Daughter of Tide and Illusion

Chapter 55

Chapter 55

Not only did Jai wake up to Elys screaming his name, but also Lyv from down their bond. His eyes flew open as he jumped up. Elys was still screaming, clutching his head in his hands as he shook violently.

"What happened? What's wrong?" Jai demanded, gathering the little boy up in his arms. "What's did you...?"

But before he even finished his question, Lyv screamed down the bond once again.

And that was when he realized it was because she wasn't there. Her side of the bed was empty, cold.

"Lyv!"

"She got her, Jai!" Elys sobbed in his ear, clutching him tightly around his neck. "Corliss got her cornered and we can't get her! And I...I can't see anything anymore! She's not there. Lyvi's not there! Not anywhere!"

"Elys, let go," Jai demanded him, hands on his arms. "Let me go so I can get her."

"But, Jai..."

He pulled his arms from around his neck, shoving him back against the pillows. The wide-eyed and terrified look in his different colored eyes made Jai immediately regret being so forceful with him, especially with his past trauma.

"You stay here. Don't you dare follow me or anyone else. The last thing I need to worry about is keeping you safe. But I will get Lyv back, all right? I will get her back."

Tears welled up in the little boy's eyes once more. "But I wanna help. I have my dagger and I...I can go with you."

"No, you can't."

"Yes, I can!"

But Jai was already rushing for the door, locking it from the inside but also with magic to keep Elys safe and secure.

"Jai? Jai!" Elys screamed as he began pounding his fists against the door. "I wanna help! Please, don't go! Don't leave me!"

His screaming turned into sobs and hiccups as Jai ran down the short hallway toward the stairs, but his keen sense of hearing only allowed him to hear the little boy's screams even farther away.

"I hate you, Jai! Why are you leaving me? You promised you wouldn't! I hate you!" he screamed, voice breaking. "No, Jai...I didn't mean it! I love you! I love you and Lyvi, so let me help get her back!"

But Jai couldn't go back for him, no matter how much the little boy wanted to help.

What made him focus was the earthquake that rumbled beneath the entire palace, emitting a low growl deep within the ground.

He didn't have any time, so he faded to the lower level just as everyone rushed down the stairs all dressed in their nightclothes but weapons in hand. Gideon and Thia were the first to meet him, followed by Bridget and Alberich. Gideon tossed his him sword, which Jai easily caught. Even his parents and Drue and Jules were there the next moment. But as for Kalla, Allel, Camilla, and Soren...

"What the hell is going on?" Gideon demanded just before another quake made the chandelier rattle overhead.

"Jai, where's Lyv?" Thia asked him, wide-eyed.

But he couldn't answer either question, not when Lyv's scream down the bond was accompanied with her very loud one.

Coming from the direction of the dungeon doorway.

"What was she thinking?" Bridget yelled in the exact moment Jai realized just where she was.

The two of them were at the head of their group, running through the hallways of the palace and passing by some of the staff who had come from their chambers. Bridget demanded they all go back and lock themselves in with both bolts and magic. The panic in her voice didn't leave any questions to be asked.