Chapter Thirty-Four
Serafina
Elek had gone ahead through the window, transforming into the monstrous black dragon from my vision. To many, I was certain, he was terrifying. Yet, I had never seen anything so breathtaking as a dragon take flight.
“What’s the plan, princess?”
Rolling my eyes at the mocking tone of the title, I turned to look at the door leading out of the tower to the castle.
“He will wreck it from the outside, I’ll do the same on the inside.”
“Got it.”
As I reached the door, I was compelled to pause and rethink one piece of my plan. Turning, I took in Huri’s expectant gaze.
“Leave the elf servants alone. Let them have a chance to escape.”
Huri didn’t ask for any explanations and followed me out the door.
Chaos erupted outside. People screamed in terror. Soldiers barked orders. Every sound made the walls quake in response as we hurried down the stairs to the top landing of the castle. The wings started to become unbearable weights and I had to retract them as we descended. One day I would use them, but not that day.
Fae guards closed the gap to the other end, blocking further descent.
“Princess Serafina, if you resist and refuse to return to your room we will be forced to escort you there by any means necessary. Your companion will be taken and interrogated.” One called out.
From beside me, Huri gave a maniacal chuckle as they stepped forward. Their fingers took the shape of razor dragon’s talons, clicking them together. The sound chilled me.
“You all look like little babes compared to me. It almost makes me feel bad for what is about to happen.” Huri’s eyes straightened as they tucked their spectacles in a breast pocket.
If I blinked I would have missed the swift and merciless display of the carnage as bodies fell at Huri’s feet. Their talons dripped with crimson as they reformed back into human-like fingers.
“Hurry along, Sera. Elek is going to be all finished by the time we reach the bottom.” They ushered.
So terrifying, I thought, replaying the massacre in my head. Limbs and heads rolled on the floor, frighted expressions forever petrified on their features.
In the Grand Hall we came face-to-face to the one I wanted to put an end to the most. Even more so than Hamish.
“I don’t know how you managed it, but the Dragon Prince seems to have made a full recovery. How miraculous.” Drawled Morana.
From my peripheral, Huri’s talons were out as they snarled at our opponent. Leather rubbed against my palm as I tightened my grip. She grinned at the sight.
“Kellen isn’t here to stop me now. You’ll make a wonderful little puppet.”
Doors around us opened to reveal the draugr that consisted of men wearing Demarian leathers and elves who had hardly any armor at all. It would be a mercy to dispatch them quickly.
“Leave the undead to me, Sera. You don’t have fire abilities.” Huri instructed.
No, I suppose I don’t. However, as I lay in the void and hoped to be awakened, there was an epiphany. I was not only a descendant, and holder of the very soul, to Belinha but also the granddaughter to Cato. A deity who governed over the oceans and could summon a hurricane with a sweep of his tail. And the ring on Morana’s finger was no longer going to be a handicap for me.
As Huri summoned a glorious blaze, I searched within myself to sift through my genetic makeup. Being born in Regnum, I should have been born a human. However, as I plucked out the exact strand I was searching for, the idea of my being just a human was laughable. I was far from it, and it was time to prove it. To right the wrongs that I couldn’t as Belinha. Beginning with the necromancer.
No, I could not summon fire, but lightning would be enough. Raising my gladius a small spark jumped from my fingertips. Just a bit more.
Soon the entire blade was engulfed with electric energy and I stared at Morana in triumph before making the first move.
Despite being a magic user, she was nimble. Swiping towards her feet she stumbled. Taking advantage, I moved faster. She threw up dark energy shields, but they were so thin that the lightning had little trouble nullifying them.
In a desperate attempt, she lunged towards me, using her body to knock me to the floor. Marble met the back of my head. Specks of light danced in my vision as she loomed over me, a small dagger in hand.
“I look forward to seeing what else you can do once you’re a beautiful corpse.”
“I’d rather throw myself on a blazing pyre.” I countered, snatching her throat with my open palm. “Gotcha.”
Vibrations turned to rapid sparks at my fingertips swirling around her neck as I squeezed. The dagger clanked on the floor as Morana frantically tried to pull herself away from me. Unfortunately for her, I wasn’t going to let go.
As she lay lifeless before me, tendons and veins in ribbons about her throat, a sense of relief washed over me. Not just for myself, but for anyone else she had tormented.
Around Huri and I the undead fell motionless, their strings finally severed.
“Way to go.” Huri said, peering over my shoulder.
“That’s one sibling. Two more and a king to go.” I said softly.
Walls shuddered around us as more soldiers enclosed us. Deafening roars shook the ground from outside, causing many of them to step back from us.
“Normally I would have mercy for those who hesitate to follow orders, but we have things to do and places to be.” Talons erupted from Huri’s hands as they approached the fairies.
