Fallen, p.18
Fallen, page 18
part #5 of Ancients of Light Series
The warriors disappeared, but her mate had not. She settled an imperious gaze on him. It would tax her abilities to keep Sayer and Kylie safe if Broderick’s power was not brought under control. She could not be worrying about Lorcan too. “I need you to go.”
Her tone was not the forceful one she’d had for his men and the leadership. It was soft, worrisome, and prompted Lorcan to pause before he launched into a lecture regarding the dangers in proclaiming herself his guardian and then laying down commands. Leaning down instead to search her eyes for the cause of her trouble, Kaitriana saw his concern and smiled. Laying a finger on his cheek, she applied pressure to turn his head the direction where Broderick, Kylie, and Sayer stood. A pallor and sheen of sweat covered the surly Elite. His obvious struggle provided the reason Kaitriana had ordered their comrades away. “There is a connection between the two of them, Lorcan, but Broderick has never acquired the skills to control the full extent of what is between them. He needs my magic.”
His friend was suffering a physical torment… and had nothing to do with the emotional upheaval created by Maeve’s return. Something otherworldly was at play. He would not delay Kaitriana’s assistance by arguing or remaining. Gaining her vow to apprise him in full measure later, he only needed confirmation Kaitriana would be safe without his protection. “You can handle this alone?”
“I need only a few minutes to put Broderick to rights, then I shall be back at your side.” The sincerity and calm in her gaze left Lorcan with no doubts, so he shadowed to join his men near the destruction of the fortress wall.
Wasting no time, Kat hurried to the circle of three. Broderick stood across from Sayer, looking all the more volatile each time his friend tried to encroach. Giving him no option, the last few steps of her journey were erased by shadowing, and Kat grabbed Broderick’s wrist in a vise-like hold. Snarling with a snap of fangs, Broderick lunged as though he might take her throat.
“He will be fine.” Her unflustered explanation was for Sayer and Kylie. Raising up on her toes, she delivered a sharp thwap to his chest in reprimand for his aggression. “I do not like you enough to kill you and end the insufferable misery of your existence, so I suggest you allow me to help.”
“Why should I trust you?” Through gritted teeth, Brod attempted to wrangle free, but Kat was not to be outdone.
Heaving a sigh, Kat held her free hand aloft. It began to shimmer with light. “Because you have no choice. You will either implode from restraining the power, or you’ll unleash it, eliminating the few of us in the Realm who actually believe there is something redeemable in you.” Broderick was in no condition to offer an argument. Beads of sweat peppered his face and panic lingered in his dark eyes. Kaitriana gifted him with a tender smile. “Trust me.” Her soothing entreaty was followed by words of dialect similar to those she’d earlier shouted to the skies.
The glow in her hand grew bright. A myriad of sparkling colors had burst into a cloud around it before the effect absorbed back into her skin and faded. Panting through the pain, Broderick was transfixed by her chant and the magic swirling around her. Kaitriana offered an explanation he had not requested. “If Maeve had been near you all these years, your power would likely have risen over time.” Her chagrin was obvious when she muttered more to herself than the other three. “The entire populace of feathers and halos hanging around tonight certainly did not help matters.”
Not experiencing an ounce of relief, Kat’s damned nonsensical chatter wasn’t helping. Broderick was about to shout at her when she slammed the flat of her palm against his chest. His insult tapered into a howl of pain. Radiating a brilliant light, white hot heat invaded his body from that single point of contact. Though he’d never admit it, Sayer’s strong arm supporting around his shoulders was keeping him upright. The searing incandescence felt as though a torch had been lit inside his chest cavity and a thousand gallons of accelerant blasted through his veins. It left him slumped against his friend even as a rush of adrenaline followed and returned strength to his muscles.
When he’d recovered enough to draw a breath, Broderick forced himself upright and glowered at the witch. “You told me to trust you.”
“I never said it wouldn’t hurt.” Plucky and returning his frown, Kat had poked her tongue out before continuing on. “You don’t feel like your innards are going to be popping out through your eye sockets now, do you?”
