Seeds of Sorrow (Immortal Realms Book 1)

When she was alive . . . The words kept tumbling through Eden’s head, even as she walked alongside Loriah, her newly appointed handmaiden. She wasn’t a ghost; as they turned down the hall, the young woman’s footfall echoed along the way, like a whisper on the wind.

She’s undead, Eden thought. Never in her lifetime would she have imagined coming face to face with an undead being, let alone an entire world of them.

“Are you all right, my lady?” Loriah tilted her head, pausing at the door to Eden’s chambers. She was birdlike in appearance, especially when she moved in such a way. As coltish as Eden may have been amongst the fae, she was nothing compared to Loriah. Humans were smaller than fae to begin with, but Eden had seen a plethora of humans at the ball, and none were as tiny as she. Frail, even.

What was she supposed to say? She was far from all right. At every turn it was as if reality fractured all over again. Instead of replying, Eden ducked into her room and lifted her hands to her face. If she squeezed her eyes closed hard enough, she’d wake from the nightmare, surely.

“Nothing is,” Eden whispered. She startled as a hand brushed against her back, then realized it was Loriah drawing soothing circles.

“I will do everything I can to ensure your stay is as comfortable as possible. Whatever I can do for you, my lady, please let me know.” She lowered her hand, then clasped it in front of her chest, bowing her head.

Eden’s sensibilities screamed at her, telling her to run away. But to where—to death? Yet Loriah’s pink lips turned into a soft, welcoming smile, pulling at the warmth of Eden’s heart.

The handmaiden was trying, at least. It was more than Eden was doing. If this was to be her new existence, she’d only allow herself a few days to mourn her prior life. She was allowed that, wasn’t she?

Inky tresses swept into Loriah’s vision, and she pushed the stubborn strands away. “Would it help if I told you about myself, my lady?” She crossed the room, fussing with the fire poker at the hearth. Flames licked hungrily at the logs, crackling and popping sparks across the stone floor.

Maybe it was the gentleness in Loriah’s tone that pulled Eden from her bout of self-pity, or curiosity that moved her, but she crawled onto the oversized bed and watched the handmaiden for a moment. “I think I’d like to know more about you.”

It’d been three days since Eden had arrived at the castle and met Loriah, and in the span of that time, she’d learned much of her previous life. Of how Loriah had met her demise on the cliffs of Midniva, an end which was self-inflicted, and how she suffered whilst she was alive.

Eden had listened without judgment, but it did make her realize that while sheltered from the cruelties of the world, she’d been protected too. She had been fortunate to have a loving father instead of one who robbed her of everything, and luckier still that she had a mother who loved her and not one who ran away.

Loriah’s fingers nimbly tightened the corset around Eden’s waist, causing her to suck in a sharp breath. She wasn’t accustomed to the fashion in Andhera and certainly was not used to being so tightly bound. Where Lucem was mostly gauzy fabrics, Andhera’s clothing had substance, layers even. It was suffocating, yet she appreciated the added warmth.

Andhera may not have been as cold as Midniva’s winters allegedly were, but Eden had grown beneath the sun, basked in its rays, and had known nothing other than Lucem until the ball.

“You need to begin eating properly, my lady.” Loriah finished with the stays, then combed her fingers through Eden’s hair, teasing the freshly unbraided strands. “You cannot keep pushing meals away or else you’ll fade into nothing.” She shook her head.

“I know.”

It wasn’t as if Andhera’s food was filth or ashen. It smelled similar to the food at home. But the desire to dine wasn’t there, and her nerves still clenched her throat, making it nearly impossible to swallow more than a few mouthfuls. Eden had eaten enough so she didn’t collapse in the gardens, but that was it.

Eden took one look in the mirror, then sighed. A maroon velveteen dress clung to her lithe figure, but to her delight, the front portion of the skirt revealed her legs up to her knees. There were no breeches or stockings offered to her today, unlike the rest of the week, and she wondered if it was because she complained less about the cold. In truth, it wasn’t even as cold as Midniva had been. Midniva’s castle was situated against the rough sea, with the wind whipping around, but Andhera was warmer than she’d initially thought. Eden assumed it was largely due to her nerves settling—if only a little.

She bent to snatch her boots up when a knock sounded on the door. Loriah’s eyes met hers in a silent question, and Eden nodded.

The handmaiden answered the door, and Seurat stood on the other side. “Excuse me, but the lady has a delivery.” The words were barely out of his mouth when a goblin tumbled into the room, its bulbous eyes peering around in search of said delivery.

Eden flinched but didn’t scream as the goblin ran toward her, sniffing the air. A snaggletooth hung over his lip as he leaned forward. She’d seen them scurrying in the hallways, chattering, and they’d kept their distance since initially frightening her.

 Seurat cleared his throat and muttered lowly, “Drizz.”

“He’s all right.” Eden kept her eyes trained on the creature as he sat down, scoping out the room. “You mentioned a delivery?”

Seurat smiled, dipping his head. “I did. The belongings you requested.” He bent down to grab something, though what it was, Eden couldn’t see from where she stood. But then she heard rustling and knew at once it was her newly acquired pet.

