I turned and froze when I noticed a woman who looked startlingly like Kate, hardened by years of fighting and bearing the Executioner blade. She fought with a fury and grace I only witnessed when Maddock was at the games, and when Kate dueled me.
I wanted to say her name, understand what was happening, but something was very strange with my body. I was shifting, but not into a dragon form. The bones of my face broadened and claws extended from my fingernails.
“Malcolm! You must leave!” a dragon dressed in what appeared to be a guard’s uniform yelled.
I glanced around, searching for this Malcolm, but as the guard raced towards me and grabbed my arm, I realized he meant me.
“I cannot,” I said, though I didn’t mean to. “I will not abandon my people! Where is Allis?”
“Fighting against us,” the dragon snarled.
“We need him,” the woman beside me stated. “We need him alive!”
“That may not be possible,” I replied and when I turned fully to face the woman, saw Kate staring back at me through those eyes.
“If we cannot keep him alive, we will never end this,” she growled and then took off into the fight.
The guard tried to get me to leave again, but my feet were moving, and soon I was lost in the middle of the fight, snarling and growling as I attacked without any weapon except my hands, snapping bones as if they were twigs of any plagued dragon who stood in my way.
So many dead littered the floor already, and Malcolm knew—or I did I guessed—this was a losing fight.
A female roar of rage echoed around me and my head whipped around to see the woman who was Kate squaring off with another dragon.
“Allis,” I whispered, and pushed through the fighting, needing to get to her.
The Executioner was knocked from her hand, and Allis seemed to grow in size, towering over her suddenly as black wings of shadow erupted from his back and trailed to the floor. Horns sprouted from his head, his dragon ones twisted with the plague he let consume his very soul. With a clawed hand, he reached out, fighting for the shield Kate scooped up off the floor.
Kate slammed into him with it, and he screeched, his skin smoking from the contact. The shield was not the one she needed, but when I narrowed my eyes, I saw the power she imbued it with.
She hit again, but he didn’t let up the fight. He whipped around, and his wings caught her hard in the side, sending her flying across the room.
“Your blood is all we need, Vindicar!” he snarled as he stalked towards her.
He kicked out, hitting her in the face and her head flew back as blood spurted from her nose.
She struggled to get to her feet.
Three plagued dragons dragged me backwards again. We landed in a heap on the floor as I desperately clawed and bit to get them off me.
I had to get to her. I was not going to watch the woman I loved be slaughtered in my hall.
Mentally, I froze at the intensity of emotion I felt bubble up for the woman across the room, but physically, Malcolm continued to fight.
Allis had her by the throat, the shield fallen at her feet.
She dug at his hand, but he easily lifted her up and slammed her hard into the wall, over and over again, until her body hung limp.
“Celandine!”
I whirled around in time to see a blur of a man sprint through the room and bodyslam Allis.
Allis flew backward and flattened into the rear wall. The last dragon that held me down, I sliced his throat with my claws, and hurried to get to Celandine and the man.
No, not a man. A demon, Broden, horns sprouting from his head in two curved lengths that reached behind his head.
He was already at Celandine’s side, tapping her cheeks gently to bring her back to us. We needed her.
“Broden, how did you know?” I asked as I knelt by their sides, reaching out to hold Celandine’s hand as he tried to bring her back, resting his palm on her forehead.
“I sensed danger,” he murmured, and when he opened his eyes, the red irises that shown back were filled with the same intense love I had for this woman before us.
And I knew in that moment, this was Craig staring back at me.
I had no idea what was happening, but Celandine coughed, and Broden propped her up as she angrily shook her head and rasped, “Where is he?”
We both glanced around to find Allis, but my stomach twisted when I couldn’t find him at first.
Then, a harsh cackle sounded throughout the room, and three of us turned as one.
Allis held the stolen shield of the Vindicar in his hands, flesh whitened to a sickly pallor as the plague took full control of him. “Powerless without your shield. Pity, truly, my master hoped to have one final fight with you, but without this, you are nothing.”
Celandine snarled, her eyes flaring with power that flowed through me and Broden at the same time. Marks I hadn’t noticed burst to life on our arms, and we stood as one, drawing strength from each other.
“You will never succeed,” she growled fiercely. “Not in this lifetime, or the next.”
“So says you.” Allis lifted the shield high over his head and just as the three of us moved to get it back, he brought it down on the stone, smashing it hard with a yell of triumph.
The shield shattered, exploding outward and sending any left standing flying across the room as the walls trembled and a fine layer of dust covered us. The pieces scattered, glass tinkling loudly as a hush fell. Shards were everywhere.
“Nothing will stop my master now. Nothing.”
Celandine wiped blood from her nose on her arm, and lifted her lip in disgust. “I will destroy you!” she raged. “And your master! I will tear you apart with my bare hands!”
Before I could react, she lunged out of our grasp, scooped up the Executioner blade, and attacked Allis with a roar.
We made to go after her, but Allis spun around, his wings blocking out any sign of Celandine, and with a sharp crack that smelled as though the very air was burnt, they were gone.
