Lady of Shadows (Lady of Darkness #2)

Chapter 28 Sorin

CHAPTER 28

SORIN

S orin was no longer standing before the Sorceress’s cell but in his old bedroom in the Baylorin apartment. Callan had been right. This was the only place she had ever felt safe in the mortal kingdoms. His apartment. With him.

Sorin turned to Briar and was about to speak when he realized all was not quiet here. He froze as sound drifted into the room. Not sound. Music. Piano music. On Fae silent feet, he went to the doorway leading out to the main room and braced himself against the door frame, trying to steady his breathing. Briar came up behind him and stilled.

Scarlett sat at the piano playing with all the passion and abandon Sorin had seen those months ago in this same place. She had been a wraith then. A hollow shell, lost in her own dark hell. Her music then had been sadness and sorrow, and today it seemed no different.

But it was.

There was a fragile hope as she moved along those keys, her eyes closed, and her entire body feeling every single note. Her silver hair flowed around her as she moved her fingers over the keys of ebony and ivory.

When she came to the end of one of her songs, he nodded to Briar and pushed off the doorway.

“Be swift, Sorin,” he whispered. “We do not have magic here, and we do not know how or when the Sorceress’s enchantment will bring us back.”

Sorin nodded and began walking towards Scarlett, Briar closing the door behind him until it was only open a crack. Sorin added extra force to his steps to make sure she heard him as he approached, unsure if she knew he had been standing there listening. He had expected her to immediately stop playing, but she opened her eyes, hardly glancing at him. She gave him a sad smile and continued to play, not missing a single note. In fact, she scooted down the bench a little ways, making room for him to sit.

Tentatively, he sat beside her, and her eyes closed once more. He could see her eyes were puffy, and her face was splotchy from crying, but tears no longer wet her cheeks. She inhaled deeply and then began a new song. She began a piece so moving Sorin could hardly breathe. It sounded ancient and young all at once. A movement of notes so intricate and precise with no room for error. The piece seemed as if it held every emotion possible— joy and grief, sorrow and hope, fear and courage, dark and light. He watched as those small delicate fingers flew over the keys, then he looked at Scarlett. Silent sobs were shaking her shoulders, and yet she somehow managed not to miss a beat, and he knew in that moment exactly which song she was playing.

The song crescendoed as it reached the end, as if in triumph over whatever the composer had been battling. The final notes rang in the empty room, and Scarlett was breathing hard, her fingers still pressing down on the final chords. He looked down to see her hands trembling slightly.

After nearly a minute, she whispered, her breath shaky, “That was the piece that…” Her voice caught.

“I know what piece that was, Scarlett,” he replied gently, resisting the urge to reach out and touch her.

“You remember?” she asked in surprise.

“It is the piece that made you want to learn to play. The piece you heard the first time your mother took you to the Theater District.” Some of the tension in her body seemed to relax a bit at his words.

“You came for me,” she whispered, her eyes fixed down on the keys. “I… I don’t know how I got here. I didn’t know how I would get back to you, but… I was hoping you would. Come for me, I mean.”

“I will always come for you,” he said carefully.

“I told myself…” She swallowed, brushing her fingers along the smooth ivory, not playing any notes, but as if relishing the feel of them under her fingertips. “I told myself that if you came for me, I would play that song. That even though you have the power to utterly destroy me, I would still give you this piece of my soul. I told myself that—” Her voice cracked again before she swallowed thickly and went on. “I told myself that even if you did not want it, there is still no one else I want to share it with. I do not care if that makes me stupid or na?ve, but even after everything you said to me, I still want you to be that person for me. I still choose you.”

He felt wetness on his own face. “I am honored, Love. I am honored and humbled that you still offer me something I do not deserve.”

Her eyes finally met his. They were the palest blue as she looked at him. “You deserve happiness, Sorin. You deserve love and joy and hope and happiness. You deserve it as much as I do.”

Slowly, to allow her time to refuse, he brought his hand to cup her cheek. “I am so, so sorry, Scarlett. You are my equal in every way. You are my mirror.” He felt her lean ever so slightly into his touch. “You are not a punishment. You are not a burden. You are the brightest star in my darkest of skies. You are my necessity.”

She held his stare as she said, “You know every part of my soul, Sorin. You’ve seen every dark corner and every cracked crevice, and you have not once balked. You have not once looked away. You have sat in the pits of hell beside me, telling me the light still existed even though I could not see it. You have rescued me from the river in every way that counts. The least I can do is show you that I am not all darkness.”

“I have always known you were more light than dark, Scarlett,” he said softly.

“You have. Even when I have not,” she replied. “But you do not get all of me, if I do not get all of you. You do not get to shut me out. You do not get to tell me to leave. There does not get to be a you and a me. There must be a you and me.”

