Duck, Duck, Noose Page 17

  She would enter the castle on her own. She didn’t like leaving her brother in the dangerous forest, but really, she probably faced just as much danger going into the castle as Mara and Alaric would waiting outside.

  The more immediate problem though, was the massive portcullis guarding the castle against intruders. She observed the heavy barrier warily from their hiding place within the dense trees. Past the portcullis, the dark inner courtyard of the castle could be seen. The courtyard was eerily still. Such a large castle brought to her mind scenes of its inhabitants, tending the grounds, having grand feasts, and otherwise occupying the space, but there was no one there. Mara claimed the Morrigan lived in the massive castle entirely alone.

  “So I should just walk up and wait to be spotted?” she whispered, then bit her lip.

  Mara leaned her hand against a tree, her gaze intent on the castle. “Yes, she will at least take the time to speak with you. Few venture into her forest and live to tell the tale. Your presence will pique her curiosity.”

  “Then I just blatantly state that I’ve been sent from the future, and that I have the knowledge to prove it?” she pressed, wanting to make sure she had the plan just right in her mind.

  Mara nodded. “Your modern clothing will support your point, and the things you know are things only the Morrigan could have told you herself. I took many secrets to my grave.”

  Sophie took a deep breath, smoothing her hands over her still-damp black jeans, then took a step forward.

  Alaric grabbed her arm, bringing her gaze to him. “Be careful,” he ordered. “And if it seems like she may be overly hostile, scream and we will do our best to rescue you.”

  Mara snorted. “There will be no rescuing her. If the Morrigan does not believe her tale, we’re all as good as dead.”

  Sophie sighed, now more nervous than ever. She’d faced death many times, but facing the Morrigan was another story entirely. “On that reassuring note, let’s get this over with.”

  Pulling away from Alaric, she stepped forward, out of the cover of the dense trees. She approached the stone walkway leading to the portcullis. Her boots seemed loud as they hit the stones, one step after another. She felt like the Morrigan might jump out of the darkness and attack her any moment, or maybe a banshee. Soon she reached the heavy iron bars of the portcullis, and suddenly wasn’t sure what to do. Should she knock? Or perhaps call out?

  Her decision was made for her as a loud, clinking sound nearly deafened her, then the portcullis began to raise. She took a step back, resisting the urge to glance over her shoulder into the forest. If anyone was watching, she didn’t want to give Alaric and Mara away.

  Once the portcullis had raised fully, she took a deep breath and darted through the entryway, almost laughing at the thought of the portcullis crashing down on top of her to end things right then and there. Yet, it remained raised as she entered the well manicured courtyard.

  She suspected the perfectly level green grass and ornately trimmed shrubberies were maintained by magic, as she couldn’t really picture the Morrigan out there trimming them herself.

  Straight ahead was an ornate, heavy wooden door that would lead into the center of the castle. She approached it, but before she could reach out to open it, the door unlatched and swung slowly inward. She stepped inside, feeling like she was entering a haunted house in a movie. The type of movie where the audience screams at the heroine to stay out of the creepy building. That’s where the monster is.

  The door swung shut behind her, leaving her in a candlelit entry room. The castle’s stone walls reminded her of the Salr, though this structure was above ground, and set firmly in the human realm. As far as she could tell, she was alone.

  She stepped onto a finely woven burgundy runner rug as she ventured further into the castle. The entry room branched off into long hallways in either direction. At the end of one hall, she could see a stone staircase rising upward. Deciding the Morrigan was likely the type to reside at the top of the highest tower, she made her way toward the stairs, wondering why the Morrigan was forcing her to seek her out in the first place. The opening of the portcullis, then the door meant the Morrigan knew of Sophie’s presence and had magically opened them. Else the castle had a mind of its own. She shivered at that thought as she reached the stairs, then journeyed upward. And upward. The stairs seemed to go on forever.

