Torrent of Tears (Scourge Survivor Series Book 3)(7)
“Well I was placed without a note or a memory to go on.”
Freya’s brow arched and her resemblance to me strengthened. “You truly have no knowledge of what is to come? Our celebration? What it means to be an Eligible?”
I shook my head. “Nope. Totally in the dark.”
She seemed to find that amusing, but after few seconds of what I could only describe as gloating she held her hand out again. “Then, it truly is time to go. The hour of celebration approaches. Our family awaits.”
Family? A real family? Not a cobbled together mess that shits on me the minute I make one little mistake? I brushed my hands over the goosebumps on my arms. My instincts said none of this sat right. That I needed to fall back. Bring her to Reign. Ask questions. Yeah, but apparently my instincts had been off—for months.
Unsure if I was dreaming, tripping, or if this was really happening, I considered leaving. I’d just said I needed time away. Jade and the others would probably think I went underground to cool off. I glanced at the golden mist floating in wisps around Freya’s feet and snorted. I supposed this counted as going underground. Besides, if I was gone they might realize how much they’d taken me for granted. Maybe a little worrying would do them good.
“Sure,” I said, stepping out to join her. “Let’s go.”
CHAPTER THREE
I expected the water to be cold, after all, it was mid-February and the pond had been frozen solid ten minutes before my princess sista emerged and did her Jesus lizard on the water impression. It wasn’t cold though. It was like stepping into the hot springs. Soothing. Until my cold limbs began to thaw. Slivers of pain splintered across my skin and into my bones as my blood began to flow again.
Freya took my hand before we submerged entirely and for a fleeting moment I wondered if I really wanted to make my first appearance for my homecoming looking like a drowned rat. That thought was short lived. As I opened my mouth to say something she took a breath and went under. I followed.
Bizarre . . . as my head submerged at Haven it emerged into the warmth of a Mediterranean afternoon. Blue skies. Warm salty sea breeze. We rose out of a raised reflection pool in a city center. And I wasn’t even wet.
The rush of ocean waves breaking filled my ears. I blinked and tried to absorb. I searched my surroundings to see where the sound was coming from.
The city rose around us expansive and almost Mundie futuristic. Metallic looking buildings with strong architectural arches and rising staircases carried my gaze over the empyreal landscape. The city wasn’t composed of skyscrapers. Most of the structures didn’t exceed five or six stories, but the hustle and gleam of the surroundings felt very metropolitan.
In the distance, a massive, bronze palace melded into the solid rock of the mountain beyond. With the afternoon light streaming in from above, spires and parapets shone like liquid caramel, reaching up to the bluest sky I’d ever seen.
I turned a slow three-sixty, my ears still thrumming with the rush and crash of water. Ocean waves crashed against an iridescent dome covering the entire city. I followed the line of shimmering silver, bronze and brass spires. Up and up, I followed the arc of an iridescent field. Amazing. It was like one of Jade’s privacy bubbles, but it domed the entire city on a massive scale.
Freya and I were helped out of the wading pool by two uniformed guards wearing bronze, sleeveless breastplates, black Kevlar-looking pants and metal wrist cuffs. They each held a six-foot staff with runes running the length of the weapon. Without a word to either of us, they resumed their posts as soon as we descended the six steps into the bustle of the walkway below.
“Follow me,” said Freya as she moved into the crowds.
Well-polished citizens draped in silken chitons and richly colored tunics made their way along glittering walkways and across wide, expansive courtyards.
I’d been invited to the most elaborate toga party ever.
I glanced back to the guards at the pool and others at the gates and bridge posts. Sleek, black armor, military stance, and a ranking system that could be indicated by the color banding the shoulder brackets of their chest pieces. My inner warrior nodded in approval.
After checking myself out, I nodded. Passable. My new Jimmy Choo boots were fab and I still had on my leathers, my long-sleeved Under Armour and battle-vest from my 5th period weapons class. I quickened my step to keep up with Freya as she crossed a maze of bridges and paths over and along a complex system of canals.
Water crafts hummed up and down the crisscrossing waterways. I couldn’t hear if they were motorized over the sound of water crashing. “How can you stand the noise?” I shouted to Freya. “It’s deafening.”
Two women ahead of us jumped and turned.
“Then turn it down.” Freya rolled her eyes. “In your head.”
I stared at her for a moment and she rolled her eyes again. “It’s as basic as it gets,” she said. I followed her lips, thankful that lip reading was a mandatory surveillance study for the Talon. “For goddess sake, you’re a water Fae.”
I am? I laughed without humor as my ire rose. Good to know. Fine. If I was some lost descendent of one of the water Fae races I should be able to affect water, right. Hells, yeah. Silence, I thought. Be quiet. Nothing happened. Enough. Freya was fighting back a condescending smile, which just added fuel to the fire of my mood. Turn. The. Fuck. Down.