Shattered Soul
Page 24
~ * ~
The Darknen
The ground rolled beneath The Darknen’s feet and surprised, he glanced around. He felt it immediately, a shifting in the darkness of a dark world, and he was mystified as to the cause.
Mystified and curious.
~ * ~
Witches
Standing beside Beulah, Sinya watched in open-mouthed astonishment as the river surged upwards suddenly, a roll of water that spurted high and shook, droplets shaking to the ground.
Instinctively he stepped in front of Beulah, one arm pushing her back.
“Stop,” she said softly.
Immediately he obeyed, glancing over his shoulder to see his wife’s usually calm black eyes now a fathomless space filled with falling and rising stars.
“I know that look,” he said lightly, trying for a joke. “The shit’s going to hit the fan isn’t it?”
Those star-filled eyes met his, seeming to sear into his soul, looking right through him to something he couldn’t see and, to be damned frank about it, he didn’t want to see. His witchy wife knew some scary shit.
“He pushes her.” Beulah’s words whispered from the ground.
“Not good, huh?”
“He seeks.” Her head angled, a soft strand of white hair caressing her smooth cheek. “Such danger.” The words moaned in the tree tops, making him shiver.
Oh yeah, somewhere the shit was about to hit the fan.
The river subsided with a whoosh, the water dropping in a glittering fall, and within seconds the river was back to its normal lazily moving ribbon, the very picture of peace and tranquillity.
But the stars continued to rise and fall in Beulah’s eyes, and that, Sinya knew, didn’t bode well.
~ * ~
Learta watched Cormac laughing and talking with Abra and Ricna, and greeting the newer m Cg t>
He didn’t need to know that around them all the air quivered. A crack in the ground, so tiny, spidering around their feet before closing up again. The wood of a building bowed outward slightly, a swirl of dust that blew out against a corner of a space ship.
She felt the sudden hot whisper against her neck, the pull on her soul, the chittering of teeth that only she could hear.
Briefly she closed her eyes and when she opened them again, all was as it had been, a normal day in a settlement.
But somewhere the darkness roiled.
“The darkness,” she whispered.
~ * ~
Acceli Healers
Something urgent, a feeling of fury and desperation pulling her up out of peace. Ceri sought to awaken.
The soothing, deep tenors of the Acceli’s voices lulled her under but she fought them, trying to surface.
“Rani,” she whispered.
She felt the pain of her sister, the betrayal, the despair. The darkness.
“Rest,” the voices whispered in the air.
“No...”
So weightless, the sensation of being carried, then water, lots of water, and things swirling around her, beings that caressed her, stroked across her and took her under, and she could only go with them, moving further away, taken back to peace.
Rani she thought once more, making one last attempt to reach out, and then she was wrapped in peace and soft violet light and taken back into deep sleep.
~ * ~
Inner Sanctum of the Outlaw Sector
Overlord’s Fortress
The meat of women was so sweet. Tender if they were young, full of flavour if they were older. Nothing like a piece of aged meat.
The Overlord did love his meat. The blood slipped down his chin as he took another bite of the almost raw meat, thinking that the woman he’d bedded the night before was proving today to be a tasty dish indeed.
Today he felt like a change. At his feet this time was a young, naked man. Fair of face, lithe of body, and willing to please The Overlord’s every whim. Big, brown eyes gazed up at him from a face that was achingly handsome.
“Ah, such plans I have for you later, my dear.” His white hand trailed down the man’s face, sliding along those lips, and The Overlord smiled as those same lips sipped at his finger. “Do you like pain, my sweet?”
The man rubbed his face against his robe, looking up at him almost worshipfully.
The Overlord sat back, throwing a hunk of meat down to him. The man grabbed it hungrily but proceeded to eat it delicately, little nibbles while looking adoringly up at The Overlord from under a heavy, gold fringe.
A well-trained eater. How The Overlord d
id like a neat eater.
