Songs of the Wicked: Book One of A Dreamer's Misfortune

Chapter 1

Spring brought purple lupines back to the riverbank. A whisper of their sweet scent reached out as they swayed gently in the warm breeze. Dappled sun undulated along Aislinn’s goose-pebbled arms.

She lay in the tall grass, clutching the earth like a lifeline. The dirt beneath her nails was an anchor when her body threatened to float away. The river drowned out the rasp and crackle of her lungs struggling with each inhale as light danced across the ripples, casting sharp beams of sunlight to kiss her face and broken body. 

Aislinn’s golden hair, once braided into a crown adorned with wildflowers, was torn from the scalp in some places. Blood trickled down her forehead, and her cheeks were tight from dried tears.

Her lavender gown—the one she’d promised her sister she’d keep clean for the ceremony—was torn and bloodied, and each breeze that ghosted against her skin breathed through the tears in the silk. The ground beneath her was wet with blood, and the throbbing in her ribs from his knife as well as the pain between her legs had grown numb.

This would have been her nineteenth season.

Where were the gods? The ones the elders swore would protect her? They hadn’t come when he took her body. They hadn’t come when she begged for mercy. 

Aislinn let her head fall to the side, squinting through blurring vision until her eyes found the faint outline of a human shape.

A hooded figure stepped out of the shadows, bearing unearthly darkness. The being’s shroud of black devoured the light around it, and a blanket of quiet wrapped around the forest. 

This was no god she’d ever prayed to.

Death had come to claim her. Aislinn knew it in the farthest corners of her heart. Softly closing her eyes, she conjured a warm memory—running through this very forest with her sister Yera. Barefoot over soft moss and cool grass. She could almost hear Yera’s laughter as she resigned herself to her fate and took one last strangled breath. Tired of counting her heartbeats and clinging to the riverbank with desperate fingers, Aislinn relaxed her grip, letting go.

* * *

It was a curious thing, to look down on one’s own body. Aislinn watched, puzzled, as the hooded figure placed a gentle hand over the corpse that wore her face.

Aislinn lifted a shaky hand to her hair, finding the plaited crown intact and free of blood. A curious thing, indeed. Is that me? Is that... my body? 

The stranger stood, turning. Do you know what I am? The voice was somehow both soft and hard. A gentle rush and a harsh scrape.

The trees groaned and their leaves shook in a sharp breeze—a breeze that failed to meet Aislinn’s skin. Part of her wanted to believe this was her mind’s final moments, conjuring images as her body shut down, but Aislinn knew better. 

You’re death, she whispered.

The figure lowered her hood to reveal long red hair in a simple plait running down her back. Her smooth skin held an unearthly glow, unmarred by time and nature, though there was nothing youthful in her forlorn expression. With her brows drawn over her amber eyes, she gave a short shake of her head. Not exactly. She pointed toward the body on the ground. That is the face of death. I’m merely your guide. 

Aislinn always believed there was more to life than the here and now. She wasn’t the most pious, especially by Ardenian standards. Her mother always said Aislinn’s father had returned to the earth, but she knew there was something after death. She could feel it in every hum of the wind. She didn’t believe in much, but she believed that her father wasn’t far. Wasn’t that enough? 

It’s time to go now, Aislinn. The girl twirled a lupine between her fingers, vibrant purple spinning to a blur. When Aislinn’s gaze fell to her hand, she dropped the poor flower to the ground.

Why pick a flower only to leave it forgotten? 

How do you know my name?

I know much about you.

Aislinn’s hands fisted by her side. That’s not an answer!

It isn’t, is it?

Why was this strange girl speaking in riddles? Was it not enough to face her mortality? Can you at least tell me your name? 

The ghost of a smile hinted against her mouth. Lark. 

Lark, Aislinn said, testing the name on her tongue. She never thought death would come in the form of a fire-haired girl, hardly older than she, bearing a human name. Then again, she hadn’t thought she’d encounter death so soon.

It’s time. 

Aislinn glanced at her broken body that still lay on the riverbank. I’m not going anywhere. She stepped back from Lark. I want to go home. 

If she’d known she’d never see her mother again, perhaps she would have sat still while she braided her hair. Or she wouldn’t have shrugged out of her embrace. She should have told her sister, Yera, how much she’d always admired her, that she envied her smile. Not for its beauty but for the ease with which it came. There were many things Aislinn should have done, but instead, she’d run off after the ceremony, desperate for a moment alone before the wedding feast began. 

Lark remained silent, watching.

Do you see what he... did to me? 

I’m sorry, but I can’t undo it. All I can offer you is peace. Lark held out a hand. Please, let me help you.

Aislinn recoiled and stepped around Lark. Why couldn’t she feel the wind? Why couldn’t she smell the lupines, the river and its scent of rotting moss, earthy and comforting? She rubbed her arm, but felt no goose pebbles on her skin. It was as if her hands had fallen asleep—tingles of sensation—nothing tangible but over her entire body. She stumbled and landed on her knees next to her corpse. When she first looked upon it, she felt nothing. Now, her chest constricted with panic. It was her face, but it was all wrong. Like her features weren’t where they were meant to be. She’d only ever seen her face in a mirror, to see it like this—frozen in pain... 

Tell me this is a dream. 

Lark knelt across from her, adopting slow, careful movements. For a moment they remained in silence, the only sound the gentle rushing of the river. 

Aislinn squeezed her eyes shut, seeking the scent of this place she once considered home. Slowly, the soft florid scent of lupines filled her senses, the warm earthy smell of moss and dirt surrounded her. She opened her eyes and the aroma faded, but she held onto a hint of it. 

You have questions, I understand that. But none of these questions will bring you the peace you seek, the peace you deserve, after everything you’ve suffered. Lark’s amber eyes softened. I can show you the way, but you have to come with me now. Again she held out her hand. 

