by Vivi Anna
Drea screamed as pain ripped through her, nearly rendering her in two. Instinctively she tried to pull her hands away, but the cords passing through her flesh held her firm, and more pain exploded inside her body. She looked at her bloodied hands, watched the blood trickle down the cords and into a receptacle, and nearly retched. Although she could see what had happened to her, her mind didn’t want to comprehend it. It was too horrific to consider. Black spots formed in her vision. She was dangerously close to passing out.
“Comfortable up there, my dear?” Acari shouted at her.
She couldn’t answer him. Although she wanted to scream down at him, to rant and rage and protest, she couldn’t get in enough breath. Her heart thumped hard, her stomach rolled over continuously. Biting down on her lip, she twisted her hands so she could grasp the cords. She needed to hold on to something or else she was going to fall. And she didn’t think she’d survive that fall. All she could picture was the cords tearing her hands apart and her blood splashed across the metal.
Using all the strength she had, she held on as the morrigan began to move. She had to hold on for as long as possible. Because she knew Sebastian would eventually come for her. He’d always been there for her, even when he didn’t think she noticed. But she had noticed. Every day when he walked by her house. Every time in the market. And every time when she had to go out at night. He was there with her. Protecting her. Like he did the night Tomas accosted her.
Drea had finished helping Rosa pack up her produce into the cart. It had been a pleasant day in the market, and she’d been more than happy to help Rosa sell her merchandise. She didn’t have any patients at the house, and her father had allowed her the time to do something with her friend without his meddling. Which she jumped on immediately. He’d been smothering her lately with his constant companionship.
She wanted to tell him he needn’t worry so much. She had another protector in the shadows.
Sebastian had been in and around the square all day, doing his marketing and watching her at the same time. Some women might find his elusive but attentive devotion unnerving, but Drea found it the most endearing thing anyone had ever done for her.
Even now, he was there, watching. She couldn’t see him, but she could feel him. A smile came to her lips, and not for the first time, a flush rushed up her body.
“Why are you smiling?” Rosa asked her suspiciously.
“Because it was a good day, and even better evening.”
“Will you be all right to get home?” Rosa asked as she got on the cart. “I could take you but I have to get this stuff back home before Ma skins me alive.”
“It’s no bother. It’s a beautiful evening, and I’m in the mood for a walk.”
“All right then.” She clicked to the horse to get him going. “I’ll see you.”
“Good night, Rosa.”
With a song in her heart, she started across the square. She was almost tempted to sing it out loud but feared her warbling voice would scare away a certain someone. So instead, she twirled around on her foot, then skipped a part of the way.
“You’re in a good mood tonight.”
Startled, she turned to see Tomas coming out from the back of the Whistling Pig tavern. He looked to be well on his way to being drunk. She supposed he always appeared that way. He had a perpetually dumb look on his face and smelled of sour body odor and even sourer mead.
“You scared me.” She put a hand to her chest where her heart was still thumping hard.
“Are you out walking alone?” He looked about to see that she was indeed by herself.
She didn’t like the way he eyed her up and down as if devouring her very existence. “My father is expecting me. Have a good night, Tomas.”
She continued walking, hoping to distance herself quickly. But Tomas came up beside her.
“I can walk with you, if you like? Keep you safe.”
“That won’t be necessary. I’m fine on my own.” She looked about, searching the shadows for Sebastian.
“You think you’re too good for the likes of me, don’t you?”
She frowned. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He grabbed her arm to stop her from walking. His hold was tight and strong. “You always parade about in your pretty dresses, with your bosom showing. You’re a temptation that no one has been allowed to taste.”
She pulled from his grip. “You’re drunk but that is still no excuse for being rude. I suggest you go sleep off the liquor and I’ll pretend you didn’t just touch me.”
He made another grab for her. This time she spun around and backhanded him across the face. What she’d done shocked them both, and they stared at each other unsure of what to do next. She’d split his lip. There was blood on his chin.
“I’m going home now, Tomas. I suggest you do the same.” Her legs shook as she walked away. She’d never hit anyone in her life. But she was completely sure he deserved it. The look in his eyes told her he wasn’t going to let her go, that he was about to lose control and do something unforgivable. This way she saved both their lives.
As she walked, she sensed movement behind her. She tensed, expecting Tomas to grab her from behind, but when she stopped and turned to look, she didn’t see anything. Tomas had vanished, as if someone had plucked him right off the streets.
And maybe someone had.
Drea came back to her senses. She opened her eyes and saw that she was still attached to the morrigan. She was still a prisoner, a sacrifice to some demented metallic beast. They were out of the cave now and going down the mountain.
The elves and the fancy man rode hard out in front on horses, heralding the beast’s coming.
She wondered if Sebastian was down in the valley waiting for them, waiting for her. If he was, she was going to let him know they were coming.
Taking in a deep breath, she then let it out the only way she knew how.
“Sebastian!” she screamed.
“Louder, my dear,” Acari said, from his perch on a horse below the giant. “I don’t think he can hear you.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
In the distance, Sebastian could hear a thud. It was distinctive enough to pick out from the other night sounds. It came again. Then again. The ground vibrated a little beneath their feet.
