by Alice Wade
Athradien stepped forward. “I’ll go with him,” he announced, causing Cuilwen to swing her head in the direction of his voice.
She stared at him with a frantic grimace and choked. “What?”
“I’ll go. He cannot save both women alone.”
Talon shook his head. “Alas, my friend, it is my duty to perform. She is my mate, and I need you to help take down the coven. Follow Faelwen and Nethlhindornien. They know what is needed. Be my hand while I’m gone.”
Athradien dipped his head in acceptance, but he was clearly frustrated, “As you wish, Prince.”
“Talon, Athradien. I’m no longer Prince, especially not here,” Talon snapped. “Now go. Faelwen is waiting.”
Talon turned to Cuilwen. “I’ll send our location once I know where this leads us. Be ready to move.”
“Aye.”
He approached Dace and placed his hand on his shoulder, looking deeply into his eyes. “Dace Veridan, are you ready for this?”
“He has Lainey. I have no choice.”
Talon sighed, “No, I guess you don’t.” Talon gave his shoulder a squeeze indicating it was time.
Dace closed his eyes, thought of Lainey and remembered her scent, the silky feel of her skin under his palm and the way she shaped herself to his body. His world shifted when the sword vibrated in his hands. He experienced a disorienting sensation as he moved through space and time, tracking her unerringly.
It went on for ten heartbeats before he stumbled with the sensation of having stopped. Dace opened his eyes, scanning the area quickly and finally recognizing this place as within the palace garden. It was a huge, open space, sheltered on all four sides by massive walls. He heard Talon growl deeply and saw why he generated such a sound.
Lainey and Kailani were bound in the center of the lawn and tethered to the ground with a glowing rope which burned them if they moved. Kaen was nowhere to be seen, but they knew he was still here, somewhere. That didn’t hold their attention however. Both men were focused on the women and what unnerved Dace the most was the look in Kailani’s eyes. For the first time since he’d known her, she showed fear. Lainey was in shock and knelt staring ahead without even realizing he’d arrived.
Talon stepped forward and reached out with his mind to calm Kailani but met resistance. He needed to do something because his own fear increased at seeing the white of her eyes, for Kailani rarely got scared. The use of the magic had shattered her ability to remain strong.
Talon tried to punch through whatever was shielding her mind and was blasted out with blinding white light that had him gripping his head in agony.
Concealed behind magic, Kaen watched this unfold, forming a small laugh. He thoroughly enjoyed the look of panic on Talon’s face but decided enough of enough.“You think you are the only one with magic now?” He dropped his magic and his body materialized right behind the women.
Dace rumbled a low growl and stepped forward, the sword in his hand light and hungry for blood. Surprised at the sentient thought from the blade, he looked down to see it lightly glowing. Dace recalled Cuilwen saying it had a life of its own when there was true need, so this must be what she meant.
Kaen dismissed the fact Dace approached, and called out to the elven vampire instead, “Talon, really? You are going to send your pup to fight me?” .
“Looks can be deceiving, Kaen,” Talon’s tone was dangerously calm. The frantic feeling rolling in his body only showed in his eyes that never left his mate. She struggled to remain still and he felt his control breaking with each whimper that left her parted lips.
“We shall see,” he said and then moved towards Dace in a blur of motion.
The enchanted blade was prepared even if the human could not see Kaen. It rose to block a strike that would have severed his head with Kaen’s talons before he even knew he was about to be attacked. The power of the collision numbed Dace’s arm, but the blade held strong and pushed the vampire back.
The metal burned and his quick mind realized he’d need a sword to combat Dace. Kaen snarled as he circled, drawing a sword he wore at his side and lunged in for another blinding attack.
The sound of clashing steel alerted Talon and ripped his eyes away from Kailani long enough to see Kaen and Dace circling each other, locked in combat. Now was his chance to try and free the women while the vampire was distracted. He raced to his mate, searching for the magical catch to these damned ropes. He tried and tried but he couldn’t find the latch. His magic kept sliding over whatever ward Kaen had set and he knew this was beyond his abilities.“Cuilwen!” he yelled in a panic. “I need you here. Bring Ath! They’re bound by something I’ve not seen before.”
She was immediately in his head. “Where?”
“Palace garden, center lawn.”
She gave his mind a hug. “We’re coming.”
Talon returned to his searching of the ropes, “Kailani help is coming,” his said in a worried whisper.
“See to Lainey first. I can handle the pain, but she is too young to have learned to block it.”
“Kai, I, I have to free you first,” he growled in desperation, “You are needed to help with the fight. Lainey will just need to cope.” He knew his decision sentenced Lainey to extreme pain, but he needed his mate at his side. He needed Kailani freed!
Dace and Kaen continued to battle around the lawn. Dace was an innocent by standing in the fight as the blade did all the work. He just provided the body to allow it to perform. It effectively blocked each of Kaen’s attacks and sent the vampire into a fit of snarling rage each time he was pushed back.
Kaen was furious. He thought he had the upper hand seeing Dace as the chosen champion. He reassessed that assumption, realizing he didn’t. Spittle flew from his bared fangs and his feral eyes tracked the human as if he were suddenly a very dangerous opponent.
