by K.N. Lee
Blood stained and dripped from her white fingers.
Ancients help us, she thought as the world began to spin.
LILAE’S HEART THUMPPED, her breaths quickening as she fought to stay out of the darkness that threatening to overtake her.
No. Not this time. Whatever seeped into her blood was met with flames as she willed her body to stay awake— to not miss the fight.
Liam’s gaze met hers, his brows scrunching.
“Do you feel that too?”
Lilae nodded, her movements slower than normal.
“Poison,” she said, looking back at Pretica.
Pretica placed her hands on her hips, the hilts of her daggers protruding from her waist belt. “I should have made the barmaid slip more Vorgren in your ale.”
“I’d prefer a fair fight,” Master Soh said, his dark eyes glowing in the dim torchlight. “There is no honor in weakening your opponent before a battle.”
“We don’t have time for honor,” Pretica said, drawing her daggers.
Lilae’s eyes narrowed as the air seemed to move around Master Soh.
“Very well,” he said before turning to a pair of women hiding beneath one of the tables. “If you want to live, you will leave,” he said to the remaining patrons that stood watching. They didn’t have to be told twice. Everyone escaped through the double doors, leaving the tavern empty.
Kenichi stood tall. “Are you really going to do this, Pretica? Do you want the world to finally know what kind of woman you are? A traitor? A disgusting fiend?”
Pretica laughed. “I don’t care what the world thinks of me. I didn’t do any of this for the world. I did it for myself and for Wexcyn’s new order.”
She put her hand on Liam’s arm, clutching him.
“Fight it, Liam.”
He nodded, wiping blood from his mouth. He took Lilae’s hand into his own, his Tryan power sustaining them both.
“Enough pretending. I want Gollush destroyed by dawn. Kill them,” Pretica said. “Kill them all. Even Kenichi Kamarue.”
Rowe finished his beer. All eyes turned to him as he stood and pulled his ax from beneath the table.
Why hadn’t the poison affected him?
“Right.” Rowe swung his ax up to rest on his shoulder. He cracked his neck. “Who wants their skull bashed in first?”
Chief Keiko’s green eyes went from Lilae to Rowe. “I’d like for you to try,” she purred, tossing her short white hair from her eyes.
Keiko’s wide grin looked odd on her small, heart-shaped face. However, something about her that warned Lilae that this Shadow Elf woman was not to be underestimated.
Lilae held onto Liam, basking in his power, buying time until the pain of the poison subsided—recharging for the battle that was seconds from beginning.
Liam gave her hand a squeeze. She was grateful to have him by her side. Together, they were invincible.
Keiko made the first move, darting to Rowe at a speed that made her Shadow Elf brothers and sisters look slow. Lilae could barely follow her with her eyes, but Rowe, a Tryan with eyes equipped to trace the speed of a Shadow Elf, caught her by the neck.
Keiko’s eyes went wide as Rowe slammed her down onto the table so hard that her armor made a shrill screeching noise.
Liam let go of Lilae’s hand as Master Soh charged for them.
Lilae took in a deep breath and braced herself. Pretica stood back as if waiting for her. She gritted her teeth. Pretica had lied to them, tried to poison them, and now sought to kill her new friends.
Not this time.
None of her loved ones were going to die today.
Rowe kicked a table into Master Soh’s waist, launching him backward.
“I told you, Liam,” Rowe said. “Never leave your weapons behind. Now look at you. Caught off guard with nothing but your looks.”
Liam ran his hand through his black hair. “I don’t need weapons.”
“Here,” Kenichi said, giving Liam a dagger.
Liam shook his head. “Keep it for yourself.”
Kenichi offered a single nod and readied himself. “I’m with you,” he said. “I’d rather fight with foreigners than traitors.”
“You can die with the foreigners as well,” Pretica said.
“I will not be dying today,” Kenichi said. “Grand Master Neru only trains the strong.”
Master Soh slashed at Kenichi only to connect his sword to that of Kenichi’s dagger. The young elf met the attack with such grace that he made it seem effortless. Still, Master Soh apparently had years of experience ahead of Kenichi, meeting every attack with a counter-attack.
