Through the Windshield Glass (35 page)

"At least
let my friends go then, the only thing they are guilty of is being fooled by
me," I tried. I could accept him killing me, I was almost to the point
where I would welcome it by then.

Leif looked
like he was considering, his eyes closed halfway and he cocked his head to the
right as he thought, "Where are they?"

Involuntarily,
my eyes slipped to Michael for a fraction of a second. I could feel Leif's glee
at discovering Michael so easily, "He'll have a lovely seat to see the
woman he loves die. Now where are your other guests?"

"There are
no others, just him, the rest are dead," I lied.

Leif sprang close
to my face, he smelled of decay and, though it appeared dry, his skin was
clammy and cold. I didn't dare draw back for fear he would check the tent
behind me, I couldn't run around him without risking Michael's safety. All I
could do was stare at Leif's throat and breathe through my mouth as he spoke,
"Do not lie to me."

"I'm not
lying," I choked out.

"Very
well, I'll find them eventually. But by then you will already be a lovely
little corpse," Leif whispered in my ear. Chills ran down my spine and spread
into my fingertips. I stepped back, but I was stopped by Leif's hand on my
wrist, he pulled me even closer to him and his eyes held me in a hypnotic
stare, "What is a fitting way for a queen to die?" Leif asked.

I swallowed,
Leif noticed the subtle movement in my throat and his gaze shifted to my neck.
He stroked one long nail across my neck. Goosebumps raised on my arms and I
jerked my head away from his touch, "I could slit your throat," Leif
said thoughtfully, "But why dirty such a beautiful, sweet smelling
dress?"

"I could
change," I whispered.

Leif laughed
heartily again, "Is your existence so miserable that you are actually
begging for death?"

I didn't answer
him, I couldn't speak anymore. I had mistakenly made eye contact with Michael
again he blinked and I had to look away before I lost my courage.

"A
sacrifice for your friends then, how noble," Leif taunted. He released me,
I took three steps back and felt something touch the hem of my skirt, but when
I looked back nothing was there. I noticed the flap of the tent looked
unnaturally disturbed, I hoped Leigh and Maria were still safe inside, and I
was glad neither of them would see my demise.

"Just
answer me something before you kill me," I pleaded, "Why the
hallways? They're obviously not for equality."

"Why
starve a horse before breaking it?" Leif returned, "The doors were
designed to break people before they arrived here. It's not a perfect system,
but the scarce number of followers you have proves that it is highly
effective."

"And the
door to leave this place? Where is it?" I asked hopefully.

Leif laughed
hoarsely again, "Gone. You have already asked your one question and more;
　
now it is time for you to go.
Poisoning fits a queen well, I think."

I blinked and
Leif had an elegant wine
　
glass
in his hand filled with what could only be demon poison. The putrid smell,
tar-like consistency and color were a dead give away. I took the glass from
Leif and stared into the swill. It was such a small amount, much less than I'd
been infected with before. It must have been from Leif himself, a much more
potent brew than his demon puppets.

"May
I?" I asked.

"By all
means," Leif replied.

I looked to
Michael one last time. He blinked again which seemed odd, "We owe him for
choosing such an easy death, make sure you pay him back," I said loudly. I
hoped Michael could hear.

A stunning
realization hit me, Michael shouldn't have been able to blink. He could move,
and yet he was just sitting watching as I was about to drink poison. Daman's
words rang in my ear, "My brother played his part perfectly."

All along
Michael had just been biding his time to overthrow Daman and take his place
next to Leif. I should have seen it. Everything he did was secretive, he'd been
willing to go behind Kinga's back. And he'd played me just the right way
to make sure I would be deadset on following through with his plan. The kiss,
the tears, everything had been a well thoughtout lie.

Good night
Juliet.

The first drop
of poison had barely touched my lips when it was knocked out of my hand by
a flying flash of red, "Alice, you ca--"

Leigh's
admonishment was cut short by Leif who lashed out at her with one sharp hand.
Leigh staggered backwards clutching her stomach and paling. She pulled one tiny
hand away from her abdomen and I gasped as I saw she was wearing a dripping red
glove. Her dress was becoming an even more saturated scarlet, and she appeared
to be in shock.

