by Tara West
Could Neriphene be right? Was she as powerful as a goddess stone?
She closed her eyes and summoned a magic deep from within, letting her soul hover in the space between two worlds. When she was there, she was amazed to see a beautiful young woman standing opposite her. She wore jewels on her arms and neck, and a long flowing pale dress, a stark contrast against her smooth, ebony skin.
“Neriphene?” she asked.
The beautiful woman nodded. “It is I.”
Dianna reached for her, touching her chest and surprised to find a warm, beating heart.
She was puzzled. Was this what her cousin looked like? “But you are not a stone.”
Neriphene smoothed her skirt. “Here in the Elemental world, my body is free.”
“Oh.” Dianna held her pale hand in front of her face, pleased to see she was not translucent, like a spirit. She stepped back and closed her fist, feeling each muscle tense as magical energy coursed through her.
Neriphene revealed a dazzling smile. “Do you feel the magic?”
She opened her hand and magic sparked off her fingers, floating through the air like thousands of tiny butterflies. “Yes. It’s so powerful.”
“It’s always been strong.” Neriphene chuckled. “You just needed to find it.”
Warmth flooded her chest and then the magic flowed through her, gushing out of her hands like raging rivers. She flung it into the air, and it rained back down on her, prickling her skin.
“Oh, heavenly Elements,” she breathed as her chest expanded with more magical energy. She looked at her cousin through a sheen of happy tears. “Thank you, Neriphene.”
Neriphene nodded. “Just promise you will use your powers for good.”
“You know I will.” She wiped her eyes, sparks flying in all directions.
Neriphene closed the distance between them, clasping Dianna’s shoulder. “You are not like your mother.”
She sucked in a sharp breath, searching her cousin’s golden eyes. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve said to me.”
When Neriphene smiled and held out her arms, Dianna welcomed her cousin’s embrace, magic sparking all around them. Until this moment, she hadn’t realized how desperately she’d needed to be held. She hadn’t been so loved since before her parents had died. That feeling, and giving love, empowered her magic even more.
“Now go back and break your bonds,” Neriphene whispered and pulled back.
She smiled at her cousin. “Oh, believe me, I will.” Then she let her spirit fall back to the mortal plane.
When she awoke, powerful magic raced up her arms. Energy shot out of her like starbursts as she flung her arms wide, breaking her bonds with a violent snap.
She floated to her knees, smiling broadly at a lone mage who kept watch on the outskirts of the magical circle. She blasted a hole through the fiery barrier and latched onto the mage with a rope of magic, dragging him into the circle. She pulled him close, forcing him on his knees. “Did you think a silly circle could contain my magic?”
“Please, please, don’t hurt me,” he begged, sweat dripping down his gleaming bald head.
“Lead me to the High Mage.” Dianna sneered. “Her reckoning has come.”
A loud boom, followed by two thunderous roars, sounded overhead. She flung a magical barrier over her head as debris fell to the ground. A broad beam of light shone down from above, illuminating the smoky cavern. Two giant-winged creatures landed beside her with a deafening thud.
The mage rolled into a fetal ball, clutching his knees and crying.
Are you all right? Tan’yi’na asked, shocking her with his concern.
She brushed plant debris off her legs. “I am now, Tan’yi’na. Thank you for asking.” She smiled broadly at both dragons. “And for coming. I could use a few extra friends down here.”
Tan’yi’na sniffed the air before leaning over Dianna and inhaling her hair. You’ve found your magic.
She raised her palms, magic coating her hands like glowing gloves. “I did.” She smiled triumphantly. “Now I’m ready to use it.”
Tan’yi’na frowned. I felt My Deity’s distress cry, but now I do not sense her aura.
Tears pricked the backs of her eyes as she mourned the loss of the old witch. Besides Dafaur and Odu, Feira had been the closest living descendent of Kyan, and she would be sorely missed. “I’-I’m sorry. I believe her to be dead. After Tumi was killed by The Seven, she fell over, and her eyes were lifeless.” Choking back tears, she was unable to continue.