  She reached the top to find an open, expansive room, ornately decorated with shiny wooden furniture and copious candles. Beautifully carved friezes of elements of nature had been installed as part of the walls, replacing the heavy stones in certain areas. Tapestries draped the walls further into the room, all leading up to a raised dais. In the center of the dais, rested a wooden throne. In the throne, sat the Morrigan.

  She had the same appearance as Mara currently possessed, not like the corpse she’d inhabited in the future, but still with long red hair, and a lovely, angular face. She wore a red silk dress, trailing past her feet to pool on the floor. The bodice was a tight corset with long sleeves to cover her arms, draped elegantly on the armrests of the throne.

  “Have you come to kill me?” the Morrigan asked with a small smile. Before Sophie could answer, she continued, “Few make it through the forest, but those who try always wish to kill me.”

  Sophie took a step forward. “Actually, I’ve come to ask a favor.”

  The Morrigan’s laugh was rich and throaty, echoing through the space to reach Sophie’s ears from all directions. She stood, pushing her red hair over her shoulder to mingle with the deeper red of her dress.

  “I don’t believe I’ve heard that one before,” she replied. She gestured to Sophie with a theatrical wave. “Please, proceed.”

  Sophie took a steadying breath, then launched into her explanation. She detailed everything that had happened with the Morrigan in the future, including the new information Mara had given her on their walk. She detailed just how the Morrigan had come to be, and just why she was the way she was now, including the betrayal of the one she loved. She then went on to explain just how she’d come to the past, and the implications therein.

  She finished, then took a shaky breath, realizing she’d spat everything out at an almost unintelligible rate.

  The Morrigan puckered her lips and wrinkled her nose like she’d just eaten something foul. “Who sent you here?” she demanded. “Who told you these things?”

  Sophie straightened her spine and took on an almost aggressive stance, belying her fear. “You told me. You are the only one who knows these things.”

  The Morrigan shook her head, then marched up to Sophie like she might hit her.

  Sophie stood her ground, not bothering to defend herself. She’d never win in a fight against the Morrigan. Her only hope was to convince her.

  Instead of lashing out, the Morrigan lifted her hand and placed it around Sophie’s jaw, holding her face immobile. She peered into Sophie’s eyes for several heartbeats, then released her.

  “Where is this future me?” she demanded. “Bring her here, and perhaps I will aid you.”

  Sophie slumped in relief. “She’s in the forest,” she explained, “with my . . . brother.”

  The Morrigan eyed her sharply at the mention of a man, but did not comment.

  “Fetch them,” she demanded.

  Sophie nodded quickly, then turned and hurried out of the room. There was the possibility that the Morrigan simply wanted to gather them together before killing them, but it was a risk she had to take. Without the Morrigan’s help, they were as good as dead, and Sophie would rather end it all now, than waste her life away in a world that could never be home.

  18

  We escaped the woods and took two SUVs to regroup at an expensive hotel with everyone else. It had to be twenty stories high, but we ended up on the eighth. I had just started walking into the room Mikael had led us to, when Kira came running out, flinging herself at me. Her small arms wrapped me in a hug.

  “I was so worried!” she exclaimed. “W
here have you been?”

  I gently pried her off me. She backed away, smoothing her green hair in sudden embarrassment. Her motions halted as she glanced past me. Her jaw dropped.

  I moved out of the way to give her a clear view of Sivi, who stood silently in the hall. Judging by her blank stare, one would never guess she was seeing her long lost sister for the first time.

  “Sivi?” Kira questioned in shock.

  I backed away, putting myself closer to Mikael. “We’ll give you two some space,” I said softly.

  Sivi shuddered as life seemed to return to her. “There is no need for that,” she snapped, then strode past Kira into the hotel room.

  Tears rimmed Kira’s eyes. She looked up at me, completely at a loss.

  I shooed her into the room. Talk to her, I mouthed.

  Kira nodded, but still seemed unsure. I didn’t blame her. Sivi was downright scary. I was trusting that she wouldn’t harm her long lost sister, especially with how demanding she’d been about seeing her. I had a feeling Sivi simply hadn’t shown true emotion in so long, she just didn’t know how to handle what she was feeling.