"Leigh!"
I screamed. I rushed to her, grabbing a handful of my skirt in one hand I
pressed down hard on her wound, "It's going to be okay. You're just fine,
you'll be all right!"

"You told
me there were no more!" Leif shrieked. His bloody talons raked into my
hair and threw me away from the suffering child. The pain from the sharp
contact to the ground nearly made me black out. Stars cartwheeled across my
vision
　
and I waited for
the end to come.

"Now that
your dress is dirty there's no use trying to save it," Leif hissed. Leif
pulled me into a standing position, I couldn't move or breathe. Tears of grief
and agony flowed freely from my eyes and onto the ground below me. My hands
were bloody and completely unresponsive to my wishes. I was completely
helpless, Leigh and I were both going to die and there was nothing I could do
about it.

Leif traced a
thin line on my neck, a small drop of blood leaked from the scratch and raced
down my throat. I barely noticed the small amount of stinging pain, "Good
night, Alice," Leif said. He put one sharp finger at the start of the
line. I closed my eyes and waited for death.

I heard a low
whistle and felt Leif's finger leave my throat, a fine mist of liquid sprayed
my face. Leif's grip on my arm released and I slumped to the ground again.

Leif's body
crumpled to the ground in front of me, a large axe protruded from his back.
Black liquid spewed from the wound, trickled to the ground and joined Leigh's
blood on my hands. It burned wildly, but I couldn't command my hands to move.
All I could see was Michael standing a few feet away with his hand still
mimicking the action of throwing the axe, "I had to wait for a shot,"
Michael said.

I wanted to
rush to Michael and thank him for saving my life, but the most I could do was
pant and watch as Leif changed from corrupted demon to lifeless vessel. His
followers rushed into the courtyard, toting weapons and a desire for battle,
but they stopped when they saw their leader's emaciated form.

"He's
dead," Avery's rough voice told the surrounding hoards of evil. I hadn't
seen him arrive, I should have known he was there the moment I saw the axe,
"I'd be pleased to send more of you with him if you'd care to."

In unison each
demon turned to one of his neighbors. As one they murdered each other and fell
bleeding to the earth. Black tar-like blood crept out of the mortal wounds and
left angry patterns of burned grass in its wake. It was nauseating to look at.
I tore my gaze away and tried to crawl over to where Leigh was still lying,
struggling for life.

Two strong arms
belonging to Max pulled me gently to my feet and helped me hobble over to the
small crowd surrounding Leigh. Her breathing was shallow, her flesh as pale as
paper, and her eyes were barely open. Michael was doing his best to stop the
bleeding with his suit jacket, but it was soon so sodden with blood it was
doing nothing but staining his hands.

Leigh reached
up one small hand and touched Michael's wrist, "It's okay, Michael,"
she said.

"Leigh,
I'm so sorry," I said. I began to cry heavily, "You shouldn't have
had to do that.
　
I should
have fought him."

"You
were-- hurt," Leigh gasped out, "Trying to--save-- us."

"Don't go,
Leigh!" Michael warned, "You'll be okay! Just stay here, we'll get
you back to Katleyn and you'll be just fine!"

A minute smile
danced playfully across Leigh's face, "Too far--remember--"

Leigh smiled
wider, closed her eyes and exhaled. She did not move again.

The anguish I
felt at Leigh's death was too much for my already weakened body, the world
around me faded red to black and I fell away from it all.

Chapter Fifty-one

An enormous
pounding in my head woke me from my unconsciousness.

"You slept
for three days!" Leigh said cheerily.

"Leigh?"
I asked, I tried to sit up and the moment I did Leigh vanished. She was
replaced by
　
Bridgette who
was leaning over me with a look of sadness and relief.

"No, it's
not Leigh,"
　
Bridgette
said mournfully, "Are you hungry?"

I shook my head
and immediately regretted it, "No."

Bridgette
　
nodded, "Just call if you
need anything," she said. The room was dark enough that I could barely see
her outline as she turned away from me.

