by Mary Ting
“I’ve got this. Go. Be careful. Godspeed.”
I zoomed away and followed the trail they left behind.
Chapter 28
Lucia
We arrived safe in a place I had never seen before. Snow covered the land, but indoors where I stood, ice coated the marble floor, the banister, and stair railings. Not just an ordinary place, but a castle made of ice or crystal. The fountain reminded me of Halo City, but smaller and darker.
“Where are we?” Brody asked, frosty mist seeping out of his mouth. Enthralled by it, he reached out for the white vapor, temporarily distracted.
“Are we at the right place?” Abel glared at Mortem.
“I’m not an idiot, Abel.”
“This better not be a trap,” Abel warned, his blue eyes glowing amber.
“I have my own reasons to get rid of Cyrus. They’re in here somewhere.” Mortem glanced up to the second floor. “Cyrus can’t know I brought you here. I need to go on ahead first. Give me a head start. You’ll know which floor to stop when you hear my voice.”
“Fine.” I agreed, hoping my gut instinct was correct—to trust him for now.
“A castle.” Zach tilted his head to the high ceiling. “Cyrus trapped the Snow Queen in her own castle?”
“We’re inside the Snow Queen’s castle?” With that realization, Milani craned her neck to take in her surroundings.
“Let’s go,” I said, tracking up the stairs.
We moved swiftly and quietly, floor after floor after floor. At every floor I listened for Mortem’s voice. And for the life of me, I couldn’t believe we were working with Mortem. Finally, when I thought for sure we’d been had, Mortem’s voice echoed from a room. I took a peek, forcing others to stay close to the wall.
Mortem stretched his arms horizontally, making a grand entrance. “I’m right here in the flesh, Eli. That woman is not me. Though I do enjoy pretending to be your mother.”
“Shut up, Mortem. Where have you been?” Cyrus roared, one hand on Ikelia. A magical wrist binding cut off her powers. “Eli just punched me.” He worked his jaw. “That boy needs to be taught some manners.”
I dared to peer in more. Cyrus didn’t control Eli’s mind. Eli stood several feet away, unsure of what to do.
“Let her go,” Eli demanded. “You can have the whole damn island. You can have the world. I don’t give a shit. Let my mother free. We’ll go away. We’ll leave you alone.”
Cyrus let out a boisterous laugh. “I wish I could, but I don’t trust anyone. Besides, Eli, you belong to me.”
“No,” Ikelia hissed. “Let him go.”
Cyrus began to stroke Ikelia’s hair.
Ikelia cringed and jerked. “Don’t touch me.”
Cyrus yanked Ikelia’s hair and forced her to lock eyes with him. “Don’t you remember my promise, little witch? I will take what’s mine. I will take what I want. I will make your life a living hell for coming between Eligor and me.”
Eli sidestepped slowly, moving toward the open balcony that overlooked the serene mountains. “I know my father lives inside you, Cyrus.” His eyes shifted to Cyrus, promising death and revenge. “I will set him free.”
“I’m afraid you’re too late. Your father has been locked up too long. You know what happens to souls when that happens, don’t you?”
Eli drummed the rail with his fingers, too calm. What was he thinking? Then he backed away as if running away from something, or rather someone.
Lilith, Jacques, Lana, and Cain crashed through a portal, landing with snow piled around them. Jacques helped his mother stand and shuffled to the wall as far back as possible. Behind them Kalani and Sabina appeared, daggers in one hand and fireballs in the other.
“My mother is here,” Milani muttered under her breath and stepped in cautiously, pushing past the hand I held out to stop her.
I had no choice but to enter, but I shielded us from sight and stopped Milani from getting closer. Milani cursed, but she obliged.
“Well, I didn’t know we were going to have a reunion. What a surprise.” Cyrus seemed too happy, keeping Ikelia close to him, until he saw Kalani. “Didn’t I kill you?”
“You thought you did.” Kalani moved closer, smirking. “Release Ikelia and you can have them.” She pointed at Lilith and Cain. “I caught them sneaking, not that I care.”
“I don’t want them. I don’t have any quarrel with them. But I do have a score to settle with Ikelia.”
Lilith dusted snow off her dress when she rose, her jaw clenching. “I just want to know where the Snow Queen is. I want to be sure I won’t be hunted.”
