Lord Draydrak watched him silently. Though, he didn’t appear upset.
Was this another test?
Had he passed?
Failed?
“No, Obsidian. You are no monster.” Dray’s voice sounded resigned. “But I am when the need arises.”
The Lord of the Underworld clambered to his hooves, his hands going to the hilts of his four swords. They cleared their scabbards with reverberating tones. The lingering chime might have been beautiful if it had been anything other than Lord Death preparing to strike Obsidian down.
He was no match for Death, he knew it, but still, he raised his shields, layering more and more power into them.
Magic erupted along the lengths of Draydrak’s blades. It raced from their deadly edges, crossed the space between them, and merged with the magic of the viewing mirror. The added power made the mirror’s image distort and shiver, but the spell held together.
Moments later, the streams of magic darted from the mirror and collided with Obsidian’s barriers.
But as he’d feared, his magic was no match for Death’s strength.
Power rippled along the shield, tendrils reaching in to brush against Anna’s skin. More energy flowed under his own and his back stiffened at the strange sensation of it burrowing deep. It found a vein and followed that deeper, the magic racing through his blood.
It eventually reached his heart but didn’t command that muscle to stop.
Obsidian breathed, watching as Anna’s chest continued to rise and fall with life.
Lord Dray didn’t want them dead then.
Nor did he want them to move, either.
Even wiggling a talon was impossible.
Death’s magic continued to flow through his bloodstream. His mind—he realized that was its destination.
Still staring down at Anna, he watched as magic continued to crawl across her body.
He could sense its path, mirroring what was flowing through his own body. Which was how he knew the exact moment it touched her mind because it affected his as well.
Anna’s eyes flew open, and she gasped, but she wasn’t awake, not truly.
She was trapped in her own mind as Death hunted for the memories he wanted. After a short time, which was still far too long, Anna’s eyes closed, and she sighed, drifting back into a natural sleep.
But Death’s magic wasn’t finished yet.
It rose up out of her body, hovering above her skin a moment before racing along her body and forming tendrils that burrowed into his. Again, he felt the power speeding through his blood, to his heart, and then onward to his brain.
There it flicked and probed and whirled until the power began to slowly recede.
What? That was all? He’d expected Anna’s stolen memories to overwhelm him immediately. But nothing happened.
He glanced down at Anna, drawing her sleeping body closer. That’s when he realized he could move again.
“You have until the day after tomorrow before the spell sealing away her cloned memories fades and unleashes them to merge with your mind. When that happens, you won’t be able to hide it from her, and she’ll know what I’ve done.”
Obsidian just sat there, panting as adrenaline, fear, and rage coursed through his body. He’d never felt so betrayed in his life.
“Make sure you are far away from others on that day. You’ll be trapped in the memories until they play themselves out. Your magic will react to protect you from danger, but there will be no foe for it to strike.”
Slowly, Dray’s words sank in, though he still seethed inside.
“I understand.” The words were harsh and bitten out.
“I know you are angry at me now, but it will fade as you come to understand that what I’ve set in motion is a good thing for your relationship with Anna.” Dray laughed then. “And you might just live long enough to work out the last of your issues now that you have a chance against the djinn.”
Lord Dray turned and started away, the viewing mirror’s image fading. But he paused and glanced over his shoulder.
“There’s another benefit for doing things my way. Now your Kyrsu’s anger will be firmly on me. She’ll see you as a victim.”
Obsidian’s anger ebbed slightly. “You still should have told her about the djinn. She’s a soldier. She would have accepted that this needed to be done now that the danger to Earth and the Magic Realm is that much greater than it was before.”
“Yes, she would. And ever after she would blame herself for you having to endure her memories. This way she’ll be too angry at me to blame herself or you.”
Long after Lord Draydrak and the viewing mirror had vanished, Obsidian sat with his sleeping Kyrsu in his lap and stared out at the crashing waves. A storm was brewing on the horizon, dark clouds gathering to deliver damaging winds and rains to the mainland.
He couldn’t help but think it was a metaphor for his own future as well.
Chapter 39
Lieutenant Ridaner reflected on how his life was to end as he took one last look out over the ocean as he was led from the beach, deeper into Death’s kingdom. He’d always imagined he’d die honorably in battle. Perhaps even falling to protect his beloved captain.
As Fate would have it, he wouldn’t be sacrificing his life for Vaspara’s. That was perhaps too much to ask. If he could not die protecting his superior, he could at least fulfill this, his last, mission.
The captains had all put out a call to the soldiers under their command, asking for volunteers. He did not know about the other captains, but Vaspara had laid out the brutal truth. This was a death mission. And while she didn’t want to lose any of her soldiers, this mission’s success was pivotal to all future victories.
He was not the greatest soldier under her command, but he was in the top thirty, which made him the perfect candidate. He wasn’t the only volunteer either. Many others had asked for the honor.
Once a pool of candidates had been gathered from across all twelve companies, they were told the details of the mission that would take them into gargoyle territory. Nothing was left out, right down to the part where the volunteer’s soul would fuel the blood witch’s spell.
Again, the captains called for volunteers to reassert their willingness.