A crack rent the air and he looked up sharply. A distant roar sounded, and The Overlord’s slitted pupils dilated. The shimmering in the air grew denser and he s Cnsee aaw one of the fortress’s pets thunder past, a blur in the atmosphere but the shadow on the wall huge and definite. It tossed its horns and faded suddenly, slipping through the floor out of sight.
A scream rent the air, and another, more and more until it seemed as though the sounds of every torment in the universe was focused in the fortress.
Music to his ears, a balm to his black soul, but disturbing to his mind because he knew that whatever had caused this disturbance in his fortress wasn’t of his doing or orders.
Blurring his vision, he stared at the wall where the head of his bed partner the previous night was mounted, and slowly but surely the blackness at the edge of his vision converged until he could see that which he sought.
And he swore.
Chapter 8
“Oh, shit,” Fredrico breathed, looking up to where Rani clung to the thumb of Ethmor, her face pale at the visions Phemar slammed into her.
“That stupid bastard’s done it now,” Veknor predicted grimly.
“Rani!” Fredrico started forward.
Flame flared up in front of him, forcing him back, and without missing a beat he turned to his beast and ordered, “Lift me up.” It took mere seconds for him to be in a massive hand and lifted high so he could see Rani clearly. “Closer,” he ordered.
The beast obeyed again, and Fredrico was glad that Phemar was concentrating on Rani to such an extent that he didn’t notice his pets helping Fredrico. Loyal to Fredrico his beast, Dreden, might be, but like all the beasts its loyalty only extended until Phemar, its true master, said otherwise.
Dreden walked through the fire without flinching, the flames not affecting its scaled legs. Fredrico was close enough now that he could see Rani’s profile.
Even as he watched, Phemar dropped the visions and Rani slumped back against Ethmor’s thumb, one hand to her eyes, shaking her head.
Holding his breath he waited, his gaze switching between the dark mystic and the warrior.
Keeping one hand over her face, Rani spoke, her voice rough with pain. “You tried to get my niece.”
“Reya.” Phemar made a smacking noise with his lips. “Such a pretty piece. She was very strong. I didn’t break her mind.” He angled his head. “I tried. I nearly succeeded. But she didn’t quite break. Interesting little piece.”
Rani straightened, rubbing her face slowly, her voice now almost hoarse. “You tortured her. You hurt my niece. You brought me back from the brink of death. You poured your demons into me, left a part of them in me. You made me live here amongst those who betrayed me, and expect me to trust them with my life.”
Fredrico watched her closely, a sense of foreboding in his heart.
The fires around them flared higher.
“Something’s wrong,” Veknor said, and Fredrico glanced around to see his friend close by in the hand of his beast.
“All true, warrior.” Phemar sounded amused.
“You enjoy playing with people’s lives, don’t you F Phemar, Phemar?” Rani’s hand lowered and her eyes were downcast.
Even in the heat of the hellish otherworld, Fredrico felt a chill go down his spine. “Rani,” he almost coaxed, “Look at me.”
“Fredrico,” Veknor began warningly.
Fredrico ignored him, his atte
ntion focused on Rani. He could feel a tremor in the very air, a brightness not previously in the flames, a threat trembling around them all. “Rani!’ he said more sharply.
“Yes, warrior, I enjoy playing with people.” Phemar laughed wetly. “And I enjoy playing with you most of all.”
“Then that,” she lifted her head, “is your mistake.”
Everything exploded. Fire, light, bright flares of orange and red, searing yellow and black shards. It cut through the air, obliterating almost everything.
Dreden roared, rearing back, his fingers closing almost painfully around Fredrico as it jerked him away.
Fredrico heard Veknor swearing but he could see nothing except light, great flaring blasts that almost blinded him.
Beasts roared, fury permeating the air. Flames so hot, so high, circles of pure power dripping orange heat and black smoke swirling around.
The ground trembled, cracked, releasing gusts of steam. The very air shook with fury, power, heat, and demonic beasts. Their roars, the thunder of their feet as they surged forward to protect their master. The stench of sulphur, the vicious faces, the saliva dripping from bared, jagged teeth and tusks.
