"Why not remove the fire altogether?"
"It is to serve as a countermeasure to your pride. This ensures you will never use the eighth measure without good reason. It also ensures you will rely on the Singer and operate in his strength, not your own."
"Can Markhato be saved?"
"Not until you deal with the Fallen One."
"Why does that matter?"
"Because without all three of you, Markhato will fall."
Then he was gone.
Lyric blinked and looked around in confusion. Apparently that was all the revelation he was to receive today.
33 TRAITOR
Lyric turned back to Cadence to see her awake and looking at him. He smiled at her while simultaneously wondering what she saw and what she knew. Her expression grew perplexed as she felt her left wrist with her right hand. Carefully she removed her long glove and both she and Lyric looked in wonder at her scar. She still bore the handprint, but it was no longer black and twisted. Her skin was smooth and healthy, it just happened to have a violet handprint on it.
She touched it gingerly then smiled as there was apparently no discomfort. Holding it out she indicated Lyric should touch it too. Carefully he touched the smooth skin. Immediately Cadence fell over on the bed. Lyric came close to panic when the warrior sat back up shaking with silent laughter.
"Really? I'm losing my mind and you've got jokes?" Lyric couldn't help smiling. "I'm glad your arm is better. Were you awake at all for our visitor?"
Cadence shook her head.
"I met someone who knows who you are; he's a friend of your father. Have you ever heard of Nephilim?"
Cadence shook her head again.
"That's what you are. Your father was an angel and your mother was a human. Most of your kind were giants. Regardless of size though they were men and women who did amazing things." Lyric watched for a spark of recognition but the warrior simply maintained her curious look while she listened. "Anything ringing a bell?" Head shake. "You are the original Verger. You must be immensely powerful. You fought Acheron in the Verge when you both tied to my soul song. She said she's never fought anyone like you." Shrug. Lyric's smile faltered. "The pain you've been experiencing. It's from the tie between Acheron and us. An angel named Revelation healed you so it won't hurt anymore." Lyric impulsively grabbed Cadence's hands. "I'm sorry, Cadence. I'm sorry for everything you've been through on my behalf and I'm sorry for all the pain I've caused you. I wish I could..." words failed the humbled Singer.
Cadence gently placed three fingers on his lips to stop him. Tears in her own eyes she pulled him close and hugged him tight.
The tension melted out of Lyric as he allowed himself to be comforted by this strange and amazing woman.
A brisk knock on the door heralded the arrival of the giant butler.
"Pardon me, sir, King Branigan has requested you meet him in the western observation tower as soon as possible."
Lyric and Cadence followed him down the corridor.
"Acheron!"
The demoness appeared in a swirl of smoke and fell into step beside them.
"Markhato will fall if the three of us don't work together. Cadence, I want you to reinforce the Eastern side. Acheron, find Ceylan and protect her. Nothing is to happen to her."
"Send your bodyguard," the demoness said irritably. "You're going to need me."
Lyric rounded on her, preparing to unload his rage and frustration. Instead, he remembered the advice of Joe, the old Mute and Revelation.
"I have treated you poorly, Acheron, and ask you forgive me."
The demoness was stunned, she felt sincerity flowing gently across the tie. It burned so sweetly.
"We're fine, Lyric, I don't judge."
"I need you to protect Ceylan. I cannot function while worrying about her safety."
"You don't even know her. Your feelings aren't real, she's half fairy."
"So I heard, but they're real to me." Lyric fought the shortness of breath that threatened at the thought of anything happening the princess. "You're the only one I can count on to keep her safe. I need you to do this. Please."
Acheron looked ready to protest, then she just rolled her eyes and smoked out. Cadence headed down the corridor leading to the eastern battlements. Lyric reached steps of the tower and took them two at a time. Upon entering the tower he discovered king Branigan already there.
"You sent for me, sir."
Branigan regarded him for a moment before speaking.
"You are dangerous, Demon Singer. My daughter told me how you destroyed your cell." His jovial face was drawn in worry. "The question on everyone's minds is, are you more dangerous to us or to our enemies?"
"I don't have words to convince you, majesty, so I will be content to act and let you decide for yourself."
Branigan nodded, looking down at the sea of bodies that surrounded the city.
"I grew up in this city and I take for granted its wonders. Yet this one remains. The idea that a million soldiers could gather like this and not be noticed by the rest of the world is ludicrous to me. I understand that it is because of the veil, but if the rest of the world can't see what we see." He turned back to Lyric. "It makes me wonder what we can't see."
Lyric wondered where this was going.
"Your grandfather is the best man I know. His love for your mother has inspired me to be a better father. I fear my daughter has too much of her mother in her. I have turned a blind eye to alarming events that I can no longer ignore."
"Majesty?"
