House of Eclipses by Casey L. Bond

16

I closed the door to the roof, shouldering it until it fell into place, then rushed to the staircase, down to the second floor. Knocking on Kevi’s door was a gamble. She’d helped me once. Would she put her neck out again for the third daughter of the Aten?

Would she take offense at what I was about to ask her?

She cracked the door open, already awake and alert. “Atena?”

“I need your help. Again.”

Kevi opened the door and pulled me in quickly. We stood in a room that contained all the dancers’ costumes, mirrors, and make-up. Beyond it was a smaller room with a mussed bed drenched in purple with matching furniture against bone-white walls, the barest hint of gray in their hue.

She crossed her arms and propped her hip against the desk piled with slips of fabric, veils made to match, or dripping with golden coins. “I’m listening.”

I didn’t miss that her gaze drifted first to the sun diamonds glittering against my wrist before dropping to my ankle. I inwardly cringed. The diamonds couldn’t be removed, so if that was Kevi’s price, I couldn’t afford her help.

“I need help stealing something from my father. Something he keeps on his person.”

She went completely rigid. Even her breathing stilled. Then she laughed. “You can’t be serious.”

“I am.”

“And you assume I’m a thief because I dance? Because your father insists we entertain his guests?” she spat, holding herself tighter.

“I make no assumptions about you, but I think you can distract him long enough that another dancer could ease it from him without him noticing.” I swallowed. The Sphinx had frightened me on a primal level. Kevi’s anger frightened me because I thought for sure she’d say no and throw me from her rooms.

“What is it?” she asked instead.

“A small book. He will have it in his kilt’s hidden pocket, on his right side.”

Kevi shook her head, letting her hands flop to her sides. “What you ask is impossible. And I’m not willing to die, or for any of my dancers to die, trying to extract this book from him. Because that’s what will happen if we attempt to steal it. This… this is lunacy. I’m sorry, but I can’t be part of it.”

“There has to be a way! I leave for Lumina tomorrow and that book must leave with me.”

She ticked her chin up. “What’s in it?”

“I’m not sure.”

She laughed mirthlessly. “You don’t know what’s written inside, but you want us to risk our lives for it?”

“The Sphinx came to me this morning, Kevi. She showed me where the book is and told me I must have it.”

Kevi placed a hand over her heart and breathed, “The Sphinx?”

I nodded.

She sobered instantly. “I wish the Sphinx had clawed it from his pocket herself.” She pressed her eyes closed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “I think I might know a way,” she said warily. Hope mingled with the fire in my veins. “But it’ll come with a hefty price.”

I raised my wrist. “I can’t remove the sun diamonds, Kevi. Father has tried. He’s had his best goldsmith try to smelt the metal, had it chiseled, had his strongest guardsmen try to break the chain – nothing works.”

She shook her head and smirked. “Keep your diamonds, Atena. I want you to arrange safe passage to Lumina – and the promise of the Lumin’s protection – for me and all my girls. Your father is no fool, Noor. I have a sleeping draught I can add to his wine, but he will wake with a ferocious headache and know he’s been drugged. He will come after us all. If his body doesn’t burn it away before dawn…”

I nodded, noting the fear in her eyes. I understood it well. “How many girls?”

“Seven in total, including me.”

“I have to ask Caelum first. I can’t make any guarantees or promises on his behalf.”

She inclined her head. “I’ll bring the draught tonight, but I won’t use it until I know we’ll be taken care of and kept safe.”

Kevi will have time to think and reconsider until tonight, when we need to put the plan in motion,I thought as I went in search of Caelum.

In the great hall, I found him seated across from Father. Beron was at his left hand, while the seat at his right was empty. My heart skipped, wondering if he’d saved it for me.

Citali chose that moment to slide into the seat at Father’s right hand, ruining my happy moment.

Caelum’s eyes found me as I made my way to them, a suppressed heat in them flaring as he took me in from face to foot. He gestured to the empty chair and I gratefully took it.

