Legacy Of Trill: Soulbound Part 8

My bed was covered in various piles of notes from each of my cla.s.ses, but I wasnat reading any of them. Guilt about lying to Trayton all this time was robbing me of the ability to really focus on anything else. Edmond had dutifully been insisting that I attend cla.s.s and eat right for almost a week now, and I had smiled politely through it all. It was only as I lay in bed at night that my true feelings surfaced. Darius was gonea"off to wherever he needed to go in order to escape the trouble head gotten me into. It was his fault, after all. If head never pitted Trayton against me, Trayton never would have recognized me on the battlefield, I was sure of it.

And Trayton was here, but not really here at all. I had barely seen him since that day in the headmasteras office, and hadnat spoken to him at all. Whispers in the hall said that he and Melanie had been spending an inordinate amount of time together, and I was beginning to wonder if the rumors were true. Or if it was my place at all to say anything about how much time Trayton spends with anyone else in secrecy.

The familiar squeak of the window being opened drew my attention. Maddox slipped inside, closing the gla.s.s behind her. aAgain with the dramatic moping? Youave been like this every night this week.a Flicking my eyes to the parlor door, I shushed her with a wave of the hand. aQuiet! Edmond might hear you!a Maddox rolled her eyes. aDoes he ever come in without knocking? Of course not, apart from an emergency situation, that would be against Protocol.a I flipped through a paperback copy of The Art of Healing and sighed. aYou hardly ever knocked.a aWell, thatas the difference between Edmond and me. I donat give a fak about Protocol.a She grinned and gingerly jumped onto the bed beside me, sending notes flying. aHave you talked to Trayton yet?a My heart sank further into the dark depths inside of me. aLittle difficult to talk to him if I canat even manage to run into him.a Maddox raised an eyebrow. aYou sleep one room away from the guy, Kaya. It canat be that hard to get him alone. Not if you really wanted to.a aAre you saying Iam avoiding him? Why would I avoid him?a My tone was two decibels past irritated, and I was beginning not to care if Edmond heard us or not.

aBecause you worry that you hurt his feelings by sneaking around with a hot commodity like Darius and bonding in a way that you and Trayton never have. Thereas an intimacy that goes hand in hand with training, after all.a As my jaw fell to the floor, Maddox shrugged. aSorry. But you did ask.a Flopping back into my pillows, I groaned. She was right. Completely, annoyingly right. Not about the intimacy with Dariusa"I couldnat even think about what she might be implying when she said thata"but how was I suppose to approach Trayton to talk about what had happened, to defend my actions, when Iad known all along that it was wrong to lie to him about what I was doing every morning? I felt enormously guilty.

And twice as guilty for kind of enjoying my time with Darius. Not just the training, but his presence.

My stomach churned. No way. I hated Darius, and had every reason to.

Trayton and I were Bound, which meant that we shared a bond that would last an eternity. I had to get Darius and training and lies out of my head, had to fix whatever was broken between Trayton and me, and move forward. Like Darius was doing, wherever he was.

aCome on.a Maddox tugged my arm until I was reluctantly standing. aYou might want to grab a sweater or something. Itas chilly out tonight.a As I slipped my arms into the sleeves of the softest sweater I owneda"one that my mother had knitted me out of purple sheepsilk, I said, aWhere are we going?a aWe arenat going anywhere. Youare going to talk to Trayton and straighten this whole thing out. Think of it this way, if heas going to hate you for doing what you did, he should at least listen to your reasons. I know for a fact that Traytonas at a party right now. You head into his room and wait for him to come back. Iall go to the party and coax him to call it a night. Then you corner him in his room, talk it all out, and there you go.a aYouare forgetting one thing, Maddox. How am I going to get past Edmond? Heall never let me into Traytonas room, and even if he did, head never leave us alone together.a She pushed me toward the parlor door, and then changed direction, nudging me to what I thought was the wall. aMinor setback. But not one I hadnat thought of. Iall distract him while you sneak by the window.a aWindow?!a Freezing in my tracks, I shot her a look filled with amazement. aMaddox, Iam not tiptoeing along the ledge outside just to talk to Trayton. Are you crazy?a aDo you like him?a aOf course I do.a Maddox folded her arms in front of her and gave me a look that spoke volumes. aDo you love him?a At first, I couldnat reply. I liked Trayton, yes. And just seeing him was enough to make my heart flutter. But love? I wasnat sure. Avery was the one who had given her heart to every boy who handed her flowers, not me. So I didnat know if I loved Trayton. But I did know that it was breaking my heart that he wasnat speaking to me.

Maddox must have seen the answer on my face, because she jabbed a thumb at the window and said, aThen get out there, and figure it out. Iall go distract Edmond.a A million questions filled my mind. What if I fell? What if I somehow managed to sneak into Traytonas room and he still wouldnat talk to me?

aKayaaa Flipping the latch, Maddox pushed the window open. A light breeze brushed my skin, and I was glad Iad put on the sweater. Because one way or another, Maddox was pus.h.i.+ng me out the window. aDonat make me volunteer you for private tutoring with Instructor Baak.a Stepping over the windowsill and onto the four-inch-wide ledge, I forced my eyes to focus on the darkness, counting each brick as my fingers moved along them. I inched my way toward Traytonas window, until my back was no longer touching window s.p.a.ce, but brick. Before closing the window, Maddox said, aDonat fall. And if you do fall, aim for the gra.s.s. Tuck and roll.a Rolling my eyes at her eternal wisdom, I kept my focus on my heels as they moved along the ledge, breathing slowly in and out, and hoping like h.e.l.l I didnat die. It seemed like an eternity before I neared the parlor window. From inside, I heard girlish giggles that probably belonged to Maddox, but sounded unbelievably foreign. Maddox didnat flirt. I wasnat even all that convinced that Maddox was interested in boys. But she was proving to be incredibly loyal.