"Westfall tells me you are a hero in a Guild that is full of heroes. He says you have a reputation for integrity. He knew those two Singers sent to retrieve you were trouble and we all know how dangerous soul singers are. He had to get you away from them without raising suspicion. Otherwise, he'd never have locked you up. He trusts you." Lyric blinked in surprise. He knew precious little about his grandfather, but everything he'd been told indicated the man either didn't know or care about Lyric's existence. Branigan handed him a piece of paper that had been scribbled all over. Lyric examined it as Branigan continued. "You are now the only Singer here and I trust David Westfall more than anyone else I've ever met." He gestured to the paper Lyric held. "I had my daughter's room searched an hour ago. That is the top sheet of a notebook from her desk."
Lyric was looking at a map that detailed a tunnel that led from far beyond the outer walls of the city to a basement in the palace. The implication was obvious and heartbreaking.
"Ceylan is the traitor."
* * *
Cadence reached the eastern battlements and immediately saw General Sabre. The man radiated calm in the midst of the fighting. All the way down the battlements in both directions, the enemy was scaling the wall and beyond pushed back by the Milleytes Lux.
The small warrior approached the general to make herself known. Sabre nodded a brief greeting and continued barking orders at his men.
"They're made of flesh and bone just like you, men, cut them down."
The general turned to Cadence.
"Where's the singer?"
Cadence gestured back to the west.
"I saw you fight. You're a member of the Standard aren't you?" Cadence was mystified by the man's words, though it seemed like the Standard should mean something. Sabre took her silence for affirmation. "It's a well stated truth, cut off the head of the snake and the body dies. These soldiers are zealots, right? They believe this Melody person is a god or some such nonsense. I've found a man who has a plan that'll probably get him killed, but might just shorten this fight and save some lives on both sides. None of my soldiers are trained for covert ops. I'm sending him behind enemy lines to retrieve her head. I'd like his chances better if a member of the Standard accompanied him. Will you go?"
Cadence nodded.
"Excellent, he's down the wall a ways getting ready. Name's Fugue. Go with him."
* * *
Acheron found Ceylan in the kitchens preparing food to take to th
e soldiers. The girl saw her at the same time and intercepted her at the doorway
"What are you doing here?" She asked coldly.
"My Singer has asked me to protect you." Acheron didn't have to try hard to sound bored.
"Thank you for the kind offer, I don't need protection though. The Milleytes Lux has never been beaten."
"Yet," Acheron said. "They've never faced an enemy like this either. I don't much care whether you like it or not. It's me and you baby girl."
Ceylan didn't respond, instead focusing on the task at hand.
Acheron felt a twinge along the tie and focused on Lyric's thoughts as they came across.
Someone is using Ceylan to gain entry to the castle through a basement beneath one of the kitchens. Guards are already looking for her. Protect her until I get there.
Are you serious? Acheron shot back the little bitch is a traitor and you're coming to the rescue?
Yes, keep her safe.
Acheron looked at Ceylan who was staring at her.
"I assume you're fairy half is buzzing a warning at you right now," she hopped on the counter where Ceylan was working. "Anything you want to tell me?"
The girl looked like she was ready to cry when suddenly her demeanor changed completely.
"Get your ass off my vegetables you skank."
"Ooo, she has a backbone."
"It's too late, demon-"
"Demoness."
"My men are already on the way to the war room, preparing to take Markhato down from within. They're all going to die. My father, the other kings, the soldiers and their families. Everyone will be purged, men, women and children. Even your precious Singer. And don't think I can't. My mistress helped me kill three singers at once just a few weeks ago. One won't be a problem, especially after we've severed your tie." Ceylan was all confidence and hate. Acheron found her much more attractive this way.
"Your mistress sounds fascinating, when can I meet her?" Lyric, stay away, Ceylan is Melody.
What?!
"No dice, bitch." Ceylan pulled a knife from her skirt. Acheron decided she was going to be more surprised when the knife being used to threaten her wasn't a banishing blade. "You're on your way back to hell for a while."
"Cute knife, where'd Lisian go?"
Acheron I'm almost there.
Stay away dammit!
"How dare you foul my mistress' name with your whore mouth?" Ceylan thrust the blade at Acheron who smoked out and reappeared behind her.
"I'm a whore? You obviously don't know Lisian."
Ceylan whirled, brandishing the knife like a crazy person.
Acheron, don't hurt her!
"So you're the big badass Melody that has everyone in a tizzy." Acheron deftly plucked the blade from the woman's hand. "How old are you, twelve?"
Melody reached out and clamped her hand on Acheron's shoulder.
"Get on your knees, demon."
Acheron sighed in exasperation.
"Demoness, dammit. Why can't anyone get that right?" She noticed Melody’s face turning red and a vein threatening to pop in her neck. "Oh wait. Are you trying to shift me? Oh that's adorable. Who do you think taught Lisian that trick? You really are just a sad piece of shit aren't you?"
Melody gasped and released Acheron, holding her wrist as though her hand hurt.
