by M. D. Laird
Calab snarled and launched at the Imperator, his claws impaling his chest and tearing through to his stomach. The Imperator slumped to the floor and blood gurgled in his throat.
“Are you insane?” screamed Thalia. “What have you done? You cannot just assassinate people! You have just sentenced the queen to death.”
“He has all this planned out,” said Calab. “He said himself that one of the alliance is working with him; he would have no trouble continuing his plans from his cell. We need to go after the rest of his men and stop whoever he is working with.”
“You cannot just execute people without a trial!” snapped Thalia. “And what about the Crown?”
“It doesn’t matter,” said Calab. “If she is killed another will emerge, we have to stop the Imperium whatever the cost, whatever the sacrifice.”
Everyone was silent until Avalon spoke. “Calab is right,” he said. “We couldn’t risk leaving the Imperator in power to save one girl. Even with the Imperator dead we are still under threat, we have to move. We’ll go after the girl, if we can save her we will, either way, it will give us a place to start.”
“The Imperator was right to exclude demons.” Thalia snarled. “You are heartless and do not belong in this world.”
Calab growled. “We can discuss this later when we’ve saved the world.”
“You’ve wanted this all along. I hope you’re happy.”
“Enough Thalia,” said Tharazan. “What’s done is done. The hominem and my Calahad will take these prisoners to Laurentia, the rest of the thorian, angels and demons should go after the alchemist. Let’s move.”
The demons and angels picked up the thorian and took to the skies. Calab had offered to carry Thalia but received a look loaded with a tirade of abuse, and instead carried Tharazan.
“Who do you think the traitor is?” Calab asked him.
“Besides you?” said Tharazan. “I’m not thrilled with what you just did either.”
“I did what needed to be done.”
“Perhaps,” grumbled Tharazan. “I wouldn’t have the stomach for it.”
“That’s the advantage of being a heartless demon.”
“So I see,” said Tharazan. “I have no idea who the traitor could be. I would be lying if I said I didn’t suspect you. Perhaps the Imperator’s exclusion of the demons was part of your plan?”
“Demons would have nothing to gain from that plan. We’re under Heaven’s decree, and we risk greater eternal consequences.”
“Only once you die,” snapped Tharazan. “It actually makes perfect sense. The high princes could rule Hell, and the first order princes could rule Arkazatinia. That’s what you’ve always wanted, isn’t it? To not be oppressed? Why you fought with Heaven?”
“I doubt Heaven would wait that long to execute its wrath.”
“Is that what you want us to believe?”
Calab shook his head, “It sounds like a wonderful theory, but I have been hiding the queen for four weeks—I could have handed her over at any point.”
“Who do you think it is then?”
“Is it you?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Tharazan snarled.
Calab chuckled. “Just keep your eyes open for anything suspicious.”
Eve woke to the sound of voices outside the den; she sat up but could barely see in the moonlight. She no longer felt the heat of the demon beside her. She crept quietly out of the den and tried to listen in on the whispered voices. Firm hands gripped her shoulders. She could not see who had hold of her, but from the lack of claws, she knew it was not a demon. Eve struggled against them and called out to the demons. Cloth was held against her face and was forced to inhale a foul-smelling substance that burned her nose, and within seconds, the world turned black.
Eve’s head felt heavy when she woke, she tried to open her eyes and could barely pull apart her eyelids. She did not know how long she had been unconscious and was struggling to maintain any consciousness. She was vaguely aware that she was on a soft bed and could hear the crackle of a wood fire close by. A loud whistle sounded, and she was aware of someone shuffling around her. She tried to move but couldn’t. She tried again to open her eyes but could barely pull them apart into slits and what sight was allowed to her was blurry. The person approached her and wiped her forehead with a warm cloth.
“Relax,” whispered a female voice she did not recognise. “We have given you something to sedate you whilst we brought you here. Unfortunately, it also paralyses, but it is starting to wear off.”
Eve tried to speak, her lips would not move, and she could make no sound.
Where am I? Who are these people? Where are the demons? Have they been killed? Have they handed me over to these people? Are these people working for the Imperator?
She fell unconscious once more.
The alliance were intercepted by Asmodeus demon scouts who advised them that they had scouts following the alchemist. The party turned in the direction of the scout’s instructions. Nakhiel was with them and nodded to Calab.
“Is the Crown with them?” asked Thalia.
“I don’t know,” said Nakhiel.
The alliance travelled south-west as fast as they could for the rest of the night and most of the following day. They flew high and used the cloud cover to conceal them from view. Eventually, they reached the destination on the borders of Eurasia and Laurentia. They met with the scouts who had tailed the alchemist to an abandoned keep on the Laurentian side of the border.
“Is the queen with them?” asked Thalia.
“I don’t know,” a scout named Baal replied.
Thalia snarled in frustration. “How can no one know what has happened to her? I thought you were supposed to be guarding her, Calab?”
Calab shrugged. “We were, but we had higher priorities.” She glowered at him, and he turned away towards Tharazan who was addressing Caim, one of Calab’s men.
