Ascension

by Jennifer Ann Reed

  He swiped the pad of his thumb over his broken lip and looked at the crimson bead before sucking it into his mouth. “Don’t worry, Kitra. I like it when they’re feisty.” Red stained his teeth and he came closer. “You will be mine.”

  “What do you intend for my niece?” Roland waved Josiah back to the table.

  “We had a deal, Roland.” He dropped into the chair and dabbed his black t-shirt against his wound. “After she’s used to release Abaddon and the others, she’s mine.”

  “No one is going back on the deal.” Roland glanced back over his shoulder to where I was locked up. “What are your plans for her? Aelfric promised Apollo he’d get to torture her first.” The cell walls rumbled when Caden threw himself against it. Roland huffed and waved a hand in Caden and Mauve’s directions, silence filled the air. What did he do to them? Where they okay? I heard movement next door and focused back on Roland’s words. Apollo wanted time alone with me.

  Blood roared in my ears as I pictured Apollo’s tattooed covered head and yellow eyes. Nothing would please him greater than killing me. I sat on the cot again and held my aching head in my palms. There had to be a way out of this.

  “Torture?” Josiah’s worry almost outweighed my own. “I don’t know about that, Roland. I plan for Kitra to carry my children.”

  “Apollo won’t sterilize her. I promise.”

  “Fine.” I looked up and saw both men were standing. “Tell him her face is off limits too.”

  Roland nodded and motioned for the door. “Shall we? I’m ready to be done with this.”

  Both men disappeared into the darkness and I heard the door to the hall closing. A loud pop echoed in the room and Caden and Mauve yelled for me. They swore we’d get out of these cells and get the others, but my mouth stayed closed. Eventually, they gave up asking me questions and resorted to planning an escape with each other.

  It wasn’t that I didn’t care about what they said. I knew we needed a plan, or I’d end up as Josiah’s breed mare in a world under Aelfric’s dominion.

  I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I had to break free and save the others. This would be the last time I was captured by the Dark Ones. I didn’t know how I’d accomplish my goal as nothing more than a human, but with the Creator in my corner, I would find a way.

  Chapter 21

  T HE TWO CELLS TO my left were quiet now and I hadn’t paid much attention to their plan. I blocked out my surroundings and remembered Aunt Mauve’s teachings when she tried to help me gain control of my wolf. I knew Apollo was coming to do his worst, but I chose to focus on the Creator’s words from the forest. I wasn’t alone. I never would be again. Pain was in my future, but I wouldn’t lose sight of what I had to do.

  Each breath I took brought renewed hope. The weapon to end this whole ordeal was within my reach, and I’d learn how to use it when I found it.

  The door mechanisms ground in the distance, but my eyes remained closed. Even when Caden promised he wouldn’t let anything happen to me; my concentration stayed within. I feared what Apollo had in store for me, but as the Creator’s Champion, I chose to suffer in the place of my loved ones. If they were safe, my condition didn’t matter. I’d sacrifice myself a million times over to keep them out of harm’s reach.

  Heavy footsteps clopped against the stone and their owner marched closer to my cell. Caden’s roars and Mauve’s yells mixed with the sound of something metallic dropping on the table. Sour body odor assaulted my nostrils, making them twitch. The person at my cell door remained quiet and I raised my head, opening my eyes. Tingles stirred my scalp and surged to my toes as my lungs constricted.

  Apollo’s yellow feline eyes lit up and his solemn look transformed with an upturning of the corners of his lips. The strange black markings which covered his dark bald head appeared to move in the flickering candlelight. His grin stretched, revealing his elongated teeth as one claw tapped at the silver bars between us. I swallowed and stood. I knew his strength outweighed my own, but it didn’t mean I was going to make this easy for him.

  The door handle turned, and I widened my stance, bending my knees.

  A chuckle escaped his mouth when he saw me. “You’ve gotten braver since the last time I saw you.” His rough voice rumbled as his large form filled my cell’s entrance. The sounds of wood being smashed came from next door. “You’re not cowering behind your Guardians. I’m impressed.”

  “I never needed to.” My word’s tremor was lost in Caden’s growls, and I straightened my spine. “But there’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

  “Enlighten me then.” Apollo took a step into the room and I mirrored his movement.

