by S A Edwards
“Really?” He folded his arms. “And what makes you so sure?”
I didn’t have an answer for him. Truth be told, the Keepers wouldn’t do anything I asked, except banish me through the Void. If I were in their shoes, I’d probably try to banish me, too. But maybe I could use that to convince him. As much as they misunderstood me, whatever their reason for denying Kyne and his followers access to the Void must be valid. Judging by his terrifying gift and sadistic personality, I was inclined to agree.
“You’re bluffing,” Kyne said.
“No. When I’ve freed Charlie, they’re going to open the Void for me. If you’re there, you can come, too.” I dreaded the thought of having to stop him, to go back on my word, but I could worry about that later. To prevent him plotting against me and slowing my journey to Charlie, an agreement with him would be worth it.
His eyes flashed. “They’re letting you go?”
“Do we have a deal or not?”
He considered with pursed lips. “We do.” He released the mother. “Let them go.”
She fell into the arms of her husband and pulled her children close amidst their sobs.
The Mage who had hid the Mortals frowned. “You have to call off the beast, too.” She glared at Chimera.
Kyne scoffed. “It doesn’t work like that, Tulia. The Chimera will follow her wherever she goes.”
“What do you know about Chimera?” I asked.
“I know enough.” He turned to the company scattered through the trees. “Pack up! We’re moving out.”
A surge of power pulsed at the darkness of the Gate, pushing it toward me.
I staggered back, alarmed.
Chimera glanced at me, and a growl rumbled deep in his throat.
“We’ve got to go.” I wound my fingers in his fur. If I fled, the Mortals would be killed, but if the power of the Gate reached me….
The magic ebbed, and then thrust forward, catching me in its grip.
My breath caught in my throat.
The darkness intensified, engulfing me ten-fold, like hundreds of Gates at once. Demonic screams tore through my mind. Glee and desires for revenge smashed my control.
I cried out, my voice barely audible to my buzzing ears and fought to control the power, to grasp it by the seams. It frayed around my attempts, growing stronger, darker.
A crack of pain shot through me, and then the power fizzled away.
I gasped, chest heaving, fingers digging into the dirt.
“What’s wrong with you?” Kyne demanded. He stood near, fists clenched, eyes wide. Then, slowly, he turned to the arch.
One of the Mage stood peering down at a tiny, salmon-coloured fluffball. Large, gleaming, black eyes blinked beneath the fluff, and four, stubby legs poked out beneath.
“Target,” Kyne said, the warning in his voice unmistakeable. “Back away.”
“But it’s so cute.” Target crouched down.
“Move away, now,” Kyne barked.
“Come here, little thing.” Target reached out, a stupid smile plastered to his face, like he was under its spell. Surely this couldn’t be the Hellion. How could something so adorable be dangerous? Though, the warning in my mind confirmed it.
The fluffball bounded forward until it stood inches from Target’s hand. It sniffed it, hiccupped, and then grew to a giant size in an explosion of deep brown, razor sharp spikes. Teeth protruded from a gaping mouth.
Target’s horror manifested seconds before the Hellion swallowed him whole.
“Move!” Kyne shouted and raced away from it.
The Hellion snapped at him with shocking speed, taking a chunk out of his cloak.
The Mortals screamed and clambered to stand, hindered by the cords that still bound their ankles and wrists.
The Hellion’s eyes locked on them.
“No.” I scrambled to my feet, calling on the power of my staff. A blast of force erupted through my palm, flattening their hair and forcing the Hellion back. Its claws left gouges in the grass. Leaves flew from the branches.
I reached the father and sent a spark of fire at the cords.
They broke.
He stared at me.
The Hellion shook its head, the razor fur leaving deep scratches in the tree trunks. It snarled and stomped closer.
Chimera rushed forward.
“Chimera! Don’t!”
He slammed into the body of the creature. Claws, roars, and fierce blows pursued.
I released the mother from her bonds, followed by the children. “Go, go,” I shoved them.
