by Ashley Meira
“Guess the Emperor of Earth doesn’t need protection,” Adam said as we rounded the corner onto a plateau.
“You’d think someone who took on a title like that would demand bodyguards just to show off,” Fiona said, wiping the sweat from her brow. “And doesn’t that sound more like a D-list sci-fi villain name than some uber powerful mage?”
Adam raised a brow and looked between us before turning around and continuing silently. For our parts, Fiona and I managed to hold eye contact for three entire seconds before our pride forced us apart. Why was apologizing to people we cared about so hard?
I’d barely taken two steps before a giant stone hand ripped free from the dirt, followed by several others. The urgency with which the golems pulled themselves from the ground and surrounding mountain face made me wonder if they’d been monitoring us the entire time and couldn’t stand the awkward silence they knew was coming.
One of the golems picked up a nearby boulder and hurled it at us. We split up, rolling out of the way in time to be covered in the shattered boulder’s dust.
I felt the wind of an incoming fist more than I saw it. Moving on instinct, I dodged a golem’s punch before reaching for my sword. I wasn’t looking forward to stabbing these things again.
My brain came back to me as I leapt away from another attack. Right. Duh. I could use my magic now. A grin slid across my face. These may not have been the same golems that wrecked my arm last month, but payback was going to be sweet either way.
I flung a ball of concentrated air toward the golem that had been punching at me and whooped in satisfaction as his head exploded into rubble. Why had I ever kept my magic locked up? Another punch cut my victory cry short, and I backflipped away from my next opponent.
My gust of wind worked just as well on this golem. Adrenaline surged through my veins as he crumbled to dust, and I looked around for more prey. A pair of golems trying to flank Fiona caught my eye. Gathering magic in my hands, I ran to the right, trying to find an angle that would let me take them both out in one hit. I found it two seconds later, and the golems turned to dust against her back.
She shook off the dirt and turned to me, magic flaring around her arms. She threw a Fairy Blast at me. I ducked, feeling pebbles rain down on my leather jacket. The golem behind me was gone by the time I turned around. Giving my sister a nod, I leapt back into the fray.
A gust of wind flew past my ear as I charged toward four golems in the far corner. Two exploded, and I turned to give Adam an unimpressed glare. He gave me a cocky grin in return. Rolling my eyes, I threw my own gust of wind at him. Or rather, at the golem running up behind him. He hit the ground either way, and I allowed myself a petty moment of joy as his lips pursed at me. That’d teach him to steal my kills.
We continued the fight for another fifteen minutes, knocking down golems like they were aggressive bowling pins. Overly aggressive, even. These things seemed a lot more violent than the golems I’d faced before. They moved faster, and the ground shook violently when they punched it. Thank goodness we were all agile — I didn’t want to see what would happen if we took the full brunt of their attacks.
Taking a quick look around the battlefield, I counted at least a dozen golems, with more coming from every side. My magic would help even things out, but I wasn’t sure how long we’d last against the growing horde.
“We can’t keep doing this,” Fiona called before shrinking down and flying away from a trio of golems.
“She’s right,” Adam said, taking out two more golems. “They’re not going to stop coming.”
I nodded, rolling away from another earth-shattering punch. “I doubt Gadot will call these guys off when we reach him, either. What do you think? Two of us will handle the golems while one fights Gadot? Maybe the opposite — I’m sure these things are less of a challenge than him.”
“Maybe we should have had Charlotte come along after all,” Fiona said, unshrinking and taking out one of the golems chasing her. “Could use an extra pair of hands.”
“Or we could have commandeered Bane,” Adam said tightly. “Pacifist or not, he has to be a powerful mage to hide his magic so well.”
“Maybe it’s an age thing,” I said, trying to figure out how we were going to handle the situation. “I can probably hold off the golems while you two fight Gadot, but I’m not sure I can do it for long.”
“She’s right,” Fiona said. “We need to hit him fast and hard. Maybe the three of us can get a few shots in before one splits off to handle the golems?”
“Maybe,” Adam said. “But first, we need to take care of these guys.”
