“What’s happening?” I heard one of them ask.
“Nothing good,” another responded.
I had to agree. Why had Laeddin made such a stupid mistake? I didn’t have time to ponder further because a small child dashed into the room and using his small but powerful bronze wings, he lifted off the ground in an effort to fly.
“Daddy! Daddy!” the child yelled. That startled me. I hadn’t known the emperor had a son.
“Hex!” A female I guessed to be his mother screamed, starting after the child, but Edge grabbed her and held her back. I hadn’t met the emperor’s wife and had a feeling the reason was because the gargoyle wasn’t monogamous.
I wanted to help, tried to stand, but I still couldn’t move. Usually my injuries healed immediately because of my vampire origins, but Jagg’s hit had really done a number on me. An instant later, Cole came out of nowhere, grabbed the child by the ankles, and pulled him into his arms. It happened just as a boulder crashed from the ceiling in the exact spot the child had been. Both Cole and the child disappeared from my view.
The wind picked up and became a gale. It was so strong that it lifted the boulders off the ground. Thankfully the statue I rested under remained miraculously intact and in place.
Laeddin stood in the midst of all the chaos, looking so small, yet obviously unharmed.
As suddenly as the wind picked up, it stopped. Jagg towered over all of us. His dark eyes glowed. “Such power,” he yelled, clenching his fists together in victory. The noise caused an avalanche of debris to rain down, blocking the gargoyles in the entryway from view. Jagg watched it happen and laughed. “My eyes have been opened and oh, the wonders I see!” He bent down, picking up Laeddin between his thumb and first finger, the way one would pick up a bug. “How does it feel to no longer be the most powerful creature in the world?”
Jagg’s question made me see that Laeddin really had the power to defeat Maleficent, but each time he’d chosen not to. And I’d had to use a wish to save him! Why? Why, when he had so much power, had he been forcing me to find the fracking fairy crown? He could’ve used his own power to save all of us: Addy! My grandmother! Everyone!
“Remember, Jagg, now that you possess all the power, you must be prepared for the consequences.” Laeddin’s voice rang clear, but his words confused me.
“What sort of consequences?” He laughed and it shook the entire room.
Immediately, two large wisps of darkness appeared, swirling around Laeddin like phantoms.
“He knows us,” I heard one say.
“You knew we’d come,” the other said.
Laeddin nodded. “Yes, Great Ones.” His voice held the same respect as when he’d first addressed the emperor on his emerald throne.
“What is this?” Jagg laughed, trying to shoo them away with his other hand. But the wisps moved out of reach, zigging and zagging, making it impossible for him to touch them. One circled his left wrist. The other circled his right. They repeated the movement several times before a bright light burst from his wrists, nearly blinding me. I had to close my eyes a moment before reopening them. Twin dark dots blocked my vision.
I heard Jagg scream out in pain.
The feeling was returning to my body and I rubbed my eyes, forcing the spots away in time to see Jagg drop Laeddin from his fingers. Laeddin landed on his feet and turned sideways so that he could watch what was happening to Jagg, and also search for me.
I waved awkwardly, my body still not working quite right. “Laeddin,” I whispered.
As soon as he saw me, he sighed with relief and jogged over. “You’re okay?”
“Getting there,” I said roughly. “But what’s happening to Jagg? What are those things?”
“They are identified by many different names, but my family called them the Great Ones. They aren’t of this realm, but are the creators of it. Jagg has too much unchecked power now. I knew they wouldn’t allow it.” He paused and we both watched as a tattoo appeared on each of the emperor’s wrists. On the floor at the tip of Jagg’s biggest toe, a small gold lamp appeared.
I covered my mouth with my hands as understanding filled me.
Laeddin smiled. “All that power, but only a teeny tiny place to use it in.”
While he spoke, the lamp seemed to suck Jagg in. He swirled like a leaking balloon, around and around the room, going faster and faster. “Noooooo!” he screamed, until he vanished with a pop.
