In Starfire and Smoke E-Book

Wanja Westerback

• Herausgeber: BoD - Books on Demand
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 630

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

The war was over, or so they said. The battlefield had gone quiet, left desolate as a marker of grief. The smell of smoke and death was long gone, but ghostly whispers still clung to the wind. But for Skye and Aquila, the fight truly never ended. Far from home and behind locked doors, they tirelessly struggled for freedom and lasting peace. When their daily routines are shattered by a clue, leading them to a horrifying discovery, they are thrust back into the unforgiving darkness of Kalthirin, with all its danger still lurking around every corner and in deep shadows. Will the girls, along with their friends, stop tyranny once more?

Leseprobe

To all of you who’s struggled to fit in, Embrace yourselves and dream big

This book contains violence and homophobia.

Table of contents

Prologue

Chapter one

Chapter two

Chapter three

Chapter four

Chapter five

Chapter six

Chapter seven

Chapter eight

Chapter nine

Chapter ten

Chapter eleven

Chapter twelve

Chapter thirteen

Chapter fourteen

Chapter fifteen

Chapter sixteen

Chapter seventeen

Chapter eighteen

Chapter nineteen

Chapter twenty

Chapter twenty-one

Chapter twenty-two

Chapter twenty-three

Chapter twenty-four

Chapter twenty-five

Chapter twenty-six

Chapter twenty-seven

Chapter twenty-eight

Chapter twenty-nine

Chapter thirty

Chapter thirty-one

Chapter thirty-two

Chapter thirty-three

Chapter thirty-four

Chapter thirty-five

Chapter thirty-six

Chapter thirty-seven

Chapter thirty-eight

Chapter thirty-nine

Chapter forty

Chapter forty-one

Chapter forty-two

Chapter forty-three

Chapter forty-four

Chapter forty-five

Chapter forty-six

Chapter forty-seven

Chapter forty-eight

Chapter forty-nine

Chapter fifty

Chapter fifty-one

Chapter fifty-two

Chapter fifty-three

Chapter fifty-four

Chapter fifty-five

Chapter fifty-six

Chapter fifty-seven

Chapter fifty-eight

Chapter fifty-nine

Chapter sixty

Chapter sixty-one

Chapter sixty-two

Epilogue

Prologue

The city unfolded out of thick, grey smog. The harbor was empty and desolate, not a ship in sight. No people either, no one prepared for a morning spent fishing, for market day or an early morning at work. It was as if the city had died, a ghost town.

Skye watched from the prow, trying not to shiver at the sight of her old home, the city she’d grown up in. She’d ducked guards in that one alley that somehow seemed brighter than everything else, she’d snuck over those rooftops on the other side of the harbor, valuable information in hand. And every time she’d left Deep-tide behind, fear had laid heavy in her bloodstream. Kilwind, a city of darkness and stench. Of ashlings on the hunt and the most perilous place in the world for anyone with magic in their veins, and Skye had still found her way back here.

At least Aquila was with her, would stay with her until it was time to return to Silverfalls. The city that now occupied her dreams. Her future was there, wandering down beautiful, clean streets and passing smiling faces. Strolling over bridges that crossed the glittering silver rivers. With Aquila, her hand twined with Skye’s. The sun shining down upon them from a blue sky.

“How are you doing?”

Skye startled at the sound of Aquila’s voice, so sudden it was as if she’d summoned her by thinking of her. Her feet so silent on the deck she could just as well have popped into existence for the sake of it. And Skye had been too lost in thought to hear or sense her.

“Better now that you’re here,” Skye said somewhat smoothly, almost managing to hide her sudden fright. Would have if Aquila wasn’t the one standing opposite her. Aquila cocked her head to the side, a small, knowing smile on her lips. Those captivating emerald and honey brown eyes studying her carefully, reading her like words on a page.

“Did I scare you?”

“Never,” Skye answered, turning back towards the city and the darkness that seeped out of it. Aquila wrapped her arms around Skye’s waist, resting her chin on Skye’s shoulder.

“But you are nervous,” Aquila whispered, her breath hot against Skye’s neck, a stark difference from the frigid winter air. Aquila’s hands found their way inside Skye’s jacket pockets, fingers twining.

“Aren’t you?”

“As hell,” Aquila admitted. “I can’t believe we’re back here.”

“Exactly where we didn’t want to be.”

“So true,” Aquila sighed, “at least we’re together.” She pressed a kiss to Skye’s cheek, lips still warm against Skye’s wind-nipped skin.

“At least there’s that,” Skye agreed, not even with the rotten city of Kilwind as her view could she feel bad when Aquila held her.

“And who knows, this could all be over soon. We might be back home in a month.” It was clear Aquila was trying to sound optimistic, voice light and airy.

“I hope so.” Skye really did, so much her heart and soul ached. She leaned into Aquila, stealing some of her warmth, savoring it and the magic that heated her. Everything would be fine.

Chapter one

It wasn’t over in a month, nor in two. Winter had come and gone, melted into spring and Skye had started hoping for a return to Silverfalls at the beginning of summer. They didn’t. The stifling and rotten summer heat had slammed into Kilwind with a vengeance and Skye was still stuck in the city she despised.

The lock turned in the door and Skye looked up from where she’d been leant over the desk for the last few hours, her body stiff and aching, to see Aquila enter.

“Hello, love,” Aquila said softly as she closed the door behind her and hung up her soaking cloak on the peg by the mirror. She brought with her the frowzy smell of Kalthirian rain, the cloak dripping on the floor.

Skye’s heart fluttered long before the smile touched Aquila’s lips, it did the moment she sensed her walking down the hallway, but it was nothing compared to the swell of love and relief that coursed through Skye when it finally did. Her heart skipping a beat.

“Hi, how was your day?” Skye asked as she crossed the room, took her in her arms and kissed her. She didn’t care that she was dripping wet, that the sour smell of Kilwind rain clung to her skin and hair. A spark shot through Skye when lips touched lips. It was so sweetly casual, an ordinary greeting yet every kiss felt as new as that first one back in Deep-tide all those months ago. Like something was breathed to life within her. In those moments, when they were intimately connected, no matter how long or short they were, everything was perfectly right with the world. No crushing responsibilities weighed on their shoulders, no trauma chafed on their souls and no home sickness tore at their beings.

