The Agrista (Between the Lines Book 1) (4 page)

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, observing his change in demeanor.

  “I can explain everything later. I’ve already wasted too much time.”

  “Well, perhaps you shouldn’t have spent the last few days freaking me out,” she replied coolly. “Not the best approach, by the way.”

  “I am eternally sorry. I thought you would remember me, and it would make everything a little bit easier on you. You are needed back in Quinque. You are not meant for this place.” Alex gazed up at her through a thick fringe of lashes. His earnest expression put color in her cheeks, though she imagined that his general appearance had that effect on any woman with a pulse.

  “Can you at least give me some time alone to digest all of this?” Her nervous laughter teetered on the brink of hysterics.

  “Anything you want, M’lady.”

  “I’m going to take a shower.” She needed to go somewhere he wouldn’t follow to be alone with her thoughts. Hopefully, that included the shower. “DO NOT stalk me while I’m in there,” she said half-jokingly, making Alex blush for a change. She had no idea she was capable of such a feat. “Just stay in here, and
definitely
stay clothed.”

  Since Alex seemed to lack boundaries, Marie made damn sure to lock the door once she was in the bathroom. She impatiently waited for the water to get nice and steamy as she peeled off her clothes. Hot water always cleared her mind and left her with a renewed resolve, as if facing a new day, ripe with endless possibility.   

  Her mind went into overdrive as soon as she stepped foot onto the slick ceramic. She contemplated the thought of leaving home as she watched rivulets of water hypnotically lace over her body. She’d been dying to be anywhere other than here for as long as she could remember.

  The day she became a legal adult and could get away from her father was the day her life
really
began. She thought that would be enough, but she was still sick with wanderlust.

  She needed to get away from the everyday motions of being an adult. She was thankful she no longer had to live every day hand to mouth like she did as a child, but the boredom was slowly driving her mad. Every new day chipped away a little piece of her soul.

  Going to a job she hated five days a week. Spending all of her free time daydreaming while futilely writing a book that she’d probably never finish. What was the point? All she was doing was going through the motions, pretending to be happy while she waited for death’s reprieve.

  This was her one chance to abandon all of that and embark upon an adventure. This was her chance to experience something new! Marie felt a sudden burst of inspiration and excitement flowing through her, feelings that were absolutely foreign to her.

  She jumped out of the shower, grabbed her tatty old bathrobe – that was, quite frankly, a bit too small for her – and glared at her reflection. She was mortified at the thought of Alex seeing her naked, and she’d forgotten to bring clean clothes in with her. Her dingy robe would have to do.

  She sat on the edge of the tub, trying to work up the courage to leave the bathroom. She wasn’t nearly as comfortable with her body as Alex seemed to be with his. His flawless looks made her acutely aware of her own, and she lacked greatly in comparison.

  Marie was average. Her height, a whopping 5’5”, didn’t leave much room for indulgences. She had a very feminine figure and mannerisms, but she was far from being curvaceous. A middle-of-the-road body for a middle-of-the-road gal, topped off with muddy brown eyes that matched her pin-straight, shoulder-length hair.

  Her face didn’t have any distinguishing features whatsoever. Nothing that would make her stick out in a crowd, and nothing that would make anyone give her a second look, and no one ever did. Amelia must be driving herself crazy right now trying to figure out how plain ol’ Marie landed such a gorgeous guy.

  Amelia always had better luck attracting men. Marie didn’t consider her to be particularly physically attractive, but she knew how much make up it took to
make
her beautiful. She was five feet even and slightly overweight, though the extra pounds went straight to her hips and bust, which men seemed to like.

  She was quite pretty, but she always covered it up with oversized glasses and an unruly mop of curly red hair. She tarnished her good looks further by dressing in garishly bright clothes that were either too big or too small,
never
the appropriate size.

  Although Amelia had many features that would distinguish her from a crowd, she was just as awkward as Marie herself. The main difference between the two of them, however, was that boys seem to swoon over Amelia, and not even realize that Marie existed. It was a dynamic that Marie never quite understood, but over the years learned to ignore, for the most part. It must be pheromones.

  Marie’s eagerness over leaving seemed to dissipate just as quickly as the billowing steam, leaving her alone to face the cold hard truth. Whenever Marie compared herself to other females, she spiraled into a sudden depression and felt less than worthy by the end of her descent.

  She willed away her negative thoughts as she straightened her posture and squared her shoulders. She no longer needed courage to face Alex. She had something else instead. Something that always superseded her overwhelming insecurity: Apathy.

