Insolence a dark ff roma.., p.31
Insolence: A Dark FF+ Romantasy, page 31
With a yelp, she careens into Ghisele and Enid. The three of them collapse into a pile, which looks awkward for all parties involved. Until Imogen.
Maida and I guffaw while that little girl hustles over and flings her tiny body on top of the tangle.
Joyful shrieks go up, prompting another snort from Maida. This one wetter than the last. “Caught them by surprise, didn’t she?”
“That. And she’s little. The little ones hurt when they hit you.”
Cordelia and Sadrie nearly topple over from pulling a tipsy Ghisele and a very flustered Enid to their feet. Tiss and Imogen remain on the ground, tickling each other to howling bits.
Their antics bring another smile to my face. Not so lighthearted, Enid huffs and stalks away from the group, brushing courtyard grime from her cloak. Ghisele gives a pitchy laugh behind her.
“She hasn’t caught on yet, has she?” Maida juts her chin at my apprentice.
“What? Me and Tiss? I told you she found us in the greenhouse—”
“Not that. Tiss’s aura.” Maida gives a peevish toss of her head. “We’ve been coasting by, but our luck won’t hold forever, you know.”
“Nah. She’s still struggling. Confided in me just last week about it. And by confided, I mean threw a tantrum as if I’m blunting her abilities. And withholding the cure just to spite her.”
That earns a third snort. “She’s consistent, isn’t she?”
“Nearly told her my theory that Deirdre’s First Sight is nonexistent just to get her off my back. She can detect extremely strong emotions within a limited range,” I add. “But she’s still a long way off from—”
Maida elbows me to silence. At once I clock Cordelia extracting herself from the dancing to cross the courtyard toward us.
My raven squawks and fans her restless wings. I lift my arm. Whistle her away just as Cordelia approaches, her aura a little bit scared and a touch excited.
“Excuse me, priestesses. Sorry to interrupt, but there’s something strange going on with the betrothed girls.” Brow furrowed, she clutches the Signet Silver flashing at her wrist. “I really can’t ignore it any longer.”
Maida puts on her Concerned Professor Voice. “Ignore what, dear?”
“The betrothed… Their auras are different from Sadrie’s and Ghisele's. Both of yours, too. Even the sisters’ and Mother Deirdre’s.”
I school my features, every muscle and tendon strung taut. Maida’s glance at me is brief. Vaguely startled. Her face is smooth as marble when she turns back to Cordelia. “Different how?”
“It’s difficult to explain. It’s not the color, necessarily. It’s the texture—the consistency. Their auras feel different somehow.”
I’ll be damned. Where Ghisele's lagging behind, Cordelia is blowing past her classmates’ progress admirably.
“You’re quite the sensitive mage,” says Maida in her Impressed Maida Voice. “Naturally gifted in First Sight as well as a devoted student. Most don’t reach that level of ability until well into apprenticeship.”
“Tonight isn’t the time or place to go into it,” I say, and Cordelia turns to me. “Meet me in the Orrery Tower tomorrow after class, and we’ll have a private session. Bring your lunch. I’ll have to apprise you of some things that may be a bit… shocking at first. But the difference in auras is to be expected once you have the full picture.”
“All right.” Not looking fully convinced, Cordelia nods. Shifts her weight between her feet. “There’s another thing, too. Tiss’s aura—”
Lungs constricting, my blood pressure is instantly in my shoes.
“It’s exactly like the betrothed girls’.” Cordelia looks between Maida and me.
To my friend’s credit, she doesn’t twitch an eyelid. Merely nods benignly, taking Cordelia by the shoulders and turning her around. “That’s fine, dear. Nothing to worry about tonight. You haven’t mentioned it to anybody else, have you?”
“N-not yet…” Cordelia strains to look over her shoulder.
“Lovely. See that you don’t and all will be well. Focus on the celebration. Tonight is a joyful occasion. The old year ends and a new one begins! Now go dance and drink some more with your friends.”
We watch her vanish into the crowd, and my heart rate somewhat normalizes. I could do without the white dots washing my vision, though.
