“That’s not what you told me before.”
At my words, she backed up away from me, as though I’d slapped her.
Reaching out, I caught her face between my hands and felt her lean in close as I pulled her toward me, resting the wingdings of my feather-crown against her forehead. She stilled, her breath caught in her throat.
For a moment, neither of us said anything, as I allowed the rush of longing to run over me.
“I don’t trust you, even though I want to,” I admitted, finding the courage to look into her eyes again. I was unable to move, even as I decided not to. She could decide what she wanted, I thought.
Starry Knight clenched her shaking hands into fists. “I should go,” she said, stepping back.
I said nothing, silently mourning the lost moment.
She paused a moment, before glancing back at me. I watched as her emotions changed; there was more firmness, bordering in on desperation. “If you want to be free of me,” she said, “all you have to do is fall in love with a human.”
“What?”
“That’s what you wanted to know, isn’t it?” Starry Knight asked, her smile suddenly cold and brutal. “I am the reason you fell. I am the cause of your suffering. You were right; we were once friends, but there’s no way we can be friends now. So, if you want to be free of me, free of your past self, all you have to do is fall in love with a human.”
“That won’t work,” I objected. “Alora and Aleia told me I’ve already used my wish.”
“Love is the most transforming power in all creation,” she said, turning away from me and pushing past me as she headed toward the exit. “It offers second chances. It brings new life where there was none. If you want to be free, all you need to do is embrace it.”
“But—”
“Don’t be a fool.” She turned and narrowed her gaze on me, before adding, “Again.”
As she glowered at me, her eyes mocking me, her face cold and resolute, I only felt hatred blooming inside. My fists clenched together, and I was too stunned at the hardening of my heart to say anything I really wanted to say.
“I’ve had enough of this conversation,” Starry Knight announced. “I’m leaving. Let me go.”
“Oh, it would be my pleasure,” I grumbled, hurrying after her. “But I’m not done—”
She swiveled around with a sneer on her face, making me stumble. “Don’t you have a girlfriend or something you need to go and take care of?”
At her comment, rage momentarily immobilized me. I watched as she left, wondering if it was possible she was just taunting me. Even while I assured myself she was bluffing, the attack had been too personal and too close to the truth for comfort.
My fingers curled into a fist. “Wait!” I called back, and hurried after her.
☼23☼
Treachery
I rushed outside, and, for a moment, I thought Starry Knight had managed to elude me once more.
Briefly, I thought about trying to fly, before dismissing it. My wings, while they were now a darker red, were still on the stubby, useless side. Part of me wondered if I ever would fly.
But that was a mystery for another day.
Movement caught my eye. Starry Knight was just about to take off.
“Stop!” I cried. I pulled out my sword. “We aren’t finished here.”
She stilled and then turned around. “You’re going to fight me?” Her disdainful tone made me tightened my grip.
“Yes,” I said.
Starry Knight glared at me. Despite the distance, I heard her murmur as though she’d whispered it in my ear. “Fine. Let’s do this your way.”
Her bow appeared in a flash of light. I gripped the hilt of my sword and hurried forward. I knew I wasn’t going to have a chance if she decided to use her arrows. I had to get her off balance and defeat her on her own ground.
“Augh!” I cried out as I attacked, thrusting down. Her bow slammed into my sword, and energy crackled around us as we met each other, blow for blow.
It was almost like a dance. A brief feeling of déjà vu struck me as we sparred and parried weapons.
As I managed to hold down her weapon, a flare of worry crossed her expression.
“What’s the matter?” I asked. “Afraid I’ll win for once?”
Her eyes narrowed as she sideswiped my sword, allowing her to retreat.
But rather than letting her escape, I pushed forward. She stumbled, and I saw my opening. My sword pressed forward, ready to trip her, and then trap her.
Her bow came up; with a cry of her own, she managed to push back.