Aislinn glanced down at Lark’s hand, making no move to reach for her.

"I know it’s daunting. But you need to trust me. Please." 

Lark’s ethereal face had softened into an almost human expression. A soft realization dawned on Aislinn; anything was better than facing down her used and discarded body. The evidence of his crimes, still worn on her skin. 

Was it her choice? Could she choose to remain? There was nothing here for her. Not if she was dead. The only pieces left would be carried by those who remembered her. 

But memory was a powerful thing. 

Aislinn remembered her father’s laugh, the way his smile crinkled his moss-green eyes—the eyes she inherited from him. She wanted to see his smile again.

Aislinn lifted her hand and placed it in Lark’s. A small seed of hope took root in her chest.

* * *

Aislinn lagged half a pace behind her guide as they wove through the forest. She paused to look up at the trees, craning her neck to see how tall they were. They towered high in the sky, as high as any bird would dare to fly. The sun hinted at its presence between lush green leaves. The light that once seemed so cruel and unforgiving, highlighting the marks on her body, now felt safe and inviting as it illuminated the expanse of skin unmarred by his touch. 

Aislinn’s gaze fell to Lark, the mysterious being with kind eyes and fire for hair. Aislinn’s mind buzzed with a thousand unasked questions. She tightened her mouth in an attempt to smother them back down her throat. What’s it like?

Aislinn never did have much self-control.

Lark turned. That’s an awfully vague question. 

Being what you are. Is it lonely?

Not for most of us.

Us? How many of your kind are there? Aislinn never considered there’d be numerous harbingers of death. She also didn’t consider her words to hold any insult, but the way Lark’s mouth tightened, she must have said something wrong.

As many as there needs to be.

Aislinn pondered the unspoken meaning behind Lark’s words. Are you at peace, being what you are? 

Lark’s face hardened. Her eyes drifted over Aislinn’s shoulder. She froze, a preternatural stillness coming over her. The only sound was the thrashing of leaves, trees swaying wildly in a breeze Aislinn no longer felt. 

A low groan seeped through the treeline.

A sound of desperation. 

Of searching.

"Run," Lark hissed.

Before Aislinn could react, Lark gripped her elbow and yanked her, propelling her through the forest. Each time her foot caught a gnarled root, that inhumanly strong grip tightened and pulled her harder. Faster. 

Only when they broke through a clearing, Aislinn stumbling over a rotting log, did Lark relent their pace. She turned, watching the tree line. 

Aislinn panted. Her lungs were near to bursting, and her heart threatened to leap from her chest. She placed a hand against her breastbone. Did she still have a heartbeat? If not, why could she feel it thundering in her chest? 

Lark didn’t appear winded.

What... was... that? Aislinn choked out between breaths she was sure she didn’t need.

Lark continued listening for a heartbeat or two before turning her head to look at her. Something I have neither the time nor the patience to deal with today.

I thought I was already dead. How is there any danger?

Lark hissed a curse. She turned to regard Aislinn with a darkened expression. As long as you exist here, there is always danger.

Here as in the mortal world? Was it so dangerous for her soul to remain? It wasn’t her place to ask questions and she should let this strange girl keep her secrets. But what was it?

Aislinn wasn’t well versed in adhering to what she should do.

Lark pointed in the direction they’d run from. That is what happens if I fail my duty.

Aislinn paused, letting Lark’s words sink in. If I don’t move on, whatever that thing was will come to get me?

Lark exhaled a sharp breath. You could become its mirror.

As if that didn’t send a thousand questions climbing up Aislinn’s throat.

We need to leave, Lark said with a note of finality Aislinn couldn’t bring herself to argue with.

When they reached the edge of the forest, they stopped short. Rolling hills stretched ahead, and clouds cast shadows that ambled across the brilliant greenery. Aislinn stood with her hands on her hips and squinted into the distance. 

That’s Finn’s land. He owns this stretch for miles. Will he be able to see us? Hope bubbled in Aislinn’s chest. If Finn could see her, maybe she could convince Lark to let her see her mother and Yera one last time. To say goodbye before accepting whatever came next. Her heart that shouldn’t beat, squeezed.

There would be no goodbyes for her. Not in this life.

Lark’s mouth tightened before she turned back to the sprawling landscape before her. Without a word, she slid one hand into the air. The light around it seemed to ripple and refract. Like she was slipping between a gossamer curtain.

Aislinn gasped at the sight. Is that... the door to the other side? Would her father be waiting for her? Would she ascend to Avalon? She didn’t hold any stock in the notion that every mortal sinner was bound for an eternity in the Netherworld. That seemed too cruel. 

Think of it more as a path leading to an entryway. You still have to choose to cross the threshold.

What an odd place for it to reside. Aislinn frowned. Did all souls have to come to this spot? 

The veil is everywhere. It’s the access point that varies. Each soul has a unique passage. Lark looked her over, assessing. I didn’t even know for certain it would be here for you. I had to let it call to me.

Aislinn pursed her lips. That seems unnecessarily complicated.

Yes. Lark gave her a knowing look before waving a hand in invitation.

Aislinn took a staggering step forward, reaching her arms toward the rippling surface. Lark guided her through, following behind. 

Before them lay another forest, and once they cleared the juncture of the glimmering veil it closed behind them. Disappearing as if it had never been. 

A vibrant world of color surrounded Aislinn. Instead of warm browns and lush greens with hints of sunlight and blue skies, this forest held rich purple and red leaves. Soft lavender light illuminated the forest floor. 

An overwhelming sense of belonging crashed through her as if she should build a house right in this spot and never leave. 

A turquoise blue pond stretched before her with a simple wooden bridge stretching across. She leaned over to see where it led, but a dense cloud of fog obscured anything beyond it.

