Gaia's Secret (36 page)

And then I broke through.

I fought through the opening, searching for a
latch until my mind found it. In a second I had one undone, and
then the other. With a click, I crashed hard to the ground, and the
wind was knocked from me. For a moment I lay, gasping for air,
struggling to function. My wrists burned and my head pounded as I
choked on my breath.

I looked up and realized I only had a couple
more minutes. I crawled to my life timer and lay it on its side
with only a few grains left. Sighing my relief, I made my way to
the door and pushed.

Nothing.

The shackles had left me so exhausted I
didn’t have any strength left to force my exit. Slumping to the
ground, I calmed my breathing so I could think. There was no way I
had broken free of my chains to be trapped by a rotted wooden
door.

Footsteps sounded outside. Maybe the guard
had returned. Regardless, whoever lurked there wasn’t powerful. I
couldn’t find any of the evil presence I’d sensed in Tiernan.
Struggling to my feet, I pressed myself against the wall. Whoever
opened that door would be my means out. I would make sure of
it.

Wielding all my remaining strength, I held my
breath. The door creaked open and a figure walked in. And I
struck.

Within seconds, I had the intruder in a
chokehold, preparing to smash my fist into his face when innocent
eyes gazed up at me. The cup in his hands fell to the floor with a
clank and its contents spilled on the ground into a puddle.
Clamping my hand over his mouth, our eyes locked. His surprise was
strong as he looked past me at my broken chains.

But he didn’t struggle—not once—as I pulled
him away from the door.

I stared hard at the boy, trying to convey in
silence that I would be lifting my hand from his mouth and he had
better think twice before yelling. When I lifted my hand, he said
nothing—only stared without blinking.

Well, he obviously wasn’t going to get me
into trouble, so maybe he would help me.

“Do you know a way out?” I whispered.

He nodded, his eyes never leaving mine.

“Will you help me?”

The boy smiled then, bringing a childlike
glee to his features. He leaned closer. “Are you really Lady Daria
Regius?”

His eagerness made me smile. “I’m not sure
who I am anymore, but my name is Daria.”

“You broke the chains?” His small forehead
wrinkled.

“Yes.”

“You are Lady Daria Regius, then.” His tone
was so confident for someone so young it was difficult not to
laugh.

“Well, if you help me get out of here, then
maybe we can both find out.”

The challenge delighted him. Whoever he was
or whatever had happened to him, the spirit inside him was strong
and brave.

“Are there any guards out front?”

The boy held up a single tiny finger.

One guard. I could get past one guard. The
training Dad had insisted on might prove useful after all. However,
it was one thing to fight for practice. It was another to fight for
your life. But I had to try. This might just be the deadliest test
I’d ever taken, and it was very possible I would fail it.

I took a deep breath. The boy had taken off
his cloak and was holding it out for me. His clothing was dirty and
torn, and his arms and legs were starved for proper nourishment and
looked out of proportion with knobby elbows and knees. If we
succeeded in escaping, I would see to it myself that he would be
taken care of. Starting with a huge meal. And a bath.

“I can’t fight. I’m too small,” he whispered.
“Wear this. He’ll think it’s me.”

I nodded in understanding as I wound the
cloak around me. It was tight, but the low lighting would help, at
least at first glance.

As I started again for the door, I turned
around, grabbing the boy’s arm. He flinched at my touch.

“What is your name?” I let go of his arm.

“I don’t know. So if we get out of here,
maybe we can find out mine too.”

I smiled. “I promise I’ll help you.”

He seemed to like that answer. “The guards
call me Fleck.”

Appropriate for one with that many freckles,
but not a proper name. We would have to change that.

“Wish me luck, Fleck.”

“If you can do that—” he pointed to the
broken chains “—you won’t need it.”

His confidence in my ability was enabling, no
matter how false it might have been. I grinned, my strength renewed
at having someone’s faith. I would give it my all, at least for
this boy.

Grabbing the cup, I pulled the hood far over
my head and opened the door. Just as Fleck had said, there was one
guard standing beside my door, his sword still in its sheath. It
was the same disgusting man I had met earlier in my cell. I kept my
head low as I approached him, the empty cup in hand.