“No,” Broden snarled. “No!”
The plagued dragons in the hall rushed for the doors, and I was left staring at the few left standing with us. They were beaten and bloodied, and the rest of our men outside.
I had no idea what condition they were in, but we needed them. We needed every last fighter we could find.
“We have to go after her,” Broden insisted, and was already moving towards the door.
“And do what?”
“Save her! Save everyone,” he snarled and yanked his arm free. “Gather your men, Malcolm, the fight to end all fights is upon us, and I believe we will not survive to see a new day.”
Broden took off out of the hall, and I had no choice but to follow.
The sounds of battle met my ears before we even breached the front doors, and I stared in shock to see the aerial battle taking place overhead.
Dragons, all Darrahs, fought against the plague, soaring through the air on wings of shadow and bone.
The fortress had been badly damaged already, and I wandered how this fight ended.
I wanted to stop and find a way to get back to the present, but Malcolm was running again, chasing after Broden.
Celandine, we had to get to Celandine.
And Kate.
What happened if we died here with these people? Would we be killed, too?
The ground shook and threw us to our knees, as a bright blue and green light exploded upward into the sky, beyond the trees. A screech came with it, and my heart plummeted.
“Allis,” I breathed and sprinted as fast as I could for the breach.
I didn’t know what we would see when we arrived, but Celandine was locked in a fierce battle with Allis, and behind them, smoke billowed up and out of what I assumed was the breach.
Darkness bubbled up and soaked into the ground, reaching out ever farther, and threatening to surround Celandine and Allis as they fought on, unaware of the danger.
Or aware, and understand
ing she was about to die.
“Celandine!” Broden bellowed, and he and I threw ourselves at Allis, knocking them apart.
Celandine bled from several gashes on her arms, and more blood soaked her green gown, torn to shreds.
She could barely stand, and as Broden attacked Allis, driving him back towards the breach, I helped her to her feet.
“We must retreat,” I pleaded, but she shook her head. “Celandine, please.”
“No! if I leave now, the darkness will consume everything in its path, and he will rise again. I will not watch the world be plunged into darkness on my watch!”
“The shield is broken. You cannot hope to seal the breach!”
She stared deeply into my eyes, and amongst the pain from her wounds, I saw her resolve, strong and true. “You know what I must do, Malcolm, what I’m meant to do.”
Her hand held my cheek, and I covered it with my own, furious. “No, I won’t let you.”
“I wasn’t asking.”
Broden’s snarl drew our attention, and he grabbed hold of Allis, spun around, and flung the plagued demon back into the trees.
Grunting in satisfaction, Broden rushed to our sides. “Why do you appear as if someone is dead?” he demanded.
“Ask her.”
Celandine tilted her head, but Broden growled for both of us. “Whatever you plan, no. We will find another way.”
“This is the only way. If not, we risk losing everyone we know and love, forever.”
Broden hung his head growling furiously. “You will not do this alone.”
“No,” I agreed. “If you go, we go with you. That is how it must be.”
“I must. The cage will not be enough. I must create another portal, a way to completely sever the plague’s ties to this world.” She gripped each of our hands. “It will destroy me, and once I’m gone, you must separate the realms.”
“What? Why?” Broden demanded, but I couldn’t believe what I just heard.
The realms, I always assumed they started out separated, but the Darrahs did it? Was it even possible?
“Whatever I do will not hold the plague forever. If the realms are separate, they have a chance of building a defense in time to stop this from killing everyone.”
Trees cracking and Allis’s shriek of rage, told us he was returning, and he was coming for blood.
Celandine’s whole body shuddered, but she blinked a few times, and her fear was gone, tucked away. “A new Vindicar will rise one day, and the shield will become whole. The pieces, they must be kept safe until that time comes.”
Broden and I each grabbed a hand and held it tightly as Celandine made to stand and face her destiny.
Malcolm’s lips moved, but he couldn’t think of anything to say. I couldn’t blame him. This was heart-wrenching, and with each passing second, I wanted to return to the present.
Celandine hugged us close, and we held her, the three of us as one, as we had been for centuries. The thought struck me hard that I was losing a part of me I may never see again.
She kissed Broden then me, and before either of us could do anything more, she was gone, sprinting for the breach.
I watched horrified as she stood over the opening, spread her arms wide, and a bluish-green hue surrounded her.
It spread outwards, and Broden grabbed my arm, dragging me backward.
Allis barreled towards Celandine, ready to take her out, but I grabbed hold of Broden’s hand, and as one, our other hand lifted, raised towards Celandine. We had to keep her alive long enough to seal the breach.
A burst of blue and green light shot from our bodies and a shield, much like the one we witnessed Kate create, fell over Celandine.
Allis roared as he bounced off it, and with his wings thrown back, came towards us.
“You will not defeat me!” He scooped up the Executioner as he came at us, but as he raised the blade to strike, Broden’s free hand and mine lifted and the blade ricocheted of a blue shield protecting us.