These last few steps, you must take on your own. Lark’s voice cut through Aislinn’s consciousness and she turned to face her.

Where does it lead? 

To where you were always meant to go. Lark wasn’t looking at her but beyond her. 

What does that mean? Panic rose in Aislinn’s throat. This wasn’t what she agreed to. Lark said she’d guide her, not abandon her. Aislinn wasn’t ready to part from the oddly comforting girl yet. The full weight of the truth, her mortality, pressed down on her. 

Lark’s brows furrowed as if she was in pain. It means, I don’t know where it goes. My job is to bring you here, I can’t force you to go any further, I can’t tell you what you’ll face. She closed her eyes and took a breath before leveling a stare that reminded Aislinn she wasn’t human. But if you stay, there will be nothing for you but your bitter lament. 

Aislinn broke free of Lark’s stare to gaze across the bridge. What if the village elders were right? What if her sins had bound her to a cruel fate in the Netherworld? She tried to be kind, but she wasn’t selfless, not in the way the elders demanded. Relinquishing autonomy to exist for others. She was selfish, preferring her own company and solitude to congregational worship of gods that had long abandoned them. Was thinking ill of the gods a sin? 

Fear and panic clawed at her, but the words her mother had woven into the fiber of her being from years of repetition filled her mind. Fear is not weakness, it’s your compass. When fear beckons, dare to find your strength. Aislinn took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and turned one last time to face Lark. Her guide. 

Can I ask you one question with the promise of a real answer? 

Ask it.

The man who... hurt me, am I the only one he’ll do this to? Is there any way to stop my fate from being shared with another? Aislinn held this fragile hope that she could leave this world and find something beautiful.

I promise, he will never hurt another soul again.

Thank you. It was a small comfort.

With a determined stride, Aislinn marched up to the bridge pausing for only a moment before beginning her ascension across. She stopped halfway to look back. Lark! If I can send you a message, a sign of some sort, I’ll tell you what’s on the other side! 

Much to Aislinn’s surprise, Lark’s expression melted into a dazzling smile, her face appearing youthful for the first time. Perhaps in these moments, when mortals moved on to find their peace, Lark found her own.

Aislinn gave a little wave before facing down the unknown. To whatever semblance of peace awaited her. With unwavering footfalls, she walked forward, disappearing into the fog. 

* * *

Lark let her smile relax, as the temporary warmth of this young soul faded and the tether to her soul ceased. She awaited the cool numbing that always spread through her veins after relinquishing a tether. But a glimmer of something remained. It smoldered in her chest. Her hands flexed, itching for something she hadn’t felt in a long time. 

Bloodlust.

She promised Aislinn that the man would never hurt another girl again. Lark always kept her promises.

Chapter 2

Amidst a sea of revelers and drunkards, Lark stood unseen and silent as death. The sun had slipped beneath the horizon, and the first stars began their watch. 

Lark preferred the uncovered sky. Had she been reaping across the seas in Koval, the same wedding ritual might have been performed behind closed doors. In Ardenas, communion with nature was the truest flattery of the gods. Weddings especially took place under open skies so the Paragons of virtue and the Warriors of Avalon might look down and grant them favor. As if the gods cared. Her master—Thanar, god of death—valued balance and uncompromised loyalty. Loyalty to duty. To death. 

Nereida, the witch-queen of the Netherworld was another goddess the faithful mortals feared. She valued punishment and destruction. Reapers were forbidden from crossing paths with her. 

And the Paragons of virtue, the Warriors of Avalon—they were the worst. Mortals built altars and statues to their likeness. Worshipped and revered their power and strength. Only to be met with ambivalence. 

Lark surveyed the grand celebration. Long tables overflowed with food and candles. Wooden casks had been tapped, and one man was so bold as to lay beneath the torrent of wine spilling out and slurp at it. A young woman and her fellow could be seen atop a bench off to the side, audibly coupling with no sense of discretion. 

Lark thumbed the small scroll in her pocket—Aislinn’s name was sure to have disappeared by now. The moment she had first made physical contact with her small golden scroll, newly scribed with her mark’s name, she’d felt Aislinn’s destiny taking shape. Like threads weaving together to form a tapestry, each decision woven into the culminating moment of her demise. Once in possession of a scroll, a Reaper was duty bound to guide those listed to the beyond—to forge a tether between their souls until the task was complete. Lark learned not to arrive early; the temptation to alter fate was far too inviting. But she always tried to arrive soon enough to be with them when they died. She couldn’t bear the thought of letting them slip away alone. Knowing what would befall Aislinn, what she’d suffer before death claimed her—Lark couldn’t prevent it. But she could offer her this.

Lark knew she shouldn’t be here. Without Aislinn, her tether to this world was no more, and her power was waning. Without a connection to a mortal soul, it took considerably more effort to remain among the living. 

But Lark made Aislinn a promise. Whatever the cost.

This, though. This was disobedience. Meddling in the lives of mortals, interfering in any way, threatened the balance. She would be punished. But right now, this moment was pure freedom. 

Lark tucked her loose tendril of hair behind her ear and closed her eyes with a deep breath, letting her guard slip. Her barriers fell away, and she projected her consciousness out, sifting for her target. Many of the souls she touched held a haze of drink and merriment. Though they weren’t to be discounted, she pushed past. 

Lark caught a distinct note of worry... can’t believe she’s not here... should have been here hours ago... this isn’t like her... is she avoiding me...

Lark opened her eyes, searching for the source. 

The bride. Aislinn’s sister, Yera. She wore a brilliant white gown with gold embroidery on the bodice that matched her hair. The resemblance between the sisters was uncanny, but her verdant, green eyes were muted with concern and lacked the inquisitive brightness of Aislinn’s. Yera gripped the deep umber hand of her handsome groom, as he rubbed his thumb across her bone white knuckles. He ran his free hand through his thick wavy hair, and his warm hazel eyes shifted between scanning the crowd and turning to gaze down at his new wife in yearning. 