Chimera dropped to the ground with a whimper. The scent of blood filled the air and stained the grass from a deep gouge in his side. He didn’t move again.
I stared at his corpse, a hollowness in my chest. “Chimera,” I whispered.
Other Mage surrounded us but stood no chance under the bellowing mouth of the creature. The more it ate, the bigger it became.
Kyne grabbed me. “Move.”
I tried to shrug him off. “I’m not leaving things like this.”
“Don’t be a fool. There’s nothing you can do.”
“I can fight.” I tugged my arm from his grip.
“There are others for that. It’ll kill you.”
“It’ll kill them!”
“Necessary sacrifices.”
A young Mage screamed, his legs failing, caught in the jaws of the Hellion. One jerk of its head and he was gone.
I pushed away from Kyne and called on my flames. They coursed from my hands into the bulk of the beast. The heat warmed my cheeks.
Kyne’s followers took the opportunity to flee or send their own magic at it but its sharp fur cut through our attacks like a rock through water, taking no damage.
It roared and lunged for the closest Mage only to be blinded by another wave of my fire.
Black energy collided with my stomach.
I soared back and crashed against the ground. Dirt scratched my arms and stung my eyes.
Kyne approached, his eyes black. “You’re coming with me.”
Through tear-streaked vision, I glared at Kyne. His magic retreated toward his fingers.
A shiver of anger flared through me. People were going to die, his people, because of him. I pooled my focus, accessing the Preserver within me. Icy wind rose to the surface of my skin. “Get out of my way!” I threw my arm out.
The remains of his cloak flapping, Kyne soared backward and crumpled beyond several trunks.
The Hellion bounded for Rickson, and my heart lurched. Enemy or not, he couldn’t defend himself with fluff. “Rickson, Look out!”
He didn’t move, and then neither did the Hellion. It stopped directly before him, head cocked, and stared.
My pulse raced. “Rickson?”
The creature ducked down level with his stomach.
I stepped closer.
The Hellion shuddered, transformed back into the tiny, salmon fluffball, and bounded deeper into the forest.
Rickson turned to me.
“What just happened?” I asked.
He grinned. “I didn’t die.”
“How? How did you stop it?”
“I don’t know. I guess it got full.”
“You’re kidding, right?” Could his fluff have anything to do with it? Was that his true gift? He could control Hellions? No. It was impossible.
He shrugged.
Kyne stormed into the clearing. “If you ever do that again –”
“What?” I snarled. “You’ll kill someone else? Enough people have died because of you. Look at them.” I jabbed my finger at the injured Mage, cradling their wounds. Those still able to stand were doing their best to assist.
“We’re supposed to be working together,” he growled.
“On my terms. You want to go through the Void, no one else gets hurt.”
“You’re in no position to make demands.”
“Oh, really?”
“Really.” Tulia rounded the still corpse of Chimera, her hair a me
ss, lips twisted in a smirk. “Your precious beast is dead.”
32
Kyne rolled his eyes at the Mage standing over Chimera’s body. “You know nothing, Tulia.”
“I know we can take her now.” She reached for me.
Kyne stretched out his arm, sending a wave of energy rippling toward her.
She staggered back.
“Don’t touch her,” he ordered. The wave disintegrated.
She gaped at Kyne. “But –”
“Clearly you were resting the last time it died.”
Her brow furrowed. “The last time?”
I stared at Chimera with a growing hope. Did that mean he would come back to life again?
As though in answer, Chimera’s body shook and bulged, writhing and growing. Huge paws steadied the muscular body, and a thick mane of hair surrounded his face. He stretched and stood as tall as my shoulders. Opal eyes cut through the gloom and fixed me with a stare.
Kyne shook his head. “It’s going to take more than a lower-level Hellion to kill the Chimera.”
Tulia scowled and marched away.
I smiled at my protector. “It’s good to have you back, Chimera.”
He answered with a hiss at Kyne.
Kyne huffed.