The earth shook underneath us. I braced myself, expecting more golems, but in the distance, I saw a dragon take off into the sky. Several more around the sanctuary did the same. Even the golems were stumbling because of the tremors. Gadot was causing the entire sanctuary to shake.
“Are we too late?” Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t hide the desperation in my voice. “Is she—”
“I don’t sense any new magic,” Adam said. “Though the smell of blood and dirt is overwhelming.”
I nodded, bringing a hand to cover my nose. Gadot’s magic had flared with the onset of the quake, and it reeked of earth and death. The acrid scent of blood was luring breakfast up my throat, and I fought the urge to gag. Whatever was happening up there needed to stop now.
“Let’s go,” Fiona called, stumbling to her feet despite the earth’s spasms. “While the golems are off balance.”
Adam and I followed her lead, standing straight and continuing our journey. The golems were as graceless as we were, stuttering every other step as they came toward us. Figuring we were past the point of not damaging our surroundings, I let wind gather in my palm and begin swirling around. It gathered more and more speed until there was a mini tornado in my hand. Aiming at the herd of stumbling rock creatures, I let the magic loose.
The tornado landed a few feet in front of them, its size quickly growing as it hit the dirt. In a few seconds, it towered over them, swirling forward in a deadly dance. I stayed long enough to watch it obliterate the first row of golems before hurrying after Fiona and Adam.
“Good news?” Adam asked as he caught sight of my giddy smile.
I nodded. “Feels good to cause chaos on my terms for a change.”
He smiled back at me, pride in his eyes, before pulling me forward. I clutched his hand for dear life, trying to calm my fluttering heart and flipping stomach. This was not the time to be acting like a schoolgirl, but damned if it didn’t feel amazing to know Adam was proud of me.
The tremors began to die down. We were less than a minute from the summit and could see the slope that would take us there ahead. No golems reached out from the cliff face to grab us or shove us over the side, which would have been a good thing if it didn’t make me wonder what they were up to instead.
“It’s very rude to show up late.” A voice like rich chocolate called from the summit ahead. It wasn’t Cyrus’ voice, but I could hear the thieving earth mage’s nasally voice underneath it like an echo. Gadot had an Egyptian accent, and he spoke with the same languid ease Seraphine had. The kind people used when they were bored with the rest of the world. “I expected you here yesterday.”
“Expected us?” I couldn’t help asking. Fiona shot me a reproachful look as we continued walking, but I shrugged it off. He clearly knew we were here.
“I recognize your magic, all three of you. Deep in the Heart I slumbered, and when I was stirred from my rest, your magic was there. It danced before me. Then, I was forced back into my bondage.”
“From the Pyrenees,” I said, relief sliding over me. Nicholas didn’t know we were here. “When we interrupted the ritual.”
We’d reached the summit. Gadot stood with his back to us, hands clasped behind him. He was wearing the same trench coat Cyrus had on the last time I saw him, though his normally greasy dark hair looked cleaner. His magic still reeked of beer underneath the horrible mix of blood an
d dirt, but I still preferred it over Nicholas’ foul presence.
The altar stood before him, but I couldn’t see more than a soft glow past the lines of his shoulders. Tall trees surrounded us, but otherwise the circular area was clear of any debris. I got the feeling that would change soon enough.
“Before you interrupted the ritual,” he said, his voice rumbling with each word. “My ritual. And now you’re here to do the same. Let us hope history indeed repeats itself? I look forward to an easy victory.”
My lips twitched at his insult, but I held my tongue. I almost envied the unabashed way he and Seraphine let their magic run wild. It seemed so freeing — and so much easier to read. This time, it worked in my favor as I watched Gadot’s magic stream around him. The waves were soft but deep like lines in the sand. Their movements were fluid and calm, which made it hard to Break. I couldn’t see a flaw in the movement, and unlike Seraphine, there was no thick rope of magic manipulating anything. I wasn’t sure how to Break his magic, though I assumed it would become clear when he attacked. Which sucked — I hated trial by fire.