Far fewer had stepped forward that second time.
The Lady of Battles had then ordered the remaining volunteers to take their conviction with them to the practice fields, and there a winner would be decided.
Lieutenant Ridaner had won against all the challengers as he’d expected.
After all, long, long ago, Vaspara had once saved his soul from being devoured by a demon. He was indebted to her. And he always repaid a debt.
This one just had a very high cost.
Though he hadn’t uttered a word as the blood witch called her terrible spell to inhabit his body, if Vaspara hadn’t been standing, looking on, there might have been screaming.
But she was there, staying with him for the entirety of the ritual.
Afterward, he’d been weak, too weak to stand on his own, but Vaspara and Sorac had pulled him to his feet. The firedrake had then muttered in his ear about the foolishness of blind love and devotion.
There was wisdom in the firedrake’s words, he decided.
His recovery had taken three days and then another nine to reach this location.
He could have carried out his mission by fighting the first gargoyle he’d come across and then transferring the hidden spell, but Vaspara had said it would be better if he could catch one of the Masters in the spell instead of a foot soldier.
The spell would have a greater chance of finding Anna and Shadowlight that way.
With that in mind, he’d allowed himself to be taken alive and escorted here to this island stronghold of the enemy. He was kept under guard the entire time, even after being put in the dungeon.
Several gargoyles came to interrogate him, but none of them were Masters.
That’s when he’d begun suspecting they
were off elsewhere. Studying the Battle Goddess’ hybrids, perhaps?
A half a day passed.
He’d given up on the idea of infecting one of the Elders. The longer he waited, the greater the chance one of the gargoyles would sense the spell, even protected as it was with a djinn’s magic.
Now he’d just settle for any gargoyle entering his cell alone.
Outside his cell door magic flared as the ward spells were deactivated.
Ridaner held his breath as he waited. He’d only heard three sets of footsteps approach.
New voices addressed the guards.
Then the door was shoved inward, and a hulking gargoyle entered, followed by two slightly smaller beasts. The biggest one glowered directly at him.
“Well, you don’t look like much,” the male said with a huff, but his eyes narrowed. “Which means you’re actually either very dangerous or a deserter. My bet is on dangerous. Shall we start digging and see what traps we find?”
The darkly sentient spell inside Ridaner stirred awake, sensing danger to itself and its mission. It studied its surroundings with an attentive eye.
The gargoyles kept shadow magic shields tightly around them. Under normal circumstances they’d be nearly untouchable, their magic able to absorb or repel greater quantities of magic, depending on what they wished. He’d once seen a gargoyle absorb a magical attack and then launch it back at his opponent.
This time a djinn’s magic would alter that outcome.
The gargoyles stepped nearer, calling on more of their shadow magic.
The sentient spell watched, waiting until they were closer.
From his position chained to a wall, Ridaner was only an observer. But between heartbeats the magic attacked, red and silver energy arced out of his body, ripping his chest open in sudden agonizing surprise as it rushed to escape.
Screaming in pain, his vision danced strangely. Then his legs gave out, and he half slumped to the floor, only held upright by the chains. A raw, tainted power drew all the heat from his body. Pain bled away with it.
He was left to watch with his fading vision as the power continued to lance outward, stabbing each of the gargoyles, even rushing out into the hall to attack the guards.
The magic pierced their shadowy defenses. Loud snarls followed.
With a mind that was growing fuzzy, he still saw the strategy in the spell’s attack. It wished to appear random, like an attack designed to maim or kill as many as possible, not turn one gargoyle into a spy.
But the gargoyles were far from defeated.
A moment later they launched their own devastating attacks. A wave of force unlike anything he’d experienced in his life struck his dying body. The power invaded every cell, then a blink later burned them away to ash.
His body might be gone, yet his spirit remained, watching helplessly as the blood witch’s spell shredded his soul for the energy it needed to inhabit another.
At first, he wasn’t even sure which gargoyle the spell had chosen. Then he spotted the fading tether that linked his soul to the dark weaving. But that leash was weakening, fading away, having already taken what it needed from him.
Numb and hollowed out, he watched as the tether vanished, taking with it the only clue as to which gargoyle now was home to the witch’s spell.
But he had fulfilled his mission.
Though, he no longer remembered what that was.
More gargoyles rushed into the dungeon, and not even their magic-enhanced sight could see what remained of his fading spirit.
He drifted for a time, watching as his form started to break apart.
Into the silence, a deep and soothing voice reached the shredded remains of his disembodied spirit. “Poor battered soul. Come, and I shall heal you of whatever that infernal blood witch has done this day.”
“Who?” the spirit asked.
“I have been called by many names. You will know me as Draydrak, the Lord of the Underworld. Though, you may call me Dray.”
Dray?
In life, he’d known Death would come for him one day—it was inescapable, even for a being who didn’t age.
But this was nothing like how he’d thought it would go. Was it?
“Do you know why you’re here?” the god of death asked.
“I…remember…little.” That was true. And strange.
A soul was supposed to remember everything from their last life. And yet there were great voids in his memory.