I swept around him with a glare and headed to the nearest Mage. Muscles bulging, his arm and side bore deep gouges from the Hellion’s sharp spikes.
I drew water from the soil and set it coiling above me, separated the impurities, and then directed it to his wounds.
His injuries closed, leaving only the remains of drying blood on his tunic. He nodded at me.
Kyne stood near, watching the forest, and paid no attention to the wounded Mage.
I swallowed back my frustration. “What do you know about Chimera?”
“Clara.” Siren burst into the clearing, closely followed by a panting Hanrel.
Kyne turned on me. “What do you know, Celeste? How did you get your hands on one?” He narrowed his eyes and gazed at my pack swinging in Siren’s hand. “Pick up something new in my absence, did you?”
I took it from Siren and shrugged it over my shoulder. He couldn’t know about the book, could he?
Hanrel leaned against a tree, gasping, and drew water from the trunk to drink. He took in the scene in a moment and sighed. “Really, Kyne? More people hurt?”
Kyne sniffed and moved toward his followers.
I turned to Siren. “You got out.”
Siren’s lips tightened. “A preserver’s ice can’t contain an Ancient.”
I flashed a warning glance toward Kyne. Wasn’t he worried he would overhear?
Siren waved a dismissive hand. “I’m not concerned about him.”
“Why?”
“Now isn’t the time to hide. It’s the time to fight. Which I could do a lot better if you accepted that we’re stronger together.”
The connection thing again? I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Anyone was stronger as a team. “I’m glad you got your gift back.”
“Listen –”
“Don’t lecture me, okay? I’m just trying to keep everyone safe and save Charlie.”
“I know that.” His eyes pierced mine. “I just wish you’d let me help.”
“Don’t you understand why I can’t? Look at them.” I gestured to where Hanrel now flitted from one Mage to another. “They got hurt because of me. The Gate failed because of me. I can’t control …” I peered at Kyne and lowered my voice. “I can’t control this ability, and I don’t want anyone else to die.” Including Siren.
He stepped closer. The warmth from his exposed shoulder made my cheeks flush. “You can’t do this alone.”
“Yes, I can.” I had to. To keep people safe.
He scowled, and a deep irritation stabbed within me. Not mine. His.
“No.” He scooped me up in his arms with surprising speed. White scales melted into view, the heat of his body increased, his hands transformed into claws, and he took off amidst Kyne’s outrage. He pinned me to his body, barring me from the battering wind, until we cleared the treetops.
I clung to him, stomach lurching with the sudden height.
He slowed and hovered, beating his wings periodically.
“Look.” His voice echoed in my mind, and urgency reverberated through my bones.
Forest stretched before us in peaks of jade and emerald and cotton-blossoms.
Siren beat his wings once, climbing higher.
A huge, black circle broke through the woodland, far in the distance, like an Ancient fire consumed all in its path. A single arch stood tall in the centre, emanating a darkness that made me shudder.
“The Underworld Gate,” I whispered.
“The Underworld Gate,” he said. “I know you feel the evil. I feel it, too. All creatures avoid it: Mage, Mortal, the animals, even the plants.”
“But it’s so empty.”
“Not so. Here, beauty disguises evil, but there, darkness roams so freely that any beauty withers. If you go there alone, you will never save Charlie.”
A lump rose in my throat. I never wanted this. If I’d never banished Charlie through the Void, if I’d found another way … Tears welled, and my jaw clenched. He was right. How could I do this alone? But the fear of him trying to stop me pressed in. Could I tell him the truth?
“Clara.” Siren leaned toward me. The scent of vanilla overwhelmed the odour of the forest, and comfort smothered my grief. “Our desires are the same. We will save him. Just don’t push me away.”
A strong blast of wind caused him to wobble, and a sense of foreboding knotted my stomach.
Siren must have felt it, too, because he twisted around.
Shivers coursed through my arms and spine.
Hellions soared over the foliage. Branches swayed and rocked beneath them like a herd barrelled toward us beneath the canopy.