Yera! Has Aislinn arrived yet? The question rang from a voice hardened by age. Lark’s focus landed on an older woman who held the same intense beauty as both Aislinn and Yera. Her features were set in fierce determination, but Lark tasted her fear. Gut-wrenching and all-consuming.

Mortal emotions were known for their potency. But these emotions were both strange and unwelcome. The human’s fear seeped into Lark’s pores, and her guard plummeted.

Lark clenched her teeth as the onslaught of thoughts, emotions, and urges rushed through her all at once in a dizzying kaleidoscope. The deepest despair to the brightest joy jolted through her awareness. Her defenses were being stretched in all directions, on the brink of tearing. 

In the distance, a cool haze permeated the furthest barriers of Lark’s perception. A creeping sense of darkness licked at the edges of her mind. A soul, putrid and foul, overpowered the others to fade into the background.

Lark’s gaze found him. He faced away from her, and he tipped his dark head of hair back in laughter. He donned a fine, dark tunic, a gold braid detailing his broad shoulders.

Corwyn! a voice called out.

He turned, and Lark finally looked upon the face of the beast. His pale green eyes were empty. Stubble dusted his square jaw and he wore the satisfied smirk of a man used to getting what he wanted. 

The party continued in a whirl of colors as Lark tracked her target. His rancid soul festered in her senses, but she didn’t dare let it slip away. She delved deeper, beyond his present state of mind to unveil layers upon layers of his rotten core. 

Images of the wedding replayed at the forefront of Corwyn’s thoughts. Feelings of warmth and pride as he watched his best friend marry Yera. When the picture shifted to Aislinn, predatory ownership collided with the memory. Lark held onto that thread and tugged, pulling deeper into his impulses. Yanking hard, she lurched forward into the dark recesses of older memories.

A memory of when he was ten. He cut open his sister’s cat to see its unborn babies. He blamed it on the stable boy and delighted in the lashings he received for it. 

The image shifted. Corwyn delivered the final kick to a man’s face, already beaten to a bloody pulp beyond recognition. It squelched on impact.

Lark was about to pull back when she caught a whisper of memory he was trying not to think about. Tugging at the thread, she held firm until it unraveled. She felt his hate, his rage at Aislinn. Corwyn’s hand pressed a knife against Aislinn’s side as she thrashed against him. He wasn’t used to them fighting back. She managed to claw at his chest, drawing blood.

Lark snapped out of Corwyn’s mind, stumbling back as pure revulsion danced in black sparks across her vision. She clenched and unclenched her fists. She could shatter his mind and leave him a drooling, obliterated mess. It would be so easy and so damn satisfying. 

The call of her power, its seductive and wicked song, was almost too loud to ignore. The steady beat of a cadence she was all too familiar with. The allure of giving in to these urges—urges that whispered great and terrible things—sang through her veins. But on the murky edges, a cold whisper took root. 

Lark couldn’t do that, to disturb the balance was too great a risk. She pushed the clawing desire aside. She’d have to find a more creative way to deal with him. One that didn’t create another tear in the veil to her world. A method of restraint, control. 

She peered across the crowd, following Corwyn’s every movement. She waited until his head was turned to will her form into view. Just for him, no need to startle the revelers. She pushed at his mind, silently calling him to see her. His head turned instinctively, and his gaze latched onto her, unable or unwilling to look away. Like she was the target. 

Lark curved her mouth into a suggestive smile. His grin was enough of an answer. With the slightest tilt of her head in silent invitation, she turned away to saunter toward a nearby lodge. She didn’t have to check to see if he followed. The steady thrum of his heart was well within her awareness, but still, she cast her chin over her shoulder now and then. Corwyn answered each glance with an eager stride, his legs propelling him forward, his mind of a singular purpose. 

Lark reached the far side of the empty cottage, and leaned against it. She was distantly aware of the stone cladding that pressed against her shoulder blades.

When Corwyn emerged beside her, panting and desperate, he all too quickly invaded her space, caging her between his hands. 

So predictable. Of course, he was the type to think one look from a woman named her as his. 

You’re a quick one, he whispered inches from her face. He brought his lips to her ear. Shall I call you my little rabbit?

Lark clenched her fist, fighting the instinct to kill him. Aislinn’s family deserved to know what happened to her. Corwyn, your reputation precedes you. 

He pulled back, a cocky smile still poised on his lips. You’ve heard of me? I’m flattered. He bent his head toward her neck. 

Lark's hand snaked out, halting him at arm’s length. The look of surprise that crossed his face was downright petulant. 

I know everything about you. She pulled down the collar of his tunic until she could see the tip of the scratch marks Aislinn had given him. I’m going to give you one chance. Confess your crimes to the bride and her mother— she tugged him closer —or you’ll incur my wrath. 

Corwyn’s expression yielded from disbelief to rage. He yanked her hand free and pulled away, straightening his tunic. "You’re mad in the head, sweetheart. I can call for a healer, but next time don’t bring your particular brand of crazy anywhere near me, lest you incur my wrath." 

It was meant to sound threatening, but to Lark, it sounded like a plea for her talents. Oh, Corwyn. I was so hoping you’d say that. She flipped their positions so he was pinned to the wall and gripped his throat. His eyes widened as he clawed at her arm. It was futile, she’d never feel the sensation of his nails against her skin. Now, she continued. As you’ve chosen this route, there are a few ground rules we need to set. Firstly— she squeezed his throat —no speaking. I gave you a chance to use your words, and you declined. She released him.

Corwyn gasped and coughed as he massaged his throat. Crazy bitch. 