"I'm sorry
about Roman," I called softly to Bridgette. She rested her head against
the door before replying.

"Me
too," Bridgette whispered, "I'll be back later."

The door opened
for a split second, Bridgette slipped through and left me in the dark once
more. I blinked back tears, my eyelids stuck together and I fell back into
dreamless sleep.

When I woke
next sun was spilling into the room and I realized I was not in the compound as
I had suspected. The furnishings around me were rich and the bed was far
too luxurious. I could only assume that I was lying in a palace bed. I
should have known, enough of us were wounded it would have been crazy to
attempt a journey.

My stomach
growled angrily. I didn't want to bother Bridgette and I didn't know if she
would even hear me if I called out.

I slowly and
painfully dragged myself out of bed and steadied myself against a nearby table
as I stood. I was wearing something similar to what I had been when I'd first
woken up in Beyond. I pulled a thin blanket off the bed, wrapped it around my
shoulders, and approached the door. It opened before I had trekked halfway
across the room.

"You were
supposed to call for someone if you needed something," Michael chided as
he entered the room.

"I'm
fine," I said testily, "I can take care of myself."

Even as I spoke
my underused legs gave out and I would have collapsed to the ground if Michael
hadn't been there to scoop me up and transport me back to my bed,
"Yeah," he said, "Just fine."

"Who's
left?" I asked. I didn't need to elaborate, Michael knew exactly what I meant.

"Bridgette,
she's a little beaten up but she's fine. Roan is hurting from losing Scarlett
and Arthur, he hasn't left their
　
graves
since you've been out. Avery and Max are obviously all right, thank goodness I
sent them back to take Katelyn home. Which leaves Maria, you and I,"
Michael finished.

Silently, I
counted off each of the dead. Danny, Kinga, Roman, Arthur, Scarlett and Leigh.

"Gregor?"
I asked.

"We
haven't seen him since the Stephano took you away."

"And the
demons?"

"Most are
dead as you saw. Stephano survived, we captured him and he was able to tell us
that the reason Leigh wasn't frozen like the rest of us was becausee Leif's
spell didn't extend that far. He assumed all potential threats were outside of
the tent. We're guessing there are still a few other demons out there, but we
are hoping they will either stay in hiding or kill themselves as well,"
Michael replied.

"Where's
Maria?" I asked. It wasn't a clean segue, but I needed one as a horrible
feeling of guilt overcame me.

"She's
helping the others look for the door," Michael replied.

"But Leif
said it was gone," I responded, "That's why he tried to kill me
through other methods."

I saw Michael's
gaze shift briefly to my throat before he continued, "We believe he didn't
tell you where it was because, I don't think he knew himself. I believe when
the king left he hid the door."

"Where
could it possibly be though?" I asked more to myself than to Michael.

"We're
hoping the king shows up soon so we can ask him. Until then we're trying to
find it on our own," Michael said.

"The
king?" my thoughts went immediately to Daman before I remembered he was
dead, "You mean Kinga's father?"

Michael nodded,
"He made contact after we found Bridgette in the dungeons below the
castle."

It was a lot to
take in, my head was beginning to spin with the effort of processing all the
information, "I need food," I said. Again, Michael nodded, he left
and soon returned with
　
a
tray laden with delicious smelling food. A much better recovery meal than the
one Kinga had given me.

As I gorged
myself on the food Michael filled me in on other things that had happened. Both
Daman and Leif had been cremated almost immediately after Leigh died, as had
the demons who had killed each other in the courtyard.
　
As a result, the whole of the courtyard was in
ashes. The bodies of Leigh, Kinga, Scarlett, Arthur, Danny and Roman had all
been buried in
　
the palace
gardens under a blossoming cherry tree.

Maria had made
rapid recovery and, according to Michael, was acting like a completely mentally
healthy human being. She didn't seem to remember anything that had happened to
her preceding her arrival in Beyond, but she had cried harder than anyone at
Leigh's funeral service and had been asking about me every day. Michael said he
could only assume that Leif's death had somehow lifted the curse that was
keeping Maria from recovering. He was optimistic that the other's we had seen
in the infirmary would have made the same miraculous recovery.