“Stay on my good side Lilith, and I promise you, the Snow Queen won’t touch you.” Cyrus gave a warning expression.
Kalani and Sabina growled.
“We’ve come for the Snow Queen. Let her go,” Kalani demanded, fire flickering from her fingertips.
“Don’t threaten me, witches.” Cyrus raised his eyebrows. “Perhaps I’ll let you play with my pet first.”
“No!” I shouted, dropping the shield. I couldn’t allow Eli to hurt any of them. He would never forgive himself.
“Lucia.” My brother stepped beside me, bow and sword out in front, sounding angry. I didn’t blame him. I hadn’t given him any warning.
“Milani. You shouldn’t be here,” her mother sighed. “Run.”
“Jack,” Jacques called out. “What are you doing here?” His worried tone matched my own.
We were all stunned to silence, unsure of what to do. Cyrus, Mortem, Clarissa, and Ikelia gathered on one side, Lilith’s team lurked by the balcony, Kalani and Sabina edged closer to Jacques and Lana, and we were closest to the door, our only exit. Though we had plenty of space, we were up against powerful beings.
“Well, well, well. This is going to be so much fun.” I had never seen Cyrus happier. “Mortem, Clarissa, Eli, Lilith, Cain. Attack.” He barked an order, but none of them moved.
Lilith rolled her eyes, her lips pressed together. “I’m not a dog, Cyrus. I will do no such thing. I want to meet the Snow Queen myself, to ensure I won’t be her prey. I want to be left alone, to live my life peacefully. That is all.”
“Very well.” He dragged Ikelia closer to Lilith. “Tell her, Ikelia. Tell her where the Snow Queen is.”
Ikelia slowly peered up, those soft, defeated brown eyes pleading as she raised her arms. “Get these off me, and I’ll tell them.”
“You heard her. Take it off,” Lilith demanded. “Unless you’re afraid she’ll escape with those witches.” She eyed Kalani and Sabina. “Their powers are no match for yours.”
I inched closer, willing my light directly at Ikelia’s shackles.
Cyrus continued to speak, unaware I had released her. “I’m surprised, Lilith. All this time you never knew. I can’t—”
Ikelia’s power pushed Cyrus away, albeit not as powerfully as I’d expected. After years of being held captive, I supposed one would get weak, but that was not what surprised us all. Ice flew from her fingertips, and Kalani and Sabina guarded her, swords out.
“This little pathetic prisoner is the Snow Queen? You had the Snow Queen locked up, and you never told me?” Lilith roared, shards of ice dropping from the ceiling.”
Ikelia—the Snow Queen? I had to repeat it over and over again as I glanced at Eli’s stunned expression. Eli never knew, it seemed. I’d thought he might have kept part of his mother’s identity a secret, but he didn’t know. How did Cyrus find out?
“Eli. I can explain. Come to me.” Ikelia stretched out her arms, her voice tender, loving, and yet desperate.
“You’ve only been told lies, Eli,” Cyrus said, dusting off the ice Ikelia had thrown at him. “Let’s finish this battle between us, Eli. Kill your mother.” Cyrus opened up his mouth, and like a tornado, demons poured out—the most disgusting sight I had ever seen.
Lilith and Cain jumped off the balcony. Jack shoved his father and Lana toward the door. Surrounded by demons, I saw no choice but to defend and attac
k.
“Kill your mother, Eli!” Cyrus growled. “Mortem. Clarissa. Go get the other witches.”
Eli’s eyes flashed crimson. His shoulders shifted, and his dark wings fanned out. Dragging his razor-sharp wings across the icy floor, he left gouges along the way. A warning.
Mortem and Clarissa moved toward Cyrus but stopped, dumbfounded.
“Eli. Fight him!” Ikelia shouted as the three Elementum fought off demons surrounding them.
Too many demons skewed my vision as I sliced my way toward Eli. Swarms of demons created a tunnel of wind, lifting my feet off the ground. Zach and I opened our wings to protect the group and sliced with our sharp feathers through their skeletal bodies. Milani incinerated a handful, but the wind blew out her fire. Brody and Abel tore through some with fangs and nails, but they too were being carried away with the wind.
“Eli. Fight it.” Ikelia’s voice echoed. “I won’t hurt you.”