There’s no need for name-calling. Lark planted her hands on her hips. And already you’ve broken the first rule. Skies above, what am I ever going to do with you? She lashed a hand onto his throat again, holding but not squeezing. 

He glared at her, eyes venomous.

Have you ever wondered what it might feel like to have your tongue ripped out? Lark forced her awareness into his mind, tying in a new thread, writing in a false memory of having his tongue torn from the root. 

Pain clouded Corwyn’s gaze. His low warbled moans of anguish were music to her ears. You don’t have anything clever to say anyway. Now you can be a better listener. We need to remove the temptation of the sin itself. Isn’t that right? She glanced meaningfully down at his trousers. The panicked noises he made hardly seemed human. Not a fan of that idea? Then don’t tempt me. 

Corwyn nodded, silent tears streamed down his face. She let her hand drop from his throat again, and his eyes darted to track the movement.

Secondly, no sudden movements. In fact, don’t move at all. I might think you’re up to no good. She opened her black cloak and walked her fingers along the handles of her blades one by one. Before she could lift one from its sheath, she felt a slight tickle along her side. 

He’d sunk a small stiletto through her black leather cuirass and in where her liver would be if she were human. Its ornate handle was adorned with filigree and a family crest depicting a bear and a serpent. Lark ripped it free. She didn’t have to look at the weapon to know there’d be no trace of her left on it; her presence here was little more than an illusion. 

Holding the dagger up for a closer inspection, Lark peered over at him. He trembled as wetness bloomed across the crotch of his trousers and down his thighs. You seem incapable of following any of my rules. She heaved a gusty sigh. I suppose the time for talk is over.

Lark kicked in Corwyn's kneecap hard enough for the audible crunch of bone. He dropped to the ground like a stone and tried to drag himself away. 

Such a wondrous thing, the desperation of survival. 

Lark grabbed his ankle and flipped him to his back. She climbed over him and sat on his gut, bringing the blade to his chest. He wiggled beneath her, but mortal strength was no match for hers. She sliced through the fabric of his tunic and with quick, practiced strokes, she carved. Steel against flesh. Deep enough to draw blood but not so deep to puncture anything. She couldn’t risk him dying by her hand.

Corwyn’s blood was distantly warm against her fingers, and with a final flourish, she inspected her handiwork.

I killed Aislinn

I wonder if these will scar. 

Corwyn stared up at her, panting. Tears stained his cheeks. Lark wiped the blade against his tunic and stood. The words angrily bled, dripping down his chest as he staggered to his feet. His eyes were dazed and unfocused. 

Lark gave him a quick pat on the head before turning him toward the party and steering him toward the crowd. 

I’d much rather you own up to your deed. Consider it your penance. She shoved him to the middle of the dance floor. He stumbled and landed hard, startling those nearby into silence. 

With a wave of her hand, Lark restored his tongue by erasing the false memory of losing it. Beneath the garlands of roses and awash in warm candle light, Corwyn curled on the ground and sobbed, bleeding from the confession on his skin. Aislinn’s mother stood dangerously still, and Yera clung to her groom as they approached, her fingers digging into his arm. His mouth hung open in shock as he folded Yera into his side. 

Corwyn’s face pinched in anguish as he caught sight of his friend. 

Freddy... there was a madman... he must have hurt Aislinn and left this message for you to find.

Lark rolled her eyes at his pathetic attempt to play the victim.

Where’s Aislinn? Yera ignored Corwyn’s plea to her husband. At least she wasn't so easily swayed.

But Lark was done being patient. She pressed her awareness into Corwyn’s mind, seeping into every twisted corner. He howled in agony as Lark weaved the sensation of having every bone in his legs smashed. He fell forward, bracing his hands on the ground before vomiting. No more! He gagged, tears rolling down his cheeks. Please, have mercy.

Where was his mercy on that riverbank? When Aislinn fought to survive, and he took and took until all that was left was the tattered remnant of her soul awaiting Lark’s guidance. 

Lark plunged to her violent depths, but she found no mercy for him. This time she broke his fingers. Each one that held Aislinn in place, that angled the knife between her ribs.

Corwyn groaned, pain snatched the strength from his voice. I confess, he rasped, quiet enough only Lark’s inhuman ears could detect. 

Louder boy! Lark called, unable to halt her grin.

I confess! he shouted, lifting his head. It was me.

With a wave of her hand, Lark wiped the pain free of his mind. 

Confess what? What have you done? Yera took a determined step forward. Where’s my sister?

Aislinn’s mother grabbed a knife from a nearby table and stomped up to him, pulling his head back by his hair. Blade poised against his throat. Answer my daughter. 

Corwyn went limp as he sobbed. I left her in Ferus Woods, by the river.

A myriad of emotions crossed Yera’s face, shock, grief, rage, ending in a composed veneer of calm. Frederick. Yera’s voice was steady. Please send a search party to the riverbank. 

Frederick nodded and placed a gentle kiss on his bride’s forehead. As he turned to walk away, Corwyn pushed himself up.

Freddy, please. 

Frederick stopped, and without looking over his shoulder called back. Aislinn is my sister now. When we return, I am invoking the rite of blood justice. 

Lark was familiar with the custom, having reaped many souls who had befallen it. The family of the victim harmed can lawfully invoke the rite to inflict equal damage to the offending party. She had a feeling they would get creative with their methods of balancing the scale. 

Another wave of exhaustion reminded her she had expended too much energy and had no desire to reap Corwyn’s soul when they found Aislinn’s body. 

Lark never prayed to the gods, knowing what manner of beasts tended to answer. She prayed to the skies that Aislinn’s family found peace. That Aislinn had found her peace as well. 

Lark walked away from the mortals into the plane of existence where she belonged.

The Otherworld.

