Poisoned in Light

by Ben Alderson

  Nyah? I sent my awareness through the door into hers.

  I waited with bated breath for her response which came suddenly, laced with exhaustion.

  I’m here. Tired, but here.

  Long journey taking a toll on you?

  I could almost feel Nyah take a deep breath as she prepared to rant. Try manning a ship alongside your brothers who are nothing but a thorn in my back side. Add on rough seas and bad weather into the already unfortunate mix. That is why I am tired.

  She was clearly annoyed, but hearing her voice always calmed my own storms. Surely you’re arriving soon? We got to Morgatis today and the welcome has not been as warm as I thought it would be.

  You sound hopeful, whereas I am unsure. The seas have not been kind and from what our navigation suggests we are slightly off course. But I have seen birds today, an entire flock of them with long necks and ugly faces. Negan thinks that is a sign that land is close. But if that is what is waiting for us I am not sure I am excited to dock.

  Will you let me know when you arrive or at least see land? I remembered what Kell had said about the Morthi being cautious to our arrival. I worried that if Nyah turned up unannounced her welcome would be ice cold compared to our lukewarm reception.

  You can be sure I will. How is Princey holding up?

  He is much better. Back to his usual self. I didn’t want to talk on his survival after losing Gallion. Not when Nyah had been so close to him.

  Is that it? That is the only thing you can tell me.

  Images of what Hadrian and I had experienced passed through my mind beyond my control. I felt Nyah instantly recoil with a mindful chuckle.

  Never mind, she thought. Perhaps that conversation should be kept for a time when I can’t see as well as feel what you are thinking. That and a glass of strong ale.

  Cheers to that, I thought. Nyah always had a way of distracting me.

  Hadrian has gone looking for Emaline and Illera, and I really should go and help them. Turns out we are not allowed near the city and are being kept in the levels above it.

  Levels above it? Nyah’s questioning rang clear in my mind.

  You will see. It is amazing, but we are confined to this oversized rabbit hole for the time being. If this is what the city of Vcaros is like I can only imagine how impressive it might be down there.

  Then go and help. I need to make sure Negan and Neivel know what they are doing. Can you believe they have had much training over the years, but still at their age they argue like spoiled children?

  Sounds like your journey has been an eventful one.

  Nyah giggled, awareness fading away from mine. You have no idea.

  “We have looked over every inch of this place, and take my word for it, it is not as big as you think. And Illera and Emaline are not here,” Hadrian said, announcing his fast return with Simian and Vianne following in his shadow.

  “The three corridors all connect at their ends and, besides the few rooms that link off from them, there is no sign that Illera or Emaline have even stayed here.” Simian crossed his arms and blew the strand of close dark curls from his right eye. “I have a strong feeling that Kell knew that as well.”

  “That is a bold accusation.” I stood from my chair, head light from the sudden severing of connection from Nyah.

  “She is keeping something from us, I am certain of it,” Simian said. “How do you know she is truly on our side?”

  Hadrian interrupted, standing in between the four of us. “Are you suggesting I picked blindly for this New Council?”

  Something about Hadrian’s tone thrilled me.

  Simian shrugged boldly. “If that is what you take from it, then that is on you. All I am saying is I don’t trust her.”

  “We do not need tensions between us, not at a time like this. I believe Kell is as in the dark as us. Who knows, Illera and Emaline could just be out and will return soon,” I added, feeling the tension between Hadrian and Simian pulling tight like an overstretched string.

  “Zacriah is right,” Vianne said, her gaze full of anxiety at the agreement before her. “We should not hold distrust for each other. It is not a productive use of energy.”

  “She speaks.” Simian laughed, waving a dismissive hand at Vianne. It was a horrible laugh, one that belonged far away from this New Council.

  My mouth dropped, surprised by his rudeness to Vianne. My mouth creaked open to respond but the sound of a heavy clap beat me to it.

