by H. R. Holt
Anekaya grabbed hold of her knife and lunged out of her seat, slitting Thomas’s throat with a swift movement of her wrist. He stumbled back, gasping for air. Windrew stood and prepared himself to fight, but realized immediately there were too many.
“Come on,” she said and grabbed his wrist.
They ran from the dining room and down the narrow hallways, followed closely by soldiers and Thomas’s rasping voice saying they would never make it. They had to make it! The most powerful force against Luella in all of Peniolea was waiting for them outside, waiting for orders they thought would come at daylight and not at dusk.
Isaac heard the commotion, met them in the hallway, then started running too. He didn’t need much prodding, since he was a seasoned combatant. He knew trouble when he saw it. Since he’d roamed the mansion all day, he knew where they were going, and began leading the way to the nearest exit. Although he had many questions on his mind, he didn’t ask them. He knew there was a time and place for them as well.
As they pressed on, they met up with Reverie and her guards, who looked at them as if they’d lost their minds. They continued on, hearing the chaos behind them. When they exited the mansion, Reverie surged into another gear and charged towards the camp of soldiers.
“Attack!” she exclaimed, pointing wildly behind her. With the rain continued pouring, she turned around and watched as the enemy broke through the doors after them. They morphed into wolves and increased their speed and were suddenly seconds away from her.
As the wind blew all around her, Reverie felt as if she had been awakened from a dream. She spread her arms wide, looked to the sky and continued feeling the rain, then turned towards the invaders and clapped her hands together. A powerful wind surged from behind her and blew towards them, sending them over the edge and towards the rocks below, even though they tried to dig into the earth and hold on. She wanted all of them to die, just as her father had died, but felt someone’s hand on her shoulder.
The wind died down, leaving one wolf soldier alive. Reverie turned and looked into Isaac’s face, realizing not all of Nadia’s powers had disappeared even though her evil spirit and memories had.
***
The towers of Auzeil were placed throughout the land, but none was more highly guarded than the one that held Esme. When word reached her ears that Thomas had failed, Luella floated into the tower upon the moonlight, draped in black. She saw Esme lying on the bed and approached cautiously. The blanket had been tossed back, no doubt by another nightmare. She laughed to herself, seeing the sweat on her enemy’s face, which hadn’t aged since she’d become a prisoner.
“You do have a wonderful figure,” Luella sighed, gently raising the edge of the woman’s white gown. She admired Esme’s panties, and then pressed her hand upon her mound to feel her warmth.
“What are you doing?” Esme declared and sat up. She quickly threw her gown over her legs, ashamed of the younger woman’s actions. A strap fell off her shoulder but Luella’s hand drew to it before hers could.
“Anything I damn well please,” Luella assured her, lowering both straps then the front of it, revealing her enemy’s milky-white breasts. “God! You’re gorgeous!”
As she shivered, Esme knew Luella would do anything she wanted. She recalled earlier that day while she was bathing. Luella demanded her servants to do the task, which became passionate and violent in almost the same instant. Although she was a fast healer, the moment was still fresh on her mind, as were the many cruel moments since meeting Luella.
Luella saw the strain on Esme’s face and laughed, then pressed her nails into the dark pink nipples, causing them to bleed. Esme winced and Luella drew closer, licking the blood.
“What do I owe this pleasure?” Esme asked as she ran her hands through Luella’s hair. She wanted to pull it out. Luella must have sensed this and pulled herself away, adjusting Esme’s gown.
“Well, first of all, I will tell you that your husband is dead,” she said with a smile. The expression on Esme’s face was wonderful, because she wanted to doubt it but knew it was true.
Luella sat beside her, touched the single rose in the vase on the bedside table, and watched as it withered and died. She loved death, but not everything about it. After all, who liked the idea of their own demise? She sure as hell didn’t!
Esme felt her hands on the collar that controlled her powers, wishing she could rip it off. She always wished she could remove it, but knew that wasn’t about to happen. She was a slave.
“I hate you,” Esme started. She had said the same over and over, but knew Luella knew what she was trying to do. It was what she’d done to make Nadia change, which had taken almost fourteen years.
“I know, precious,” Luella said and trailed her finger across her enemy’s lips. “I cannot wait to meet your daughter, though.” She smiled again at the bewilderment on Esme’s face. “Surely I told you? She’s coming to save you. I believe I did tell you, but perhaps you weren’t listening? Oh, you know how much I hate it when you don’t listen.”
“No. She’s not coming.”
“Yes. She is. I only hope she’s as beautiful as you. A little bird told me that she looks even better. In a few months, we’ll be parting. I am dreading it, but the Ancient Ones are coming. They’ll choose me as the first and only Summoner because I’ll be the only one. I won’t have any opposition. Don’t worry: I’ll take good care of her.”