  It was easy for Marie to don a thick skin and will herself not to care what others thought. It often made her appear confident, but it couldn’t be further from the truth.

  If she left with Alex, would things be any different? Would she fall into the same kind of life? Maybe
she
was the problem. Even if things were different, would she
feel
any different? Hypothetically, if she went with him and failed at whatever it was she was supposed to do – which was likely – would she at least finally
feel
something?

  Happiness seemed unattainable. Love, to Marie, was just a joke. She simply wanted to feel something. Anything! She felt like a ghost, watching the world exist around her and never actually making a difference in it.

  Marie headed back to her room and took a seat next to Alex. He’d stayed exactly where she’d left him like an obedient pet. As soon as she snuck a glance at his awe-inspiring physique, her apathy melted away and she felt embarrassed about her appearance all over again. She hoped she would eventually get used to him and not always feel so flustered, though it didn’t seem likely due to his constant state of undress.

  “Sorry to keep you waiting,” she fumbled over her words. “But, um…I’ll be right back!”

  Marie snatched the first set of clean clothes she saw and zipped out of the room. On her way back to the bathroom, she noticed Amelia sprawled out on the loveseat. Her crude outline served as a sudden reminder of what she’d be leaving behind and brought Marie’s responsibilities into sharp focus.
How could I be so thoughtless?

  She couldn’t leave Amelia high and dry, or abandon her mother and Lunaroo. She quickly changed into her clothes and let out a deep sigh, knowing what she had to do. She miserably slumped her shoulders and dragged her feet across the hall. She briefly hesitated before turning to Alex with a depleted sigh.

  “I’d like to go with you,
more than anything
, but…” Her palms grew slick with sweat as she peered into his deep blue eyes. Their unique slant brimmed with inquisition and sent shivers coursing through her body as she struggled to find her voice. “I can’t leave Amelia. She may be a handful, but she’s always been there for me when it really counts. I have responsibilities and obligations here.” She couldn’t believe her own words. She was going to abandon her one chance at an adventure for something she held in contempt: her ordinary life.

  “What kind of responsibilities are you referring to?”

  “Financial, for instance.” Marie elaborated at the sight of Alex’s blank expression. “You know, like money.”

  “Will this do?” Alex pulled a dark blue velvet pouch from a small vintage satchel and held it out to Marie.

  She hesitantly took the pouch and poured its contents into her hand, filling it with several precious gems. Rubies, sapphires, emeralds, diamonds, and several she didn’t even recognize. Her eyes widened in dizzying recognition and wonder.

  “Are these real?” she gasped.

  “I understand they’re valuable here. We have them in abundance in our world. They hold little value there. Will that do?”

  “Yup,” Marie yelped, unable to look away from the sparkling gems overflowing in her hand. After the initial shock wore off, she poured the contents back into the pouch and pulled the drawstring tight.
Now I just have to figure out what to tell Amelia…
“Wait here. I need to talk to my roommate before I leave, and I need to do it alone.”

  Marie walked out into the living room, but she didn’t see her menacing roommate sprawled out on the couch anymore. She noticed Amelia’s bedroom door open and peeked inside, but she wasn’t there either. She walked into the kitchen and scanned the room, noticing a note on the table.

  “
Needed a couple things from the store. Be back soon. Enjoy your time alone with lover boy! I’ll make sure to pick up some cond-
”

  Marie slammed the note down on the table and rolled her eyes. She grabbed the pen Amelia left by the note, flipped the piece of paper over and began scribbling on the back.

  “
I have to go away for a while. I don’t have time to explain. Please take care of Lunaroo until I get back. She’ll be terribly lonely. The stuff inside the pouch is for you and should make up for my absence and lack of explanation. Yes, it’s real. I promise to tell you everything when I get back.
”

  Amelia would be worried, confused, and above all, infuriated, but Marie would deal with that when she got back. She’d explain things better if she could, but she really didn’t know what to say. If she tried to tell Amelia the truth, she’d probably have her committed before she had the chance to get away. Marie was still having a hard time believing it herself.

  She went back into her room and saw Lunaroo lying on the bed behind Alex, desperately vying for his attention as he completely ignored her. She swept Lunaroo up in her arms and began smothering her with kisses. Silly as it may seem to some, saying goodbye to her beloved pet was the hardest part so far.

  “You be good, okay Lulu?” Marie sniffled, holding Lunaroo close to her face as she nuzzled into the crook of her neck. “Should I bring anything?” The second the words left her lips, she felt foolish. She was traveling to another world, not going to a potluck. “Don’t answer that. Let’s just get going, shall we?”

