by Emma Miles
He listened in growing horror when the stupid priests revealed everything they knew. He could feel the hatred around him grow, they didn’t know it, but when their use ran out, those priests would die, and not in a pleasant way.
‘Shall we put the book in the library?’ One of the priests tried. ‘It is an ancient text and extremely valuable.’
‘Get out!’
‘Yes, mighty Hacren.’
Hacren!
No, it couldn’t be true.
Could it? But from the conversation he’d just heard, whatever shared his body was at the very least a very powerful spirit and there was no doubt now it possessed him. But did it know he was still alive?
His view changed and power flowed past him as the fire was lit. Without thinking, Jorrun created an image of the book burning on the logs, even adding the sound and the smell. He let it seep into the light as he would have into the mind of a dreamer, he felt the being’s satisfaction with its strange, alien buzz. His view changed again as his body moved them out of the room. He didn’t see if the book really was still on the desk, he prayed it was.
***
The emotions that brought him back to awareness made him feel sick with fear. There was desire, hunger, and a covetous lust that would have made Jorrun’s skin crawl had it still been his. As much as he needed to hurry, he forced himself to hold back, to keep calm. He edged toward the light but had to dart back almost at once. He’d glimpsed one of the priests holding the arms of a woman he didn’t know. Blood spilled from a neat wound in her throat and her mouth had moved as she tried desperately to breathe. Power rushed past him and it was tempting to draw it in, to make himself stronger, but he repulsed it even as the Chemman god drew it in. Even without a stomach he felt sickened.
Twice more over the next few hours he felt the same euphoric rush of power. Jorrun tried to make himself smaller, to remain unnoticed, as he crept forward to see. He felt guilt at the relief that again they were women he didn’t know, even as he knew he couldn’t continue to sit back and let it happen. Hacren was getting stronger. There had been no sign of Osun at any of the sacrifices. Did his brother know? And if he did, would he ignore it, thinking Hacren was still him, still Jorrun?
Was Osun still even alive?
He got his answer not long after.
Jorrun felt the familiar mixture of dreadful, sickening emotions. He edged closer to the light, seriously contemplating whether he should make a grab for some of the power, use it somehow to take back his body and defeat Hacren. What he saw sent him hurtling back in shock.
No! It can’t be!
More than ever, it was imperative that he keep calm, keep control, but never had he been so terrified in his life. He inched closer, stopped, closer, paused. He slipped into the light. His body was in a study and before him were Kesta and Osun. Osun’s face had gone deathly pale as he asked Kesta how she came to be there. Hacren was delighted, a cat playing with a mouse.
Get her out of there, brother, get her out!
If his body had still been his, he wouldn’t have been able to breathe. It took more will power than he’d used in his life when Hacren embraced Kesta, every part of his being screamed for the god’s death.
He retreated, he had to, to gather himself.
There was no choice now, win or lose, the moment Hacren threatened Kesta, he would have to strike, even if it meant his own destruction.
He moved forward and felt relief as he saw Osun and Kesta leaving the room. Priests appeared before Hacren and Jorrun crept closer to try to listen to their conversation.
‘She is dangerous, master.’
‘Not to me, you fool!’ Jorrun’s voice replied. ‘Why do you think I called them here? Osun’s dear ‘sisters’ are my best source of power. As for her …’
Jorrun shuddered, barely able to contain his rage.
‘… she is the only one left in Chem who is even remotely a threat to me, but I’ll deal with her, and I’ll enjoy i—’
Hacren stilled.
‘Master?’
Jorrun felt Hacren’s suspicion, carefully, slowly, he drew back.
His rage was such he no longer cared about preserving his own life, all that mattered now was getting Kesta away from this so-called god.
Please, Osun, you must know! Get her away.
He hovered anxiously at the edge of the light for the next three hours, watching as Hacren plotted with the priests and set up the foundations for his dictatorship of Chem. It was pitch-black outside the windows when Hacren used Jorrun’s body to stalk down the corridors, heading for the guest quarters. Hacren barely knocked at one of the doors before opening it, three women sat on one of the beds and Jorrun recognised them at once, Rey, Vilai, and Jollen.