They were after Rani.
Just as Fredrico was after her. He knew his duty, and attacking Phemar meant only one thing. Her death at Fredrico’s hands.
Without a second thought he drew on his darkness, drawing it forth from the tight ball deep inside him. He called it up, pulled it, and felt it flow through him so easily, so familiarly.
Faintly he could hear Veknor yelling but the words were indistinct.
Straining to see through slitted eyes, he could only make out the vaguest of forms, a slight movement in the clashing storm of heat and colour. Two indistinct black shapes fighting. A cold claw raked down his spiritual spine and he shuddered, feeling the blackness roil up inside him in answer to the hate and fury that filled the air.
Dreden dropped him on an outcrop and waded into the fight. Screams sounded, low and enraged, pained and shocked, and Fredrico was stunned to see a beast fall, its red eyes burning. Even as he stared at the monstrous head by his boot, he saw the red light wink out and the eye sockets were all that was left, empty and lifeless.
Something had killed the beast.
“We need to take her out.” Veknor was suddenly beside him, his ebony face grim. “Now.”
Fredrico nodded grimly.
An arc of lightening flared, hot and fiery, and another beast dropped howling to its knees, its eyes bubbling red froth.
More demons came from the ground, clawed hands coming through the cracks, clawing and gouging as they heaved themselves up from the smoky pits below.
Without fear Fredrico plunged into the hot light with Veknor by his side.
They broke through the light and found themselves amidst a sea of great legs and clawed feet. Sharp nails raked the air, barely missing Veknor, and Kg Vbea he cursed and continued onwards.
A huge body shuddered, black blood spraying the air and spattering in hot, steaming rivulets on Fredrico, and he looked up to see Ethmor ripping the leathery face from a demon.
Disbelievingly he took in the scene in one sweeping glance.
In the air above them, Phemar and Rani were locked in combat, hand to hand, power flaring from fingertips, as they pushed at each other. In a macabre dance they swirled, dipping and sweeping, almost in a grotesque waltz from an age thousands of years ago.
But this waltz was deadly. Each strained against the other. Maggots, ravaged skin, and darkness spilled from Phemar, the stench of rot mixing with sulphur. Blackness streaked with orange burned in Rani’s eyes, and Phemar met the onslaught with pure orange evil.
As their darkness fought, so did their bodies with deadly intent. They kicked, punched, grappled, raked at each other with nails, elbowed and kneed, and pounded with fists.
And as they fought, the demonic beasts fought to reach them, to tear Rani from their master.
But shockingly one demon stood between them and the one they sought. Ethmor fought them back, his hulking body a mass of black blood, torn muscle and skin and gleaming bone. He didn’t relent, crushing and slashing, injuring and tearing, killing and fighting, but he was weakening under the onslaught of the fury from his fellow demonic beasts, and he wavered.
Veknor glanced at Fredrico, touched his forehead in a brief salute, and swerved away towards Ethmor.
Leaping up a pile of rocks to the side that offered a dubious shelter, Fredrico stood tall, arms out to the side and fingers curled. Focusing on Rani, he drew the darkness through him, feeling it flow out down his arms and into his fingers. Throwing up one hand, he forced the darkness into a sharp, arcing shield, sending it straight up towards her.
She’d been holding her own against Phemar, but the combined blow from Fredrico sent her staggering and Phemar pushed onwards, using her distraction to try for a crippling blow.
Rani twisted and came at him again, her hands shoving in the air, a hot blast of orange flaring from her palms to clash against Phemar’s shields.
Swearing, Fredrico swung his arm back and threw with all his weight, coming down on one knee with the force of the blackness leaving his hand. He watched as it arced and slammed into Rani. Phemar hit her at the same time, his orange shield shoving hard, and a fierce crackle rent the air.
Rani fell, twisting and arching, slamming to the ground on her stomach directly in front of Fredrico.