“How is this possible?” Kaen roared.
“Maldë. Revenge,” Dace panted and dodged another sweep of Kaen’s blade, “You die for the hurt you caused Lainey. You die for the hurt you caused Kai.” He held the sword poised before him as he slowly circled with vampire. Both measured the other for any weakness and caught their breath.
Kaen snorted. His eyes never left Dace and noticed the eerie glow in the blade. “Maldë. Never heard of it. Must be some rubbish the elves told you. You will lose, human,” he laughed deeply and then moved so quickly that Dace didn’t see a thing.
He couldn’t see him anymore, tilting his head to listen. In his hands the blade rested, not moving or vibrating which meant only one thing: Kaen had teleported away from the scene. Dace whirled around and bellowed in absolute frustration. He wanted to end this not play hide and seek.
“Kaen! You bastard! You can’t escape that easy!” Dace shook with adrenaline, and he didn’t recognize his own voice that was harsh and full of hate. He had to follow. He had to end this here and now. He turned around, searching for Lainey and found her watching him with worried eyes. She wasn’t saying anything and communicated only with her eyes. She knew he would follow. It is what they discussed. Lainey dipped her head in silent farewell, allowing her tears to soak her face.
Dace swallowed hard and fought the emotional pull to rush to her; instead he concentrated on Kaen holding the sword before him with both hands.
He felt that same disorientation as he followed. When he stopped, he found himself in a dark hallway on the far side of the palace. Servants were pressed up against the walls obviously frightened by the sudden appearance of Kaen and now this man, “Which way?” he demanded.
One brave woman raised her arm and pointed down to the left.
Without thanking the woman, Dace raced off and began his hunt as Cuilwen had shown him. She told him to trust the sword, wish it to be his guide. The damn blade vibrated when he passed a fork in the hallway, forcing him to a skidding hall. He
looked down at the blade in surprise. It pulled him to the right so he followed its guidance into the dark hallway; trusting it would save him. The torchlight fade the deeper he went it the closed off section of the palace. He couldn’t see more than two feet in front of him and the only illumination came from the glowing blade. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” he whispered to it, cautiously moving down the dark hallway. The only answer he received was a strong shudder from the sword.
* * * *
Back in the garden, Talon knelt behind Kailani reading the spell and cursing each time he lost sight of the weave. It was like a knot puzzle, easy to see with the eye, but when you tried to unravel it, it became a mess of intersecting lines that defied all logic. Lainey’s sobs exploded the minute Dace disappeared and it was distracting him, “Kai, help Lainey.”
Kailani craned her neck as much as she could without triggering the burning pain. “Lainey?” Kailani called. She barely made out her distraught form as she sobbed uncontrollably. “Lainey, listen to me. He’ll be fine. You need to calm down so Talon can free us.”
“He’s gone,” Lainey hoarsely whispered. She knew she had to be brave and trust the powers that Cuilwen had given Dace.
“Please be brave,” Kai whispered more desperately.
Lainey sniffed loudly and calmed. Her hiccups were loud, but the sound less distracting than her weeping. And then she screamed. A blood curdling sound that chilled Kai and Talon’s blood.
Talon called in his swords not a second too late.
Two Dûr Falas vampires charged straight for his back with deadly intent. He deflected their attack with the blades and then dodged to the side to get this fight away from the women. He knew they would follow knowing he was their real target.
Talon slid to a stop and spun around. They were upon him within seconds, but he was ready. Talon marked the one that was in the lead, pushing off on his back foot and launched forward. Because of the adrenaline rush, he was pure vampire. The last thing the attacking Dûr Falas vampire saw was the brilliance of Talon’s eyes as he severed his head in one smooth motion as he ran past.
It was almost too easy.
“Talon!” Kai screamed, drawing his attention to the women. Another vampire had arrived and stood holding Lainey’s head back with a blade pressed to her throat.
He couldn’t do anything about that at the moment for he needed to dispatch this other vampire first. The two collided with a thud, jarring bones. Talon flipped his sword around in order to punch the vampire in the face, sending him staggering.
It was enough to break the insanity for a moment as the Dûr Falas man wiped his bleeding mouth. “You won’t win,” he spat.”
“We’ll see.”
The man sneered and began to circle Talon, slowly as if calculating where to strike first. He was about to when he tripped on a path marker and stumbled.
It was the break Talon waited for and in a blur that defied reality, he struck. The vampire didn’t have a chance and Talon had him pinned the ground with both blades through his heart.
Talon looked into his black eyes while they faded. The smell of burnt flesh caused him to gag, as the magic worked its way through the vampire’s flesh. With a sickening sound, he released his blades, stepping back in labored breath evaluating his work.
“Talon!” Kai screamed more frantically, and he looked in her direction, forgetting for a moment that there was another threat.
Lainey was calm but he could smell her blood as it dripped from the cut the blade at her throat. The growl that Talon released was heard clear across the grassy yard, causing the vampire to smirk.
Calmly, Talon released his swords, to have them replaced with a gorgeous bow. Notching one arrow he sighted the vampire, waiting for an opening. The last thing he wanted was to hit Lainey.