‘Jorrun!’ Vilai stood up at once, her brown eyes wide and a flush on her cheeks.
‘I need your help with something,’ Jorrun’s voice said. ‘This way.’
It was Rey who protested. ‘But Kesta sai—’
‘You know she is safe with me.’
Jorrun would have killed Hacren then and there if he’d known how, if they’d been two mortal men. Vilai stood up at once and followed him into the hall, the light turned away from the anxious faces of Rey and Jollen.
‘I used to dread the thought of coming to Arkoom.’ Vilai chattered as they made their way back through the corridors. ‘But this is different. Where are we going?’
‘The library.’
Jorrun’s mind was filled with images of his own safe, beloved library back in Northold, and of the small sanctuary he had made with Kesta on the balcony back in Navere, the place he carried scars on his back for. A creeping dread swept through him like a cold wind, he knew very well what Hacren intended for this naïve Chem woman. Could he hold back and let it happen? Could he watch Vilai die in order to wait to help Kesta? He knew his best hope of seeing the god destroyed was to aid his wife to defeat him, but could he live with such a choice?
The chances were, he wouldn’t live.
They entered the library, Jorrun heard the doors close behind them.
‘You are a beautiful girl, Vilai.’ Hacren reached out a hand, running his fingers around the back of Vilai’s neck. The girl’s eyes widened, Jorrun could see his body’s reflection in her dark pupils.
‘But … but what about Kesta?’
‘This is Chem.’ Hacren shrugged. ‘And I make the rules.’
Hacren pressed Jorrun’s body up against the girl, forcing her lips open with his tongue. Jorrun tasted the blood as Hacren bit down hard on her lower lip. Jorrun could bear it no longer, he gathered himself to attack.
The library door opened.
Jorrun froze, the look on Kesta’s face burned his soul.
Hacren forced a dagger up and into Vilai’s lung.
Power surged through Jorrun’s body and this time he snatched at it, not caring about his own damnation, forcing aside the paralysing guilt.
Kesta backed away.
Jorrun gathered himself on the edge of the light, preparing to pounce…
Then Kesta said his name in a way that shattered him into a million pieces.
No, Kesta, it isn’t me! I’d never betray you!
Fire blazed before them as Azrael placed himself between the god of death and his prey. Joy leapt through Jorrun, he’d never been so pleased to see his dearest friend.
Kesta ran and Azrael followed.
‘Hello, Jorrun, I wondered if you were still here!’
Jorrun froze, dread filling him, but there was no point hiding any longer. Leave her alone!
‘Or what?’
Jorrun surged into the light, trying desperately to fill his own limbs, to move his own muscles. He tried to attack, but the power he’d grasped refused to materialise into magic of any substance.
I’ll destroy you!
Hacren laughed again. ‘Empty words from a ghost. I’m glad you’re here, not that you’ll survive for much longer. Shall we catch up with Kesta?’
Jorrun
tore at the light, trying to grasp at something physical, trying to force his way back. Memories of his capture by Karinna hit him like stones and he calmed himself immediately. If his fear won, he would lose. If his anger took control, he couldn’t help Kesta.
The hallways of the palace flashed by before him. A thrill of excitement ran through Hacren as well as an intoxicating shiver of fear. Part of the creature was exhilarated to be hunting something that would pose a threat, be a genuine challenge to its power. The fact that its quarry was female added fuel to that desire.
Strength, power, wasn’t working. Jorrun had to be clever, had to use what he did have. He needed to dream-walk in a mind that was awake, trick a soul that knew he was there.
He could only stare in shock when they easily caught up with Kesta, twice she turned to face Hacren, only to flee again, before they found her waiting on the sill of a high window. Why hadn’t she just run? But of course, she wouldn’t, she would fight. More importantly she would protect; like a mother playing lame to save its young, she was luring Hacren away from the others.
His admiration was marred by Hacren’s as she dived out the window and was away across the grass as fast as a hare. Instead of hiding his emotions he let them flood into the light, let Hacren feel his pride.
