Regret. I could read it in his body language like an open book.
“I never meant. . .” He said, the anger gone. “Your mother and I. . .”
Eleos’ eyes flashed. “There it is.” He muttered.
Sir Percivus shook his head, as though doffing a headache. When he looked up, his tone shifted toward grief. “I would have given anything to save you.”
Darting out from our cover, Eleos crept toward the officer, hardly making a sound. Sir Percivus only noticed Eleos’ approachwhen the scholar was upon him, and by then, Eleos had already reached out and brushed the man’s arm.
Staggering back, Sir Percivus shook his head, blinked a few times, then faced his son. “But there’s still time, yet.” Turning to Eleos, he stepped away. “There’s still time yet.”
In a daze, the man walked away, passing me with nary a sideways glance. Catching up to Eleos, I met Percy’s bewildered gaze as he leaned against his bars, watching his father go. Eleos shoved a key into the lock and yanked the door open.
Frozen to the spot, Percy gaped at Eleos. “Was that. . . Was that you, or. . .?”
“Do you want the answer to that?” Eleos asked.
“No.” Percy shook his head and grabbed his hat from the stone bench. “No, I don’t.” Fixing the feathered cap over his hair, he gasped when he saw me. “Aethra!” He laughed, slapping my shoulder. “You clever little she-devil, how in Callesis’ boundless luck did you get here?”
“There’s an army after me,” I whispered. “We should hurry.”
“Right.” Percy nodded. “Right. Where are the others?”
“They’re-” Eleos wobbled on his feet, blood trickling from his nose.
“Are you alright?” I asked, worried.
“I’ve used too much magic.” He wiped his nose. “This way.” Eleos spun on his heel and jogged away.
Pushing Percy ahead of me, I took up the rear, watching the halls for patrols. We rewound our way to the eastern wing.
Eleos grabbed my collar, yanking me behind a pillar. “Guard.” He mimed at Percy. “Take him out.”
Nodding curtly, Percy hurried around the corner. Pushing me, Eleos bade me follow.
I took two steps before the most excruciating sound ripped through my ears. It sounded like a violin, but I’d never known the instrument could produce such a wretched, deathly noise. Out of tune, whining and sharp, it pulled on a high note, sending shiversdown my spine and forcing my hands to my ears. Gods, were they bleeding?
Someone grabbed my hand, and the noise stopped.
“Sorry,” Percy muttered. “Hurry. I can’t keep this up long.”
Lifting my head, I saw the guard curled up on the ground, hands pressed to his bleeding ears. Pulling his key ring out, Eleos flipped through them, trying a few before finding the correct combination. Leaning against the heavy doors, he pushed them open. Percy and I stepped over the disabled guard and followed him inside.
A pitch-black chamber greeted us. Grabbing the torch hanging beside the guard post, I held it up to illuminate the cells.
Protected on all sides by thick stone walls, the cells allowed no light through. Eleos fitted a key into the rightmost cell, then tossed the ring to me.
“Get Seth.” He ordered, pushing the door open.
Running to the opposite cell, I shoved the lock in and clicked it open, holding up the lantern to see inside.
I shouldn’t have been surprised by the way chthonics were restrained. Bound in a standing position, thick ropes tied Seth’s hand, preventing his fingernails from brushing any part of his skin. A thick gag wrapped his mouth, so he couldn’t dig his teeth into his lip.
Heart flipping in my chest, I pulled my little paring knife from my belt and sawed through his gag. Spitting the remnants out, Seth bit down hard on his lip, drawing blood. I stepped back as the droplets flew from his mouth, forming into a bloody dagger. It whipped behind him, severing the rope holding his hands in place.
Yanking his arms free, he stalked toward me and gripped me by the shoulders, pressing me up against the cell wall. “I’m going to fucking kill him.” He seethed.
I probably looked like a frightened child. The intensity radiating off him reminded me of our first meeting, when hatehad filled his voice and movements. When he’d ruthlessly murdered that officer.
