Kellan stands. The look on his face is priceless. He doesn’t know what to do. To deny me risks civil uprising, but to allow me creates a bold statement.
As I proceed down the aisle, murmurs erupt amongst the elders. As I approach the dais, I hold out my hand for my father. Now is the moment he must choose to either share his power or have it taken from him. Smiling, or rather gritting his teeth together, he takes my hand and once I am up on the dais, he raises my arm into the air.
“The Princess Adelaide!”
The crowd are still slightly taken aback by my surprise entrance and my audacity. There is a terrible moment of silence before Dante leads the crowd with applause. Within seconds, the herd mentality hits and all the elders are clapping and smiling. I recall Dante telling me once how fickle the people can be. I still have a lot to learn.
I take my seat in my mother’s vacant throne and look out at the sea of faces that are now my people, and there, right smack bang in the middle of them, is Dante.
The council members are bought forward and made to kneel before us.
“You have all breached the oaths you once made to the crown, and you are all charged with treason,” Kellan booms.
“Not only did you break our laws in your disloyalty, you also tried to assassinate a Royal. The punishment for such an act is death.”
I reach for his hand, asking silently to speak. He nods gently, allowing it.
“My father, your King, speaks the truth,” I say, looking at Dante and taking strength from the admiration I see on his face. He believes in me, and that makes me believe I can do anything. “However, I do not believe that a mass execution is going to benefit anyone, especially not our people. I would like to give you each the chance to make a decision. Pledge yourself to my father and I, retake your oaths, or be banished from the Mainland for the rest of your existence.” I look over my shoulder at a shocked Kellan, I know I had no right to do this, but I’m not wrong. These people have served the country for so long, there is wisdom to learn from here if they’re willing. He makes his support for my decision known and I retake my seat beside him.
One by one they are given the opportunity to re-pledge their loyalty to the crown, and to me. To retake the oaths they once made to help protect the realm and help ensure justice prevails. A few members choose banishment, Emily included, and I can’t say I’m shocked, or unhappy about it, but I am happy about those who chose to stay, to help us start to build a new world, a better one.
Chapter Fourteen
Xander
“There’s been an attack,” Kaden shouts as he bursts into my room. “There’s no more time to mope about things out of our control.”
“What do you mean there’s been an attack?” I ask in a daze. I’ve been drowning my sorrows for the last week the best way I know how. Alone and in darkness. I try to clear some of the fog from my head as he keeps speaking.
“The truce you signed with the Seven – someone has broken it. There was an attack in the city last night, a legion of demons descended. There’s at least ten dead, and a couple dozen or so more who are injured,” Kaden tells me, pacing in front of me.
“And we have no idea who’s behind it?” I ask, now fully focused.
“Oh, I have an idea, what with Addie’s little stunt at the Council meeting. I’m sure Eolande was burning with rage when she heard how Addie just sauntered up to her mother’s throne and sat down. I don’t know what she was thinking? But as for Eolande, angry as she would have been, I can’t think how she would have enlisted the Demons.”
“It’s not a bad idea, but even with Addie’s actions, Eolande wouldn’t have been my first thought. Like you said, she despises the Demons; always has. The war between the Fae and the Demons has gone on much longer than our time on earth.”
“It’s too perfect. First Eolande flees, distracting us all, Kellan and Addie more than anyone. She knows that we will be pre-occupied in keeping her safe. She works on Emily, to bring about the trial but then her plan fails when Addie is saved because the people rise to support their princess. I don’t know what Eolande’s end game is, but I’d bet my life, she’s the one behind this.”
“You need to tread carefully brother, throwing around accusations like that can get you killed. It’s still treason even though she is charged with worse crimes.”
“Yeah, well, apparently treason isn’t so bad anymore. Not one of those council members who acted against Addie were sentenced to death.”
“As was Addie’s wish,” I remind him.
“Banishment and exile are nothing compared to what they were going to do. I don’t understand why Addie let them get away with it,” he seethes.
“Yes, you do. You know Addie.”
I take everything in. I had heard rumour of Addie’s little council stunt – no doubt the stupid idea of that puppet Prince, Dante, but I hadn’t realised just how challenging a move it had been, or that Eolande still had her spies in the Palace.
Despite my promise that I would keep out of Addie’s affairs, now I have no choice but to step up to the plate.
I stand and start to dress. “They will get what is coming to them, brother. For now, I assume we are needed in the city? Let’s gather our first command and take them to the city, meanwhile, we need to reinforce the security across the city and surrounding towns. Where is Dimitri?”
“He’s already at the Palace. That’s where they have located the city residents who aren’t injured or… dead. The Med Centre on the edge of town wasn’t destroyed in the attack so that’s where they’re taking them."
“Okay good, they need a familiar strong face. Let’s go to the city and see how we can help.”
***
Addie
We arrived at the Med centre as soon after the attack as we could.
“I can’t believe this, Dante. There’s just so much pain,” I say, trying to compose myself.
The explosion was in the middle of the market square and was followed by a legion of demons walking through, killing and maiming anyone within touching distance. When the guard arrived, they simply disappeared.