Still on one knee, he watched her tensely, power smoking from his fingertips. Phemar observed from high above them. Around Fredrico came the sound of battle, heaving grunts and roars of pain and rage and pure blood lust. That same blood lust poured through Fredrico but he kept it in check, his attention focused on the enemy at his knee.
Rani moaned softly as she pushed up onto her elbows. Lifting her head, she pushed a thick hank of hair back over her shoulder. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth and a graze marred one smooth cheek. Covered in dust and red welts from the bolts of power thrown at her, she must have been in a lot of pain, but the expression on her face was pure warrior.
“If you’re going to kill me,” she rasped, “you better do it now, for you’ll not get another chance.”
He felt lust surge up to pound behind his eyes, blood lust and carnal lust, her continued defiance calling to his baser side, mixing his emotions. For one split second that seemed to last an eternity he looked into her eyes and contemplated taking her now, bloodied and wounded and defiant to the end, pulling her beneath him and ravaging her body, forcing her surrender. Wanting her to fight him, wanting to dominate her. Wanting to—
“Kill her!” Phemar ordered from above, his voice a harsh, wet rattle that broke through the lust clouding Fredrico’s mind.
He blinked and the lust faded. “I’m sorry, Rani,” Fredrico said, and he meant it. He meant it as he gathered the killing power in his hand, pulled it up from the ball of hate inside himself, razored it with black fury, and drew it forth into his palm.
Her gaze locked with his, her green eyes streaked with orange.
Reaching out, he laid his palm on her head.
Taking him by surprise she lunged up, grabbing his wrist and wrenching his arm aside. On their knees they grappled, power and heat and rage pouring through them both, a fight for victory and death.
Rani was strong, her natural Reeka strength combined with the supernatural strength of the demon that had touched her and brought her back to life.
Fredrico was just as strong, his own demon-touched soul and inner blackness surging up to match her.
They fought, each trying to force the other’s shields aside. They struck at the same time, pushing hard at each other, him with blackness, her with orange malevolence. Their power collided, flaring bright, arcing out to encompass everything in sight.
The demons howled and fell to their knees, covering their eyes as flaming yellow torched the air. Phemar turned his head away, desperately trying to shield himself from the heat and glare.
Ruthless blue eyes gazed into sudden, clear green, and a violet flash speared between them, jumping from one to the other, a violet coating that flowed over their rage, streaked through their fury, and dampened their hate.
As Fredrico gazed at Rani, he felt a shift inside himself, an easing of his soul, and suddenly it was so clear to him. He knew what he had to do, he knew the right thing, the only thing, he could do.
~ * ~
From afar The Overlord watched, intrigued, a little disturbed by the shift of balance but fascinated. He should have expected something to happen, the animosity from Phemar towards Rani had been growing, and now it was happening in front of him.
As were other things. His slitted pupils dilated. So very interesting.
~ * ~
Fredrico shoved Rani away from him, and she rolled, lunged to her feet, and soared upwards on a surge of power so great the air grew even hotter. Phemar met her attack, the ground shaking as they clashed once more.
Sweat poured from Fredrico, stinging his eyes.
Veknor was suddenly in front of Fredrico. “What the hell is going on?”
“She needs us!” Fredrico yelled above the roaring.
Veknor looked at him, his dark gaze seemi Krk ">ng to pierce Fredrico’s very soul, and then he hissed through clenched teeth, “Goddamn it, Fredrico!”
An arc of lightening flared, hot and fiery, and another beast dropped howling to its knees, its eyes bubbling red froth.
More demons came from the ground, clawed hands coming through the cracks, clawing and gouging as they heaved themselves up from the smoky pits below.
A scream pierced the air, pain filled and furious all at once.
Rani. Something deep inside his soul clenched and he reacted. Without waiting for his friend, Fredrico drew on his darkness, drawing it forth from the tight ball deep inside him, again calling it up.
Veknor grabbed his arm and he looked at him. Veknor nodded grimly and Fredrico felt something ease a little inside him. For better or worse, Veknor was with him.