Feel the Burn

by MacDonald, Nicole

‘Agreed.’

  The unwelcome, and all too familiar, feeling of sorrow rose, and Ignatius reached to squeeze the Lieutenant’s shoulder.

  ‘I’ll see it done. And that yours receive the honors and pensions due.’

  The centaur shuddered while his body fought against the imminent and he squinted at Ignatius, eyes narrowed in pain.

  ‘My thanks.’

  With another shuddering wheeze, the centaur died.

  For a moment everything seemed to stop. Belsesus, the oldest and strongest of the Aswaran division lay dead before him. Knowing the likelihood of returning his body to his family was slim, Ignatius gently leaned the body forward to conceal the mess, making it look like the centaur bowed, then took a dagger and sliced off the long plait the Lieutenant wore. It might offer some comfort to his family, he thought, tucking it in the empty crossbow sheath. Standing, he bowed low to the dead Lieutenant, then turned and set off toward the castle at a brisk jog.

  ‘Fuck OFF!’

  The shield I held in place prevented the teeth and claws from reaching even my chainmail, but that didn’t slow the demented creatures. It only seemed to make them try harder and I grappled for a hold of the flailing limbs. My fingers closed on the throat of one when it dove at my face and I made a sharp twist with my hips, rolling over and slamming it into the stone floor at the base of the staircase. Another creature attacked my back, trying to wrench my head up or off, and any concern I’d had at concealing my abilities vanished. With a snarl of anger I flashed out a wall of flames, enveloping my body and those attacking, then spiraled it up the staircase. Screams so high my teeth rattled ricocheted down the stairwell and I let go of the smoking corpse with a shudder of revulsion. When I stood the other corpse dropped off my back, hitting the floor.

  Are these shadow creatures? I crouched, reaching out and gingerly turned the body over. This one wasn’t as badly burnt as the one I’d held and the pale face with visible veins looked just like the Cyq I’d met in the caves. I studied it, quickly noting the differences; heavier hands with talons, not the spider-like claw daintiness of the Cyq. A jaw full of teeth that wouldn’t have looked out of place on a shark, but looked like overkill on the finely boned corpse. Pushing back to standing I groaned, feeling bruises on my elbows, spine, and head from crashing down the stairs.

  Extend shield further, Cat, I inwardly scolded.

  Not a sound could be heard now but I wasn’t risking it. As I started up the stairs I let my energy flare out until not an inch of stairwell remained unlit. Corpses of the shadow creatures littered the stairs and I stepped over them while climbing up and up, the staircase longer than I’d expected. Just when I spotted the door at the top, another of those crystal shattering screams exploded from above my head. A creature dropped from the ceiling, smacking me to the stairs. The chainmail skimmed over the steps and I juddered down several, jamming a foot into the spokes of the banister to stop another hasty descent. The creature tumbled down the few stairs onto me and I swung an arm out, knocking it aside. To my astonishment it didn’t attack and a cautious poke with a foot revealed it to be dead. Struggling to my feet I stared at the dead creature, face frozen in a grimace of anguish. My heart pounded a frantic beat and it took a moment to catch my breath. The door, only five steps away, loomed over me causing an irrational terror at first and then I laughed, the sound shocking in contrast to the scene around me.

  What does it matter, up or down, still my version of hell, I thought, another cynical snort of laughter slipping out. Keeping my shield bright and dagger ready, I climbed those steps and turned the heavy iron handle, shoving the door wide.

  Ignatius thought the castle gates would pose a problem—he hadn’t expected to find them open. The Lieutenant studied the open gatehouse uneasily and paused to draw his sword and dagger, then continued up the wide path into the courtyard. Aiming for the first door he spotted, he stopped at a soft throaty warble and looked up. Loushka sat on the roof of the highest tower and peered down at him then made a deliberate motion with her head to the central door, into the tower she sat on. With a nod of thanks, Ignatius moved silently up the stairs and pushed one of the stubbed iron doors wide. After a vigilant look around, he slipped in and let the door close behind.

