknowledging that he did nothing halfway. He always gave it his all, and that frightened me.
I raced down the stairs, reaching the entryway just in time to see the last child cross the doorstep, and I sucked in a deep breath, horrified to see that even Carter had fallen under the spell of the Piper.
“Carter.” I hissed, hurrying to catch up. But his eyes faced forward, and he walked automatically, deep under some spell I could not drag him out from.
Pressing a hand to my mouth, I stepped back while the melody whirled around me, tugging at my skirts, pulling me onward. Spellbound, I followed the music through the main halls, down wide staircase, past dark rooms lit only by candles, and into an underground hall. One by one, the children sat down, closed their eyes and went to sleep, while Oren stood in the middle, playing his hypnotizing tune.
When the last child was slumbering, Oren took the flute from his lips and stood still. A long moment passed as my anger shimmered. He lifted his head, amber eyes piercing mine as though he could read all the thoughts in my mind. “I know you do not approve,” he said. “This is for good reason.”
I marched up to him and slapped him across his perfect face.
Oren flinched. Quick as a flash, his fingers wrapped around my wrist. His gaze went to the slumbering children before he all but dragged me from the hall. It was old down there, smelling musty and sour. Almost—I shivered—like the vault underneath the palace where the magic-thralls lay trapped in torture. But to take the lives of children in exchange for them was hellish.
“You have to let them go,” I snapped once we were out of earshot. “You can’t steal children from their parents like that!”
He kept his tone even, his expression blank. “What do you think I’m going to do? Kill them?”
“Or spirit them away or something. You’ve stolen the future of Dowler and hypnotized them.” My indignation gave way to fear and then horror. “What are you going to do with them?”
“There’s a reason I did not tell you of this plan.” Oren let go me and strode away.
I hurried to keep up. “Why?”