“I am yours, and you are mine,” he whispered, not breaking her gaze.

She leaned forward then, stretching up to press a light kiss to his cheek. Her soft lips on his skin sent heat rushing through his veins despite his lack of magic here. She pulled back, stopping inches from his face, their breath mingling. He was going to kiss her. He wasn’t going to be able to stop himself. His last bit of self-control was dissolving as she said softly, “I meant what I said on the beach last summer, Sorin. I hope you find your twin flame some day, but until then, I claim you.”

“What?” he started, jerking back from her.

She smiled softly, turning back to the piano, her fingers beginning to play another piece. “Whomever takes you from me shall have to prove she’s worthy of you, Sorin Aditya. Until then, I claim you. As my mirror. As my kindred soul. If you will have me as yours.”

Her mirror. Her kindred soul. The words clanked against his heart, grating down his bones. She seemed to be holding her breath, waiting for his answer as she played a slow ballad along the keys.

“Scarlett,” he said, swallowing. Her fingers stumbled at his tone, and she sucked in a breath. He gently gripped her chin between his thumb and forefinger, turning her head to look at him. Dread shone in her eyes, as if she were anticipating him saying no. As if he could ever say no to her. “It would be my greatest joy to have you as such a thing. But there is more that needs to be said on this subject, and here is not the—”

“Really, Renwell ?” came a drawling voice from the doorway. “Hiding her in plain sight was not the best move, unless that was not your plan at all? Unless you decided to accept my offer and deliver her to me on your own?”

Scarlett and Sorin both shot off the piano bench, Sorin shoving her behind him. Mikale stood there with two guards and a snake’s smile on his face.

“What offer?” Scarlett asked from behind Sorin.

“He did not tell you?” Mikale replied with a raise of his brows. Then he clicked his tongue. “Has he continued to keep such secrets from you? Even after he managed to steal you from my house? I am beginning to wonder if the general did indeed come to accept my offer, considering his alliance with the Water Court seems to have been mended. Tell me, did you bring your counterpart along to help control her?”

“What is he talking about, Sorin? Briar is here?”

At her words, Briar emerged from the bedroom, his sword drawn. His normally dark skin had slightly paled as he tried to adjust to being without his magic.

“Mikale somehow appeared near the chalet yesterday,” Sorin started.

“Yes, that was most entertaining,” Mikale cut in smoothly. “You seem to have caused quite the rift among two long-time allies, my pet. I particularly enjoyed seeing the Water Prince land a nice blow to the face of the Fire Prince.”

Scarlett whirled back to Sorin, her eyes darting to Briar. “We took care of it, Scarlett. I was going to tell you. Once we had… Once things were better—”

“Were you though?” Mikale asked, stepping farther into the room, the guards flanking him and more filing in behind them.

“What was the offer?” Scarlett demanded, stepping from behind him to Sorin’s side. He reached for her hand, but she jerked it out of reach.

“He said if I brought you back to him, he would focus his efforts elsewhere, away from the Fire Court.”

“What efforts?”

“He did not specify, and I did not ask. I told him the same thing I will tell him now: He can go to hell,” Sorin snarled at the man.

“What have you done?” she hissed quietly to Mikale.

“I have done nothing…yet.” The smile that filled his face was wicked and horrifying.

“What will you do?”

“To get you back where you belong, my pet? I have been authorized to do whatever it takes . ”

“By who?”

“I gave you a hint. Have you not figured it out yet?”

“I took care of the bastard who killed my mother. Years ago. I would love to give you a demonstration as to how,” Scarlett said quietly, violence glittering in her eyes.

“But not the one who ordered her killing,” Mikale purred in reply.

“Why? Why am I so important to you?”

He clicked his tongue again, taking a step towards her. Her shadows coiled around her, preparing to strike like snakes. “Come with me, and I will tell you everything. I will keep nothing from you.” He held out a hand to her.

Sorin watched, with no small amount of horror, as her shadows slowly slithered from her, reaching tentatively towards him as if curious.

“Scarlett.” Sorin said, his tone full of warning.

“Interesting, isn’t it, General ?” Although Mikale addressed him, his eyes were fixed on Scarlett’s. She stared back, her head tilting slightly to the side at his words.

Sorin glanced at Briar, but two of the guards blocked his access to them. Briar’s eyes were wide with terror as he watched Mikale and Scarlett. “What is interesting?” he snapped at Mikale.

“That shadows always return to the darkness,” Mikale crooned.

Scarlett took another step towards him. Her shadows swirled around her. “What does that mean?” she asked quietly.

Sorin reached for her, but her shadows pushed him back, and then they shoved down his throat, choking him.

Scarlett!

