by G. Bailey
"Water," the last witch says, and the ground shakes roughly making me fall backwards onto it. I crawl towards the edge, pulling my head over to look down just as a section all around the raised ground falls in. It’s instantly filled with deep water that shoots up; I move out of the way just in time and watch as it shoots into the sky. Mixing with the fire and air tornado.
Holy shit, I'm completely trapped. I can't see the sky anymore when I look up, and it’s getting harder to breathe. Or even think.
"Winter, use your power, stop this," Atti says in my head. Everything starts to blur as I call for my power. The pressure builds as fear for my life takes over, the hot water starting to scald my skin as it falls from the top of the tornado. Death by suffocation is not a good way to go. The edges of my vision are going black. The pressure of my power is building, but I can’t think straight because of the fear.
“Winter, I’m coming love, hold on!” Atti shouts in my mind, his voice frantic but muffled to me.
My head snaps up as pressure I'm not used to takes over, filling my body, and the blue wave shoots out of me. My feet leave the ground as a blue wave of my power hits the tornado, pushing it away. The water falls away–as does the fire and wind–as I take in a deep breath, and open my arms. My feet are slightly floating off the ground, and my blue waves are still leaving me. The last thing I see before everything goes black is the queen’s shocked and fearful face.
Chapter 17
Winter
“Winter, Winter, Winter,” Is sung by the child-like voice. I open my eyes slowly, not seeing the child that’s singing but, instead, the back of a large man standing in front of me. The song drifts away as the man walks forward towards a bed. When he moves to the side, I can see Elissa. She is sitting in the middle of the bed, covers wrapped around her. A small bassinet made out of vines is by the bed. It’s the same room she died in. I glance at the man as he leans over the bassinet. He looks about forty with blond hair that’s cut short. He’s only wearing black trousers, and it leaves his pale chest in full view. There’s a mark–a phoenix very much like Wyatt’s–on the middle of his chest. I can’t really see his face from this angle as he looks down, but I’m guessing this is Wyatt’s ancestor, the first vampire.
“She looks just like you, my beloved,” the man says in a gruff voice. It takes me a second to realise that the baby is Elissa’s, and that the baby must be my mother.
“You say that every time you see her, Athan,” Elissa says with a sigh. She looks very tired.
“And, every time it’s because it’s true. She is the image of you,” he says in return and smiles at her. I look over just as Elissa starts glowing white. Every part of her skin glows, and Athan falls to the ground, his hand clutching his head in pain.
Elissa says nothing aloud, but I hear her make the prophecy in my mind.
The blue-sided human will choose a side.
When four princes are born, on the same day, they will rule true.
Her saviour will die when the choice is made.
If she chooses wrong, she will fall.
If she chooses right, then she will rule.
Only her mates can stop her from the destruction of all.
If the fates allow, no one need fall.
For the true kings only hold her fate, and they will be her mates.
After she speaks the final word, she closes her eyes. Athan shakes his head as he gets off the floor. He checks on the baby just as a woman in a long, red cloak comes into the room. I can’t see her face or anything other than the ends of the white dress under her red cloak.
“Every person for miles just heard that, the demon king will find us,” she says, her voice worried rather than angry.
“Then it’s time, Demtra,” Athan replies sadly and looks at Elissa.
“My poor sister,” the goddess says, and she turns her head to where I stand.
"Winter, love," Atti says, and I blink my eyes open. I’m in Atti’s arms as he holds me close. Dabriel has his glowing hands on my head, and he lets go when he sees I'm awake.
We’re still in the arena; it must only be moments since I blacked out. Yet, it seemed like a long time in the dream-call. I didn’t even mean to see that, so why did I?
So, it was Elissa making the prophecy that let the demon king know where she was and where his child was.
My mother.
Elissa must have hidden her not long after that dream, and I know she died in that room. I’ve seen all her mates now, Athan the vampire, Henrick the witch, Nicolas the angel, and Leo the wolf. She had mates just like me, but she had the demon king as a mate too.
