Ariel greeted every dawn with fear and anxiety. Would this be the day they killed Valteri to punish her?
Would she have to hold him and watch him die?
Because she dared to love him?
It was as if Belial and Mildred intentionally dragged the days out, to make sure they maximized her torture.
And each day, she tried a new way to break the curse. With Shadow’s help, she researched everything she could, but there were no answers.
Not even their shadows had a clue how to undo it without the crone’s help or intervention.
“Only the crone can rescind her curse. I’m sorry.” Shadow at least was sympathetic. “If you want, I could kill her for you. That might help.”
His solution was becoming much more appealing as the days went by.
More snow had fallen the night before, blanketing the land in a pure white cover that made her wonder how evil could rest so comfortably around them and not at least be touched by the innocent beauty of this world.
Then again, evil had always been without conscience. Never caring how much harm it did to those around it.
She sat outside watching the children make their snow angels while she sipped a cup of warm cider. Their laughter rang in her ears and brought a smile to her face.
Why couldn’t everyone be so happy over something so simple? That was the biggest tragedy of becoming an adult. That moment when life buried the joys of laughter gained from a simple run or from the sensation of warm sunlight on one’s cheeks.
The joy found in capturing a sunbeam in the palm of your hand.
No one should lose their appreciation so soon.
And Ariel had so enjoyed these last few weeks. Valteri always stood near, ready to assist her. She’d taught him to play chess, while he’d taught her much about human feelings and desires. But their time together only made her greedier for his presence.
Greedier for a lifetime spent by his side.
“Milady?”
She turned at the old gnarled voice to find Mildred approaching.
“I beg your forgiveness for disturbing you.…”
Ariel stared at her and though she ought to hate the woman, only pity filled her. “What do you need, Mildred?”
“I…” The crone glanced away. “I know I have no right to ask, but I seek your charity.”
Seriously? She had some nerve. “My charity?”
“Aye. I need you to forgive me for what I’ve done.”
Her jaw went slack. How could she even ask such a thing?
Had the withered creature fallen and hit her head?
Mildred sank to her knees in front of her. “Last night … my Peter came to me.”
Even more confused, she tried to make sense of what she was saying. “Your son?”
“Aye.” Tears filled her eyes. “Though he no longer looked the same, I knew it was him. He told me of his new role and how happy he was to be fighting against those out to harm us all. That I should rejoice for what he’d chosen to do. He bade me seek forgiveness so that I would no longer be damned for what I’ve done.”
Was this some trick of Belial’s?
Baffled, she tried to make sense of it.
Until she saw Thorn stepping out of the shadows behind the woman. The intensity of his green eyes told her who was behind Mildred’s strange turnabout.
Aye, he’d have the ability to arrange such a “meeting.”
That was what Shadow had meant yesterday when he’d told her that he had one more trick he wanted to try.
“’Twas my grief and pain that caused me to seek vengeance against you, milady. What I did was wrong. I see that now. I don’t want to be damned for it. Can you forgive me?”
Ariel’s chest tightened. True sorrow and regret mingled in the crone’s eyes. She meant what she said.
How could she deny this woman what she asked?
Indeed, forgiveness seemed a small request.
Ariel smiled sadly. “Aye, Mildred, I forgive you.”
And even as she said the words, she meant them. Unfortunately, she’d learned all too well these weeks past why Mildred had cursed her.
What it would mean to lose someone she loved.
Fear flickered in the old woman’s eyes as she desperately held on to Ariel’s hands. “Is it too late for me to save my soul?”
Biting her lip, she looked over the woman’s head to Thorn and arched a questioning brow. If anyone would know, he would. Bargaining for such souls was what he did.
She’ll be fine. His voice was loud and clear in her head. As long as she stays clear of Belial.
Ariel inclined her head to him, before she met the woman’s gaze. “Aye, but heed my words. Curse no others. Stay away from Belial and all his ilk in the future.”
Mildred nodded, her eyes wide and fearful. “Anything else?”
“Free me from my curse.”
Scowling, she hesitated. “I don’t know if I can.”
Shadow and Thorn drew closer.
“How was your pact set?” Thorn asked.
“I promised to serve Belial, and do as he said.”
Ariel let out a relieved breath. Well, at least it was a standard deal. “Did you set your pact in writing?”
Nothing could break a signed agreement, especially one signed with blood.
“Nay, milady. I know not how to write. I took a verbal oath to give him my soul upon my death, and then he cut my hand and drank of my blood.”
How stupid are you?
But she stopped herself from saying that out loud. She would never understand how humans could be so vengeful and shortsighted.
At least now they knew what they were dealing with. It would be a little tricky, but far from impossible. “Did Belial specify when your death would take place?”
“When the curse is fulfilled.”
Ariel growled low in her throat. It seemed everything hinged upon Valteri’s death. But if they could free Mildred, then maybe they could break the curse, too. “Can we get her free?”
Thorn let out a slow, thoughtful breath. “Maybe.”
Ariel smiled at her. “See. There’s always hope.” Raziel’s words echoed in her head and she chose to believe them.
“Thank you, milady!” Mildred kissed the hem of Ariel’s kirtle.
Ariel pulled her dress away from her. “Please, no need in doing that.”
The old woman smiled gratefully.
Ariel cupped the woman’s cheek in her hand. “But remember that you must take care. Belial won’t take kindly to losing you. He will try and claim you. If all else fails, should you die before we break this curse, if he shows up to claim your soul, then you must invoke the name of Azriel or Adidiron. One of them will come to your aid and take you to your son.”
“Azriel or Adidiron. I won’t forget.”
Shadow snorted disdainfully.