But whatever was between them was not fully repaired. He couldn’t reach her.

“You have heard that before, haven’t you, my pet? Perhaps in an alley with your sisters by your side?”

“How could you possibly know that?”

Mikale’s dark eyes glittered with wicked fury. “The Witch’s death served more than one purpose.”

Scarlett’s face tightened at the mention of her sister. Sorin didn’t know what this exchange meant. He didn’t know what they were discussing, and her next words only increased his bewilderment.

“Who is your king?” she whispered with venomous quiet.

“Who is yours?” he purred back.

“How? How do you know this?”

Mikale’s face twisted from fury to delight. “Tell me, have they figured out these delights that adore you?” He swept his fingers through one of the shadows that was closest to him, as if he were running them through water. The shadows shuddered around his touch.

“What do you know of them?” She was less than five feet from him now, and her only protection from him was those shadows that she sent slithering towards him, wrapping around his throat.

Mikale didn’t even flinch. His smile only widened. “You have only scratched the surface of your sweet Darkness. Come with me, and I will show you all of its secrets.” His tone was soft and gentle, coaxing, as he took another step towards Scarlett, his hand still outstretched. She took another hesitant step towards him, and Sorin could do nothing. He was utterly helpless as she lifted a hand to reach for his.

Scarlett!

“That’s it, my pet,” Mikale purred. He stretched his hand closer to her.

He felt it at the same time Briar shouted, “He is entrancing her, Sorin! He is using the powers of the Night Children!”

But before he could try and lunge for her again, there was a flash of light.

Four flashes, actually.

And a giant panther stood before Scarlett, snarling and growling and roaring with ferocity. Her enormous fangs were bared at Mikale, and his guards all shrank back. There was a bird’s cry as Amaré swooped around the room, coming to rest on Sorin’s outstretched arm, and a whinny as Abrax stood before Briar, stamping his hooves.

“No!” Mikale bellowed, and Scarlett blinked, her eyes widening. Her shadows released him, and Sorin lunged for her as she stepped back. He wrapped his arm around her waist, tugging her back against him.

“This is not over, Princess,” Mikale seethed. “You will come with me, and it will be of your own choosing. I know what he thinks you are, but Darkness always returns home.”

Shirina snarled again, and another bird let loose a battle cry. A silver hawk rose into the air and with a flap of her fair wings, a mighty gust of wind swept through the apartment. Windows shattered, and Sorin threw himself over Scarlett as she dropped to the ground, covering her head. He could feel her trembling beneath him.

I am yours, and you are mine. We will leave here together.

He threw those words down that fragile bond over and over again.

The panther growled low, taking a step towards Mikale, and he let out an audible hiss as he stepped back. “You will all fail,” he seethed at the panther.

Shirina snarled again, and Mikale and his guards scattered, rushing from the apartment.

When they were gone, the three Fae stood in stunned silence. Shirina was pacing by the now shut entrance door, her hackles still raised as she stood guard.

Sorin slowly rose, helping Scarlett to her feet. Briar walked to them, Abrax tossing his head in agitation. The silver hawk came to settle on Briar’s shoulder, and he reached up to stroke her head.

“My landlord is going to wonder what the hell we did in here,” Sorin grumbled, glass crunching under his boots.

“You’re obnoxiously rich. Just buy the damn building,” Scarlett muttered, her eyes on Abrax and Nasima.

“I am glad to see your delightful tongue is back,” he retorted, to which she stuck that tongue out at him in return.

They both turned as Briar began speaking. “Go, Nasima,” he said, stroking the bird’s feathers again. “Tell her everything you saw.”

Nasima let loose another cry as she flapped into the air and disappeared in a flash of light.

“She will go to the Wind Princess?” Scarlett asked.

“Yes. She and her Court have libraries full of ancient books and history long forgotten by the rest of the world,” Briar said, his face grim. “And she is… You will understand when you meet her someday.”

Sorin turned back to Scarlett to find her frowning down at her still bare feet amid the broken shards of glass. “Are you ready?”

“For what?” she asked, looking up at him.

He held his hand out to her. “To go home.”

She studied him for a long moment, then her eyes darted to Briar. “You really hit him in the face?”

Briar grinned at her. “Yes, Sunshine. Hard enough he spat blood.”

“Good,” she said. Then she turned a questioning look upon Sorin. “How exactly are we getting home? I can’t bring us all back. I don’t know how I—”

“It’s okay, Love. I found a work-around to get to you.”

There were small flashes of light as Abrax and Shirina disappeared. Amaré remained on Sorin’s shoulder. He still held his hand out to her, and warmth flooded through his left hand as that Mark imperceptibly darkened when she slowly slid her fingers into his waiting palm. “Then let’s go home.”