by F. E. Heaton
She brushed the back of her hand against his when the room filled with chatter again. Nerves were spiralling out of control inside of her, making her stomach and chest ache, and her breathing come quick. She couldn't remember feeling this frightened when they had gone to war against the Tenebrae, and then she hadn't known what she was up against.
And now she had more control over her magic.
She called it again and made it form the shape of the mark over her heart. It had been too long since she'd spoken to her mother and her visions had been so quiet recently that she was starting to worry. Without them, she didn't have a clue what lay on the horizon. She didn't know what came next after they had defeated Kalinor. With Arkalus and him out of the way, who else could be left to start the war?
Valentine's hand appeared in view and he ran his fingers over the stone of her amulet. They cut through the star she had made and drew it towards him. The ribbons of magic turned red and tickled her hand with warmth, causing her to smile. It was a strange feeling but it calmed her almost instantly.
"When do we leave?” she asked and looked deep into his eyes. The doubt she had seen in them before had gone. There was nothing but steely determination colouring their green depths now. They were dark with his thoughts and she knew he was thinking about the upcoming battle.
"As soon as the weapons have been distributed,” he replied and closed his hand over hers, holding it. He turned it over and curled his fingers around underneath, brushing them against her palm. She looked down at her hand when his thumb toyed with the star on the back of the amulet. “You are trembling."
"I'm not scared,” she said and let him see in her eyes that it wasn't fear making her shiver; it was his touch. She stepped towards him, closing the gap between them and bringing her body against his. His eyelids drooped, almost hiding his beautiful eyes from her when he looked down at her lips. She pressed her free hand to his chest, feeling the muscles of it tense beneath her palm, and brought her mouth up to his.
His kiss was a slow, deliberate exploration of her lips that stirred a fire inside of her that she knew she would carry into battle. She needed this moment to fuel her when she was struggling against the warriors of Aurorea, so she would be able to easily call the magic.
The idea of losing Valentine to Kalinor's hand made the magic spiral around her fingers. She could feel it knitting hers and Valentine's hands together, fusing them in a way she wished were permanent. To be always connected, to feel his emotions as clearly as she could now through the magic, was something she dreamed of.
Someday, it would be a reality.
He drew back, pressing one last kiss to her lips before stepping down from the platform. She followed him, keeping hold of his hand and letting him lead the way through the crowd. The guards had brought the weapons up. She knew which one she was destined to wield.
Reaching Tiberius, she smiled when he gave her a broad grin and held the sword out to her with a flourish. It was her family's sword, the one that could only be wielded by the lord or lady of their bloodline.
Now that was her.
This was her sword.
She took it from him and felt the weight of it, executing a few test strokes and raising her brows when she found it was perfectly balanced. The blade gleamed at her, singing as it sliced through the air, and she let it rest against her hand when she was satisfied that it suited her.
"It is a good sword,” Venturi said beside her and she looked at him. “I wish I had mine."
She frowned and looked down at the array of weaponry. Taking up a sword similar to hers, she presented him with it. “Will it do?"
He did a few experimental thrusts and then looked at her. “It will have to. I wish that I had my men here. It would have helped you in this fight."
"You will in time,” she said. “We will need all the warriors we can get if we're to win this war and fulfil the prophecy."
"They are always at your service, as am I,” he said with a bow and backed away from her, disappearing into the crowd.
She smiled for a moment longer while thinking about how melancholy he'd sounded. It wasn't this fight that had upset him; it was her. She had done this to him. Heaving a sigh, she dropped her eyes to the floor and then turned to find Valentine standing next to her. She picked up a sword for him, one that she had known he would like the moment she'd laid eyes on it. Holding it out to him, she waited to see what his reaction would be to it. The look in his eyes told her that he hadn't been impressed by the fact she had chosen Venturi a weapon as well as him. She gave him a look that would hopefully speed him along and he took the sword from her.
His fingers brushed against hers, tickling her as he took hold of the sword. He held it up, appraising it and running his eyes down its length. It was longer than hers and heavy. He could easily wield it due to his height and skill. If she tried to use it, she'd probably get herself killed. She weighed up her sword again. It wasn't light, but it was lighter and shorter than Valentine's. It was the kind of sword that Tiberius had trained her with, probably to prepare her for a moment like this.
Walking across the room, she looked back at Valentine, silently telling him to follow her, and then went out into the entrance hall. She crossed it to the main doors of the house and then stepped out into the warm night air. The weather was clear. As much as she loved to see the stars, it would give them no cover when they attacked the Aurorea mansion. The guards would easily sense their approach. One or two would be able to slip through their senses, but she would be leading over thirty people.
They needed cover and she knew exactly how to get it.
Moving further out onto the gravel pathway, she looked up at the sky and then handed Valentine her sword. She smiled briefly when he looked confused and then closed her eyes.
She took a deep breath and concentrated.
They needed cover.