Ignoring him, Ariel smiled, wishing they’d help her, too. But she knew her friends would never turn their backs on this woman.
She touched Mildred’s hand and the old woman’s eyes turned gentle. “I should never have blamed you, milady. You’re truly kind.”
And with that, she rose and scampered off.
Shadow came forward with a sneer twisting his lips. “You just had to give her my father’s name, didn’t you?”
“Sorry. But he’s the one most likely to kick Belial’s ass over this.”
Shadow scoffed. “Pity he’d never help his own sons.”
Thorn passed an irritated smirk at him. “Don’t expect sympathy here. Want to trade fathers?”
“Want to trade mothers?”
“Fuck. No. You keep that rabid bitch far away from me.”
They both turned to stare at her.
“What?” she asked innocently.
Shadow shook his head. “At least your sperm donor and mother were neglectful. Sad when that’s the choice we envy.”
It was indeed, and said it all about their respective childhoods and what had led them both to being who and what they were.
A breeze blew an odor toward Ariel and she stiffened, recognizing the stench.
No sooner had it infiltrated her nostrils than Belial appeared, walking from beside the manor as if he were on a leisurely stroll about the bailey.
As soon as he saw them gathered, he headed straight for them.
“Well, well. A confab of my least favorite people. To what do I owe this displeasure?”
Shadow grinned widely. “We’re planning your boot party. Would you prefer being kicked in the head or the crotch?”
Thorn laughed.
Belial, not so much. “Aren’t you bored yet? Why are you still here?”
“Mostly to irritate you. My favorite pastime.”
Thorn shrugged. “Free alcohol. Besides, I have nothing better to do, apparently.”
Wrinkling his nose, Shadow stepped forward and raked Belial with a flirtatious once-over. “Not to mention, I just love the way your ass jiggles when you walk. Shake it, baby. You give me a hard-on for days.”
Belial curled his lips in distaste. “You’re a sick fuck.”
“Not what I’ve been told. They actually cling to my groin for more. Just ask. The list of recommendations in that department is quite impressive.”
“He’s right.” Thorn laughed. “If he ever visits me, I can’t get good help for weeks. It takes them that long before they can walk straight again. His stamina is the stuff of legends.”
Looking sick to his stomach, Belial scurried away.
Ariel laughed. “I’m not sure if I should be scared or impressed that the two of you were able to scare away a high-ranking demon with so little effort.”
Shadow winked. “Bit of both.”
Thorn scoffed at him. “Neither, actually. It’s easy to scare something when you know what gets under their skin. Belial’s too stupid to not flaunt his aversions. It’s why he never wants to be on my father’s bad side. His torture would be tremendous.”
He looked at Shadow. “As would yours.”
“How so?”
“Keep you celibate and sober for a day. I think you’d spontaneously combust.”
Shadow considered that. “Let’s not put that to a test. You could be right.”
Ignoring their banter, she turned her thoughts back to Mildred. They were halfway home now.
“What of the curse?” she asked them. “Can we break it now?”
Thorn sighed. “That’s still the crux, isn’t it?”
Ariel gestured in the direction Mildred had gone. “If she doesn’t want vengeance anymore—”
“It doesn’t change the fact that she made a blood pact with Belial and he still wants you.”
Shadow snorted. “More to the point, he wants Valteri.”
She cringed inwardly. “So, what do we do?”
Shrugging, Shadow gave her a wicked smirk. “Kill the bitch. Problem solved.”
Ariel screwed her face up at his solution. “Shadow! We can’t do that! She’s asked for forgiveness!”
Again, he shrugged. “No, you, daughter of two Arelim, are a good guy and can’t do that.” He turned his gray gaze to Thorn. “The son of the king of all darkness would normally not have a problem with it, either, but his blood is corrupted by a human mother who long regretted her bargain and now, he wants to be a good guy, too, and won’t kill an innocent. Dumbass that he is. I, on the other hand, am the spawn of the queen of all shadows, and an Arel father who isn’t exactly known for following rules and who has no feelings or sympathy for anyone. That gives me a predilection for a certain moral ambiguity that the two of you, and most others, lack. I’ve got no problem gutting her for this reason, or any other. So I say kill her and be done with it.”
She rolled her eyes.
“I’ll remind you of that expression when you regret not listening to me. After all, the simplest solution is usually the right one.”
Thorn snorted. “And as I recall, shedding needless blood was what got all of us into this, wasn’t it?”
“Which is why shedding blood is what will get us out of it.”
“Would you two stop?” Ariel pressed her hand to her temple to alleviate the ache that was beginning. “We can’t kill someone who just asked for forgiveness.”
Thorn struck Shadow in the center of his chest. “Yeah, you insensitive ass.”
“Better that than a dumbass.”
She ignored his quip. “Should we tell Jaden of this? Ask for his help?”
They laughed at her question, then sobered when they realized she was serious.
“Would he not help?” she asked.
Shadow shook his head. “Not bloody likely.”
Thorn sighed in frustration. “Sadly, I’m with Shadow on this. Jaden doesn’t normally involve himself unless he has something to gain from it. However…”
His hesitation gave her hope. “However, what?”
He grabbed Shadow by his hauberk. “Let us see about something. Arel, keep your wings crossed. We’ll be back.”
She watched them step back into the shadows so that no one could see them and vanish.
As they did so, her anger rose. “Beware, Belial. I will finish this.” She wasn’t a useless pawn.
For centuries, she’d fought against him and his ilk. While she didn’t have the experience Thorn did when it came to blood curses, she wasn’t without her own knowledge and resources.
And Belial was about to see just how much of her own father she had in her blood.