“You knew that would happen?” I pulled Laeddin into a hug, suddenly extremely happy with him.
“I did.” He hugged me back.
“I’m so sorry I doubted you.”
“It’s okay. I’ve done plenty to fill you with doubt lately.”
I had to agree, but didn’t voice the thought. What he’d just done more than made up for it.
The Great Ones came down and swirled around the lamp until I could no longer see it. Moments later, the lamp and the Great Ones were gone.
I released Laeddin just as a shower of rubble erupted from the blocked entryway. Edge appeared, his black hair, golden wings, and body covered in gray powder. “What happened? Where’s Jagg?”
“He’s gone,” Laeddin said.
The gargoyle seemed visibly relieved. “For how long?”
“For good.” Laeddin walked over to him. “All of these riches are yours if you would be so kind as to help us find what we are looking for.”
I watched the interchange with confusion. Surely the new emperor would protest Laeddin giving the fortune away to a mere guard.
Edge seemed visibly taken aback by Laeddin’s generosity. “You have my word, but how did you know?”
“I’m a genie. It’s my business to know. Also, you hold yourself with the same confidence as your father.”
“Oh,” I said, but that confused me even more. Why would the emperor make Edge a guard if he was his son? Shouldn’t Jagg have been grooming him to rule in his stead? It was one of those questions I might not ever know. Well, unless I asked Laeddin. He probably knew.
Laeddin returned to me.
“Edge is Jagg’s son?” I asked bluntly, still too dumbfounded to be polite.
“That’s right.” Laeddin helped me up. “And he’s just become ruler over all the land of the gargoyles.”
Twenty-Five
Skye appeared followed by Scotch and Rave.
“Edge,” Skye said, coming up behind him. “We have two mortally wounded. A dozen more have been taken to Avak. Where is the emperor?”
Edge turned to face them. “Jagg is no more.”
“He’s dead?” Rave pressed, searching the wreckage that’d once been the throne room. Most of the statues were only missing a chunk of rock here and there, but the statue of the woman with the bird-like wings was miraculously unscathed. She stared down at me kindly and I wondered if the statues had been made of a stronger stone than the rest of the castle, or if they’d been protected by magic.
“He’s gone,” Edge clarified.
“So he isn’t dead?” Her expression alternated between confusion and worry.
Edge shook his head. “No more questions, Skye. Not now.”
Skye bowed her head. “Yes, Liege.”
Amber burst through the rubble and immediately began organizing clean-up crews. Within minutes, dozens of gargoyles began clearing away the rocks and debris. At that pace, they could have the room rebuilt within hours. They’d have the place cleaned up in no time.
While they worked, Edge and Skye spoke quietly with Rave and Scotch at the foot of the throne.
Laeddin took hold of my arms, pulling me close as he whispered, “I believe the piece of the crown is somewhere in this room. The sensation is definitely strongest here. While everyone is distracted, we should look for it. Just remember, if you locate the box it’s contained in, don’t open it until you’re really ready.”
He was right. Opening it would unleash the assassin. And when it materialized, twin blades would appear in my hands so that I could do battle with
it. “Sounds like a plan.” Now was the perfect time to look, but I was worried about Cole too. “Have you seen Cole?”
“I’m sure he’s fine. Get looking.” As Laeddin took off toward the farthest statue, I decided I’d look for the crown piece and Cole at the same time. The last I’d seen him he’d rescued the child and rushed out of sight. I went in that direction, weaving between the statues. The stone gargoyles were huge and after a few minutes I got the feeling they were watching me. I looked up, searching the rock faces around me. Empty eyes stared back, making me feel foolish for worrying.
Cole appeared directly in front of me, his hair and skin the color of granite and his stormy eyes big as twin moons. It scared the hell out of me.
“Cole?” I was so relieved to see him in one piece, I could hardly speak. “Where’s the child you saved?” I looked around but couldn’t spot him.