“What is that?” Skylar asked, staring toward the mountain pass.
Everyone turned that way to see a tall dark shadow emerging from between the rock.
“It’s the morrigan.”
Rhys and Jovan looked at him. “Are you sure?” Rhys asked, the pitch of his voice a little high.
“Yes. I’ve seen it up close and in person,” Sebastian said. “It’s what the elves are here for, why Drea was taken. Because she’s seen it too. It killed her little brother.”
It didn’t take long before the dark shape got closer. The morrigan’s walking stride was ten times that of a man. It was then that they could also see other forms in the dark. Elves racing toward them on horseback as well as the sorcerer Darin Hawthorne.
But Drea was not anywhere to be seen. If they killed her, Sebastian promised himself that he would make every single one of them pay.
“Ah, the Davenports and friends,” Acari said. “How nice of you to greet us.”
“Where’s Drea?” Sebastian demanded.
“Sebastian, is that you?” Acari asked, humor lacing his voice. “I hardly recognized you inside that armor. Looks like you’re prepared for battle.”
“Where is she?” he asked again.
“Don’t worry, she’s safe.”
“I want to see her.”
“You will. Eventually.”
Sebastian flexed his fingers preparing for the inevitable battle. “Don’t do this, Acari. That man who rides with you does not share your b
eliefs. He’s only out for one thing. Power for himself.”
Acari glanced at Darin. Something passed between them. And Sebastian didn’t think it was amicable. “Oh I’m fully aware of Mr. Hawthorne’s intentions. Thanks for the concern.”
“The great Sebastian Davenport,” Darin called. “It’s good to see you again. It’s been too long.”
“I would say the same about you, Hawthorne, but I would be lying.”
Darin laughed. “Well, I wouldn’t expect anything less from a murderer.”
“I would watch your tongue Hawthorne, in case you want to lose it.”
“What was her name again? Evangeline?” Darin chuckled. “A prostitute, wasn’t she? I believe I paid her for her services once. Overpriced in my opinion.”
Power filled Sebastian’s hands. He had to tamp down the urge to concentrate it all onto Darin and explode his head into a thousand pieces. He would use the lightning gun to win this war. His magic was a last resort. His brothers had enough for them all.
Jovan’s hands sparked to life. They were dripping with green hellfire. “I’m going to rip out your tongue for my brother, Hawthorne.”
“Ah, Jovan and Rhys. The three Davenports brothers all together again. You’ve made it so much easier for me to kill you all at once.”
“Oh, come now,” Acari said. “We can still be civil. If you move aside and let us pass, maybe the morrigan won’t step on you like bugs. I can’t promise anything, though, she can be quite temperamental.”
The horses snorted and stamped their feet. They too could feel the morrigan approach. Actually it was hard not to notice, especially when the ground shook and the metallic clicks and whirrs of moving parts echoed off the mountaintops.
Sebastian, his brothers, Skylar and Miss Stratton all looked up, way up, to see the morrigan bathed in the eerie green light of Jovan’s magical orb floating in the air.
It was a strange amalgamation of metal and organic material. There was flesh and blood there, but it was covered with pieces of metal in various shapes and sizes, like bastardized armor. Two of its three heads wore war helmets. One was shaped like a wolf, the other an eagle. Sebastian wished the third head had been covered because then he wouldn’t have to look upon its grotesque misshaped features and fire-red eyes that seemed to burn right into his soul. It opened its mouth and shrieked. It nearly blasted them backward. The sound was more mechanical than human and it hurt Sebastian’s ears.
The worst part was the gap in its body, as if two pieces had been half sewn together. And there was movement inside that hollow. He was afraid of knowing what it was. Fearing the horrible truth.
“Time’s up, I’m afraid,” Acari said. “Sounds like she’s ready for a fight.”
“So are we.” Rhys pulled his rapier from its sheath. He then slapped the rump of his horse to get it away. The other horses scattered as well.
Skylar unfolded her long bo staff. Miss Stratton sighted her wrist gun, which they’d found out was a double-barreled flame-thrower. She’d had fun practicing with it.
Sebastian guessed they were as ready as they’d ever be, then he heard her voice.
“Sebastian!”
He looked up and saw Drea struggling within that hollow. That had been the movement he’d spied earlier.
His gorge rose and he had trouble putting his thoughts together. He could see Drea holding on to the cords piecing the top to the bottom together, but he also saw something that froze his mind. Blood slicked those cords. Drea’s blood. She was anchored to the morrigan through them. What had they done to her?
Fury rose in him like a storm. He wanted to destroy every single one of them for this. But now he couldn’t use the lightning gun on the morrigan. Drea would be affected as well. If she was touching the metal, she would be electrocuted.
Acari must’ve realized what Sebastian had deduced, because he smiled.