  The silence I stepped into after all the noise from the shadow creatures felt unnerving. It looked like the first floor; dark wood walls and a thick rich carpet. Again, I could see no one around. Only a few feet before me stood a beautiful blue tank. Large and cylindrical, taller than me by another half easily. The warmth of the blue intrigued me. It looks almost like a lava lamp, I thought, and I stepped closer, admiring the polished wood frame that supported the sides of the tank. I realized then that the bottom of the tank was what I’d seen on the previous floor—those strange bulbous lights. The brightness of my energy reflected off the tank, making it impossible to see well, so I lowered the light but kept the thick shield in place. The faint hum of light across the chainmail didn’t intrude when I stepped up to the tank and placed a hand on its cool smooth surface. The glass felt thick and I didn’t think the liquid looked quite like water. Beneath my fingers I could feel tiny vibrations through the glass and I peered closer, trying to see through the viscous blue liquid. I was sure I could see a shadow within it and had my nose almost to the glass while I squinted, trying to make sense of it.

  Thrust forward, thudding against the glass beneath my hands, the body of a man writhed against the inside of the tank, mouth open in a silent scream while his dead eyes stared at me. I jerked back with a gasp, hands clutched in tight balls as shudders of horror ran through me.

  ‘Little princess,’ crooned a whisper directly behind me. My breath hitched in terror as I recognized her voice. ‘You too will float in the blue.’

  Stamping on that awful impulse to flee, I went to twist around, fingers flaming and ready, when a heavy weight clamped down on my shoulder making me cry out. Acting on trained instinct, I reached a hand up and over, finding a hold on the jaws that had me and let my knees buckle, falling to the floor then used the body weight of the creature to fling it over my shoulder, forcing it to release its hold. Flaring my energy bright I bared my teeth in a snarl and yanked my sword out, arm drawn back just as the creature lunged, and thrust forward, spearing it. I gave the sword a sharp twist, the body jerking, then wrenched it out. Panting from the sudden exertion I stayed in the crouched position, turning this way and that to check nothing else lurked nearby. The silence descended again and with a growl of frustration I rose to my feet. The body in the tank no longer moved and noticing a plaque on the base of the wooden frame, I bent to read it.

  Fire Elemental of the fifth millennia.

  I straightened up sharply, staring into the tank in shocked revulsion. Beyond the tank, somewhere deeper in the room I heard that light callous laughter echo and fade away. Placing my hand on the tank again, I felt a deep sense of regret and sorrow while I stared at the remains of the man, who had once been what I now was. Not a particularly remarkable looking man, average to tall with light brown hair and gentle eyes, and a tear trickled down when I gazed in the tank, remembering the story Elena told us of how these Elementals died.

  ‘I’ll see it done,’ I whispered before turning away and felt ill when I spied the other tanks, widely spaced like the lights I’d seen on the floor below. Another man floated in the next tank, his longish blond hair reminding me of Sabyn. His eyes were closed and body hunched over, as if to protect himself.

  Water Elemental of the fifth millennia.

  I continued my way around, the floor deliberately arranged so you had to walk past all the tanks to reach the next stairwell. The Earth Elemental was a woman, her pretty curls floating out like the soft fronds of a water plant. I paused to place my hand against each tank, silently making the same promise to each of them. At the first empty tank after the Air Elemental, I stared down at the plaque.

  Last of the Thalian line, Princess Catherine, Fire Elemental.

  A grim laugh s
lipped out when I stared at the tank and I shook my head, knowing she watched from somewhere.

  ‘Subtle. Real subtle. Guess we’ll see.’

  Damned if I’ll end up in a tank in her trophy room, I growled inwardly, and stalked toward the stairwell. Another of those long jawed creatures approached. I’d observed it watching me from behind the tanks and I didn’t hesitate, turning mid stride and flicked a fireball, hitting it dead center. It shrieked when the fire consumed it and I drew my energy around in a bright shield, jogging up the stairs to the next floor.