A slight breeze rushed along the building, sending goose b.u.mps up my arms, but I pushed forward, inch by treacherous inch, until I came at last to Traytonas window. The terrifying thought gripped me that it might be locked from the inside, but when I pushed on the gla.s.s, the window slid open with ease. It didnat even squeak.

Stepping over the threshold, I rubbed some warmth back into my arms and looked around. It was the first time Iad ever seen Traytonas room, and though I felt a bit wrong about having snuck in, it was nice to be close to him again, in some manner of speaking. A fresh pile of laundry was occupying the chair by his desk, which was covered with booksa"mostly manuals on different fighting stances, but some on the history of weaponry. His floor was clean and clear of any kind of mess, unlike mine, and his bed was made. It felt strange to be inside his room without permission, and I had to fight the urge to scramble back out the window and abandon Maddoxas grand plan.

After a while, I sat on his bed. The room smelled spicy, warm, and very much like Trayton.

Along the headboard of his bed was a row of thick candles, and I imagined Trayton lying there, reading up on war materials, his cozy pillow stuffed neatly under his head. The image was completely endearing, and at once I missed his company more than I had all week. My body sank into the soft mattress, and I lay back, counting the minutes, wondering all the while what I was going to say to Trayton when he walked through that door.

The bed was so soft, so welcoming, that I didnat realize that I had fallen asleep until I heard the door close with a determination that suggested that Trayton had immediately noticed my presence.

I sat up, resisting the urge to stretch, and met his eyes. Words formed in my mind and faded away again, so quickly that I didnat have time to s.n.a.t.c.h them from the air and hold them out as an offering to his good will. His body was full of tension, and the look on his face said that he wasnat exactly happy to see me. He growled, aWhat are you doing here?a A strange relief shot through me that he hadnat emphasized the word you, like head been hoping to find someone else waiting for him in his bed. As quickly as I could manage, I found my voice. aI wanted to talk to you. To see you.a He paused briefly before sighing, and I couldnat tell how mad he really was that Iad snuck into his room without permission. aWell, youave seen me. What do you have to say?a aYouave been avoiding me all week.a aWith good reason.a Score one for Trayton. Suddenly, my skin grew incredibly warm, and I slipped the sweater from my arms. Was it really that hot in here, or was there something about guilt that made a person feel like theyad caught fire? I chose my next words carefully. aDonat you even want to know why I was training?a He removed his shoes with a casual flair, as if this conversation was already finished, and he had already won. Not that anyone should be winning. aBecause youare drawn to Darius and share his recklessness.a aRecklessness? Is that how you see me, Trayton? Because if so, you need to take a closer look.a My voice had risen, and I didnat care if anyone heard. I was tired of being discounted, just because I was a Healer. aI just want the same thing that you havea"the knowledge and training to protect my family and friends.a He pointed a finger at me, his eyes dark and serious, his voice a low growl. aItas not your place to defend anyone.a aAnd itas not your place to tell me what my place is!a I stood quickly, my jaw so tight it was aching. It wasnat fair, the way he was treating me. It wasnat right that Trayton wanted me to submit myself to rules that I heartily disagreed with, despite my fervent objections. aIave been told repeatedly that Iam supposed to stand on the sidelines of a battle and wait for someone else to rescue me. But Iam not just a lowly Healer, Trayton, Iam a person, and I deserve the right to know how to stand up for myself, just in case you arenat there to save me.a aI will be there. Every time.a aDid it ever occur to you that Iave been training for a reason? What if you werenat there to rescue me? What if Graplars got into the school and you werenat by my side at that exact moment? I have a right to defend myself.a Trayton shook his head. aMaybe it would be different if youad been defending yourself, but we both know that you were outside the wall, fighting Graplars with complete disregard for the rules. Rules that are in place to protect us, Kaya.a aRules that are meant to control us, you mean.a I was seething. aYou worry too much about rules, Trayton. Too much about peopleas perception of you.a He seemed to take a moment then to let my words fill his ears, and to really consider what it was that I was saying. aKayaaI would have taught you. If you wouldave insisted, I would havea"a aNo, you wouldnat have.a My tone wasnat accusing in the least. It was matter-of-fact. Because wead already been down that road, and Trayton had adamantly said no to the idea of teaching me how to fight. I met his eyes, hoping that we could somehow come to an understanding. I was wrong, yes. But I was wrong for a d.a.m.n good reason. aWe both know that. And none of the knowledge and skill that I learned from my lessons with Darius could have been acquired without a little deceit. Iam sorry that I lied, Trayton, but I had little choice.a He sat on the edge of the bed, his shoulders sagging. After a moment, I joined him. He looked at me, all anger gone, and said, aWhen I saw you on the battlefield, covered in blood, not knowing if any of it was yours or not, my heart shattered. You shouldnat have been there without telling me. And learning youave been sneaking off with Darius to train in secretaa Suddenly my throat felt incredibly dry. aI wanted you to train me, remember? But you said no.a aSo you run to my best friend to get training? Thatas how you handle anoa? By sneaking around behind my back with someone that I trust? Thatas fakked up, Kaya.a He turned his head as if to look at me then, but his eyes didnat quite make the journey. aThatas really fakked up. How are we supposed to have a relations.h.i.+p if you canat trust me? If I canat trust you?a I shrugged. aWho else was I supposed to ask? Maddox doesnat know how to fight, and Darius is the best. Besides, he said yes. The choice seemed pretty obvious at the time. All I care about now is that my Barron canat trust me to take care of myself, and that you refuse to support my decisions or support my deepest desire. It hurts me, Trayton.a He dropped his gaze to the ground between our feet, looking so sad and defeated that I very nearly felt bad for him. aIam sorry. Iall try to be more understanding. But you have to promise me that youall fulfill these urges in a way that wonat endanger lives. Namely, yours. I donat know what Iad do without you, Kaya. My world would be shattered if I lost you. Please be careful.a Toeing my way into delicate territory, I kept my voice low, hoping that my accusation wouldnat destroy the quiet manner in which he was sitting. aAre you sure you even want to be in a relations.h.i.+p with me? It seems youare spending a lot of time with Melanie.a He didnat move at first, didnat speak. Then he pushed himself back and lay down on the bed, pinching the bridge of his nose and squeezing his eyes tight. aDo you love him, Kaya?a Groaning, I resisted the urge to smack some sense into Trayton with a pillow. aWho, Darius? No! It wasnat about sneaking around or cheating on you, Trayton. It was about learning how to defend myself. How could you think that?a He reached over and ran his hand over my hair, his fingers gently intertwining with it. His eyes moved to mine in the near darkness. aDo you love me?a I swallowed hard. It would have been easy to say yes, but I wasnat certain that that was what Trayton wanted. It seemed head be more satisfied with the truth. aI donat know. I think so. Maybe.a His eyes searched mine for a moment, perhaps for a small flame of hope. In that moment, I wished very much that I had been able to say yes.

