“I hope they’re holding up,” I say in a low voice.
“You’ve other things to worry about, lad.”
I turn to face Tempest. “Like what?”
He points to the white figures that are now filling the forest.
Air Valta. Hundreds of them.
“We can hold them for a while,” says Tempest. “Get out of here and find your girl.”
“I don’t know where she is.”
“I caught a scent on that demon,” Tempest nods toward the charred body of Silas. “Elemental and antiseptic. He was near your monarkki. They must be holding her in one of the infirmary buildings. I saw them on the flight in—wooden structures along the back of the compound.”
“Thanks, T.” I turn on my heel, ready to sprint away.
“Oh, and Maxon?”
I pause. “Yeah?”
“I scented Chimera there, too.” Tempest’s eyes flare red. “He’s mine.”
“Understood.” I take off at a run.
Lianna
At last, I can move my eyes. No more staring at the same spot on the infirmary wall.
Hallelujah.
Chimera’s paralytic is finally starting to wear off a little. These moments are rare. Normally, Chimera gives me more than enough venom ages before I need it.
I’m still thirsty as hell, though. They won’t give me water in case it strengthens me enough to escape. Good thinking, actually.
A pair of elemental heliae float-walk into the room. They’re the nurses of this place. The heliae have super-long necks, hollow sockets for eyes, and long silver hair that hangs down to their waists. Their skinny arms sport an extra set of elbows, so they can grab a syringe and stick you before you have time to realize what’s going on. I learned that one the hard way.
“Treatment,” says the first heliae. He speaks in a slow, rough howl that reminds me of harsh winter wind. “Chimera.”
Not a chatty bunch, the heliae. This is his way of asking why Chimera isn’t here to jam more venom into my neck. I’d say there’s no rush, but I can’t speak yet.
“Audience,” says the second. This one’s a woman; I can tell because her winding-sheet robe covers her from shoulder to ankle. Her voice quivers with fear. “Zephyr.”
A spark of hope ignites in my soul. I know what that shaky voice means. It’s the same one all the heliae use when Zephyr’s temper is up. Half the infirmary is packed with air elementals that Zephyr hit or hurt. One guy got his legs torn off for addressing Zephyr as Your Eminence instead of The Eminence.
Man, I can’t wait to get out of here and kill that monster.
Fresh voices sound in the hallway. The heliae gasp, turn into their smoke forms, and drift silently away. That can only mean one thing.
Zephyr’s coming to visit.
I hear him talking outside my room. “Silas’s work in the forest is an utter failure,” says Zephyr. “I need every Air Valta there to clean them out.”
If I could smile, I would. Maybe I’d even cheer, too. Sounds like Silas is in trouble.
A new voice sounds from the hallway. “And what do you wish of me?” That one’s Chimera.
“What I always want,” says Zephyr. “Your venom. Her powers.”
“Before we discuss this, there is another matter I wish to raise. Perhaps I can be of more use…”
“Silence! You said you were an expert in torture.” Zephyr’s voice takes on the roar of a cyclone. “So, why must I watch over you like a child? You know what I expect of you. If the girl transfers her power to that Kristalli, I’ll continue to keep you safe from Tempest.” I hear his fist pound the wall with each word. “That is all.”
“Then, I shall do as The Eminence commands.”
“At last.” A whoosh of air follows those last words. Zephyr is gone.
Chimera growls under his breath. “That monarkki needs a strong general to keep him in line.” When Chimera speaks again, he raises his voice. “You there. Heliae.”
“Sir.”
Chimera starts rattling off commands at the heliae. My mind can’t focus on his words. Instead, the mention of ‘general’ has my thoughts returning to old paths of worry.
Fisk.
Once again, I wonder what happened to my friend. With any luck, all Zephyr wanted was the Kristalli of Water. Once he had the stone, Zephyr should’ve let Fisk go.
A long creak sounds as the door opens, jarring me from my thoughts. Heavy footsteps tromp across the floor. Chimera’s here. He’s in his hybrid human-dragon form, so his two necks sway as he steps to my bedside. Chimera lifts my right hand, examining the Kristalli that’s still tied to my palm.