  “I’d had my awakening.” We copied each other’s motion again. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  “I have a theory.” He ignored my question. The wall behind me shook, but I couldn’t worry about Caden beating himself to a pulp to get in here. Apollo inched closer during my hesitation. “No one has witnessed you use you’re so called super fae magic. I bet you can’t, just like you can’t call forth your wolf.”

  “W…What?” How did he know? “I think you’re delusional.”

  “Why not shift now, half breed?” He reached for me, but I ducked under his arm. “Fight me as a wolf.”

  “Shifting can’t occur in this cell.” I backed up and my calf hit the edge of the cot. Apollo was herding me into one of the corners of the room.

  “Liar.” His mouth and nose extended into a snout and then shifted back to normal. “You can’t or your face would have healed by now. You’re a weak human.”

  Apollo lunged for me and I caught his arm, pushing him to the side while I grabbed his chin with my good hand. I intended to knock him off his feet, but he reached back and snatched me off the ground with his fingers around my throat before my foot connected with his knee. Apollo’s grip tightened and I clawed at his fingers, kicking out at his abdomen. His brusque laugh grated against my eardrums and he flung me against the floor. A booted foot connected with my ribs repeatedly, and my armor pressed against the bones until I felt them crack. Every breath was a fiery torture and I wrapped my arms around my middle, curling into a ball while vomit spilled to the floor.

  My attacker yanked one of my ankles towards him and flipped me onto my stomach. I groaned at the impact and screamed as he pulled me to the doorway, the fire spreading to my entire torso. Caden’s screams and Mauve’s cries resounded around the secret room. They were beating against their cell doors while Apollo tugged me forward. I grabbed the edge of the doorway, halting his movements. He dropped my foot and stomped my hand several times before my crooked fingers couldn’t hold on any longer. My screams weakened into whimpers when he started to drag me again.

  Next to the wooden table, Apollo picked me up by my shoulders and tossed me onto my back. My arms were pulled above my head, stretching the torture in my side from my hip to my collarbone. My breaths came as quick pants when manacles were locked around my wrists. The golden wings of my armor dug into the soft flesh of my back, but there wasn’t anything I could do to alleviate any discomfort as Apollo fastened my feet to the bottom corners of the table. I glanced to the occupied cells. Caden and Aunt Mauve sank to their knees. Her head fell against the bars as tears streamed down her face. Caden’s gaze grew vacant and his chin lowered to his chest while his grip remained white knuckled on his cell door. I mouthed to both that I was all right and not to worry, but the action went unnoticed.

  Apollo clutched a brown leather roll against his chest, grinning as I watched his every move. He untied the string and unrolled the leather slowly, glancing my way to witness my reaction to its contents. Five gleaming blades shone under the soft glow of the room.

  A still small whisper sounded in my ear. “You are not alone, Chosen One. I will be your strength.” Apollo skimmed his fingers along the set of knives, and I knew I was the only person to hear the Creator’s words. The tingles in my nerves stopped and my breathing calmed when I nodded once. All my weak
ness faded as an ethereal peace engulfed my body and soul.

  Apollo rubbed his hands together and I set my jaw, raising my chin.

  I witnessed his sick love for begging when my father pleaded for my life before Apollo beheaded him, and I refused to give him what he wanted. Apollo pulled a blade from its bindings, turning it over between his fingers. He drew the sharp tip up my pants to my hip and continued over my torso until it met my jawline. Pressure built where it touched my supple skin until a bead of wetness traveled down my neck and dripped onto the table.

  “I promise this is going to hurt.” I gagged on the rotten egg scent of his breath when he lowered his face near mine. “I’ve waited a long time for this.”

  Spit flew from my mouth and landed on his nose and cheek. “You might want a jar for Aelfric. He’ll need my blood for the gate.”

  Apollo wiped the mess from his face and growled. “It won’t work.” The blade dug into my shoulder now and I hissed at the new burning sensation. “The blood has to be from a supernatural hybrid and right now, you’re human.” I gasped as the bladed twisted and sank deeper. “I can’t kill you, but I can bring you to the brink of death.” He pulled the knife from my skin. “You’ll beg for it.”