"It doesn't matter," she snarled, "my mistress will see to you as soon as I kill your Singer."
Lyric burst into the kitchen shouting.
"Ceylan, wait! This isn't you!"
Melody's smile was predatory as she produced another blade. Acheron found herself surprised this wasn't a banishing blade. Melody leapt at the singer and Acheron smoked out to reappear between them. Grabbing the woman's arm, she shoved the blade into the false goddess' heart and twisted. Melody fell to the floor and Lyric rushed to catch her, already singing his healing song. Too late. Melody was dead.
Acheron pulled the strange blade from Melody's body to examine it. A surge of rage along their tie brought her attention to Lyric. The Singer's face was twisted in fury. Acheron was familiar with that look. When he opened his mouth, she was a split second too late realizing his intention.
Time slowed as she watched an angry violet lash span the gap between them, sang into being by his wrath. A variation of the song of transference he used on her when they first met. He poured into it all of his grief, shame, hate, anger. Agony coursed through her body as the whip split her open from her left shoulder to her right hip. The demoness was shocked at the amount of pain she was in. She smoked out.
* * *
"You don't say much, do you?"
Fugue's conversational tone was somewhat at odds with the casual brutality he displayed breaking the neck of his soldier. Cadence carefully put her soldier to sleep and grabbed his jacket. They'd drawn the two away from the action so they could steal their coats, which Fugue insisted had an insignia that identified them as part of Rondeaux's army.
Donning the new outerwear, they moved toward the back of the army.
"Where are you going?" A voice stopped them both. "Cadence? Is that you? I thought you were gone!" They stopped and turned to face Gary Polph. Fugue looked at Cadence and raised his eyebrows questioningly. Cadence smiled at Gary and shook her head gesturing to Fugue to answer questions.
"Hello sir, my name is Qui Fugerit, we were summoned by Goddess Melody."
Polph laughed.
"Are you serious? Qui Fugerit? That's supposed to be your name?"
Fugue bristled.
"Is there something wrong with my name sir?"
"Not a thing, Fugerit. It's a great name for a soldier. C'mon, I'll escort you to the Goddess Melody." Polph led them further away from the fighting. Cadence did not feel good about this turn of events.
They approached a large tent and waited patiently while Polph went inside. Soon he reappeared, accompanied by a large werewolf, and behind them followed a short, pretty woman with a lovely alto voice.
"Hello," she smiled. "My name is Melody."
* * *
Lyric slowly stood, looking down at the dead woman on the floor. The logical part of his brain waited for the half fairy's influence to wear off even while his heart screamed. As he waited, he watched Ceylan's face change and his heart seemed to stop beating altogether. He was looking at Mistress Allison Holt.
* * *
"I'm sure you're here to do something foolish, like try to kill me. Don't bother, this is my Verger," she gestured to the huge wolf. "His name is Luper, and he would be very sad if you hurt me. Besides, the war is almost over. By now, my sister has opened Markhato's secret entrance and our soldiers are on their way to kill our father as well as the other three kings. There's really not much for you to do. Would you like some tea?" She gestured back to her tent.
Fugue smiled coldly.
"I guess you haven't met the demon singer, I'm pretty sure the war is still going strong."
Melody laughed merrily.
"Silly man, I'm one of the Singer's council. I helped send the demon singer out into the world. I even gave him a gift that's been slowly putting him under my influence." She placed a hand on Cadence's shoulder and the woman fell to her knees, agony on her face. "I provided the spell that even now is bringing down the walls in the Soul Singers Guild. I win."
"I just saw the demon singer kill a mile of your soldiers yesterday. If that's an example of your influence I'd love to see more."
"Violence, hate, murder. They all go against Lyric's character." She looked down at Cadence, her expression perplexed. She pushed harder and the woman writhed in pain. "Protection though, that's exactly his bit. Far better to plant the seed of love and fan it into flame with this lovely face." A gesture and her face transformed.
"Ceylan." Fugue said.
"Allison, actually. Ceylan is my sister." She looked at Cadence again. "Why won't you change?" Putting her other hand on Cadence's other shoulder she continued talking "We're half fairy you know, so stirring up love is simple, I've
just given it a bit of a boost for Lyric's benefit."
Fugue looked at Cadence whose tear stained face took on a dangerous look. Meeting Fugue's eye she nodded imperceptibly. Leaping at Gary Polph, Fugue spun him around to absorb the sword aimed at his back. Polph grunted as the blade entered his body and Fugue shoved him to the side, wrenching the weapon from the guard's hand.
Cadence, meanwhile, grabbed Allison's wrists and drove her forehead into the woman's face. Allison fell back, trailing blood as Cadence jumped the werewolf before it could attack her. Rolling across the beast's back, she slid one of her silver raptor blades between its ribs. The creature howled in pain and Melody cried out, falling to the ground with a hand to her side.
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