“What abilities did the alchemist use?” Tharazan asked. “Has the keep been shielded?”
“It hasn’t been shielded against entry or magic, but we can’t midspace within a half a mile of it,” Caim said. “It seems the most powerful shield of the two alchemists was travelling with the Imperator, and this one could only shield a small number of the party. We suspect he could only use it for short periods as he only used it in areas where they did not have a clear view of the surroundings—through towns and woodlands. He didn’t use anything else I’m afraid, so we don’t know what he can do.”
“It’s going to be difficult to get in,” said Tharazan. “We should wait for the cover of darkness.”
“He could be torturing her right now,” seethed Thalia. “This is your fault, Calab.”
“Thalia,” snapped Calab, “just forget about the damn queen. We have bigger problems, like how we are going to take out the alchemist. The Imperator suggested that they had other plans. I don’t think it will signal the end because he is dead. Tharazan—contact the Calahad and hominem and have them question the guards and the other alchemist.”
“Yes,” said Thalia, “perhaps we could torture them.”
“Good idea.”
“I was not serious.”
“They are already on it,” said Tharazan. “I asked them to let us know if they find out anything that can help us.”
“The angels and demons may still have an advantage if we can get to them without being seen,” said Azarel, the Son of Michæl. “As far as we know, alchemists cannot sense our souls. If we can get to the roof and take care of the guards there, we could work our way down. The thorian could approach on the ground and maybe create a diversion to lure them out.”
“We’re not going to lure them out of a secure keep,” said Thanis, “but we may be able to get close if you take out the turrets.”
“The alchemist will have time to react if they hear us coming,” said Azarel.
“We’re going to have to assassinate the guards,” said
Calab. “We risk making too much noise if we merely knock them unconscious.” Thalia glared at him. The rest of the alliance appeared to ignore her.
“Perhaps we can take a thorian ruler?” asked Jacob.
“None of us can create shields,” said Thalia. “If he fires at us, we will be useless.”
“I will go,” said Thanis. “I can deal with an alchemist.”
“No,” said Calab, “Tharazan has more training in combat.” Thanis bristled but said nothing.
Tharazan nodded. “If we are going to get through without alliance casualties then stealth is crucial. We should get high and then drop directly above them. We should be able to avoid killing the guards; we can remove them away from the keep and take them prisoner. Once we have secured the turrets, the thorian should be ready. We’ll scope the keep first and give the signal for you to move forward if necessary. Keep your wits about you and don’t let them strike first.” Calab saw Thalia sneer; she looked like she had assumed Tharazan’s final remark was aimed at her.
When darkness fell, Calab lifted Tharazan once more, and half the demons and angels took to the sky. They had already moved away from the keep to gain height without being seen. They did not have to go far, their dark clothing, grey wings and the cover of darkness made them practically invisible. They began to fly back towards the keep and saw that the thorian had arranged themselves ready to approach with Thalia and Thanis at the front to fire spells. The remaining demons and angels flanked them.
The aerial team were over the turrets and saw that four guards, one posted at each corner, secured it. A team of four demons silently flew to the roof in synchronisation and placing a hand over the guards’ mouths they lifted them swiftly from the turrets and flew them to the ground team without a sound. The rest of the aerial team moved and signalled for the ground team to stand by. A doorway on the turret led down into the keep. Jacob opened the door and peered inside. He closed it again to report his observations.
“I can see a corridor at the bottom of the stairs, and it’s lit by flame torches. There look to be two rooms leading off it, there are two guards posted outside one of the rooms which could be where the queen is. There is a set of stairs going down, and I can see one guard at the end. We cannot make it down the stairs unseen.”
“Perhaps we can lure one this way,” said Barakel, one of Calab’s men and his third in command after Nakhiel. “We could make a noise to get one of them to investigate, then assassinate the other or knock him out with one of Lord Tharazan’s spells. It would need to be a clean shot and one of us would have to catch him before he hit the ground.”
They agreed, and Barakel made a gentle thud on the door not wanting to create too loud a noise in case the guards sent for back up. Another demon hovered above the door and poised himself. After a moment, the door still had not opened. With bated breath, he tried again. This time, he heard soft footfalls approach and the door creaked open. The guard looked around and seeing no source of the noise, ventured out onto the turret. The demon swept him from the turret and Barakel crept towards the door and saw the lone guard outside the room and one guard at the bottom of the stairs.
“We need to be quick, or he’ll get suspicious,” said Tharazan. “Are you ready to catch him?”
Barakel nodded, and Tharazan opened the door a crack to make sure the guard was not looking directly at them. He then pushed it wider and fired a spell directly at his temple. In a blur Barakel had retrieved the guard and had brought him to the roof, another demon then took the guard to join the other prisoners.
“Good job,” said Tharazan. “We need to take out the other guard and see who else is around before we go in that room. Perhaps a demon can do it.”