  The faint, nearly wet sound caught his attention first, like a cat washing its paws. Ignatius threw an arm up when the gaw shot its barbed tongue at him. The barbs dug into the rapthna leather plating and Ignatius lunged back, wrenching the creature with him. He dispatched the squat lengthy creature with a quick stab then hurriedly unwound the tongue from his arm, using the pommel of his sword to stop from touching the moist, acidic organ. Just when he got it loose another tongue shot out, narrowly missing his head and Ignatius swore, dropping to a knee. Snatching a dagger from a leg sheath he flicked it, catching one of the gaws gathered before him between a set of its bulbous eyes, then dodged to the side while a half dozen more barbed tongues shot at him. Knowing the nature of the creatures he fumbled at his belt, fingers closing around one of the smooth balls of the bola. He yanked it free, giving it a hard spin then threw it high into the corridor. He heard a loud ‘splat’ when all the gaws launched their tongues at the five headed bola and then squawks when the throw of the weapon lifted them off their feet, tongues entangled. Ignatius shoved to his feet and grabbed his sword, easily killing the trapped animals and retrieved his bola, before peering up and down the dimly lit corridor, trying to see if any more lurked. Spotting an unlit torch in a wall sconce, he lifted it out and struck his sword against one of the stones of the bola to create a spark, activating the torch’s chemicals. It flared bright, and tucking the bola back into his belt with his sword at the ready, Ignatius walked down the corridor, the torch held high while he looked for signs that Cat had passed this way.

  *~*~*

  Chapter Thirty Three

  Compared to the other floors this floor shone with light and I couldn’t see any wood paneling, instead marbled dove gray stone walls and floors that reflected the light from ornate iron and glass lamps hanging from the ceiling. It felt like stepping into an art gallery, so pristine and modern; but the coppery scent of blood stopped me. I paused in the narrow corridor, ears straining to make out the strange grating sound I could hear. It seemed vaguely familiar, yet set my teeth on edge. Keeping my shield in place I followed the corridor around to the left and around further until I reached an archway. Peering through I saw a spacious corridor with archways into alcoves down either side. From this archway I could count three on the left and two on the right, although it looked like the end one on the left might lead to the stairwell. The archways had elaborate wrought iron detailing over the stone and more lamps hung down. That odd grating noise continued intermittently but I couldn’t see any movement and I walked in, placing my feet softly on the stone floors then glanced into the first alcove.

  An animal skin stretched across the wall, pierced by two iron hooks.

  It seems wrong to damage such a beautiful skin with those hooks, I thought, and I stepped closer, eyes captivated by the lovely auburn, tan, and white stripes. Two large feathered fans with the same stripes decorated both walls, artistically spread across them, and out of the corner of my eye I noticed a marble bust and twisted to look.

  Horror snaked down my spine and I heard my shallow, dismayed gasps as if from a distance, my head spinning when my mind made the connections.

  It wasn’t just a marble bust, and they weren’t fans.

  I heard the roar of blood in my ears as I stared at the hacked up remains of Deas and Moright. What I’d admired like fans were actually the griffon’s beautiful wings, stumps of bone now clear to my eyes, and it was his hide strung up between the hooks. My head didn’t stop spinning and I bent at the waist, hands on knees, while I fought the urge to be sick. The bust, made of marble, bore Deas’ face. She’d skinned the fourteen year old’s face and draped it over the stone bust, the white marble visible through the gaping hole in the forehead. I dug my fingers into my knees, desperately trying to stop the onslaught of tears when I remembered that vibrant boy, so excited at his role, and his beautiful purring griffon. With a ragged gasp I straightened up and took a step back, needing to get away from the gruesome display, but promptly stumbled over something that snarled as I fell.

  ‘Crap!’

  The snarling thing grumbled and I heard it shuffling off while I scrambled to my feet.

  Weird? Why didn’t it attack? I extinguished the flame from my hand and followed the creature out, forcing myself to not look back. My mouth set in a hard line and I locked the horror away, saving it for later when I would release hell on that sadistic bitch.

  The other alcoves all had the same style of morbid displays and I kept my eyes on the squat creature I followed, noting the horrific details in my peripheral vision. My face went taut with the effort of not reacting; the snatched glimpses of tortured beings strung up in all manner of degrading displays making my insides cringe.

  Eyes front, I chanted inwardly. Stay focused.