aI love you so much it hurts.a His hand slipped from my hair to my cheek. He loved me. Trayton loved me. And head said it like head been saying it his entire life. It came easily, like a breath.

Before nervousness or fear could whisper in my ear, I leaned closer to Trayton, feeling his breath on my skin. Our lips melted in a kiss that made my heart race. A heat began at my core and washed through me, cooled only by the light dance of his fingertips across my skin. His hands moved up my arms, over my shoulders, and tangled in my hair, and my breath was stolen away. I wanted more of this, this feeling, and I never wanted it to end. I kissed him harder and he pulled me to him, down with him onto the bed. Our bodies were touching from head to toe, and we were melting into one another, into the mattress. His right hand slid slowly back down my body, pausing at my waist to pull me into him. The shock and thrill of his action pulled me out of the moment and back into reality. It took every ounce of will that I possessed to pull back away from that kiss and look into his eyes, to tell him silently that I wasnat ready for things to go any further. Disappointment filled his features, and for a moment, neither of us moved. I rolled over and he snuggled up behind me, arms around me.

As we drifted off to sleep together, three things occupied my mind. One, I was going to have to sneak out of Traytonas room before breakfast unless I wanted to catch h.e.l.l from Edmond. Two, I still hadnat forgiven Trayton for exposing me on the battlefield and turning me in to Headmaster Quill, endangering my parentsa lives. And three, I was going to do everything I could to steer clear of Darius after he returned.

If he returned.

CHAPTER.

Thirty.

Edmond trailed behind me, content to follow as I moved along the wall, searching for any signs of distress. But no stones were loose that I could see or reach, and no sign that Graplars had somehow managed to climb their way inside. It baffled me that no one seemed able to discover exactly how the d.a.m.n things were getting inside the wall. There were no holes, no signs of entry at all. Maybe the Graplars were changing, acting in a way that they hadnat before. Maybe theyad somehow learned how to climb giant stone walls. There had to be answers somewhere. The question was, where?

My stomach rumbled, but I hoped that Edmond couldnat hear it, or head make me break for lunch. It was bad enough that head forced me to stop for breakfast on my way out the door. Between cla.s.ses, I planned to search the inside perimeter of the wall. So long as Edmond didnat keep bothering me with pesky things like the need for food.

As if head heard my stomachas complaints, Edmond said, aWe should head to the dining hall and get you some lunch. And since you forgot your Botanical Medicine book, we should stop by and pick that up too.a I strode forward along the wall, scanning it for any sign of weakness. aIam not hungry, and Iall grab the book later. Besides, Iam not done searching yet.a Edmondas hand closed over my shoulder, and he turned me toward him. aYou need to eat and you have a test tomorrow.a Wrenching my shoulder away, completely irritated by his interruption, I said, aI donat feel like eating, Edmond. What I really feel like doing is figuring out how Graplars keep getting inside. But if itall shut you up for an hour, then take me to get the stupid book and Iall grab a quick lunch afterward. But then Iam searching this wall, and you have to promise to help me. Deal?a After a long, silent considerationa"in which I was sure he was weighing the outcome of my untimely death by starvationa"Edmond nodded.

We crossed campus, heading west without another word. Once we reached Instructor Harnettas cla.s.s, I moved inside alone, as always. Sitting on my chair was the rogue schoolbook. I plucked it up and turned back to the door, my thoughts still very much focused on the Graplarsa point of entry.

Then something heavy smacked hard against my head, sending a jolt of pain through my body. I tumbled away into a darkness without end.

CHAPTER.

Thirty-one.