The others nodded, and Barakel prepared himself. The guard was facing away from him, and he flew high clinging to the shadows of the ceiling out of the torchlight. When he was above the guard, he lowered himself slowly, peered around the doorway to ensure the guard was not in the view of anyone else, and silently took him back to the turrets. Another demon took the guard from him instantly. “I couldn’t see anyone else at the bottom of the stairs. It looks as though there is another floor below that one, those stairs led onto another corridor which follows the building around. I imagine there is another room to the left of the stairs, but the door must be around the corner.”
One of Azarel’s men who Calab did not know suggested a plan to move forward. This left some of them on the turrets to communicate with the ground, a large team on the corridor guarding the door and the rest would begin to move slowly through to secure the building. If they were seen and the alarm raised the team would enter the door, and the roof team was to signal the ground team and then give support where needed. The team moved forwards surrounding Tharazan, as he was the only one who had any magical abilities he could use against the alchemist. The second floor from the top did not have any more guards and the floor below that was the ground floor. Four guards were sat playing cards at a table, and one was cleaning his boots in front of the fire. Five demons were poised to attack. Tharazan put out the torches that lit the room, and the demons swooped in. The guards were all unconscious within seconds.
Only whatever was behind the door was left. Calab opened the door of the keep as a few of his men did one last sweep of the ground floor. Five of the demons took the guards through the door to join the other prisoners, and Calab beckoned the thorian rulers to come forward. He explained that they had taken care of the guards and would now investigate the room on the top floor. He followed Thanis up the stairs with Thalia trailing behind him. On the count of three, they burst into the room and found the alchemist at a desk mixing a potion. Tharazan had charged ahead of the other thorian and fired a spell to burn his staff and then the demons grabbed him.
“What is the meaning of this?” The alchemist growled.
“Where is the Crown?” said Thalia. “We know you have taken her.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Our alliance followed you here,” said Thalia. “We know you are working with the Imperator, and we know you were after the queen on his orders—he told us so himself. Now where is she?”
“Where is the Imperator?”
“Dead,” replied Thalia with uncharacteristic venom, “and if you don’t want to end up like him, I suggest you start talking.” The alchemist glared at her and said nothing. Calab knew that he did not know where the girl was, but let Thalia continue enjoying the aggression he so rarely saw from her.
“We don’t have her,” said the alchemist when Thalia began to saunter towards him glaring viciously. “We couldn’t find her. Our plan was to bring her back here and wait for the Imperator, and when we couldn’t find a trace of her, we left.”
Thalia turned to the demon scouts. “They didn’t break up? They all came back here?” The scouts nodded in response. Thalia growled ferociously, “So where is she?”
“I have no idea,” stammered the alchemist. “I can’t trace her.”
“You might be able to now,” said Thalia, “if she is not with the demons anymore.”
“No,” said Calab, “we cannot trust this man. Who knows what he will do if he finds her. If she is to be found, we will find her ourselves. Arrest him.”
The alchemist was taken to join the guards to be searched and relieved of any weapons and magical paraphernalia before some of the demons and angels would take them to the hominem prison.
“We could have used him to find her.” Thalia snarled towards Calab.
“How do you know he wouldn’t add something extra to the spell?” he said. “Besides, Tharazan burnt his staff.” Thalia stalked away from him, and Calab breathed an inward sigh of relief.
Eve was conscious once more, some of the heaviness had lifted from her head, and she was able to peel her eyes open. She tried to move her head to look around the room. Pain travelled through her body and allowed her only a limited range of movement. She was in what
looked like a small stone house; it was living stone, so she knew she was at least in Anaxagoras. She was laid on a bed with a thin mattress and was covered with a soft blanket. Close by there was a dining table surrounded by four chairs, and a rocking chair was placed near the wood burning stove that was warming the room. An Anaxagorean equivalent of a copper kettle sat on the hot plate and Eve presumed it was responsible for the whistling she had heard. When had she heard that? She had no idea how long she had been unconscious though it felt like days.
She moved her head to the window—it was dark. She turned her head towards the ceiling and saw it sloped down to the foot of her bed and angling her head, she confirmed she was underneath a staircase. There was no one else in the room. If she could just stand, she may be able to escape. She tried to pull herself to sit and toppled off the bed onto the floor. She struggled in vain to control her limbs to get her body out of the crumpled heap she now found herself in. A door behind her bed opened, and she heard someone cross the room towards her.
“You must rest,” said the same voice that had spoken to her the last time she woke. “The poison has not yet worn off.” The woman lifted her onto the bed once more and Eve looked at her as she tucked her in. She was very unusual with delicate, pixie-like features. Her canine teeth were slightly pointed and looked sharp; she had long pointed ears that poked out of her long, poker straight hair.
“Where am I?” Eve managed to croak.
“You are in the Realm of the Fae. We are in a hidden realm in the Forest of Laurentia.”
“Why?” said Eve, coughing loudly. “Why am I here?”
“You really must rest,” said the woman. “They have given you far too much of the poison, the hominem body cannot cope as well with it.”
Who poisoned me? And why? Where were the demons?
“Why?” asked Eve.
“They had to drug you so that you would not know how you got here.”