Pretica threw a glowing dagger at Liam’s head. Liam smacked it away, sending it flying into the fire. His face turned white and his nostrils flared.
Master Soh held Kenichi with one hand and used the distraction to slash Liam across the chest, drawing blood.
Pretica sucked her teeth. “I missed.”
“I didn’t,” Master Soh said, his white grin flashed and vanished as he spun out of Liam’s reach, Kenichi still held in a subdued move that kept him frozen in pain.
Lightning erupted from Liam’s body, so loudly that Lilae winced and took several steps away. Her back pressed against the wall beside one of the hearths.
Ropes of power slammed into Master Soh’s chest.
He let Kenichi go, the elf’s body falling stiffly like a statue.
To Liam and Lilae’s surprise, Master Soh’s armor absorbed the ropes of light. The steel breastplate was illuminated by Liam’s lightning, glowing even after the power faded.
Master Soh’s hair was wild after being tossed back by the table, but his face was calm, quiet, determination in his eyes.
“You should listen to your friend,” Pretica said. Her eyes met Lilae’s, and she pointed the sharp tip of her other dagger at Lilae’s face. She closed one eye. “We came prepared.”
Lilae gasped as Pretica sprung from her place on the floor. She crashed into Lilae. They both fell to the ground, as Pretica straddled Lilae, her dagger slipping in and out of Lilae’s stomach.
“You aren’t invisible,” Pretica spat at Lilae.
Lights flashed behind Lilae’s eyes as she coughed up blood. Fear flooded her when she realized she couldn’t sit up.
“You and The Storm bleed just like the rest of us.”
Liam. Where is Liam?
A sharp pain left Lilae without a voice as she sucked in a breath. She bit her lip, red-hot rage consuming her, and Pretica raised her dagger to stab her again.
She grabbed Pretica by the neck and squeezed with all of her might, mustering every ounce of strength to slam the Shadow Elf over her head and into the stone floor.
Pain didn’t exist as rage took over. Liam called for her, but the rush of blood to her ears drowned out the sound..
Pretica still breathed air. Lilae wanted to fix that. Her eyes burned down at Pretica as she flipped over and sprung back onto her feet.
Lilae knew nothing about fighting Shadow Elves, but the Ancients had equipped each race with the tools to defend themselves.
While Pretica’s body shot through the room, daggers ready, Lilae let out a long breath and activated her Focus.
And all was clear.
A low chuckle rumbled in Lilae’s chest as Pretica ran to her. She used her Evasion to swiftly change positions and grab Pretica by her hair.
Pretica gasped as Lilae swung her by her hair into the air and back to the ground in one adrenaline fueled move. Lilae’s fist met Pretica’s jaw the moment the elf attempted to get to her feet again.
She held both of Pretica’s hands down beside her head as the elf bucked and tried to get Lilae off of her.
Pretica growled as flames raced up Lilae’s arms and burned her skin.
“Stop!”
Lilae held her down, watching the flames melt Pretica’s dark skin away.
“I thought you were prepared,” Lilae hissed.
A deafening thud caught everyone’s attentio
n. The tavern shook, sending Lilae and Pretica into the air and crashing back to the ground.
Lilae cried out as her head hit the stone floor. Lights flashed beneath her eyelids as she rose to her elbows and pushed herself to her knees. Pretica had rolled out of the way and run out the door.
“Lilae,” Liam called for her. “Are you all right?”
Lilae held the back of her head and winced. She nodded. “I’ll be fine. Don’t let Pretica get away.”
Liam nodded and chased after Pretica.
Lilae looked over to see Master Soh’s body on top of the bar, impaled with Rowe’s.
Rowe pulled his ax from the elf’s chest, swinging blood onto the floor.
“Where is Chief Keiko?”
Rowe nodded to the body that hung from the rafters above.
“She did try,” Rowe said with a shrug as he eyed the small woman. “Not very hard, though.”