As I sat amongst them, Citali frowned, studying me like I was as much a riddle as the one the Sphinx gave her this morning.

“Citali,” I greeted. “You almost look surprised to see me.” I gave her a smile, promising retribution.

Beron choked on the water he sipped, taking a moment to calm his breathing. So… Caelum had confided in his brother that Citali had given me poisoned jam.

Father’s countenance was calm, but I noticed the way his hands tightly clutched his utensils, then the table when he laid them down. He would try to corner me once the meal was over. I couldn’t let that happen.

I turned to Caelum. “Lumin, I was hoping you might like to take a walk after breakfast.”

When our eyes met, I hoped Caelum could see my plea.

His brows slanted, but he graciously accepted my offer. “I’d love to, Atena.” He gestured to Father, deferring. “Assuming there is time before we meet to sign the treaty.”

Father chuckled, but his smile did not reach his sharp eyes. “Haven’t you had enough excursions, Noor? You got lost the last time you wandered,” he reminded everyone.

“Caelum would be with me, Father.”

He gave a heavy nod and dread filled my stomach. “Very well. I’m sure there is time enough for a short walk.”

We ate from platters of meat and fruit and bread, though the sweet dates were my favorite. I froze when Caelum placed a few on my plate when I finished the last one and glanced to see if there was more.

Beron glanced between us, one of his dark brows raised.

We all knew what hand feeding or placing food on the plate of another meant to a Luminan now, but I wasn’t sure if Caelum was overlooking his custom to accommodate me, or if he meant it. If my cheeks could glow red-orange, they would have.

I quietly thanked him and ate what he’d proffered.

Caelum was different this morning. I hadn’t seen him since he left my rooms and me behind. Since he poured out his soul to tell me that I was darkness and light and nothing he could trust. I just hoped Vada was right about his feelings and that he hadn’t written me off entirely. Today he was quieter, but his attention was honed. He was a blade sheathed in steel and I couldn’t see how sharp his edges were.

Beron cleared his throat and excused himself, saying he’d promised Vada that he would help with a few things for tonight’s ball. Citali turned to watch as he strode out of the room. When her gaze returned to us, I tilted my head in question. She answered with a scowl.

Did my callous sister covet Caelum’s brother? Or was he a contingency plan she hadn’t discarded just yet? Could it be that to her, he might be both?

Caelum scooted his seat back as he stood, then offered me his hand. I took it and walked out of the great hall by his side. I thought for sure once we were outside he would release it, but he kept his hold as we walked toward the river, toward his ship.

Is he going to ask me not to go? The thought refused to budge from my mind as we boarded the ship and slipped into the quarters below decks. “Our conversation will be private here,” he said, his voice gravelly.

I kept distance between the two of us when I was able. If I cozied up to him tonight, he would know something was amiss. I hated that I was about to ask him for such a heavy thing, but what choice did I have? I needed that book and Kevi and her girls were the only ones who might have a chance at pulling off the theft. If I tried, I would fail. Just as I was about to open my mouth, he spoke.

“Noor – I owe you an apology about last night. I shouldn’t have left your rooms, or you, like that.”

“You shouldn’t apologize. You’re not sure whether you can trust me.”

He opened his mouth, but quickly shut it again, knowing he couldn’t refute it without lying. “I want to,” he finally said.

“I want you to, also. So, I’m going to tell you a great secret and will trust you to keep it safe. I met with the Sphinx this morning.”

He nodded.

“I want you to know what she said and what I saw. And then I need to ask you for help.”

“Name it,” he said.

“You don’t even know what it is I’m asking,” I chastised, trying to keep my tone playful and failing miserably. The fear melting over my bones made it difficult to feel anything else in light of Sol’s instructions. Instructions that couldn’t have been clearer. “You might decide not to invite me to Lumina after you hear what she revealed.”

He swallowed thickly. “There’s nothing you can say that would make such a chasm stretch between us, Noor.”

I wasn’t so sure about that. I bit my lip and tried to pull my hand away. “Stop,” he breathed. “Stop running from me.”

