The Complete Seven Sorcerers Trilogy

by Julius St. Clair

  Ember smirked as Remi leapt backwards, pivoted, and then ran back up the crater.

  “Where are you going?” Ember asked in surprise.

  Remi arrived at Kace’s side and reached down to pick up his sword—just a plain steel sword—and then she clutched the hilt tight in both hands. She couldn’t look at his fallen body or the vast amount of blood. She had to concentrate on getting the job done first. Mourn later.

  Remi glared at Ember as she began fusing her own energy into the blade, doing as Milo had asked her to do so many times during their journey. She knew the eidolon was weak. She knew that the method was outdated, but it had been reliable in that it was always there at her disposal. But now wasn’t the time for stubbornness. Summoning a million eidolons wouldn’t hurt Ember. But pouring enough energy into an external source, fusing it with her power from within, changing its very chemistry and composition into something magnificent—that might do the trick.

  “What are you doing?” Ember shouted.

  “Be right there!” Remi shouted back as she continued to pour everything she had into the blade, watching as the steel surface began to warp, as if she was a blacksmith sticking it in the flames and then taking it out to mold it into what she needed. When she had little left to give, she took off running back down the crater, heading toward Ember with determination in her eyes.

  Ember wasn’t impressed nor was she worried, but she was certainly curious, seeing this strange, pulsating sword that the young girl had created.

  Still, there was no reason to worry.

  Ember stretched her neck out again, allowing Remi to cock her arms back and prepare for the swing when she felt a strange sensation shudder through the recesses of her mind.

  It was like a static shock.

  A synapse firing.

  A prick of a needle on the tip of a finger.

  It was so tiny and insignificant, and yet, it was undoubtedly there. She had felt it before, but it was centuries ago, when she was far weaker. She was essentially a completely different person then. What was it? What had she just felt?

  Her eyes went wide with realization.

  It was a warning.

  It was anxiety.

  It was fear.

  Ember began letting her neck back down, but the blade had already been pressing against her flesh for almost a full second now. The extent and full force of Remi’s swing was already in full effect and there was no way to dodge it now.

  Another sensation fired off in Ember’s brain, and it was different than the last. Where the last one gave her an urgent message, this one screamed for her to listen and react. It was just as foreign of a sensation as the last, but it was still familiar.

  Once again, she had to go back to childhood to remember.

  Yes. There it was.

  It was what she hated most.

  It was pain.

  “STOP!” Ember roared as she pushed Remi away from her with such force that the young warrior was thrown across the entire surface of the crater and into its curved side, her back plowing nearly a foot into the hardened dirt and rock. She heard Remi beginning to cry, the pain was so great, but Ember didn’t care. There was no remorse in her bones.

  Just the stinging ache coming from the nape of her neck.

  Ember reached up and pressed two fingers against the source of the ache. She felt the warm, sticky blood and she nearly fainted when she saw it with her own eyes—her red stained fingers staring back at her in the face.

  The wound wasn’t deep, but it was enough to draw blood.

  “I’m not done,” Remi said, her voice echoing across to her enemy. Ember looked down at the sword in Remi’s hand. It had melted. She was holding nothing but the hilt.

  “Yes you are,” Ember said, breathing heavily.

  “I hurt you,” Remi said, unable to move from the depression she left in the crater’s side. “That has to show you how important I am.”

  “It shows how dangerous you are,” Ember said, walking toward her.

  “We can work together.”

  “Or you can tell me everything I want to know.”

  “It would be better if we can both get what we want, or at least fight each other after we’ve taken down the others.”

  “You shouldn’t be allowed to live.”

  “I’ve got nothing left,” Remi admitted as Ember got closer. “I’m barely hanging on as it is…but I can get stronger. I know I can. I might even be able to slay a Sorcerer one day.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

  “I thought Sorcerers were practically gods.”

  Ember stopped moving. She examined Remi’s tired and dirty face, and then her eyes fell back on the melted sword in the young girl’s hand.

  “Even if I trained you, what would be in it for me?”

  “You’d have a soldier,” Remi panted. She didn’t have much strength left. “Someone that’s unnoticeable, and someone that could do the dirty work for you.”

  “You’re weak, and we might be too late to stop anything they do.”

  “Then we might as well give up, shouldn’t we?”

  Ember clenched her jaw and closed her eyes. “You wouldn’t survive anything I would have to teach you. It would be a waste of time.”

  “No better…” Remi whispered, her head nodding back and forth uncontrollably. “No better…than running around without a clue…we need each…” Remi’s head fell down upon her chest and Ember sucked her teeth.