A boot thumps on the ground behind me. When I look around to check, nobody’s there.
Maida grabs my elbow, turning me to face her. “You said you trust her, right?”
“Implicitly. Why?”
“Well, don’t you think it might be nice to have an extra set of hands around? Just in case certain things start feeling ‘too big’ and ‘overwhelming’ again?” She quirks a brow at me.
“Fine,” I sigh, knowing what she’s getting at. The pressure of her hand on my arm is strangely soothing. “I’ll talk to her about our plans.”
“Wonderful.” My friend studies me. “It will be all right. I know it doesn’t seem so, but everything will work out in the end.”
“Sure. But we need to be very careful about who we include in this.”
Maida shrugs, releasing me. “It’s your circus. You’re the Ringmaster.”
“Only the people I say, when I say.”
“Understood, my liege. I’d never dream of stepping on your toes.”
I nod. Try to dismiss the clawing anxiety. “Have I thanked you yet for helping me with this crazy caper? On top of generally being my bedrock.”
“Only nine or ten times.”
“Good to know you’ve kept count.” I tie the ribbon Bibi brought me around her wrist. “I mean it, though. I’d be lost without you.”
Both hands go to my shoulders, and she touches her forehead to mine. Her voice drops to a murmur. “Well, it was a strange day indeed when I realized I simply had no choice but to rescue a Succubus and her Thrall from utter despair.”
I pull away, looking this way and that. But we’re still alone in our spot between the large greenhouses and laundry lines. Shaking my head, I laugh. “You are the best friend I could have asked for. I don’t tell you that enough.”
“Does that mean you’re going to quit this pointless sulking and loosen up? I don’t know about you, but after that, I need another drink.”
Laughing again, I dab unshed tears from my eyes.
Kael and Autry have left the shadows. Join the festivities. The blacksmith’s apprentice juggles five of his red balls to the drunken delight of two betrothed girls. Seated on the Waymark’s benches, they’re watching him in awe and barely holding each other up.
Kael gives a whoop and catches another girl as she stumbles. “Watch your step there, love.” He scoops her into his arms as her legs collapse beneath her weight. “Off to bed with ya then.” He nods when he passes us.
Maida and I are heading to the refreshment table when two more betrothed girls catch my eye. Hand-in-hand, they giggle and sway toward the Gallery together. Abruptly stop to exchange a passionate kiss in the open. One girl’s hand sweeps the other’s hair from her shoulder, exposing her neck.
“Hey.” Giving a low whistle, I jog up. “Weren’t you told to keep it contained to your quarters tonight?”
They mumble something incoherent. Talk over each other and laugh again, the drunker of the two not quite focusing her eyes.
I rejoin Maida after pointing them in the right direction. “Deirdre’s got it down to an art. I’ll give her that,” I mutter. “The longest-lasting effects are just wearing off.”
“Still can’t believe I was blind to it for so long.” Maida shakes her head.
“You saw things here and there. But you have a good and trusting heart.”
“A naive heart, I fear.”
“Not because you’re foolish. Because you’re too good and kind to assume anyone is otherwise. And Deirdre would always keep your cup full and your mind distracted on nights like this.”
“True enough, I suppose.” Voice unsteady, my friend motions us toward the refreshments. “A full cup sounds merciful right about now.”
Chapter 39
Itissa
When the clock tower strikes 23:00, the music ceases. The handmaidens clean and pack their instruments away while Imogen gets twirled around to her heart’s content by Sadrie.
“Three more spins. Are you ready?” The blonde’s voice carries in the ringing silence after the music.
“Yes!” Bouncing at the knees, Imogen giggles and places her hand in Sadrie’s again.
Warmth rushes in my chest. Perhaps it’s only the celebration, but for once I feel just a little bit at home. Wanting to linger in the feeling, I smile and watch Sadrie spin the handmaiden around by her hand.
That’s when the sensation of strange eyes watching me sinks in. Turning around, I scan the courtyard and flinch. Where have you been hiding?
Lydia’s clear brown eyes bore into mine from beyond the Waymark. Her expression cryptic, she takes off toward the Orrery Tower. For once she doesn’t have a guard hovering nearby.