  Apollo’s promise was genuine. His torture brought the worst pain I’d ever endured, and I did want to beg for it to end, but strong arms held me while the lullaby my mother sang to me as a child played on repeat. I wanted to join my parents, but a hiccup and mewl drew my attention back to the other cells. I turned my head and noticed Aunt Mauve was laying against the floor with her blonde locks matted to her face and her hands covering her ears. Caden’s red face was squashed against his cell door. He bared his teeth as he pulled the two rods grasped in his palms in opposite directions. A large vein bulged along his neck with each tug and he groaned in his attempts to break free. If I gave up, Caden and my aunt were next. Then, the others were going to follow. A shaky breath gurgled past my lips. I refused to give in. Every fire filled breath reminded me that I was alive, and it wasn’t over. I had to persevere.

  Until my number was called, I had hope.

  I passed out many times only for Apollo’s sadistic attacks to bring me back to my nightmare. My aunt and Caden watched as my body broke until it didn’t look like a human being, but instead a bloody slab of meat. Blood pooled under my pants and armor; my limbs grew cold.

  The strong arms around me tightened. “It is over, Chosen One.” I realized the Creator had held me during the entire ordeal and tears spilled past my lashes.

  Apollo dropped his knife and bent close to my ear. “I’ll go get Aelfric. He has his own plans for you.” His footsteps faded and the outer door closed.

  “Kitra?” Caden shook his cell door and Aunt Mauve mimicked his call.

  “Answer us, Sweetheart.” Aunt Mauve stood and reached for me through the bars. “Please answer us.”

  “Kitten, say something.” Caden’s voice wavered in a wheeze. “Say anything. I need to hear your voice.”

  “C…Caden.” Liquid gurgled in my throat and I began to cough and groan. The pain became too much, and my eyes fluttered.

  “We’re losing her!” He roared and flung himself against the bars. “I can barely hear her heart.”

  Dark spots filled my vision and I understood the strength given to me throughout Apollo’s actions. I thought being demoted to a human was a cruel trick the Creator wanted to play out to see if I could still do his work, but I understood its true purpose. Being stripped of power, I was made weak, but that was where I found my strength when I chose to live and finally trust his words. His lesson showed me I was more than the hybrid girl others thought of me to be. I was a strong young woman with the ability to protect the ones I love if I chose to trust what the Creator promised. I didn’t need special powers to succeed, I just had to follow him.

  The dark spots diminished and were replaced by dazzling bright light. The pain I’d felt moments before was gone and the wounds sealed and disappeared, leaving me covered in drying blood. The outline of a face hung above me. At first, I thought Apollo was back with Aelfric, but a greater sense of peace filled my heart and I sighed.

  “You’ve done well, Chosen One.” The warm voice took away all my fears and I sank into its comforting tenor. “Trust isn’t easy, but you’ve given me yours.”

  “I shouldn’t have questioned you in the first place.” My words came easy, and I tried to sit up but was still tied down.

  “The night isn’t over, and the road ahead is long and full of sorrow, but I know you’ll trust that my decisions are for the best.” I closed my eyes and basked in the peace he gave, afraid of what his words would bring. “It’s time you were made whole.”

  My wolf uncurled from the ball she was in and my fae magic pulsed, searching for its other half. When the tendrils caressed my wolf, she sighed and wagged her tail. I sagged against the table and closed my eyes over the tears welled behind my eyelids.

  My lips parted as I released a shaky breath. “Thank you.”

  “Aelfric is coming soon.” The light dimmed when I opened my eyes. “Don’t’ let him know you’re healed. I’ve put a glamour over your body for it to still appear wounded. He needs to believe you’re dying, and that belief will help you gain the upper hand. Follow your mother’s clues and the weapon will be easy to find.”

  I opened my mouth to question him more, but the extra light in the room and outline of the Creator’s face was gone. Left behind was my enhanced sight and hearing. Something dripped in Mauve’s prison and I heard laughter in the hallway outside of the secret room’s walls. The small pits in the stone made me dizzy and I turned back towards Caden and Aunt Mauve.

  “Kitra? You still with us, Kitten?” Caden tugged the bars of his door, kicking them when they didn’t budge.