I sit up slowly as Atti helps me stand on the rock we’re on. I see Leigha seconds before she runs and jumps onto the rock. Warrior princess makes that look easy.
"A win," Taliana’s voice drifts over to me as I stand. I turn to see her watching me as Atti grabs my arm, Dabriel holds my hand, and Leigha puts a hand on Atti’s shoulder. We disappear while I smile at her, a smile proving that I can do this.
When we reappear, we are just outside the goddess’s castle. I smile at a few wolves who bow when they see us, and I look around. The outside is quiet, with just the two wolves sitting outside. The castle looks so much bigger from here as I look up at it. It’s made of smooth, grey stone, the parts that were destroyed are fixed, and it doesn’t look like anything has ever happened to the castle. The four towers stretch into the sky, and right in the middle is the huge balcony that I spent time with Atti on. Someone has a row of flowers on the small wall that has been newly built, yet still looks like the rest of the castle.
“Let’s go and find the others,” Atti says. I see Harris come out of the castle and stop, not looking at us but at Leigha. I turn a little to see her staring at him as well, a mixture of emotions written across her face, but her stubbornness wins out when she turns and walks away. Harris’s growl fills my ears, and I turn just in time to see him shift into a large, brown wolf. He jumps down the steps and goes chasing after Leigha.
“Never run from a wolf,” Dabriel says gently.
“That’s something Jaxson said once, she will be okay, right?” I ask him and Atti.
“You should be asking if Harris will be okay, Leigha is the scariest woman I’ve ever met,” Atti says, and then chuckles to himself. “Well, other than you when I try to steal your chocolate,” Atti jokes. Well, I hope he’s joking. I’m not that bad.
“Very true,” Dabriel nods, and I glare at him.
“You are meant to be on my side,” I cross my arms.
“You nearly bit my finger off when I tried to taste that chocolate ice cream just last week,” Dabriel crossing his arms in mimic of me.
“Ben and Jerry's?” Atti asks me, while I wince at Dabriel.
“Yes, the chocolate brownie flavour. Jaxson bought it for me,” I say.
“Then, bro, you had it coming,” Atti pats Dabriel on the shoulder with a laugh. I smile at them both as I feel hands slide around my waist, and I’m pulled back against a large body as cold lips kiss my neck.
“I missed you,” Wyatt says into my ear.
“Me too,” I say. I laugh as Wyatt picks me up and we move quickly away from the other guys. I take a deep breath when he stops and lets me go.
“Wanted me alone?” I ask him, and he grins as he lightly kisses me.
“Yes,” he says, no other explanation needed. I glance around to see we are on the balcony I was just looking up at. There’s a blanket on the floor, with a selection of food and some roses in a vase. I smile up at Wyatt with a big grin.
“I want to show you something first and maybe get you some more clothes,” he glances down at my leather outfit. I nod and pull my wet hair out of the bun, and undo the plait. It falls in waves as he just watches me.
“You’re beautiful, Winter,” he says, making my heart pound in my chest. Then he walks away to the new doors. Someone has replaced the stone ones that were destroyed with large, glass doors. I like it. We go into the newly paint
ed, white hallway; the floors are still the old stone but smoothed down. There are new lights on the walls, and the archways to Elissa’s bedroom have new, wooden doors. There used to be white curtains in the past, but the light-wooden doors suit it better. They are shaped perfectly to the archway, and Wyatt pushes the door open. I walk in, and my first thought is that the room has changed so much. Where there once was a raised stone alter and stone floors, there is now an even, cream-carpeted floor. The new, arched windows are massive and letting lots of light into the room. There’s a beautiful, wooden fireplace on one side and two small, white doors on each side of it. The main thing in the room is the huge bed in the middle, with a large, white headboard; it looks like it could fit at least five people. The bed sheets are white to match the white fur rug in front of the fireplace.
