Broken Forest: Book One of the Daath Chronicles (30 page)

The candlelight flickered, and a dark shape flew to my right. Too afraid to speak, I grabbed the closest object. I didn’t think a brush would protect me, but I felt safer with it in my hands. A tingling sensation crawled under my skin, freezing me in place. My heart thumped.

Fingers touched my neck and I jumped.

“Stay back!” I swung the brush, hitting only air.

“Foolish girl. I’m here to help you.”

A black shadow, with devilish eyes, appeared in front of me.

“Creator help me,” I whispered.

“How are we going to get in?” Derrick asked.

“We are not going anywhere,” I said, pointing to an open window on the third floor. “I’m going in through there.”

We were outside the dollhouse. Since Jericho worked in the guard, he knew the house’s location. Raven never came home and Jericho was worried something had gone wrong. I didn’t think twice about going after her.

“Up there?” Derrick said as he handed me a length of rope.

I left the rope and patted him on the shoulder.

I darted across the lawn, making my way to the side of the wooden house where a large low-limbed oak tree sprouted from the ground. I jumped and grabbed one of the branches. Climbing a tree was easy. I did it all the time back home. Getting into that window would take a bit more skill.

I climbed the tree until I reached a branch near the window, shimming across it as close to the end as I could without breaking it. I dropped, holding onto the branch with both hands and swung my body forward and back. When I had enough momentum, I let go and swung myself towards the open window, grabbing the ledge.

That was close.

I pulled myself into the empty room. The room was dark and appeared to be a storage place, nothing but useless junk everywhere. I crept to the door, slowly cracked it open and peeked out into a dimly lit corridor. I had no clue where Raven was, and I definitely didn’t have any nifty lock picking tools.

At the end of the hallway, I saw a large double door with light shining underneath. I carefully walked to it and put my ear against the wood. I could hear women laughing. I listened a little longer.
Only women inside.
I grinned as a plan formulated in my head.

Slipping out my dagger, I opened the door. Any plan I had vanished when I stepped into that room. Beautiful women filled the area, arrayed on pillows and couches like soft petals on the grass. I’d heard of harems, but never thought I’d see one. There were so many girls!

“What are you doing here?” A curvy brunette with bulging breasts examined me. “A little lost, honey?”

I slipped the dagger back in its sheath. “I’m a new guard. I came to inspect the room.”

Someone pinched my side, and I turned to a gorgeous blonde smirking at me. “Guards aren’t allowed in here,” she whispered.

“We have a situation,” I said.

Gasps erupted, and a bunch of women began rattling over one another.

“Are we in danger?”

I turned right, and a freckled red head with stunning blue eyes stared at me.

“We may have a thief in the house,” I said. “Someone was seen running across the lawn.”

The girl seemed satisfied with the answer and smiled. “Lucky for us we have you.”

“Oh, he’s cute!” squealed the blonde. “You should stay here.”

Before I could refuse, they dragged me into the very inviting scenery. Crushed velvet covered the walls and spots of red and yellow oversized pillows surrounded everything. They pushed me onto a pile of sinking cushions. More of them crept near me, squealing and giggling.

I am in serious trouble.

Tiny beads of sweat dripped down my back. One woman crawled onto my lap and whispered provocatively in my ear. The suggestion ignited every boyish fantasy I had.

It can’t hurt to stay just a bit. I can use them to find Raven.

No, don’t be stupid, Avikar. Get up.

“Ladies … please.” I tried to think of an excuse to leave, but my mind concocted every reason to stay.

“Avikar?”

I jumped at the sound of Raven’s voice. The girl on my lap thumped to the floor. Raven wore a long silver dress with navy trim that hugged her body in all the right places.
Holy heifer.
Even though she was scowling, she looked utterly amazing.

The brunette who spoke with me before eyed Raven suspiciously. “How do you know him?”

Raven bit her lip.

“We’re old friends,” I said and gave Raven a big hug. “It’s good to see you.”

“You too,” she replied.

The brunette crossed her arms. “Isn’t this a tearful reunion.”

I took Raven’s hand. “If you ladies will excuse me. There’s a pressing matter I need to speak with my friend about in private.” I dragged Raven outside and closed the double door behind us.

“What are you doing here?” she hissed. “Trying to get us both killed?”

”I’m here to rescue you.”

“I don’t need to be rescued,” she huffed.

I pointed a finger at her. “You were supposed to come back before nightfall. What happened?”

