Hidden Fire

by Deirdra Eden

  He was about to saddle my horse, but Korban stopped him. “We’ve got to hurry,” he said. “Aura’s horse is still healing and will be too slow.”

  Azrael lifted me onto his horse and leapt up behind me. His arms locked around me like immortal steel.

  “No!” I shouted. If I left now, they would never let me return for my revenge. All I could see was the colour red. I wanted revenge.

  Azrael gripped the reins. “Yah!” he bellowed. The horse took off at a fast gallop from the stables through the streets of London.

  I sat rigid in Azrael’s arms, helpless against his strength, but still angry at him.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered in my ear.

  I shrugged and looked away. The cold night air whipped the hot tears from my face. The horses’ hooves echoed off the London Bridge as we galloped full speed toward the city boundaries.

  The horse reared up in surprise and slid to a halt. Azrael, Orion, and Korban struggled to gain control over the frightened animals. Obsidian mist enveloped us in a tsunami of darkness. Not even the light of the moon penetrated the blanket of icy gloom.

  “Did you think you could get away that easily?” Erebus seethed as he stepped through the darkness. Shadow Wolves and Shadow Lords surrounded us on all sides. Hungry Spirits of Shadow floated overhead.

  Azrael drew his sword and held it in the air. “We won’t surrender without a fight.”

  Erebus laughed. “Do you know how powerful I could be if I drank the blood of four more Neviahans?”

  The Shadow Wolves stalked closer. The hair on my arms stood as the reality of death became inevitable. This battle was over. The four of us couldn’t defeat Erebus and his army. If Azrael and I used Starfire there was no way Korban, Orion, and Baby would survive.

  Erebus didn’t know that Azrael was my key or he would have already killed us and taken the power of Starfire.

  “Wait,” I said. “You don’t want them.” If there was going to be any blood drinking I had to find a way to save Azrael to protect the power of Starfire.

  Erebus laced his spider-like hands together. His pupils narrowed to a slit as he focused on me. “Why not?” he asked coolly.

  “What do you want more? The power of four Watchers or a Shadow Queen?” I asked.

  Erebus dropped his hands to his sides. “Are you saying you will come with me willingly back to the castle?”

  “If you let them go,” I agreed.

  Azrael’s hand covered my mouth. His lips pressed against my ear. “You don’t know what you’re doing. If he takes you as queen, you will give birth to an army we could never defeat. It is best we die fighting him now. Use Starfire and blow the whole of London up.”

  Two Shadow Lords gripped Azrael, yanked him from the horse, and slammed him against the road. They held a dagger over his heart—the one place where, if struck, could kill an Immortal.

  “No.” I jumped from the horse. A Shadow Lord gripped me from behind and locked my shoulders in place.

  Orion and Korban were on their feet, ready to fight.

  “Stop, Erebus, stop them!” I tried to pull away.

  Erebus held up his hand, and the Shadow Lords removed the dagger.

  I took a deep breath and gazed into Azrael’s beautiful eyes behind his cursed mask. This was the only way I could save him, all of London, and protect Starfire.

  Erebus strode toward me. His eyes narrowed as if searching my soul.

  “Please don’t hurt them,” I begged. “Let them go and I will stay.”

  “No!” Azrael roared. “We do not fear them that kill the body, but, Aura, don’t let him kill your soul!”

  I swallowed hard and looked at Azrael for the last time.

  Erebus’s fingers curled like claws around my face and forced me to look at him. “Come with me to the castle and I will do no harm to your friends.”

  I glanced down at the ruby necklace around his neck and nodded. Erebus’s cold hands pressed against my ribs and followed the contours of my waist down to my hips. “You finally made the right decision.” He whipped the edge of his cloak through the air and tossed it over us. The world went dark as the Shadow King and I disappeared into a shroud of mist.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Shadow Queen

  Erebus clenched the back of my neck and shoved me into my room. “Prepare yourself for our wedding. I will be waiting in the king’s chambers for you.” He commanded several Shadow Lords to stand watch outside so I couldn’t escape.