My head was throbbing and something warm was lying on the back of my neck. I suspected it was blood, but when I attempted to touch it, my wrist caught, bound behind my back with something that felt like twine. When I opened my eyes, my vision wavered. It took a moment to focus. But when it did, I realized that I was outside, lying on the edges of the rose gardens. Instructor Baak was standing over me, madness lighting up her eyes. Light glinted off the jagged blade of the dagger in her hand. At first, confusion filled me, but then that confusion mingled with my upset and I pulled at my hands, trying to wrench them free from their binds. The twine tore into my skin, burning me, bruising me, but I couldnat break free.

Instructor Baak shook her head, her grin spreading across the lower half of her face. aThereas no use, Kaya. That twine, if youad paid attention in cla.s.s, is made of knotbush and virtually unbreakable without a sharp blade.a aLet me go.a aI wonat set you free, child, can never set you free. Because with you, I can lure him here, and without you, my heart goes on breaking forever.a I had no idea what she was talking about, but it sounded like she was in love with someonea"someone that I had access to. Trayton? Darius? aYou think tying me up will bring him here?a aI know it will.a She pulled back the top of her s.h.i.+rt, revealing a large amber pendant on a silver chain around her neck. She ran a hand lovingly over the stone, and something inside of it glinted in a strange, luminescent blue. The blue dimmed as Instructor Baak withdrew her fingers, and I couldnat help but think that the thing inside the stone was alive somehow. aThe Graplar King gifted me with this a year ago today. Do you know where this amulet was mined, Kaya? Of course not. No one does. None but the most loyal. The amuleta"all of Darrekas Graplar-controlling amuletsa"were mined in the caves beneath his fortress, in the place where he first discovered the creaturesa existence. Sound reverberates through the stones, making it possible to communicate and command the creatures. Itas quite fascinating, really.a I said nothing. The utter shock that Instructor Baak had been at all involved with King Darrekas mysterious motives coiled around me, making it difficult to breath easily.

aDarrek may be no better than the monsters he commands, Kaya, but whoas to say that Barrons are any better than him? With this amulet, I can control Graplars. They wonat harm anyone who holds ita"Darrek promised me that and he was true to his word. Unlike the Elder Barrons, who promised me that my daughter would be fine on the Outer Rim.a Her expression darkened and her knuckles paled as she gripped the handle of the dagger tighter. She was no longer the bothersome teacher that I faced every day in Healing 101, but a madwoman. Her face set permanently in a horrifying grin.

aThey lied. Oh, how the lies spewed from their lips. Then the second battle at Woodas Cross happened, and my daughter was killed.a Her grin, at last, relented. aShe should have been protected. Her Barron should have saved her. But he was selfish, like all Barrons. He let her die and went unpunished. But his time for punishment has come. Do you know anything at all about fogmoss, Kaya? Of course not. Iad bet youare a terrible Botanical Medicine student.a That jibe stung, as I actually really enjoyed my Botanical Medicine cla.s.s. But try as I might, I couldnat recall having learned anything at all about something called fogmoss from Instructor Harnett, but I lay silent, pulling at the knotbush, trying to wiggle free. aFogmoss is a forbidden herb here on campusa"on any campus, reallya"because it brews a tea that renders the drinker your willing servant. They will do anything that you ask and remember only what you tell them to remember. Which is precisely how Iave been letting Graplars inside the wall.a My jaw dropped. aYouare sick. People have been hurt, have died! Those things are so awful. How could you?a She smiled, her eyes dazed. aIt was easy enough to get the gate guards to drink the potion. Guards are frequently gifted with drink and food while on night duty, and I am a trusted instructor. So I gave them the tea to drink, instructed them to a.s.sist me, and then blurred their memories about how the Graplars ever got in. It took practice, to make certain I had the potion right. Fortunately, I did. And why not take out a few people while Iam at it, and maybe infect the school with a little healthy fear? Maybe head be afraid they were coming for him. And I definitely want him to know what fear is.a Clearly, this was about vengeance. Vengeance against the boy whoad let her daughter perish in that horrible battle. She closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, all that remained of the Instructor Baak I knew withered away into dust. aI let hundreds of Graplars inside the gates just a few minutes ago. And I instructed the creatures to kill them all. Darrek was right. Itas the only way to stop this terrible war. Every Healer, every Barron that fights against him must die. Letas end it. Letas just end it, and be done with this pain.a At last I had my answer at how the Graplars were getting in. But how was I supposed to warn anyone, when I was tied up? I pulled at my binds to no avail, and pushed myself backward, scooting along the ground until my shoulders met with the log that Mr. Gareth had placed near the gardens as a bench. In the distance, the screams began.

Everyone at Shadow Academy was going to die. No amount of Barron skill could possibly hold the monsters at bay. No amount of healing could fix the wounds that they would cause. Everyone was going to die, and it was at the hand of a woman whose loyalties had s.h.i.+fted, all because she felt that her daughter had been wronged.

Ever so casually, Instructor Baak approached the log and sat down, running her fingers over my hair, as if she was petting me. I donat know where she was at that moment, but it wasnat with me in the rose gardens. Instructor Baak was somewhere else, long ago. aYouare such a pretty girl, Katelyn. You deserve better than this, better than what Darius has given you.a Pulling away from her touch, I shook my head. aIt was an accident, Instructor Baak. Darius was just trying to take down King Darrek. He didnat mean for anything to happen to your daughter.a Her eyes turned toward me, but she wasnat seeing me. She was seeing Katelyn. She was speaking to her dead child, and stroking her dead childas hair. aFourteen was too young to go to battle, Katelyn. Too young, and not experienced enough. I told you not to go. Mother knows best. You could have hidden away, but you insisted on going. Not your fault. I raised you right. But you couldnat protect that boy. And he wouldnat protect you. I was right all along about him. He chose glory over duty. And look how they rewarded him.a Her fingers tangled in my hair as she ran them through, yanking at my roots painfully. I wriggled away, but she refused to let go, lost in her delusion. aYour soul will soon be free, my love. Darrekas Graplars can punish those that praised Darius for his failings. He returned to Shadow Academy just an hour ago. And now heall come for you, to save you as he should have saved you then. And when he does, Iall pierce his heart and set you free.a In the distance, the sounds of war filled the campus. Shrill screams reached my ears, sending gooseflesh over my entire body. Graplarsa growls echoed throughout Shadow Academy. Death was in the air.