  Mikael took hold of my arm. “Let us see if Silver has returned yet.”

  I nodded, gave Kira one last encouraging look, then allowed Mikael to pull me away down the polka dotted rug of the hotel hall. Apparently my fresh clothing and phone charger would have to wait. Everyone else had either gone to their rooms, or were down in the hotel bar/restaurant, waiting for those still out investigating the Salr’s entrances to arrive.

  “Let’s get a drink,” Mikael suggested as we walked, “and you can tell me exactly what happened while we were apart.”

  I frowned. “Why didn’t you just ask me on the drive over here?”

  He raised an eyebrow at me. “Have you shared every aspect of what’s happening with Alejandro and Tallie?” he questioned. “I assumed you would not want everyone to know what we’d discussed before the ambush.”

  I blushed. “I didn’t explain everything directly, but they have probably pieced together most of it.”

  He laughed. “Well then my caution was for naught. I just assumed you wouldn’t want everyone to know you’re . . . not like everyone else.”

  We reached the elevator and Mikael pushed the button to summon it.

  “I don’t even want to know it,” I quipped.

  The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open, revealing a man. We entered the elevator along with him, doing that awkward thing you do in elevators, where you all pretend you don’t see each other, but at the same time, you don’t speak, and you all know that you’re not speaking expressly because of the extra person’s presence.

  The doors shut, and down we went, not stopping until the ground floor. We exited, eyeing the man as he walked out of hearing range.

  “So let’s begin with when we got separated,” Mikael suggested.

  We walked into the nearby hotel bar, which was mostly empty, given it near eleven, and most travelers had early morning work conferences, or family vacation plans. Mundane life at its best. I couldn’t say I missed it, except for the not being in danger part.

  A table in the back of the dimly lit establishment held familiar faces. Silver sat having a conversation with Aila and Faas. Marcos was nowhere to be seen, but I knew neither Mikael nor Aila would have allowed him to run off. He was likely in one of the hotel rooms, under heavy guard.

  Mikael motioned for me to walk ahead of him past the gleaming, freshly wiped, empty tables. The lone bartender perked up as he noticed us from behind the bar, amidst towers of expensive looking bottles and sparkling clean glasses.

  I reached the table first, taking the empty seat next to Faas, leaving Mikael to sit on my other side, near Silver. It wasn’t that I didn’t like Silver. Well, that’s a lie. I really didn’t like him, and I wasn’t sure why, other than the fact that he unnerved me. Bad first impression, I suppose.

  He ran a hand over his perfectly styled, black hair as he nodded to both Mikael and I in greeting, then lifted a glass of amber liquid to his lips. Faas took a long swill of something similar in color. In front of Aila sat a white mug of coffee. Even at the late hour, the aroma wafting from the steaming cup made my mouth water.

  The bartender approached our table and asked for our drink orders. Apparently in a hotel bar at midnight, you didn’t get cocktail waiters, just the lone bartender. I ordered a cup of decaf, and Mikael ordered, surprise, whiskey.

  Once we had our drinks, we all leaned forward conspiratorily.

  Silver’s eyes flicked up to meet mine. “I’m told you have restored your banshees,” he whispered. He maintained an uncomfortable amount of eye contact as he sipped his drink.

  I nodded, glanced at Mikael for reassurance, then began to tell everyone all that had happened once we separated. From reaching the small town and visiting the cemetery, to Marcos sharing his power with me to strengthen the banshees, to finding and invading Estus’ Salr. Faas took in my story silently, not bothering to add any tidbits from his perspective.

  I glanced at Mikael hesitantly before stating the next part, even though Faas already knew, and Silver and Aila had been present in the vehicle when we’d first discussed it. “I think the key has taken control of Estus,” I admitted, “and it’s planning something that involves me. That’s why Sophie and Alaric are being held hostage. It wants me to cooperate with it.”

  “We’ve been working on discerning where Alaric and Sophie are being held,” Mikael replied. “If we can find them before the time stated on Estus’ invitation to his ball, then we can ignore his requests. Instead, we’ll continue to grow our forces in preparation for trapping Estus long enough to meet his end.”