“I don’t run…”

His dark brows kissed. “Yes, Noor. You do.”

I held his hands despite mine sweating, despite wanting anything to happen to keep me from asking him for such a ponderous thing.

“The Sphinx let me visit my mother in the dunes.”

He tilted his head. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, I was there. I felt Sol’s heat and saw her bright face. Her light was radiant, brilliant, and the sands were hot beneath my feet. I saw my mother’s bones and sat with her for a time. I know it sounds crazy, but I know she heard me.”

Caelum’s eyes were kind. “It’s not crazy. I speak to my father as well. I visit his grave when time allows. He’s buried in a field with many, many others from our town. He died before Lumos chose me,” he said. The pain and vulnerability on his face, the way his thumb brushed over mine, reflected everything I felt inside and the invisible, golden urn I carried wherever I walked. “I’d like to introduce you some day,” he said quietly.

“I’d love to meet him.”

Caelum pulled me close and wrapped his strong arms around my back. I threaded mine around his neck.

“The Sphinx also revealed a task I have to complete before I can leave with you tomorrow,” I said as my cheek rested against his chest.

His shoulders tensed. “What sort of task?”

“Dangerous.”

He pulled back enough to see me. “Tell me.”

So, I did. I told him that the lioness gave me a prophetic vision of Father dressed for tonight’s ball, and then revealed what she wanted me to do. And that Kevi would help us if he would promise her and the other dancers asylum in Lumina.

He closed his eyes and cursed. “What you’re asking could shred the peace treaty I’m prepared to sign.”

“I can’t get close enough to him to steal it, but I must have that book or see what’s in it, Caelum. If it’s nothing, I could put it back in his pocket and he’ll be none the wiser.”

He breathed a heavy sigh and held me tighter. “But if it’s something, you would have to take it from him.”

I nodded.

“I will grant them safe passage and asylum.” His clear blue eyes were steady, not filled with fear or regret – yet. “But I insist we leave as soon as he’s unconscious. I’ve seen how his fire burns away even the strongest of spirits. I imagine it would do the same to a sleeping draught. When he wakes, he’ll be angry enough to burn our ship to embers. If we can slip into Lumina before he wakes, that’ll be all the better.”

He grazed a thumb over my neck, where the dark collar hid the remnants of my bruises. “If there was a way to end him, I would’ve done it the moment I learned he’d put his hands on you. I haven’t figured out how yet, but I won’t stop trying, Noor. In the meantime, I offer you a home in Lumina for as long as you’d like it, whether or not Lumos accepts you as my wife.”

“If you make the decision to present me to him…” I led.

His hands tightened on my waist. “Citali has been kind and accommodating. And while I am sure she will make a man happy one day, I am not he. I wouldn’t place her before Lumos even if he turns you away.”

I wanted to rejoice at his words. My heart did for a second. Then the doubt and fear swelled.

Would the god of night reject me? I feared Sol wouldn’t find me acceptable in death and I’d loved her my entire life. Would Lumos want his Lumin to share even a second of my life? Would he immediately know what I sought and what darkness truly lay among the light in my chest? I pressed my eyes closed. Sol spoke with me through her Sphinx. She needed my help and the book Father kept so close must have some sort of secret inside. Would it contain knowledge that would change everything? What if I didn’t need to steal Caelum’s crown or become the Lumin at all to thwart my father’s plans?

I didn’t believe Father when he said Sol wanted him to be her power on earth forever, or that she wanted him to rule both kingdoms. She wouldn’t be asking me to steal something from Father if she favored him. She would protect her Aten at all costs if her will and his were the same.

There were too many unknown variables and questions without answers, but I was certain that the contents in that book would change everything.

“I need to meet with your father soon. I’m surprised he gave his blessing for this time alone,” he offered apologetically, just before his eyes sparked with blue flame. “I would offer to escort you to the ball from your room, but I think I’d prefer to watch you descend the steps. It’s a magnificent thing to behold.”