I laid helpless on the ground, my hands bound, my back against a log, a madwomanas hands tangled in my hair. All I could do was listen as Instructor Baakas terrible plan unfolded before me. No one would rescue me, no one could. And I prayed that Instructor Baak was wrong and that Darius would stay far away from Shadow Academy, or else his life would be forfeit as well. I struggled against my bonds, but they were too tight, too strong. I just hoped that Instructor Baak would kill me before the Graplars could. I couldnat imagine a more painful death.

aKaya!a Trayton hurried closer, the look on his face one of immense relief.

As he drew closer, one of Instructor Baakas hands closed over my mouth. aShh,a she whispered. aThere now. Itall all be over soon, Katelyn.a Traytonas chest rose and fell in heavy breaths, as if head been running for quite some time. aIave been searching the grounds for you. Figures Iad find you here. Are you all right? Graplars have overrun thea"a His eyes fell on Instructor Baakas hand in my hair, and confusion washed over him. When his attention dropped to her hand on my mouth, he reached back, his fingers lightly grasping the handle of the katana on his back, his eyes dark and mistrusting. aInstructor Baak?a Her hand loosened on my hair then, and the hand over my mouth retreated. For a moment, the woman that Iad come to know seemed to reappear. She stood slowly, carefully, as if shead found herself again. Relief filled me, settling my heartas rhythm. Shaking her head, she said, aTrayton. My word. I donat know what came over me. Kaya, I am so sorry. I never meant toa"a Then she lunged forward, raising the jagged blade high into the air. I stared in disbelief as time slowed, her dagger s.h.i.+ning in the moonlight, Traytonas katana almost glowing as he withdrew it from its saya. He didnat bring the sword forward. It was as if he was frozen in disbelief. The dagger came down, plunging into his neck. I wrenched forward, but there was nothing I could do. Blood spurted from the wound as she pulled the dagger out again, several droplets spattering my cheek. The katana tumbled to the ground, landing softly in the gra.s.s at Traytonas feet. Trayton clutched his neck and crumpled soundlessly to the ground.

CHAPTER.

Thirty-two.

Time rolled forward, picking up speed as it went, until everything was moving the way that it was supposed to once more. Trayton lay on the ground, coughing against the pain of his injury, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth and pouring from between his fingers. Scrambling forward, I rolled, hoping to heal him, to save him, but Instructor Baak pointed her bloodied dagger at my eye. aBack, girl. There will be no healing this boy. They all have to die. Itas the only way to put Katelyn to rest and bring this war to an end.a My hand was inches from Traytonas neck, but it might as well have been miles. There was no doubt in my mind that if I edged so much as a millimeter closer, she was going to stab me. She was going to kill us both, and then kill everyone else on campus. aYouare a monster! This war is Darrekas doing! And Katelynas death was a tragedy, but she died doing what Healers do, supporting her Barron. You preach about that duty every day in cla.s.s.a aItas a duty that was above my daughter!a Her eyes glossed over again, as if she were having a difficult time staying in the present. aYou should have been a Barron, Katelyn. I wish you had been a Barron.a aKilling innocent people wonat lay Katelynas soul to rest, Instructor Baak. And what makes you think itas at unrest, anyway? Katelyn is dead, and Iam sure she wouldnat want her mother murdering people.a Slowly, I scooted backward, back to the log, an idea fixed firmly in my mind. To my great relief, she didnat seem to care if I moved away, only if I moved toward Trayton, who was paling fast, his grip on his bleeding neck weakening. aKilling people isnat going to bring your daughter back.a aYou know nothing of my daughter!a She sobbed, large tears rolling from her crazy, widened eyes.

Pressing my back against the log, I pushed myself to standing and stepped toward her, ready, hoping that my plan would work. Narrowing my eyes in a furious slant, I hissed, aIam ashamed of you, mother!a aNO!a She howled. aYouare not my daughter! Youare not my Katelyn! He killed her! Darius killed her! Youare not her!a Her face red, her maddened grin turned into a maddened snarl, she whipped her free hand forward, backhanding me. Pain exploded in my cheek. It ached through my jaw and echoed through my skull. I fell, forcing my body to fall at just the right angle, and when I hit the ground, something in my left knee popped. Ignoring the pain, I slipped my binds over the katanaas blade, slicing neatly through them. Then, as fast as I could move, I pressed my left hand to Traytonas neck and lifted the katana with my right.

As I raised the sword, Instructor Baak brought her dagger down. She was fast. Too fast. I wouldnat be able to block it in time. But maybe, just maybe, Trayton would heal in time to avenge my death. Beneath my fingers, he continued to bleed. There was no tingling in the palm of my hand, no sensation of power as I pressed my skin to his. There was just blood, and the overwhelming feeling that I was losing him.