She rushed forward, sucking in a breath as the ash-colored rabbit hopped around in the cage. His eyes were wide with fear, and she couldn’t blame him. “You made it.” A smile tugged at her lips as she opened the wire door and extracted him. He smelled of sunshine still, and of jasmine. Home.

“Thank you,” she murmured to Seurat, but a sorrowful chirp on the floor caught her attention. Drizz hopped around as if he were a rabbit, then wriggled his nose. It caught Eden off guard, and she laughed at his antics. Is he trying to appeal to me?

“Where would you like the rest of the items, my lady?” Seurat placed the cage down on the floor.

Confusion rumpled her brow. “What do you mean?” She’d only asked for a handful of things from home. Nothing much would fit here in the land of two moons. Eden didn’t think the sheer gowns would go over well inside the castle either.

“King Zryan sent a chest of gifts for you.”

She blinked. “Oh. Set them at the end of the bed, and thank you.” King Zryan sent gifts? She wanted no part of them, and the chest would remain shut unless she needed to add something to the hearth.

“As you wish, my lady.” Seurat brought the chest in first. It was ivory with gold trim, and the sun was engraved on the lid, its rays stretching toward the edges. It stuck out like a sore thumb in the room, and she half wondered if he’d intended for it to be that way.

When Seurat deposited the last of her things, he bowed his head. “My lady, if you don’t need anything else?”

“No . . . you may go,” she said softly, hugging the rabbit closer to her chest. If she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, she could smell Lucem’s perfumed air, feel the heat on her skin, and imagine she was home again.

But that wasn’t to be.

Eden knelt in the center of her room, flicking a balled-up piece of paper for Alder, so she had named him, and he hopped forward only to leap into the air and bolt away. She laughed, wondering how, in only four days, he could settle in so quickly. And here Eden was, still mourning a life she had left behind.

“Behave,” she chided softly, tapping the tip of his wriggling nose as he stuck it out. “I’ll return and share some of my dinner with you.” When she looked up, Loriah lifted a brow. “Only a little,” Eden amended, then walked out of her room with her handmaiden in tow.

In a week’s time, Eden had grown accustomed to the goblins running around, squawking, and even surprising her in her room. Although she was still wary of them, she’d gifted the ones she’d startled with a bangle from home. In return, they’d cooed, squeaked, and nuzzled her calves.

As Eden and Loriah walked down the hall, she could just make out the sound of Draven’s voice. Eden hadn’t seen or spoken to him since he introduced Loriah to her, almost as if he were avoiding her, but that was a ludicrous thought.

She quickened her stride, following the sounds of his voice and that of the female he spoke with.

“I’ll leave at once then,” Draven cut in.

When she rounded the corner, she was nearly on their heels, but Draven didn’t turn to glance at her until she spoke.

“I wish to join you.” Eden’s cheeks warmed as her confidence faltered, but when he turned around, and the harpy glanced down at her, she straightened her shoulders, feigning confidence that wasn’t there at all.

Draven’s eyes narrowed. “No. You’ll stay here. This isn’t a—”

“If I stay behind, I’ll run away.” It was a childish thing to say, and Eden was fairly certain she’d rather take a leap off the castle than take her chances in the woods.

“You would die,” he said dryly, but then for a moment, his eyes cleared, and genuine concern swirled within, as well as incredulity.

“I wouldn’t exactly call my current existence living.” She regretted her words instantly. Eden hadn’t meant to insult him, but it was the truth. Not once had the king of the underworld locked her in her room or ordered her to remain inside the castle. However, if she was going to spend the rest of her immortal life with Draven, she supposed she needed to grow accustomed to his way of living, and to Andhera specifically.

“Very well, you may come. But you must listen to me.” He spun on his heel, nodding toward the harpy.

Eden clasped her hands in front of herself, then briskly walked after him. There were so many things she wished to ask him, but she didn’t know how to break through the barrier between them. She wanted to know more about Andhera, and if there was more to it than the terrors on the way to the castle. Was there a semblance of life in this world, or was it all tragedy and death? Despite the many questions that tumbled in her mind, she was silent. The only noise aside from her thoughts was the hammering of her heart in her ears.

Draven wound his way through the corridor with an easy grace that Eden envied. She felt awkward in the dimly lit halls.

When they were outside, Draven was first to break the silence. He turned toward her, first ensuring that she was looking at him, then began, “It is important that you remain in your seat while I’m investigating matters in Primis.” He didn’t elaborate, and there was an edge of finality to his words that barred off any discussion on the matter.

Eden only nodded in understanding. Still, curiosity nipped at the corners of her mind as to what those matters could be.

The sound of wings beating against the air brought her gaze toward the sky. Bathed in the bright moon’s golden light, a harpy landed in the courtyard, and even from a distance, Eden could see a hint of disgust curling her lip.

She hadn’t asked to be sent to Andhera or to become its queen, and knowing Draven’s subjects were less than pleased as well drove a spike of annoyance inside of her.

A familiar sound caught her attention: hooves clattering through the courtyard as the carriage arrived. Eden missed Aiya, the rides they shared together in the open fields and in the ponds to cool off.