  As soon as he slammed the door, I searched the room for any weapon I could use to exact my revenge. I found a dagger and a dull sword. They would have to do. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t eliminate the Shadow King. He murdered my fiancé and tricked me into loving him.

  Once I killed Erebus I doubt I would be able to get past the army of Legionnaires or the pack of wolves waiting outside—this was a suicide mission. I dropped my shoulders. At least the Legion wouldn’t get the power of Starfire without Azrael’s blood too.

  My knee-high leather boots clicked on the stone tile as I marched to the balcony doors and flung them open. The cold night air washed the scent of death and bonfires over me. My tailored black leather armour reflected the silver moonlight breaking through Erebus’s storm. The city glittered below like a sea of stars and the river Thames laced through London like a black snake.

  I grabbed onto the thick ivy vines growing like a sheet along the side of the castle and crept up the wall. Pulling myself onto the king’s balcony, I crouched low like a black jungle cat. The curtains billowed in the wind, revealing the Shadow King pacing the room with his hands balled into fists at his sides. I watched and waited for the right moment to attack.

  Erebus glanced into the hallway and shouted, “What’s taking her so long?” He slammed the door shut and turned to the room.

  I whipped back my dagger and flung it between the curtains. The blade skimmed across Erebus’s neck and stuck into the bedpost. Erebus held his hand over his neck as black, tar-like blood oozed from the wound. The wound closed up as his flesh mended together. I glared at the ruby necklace hanging over his chest. If I was going to have any chance of winning this fight, I had to get my necklace back.

  I bounded through the doors, jump-kicked, and slammed the heel of my boot into his face.

  His head snapped back as he fell to the floor, momentarily stunned. I whirled to the door and slipped the lock in place before his guards could interfere.

  Erebus braced himself against the bed and rose to his feet. “Resister!” he hissed, sounding more like a snake than a human.

  I unsheathed the sword at my side. My long hair flamed around my angry face. “You have something of mine.” I pointed to the necklace he wore. “And I have something of yours.” I flicked my sapphire engagement ring at him.

  Erebus snatched the ring in his hand and tightened his fist. Glittering gem dust seeped between his fingers and showered onto the ground. “Fool!”

  I positioned my sword between us. “Are you afraid to fight me without the necklace to protect you?”

  Erebus tore the ruby necklace from his neck and dropped it onto the bed. “I have the powers of a dozen Neviahans, and your precious blood will be mine as well.” His eyes glistened with terror and envy. Though his voice shook with fear, he laughed. “And I have you here, all alone, to myself. The best part is, you are still a fragile mortal.” He laughed again, sounding more confident. “Where are your kingdom’s brave warriors? If the King of Neviah still cared for you, he would send armies to your aid.” Erebus wrapped his fingers around Lucas’s sword, and his eyes flashed with fury. The Shadow King lunged for me with the blade extended.

  I blocked his assault and thrust the tip of my sword into his shoulder. Glistening obsidian blood oozed from Lucas’s body. Erebus didn’t react to the pain.

  “Lucas taught you well. I had all his memories of you come to me as I drained the life out of him,” he taunted.

  I pulled my weapon from his body and step
ped back, battling the emotions raging inside me.

  “Stand down, Auriella,” Erebus said, ignoring the new wound. “You have no chance of winning this fight.” He whipped his blade toward me.

  I raised my sword with one hand and blocked the force of his massive blow. “I will not stand down!” Strength rushed through my veins as if I were standing in the sun.

  His expression hardened. “No Earthling has ever stood their ground against me and lived.”

  My lips lifted in an impish smile. “I’m not from Earth.” The hair on my arms stood and chills raced up my body as warmth filled my heart. Flames sprang from my hands and enveloped me like armour. Sparkling fire danced off my sword, creating a vortex of heat as I whirled the weapon and slammed the Shadow King against the wall.

  Erebus’s look of shock melted as he taunted, “Go ahead, destroy Lucas’s body.”

  I hesitated for a split second.

  Erebus took the opening to strike. Sparks sprayed off my hot blade. He struck again, knocking the sword from my hand. Lucas’s sword sliced deep into my palm.

