Declan’s head lowered. His white hair fell over those glowing red eyes. A shudder went through him.
“They took him to one of their nests. Just like we thought,” Declan’s voice was low.
In the early days after the war began, he and Declan had searched for Tyler’s remains in Lightwell. But not only had they not found his, but Declan’s mother’s body was missing too. The Leviathan took the living and the dead to feast upon. They might prefer live prey, but they didn’t require it. In those early years, because there had been no bodies or very few to recover and bury or cremate, the people had considered building a wall with the names of the dead. Something similar to the Vietnam War Memorial. But the task had simply become too great. Only he, Declan and Gemma had survived the battle for Lightwell, the wall would have had to hold tens of thousands of people and that was just one suburb of Chicago. Millions had perished in just a twenty mile radius and beyond that… Well, the numbers were just staggering. Not even the Great Wall of China could have held all the names.
“All this time, he was there,” Declan’s voice was soft, a whisper.
“And you found him?” Finley tried imagining anyone trapped five years in a Leviathan nest. How could they still be alive? His answer came soon enough.
“They wrap them in cocoons,” Declan said and made a spinning motion with his hands. “Like spiders, I guess.”
A shiver went through Finley. The cold press of the dagger and warmth of the book shifted against his bare skin. He felt his fear lessen, if not the horror. He would learn magic, he would protect himself and his friends and chosen family.
“I see, so he didn’t die right away?” Finley made that a question. He was certain Tyler hadn’t if he’d been cocooned. But surely he couldn’t have lived like that for five years?!
“No, from the look on his face… I don’t know how long he lasted. But he was strong, Finley. He would have tried to survive as long as possible to get back to Mom.” Declan’s head fell forward again and he was leaning heavily on the sink once more as if he needed it to keep him upright.
Which Mom? Or is Ashryn “Mother” and Alexia “Mom”? Probably that’s the difference. I think…
Finley shifted, wondering if he should urge Declan to get back into bed. But then Declan shook himself. His hands tightened on the sink until his knuckles went white.
“If I had gone after him–even if I had gone after Aquilan saved us originally–I think he might have still been alive then. Still savable.” Declan trembled. “But I didn’t. I didn’t. And he suffered and–”
“What? No. Don’t take this on yourself!” Finley protested. He moved to his best friend and gently touched his back. “You couldn’t have saved him.”
“But, Finley, I could have. You saw a rift to Illithor here in town. I could have gone through and–”
“But you didn’t know where they took Tyler. And of all the rifts we saw, only one went to Illithor from what I witnessed. Not to mention, even if you had managed to get to Illithor and find that nest, how many Leviathan would you have had to kill to get to Tyler? If you could have even found him?” Finley shook his head.
“I found him this time. I would have found him then,” Declan said.
“If it was possible for you to have done so back then, you would have, using that logic,” Finley pointed out, gripping Declan’s shoulder tightly. “Declan, you did all you could do back then. You didn’t have that–that sword you used. Vex wasn’t in Illithor then so he couldn’t have helped you. There’s just no way it could have worked.”
Declan sagged over further. “Finley, I may… may be responsible for the wards… wards… weakening…”
Finley went still.
“You saw what I did to–to the nest,” Declan explained. “There was a crater nearby. Area was totally glassed. It was where the wards are anchored. The wards that keep–that kept–rifts from opening to Earth. What kept the Leviathan and all those creatures out. Vex took me there.”
“You were only a child when you left the Under Dark. You couldn’t be responsible for that!”
Finley knew that Declan had likely been 40 or 50 years old according to Rhalyf, but that was still a child. He’d known Declan back then when he’d come to Earth. There was no way that a child could have caused–
“He asked me if I killed her. My mother. Lady Ashryn Zinsadoral,” Declan got out.
A flicker of anger flared in Finley’s chest. He wasn’t surprised Vex had asked this. He understood Vex on a certain level. The Night King wanted–no, needed–to know everything. If he didn’t know how Ashryn had died, he’d have to discover it. Declan having been with her. Declan having buried her…
“I thought that was crazy, you know? I told him so. I was certain he was wrong, but then…” Declan reached towards the back of his neck.
Aquilan had stripped off his boots, but they hadn’t removed any other clothing so Declan still had on the hoodie that covered almost all the way up to his hairline. But Declan slipped it down so that Finley could see the second Blood Tattoo. The second Blood Weapon. The sword he’d swung just once and destroyed the nest.
“But then you saw what I did. It could have happened before. We were being attacked. Lady Ashryn and I. By Leviathan, I think. I wanted to protect her,” Declan explained haltingly.
“Do you remember losing control and hurting her?” Finley asked suddenly. “Do you remember creating the crater?”
“No, I… I don’t remember that. I don’t remember what happened,” Declan admitted. “But she’s dead and the crater is right there by the wards and you saw… I could have done it, Finley. I likely did it. Vex thinks so.”
Finley gently turned Declan to face him. “Listen to me. You did not kill your mother. You are not responsible for the wards failing–”
