Wings of Fate

31. Dead End

Kalian gazed up at the balcony jutting off the side of the Governor's house. Guards were posted on the ground level beneath it, and more guards patrolled the length of the iron fence surrounding the house. Kalian pulled a pair of leather gloves out of his pocket and tugged them on. A hand touched his shoulder, capturing his attention.

"Do you have a plan for getting him out of here?" Moira whispered.

Kalian pressed his lips into a thin line. "Yes, but I need to do it alone. You should wait at the catacomb entrance."

"I thought we agreed to do this together."

"We're going to, but it'll be quicker and quieter if only one of us sneaks into the house." Kalian glanced at her, managing a small smile. "And we both know I'm subtler than you."

Moira frowned, but didn't contradict him. "Fine. I'll wait at the catacomb entrance, but if you take longer than thirty minutes, I'm coming back."

"All right."

Moira gave his shoulder one last squeeze and slipped into the shadowy street. Kalian waited until he was certain she was out of sight. He backed into an alleyway, letting his glamour fade as he did so. Kalian spread his wings and soared into the air without even a whisper of sound.

He angled himself towards the balcony, making sure to position himself so his shadow wouldn't fall within the guards' line of sight. Anger sharpened in his gut and Kalian let it grow. He'd need the clarity it provided. The cold mask of the Shadow of Death slid across his features, donned for the first time in weeks.

Kalian landed on the balcony with a faint thump. His wings remained slightly spread, their icy blue swirls glittering in the moonlight. He raised a hand and magic glowed at his fingertips. The balcony doors unlocked with a click. Kalian pushed them open and crept inside.

The room he entered was dim, save for smoldering embers on the hearth. Kalian forced his attention away from them and fixed it on the figure in the bed. He came closer, studying the man's features. Moira was right, Kalian thought. He was there. He would've known the man solely by the jagged scar that cut across his left cheek. It had been given to him by one of Kalian's former friends, just before he perished.

    Kalian pulled the rope off of his belt. He and Moira had cut it down to strands of different lengths after they located the catacombs. This would make it easier for Kalian to bind the man. He approached the bedside, magic and ropes at the ready. Just as Kalian reached the bed, the man's eyes fluttered open. Recognition flooded them a heartbeat later.

    "Is this a dream?" He whispered.

"No, Laydon. This is a nightmare."

"They told me you would come for me, but I didn't believe them."

"You should have."

"I can scream right now and the guards outside my door will come in."

Kalian flipped his obsidian dagger into his palm and dug the tip into the man's neck. "I'll slit your throat and be gone before you utter a sound." He sheathed his blade again. "But I have a few questions for you first, so I'd prefer not to do that."

"You'll kill me one way or another. You'll likely torture me beforehand too. I heard what you've done to those who were there."

"So you know why I'm here."

"Of course I do. The Shadow of Death only kills those who were present at Cosette." Laydon's throat visibly bobbed. "But you won't learn anything from me, Faerie Bastard. He would do worse things to me than even you will."