“The stone’s dark,” he whines.
And it’ll stay that way.
“You’re incredibly stubborn.” Chimera paces along the back wall. “Zephyr says that I should torture you. Pull out your nails. Punch in your eyes. Elementals heal so quickly, you’d feel an exquisite sort of pain.”
What I wouldn’t give to flip him the finger right now. And then maybe scream and run for cover. That torture stuff would suck.
“Then again, you are a warrior.” Chimera’s voice lowers an octave. “For one such as you, there are more effective means of delivering pain.”
Icy fear trickles down my spine. He’s right. Namare trained me to handle physical torture. She always worried that Zephyr would capture me and do his worst. On the other hand, Chimera seems like the type who likes mental torture. Not something I’m familiar with.
“Last chance,” says Chimera in a sing-song voice. “Transfer your powers back to the Kristalli and I will kill you quickly. You’ll get no such promise from Zephyr.”
My mind races for a way out of this mess; I come up empty. With a flash of realization, I know that I’m about to die. At this point, my only choice is how.
Do I go while giving Zephyr what he wants?
No way. After all these years, I can’t give the evil freak anything. If holding back the Kristalli is the only victory I can have over him, I’ll take it.
Chimera leans across the base of the bed. His reptilian-slitted eyes stare directly into mine. “Oh, no. You can move your gaze. Let’s fix that, shall we?” He smiles at me for a long moment, and I know another needle is coming my way.
And so it does.
Chimera drags out the process of filling up another syringe and then pumping it into my neck. Once he’s done, he steps into my frozen line of vision, his pair of lipless reptilian faces winding into ever-wider smiles. “Let’s get down to business, shall we?” As always, his heads speak in unison.
A cold bead of sweat slowly dips down my back.
What’s he planning to do, exactly?
Chimera waves his scaled hand before my eyes, ensuring that my gaze is once again locked at a certain spot on the wall. Whatever he has planned, it requires that I can’t look away. Fear twists my insides.
“It seems I can’t convince you to transfer your power,” Chimera says with a dramatic sigh. “And I very much need Zephyr’s help. You see, my son is causing all sorts of trouble and I’d much rather be scheming against him than wasting time with you. So, I’ve decided to bring someone else in… An expert in changing minds.”
Chimera drags a chair so it’s placed directly in line my sight.
Terror overwhelms my mind. All I can think about is the chair and empty stretch of wall. This is some kind of performance for my benefit.
Chances are, it won’t be pleasant.
Chimera bangs on the door. “Bring it in!”
A pair of heliae haul in a pale figure. With a great heave, they set the lifeless form onto the empty chair. My skin crawls with grief and horror.
It’s Fisk.
And he’s dead.
The man I once loved has his throat torn out. Ligaments and bone protrude from the open wound. His beautiful sea green eyes stare at me, while his mouth rounds into a silent scream. Tears stream down my face. Everything in me wants to turn away from this sight, but I can’t. And the worst part of a
ll? I’m the reason his life’s over.
This is torture. Pure. Raw. Unthinkable.
I don’t consciously will it to happen, but the Kristalli in my hand glows with a pale blue light. Fisk’s empty eyes seem to plead with me to join him in the next world. We’ll reunite in friendship, free of pain and loss. My fears were right, all along. I was never strong enough to be the monarkki. Now, I crave a simple end to my useless life.
Chimera promised me a swift death. I hold onto that thought as my power slowly seeps away. I’m vaguely aware of raised voices somewhere in the infirmary.
Zephyr must be at it again. More heliae are about to die.
I brace my soul for the screams that inevitably follow one of Zephyr’s rages.
They don’t come.
Instead, there are rushed footsteps in the outer hallway. The heliae sound frantic. I focus on their wispy voices.
“Evacuate.”
“Warrior.”
“Front door.”
My thoughts freeze. Zephyr sent all the Air Valta to the forest. So who’s trying to break through the front door?
A thrill of realization moves through me. Maybe Zephyr wasn’t fighting Silas after all.
Perhaps Maxon is here.