“We must be off.” With the lightest touch, Draven took Eden’s hand and escorted her toward the awaiting carriage.

She realized then it wasn’t just the harpy joining. There was an entire pack of were-wolves, who had already shifted. They were imposing creatures, but she supposed they weren’t meant to elicit a feeling of comfort. Without another glance, Eden stepped into the carriage. It wasn’t as large as Aurelie’s, but she assumed it was one of many he possessed. In fact, the open carriage left little room between herself and Draven as he settled in beside her.

Eden recalled the way Draven had framed her figure in the chariot. This was different. He could see her face, see the color rushing into her cheeks as their bodies brushed together.

But the thought perished as the carriage set off, and for the first time, Eden was venturing off into Andhera.

As the kelpie pulled the carriage through the land, the castle grew distant, and so did the more elaborate homes. The road grew bumpier, and as Eden glanced down, she noticed black roots jutting upward from the ground. They belonged to the looming trees above them. To her surprise, small white blossoms hung from them. So, some semblance of life does exist . . .

The kelpie’s hooves met cobblestone again instead of a dirt road, and as the beast pulled the carriage along, rows and rows of houses appeared. The structures were clustered together, and it made Eden feel claustrophobic.

“We are now in Primis.” Draven glanced over at her so that when she turned her head, their eyes locked.

“I had no idea Andhera was so . . .”

Her companion cocked his head, as if he were truly interested in her finishing. “Different from what you were expecting?”

“Well, yes.” Eden frowned.

The carriage halted outside one of the homes, and Draven turned to Eden, knocking his knee into hers due to the small quarters. “We’ll continue this discussion when I’m through.” He placed the reins down and hopped from the plush seat, leaving Eden outside with the harpy who landed not far from her side of the carriage.

Draven pushed the wooden door to the home open and vanished inside. A moment ticked by, then Eden twisted in her seat. The wolves had dispersed, and only one remained in her view. She wasn’t certain which one it was, but he paced back and forth, clearly agitated.

The sound of glass breaking cut through the silence in the street, followed by a woman’s raised voice. Much to Eden’s surprise, neither the wolf nor the harpy moved from their position.

One of the windows shattered as something smacked against it. What it was, Eden couldn’t discern, but she was steadily growing more restless. What was Draven doing inside? He hadn’t mentioned why his presence was needed, only that it was important.

Not able to endure it any longer, she sprung from the seat and bounded into the home. She regretted it instantly. It was imbecilic, which struck her immediately.

 Inside the home, the light from the moon didn’t penetrate, not until she rounded a breezeway. It shone in from the shattered window, but Eden wished it didn’t. For at that moment, as she stepped through the doorway, Draven was holding a woman up by her neck in a death grip. Except, she wasn’t entirely human. Below her torso, a broad reptilian body coiled. She writhed, her whip-like tail thrashing around. Eden deduced it had been her tail which cracked the window.

Eden opened her mouth to draw Draven’s attention away—or to scream—but it was too late. He plunged his hand into the female creature’s chest and withdrew her heart. In his grasp, the heart sputtered, spraying crimson droplets over his arm and the floor. He released the lifeless body with a shove.

Amidst her horror, a wolf darted past her and into the room with Draven, who tossed him the organ. Then, as if it were fresh honey and not someone’s lifeforce, Draven dragged his tongue along the rivulets of blood on his hand. His fangs protruded; the ivory was soon bathed in red.

It was too much.

Eden recoiled, stumbling back into a wall before she screamed. It was the scream which snapped Draven’s attention to her. She didn’t remain in the house. Instead, she bolted as fast as she could.

The image played over and over in her mind, only encouraging her to run, which was truly what she should have done in the first place, instead of barging into the home to . . . what? To save someone from him? He was a creature of darkness. Draven was every rumor ever whispered, every fear, every nightmare that spilled into all of the realms.

“Eden,” Draven called to her.

No, she would not stop. He was a monster who tore beings apart for his own pleasure, and one day, it could be her.

Eden’s legs burned as much as her lungs did. She sucked in breath greedily, ignoring Draven’s bellows. She could’ve sworn she heard him curse the wolves, and perhaps the harpy too, but she didn’t listen closely enough.

“Eden!” Draven shouted this time.

Around a bend, Eden considered her options: to continue running and risk Draven’s mounting ire, or to face him. He could send the wolves to tear her apart, or the harpy could dig her talons into Eden’s body. But her frantic thoughts spiraled. If she were to die, at least she’d have tried to escape instead of accepting her fate.

Iron arms wrapped around her torso, squeezing her and lifting her from the ground. She flailed violently, kicking and swatting at the one holding her.

“Let me go,” she rasped. Her stomach flopped as her fear turned into horror. “Let me go at once!” She continued to twist and writhe in her captor’s grasp, even as her stomach lurched. Without looking, she knew it was Draven. Even amidst her panic, she could smell his familiar scent of florals and woods.

Draven’s arms continued to tighten around her with every twist and movement, until he had her effectively bound against him.

“Eden, listen to me.”