“So, where’s your beloved human?” Her expression sparked with curiosity as she stepped between the bowing and the dead Dokkalfar.
The Urisk roared, and the closest to her charged. The black mist flickered into flames, killing them as soon as they grew near.
“She’s not here,” Gavin growled.
“Your source left you while in battle?” The idea seemed to amuse her because she threw her head back and laughed. “Tell me, my love,” Mia purred, drawing closer. “Why have you called me to such a wretched land? Surely you know there are warmer places to play.”
Gavin glanced back, relief flashed in his eyes, and I realized that the energy here protected much like Kailmeyra’s mountain. The Dokkalfar didn’t know we were here.
Mia’s eyes gleamed. “Let me guess. You have traveled to this abysmal place looking for a way to stop me.” She laughed again, her eyes alight with humor. “You poor misguided Prince. Surely you know I am too strong.” She placed her hand on his cheek. “As soon as Earth is taken care of, I’ll have no problem getting into your precious mountain.”
Gavin flinched but kept silent.
She sighed, lightly smacking his face. “Lera’s journal explained the dangers of depleting the mountain’s energy. Once it can no longer defend itself, we’ll waltz in and find the Sfera. And then it will be only a matter of time before I discover the Breath of Creation.”
Mia leaned forward, her lips inches from his face. Disgusted, Gavin jerked away. Her fingers grazed down his neck and landed on his chest. She circled him, keeping her hand on his upper torso in a display of possessive ownership, her fingers grazing his arm and then his broad back as she walked around him. She stopped in front of him and dropped her hand.
“I have a secret.” She slyly smiled. “I’ve been weakening the mountain all along. As soon as I felt your wretched Princess make her way through the portal, I sent my strongest battalion into the abyss. They attacked the castle that night. I suspect with the Keepers in this realm, the kingdom is already mine.”
Gavin lunged, but Mia’s mist shot between them, creating a barrier that looked like a thick swatch of smog.
Her twisted smile became utterly evil. “Tsk, tsk, my love. There are things that need tending before we play.”
She kept her eyes on Gavin, but the mist settling around her feet grew, lashing out and wrapping around Rune’s leg.
Mia leaned closer to Gavin as if she were confiding in a friend. “I’ve been looking forward to this.” She faced the Urisk. “Rune, is it?”
Rune bared his teeth and roared as he struggled to escape. Molly lunged, but without even glancing her way, Mia flicked her wrist, and Urisk’s leader dropped to the ground, writhing in pain.
The empress moved closer to Rune. “Ah, yes. You were the one to rescue my Prince, were you not?” The black mist became dense. “And he was so close to turning, knowing he had betrayed his mate.” She closed her eyes and sighed. “Gavin’s despair was delicious. And then you—” Her eyes snapped open; the mist swirled and eddied. “You had to ruin it by feeding him the liquid from that stone.”
Rune’s eyes blazed to a brilliant blue. He fought as the darkness branched out, staining his entire body in black.
The Urisk jumped to their feet, feathers outstretched and teeth bared, but the dark mist surrounding Mia’s feet expanded around her, creating a barrier. The Dokkalfar army shifted in front of the dead, circling the Urisk, efficiently trapping them like prey.
Rune roared in frustration, his eyes glowing almost white.
She leaned in and inhaled, her expression one of deep satisfaction. Rune’s eyes flickered as his energy waned. He stopped struggling.
“Ah,” Mia sighed. “There’s nothing sweeter than a Urisk rendered helpless.”
The Urisk roared, trying to find a way around the barrier while keeping the Dokkalfar army from attacking.
“Pesky things, these creatures.” Mia smiled as she turned to Gavin and winked. “They are nearly impossible to kill unless you know their weakness.”
Gavin pushed against the barrier, but it held firm. Mia faced the crowd.
“My servants. Your diligence in finding our emperor is commendable. I am well pleased. And for your loyalty, I offer a reward. Tonight, you will feast on the Urisk’s pain!”
A deafening white roar thundered through the night as the Dokkalfar jumped up and down, screaming in sadistic glee.