Heart thumping in my chest, I do a quick scan of the courtyard.
Elodie and Lady Maida are at the refreshment table, heads together chatting. Cordelia sits with Ghisele, talking and laughing on one of the Waymark’s benches. Gods only know what she sees in the brash redhead, but they seem to have struck up some sort of friendship.
Meanwhile, Sadrie manages to twirl Imogen so hard that the little girl staggers backward and drops to the ground, dizzy and giggling hysterically. Instrument case in hand, Brigit walks up to corral her charge for bedtime.
Behind me, the prioress is drunk and still greatly enjoying being the center of attention at the bonfire she’s sharing with most of the sisters. Now that the dancing is over, Delia has joined them.
With everyone distracted, I slip away unnoticed.
When I catch up to her, Lydia is standing with her back to the great yew tree, warming her hands at a dying fire. The Orrery Tower rises beyond it. Like the other temple buildings, it’s draped in celebratory banners that ripple in the breeze.
"It's really you." I hold my hands to the flames.
Head down, hood pulled forward, she makes a noise in her throat.
"I saw you the night you were attacked. Do you recognize me?"
“Mm-hmm.” She lifts her chin to meet my eyes. Her mask is gone. Aside from the black thread marring her mouth, she's very pretty. Beautiful, even.
"I watched for you after that. Gods, I thought you were dead when you weren't at the lottery. I asked after you, but the prioress made a veiled threat, and one of the priestesses warned me to drop it."
She gives another strangled hum, making me wonder how painful the stitches are. The skin around her lips looks inflamed.
Not wanting to stare, I shift my focus to the winding path to the Observatory. Lit lanterns dot the trail up the steep escarpment. Although the Observatory appears unoccupied, lights are on inside the building.
I gesture to her mouth. “Are you being punished by someone?”
She nods.
“Did you do something bad?”
She emphatically shakes her head. “Mm-mm!” A lock of sleek, dark hair escapes her hood.
“I wish we could talk. I’d really like to know some things about that night.” I give a sardonic snort. “Let’s be honest, I want to know a lot of things. Somehow, I think you might even answer my questions without making me jump through hoops.”
“Mm-hmm,” she nods and pantomimes writing.
Of course. I almost slap my forehead at my own stupidity. If I hadn't been so wrapped up in Elodie, I’d have run to grab a pen and paper as soon as dinner ended.
Temple Guardsmen stand at attention, spaced out evenly along the courtyard’s circumference and half-hidden by shadow. A glance confirms Lydia sees them too.
“Tiss?” Maida’s voice comes from behind us. “What are you doing all the way over— Oh. I see.”
When she registers Lydia’s sewn mouth, she snatches my arm and drags me away like a child. “Come along now.”
Aggravation flashes through me.
She releases me once she deems we’re a safe enough distance away and jams her hands on her hips. “You know better than that, Itissa!” she hisses, a blade-like edge to her voice. “You’re lucky it was me who came along. She’s the Screamer, I take it?”
“Lydia. Yes.”
Beyond Maida’s shoulder, I spot Ghisele and Enid at the refreshment table. The handmaiden blathers excitedly, her chestnut curls bouncing while she whispers to Ghisele.
“I know you’re concerned about her, and I appreciate why. But I assure you all is well,” says Maida. “Now you’ve been told to leave her alone, so leave her alone.”
Exasperation bunches my shoulders. “All is not well,” I whisper, “and I can’t imagine why you’d lie about it, Lady Maida.”
“Just Maida. And fine, you’re correct. Doesn’t mean I’m going into details with you. Elodie has assured me she’ll explain everything eventually.”
“‘Eventually,’” I huff. “It’s always eventually with her.” Fingers wrapped around my onyx pendant, I hunt for the fleeting contentedness I felt not so long ago.
Behind Maida, Ghisele and Enid are whispering vehemently back and forth, glaring at me now. Ghisele’s green eyes widen at whatever salacious gossip Enid is filling her in on.
