Infernal Ties (6 page)

CHAPTER ELEVEN

We weren’t quite into tourist season yet. The streets were relatively quiet as I walked down to Újezd with my thumbs tucked in my back pockets. The sun was faintly warm on my skin. My eye was drawn to the large wrought iron gates that framed the entrance to Strahov Park. I gave it half a moment’s consideration and continued on. I couldn’t help but smirk when I glanced across the road at Café Silhouette. Felix and his pack would never forgive me, but it had been worth it. His pack had needed putting in their place for a while; Quin had been too soft on them.
 

My chest constricted as I thought of him. I picked up my pace and put my head down, focusing on the task at hand. I barely noticed the bright colours of the flowerbeds as I jogged up the short steps near the funicular. I was in no mood to squeeze onto one of the plastic bench seats and wait for it to make its way up the steep hill. Continuing at a steady jog, I carried on along the old tarmac path into the dark evergreen trees and made my way up towards the top of Petřín Hill.
 

The nymphs whispered and giggled as I went past the older trees. Their voices tickled the back of my mind and begged me to pause. They teased me with words I couldn’t quite make out. I pushed myself up into an easy lope, my breathing getting more ragged; the hill was longer than I’d remembered. Laughter, human laughter, came from the elegant restaurant halfway up the hill. A white affair with a patio looking down over Lesser Town, I’d meant to take Quin for a meal there for months and never quite got around to it. Happy couples sat out in the fresh spring air, smiles on their faces as waiters in pristine black and white uniforms brought out local foods.
 

I couldn’t help but feel envious of them. There had been a time when I could have been there with them, part of a happy couple. Memories of Christian pressed into my mind. We would have been married by then. He had to ruin it, though. I’d found him in bed with a pixie, hours after he’d sworn that I was his everything. The pixie had whisked him away to the fairy world a week later, never to be seen again. A tear trickled down my cheek. I hadn’t even considered a relationship since. Quin kept teasing me about at least finding some fun for a night. My fists clenched. I would get my twin back. I’d protect him. He was all I had.
 

I paused when I finally reached the top of the hill. It was always something of a disappointment; one of the highest points in the city, and yet it was just an open space with well-worn earth and short grass. Each time, I hoped they had something
more
with the space. I took a moment to get my breath back; my ribs were aching and tightened with every breath. Petřín Tower emerged on the horizon, a simple metal affair that held some of the best views of the city at the top. I’d spent many hours looking out of the windows, admiring the old city from up there. The elegant slope of the river and the hundreds of spires in their varying forms. It wasn’t perfect, but it was home.

Once my breathing had settled a little, I set off at a brisk walk down the worn tarmac path towards Elise’s church. It had been built on Slav pagan grounds back in the 1100’s. It stood noble and proud in its simplicity. Elise has chosen it due to the power that was woven through it and the fact that most tourists didn’t bother to wander down the path and look at it when there were so many grander churches to admire. The plain terracotta walls with the green copper spires always made me pause and drink it in. There was something imposing and yet peaceful about it. It was a place of power and sanctuary. A guard tower watching over the city.
 

I wasn’t really religious; I knew the gods existed, but I wanted nothing to do with them. Yet I couldn’t help but bow my head and try to show a little respect when I walked up the couple of steps to the heavy wooden door. I missed half a beat when the serenity of the place washed over me. I stood in the small entrance way, and allowed my eyes to adjust to the dim light.
 

No one was within sight. My muscles relaxed and the chaos that had filled my mind dispersed to be replaced by the calm knowledge that I was safe. Lowering my eyes, I gave a small nod of respect to the image of the moon goddess that was etched into the wall behind a pristine white marble altar. Elise almost caught me off guard as I found myself becoming lost in my own thoughts. Quin’s going missing was making me realise just how much I’d given up and lost over my relatively short life. I couldn’t lose him, I’d shatter.
 

Elise looked as though she was gliding in her floor-length white dress. It tumbled down over her slight form and fell off her shoulders to expose her flawless pale skin. Her long white hair cascaded down her back, almost reaching her hips; she couldn’t keep the large smile from her soft blue lips. Her make-up was ritualistic and striking, adding to her ageless appearance. She was born a few days before me and Quin, yet she seemed ancient and young all at once.

 
The powder-blue lips and pale silver eyeshadow were striking against the pitch-black eyeliner that highlighted her silver eyes. She couldn’t keep the delight from her face. I opened my arms and returned her grin. She might have been my only friend, and I was grateful for a familiar face.
 

She pulled me tight against her small frame. I felt as though I was going to crush her, but I knew that she was far stronger than she looked. The moon goddess required much from her ladies, and Elise had never failed her. She held me at arm’s length and looked at me, worry lines formed around her eyes and her mouth tightened.
 

“Oh, Evie.”

Her soft voice carried all of the meaning the two words lacked. I tried to give her a smile, to hold back the flood of emotion but it crashed against my defences. She cupped my cheek in her hand.
 

“When did you last see him?”

I didn’t know if she could read minds, or if she just knew me that well, but I’d never been able to hide anything from her.
 

I sighed heavily. “I’m not entirely sure. Two nights… He was just putting down a rogue lycan.”

Her face darkened at that; she had a tense relationship with the lycans. They were her goddess’ creation, but they had never truly knelt to her and accepted her guidance. They had clung onto foolish pride and turned from her, and that resulted in their partial banishment and lack of control. Only two lycans had even knelt before the goddess that I’d ever known. She led me through into her private quarters at the back of the church. Our footsteps echoed around us on the dark tile.
 

