Chapter Seventeen

AXL

“Don’t hurt me!” Akuza trudged up the steps with hunched shoulders. The manacles holding his wrists and ankles rattled as they dragged against the stone porch. There were other, more modern ways to restrain prisoners, but I liked the classics. Moonlight illuminated part of his puckered face. He looked back at me with imploring anguish in his wet eyes. A snot bubble on his left nostril swelled and contracted as he took ragged breaths. The sight was pitiful, to put it mildly, but my expression remained unmoving.

“If you let me go, I swear to you that my father will never know of this.” Akuza’s words were broken up by tearful hiccups.

“Stop talking.” I lifted him up by the collar. “You’re not going to die. If I wanted to take your life, you would be gone long ago. Just keep walking, and don’t ask any more questions.”

Christine climbed to the porch and set her backpack down by her feet. She rested an arm against the metal railing, looking exhausted. There were smudges of dirt on her face, and her ponytail was limp. A large rip ran down the side of her hip and thigh, exposing a raw gash.

I had never seen a more attractive woman.

“What’s the plan?”

“Make sure he keeps his mouth shut and follow my lead. Try not make a sound unless I say so.”

“Please.” Akuza tried again. “We can pretend none of this ever happened.”

“Christine, hand me the rag.”

“No, don’t hand him the rag!” Akuza furiously shook his head. “It tastes like feet and farts. I’m sorry. I am shutting up. Right now.”

Akuza raised his hands to his mouth and pulled his fingers across his lips. Satisfied for the moment, I unlocked the front door and slowly pushed down on the handle to minimize the squeak of the hinges. At my signal, Christine bent over and picked up the chains by Akuza’s ankles, following me into the house.

I shined my light into the darkness, showing the way to the cellar. All three of us held our breath as we tiptoed past the loud snoring from the parlor and proceeded down the hallway. I wrestled the cellar door open, yanked on the dangling chain above me, and ushered them down the dusty stairs.

“Come on. Don’t be shy.”

A flickering light revealed the dingy, cluttered interior, its neglect unspoken but palpable. The clay ceiling, marked with dripping wet spots and mold, looked like it could collapse at any minute. Small animals had made their homes in the corners of the room, forcing their way in-between the dead shells of insects trapped in glossy zupawebs. Heaps of the junk my father had accumulated over the years were piled ceiling-high against the walls. The floors were in dire need of a good sweeping.

“You live here?” Akuza yelled as I threw him up against the brick post.

“What part of ‘keep your mouth shut’ did you misunderstand?” I took the rope from Christine and tied Akuza to the post by his neck. “I know this isn’t the grand suite you’re accustomed to, but it’s the best you’re going to get. Are your restraints too tight, Your Highness?”

“Why do you ask?” Akuza’s face turned a light shade of purple. “Wait a second. You’re not leaving me here, are you?”

“I suggest you make things easier for yourself.” I slightly loosened the noose around his neck. “It’s probably best if you sit still.”

“I’m a prince! You can’t do this to me. Help! Royalty is in trouble!”

I rolled my eyes and stuffed a balled-up rag into his mouth. The gurgling Makroid fell against the post and turned away from me. Rubbing my stinging knuckles, I called to Christine. “Let’s go.” I started to climb the stairs.

Christine put down her backpack and followed me.

“Head up the stairs next to the parlor and wait for me in the second room to your right,” I whispered as we slipped back out into the dark hallway. I locked the cellar door behind us. “I need to take care of something. And remember one thing.”

“I know, don’t make a sound.” Christine seemed irritable. “I heard you the first time.”

The lights turned on without warning. “Stop! I have a weapon, and I’m not afraid to use it.” My father barged into the hallway from the parlor carrying a sword. His crazed eyes still looked bloodshot from lack of sleep. He slashed through the air at an invisible assailant, robe coming loose in his vigor. I wished he had worn underwear. Christine took a step back and looked off into space.

“Moiru, it’s Axl,” I crooned, rushing to his side.

“Axl?” My father repeated loudly, turning toward me. I leaped aside, dodging the keen edge of his blade. “Who is that with you?”

“First, let’s put down your sword.” I eased the handle of the melee weapon out of his fingers, but he grabbed it again and bounded forward without warning.

“How dare you bring a stranger into our home!” He waved the sword at Christine and lifted his nose, sniffing. “It’s a human. What are you thinking?”

“Settle down, Moiru.” I grabbed his arm firmly and forced the blade out of his hands. “She’s a client of Magnum. All hotels are either closed down or fully booked, so she has to stay with us tonight. I’ll set up a cot for her down in the cellar.”

“The cellar?” My father paused and scratched his chin. I took the opportunity to reach around him and pull his robes over the swinging appendage between his legs. “I do not like this at all.”

“It’s only for one night. She’ll be gone by tomorrow morning. Noon, at the latest. Get back in your chair, Father, and I will make you a cup of tea.”

He gave us another scathing look before returning to his seat, clutching the amulet around his neck and muttering to himself. “Onya, my love, our son is at it again. He is reckless and adventurous, a trait I’m sure he inherited from your side of the family.”

I cleared my throat and tossed the key to Christine, motioning to the cellar door with my chin.

“Go ahead. I’ll be right with you.”