A hoard of black-eyed priests and guards stormed towards us.
CHAPTER 35
IN THE BLINK OF an eye the high priest’s creatures had surrounded us and blocked our only exit. There were at least a hundred of them, and we were only four. They moved like a great swarm. Their teeth were chattering, and black liquid trickled down the sides of their mouths. We were backed into a corner.
“Whatever you do,” I said, “don’t let them touch you.”
I wasn’t entirely sure, but I suspected that the black magic that coursed through their veins could be transferred by touch.
The three men nodded, and we held up our swords and stood back to back. I couldn’t think of losing Jon in this fight. There was no time for fear. There was only time to act.
The temple guard that had assaulted me before charged. There was no recognition in his black eyes, only an evil fury to kill. Like puppets on a string, they were compelled to obey. I shifted my grip on my sword and braced for a fight.
The creature lunged at me at exactly the same time as the other creatures sprang at Jon. I dodged his mangled fingers and kicked him as hard as I could, sending him flying.
But just as I kicked one creature, four more lunged at me. They were coming at me from every direction. I had lost Jon and the others in the commotion. I hacked and sliced. My sword connected with flesh and bone and sent arterial spurts of black blood spraying my face. I couldn’t stop. Stopping meant death.
A priest with blackened teeth leaped at me, but my sword hit his chest, spurts of black blood showered the ground, and the monster squealed and hissed, backing away.
He lunged again, but I blocked his thrust and stabbed straight into his thorax. He crumpled to the ground. But another wave of possessed guards and priests attacked me right away. I swung my sword in a giant arc and managed to slice across their navels. Their entrails and guts spilled to the ground in a mess of black liquid.
I turned and saw Jon holding his own against six of the demon creatures, but I couldn’t see Will or Leo. I could only hope they were still alive.
Neither Jon nor I could go on like this for much longer. The priests and guards were too strong, too fast, too many. The savage magic had given the creatures enormous strength. We needed to get out now.
A mass of flailing arms and guttural screams came at me again. I swung my sword around, and the creatures jumped back, afraid. I could see the fear of death on their gaunt faces.
But one wasn’t afraid. Brother Edgar faced me. I hated him. Whether he was a creature or man now didn’t matter, my father was going to die. I raised my sword.
“Hello, Daddy.”
He hissed and ran towards me at a frightening speed, and I charged towards him fearlessly. He went for my throat with his teeth, but I pivoted and the creature only tore into my cloak. I spun and parried a blow from the creature’s left hand. I thrust my sword into its side and out its back.
The thing that was once my father howled. I wrenched out my sword from its back, but the creature seemed unaffected by its wound as we faced each other head-on again.
A flicker of recognition flashed in its eyes.
“That’s right,” I said. “It’s me. Remember me? Your daughter? Remember what you did to my mother? It’s time to make things right.”
I could smell his decaying flesh, and I suppressed the bile that rose in my throat. My mother’s terrified face flashed before my eyes. Every muscle in my body tensed, and I gripped my sword so hard it hurt.
Brother Edgar leaped. I ducked, but I wasn’t fast enough. The creature’s fingernails cut the side of my throat, and it burned like hot wax had been poured over my skin. I whirled around, but something hard hit me from behind with such force that it knocked the air from my lungs.
My skin sizzled where I’d been cut, and I could feel an icy burn in my blood. I jerked backward and nearly dropped my sword. The creature hesitated, waiting to see if I’d been infected so that I’d be weakened and easier to kill. But I wasn’t.
My father came at me yet again. I ducked and lunged up with as much force as I could.
I severed his head. Brother Edgar toppled over, and his bloodied head thumped to the ground.
I looked up. Jon plunged his sword into the chest of the guards. He pulled out his sword, and our eyes met. I could see his terror. I loved him in that moment. I knew it wasn’t the time to come to terms with my emotions. But I knew I would crumble should anything happen to him.
“Run,” he snarled, more a plea than a command. “Get out of here.”
“The stone. We need to get it back.”
“It’s too late for that now,” he said breathing hard. “You need to get out, Elena. Now.”
“Not without you.”
He was about to argue but then his eyes widened suddenly at something behind me.
I gripped my sword, ducked and spun, bringing my blade up into the belly of another demon priest. But just as soon as it keeled over, another one replaced it.
It was fast and strong despite its gangly limbs, and thrashed violently as it launched another attack. I deflected the blow, but it knocked me down. A flash of blinding pain hit me as I tried to stand, but it shook me out of my stupor.