My heart beat hard and fast, as if trying to get its last workings in before the dagger entered. Time had slowed again, and I watched the blade edge nearer and nearer to my chest. I brought the katana up and sliced into her arm, cutting deeply. But it wouldnat be enough to stop her. The sound of metal slicing bone grated in my ears, and her blood poured out, drenching us both.

A hand closed over Instructor Baakas injured arm and twisted it back, sending her flying. She landed several yards away, with shrill cries that hurt my ears. Darius met my eyes with so many questions that I didnat know which to answer first. Then he looked at Trayton and his expression darkened with concern. In his eyes were the words that I didnat want to hear: Heas dying, Kaya. If we donat get him to the hospital wing immediately, heas dead.

A sob choked me and I dropped the katana to the ground, pressing both of my hands to Traytonas wound in desperation. But still, the sensation that I had experienced in our Binding ceremony escaped me. I was failing him and had no idea how to make him well again. aDonat leave me, Trayton! Please donat leave me. Heal. Just heal!a Darius closed a hand over my shoulder. At first I thought he was comforting me, but as his fingers pressed, I realized he was trying to silently gain my attention. Sniffling, I turned my head, and my heart stopped.

Two Graplars were standing to either side of Instructor Baak, who was giggling madly. Her laughter pierced the air, sending a sharp chill up my spine. Her grin had returned, broad as ever, and if a miracle didnat present itself soon, the three of us were as good as dead.

Stroking the amulet around her neck, Instructor Baak purred to the savage beasts at her command. aKill the girl quickly, but leave the boy to me.a My hand found the katana again before I could even think to do so. Slowly, I stood, forgetting about stopping Traytonas bleeding for the moment. The Graplar to her left lunged forward, toward me. Darius turned to confront it, gripping the handle of his katana in determination. Behind him, Instructor Baak edged her way closer, raising her dagger high. I shouted Dariusas name, but he was already turning toward her, already countering her move with one of his own. He raised his blade and made contact. Once again the sound of metal on bone filled the air. Once again blood flew. But it was Instructor Baakas blood. Her hand tumbled through the air, still gripping the dagger.

Instructor Baak didnat make a sound.

The Graplar moved forward and I readied my blade. Lurching toward me, its foul breath filled the air, making me gag. But I gripped the handle, ready for the beastas a.s.sault.

aStop!a Instructor Baak raced forward, her eyes once again clouded, her handless arm gus.h.i.+ng blood, and flung herself between me and the Graplar, her eyes wide and terrified. aLeave her be. Leave my Katelyn be!a The Graplar froze, unable to resist the whims of the amuletas keeper. I didnat know what to say, what to do. I also didnat know how long this madness would carry on in my favor.

Darius slowly returned his katana to his saya. I wanted to scream at him not to trust her, not to believe that this was the end of her violent desire for justice, but my voice froze in my throat. Darius fell on his knees in front of Instructor Baak, his brow heavy. aIam sorry, Instructor Baak. I never meant for anything to happen to Katelyn. I should have protected her. And Iall never forgive myself.a I took a step toward Instructor Baak. She was facing away from me, her eyes on Darius. Both looked pained beyond belief. Tears welled in Dariusas eyes. aPlease. End it. Set her soul free. But spare the others. Katelynas death was no fault but my own.a Instructor Baakas eyes filled with hatred as she looked down at Darius. Her grip on the amulet tightened, and I knew the next words that left her mouth would cause Dariusas demise.

I reached out to s.n.a.t.c.h the necklace from her neck, but she yanked it away before I could. Cursing at us, she ran off into the growing darkness with more strength than I thought was possible in her current state. Instinctively, I moved to go after her, but then felt Dariusas hand on my arm. The look in his eyes was more serious than I had ever witnessed. Darius stood, hoisting Trayton into his arms. aWe have to get him to the Master Healer, Kaya.a Traytonas skin was a deathly pale. His arms hung limp, his eyes were closed. If I had to guess, I might have thought him to be dead already. But I clung to the hope that Darius was right to believe there was a chance at saving his life.

With a determined nod, I gripped the katana tightly in my hands and led the way. Instructor Baak would have to be dealt with later.

CHAPTER.

Thirty-three.

We made our way through the darkness to the hospital wing, which was packed with peoplea"many moaning, some screaming in pain. Darius laid Trayton on an empty gurney and was checking his pulse when I grabbed the shoulder of a pa.s.sing Master Healer. aWe need help. My Barron isa"a aWeall get to you in a minute.a He turned as if to rush down the hall.

My skin flushed, almost burning. aNo! You donat understand, heas dying!a It was only then, when Dariusas hands closed over mine, that I realized that I was holding Traytonas katana up in a threatening manner. He slipped the blade from my trembling hands and met my eyes with complete understanding. Then he looked back to the terrified Master Healer and said, aSheas very upset, as you can understand. But sheas also right. Trayton is in dire straits. Please.a aTrayton?a As if his name was well knowna"and it likely was, due to his fatheras famea"the Master Healer forgot all about me and hurried to Traytonas side. After just a moment, Trayton was rushed away, and Darius directed me to a bench in the hall. I sat down, tears welling from my eyes, and when Darius sat beside me, I cried into his shoulder, soaking his bloodstained s.h.i.+rt. After a while, I shoved him from me, so overcome with the bitter mixture of grief and rage. aWhere were you? You could have saved him!a His shoulders sank, as if weighed down by guilt. aYouare right. I should have been here. I traveled to Haruko, not far from Darkmoon Academy. I like it there. Itas where I go to clear my head sometimes. But the moment I overheard two of Darrekas drunken guards in this pub I frequent discussing a teacher at Shadow Academy who was loyal to Darrekas cause, I hurried back.a My eyes ached from crying. aYou shouldnat have left in the first place.a He said nothing. Mostly because there was nothing to say.