Chapter 3

Entering the Otherworld was like stepping onto dry land after treading water. Though Lark would never feel the true weight of her living body again, the Otherworld mimicked the sensations of the mortal world—equal parts illusion and memory.

Each time Lark returned to the Otherworld, she appeared in front of the castle of stone nestled into the foggy mountains. The grounds seemed to stretch endlessly, but it was an illusion. She could walk away from Thanar’s castle and find herself upon it again in less than a day. She used to try to run to see how far she could get. She could circle the world before dinner. Reapers didn’t need room to explore.

Although Lark lived in luxury, given any trinket, and fulfillment of any desire, returning was like entering her cage. 

Lark buried the familiar feeling of dread and pushed the oak double doors open.

An empty entryway greeted her. Grateful for the chance to recover without prying eyes she dashed up the grand staircase to her room, avoiding her weary reflection in the polished gold. A garish feature of the castle, but Thanar loved his displays of extravagant wealth. 

It wasn’t wealth. It wasn’t real. 

Reapers weren’t alive. This world was a shadow of the real one. An attempt to imitate what Lark desperately longed for. Life. 

Lark never admitted it to anyone, not even her closest friend, Ferryn. But she’d give anything to remember what it was like to be mortal. She had been human once, many lifetimes ago, but she’d given up trying to remember what it felt like. Lark couldn’t even be sure of how many lifetimes had passed. Unchanging. 

She must be exhausted if her internal whining had started so early in her return.

Lark! Where do you think you’re going? 

Skies, not now. Not when the door to her chambers was so close. 

Lark leaned her head over the banister to see Ferryn, eager as ever, grinning up at her. His beautiful face was all angles and edges. Perfectly chiseled and always at odds with his childish expressions.

Go away. Lark turned to trudge the rest of the way. 

You’ve been summoned for debriefing.

Lark glanced over the side again. 

Ferryn’s face was positively gleeful. 

What if you didn’t see me? What if you came looking for me but I was already closed up in my chambers for the night? 

He shook his head, shoulder-length golden hair falling in his face. I’d have to drag you out. Most undignified, if you ask me. Normally I wouldn’t dare, but judging by how long it took you to climb the stairs, I’ll take my chances. 

You waited until I reached the top to call me? Lark glared down at him, and his face broke into a boyish smirk in response. She rolled her eyes. I hate you. 

No you don’t! he called back in a sing-song voice he reserved for when he was being an obnoxious twat. With a sigh, Lark lumbered down the stairs. 

Chop, chop little onion! I just returned from the Western Desolates, and I can still feel the sand on my skin. I desperately need a bath. At Lark’s expression, he ran a hand through his thick hair. You know what I mean.

Reapers didn’t feel. Not in the physical sense. The memory of sensation and an aptitude for pretending sustained most of them to relish their fine luxuries.

Not Lark though.

But she found comfort in Ferryn’s friendship. His presence was a balm, his blue-green eyes twinkling with familiar mischief. Falling into step with him felt like finally coming home. Their paths hadn’t lined up lately, as they’d taken staggered missions. She didn’t realize how much she’d missed him until his familiar form was pacing alongside hers. He was her counterweight. The only one who kept her from sinking so deep she couldn’t find a way out. 

She’d been made before Ferryn. It wasn’t a time she recalled fondly. But then he came into the Otherworld, this bright and burning beacon of joy and laughter. He was annoyingly beautiful and seemed well-aware of that fact. His death should have been one marred by despair—a life cut short. But he barreled into the Otherworld as if he was always meant for this existence, indulging in everything Thanar crafted to keep his Reapers entertained.

Lark had hated him for it.

But Ferryn was the type of soul that drew everyone in like moths to a flame. He’d been determined they would be friends, and not even Lark could resist his carefree spirit.

Despite the calming effect he always had on her, each step closer to the Great Hall seemed heavier than the last. Lark hoped her extended absence hadn’t been noticed. 

She’d broken Thanar’s number one rule: don’t interfere in the lives of mortals. Lark wouldn’t be surprised if he already knew of her antics in the mortal world. Nothing seemed to escape his notice. Nor the notice of his spymaster, Nyx. She cast her network far and wide enough not a single Reaper was beyond her awareness. Her little shadows seemed to hound every corner. If Thanar already knew what she’d done, he’d punish her.

Something bumped into Lark’s hip, ripping her from her thoughts. She glanced up at Ferryn who raked fingers through his hair as he tied it back, staring straight ahead. Ferryn was so childish sometimes. Lark had half a mind to—

Ferryn’s arm came around her neck, yanking her into a headlock, and Lark stumbled along at his side. Her laugh echoed though the hallway as she elbowed Ferryn in the ribs. He grunted and released his hold, looking down at her with his considerable height. 

We’ll call it a draw, he said with a nod as if he was being generous.

Lark scoffed. Sod off to the Infernals. 

The sentries posted outside the Great Hall didn’t offer them so much as a glance as they approached. Dread knotted in Lark’s gut. But she couldn’t bring herself to regret pursuing Corwyn. The bastard deserved it.

Ferryn tugged on Lark’s elbow before she could open the doors. Good luck.

* * *

The echoes of Lark’s steps resounded in the otherwise silent hall. At the head of the room, giant windows spanned from the floors to the ceiling’s high arches. The illuminated space glittered in opulence of ivory and gold as dust motes glimmered and sparkled in the streams of warm light. 

Golden arches lined each side of the grand room with vestibules, offering a semblance of privacy. Lark passed the antechamber where she and a fellow Reaper once met when the hall was vacant and she yearned for something she couldn’t name. Heavy kisses, clumsy hands, and torn seams of her favorite tunic. And all she felt was empty. That was the first time Lark’s suspicions were confirmed, that this world was a shallow reflection of the realm she longed to be part of. 

She didn’t even glance at that room, her eyes remained locked on the throne in front of her.