“They’ll figure it out,” Esme said assuredly. “They will. They aren’t as stupid as you think.”
Luella pressed her lips to Esme’s, then crawled on top of her, changing into Emmanuel as she did. It was another way Esme could tell that he was gone. Luella could only morph into those who were dead. She cried as hands that were once familiar began touching her skin, whispering tender words in her ears. While they made love, she let the tears pour.
Esme looked towards the moon, wishing for Emmanuel. She saw a single star sparkle brightly and smiled. She saw hope, and knew that, sometimes, hope was all anyone ever needed to survive.
***
The next day dawned with everyone already on their horses, where they had been for several hours already. Although they hadn’t had the experience of dealing with the enemy last night, they were well aware of what to expect. Most of them didn’t have experience, especially the ones who were as young as (or younger than) Reverie and Isaac. Some weren’t necessarily soldiers, but local men and women who were simply willing to stand for the cause. They were trained by Windrew, when he wasn’t away on another mission. Brornar had taught them a few things yesterday, but his battalion hadn’t learned enough techniques to defend themselves, and would never since he was dead, so they reverted back to Windrew’s methods. After all, he was alive and the only remaining commander in Peniolea.
The total number of soldiers in this legion was over six hundred; they would be joined by others as they made their march. Still, though, the number wasn’t as great as it could be. Most of the townspeople were fueled by their own greed and anger, both bred of darkness, and unable to see the big picture. There were some that were simply too old to fight, such as Windrew’s close friends, and were doing what they could for the cause that didn’t involve fighting. When there was a great battle, there was always plenty to get done.
Anekaya was disappointed in not being able to gather more, and busied herself around the encampment to avoid thinking about her sons. When they extended their condolences to her, she would merely nod and ride further on. She didn’t want pity. She wanted blood. Since she was able to do even the most forbidden magic, Windrew kept an eye on her and tried to keep everyone’s spirits up. He didn’t want to, since he felt terrible himself, but there was no one else the soldiers would listen to.
“I don’t know why he thinks I can’t take his place so he can get some sleep,” Isaac said as he rode alongside Reverie beside one of many wagons. “I mean, I am able bodied and definitely a people person. You remember high school.”
Reverie smil
ed, nodded, and yawned at the same time. She watched as the sun cast itself over the mountains and across the field to her right, thinking about those who she hadn’t seen in years. Since she didn’t know many people, her mind went from the Brevard twins and their father, to Mary Smith, the teacher who had given her a bag, and even to Penelope. Although she’d wanted to meet Aunt Camie, the old woman was probably dead and never knew she existed anyway. Reverie realized she didn’t even know what had become of her cats. She wondered if anyone remembered her, if they thought she’d dropped off the end of the earth and died. They would surely be able to get on with their lives without her. She had never meant much to anyone, except her father, who searched for her even when he couldn’t see, and Isaac, who probably just looked for her because he liked the “chase.”
“I missed you, you know that, right?” Isaac asked sincerely. She turned and looked at him, wondered if he could read her mind. “I can’t name a battle I fought without your name in my heart and on my mind. Even though you might think I came for you because I loved you, I will tell you this: I came for you because you’re a good friend.” Although he was in love with her, he couldn’t find it in himself to tell her, not when war and death surrounded them. “I hope we can remain friends, Rev. I really do.”
“Why does it sound like your breaking up with me?” she asked, trying to remain serious. She couldn’t and began laughing. “I’m so sorry, Isaac. I don’t mean to laugh at you.” Even though he was serious, she kept smiling and pressed on. “We would have to date before you can dump me.”
Isaac rode closer to her so that their legs were touching. Leaning across his saddle, he held onto hers and looked into her face. He wanted to seem intimidating and tell her that he was serious. Instead, she kissed his cheek and every barrier he’d ever held crumbled to the ground. Reverie was his weakness and she always had been. He pulled away and looked into her eyes, searching them to make sure she wanted him.
“We can definitely remain friends, if that’s what you want,” she teased and pulled away from him.
He was about to pursue her but felt a strange sensation up his spine and sensed that he was being watched. The next thing he knew, he was flying through the air and his horse somersaulted, almost landing on top of him. He felt as if his left ear was on fire and swatted at it as he looked up at the burning wagon. The passengers leapt off, consumed by flames, and began rolling around on the ground.
He saw a shadow and strained his neck to look above him, where he saw the scaly stomachs of dragons. The only dragons he knew of existed in Idenia. What were they doing in Peniolea? Reverie! Of course! Without a moment to lose, he stood up and looked wildly for her, hearing roaring flames, screams of agony, and Windrew’s straining voice as he commanded the soldiers.