The dragon let out a low wail, so dark and ominous, Dianna thought her heart would surely break. If Tumi is dead, then so is Feira. His golden eyes were luminous as a single tear cascaded down his snout. ’Twas a dark magic she used to keep him alive, one that tethered his soul to hers. If one died, then so would the other, just as one couldn’t exist with half a heart.
‘Tan’yi’na, I’m so sorry.”
The mage shook and curled into a tighter ball, urine pooling on the rocky floor beneath him when Tan’yi’na and Lydra’s snake-like necks slithered down to his level, sniffing him with snarls.
Would you like to do the honors? Tan’yi’na said to Lydra.
When the ice dragon opened her icy maw, the mage let out a terrified screech and tried to crawl away. Lydra pounced in front of him and batted him back and forth between her paws. She bit the screaming mage in half, then gulped down his upper half, leaving his bloodied lower extremities on the ground. She let out a cold, rancid burp.
“Oh.” Dianna gawked in horrified fascination as her dragon licked blood off her frosted lips. “That’s one way to get rid of a mage, but he was supposed to take me to Zephyra.”
“I know the way.”
Dianna looked up to see Sprout walking toward them, tears flowing over red-rimmed eyes.
She stepped back warily as the young witch approached. “How do I know we can trust you?”
“They killed Grandmother.” She sniffled, looking up at Dianna with watery eyes. “You are right. They are evil.”
She bent on one knee, grasping the child by the shoulders and searching her eyes for deceit. “Do you realize if you lead me to them, I will destroy them all, even your mother?”
The child nodded. “She’s imprisoned Simeon. She says he is to starve to death in his cocoon.” She let out a guttural sob. “It’s all my fault.”
“Don’t worry, child.” She wiped tears off Sprout’s cheeks. “I will free him.”
Rage filled her when she thought about Simeon’s own mother slowly starving him to death.
Elements have mercy on Zephyra, Neriphene whispered. The goddess has awakened.
* * *
Alec covered his ears as the deafening crack of cannon fire rattled the planks beneath him. The monster struck the ship’s hull with such force, the ship nearly toppled on its side. Clenching his teeth against the burning pain in his ribs, he grabbed the mast, holding on for his life as men slid down the deck and right into the monster’s open jaws. Another shot of cannon fire, and the boat tipped even farther. When Grim slid past him, Alec lurched to the side, grabbing the dwarf’s vest by the collar.
“Don’t let go!” the dwarf screamed, kicking his legs.
Feeling as if the cracks in his ribs were widening, Alec bit his lip hard, repressing a curse while hauling the dwarf up to him. Grim reached the mast, holding on beside Alec.
“Thanks, lad,” he said, wiping sweat off his brow.
Alec could not look away as Ryne slid toward the plant, screaming and hacking it with a small blade as a leafy tendril wrapped around his leg.
“Why, I’ll be a gnaz’s hairy ass,” Grim grumbled, letting go of the mast. He slid toward the plant with a warlike bellow and hacked off Ryne’s bonds with his axe.
When the monster prepared for another strike, Alec screamed, “Look out!” But it was too late. The toothy maw landed on the deck, planks splintering, as the monster swallowed half the deck, along with Grim and Ryne.
Alec’s wo
rld shattered when he realized he’d lost his friends.
The ship spun. His hold on the mast broke, and he was flung into the cold water. It rushed over him, sucking him down until he was submerged in the watery kingdom. Time slowed as beneath him, dozens of gaping mouths stretched toward him, coming within reach of his legs. Above him, the ship was completely flipped over, and terrified screams pierced the water. All the while, the slow, steady pulse of a beating drum throbbed in his skull. He pushed up into a gaping hole in the planks, gasping for breath when he surfaced in a pocket of air inside the dark hull. Seeing a flickering light, he swam toward it.
He blinked hard when he saw the light was the spirit, Mari.
“Help me find it,” she cried.
He spit out a mouthful of salty water. “What?”
“The stone! The stone!” She flew in frantic circles. “I’ve lost it.”
He dove back under the water, listening for the sound of the drum. For some reason, he just knew the drum was the stone. He thought he saw a flash of light underneath the heavy chest and swam down to it, cursing and grunting as he tried to lift the chest. His screaming lungs forced him back to the surface.