He could not argue. Rather than face the superlative gaze of the Queen, Broderick glanced downward. His eyes were drawn to the spot where Kaitriana had placed her hand. The magic had burned through the metal of his breastplate. A familiar design was etched in the metal. His skin beneath it bore the same scorched markings.
“That wound will take longer to heal. The magic I used is intended to keep those special powers of yours under control. I suggest you begin with attempts to draw it out slowly… preferably when you are alone.” The crazy Broomhag’s chattering was lost on him while Brod wracked his brain to recall the origins of the design. “By the time the scar leaves your flesh, you should be better acclimated to your strengths.”
Nodding his understanding, recognition smacked him in the face a moment later. “You branded me with Maeve’s mark!”
“What?” Baffled by his outburst, Kat was already intent on surveying the battle being initiated on the grounds. She turned back, an honest lack of understanding creasing her brow.
Pointing to his chest with a lone finger, Broderick appeared ready to shake her. “This symbol is on the hilt of Maeve’s sword. It is the only place I have ever seen it, you pissy little hag.”
“I wish I had been so clever, Broderick, because I would love nothing better than to tag all your arrogant males with some girly mark to let the entire Realm know who each of you belong to.” Kat jabbed a finger sparked with white light towards his chest and nearly cackled at his quick step in retreat. Coward. “For your information, the mark is of arcane origins and not exclusive to Maeve.”
Seeing disbelief in his eyes, Kat chased him down and slapped her hand on the spot on his chest once more. Chanting in normal Witchspeak, no light formed beneath her palm and this time, when she withdrew her hand, the armor was intact. “I cannot take away the mark, but I can preserve your vanity and hide it from all your boyfriends.”
Broderick disappeared without an answer, prompting Kat to roll her eyes and ask her remaining audience. “Who is the pissy hag here, really?”
CHAPTER 29
Grace hated being surrounded by the long-toothed bloodsuckers. Preferring to observe from the hillside until moving in to assist Maeve, Gideon had robbed her of the opportunity when he’d grabbed her arm and shadowed after Kaitriana’s order. Her discomfort had nothing to do with fear—she could flatten any one of them. Her general dislike for the breed, coupled with the proximity of one particular Coven leader, made her antsy. When her gaze shifted, she focused on the three Generals—Aidan, Tristan, and Alexandros—and then back to where Maeve stood atop a disheveled pile of rocks surveying the fortress. “You didn’t tell me you were bringing all your old friends. I would not have stayed.”
The words were uttered without noticeable rancor, but Gideon knew her soft tone camouflaged seething accusation. Refusing to enter into a pissing match with his churlish commander, his gaze did not deviate from tracking Maeve. “I didn’t know if Lorcan would lend his support, so I needed you here. Our plans were executed in haste, but I was a surprised as you that Lorcan called in the new Council. No matter, I believe you and I are in agreement regarding Maeve’s continued existence being crucial to our plans.”
Unable to argue the point, she indicated such with a quick nod. Suffering their presence was still an ordeal so Grace settled blame and her baleful glare on the leader of the Realm. Though Lorcan possessed no knowledge of the reasons for her animosity towards his breed, nor the depths of her acerbic sentiments for one particular General, she made the Warrior looming two paces to her left the sole recipient of her ill-temper.
Catching her glance, Lorcan had no tolerance for Grace’s blatant disdain. His mate was still on the far hill defusing Broderick. That circumstance made him pricklier than he might have otherwise been. “I don’t know if you’re Gideon’s favorite pet or his flavor of the month, but in my domain, you need to show respect for my warriors.”
The last thing Lorcan expected when confronted with his temper was amusement. It lit her face. “What are you going to do, Leech? Bite me?” Grace had the audacity to tilt her head and tap at her carotid, daring him to try.
The behemoth male lunged her direction. Only Gideon’s hand against Lorcan’s chest saved her from attempted strangulation. Hatred consumed Grace’s gaze and she took a threatening step forward. Her stance reeked of challenge.