“I suppose that’s to be expected after what you’ve endured feeding that attack, but it’s still unfortunate since I haven’t been able to see your future since the djinn’s magic touched you.” Lord Death sighed. “Come. Once I restore you, perhaps then you can tell me what mischief my sister and her pet blood witch hoped to accomplish by sending you deep into my territory.”
All his life, Ridaner had fought on the opposite side from this demigod.
Now it seemed strange to be seeking his aid.
Yet he was tired, and Dray’s power was like a welcome drink after days in a desert.
When the demigod called a second time, the wispy remains of a savaged soul followed him into the Light.
Chapter 40
The sun was already at its highest point in the sky when Anna woke the next day feeling more muzzy-headed than usual from the healers’ magic. As her wits sharpened, she’d thought she’d feel awkward around Obsidian. But that was not the case. If anything, she felt lighter as if finally sharing her terrible secrets lessoned the dread.
Oh, the memories were fresher than they’d been in months, but the emotional pain wasn’t as severe. There was more anger than shame now. Perhaps one day she’d forgive herself for letting a couple civilians get the better of her.
And Matt?
Looking back, she now knew Matt’s hold on her heart paled in comparison to what she and Obsidian shared. And she and her gargoyle partner weren’t even a couple.
At first, she’d been afraid Obsidian would act strangely around her, either pitying her or showing some new protectiveness, as if she was weaker now than she’d been just the day before.
But he didn’t.
Instead, he greeted her with the usual gargoyle nuzzles. Then offered to fly her back to Haven since she was stuck in human form for another day while her gargoyle body healed. Or whatever the heck the magic did that allowed her to shift back and have a fully healed wing.
When they reached the island, Truth sought them out and told them that the Marwe and several of the Adept-level mentors had returned from the future and were now asking for Obsidian and Anna.
“I take a nap, and all hell breaks loose,” Anna grumbled.
Obsidian shrugged. “It was a rather long nap. And Lord Draydrak actually spoke to me on the beach.”
“He what?” Anna pivoted and jammed a finger at his chest. “Why didn’t you wake me?”
“You needed the rest.”
“Not that much, you overprotective idiot.” But she softened her voice to take the sting out of her words. “Start talking.”
He did, telling how Lord Dray had sensed a new, unwelcome development in the time streams. The Battle Goddess had summoned a djinn—and now everyone was in a tizzy.
Apparently, real-life genies were way more badass than in the legends.
Great.
Like they didn’t have enough evil henchmen to deal with.
When they reached the council chamber, situated high in its towering hamadryad, all the Masters and several of the oldest Adepts were present and loudly discussing this newest development. Discussing? Hell, it looked more like a shouting match.
Rook was the calmest, standing with his brawny arms folded over his chest, looking on with an expression of boredom. Verroc was the second calmest, although he was a little more animated than usual.
Thayn, the eldest of the gargoyles was here as well. He just looked plain delighted.
When he spotted them, he came over and joined them.
“Haven’t seen this mu
ch excitement in years. A djinn. Wonder if I know him?” The ancient gargoyle just grinned at them.
Anna arched a brow and wondered why the old geezer found that amusing. It was on the tip of her tongue when Rook came up to them.
“I’m more concerned about the purpose of that attack,” Rook muttered.
“What attack?” Obsidian asked what Anna was thinking.
Master Thayn explained how a scout had found one of the Battle Goddess’ minions and brought him in for questioning.
“She was testing some new djinn-based battle magic. It was powerful and cut through even a Master’s shielding magic.” The elder rubbed at his chest where Anna could see a small, healing wound. “First scar someone has landed on me in ages. The magic came close to killing three of the guards.”
“We must find out more about this battle magic and create better defenses.” There was a determined glint in Rook’s eye. “I say we address this issue at once.”
Thayn snorted. “Normally, I’d agree. However, the power is far from perfected. The poor bastard she used to deliver the attack was torn open when he triggered the spell. Killing him was a mercy. If we can remove the djinn from the Battle Goddess’s keeping, we’ll have deprived her of her new weapon.”
“Fine, if you won’t let me send agents to learn more about this power, give me Obsidian. The others will be discussing these newest events for the next three days,” Rook pointed his complaint firmly at Thayn. “While they’re doing that, Obsidian can take his Adept Trial.”
“You think our young Rasoren is ready?” Thayn rubbed his thumb under his jaw as he studied Obsidian.
“Yes.”
Thayn grinned. “Then why are you three still here? Go down to the practice fields and make ready. The Legion might be needing its war leaders sooner rather than later. I’ll inform the rest of the council, and we’ll be along after we’ve finished discussing the djinn development.”
Rook bowed to the elder. “We’ll go at once.”
“You’ll do well.” Thayn clapped Obsidian on the shoulder. “Wait. I’ve got a present for you.”
The elder held out a belt with a dagger sheathed in an ornate scabbard. Obsidian took it with a laugh, thanking Thayn for his generosity. Anna didn’t get a good look at it until they were walking down the stairs and Obsidian held it out to Rook.
Legacy of the Sorceress (A Gargoyle and Sorceress Tale Book 6) Page 23