“It think it’s down here!” he told Mari.
She dove into the water after him. He pointed to the chest. It rattled and throbbed as if it contained a living heart. He was barely able to lift it, giving Mari enough space to slip in.
She grabbed the stone, then swam away as fast a siren. Alec struggled to swim after her, traveling up the thorny neck of a beast that was twice as wide as Gorpat’s waist. His stomach lurched when he heard men’s screams coming from within the plant’s throat.
As Alec reached the surface, he was struck by a blinding light. He shielded his eyes, then sucked in air seconds before a wave washed over him, throwing him against the side of the ship hard enough to break a couple of ribs. Paralyzed with pain, he was unable to move. As he sank into the abyss, Carnivus plants fell on their sides, floating in the current like dead, bloated fish.
Thanks, Mari, Alec thought, but you are too late for me.
Suddenly he was thrown onto Gorpat’s wooden barge. He rolled on his side with a silent scream, pain shooting through him as he coughed up salt water.
The giant had broken her chains and was looking at him with crossed eyes. “Friend okay?”
“Grim,” he gasped, finding the act of breathing, much less talking, to be unbearably painful. “In the plant.” He pointed to the carnivus.
Gorpat jumped into the water with a splash, nearly toppling the barge. A wave washed over Alec, pushing him to the other side. He dug his nails into the planks to keep from sliding off.
The giant swam back to the surface, hauling the plant’s bulbous head with her. She pried its mouth open wide enough for her to crawl inside, her head barely fitting through the tight opening. The dead plant’s mouth closed, and it sank into the water.
Alec watched the surface with bated breath, praying to the Elements that his friends would return alive.
Khashka crawled onto the barge, heaving and vomiting water before flopping beside Alec with a groan. “My friends are all dead.”
Alec’s ribs hurt so badly, he had no strength to offer the man comfort.
The spirit floated beside her father, cradling the stone in her arms. “Thank you,” she mouthed to Alec.
He answered with a nod, then rested his head on the barge, waiting for any sign of his friends. The water began to bubble and boil, then a great spout flew into the air, and the mighty plant was heaved above the waves, its jaw ripped in two.
When Gorpat climbed off the plant’s fleshy tongue, cradling Grim and Ryne in her arms, Alec heaved a sigh of relief.
The dwarf affectionately patted his daughter’s thumb, smiling at her as plant slime dripped off his beard. “I always knew you were a pearl.”
Alec laughed, then regretted it instantly as his ribs screamed in agony. A cyclone of dizziness spun in his head, and light gave way to darkness.
* * *
Eris furiously jumped over waves and lava springs, pulling herself up on the edge of a jagged boulder that jutted from the sea. For too long her temperamental mists had been silent, no doubt punishing her for killing her Elementals. But what choice had she had? If her disobedient daughters hadn’t secretly forged a truce with Madhea’s Elementals, she would’ve conquered the winged ice witch. She did not mourn her disloyal daughters. In fact, she was glad they were gone, for they’d have disapproved of the child she’d stolen years ago, the child whose body would soon belong to Eris.
Her mists finally decided to reveal the status of her search party, only to show her that the ship had been destroyed by a carnivus plant. But how? She had gifted her captain with an enchantment to protect the ship from sirens and carnivus, a spell so potent, his eye had swirled with her magic. Rahn had been more than a captain to Eris. He’d been a lover, one of the few mortals who tolerated her repulsive tail. Now he was lost to her. Though he wasn’t handsome by any means, he’d had a fine physique, and Eris loved strong men. She mourned his death, not because she cared for the man, but she loved how he’d cared for her, worshipped her, and made her feel less repulsive. Now she would have to content herself with her other lover, though he was scrawny and old, until she found a replacement for Rahn.
The mists revealed a glimpse of the survivors before fading to black. Had they only shown her these images to taunt her? She saw a giant, a dwarf, a blue man, another mortal, and Khashka with his spirit child. Thank the Elements that Khashka had survived, for the child’s spirit would follow her father. The blue man intrigued her, for he was tall and lean with a muscular chest and hair so pale, it was almost translucent. She couldn’t help but wonder what that hair would feel like slipping through her fingers. Perhaps after she possessed the young witch’s body, she’d take the blue man as Rahn’s replacement, unless, of course, he displeased her. Then she’d feed him to her sirens.