‘Kesta!’
She stopped and turned to look back at him.
‘I’ll give you a ten-minute head start, my love, then I’m coming for you.’
Without bothering to respond, Kesta ran on, disappearing through the gates. Hacren steered Jorrun’s body back out into the hall and headed straight for the doors.
You said you’d give her ten minutes!
‘I lied.’
Coward! You have no honour.
Jorrun’s body chuckled quietly. ‘Chem is mine now, Jorrun. I make the rules and I can change them. As for Kesta, the moment she stops amusing me, she’ll die.’
Hacren stepped on the bodies strewn about the gate as though they were no more than discarded rags and headed down the main street toward the temple district.
Jorrun had to slow him down.
Using his skill as a dream-walker, he created a perfect image of Kesta, not forgetting the spark of her soul and the fire of betrayal that had been in her eyes – it was something he would never forget. What hurt the most was the fact she might never know it wasn’t true, that he would never betray her. The thought was unbearable, but if he could help her destroy the supposed god, or at least help her get away, that was all that mattered.
He set the image in the doorway of a shop, even showing the blossoming of flames in her hand. Hacren spun about to blast fire at the illusion, slowing when he felt no magical resistance. Hacren ceased, staring at the blackened space that contained nothing but a burning empty doorway.
Jorrun tried to contain his hope; if nothing else he might be able to get Hacren to waste power. He created another image, and another, putting every beloved detail of his wife into each creation he subtly slipped into the light. Again, and again Hacren struck, setting fire to the temple district, sending its residents fleeing in panic.
‘What are you doing, Jorrun?’ Hacren demanded.
He didn’t reply, he couldn’t, a figure had stepped out from a narrow gap between two buildings. It wasn’t grief, confusion, or hurt on her face, but something he’d never seen before. Savage hatred.
Hacren saw her too and delight shivered through Jorrun’s stolen body. ‘I didn’t think it was in your nature to run.’
Kesta didn’t reply but called up her power at once, flame cupped in one hand.
Hacren gave a slight shake of his head. ‘Very well. You know, of all the mortals under this sky, I would have chosen you to be my queen. A pity. Perhaps I’ll give you one last chance to consider it before I kill you.’
Jorrun didn’t see Azrael’s attack from behind, but he felt Hacren’s shield shudder. Jorrun moved all the way into the light, drinking in the sound, trying to reach for his other senses, grabbing at his body with the futility of snatching at air. He could do nothing but watch helplessly as Kesta was hurled down the street. For a moment flames obscured his vision, but Hacren tore Azrael off him and pinned him against a wall.
‘Let him go!’ There was no fear in Kesta’s voice, only the confidence of someone who believed in herself completely. Did Hacren sense it? Or did he dismiss her in his arrogance?
You can do this, Kesta!
Jorrun poured all of his love, all his pride in her, into the light, but the god of death didn’t feel it that way, interpreting it only into a great need to possess her.
‘What do I get in return?’
Jorrun loved that she didn’t waste her time with words but responded with a fierce attack. He desperately needed to help, he couldn’t afford to wait for an opportunity, he had to make one.
Then the unthinkable happened. Hacren drew a huge amount of power and shattered Kesta’s shield. Triumph consumed the god, but a new challenger made him turn.
Oh, brother, be careful! Jorrun thought, even as he thanked Osun with all his soul.
Hacren gave a feral growl and launched a ball of fire at Osun, almost howling in frustration as Azrael swooped in to smash it aside. The window of light moved and Jorrun saw five of the Raven Sisters huddled together. They sent a weak blast of power at Hacren and the god gathered his own to strike back. Without thinking Jorrun jerked the attack aside.
He recoiled in shock.
How did I do that?
Then the ground heaved. The window of light moved rapidly, and he saw Kesta sitting in the street, her fingers splayed across the cobbles. Her eyes were wide but her dark brows drawn down in fierce concentration, blood trickled from her nose. The street cracked apart and massive rocks surged upward. Jorrun felt almost euphoric, delighting at Hacren’s shock.