Thanar, god of death and master to all Reapers, lounged on the ornate throne of gold and marble. Formal black robes hung from his frame and pooled at his feet. His sleek black hair framed his pale face. He was all jagged planes and features sharper than a blade. His defined cheekbones and angular nose made severe what would otherwise have been a handsome face, and his dark eyes followed her steps with a look of stern calculation.

Standing to his left was Commander Ceto. Rumor had it she was Thanar’s first Reaper, and Lark didn’t doubt it. The power she could taste in the air whenever Ceto was near was a testament to that. Ceto was as beautiful as she was lethal. Her deep russet skin and sharp cheekbones only accentuated the unearthly symmetry of her face, and she wore her hair shaved close to the scalp. Ceto preferred to stare down her enemies with the full strength of her gaze instead of obscuring it behind a curtain of hair. There hadn’t been a battle in centuries beyond counting, not since the Warriors of Avalon descended from the heavens to challenge the Otherworld. But that was long ago, before the balance was mastered and the alliance was struck. Reapers were to guide mortal souls to their crossing, and the Paragons of virtue would determine where those souls went. The Commander’s role had shifted to maintaining Thanar’s numbers, but she still always appeared ready for battle. Ceto donned her armor of glittering obsidian, forged by darkness. Her full lips pulled back in a sneer, large brown eyes narrowing in disgust as Lark approached.

To Thanar’s right, stood his spymaster Nyx. She was a predator of a different kind. Where no one could miss Ceto’s presence, Nyx lived in the shadows. She could be anywhere at any time. A hidden danger, presence unknown until it struck. Nyx’s hazel eyes peered beneath her sharp edge of black hair, burning with unspoken promises of pain. Her simple, black leathers were burdened with more blades than Lark could imagine needing. 

The three of them were a fearsome sight. 

Lark focused on Thanar. With a slight incline of her head, she clasped her hands behind her back to await his response. She wouldn’t kneel. 

Ceto emitted a low growl. 

Thanar didn’t acknowledge the slight or Ceto’s ire. His eyes bore into Lark with a quiet intensity. Report.

Sir, I guided the soul of a young woman to her place in the afterlife. 

No encounters with Undesirables. 

There was one lurking in the forest, but I managed to complete the soul’s journey without interference. Lark swore she caught the instant on Thanar’s face when she’d said too much, but he was far too controlled to reveal any tells. She dared a glance at Nyx. The spymaster smiled. It was a slow creeping threat.

A shame you couldn’t manage to take one out. Their numbers must be brought under control. Thanar’s gaze shifted, almost looking past her like he found the wall infinitely more interesting than their conversation. Continue. 

Lark did her best to feign confusion. That’s all. I led her soul to the afterlife.

And after? His day stare flicked back to hers and he angled his head, staring down at her with the ghost of a smile on his face. He was baiting her. 

Lark wouldn’t bite. She maintained a rigid posture even with the weight of his attention slowly bearing down on her. Her gaze drifted to Ceto. There was no warmth in her dark eyes. 

I was summoned here. Lark tried to keep her voice flat and disinterested. Let him tip his hand first.

Thanar shifted in his seat. Bringing one hand to rub his chin he studied her. Lark refused to break his stare, even as her resolve began to fray at the edges. 

All Reapers were under Thanar’s authority. He was the master and gatekeeper of death and all who dwelled in his domain were subservient. It was instinctive to be submissive to him. But Lark always rebelled against that impulse. 

The only places his influence didn’t extend were the human world and Avalon. The uppermost dwelling for only the rarest of souls. Unfortunately for Lark, she belonged to neither.

Larkin, he said darkly, the authority in his voice pushed down on her. 

Had she sworn fealty to Thanar, he need only have plucked the thoughts and memories from her mind, like pulling petals from a flower. It would have been the deepest bond of allegiance to swear the oath. Her thoughts would flow through him. Every urge, every desire, at his mercy to command. She’d never know what thoughts belonged to her, and which were planted by him. 

Many Reapers swore the oath. It was a show of good faith. The ultimate loyalty to their master. But Lark could never bring herself to submit. 

She stood taller and lifted her chin ever so slightly, challenging. Thanar’s eyes narrowed as they dug into her deeper. The pressure of his will pressed even harder. Lark gritted her teeth against the strain. 

Speak. His voice boomed, rattling through her mind.

I took a short detour, sir. His power was still an invisible weight. Lark had to strain not to drop to one knee under it.

Is that what you call it? You disobey direct orders, have the gall to lie to my face about it, and then you dare to suggest it was a minor infraction? 

Lark squeezed her eyes shut against the pressure. I didn’t think it worth your time... sir. She managed to spit the words out between her teeth. Her knees were beginning to buckle.

The weight of his influence lifted. Fighting hard not to sag in relief, Lark lifted her head when his deep laugh rang out. 

He wore an indulgent smile, deepening the shadows on his face. Leave us.

Ceto and Nyx stepped down from the dais, offered him a bow, and stalked off. Lark debated stepping into the Commander’s way if only to cause a distraction. She’d rather face Ceto’s wrath than face Thanar alone. One day he’d tire of her presence, of her insubordination. Perhaps he’d simply dismiss her from his inner circle and let her live out her miserable existence in peace.

A fool’s hope.

Still smiling, Thanar pushed off the arms of the throne to stand. Crooking one finger at her, he turned away to walk behind the dais toward one of his private rooms. 

Lark blew a stray strand of hair out of her face and followed. Hopefully, Nyx had returned undetected to keep her ever-watchful eye on her. Not that she’d be of any help. 

Close the door. 

She shut the door behind her and crossed the crimson carpet, taking a seat in one of his ridiculous chairs that belonged in a Kovalian monarch’s castle. The mahogany back was carved into the likeness of a giant tree. Lark leaned back against twisted branches.