The potential for real violence existed, leaving Gideon no option but to call for retreat. “Grace, our assistance is no longer needed here. I’ll escort you home.”
“And miss all the fun?” Grace stepped away from her Ancient protector and out of reach. “I only care if one vamp makes it out of this hellhole.” Skirting the farthest edge of the circle, she was mindful that any one of the bastards might try to grab her for a snack—she had no friends here. The tilt of her head in Maeve’s direction confirmed the Dark Queen was her primary concern. “I’ll do my damned job because she matters and I’m here. You try to send me home like a naughty child and you’ll wish you’d brought a bigger sword, Gideon.” Pivoting, Grace strode in the direction where Maeve had disappeared over the remnant of the wall.
“She’s going to get herself killed.” Lorcan made no attempt to intervene.
“Doubt it.” No matter the future circumstance, Gideon was going to have to keep Grace outside the Realm. Whenever he brought her, something within seemed to click and she became unmanageable for days. The potential threat to her own existence from her erratic behavior outweighed any benefit she might bring in a battle.
“I might be the one responsible for her death.” He wouldn’t kill a human, no matter how much the petulant brat might deserve it, but he wouldn’t mind helping her ass meet the ground a few times. Lorcan pinned Gideon, serious. “My purpose may be to save her kind, but I don’t have to tolerate her insolence.”
The focus of their disagreement crossed the last few yards to Maeve by shadowing. The little shrew was actually welcomed by the magnificent warrior as Darks began to filter out into the bailey. Pulling a sword, Grace took position next to Maeve as though she’d done so with regularity.
Alexandros beat Lorcan to voicing his outrage. “Enough of your damned secrets, Gideon. What the hell is Grace?”
Scoffing, Gideon’s expression hardened. There would be no answers about the pretty redhead. “Grace is exactly the same thing she was the first time you saw her, Alex.”
The blue in Alex’s eyes was swamped with darkness. The first time he’d seen Grace was different than the first time the rest of this group had been introduced to her. They might not know it, but Gideon damned well did. Alex hated the games.
When Alex remained silent, Gideon continued snidely, “Not your problem.”
The two females were swarmed by twenty Darks, but Maeve did not unleash a supernatural force to destroy any of the attackers. It was apparent the Dark Queen intended for them to experience justice at the end of her own blade rather than a quick oblivion. Her reserved tactics left Lorcan no choice but to halt the conversation and give the order to send his men into battle. “Protect Maeve at all costs.” His sense of duty would not allow him to forsake the other. “And Grace, but I take no issue if the human gets knocked around first.”
CHAPTER 30
Maeve swung her blade with easy effort, cleaving the chest of the last Dark in the trio who opposed her. Easily separating head from shoulders with a second swipe, she watched him drop and cleaned the gore from her blade on the fallen’s pants. Her words of caution followed. “Stay close, Grace.” The female had stepped away from her back too frequently in the last few minutes. Being mindful of the young warrior’s safety was interfering with Maeve’s single-minded focus on the slaughter of her enemies.
A huff of displeasure spoke exasperation, followed by the thunk of steel meeting bone. “They are focused on you. I barely have enough to keep it interesting.” Moist sucking sounds filled the silence that followed. Grace finished withdrawing her blade from her opponent. “I don’t anticipate any issues.”
“You handle OuterRealm miscreants with regularity, not Darks.” Grace was superb in her skills, one of the best Maeve had trained, but her arrogance was priming her for a downfall. The next wave of attackers closed in swiftly, terminating their discussion.
A large vampire, bearing scars on the side of his face from the magic of a Fire witch, appeared at their side already in mid-swing. Grace parried the blow, but the blade struck hers with enough force to cause the smaller female to lose her footing. Stumbling, she collided with Maeve’s back. Already off-balance, a second strike drove Grace down to one knee.