  I screamed in pain and clenched my teeth together. Blood gushed out my hand and dripped down my fingers into a puddle on the stone floor. I held my hand close to my body to stop the blood from rushing out.

  Healing fire sprang from my hands and the pain subsided. I opened my palm and examined the pink scar marking my skin.

  Erebus twisted his lips into a grin and motioned toward the necklace on the bed. “Now why would someone who can heal themselves carry a necklace like this?” He reached out with inhuman speed and gripped my wrists. My fingers throbbed under the crushing pressure of his strength. “Is it because you can’t heal broken bones?”

  Snap!

  I tensed and bit my lip, refusing to give him the pleasure of hearing me scream in pain.

  Erebus dropped me onto the floor. I held both my broken arms to my chest.

  He bent down and whispered into my ear. “Or are you hoping that one day the necklace will heal your heart?”

  I glanced at the Shadow King wearing and controlling Lucas’s body like a glove. I had experienced too much loss, betrayal, and abandonment in this life to ever heal.

  Erebus snatched me from the floor and held my back to his chest. His arms locked around me in a suffocating vice. “I’m giving you this last chance to live.” Erebus placed the necklace around my neck and connected the clasp. My arms filled with heat as the healing power of the necklace mended my bones. “I have the power to make all your pain go away.” He unclasped the necklace and held it in front of my face. “If you refuse, your powers will still aid us. All it takes is for you to be dead.” He pulled a dagger from the sleeve of his shirt and inhaled greedily. “I have no doubt your blood will be the sweetest I have ever tasted.”

  I braced myself as the cold metal touched my neck.

  His breath penetrated my skin like icy daggers as he spoke. “This is your last chance. Join with us and live.”

  I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced my unyielding answer. “Never!”

  The doors slammed against the walls. The wood shattered into splinters. A torrent of wind whipped my hair around my face like a wild fire. Several Shadow Lords hit the ground. Black blood oozed from their lifeless bodies. Azrael stepped into the room and held out his Scottish broad-sword. Shadow blood-stained his tunic and glistened off his boots.

  “Azrael?” I gasped. Why would that idiot come back? Now we were both going to die, and Erebus would have the power of Starfire.

  “How romantic,” Erebus seethed. “The fourth son of the Neviahan king has come to rescue his lady. Still wearing your cursed mask, I see—brother.”

  “Azrael, run!” I screamed.

  A surge of wind whirled debris through the room. Azrael advanced.

  Erebus’s blade bit into my neck.

  I gasped as my warm blood streamed down my cold skin.

  Azrael halted.

  “You aren’t my brother anymore,” Azrael said. “Not since you chose to rebel against father and abandon our kingdom.”

  Erebus cast me aside and pointed the dagger at Azrael. “Father cursed us! He took away our powers, and I am only taking back what is mine by drinking Watcher blood.” Erebus stepped forward. I slid against the wall and held my hand to the wound on my neck. “Earth is ours now,” Erebus shouted. “No one is going to drive me out of my kingdom I’m creating on Earth.” Saliva flew from his lips as he spoke. “It’s you who are invading our kingdom on Earth with your celestial light.”

  Azrael glanced at me and looked at the blood on the floor from when my hand was split open. “What about the humans?” Azrael asked. “Earth is their home.”

  Erebus took a step toward Azrael. “Humans are too much like you Watchers. They need to be destroyed while they are still weak.” He tilted his head back and laughed. “It was too easy to figure out your weakness, Prince Azrael.” He turned from Azrael and pointed at me.

  “You’re right, Aura is my weakness.” A smile escaped Azrael’s lips. “But she is also my strength.” Azrael jolted forward and shot a ball of fire into my blood on the floor.

  I ducked my head and covered my ears. The explosion seemed to shake every bone in my body. The fire-ball blazed with heat and slammed me against the wall. Blue and white flames tore through the room, disintegrating everything in its path. The stones smoldered and cracked from the heat. My ears rang inside my buzzing skull.

  Azrael gripped my hand and pulled me into his arms. “We’ve got to go!” My head whirled from the force of the explosion. Azrael carried me through the inferno to the remains of the balcony. Waves of heat swirled around us in suffocating pressure as it consumed the oxygen.