Gavin glanced at the place we were hidden, regret flashed in his eyes. He closed them, and his jaw clenched before he turned away. Seeming to gather his strength he stepped toward the demon’s leader.
“Mia.” Gavin crooned, his voice velvet and warm like he was speaking to a lover.
Her ice-blue eyes flew to his, and I shuddered. I’d seen that desperate, needy expression many times before. It was the one Gavin had painted in the portrait at the mountain house, the one I’d seen when we visited her in her cottage, the one that watched him carry me to safety after Jakkar died.
These eyes weren’t the eyes of a Dokkalfar Empress. They were of that young woman Gavin had promised to marry all those years ago.
“Come now,” Gavin pacified, testing the barrier between them. “There’s no need for all this, surely.”
Mia simpered. “The army needs to feed.”
Gavin reached through the gray smog, taking her hand in his. “The animals can provide them pain.”
My stomach churned as Mia placed her hand on his chest. The mist smothering Rune dissipated and retreated, now only encasing her and Gavin.
“Good girl.” Gavin smiled.
Mia bit her lip and whimpered. “I believe it important to begin our union on good footing.” She swept her hand, motioning toward the Urisk. “I will not contain the Urisk during the Dokkalfar feeding frenzy. It is a gift to you, my love.” The black mist stirred, twisting and writhing around Gavin’s legs like a pit of vipers. “Although I cannot guarantee how long they will survive, they will be able to defend themselves.”
Gavin’s eyes never left hers. “I think that only fair.”
The Dokkalfar raged, lunging toward the Urisk and all hell broke loose. The contingent that had guarded me now surrounded Molly as she stumbled to her feet and rushed to Rune, who still hadn’t moved.
Whips lashed through the air, and several Dokkalfar stopped, confused. Only the Alfar had weapons that could kill the demons easily. Several arrows flew from the trees, turning them to stone.
Mia’s eyes widened, as she howled in frustration. She slammed her hand on Gavin’s chest. The mist surrounding them exploded into black flames, engulfing them both.
I screamed as the trees blazed into an inferno. The explosion momentarily shocked the Dokkalfar, and the Urisk attacked.
Red lit the night sky, but the only thing remaining where Gavin once stood was a patch of scorched earth.
I bolted toward the threshold, but the sentinels stepped towards each other, their immense calves completely blocking the entrance to the cave.
Sobbing, I held my face in my hands and fell to the floor. Mia had Gavin ... where did they go? And was Rune even alive? How could the Urisk fight that many? Mia overpowered Molly and Rune with little effort. How could Gavin stand against something like that?
Elias bent on his haunches. “Come, Light. We have work to do.”
Tears streamed as I whimpered, my hand resting on my womb. “I never imagined it would end like this ... that he would willingly go.”
Devastation poured off me, and Rena crouched down and pulled me to her, holding me tight.
“Listen, my lady. Gavin is doing what he must. He is not straying from his purpose, and you must do the same.” Her jasper brown eyes glittered as her features grew to that of a warrior. “Mia could contain the Urisk easily because the darkness weakens them. Remember, Gavin now can strengthen in darkness yet not turn from the light.”
The silver thread in the back of my mind grew white-hot, and a hollow numbness settled where Gavin’s emotio
ns used to be. I realized this was what Rune meant when he said I would strengthen in the ways of the Urisk. This must have been how Molly and Rune survived all those years apart. I stirred, and Rena helped me to my feet.
She kept her arms around me. “He will survive. You must have faith.”
An unfamiliar voice rang in the dark.
“The Keeper is right.”
Chapter 29
Between
Elias’ head whipped around as Cali bent her knees and brought her scythe up, ready to strike. Weylin unfurled the whip from his side, and Tark stood in front of Rena and me.
I released some energy from my amulet, lighting the deep cave.
Hundreds of aged, gray creatures, huddled around an empty fire pit. They looked up en masse. Bones jutted beneath their skin as if they hadn’t had eaten in a while. Their blank eyes, black as death, stared at us, and I began to wonder if they were even alive.