“The boy is with his mother,” he said, as his hair and eyes changed back to their normal color. He brushed a piece of rubble out of my hair. “What are you doing?”
Before I could answer, someone shouted, “All hail Emperor Edge,” over and over again.
Cole and I turned to the throne where Skye pumped her fist in the air. Laeddin appeared in front of them and bowed slightly. I stiffened, wondering whether he had found the piece. It appeared that he hadn’t, so why wasn’t he still looking?
All of the gargoyles stopped what they were doing and approached the throne.
Questions and accusations began to fly.
“Where’s Jagg?”
“Where is the emperor?”
“Edge has killed our ruler!”
“Death to the traitor!”
The group grew until more than a hundred gargoyles had crammed into the throne room. Several gargoyles stood in front of us and I couldn’t see Laeddin any longer. More shoved us around like rag dolls, working to get a closer view of their new emperor. If the crowd continued clamoring, Cole and I would be crushed.
“This doesn’t look good,” I shouted, trying to find the quickest way out of the room.
“You’re right.” Cole and I somehow managed to end up with our backs to the wall as we continued to search for an exit.
In the center of the room, gargoyles began shouting and shoving each other. It became apparent there were those for and against the new emperor. One sided with Edge while the other believed Graves should be crowned. Rather quickly the shoving turned to full out fighting and within seconds the entire throne room became a chaotic mishmash of swinging arms and legs. It sounded like a thunderstorm had erupted as rock smashed against rock. The tang of dust hung in the air, leaving an acrid smell, almost like burning trees. I kept my mouth closed, desperate to keep it out of my mouth, but it was impossible. Like smoke, it even invaded my pores.
I caught a glimpse of Skye, Rave, and Scotch standing in front of Edge, acting as bodyguards as things began to intensify. I still couldn’t see Laeddin.
Where had he gone? “Why aren’t they doing anything?” I asked, elbowing aside a gargoyle who had been pushed my way and pointing to the bodyguards. “Why aren’t they helping Edge’s other supporters beat out the opposition?” I asked the questions out loud, but with all the shouting, no one could hear me. At least I hadn’t thought so until Cole responded.
“Maybe this is their custom?” A gargoyle stepped on his foot and Cole snarled, shoving the culprit out of the way. “Give a guy some space, would ya?”
The gargoyle didn’t even turn around.
“You okay?” I asked, though I could tell he wasn’t because his hair had turned mostly white.
He looked down and I followed his gaze curious whether all of his toes would still be in tact. His foot appeared to be fine. “Great,” he said through gritted teeth. “Never better.”
“Does it hurt?” I continued, wondering if there was internal damage.
“Not really.” He crossed his arms, fighting to gain control of his emotions.
“Good.” I turned in every direction. “I need to find Laeddin,” I said, giving up on the idea of locating the crown piece for now. It was frustrating, but there was no way I could keep searching through all the chaos surrounding us. More and more gargoyles piled in and took sides. The fighting continued to escalate until a gargoyle wearing deep emerald robes held together by a gold and emerald clasp flew in through the gaping hole in the roof. His wings were the inkiest black I’d ever seen. Like a dark cloud, he circled the room several times. Something like dust fell from his hands and onto the gargoyles, before he landed next to Edge.
“Settle down, everyone!” The gargoyle’s voice was soft but piercing. He wasn’t quite as tall or as wide as Edge, but still made a menacing figure. It seemed his presence and whatever he’d sprinkled on the crowd settled the gargoyles, but something about him made my skin crawl.
Someone shouted, “It’s Graves. He’s back!”
“Who the goddess is Graves?”
“Why should we care about him?”
Many of the gargoyles were pointing. Some were staring. Others whispered curses under their breath.
“He looks like a jackass.” I had to agree with that one. He really did.
Someone else scoffed, “What’s up with the fancy robes?”
“It’s been fifteen years since we’ve seen our wizard,” another said.
That got my attention. If Graves knew how to use magic, he could be very useful. Or dangerous.