“I will give you to the count of five to escape. Afterwards, whoever remains will be left wingless and dead at my feet.”
Eyes darted amongst the fairies as they contemplated their fates.
“One…”
Fidgeting began.
“Two…”
A quarter ran.
“Three…”
The rest raised their swords.
“Five…”
True to their word, Huri showed no mercy as they ripped into their flesh as if they were made of butter. Pure malice flared in their eyes, a twisted grin on their lips as they tore off each wing.
Some who remained tried to run, to fly away to safety; but Huri caught them with ease and slaughtered them. It should have made me retch at the sight. A metallic odor permeated the air and blood covered most of the floor. But I was consumed with reaching outside.
Another roar echoed from outside. Something was changing. I could feel it in my soul.
“Elek!”
Leaping over the carnage, I charged for the double doors. Screaming erupted through a large courtyard at the entrance. Women and children, both elves and fae, ran for their lives into the woods. Regret built up for them, they were innocent after all. Though, all the bodies that lay lifeless on the ground were all armored as soldiers. Elek wasn’t the kind of man to attack those who could not defend themselves.
Up above Elek was gnawing and clawing at a protective shield around Oberron. The king laughed darkly, his palm outstretched as a beam of light shot from his hand running through Elek’s left wing, causing him to fall. Fissures sprung from the earth, webbing as Elek crashed against the fountain near me.
“Elek!”
Halfway through my sprint a hand clasped my upper arm from behind.
“No, you’ll remain here.” The familiar words sounded from behind me.
Spinning around, I was met with Hamish’s face. Tugging my arm free, I stepped back and lifted my blade.
“Just try and keep me here.” I challenged.
His eyes widened at my defiance. Just looking at him, I knew he was not a trained fighter. He wasn’t like his brother at all. I raised the tip of my blade to become level with his heart, daring him to engage me.
A grimace formed on his lips before he hastily retreated, running back towards the castle.
I will find him later, I thought as I hurried to Elek’s side.
Lifting a warming hand, I swept my fingers across the bloody tear in the membrane of his wing. A low whine rumbling from his jaw.
“It’ll be patched quickly.” I said, firmly pressing against the wound and kneading together every torn piece.
Smiling at my handy work, I looked into Elek’s large eye, that watched me the entire time.
“Let’s go home.”
I had enough of the mayhem, and the longer we lingered the more likely that innocent people would be hurt. We made our point and would do so again if we were pushed.
Beams of light struck the ground around us. Using my body as a shield, I laid myself over Elek’s monstrous head, only to have him shield us both with his wings.
“Oh Princess!” A call from outside our cocoon.
Picking the gladius up from the ground, I nodded at Elek to let me out. I turned a blind eye on Hamish, for the time being. Oberron would not have the same luxury.
Raising to my feet, I reformed my wings. They suited me, I thought as they spread away from my frame, flexing them in and out.
Looming above us flew the Fairy King. A grin formed on his lips.
“Or should I say ‘goddess.’” He uttered mockingly as he landed six feet away.
“Call me whatever you desire, it won’t matter soon enough.” I responded, lifting my sword.
Scales brushed my arm as they receded and the human form of Elek stood beside me. In one hand rested his one-handed sword while the other held a flickering blaze.
Oberron’s tongue darted out, tracing his lips as he stared hungrily at me.
“It would be a waste to give you to my sons. Perhaps once Demarcus falls I’ll claim you instead.”
An icy shiver trailed down my spine. Elek moved to block my body with his. Fury cloaked him as his wings pushed me further behind him. A low growl hummed from his chest.
“Oh, young boy.” Oberron mocked, raising a palm. “Dragons are so dim witted. I almost pity you.”
A beam of light erupted from the Fairy King’s palm towards us. Elek threw his ball of fire to the ground. A blazing wall rose up to shield us and swallowed up the blast.
Laughing maniacally, Oberron threw blast after blast at our fire shield. Elek kept conjuring more to cover all the blind spots until we were surrounded by a ring of fire.
“I fucking hate fairies.” My husband growled out.
“You can’t keep this up, Elek. Let me out and I’ll fight him.” I offered, only to be given wide eyes in response.
“The necromancer is gone. He won’t risk killing me and I will use that to move in and strike. Trust me.” I pleaded.
He turned away from me, adding more fire to the shield. The pregnant silence was deafening as I watched his shoulders rise with tension. Then a sigh.
A small opening appeared beside me, just big enough to crawl through.
“If you die, I’ll curse your soul.” He muttered. “I’ll distract him. Go!”
Before leaving through the hole, I leaned into his back. With both arms, I embraced him tightly from behind and reached up to kiss his cheek.
“More like I’ll curse you, again.” I giggled and then swiftly exited, keeping to the shadows. There was a chance I would only have one opportunity to strike. I had to make it count.