  “I…I’m here.” I coughed and my voice grew stronger. “The Creator healed me, but we can’t let Aelfric know. He’s coming.”

  “Creator?” Aunt Mauve’s brows drew together. They smoothed once the lightbulb flared to life in her head. “The voice.”

  “Kitra, listen to me.” Caden sapphire gaze zeroed in on my violet one. “If you can get out of here, do it. Don’t try to get us out. Get to the others.” I was shaking my head, but he continued. “Do it. They can come back for us.”

  “He’s right.” Aunt Mauve sat and took a deep breath. “Get help from the others first. We’ll be fine.”

  The gears to the door sounded and light footsteps tapped on the passage, and I nodded once. I took shallow breaths and shut my eyes. I didn’t have to wait long before Aelfric’s putrid stench permeated the air. He walked to my feet and rattled the chains, testing my restraints and moved to do the same by my arms. I laid as still as possible, pretending to be unconscious. Caden and Mauve tried to pull Aelfric into a verbal sparring match, but he didn’t take the bait as he examined me.

  “Look at you, Cousin.” Aelfric shoved his thumb into my shoulder where Apollo had stabbed me. I jerked up and hissed. “So pathetic.” Caden and Mauve were screaming again as I writhed in imaginary pain. “The days I spent dreaming of this moment didn’t do the real thing justice.” His thumb turned over my skin and I trembled and groaned. His giggle sent chills over my flesh. “This is so much better, and I can’t wait to show the others.”

  Aelfric removed his thumb and skirted around the table’s edge to my secured hands. In moments they were free and soon my feet followed. I was ready to surprise him, but knew I had to stick to the plan. First, I had to get to the rest of our group and then we’d rescue Caden and Aunt Mauve.

  “This is going to hurt.” Aelfric shoved an arm under my knees and another under my shoulders. I cried out and trembled in his hold. “Apollo did a number on you.” His laugh mixed with Caden’s murderous words. “You may be his best work yet.”

  Aelfric carried me down the passage and through the door. I kept my body limp and my head lolled from side to side with each of his steps. I knew the instant we entered the area w
here the others were when Josiah started screeching at Apollo. The room quaked and I peeked out beneath my lids. A lifted section of the floor dropped, and my friends and Uncle Kalen fell against it when it landed. My lips clamped together to keep from calling out to them. Each were in a state of disarray, but Austin and Phobos lay motionless in the center of their huddle. Phobos’s fur was soaked and matted against his body while Austin’s clothes were saturated, sticking to his lean muscles. What happened to them? I remembered Josiah talking about Morgana’s potion. Was it tossed on them?

  My pulse quickened when Aelfric shifted my weight in his arms, and I stopped watching my friends.

  “What did you do?” Two of Roland’s knights stepped in front of Josiah when chunks of stone lifted from the floor. “We had a deal!” The stones missed the group by mere centimeters.

  “Kill him.” Aelfric placed me at his feet. Green light filled the room and Josiah dropped with his mouth and glassy eyes opened. “Ah, now that he’s taken care of, why don’t we glory in a victory. The hybrid is dying.”

  Uncle Kalen fell to his knees and their group was surrounded by Dark Ones. His face dropped and his sword followed as a mournful wail echoed in the throne room. I wanted to jump up and show him I wasn’t going anywhere, but a small voice kept me on the floor. The opportune time to turn the tide was coming, I only had to wait for it.

  Chapter 22

  “H ER HEART IS BARELY beating.” Aelfric nudged me with the toe of his leather boot, and I let my head lull to the other side with the motion. A chorus of growls and Uncle Kalen’s sobs tore at my soul. “Stand down, dogs!” My Guardians and Lucian were in different stages of shifting while Allie and Gwen crouched next to Austin and Phobos. Lilly had wrapped my uncle in her arms, rocking him and whispering in his ear. “One more move, and I crush her skull.”

  Ryn, Bretton, and Dannick lowered their swords, but the Dire Wolves kept their claws extended. No one said a word as Lilly helped Uncle Kalen to his feet. “You’re going to let the one person with the ability to open the gate die?” I fought back tears when I heard Uncle Kalen’s trembling words. “You need her, Aelfric.”