Thanar’s study was understated compared to the rest of their dwelling. The solid, oak desk he sat behind was empty save for a neat stack of vellums and a pristine quill and ink bottle. One small window allowed light into the room—the rest of the walls were floor-to-ceiling shelves of perfectly aligned books. Lark had the sudden urge to rip them all down.

Thanar’s hands formed a steeple in front of him as he stared at her. Lark resisted the impulse to cross her arms and instead settled for placing her elbows on the armrests of her chair. 

There is a far more interesting account of your whereabouts from my scouts. The corner of Thanar’s mouth twitched as if he was fighting a smile. But you completed the task and remained discreet. So, no harm done. 

If he wasn’t going to punish her, why did he demand a private audience? Sir, I don’t understand. 

Larkin, what would you have me do? He stood in one fluid motion and perched on the edge of his desk before her, close enough to almost touch. Lark resisted the urge to scoot her chair back. 

Hmmm? Thanar leaned over her, his black hair falling in his eyes. Do you doubt I would punish you? 

Lark stared up at him, and something akin to fear crawled along her skin, an unease she wasn’t accustomed to. No, sir. I don’t doubt that.

Do you doubt I would end your existence if I felt your loyalty was compromised? He ghosted his feather-light touch against her jaw. Lark’s stomach churned.

Her fingers dug into the armrests. The wood splintered beneath her nails. No, sir. I don’t.

Thanar’s mouth spread in a slow smile. He eased back so he wasn’t looming over her. You’re wiser than you pretend to be. Don’t play the fool, it’s an absurd look for you. 

Lark didn’t care how she appeared to him, so long as he left her be.

Thanar turned the full force of his gaze back to her, pinning her in place. There is no room for doubt in my court. Your loyalty must run deep. He looked down the strong line of his nose at her. "I haven’t forced the oath on you. Not yet." 

He’d never threatened her with that before. The oath would be the total and complete loss of her autonomy. So far, he’d been satisfied with her assurances of loyalty and successes.

But the day was coming he’d demand more.

Nevertheless, I expect your only ties to be bound to me. Is that clear?

She nodded her traitorous head.

You may have a day’s rest. Wash yourself. Thanar lifted a dark brow. I can smell the memory of his blood on you. Then you will accompany Ferryn on his next assignment. Leysa should have sent one of her acolytes to inform him. 

Leysa. Another member of Thanar’s inner circle. If Ceto was his force, Nyx his eyes and ears; Leysa was his soul. The beating heart of the entire realm, and his seer. All deaths traveled through her mind before they came to pass. She had her legion of seers who dispersed the assignments among Reapers. It was a wonder she hadn’t made an appearance to scold Lark for creating more work for her. Though any visit from Leysa was a welcome one. Ceto and Nyx resented Lark for her role within Thanar’s circle, but Leysa had always been kind and welcoming. 

Lark still didn’t know where she fit in. Her role resided in guiding souls and slaying Undesirables. But she needn’t remain in his inner circle for that. His court was complete without her. There were rumors he was grooming her for the role of second in command, to one day inherit his throne and role as god of death. But that was gossip, he’d made no such promises. Lark would never want such a thing. Her unwillingness to swear the oath should have earned her a lower ranking, and yet he refused to release her from his side. On the outside, it appeared as favor but Lark saw it for what it was.

A cage. 

Her only true reprieve was her travels to the mortal world.

Ceto had long since retired from reaping human souls, that was beneath her. Nyx too utilized her talents elsewhere, usually in reporting on Reaper activity.

It made sense a Reaper on active duty would remain in his court, but somewhere deep in her soul, Lark knew there was more to it. He indulged her more than the others, gave her allowances others wouldn’t dare to hope for. For a price yet unnamed. 

She hoped it was to earn her loyalty rather than command it.

I expect a full report upon your return. No details omitted. Thanar wasn’t looking at her now. His attention had fallen to the stack of parchments on his desk. He eyed them with a look of disdain, though made no move to reach for them. Lark knew this was her dismissal and stood, still reeling from the dichotomy of his reactions. 

Oh, and Larkin?

She paused to turn and face him. His dark eyes held every promise of pain.

Disobey me again and you’ll wish for death.

* * *

Sitting on her bed, Lark finally unclenched her fists to reveal half-moon imprints on her palms where her nails dug in. They hadn’t drawn blood, and they never would. She wasn’t even sure what ran through her veins in this form. Neither living nor dead. Any sense of touch had dimmed to a faint wisp of memory when she’d become a Reaper. Physical sensation in this world was akin to trying to remember a dream. 

Lark’s thoughts flitted back to Aislinn, traipsing through the forest, head upturned to greet the sun. Lark closed her eyes and tried to imagine the sensation of the sun warming her face. The closest she came to feeling human was the echo of fear Thanar instilled in her. 

She’d seen him pass a sentence before—another soul who dared defy him. She couldn’t remember his name, but his screams were forever burned into her memory. As was his face, twisted in agony, as his mind unspooled until his soul was ripped to shreds. Only then did Thanar release him to true death.

Lark stood and walked around her bed, hanging off the poster rail as she swung herself toward the window. There was once a time she marveled at how grand her private chambers were. Thanar was eager to craft them to her liking, spinning the image from thin air. She chose every crimson drape, the walnut floorboards. In the corner, her clawfoot bathtub sat ready and waiting. Steam rose from the illusion of a hot bath, always waiting. Even her vanity was grand, gold filigree framing her mirror. There was once a time when the surface of her dressing table overflowed with useless and glittering trinkets, each more beautiful than the last. But they were all empty. Lifeless. The day she tossed each piece of jewelry out the window was the day they stopped appearing in her room.

Lark sank to her knees on the bench beneath the window