Page 68 of Where Darkness Falls

As I move toward them, Laisren catches my arm. “Emyr,” he cautions, glancing at the basilisk above us. It’s watching our every movement, a devious look glinting in its beady eyes. I wouldn’t be surprised if it desired to strike, which is precisely why I maintain my ground. As my fourth commander closes the distance between us, his features are riddled with pain and weariness. Shards of the roof protrude from the back of his armor.

If I knew that I could slay the basilisk, I’d sever its conniving head from its body this instant. My shadows are erratically twisting around me as I watch the strawberry-blonde hair swishing in the breeze. As soon as he is an arms length away, I quickly turn her face toward me. I’m relieved when I only discover a small scratch along her forehead, but nothing more. Virgil must have taken the brunt of the impact.

“Sssssshee sssstilll livesssss,” the serpent hisses. “Her blood sssstilll ssssingssss to me.” The basilisk’s head slowly lowers in our direction—toward Maeva and my brothers. Its tongue flicks in and out in rapid succession. A growl escapes Laisren’s lips, and my shadows spread around us—covering us in darkness.

The serpent hisses, as its enormous tail coils around the group.

“Watch yourssssselfff, General,” it warns. “I won’t harm any of you unlesssss you keep her from me.”

“How do I know you speak the truth, snake?” I sneer. “You leveled half the city when you rose out of the depths.”

The basilisk hisses aggressively. “Thisssss isssss your final warning to watchhhhh your tone, General,” it replies. “My patienccceee growsssss restlesssss. I’m only here to obssserve the girl.”

As a child, I heard the stories of the ancient basilisk lulling its prey into complacency before siphoning their abilities and swallowing their drained bodies. However, the basilisk is also the keeper of prophecies in Zulgalros—which is the only reason it hasn’t been slain by the king.Serpents cling to one another like the diseases they are. Either way, I won’t allow such a fate to befall my Cadre or Maeva.

“Sssssstrange how you wissssssh to protect her, High General,” it says, sounding closer now. It shakes the debris beneath us as it coils tighter. “I ssssswear no harm will come to any of you if you comply.”

I relinquish my ability, finding the face of the basilisk just beyond the border of the shadows. “Give her to me,” I command. Virgil doesn’t hesitate, as he is on the verge of collapsing. I tuck her into my chest while Laisren and Riordan move to assist our injured brother. An emotional weight lifts from me as I cradle her in my arms. The creature drinks in the sight of us, and I find myself tightening my hold around Maeva’s petite frame.

“You’ll frighten her if you remain this close when she wakes up,” I say. The serpent makes a sound that could’ve been a laugh, as it raises itself back ever so slightly. At that moment, Maeva stirs, murmuring a phrase that I can’t understand as her eyes fly open. She tries to bolt out of my arms, but I tuck her against me as her limbs flail.

“You’re alright, Rosey,” I whisper into her ear. “You’re alright.”

As if registering who I am, her body momentarily relaxes.

“I’m going to put you down now,” I say.

“Okay,” she whispers.

I hold onto her elbow as I place her feet on the shifting debris. Her eyes fall to where my hand is on her arm.

“Curiousssssssss indeed,” the basilisk hisses.

Noticing the serpent for the first time, Maeva startles. Her fair skin morphs into a shade paler than usual, her eyes travelling up the creature. I find myself moving to stand closer to her as a small gasp escapes her lips. Slowly, the basilisk’s tail uncoils from around our group, as its face slithers closer to Maeva.

“You carry ssssssssuch pain,” it says. The basilisk’s tongue flicks around, tasting the air. “What deliciousssss ssuffering with whichhh you burden yoursssself.”

Maeva absently clutches at the Dragon’s Flame around herneck. “What do you know of my suffering and pain?” she retorts.

“I’ll tell you what I know for a pricccccceeeee,” the basilisk answers.

Maeva is silent for several moments, chewing her bottom lip.

“What is the price?” she asks.

“A tasssssste of your abilitiesssss,” the basilisk replies. “It’sssss been ssssooo long sinccccce I’ve indulged on sssssuch a finery. I’ll reveal to you one of the secretsss I know.”

“No,” she says harshly.

“All knowledge hasssss a pricccceeee, girl. Mine issss jusssssst a tiny tasssste. No more than a sssssssliver of a nail. I don’t wissssssh you any harm, unlessssss you refusssssse,” it threatens.

“I don’t know how to summon it,” she replies.

“Your anger ssssshould do the trick,” it hisses.

I’m about to step in and refuse on her behalf when Maeva extends her hand out toward the basilisk.

“As you wish, serpent,” she seethes.

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