We stood in the midst of an opulent suite.
“Is this part of it? To be pampered and live in the lap of luxury?” I whispered to Devlin, as I tentatively inspected our new surroundings. “Somehow this wasn’t what I was expecting.”
Everywhere I looked I found decadence and embellished finery. I’d always thought my childhood home was fancy, but standing amongst gold encrusted lamps and cushioned couches, we may as well have shopped at the Goodwill. Never one to focus on my appearance, I tugged at the bottom of my shirt, feeling painfully out of place and under-dressed.
“Me neither. I assumed we’d be staying in something more . . .” It was interesting watching Devlin’s reaction as he scoped out the room as well. His eyes were wide with surprise, his expression curious.
“Spartan?” I offered. “I got the distinct impression back there that this would be grueling. This—” I fingered the burgundy tasseled throw pillow, twirling it before gliding my hand over the chair. The material was soft like butter. “It doesn’t fit.” I glanced back at Devlin and smiled. “Not that I mind.”
He chuckled and came to stand by me. “I suppose not. It could be worse.” Brushing by me, he parted the heavy curtains, allowing light to spill into the room as he peeked through the window. It had taken a while for me to not cringe every time sunlight hit him, magical protection making it possible for him to withstand exposure. His role as enforcer and the vampire king’s most trusted confidante demanded it.
Creating a spot for me to join him, I released a low whistle of appreciation at the immaculately maintained gardens below us. “Wow, that’s impressive. Look how green and lush everything is.” I spied a thick grove of trees and craned my neck to see how expansive the forest was. “There’s even a place to run if needed. Good to know.”
“Do the accommodations meet your approval?”
Even though I’d felt the presence of someone else in the room, her voice still caused me to jump slightly. Stepping away from the view, the curtain swished back to its previous position and the room returned to its softly lit ambience.
“They do, thank you.” I stood still, not wanting to move.
“Not what you expected, is it?” Atropos smiled as she glided toward us, her feet gently padding over the thickly woven carpet. “Our hope is to help ease any discomfort the trials may bring.”
“When will I begin? I’m ready. I shouldn’t think I’d be here long enough to fully enjoy your generosity.” Platters of food caught my attention, piled with an assortment of meats, fruits, and cheeses. My mouth watered and was followed, a second later, by my rumbling stomach.
“Your stay will be for as long as it is needed. You will be summoned at the beginning of each ordeal and returned promptly to this suite once you complete it.” If you complete it was left unsaid but clearly understood.
I wanted to argue with her and insist that I get whatever they had planned over and done with as swiftly as possible, but her firm tone told me I had no say in what happened from here on out. They dictated the schedule. They determined all the conditions. It was my responsibility to ensure I was prepared.
“Do you know when I’ll be sent for then?” I prodded, hoping to get some kind of definitive answer. There was so much that remained in the dark and it didn’t sit well. I needed whatever information I could get. Something, anything to give me just the smallest sense of security. Being this blind was never a good thing.
“I do not. I suggest you rest and eat. I’ll leave you both and should need any further assistance, tug on this cord and someone will be here shortly.” She drew my attention to the long, thick tassel that hung beside the door. I imagined it alerted whatever servants worked here.
She left without speaking, plunging the room into silence again. I wandered over to the table and began sampling some of the food. My taste buds erupted as the flavors filled my mouth and I let out a satisfied groan. I was starved. I piled a variety onto an available plate and brought it over to sit on one of the couches. Devlin was busy examining the rooms that branched off the main living area and I watched as he cautiously opened doors, sticking his head briefly inside before continuing his inspection.
“I forgot to ask them about you. You know . . . what you need to eat.” I nibbled on a slice of cheese, enjoying the sharpness against my tongue. I followed it with a red, ripe strawberry still on its stalk. Juice squirted into my mouth and I licked a stray droplet from my lips.
“I’m sure they have everything covered. Regardless of how we were brought here, they wouldn’t overlook such a simple courtesy. When I get hungry, I’ll pull on the cord and find out.” Devlin rested his hand on the chair’s arm and strummed his fingers to an imaginary beat. “So how are you feeling?”
Finished with my small feast, I balanced the plate on my knee and let out a tired sigh. “I’m doing okay, considering. Just impatient to get this done and over with. I still can’t imagine what’s so important that all this secrecy is necessary.” Resting my head against my hand, I paused before faintly rubbing my forehead. “I’ll bet my parents are having a field day with this. Do they know I’m here?”