LIAM FOLLOWED PRETICA as quickly as he could, her shadow erratic as she ran through the winding streets of Gollush. She shot darts from the gauntlets around her wrists, and Liam smacked each sharp blade away. The sound of the steel striking stone filled the alleys.
A young man found himself in Pretica’s way. She crashed into him. A frustrated growl escaped as she swung him around and tossed him into a nearby wall.
Liam’s jaw dropped as he watched the young man’s head crash against the stone, and his dead body fell to the ground.
How was Pretica so strong? She threw the man as if he were a child.
“My sister’s power makes yours look like an amateur magician,” Pretica said over her shoulder. She flashed him a wicked grin, still running as fast as the wind. “I am not impressed.”
“Is that why you sold her?”
Liam watched Grand Master Neru walk into the empty town square.
Pretica screeched to a halt as Grand Master Neru stood directly before her. Every time she tried to run around him, he was there, before her, his face free of emotion.
Pretica swallowed, giving up her attempts at escape. “It was a wise decision—one that Wexcyn will reward me for.”
“I am disappointed in you, Pretica,” Grand Master Neru said, folding his hands before him. “You lied to us. And we came here to help you in a time of need. I’ve watched you and Ayoki grow from babies. I would never have guessed you’d betray her and your people.”
“Then you know that she had to be stopped. She would have destroyed us all.” Pretica tilted her chin upward. “I was smart enough to benefit from stopping her. You would have done the same.”
Liam didn’t have siblings, but he couldn’t imagine betraying someone he was supposed to love in such a way.
Neru shook his head, his long white hair stark against his gray skin and simple red belted tunic. “You are sorely misguided, child.”
Pretica shrugged. “I had to think about myself for once. For years she was the center of attention. Then, she killed our parents with her power. I am putting the balance back into place by having her killed. Justice.”
“The world will punish you for this. You have no right to judge anyone.”
“You’re saying you won’t? You’re just going to let me go.”
Neru nodded. “I don’t have to punish you. Like I said, every action warrants a reaction, and you will meet your judgment.”
“I’m glad you think so,” Pretica said, drawing her daggers. She lunged at him, teeth gritted as her guttural growl filled the room.
Grand Master Neru sidestepped her—like magic, so quickly that the air blurred around him. Pretica stumbled, and Neru struck her in the back of the head with such force she flew across the floor and slid into the side of one of the stone towers.
“I granted you mercy that you clearly do not deserve,” he said.
Pretica scrambled to her feet, gasping for air.
“You want me to punish you?” Neru drew his sword, a ringing sound filling the air. The black steel marked with white symbols much like lightning began to glow. He held it ready, one arm folded behind his back. “I will oblige.”
Liam took a step back, watching as Pretica stood there, her face ashen, her hands shaking as she held out her dagger.
Neru’s eyes met Liam’s.
And before Liam could blink, Pretica’s crumpled body lay lifeless on the stone, a gaping hole in her chest.
Neru appeared beside Liam, a stern look on his face as he wiped the blade of his sword clean.
“We should leave now,” Neru said.
Liam’s eyes locked on Pretica’s body, as were those of hundreds of Shadow Elves who had stayed hidden during the fighting.
“Yes. We should.”
Apparently, the Chosen were not the only ones with remarkable abilities.
GOLLUSH TREMBLED, summoned lightning. It whipped from the darkened sky and into all of the holes of the cavern. There was a hush inside as the lightning lit up the entire ceiling.
Still, it did nothing to make an entrance.
“Looks like she locked us in here,” Rowe said, slamming his axe into the stone door for what must have been the hundredth time. “Is every exit sealed like this?”
“It seems that way.” Liam’s chest rose and fell from the exertion of commanding his power for hours.
Lilae called her flames back, seeing that they did nothing to penetrate the sealed exit. “Why would she do this? She didn’t want her people to be free?”
“Pretica was not always like this. She used to be kind and honorable. Evil can corrupt the best of us,” Grand Master Neru said.
“I shouldn’t have trusted her,” Delia said.