Our weapons met and locked, and after a moment of deadlock, I felt another wave of resolve push through her.
“This has to end,” she muttered.
“It will, when you surrender,” I shot back.
“That’s not going to happen.” She twisted her bow, and suddenly my grip was lost. Both our weapons went flying to the side; I heard them clatter onto the ground beside us.
“Impressive,” I muttered.
Weaponless, I momentarily faltered. And I paid for it. She lashed out her own stream of power, her Soulfire’s energy reaching out and bruising me.
The pain in my torso stung, as her power razored through my tunic and under my armor. “You’ll pay for that,” I said through gritted teeth, rubbing my hand over the small wound in my torso. I felt the warmth of blood and wondered at it for a small second. How could she do this to me?
Did she really hate me that much?
I remembered her eyes as she’d looked at me through the rain. I will save you, no matter the cost. You must trust me.
Was I that stupid? I wondered.
As my confusion and hurt and anger all rolled together inside of me, Starry Knight took the time to regain her breath. Her smile grew haughty as she looked down at me. “Eris was right,” she taunted. “You are my greatest weakness. It’s time to get rid of you.”
She lashed out a power-packed punch, grazing my shoulder as I ducked and rolled. As I tumbled, I kicked up a leg and caught her on her hip. I heard her gasp in surprise as she stumbled, delaying her enough for me to recover.
We stood up and glared at each other. She was turning out to be a harder opponent than I thought.
Starry Knight reached up and pulled an arrow out of nothing. The light blazed before me, and I realized I was at a distinct disadvantage.
Before I could think it through, I raced toward where my sword had fallen.
Starry Knight took flight behind me and tackled me.
“No!” I yelled, as the cement of the sidewalk caved in some as we fell, and I shoved her off of my back. My elbow hit her hard in the side as she toppled forward.
Her arrow slammed into the sidewalk in front of us, and I squeezed my eyes shut at the bright intensity.
“Ugh.” I faltered backward. Blindly, I groped for the sidewalk. I hurriedly stood up and ran, my eyes blinking back their sight just in time to stop myself from running headlong into a tree.
“I’ve got you now.”
I turned at her malicious words, only to see four arrows racing toward me. My eyes squeezed shut again, unable to do anything to stop them.
No pain came as they whooshed past me.
Tentatively, I opened my eyes. “Whew.” I breathed a sigh of relief, glad to see she’d missed. I was about to taunt her on her poor aim, before I realized her arrows had pierced through my tunic and half-gloves, effectively binding me to the tree. “Hey!” I called out. “Let me go!”
Chilling laughter answered me. “Now, why would she do that?” Orpheus called out.
My wound, still burning, splintered as I sucked in my breath. Turning to Starry Knight, who was trying to compose herself, I frowned. “So this is how you wanted it.”
She came up beside me, just near enough that she was out of my reach. “I thought it would be better this way,” she said, the hard tone in her voice heavy with spite.
Orpheus laughed. “I appreciate it,
” he said, “that you were able to drain him of his power, too.”
Realizing he was talking about me, I growled. “I still have plenty!” I assured him.
I turned back to Starry Knight. “I hate you!” I screamed. Power fueled itself inside of me, as I burned with the desire to show her just how much I did hate her. “You weren’t supposed to do this.”
“Quiet,” she barked back at me. “I’d hate to have to exert any more energy in dealing with you.”
“Augh!” I cried out again, fighting with everything in me to make her arrows loosen, to let me be free once more. Energy shot out around me, sparking the arrows, but nothing diminished their steady light.
I fought back against the effort as Starry Knight turned her attention to Orpheus.
“Where are my sisters?” she asked. “We had a deal.” She narrowed her gaze down at me, as I groaned in response.
“You’ll get them,” Orpheus promised. “I’ve already called them. They’ll be here shortly. Assuming they listen, of course.”
“Yes, I’ve noticed your rather poor skills in managing them,” Starry Knight retorted.