“And what exactly is this victory for?” Adam asked, gathering magic around his hands. His control was excellent — the only hint of his magic was the soft whiff of pine that got quickly lost in the surrounding trees. I only noticed the action because I could see the sparks dancing around his fingertips.
“Shouldn’t we wait for the rest of your party to arrive before I begin?” Apparently, he’d inherited Cyrus’ gift for gab. Good. About time we got some answers. Unless this was all ruse, and he planned on attacking when we relaxed. Either way, this would be over by lunch time. “Someone of my caliber deigning to explain anything to you peasants is enough of a kindness. Do not expect me to repeat myself.”
“It’s just us,” Adam said.
“Is it? So, that little girl who held the Wreath won’t be joining us?” Gadot rolled his shoulders. “I suppose it doesn’t matter much. Even if she makes it up here, the golems would make short work of her.”
The scent of pine grew stronger for a moment before fading away. Adam’s face was twisted into a snarl as he looked over his shoulder. If Charlotte had been following us, we’d have noticed — whether through her magic or the noises she’d undoubtably make. The woman was an archaeologist, not a spy. It was possible she’d waited until we left, snuck past the dragon, and used knowledge of the Sanctuary to find a way here, but I didn’t think she was stupid enough to try that — and it didn’t seem very probable either way.
“Why are you trying to release Trixie?” Fiona demanded. Her magic was sheathed, but her fingers lingered over the hilt of the sword Roman had given her.
Gadot tilted his head back, then let it roll to the side so he could spare a glance at her over his shoulder. His one visible eye was a molten gold that would have reminded me of a dragon had it not been rimmed with a harsh red line. “I’m surprised, fairy. Do followers in this time not feel joy over the resurrection of their gods?”
“She’s not my god,” Fiona said, her body poised to strike. “And I highly doubt anyone sees her as such. Or you, for that matter.”
If Gadot had a reaction to that, it was obscured by his shoulder. “Then, they are not my followers. Slave labor or sacrifices — you’ll still have a purpose. Perhaps you should run, little fairy, in case Trixie has the same thoughts I do.”
“You didn’t answer her question,” I said, keeping my eyes peeled for golems — or a chink in his magic’s rhythm. “Why are you doing this? If you’re some sort of god, why work for Nicholas?”
“Some sort?” Gadot turned completely at that, sparing a quick glance at Adam’s now magic-less hands. My bad, I tried to tell Adam with my eyes. I had no idea that would draw his attention. “Work for? I do not work for that man.”
“Yeah,” I said slowly. “I’m going to need a bit more proof than that.”
“Do you work for the man beside you?” He tilted his chin toward Fiona. “Or her? No. But he freed me, and despite what you may have heard, I am not a monster. So long as our goals travel along the same path, I am content to work alongside him.”
The temptation to call him out about being a monster gnawed at me, but I shoved it aside for now. “And what is that goal? World domination? Destruction? Most dangerous poker club?”
“Poker?” Gadot frowned before shaking his head. “Never mind. Irrelevant. He wants what I want, what Seraphine wants. He wants his throne back.”
“Throne?” Fiona frowned. “What? Did they kick him out of his kingdom for being Fireborn or something?”
I frowned, Gadot’s words forcing the information in my head around. “They killed his brother.”
“Did they?” Gadot shrugged. “He said they took what was rightfully his. He was meant to lead his kind, but the Council your kind worship branded them monsters and hunted them to death.”
“I don’t worship the Council,” I spat.
“Good. Perhaps there is hope for you yet. But that is his reason. He wants it back. His position, his power…. He’ll destroy everything and build it back up. A new world order.”
I watched Adam’s jaw clench, but couldn’t bring myself to rebuff Gadot’s words. Honestly, when he put it like that, Nicholas’ plan didn’t sound so bad. A new order, where Fireborns were free instead of hunted for the sin of existing. I blinked slowly, allowing myself a brief moment to imagine what that would be like, before facing reality.