Words fell from Celandine’s mouth, loud enough now for Malcolm to hear, and to let me know what was about to happen.
Her head turned, and we saw her eyes over her shoulder, a sad smile spread across her lips.
A staff of brilliant light appeared in her hands. She lifted it up and with a final yell, slammed it down into the ground.
The ground beneath our feet shook violently, and I sensed the world around us stretching and tearing, as a rift formed between worlds.
Allis and the other plagued surrounded us, and I feared they’d get through, but suddenly, they were being dragged backwards towards the breach. They screamed and tried desperately to hold on, but the power was too great.
We dug our feet in, but the power left us alone, the whips of bright light lashing out to snag those of the darkness.
I could barely make out Celandine’s body, and when I did, I whispered a final goodbye.
Allis clung to the edge, clinging to this world, but Celandine brought the staff down again, and in a blinding explosion that sent us soaring through the air, they were both gone.
A stillness fell over what had moments ago been a raging battle.
I took a few shaky steps forward, but there was no point in searching.
Celandine was gone and the plagued with her.
“My son, I have lost my son and my love in one instance,” I whispered.
Broden’s hand fell on my shoulder. “Come, we have much work to do. Your time for mourning will be short, my friend.”
Malcolm knew he was right, but I wasn’t sure at first what he meant.
Then Malcolm’s thoughts darkened, and I realized what was about to happen. In splitting the realms to keep the races safe, we would be using every ounce of power we had. It would kill us in the end.
“The others, they must be told of what has happened here, before we do this,” I warned. “If we are ever to have a hope of beating this for good, they must know.”
“They will be told. Have faith.”
Broden and Malcolm walked side by side, through the destroyed fortress and dead that littered the ground.
There was no time to send them off to the afterlife, not now when the fate of the entire world hung in the balance.
They would know about the sacrifices made this day… they must…
16
Forrest
I gulped for air, sitting abruptly upright as I stared wide-eyed around the hall. Warm hands were in mine, and I heard two others breathing just as harshly.
Craig, Kate, and I were on the floor in the hall, lips white with pain and fear, blinking in confusion and grief.
Kate looked like she was going to be sick and I realized she must’ve felt Celandine die, felt herself die as she used what power she had to create the Burnt World.
I squeezed her hand harder in comfort, but all she did was blink at me.
“What… what was that?” I whispered, but had to cough a few times before I could get the words out.
Everything hurt as if my body had been torn apart and haphazardly put back together.
I had not died, but I saw where Malcolm’s thoughts led, and was secretly thankful we’d returned before I had to witness that.
“I was… I was a demon, full blooded demon,” Craig whispered. “And you, both of you…”
Kate held up the hands she held of ours. “I tried to tell you what I saw was real. I hadn’t expected you both to be that much a part of it, too.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s obvious,” she told me. “Craig was once Broden, I was Celandine, and you… you were Malcolm Darrah. Funny, isn’t it?”
Funny was not the word I was going for. Not even close. “We… they… died,” I stated. “I felt it.”
Kate stood, letting go of our hands.
She was shaky, and I worried for a second she’d pass out, but she steadied herself and nodded her head once firmly.
“Right, I need something… to calm me down after witnessing my death and
all. Who’s up for demon grog?” she announced loudly, and without another word, marched out of the hall.
17
Kate
Craig was right, that demon grog of his was a lot stronger than I thought it’d be.
I cursed as I swallowed another gulp down and passed it along. Turns out he’d had two flasks of it on him all along, and had been waiting to drink it at the right time.
I think learning we all had new past lives to contend with was the right time.
“Maybe we’re not,” Forrest said again. “Maybe we just fell into two nearby bodies when you were dragged back into your memory.”
I picked at the small fire we’d built in one of the old stone hearths in the hall to sit around.
This room wasn’t very cozy, but something about having a fire going made it a little homier and I could relax. Slightly.
I might’ve seemed calm on the outside to these two, but my dragon was roiling within me, trying to accept what we’d seen.
And to understand that Craig and Forrest were a larger part of this than I originally thought.
Craig assumed we’d met so he could help me find the shield and use it, but now… now there was so much more happening.
We had a connection, the three of us, and it ran much deeper than a mutual attraction.
“You know that’s not what happened,” Craig reminded him, crossing his legs at the ankles as he leaned back against the wall near the hearth. “I saw into Broden’s mind. I felt everything he did, and it wasn’t just like watching someone act. It was me acting. Me, doing stuff. Living it.”
Forrest hung his head, running his hands over his hair. “No, this just isn’t possible.”
“Why not?” I handed the grog back to Craig. “Why are you so terrified of being this Malcolm person or whatever?”
“I’m not, it’s just confusing. Having a past life? Realizing that what happened back then actually happened…” He trailed off, and I couldn’t blame him for his frustration.
I was just as confused and muddled as the two of them.
“I need a timeline,” I mumbled, desperately working at holding onto everything I could about my time spent in Celandine’s mind before… before she died. Sacrificed herself to save everyone, and no one even remembered.
Shards (Dragon Reign Book 2) Page 10