“Now, now, my darling, no need to insult me,” Orpheus chided her gently, shocking me enough to get me to stop fighting against Starry Knight’s arrows. I watched as he reached out and pulled back his hood, fully revealing his missing eye socket and crude features.
Even though I couldn’t stop myself from shuddering at his terribly ugly face, one thing was clear: Orpheus was still in love with Starry Knight. His twisted, lovesick smile said it all.
I slumped against the tree behind me, breathing deeply as I tried to process it all. It was hard.
Orpheus was still infatuated with her. He didn’t just want her power; he wanted her love.
“Save the sweet talk,” Starry Knight snapped. “There’s no need for it.”
I almost cheered at her rebuke, before I remembered I was supposed to hate her.
“I’ll save it for later.” Orpheus complied, giving her a mocking bow. “Assuming you actually keep your side of the deal.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Starry Knight frowned. “I brought you Wingdinger. We’re waiting on you to uphold your end of the bargain.”
As if on a cue, several voices, of which I was too familiar, came rushing out of the night sky, mixed in with an array of colors.
Elektra was back, I saw. I’d wondered how she faired since the incident at City Hall. Celaena, the fat, purple one, came in next to her, while Asteropy, in her bright yellow tone, managed to set herself apart from the rest of them.
I almost laughed to see Maia. She settled down into a tree branch and yawned.
“What’s this all about, Orpheus?” Asteropy sniped. “I was in the middle of important business.”
“No you weren’t,” Celaena countered. “You were playing with your hair.”
“Better than stuffing my face with earthly sweets,” Asteropy shot back.
They fought some more, Elektra willingly jumping in, while Maia looked like she went back to sleep.
Orpheus fumed, before he turned back to Starry Knight. “Well, there you are.”
“I have to seal them away first,” Starry Knight insisted. I watched as she pulled out another arrow. Her bow jumped to her hand as she called it, and for a moment I wondered.
Why didn’t she do that earlier? She could have won more easily against me . . .
Her first arrow blazed out, heading straight for Maia.
Not a breath passed through my lips as I watched. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion, until the very end.
Maia peeked out of her one eye as the light exploded into her vision. “Whoa!” Maia flinched at the last possible second, falling out of the tree and into a bed of bushes. “Hey! You almost shot me.”
I nearly laughed, but I caught myself; there was no need to draw attention to myself.
Maia hurriedly got up, just as Starry Knight began her offensive. I watched her arrows slice through the darkened woods, as Maia and the other Sinisters began to fight back.
“Come back here,” Orpheus commanded, trying to call them back as they sunk deeper and deeper into the woods. I watched him as he furiously paced and ranted, cursing his charges and throwing a small tantrum.
But when everyone else seemed too caught up in everything, he grinned.
He grinned, and then he looked at me.
Oh, great, I thought sarcastically. This is going to be fun.
“Well, Wingdinger, I’d say now’s as good a time as any to deal with you.”
“Starry Knight needs the Sinisters sealed away first,” I argued. “If you don’t wait, you won’t get your end of the bargain.”
“I’m getting to destroy you. That’s enough,” he said.
“I thought you wanted her power,” I taunted, nodding toward Starry Knight. “Weren’t you in love with her on the other side of Time? Didn’t you want her, before you fell?”
Orpheus stalled.
I kept talking. It was the only sure way I had of surviving. “Lady Time told me all about you. She said you fell prey to Alküzor because you didn’t think the Prince was right in denying you Starry Knight.”
“She was the only one I wanted,” he grumbled, remembering. “It was the only thing I ever asked of the Prince.” He spat on the ground as he came closer. “The Prince is so high and mighty,” he said. “What could he really know of my love for Lady Justice?”
“Enough that he said no,” I blurted out. “You weren’t good enough for her then, and you aren’t good enough for her now.”
“Since when is love about being good enough?” Orpheus growled. “For someone who knows a lot about the dealings of the other side, you sure don’t know what love is.”
