Page 74 of Facade

“Come, Evanee, lie on this rock. I know it isn’t comfortable—it’ll only be for a minute. Ryker?”

I slowly walked to the rock I'd woken up on. More of a slab—long and flat. I lay down, my whole body rigid as Ryker came to stand beside Aniah, looking down at me with that calculating gaze. Unease settled in—but I didn’t look away. I let myself get lost in those eyes. He elicited a deep, calming comfort I couldn’t put my finger on, and I found that a small part of me relished it.

“Ryker’s going to help me, if that’s okay.” She looked to me for acknowledgment, so I gave her a short nod. “He’s going to hold your arm still. This part will be uncomfortable.” I glanced at Aniah, unease creeping in. “I promise, I will let no harm come to you,” she said as she and Ryker knelt beside me. She offered a smile that I supposed was meant to be comforting, as she took my hand and tugged the black sleeve up, baring my forearm.

I trembled slightly, but Ryker’s warm hands wrapped around my bicep and wrist, gently. Goosebumps skittered along my arm at his touch, but it didn’t stop the discomfort that spread along with it. I squeezed my eyes shut.

Aniah began chanting. I didn’t know what language the Witches spoke when they did their spells, nor where the power came from. I never learned much about the Four Witch Sisters. Not how old they were, where they came from, or even if they died. Aniah looked my age, but hearing her voice change and the ancient, foreign language on her lips, I knew deep down she’d been here a long time.

Aniah’s voice reverberated in the cave as she grew louder and louder. The louder her voice grew, the more I started to feel a stinging sensation on my forearm. I opened my eyes right as she held a knife over my skin. I pulled at my arm, instinct taking over. But firm hands held me still.

“You’re okay.” His voice caressed me like a whisper beneath the loud chanting from Aniah. She brought the knife to my arm. I breathed in through my nose, hissing as she sliced my skin, dark blood welling from the cut. Ryker’s grip didn’t falter.

Aniah placed her hand over the gash. Her voice rose higher—and the sting in my arm intensified. Not from the cut, but the feeling that something was scraping over every nerve in my body, trying to get to that opening on my arm. I cried out, trying to sit up, thrashing, anything to get away from that pain. Ryker’s hand shifted—from my bicep to my chest, right between my breasts, gently yet firmly holding me down.

I screamed, a tear rolling down my cheek as I locked onto Ryker’s intense gaze. His mouth moved, but I couldn’t hear what he said over the otherworldly echoes of Aniah’s voice filling the cave and the excruciating pain in my body.

Aniah stopped suddenly, and as soon as she did, the pain evaporated.

My breath was ragged as I looked at my arm. No cut, no blood, as if nothing had happened. Ryker removed his hand from my chest, holding the other out in offer. I shakily accepted, and as I did, I noticed something with the ink on my wrists—it was lighter. Patchy even. Disbelief gripped me as I gaped, my hand still in his. A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth as I held out my other hand—same thing.

Aniah stood and staggered backward. Ryker immediately dropped my hand, lunging to grab her. She put a palm to her forehead, then held the other in front of her, observing that ring.

“Aniah, you’ve pushed yourself too far. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have—”

“It’s okay.” She waved him off as she gained her footing. “It’s okay. You were right, this could be the only opportunity we would get.”

Ryker quickly retrieved a skin of water and offered it to Aniah, who downed it greedily. I wanted to offer—what, exactly? Help? What could I possibly do to help?

I settled on, “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” She breathed. “Yes… I’ve just… used a lot today. Both spells, the proximity and the memory lock, are big spells to unravel. There’s just one more part to it, then we’ll get you back. I need to go outside. I’ll return in a moment.” I averted my gaze, side-eyeing instead as Ryker helped steady her, his movement slow and gentle. She patted his arm, mumbling something too soft for me to hear before she pulled her hood on and walked out.

Ryker leaned against the wall at the entrance, his arms crossed.

I stood, scrutinizing the patches on my ankles, too, before venturing closer to him.

“How long have you been following us?” I asked him. He glanced at me out of the corner of his eyes.

“A while.”

I rolled my eyes at his one-word answers. Then thought I would try a different route.

“How long have you and Aniah been together?”

He huffed a laugh, the silver flaring. “We’re not together.”

“Oh. I just thought…” Why did I think about it at all?! “So…” I cleared my throat. “Would you care to tell me what was wrong with the way I smelled that night?” The side of his mouth ticked up.

“Have you been thinking about me?” He pushed off the wall, putting his hands in his pockets as he faced me.

“Answer my question,” I scowled.

“No.”

“No, what?” I frowned.

“No, I don’t care to share,” he taunted. I glared at him.