“There’s never been an attack like this before. Not on innocent people. Not in any of our histories. It’s barbaric. There was no military reason. They’ve done it just because they could.”
I try to calm my breathing, as flashes from that fateful night at the Academy haunt me. We are out of sight, taking a private moment in the linen cupboard. Dante had seen me triggering, and swept me away from the eyes of our people. Now, I’m stood wrapped up in his arms.
“Sometimes things like this can’t be rationalised,” he says. “Pointless acts of terror are just that. What we need to do is get our people through it.That’s our responsibility to them. It’s what we owe to those who died today. We will hunt down the ones responsible, and someone will be held accountable.”
The strength I hear in his voice reminds me he was created for this. For ruling. For dealing with disaster. He was groomed to be a King. Dante has stood up and taken every blow and every new thing thrown at him, handling it with grace. But this act of madness is too much even for him, even though he hides it well, I can see how affected he is by it really. I don’t think the reason we’re hiding out here for five minutes is just about me.
There are voices in the corridor outside, and I recognise them immediately.
“We should go back out there,” Dante says, rubbing his hands up and down my arms. “We have a job to do.”
I nod and take a deep breath before we step back out into the chaos. There are so many people here. Humans, Fae, Vampyr, and even Wolves.
The market square is the hub of life. It’s meant to be a safe place for everyone. Neutral ground. But I guess that’s exactly why we were hit there. Medics zip around in front of us, and I feel helpless again.
“Is there anything we can do?” I hear Xander behind me, and I turn slowly, bracing myself for the sight of him. I knew there would be times we would see each other, but I had hope
d to have more healing time in between.
“Xander,” I say by way of greeting, pushing down the swirling emotions that threaten to overwhelm me. “Kaden, its good of you to be here. We’ve got this covered for the most part, but extra hands are always useful. You should go down to the square. The explosion collapsed several buildings and they were still pulling people out of the rubble when we passed through.” I look them both directly in the eye, but Xander avoids eye contact.
“Dimitri is already there,” Kaden tells me, giving me a small smile. “Are you okay?”
“I’m better than most other people here, but thank you. I think we need to get back to the Palace, I’m not much use here,” I tell them, taking Dante’s hand for support.
I hadn’t realised it until now, but I’m angry at Xander. Angry that he didn’t fight the decision, even if I accepted it. Its irrational, and totally the wrong time to focus on it, so I focus on Kaden and the feel of Dante’s hand in mine.
“You should come by the Palace once things settle down here. I imagine you’re going to be needed.”
“Of course. Stay safe, Princess. Dante,” Kaden says with a nod, turning, and taking Xander with him.
I take a deep breath and centre myself.
Can today get any worse?
The floor shakes with the boom of an explosion. Screams quickly follow and I run outside, Dante on my heels. Flames and thick black smoke rise from the east.
It’s the Palace.
I look at Dante and take off at a run. Thoughts of Kellan, Sophie and Michael push me harder.
Please let them be okay.
Chapter Fifteen
The rush to Palace is a blur, and before I know it, I can feel the heat of the flames from the blaze in front of me. There are screams from the back of the Palace and I rush through the fire with no thought for myself, ignoring Dante’s calls to stop. I know that scream.
Sophie.
If Sophie’s hurt, I swear to anyone who is listening, I will tear whoever hurt her limb from limb.
Inside, the smoke affects my visibility but I can still hear her. I move as quickly as I can through the rubble of what was once the kitchens of the Palace. I keep an eye out for anyone trapped, but I see no one as I work my way deeper into the destruction.
Blind instinct brings me to entrance hall. I don’t know that Sophie is up there, but I am sure I heard her.
“You’ll never save her…” I hear the hiss as if its inside my head. I whip around to find the source of the voice but I see nothing. In the background, Sophie’s screams grow smaller.
“You won’t save any of them,” the hiss taunts again. Bitch, game on. You don’t hurt the ones I love and get away with it. Ignoring the voice, I charge up the stairs and rush towards my rooms, taking little notice of the growing flames. The door is closed, and I try to rush it but I’m thrown backwards. My arm erupts into an almost unbearable throb where I hit the door.
“Addie!” I turn to see Xander running towards me through the smoke. My vision blurs and I know the fumes are starting to get to me. I can’t survive the heat and smoke much longer.
“Sophie is in there. Michael too. We need to get them out,” I yell to him. The flames are licking the walls and ceilings around us.
“I can get them. I promise. You need to get out of here. It could collapse at any second.”
“Now is not the time to look after me, Xander. Help me get the god damn door open!” I scream, before kicking at the door again. He takes off in the opposite direction, going in one of the other adjoining rooms as I keep trying to attack the door. All the shit I’ve been through, all the people I’ve fought, and now a door is my biggest obstacle.
Xander re-appears pulling me back.
“The ceiling has collapsed in there, I can’t see anyone, but we can get in through the window. We’ll just need to go out fly in.”