The closest one stood. I brightened the energy, so we could see a little better. The creature’s knees buckled, and it fell to the floor. “Please, Light. I beg you. Control your power or all is for naught.”
“Who are you?” Rena asked, stepping closer to me.
“We are the lost, damned to a half existence until the day of reckoning.”
“Reckoning?” Cali whispered, looking at Weylin.
The creature glanced up. “Yes. We seek redemption.”
The leader seemed to be in pain because she groaned, bowing until her forehead rested on the stone floor.
I eased the light streaming around her until it only illumined our part of the cave. She crawled towards the lifeless fire pit. Small sparks flashed, lighting a bit of kindling. The warm light flickered up the side of the cavern walls.
Elias stepped forward, asking the creature questions. She gruffly replied, but I wasn’t paying attention.
I wiped my nose with my sleeve and looked back at the Cerberus blocking the entrance. Honestly, I didn’t care what these things were or why they were here. My mind was still outside. Had Gavin even survived? The flames originally came from the abyss, and so I knew that’s where they’d gone. If Kailmeyra had fallen into darkness, she’d want to take him there. She’d want him to witness the death of his home before she weakened him enough to either kill him or turn him. And now, Rune might be dead. The Urisk fought for their clan’s existence, but we couldn’t help because we were stuck in this damn cave.
Rena placed her hand on my shoulder. “Mind your thoughts, my lady,” she whispered.
Concentrating on the moment, I watched the flames in the growing fire. The creature shook her head, answering something Elias had asked.
“I see.” Elias glanced at Weylin, who subtly inched forward until his body sheltered mine. “And exactly who are the lost, and why are you here?”
The gray creature slowly got to her feet.
“I am Jabez, leader of the lost clan of Jayril, and you are in the Between.”
Rena, Tark, and Weylin surrounded me, pushing me back toward the entrance of the cave, but Elias lunged.
She opened her arms wide, looking up, offering her neck freely. “Kill me if you must, but I warn you now... it would be a mistake, Warrior.” Her skin seemed to drip off her frame, her body nothing more than bones.
Elias froze.
She kept her hands up as her empty gaze met his. “We are not the enemy. We are the lost. And we are what you seek.”
The Urisk’s prophecy rushed through the back streams of my mind. “... She will redeem the ones born of light who stumbled into darkness ... For centuries, we have prepared ... she leads the lost back to the beginning, opening the path that helps them find redemption. Only then will the blaze of evil be contained....”
I’d always thought “the lost” was something ... not someone.
“You don’t know why we’re here or what we’re looking for,” I muttered.
Rena’s hand reached down and clasped mine. Tark scooted closer to my side.
Jabez bowed, her eyes stayed on the floor. “We know what you seek, and we know who you are. You are the Last Light of the Ancients. You are the Urisk’s Light of Hope. You are the Lost’s Light of Redemption.” She glanced up. “And you seek to smother the black flames of greed, do you not?”
That got my attention. “How do you know?”
“I only know that which I see.”
Hope wisped through my heart. Gavin. Maybe she had the gift of prophecy, like Malachi and Ester. “And what have you seen?”
The Ancient Dokkalfar shook her head. “I will not tell you that which you want to know. You must allow your intent to shape your decisions. You must lead by faith.”
“And how is she supposed to lead us anywhere?” Cali looked around the cavern. “Those freaking statues are blocking the only way out.”
Jabez became agitated. “Those are not sculptures, human. You would do well to remember. They are Cerebus—the Gatekeepers for the Alpha and Omega. No human has set eyes on them since man’s fall from grace.”
“How can I see them then?”
“You are a descendant of an Animas Warrior.” Jabez’ eyes calmly assessed her. “We helped your kind drive the Dokkalfar from Pictavia. We thought the Defenders of Man extinct.”
“Apparently not,” Cali smirked.
A gust of fresh air blew in from the back of the cavern. Firelight flickered, casting shadows along the craggy wall revealing an opening where rock had stood only moments ago.
“Our time draws nigh. The Light will show us the way.” Jabez hobbled to the back of the room.