She was amazing.
The ground gave way beneath them, then they were launched upward. Hacren gathered all of his power, preparing to decimate the woman he’d so badly underestimated. Jorrun relaxed, giving a bodiless smile. Without even trying he moved one of his legs back and Hacren toppled from the ascending rock.
Kesta might never know he hadn’t betrayed her. He hoped she would. But she was alive.
It was enough.
The light spun away from him.
Jorrun let go.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Kesta; Covenet of Chem
Kesta’s hand jerked, and her dagger hit the cobbles beside Jorrun, making an awful, screeching sound against the stone. Jorrun’s shirt was open at the top; there was no sign of the amulet his mother had given him.
‘Kesta!’ Osun ran to join her. ‘Is he dead?’
Blood was slowly oozing from beneath his head, but she knew he was still alive, his chest slowly rose and fell.
‘We have to kill him!’ Osun said, although he didn’t move.
Slowly, Kesta reached out her hand, sliding her fingers beneath the fabric of Jorrun’s shirt to lay her hand across his collar bone. She reached out her knowing, expecting there to be nothing, but what she felt were two distinct personalities, two lives.
She snatched her hand back, almost losing her balance before sliding her legs out to sit on the wet ground. She doubled over, her arms tight about her body as tears forced themselves from her eyes. Her anger fled, leaving her chilled to the bone. The pain of her fear, of her grief, knocked the breath from her. She blinked up at Osun, trying to clear her vision.
‘Kesta? What is it?’ Osun crouched, placing his hand on her shoulder and looking from her to Jorrun. ‘If … if you can’t do it, then I’ll kill him.’
‘No!’ She shook her head, forcing out the word. Tears dripped from her chin. ‘He’s still there! Jorrun’s still there!’
‘You’re not making any sens—’
She raised a hand to bid him wait while she tried to gather herself. Azrael flew over to join them and Kesta closed her eyes, gratefully drawing in the warmth of the fire-spirit. She swallowed, clearing her painful thr
oat. ‘Whatever awoke in this body a few days ago wasn’t Jorrun.’
Azrael became completely still.
‘There are two lives in this body.’ She pointed. ‘Jorrun is still there.’
Osun started to shake his head, but he stopped, holding her gaze. ‘You’re sure?’
‘I’m very sure.’ She grabbed Osun’s hand and crushed it in her own. ‘I don’t know how, but something has taken over Jorrun’s body. He’s still there, though, I can feel him.’
As she turned to place her hand on Jorrun’s chest again, she noticed Azrael back away.
‘Azra?’ She scrambled up onto her knees. ‘What do you know?’
The fire-spirit crackled and spat and made himself smaller.
Osun stood. ‘You ran the moment he woke, Azra.’
‘I went for help! The other Drakess wouldn’t ansswer me! They were too afraid of him.’ He darted about erratically. ‘I didn’t know you were coming here, Kessta! I thought you were ssafe in Navere! I came back here to sspy, to see if I could sstil trust you, Osun, or if you were one of them.’
‘One of who?’ Kesta demanded. ‘Calm down, Azra, and tell us what’s going on.’
‘All of the blood magic, all of the death, the priessts ussed it to summon him!’
‘Summon who?’ Osun growled.
‘Hacren!’
‘What?’ Osun shook his head. ‘You’re telling me Jorrun is possessed by the god of death?’
‘Yeeessssss!’ Azrael wailed.
‘No.’ Kesta shook her head violently. ‘The gods of Chem aren’t real, they can’t be! Anyway, how could I have defeated a god?’
Osun tensed, glancing around. Kesta looked up to see a few people had crept back into the street.
‘We’ve got to get out of the open,’ Osun said. He gestured toward the raven women who hovered nearby. ‘Help us get Jorrun into the temple.’
‘What’s happening?’ Rey demanded as she bent to pick up one of Jorrun’s legs.
‘Let’s get inside.’ Osun grunted as he took the weight of Jorrun’s torso.