“I’ve had enough of you, Steel Maiden.” I could hear the anger in the high priest’s voice as he ranted on.
“I thought you might be useful. But you are as wild and unpredictable as all the others of your kind. I could never trust you. And if I cannot trust you, then I cannot bend you to my will. I have no use for someone like you.”
I raised my head. “Lucky for me. But I am going to kill you, priest.”
I could barely make out his face, but I saw it contract in fury.
With a flick of his fingers, another shot of black filaments caught me in the chest and sent me sailing backwards. I slammed into a wall hard enough to crack my ribs. My skin burned like ice as the dark magic pulsed through me. I couldn’t breathe.
Just as I started to see black spots, heat bloomed inside my chest, and my own magic started to build again. It resonated through me and pushed the dark magic away.
And then I was back on my feet.
The high priest, sorcerer, whatever he was, sneered at me. He was angry that I was partly immune to his dark magic. I was just as surprised as he was. I felt a bloom of confidence well in my chest, but it quickly deflated.
“Kill the witch whore,” bellowed the high priest. “Bring me her head!”
I saw red move in the corner of my eye, and I knew we were in real trouble.
The red monks came at me. The priests and the guards that we had killed were nothing compared to the killing machines that were the red monks. I had defeated only one, and I had nearly died.
I planted my feet in a defensive stance, but I knew there was no way I could defeat this new threat.
“Elena!”
Jon eyed the red monks that pushed their way towards us.
“Listen to me. We can’t defeat these red devils. There’re too many of them.”
He stepped in front of me, shielding me. “Go. I’ll distract them.”
“What are you saying?” I felt the lump in my throat. “You can’t defeat them either.”
“No I can’t.”
His eyes flashed with urgency. “But I can keep them off long enough for you to get away.”
“What about you?”
He winked. “You know me. I can disappear in the blink of an eye.”
He smiled. “Don’t worry. Right now, you’re more important. I promised the high witch that I’d keep you alive if things went badly.”
“That’s an understatement.”
“You’re the only one who can touch that goddamn stone. We need you alive. And that’s what I’m doing. Now get. Meet me back at the Dirty Habit. Just go. I’ll be right behind you.”
I gauged the distance between the red monks and the exit.
“Fine,” I said. The need to feel him, to feel his lips on mine took control,
and I reached out and kissed him fiercely. I couldn’t kiss him enough. I didn’t realize I was crying until I felt the wetness trickle down my hot face. This might be the last time we kissed.
I pulled away, fighting the sob that threatened to escape from my throat. “For luck.”
Jon grinned. “I’m going to need it. Go. Run hard.” He nudged me roughly.
I gripped my sword. “Be safe.”
I turned on my heel and ran.
CHAPTER 36
I BOLTED DOWN A hallway and out through the front entrance. I met no one. I wondered if Thea had managed to slip away. I didn’t like the woman, but I didn’t want her to become one of the high priest’s new pets either.
I suspected that the other high priests were sorcerers as well. There were six of them in total and that realization only made me feel worse. While they were probably powerful, too, only one of them had the stone. I had to take comfort in that.
The stone clearly amplified the powers of the sorcerer who possessed it. The others weren’t so lucky. There had to be a chance to stop the sorcerers and get the stone back.
Men and women jumped out of the way as I barreled past them and headed towards the west gate. Their eyes and skin were still normal, but I wondered how long it would take the black magic to infect them. Would it spread through contact? Or were they already infected?
The Black Blight had already caused the trees and grasses to sicken and wither. And it was spreading. I thought of Torak and ran faster.
I searched for a sign of Jon, but he wasn’t behind me.
I caught a glimpse of a red cloak, and a red monk came into view. His eyes locked onto mine, and he smiled.
“Shit.”
I spun and ran through the gate. I cried at the sight of Torak still tied at the tree where I’d left him. The Goddess had kept him safe. He looked up as I approached and his nostrils flared in readiness.
“Hello, my sweet, beautiful boy,” I gasped, out of breath.
I untied the reins and was up on his back in no time. I kicked my heels, and we flew away. I could see the look of fury on the red monk’s face.
We galloped out of Soul City and kept to the only real road that led into the Pit. What would happen to the people of Anglia when the Black Blight reached them? I had seen how fast it had infected the people in the temple. It would probably infect thousands within a week.
