by J. D. Brown
Jesu glanced around. The entire room was in chaos, but he turned his back to it and faced me. Black blood covered the right side of his face, making the green of his irises appear brighter and wilder than ever. He ran toward Maria and me while mouthing the word, “Go!”
Maria shook my shoulders, bringing my attention back to the present. I blinked at her, confused, yet relieved that Jesu was okay.
“Get to Apollyon,” she shouted. “I’ll cover you. Go.” She turned and pointed. I followed her line of sight and saw them.
Apollyon and the Crone stood together on top of a platform at the very back of the room. They watched the fight with bemused smiles. Next to the Crone stood a sandy-colored wolf. The canine’s front paws pranced nervously and she whimpered. Lupa? What’s she doing here? Behind the trio, off to the side, stood Valafar. The incubus crossed his arms over his chest, his posture slouched, shoulders curled forward. He brought his fingers to his mouth and chewed on his nails. His purple gaze pinched with worry as he watched one part of the battle in particular.
I turned to see what Valafar was looking at. Not more than a few yards from the stage stood Prince Brinnon, in the middle of a one-on-one face-off against a colossal cobra. The prince kept the snake’s venomous fangs at bay, but he failed to notice the reptile’s tail sneaking up from behind. Any minute now, the snake would sweep Brinnon’s feet out from under him, or worse, snatch his ankle and wind him up in a bone-crushing curl.
Jesu appeared at my side and took my elbow, urging me forward. I dug my heels into the floor, refusing to move.
“Help Brinnon.”
Jesu and Maria glanced in the prince’s direction. Their gazes widened in dread as they both came to the same conclusion I did. Jesu arched his brow and then shook his head. “No,” he firmly stated. “The only person I am saving today is you.”
“Jesu, please,” I shrieked.
“Damn it, Ema!”
“I’ll go,” said Maria. She dashed after the prince before either of us could reply, but Maria didn’t get more than a few feet away when Nikolas appeared and brought an axe down on the snake’s tail, severing it from its body. The beast screeched in pain and then set its sights on the king. Nikolas was faster. Before the snake could strike him, he drew a gun and fired. The bullet hit the snake between its eyes. The reptile fell backward and hit the floor. It convulsed, shifted back into a zombie, and then died.
Two down, three to go.
“Ema,” Jesu eyed me. “You can end this. Now. Go.”
I drew a deep breath and nodded. I set my gaze on Apollyon and the Crone. Her ice blue eyes locked on mine and she grinned, baring yellow filmy teeth. She leaned close to Apollyon and whispered something into his ear, but he didn’t seem to notice. His was attention fixed on something else.
I started walking toward them, purpose directing each step. I undid the laces on my right arm cuff and let the armor fall to the floor. The blue sapphire dangled from the thin silver rose chain around my wrist. I tried to recall the words written on the slip of paper Maria had showed me. I drew a deep breath and pictured them in my mind. Your soul… by name… No. There was more to it. Shoot, what were the other words?
Apollyon’s features twisted into a snarl. He raised his fist into the air. A large jade-colored rock sat nestled atop a gold band over his ring finger. The jade caught the moonlight and sent a rainbow of silver-green hues over the room. My blood drained from my face and a chill ran the length of my spine. Apollyon didn’t have a ring the last time I saw him. My legs turned to lead and my feet stopped as the horrible truth dawned on me. It’s his philosopher’s stone. It has to be. This really was a trap. We were so screwed.
But Apollyon’s wrath wasn’t aimed at me. Not this time. His ring pointed at something else. Someone else. I didn’t even need to shift my gaze to see it. It all happened so fast. Nikolas, after saving his son’s life, charged toward the stage, aiming his gun at Apollyon. I didn’t understand. What was Nikolas doing? That wasn’t part of the plan. Apollyon’s lips twitched into an evil grin as he uttered a few unintelligible words. It didn’t matter that I couldn’t hear them, I knew their purpose immediately.
“No!” I screamed, but I was too late. Apollyon’s ring emitted a beam of green light. It shot through the air like a laser. Nikolas had almost made it to the top of the platform when the beam hit him in the chest. The Alpan king flew across the room, until his spine hit a wall. He crumpled to the floor, landing on his stomach. Green electricity rippled through his torso once… twice… and then it was over. Brinnon ran to his father’s side, screaming in hysterics.
