“Will! Simon! What are the two of you doing out here!” Ivan shouted suddenly, startling Maya from her thoughts. Clutching her heart, she turned to discover Ivan standing several feet away, looming over a pair of wide-eyed men. “Is Marko aware the two of you have abandoned your post?”
“Y-yes s-sir. He is the one who told us to take the day off, s-sir.” One of the men stammered. “Said after today we wouldn’t be needed any more.”
Obviously stunned by his answer, Ivan stepped back. “Not needed anymore?” Casting a nervous glance over his shoulder at the Full-bloods, he appeared hesitant to continue the conversation.
The guards however, failing to notice his reluctance, continued to try and explain. “Yes sir, with the queen finally weak enough for the Council to read, they are having her sentencing today.”
“They are what!?” Jaron exclaimed, snagging the attention of not only the two guards, but also half the soldiers patrolling around the yard. Infuriated, he charged toward Ivan, only to be stopped by Jarod and the others. “You need to take me to her now!” he shouted at Ivan, struggling in their grasp, “You need to get me to her before they try and read her!”
Within seconds, the once peaceful courtyard was filled with Elemental soldiers, weapons drawn and ready for battle. “Shit.” Zach mumbled, as he and the others pulled their own weapons and took defensive positions around the still struggling Jaron. Meanwhile Ivan watched on silently, his usual stoic expression revealing nothing of what the formidable man was possibly thinking of Jaron’s outburst.
“Jaron, I need you to calm yourself. We are in enemy land and grossly outnumbered.” Jarod warned under his breath. “If a battle ensues under these circumstances I will not be able to control my actions.”
Hearing the strain in his voice, Jaron paused and looked upon his brother’s face. Even with Maya standing by his side, his creased brow and clenched jaw, made it evident that Jarod was doing everything in his power to keep the darkness in check. Wanting to prevent causing a blood bath if at all possible, Jaron closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.
Once he had managed to settle himself, Jaron turned his attention back to the stone-faced Elemental. “Ivan, I know you don’t know me and you have no reason to believe my intentions are anything but as self-serving as they appear to be. But I need you to listen and believe me when I say that if the Council attempts that reading on K. The results will… will be disastrous.”
Pulling his arm free of Jarod’s embrace, Jaron nodded once to Maya who wrapped both hands around his forearms. “Stay with me Jarod,” she whispered, stepping in front of him and pulling his attention down to her. “Just stay here with me.” Confident that she had Jarod under control, Jaron continued to address Ivan who was watching the pair’s exchange with great interest.
“Please Ivan, I swear it is in everyone’s interest you get me to her as soon as possible.”
“I believe you.” Hearing those words, gave Jaron a momentary glimmer of hope. “However, no one is allowed inside the chamber except the Council and their witnesses… there is nothing I can do.” Heart sinking, Jaron opened his mouth to further argue his case when suddenly a high pitch alarm sounded from somewhere within the castle. Appearing confused, the soldiers surrounding them glanced back and forth from one another until eventually all their attention fell on Ivan. “Well what are you waiting for, get your asses inside!” he barked, snapping them from their stupor. All at once every guard in the courtyard took off running in the direction of the castle.
“Come on.” Ivan shouted, as he too ran in the direction of the obnoxious sound.
Needing no further invitation, Jaron and the others took off running behind Ivan. Dashing into the glimmering white castle, Ivan approached a soldier barking orders to everyone dressed in what appeared to be an officers uniform. “What is happening? Why is the alarm being sounded?”
“The Vanterian queen has gone mad sir.” the man said, quickly snapping to attention and saluting Ivan. “She attacked Cato when he tried to read her, then snapped the neck of the Jumper Brink. Now she has locked herself in the Throne room with the rest of the Immortals and is threatening to down them all.”
“Damn it, I told you!” Jaron snapped, pushing past Ivan he snatched the stunned soldier up by his shirt. “Which way to the Throne room?”
With a trembling hand he pointed toward the winding staircase behind him. “U-up there.”