“Is the princess still alive?” the guard
grumbled as he licked his lips.

I nodded. The man’s desires filled me with
disgust.

“Think it’s time I go in there.” The guard
patted his fat belly. “A beauty like hers shouldn’t go wasted. Keep
watch for me, eh, Fleck? Let me know if Master Tiernen is coming.”
He flashed hungry eyes at the prison door. “I’ve never had a
princess.”

I turned to him then, my fury swelling. His
eyes widened just as I slammed the stone cup into his face. The
back of his bald head rammed into the wall and he slumped to the
ground, unconscious.

“And you never will,” I growled. “Fleck! Open
the door!”

The door creaked open, and I used all my
strength to drag the heavy guard into my prison. Fleck stared with
bright eyes and a grin on his face. “See, I told you, lady.”

“Here.” I handed him back his cloak and
started taking off the man’s armor. On the back of his neck was
that same symbol I’d seen at Rex Cross. The entire mark was black,
the center resembling an eye framed by triangles on either side.
I’d have to tell the others—if I ever saw them again.

The guard’s armor was too large, but it would
have to work, and it was ridiculously heavy. I ended up taking off
a few pieces to lighten my load, but I kept the breastplate. It
seemed essential, even though it made me feel top heavy. I was
certain if anyone so much as touched me, I’d fall over headfirst. I
tore off his shirtsleeve and wrapped it around my face, concealing
as much of it as possible.

“You look like a boy, lady,” Fleck
whispered.

“Why thank you, Fleck.” I tried to balance
myself—get used to the feel of this metal. “All right, do you know
a way out of here?”

His little brow puckered. “I think so,” he
said after considerable thought. “But you have to use that power
again.” He nodded towards the chains.

“Sure.” My answer didn’t reflect my feelings.
I wasn’t sure I could do that again because I believed however I’d
freed myself was pure luck. But I wouldn’t crush either of our
hopes now. Not when we’d made it this far.

“Good.” He smiled, a light in his eyes.
“Follow me, Lady.”

F
leck and I hugged
the hallways, pausing at intervals to listen. It was quiet in this
maze of damp, dark caverns lit only by intermittent torches and
there was a chill that was palpable. Like the air around us was a
living creature, and it wasn’t a creature I wanted to linger in for
long. Whatever it was felt evil.

Fleck’s knowledge of this place was more
thorough than I could’ve hoped. Not only did he know exactly where
he was going, he kept us on passageways that weren’t frequented.
Without him, I never would’ve found my way out.

We tiptoed along and I began to get used to
the feel of the metal on my chest. I still felt top heavy and it
clinked a little when I moved, but after awhile, I was able to walk
in relative silence. It still worried me, though, the thought of
fighting while wearing this thing. Would I be able to move fast
enough?

We rounded a corner when I saw movement in
the shadows. I shoved Fleck against the wall behind me and drew my
sword. The weight of it pulled down my shoulder and my heart sunk.
I’d never be able to fight with this. Using my dagger had been
simple. This was so awkward and heavy I struggled just to keep it
level.

Hold it steady, Daria. You have to…at least
for Fleck.

The shadow moved towards me. Torchlight
flickered and I caught a glimpse of shiny metal. Whoever it was
wore armor, like mine. How could they see through my disguise so
easily?

There was a flash of steel as I barely
managed to deflect the strike at my throat, struggling to keep
myself on my feet. My attacker was fast and I wasn’t strong enough
to react. The metal was too heavy over my chest. His sword came at
my side and I spun away before being skewered.

But something about his movements seemed
familiar.

His foot landed hard in my chest, throwing me
back against the wall with a loud crash. He lifted his sword over
my head. I tried to roll but I couldn’t move. My torso was weighed
down by the protective metal shield.

“Lady, watch out!” Fleck screamed.

The sword came down in a blur and I shut my
eyes, waiting for the blow that would end my life.

But nothing came.

I opened my eyes and was staring at the tip
of sword.

I felt a surge of the guard’s curiosity as he
reached over and ripped the cloth from my face. His sword clattered
to the ground.

“Daria!” He ripped off his helmet and wrapped
his arms around me.

It was Alex. He had come. He had found me,
and had risked his life for mine. Again. “You’re alive.” He held my
head to his chest.