“That sounds reasonable,” I say to him, though most reason left me when that voice taunted me. I feel as if I can’t quite get a grip on myself. I try to shake it off, and follow Xander back into the room and watch as he stretches out his wings. I follow suit.
“You ready?” He asks, and I nod resolutely. They have to be okay.
“Then let’s go.”
I follow him as he ducks out of the window and moves round to the window I’ve stared from a thousand times. He touches the glass and takes his hand away quickly. “It’s too hot. If we open the window, if could cause and explosion.”
“I am the Reborn, the Princess Valoire, and you’re trying to tell me you think it might be too hot to save two of the people I love most in the world? I don’t think so. There has to be a way to get to them. I will not give up on them.”
“I told you you’d never save them,” the hiss taunts again in my head.
“Shut up!!” I scream, as I feel the darkness inside me burst out of its box. I feel as my arm rise as it shoots fire towards the window. I watch as the flames erupt in the room before coming straight at me. The fierce heat envelopes me and somewhere in the distance, I hear the shouts from Xander and the screams from the ground below me.
But my demon-self welcomes the heat from the flames. She was born of fire. Soon, I am in the room.
“Are you coming?” I ask a shocked Xander.
He falters but follows me through the broken window into the destruction of what was once my room. The flames have died back but slabs of concrete, blackened by the fire fill the room. Xander and I search but find no-one.
“We’ll find them,” he says, trying to comfort me, but the darkness still has hold of me, and try as I might, all I feel now is cold. I fight it back, thinking of Sophie, letting the determination and the love I feel for her be the thing that brings me back.
“We should go and help the others,” I say to him, taking another glance around the room. Maybe I never heard her after all. I follow him outside and back to the chaos at the front of the Palace, losing myself in the robot like movements of making sure everyone is okay.
After what feels like hours, but can’t have been more than half of one, I start to feel like myself again, the exhaustion of the day wears thin.
“Addie, there you are!” Dante says, rushing towards me. He wraps me in his arms and I sink into him.
“I’ve been worried sick. I lost you in the rush to get up here. I had a feeling you were safe, but when I couldn’t find you, I worried.”
“Who do you think could have done this?” I ask.
“I don’t know, but who could possibly hate the crown so much to try and destroy it this way?”
“I don’t know, but when I find them, they’re going to wish I never had,” I say, setting my mouth in a grim line, and thinking of my mother. I’ve been afraid to say it, to tell anyone of my suspicions – but somewhere deep in my heart, I know it was her. Only she hates me and the people enough to do this.
“Any news on Kellan? Sophie or Michael?” I ask.
“Kellan made it out safely. He was one of the first out, and then he was whisked away by his personal guard so he was safe, despite his protests.”
I nod, wondering just how much protest he put up. He’s never exactly been the hero type.
“Michael was brought in to the triage centre a while ago. He was out cold. Apparently, they pulled him out from a pile of rubble, took a pretty nasty blow to the head and they are keeping an eye on his lungs to check there wasn’t too much smoke damage. He was near the meeting rooms, which is where the blast seems to have originated.
I look at the palace and see the fire still raging, ravaging the palace as it burns hot.
“How is it still burning this hot?” I ask, as another explosion rocks the ground beneath us. I look up and see flames, tinged with green and look to Dante, confusion and panic on my face.
“Hell Fire,” he gasps, and I notice the flames come from the areas where the cells were. I have no idea what hell fire is, but it can’t be anything good. I rush forward to help, and am pulled back by Xander.
“No, Addie. You need to stay here, you can’t risk yourself like that. Hell fire is dangerous to us all. Fae, Fallen, Human. The only ones it cannot hurt are demons. You need to stay here and let us handle this.”
“But…”
“Addie, you are a Princess. Stay here with, Dante. We have this,” he tells me, nodding to Kaden and they both take flight, circling above the flames before Xander dives. I hear Kaden call out to him, I can’t make out his face from here, but I know Kaden. The frantic movements and his shouts tell me that whatever is happening can’t’ be good.
“Dante, I have to…”
“No, Addie. Do as he asked. Please?” He pleads, and I still, holding my breath waiting for Xander to rise from the flames. I might not have chosen him, but this can’t be how it ends. This one act of craziness, of terror, cannot be how this story ends.
Kaden dives, before emerging from the flames moments later, and the sight before me takes my strength, and I feel my knees give out as I watch them come to us. Kaden lands before me Xander, barely recognisable in his arms, protecting a crying terrified Sophie.
Medics descend on us, taking Sophie from his arms and checking her over, as others try to fuss around Xander, as he tries to wave them off. I feel the tears run down my face and the charred and burnt face that I love so dearly.
“Addie,” he manages to say, coughs wracking his body.
“Don’t, they need to help you. Don’t speak.”
“Too late,” he croaks and I look up to Kaden, the devastation on his face mirroring my own.
“I only just got you back,” Kaden says, his voice thick with tears, as he sinks to his knees on Xanders other side.
“I saved her for you. I had to make sure she was okay,” Xander wheezes, and I take his hand in mine. It's some of the very little skin he has left that is untouched by flame.
Rapture (The Immortal Chronicles Book 4) Page 10