Chapter 29: Early Arrival

When I woke, my neck was sore, and I had a dry throat. Apparently someone had tied a strip of clean white fabric over my palms during the night. I could feel the stiffness in my fingers, although the blisters weren't burning as fiercely anymore.

Dorian leaned against the opposite wall with his knees drawn close to his chest. His face looked somewhat better than yesterday, though it was still gray, and his black cracks on the chest had stopped spreading. He gave me a wary look but didn't say anything.

Mira still lay in the bed with her eyes closed and barely breathing. Jenna was sitting beside her with a cup of water but didn't try to wake her up.

Vance was at his desk, studying his grimoire. Dark circles lay under his bloodshot eyes, and his hair had lost its usual neatness.

Zoe remained by the window looking out, and her arms were crossed. It looked like the sun was already up and the snow stopped falling.

"Ruze mentioned a temporary binding spell," Vance suddenly said and put down the grimoire. "It should be enough to trap Raze in the object for several days."

"That'll be enough," Zoe said, turning away from the window. "First, we bind Raze, and then hunt Cross."

"We'll still have three days left till the blood moon," Dorian said, shaking his head.

"It may take less than three days for Raze to break free again," Vance said grimly. "Remember that Mira isn't well."

I raised my head from the pillows and touched my temple. There was a throbbing pain behind it. "We'll do both at the same time. First, we kill Cross and then bind Raze."

\---

Vance pulled out his piece of chalk and started drawing on the floor. Soon, he sketched the outline of Cross's estate with the surrounding trees.

"Cross's main weakness is his pride," Vance continued. "He will want to confront you personally, Arya, because he believes that you possess unique magical abilities, and no one other than you can lead him to safety."

Jenna traced Cross's estate with her finger. "We'll offer Cross to trade Mira for your safe passage through the forest. It'll give him no reason not to appear."

"And how do we distract him?" Zoe asked, stepping closer to the map.

"There is an underground passage leading to the estate basement. It starts behind the back gate and connects the kitchen to Cross's library. I discovered it several years ago and haven't seen it since."

"But Cross knew you back then. He may have found another exit," Dorian said.

"He didn't find it since," Vance responded. "But you don't need any distraction anyway. According to Ruze, Cross will focus on you, and you'll be able to catch him from the side."

"I'm sure Mira would rather stay in this place than go with us," I said. "Her body isn't well enough."

Mira opened her eyes and looked at us with an odd expression. She swallowed hard before talking.

"But what does it matter? My life is nothing more than a waste."

Dorian leaned against the wall, his body trembling in effort to stand. "We don't really have any choice. If we agree to his conditions, he'll let us kill Cross and take Mira."

"But what if he kills Mira first?" I asked.

"He'll still give us three days to complete the task. Otherwise, he'll burn the whole place to the ground and kill everyone in it."

I looked at Mira's pale lips with worry. "What does it matter to you what happens to you now?"

Mira sighed heavily. "Nothing at all, Warden. I deserve every punishment for my past crimes."

"Mira is a prisoner. You can't force her," Dorian said.

"Nobody forces me anywhere," Mira said firmly. "My only sin now is to survive."

\---

When we were finished discussing our plan, I stepped into the hallway. Dorian followed me, supporting himself against the wall.

"You don't have to do everything on your own," he suddenly said, his breathing still labored.

"Don't misunderstand me. I'm not alone in this. But I feel like the only one who will be able to convince Cross of my intentions. He'll never trust anyone except me."

Dorian nodded slowly. "I understand why you want to do this alone, but it doesn't change the danger you'll be in."

"I have been through it already and survived. You can see that I am still here."

Dorian took my hand and touched its white strips. His hands were chilly to the touch. "Yes, you've survived everything. But you shouldn't do anything foolish just because you are."

We stood in the silent corridor for a few moments, neither of us wanting to admit our feelings towards each other.

Suddenly, a scream resounded from inside the room.

Dorian and I rushed back inside.

Mira's eyes had turned to pitch-black color, and her hands started clawing the blanket frantically.

Jenna grabbed her by the shoulders but couldn't force her back onto the pillows.

Raze took control over Mira's body and said. "I heard your plans, Wardens. So, now you want to use me to capture Cross? Alright, I will play this game with you."

"No," Zoe said, grabbing her pipe. "I can't trust you."

"Why not?" Raze answered with Mira's lips. "Because, otherwise, I'll burn this entire place and everyone in it. What choice do you have left, hmm?"

"What are you offering?" I asked carefully.

"When Cross will be dead, I'll go back where I belong, and you will release me."

"Don't trust him. Once released, he will kill all the nearby creatures," Jenna said angrily.

"You don't have a choice," Raze said, tilting Mira's head. "In three days, Cross will come here. Without me, you will never be able to defeat him. Believe me, Warden."

Dorian took my arm and led me to the side. "You don't have any reason to believe him."

"You're right," I said, looking into his face. "But I know that Raze doesn't have a choice anymore either. He's been trapped here in Mira's body, and he wants freedom."

"That's not enough," Dorian said, still trying to keep me back.

I touched his cheek gently and looked into his eyes. "That is the only thing I know for sure right now."

"We can find a different solution," Vance whispered.

"No, there is no other way." I returned to the center of the room. "Fine, Raze. You help us to get rid of Cross, and you're free. Nothing else."

Raze smirk the way Mira would. "Deal."

"A deal with a demon," Vance murmured.

"Be quiet," I told him sharply and studied Mira's face.

But Raze's eyes flashed brownish and Mira talked. "Arya, don't believe him. He will betray you. And I will suffer again."

"They lie," Raze answered, returning Mira's features.

"Jenna, tie him to the chair," Zoe commanded, taking the piece of copper wire from the desk.

"Why not?" Raze asked with shrugs and allowed Jenna to tie his wrists.

"I don't trust him," Dorian repeated.

"And you will never be able to convince me," I responded and walked back to the map on the floor.

"Now, Vance, explain this passage again."

"It goes from the back door, and appears in the basement kitchen," Vance explained to me. "Cross won't expect anyone coming from this angle."

"I'll go through this tunnel with Dorian," Zoe said.

"Yeah, I'm still capable of fighting," Dorian agreed.

Jenna threw an irritated glance at Dorian's shaking frame. "Sure, you can, boy."

"I can still fight, Jenna," he repeated stubbornly.

"Listen, Dorian," I suddenly said, stepping forward. "What do you think she'll ask me to do?"

Mira turned her head towards me with tears flowing down her cheeks. "Don't spare me. Kill me. Don't let him win."

I took a step back and looked down at the floor.

"Alright, we'll leave at midnight tomorrow." I walked to the window. "Go get some rest tonight. We can't afford mistakes."

"I will prepare a binding spell for Raze," Vance said, shutting the grimoire. "Just in case."

Raze's black eyes watched us calmly. "Good luck old man, you will

never be able to trap me."

I looked outside into the snow-covered courtyard. Two days to hunt Cross.

And I didn't know yet what our fate would be.