As soon as the thought strikes my mind, I dismiss it. There is no rescue from an elemental realm. Zephyr only allows those he chooses into his compound. Maxon couldn’t have found a way in, could he?
Another heliae voice reaches my ears. “Thrax.”
Pure joy zings through me. A thrax warrior in Zephyr’s realm? It must be Maxon.
Chimera has the same thought. He bolts to his feet, races to the door, and pulls it open. “Come here, you.”
“Yes?” asks a heliae.
“I heard someone speaking of a thrax. Who is here?”
“Warrior.” The heliae’s voice quivers with fear.
Chimera speaks slowly and with a menacing edge. “What’s the name?”
“Maxon.”
I sense more than see Chimera dragging the heliae into my room.
“You know how to use a syringe?” he asks.
“Yes,” answers the heliae.
In my peripheral vision, I see Chimera open a supply drawer and pull out a fresh vial. He plunges the needle into his throat, draws a full dose of green paralytic venom and then sets the syringe into the heliae’s hand.
“Inject her in fifteen minutes,” orders Chimera.
“Evacuation,” says the heliae. “My people.”
“You’re not going anywhere.” Chimera voice comes out a low growl. “Stay right here with her.”
“You stay,” replies the heliae. “Zephyr says.”
“Blast Zephyr!” roars Chimera. “Prince Maxon and I have unfinished business. No one cuts me and lives.” Chimera bolts from the room, leaving the heliae waiting and silent.
A full minute passes before the heliae lets off a string of odd words. I don’t need to speak air elemental to get the gist. The heliae is cursing out Chimera. With a dramatic swoosh of his extra-long arms, the heliae resets the syringe back into its drawer and slams it shut.
“My people,” hisses the heliae. “Evacuate.”
As the heliae leaves the room, a great crash sounds from the far side of the infirmary. An unmistakable noise follows—the happy gurgle of water as it tumbles from a broken cistern.
I sense the clean liquid as it flows under my doorway and beneath my bed. Hope lightens me, body and soul. Maybe I can cleanse myself with the fresh water, just like I cleansed Maxon in the cave.
Only one way to find out.
On my command, the water in my room transforms into mist. A blue haze surrounds me, soaking into my skin. I focus on each molecule as it moves through my body, asking it to remove the harmful venom.
Seconds tick by, then minutes. At last, the process works. My skin flares blue with glee as I move my eyes once again. Soon, I can twiddle my fingers and toes.
This is happening. If I can move, I can escape.
A new voice rings in my ears, chilling me over with cold despair.
“Where is he? Where’s Chimera?”
It’s Zephyr. And man, does he ever sound pissed.
I focus my energy on the fresh trickle of water nearby. More and more, I ask it to rise into my body, clearing away Chimera’s paralytic. Next, I can move my legs. After that, my shoulders are mine to control as well.
Meanwhile, light footsteps speed down the outer corridor.
Zephyr.
If he reaches the door before I’m fully healed, I’m in deep trouble. I can’t fight back. I can’t even scream. He’ll whisk me off somewhere and find a new minion to torture me.
My eyes widen with comprehension. He may even take the task upon himself.
A thin tendril of smoke pours in from under the door. Zephyr is coming inside. With aching movements, I force myself to stand up. The ordeal is exhausting. There’s still too much poison in my system, but I can’t give up. Before me, the smoke starts to gel into a human shape.
I’m almost out of time.
That’s when it hits me. If I can change my appearance to resemble my old thrax self, why not try something else? Sure, Namare never changed herself to look like another creature. That doesn’t mean it can’t be done. And that syringe is still sitting in the drawer…
Zephyr’s body becomes solid and complete. He stares at me carefully, his fingers playing along the scar on his cheek. I fight the urge to gasp. In the rush, I’d forgotten all about my precious Kristalli of Water. I must have dropped it in the bed.
“She’s gone?” asks Zephyr.
I nod and try to look terrified. It isn’t hard. I can’t talk with a windy voice like a real heliae, so hopefully that’ll be enough for Zephyr.
“Chimera failed,” he adds.
More nodding.
“Where is her Kristalli?” Zephyr asks slowly.
I shrug and gesture to the mattress.