While Nicholas’ dream sounded good, he’d gone about it the wrong way and for the wrong reasons. His path was one of anger and revenge. He’d abducted children to use as weapons and was willing to destroy countless lives to achieve his goals. He had to be stopped, and if that meant I’d have to spend the rest of my life hiding from the Council, so be it.
“And what?” Fiona asked skeptically. “You’re supposed to be his chief of staff? You don’t seem like the type to play second fiddle.”
“When everything is gone, we’ll have an even playing field. Well—” Gadot smirked “— as even as it can be when facing me. As I said, I will work alongside him, as will Seraphine and Trixie, until our goals counteract each other.”
“Are you sure Trixie will play along?” Adam asked. “Sounds like a big gamble for you, or Nicholas, to take.”
“The man has a way with words, and his magic speaks volumes. Perhaps, one day, you will achieve enough strength to understand.”
Adam kept his expression neutral despite the insult. “And what happens when one of these things you summon doesn’t want to play ball?”
A terrible smile curled onto Gadot’s face, deadened and menacing at the same time. “Then, they’ll be the first to lose the race. Nicholas has me. Anyone more is overkill. Even Seraphine was a mistake.” His smile vanished. “Wretched hag.”
I chose to interpret that as there being only the two of them alongside Nicholas, though I still wondered why it took him six hundred years to get this far. Before I could press Gadot for more information, he turned on his heel and went back to the altar.
“I have missed speaking to an audience,” he said, holding his hands toward the altar. “Alas, our allotted time has passed, and I can continue the ritual. Know that you have my appreciation for keeping me entertained while I waited.”
His words set me off, and I threw a fireball on instinct. He hadn’t wanted to chat — the ritual required a break. The curtain had been ripped from my eyes, and I was seeing red.
Gadot tilted his head, letting the attack fly right by him. The earth rumbled as giant stone hands rose from the dirt. Golems filled the battlefield, blocking the Emperor of Earth from our view.
“Guess diplomacy is out the window,” I said, flinging a gust of wind ahead of me.
It reduced the first three golems to dust before their comrades split up. Two remained in front of Gadot, and when I destroyed them, two more took their place. While I tried to figure a way around them, I rolled and backflipped away from the horde of giant rock monsters who’d taken t
he offensive.
Fiona and Adam were tossing spells at the two guards, but before they even finished crumbling, two more had sprouted from the ground below. There was a small chance the constant summoning would tire Gadot out, but I imagined it would take hours before we’d get noticeable results. Based on the glow emanating past his shoulders, I didn’t think we had that much time. Should’ve gone after him last night, damn it.
Even as the thought left me, I knew it wasn’t the right decision. Doing this for a living didn’t make me infallible. I still got tired — and using my magic was relatively new, so I wasn’t as spry as I could’ve been. The sweat dripping down my sister’s brow told me she’d have agreed about getting sleep, too.
I ducked as the scent of pine rushed over my head. There was a pile of rubble behind me, but I couldn’t tell how many golems had been there. At least three, if the satisfied look on Adam’s face was any indication. He didn’t look winded, either. Good, maybe he’d be able to find a way to Gadot. He was the tactician, after all.
A floral scent overwhelmed me as the altar’s glow grew brighter. The perfumed aroma was intense. Mixed with the stench of blood, dirt, and beer, it was enough to make me hurl. I fought past the roiling in my stomach and tried to catch sight of the altar. A glimpse of purple flowers was all I saw before a rocky fist swung toward me.
I stepped to the side and grabbed the limb, pulling myself onto the golem’s arm. I scaled it, my fingers twitching toward the hilt of my sword. Old habits died hard, it seemed. Instead, I gathered magic in my hands and kicked off the golem’s shoulder with a high leap.
True to his name, the Emperor of Earth was harder than stone. I felt one of my ribs crack as I slammed into him. My magic tilted the odds in my favor. The energy forced him off balance, and we tumbled to the ground.
The two golems guarding him whipped around, but had barely taken two steps before exploding into dust. A broad shouldered silhouette appeared through the haze, and I made a note to thank Adam later — then joke about how I thought of a plan to stop Gadot before he did.