My Soulbound Barron had died. Now I was about to lose my Bound Barron too. The pain was overwhelming. Before this moment I had never truly understood what my father had meant by the term asoulbroken.a But I did now. My heart ached. My insides felt hollowed out. I was hurting, and there was no end in sight for my pain.

After minutes, maybe hours, with my throat raw from crying, I finally asked the question that had been burning through my soul since Iad laid a hand on Traytonas wound. aWhy couldnat I heal him, Darius? What did I do wrong?a Tightening his arm around my shoulders, he breathed into my hair. aYou did nothing wrong. Being Bound isnat as strong as being Soulbound. Itas not as reliable. More serious injuries are questionable. You may be able to heal them. You may not. But you tried. And that means everything in the world to Trayton right now.a I dried my tears and sat up, tugging his sleeve. I was still mad at Darius, still so angry that head ever exposed me to Traytonas watchful eye. But for the time being, I needed him. aCome on.a Darius looked at me with one eyebrow raised. aWhere are we going?a I stood and picked up the katana, determination replacing my immense sorrow for the time being. aWeare going to find Instructor Baak and get that amulet.a

CHAPTER.

Thirty-four.

Darius and I moved across the campus, sticking as close to buildings as we could. Graplars ran by, their giant, muscular forms pounding the ground all around us. Some glistened with sweat from the effort of their a.s.sault on the schoolas occupants. Others were dripping with blood. But it was those who seemed to grin as they pa.s.sed us that bothered me the most. I didnat know for sure whether or not Graplars were capable of emotion, but their lips stretched so wide to reveal their teeth in a horrifying grin. The absolutely worst part of it was that between the rows of razor-sharp teeth were bits of chewed meata"meat that had likely been a person just moments ago.

The Graplars screeched as they continued their a.s.sault, their voracious appet.i.tes refusing to cease. A particularly large beast bit into a girl as it crossed the cobblestone of the courtyard, carrying off a snack for later. A still-screaming, still-very-much-alive snack. But who knew for how long? Horrified, I moved forward to engage the beast, but Darius stopped me with his fingers on my shoulder. When I looked at him, his eyes had narrowed, his mood darkened. aStop. This oneas mine.a An angry heat filled me. Once more I was being told what not to do. Once more I was being pushed to the side. I gripped the katana in my hand and ran forward, toward the beast.

Darius had broken into a run two seconds before I had, and he was already engaging the Graplar. He slashed at its front legs, and it reared up in response, growling, but refusing to release its prey. The poor girl screamed, her blood running freely into the creatureas mouth, drizzling onto the cobblestone below. As the Graplar whipped its head to the side, she fell back, her eyes wide with terror. For a moment, our eyes connected, and then the beast moved its head once more, shaking her like a lifeless doll.

I couldnat see the girlas face at that moment. All I could see were things my imagination had conjured up about the night my life had changed forever. Averyas terrified eyes, Averyas screaming mouth, Averyas blood spattering onto my fatheras s.h.i.+rt as the Graplar tore her to bits.

Before I even realized what I was doing, Iad jumped up, bringing my sword down on the Graplaras neck. Its head flopped forward, still connected to its body by just a thin layer of tissue. The jaws opened and the girl was free. She lay on the ground, sobbing. I stood in front of the monster that had almost taken her life and watched as its body staggered to the left before landing in a lifeless heap. I flicked its blood from my blade just as Darius came to stand beside me. aIn case you didnat hear me, I said that this one was mine.a My jaw ached from being clenched so tightly. aAfter today, I never want to see you again, Darius.a He paused, but only briefly. aWhy?a Glaring at him, I said, aBecause bringing Trayton in to spar with me was wrong. Because you endangered my parentsa lives with your stupid move. Why him? Why Trayton? Why not any other Barron?a aBecause you care about him. If you can stand against even an ally, that means your training has reached a certain admirable level. Plus, he distracts you. And we both know that you struggle with distractions.a He eyed me for a moment before continuing. His tone was even, almost completely devoid of emotion. In the background, the girlas sobs were quieting, but slowly. Her injuries were terrible, maybe deadly. I didnat know.

Darius shrugged. aBut you did well. The lesson went better than Iad hoped. So whatas the problem?a A Barron that I didnat recognize ran by, and I stopped him with a hand to his chest. aWait. Take this girl to the hospital wing.a With a nod, he scooped her into his arms as gently as possible and ran off, without argument. I turned back to Darius.