Fast as a heartbeat, Zephyr rifles through the bed, tearing apart pillows and blankets in his search. After a few seconds he pauses, holding the Kristalli of Water high. He wraps it with a bit of leather and sets it into a holster at the waistline of his Roman armor.
I’m out of time.
Racing to the other side of the room, I yank open the drawer and pull out the loaded syringe. Twisting about, I stab the needle into Zephyr’s neck, quickly pressing down the plunger to inject the paralytic venom. He feels the prick of the needle and roars with anger.
“How dare you?” Zephyr spins, his arms outstretched and ready to throttle me.
I stand motionless as a statue, frozen in terror. One thought echoes through my mind.
Please let this work.
Zephyr’s hands brush my throat. After that, they stop. For a few precious seconds, his mouth tries to form words. He can’t. Instead, Zephyr tumbles to the floor, paralyzed. His eyes stay fixed on me, while his mouth hangs open in a snarl.
Raising my arm, I conjure an ice sword into my right hand. “This is for Namare.” Raw rage sends my energy levels skyrocketing. Gritting my teeth, I slam the frozen blade into Zephyr’s belly. It’s a perfect strike, just like Fisk taught me.
I summon another sword and raise it high. “And this is one’s for Fisk.”
Before I lower the blade, a dragon roar fills the air.
Chimera.
My arm freezes with fear. Maxon is somewhere nearby. What if Chimera finds him?
Dropping the blade, I force myself into mist form. This shift takes a ton of energy even if I’m at full power, and right now I’m definitely not. I give myself an internal pep talk and hope like hell that it works.
Hurry up, Lianna. You have to find Maxon.
Maxon
I stand on the cobblestone courtyard before one of Zephyr’s infirmaries. There are a shit-ton of these places around here. I could search for days and not find Lianna.
Good thing I found these kids instead.
A couple of Air Valta boys stand guard at
the infirmary door. It’s obvious they know where Lianna is and won’t say anything. Stubborn little guys. I’ve been negotiating with them for too long already. Hell, I called down enough lightning to smash down three trees and burst up a cistern. At least, the kids are softened up now. Dragon roars are now carrying in from the battlefield, so that’s helping to loosen them up, too. One more round of threats and they’ll be ready to talk.
“Where is she?” I ask.
The kids look at each other, their eyes wide with terror. Neither replies.
“Last warning.” Raising my hand, I summon lightning to crackle across my palm. “This one isn’t going into the trees, guys. I’m out of time.”
“She’s inside this building,” says the first kid quickly. “Last room on the left.”
“Good work,” I say. “Now go hide. Things are about to get nasty.” The kids disappear in a puff of smoke.
I kick down the front door and race into the infirmary. The place is half deserted. Worried heliae carry wounded elementals out to safety. None of the injured are Valta, though. I picture my Furor allies back in the woods, fighting off the Air Valta. Anxiety constricts my temples. I hope they’re okay.
One battle at a time, Maxon. Focus on Lianna.
Turning on my heel, I race down the main hallway. My gaze stays locked on the last door on the left. Lianna’s room.
Almost there.
My chest warms with a mixture of hope and excitement. Is she still in her room? Will she be all right? I’m only a few yards from her door when the unexpected happens.
The entire wall of the infirmary bursts open.
It’s Chimera, and he’s in his full dragon form: A massive body covered in black scales.
At least I lopped off one of his heads back at Charybdis. Less to worry about now.
Chimera’s two remaining heads swivel on their long necks, tearing through the wooden walls like tissue paper. I grit my teeth, disappointment and rage battling it out in my nervous system.
I was almost to Lianna.
Chimera’s long, powerful limbs flex down into crouch, ready to pounce. I mirror the movement, keeping my tail high above my shoulder.
Chimera launches at me, his dual jaws snapping at my head. Venom-laced saliva drips from his long pointed teeth. Pushing back with my legs, I jump right at him. The arrowhead end of my tail plunges through his dragon scale hide right at the top of his rib cage. Once I have a good catch, I use the momentum to tear a line down his torso. I land in a roll on the courtyard grounds, one thought on my mind.
Maxon Page 21