And I saw red.
My blood boiled as the beast within finally woke. I didn’t hold anything back. I let the monster tear through me, taking over mind, body, and soul. I locked gazes with Apollyon. He scoffed, a smug smile curling his lips. I laughed because he had no idea his ass was already mine. Perfect.
Apollyon’s stupid cocky grin fell as I lifted my wrist and said the words. “Your soul I reap by name…” I moved my arm a fraction to the left and tore my gaze away from Apollyon, zeroing in instead on that bitch Crone. “…Lilitu!”
A navy blue light exploded from the sapphire. Energy rolled through my body in waves, more powerful than the ones I felt in the crest in Venice. Then, just as suddenly as it had started, the energy receded back into the stone. The bright blue light went out, and a sudden final gust of wind knocked me backward. I landed on my butt and laughed. What a rush!
Several things happened at once. First, Lupa ran off, disappearing somewhere behind the platform. Then, all the fighting ceased. Both vampyre and reptile looked to the stage in stunned silence. Apollyon also looked at himself. He patted his chest, realized he was perfectly fine, and then laughed in relief.
“Stupid girl,” he said, shaking his head.
Jesu came to my side and pulled me to my feet. “Ema, what the hell happened?”
“Get ready,” I whispered. “It’s all about to end.”
“What? Did you hit your head on something?” Jesu’s hands went to my hair, as though checking for blood. I ignored him. I ignored Apollyon, and I ignored the Saga-Giga, who were advancing behind us. They no longer mattered. All that mattered now was Valafar.
I watched the incubus closely as realization dawned in those deep purple eyes. His brow pinched as he scanned the empty space where his mother once stood.
That’s right, she’s gone. Where did she go? Figure it out. Re-prioritizing. That’s what Jalmari called it. Who knew that stubborn blockhead would be the one to save us all?
“Shit,” Jesu growled. “Stay here.” He drew a sword and then ran after one of the giant snakes. Once everyone realized Apollyon was still alive, the battle resumed.
Valafar’s confused gaze found mine. I could see the wheels turning in his little head, putting two and two together. Anger twisted his features and a violet light pulsated from his irises.
That’s right. I got Lilith. I lifted my wrist and shook the bracelet, taunting him with the stone, which was no longer sapphire, but a deep amethyst color. Come on, Valafar, don’t disappoint me. Do it.
Thunder shook the metal edifice and a bolt of lightning shot past the hole in the roof. The blazing white bolt cracked past me. I didn’t need to look to know who employed Mother Nature. Jesu had the Saga-Giga under control, and very soon I would have Apollyon.
My lips curled into a grin as I watched the anger mounting in Valafar’s eyes. Come on. Say it. Valafar clenched his fists and his shoulders tensed. Then, finally, he released the ultra violet light from his irises. The light shot out over the entire room, more powerful than lightning, stronger even, than my little sapphire. It doused everything and everyone in a lavender haze. Rapid breaths punched through Valafar’s clenched fangs as his anger crested and he murmured a single word. The exact word I wanted.
“Sleep.”
Chapter 29
I took a step forward and glanced at the sleeping bodies. Snake and vampyre alike snored s
oftly on the hard ground. They passed out right where they stood. Some of them would have splitting headaches or sore muscles when they woke, due to the odd positions in which they fell. Jesu’s still form was the most interesting of them all. He had been in the middle of electrocuting one of the giant snakes when Valafar cast his spell. Jesu’s left arm laid outstretched, torso turned slightly, fingers and thumb pointed at his target. I followed the direction his sleeping hand pointed and found a fried dead zombie not more than a few feet away. That made three down, and two to go.
I turned away from my lover and faced the platform, where Valafar stood. Apollyon lay at the incubus’ feet, also in a deep slumber. I levitated and went to the sadistic king’s side. Valafar watched as I took Apollyon’s hand and pried the jade ring from his finger.
“You won’t need this anymore,” I said, pocketing the item in my armor.
“You got what you wanted,” Valafar growled. “Now release her.”
I smiled. “Let’s make a deal.”
“No. Release Lilith or I will kill you myself.”
