Defy the Sun (Beware the Night #2) - Jessika Fleck Page 0,36

alive? Have any other Imperi officers been executed?” Imi blurts out.

But when Dorian answers, he’s staring at me. “No. Just the two.”

“More are planned? For tonight?”

“Yes.” Dorian’s still gazing into my eyes. “Seven in all.” He pauses, pushes what’s left of my hair away from my eyes, is barely able to tuck it behind my ear.

“My Moon…” My voice wavers slightly with emotion. I can’t help but think of Arlen. As cruel as Arlen was to me, he didn’t deserve such a fate. And Imi’s sister … If we hadn’t been able to escape …

Imi stands. “My sister?”

“Right,” I say.

Stepping closer toward Dorian, grabbing both his hands in mine, I know he’s not quite sure how to act, how to reciprocate or if he even should. That’s when I pull his blade from his belt.

“I’m borrowing this.”

“Veda…” Dorian pleads in that way only he can, his eyes—crystal-blue agate—cast down on me like he’s somewhere among amused, pleased, and senselessly angry.

“What am I to think?” I repeat his words from earlier. “I finally make my way back down here and stumble upon you standing idle as the Sindaco executes Imperi soldiers.”

“V—”

But I’m already knotting the same rope he used on Imi to tie up his hands and ankles. I then bind his mouth for good measure. I know it won’t hold him long and part of me realizes he knows this as well, because he’s being all too cooperative about it. If it wasn’t for the loathsome way he glares up at me, I’d think he was almost enjoying it. And if his mouth wasn’t bound I’d expect to hear as much.

I will not allow Dorian to sweet-talk me out of anything.

Mostly, he won’t like what I have planned and I won’t have him getting in my and Imi’s way after all we’ve been through to make it down here.

“Ready, Imi?” But I’m already walking toward the main tunnel.

“Yep.” Imi sidles up next to me. “You’re in charge down here.”

As much as I’m dying to look back, I don’t.

* * *

IMI AND I follow the caves deeper into the Lower and toward the prison tunnel.

It feels like a lifetime ago that I was here, but I remember my way as if I never left.

Nothing’s changed. We’re still underground with the damp and the dirt, the spiders and beetles. The quiet trickle of whatever constantly trickles down here. There’s that intermittent cool gust of a breeze that comes from who knows where sending chills down my arms.

Also, it’s not the same.

There’s a heaviness. A somber reality that wasn’t here before. It’s thick with doubt, weighing down the already stale air. Only fourteen days ago there was an air of hope, of new beginnings, of justice being had.

I don’t feel that now.

Everything’s cloaked in sadness. Death. Lies. Betrayal.

“Do you think she’s been well taken care of?” Imi asks as we near the prison—a tight, single tunnel deep below the Crag. The two of us barely fit walking side by side.

“Well…” But I finish the sentence in my mind: Do the Imperi take good care of Night prisoners?

Imi worries her lip.

“It’s not even been two full days,” I say. “I’m sure she’s fine. Maybe a bit hungry. Probably dirty. Definitely scared after last night’s disgusting display.”

“And Dorian?”

My jaw tenses. “What about him?”

“There was … something there.”

I sigh, catch her eye from my periphery. “We’ve got a … history.” She quirks an eyebrow. “We’re good friends but he’s let me down, and I couldn’t fathom dealing with him back there. He’ll be fine. Probably already one tunnel behind us.”

“Will he report us to the Sindaco?”

I shake my head, mostly sure of my answer. “He won’t like what we’re doing, but no, he won’t report us.” I hope.

“Here we are.” I stop, take in the row of metal doors flanking each side of the tunnel, then pull a ring of keys out of my pocket.

“When did you—”

“I pulled them off Dorian’s belt when I took his knife.”

“Nice.”

I smile. “You pick up certain skills when food’s scarce.”

Lifting a lantern off a hook, I hold it up to each door, whispering Madelina’s name as Imi does the same down the other side. Just when I’m starting to truly get nervous, my stomach in knots because what if she’s not down here after all? Finally, at the second-to-last cell Imi whispers into, there’s a reply.

“Over here, Veda,” Imi calls me over.

I try several keys before I find the right one. It’s large and brass and slides into the lock