The Pit came into view, and I had to slow Torak to a trot. The roads were narrower here, and I couldn’t take a chance of injuring him. We rode through the dreary streets in silence until we arrived in Bleak Town.
The Dirty Habit loomed into view, and I slid off Torak’s back. I immediately felt uneasy about leaving him out here. I’d bet my life he’d get stolen. I’d kill anyone who tried, but I couldn’t keep him out in the streets. I had called too much attention to myself already by waltzing in on a horse. I had to wait for Jon inside.
I recognized one of Jon’s men.
“Hey,” I yelled and got his attention. “This is Mad Jack’s horse. He asked me to bring him here, but I need to wait inside. Keep an eye on him, will you?”
The man perked up at the mention of his boss’ name and made his way over.
“No problem. I’ll watch him for you.” I knew I could trust him, and I immediately felt more at ease. I sighed with relief and tied Torak’s reins around a post.
“Thank you. He’ll be here soon.”
I pushed my way through the overcrowded inn and made my way to Jon’s office in the back. Only then did I stop to catch my breath.
I paced the room waiting. I wanted to see Jon’s face through the door. I wanted to know that he was safe. I’d never wanted anything so badly. I began fantasizing of the life Jon and I could have after all of this dark magic business was settled. I’d get the stone back, kill the sorcerer priest, and then maybe we could all move to Gray Havens together. Rose would love it there. The thought of it almost made me smile.
An hour went by, and then another. I rubbed my clammy palms on my breeches. I hated the feeling of helplessness. I paced around the room pulling at my hair and yelling at the whores who kept asking me about what was happening and where Jon was.
Footfalls sounded outside. My heart hammered out of control, and I turned towards the door.
The door opened, and my face fell.
Will and Leo hurried in. Their faces and clothes covered in blood and other fleshy parts I didn’t want to think about.
“Where’s Jon?” My throat was dry.
Will and Leo looked cold.
“They took him,” said Leo.
“Who took him?” But I already knew the answer.
“The high priest. The sorcerer.”
The ground wavered under my feet. I fought the nausea, and my eyes burned. I wouldn’t let them see me cry.
“Is he alive?” My voice trembled.
Will shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot, looking more like a teenager than a man.
“He was, the last I saw of him.”
“I heard them say they were taking him to the prison cells,” said Leo. “They’re keeping him alive.”
I rushed over to the desk to steady myself. I was going to be sick.
Why would he keep Jon alive? Why not just kill him like he’d killed Landon?
I couldn’t think, and I fought against the sob in my throat.
“So, what are we going to do about Jon?” came Will’s tense voice.
The question brought me out of my shock.
I turned and looked up at both men. They were both looking me straight in the face for the first time.
And for the first time in my life, I knew how it felt to be loved. To be loved unconditionally. I’d be damned if I left Jon in the hands of the sorcerers.
“So?” said Will and Leo together. They both trusted me now and looked to me for leadership. That, in itself, was magic.
I lifted my head and looked both men straight in the eyes.
“We’re going to get him back,” I whispered, “if it’s the last thing I ever do.”
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Dear reader,
Thank you for reading Steel Maiden. I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know the heroes and villains and the world I’ve created for them. If you enjoyed this book, please visit the site where you purchased it and write a brief review. Your feedback is important to me and will help other readers decide whether to read the book too.
Again, thank you for coming on this ride with me, and I hope we’ll take many more together. The adventures are just beginning. Happy reading!
Kim Richardson
WITCH QUEEN COMING SOON!
MORE BOOKS BY KIM RICHARDSON
SOUL GUARDIANS SERIES
Marked Book # 1
Elemental Book # 2
Horizon Book # 3
Netherworld Book # 4
Seirs Book # 5
Mortal Book # 6
Reapers # 7
Seals Book # 8
MYSTICS SERIES
The Seventh Sense Book # 1
The Alpha Nation Book # 2
The Nexus Book # 3
DIVIDED REALMS
Steel Maiden Book # 1
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kim Richardson is the award-winning author of the bestselling SOUL GUARDIANS series. She lives in the eastern part of Canada with her husband, two dogs and a very old cat. She is the author of the SOUL GUARDIANS series, the MYSTICS series, and the DIVIDED REALMS series. Kim's books are available in print editions, and translations are available in over seven languages.
To learn more about the author, please visit:
Website
www.kimrichardsonbooks.com
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/KRAuthorPage
Twitter
https://twitter.com/Kim_Richardson_
k you for reading books on Archive.
Steel Maiden Page 24