She looked down the empty hallway, and it was then the realization of what she wore hit me. Since the first day I’d met her, she’d always worn pants, or tights, never, ever a dress and her hair was usually down and straight, but now … the silver sleeveless gown accentuated every perfect aspect of her body, tight around her middle and flowing down from there, trailing a few inches behind her. All her hair was curled, part of it pinned up. Big loose curls hung around her cheeks. But her painted red lips were what really heated my blood. They were full, begging to be kissed.

“Why are you gawking at me like that?” She crossed her arms, attempting to hide her body. “I had to blend in. All the women dress like this.”

“Do you know how gorgeous you are?”

She blushed. “Thank you, but I’m never wearing one of these dreadful things again.”

I gasped. “Blasphemy.”

That made her smile.

We stood in silence, staring at each other. I wanted to apologize for last night, but now wasn’t the time. “Did you find my sister?”

She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I asked around. I’m the only new girl in a while.”

I grunted and rubbed my forehead. “What’s the layout of this place?”

“There are three floors. This floor has the main sitting room, a music room and storage. The second is mainly bedrooms and two washrooms. The bottom are eating and servants quarters.”

“Where are the guards and how many?”

Raven fidgeted with her lip. “The guards stay on the first floor. Lucino doesn’t allow anyone up here but the maids. How did you get in?”

“I’ll explain later. Right now, I need to get you out of here. Jericho and Derrick are waiting outside.”

“If I wanted to leave, I could.”

I arched my brow at her.

“I can get out on my own. I don’t need any help. You should go before someone tells one of the real guards.”

I thought about the window. It’d be tough to jump to the tree and in that dress, Raven wasn’t going to be able to climb. “That’s not an option. Do you know of an exit? My route is kind of a one way trip.”

“Lucino has a private entrance inside. If we can find it, it’ll lead us out.”

“And how do you suppose we snoop around without getting caught?”

Raven grinned. “You’ll be our distraction.”

“What? You actually want me to flirt with them?”

Raven smirked, opened the door and pushed me back inside.

“He’s back!”

I watched Raven slip away unnoticed.

“Sit with us,” said the blonde locks woman, motioning for me.

“I could get in trouble if I’m gone for too long,” I said. My newfound audience didn’t agree with me. They laughed and dragged me back into their midst.

Keeping the ladies distracted was entertaining. They laughed at all of my jokes—something I greatly appreciated—and cooed when I talked about being in hundreds of vicious battles. They rubbed my arms, commenting on how strong I was.

Raven reappeared and glided toward the red plush couch on which I sat. Our gazes locked onto one another. A woman whispered in my ear, but I blocked her out. Another rested her busty chest on my side. The only thing I could see was Raven, her small hips swaying beneath that dress, her full lips mouthing ‘I found it’
.
She moved gracefully through the women surrounding me and grabbed my hand, pulling me to her. It took every ounce of self-control not to grab her and kiss her right there.

“Where do you think you’re going?” the brunette asked Raven as she intercepted us.

Raven eyed her. “You can have him when I’m through.”

“Don’t let her take him, Jezy!”

Jezy smiled at Raven. “You see dear. I am the lady of this house and I have to make sure my girls are happy. Right now, they’re not, and that’s a problem.”

Raven stood straighter, but Jezy towered over her. “I understand,” Raven said, “but your girls will have to wait their turn.”

Raven shoved past her.

Jezy grabbed Raven’s arm. “I don’t think so love. I run this house, not you.”

This isn’t good. We can’t afford a fight here
.

“If I were you, I’d let go of my arm.”

“Or what?” Jezy sneered.

Raven dropped my hand. “Or I’ll force you to.”

The two locked stares. “Ladies, why don’t we settle this calmly?” I said, attempting to step between them. They both ignored me.

Raven yanked her arm free and Jezy’s eyes went wide. She went to push Raven, but Raven shoved her first. Then they were on the floor brawling and yelling. I’d never seen two women fight. I kept waiting for a dress to tear. Raven had Jezy pinned and Jezy grabbed a handful of Raven’s hair, pulling her head back.

“Ahh!” Raven yelled and punched Jezy in the side. Jezy screamed and let go.

This is getting ugly.

I grabbed Raven around the waist and tried pulling her off Jezy, but Jezy had Raven’s hair again. Girls fight dirty. I pried Jezy’s fingers loose and she kicked me hard in the stomach, sending me into a nearby table. The lantern on the table crashed to the floor and flames erupted from the broken glass, crawling up the fabric walls.

The room spiraled into panic. Women screamed and toppled over one another in an attempt to reach the only door.