  “Azrael,” I gasped out his name. Why did he take us to the balcony? The castle tower was collapsing. The stones under his feet cracked and the tower shook. I looked over the balcony railing to the stone courtyard three levels down.

  “You can thank me later,” he said, then added, “If we live.” He wrapped one arm around the small of my back. “Hang on.”

  I leaned into his chest and ducked my head. There was no way we could survive this fall. Azrael pressed me close to him. He leaped into the sky away from the crumbling tower.

  The ground seemed to be rising and we plummeted toward the earth. I gripped Azrael tighter and imagined my whole body broken, like my arms had been before the necklace healed me. Cold air streamed past us, whipping our hair and clothes against our bodies.

  “Brace yourself.” Azrael rolled onto his back to act as a buffer between me and the cobblestone courtyard. I buried my face into his chest. The wind pushed up against us in a swirling vortex, slowing our speed before we smacked against the ground. The stones under Azrael’s body cracked.

  I lifted my head and pushed myself off his motionless body.

  “Azrael!” I screamed. “Say something.” A fall like that, even with a little wind resistance, should have put him in survival sleep.

  Azrael moaned.

  I brushed his hair back and stroked his face.

  Azrael sat up, put his hand to the back of his head, and smiled. “I told you I would steal you away from him.”

  “Azrael.” I tried not to laugh. “That fall rattled your brain.”

  Clanking chain mail and clicking boots on stone echoed from the castle.

  “Time to go.” Azrael jumped to his feet and snatched my hand. We raced from the courtyard to the stables.

  “Do you think my horse will make it?” I asked, wondering about her healing legs.

  “We have no choice,” Azrael answered.

  Azrael flung open the stable doors. A Shadow Lord held my horse by the reins and fired a crossbow.

  Azrael caught the arrow in mid-flight and flung it into the Shadow Lord’s neck. Another rebel dropped from the rafters behind Azrael. I hurled my dagger and stuck the Shadow Lord in the eye socket. Azrael spun around as the rebel fell to the ground.

  Azrael whistled. “Impressive.”


  I curtsied like a lady. “Not as impressive as you catching arrows in mid-flight.”

  Azrael’s eyes danced with joy behind his mask. “It helps when you can control the wind.” He boosted me up onto my horse, mounted behind me, and grabbed the reins.

  “‘Tis nice that I don’t have to hold you down this time,” he teased. Azrael flexed his arms around me. We took off at a fast gallop through the back streets of London to avoid the Legion. Azrael and I burst through the gates leading out of the city and rode into the dark forest. “Keep your sights straight ahead of you,” Azrael warned. “Do not look back.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Warrior’s Death

  Shame and guilt ate at my heart like acid. I blinked several times to hold back my tears. It was my duty to protect London from the Shadow Legion, and now it was overrun. Humans would start dying at a rapid rate from whatever plague Erebus had in store for them. It was all because of me. My body quivered from more than just the cold north wind and assailing storm.

  “Are you well?” Azrael asked, his voice pulling me back to the present.

  My mind couldn’t erase the events from last night. “I feel like a lady-in-waiting with nothing to wait for, and a knight for a kingdom that has fallen.” I kept my eyes straight ahead of me and avoided eye contact with Azrael so I wouldn’t break down into tears.

  Azrael touched my hand. I ignored the white sparks skittering up my arm. The Starfire energy rushed faster than lightning through every vein in my body, then back down my arm into Azrael’s hand.

  “‘Tis over now,” he whispered. “Everything will be fine once we reach the sanctuary.”

  I nodded, but doubted. There was still so much work to do. How were we going to take back London?

  We rounded the bend in the road and met up with Korban and Orion waiting with Baby and Azrael’s horse. Recognition flickered in their eyes and they relaxed when they saw us.

  Orion dropped his shoulders and let out a gust of air as if he had been holding his breath. “‘Tis you.”

  Baby charged toward us, startling the horse.

  “Whoa,” Azrael called. Baby reluctantly took a few steps back and waited for Azrael to dismount.