She practically pulled me down onto the small heather grey sofa, her hand remaining fixed to my lower arm. “Tell me everything you know.”

Her voice remained quiet, soft, but there was the clear edge of a command there.
 

CHAPTER TWELVE

I told her everything I knew. She smiled at my brief description of the alchemist; I felt the warm rush spread over my cheeks. She squeezed my hand before she stood slowly.
 

“Everything is fine in the city. There are neither angels nor demons wandering the streets, although I will see if my lady will shine some light on things.”

“Thank you, Elise.” My voice sounded small and strangled.
 

She nodded and whispered something to herself as she glided out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts once more. I knew better than to follow her. I had tried to once many years ago, when she was freshly anointed as a priestess. The fire in her eyes burnt through me; I had barely stepped foot over the threshold. Her voice had been icy as she sent me away. I caught a glimpse of what she’d become, and it scared me. She had come to me a little while after and explained in her quiet soothing tones that the room is sacred. I should have known better, but I was curious. She didn’t blame me, and somehow that was worse.
 

The room was small and comfortable. The grey sofa was large enough for two people to sit on comfortably, and the low table before us had a number of coasters with varying maps printed onto them. On the far side, a triptych of paintings from Prague’s famous landmarks sat on the off-white wall. They stood bare and exposed under the pale white light that hung beneath the brushed steel fixture. I had to smile when I caught sight of a romance novel on the narrow bookshelf that was tucked up in the far corner near the kitchenette.
 

Elise had confided in me that that was her only regret at becoming a priestess: she wouldn’t be able to choose her life-partner. The goddess would send one when they were both ready; she didn’t even know what gender they would be.
 

A crash came from outside. I leapt out of the chair and ran through the narrow passageway out to the back entrance. Elise was there before me, a pair of silver daggers in her hands and fire in her eyes. The dark wooden door shuddered before it burst open to reveal the creature I’d seen that morning near the castle. I drew my own blades and went to put myself in front of Elise, to protect her. Her mouth tightened and she gave me a dark look; the goddess had trained her in many arts.
 

The creature stood and stared at us, wide-eyed. Its dark hair clung to its forehead. After a tense minute, it collapsed down to its knees and began mumbling incoherently. Words spilled from its mouth, half formed and jumbled. Its partner had frozen to the spot. Broad shoulders heaved, muscles corded up its strong arms. After a moment it ran back where it had come from. I went to chase it down, but Elise held me firm, her small hand on my arm. Her eyes never left the one that was knelt before us.
 

I gave her a questioning look, but she ignored me and tucked away her daggers. Slowly, she approached it, her upper body low and her hands open before it. The creature continued to mutter and ramble, but the words became clearer, crisper. Elise knelt before it and looked into its bloodshot eyes. It snapped its attention to her. Its body went rigid. I prepared to defend Elise, but she simply smiled at it.
 

He heaved a great sigh before he started repeating, “The women, the women, the beautiful women. They, they, the women,” over and over.
 

Elise stroked its hair, whispering some form of soothing chant. The breeze picked up outside, rustling the branches on the trees that were eagerly awaiting spring proper. A chill crept into the air. The creature calmed and took a long breath between words.
 

It managed to choke out, “The women did this. They did this. To. Me. Broke.”

It gave a strangled cry and fell backwards, where it started convulsing. Elise stepped back, her eyes wide in horror. A cracking sound emerged from its chest; all at once its ribs bent outwards and it screamed, an ungodly sound that tore through me. A large, black fur-covered paw reached out from his chest as he gurgled his final breath. The paw fell limp onto his bloody abdomen. I swallowed hard and couldn’t tear my eyes from the body. What the fuck had just happened?

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Elise pulled the door closed and left us alone in the dim light with the corpse. She knelt at its side and gestured for me to do the same on the other side. Her hands sat quietly in her lap while she lowered her head and whispered quiet prayers in a language I understood nothing of. I bowed my head in respect and waited patiently for her to finish. A soft sigh punctuated her prayers. I slowly raised my eyes, unsure what I was supposed to do. I was in a religious sanctuary with the mutilated body of what had once been a man. She gave me a half smile; her silver eyes shone with the essence of something more.
 

“Help me carry him out back, there is a small private space there. He will be buried with dignity; my lady has chosen that for him. He was your answer, Evie. Speak to Serena, she’s the strongest witch in this city.”

Words blurred on the tip of my tongue; what did she mean that he was my answer? That wasn’t Quin. Had he become one of those abominations after all? Her hand stretched across the blood-stained wreckage of the man’s chest and rested on mine.
 

Her eyes bored into mine. “My lady does not believe in giving people answers on a silver platter. The creature will be put to rest now, but do not forget him. Now, help me lift him.”

Her voice had a cutting edge to it that made the serene tone fuzzy and eerie. I complied without question. I couldn’t shake the feeling that she was far more than the girl I’d grown up with. We each took an arm and a leg; it was awkward, but we shuffled down the wide hallway out into the small space out the back of her church. Stone walls encased it; they must have been some fifteen feet high. We carefully placed the man down just in front of the back wall. I wanted to run my fingers along the divots and feel the secrets the rock had held for centuries. I didn’t dare. Elise watched my every move with a porcelain mask of peace. I was beginning to feel as though I’d been thrown into something far bigger than my dear twin having vanished.
 

She ushered me back into the doorway before she turned her back to me and held her arms high, turning her face towards the sun. A bright light and a deep humming filled the air. I closed my eyes and calmed myself. I wasn’t supposed to be there. The knowledge that it wasn’t my place filled me and urged me to turn and run. I remained rooted; I would not leave my friend. I would not flee.