Dropping the man, Jaron took off in the direction he had pointed with Ivan and the other’s close on his heels. “Where Ivan?” he shouted, as he neared the top of the first flight.
“Up to the third floor.”
Without missing a step, Jaron continued up to the third floor, where he unsurprisingly found a large collection of soldiers waiting outside a massive wooden door. Pushing his way through the crowd, Jaron was eventually stopped by the pair of men he had to assume were in charge of guarding them. “Let me in!” he commanded. However, much to his admiration and displeasure, both men continued to deny his access. Not wanting to cause any more trouble than he had to, Jaron turned over his shoulder to the other’s approaching behind him. “Ivan, you need to get them to let me in. I am the only one who even stands a chance of stopping her when she gets like this.”
Looking from him to the door, Ivan frowned. “I don’t know…”
“Ivan, she is going to finish off everyone in there and when she is done she will knock down that door and kill anyone in her path. Now unless you want the blood of all these innocent people on your hands, you will let me in.”
Ivan, not even flinching at the harshness of his words, ran a hand slowly down his beard, and studied Jaron intensely. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he turned to the pair of guards blocking the door. “Let them in.”
“B-but sir, Mallok said…”
“And I am saying let them in!” Ivan commanded, his booming voice echoing off the smooth stone walls around them. “I will take full responsibility for disobeying Lord Mallok as well as the repercussions that go with it. But first I need to prevent him from being downed by the Vanterian queen and these people are our best hope of doing that. Now do as I say and open the door!”
Appearing very reluctant, but knowing better than to keep arguing with the powerful Captain, the two men pulled open the doors just wide enough to allow them to squeeze through. Heaving a deep breath, Jaron led Jarod and the others into the narrow entry, but paused when he realized Ivan was following them. “You don’t need to come. I can assure you our interests are only in stopping K, nothing more.”
“I do not come because I don’t trust you.” Ivan answered, pushing past him and heading down the corridor, “I come because my king is in danger and it is my duty to protect him.”
Knowing he would only be wasting his time trying to argue with the elder Elemental, Jaron let out a frustrated grunt and followed him down the corridor. Easily catching up to him, they were about to step through to the main room, when a loud crash rattled the stone walls around them. Sparing each other only a momentary glance, together they dashed into the room without a second thought. However, what they saw before them when they rounded the last corner, froze each one of them in their tracks.
Chapter 15
Dressed in a thin black dress, K stood over the bodies of her victims as she stared across to the opposite side of the room. Upon seeing her, unmasked and with black markings shining against every inch of visible skin, Jaron motioned for the others to duck back into the narrow hallway. Fearing her state of mind, he leaned around the corner in an attempt to see what had captivated her attention. However, the massive granite columns encircling the room obscured his view of her current target.
“We’re too late.” He mumbled, mainly to himself, as he watched K begin to form and grow a swirling black orb between her palms. Turning his attention over his shoulder to Jarod and the others, Jaron’s expression was a complicated mix of frustration and sadness. “The darkness already has her.”
“But
we can help her right?” Maya asked, staring around him toward K. “There has got to be something we can do.”
Though innocent enough, the expectations carried in the question weighed down heavy upon him. Glancing around at the others as they quietly awaited his answer, Jaron knew they all trusted him to know how to fix this. He however, held no such confidence. What he did know was that he was the one responsible for getting them into this mess, and therefore the burden of making things right rested squarely on his shoulders. After all, if he hadn’t opened his mouth that night and insulted her, sending K into a rage similar to the one she was currently in, they wouldn’t even be in this predicament to begin with.
Knowing what needed to be done, Jaron released a heavy sigh, as he ran his hand through his hair
“Ivan, go find your king.” Jaron instructed flatly, pointing in the direction K was facing. “I would start over there. My guess is he’s the current target of K’s angst.”