aThe problem is that you risked my parentsa lives with that stunt. And you did it without consulting me at all.a I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, still very angry, but not wanting to lose my temper. aI want an apology. Strike that. I deserve an apology.a He was silent for the longest time, as if taking everything that I had said into consideration and mulling it over. A chorus of death surrounded us. Then he parted his lips and said, aNo.a aWhat?a My eyes flashed with fury aWhat do you mean no?a He turned from me then and began making his way out of the courtyard. I moved quickly, quietly, on the b.a.l.l.s of my feet, lifting my katana as silently as I was able. At the last moment, he freed his weapon and spun around, our blades meeting in midair. The clang of metal rang through my ears. aYou owe me an apology, Darius.a He pushed back with his blade, but I dug my heel into the ground, gritting my teeth against his strength. To my surprise, my stance held for longer than I thought it would, but then Darius reached the end of his patience and shoved me back. I stumbled backward, but when I recovered my footing, I swept his left leg and Darius lost his balance. Bringing my katana around fast, I counted on his Barron reflexes to deliver and they did. He jumped back, straight into the fountain, and I stopped my blade against his throat. He swallowed and the metal nicked him, blood drawing a thin line down his neck. Holding my weapon steady, I leaned closer and said, aI said I want an apology. You owe me at least that much. I have kept your secret, after all. Despite what youave done. The least that you can do is apologize.a His gaze, full of surprise at my skill, softened then and fell to my blade, then rose to my mouth. As the words pa.s.sed over his lips in a whisper, a chill tickled up my spine, and he raised his eyes to meet mine. aIam sorry, Kaya.a A loud screech jolted me, and before I realized, Iad dropped my sword to waist height in distracted fear. In seconds, Darius had his katana poised, ready for action. I whipped my head around, searching the immediate area for any sign of a Graplar. I saw nothing near us, but the sounds of the beasts moving through academy grounds filled my ears. Then I heard another sound. The voice of Instructor Baak in the distance, her words accompanied by mad laughter. aKill them all! Kill them all!a Darius took off, pausing briefly to throw a wordless glance over his shoulder at me. I broke into a run. We had to get to Instructor Baak, had to get that amulet away from her and stop this attack before any more people died.

She was standing at the center of the Barronsa training area, arms raised, eyes so wide that there was no questioning her sanity level anymore. Her arm had been tightly bandaged, but I was still shocked to see her conscious. Shead lost so much blood. Maybe, I wondered, she knew something about herbs that Instructor Harnett hadnat taught me.

As Graplars clashed with students all around her, she twirled in slow circles to the music in her head. Iad never thought anything would frighten me more than a Graplar. But seeing Instructor Baak lose her mind completely, watching as her madness took over any ounce of reason that shead once hadait terrified me.

Darius ran at her, but just before he could make contact, a Graplar dove into him, knocking him to the side. Instructor Baak cackled with glee. Fury ignited my movementa"fury that a crazy, selfish woman like Instructor Baak was standing here laughing, alive, while poor, giving Trayton was lying in the hospital wing, dying. I moved carefully around the edges of the training area, my eyes on the amuleta"the cause of this whole mess.

The training area was filled with Barrons, Healers, and Graplars, with Instructor Baak reigning over the chaos from the center. Her eyes were alight with madness, and though several of the creatures nearly hit her as they ran by, she seemed completely oblivious to the danger she was in. It was as if she were in another time, another place, one where she and her beloved Katelyn were at peace. I crept around the perimeter of the area until I could see Instructor Baakas back clearly. But between us stood three Graplars, and a handful of Barrons who would only prove to be in my way.

Breaking into a run, my heart slamming in my chest, I jumped up and planted my foot onto the first Graplaras head as it bent down. Pus.h.i.+ng off, I jumped toward the second, but slipped on its scaly skin and fell to the ground. My ankle twisted some, but I hurried to stand before the beast could lunge at me, snapping its s.h.i.+mmering teeth in a bite. One of the Barrons engaged the beast and I hurried behind its ma.s.sive form, using it as a hiding place as I crept toward Instructor Baak.

The amulet glimmered from its place on the thin chain around her neck, beckoning to me. Taunting me.

Another Barron stepped in front of me in a protective stance, katana raised at the Graplar between Instructor Baak and me. aGet out of here. Itas not safe!a But I couldnat leave, couldnat run. I was the only one who had any idea how to stop this horror, and I wasnat about to stop until I grasped that amulet in my hand. I shoved the Barron to the side. The movement caught the Graplaras attention and it dove after the Barron, but there was no time for me to a.s.sist him.

I crept up on Instructor Baak and stretched my hand out, grasping for the chain on her neck.

Instructor Baak whipped around, clawing at me with her remaining hand. Her shrieks filled the air. Her fingernails dug into my face and hands. I pulled back, my katana falling to the ground. The silver chain strained, then snapped free. The amulet glowed brightly in my hand. The howl of a madwoman filled my ears.

Free of the Graplar whoad tossed him to the side, Darius grabbed Instructor Baak and pulled her back, holding her away from me as gently as he could. It amazed me to see that kindness in him, and I wondered what she had been like before Katelyn had been killed. I held the amulet up, hoping that it would work for me the way it had for her. aGraplars, cease your attack, gather the rest of your kind, use the gates to get outside the wall, and stay there.a At first, the two hulking beasts nearest to us simply snorted. Then, slowly, the one on the right turned and ran toward the more populated area of the school. I only hoped that it was actually leaving. The beast on the left toed the ground, as if it were too stupid or stubborn to comply. I was about to repeat my command, when Instructor Baak elbowed Darius hard and spun away. He reached out for her, but missed and she grabbed the amulet from my hand. She held the amulet up, cackling wildly. aTake me to my daughter! Take me to Katelyn!a She brought the amulet down, smas.h.i.+ng it on a rock. I didnat know whya"maybe because thatas what King Darrek would have wanted her to do, maybe because doing so would prevent us from controlling Graplars in the future. I had no idea what her motives might have been. I simply watched in shock as bits of amber flew through the air, catching on her clothes.

The remaining Graplar obliged her final order and lunged forward, biting into her throat. It dragged her off toward the rose gardens and sounds reached my ears that I hoped I would soon forget, but knew that I never would. Biting sounds. Chewing sounds. Instructor Baak was dead. Reunited at last with her beloved Katelyn.