Chapter Twelve

ELEIRA

My eyes go wide when the elevator doors open. The sight before me is like nothing I could have imagined.

We’re standing at the base of a tree. It’s a giant redwood, with the elevator built right into its trunk.

A cobblestone path opens before me. Thatch roof buildings, none of them more than two stories high, line either side. Some have large, gated estates, while others are more modest.

I see farm animals strolling around. Chickens, sheep, cows… but no people.

All the houses are dark. I look up, expecting to see stars… but find only a dense canopy of branches above me. Although, here and there, the occasional patch of dark sky is visible.

I take one look at Raul. I want to ask about the place, but decide it’s better to keep my mouth shut. It feels like we’ve wandered into a recreation of a 16th Century European village.

But what on earth is it doing in California?

He grunts and jerks his head the way he wants us to go. I walk after him, breathing in the crisp night air.

We walk for a long time in utter silence. There isn’t a hint of modern technology anywhere. It’s rustic and quiet and even peaceful—and I can’t help the feeling that I’m missing some significant piece of the puzzle about this place.

It’s the timing, I think. There’s no way it should still be night.

We pass more darkened homes. They’re well maintained, obviously not abandoned. But if people live here, shouldn’t there be some sign of them? Even if it is night, there’s bound to be something… a light from inside a window, the sounds of a family gathering at a table, heck, even a tavern or —

“Impressed yet?” Raul interrupts my thoughts.

I choose my words carefully. “What would I be impressed by?”

“The stillness,” Raul breathes. “It’s wonderful, isn’t it?”

I look at him askance. “I’m not sure I know what you mean.”

Just then, the sound of running footsteps reaches us. I turn my head immediately—and see a young, blond girl stumbling out from around a corner of the street.

She staggers to a stop and gives a cry of alarm when she sees us. She has to be my age, but her clothes… they’re nothing like anyone would wear today. They are the clothes of a medieval peasant.

Before I know what is happening, Raul splits from me and catches the girl by the nape of her neck. She gasps in fear but doesn’t fight back.

In fact, her entire body starts to tremble.

“April,” he growls. “What are you doing out at this hour?” He twists his hand in her hair. She whimpers. “Did you not hear of the edict?”

“I… I… I…” she blubbers. I can tell she’s obviously frightened. “I was… I…”

“Yes?” Raul asks. “Tell me.” His voice takes on the deep baritone of a predator.

She swallows and shakes her head and squeezes her eyes shut. “Just do it,” she whispers. “Punish me. Do it, but don’t make me wait.”

At her invitation Raul sweeps her hair away and exposes her neck. He draws his lips back as if he’s going to bite her…

“No!” I cry out. I run to them. I don’t know what nightmare this is, but I won’t stand by and do nothing.

I grab Raul’s arm and pull him away. “Let her go!”

He throws me off him as if I weigh no more than a paper doll. I fall to the ground and grunt. Already Raul has April in his embrace. He drops her back, almost like a lover…

“Stop!” I scream. I pick myself up and throw myself at them. “Don’t hurt her!”

Raul moves with astonishing speed. My effort nets me nothing but my hands grasping through empty air, in the spot they’d just been.

Raul looks from April to me. The poor girl is staring at me, wide-eyed. “You care,” he says slowly, “what happens to this wench?”

I flinch at his choice of words. April gives no response. She just stands there, drained, devoid of life.

She looks like she’s given up.

“Yes, I care,” I say. “What were you going to do to her? Is she another one like me, caught up in this twisted game?”

Raul’s lips twitch up. Maybe in a smile, maybe in a snarl — it’s hard to tell.

“Let me assure you…” he lets her go and steps toward me, “…that this girl is nothing like you.”

I try to catch her eye, but her gaze is glued to the ground. She’s free now—why doesn’t she run?

Raul stops an equal distance between us. He sweeps an arm back to take in April. “She’s broken the rules,” he tells me softly. “And she knows what happens to humans who come out after curfew. Especially on a night like this.”

I start to edge my way toward them, so I can get between Raul and April. He’s already proved he’s not willing to hurt me. At least — not in the way he was ready to hurt April.

“Please,” the girl says softly. “Just do what you have to. Don’t — don’t stretch it out.”

I have no idea if she’s crazy or what. Maybe this is some type of role-playing game gone horribly wrong.

“I would,” Raul says. “But it looks like our incumbent Princess-in-waiting has other ideas for you.”

I stop short. “What did you call me?”

He ignores the question. He turns back and grabs April’s arm. She gives a small cry as he drags her forward and then pushes her toward me.

I catch her as she stumbles into my arms. Our eyes meet for a split-second, and I see such intense hatred in hers that I gasp.

She brushes me off and stands on her own.

“So, April,” Raul says. “It looks like you have a new champion.” He smiles. “I wonder what James will say when he finds out. That’s where you were running from, isn’t it? You were with him?”

Her cheeks flush a deep red.

Raul starts walking. “I was going to show you the majesty of The Haven,” he tells me. “But this little wrinkle necessitates a change in plans. Come. Your new lodgings await.”