“The rest of you split up.” Scanning the room and the massive columns encompassing it, Jaron began to formulate a plan that he hoped would keep them all out of danger. “Rico and Liam, go around that way,” he instructed pointing to the side of the room behind K. “While Jarod and Zach, take Maya and go that way.” Pausing he glared back at them over his shoulder, “Stick together and stay behind the columns. Don’t think for a moment that because we are her people she will not attack. In her mind, everyone in this room is her enemy and she will not hesitate to kill you if given the opportunity.”
Tucking the dark glasses into his pocket, Jarod narrowed his gaze at his brother. “And while we are keeping our distance, where will you be?”
Jaron could tell by Jarod’s low voice and furrowed brow he already had a good idea what he had planned. He also knew that he was going to be none too happy about it. Unfortunately, there was no other way. “I am going to talk with her.” he answered flatly, turning his back to his brother. “I need to see if I can trigger an emotion in her other than rage.”
Raising an eyebrow, Jarod eyed him suspiciously. “And if you can’t?”
“Then she will have to be downed.”
Seemingly unfazed by the response that had the others gaping at him in disbelief, Jarod crossed his arms over his chest. “Then I’m going with you.”
“No, you will do as I say.” Jaron snapped. Glaring back at him, Jaron was met by Jarod’s extremely angry expression. Watching as he inhaled and exhaled several slow deep breathes to calm himself, Jaron lowered his tone and calmly continued to address his brother. “Look at her Jarod,” he said, as he motioned in K’s direction. “and tell me that doesn’t look familiar to you.”
Though he looked as if he was about to protest his statement, Jarod paused. Rising his gaze to K, Jaron watched as Jarod’s already tense form became more rigid. “She is enraged, and like you when that happens, she is out for blood. I am afraid seeing the two of us together, approaching her, will only make her more suspicious of our intentions. Therefore, my best chance of getting close enough to do what needs to be done, is for me to face her alone.”
“And what if you aren’t able to?” Maya interrupted, pulling his attention down to her. “What if she attacks you?”
“That’s when the rest of you do whatever you have to do to stop her.” He paused, glancing at each one of their concerned expressions. “I mean it. Don’t hesitate and use whatever means necessary, because if she does somehow manage to escape this room in that state, the blood of many innocent people will be spilt.” Pausing, Jaron’s expression became saddened as he glanced over his shoulder at the white haired figure. “And I don’t think she can survive having to go through that again.”
Silence descended as they each took a moment to let his words sink in. Then, with nothing more to be said, they one by one split off and headed in their assigned directions. Jaron waited patiently until they each had reached their positions, before he too stepped from the hallway and slowly made his way toward his queen.
He knew she was fully aware of his and the other’s presence, but even as he continued to move cautiously closer, K elected to ignore them and remained focused on the root of her rage. Choosing to take her disinterest as a good sign, Jaron eased into the circle of columns and tracked her gaze to the far side of the room. Immediately his attention was drawn to the two large grey wolves, standing guard over a group of people huddled on the floor. With Mallok at its head, the group appeared to be trying to protect something on the floor.
“Time’s up!” K’s gravelly voice pulled his attention back to her. Having apparently grown the orb to a satisfactory size, Jaron watched in horror as a wide grin spread across K’s face as she unleashed the swirling ball of black mist and sent it hurling in their direction.
“No K don’t!” Jaron shouted, seconds too late.
Certain he was about to watch the demise of every single one of them, he was pleasantly shocked when a massive piece of stone floor suddenly jutted up from the ground directly in front of the group and deflected the attack at the last second. Raising his gaze to the column a few feet behind them, Jaron was not the least bit surprised to see Ivan rushing to his king’s side. With a quick nod of gratitude, Jaron turned back to face K as her blackened gaze fell coldly upon him.
“You dare interfere?”
Struggling to suppress the shiver that ran the length of his spine, Jaron raised his hands in a submissive gesture. “K, you don’t need to do this,” he said, cautiously stepping closer. “I have come to take you back home.”
Tilting her head, K regarded him suspiciously. “You want me?” she paused, gesturing to Mallok as he appeared around the stone block, “’his whore’ to return home with you?”
