Page 89 of These Eternal Bones
“Thalia Dupree. Where is she?”
“I don’t know anyone by that n-name. I-if the legends are to be believed, they died out during the supernatural war.” The supernatural war, that’s what they call it these days.
I barely acknowledge Tien blipping in behind me, only the furthering horror on the man’s face as he sees him. “Check the docks for the ship.”
They died out during the war, he said. That name sounds familiar it always had, when I’d taken the trouble of remembering it. I’d assumed her line was long in the town. Memories, pieces of parchment taken from the coven's stronghold, ledgers from when we built the castle. Dupree…
Realization, in the form of horror, snaps in my mind like a blade. My tendril tightens, separating the man's head from his body as they both fall to the cobblestone, blood shooting from the stump of his neck. It’s fetid smell mixing with the smell of the port, but I’m already in the woods, a deafening bellow shaking the trees.
42
Fate Be Dammed
Can’t Catch Me Now - Olivia Rodrigo
Molly
Elric blurred from the room minutes ago, and I can’t seem to move from the spot he left me in, my eyes wide and staring at the lavish rugs piled on the floor, unseeing as I focus on every visceral thing beating the walls of our bond. I-I had never realized how much he held back, how much he hid…but he’s not hiding now, and my knees nearly buckle under the weight of it.
I yelp as the door to the stairs slams open, wood splintering, making me stumble back against the pedestal sink. My breath rushes out of me as Cartiel steps into view, his usual glare missing from his face. The relief I feel is short-lived, as I gesture to the door, trying to pant past the uncomfortable knot in my stomach. “How the hell are we supposed to hide that?”
“We were friends, Imogen.” He breathes out, pacing in front of the bars.
“I-its Molly.”
His bright molten eyes are shining, the air in here taut. “Yes, of course,” he pauses. “We were best friends, and I-I loved you.”
I smile a bit at that, remembering her stories of all the trouble and laughter we used to share. “She loved you too.”
He shakes his head. “When you said you wanted my help. Did you mean it? Truly?”
I nod, feeling like I might be sick.
“Cartiel, what’s happening…”
“I’m going to help you. I brought her. She’s going to end this, Immy.”
I take a step back, my heart pounding in my chest. I nearly scream when fear and rage hit the bond with full force, making me grip my chest, wondering if it’ll cave under the weight of it.
“Molly, I need you to trust me.”
I can’t hear him. My chest hurts, my brain fuzzing, trying to keep up.
Something's wrong.
My back presses to the sink painfully as Cartiel extends his hands to the bars. A flare of bright light has me slamming my eyes closed, but the lids of them are far too thin to offer any shield. My hands join them until it fades, the blast of his dizzying. When the light fades enough to open them, my eyes are watering. My mouth gapes as he steps through the dripping metal, his hand scalding to the touch as he wraps it around my elbow.
I jerk it away, hissing in pain. “Cartiel, stop, you’re scaring me.”
“She’s here, we’re out of time. She said we can help you. I can help you, like you said in the library. We can end this.”
I shake my head, but he’s not listening. “I-I want to talk to her.”
“There’s no time for that, Immy.”
“Molly! My name is Molly.”
He ignores me, hauling me through the jagged warm metal. I cry out as part of it digs into my leg as we pass. Contorting my wrist, I twist it until his hold breaks, my heart pounding in my chest. “I think we made a mistake. This isn’t safe. Elric–”