Focusing on her magic, she felt the low thrum of it in the marks on her shoulders, stomach and chest. The one over her heart began to burn, her skin prickling and itching as it did so. She kept her concentration on her hand, willing the magic to go there and do her bidding.
When it moved through her, she held her hand up and opened her eyes. She stared at the sky, narrowing her eyes on the dark canvas that was punctuated with so many bright pin pricks of varying magnitude. It was a shame to ruin such a beautiful night, but it had to be done.
Breathing deeply, she willed the clouds to gather. Her arm trembled and she felt the drain of her power. Raising her other hand, she held onto her wrist, steadying it and supporting it. It felt so heavy. She ground her teeth, clenching her jaw and concentrating harder, willing the clouds to form.
Small patches of stars began to disappear, blotted out by dark ominous clouds as they began to gather and spread. Before a few seconds had passed, half of the sky was covered and she could feel the tempest growing in the pit of her stomach. She growled, forcing herself through the pain barrier and struggling to keep her hand held up to the sky.
Pain lanced through her, racking her to the core and making her bones ache.
Thunder boomed in the distance.
She closed her eyes when the first spots of rain hit her.
They bounced off her face, growing heavier and falling faster until she was soaked to the skin.
The fat drops pounded the earth, fogging her senses until she could barely make out Valentine. This was what they needed. The heavy storm would confuse the senses of the Aurorea guards, making them vulnerable to attack while they patrolled the grounds. It would blind her side too, but they would have their eyes to assist them and their ears. The Aurorea wouldn't be expecting an attack, not this soon.
Her head spun and lightning flashed across the sky. Her knees wobbled and her hand dropped at the same time as a clatter of metal reached her ears. She fell into Valentine's strong arms, her fingers weakly grasping his shoulders and her head falling against his neck. Breathing him in, she waited for her strength to come back, knowing tha
t she was safe in his embrace. It wouldn't take long for it to return. Serenity had brought them both fresh blood as soon as night had fallen and she had drank until her hunger was abated. Valentine hadn't. He'd barely sipped his.
She opened her eyes and looked at Valentine. Her vision was bleary at first but it gradually came into focus, revealing his profile. He was looking over her shoulder. Her senses kicked back in and she realised that they weren't alone any more. She could hear people talking. She looked over at her family and Venturi where they were gathered outside the main entrance to the mansion.
They all looked stunned.
She managed a weak smile and pushed herself up onto her feet again. Valentine held her waist, his attention now with her and his eyes silently asking whether she was all right. She nodded and he released her, moving back to the swords he had dropped in order to catch her and picking them up.
She took her sword from him.
Standing in front of her family, she took a deep breath and raised her chin, letting confidence fill her.
She held her sword up.
"To war."
Chapter 28
Prophecy gripped the sword tight and extended her senses, hoping to catch a glimmer of a signature in the rain-soaked darkness. The trees above her were providing some shelter for her and her army. Their leaves dripped, creating an eerie tune on the dirt floor. She looked out of the corner of her eye at Venturi and watched him flex his fingers around the handle of his sword. A glance at Valentine told her that he was trying to sense the guards on the other side of the thick stone wall in front of them.
His eyes were closed, his brows knit so tightly that it creased his forehead, and his lips were compressed.
She wondered what waited for them on the other side. She'd never been to the Aurorea mansion before and had never thought that she would, especially under circumstances like these.
Sticking the point of her sword into the dirt, she sprang at the wall, catching hold of the top of it and using her strength to haul herself up high enough for her to see over it and into the grounds of the mansion.
She scoured the scene in front of her. In the middle of the extensive grounds, she could just about make out the imposing stone mansion house. The windows were lit with weak but warm light. She looked in all directions for a sign of the guardsmen who were bound to be patrolling the perimeter.
Her fingers slipped on the wet lichens that covered the stones and her eyes widened when she started to slide backwards. She struggled to regain her grip and then frowned when she stopped falling. Looking down, she saw Valentine staring up at her. She looked at her feet and found that he was supporting the bottom of her left one on his upturned palm. She smiled at him, not daring to break the silence in order to thank him, and then nodded upwards. He took the hint, extending his arm and easily raising her back up again so she could see over the wall.
There was nothing at first, not a sign of the guards that she had expected, and she started to worry that maybe the Aurorea knew they were coming, but then a shadowy figure appeared out of the gloom. It was soon joined by another. As the two guards approached, she heard their low spoken comments to each other about the storm and other day to day things. She listened for a while in case either of them mentioned her family and then frowned when more voices came to her. Her eyes darted to the right and she saw another pair of guards walking along the wall. She looked at the spot below her and calculated whereabouts the two sets of guards would cross paths.
Getting Valentine's attention, she made an arcing motion with her hand, silently telling him to give her a boost over the wall. He shook his head, a frown marring his features, and even in the darkness she could see in his eyes how resolute he was. She mouthed the word please at him and raised her brows, motioning again with her hand.