“You know, the usual, cursing and yelling, calling us demons and monsters. Followed by some more cursing.” Aquila shrugged, defeated. Her eyes were downcast, a slight gleam of annoyance simmering beneath the surface. “I just hope this actually makes a difference.”

“I’m sure it will,” Skye traced Aquila’s cheek with gentle fingers, comforting. Aquila’s breath hitched, as she leaned into Skye’s touch. “We’ve only been at this for six months. Real change should take time.”

“I know,” Aquila sighed, her brows knitting in frustration. “I just wish it didn’t.”

Skye said nothing, just pushed a stray lock of black hair behind Aquila’s ear. Her hair was soft as silk between her fingers. A reassuring smile touched her lips.

“Enough about my depressing day,” Aquila muttered, shaking her head as if trying to forget. “Did you find anything?”

Skye shook her head, shoulders slumping. “Nothing, not even a clue to where that bastard took them. Finley always was meticulous, but I guess I thought he’d left something behind at least.”

“I’m sorry,” Aquila whispered, voice cracking.

“The chances of them being alive at all are so ridiculously small, but I just want to give their parents some type of closure.”

“It’s not your fault, you know that right?”

“I didn’t say that,” Skye muttered.

“You didn’t have to. You tensed, right here.” Aquila gently touched her thumb on the spot right between Skye’s eyebrows. She pressed down, gently at first, then with a bit more pressure, sliding her thumb across Skye’s eyebrow. Skye exhaled heavily, a tingling wave of relaxation bursting though her body. She melted into her touch.

“Of course you did.” The flicker of annoyance from a few short moments ago vanquished. As if Aquila had blown out a flickering candle flame.

Aquila grinned, left side of her lips rising further into a cocky tilt, eyes glittering. From that look alone Skye knew Aquila was entirely aware of what she had just done, erasing mountains of tension from Skye’s shoulder with nothing but a simple touch. Skye rolled her eyes fondly, smiling too. For a few lovely moments, Skye wasn’t hundreds of kilometers away from the place they both wanted to call home. It was right there in front of her. An insufferable, but so damned lovable, look on her face. This was her home. Aquila was her home.

Skye cleared her throat, distracting herself, suddenly remembering.

“A letter arrived from the Queens today.”

“Oh, thank the Gods,” Aquila exclaimed, relief clear on her face. Her shoulders relaxed. They hadn’t heard anything from them in nearly two months, which wasn’t that unexpected but still frustrating. The wind whispering didn’t work in Kalthirin, and that didn’t seem to be changing anytime soon, all messages ended up lost as they crossed the border. Not many mail carriers were that willing to cross the border either, even with the temporary crossing that had been erected over the rift, resulting in long waits for the ones who dared to return. Even worse if they missed them.

“Have you read it yet?”

“I waited for you,” Skye said, hand sliding into Aquila’s and pulling her along to where the dusty old pillows lay before the fireplace. Skye reached behind her, and grabbed the letter from the small, rounded coffee table. Their names were scrawled in shining black ink on the cream-colored envelope.

“Can you read it for me?” Aquila whispered, with her eyes downcast. “Even bad news is easier to handle falling of your lips.”

Aquila’s fingers trailed expert lines down Skye’s bare arm, soft and a little teasing. Lips slightly parted, just waiting to be kissed. Skye cleared her throat, again.

“Sure,” Skye said, her voice choked and her cheeks heated. Aquila still knew exactly what to say, what to do, and when, to make Skye’s belly swirl with nervous energy. She just got better at it. Aquila looked up at her now, her eyes shining brightly in the light of the fire. Skye had to turn away as desire grew low in her belly, warming her.

Skye slid a small knife from her belt. The paper ripped with a satisfying sound in the dagger’s wake. Inside, was as one would expect from a letter, a piece of paper. Neatly folded in half. Aquila scooted up behind Skye, arms round her waist and legs rested over Skye’s own. She was so close and so warm, and Gods, Skye couldn’t breathe. Her throat caught as Aquila peered over her shoulder, lips gently resting against Skye’s neck. With a desperate attempt to regain some control, Skye cleared her throat, and began to read.

Dear Skyler and Aquila,

We hope you are well, as we are.

We had a meeting with the Emperor of Yaidiel yesterday. Thankfully he has agreed to support our claim on the land King Kael stole from us, at least for now. That man has more mood swings than one would think possible. And with his poor daughter, (our niece), in an unstable condition, it might swing even more. Velenia is of course crushed by the news, as are we all, but Princess Adina is her best friend as well as cousin.

Anyway, how are things going over there? Any news? Have you managed to raise the question of our reunion?

We remain hopeful and wish you both the best.

With the warmest regards,

Her Majesty, Queen Avani

Her Majesty, Queen consort Zemira

“That’s it?” Aquila asked when Skye folded the paper, putting it back in the envelope. Aquila’s voice was tight with disappointment.

“Yep,” Skye answered.

“I guess I can’t blame them. It’s not like we can give them any positive news either.”

“Don’t be such a pessimist, love. We did find that one lab beneath the castle and managed to stop the worst of the pollution, nature’s recovering again. It may not be the best news or what they’re hoping for but it’s sure as hell good.”

“You’re right, I’m sorry. It’s been a long day.”

“Don’t apologize, my love. You did nothing wrong.”

Aquila nodded and undid her braid with nimble fingers, before placing her chin on Skye’s shoulder again.

“Do you want to write the reply now, or tomorrow?”

“We should probably do it now. I don’t want to miss the mail carrier’s return.”

Skye nodded once before Aquila untangled herself from her, Skye rose first. She’d had her leg twisted under her, and weighed down by Aquila’s leg, long enough for it to go numb. Pins and needles rushed through her blood stream. Like millions of ants. She flexed her toes desperately.

She reached down to help Aquila up, but her leg gave out under her. They both crashed back down, Aquila pinned beneath Skye.

“What happened?” Aquila asked, laughing so hard she doubled over, her forehead resting on Skye’s back.

“My leg was numb, apparently,” Skye said defensively. Embarrassment heated her cheeks, her gaze locked above Aquila’s head as she untangled herself.

“Awe, are you embarrassed?”

“No,” Skye said shortly and crossed her arms over her chest. Her cheeks might as well have been on fire.

“Oh, but you are,” Aquila teased. She was grinning up at her from where she still sat on the floor. Her honey brown and emerald eyes sparkled with amusement. It was only out of love, but Skye was still annoyed.

“I think that’s the first time I’ve actually seen you stumble.”

“Yeah, yeah, leave it alone.” The annoyance in her chest was like boiling water. It was hot, and strangely wet, it hurt like hell. She wasn’t used to this, making mistakes. Especially when it came to how to move her body. Skye despised when it failed her, always had. She stalked across the room, pushing her hair back in frustration.

“It’s okay to make mistakes, Skye.” Aquila’s tone switched as she noticed Skye’s discomfort. Soothing and slightly worried, trembling a bit.

“No, it’s not. If I’d made mistakes like that in the mountain pass, or during the battle of Silverfalls, I could be dead. You could have died, and this whole thing could have ended differently.”

“I know, Skye. Trust me, I’ve made my fair share of mistakes, and I regret every single one of them. But just because I do, doesn’t mean I wish them away. Those mistakes made me who I am. Yours are a part of your journey as well.”

“That doesn’t mean I have to welcome them with open arms. I can still work hard as hell to avoid making any,” Skye said harshly. She grabbed her cloak from the hanger.

“Where are you going?” Aquila asked, voice breaking.

Skye melted somewhat, her tone tearing at her. Aquila had risen and stood watching her, backlit by the windows. Skye didn’t see her face clearly, if she had she might not have done as she did.

“Just out, I need to think,” she answered flatly.

“Okay, stay safe,” Aquila’s voice trembled, trying not to cry.

“Always,” Skye said, giving her a small reassuring smile. Just enough so Aquila would know she’d come back. Aquila returned it and then the door fell shut between them.

Aquila stood alone in the living area of the small apartment she and Skye shared, staring at the now closed door. Tears burned behind her eyes, the walls closing in. They bobbed and swayed. Aquila squeezed her eyes shut.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. Skye would probably not hear her, likely already long gone.

Aquila hated arguing with Skye. Hated that Skye always left the few times they had. Even when she knew it was her way of coping, Aquila was gripped with a paralyzing fear that Skye would never come back. Both her parents had walked away from her, they’d walked out the door without even looking over their shoulders. Only one had come back. Years later, only to die in her arms immediately. Aquila pushed away the memories of the battle, the screams and blood drenched fields. The moans of dying soldiers that haunted Silverfalls for weeks afterwards. Aquila sank to her knees and buried her head in her hands to muffle the sound of her own sobs.

Aquila was frozen to the ground, her body bent in awkward and uncomfortable angles. Unable to move, even if she’d wanted to. Her joints had locked, her teeth gritted as tears streaked down her face.

Time was no longer real, it didn’t matter. Didn’t even exist. That was the world without Skye. A timeless, dark void. It felt like years passed in those moments on the floor before she finally found strength to rise. Her legs wobbled and she stumbled towards the desk.

Aquila’s gaze wandered distantly over the papers strewn over every surface of the desk. Maps, small notes and adoption papers. Anything that could possibly point them towards the missing children from Deep-tide. Aquila lifted one of the maps gingerly, the parchment brittle and water damaged. It was a greatly detailed map of Kalthirin and Aitheren, the artist had marked down every road and river to the smallest turn. The rift a massive ugly wound between the now separate Kingdoms. In the corner, in swooping letters, stood the name H. Faulkner. The name was familiar to Aquila, a distant echo of a bell, but she couldn’t put her finger on why. She shrugged, probably just a name she’d encountered somewhere, it likely wasn’t relevant to this. The map had been with them since they left Silverfalls six months ago. She didn’t dwell on it, instead she cleaned the desk, busying her fingers, and her head, with the papers. She needed to make enough room to write the letter to Avani and Zemira anyway. And it was a mess. It was lucky they rarely had guests or the desk would have been a constant embarrassment because it never stayed clean very long. Either one, or both of them, pulled the content back out immediately after cleaning. An idea striking, a memory, some strange thing that might’ve been a clue grabbing their attention. If anyone visited it was Mrs. Bridge and she never said a word, even if their lack of paper organization skills clearly bothered her.

She stacked paper after dusty paper on top of each other. Some were scrunched up from being discarded and then fished out of the trash by either Aquila or Skye. Others had been stained in browns and reds, sometimes even the green of mold.

Soon enough the well-used, golden brown wood became visible through the mess of papers. Ink stains darkened the surface in places as well as some disturbingly dark stains containing hints of red. It had to be blood, the sight so eerily familiar to her. Deep notches had been carved or stabbed into the wood. Knife marks, most likely. It was clear what it had been used for before coming into their possession, Aquila tried not to dwell about it too much. At least it had been practically free, included in the apartment, and since they were leaving this shit-hole as soon as they got the all clear to do so, they didn’t want to spend any unnecessary money on furniture they’d never see again. Most of the things they owned had been salvaged from Deep-tide and were in far better shape than the desk. If slightly banged up and used.

Surface finally a little cleared, Aquila found an unused piece of paper, the quill as well as a pot of ink in the only small drawer in the desk. It jammed going back in and Aquila had to jiggle it shut, sighing. It was a perfect metaphor for her life, every step of the way was something or someone standing in her way.

She put quill to paper, the ink dripping onto it as she thought. The only thing in her head was the image of Skye, out there somewhere upset with her. Perhaps she should’ve followed her, but then again that was an invasion of the privacy Skye needed. She shook her head, hoping to clear it and began writing, the words halting and strange.

Once done, she slipped the letter into an envelope, wrote the receivers on the front and waited. She didn’t want to be gone when Skye returned. Hopefully she wouldn’t be gone too long and they’d still have time to catch the messenger before they left again. They should at least have until tomorrow afternoon.

Besides, Aquila really needed to apologize properly. Not just a broken whisper to a closed door. She’d never meant to hurt or embarrass Skye at all. It was just such a novelty to see her stumble that Aquila had been in shock, unable to stop herself from laughing. Now she felt so bad her stomach churned. Her mind nowhere near what she was doing as she picked up the book she’d been reading this past week. Even as she flipped the page open, her mind was still only on Skye, out there all alone in the darkness. But Skye knew Kilwind like Aquila knew Silverfalls, she would not be swallowed by the night.

Skye crossed the street and came to a stop before the old house that had been her home almost all her life. Deep-tide. The lights were off, the door had been kicked in and hung loosely from its hinges. Spiderwebs covered the windows like thin, silvery curtains. The place had never seemed uninviting to her. Now, it did.

Skye took a deep breath, glancing cautiously around herself. She hadn’t been back here since they’d just arrived in Kilwind six months ago. It seemed no one who cared had either. She and Aquila had stayed there for a week before they’d found the rundown apartment they now called home. They hadn’t wanted to move necessarily, they both preferred the mace-like corridors of Deep-tide but since everyone left, the magic shielding the place had dwindled. Revealing the house, if not the caves beneath, to people who hated anything magic. The distance had also been taken into account in their decision to move. The apartment was closer to Kilwind castle and back then, the trek across the city had been dangerous with the ashlings still on the hunt inside city walls.

Skye’s frustration with the endless meetings was rising exponentially, which was why she’d skipped them, hoping instead of finding something about the missing children. But even with her mind fully focused on just that, she hadn’t found anything. She was beginning to fear that there was nothing to find.

She entered the building, heading straight for the secret entrance under the stairs. To her relief that door still stood closed, untouched by the hands of barbarians. Just as she’d left it. The idea of magic hostile people running around in the only safe haven in Kalthirin was enough to set her body aflame with ire. She slipped quickly down the steps, through unlit corridors. The way ingrained in her very being, she needed no light to guide her. She’d spent her childhood here, chasing other kids down these halls. The squeals of delight and laughter echoing between the cave walls. It was deadly silent now, her old friends were long gone. As were everyone who’d lived there once. Aitheren had welcomed all of the residents of Deep-tide after the battle. And all of them had left. Hopefully they’d all made it to safety and lived their lives carefree in Aitheren. All their lifelong dreams coming true at last. Skye remembered the whispered conversations in dark corners, one girl who wanted nothing more than to open her own bakery, a boy with dreams of being a dancer for Silverfalls royal academy for dance. She wondered if those dreams had stayed the same or if they’d changed since then. Skye’s own had. She’d once dreamed of meeting her father, of finding him in a big house on the other side of the border, maybe with an ocean view. Sprawls of forest on the opposite side. He’d taken her in with tears in his eyes and they’d lived happily together for the rest of their lives. Now, Skye only had one dream and she longed to live it for real. Not this shadow of what it should be. She wanted to go back to Aitheren with Aquila, she wanted them to live out their lives there. She’d had no thoughts on what she would do, but Skye didn’t care. As long as Aquila was with her and was the one Skye got to come home to, she would be ecstatic. She could clean sewers for all she cared.

With a pang in her heart she almost turned on her heel, only Aquila filling her head. The look on her face as Skye left, that child-like, deep-rooted fear. Skye was up the corridor, running towards the exit before she knew what was happening. But still something screamed inside her and she halted, feet skidding against rock. Something held her in place here, as if she was meant to be exactly where she was. Her feet began moving again, away from Aquila. Locked to the path she’d chosen and tried to abandon.

She made it to the healers’ quarter in a blur. Skye rested a hand against the door, debating whether to enter or not. She leaned her forehead against the wood, just allowing herself a moment to breathe. Even through the door, and time, since anyone had been there, the air was thick with the smell of medicines. Pungent antiseptic, the sweet minty scent of the potion to reduce stomach pains and underneath it all was the unmistakable tang of blood and death. Skye had never thought of it before Aywin died in that bed, since then every medical facility had reeked of it. And every time she smelt it she was visited by the ghosts of the friends she’d lost. Aywin, broken and bloody, with the twist of a half thankful smile on his lips. Merewina with a horrible hole in her chest, mirroring the one on Angel’s. Skye blinked against the visions. She wanted to remember them alive, not broken and dead or almost dead. As alive as they had ever been. She couldn’t step inside, or the ghosts would overwhelm her. So she walked away, clear this was not her path. Her head hung, heavy with grief.

The corridors loomed before her and in a spur of the moment decision, or guided, she turned left instead of right. Toward Finley’s room and not her own.

His room was dark when she entered, so thickly dark it was impossible to see through. It was almost touching her, clinging to her the way fog did. Cold and wet. She fished the matches from her pocket, lighting the bronze sconce on the wall next to the door. It flickered and sparked before a steady flame emerged. Only lighting the area closest to her.

His room was littered with stuff. Clothes, books and papers had been flung from their places. His bedside table overturned, the drawers flung and shattered at the other end of the room. Finley had always kept his room in perfect order, his clothes neatly folded, his books in alphabetical order and his papers in neat piles bound together by thread. Always the red kind, because he liked the way it looked against the white. Her heart tugged at the thought. She ignored it, and the sorrow that now clung to every memory of him.

Someone must have searched his room after Finley was caught, it was the only explanation for the chaos. Skye moved slowly over the room, pushing papers and books aside with the top of her foot. Something glittering caught her attention and she bent down, glancing towards his bed at just the right angle to catch a glimpse of something stuffed between the leg and the wall. A soft gasp slipped past her lips as she rushed for it. She reached under the bed. Skye shivered, trying not to breathe. The space between the bed and floor was more or less a curtain of webs by now, dust covered the floor. She tried not to think of the numbers of spiders that might be crawling over her body in that exact moment, she didn’t want to know. Finally her hand closed around the toy she’d seen. A horse, carved out of dark brown wood. Finley’s father had given it to him shortly before he died. It had a small hidden compartment carved into its stomach. The only problem was, it only opened for a drop of Finley’s blood, which she did not have.

Skye sighed as she emerged with it in hand. The wood had been shiny once, now it was matted with dust. Skye ran a finger over the darkened spot on the horse’s withers. The lock mechanism.

“Come on,” she whispered to no one. “You owe me at least this much, Finn.” With those words she pressed her thumb down, piercing her skin with the needle that shot out of the horse.

With a soft click, that echoed ominously in the room, the compartment slid out. Skye’s breath caught and she only stared for a long moment. She’d hoped it would work, thinking she was foolish for doing so. But here she was, staring at the open compartment and the papers inside it. Bound together with that same, stupid red thread. She swallowed against the sudden thickness in her throat, blinking furiously against the prickle in her eyes.

She flipped through them, heart banging like a drum in her chest. On the last page, thinking all hope was lost, that it was just diary pages after all, her jaw dropped. She was running before she had time to think.

Chapter two

“I know where they are!” Skye burst through the door, speaking the second it opened just a crack. She probably disturbed multiple neighbors, but she didn’t care. They weren’t the kindest and tended to be very annoying anyway.

Aquila flew from the chair, where she had fallen asleep. She stood now with a knife clutched in her hand and a book in the other, a look as cold as death in her sleep bleary eyes. Skye had the good sense to lift her hands in surrender and ready herself to move, as Aquila readied to throw. Aquila relaxed visibly as she saw her and managed to work through the fear and killing calm.

“Who?” she asked, her voice rough and heavy with sleep. Such a far cry from her stance, the lightness and readiness in which she twirled the knife in her hand and stuck it back in her belt. Her body awake before her voice was. Her braid was a rumpled mess and had come mostly undone.

“The missing children, Aquila, I know where he took them,” Skye said impatiently.

Aquila’s eyes shot wide, her eyes gleamed intently in the fire from the sconces, blazing emerald and amber. She bounced restlessly on her toes, finally matching Skye’s energy. They’d waited so long to find something, and now they had.

“Do you want to go now?”

“Yes,” Skye answered without missing a beat. Her foot tapped restlessly on the ground, in her mind she was already sprinting for that place Finley had mentioned in those papers. She knew where it was, so she imagined the path they’d have to take. What to avoid, and which way was safest and which quickest. Would it be worth it to risk one for the other?

“Okay,” Aquila said calmly, dropping her book on the table and, to Skye’s great annoyance, headed for the bedroom.

“Are you really going to get changed now?” Skye was boiling over with excess energy, she didn’t want to waste any more time. She needed to get moving, and fast.

“Yes, love, you should too.”

“Fine,” Skye mumbled and followed her into the room. It was the right thing to do, of course, but all she wanted was to get there.

“Where is this place?” Aquila asked as they made their way down the dark streets of Kilwind, having quickly left the letter in the box outside their apartment on their way past. The diamond shaped streetlights sent light sprawling in every direction. It should have danced and stretched long, but it was quickly swallowed by night. There and then gone.

“It’s a little way outside the city, beneath an old temple that burned down years ago.”

“We have to brave ashling territory then,” Aquila said, half statement, half question.

“We’ve survived them before.” Skye’s voice was more confident than she would’ve thought possible. The idea of fighting one of those things again scared her shitless. They’d almost died, more than once at the claws of one, and they were wilder than ever.

“True, let’s just hope and pray our luck doesn’t run out.”

“It won’t,” Skye said as she straightened. She was brimming with purpose she hadn’t had in months. The work they did was important, but she didn’t love it. She loved this sort of work, where she was allowed to go out and get her hands dirty. This stay in Kilwind had only reminded her how much she despised paperwork. Aquila was excited too, her eyes sparkled in the faint light. More at ease in the dark streets than she’d ever been in those meetings or while sifting through all those mounds of papers. Though she was better at it than Skye was.

They’d spent all their time since returning to Kilwind either in a meeting for hours on end or desperately searching for any clue, for the slightest of signs to where the children had ended up. Anything to occupy their minds. Now they had something, for the first time they knew they had been taken to this place. Even if they weren’t there anymore, they had been. It was as good a place as any for clues. Better even. The children were likely long since dead, but Skye did not like that thought. There could still be a chance, no matter how utterly foolish it was to believe it.

The northern gate closed off the wide main street of Kilwind. They rose unforgivingly high, squaring off at the top. Blocky, ugly and insanely heavy, if Skye were to judge the way the guards had to heave with their entire bodies.

Skye shifted. The change came easily, like blinking. One moment she was herself, running on two feet down the dirty street, the next she was the wolf. Its lithe body had been so strange once, clumsy even. She’d hated how weird and uncomfortable the change had been. The sound and feel of bones breaking echoing strangely in her body and the remodeling had been nauseating. The odd sensation of the tail that kept throwing her off balance when it should have helped. The wolf was a part of her now in a way it hadn’t been then. More importantly, it was her, she was just as much herself as her more human form.

“Why?” Was all Aquila asked, still running beside her in her human form. Strong legs taking each stride with ease but Skye still had to slow down so she wouldn’t leave her behind.

“Quicker, and likely safer,” Skye answered, her mouth remained unmoving, her canine vocal-chords unable to form those sounds. It was all Aquila needed. She nodded, and the flash of light of a shifter’s change followed.

The next thing Skye knew, they were flying out the gates, the guards bellowing after them. They hadn’t stayed for questions. The guards were clearly frightened enough to let them pass without any. Still, Aquila and Skye barely allowed them time to heave the gates open. They just slipped out and disappeared into the surrounding forest.

Aquila followed closely on Skye’s heel. Her mind a mess of only one thought, even when she should focus on the world around her. It came over and over again, with every racing beat of her heart. She needed to apologize, and in the best way that would truly show Skye she regretted laughing at her. She could tell her now, but she wanted to speak the words not just think them. And she wanted Skye to hear them out loud. Sort of needed the world to hear them as well.

Skye held a ruthless pace, her paws touched the ground beneath her in gentle thuds. Barely touching, but like the steady beat of a drum. Aquila’s own steps joined with hers, like one giant beast racing through the woods. Whatever they were going to find, the people who had done it would regret getting caught up in that dirty business. Aquila saw the promise in every single one of Skye’s long strides, the purpose in her steps.

The trees flew by her in a blur, even in the still thick darkness. Some color had finally started to bleed into the nights. Muted greens and yellows, already brighter than they had been last year. There was a slight freshness in the air, it was cool and crips as the late evening should be. Only a hint but enough. To Aquila, it was the smell of hope in the air. She had missed it since they’d left Aitheren, and her heart skipped a beat. It was the first time the air in Kalthirin had smelled of anything else other than the rotten, sour stench it usually carried. She breathed in deeply, savoring that hint, and hurried her stride to reach up with Skye.

The second she caught up with Skye, there was a whisper in the wind that echoed ominously between the trees. Her own name, falling off familiar lips. Aquila froze, dirt spraying around her paws as she slid to a halt. Claws digging deep into the ground. She knew that voice. Knew it as well as she knew the feel of her own feet against the ground, her own breath in her lungs and the beat of her own heart. But the owner should be dead, though Aquila had never truly believed she was. Not even being the one who had driven the knife home had Aquila fully believed Seren was gone. And here was her voice, as cold and distant as ever, and unmistakably hers.

Skye had stilled beside her, her gaze locked in the same direction as Aquila own. Had she heard it too? Aquila couldn’t process her thoughts enough to make Skye hear them. Still, she could have sworn Skye’s heart had skipped a beat. Her attention was fully on Aquila though. Her gaze now only rested on Aquila, a heavy weight of worry.

Her name came again, softer this time. Breathlessly, as Seren had sounded in pleasure. Aquila narrowed her eyes, forcing the memories to stay away. It wasn’t hard anymore. Any attraction she’d once felt for the sorceress was gone. Most had vanished as the curse was laid on her, the betrayal so deep it shattered her heart as it turned to stone. The rest had vanished in the years that followed.

“Aquila?” Her focus snapped back into place at the sound of Skye’s voice in her head, and Seren’s was gone. As if she’d imagined it all. There was nothing to be seen, or heard. The night was deadly still and quiet. “What happened?” Skye asked, there was an intense urgency in her thoughts. That hadn’t been the first time she’d asked, nor the first she’d said her name, there was no doubt about that. Aquila sighed inwardly, she was alone with Seren’s voice in her head. Or had she just imagined it all?

She found herself turning towards Skye, dazed and heavy limbed. Skye was already watching her, blue eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. There was worry in them, a deep, painful worry.

“I just…” Aquila began, not knowing how to tell her Seren was alive and whispering in her ears. She made a split-second decision that went against every fiber of her being. She would keep this from Skye for now. She had enough to worry about as it was. And what if it was all in her head, then she would have worried her for nothing. “I just thought I heard something. It’s nothing though.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, I’m sure.”

“And you’re good to keep going?”

“No need to worry about me, I’m fine.” Aquila was incredibly lucky she was in wolf form. The lie came easier without the need of having to think about her voice, and if it would hold steady or not.

“My love,” Skye started, her voice in Aquila’s head was warm and husky. “I will always worry.”

Aquila only gave her a small nod, it was all she managed. Shame burned in her body. She hated keeping things from her, it almost felt impossible. The words were there, at the back of her mind, pressing forward like spears through shield walls. Aquila took off running before her mind had the time to betray her.

Chapter three

The temple had burned down years ago, right after the ten-year war, but the air was still thick with the smell of ash. The only thing remaining of the temple itself was the foundation. Grey rocks stained black with soot stood out jaggedly from the ground. There was a hole in the circle of stone where the door had been, the rest was up to the imagination. Skye shifted right before she entered, walking down what once had been an aisle. Aquila beside her, looking around herself.

“Do you know what we’re looking for?”

“There should be a hatch somewhere. Finley’s notes said it was right under the statue of Zyzaja.” The statue would be long gone, but they were always placed in the same spot in her temples. Strung up in the middle of the domed ceiling, the highest point, which was gone.

“This is Zyzaja’s temple?” Aquila shivered as the question left her mouth.

“It was,” Skye said glancing up at where the ceiling should have been. It wasn’t too hard to imagine where the highest spot would have been, granted every one of Zyzaja’s temples followed the same structure. The highest point of the dome would be in the middle, and the hatch should be somewhere below that.

“Gods protect the ones who burned it down,” Aquila murmured, likely only to herself. Skye still nodded her agreement. It probably wasn’t smart to speak ill of the Divine on their own ground but Zyzaja was a vengeful Goddess. And the gods had been painfully absent from Kalthirin for many years. Not counting the surprise visit of Vakora, Goddess of water all those months ago. Skye barely remembered it, the whole ordeal clouded by heavy, unending grief.

Skye crouched down right in the center of the temple, brushing her hands against the ground. Her fingertips came back black, stained with foul-smelling soot. Aquila joined her a second later. Her eyes wandering in a line.

“Over there,” she whispered.

“How do you know?”

“Magic,” she sighed. “It’s showing us the way.”

“I can’t see it,” Skye complained, straining her eyes. That wouldn’t help anything, magic was less likely to be seen or felt if you were tense. She tried to relax, but it was impossible. The energies racing inside her body wouldn’t let her.

“Take my hand.” Aquila held a hand towards her. Skye hesitated for a short moment, the memory of the distraught look in Aquila’s eyes earlier still flickering behind her eyes, before taking Aquila’s hand in her own.

Skye still sensed magic, that hadn’t gone away completely, but her ability wasn’t even close to Aquila’s. Skye sensed the powerful sources of magic, the earth and wind, especially powerful magic wielders like Aquila. But Aquila sensed everything and by holding onto her, Skye did too. The magic came into view between one blink and the moment her eyelids fluttered open again. Skye gasped. A glowing thread in a green so soft it was almost white, vanished into the ground. Smoke rose from it, in swirling white tendrils. The soft scent of eucalyptus rose around them. Oddly fresh against the soot and that strange, still lingering smell of smoke from something that had burned years ago.

“Come on,” Skye said hurriedly, falling forward. She was already clawing at the ground, willing it to part for her. Her fingers covered in soot and dirt, stinging where she cut herself on rock.

“Hang on,” Aquila said calmly. She took a breath to steady herself. A second later the earth cracked beneath Skye’s palms, revealing the edges of a trapdoor. Skye slipped her fingers into the cracks, heaving it open. A long spiral staircase was revealed. It went down and down, until the end was swallowed in darkness.

Skye didn’t think, didn’t allow herself the time to think, before she rushed down. She was quickly shrouded in darkness, that same strange feeling she’d had in Finley’s room wrapping around her. That cold wetness to the air, the dark a heavy press on her eyes. She only caught the glimpse of a moon somewhere above her, a pinprick of light, her only way-finder.

“You know, taking the time to think things through is usually a good idea.” Aquila’s voice floated through the darkness, thick with the light amusement of teasing. She was grinning, there was no doubt about it. Her voice was close to Skye’s ear, the breeze of her steady breaths stirring her hair.

“You’re one to talk,” Skye mused, turning towards the sound. Aquila’s nose brushed hers. Skye almost jumped in surprise, even being able to feel where Aquila was, Skye had been shocked by her closeness.

“Exactly,” Aquila chuckled and withdrew from her. “I don’t think there’s enough room in this relationship for two reckless people.” Her tone was light, joking even.

Aquila was more often the one to do reckless and dumb stuff, but Skye had to admit to herself she’d had a few moments where panic completely overshadowed reason, and thinking were no longer an option. The instance of getting herself stabbed to protect Aquila was the most prominent one. It had all happened so fast, she’d just reacted and tackled the man who’d drawn a knife on Aquila, the only thought in her head to protect her from taking a blade to the back. Instead it had sunk into Skye’s own side and she’d spent a few days fighting for her life.

Aquila chuckled again, flames bursting around them. Shadows and flames danced wickedly over the red stone walls and Aquila’s face. She was blindingly beautiful, she always was to Skye. Even with long shadows stretching over her features, warping them slightly, she looked Divine. Descendant of the Gods, sent to fight their battles among mortals, an old story and myth come to life.

Aquila’s eyes were alight in the darkness and flickering flames, competing with the fire she twirled between her fingers.

“I’ll do better from now on.”

“You better,” Aquila said with a wink. Then her confidence faltered. Her eyes flickered from Skye’s then back again, licking her lips nervously. Her fists clenched, without her own approval because she extinguished the flames. They were alive again a second later. A sheepish smile tugged on Aquila’s lips as she shrugged.

“What’s up?” Skye asked.

“Look, before we go down any further,” she took a shaky breath. “I wanted to apologize for earlier. I’m sorry, if I hurt you or embarrassed you at all. That was never my intention. I only found it adorable.”

“It’s okay,” Skye said on a heavy exhale. “I’m sorry I ran. I know you hate it.”

“No need to apologize for that. I understand why you do it. I just wish fear wouldn’t grip me so tightly when it happens.”

“What fear?” Skye laid a tentative hand on Aquila’s shoulder, mindful of the flames that warmed her face. Aquila’s eyes shone with unshed tears, she swallowed hard. Skye moved her hand further up, grabbing Aquila’s neck steadily. An anchor, security amid the dark waters of Aquila’s past.

“That you’re gone for good. That you’ll never come back to me. That I’m all alone again.” Skye’s heart cracked, she should’ve realized. Both her parents had walked out on her. Of course she’d be terrified when someone left the room in a hurry.

“I will always come back to you, no matter what. Even if you were the one to walk away from me, I would find you again.”

“You would?”

Skye nodded once, before leaning in to kiss her. Aquila’s lips were soft as they moved against hers. Her nose filled with the essence of Aquila and her magic, a fresh ocean breeze and the sweet bergamot soap she used. The slight ember of the fire Aquila still held.

“Do you remember that day in your room, back at Deep-tide?” Skye murmured against her lips. Her thumb brushing gently against Aquila’s cheek.

“After your first shift?” Aquila asked, leaning into Skye’s touch. Heat pooled deep in her belly. Hot and pleasant.

“Yes, I asked if you would have wished for someone else to find you. And you said no. The way you reassured me healed something in me I hadn’t realized was broken. I knew I would fall in love with you then, it was only a question of when.”

“I thought you said you’d always loved me, in a weird way,” Aquila teased.

“I wasn’t sure you remembered. You were pretty out of it.”

“I remember every word you said,” Aquila said with a grin. “You saved me from myself, that’s not something I could forget.”

“Gods, I love you,” Skye mumbled.

“I love you too,” Aquila whispered. Gooseflesh burst over Skye’s skin. “We’ve lingered long enough.” Aquila pressed a soft kiss to the inside of Skye’s gloved palm. Sweat already gleamed on her brow, small pearls shining orange in the firelight. Eyebrows pinched in pain or concentration, Skye wasn’t sure. Both were likely. Her use of magic was tearing at her and she’d taken the time to apologize anyway.

“After you,” Skye said, gesturing down the stairs. Skye wanted nothing more than to be the first one down those stairs, if only to spare Aquila from the first brunt of a possible attack, but Aquila was the one carrying light in her hands.

They came down into a pitch-black room that smelled faintly of wet earth and mold and the thick reek of rotting flesh. Aquila’s flames barely lit it, the walls somewhere unseen on either side. Skye gasped, air refusing to enter her lungs. She tried to breathe, tried to remember how. She couldn’t. Her heart hammered in her chest, pounded inside her skull. Her eyes were wide, franticly searching for any sense of her surroundings. Her knees buckled, the air was closing in, making it even darker. Until it wasn’t. The flames in Aquila’s hand flickered and grew bigger and brighter, encompassing the entirety of the underground cellar.

“You good?” Aquila asked, glancing over her shoulder. Ready to sprint to her side in an instant if needed. Skye distantly marked the way one foot had already twisted to the side.

“As long as you’re with me,” Skye answered, voice tight and trembling. She hated it.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

The room was even smaller than Skye had thought, she pushed down on the panic that rose again, pressing against the lid she’d put on it. One wall was lined with cages stacked on cages from floor to ceiling. At least four cages high, and big enough to hold a small adult.

The smell worsened, the reek punctuated by the smell of unwashed bodies and feces. It clung to the inside of Skye’s nose and stayed there. Just a glimpse into the awful conditions the prisoners had been kept in.

The room was completely empty though, frustration flickered in her gut. What had she been expecting? The kids had gone missing close to six months ago, there was no way they’d still be in those cages. But they had been. That was a win. A tiny one, but they were on the right track to finding out what happened to them.

Skye trailed a finger over the gruesome metal table that stood right in the center of the room. Glass crunched underneath Aquila’s feet, the remains of broken vials and beakers. Another wall was lined with cupboards, the doors hung loosely from their hinges or were lying on the packed dirt floor underneath.

“It’s abandoned,” Aquila whispered as she let her magic flames touch the torches that lined the two free walls. She let the magic go with a grateful sigh.

The room was cold and damp, even with the warm orange flames licking the cave walls.

“This is horrifying,” Skye breathed as she picked up one of the few whole syringes. Thick, oily liquid in the darkest shade of black Skye had ever seen covered the inside. It reeked, even through the glass, of the sour stench that had surrounded Kalthirin for over a decade. It seemed strangely alive, bobbing slightly of its own accord.

“I wonder if this was a place for experimentation. It’s too small for anything else really.”

“It’s possible,” Skye replied and shuddered, the thought roiling uncomfortably inside her. How could someone be this cruel, for their own gain?

Aquila held a torn rag up to the light, it was too stained with dirt and blood to be sure what it was. But it was vaguely the size and shape of a child’s shirt.

“I don’t think any of the victims coming through here survived.”

“Ugh, I don’t even want to think like that,” Skye said, anger churned in her chest with the violence of a tornado. “I hate this! I hate Kael and Seren and anybody who has touched this either with an idea or their own hands!” The words echoed harshly against stone. Skye ran a hand through her already messy hair, fingers tangling, it was getting too long. Not that it mattered in the grand scheme of things. Not when reality struck, Skye had had every possibility to being one of the kids in these cages when she was younger. It was pure luck she hadn’t.

She had moved, almost unwillingly, closer to the cages and stared at them now. Tears threatened to spill down her cheeks and her throat burned as if it was on fire. She desperately tried to swallow against that need to cry. It didn’t work.

“Do you hear that?” Aquila asked, barely hiding the panic in her voice. Through the mess of feelings Skye managed to hold on to one thought. Aquila had definitely heard something in the woods that had frightened her, she’d acted so strangely, was still acting strangely. Now was not the time to question her though, because the unmistakable sound of footsteps sounded above them. The next second loud voices echoed down the staircase.

Aquila dove for her, and they scrambled behind a protruding wall. With a flick of her wrist, Aquila extinguished the torches.

Skye only saw a faint outline of Aquila through the darkness. She was pressing close to her, hands on her waist, pushing Skye into the wall behind her, protecting her with her entire body. Aquila’s breaths were just as ragged and heavy as Skye’s own. Her heartbeat must have echoed in the room, she was sure of it. It would expose them at any moment.

“We need to get rid of this place before that ridiculous delegation finds it. I doubt they’d appreciate this.”

“Damn right we won’t,” Skye thought. Aquila’s chuckled response was bright as bells in her mind. Her breathing had eased when Skye’s had not and the frightening calm that seemed to envelope her before fights was very much present.

“Should we take them out?”

Skye wanted nothing more than to make these people suffer for the pain they had caused, but taking them out would very likely be more trouble than it was worth. Aquila shifted on her feet, ready to leap in an instant, but she awaited Skye’s answer. Skye wrapped her hand around one of Aquila’s wrists, fingers resting against the hidden blade that rested there, though she didn’t feel it. She shook her head.

“It’s not worth it. There would have to be an investigation.”

“So? We can make it look like an accident.”

Skye licked her lips, considering it again before answering, “No, it’s too dangerous.”

“Welcome back, love,” Aquila teased, the voice she presented in her mind was low and breathy. The grip she had on Skye’s waist tightened. Skye had to choke down a laugh. It died the next second anyway as one of the men said, “Someone’s been here, Captain.”

“Doesn’t matter right now,” came the Captain’s reply. Cold and slithering. Uncomfortably snakelike. “If they’re still here, they’ll burn. The flames spare nothing, and no one.”

Skye shivered as the words left his mouth. A cold drawling laugh echoed strangely in the enclosed space, soon joined by others. Three, or four more perhaps. It would have been easy to take them, but Skye had decided not to.

Their laughter disappeared in the roar of raging flames. Skye’s chest tightened, panic gripping tightly around her again and whispering threatening things in her ear. You will die here. No one will know what happened to either of you. You will be nothing but ash and dust. It was constricting. Her palms were already slick with sweat, her feet welded to the floor.

“Breathe, love. You’re okay,” Aquila’s voice broke through the roar of flames and rush of blood in her ears. Her lips brushed against her ear softly and she guided one of Skye’s hands towards her chest. They’d done this before, every time one of them struggled with panic attacks the other took their hand, resting it on her chest. It eased Skye’s breathing, reminded her to breathe down to her belly as she followed Aquila’s steady breaths, letting them guide her.

Aquila was keeping the smoke and flames from them for the moment, but she could only hold them off for so long. Her muscles were already quivering beneath Skye’s touch. She had to get herself together or they would most definitely die. Skye swallowed and straightened.

“I’m good.”

“You sure?” Aquila asked, her fingers were featherlight and hot against Skye’s panic-cold skin. Skye nodded and Aquila returned it. Her face grim, lips pressed tight.

“I can’t extinguish the flames. They’re burning too wildly. I should be able to…”

“Just do it, my love.” Skye interrupted.

“Right, of course,” Aquila said sheepishly as she raised her hands. Without another word she stepped out from behind the wall. Skye followed and was almost knocked to her knees by the wave of heat that rushed towards her. It scorched her nose and throat, all the way into her lungs.

“Whatever you’re going to do, do it quickly!” Skye yelled to be heard over the deafening roar of flames.

“I’m trying! They won’t budge!”

And she was, sweat gleamed on her brow. Her hair had plastered onto her skin. Even in the intense orange of the fire, Skye saw the blush creeping up her neck and cheeks. Angry red blotches on painting her skin. The flames reflected in her eyes, dancing as if taunting her.

“Shit,” Skye mumbled, “it’s the Yaidish flames, isn’t it?”

“Maybe, I haven’t had the time to familiarize myself with that magic yet.”

“It makes sense though, right? I mean these flames burn hotter and brighter than anything I’ve felt before. He said they spare nothing.”

Aquila nodded meekly. Her brows furrowed in concentration. Skye saw the moment an idea sparked behind her eyes.

“I’ll get us out of here, one way or another.” Her voice was low, set with determination, she did not care what it took. Aquila meant every word.

Skye gulped, a new fear taking root. That she would survive this because Aquila would make sure she did, to the detriment of herself.