  “Look down on me again, Simian, and it will not end well for you.” Vianne hand was still raised as Simian’s cheek grew redder by the second.

  Simian’s eyes flashed red, black shadow seeping from his skin. I tasted the shift as it began. Vianne did as well, readying herself in a powerful stance. As black fur rippled in place of skin and the snout grew forward, I couldn’t imagine how this would end. No matter how shy Vianne was, she was not going to back down.

  “Enough!” Hadrian shouted, heat waved over us all. “Simian, enough.”

  The growl that built in Simian’s throat halted as Hadrian’s flames creeped close to him. They exploded to life across his open hand, inches from Simian’s half-shifted face. All at once, the shadow receded on itself and the mundane Simian returned.

  “By the Goddess’s name, what are you playing at?” Hadrian slammed his palm into Simian’s shoulder, knocking him back two steps. All this fury was turned on the shifter. “How dare you swing for Vianne. I thought you were better than that.”

  “She hit me first,” Simian said, eyes burning with anger and frustration. He sounded childish. His chest heaved with each labored breath. I couldn’t stop myself from rolling my eyes. His response was as immature as his frantic behavior.

  “Behavior of a youngling, that is all this is. I did not ask you to join my New Council only to cause such tension between it. Then to shift, an open threat to Vianne who has only stood up for herself. I am shocked Simian, utterly disappointed and shocked.”

  “Hadrian, you do not need to speak for me,” Vianne sneered, twisting the strange bracelet around her thin wrist.

  “Simian, you need to leave. This is an order from your Prince. Return to Fadine, for you will be staying with the soldiers until further notice.”

  Simian stood still, soaking in Hadrian’s command. His entire body seemed to shake with tension. His fists were clenched at his sides, even his face was pinched as if he wanted to say something. But he didn’t. Instead, he bowed, arms waving dramatically before him. “If that is your wish, your highness.”

  Hadrian kept his fiery gaze on the top of Simian’s head. I could almost taste his want to strike out at him. The strange twisting of darkness within me longed for Hadrian to do it.

  “Hadrian will suffice.” Hadrian turned his back on Simian to face Vianne and me.

  There was a prolonged moment of pause filled with heavy breathing and the click of bones in hands and necks. Then Simian, in an aggressive stride, burst past us all and left the burrow for the staircase. With his departure came the receding of my own dark desires. Even Hadrian slumped.

  “He should not have threatened you like that,” Hadrian said to Vianne. “I apologize for my reaction, as I fear it has pushed him further away from us, but I could not let that stand.”

  Vianne tipped her head. “Before I say thank you, I want to remind you I could have handled it myself. But not all are like me. Simian should have controlled himself and maybe I should not have hit him in the first place. But I think it is clear he was never going to work in this New Council. Not with such aggressive views.”

  Like the ringing of a bell, something fell into place in my mind. A comment I had to mention. Flashes of Gordex using his power to strip the shifter of his power during the final tussle before my escape. And his mention of using his own creations against him.

  “Gordex, he created the shifters,” I blurted out.

  Both Hadrian and Vianne looked at me with creased brows and pulled mouths.

  “Are you sure?” Viann
e winched.

  “Explain,” Hadrian said.

  “He said it himself. I watched him take the shift from one of the soldiers who came in with Gallion to save me. It is the shadows, it is just like his power. And the magick that fuels his shadowbeings.”

  “And you tell us now?” Vianne asked.

  “Between everything else that has happened, I am sure you can forgive me for letting this slip through the fingers in my mind,” I bit back at her. “I do not understand it. But maybe Marthil knows more? She is the only link we have with Gordex.”

  “One thing at a time,” Hadrian said, placing his fingers to his temple. “We need to find Emaline and Illera. Then once we discuss what has happened in the lost days, we can move forward with this idea that the druids created the shifters.”

  My mind swam with everything that had been unearthed in the past days. I only hoped we had more days of them in the future to work out exactly what was going on. I couldn’t help but feel the threatening vibe that Gordex had woven his web decades ago, which would have placed him leagues ahead of us all. If he had created the shifters, he was more than merely steps ahead of us in this game. He was decades ahead.