“We will get other things for the room, but this is all yours,” he tells me, and my jaw drops.
“The four rooms next door are for each of us, they’re just down the corridor, but I’m sure we’ll take turns sleeping with you,” he says making my cheeks go red at the thought.
“We could live together, all of us,” I say in a whisper.
“When we have peace, we will.” Wyatt says to me and comes over to kiss my forehead.
“Then we will fight for peace,” I say, my words feeling like a promise.
Chapter 18
Dabriel
I smile at the old council member who goes on about how he is going to support me, if only I was stupid enough to not know he wants a price for the support.
“The older brother returns,” the sarcastic voice of my younger brother says behind me.
“Excuse me,” I say to the angel from the council whom I was speaking to. I turn to see my two younger brothers standing right behind me. Both of them are dressed in white, looking like twins when they’re not. Their hair is more blonde than white, and its cut short, not like most angels who keep their hair long. Zadkiel is the one that spoke; his light-purple eyes make his narrow face seem cruel. Or maybe it’s because I know how fucking cruel he can be.
“I have never truly left,” I reply, crossing my arms.
“The council feels otherwise,” he smirks.
“A council you are not on nor have any control over, Zadkiel,” I say. His fists tighten as the few symbols he has start glowing on his arms. I resist the urge to smirk at the weak show of power. Govad, my other brother just watches us with distaste. Govad has white hair that stops at his shoulders; he looks more like me than my other brother. He’s only a few inches shorter than me, and his eyes are darker than Zadkiel’s. He hasn’t spoken a word to me since I stopped him from killing another angel over a female. The fight was not needed and unfair, seeing as the other angel was not aware the female had been promised to my brother. My brother did mate with her in the end, and I offered the other man my protection. He was lucky he didn’t sleep with her and make a bond; Govad would have had a real excuse to kill him then. Govad only speaks to my brother and is just as cruel. The only reason I can put up with him is because he doesn’t want the throne. Zadkiel’s thirst for power will be his undoing in the end, and it makes a problem for me.
“I will when I am king,” he replies eventually.
“No,” I say with a smirk, my skin lights up with my all my symbols. A little fear shines in his eyes, but he is quick to turn around and walk out of the room. Govad follows close behind him, and he doesn’t meet my eyes. I look up at the old painting on the wall in the entrance hall to the council. It’s of my father, and it’s gigantic. My father has grey hair in this painting, a sign of how long he lived before he died a natural death. The narrow face and light-purple eyes are just like Zadkiel’s, and I look very little like him. I look like my mother, with all my father’s power.
“The council will now see you, prince Dabriel,” a young, female angel says. She bows to me as I walk past and into the dome room the council sit in. They all watch me from their seats, each looking older than the next. The only one who is young is Lucifer, and he nods to me. He still owes me a favour for his future. I wouldn’t say I like the dark angel, but I wish him to be on my side. I need a dark angel to sway the council with me.
“Why was I called?” I ask, getting to the point, so I can return to Winter. I don’t wish to be away from her for long anymore. I’ve fallen for her, and the threats against her life are too high.
“The demons have been attacking our people, prince,” Gabriel snaps out. I look over at him; he looks stressed and angry. Gabriel’s hair is nearly all grey, and he sneers at me. He will never be on my side, as he supports Zadkiel.
“We can’t see any attacks made by demons. We can’t see them coming, and the witches’ wards aren’t working,” Gabriel snaps out. It doesn’t surprise me; I’m more surprised that more angels haven’t died from the attacks. If I can’t see any part of the demons’ future or anything about the king, then they would not be able to see them coming. This is a shock for the angels, so used to seeing any attack before it comes to their doorsteps.
“I am aware of the issue. The vampires and werewolves are now living in a protected castle. The castle is the old home of the goddess,” I tell them, each of them stare at me with mixed looks of shock and disgust.
“Impossible!” Gabriel spits out.
“No, it is not. The castle has a large ward, much stronger than any witch can give us, and the prince of the witches has used his magic to hold it. It also has its own ancient magic,” I inform them.
