Page 36 of A Beautifully Crafted Lie

“Nothing you cannot get out of,” the creature purrs in my mind.

I’m almost relieved to hear its voice. “How?”

“Are you asking for my help, young one?” it taunts me, running a sharp talon down my spine beneath my skin. It’s just as cruel as the man this room belongs to, honey-tongued with fangs.

I shiver at its presence. “Assuming I’m not talking to myself, yes.” My lip curls with exasperation. I can’t believe I’m engaging in my psychosis.

“Now that you cannot poison yourself against me, allow me to introduce myself.” I sense its smile spread, putting sharp teeth on display. Another shiver runs through me, but I’m not afraid. What can one fear when there’s nothing left to lose? “Aed, The Eternal, Lord of the Skies, at your service.” His voice is a pleased rumble, raising the hairs on the back of my neck. “And you are going to free me. But first, we need a plan.”

“Debatable.” I comb my fingers through my hair, separating the knots to bring some form of order. Maybe I’m crazy after all.

“Long have I waited for someone able to listen. One not blinded by a spell of forgetting. One not reaped before they could act. Your bloodline cursed me to remain in this state, fleshless except for that of my host. Your bloodline is the only one able to free me, and you will do so if you desire my help.” Aed rises with a sinister snarl. His presence overwhelms me, robbing me of breath. He’s so strong, so great, I may burst at the seams if he pushes me any further. My skin tingles as his power reverberates through me.

“Alright,” I whisper. “Promise to give me the guidance I need to find and free my sister, and I’ll help you.” Swallowing reluctantly, my chest tightens.

“I agree to your bargain, young one. Now let us seal it with a geas.”

“What is that?”

“It is a binding that ensures we both uphold our sides of the bargain. In this case, you will be prohibited from mentioning any particulars of our bargain and my presence entirely. You will be obligated to free me, and I will, in turn, be obligated to provide you with guidance and information crucial for your survival in this realm. In essence, it takes away your ability to ignore your promise to me, and mine to you.” Warning bells ring in my ears, but I ignore them, putting my need to find my sister first.

“How do I do this?” My chest tightens at the thought of what I’m doing, but there’s no other way. I need all the help I can get.

“Say you will free me at any cost. In turn, I will find Laoise. You will not be able to speak of our agreement or my pending freedom, and I will advise you on how to find and rescue your sister.”

For a moment, I don’t react. I stand motionless, staring at nothing in particular. “Say you agree,” he says, harsher than before, “and spill your blood upon the mirror.”

“I agree.” My mouth goes dry as I reach for the small silver scissor on the basin’s edge. Flinching, I drag the sharp edge over the pad of my index finger and watch as crimson blooms and drips onto the white porcelain below.

Aed’s grin broadens as I draw a line of bright red blood across my own reflection. My forearm burns, and a glowing line runs parallel to my veins, a signature signed on a contract, binding and eternal. My chest constricts, and a wave of energy rolls through me, all while a single word repeats in my mind. Danger… danger… danger.

Depressing the golden handle, I slowly pull the door toward me. The hallway is dark. Quiet. I take a step forward and feel completely exposed. Unlike the bedroom, there’s no sign of light. No candles lit to guide me.

“Which way should I go?” My heart drums in my ears.

“Your guess is as good as mine,” Aed answers, retreating lazily into the depths of my mind.

“The help you are.” I clench my jaw, stretching my arms out to the side. The wall is smooth and cold under my fingertips, like the floor beneath my feet. Padding forward on my toes, I count my steps. Twenty-five between my bedroom door and the next. Thirty-six until the wall curves to the left. There are no ornaments resting against the walls, no paintings or portraits hanging from them. Only ridges grace them, and I imagine they’re as rich a gold as the ones in the bedroom.

The warm glow of firelight spills from an open door at the furthest end of the hallway. My heart picks up its pace as I pause, staring at the golden glow flickering across the polished wooden floors.

“Odhran, we need to have a word.” A stern female voice comes from the room ahead, but I can barely hear her from where I stand. Squeezing my eyes shut, I inhale through my nose. Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! I curse every step I take towards them, but I need more information if I’m to free myself and Laoise.

“I stand with Eadan. What the fuck! What were you thinking, bringing the girl here?” This time it’s a man speaking. Although deep, his voice doesn’t carry the subtle edge of danger the way Odhran’s does. I frown, trying to picture the man talking, but fail.

“I don’t see why it’s your business.” There he is. Danger drenched in silk. My heart flutters as I inch closer, my back against the wall.

“It immediately becomes our business when you publicly challenge your brother, risking all we’ve built here. I assume you have a plan to get us out?” Although clearly belonging to a man, his words are a double-edged whisper.

“He isn’t wrong,” Eadan says as sternly as before.

Glass clinks and furniture scrapes across the floor. “Does it look like I give a flying fuck about my brother?” Odhran’s animosity makes every muscle in my body ache to turn back to my room.

Footsteps, distinct and confident, echo through the open door. I plaster my back against the wall, ignoring the cold and discomfort it brings. Getting caught will outweigh the cold tenfold. I inch closer to see a hearth, large and extravagant, plated in gold and alive with dancing flames.

“Easy. Any louder and the girl will hear you all the way in your room.” A muscular man with shoulder-length auburn hair steps in front of the hearth. I hold my breath, leaning my head back against the wall. This is stupid. I’m being reckless.

“You are right where you should be,” Aed purrs.