  Time always favored those on the side of victory.

  IT SURPRISED ME just how narrow the steps down into Vcaros were. If a city was truly below us, surely there must have been a better way in and out? Unless those in control did not want people to leave, and there was no way an army could come charging in unannounced. Not with such little room to move.

  Hadrian was first to decline my suggestion to visit the city. But I couldn’t imagine where else Emaline and Illera would be, and we had no time to waste waiting for them. With the intense heat of the sun above ground, I was certain both girls would not be passing the time amongst the desert of dunes. My only answer was they were already in the city. Kell had made it clear that we could not go there unannounced, but it was a risk we were willing to take. What could they possibly do?

  We were the Dragori, the ones who would put an end to Gordex. They needed us.

  The answer came sooner than I expected.

  “Halt.” The shout reached us before we even stepped around the final steps onto the open floor. It vibrated across the tall stone walls, disorientating us as we look around for the source.

  Hadrian gripped my hand, sensing the violence in the single word that was shouted our way.

  The voice that greeted us was male, deep and threatening. It belonged to the Morthi guard who stood in the middle of what looked like a bridge way of stone. His hands were folded over the hilt of a large sword that easily came up to his chest. He was dressed in black layers of leather and metal, if there were natural sources of light it would have danced of the different materials beautifully. The crimson hue the glowing crystals gave off from the cave’s walls was enough light to make out all the necessary details around us.

  Reaching the bottom of the stairs, I scanned the ominous space we’d entered. It was vast. The ceiling so far up that it was shrouded in black. It was no more than an open cave, gilded with crystals. Stalactite’s dripped from the shadows above, browns tinted with gold. Sharp enough to cut but to far up to reach.

  The bridge way was the only piece of land connecting the ledge we stood on to the one beyond the guard. The space was no bigger than the one Hadrian and I stood on. Mostly because the brass gate took up most of the wall. Vcaros must be beyond it.

  Hadrian stepped past Vianne and me, raising his hands to show we were not threat. “We are here to see Kell. She is our correspondent and member of my New Council and we believe she is currently waiting for us within the city you so bravely guard.”

  Vianne shot me a look, showing me that she too noticed the hint of sarcasm that Hadrian threw at the guard.

  “Leave.”

  Even from this distance, I could see his grip on the long sword tighten.

  Hadrian peered over his shoulder at me and whispered through the corner of his mouth. “A little help here.”

  “Could you then point us in the direction of our friends. Emaline and Illera, we are looking for them. We have been told they are staying in the apartment burrow on the higher grounds. But we are led to believe they are currently gallivanting amongst Vcaros. Do you know of them?”

  “The demoness is and will never be within this city.” The way he said it made my heart skip a beat. He spat his words, clear of his distaste for Emaline. For us. “Now leave, before you are made to.”

  “Understood,” Hadrian replied, voice monotone and bored. He turned for the stairs again, already giving up on finding them.

  “Wait,” I grabbed his upper arm and pulled him back. I then turned my attention to the guard, willing some sort of command in my request. Shouting didn’t feel right so I took cautious steps forward towards him, leaving Hadrian and Vianne behind. “If you could get a message within the city for us it would be helpful. I understand that you—”

  My body suddenly faltered. I only managed four steps over when the guard shifted his stance, as if my walking was a threat. He raised the long sword in both of his hulking hands and flashed the tip at me.

  “Not another step,” he shouted.

  “Lower your weapon!” I heard Hadrian behind me, but my mind was swimming with the sudden weakness. I tripped over my own feet, landing on one knee, then looked up at the end of the guard’s weapon. Gold. The entire sword was gold. It was not a weapon to be used in a fight but means to keep certain beings away. The Dragori.

  I then caught the other handle of a sheathed sword attached to the thick belt of the guard. The one he held was no more of a caution, one that affected me greatly.