  Marie pressed her tongue to the roof of her mouth, willing herself not to cry as she set Lunaroo back down on the bed. Before she could linger, Alex walked out of the room and through the kitchen, forcing her to run to catch up. When they entered the backyard, his steps came to a sudden halt.

  “It’s dangerous where we’re going, and it’s absolutely imperative that we’re not seen. As long as you’re on my back, you’ll be invisible to all that would seek to harm you. We are not, however, completely undetectable. Others can feel and hear us, so we still need to be extremely careful,” Alex gave Marie a grave look that made her slightly tremble. “Now, stand back.”

  Alex stripped off his pants in one swift movement and threw them aside as he made his way to the center of the yard. In an instant, he transformed back into his Umbraic form and outstretched his glorious wings, casting a shadow of doubt on Marie’s wavering resolve. Alex was even more intimidating in
this
form.

  Rivulets of scattered moonlight streamed through the trees and illuminated the backyard like a checkerboard, disappearing as quickly as they had come. The surrounding land was cloaked in darkness for a long, disquieting moment as a veil of shadow skimmed the surface of the moon. Bolts of silver cavorted on the shadow’s coattails as glittering moonbeams waltzed to the ground, constructing a long, winding road before him.

  Not one to pussyfoot around anything, Alex leaned back on his haunches and groaned impatiently, huffing like a flittering horse. Marie took her time to get to him. She nervously clambered up onto his back, approaching him as one would a wild cat.

  Marie squealed as he sliced his powerful wings through the charged air, clutching clumps of his mane tightly in her grasp. He followed the path that beamed down from the sky as if it were nothing more than an airplane tarmac, bringing an enigmatic smile to her face despite the terror.

  Everything around them grew increasingly brighter the closer they rose to the moon until all she could see was sparkling blue. For a long, terrifying moment, she could no longer make out Alex or herself.

  When she could finally see her surroundings again, the moon had vanished and she was surrounded by billions upon billions of stars.

THE CASTLE OF QUINQUE

 
M
arie couldn’t believe her eyes. She was actually flying through space. Even in her wildest dreams, she’d never imagined anything quite like this.

  Fear and excitement battled for control of her nerves. She wasn’t exactly a good flyer, and this was significantly more frightening than a plane. Even so, she refused to close her eyes. The sight of all the stars whizzing past her as she and Alex flew through space was absolutely breathtaking.

  She couldn’t help but wonder how it was possible for her to breathe in space, among several other things that tested her sanity. She thought it was best not to overanalyze her experience like she did everything else. There was nothing about any of this that made sense, and that was part of the fun.

  Finally, she relaxed her grip on Alex and leaned forward, resting her head on the back of his soft, silvery mane as she watched the stars dance all around her.

  “Thank you, Alex. This is amazing.” She relaxed her body and entered into a state of euphoria.

  By the time she and Alex approached the castle, she had no idea how much time had passed. It could have been minutes; it could have been hours. The only thing she was certain of was that the journey here had been the most amazing thing she’d ever experienced, and had shown her the most beautiful sights she’d ever taken in. That is, until she got the full view of the castle of Quinque.

  The castle in itself was its own planet, with no land surrounding it. The entire surface looked as if it was made of marbled mirror. Precious gems wove a paisley pattern through the cracked glass, reflecting the stars like city lights.

  The interwoven structure was a compilation of dead ends and splits, deviating and converging like a three-dimensional maze, except the structure was entirely cylindrical. The borders of the castle were illuminated with black and white lilies that shone like neon lights and drew her in.

  The closer they got to the castle, the more gargantuan it seemed. Alex began to fly in lower, toward the only part of the castle that was pitch black. It was as if the lights had gone out eons ago, emitting a strong feeling of abandonment.

  Marie’s thoughts rallied in objection as they approached the darkness. She’d forgotten Alex’s warning until now, when it was too late. She recalled his words, letting them work their magic on her nerves as they tightened her muscles and shortened her breaths.

  They needed to be careful because there were people here who wished her harm. He was her
protector
. Who or
what
did she need protecting from? What would happen to her if they got caught? She swallowed hard as her pulse quickened.

  “Alex, wait!”

  He ignored her pleas and stayed his course, closing in on the castle faster. Alex had kept nothing from her. She knew the situation they were going into was dangerous, but she’d been so starry-eyed and thirsty for an adventure that she never let the weight of his words fully sink in. She felt it now, anchoring her with fear.