“How entertaining,” Cyrus laughed. “I don’t need you as leverage anymore. Finally, I can get rid of you, and it won’t be by my hand but your own flesh and blood.”
I had to help. Ikelia wouldn’t hurt her son, but Eli had no idea what he was doing. Please. Let my light work. Willing every power in me, I summoned my light. The light on my left palm grew brighter and brighter as I fought the demons with my sword in the other hand. The demons began to back away.
“Get ready,” I warned my friends.
My light blasted like the dawn of a new day.
Chapter 29
Lucia
Too much light. I slammed against the icy wall and dropped to the ground. I righted myself but teetered, my vision hazy and noises ringing in my ear.
In the distance, on the balcony, a man appeared. No—not just an ordinary man. Sounds filtered in enough to hear Uncle Davin say, “Did you miss me? I saw fireworks. Mostly demon body parts, but those are my favorite kind.”
Silver lights blasted from Uncle Davin’s bow. His experience as a demon hunter was unmatched. He fought with grace and precision, hitting his targets without fail. His presence gave me confidence as we fought our way to Eli and Ikelia.
Mortem and Clarissa were nowhere in sight. Perhaps they too escaped out the balcony. Milani battled toward her mother, helping her keep the demons away from Ikelia. Ikelia held out her hands to Eli, trying to convince him to fight. But no matter what she said, he was under Cyrus’s control.
The countless demons that had swarmed around the castle streamed inside. There were too many of them. I had used my light once and needed time to regain my strength.
Ikelia threw a magical punch at Eli to push him back, but he dodged it.
“You’re not my mother,” he roared, fangs out, wings flapping like a beast.
At the edge of my vision, Brody and Abel climbed the wall and hung upside down like bats, preparing to attack Cyrus. I charged at Cyrus to get his attention away from the ice cracking behind him. I was afraid he would turn to see Brody and Abel.
Cyrus transformed into black mist and hovered above us. Someone knocked me flat on the ground. I’d thought Clarissa had bailed, but she attacked me.
I used all my strength and pushed her back. She flew off me but leaped into the air toward me. We collided and tumbled across the icy floor, sliding to the other side. Clarissa gained the upper hand and pinned me down.
“I’m not trying to fight you,” she seethed. “I have the true cross dagger. You need to use it on Cyrus.” She shoved it into my hand. “Hurt me, but don’t kill me.”
“Why are you helping us?”
“Seriously? I’m giving you the only weapon to stop Cyrus, and you’re asking why? Stop asking questions and save Eli.”
I would gladly give her a punch for causing heartaches when we first met. I jabbed my bow into her chest, and Clarissa soared across the space. She cursed and called me names I’d never heard of. Clarissa pretended to be injured, clutching her stomach and moaning. Gripping the true cross dagger, I made my way to Cyrus, slashing demons along the way.
Cyrus dropped behind Eli, urging him on. Eli’s eyes flickering between two colors told me he was fighting.
“Run,” he mouthed to his mother.
“You’re not doing a good job, my son. Kill her.” Cyrus’s order made Eli go rigid. And the power he poured into that command caused Eli to pounce on his mother.
Uncle Davin wedged an arm between them and shoved Eli away.
“Don’t hurt him. He doesn’t know what he’s doing,” Ikelia pleaded.
“You’re the Snow Queen, do something,” Uncle Davin spat. “If you—”
Eli whacked Uncle Davin with his wings. Every power Milani, Kalani, and Sabina threw at Eli ricocheted off his wings. He was unstoppable.
“Eli. Stop!” Milani stepped in front of him, sending fireball after fireball. Eli grabbed her by her throat and began to choke the life out of her, momentarily distracted from Cyrus’s order.
Kalani rammed her body against Eli to break his grip. Milani gasped for air, stumbling backward.
Abel and Brody dropped from the ceiling, their swords aimed at Cyrus’s back, as I dashed toward Cyrus with the true cross dagger. Zach had my back, following to ensure no demons touched me.
When it seemed like our impromptu plan would work, Cyrus raised his hand to drive a small dagger into Brody’s chest and snatched Abel from the air by the throat.
Oh dear God.
Ikelia screamed as Eli seized her.
“No!” I bellowed, shattering the icicles protruding from the ceiling. Even Eli froze. Cyrus had let loose of the bond unintentionally, I assumed.