“Reverie!”
He drew out his weapon and charged towards the front while he looked frantically for her and prepared himself for an attack. He didn’t have to go far. The horse she was riding had been burnt to a crisp and she lay beside it, looking as if she’d suffered the same fate. As he knelt beside her, though, she opened her eyes and coughed.
“Watch out!”
Isaac picked her up and darted towards the field and rolled into a trench, barely missing the flames of the dragon as it came swooping in. He waited for the heat to subside and turned to her, finding her eyes more haunting than anyone he’d ever seen in battle.
“I need you to stay here,” he said and gave her his sword. “They aren’t here to kill you. They’re here to capture you. I’d feel much better about fighting if you’re safe.”
“Why did they try to—”
“Rev, this is no time for questions,” he said. “Stay.”
Isaac stood and got back on the main road, finding his way to one of the wagons where he opened a case of swords and pulled out two. He wiped sweat from his brow and ran to the front where Windrew was standing alongside his wife. As he looked around him at the carnage, he wondered how many men and women were dead; how many families were shattered. He felt even more anger surge through his soul as he thought about Reverie and what the beasts had tried to do. They would pay!
“Glad you could join us,” Anekaya said. Isaac realized she was carrying swords of her own and knew immediately that the dragons weren’t affected by her magic. She looked at him and smiled. “We think it has to do with those collars they’re wearing.”
Isaac looked towards the dragons, watching as the three of them made u-turns in the air in front of the sun. He could have sworn there were more, with as much damage as they were causing, and he thought they were larger. After he shook out the tension from his shoulders, he brought himself into a runner’s position and waited. Although the amber sheen of the dragons’ scales made his eyes burn, he couldn’t turn away. He had to remain focused. Even if his closest friends thought he was crazy, he knew he had to call upon all the powers that lie within him if he were to destroy his enemy. Nadia had given him her powers and he was going to put them to good use.
“What are you doing?” Windrew asked.
“Watch,” Isaac said.
He started running, kicking up dirt. They shouted at him, told him to come back, but he pressed on. Isaac didn’t turn around for a second; he didn’t have the option. Kill or be killed was the only choice he saw, and he wasn’t going to be killed.
The dragon nearest him opened his mouth and began burning the ground while making its way to him. As the flame grew closer to him, sweat began pouring down his face and back. Isaac tore around it and used his swords as scissors and cut into the dragon’s neck, which drenched him in blood.
He continued running until he reached the next two dragons, both of which were side by side. When he stared hard into their yellow eyes, his own became black and he could sense Nadia’s power filling him. They stopped flying towards him and instead landed, bowing to him with their heads low.
“I am ashamed of your behavior!” They wailed, but he snapped his fingers and they stopped. “I want you to collect your brethren and attack the Peniolea palace. If anyone within the palace has evil intentions, I want them dead. Go. Now!”
As he watched them disappear, his eyes returned to their normal shade and he turned around to look at Windrew and Anekaya as they approached. He could tell by their expressions as well as the other soldiers that they thought what happened was the worst evil. When he saw Reverie arise from her hiding place, he realized that he didn’t care what others thought. He only cared what she thought and that she was safe.
Before he could make his way to her, he saw a black puff of smoke behind her. A brunette emerged from the smoke and wrapped her arms around Reverie, pulling her in. He ran towards them but caught only the remnants of the smoke. Without a doubt, he knew that Luella was the woman who’d captured Reverie.
“What will she do to Reverie?” he asked. He didn’t have to turn to Windrew to sense that he was walking towards him. “The Black Moon isn’t for months now, right?”
Windrew didn’t answer for a second, which caused Isaac to look at him. He could tell by the lines of worry in the wizard’s face that there was something he didn’t want to say. In an instant, Isaac was holding Windrew by his shirt, staring into his eyes with his black.
“She didn’t leave you, did she?” Windrew asked. “Nadia?”
Isaac released him and looked at the ground. “I’m sorry. No. She didn’t. I’m left with her powers, Windrew, that’s all. I’m not evil.” He turned to his old friend. “Please tell me what you know.”
Windrew looked over his shoulder at Anekaya, who nodded curtly. It was time for the truth to be revealed. They only hoped it wasn’t too late.
***
The world around him was shutting down, but he still managed to give orders. Thomas sat in his throne room, holding his neck every few seconds, wishing he could have killed Anekaya instead of believe she was dead. He had taken delight that her boys were, until one of them wasn’t found among the dead. To avoid thinking about it, he rec
alled the flames as they consumed the sorceress’s mansion. Without a doubt, he was pleased by that, but the escaped youngster always crawled back into his mind.