I was careful with what I asked Devlin and studied his facial expressions for any signs of pain. No matter how badly I wanted to understand everything, I wasn’t selfish enough to risk him like that. Apart from the flash of sorrow in his eyes, he looked the same as always.
“What’s the last thing you remember?” Instead of answering my question, Devlin asked one of his own. I watched him weigh each word carefully, measuring to see whether it would affect his oath.
“I remember going to bed, annoyed at my mother. She’d called to tell me she’d set me up for a blind date and there was no reasoning with her. Talk about stubborn! That woman is relentless.” I shook my head, exasperated. “I swear, if she doesn’t have me married off by the end of the year, I’m scared she’s going to resort to something drastic. She sees it as some kind of ‘maternal failure’ that I’m not barefoot and pregnant already.” I added a snort of disgust. We’d butted heads so many times that my being single had become a constant sore point in our relationship.
“She just wants you to be happy, Darcy.” He chuckled and I was tempted to throw a cushion at him. “Besides, it’s a mother’s prerogative to not rest until all her children are enjoying wedded bliss.
“Easy for you to say, you’re not the focus of her obsession. Although,” I pointed my finger at him for extra emphasis and winked, “I could fix that for you. I’m sure she’d just love to help you find your special someone.”
“Don’t you dare!” Devlin’s face whitened and I laughed at the terror in his eyes. The man was a powerful enforcer, had been in countless dangerous situations, and looked like he was about to face the boogeyman. Close enough, I thought. In fact, I think the boogeyman would be terrified of my mother too.
“Awww, scared, huh? She just wants you to be happy, Devlin. You’re one of my closest friends,” I teased gently.
“I don’t have time for romance. You, on the other hand . . .” He left his sentence unfinished. We lapsed back into comfortable silence, the brief moments of frivolity a good respite.
“I think I’ll go crazy if I have to sit here the whole time waiting,” I groaned, running my fingers through my hair. “Did you find anything interesting?” I tipped my head to gesture the other rooms.
“No, they’re just bedrooms. Over there is the bathroom and if you go through that door, you’ll find a kitchen and dining area. Here.” Devlin stood and held out his hand. I gave him mine and he helped me to my feet. “They didn’t say we couldn’t explore.”
“And they did say they’d summon us when the first test began.” I chewed on my bottom lip. I knew I’d go insane if I had to stare at the walls for a long period of time, and the short glimpse I had of the gardens fascinated me. I just didn’t want to do anything that delayed my leaving here and getting back to our lives—whatever they were.
“Exactly. They’ll find us.” Leading me to the exit, Devlin bowed after opening the door. “After you, madam.”
“Why thank you, kind sir.” I smiled and linked my arm through his. A flutter of excitement stirred when I saw the hallway outside and not the previous room we were in at the beginning of all this. Noticing the large opening farther down the corridor, we began walking as some nervous anticipation and buried worry began growing inside me.
Tilting my head back as the sun’s heated rays tickled my skin, I let out a sigh. There hadn’t been much to explore, but I couldn’t help feeling dazzled by everything I’d seen. If the decadence of the suite had been any indication of where we were staying, I should have been prepared. I hadn’t been though. Everything was bigger, better, more opulent than our room. From crystal chandeliered rooms to masterfully carved staircases, everywhere I turned I found marble columns and statues. Freshly cut flowers adorned every available surface and beautiful tapestries hung from almost every wall.
A closer inspection of the wall hangings made me gasp at the intricate details. I was impressed by how skillfully each stitch was placed and I couldn’t imagine how long it had taken to create. The only thing that came to mind, as I carefully stroked the outline of a magnificently sewn horse, was a painstakingly long time.
The estate wasn’t as large as I initially guessed, but it was expansive in its layout. Devlin and I didn’t see anyone as we surveyed our surroundings. I thought it was strange we didn’t encounter any servants, but Devlin explained that their absence was a mark of a well-trained staff. Having never lived with hired help, I took his word for it.
We finally emerged outside and a wide smile broke across my face as I was bombarded by the scents and sounds of a sunny afternoon. A cool breeze was blowing, gently dancing about me and my body instantly started soaking in the delicious heat that filled the air.
After roaming the grounds, Devlin and I finally chose to sit by a small fountain, lying back on the grass so we could look up at the blue sky. There wasn’t a cloud for as far as the eye could see, nothing marring the perfection of the moment.
“Right this very second you would never guess things are so life and death. Doesn’t it seem surreal to you?” I released a soft breath, shifting my body to get into a more comfortable position. “Like this is all some type of illusion.”