  I nodded. “The key protected him from all the attacks we threw his way. He will not be easy to subdue.”

  Mikael lifted his glass to his lips and drained it in a single swallow. “I believe our best chance is to lure Estus out into the open where he’ll have to face the banshees and the executioners at once.”

  By executioners, he meant Marcos, Faas, and me. It was going to be an epic battle of death vs. chaos.

  “I’d like to speak with Marcos more about all of this,” I said. “We haven’t even had a chance to discuss what happened with the banshees. I’d like to make our plans very clear to him.”

  “I still don’t like that he’s involved at all,” Faas replied. “We can’t trust him.”

  I bit my lip, debating on whether or not to tell Faas about Hecate sharing our goals, or about both Marcos and I being descended from similar deities. Faas was different from us. He manipulated energy, granting him the skills of an executioner, but he wasn’t aligned with death. I briefly debated asking which god he was aligned with, but wasn’t sure if it would be rude. Those aligned with lesser gods seemed to be a bit touchy about it.

  I wasn’t sure if learning about Hecate would make Faas value Marcos’ participation more, or less. Though, I supposed it really didn’t matter. We were all going to do what we needed, regardless of how we felt about each other. I just didn’t like the constant unease coming from Faas. As an empath, it only added to my nerves.

  “There are plenty of people we can’t trust,” I decided. “It doesn’t mean they aren’t useful.”

  Mikael chuckled. “Spoken like a true queen.”

  I took a sip of my decaf, then pursed my lips in distaste. It just wasn’t the same as the real deal. I glanced at Aila’s cooling coffee longingly.

  Raising a pale eyebrow, she slowly slid the cup across the table toward me, tempting me with its soothing goodness.

  Screw it. I took the mug gratefully and took a sip. She’d added way too much cream and sugar, but it was still better than the decaffeinated abomination I’d ordered.

  Movement caught my eye, just as Mikael’s eyes slid toward a red-haired woman I recognized as one of his people. She entered the bar along with Tabitha and Rose. I was proud I’d managed to remember Rose’s name after only interacting with her the one time,
the day she’d arrived at the Salr in Dublin with Maya.

  Spotting us, Tabitha rushed forward, followed by the others. She wrapped me in a brief hug as she reached our table, then moved on to start chiding her brother in Old Norsk. I couldn’t understand much of what she was saying, but the tone was quite clear. How dare you make me worry about you.

  Their argument made my heart ache as I thought of Alaric and Sophie. We needed to figure out where they were, and fast.

  Unable to watch the scene any longer, I turned to Mikael. “Do we have any ideas on where to look for Alaric and Sophie?”

  “I have a few,” he admitted, swirling the ice cubes around in his glass. “It’s likely they’re not in Estus’ Salr, but it’s also a possibility they’ll be moved there sometime before the ball.” He furrowed his brow in thought. “Or perhaps not. It might all be a ruse. He, or the key, might just be using them as a ploy to get their hands on you. Once you are lured into the Salr, that will be that.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t think that’s it. I have a feeling the key needs my cooperation with something. The key wanted to speak with me alone. I think Alaric and Sophie are the leverage to force me into doing something I don’t want to do.”

  “The only thing the key might need you for is to regrow—” Faas interjected, then cut himself off as he glanced at Rose, standing awkwardly beside the red-haired woman near the edge of the table. They seemed reluctant to pull up seats, as if waiting for an invitation.

  Not wanting to be the one to give it to them, I turned back to Faas and nodded. The only thing the key might need me for was to regrow Yggdrasil, which was our plan, not the key’s.

  I took another sip of Aila’s coffee as I thought about the key’s possible intentions. “Maybe there’s something else we don’t know about. In all this time, I haven’t been able to discern the key’s true intent. To cause chaos, yes, but maybe there’s more to it. It was going along with my plan before, so there was obviously some end in that direction it desired. It was probably just waiting to act until the perfect moment.”