He heaved a sigh and she knew that she'd won. Looking around at the others, she motioned to them to be ready to follow her. They all nodded and prepared themselves. She held her hand out, looking to Venturi to pass her the sword she had stuck in the ground. He picked it up, wiped the blade on his trousers, and then handed it to her.
"Ready?” she mouthed at Valentine.
He took a deep breath, brought his arm back a little so she dropped a few inches and then nodded.
Waiting until the voices sounded close, she tried to keep steady on Valentine's hand. It was hard to balance on one foot. She wished the guards would hurry up and cross paths. A jumbled greeting filled the air and she knew they'd finally met. She signalled to Valentine and he pulled his arm back before thrusting it up, propelling her over the wall and through the air. She flipped forwards and twisted in mid-air, turning so she was facing the guards when she landed on the slick, wet grass. Her foot skidded on impact but it didn't stop her from lunging at the guards. They barely had time to react and she managed to decapitate two of them and injure a third before they had even drawn their swords. She heard the rest of her group landing all around her and chopped the head off the injured Aurorea. The fourth guard went to flee and she turned to strike at him but found that she didn't need to. His head toppled off his shoulders and she smiled when his body fell, revealing Valentine to her eyes. He gave her a slight smile in return and then looked along the wall in both directions.
"We should kill the guards first. There will be at least another three patrols, and then those stationed at the gate and the main entrance,” he said and she nodded.
"Tiberius,” she said and he bowed his head a fraction before looking into her eyes. “Take half of the group and lead them around the perimeter in that direction. We'll head towards the gate. Meet us at the house when you've eliminated all of the patrols."
He nodded and signalled to the group, using his hand as a guide to show them where to split. She watched him leave with his half and then turned to hers.
"Follow me. Stay close and keep alert."
She walked in the opposite direction to Tiberius, staying close to the wall. Valentine and Venturi flanked her and she was thankful for their support. So far it had been easy, but she knew that it could all change in the blink of an eye.
Adjusting her grip on the sword, she peered into the darkness, sliding into her vampire guise to assist her search for the other guards. She kept her senses sharp and looked up at the sky to see if there was any sign of the storm calming. Thunder echoed in the distance, telling her that the brunt of the tempest had moved on, but the tail end was still with them. The rain was getting lighter now, and although it meant that her senses were clearing and she no longer had to squint to see through her water-laden lashes, it also meant that there was a chance the other patrols would sense their approach.
Looking at Valentine, she knew what had to be done. He had the skills of an assassin and she had been taught high-speed combat. She glanced at Venturi, wondering if he was up to it. He frowned at her, his blue eyes darkening with it until they became black and she could see that what Mathias had said about the Tenebrae was true. There was a reason their eyes were black in vampire guise.
Turning to the group, she looked at the only guard she recognised.
"Wait a few minutes and then head for the house. We'll take care of the guards and meet you there,” she said and then turned back around to face Venturi and Valentine. “Time to test those skills of yours."
She gripped her sword tightly and bolted, following the wall and slowly building up speed until she was running as fast as she could. She listened to the wet grass under her feet. It splattered mud across her boots each time she placed a foot down. Close behind her, she could hear Venturi and Valentine.
Ahead of her, she could see the gate house and one of the patrols.
They didn't get a chance to react. The second they saw her was the moment she leapt at them, bringing her sword around in a swift arc. It sang as it cut through the damp air and resonated with the feeling of the strike. When she landed, Valentine had moved ahead and Venturi was following him. She ran, trying to catch up with them before they reache
d the gate house. Valentine got there as a guard stepped out to see what the commotion was. The guard received a sword into the chest as his reward. She skidded to a halt at the same time as Valentine snapped the guard's neck and tore his head off. Sensing danger, she automatically brought her sword up to defend herself and barely blocked the axe that had been swung at her. She growled and swept the guard's feet out from under him before leaping on top of him and pinning him to the floor. She could hear the clash of weapons as she struggled to pin the man down. She roared at him, baring her fangs, and grappled with his hands. Kicking his arm, she heard a satisfying crunch and the man cried out in agony. She kicked the other arm, knocking the joint out of place and rendering him powerless against her. Dropping to her knees, she grabbed hold of his head and twisted it in a sharp arc, violently snapping his neck, killing him.
Picking her sword up, she turned to fight but found only Valentine and Venturi watching her. Around them lay the bodies of five men.
Her chest heaved with exertion and she looked towards the house.
Four guards were running at them.
Raising her hand, she flicked her wrist and sent four bolts of magic shooting towards them. They sliced through the men, burning them to ashes.
She looked at Valentine and Venturi, giving them a smile that said they weren't the only ones who could swiftly dispatch a group of Aurorea's finest guards.
She turned with her weapon raised when she sensed more people approaching and then steadied herself when she saw it was Tiberius. His group seemed smaller now. How many had he lost to the guards?
"Three did not make it,” he said, answering her silent question.
She frowned. “You got them all?"
"None were spared,” he said.
"Watch your backs and remember that Cornelius is not to be harmed and Kalinor is Valentine's.” She started up the path towards the house.