Two others were closing in to assist with the kill. Maeve’s irritation returned. The flick of her wrist towards the vampire who was engaging her obliterated the warrior. Spinning, Maeve kicked Grace’s shoulder, not holding much back, to move her companion clear of the deadly thrust from the massive assailant. Thrusting her blade to intercept the Dark’s attack, Maeve stopped his downward stroke with little effort. “Not tonight, boys.” Her eyes touched his a second before the wave of her hand blew the three into bits of flesh and a shower of bloody drops. “Or any other.”
Grace had been on the receiving end of the splatter and Maeve did not offer a hand up. “Act recklessly again and I will toss you across that pile of rubble and let you explain to Gideon why I felt the urge to kick your ass.” The grounds between their location and the fortress were now empty—her display of power had scattered the opposition. Vengeance created a thirst for blood. Maeve still intended to track and gut every single Dark on her way to find Craddick. Reaching over, she grabbed Grace and was grateful for the protection of her gauntlets when her grip slipped on the blood covering the other’s arm. “Bloody hell. We’re going to have to chase the bastards inside.”
Stepping alongside the mighty Warrior, Grace didn’t believe Maeve was as upset as the statement implied.
A handful of warriors possessed enough loyalty to stand in opposition to Maeve after her spectacle in the courtyard. Every step echoed off the stone walls, a testament to the near vacancy of the fortress. A party of four had welcomed them into the main hall. Those bodies now belonged with the other refuse littering the cavernous room.
Surveying the surrounding area, it would have been nice to believe the disorder in the fortress was due to mass exodus rather than daily living. The trenchers lined with dried blood and food littering the floor in the dining area near the north end told another story. Aged piles of waste were in various states of decay. Stench permeated the lower level.
Certain that no unseen threats loomed, Maeve pivoted towards the stairs to the second floor. A balustrade lining the hall above gave a lofty view down into where she and Grace stood. She could have easily shadowed up and into the hall behind to gain passage into the north and south wings, but Maeve preferred her enemy have time to anticipate her arrival. Strolling at a leisure pace, Maeve put a hand out to hold Grace when she would have surged past. Analyzing the sounds coming from above, Maeve knew an enemy awaited them at the apex, standing behind the column to the left of the landing. The only other attacker was to the right, farther away at the entrance of the wing. Sheathing her sword, her whispered words were loud enough for the watchers to hear. “We will look for the beast in the South wing and then explore the northern end of the fortress.”
Grace shot her a quizzical look. “We would cover more ground if we were to…”
The thrum of bloodlust in her veins eclipsed the remainder of Grace’s argument. As they climbed the stairs, Maeve heard the one who believed them coming his way scurrying into a prime location for an ambush. The Dark to the left held his place, anticipating success with a blindside attack. Pausing at the top, Maeve commanded Grace to hush and waved her on ahead into the shadowy hallway.
The Dark lying in wait behind the column glanced back over his shoulder in answer to the tap on his back. He found a smiling Maeve, fangs extended. No introduction was necessary—she bore only one name of consequence—Death. And it was his time. There was no chance to retreat before her fist rammed into his chest. Breaking through bone and tearing muscle, the metal of her gauntlet lacerated the edge of his lung when Maeve splayed her fingers wide to clasp around his heart. Only then did her opponent scream in earnest. Maeve extracted her hand, keeping possession of his heart. Bits of pink, spongy flesh plummeted from the back of her hand to the floor between them… remnants of his shredded lung. His sounds of terror grew weaker as the puncture wound caused his lung to collapse.
He wasn’t dead when Maeve shook her hand to clear it of bloody debris and tossed his heart over the railing. Grabbing the back of his neck, she moved beyond the barrier of the column and forced him to join her in peering over the edge of the rail to examine the crushed organ on the stone floor below. It still struggled to beat. Terror renewed, the Dark struggled against her hold, begging for mercy.
Worn by the squawking, Maeve shoved him forward and used her Ancient power to give him a boost over the edge. His trajectory was different from the small part that had preceded him, and he landed a bit farther out. The angle of his broken neck gave the vampire a perfect view of the organ and its shuddering last beats.