  The only thing she’d taken away from their meeting was that he was taking her far away from the place she loathed, and that he needed her. The beautiful, perfect man that had stood before her needed
her
. For once, she wasn’t just another face in the crowd.

  “Alex! Wait a minute!” she protested, pulling on his fur so hard he growled instinctively.

  He pushed on, driving them further into the darkness. She felt his body grow rigid beneath hers as she began trembling. Impending tears hazed her vision, separating her from the murky path before them.

  She felt a sudden jolt as his paws touched down on a hard surface. A soft echo danced around them, reverberating off the walls and enveloping them mystery as it skirted the long corridor. She had no choice but to adhere to the sound, having lost all sense of sight.

  Alex shifted into his human form, adroitly catching Marie before she hit the ground. He set her down gently and took her hands in his. She lost herself in his soothing voice, forgetting, just for a moment, why she was so scared in the first place.

  “You must stay quiet and just listen,” he whispered. “I know you’re scared, but I
will
keep you safe. We’re here to gather what is absolutely essential for us to continue our quest.” He released her hands, placing his securely around her waist. “We must get past the Queen and head to the servants’ quarters. We shall not linger. No harm will come to you while you are with me.” He paused. “Do
not
make a sound.” Alex threw Marie into the air as he shifted back into his Umbraic form. She landed squarely on his back, and they proceeded to venture further into the darkness.

  Marie focused on her breathing as she struggled to relax.
Be quiet, and this will all be over soon.
She mentally repeated the words to herself like a broken record, fading into white noise. She tried to distract herself as they journeyed through the darkness, but her thoughts only corralled her into uncertainty.

  The more she thought about it, the less it made sense. Alex had told her that Umbra protected those of
royal
blood, which would make her a princess. Isn’t a castle the one place a princess should be safe, especially if it’s her own? It didn’t add up. It seemed she’d been a little too hasty in her questioning earlier. She’d carelessly glossed over the finer details of the situation, not thinking to derive their altogether purpose.

  Unfortunately, the time for asking questions was no longer upon her. Pining over regrets and lost opportunities was only making her more anxious, so she decided to focus all of her energy into staying quiet. It was the only way she was going to get through this.

  Far off in the distance, Marie could see a dim light filtering through the cracks of an obscure set of doors.
A much welcomed light at the end of the tunnel
, she thought. Alex picked up speed, charging toward it. In an instant, a dreary red light engulfed the both of them as they emerged into the next room. She judiciously examined their new surroundings, and found herself suddenly wishing she was back in the darkness.

  The dim room was uniquely beautiful and equally frightening. Textured black stones encrusted with rubies lined the floor and the walls. Red water flowed through the cracks, suffusing the room with a crimson glow. Something about it gave Marie an unsettling feeling, so she quickly moved on.

  Roman shades of burgundy crushed velvet and black silk draped along the walls, soaked with the same flowing red water that made it appear as if they were dripping blood. Between the curtains, black iron sconces adorned the wall. Each contained a long, skinny red candle that burned with a black flame.

  Chandeliers of multifaceted glass hung from the ceiling, filled with the same mysterious red liquid that seemed to flow throughout the entire room like a spider web of spindly ventricles. Marie was beginning to feel like she was in the belly of a monster.

  The stale copper scent that hung stagnant in the air was beginning to make her feel queasy. Feeling faint, she began to sway, prompting Alex to move faster. Her stomach began to settle as the next room came into focus. She desperately hoped this one was better than the last.

  There wasn’t a speck of color to be found anywhere in the room. Everything was a pristine white. She squinted against a blindingly bright light that inflicted a dull, throbbing pain just below her temples, but couldn’t locate the source.

 
Journeying through this castle is starting to feel a lot like a hangover,
she thought miserably. That was an adventure she’d already had, and one she was okay with missing out on.

  As they delved further into the room, Marie heard screams cry out from beneath Alex’s feet. Her head snapped down to investigate. The entire floor was made up of faces, writhing beneath his toes in endless, agonizing pain as their piercing sobs penetrated the air. She slapped her hand over her mouth, choking back the rise of vomit.

  Marie slammed her eyes shut, desperately trying to erase the image from her mind. Even if she could forget the grotesque picture now burned into her brain, she couldn’t block out the cries of anguish that filled the air with deafening dissonance. She covered her mouth in an attempt to muffle her sobs, unable to contain her shock and devastation.