Brody staggered back, leaving a bloody trail. Zach moved over to guard him.
“You want war?” Cyrus roared. “You little people dare to defy me and think you can win this war? People die in battles.”
“Let him go, Cyrus. He’s just a boy. What is he even worth to you? I’m a much bigger prize. You can take me.” Uncle Davin dropped his sword and bow on the ground and raised both of his arms to surrender. “My life for his.”
“No, Uncle Davin,” I murmured under my breath. Though I knew he had a plan up his sleeve, it was still risky.
“His life for yours?” Cyrus began to laugh. “You would give up your life for this nobody? I think you’ve grown attached to these pests. They have been nothing but thorns in my side.”
“Last offer. My life for his. You get to kill an angel. Wouldn’t that be rewarding enough?”
“Eli kills his mother on my command, and I get to kill you.” Cyrus seemed to be considering the offer, but his smirk told otherwise.
“Ikelia, do something,” I whimpered.
No matter the magic she threw at Eli, nothing seemed to stop him.
“You see, Davin. I have the missing puzzle piece.” Cyrus glanced to Eli. “I allowed you to be a step ahead of me. I allowed you to find the last hiding place of the treasure, only to be disappointed. You made the mistake of placing the swords on the caskets. You began the process, and now all we need is one more. Eli’s sword. While you’re busy here with me, my children are retrieving the treasure.”
No! It cannot be. Every turn. Every battle. Every loss. Every hope. Ripped out of me. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move. All my training as a demon hunter…gone.
Then Milani curled her lips, standing next to her mother. She smiled too broadly to have just heard horrible news. “Your demons don’t have the treasure. And they’ll never have it. I have it.”
No. No. No. Milani. Not when he has Abel.
“You…little…witch.” His eyes grew to an endless pit of darkness, and his body seemed to swell.
I gasped when he brought Abel to the front of his chest. Zach and I lifted our bows to get a clean shot. Uncle Davin still stood with his hands up to surrender.
“He’s just a stupid kid. You can have me,” Uncle Davin tried.
“Milani,” Cyrus snapped. “Show me the treasure, or your friend dies right now.”
Milani wa
ited for her mother’s nod of approval. She reached inside her jean pocket and pulled out her hand. Then she unfolded a crystal ball the size of a golf ball. I had expected it to be something grander, perhaps like Noah’s Ark, or Jesus’s shroud, or a special weapon, but what she held in her hand seemed insignificant.
Cyrus held the same mystified expression as I did and chuckled. “A crystal ball? What are you going to do with that? That is not the treasure I seek. You have tried my patience, and you are out of time.”
“No!” I shouted.
“Eli, kill the Snow Queen,” Cyrus ordered. “She is no match for you now.”
Ikelia whimpered, her hands digging into Eli’s arm as she dangled a foot off the ground. Milani, Kalani, and Sabina threw more magic at Eli, and he deflected it all.
I couldn’t help Ikelia. I had to get to Abel, whose eyes were becoming dull.
“Brody. Tell Eli I’m sorry. Tell Eli.” Tears ran down his cheeks.
Zach and I weren’t fast enough. Even Uncle Davin’s leap wasn’t swift enough. Cyrus drove his razor-sharp wings through Abel’s body from his neck down to his torso.
Milani’s scream and Brody’s roar echoed off the icy walls like millions of broken glasses as I moved with angel speed and flung the true cross dragger with a little spark of my light to ensure it would hit the target.
Cyrus froze and then collapsed to one knee, his eyes dazed. The world seemed to still; the wind stopped howling, and the snow stopped falling. Abel’s bloody body dropped in a heap. Uncle Davin carefully pulled Abel aside, cradled him in his arms, and sobbed.
I turned to Eli, terrified I would see Ikelia dead. Eli had been frozen, turned to ice by his mother. A beautiful ice sculpture with wings. To my surprise, a tear drop fell from his face. Did he know what had happened to Abel? Knowing he was safe, I kept one eye on immobile Cyrus and the other on Abel.
I knew death too well. I’d seen my comrades die by fallen angels and demons’ hands, but I hadn’t been as close to them, hadn’t spent quality friendship time with them. And to see Uncle Davin openly mourning took my pain to another level. Milani, Brody, and Jack cautiously kneeled around them.