This was a side of Valafer I hadn’t seen before. All his annoying teasing and innuendos were gone. His British accent was almost non-existent, replaced by a far more ancient cadence. His gaze darkened to a prune color, but I wasn’t afraid of him. I had the upper hand. And a lot of Adders Tongue.
“You know how this works, Val… do you mind if I call you Val? Or was all that nonsense with Brinnon just to distract me?”
Valafar narrowed his gaze and his mouth thinned.
I circled him as I continued talking. “Anyway, like I was saying, you know how this works. I’m the only one who can control my philosopher’s stone. If you kill me, your precious Lilith will be stuck in there forever. And heck, who knows what happens if I die. Its power is linked to my DNA. Killing me could kill her too. So, if you want Lilith back, I suggest you do exactly as I say.”
Valafar gnashed his teeth together and scowled, but he didn’t say anything, so I continued.
“You’re going to kill the last two Saga-Giga. Right now.”
“Done.”
The giant snakes glowed softly as purple light emanated from their scales. They convulsed, turned back into half-rotten men, and then began to bleed from every orifice of their body, as though suffering a massive hemorrhage.
My gaze widened. “Wow.”
“Anything else?” Valafar seethed.
I nodded. “Tell me what Lilith wants with me.”
“I can’t.”
“Hmm. Should I crush the gem now? It’s pretty tiny, I bet I can do it with my boot.”
“I can’t,” he repeated, his knuckles turning white as his fists clenched tighter. “Because I was commanded not to. Lilith is my sire. You know how that works.”
I did know, and I almost pitied him.
Almost.
“You have to be able to tell me something. Give me a clue.”
He rolled his eyes. “No offense, love, but you’re mighty dense if you haven’t figured it out yet. Besides, you’re not going to crush the stone. You need it to stop Apollyon.”
I snorted. “Apollyon’s asleep. I could just sink a knife into his chest or, better yet, I could just have you kill him, like I’ve been asking you to do for days now.”
Valafar chucked and shook his head. “You really need to be smarter than that. I can’t kill Apollyon. I’ve been ordered not to do that as well. Why do you think I gave you the bloody coordinates to find us?”
I pursed my lips. “Lilith allowed you to give me the location because she wanted me to do her dirty work for her. That’s what she’s always wanted. She directed me to Apollyon in the Underworld so that I would free him, and now that she’s done playing with him, she wants me to send him back under. Why? What did she want with him in the first place? Why doesn’t she just kill him herself? I know she’s strong enough.”
Valafar smiled slyly. “Can’t help you with that one, love, but I can tell you this; you won’t crush the stone and you won’t kill Apollyon.”
“Of course I will,” I scoffed. “I don’t need you to do it. I’ve killed before, and I’ll gladly do it again.”
“Nope, you won’t. You know how easy it was for two little girls to wander into the Underworld and free him. You know he can get out of there a second time if he wants to. Apollyon has all sorts of tricks up his sleeves to cheat death. You know death is not permanent. Not for him. You want him locked up forever, somewhere where he can never escape, and you want to be the one to safeguard the key. To make certain he can’t get out. That bracelet is his cell, Ema, and you are the key. You’re not going to break it. You’re going to use it. Just as soon as you free Lilith.”
Valafar was right. My stone only had two charges, and I already used one. Plus, it could only hold one essence at a time. The moment I fired it at Apollyon, it would spit the Crone back out. It was never meant for her.
“What will happen,” I asked, “after I release her? What will she do to us?”
Valafar glanced at the ceiling and crossed his arms. “Nothing, for now. I’ll take her away. Far away. She’ll be pissed, but it’s not your time yet, and she won’t deviate from the plan.”
I cocked my brow. “You mean the plan you can’t tell me about?”
He nodded and then glanced over his shoulder, looking at Brinnon. “It’s him I worry about. If Lilith loses her temper… if you or I cross her… he will pay for it. We both love him, so he will pay.”
My breath caught. Maybe I was wrong to assume that Valafar just wanted to use Brinnon. Or maybe Valafar was using the prince right now, to manipulate me and free his sire.
“Please,” said Valafar. “Let me take her far away. I’ll calm her down before she does anything rash.”