My mind flashed back to the surge of power before the fluffball escaped. More than one Gate. So many more. And this was the result. How had my gift affected the Gates so quickly?
“Siren?”
He didn’t move.
The leading Hellion darted closer, its scarlet eyes bulging within putrid flesh. Tiny wings flapped on its warty back.
“Siren!”
He dropped, tucking his wings around me moments before the monster reached us.
My stomach lurched.
Branches and leaves battered his scales but didn’t touch me in our descent.
He stretched out his wings, coming to an abrupt stop, and deposited me on the dirt.
Shadows blocked out the light, and a chill filled the air. Hellions zoomed overhead, cackling, cawing, and shrieking.
The ground shuddered. In the distance, trunks swayed, and a giant Hellion ploughed through a tall bush. With eyes like slits and green, gleaming scales over its long, thin body, it flashed yellowed fangs.
“Go!” Siren’s word echoed in the recesses of my mind. “Run. I’ll catch up with you.” He let out a stream of white flames.
“No. You’re not …” I gasped. “The camp!” I raced over the soil to where the group rested.
Kyne’s attention snapped to me, expression livid.
“Get out! Run!” I screamed.
Those sitting leapt upright.
With a wave of my hand, blue fire darted across the ground, separating us from the approaching foe. “Hellions! Run!”
The Mage fled from the clearing, abandoning anything they didn’t already hold.
A roar sent shudders through my bones.
I glanced back.
The scaled Hellion loomed above me, releasing a scent of burning flesh. It lashed out.
I dove aside, rolling through the dust.
Black energy battered the creature’s face, drawing snarls. Its tail flicked and rattled like beads.
“Move!” Kyne yelled. His half-eaten cloak whipped in the backlash of his gift. His hands stretched toward the Hellion. Darkness poured from Kyne like tar.
I scr
ambled to my feet and sprinted past him after the Mage, searching for any sign of Siren’s white scales.
Behind Kyne a herd of Hellions burst into view, each as horrific as the next. Rotting flesh, giant pincers, flailing tentacles, and gleaming eyes merged into a nightmarish image.
Kyne released another huge ball of black and streaked after me.
I stumbled but managed to keep fleeing.
The Mage stood ahead, unmoving, the bright light of day breaking through the trunks above. Why weren’t they moving? Their fearful expressions proved they wanted nothing more.
One of them pointed to the ground.
I emerged beyond the trees and skidded to a halt.
Hidden behind a row of tangled weeds, a gaping chasm blocked our way.
33
Asheer cliff led down from the chasm’s edge. The height made my stomach twist.
“There’s no way out,” Hanrel said. He looked over the Mage, his brow furrowed. I understood his pain. They would all die unless we could come up with a solution.
Kyne staggered to a stop, eyes wide at the sight of the drop.
The serpentine Hellion ploughed closer, fangs bared.
“No.” I glared at the approaching monsters. “We’re not giving up like this.” I threw my hands skyward.
A wall of thick ice coursed toward the sparse clouds separating us and the Hellions. It spread along the line of trees as far as I could stretch it, gleaming under the sun’s rays.
The roar of the creature shook the ground. It jabbed its teeth against the sheer side. The wall shook, and for a moment, I feared it would break.
“Quick thinking, lass.” Hanrel cast me a smile.
“It’s not over yet. We still have to get across.” I glanced at the chasm and sent another stream of ice across the wall’s surface. My arms ached and trembled beneath the weight of concentration and exhaustion. “I can’t make a bridge, too,” I panted. “My ice … it’s taking all my focus.”
Kyne glared at the chasm.
“Any of your followers able to get us over there?” I asked.
A boom made the ice tremble. Something huge and dark towered on the other side of the frosty shield, grunting and thumping chunky arms against the side.
“Dmitri,” Kyne called.
The crowd shuffled to reveal a boy standing by the edge. He couldn’t be older than eighteen, which meant his gifts were only recently activated, and he wasn’t fully in control yet. His eyes were closed, hands extended on either side of him.