“What is this ‘Between?’” Rena asked, still keeping her distance.
The Ancient Dokkalfar grunted as she stopped. “There is one Maker in all things, and this is the place He stood as He created Earth, Kailmeyra, the higher plane, and the void. It is a place suspended in time. A crossroads, if you will.”
Cali looked across the cavern at the decrepit beings. “What happened to you? How did you get here?”
The leader’s expression grew cool. “When Jayril revealed his intentions to explore the power of darkness, we knew hatred, jealousy, and vengeance were too strong. And so, we studied what we considered a weaker emotion—the energy of greed.
“At first, all was well, and we were pleased with our results. But greed has a way of subtly drawing in its prey, always tempting with promises of more. Greed fans the flame of gluttony. It ignites hatred and envy. In our foolish attempts to harness its power, we set in motion the dawn of a new race that embraced evil.” She kept her eyes on Cali. “Once greed’s power made its way to Earth, its effect on man was absolute. We left Jayril and set out to fix that which we had created, but as we died, instead of going to the void we ended in the Between.”
“You still haven’t explained why we shouldn’t kill you where you stand,” Cali said.
Jabez eyed Cali’s scythe. “If you kill us before we have a chance to be redeemed, the Flames of Greed will forever remain. They blaze because we exist and are the strength of the Dokkalfar. Balance can only be restored by allowing us to seek forgiveness from the very Breath of Life. It is the only way to smother the flames and seal the abyss.”
Rena stepped closer. “So, after you’re gone, the abyss will be sealed? How will that affect Mia and the remaining Dokkalfar?”
Jabez shook her head. “This empress is an unforeseen complication. She was born of love. The offer of redemption must be given to all those who have turned from the light.”
“Wait, what?” Fury blazed in Cali’s eyes. “So, you’re telling me to get rid of those nasty black flames, Mia has to be offered a chance to be forgiven?” Disbelief marred her expression. “Have you seen what she has done? She doesn’t deserve it! Personally, I’m hoping there’s a hot little corner in hell waiting with her name on it.”
Jabez’s eyes hardened to black stones. “Then you understand nothing.”
Cali snarled, and Weylin put his hand on her shoulder.
“It is the wa
y of the Alpha and Omega, human.” Jabez took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “There is one other matter.”
A collective groan rippled through the Keepers as Jabez drew near.
“To assure the evil born of greed is forever contained, the Empress of the Dokkalfar must die while encased in the black waters of the Centaur’s grave.”
“So, she has to die in the abyss.” Rena bit the words through gritted teeth. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“It will be difficult, though not impossible.” Jabez looked over to her clan. “Whether we mercifully are allowed to enter the higher plane, or we go to the void, we willingly accept our fate. We only ask that we perish before the new empress meets her death.”
“Why?” I started forward, but Weylin pulled me back.
“We are the reason the black flames exist. Once we leave this plane, the Empress will no longer be able to glean power. She calls to that which she does not understand, and so she will feel the energy wane yet not know the cause.”
The ancient Dokkalfar feebly shuffled, gathering packs and extra torches.
Elias faced Elaine. “If this is true, Gavin has to be informed.”
“The only way back is forward,” Jabez muttered. “The Cerberus guard the Light. She is the guide to the path we must take.” She stared at the back cave wall. “To seal the abyss, she must continue on.”
“What are you talking about?” Cali looked around the room.
Jabez didn’t seem to hear her because her focus never left the tunnel that had suddenly appeared. “We have waited so long.” The others groaned as if to agree. “At last the key that unlocks the path to redemption is here.”
Elias and Elaine wove through the ancient Dokkalfar until they came to the new opening. The Lost hissed and moaned as Elaine released some energy from her stone. A flash of blue shot through a narrow passage, blazing a path until it veered left and disappeared along a curve.
Elaine’s jade eyes sparked with excitement. “I believe this tunnel leads home.”
“How do you know?” I asked, hurrying across the room. Weylin, Rena, and Tark followed close at my heels.
The Heart of the Ancients Page 30