  “You’ll need to be a lot quieter than that, or Queen Cailene will know you’re here,” a pretty, petite blonde girl, no older than thirteen, whispered from the shadows of the doorway.

  “Hurry, Johanna!” the Queen bellowed impatiently from the next room as the girl dashed past Alex and Marie in a flash of purple and yellow.

 
The young serving girl was covered from head to toe in welts and bruises; some long healed and some new. The freshly puckered skin and ghosting scars of injuries past incited Marie with a primordial rage, coupled with an unbridled determination to make the evil Queen pay. Who did this woman think she was to treat people like this?

  She fought the urge to jump off of Alex’s back and show the Queen
exactly
what she thought of her. Knowing that would only do more harm than good, she took several deep breaths in an attempt to calm herself. Alex had told her they needed to remain undetected, and she wasn’t going to undermine his direction. She had a feeling she was in
way
over her head.

  Marie braced herself as they crossed the threshold of the grand entrance to the throne room. Alex slowed his steps, proceeding with the utmost caution. Frightened as she was, Marie couldn’t resist the urge to catch a glimpse of the cold-hearted shrew that had caused countless others so much pain.

  Queen Cailene sat perched upon a throne of pure silver, looking like she didn’t have a care in the world. Her posture was perfect, which came as surprise, considering she looked thirty years past the deadline for osteoporosis.

  A flowing black satin gown clung to her bony frame, and her withered hands were covered with gaudy rings that looked like they weighed more than the woman herself. Upon her face sat a black and white ceramic mask with hollow eyes and a Glasgow smile, framed with a crown of thin, frizzy white hair that had a mind of its own, going off in several directions.

  Beside the Queen, hunched over and looking bored on a throne of black iron, sat a man that looked to be around Marie’s age, if not a few years older. He had a lean frame, but he filled out his snug dress shirt, leaving little to the imagination.

  Sandy brown hair brushed over his piercing blue eyes, kissing the arc of his high cheekbones. His full lips pursed into a seductive pout, giving him a wild, devil-may-care look. Marie surmised that he probably had a nice smile, providing he ever managed to wipe the grimace off his face. Looking like a man who was
never
satisfied, she doubted he ever did.

  Marie’s attention was directed back to Alex when he came to an abrupt stop. His back muscles grew painfully tight beneath her as his shoulders aligned into a rigid, straight line. She looked around to see what had stopped him dead in his tracks, immediately discovering the cause. Looming near the doorway was a dead, stuffed Umbra.

  While the Umbra was most likely once a beautiful creature like Alex, it was far from its former glory. Its black undercoat had faded to charcoal gray, and its once lustrous, deep red stripes had been ripped away, leaving raw skin and exposed tissue. The remnants of the creature’s wings were dull black feathers, matted together with blood and filth, as was its auburn mane.

  The look on the creature’s face was heartbreaking. Even in death, it looked to be suffering. It was obvious that this once magnificent creature had been tortured until its body couldn’t take anymore. Then, to add insult to injury, they used its battered corpse as a taxidermy project, displayed proudly in the throne room to strike fear among its kind. Marie focused her attention back on Alex. The fallen Umbra was obviously one of his kin, and he was in shock.

  She had no idea what to do. The Queen and her protégée were less than twenty feet away, and Alex wasn’t moving. He seemed to be lost in grief, and she couldn’t say anything to him for fear of discovery. She gently stroked his mane in hopes that her touch would break his trance, but she couldn’t tear his attention away from the gruesome sight before them.

  She tugged on his mane. Gently at first, then harder. She poked his sides, pinched and flicked his skin, covered his eyes and pulled on his ears. He remained as still as the Umbra before them.

  Marie began to wonder if this room contained some kind of enchantment that paralyzed their kind. If that was true, what could
she
do? She’d never make it out of here without Alex.

  Johanna reentered the room carrying a tray of drinks. Marie’s heart sped up, beating painfully hard against her chest as the servant girl made a beeline for the two of them. It was obvious Johanna could see them. When she spoke to them earlier, she’d locked eyes with Marie and held her gaze.

  Marie had no idea whose side the girl was on. While she hadn’t alerted the Queen of their presence before, that could very well be what she was doing right now. After all, she was walking straight toward them.

  Marie’s heart began beating so fast that it shook her entire body with terse, jerky movements that stirred the air around them. In a last ditch effort, she lightly punched and kicked Alex, continuing her futile attempts to rouse him from his petrified state. When she received no result, she focused all of her energy inward in an attempt to remain calm as Johanna lazily strolled up to Alex’s side.