  The dark red hide of the creature swayed from side to side while it walked, its stiff straight tail waving with its gait, just above the floor. It paused to look back at me, wrinkling its wide flat nose that looked pasted on the end of the large muzzle, then it turned back and continued on its way, disappearing through the alcove I’d thought might lead to the stairwell. With a slow guarded step I put a hand on the curve of the carved stone archway and looked through. Deeper than the others, this alcove had bones scattered across the floor, and I counted seven of the red creatures, most of them gnawing on bones. The sound clicked in my mind when a memory of Audi gnawing on bones from the kitchen sprang up. Hearing a lapping sound, I spotted a red creature drinking from a strange low fountain. A thick dark liquid welled up in the center and over a lip in the fountain in a continuous flow. The hairs on my arm rose when I realized the thick liquid was blood, explaining the smell of this floor. I gagged at the choking scent and looked away. A splintering noise caught my attention and I made the mistake of turning to look toward the sound. In a back corner a red creature struggled with an enormous skull, its strong jaws working at breaking through the bone. The sight of the beak on that skull made me flinch and I jerked my head to the side, breathing through the mouth, trying not to inhale any more smell of death. Turning away I left the creatures; they weren’t interested in me and hopefully soon I’d cremate all the remains within this foul building. I marched along not bothering to hide my steps and wrenched the next door open, giving the elgrid I discovered hulking behind it a snarl of a smile. Putting my fury to good use I roared my energy out in a maelstrom and watched it incinerate the shrieking beast, then sent the twister up the stairs ahead of me.

  Loi worked frantically, flinging waves of energy around and out, trying to cover as much ground as possible. Above, the sky battle would soon end and Loi knew she had only moments to kill all the enemies possible before Sabyn landed to take her away. Sounds of desperation ripped from her throat when the men she knew, the men she’d protected for so long in the caves, fell under enemy blade and bow. She kept alongside Cavalry Lieutenant Larvaste, fighting fiercely with the remaining men, their ranks reduced by half. Loi felt the thud on the earth bridge and heard Tomiar’s cry but ignored it, gathering energy and flinging it at the massive trolls edging their way across the earth bridge.

  ‘Laura!’ Larvaste shouted above the din of battle. ‘Get out of here!’

  Pressing her lips flat while hot tears of frustration tracked down her cheeks, Loi ignored the command and focused again. Before she had a chance to release the energy Larvaste snatched her by the waist and threw her over a shoulder, galloping toward where Sabyn and Tomiar waite
d. Loi screamed when she watched a troll strike, its axe-like arms severing a General Guard’s soldier’s head from his body. She flung another pulse, knocking the creature back and the troll bellowed when the force shunted it over the edge. Larvaste jerked her back to the ground and she fought against Sabyn when he tried to get her up into the saddle.

  ‘No! NO! WE CAN’T! WE CAN’T LEAVE THEM!’

  Sabyn gripped her shoulders and shook her roughly.

  ‘LAURA! Cut it out,’ his light blue eyes bore into hers, face tense. Larvaste interrupted Sabyn before he could speak and the centaur gestured for him to climb up, seizing Loi by the hips and held her until Sabyn sat in the saddle, then threw her up.

  ‘Go do your job!’ The centaur bellowed when she started to struggle and Loi froze at the look of fury on the Lieutenant’s face.

  ‘Do your job, Loi. That’s the ONLY way we win.’

  Sabyn didn’t give her a chance to respond and Tomiar shoved off hard. The overwhelming panic gave way to despair while she stared after their army and the massing enemy around them.

  ‘Why,’ she sobbed against Sabyn’s chest and he held her tight. ‘Why didn’t you let me fight, I could have saved them!’

  Tomiar’s voice broke into her mind.

  ‘Loi, that’s not your job. Your task is to kill Jenviet. The army was tasked with drawing out the enemy troops. What did you think would happen to them?’

  ‘I didn’t realize they would all die,’ Loi wept. She felt Sabyn sigh when Tomiar evidently told him.

  ‘C’mon, goddess,’ he murmured, stroking the hair back from her face and tucking it under the hood. ‘We’re nearly at the castle. Pull yourself together, let’s kill that witch. We can’t let them die in vain.’