  The dull light from the glowing crystals danced across the swords surface, highlighting the warm tones that ran through it like rivers of power and strength.

  “Stay back,” I mumbled to Hadrian who ran forward. But I was too late. He got close to my side and fell beside me. The presence of pure gold taking its toll on us both.

  His back shook as he took deep, labored breaths. Hands splayed on the gritty ground his fingers, clenching as he fights against the drowning weakness.

  “You were told to leave, yet you ignore.” The guard slammed the sword three times on the bridge, sending a heavy thudding vibrating across the cave. Vianne was shouting something at him, but I was too focused on the opening doors behind the guard to notice what she said.

  Guards streamed out of the half-opened gates, some dressed in whites, some in blacks like the guard that hovered above us. The only sound that followed was the beat of their booted feet as they swarmed the bridge and circled us.

  Then the pain intensified.

  With each guard from Vcaros who pointed yet another gold-infused weapon our way, I felt the heavy weight of weakness bare down on me. As if the cave around me seemed to get smaller, pushing down on my body and crushing me, the gold pinned me to the ground. Tears leaked from the corners of me eyes, cheek pressed to the cold cave ground. My body refused me of my senses. Each one disappeared after the other. First my sense of smell deceived me, then my hearing. My vision was the final to leave. Everything I saw was in double until the outlines of figures blurred and obsidian were all I could make out.

  I couldn’t move. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t lift my face from the floor. The vision of Hadrian squirming beneath the gold’s presence was all I could see within my mind’s eye. Over and over it replayed as the world beyond the darkness carried on.

  The dark presence turned inside of me, waking from its slumber once again. At first, I thought it was no more than a trick of the overwhelming shadows. But soon I knew I was wrong. The presence, it was all too familiar. Seeing Hadrian in such much pain tugged on the deep buried anger and urged it to wake.

  Yes. The voice filled every vein of blood in my body, igniting it with renewed energy.

  Gordex’s voice meddled with the darkness, growing like the smoke from a freshly extinguished fire. The more it grew, the more I could hear Gordex.


  This is how they treat you. They cause you pain. They cause your love pain. Will you let them do this?

  I squinted my eyes closed, trying everything to push the dark anger back. But it was strong. It knocked aside my futile efforts to control it and began spreading itself across every limb.

  Everyone has a weakness dear boy, but sometimes one’s weakness can be the key to ultimate control.

  Heart Magick, the darkness was Heart Magick. It fell into place as the shadow filled my body. It was the key for Gordex to control. A darkness I had felt before, but this time stronger.

  All at once I was back in the throne room in Olderim, battling Alina with my magick. Anger was the key to my loss of control. Now it was the pathway for Gordex to take over me as he had with Petrer, Marthil and so many more. I belonged to him now. Just like his shadowbeings, I was his puppet.

  With the Heart Magick glowing through my body, it protected me from the gold. No longer did it hurt me, no longer did it make me weak.

  The wind in the cave was stale. Every sense of mine was overwhelmed with my element, preparing myself to protect Hadrian. All it took was a single breath in to refresh my mind, body and power. Then I readied myself, pulling the cave’s air towards my body like a taunt string. I had to protect Hadrian. My Hadrian.

  Be unrestricted. Show them that you are to be feared.

  Gordex’s voice was the siren call which freed me.

  The Stalactites vibrated against my force. My wings ripped through the cave, distracting the guards who began reaching for me.

  I released the hurricane from my very bones and forced the air to spin in powerful vortexes around us. In a single swipe the many Morthi guards who had only moments before surrounded us, now were sent into the air against my powerful force.

  Locked in my control, I pushed everyone away from Hadrian, sending their golden weapons with them. No longer close to our weakness, I could see Hadrian move from the floor, his own magick burning into life. His eyes glowed with anger and flame. My air rippled around his skin which glowed blue, a blue I’d seen whilst he battled his Heart Magick all those weeks ago.