  “You’ll try to kill me the first chance you get.”

  “Not right away,” Remi muttered with her head still down. “Not until the others are dead first. Or…at least a few are.”

  “And I’ll kill you the moment it suits me.”

  “That’s fine.”

  “Then you’re coming with me, and you alone.” Ember grabbed a clump of Remi’s hair and her lips twitched as she saw how full it was. “We’re going to my home. A place where your friends won’t be able to find you. Are you ready to ditch them in order to gain strength? Are you ready to align yourself with the enemy in order to get closer to your goal and bring me closer to godhood?”

  “I won’t allow you to become a god.”

  “You don’t have a choice,” Ember said.

  Remi felt the Sorceress’ hand shudder, and then she blacked out, uncertain of her future and that of the friends she left behind.

  Chapter 44 – Break

  Remi thought she was back in Paragon.

  She awoke with her cheek deep in white sand while the ocean waves lapped against the shore. It was so soothing and hypnotizing that she didn’t get up at first. She heard a bird cawing in the distance, and there were the rustling of trees in the background, swaying in the light breeze that combed her hair.

  But that tranquility and sense of calm went away the moment she began lifting her head from the sand.

  Because she was abruptly kicked in the face.

  Remi ended up swallowing a mouthful of sand as her face was forced underneath—a strong hand on the back of her skull keeping her down. A few seconds went by and then she was given reprieve. She flipped over her body quickly and saw the angry face of Ember, now clothed in nothing but a long white dress shirt and a pair of blue slacks that cut off into a V shape at the knees. Her hair (what little she had of it) was flowing in the breeze.

  “Get off your lazy ass or I’ll throw you into the ocean and keep you there until the bubbles stop.”

  “Lazy?” Remi asked, confused.

  “You’ve been asleep for hours.”

  “It’s not my fault. I was exhausted. Don’t you remember us fighting?”

  “I remember you falling asleep.”

  “Ugh,” Remi said, rubbing her face from her forehead down to her chin. “Where are we?”

  “You’ve got ten minutes to get yourself together and then you’re going to wish you’ve never been born.”

  “What are you talking about?” Remi muttered, standing up awkwardly to her feet. She realized tha
t she was now barefoot, and her scalp ached. She reached up and noticed that a small patch of hair had been ripped away from the roots. “What the hell?!” she shouted.

  “I dragged you here by your hair,” Ember said matter-of-factly. “But don’t get attached to what you have left.”

  “Were you born making threats?”

  “Hey,” Ember said, lighting pushing her back. “This is serious. Nine minutes, bitch.”

  “Where are we?” Remi asked again.

  “My island,” Ember said.

  “Near Paragon?”

  “Don’t worry about its location. I’m not telling you anything important until I can trust you.”

  “So knowing what this place is…it’s important?”

  “Eight minutes.”

  “Another minute did not pass by.”

  “I decide what the time is.”

  “Fine,” Remi huffed, stretching her neck. As she checked her artificial limbs for damage, her thoughts fell on her friends. Kace…he might make it in the end though it was unlikely. Were there cases of Sages or Quietus healing from being cut in half? She didn’t think so.

  And she didn’t remember Kace being conscious. He would have to initiate the internal healing. Alicia might be able to save him, but what would she have to sacrifice in order to do so? Remi had told her to stay hidden, and she didn’t appear even when she started attacking Ember so it was possible she wouldn’t interfere.

  Casimir might save him. She couldn’t count on it, but it wasn’t impossible.

  Remi sighed. She couldn’t think of him right now. Not with Ember about to put her through who knew what. She barely remembered the conversation they had after she was sent flying into the crater wall. But whatever they talked about, it had gotten her one step closer to her goal.

  Sure, Ember would consider Remi a slave at best, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t learn anything simply by being in the presence of a Sorcerer.

  And Ember needed her…bad. That was clear. She was too proud to admit it, but it had to be true. There was no way she would spend so much precious time with her otherwise.

  “I’m glad we can work together,” Remi said aloud, and Ember scoffed.

  “Why?”

  “Because I think we can learn from each other.”

  “What does a god learn from an insect?”

  “Humility for one,” Remi said. “And second, you’re not a god.”

  “Not yet.”

  “Whatever, Ember.”

  “Time’s up,” Ember said, crossing her arms and glaring at Remi with contempt. “I’m sick of your insubordination. If you’re going to be my soldier, you need to be broken in first. No more talking back. No more sass. But I know that’s not going to come to you naturally. You’ll have to be broken first. Something I’m more than happy to do.”

  “I don’t break,” