I zipped from memory to memory he had stitched in his eternal tapestry as he fought my thrall. Serwin had experienced a multitude of happiness, adventures, friendships, and family. A white-haired woman took center stage in most. He fiercely protected her beauty and blocked her from my view.
Get out of my head,he roared.
Not yet.
If he could not reveal the truth, I would unveil it myself. I dove deeper, searching for what… I didn’t know. Serwin was quick to cover his thoughts, but not as fast as I. Secrets hid in the shadows. Shadows are where I thrived. I dispersed my essence and seeped into the crevices of his mind. Images of a rolling landscape and castle appeared. They were bright and breathtaking, but the emotions associated with them didn’t settle with me. I continued before Serwin could shut me out. I analyzed the fae in their blushed, creamy skin, stitched the landscape, courtyards, and halls of the castle to memory. They ended at a massive set of double doors inlaid with intricate gold work. I shoved against them, but they didn’t budge. I tried again to no avail.
No, he screamed.
I looked back and saw darkness sweeping down the hall as Serwin blocked his memories. With one last effort, I slipped beneath the crack under the door. I pulled my essence to me and materialized on the white marble floors. The same gold ebbed and flowed through the stone.
Serwin beat on the door trying to get in.Leave! You know not what you do!
I knew exactly what I was doing. Finding answers.
Rustling caught my attention. I turned to the center of the room and froze.
A woman stood in front of a throne. Her brightly colored gown was a stark contrast to my dark garb. The bejeweled crown on her golden head twinkled in the light filtering through the many windows around the room. It wasn’t how she dressed that caused me pause. Power, pure hatred, and disgust blazed within her familiar gaze.
“You received my message,” she called out.
Serwin withheld information. It was proof that he could not be trusted. “I’d rather hear it direct from the source.”
“I am coming for what is mine.” Her voice tinkled next to my ear as her painted lips curled. “Your demise is imminent.”
A wave of energy blasted me out of Serwin’s mind. I crashed into the wall of Mergle’s cell and landed on the floor. It felt like the energy from the Faery portals. I found their maker, and she was livid.
“Roth!”
I lifted my head and found Jessandra cradling Serwin’s twitching body. The tremors slowed until he slumped in her lap. I blinked outside the cage with my waning energy. I desperately needed to recharge.
“What do we do?”
“Nothing.” I grabbed him by the ankles and dragged him into Mergle’s cell. They could watch over each other if they woke up.
“Serwin needs help.” She jumped up and pointed at Mergle. “So does our brother.”
“When did you start caring?” I dropped his feet and stepped over his body.
Jessandra remained silent and confused.
His hand shot out and gripped my boot. Incoherent speech tumbled from his lips. I shook him off and shut the door behind me.
She watched him roll to his side and groan. “What happened between you two?”
“A battle of will.”
The cell door rattled. “Let me out. I must return home.”
“No.” A portal spun to life beside me.
Jessandra crouched next to Serwin to examine him through the bars. “We can’t leave them like this!”
“Then stay with them,” I said and stepped through.