Her words hit him harder than if she had slapped him in the face. Even Mallok, appearing taken aback by her callousness, stilled his advanced. Looking almost pained by what she had said, Jaron watched out of the corner of his eye, as the Lanorian king, closed his eyes and hung his head. Uncertain though as to why he would be so upset, Jaron inhaled a deep breath and continued to try to pacify his angry queen. “K, I didn’t mean…”
In a blur of movement, K appeared directly before him. Placing a finger over his lips, her empty black gaze locked with his with terrifying intensity. “Don’t lie to me or yourself Jaron, we both know you meant every word.” Smiling wickedly, K proceeded to drag her finger slowly from his lips, down his neck and chest. “But it’s ok my love, you have done me a great favor.” Moving her finger in taunting circles, Jaron could feel K’s haze begin to sweep over him. “Now that you know the truth of what I am, I no longer have to hide it anymore. So tell me Jaron…” K purred, as her hand came to rest on the front of his pants, “Did you come because you want me to be your ‘whore’ now?”
“Kahjoul, he doesn’t know…”
Having broken free of whatever had distracted him, Mallok stared sadly upon the two of them appearing to hesitate to finish his sentence.
“Doesn’t know what? How right he is?” K snapped, as she spun around to face him. However, even with her back turned to him, K’s magic continued to work on Jaron. Desperate to break free of her trance, Jaron shook his head and closed his eyes, trying to focus on anything other than his desire to have her, while she and Mallok continued their standoff.
“Then perhaps you would like the honor of telling him?”
“Kahjoul, you were a slave. You had no choice.”
“That seems a mute fact in the long run.” Her anger dimming ever so slightly, K slowly began to pace around Jaron’s paralyzed body, as she trailed her hand over the curves of his torso. “Slave or no, for the right price, I did whatever you desired… did I not?”
Once again, Mallok hung his head in shame. “It’s been centuries K…”
“And yet I remember it all as if it were yesterday.”
Little by little, as she spoke, Jaron could feel the rage in her dwindling, giving way to another all too familiar emotion. Sensing she was on the verge of snapping out
of the darkness, Jaron dug down deep and managed to break through the haze.
“K, I don’t need to know.” Jaron interrupted softly, as he struggled to keep the haze at bay. “Whatever happened in the past between the two of you is your business, not mine.”
“But my dear Jaron, you seemed so interested in what we were doing the other night.”
Coming to a stop in front of him once again, K looked up to reveal a slight bit of red, breaking through the black void. “I made a mistake K.” he responded softly. “One I have regretted every day since.” Slowly bringing his hand up to her cheek, he gently tucked a piece of hair behind ear; being sure to let it linger there just a little longer than needed. “I was angry and jealous, surely you can forgive me.”
Upon hearing his words, Jaron watched as more of the red broke through. Realizing his plan was working, Jaron smiled softly down at her. Placing an arm around her waist, he pulled her in close, loving the feel of her relaxing into his arms. “Forget this mess K. Forget the Council, forget him.” Jaron nodded toward Mallok. “And come home with me. Come back to where you are wanted and needed.”
The moment the last word escaped his lips, Jaron knew he had made a horrible mistake as he watched the obsidian void wipe out every last bit of color in her eyes.
“Needed?” she growled, shoving him away. “Is that all I will ever be to any of you? A means to an end?” Throwing a hand out, she gestured around the room, calling each of them out as she went. “Him, the Council, you, and everyone else cowering behind the safety of the columns, needs something from me. But what about what I need? What about what I want?”
“Tell me what you want and if it is in my power to give, I will give it to you.”
Dropping her arms, K regarded Jaron intensely. “What I need, you can’t give.” Walking back his way, K shoved him in the chest. “You made that clear the day we talked in the Core and later in front of my tent.” Jaron kept his hands at his sides, as K continued to shove him until his back was pressed up against one of the stone columns. Across the room, he could see Jarod, about to come out to make a move but he signaled him to back down with a slight shake of his head. Not yet brother.
Forsaken (The Shadow Chronicles Book 3) Page 35