Within minutes everyone stopped fighting and turned their gazes toward him, almost like puppets on a string.
From what I could see, most of the gargoyles appeared unwounded. Since they were made of rock, some had been chipped and cracked, but not much else, except for one poor soul who’d had one of his violet wings torn. It dangled haphazardly from the middle of his back. Thick black goo oozed from the damaged area. At the sight, phantom pain ran down and across my back and I flinched, remembering how it felt when Maleficent tore my wings from me.
“A wizard?” Cole took me by the elbow and ducked me around a corner and into the crowd.
“Yeah, great, more magic,” I said. Cole laughed, but there was no humor in it. “Why are you taking me into this horrible mess?”
“Because you said you wanted to find Laeddin. I saw him. Come on.”
Together, we maneuvered through the crowd while Graves spoke with Edge. Then the green-clad man addressed the crowd. “I have I had a vision!”
The room grew quieter still until only the occasional child could be heard.
“In my vision, I watched Edge ascend the throne. He is meant to be the next high ruler of our realm.”
The group began talking at once.
“Can it be?”
“The wizard cannot lie.”
Graves weaved his fingers together while he spoke. “Our people will be unified once again. All hail Edge the Courageous!”
Just then I saw the genie climb the steps and take his place to the right of the throne. “Laeddin.” I waved, trying to get his attention. He inclined his head, letting me know he saw me.
Gargoyles who’d been fighting only moments before raised their fists in the air and cheered.
“All hail Edge the Courageous!”
“Now, my children,” Graves continued. “Please, go to your homes. Tell your friends and family to prepare for the inauguration ceremony. It will begin at tomorrow’s evening meal. Go!”
The gargoyles continued to cheer and clap each other on the back as they went away. Everyone spoke with excitement now, as if their anger had never existed.
It was freaking surreal.
Twenty-Six
Once nearly everyone had cleared out, Graves, Edge, Laeddin, and the others began talking. Using my vampire hearing I caught pieces of the conversation and heard Graves mention Rayne, but couldn’t hear exactly what was said.
Finally, Edge turned his attention to us. “Come,” he said, taking his seat on the throne. “We need to discuss your future within the gargoyle realm.”
>
That seemed to surprise Cole, and everyone else. Who was Cole to Edge?
Skye climbed the steps and stood on Edge’s right while Scotch and Rave stood on the left. Graves stayed where he was, just to the left and below.
“Be cautious. The wizard is radiating large quantities of great magic,” Laeddin whispered, coming to stand beside me. “That’s why I’ve been staying close to him. I’m trying to figure out what he’s playing at.
“Will do,” I said.
Edge clasped his hands together and met Laeddin’s gaze. “What you did to Jagg, it was genius.”
Laeddin bowed. “Thank you, Sire.”
“You gave him exactly what he wanted, but still used the moment to trap him in a place where he won’t be able to hurt anyone. Brilliant.” He chuckled lightly. “And what were those things that took the lamp away?”
“They are the Great Ones,” Laeddin said.
“The Great Ones? Seems ominous.” At first glance Edge appeared comfortable and completely at ease with his new position as emperor, but I noticed that his fingers were tapping on the armrest. And it looked like he might be sweating. I realized he was putting on a show. It was understandable. He’d just been thrust into a very prominent position without any time to prepare.
“They are the creators.”
Graves faced Edge. “I believe they are the powers we call the Overcasts.”
“Ah, that makes sense.” Edge leaned back. “And will these Overcasts keep Jagg safe? Or more appropriately, will they keep the rest of us safe from him? He isn’t going to be happy if they ever let him out of that lamp.”
“If time has taught us anything, it’s that we will see Jagg again,” Graves said as he came toward me. “I sense you have some of the Overcasts in you, my child.” He touched my cheek and I felt a cold chill run the length of my body.
“That’s true.” I fought the urge to take a large step away from him. Something about this guy really creeped me out.
Vampire Nights (Vampire Wishes Book 3) Page 11