“Yeah, it would be easy to get caught up in and forget why we’re here.” Devlin was on his back, his hands folded underneath his head like a makeshift pillow. “That may be key to keeping focused on the tests, not letting yourself become so distracted by all this that you lose sight of what’s important.”
“And it’s important, isn’t it?” I added, raising my hand to stop him from answering. “You don’t need to say anything. I know you can’t. I’ve been trying to think of what it could be that is so important to determine, but decided it didn’t matter. We’re here and I’m not a quitter. I’ve accepted it. It serves no purpose to keep stewing.”
“Sounds very wise.” Devlin turned his head and smiled.
“I have my moments.” I winked and rolled over to my side so I could look at him. “I also think that waiting for some ‘approaching doom’ isn’t going to help either. I can’t shake the seriousness or my anxiety over it, but if I keep myself tightly wound . . . I want to survive this, Devlin. I need to be smart with what I do know and the resources available. Does that make sense?”
“It does and I agree. Take whatever chance, long or short, to relax so when you’re summoned, you are at your best. That’s a good strategy. You don’t know how challenging these tests will be or how far they’ll push you toward your breaking point. It would be foolish to assume they’re easy. We both read the inscription over the door . . . this is meant to be a refiner’s fire.”
I scooted over as Devlin moved his arm to wrap around my shoulder. I lay my head on his chest. For what seemed like the hundredth time since arriving here, I thanked my lucky stars he was with me. His support was cherished and his added perspective a blessing.
“So, after saying all that, why am I still so tense?” I willed my muscles to loosen, to relinquish their tension, but I was ignored.
“Just do the best you can. You know you’re not here on a vacation. Your body knows that. It’ll keep itself as vigilant as it can and ready to be tested at a second’s notice. It’s the same way for me when I’m at home. Being an enforcer, I’m always on duty protecting the supernatural community, also available to Zane whenever he summons me. It makes true relaxation difficult, but you learn ways around it.”
“Like how?” I asked.
“By being in each moment and experiencing it as it happens. Don’t worry about what comes next. Just enjoy each minute until a different need arises. For example, instead of constantly looking about for the Moirai to appear.” My eyes widened over how transparent my thoughts were. That’s exactly what I’d been doing, priding myself on how discrete I was. It was further proof that nothing escaped his notice. “Lay back and concentrate on how good it feels to be lying here; how sweet the grass smells, how pretty the birds sound chirping from the trees. Each time you start worrying, push the thought aside and take a deep breath. It takes practice but the difference in how you feel is worth it.”
I did what he said. Clearing my mind, I lay back on the grass again with my eyes closed. This time I concentrated on the way my chest rose and fell with each breath. Slowly, but surely, the anxiety I’d been carrying faded and made way for new sensations like my muscles releasing the death grip they had on my body.
My heartbeat slowed and I felt myself sink a little. Slowly the surrounding noise filtered in, but it was different this time. It wasn’t the overwhelming, hyper vigilant awareness from before. Now it was the soft rustling of the wind blowing through the trees and the musical song of nearby birds going about their day. The trickling water from the fountain was soothing and as it combined with each releasing breath, the last of my stress evaporated.
I was centered and focused. Time didn’t matter. I must have dozed off because the next thing I knew, Devlin was gently shaking me, repeating my name.
“It’s time,” he whispered. Slowly opening my eyes, I sat up and looked around. Sure enough, Klothos stood off in the distance with her hands neatly folded in front of her. “I can’t go with you, but I’ll be in the suite waiting for your return.”
He helped me to my feet and I marveled at how amazing my body felt. Devlin had been right, learning his relaxation technique had been helpful. I felt ready and prepared to face the unknown.
“Okay, hopefully I won’t be gone too long.” I dusted myself off and began walking toward the Moirai with him by my side.
“Just remember, these trials are meant to test you, to reveal who you are deep down. Everything will revolve around exposing those truths; so even if it looks impossible, there’s a reason behind it. Don’t lose sight of yourself. Understand that and you’ll be fine.” Devlin wrapped his arm around my shoulder and squeezed. “You can do this.”
I nodded, keeping my eyes trained on Klothos. “I’ll do my best.”
“Young Darcy, are you ready to commence the first test?” Her tone was formal.
“I am.”
I gave Devlin one last sidelong glance, catching his reassuring smile, right before Klothos reached out and grabbed my forearm. Without a chance to brace myself, I was sucked away.