When the wind whipped her hair across her face, Eris tilted her head to the sky, listening for a word from the Elements. She shouldn’t have been disappointed when they refused to speak to her. Curse the stubborn Elements! Because of their disobedience, she was forced to rely on spies, which had so far failed her. When she had Mari’s body, she’d bend the Elements to her will, forcing storms to rage and cities to flood. They would not make a mockery of her much longer. In the meantime, she had to ensure the survivors made it to her volcano. She slapped the water with her tail in a familiar pattern.
When Naamaku ascended from the water like a tower jutting into the sky, his fangs dripping venom in thick pools on the surface and his aqua eyes glowing like twin stars, Eris’s eyes rolled to the back of her head. She communicated a message to him. Go find them, Naamaku. Bring the blue man and Khashka. Kill the rest.
Her leviathan slithered underwater, darting through the ocean. Eris had no doubt Naamaku would eat his fill of the giant and the others, and return Khashka and the handsome blue man to her.
She rubbed her hands together when she thought of all the things she could do once she shed her unsightly fish tail, starting with destroying Madhea. Eris’s soldiers had told her Madhea’s glacier was melting at an alarming rate. Her sister’s power was waning, no doubt because her Elementals had taken it for themselves. Soon, they and all the world would know the might of Eris’s wrath.
Chapter Fourteen
Slaves and witches scattered as Dianna marched with a singular mission on her mind—destroy The Seven. Actually, make that six. Lydra had already taken care of one mage.
Their heads scraping the low ceiling, Lydra and Tan’yi’na crawled behind Dianna and Sprout, growling at onlookers who were brave enough to stop and stare.
“Seek shelter,” Dianna called to them, “And do not come out until it’s over.”
Much to her surprise, Sprout took them to a cavern with an underground waterfall and small pond. It was lovely, complete with a golden fountain in the center of the pond and shimmering che
rubs dancing around the spout.
I get my treasure back when this is over, Tan’yi’na mumbled. These witches do not need golden cherubs and fountains.
Dianna didn’t care about treasure, so long as the people of the Shifting Sands were free, and Simeon and Jae were unharmed.
Once they skirted the pond, Sprout pointed to swirling mists that poured out of a darkened tunnel. “They are in there.”
She grabbed Sprout’s shoulder. “Stay here.”
The girl pouted. “Dianna, I-I’m sorry. I didn’t want to bind you.”
She cupped Sprout’s face, kissing her forehead. “You’re just a child. I do not hold you accountable for your mother’s sins.”
Sprout wordlessly nodded while tears streamed over her cheeks.
Dianna turned to the dragons. “That tunnel isn’t big enough to fit you.”
Tan’yi’na arched his long neck, ruffling his wings, reminding her of a graceful swan preparing for flight. Step aside. I will show you that we can.
She pulled Sprout behind Tan’yi’na, then watched in morbid fascination as Tan’yi’na puffed up his chest and released his flame with a roar. Within seconds, the tunnel walls came crashing down, sending smoke and debris into the air before it settled as a thick haze.
Six golden-eyed witches gaped at the dragons through the filthy air. They’d been dining at a table in the shape of a seven-pointed star, a feast large enough to feed dozens of men spread out before them. After all the death and carnage today, and after her twins had been imprisoned, Zephyra still had an appetite? Dianna was convinced that witch had no soul.
Zephyra pushed away from the table with a curse. Climbing over piles of rock, she stood on a mound of debris that brought her eye-level with Tan’yi’na. “What is the meaning of this?”
The dragon’s golden eyes darkened. What is the meaning of you killing my deity and her mate?
“Feira betrayed her people and the memory of her grandmother by siding with the enemy’s daughter.” The witch fingered a pouch hanging from her neck, her iron-eyed gaze sliding from Lydra back to Tan’yi’na. “She left me no choice, and unless you and your dragon mate stand down, neither will you.”