“What are you telling us this for?” Lucifer asks me.
“We should move our people there,” I say, and they all go silent. Not one of them says a word as I meet each of their eyes.
“Our people are at war. It is now the time to come together and fight. We can win if we are all together,” I tell them.
“It’s only a month until we choose a king. Is this truly the conversation you wish to have with us?” Raziel asks me, and I nod at the dark angel. Raziel has always been impartial, and I hope he does side with me on taking the throne.
“Yes. I care not for a throne if all my subjects are dead or turned into demons,” I tell them.
They whisper quietly amongst themselves for a long time before Gabriel speaks, “We will not work with the vampires or werewolves. The war can be won on our side,” he says. I knew what they would say, but I’d hoped they would be smarter than this.
“You are all old fools who will get our people killed!” I shout out.
“Zadkiel believes that we should fight, they can be killed, but it takes a few angels to take down one. We would like it if you stayed and fought with us,” Gabriel smiles at me.
“He is wrong, and our people will pay for the mistakes of my brother’s bloodthirsty nature,” I spit out.
“I do not believe we should make a decision now. There is much to be discussed and a war on the way which we must defend ourselves from,” Lucifer says, and his eyes meet mine for a second, knowing he is giving me time to save the angels from themselves.
“Agreed,” is repeated around the council. I turn to walk out, but I hear, “Do you have any visions, prince Dabriel? Your brother does not,” Lucifer says, and I stop in my tracks.
“Yes, but none are certain or of any use. I can’t see anything other than blood and death in our future. I believe that we can work together to change this.” I say, and I don’t look at them as I walk through the doors, slamming them open. My wings spread open, and I take off out of the front doors, into the sky. I fly for a while before I see the old house I used to meet Atti at when he came to get me as a child. The house is in ruins, but it’s away from humans and angels. I land just seconds before I’m knocked to the ground. I swing around and punch the person in the stomach, using my wings to fly into the sky. Zadkiel’s eyes meet mine as he shoots into the air, and heads straight for me.
My younger brother was always the stupid one. My symbols kick in, and I fly down to meet him. I’m bigger than Zadkiel, so it’s easy to slam hi
m into the side of the house. Bricks fall all over the ground and around our heads as I wrap my hands around his throat. He tries to fight me off, but he has seriously underestimated me. I’ve always been abnormally strong.
“D, what the fuck?” Atti’s voice comes from behind me, and a hand is slapped on my shoulder. I don’t see anything other than Zadkiel’s gasping and panicked eyes. His hands clawing my arms as I hold him down. If I kill him now, there won’t be any competition for the throne. My people would have to listen to me.
“Fuck, he isn’t worth this.” Atti says as I look down at my brother. The guilt wouldn’t be worth it, and I don’t want to take the throne this way. I let go, listening to Atti’s words and stand up slowly, taking a few steps back.
“I will have the throne,” Zadkiel laughs and coughs out. I laugh humourlessly, myself, as I step forward, and Atti appears in front of me, blocking my gaze from Zadkiel and his fucking laugh.
“He is an idiot, D, don’t waste your time,” Atti says as he places his hands on my shoulders.
“I can just about fucking see you when you’re glowing like a torch man, let’s go,” Atti says, it’s hard not to smile.
“Fine,” I say and Atti moves us. His magic feels like being on one of those human roller coasters Atti convinced me to go to once. I didn’t see the point, but Atti kissed Winter for the first time on one, and Winter loved it. Atti is good for Winter. More than he realises because they are very alike. They both like to see the humour in life when times are getting bad. I don’t know how to do that, but she still seems to like me.
“Why are we here?” I ask Atti when I see he has brought us to his house. Winter isn’t here; she’s at the castle seeing Alex and Leigha for the night. She expressed that she missed them and wanted some time alone.
“Boy’s night,” he says, and I just don’t know how to reply to him.