“You had no way of knowing that she sold her sister and planned the attack on you all,” Grand Master Neru said.
“What a revolting woman,” Lilae said.
“Well,” Rowe said. “It looks like there is only one way out.” He nodded to the sealed door.
“What about the people of Gollush?” Lilae asked. “She betrayed them as well.”
“She will betray her people no more,” Neru said, stepping over rubble.
“Is she dead?”
“Yes, Elder. She is.”
“Good,” Lilae hissed.
Kenichi ran to them. “Have you found a way out yet?”
“We have,” Liam said with a nod. “Go on, Rowe. Do it.” Liam took a step back.
Rowe nodded. “Right.”
He stood with his legs spaced apart and clenched his fists. Everyone watched in silence, curious as to what the big Tryan man was up to. How would he free them all?
Rowe’s Tryan glow intensified and shot outward to form crisscrossing circles that spun and flew up and down his body.
“Step back,” Rowe said, his voice taking on a deeper tone unfamiliar to the others.
Liam, however, had heard and seen Rowe like this before. Only twice, when all hope seemed lost. This—the power of a Legacy wasn’t something Rowe chose to exploit. He was humbled because it came from the deaths of his entire clan, and he would not seek advantage at their loss.
The ground shook, rubble and stones vibrating. The walls of the cavern trembled. An indentation within the floor surrounded Rowe as his glow grew so bright that Lilae and the others shielded their eyes.
Without warning, Rowe took off. Like a Raeden bomb, he shot through the Citadel, burning a path into the floor, bursting straight through the steel door.
The boom that echoed throughout the entire city shook the cavern. A hole remained in the door that had once trapped the people of Gollush and Liam’s companions like prisoners.
The remaining Shadow Elves rose to their feet, hesitant and afraid.
“Can we go?” a female elf asked. Her eyes were wide with terror as she clutched her little boy to her chest, shielding his face from falling debris.
“Yes,” Liam said. “It’s okay. You are all free.”
Still, some of the others seemed reluctant as the mother and her child ran for the opening. They looked around at one another.
“Go,” Lilae shouted at them. “Don’t wait for the ceiling to collapse on your heads.” She led the way, leaping over fallen columns and dead bodies.
Liam followed behind, still appalled by Pretica’s destruction of her own home.
Once again, Liam left a falling city behind.
DRAGNOR TAPPED THE TABLE as the harem girl poured his wine. Her hands were shaking, causing splatters of red liquid to spill onto the maps and plans he studied.
Dragnor grabbed her by the hair, yanking her onto the table.
“Useless,” he spat and pushed her from the table to the floor.
The fire in her eyes startled him for a moment, and he half expected her to strike him back.
Where was her fear?
He was so used to everyone fearing him that he hadn’t seen true defiance since Lilae escaped, and Kavien was cursed.
Dragnor folded his hands before him as he rose from his seat behind the drafting table.
“What? Were you going to say something? Do something?”
Faira was the most beautiful of the harem girls in the palace and Kavien’s favorite before Lilae arrived. Dragnor was in agreement with the woman’s dark beauty. She was almost as attractive as a Shadow Elf woman, with curves and eyes that could melt his cold heart.
Still, he hadn’t returned from the Underworld to seduce women. That didn’t keep him from requesting her company now that Kavien was unconscious.
Faira bit her bottom lip as she glared at him. He could tell that she wanted to speak but knew her training, and kept quiet.
“Speak freely,” Dragnor said, lowering his voice.
“I have nothing to say,” Faira replied, her shoulders squaring as she stood to her full height. The tension in her face lessened and she feigned her usual compliant expression.
“Of course you do,” he said, calmly. “Sit down, Faira.” He motioned for the pillows on the granite floor near the low table where Dragnor dined.
She straightened her clothes and did as she was told, her flawless face blank.
“Where are you from, Faira?” Dragnor asked as he sat down at the table, opposite her.
He motioned for the mousy attendant to come into the room from her position outside the archway inside the study where Dragnor kept his piles of scrolls and artifacts.