“At least I was smart enough to turn back from Alküzor,” I shot back. “I was recreated.”
“You were a fool.” Orpheus’ voice grew as he turned his full hatred onto me. “You were easy to convince to leave the Prince’s side, you know. All it took was talk of power, of being free to do as you please.”
Orpheus glared at me, glared into me. “Your Soulfire was weak to begin with.”
He stood in front of me now, reaching toward me. I pushed back against Starry Knight’s arrows. Surely, I thought and prayed, with her distracted, their power would fade?
I had nothing to do but stall and hope Elysian and Aleia would come looking for me. “Yours was weaker,” I argued back. “Starry Knight was able to reject you before. She’ll be able to reject you again, just you watch. I’d wait for her to capture the other Sinisters if I were you.”
Orpheus stilled.
Finally, I thought. Finally, a sore spot. “It would be a pity and a waste if you were to ruin your chance now by making her mad. She’ll never love you if you don’t uphold your bargain.”
“She never will love me,” he griped, “so long as you are around.”
Shock hit me harder than any blow could have. “What?”
He didn’t answer me. His hand, grayish-colored, with skin tightly drawn, clawed through me.
I choked at first, before screaming out in pain. Heat seared through my chest as I felt my heart squeezed.
“You will be destroyed!” Orpheus yelled at me.
Through my pain, I looked to see his eye burning with rage and anger, as his own power pushed into me, reaching into the heart of my being and searching for my Soulfire.
As abruptly as the pain had started, it ended.
I looked to see Starry Knight had pushed herself between me and Orpheus.
“Orpheus!” she roared. “You must stop. We had a deal.”
“You were going to reject me,” he raged. “That’s what he told me,” he said, pointing his finger at me.
“I wouldn’t believe a word of what he says,” Starry Knight said in a strangely calm voice. “He’s probably just trying to save himself.”
Orpheus’ power receded, and she turned to face me. “You thought you could talk yo
ur way out of this?” she asked. “You’re a fool.” And then she struck me, hitting me across the jaw.
“Ouch!” I managed, before slouching over in pain. The wound at my side was still bleeding freely. “You’ll pay for this!” I cried back.
Starry Knight turned back to Orpheus. “See? He’s only upset that I bested him, and that I will pledge myself to you once he and my sisters are taken care of.”
That burned me more than anything else.
“Now,” Starry Knight said, “get your charges back here so I can seal them away.”
He seemed to calm down some as he nodded.
Starry Knight grabbed my tunic and pulled me closer to her face. “And you,” she yelled, “don’t say anything that will make me hit you again. You’re weak enough.”
I was going to say something back, but as she released me, I felt her healing power wash over me. My eyes flashed to hers, only to see the warning in them.
Understanding dawned.
It was time I started playing the game myself.
☼24☼
Truth
A smirk came slowly to my face. “Orpheus is still weaker than I am,” I called out.
Orpheus turned back to me, his eye penetrating into me. “You’re the one who has been captured,” he retorted.
“But you can’t even call the Sinisters to you,” I pointed out. “You have those four running around in the woods at night, and Taygetay is still not here.”
“What’s Taygetay got to do with it?” Orpheus fumed. “She’s been captured by your people.”
“SWORD is not an ally of ours,” Starry Knight corrected. “As such, I will need her sealed away before I give you Wingdinger here.”
“The four out there are surely enough,” Orpheus objected.
“That wasn’t our deal.”
“It’s four of them for one of yours,” Orpheus argued. “That’s more than fair.”
“This isn’t about fair,” Starry Knight shot back. “It’s about honor and power. If you want power, you’ll give me what I want. And I want my sisters back.”
Orpheus huffed. “This is outrageous.”
“We agreed to it.”
Orpheus groaned and resumed his earlier pacing. After a moment of frustration, he stopped and stared at her.