I groaned and rolled my eyes. Whether I believed him or not didn’t matter. I had to take the risk because, in the end, I came here for Apollyon and I wasn’t leaving without him.
“Fine,” I said. “I’m going to trust you this once. I’m going to pretend you really care about Brinnon and are doing this for him.”
Valafar raised his brow. “Will you tell him I was brave and heroic?”
“Don’t push it.”
He took a step back and lifted his palms in surrender. “Can’t blame a bloke for trying.”
I crouched next to Apollyon. He looked different asleep. Relaxed. Vulnerable. Less insane, and a lot more like his sons. Apollyon was handsome for his age, and I could picture Jesu taking on the same thin creases near his mouth when he got to be in the quadruple digits. I wondered how my relationship with my great-times-twenty-grandfather would have been different if he wasn’t a sadist. Would he have told me stories of his youth? Would he have embarrassed Jesu with baby photos? Would he have bought a toy fire truck for my little one and called him Scamp?
Fat chance.
His sociopathic genes were probably the reason why Mom and I were so dysfunctional that Dad went running for the hills before my tenth birthday. I flipped Apollyon the bird, holding my middle finger just centimeters from his face.
Valafar scoffed. “Very mature.”
“Whatever,” I said. Then I lifted my wrist over Apollyon’s head and said the magic words. “Your soul I reap by name; Abbaton.”
A bright lilac-colored light illuminated from the gem, immediately followed by an explosion of navy blue. My eyes rolled back as a current of energy trundled through my being. It coursed through my blood, and then pushed outward. Finally, the light receded back into the gem, and a huge gust of wind knocked me off my feet. I fell over the edge of stage and landed hard on my back.
“Ouch.”
Jesu’s face appeared above mine. “Are you all right? What the hell just happened? Was I… sleeping?”
I lifted my right arm to check the stone. It was red, like a ruby. Jesu mistook the action as a call for help and he grabbed my hand, pulling me to my feet. I glanced at the stage. Apollyon was gone—and so were Valafar and the Crone.
The remaining soldiers slowly roused from their slumber. They glanced around, dazed and confused as they took in the dead zombies and the vacant stage. Then they noticed their fallen king and the son who mourned him.
“Did you get him?” Tancred demanded. He came out of nowhere, marching toward me.
Everyone faced me, curiosity evident in their gazes. I suppose five dead zombies and their missing leader wasn’t enough proof. I wet my lips and then looked at Brinnon. The prince met my gaze, his eyes pink and swollen. It was the closest I ever saw a vampyre get to actual tears. I spoke specifically to him.
“Apollyon is no more.”
Brinnon threw his arms around Nikolas’ lifeless shoulders and sobbed into his chest. “We got him, Father. We got him.”
Tancred watched father and son for a moment, his own grief evident in the tight set of his jaw and furrowed brow. I scanned the other Aplan soldiers. Their solemn glances mirrored Tancred’s regard. My heart broke for Cecelia, Sarah, and the rest of Nikolas’ children and grandchildren that I hadn’t yet met. Speaking of which, I was supposed to meet them in a few days. Shoot, that wasn’t going to be the happy reunion everyone had hoped for.
“Where is the incubus and the old woman he was with?” Tancred asked, always the thorough militant.
“Gone,” I said.
His brow quipped. “You killed them?”
I shook my head. “No. I meant they left.”
Tancred nodded and then motioned to a few of the soldiers. “Search the place. Leave nothing unturned. I want to know what Apollyon was planning. And if you happen to see our incubus friend, let me know immediately.”
“And let me know if you find a talking wolf,” I added, thinking of Lupa.
The men nodded and then climbed the platform. I didn’t know want they expected to find. I didn’t care. I was just glad the worst was over. Maria went to Brinnon’s side and gently cradled the prince’s head against her bosom, urging him away so the others could wrap the body. It was truly heartbreaking, seeing a young man as large as Brinnon fall to pieces in the arms of a dainty older woman, but Maria served as a mother and grandmother to us all. She stroked Brinnon’s hair and began to sing a sad folk song about the Valkyries and all the riches awaiting those who fell in battle. Jesu slid his arms around my waist and held me close. I felt a bit light-headed and leaned against his armored chest, closing my eyes.