Page 47 of The Searching Songbird

“He's here!”

Her eyes flew open at Suzu's sudden words and black spots dotted her cloudy vision.

“Bade just walked in and took a seat near Draven.”

Can you hear what they're saying?

“My hearing is impeccable. Of course, I can hear them. However, I think it would be prudent if you heard them for yourself.”

I'm afraid I'm not in the best state of mind for riddles right now, Suzu... how am I supposed to hear them from here?

“You can hear them through me. See them, too, but I don't think now is the time to test your limits like that. Vocals will have to be enough.”

What are you talking about?

“Close your eyes and focus. Picture me in your mind.”

...Okay...

“Now, look closely. Do you see those fine, gold threads that are binding us together?”

What gold threa- yes! I do, I see them.

“Find the one that's thrumming with sound and take hold of it.”

Reaching out with her mind, Lily wrapped her hand around the delicate, vibrating thread. Instantly, her head was filled with sound. A crackling fire, the rustling of papers, the creaking of a leather seat as someone sat down. And Draven, with his gruff baritone that set butterflies loose in her stomach despite the doubts and suspicion that had tainted her view of him. Her mind may be wary, but her body was more than willing to betray her.

“Boss.”

“Draven.” The smooth voice that returned his greeting was unfamiliar, and yet... some part of her recognized it. It was as if her very existence had been molded by that voice. Given who the owner was, in a way, she supposed it had.

“I appreciate you meeting with me. We need to talk, and the theater was... well, inconvenient.”

“I would imagine so,” the other man – Bade – drawled. “Seeing as how the very girl I required you to secure was performing freely upon the stage and not on her way to Antos.”

Lily's hands clenched into fists. So, the bastard had been after her all along, had he? Which meant their meeting was anything but coincidental. Another spasm wracked her body, and she bit down hard on her bottom lip, forcing herself to keep hold of her tenuous connection for just a little longer.

“About that,” Draven hedged, his hesitation evident in his voice. “I was hoping... that is, I was wondering if, perhaps, there was something else I could offer you in place of the girl? Anything at all. Name it, and I'll acquire it for you, just... leave her be. Please.”

There was a desperation in those words that set those traitorous butterflies once again to fluttering. There was no denying the raw emotion in his voice as he pleaded for her safety. Surely, that meant something... surely he –

“There is nothing I require more than the girl.” Bade's words interrupted her wild musings, cutting away at her chest like a knife. “She is necessary for the cause.”

“How? What can one girl – one woman – bring to your cause that someone as powerful as yourself cannot?”

“She is not just some girl, as you are well aware. I know you've seen her phoenix. I know you're aware of who she is.”

“Who she is?”

“A Shendri warrior, host to the celestial beast, Suzaku, and, once upon a time, she would have been my enemy.”

“And now? What is she to you now if not your enemy?”

“A means to an end, Draven. I have need of a Shendri. The only other known Shendri is currently sitting upon the Eldorian throne, which makes her almost impossible to obtain at the moment. Which leaves your Lily as my only choice.” There was a pause as the floorboards creaked, indicating either one or both of them had stood up. “I am sorry, Draven, truly I am. You've been a loyal employee these past two years, and I have a great deal of respect for you. If there was any other way...”

“If there was another way, you would leave her be? You wouldn't try to take her?”

Pressure began squeezing Lily's head like a vice, making the men's voices grow muffled and dim. A silent scream tore at her lungs as she grasped at their fading words.