“I know it’s a lot to ask, but you’re going to have to trust us for the time being. Now!” Maida clasps her hands, pulling my focus back. “Come along. There’s more celebrating yet to come.” She spins on her heel, checking to make sure I follow her back to the festivities.
Ghisele and Enid stare when I pass. Shivering, I hug my cloak tighter around myself and weave around the dying fires, scanning for Elodie.
The courtyard is sparser now, with far fewer betrothed girls milling about. Strange. They must have sent themselves to bed.
At 23:30, the guardsmen give up their perimeter posts in favor of patrolling.
Movement catches my eye in the shadows cast by the Archive’s facade. It’s the quiet moaning that brings me to an immediate halt.
At first there’s nothing but a tangle of limbs melded with darkness. I look harder, my brain struggling to make sense of the flurry of shapes and shadows, until two betrothed girls come into focus.
They’re close to one another… Very close.
No. Not merely close; they’re embracing, and not in a platonic way.
Heat flushes my body while one of them grabs the other behind her neck and kisses her there passionately—to the point that the other woman sags against her, a look of pure ecstasy on her face.
Like when I was with Sadrie and the monster took over…
Out of nowhere someone grabs my elbow, spinning me around. “What the hell, Ghisele?” I cry, my heart in my throat.
“Enid heard something interesting about you,” she says, standing too close. “I thought you might like to know.”
Good gods, what now? “I don’t give a damn what anybody heard, first of all. Secondly, I don’t care for your company, so I’ll be on my way if you don’t mind.”
The redhead turns a blistering glare on me. “Be as flippant as you want, but they’re keeping secrets from you. Secrets about you.”
“Who?”
“Elodie and Maida.” Her slow smile is predatory when my posture goes rigid. “Enid might have accidentally overheard Maida mention a juicy little tidbit. She was talking about a ‘Succubus and her Thrall.’ In reference to Elodie and you, Tiss.”
My next breath refuses to dislodge from my lungs.
The handmaiden in question lingers near the refreshment table, watching our conversation with unconcealed interest.
“And what, exactly, is a Succubus?” Words cannot convey how much I despise feeling like an idiot in front of Ghisele.
“Something unnatural. A dark force,” she shrugs, a touch too casually.
“You don’t know either, do you?” I bite out, wanting to scream. “You’re stirring trouble about something you don’t understand.”
“Fine. I don’t know what a Succubus is. I know exactly what the word ‘thrall’ means, though.”
As do I.
“It’s a state of being under someone’s control or power,” she continues, needlessly. “Like a slave or captive.” She plays idly with one of her amethyst earrings, her sharp gaze passing over me. “You’re falling in love with her, aren’t you? I can read it all over you.”
There’s no question she’s alluding to my aura. The burgeoning feelings for Elodie I’ve scarcely acknowledged myself.
Despite being overdressed and bundled up, I feel suddenly exposed, defenseless, and on display. “This conversation is a waste of time. Hasn’t anyone told you how tedious you are?” Brushing past her, I resolve to find Elodie and ask her about this Succubus and Thrall business directly.
But will she give me answers?
A pair of Temple Guardsmen crowd the Archive’s entrance now. They’re rounding up the two betrothed women. Strangely, they’re neither angry nor appalled; perhaps a bit amused.
My gaze darts to the prioress, who throws her head back in laughter. She’s still standing at the large bonfire, still sipping her goblet of wine, still being fawned over by her retinue of sisters, and loving it.
“You see the problem, though.” Ghisele’s words slither right through me, halting me in my tracks. “Can you say that you trust her? Can you say with certainty that she won’t lie about it or brush you off if you go to her?”
I whirl around, feeling like she’s infringed on my mind along with my aura and most private emotions.
“There it is.” Her grin is too sly, too cunning.
“If you intend to arrive at a point, I beg of you. Enlighten me.”
“I may not know precisely what a Succubus is, but I know what it’s like to be in Elodie’s thrall. So do you, it seems.” She examines her fingernails, affecting nonchalance before her focus sharpens on me. “From the looks of it, you’re at an advanced stage of ruin when it comes to her. Are you not?”