Without another thought, he charged toward the morrigan. Power was already simmering inside his palms, just itching to be unleashed. As he ran, arrows whizzed by him. Two bounced off his armor with audible pings. He looked to his right to see Rhys and Miss Stratton also being attacked. They weren’t as lucky dodging the arrows. One grazed Rhys’s leg just as he released an illusion. The Bengal tiger pounced toward the elves, scaring their horses. The horses reared up, sending both elves to the ground. Miss Stratton sent a wave of fire their way, effectively providing a barrier.
Sebastian moved on, but didn’t get far before a blast of red magic hit him on his left side. He stumbled and saw Darin raising his hands to shoot another fireball at him. Sebastian clicked the switch on the blunderbuss, then, turning, sent a stream of lightning toward Darin. It narrowly missed the sorcerer and scorched the ground right in front of his feet. It gave him pause and granted Sebastian enough time to keep on going.
“I got him.” Jovan tossed his own brand of magic at Darin. A green glob hit the Hawthorne sorcerer in the side of the face. Darin cried out and brought his hands up to his burning cheek.
The morrigan was only a few feet in front of him. It just stood there, inert, as if waiting for a command. And maybe it was. Like a golem, maybe it needed to be given a directive. And, like a golem, maybe Drea was its keystone. The object that gave it power. Sebastian had to get her out of there before the war goddess drained her dry.
He was about to jump onto the beast’s boot when Acari stepped into view. He no longer had his crossbow but now carried a broadsword. Sebastian noticed him too late. The elf swung at him, hitting him in the right side, busting the lightning globe inside the satchel. The blunderbuss was useless now. He slung it over his shoulder and drew his own sword just as Acari came at him again.
Steel clashed against steel. The impact vibrated up his arm but he kept on. Back and forth they parried. The ringing of metal surrounded them.
Acari was faster. Faster than any human could ever be. A few blows got past Sebastian’s sword and struck against his armor. If he’d not been wearing it, he’d already be dead. Although the metal protected him from actual damage, the force was enough to drive him to his knees. The next blow was to his head.
The helmet protected him from the steel kiss of the blade but not the actual power of the impact. The ringing in his ears brought tears to his eyes and made his stomach lurch. He had to fight back the urge to retch.
He tore at his helmet, yanking it off his head. His right ear screamed with pain. Blood ran down his neck. His vision wavered a bit. He blinked back the dark spots in time to see Acari lift his sword for the killing strike. Gathering power, Sebastian squeezed his hand around the hilt of his sword, pushing magic into it, and thrust it forward. His magic guided his blade and it found its mark, sinking deep in the elf’s gut.
Acari’s eyes bulged and he dropped his sword to the ground. Stumbling backward, he slid off Sebastian’s blade, blood and gore streaming down his legs to pool at his feet.
“You’ll never defeat her,” he said, his voice garbled by the blood bubbling up between his lips. “Kill!” he yelled, then fell to his knees, trying to hold his guts in.
The morrigan jerked into action. It lifted its arms over its head and drew the biggest, longest sword Sebastian had ever seen. It was easily thirteen feet long, more than twice his height. With a shriek, it swung at him.
He easily dodged the blade. Because of the morrigan’s size and bulk, its movements were a lot slower and, because it had to swing downward, its accuracy was greatly flawed. Although it missed him, one of the other elves wasn’t as lucky. The morrigan’s sword cleaved him in two.
This afforded Sebastian an opportunity to move forward and jump onto the morrigan’s metal boot, grabbing hold of a plate on its shin. It did its best to try and shake him off, but he held firm, although his teeth rattled in his jaw. In the process though, one of the horses was stepped on. Sebastian could hear its pitiful snort
s of pain. He couldn’t let the animal suffer. Closing his eyes, he concocted a spell, mumbling the Latin phrasing needed, and then tossed it toward the horse. His magic caressed the animal, soothing it, then put it to sleep in a flash. It died without further pain.
Once that was done, he continued to climb higher, which proved difficult because of the armor weighing him down. He glanced down to see his brothers engaged in battle. Jovan was still exchanging hellfire with Darin, while Skylar was at his side hoping to knock Darin’s head off with her bo. Rhys had his sword out, dueling with the other elf. His tiger illusion paced back and forth, its tail whipping, waiting its turn. Miss Stratton was there egging the tiger on, looking for any reason to shoot fire from her wrist. The female elf was off to the side, drawing in the dirt with a stick. She must’ve been the one chosen to open a new portal.
He focused on getting to Drea. That was his mission. He kept climbing. Realizing that the shaking wasn’t working, the morrigan tried another tactic. Swatting at him. But Sebastian saw what it was going to do before it did it. As its empty hand came down upon him, he unsheathed his sword and stuck it through the unprotected part of its palm.
It howled in pain. The sound nearly shattered his eardrums. It flicked its hand, trying to dislodge the sword. It didn’t work.
Sebastian clambered across its belly plate. He could see Drea fully now. Metal cords impaled her hands. She was immobile. She couldn’t move without having her hands torn apart. When he caught her gaze, she called for him again.
“I knew you’d come for me.”
“Always. I’ll always be there.”
“I’m in love with you,” she said in a rush. “I wanted you to know just in case, you know, something happens.”
“Nothing’s going to happen. You’re going to be fine.” He pulled himself up a little farther.