Guilt and remorse flooded through me as he
pulled back, his hands cupping my face. A torrent of emotions
passed over his face as he stared into my eyes. There were so many
things I wanted to say, so many regrets that I didn’t know where to
start. He sighed and rested his forehead on mine.

“Alex…I’m so…sorry.” My voice shook as my
throat clamped shut.

He pulled away, his face inches from mine as
he held a finger over my lips. Then he noticed Fleck and his eyes
narrowed. “Who’s he?”

Fleck’s eyes were wide as his knobby knees
knocked.

“Fleck,” I whispered. “He’s helping me
escape.”

Alex’s brow furrowed as footsteps shuffled
behind him.

“Dad!” I struggled to my feet with Alex’s
help.

“Shh!” My dad whispered, folding his thick
arms around me, smothering me in his relief.

After all this time. I couldn’t believe he
was here, right now, and alive. “Dad, I—“

“There’s no time.” His voice was low. “We’ve
got to get out of here. Alex?”

Alex nodded, glancing at me before throwing
his helmet back on. Dad grabbed my arm.

“Wait, Fleck?” I peered back to where Fleck
stood, mouth agape. “You’re coming with us.”

I felt Dad’s acute apprehension. “We don’t
know who he is.”

“He helped me get this far. I’m not leaving
without him.”

My dad hesitated, but motioned for a shocked
Fleck to follow.

“Prince Alaric?” Fleck whispered.

Prince? I mean, I had put two and two
together, but it was still odd hearing it. My dad, a prince.

“How did you get inside, sire?” Fleck
asked.

Sire? This was going to take some getting
used to.

“We recruited a borderline insane wizard for
help,” Dad said. “Although, we can use any help getting out. You
must know a way?”

“I was going to use the main entrance.”

“How’s that?” I was staring at Fleck now.

Fleck looked down, embarrassed. “I thought
you could pretend you have orders to take me somewhere, but that
won’t work with this many people.” Fleck looked up, then, directly
at my dad. “And everyone recognizes you, sire.”

Yells echoed throughout the corridor,
followed by pounding footsteps. We all froze, holding our breaths,
but no one continued down our tunnel.

“Well, we entered through a side entrance,”
my dad continued, “but now that they’re aware you’re missing, that
will be impossible.”

“We have to try—before they seal the exits,”
Alex said.

The four of us ran down the corridor until we
reached a much wider vein—a main passageway. A handful of armed
guards shuffled past, intent in the direction from which we had
come. My cell.

I gripped Fleck’s sweaty hand. “I won’t leave
you here,” I whispered in his ear.

He nodded as the color drained from his
face.

We marched in the opposite direction, me
holding on to Fleck as if he was my prisoner. It was difficult not
to run, but that would give us away. Guards ran by—pushed by—none
taking a second glance at us.

This might be easier than I had thought.

We continued until the corridor descended,
lower and lower underground, ending in a narrow, domed room. Guards
were peppered about, standing, chatting, and no one even glanced at
us. Beyond them was a dark slit in the rock wall. An exit.

If we could thread through the guards
unnoticed, we would be free. It would be that simple.

“There you are. I was wondering when you’d
come.”

Or maybe not.

Lord Tiernan appeared like a shadow. Now we
had the guards’ attention. Shuffling sounded behind us and I turned
around to see more of them. We were trapped.

“You didn’t honestly believe I would let you
simply walk out of here with my prisoner, did you?”

My dad stepped forward. “You.” That one word
held so much loathing and disgust it seemed like the entire room
recoiled.

Lord Tiernan smiled, pulling his taught skin
even tighter over the sharp bones in his face. “Who were you
expecting,
my prince
?” His velvety voice was laden with
condescension. “Unlike you, I serve the
true
Lord of
Gaia.”

“The
true
Lord of Gaia is my father,
King Darius Regius,” Dad growled in a commanding tone I’d never
heard. “You forgot yourself, Tiernan. My father rewarded you beyond
measure for your services, and this is how you thank him.” Dad
waved his hand at the men in armor now gathered all around.
“Selling your soul to Mortis.” The light in the room flickered and
dimmed. “You forget who you bargain with. It will be the end of
you.”