It was clear by the smug expression on the Dûr Falas vampire’s face, that he didn’t think Talon could hit him from this distance. But he was wrong.
Talon released the string and felt the power of his draw. The arrow flew true and struck the man right in the center of his forehead. He teetered, dropping the blade at Lainey’s throat and staggering back. He eventually crumpled to the grass in a heap, dead.
Talon ran back to the women and knelt before Lainey, checking her wound. It was shallow and didn’t present any dangers.
“Hang in there. Help is coming.”
“Actually.” All heads turned in the direction of the new voice. “Help is here,” Athradien strode into the clearing and knelt before the two women. Cuilwen stood watch over them while he worked to free them.
Athradien spotted the three bodies, quirking an eyebrow at Talon, but didn’t comment. Instead, he scanned the ropes and smiled, “It is as I thought. I made this for them early on.” Holding his hand over the binding at her neck with the flick of his wrist. It did something because when he then touched the material, it disintegrated into dust freeing Kailani to fall into Talon’s waiting arms.
He repeated this same spell reversal on Lainey and caught her as she, too, fell forward.
There was movement that had Cuilwen spin around to face the outer wall. She bellowed out order to the ten warriors that had accompanied her. The rest of the elves were with Faelwen and Nethlhindornien executing the final spell that would destroy this coven once and for all.
The sound that followed was feral. The rustling of the shrubbery was a clear indication that a large body of attacking vampires approached. She turned back to Talon and shouted, “Arm yourself!”
His blades were back in his hands as he protectively crouched before Kailani as she regained her composure. He called up a third blade and dropped it next to his mate where she snatched it while she knelt on the ground.
It was clear that they were surrounded from all sides by at least fifty vampires. “Newborns,” Talon and Kailani hissed together.
Cuilwen yelled over her shoulder, “Ath, can you get us out of here?”
“Yes, but I may need to take two trips. I can’t move this many people at once.”
“Take them first,” Cuilwen motioned with her head at a small group which included Talon, Kai and Lainey. “We’ll hold them off.”
Leaving Cuilwen behind normally would not have bothered Athradien. Now, with her being his bonded, he resisted leaving her behind. He knew she couldn’t fight and get them out of there at the same time.
“Go damn it! I can hold them off long enough for you to get them away and then to return!” she hollered, already moving forward to charge the front line of vampires that broke ahead. Using a combination of spells and strategic skill, she cut down three of them in that attack and danced backward to wait for the next stupid ones to come forward. “Go, please, go,” she begged.
He needed no further encouragement and blinked Talon, the two female vampires and three other elves away from the garden and dropped them on the ramparts above the coronation ceremony. He didn’t give the sounds of utter chaos below a second thought. Concentrating on Cuilwen, he blinked back in time to see a horde of vampires tackle her to the ground where she twisted and shot out with a spell that pushed them off; her magic charring them instantly.
Athradien released his breath as he watched her climb to her feet for the next wave of vampires that were racing towards her. There wasn’t time to spare, so he blinked them out.
She was in the process of throwing a downward strike that would have severed a head and the motion now carried through empty air once he dropped them on the rampart. Athradien raced to her and pulled her into a frantic hug. She dropped her blade and hugged him back.
“You took your time, Ath,” she whispered.
“You were doing just fine, love. Just fine,” He was relieved she was unscathed and switched his sights to locate Talon. His prince was balanced in a squat on the rampart wall and looked down at the carnage below. The
coven had freed the rabid newborns and the crowd below stood no chance. Lucky for the people of Kimbre, most had escaped when they saw what Kaen really was, so the massacre below was limited to a few stragglers, but it was still too many.
From this height, the carnage appeared as dots scattered over the square and reminded him of cockroaches feasting on leftover rubbish in an alley. Something had to be done. “Faelwen! Where are you with that spell!” He demanded.
He heard a few grunts and snarls in reply realizing she’d encountered trouble. “Where are you?”
“At…the…site…encountered…a situation…” her speech was broken and choppy.
“Athradien, I need to get to the bell tower,” Talon said moving gracefully over to the pair, “Cuilwen, can you please guard Lainey?”
Now that she was freed, her courage had returned. “I can defend myself Talon,” Lainey replied arrogantly, holding her chin high, “Kai taught me enough.”
He eyed her then twisted to look at Kailani who nodded, “So it seems. But be careful, child. Those newborns are rabid and no humanity remains. None.”
Lainey just nodded. She moved off to locate a fallen sword that she could heft. When she faced him again, he could not help by smile at her bravery.
“Athradien, anytime.” Talon called out. He gave Lainey once last smile.
Suddenly Athradien, Talon and Kailani found themselves in the middle of an unmatched fight. Vampires were flowed over the walls of the bell tower where they scaled the sheer sides in wave upon wave. The elves on the platform were all engaged in holding the flood back by lobbing heads, stabbing and then kicking the carcasses free to fall hundreds of feet below.
The blast from Athradien’s spell stunned the vampires and froze them in place. His next word had those nearest explode in puff of dust, which provided Faelwen enough time to disengage and set the spell that was needed to destroy the remaining coven once and for all.
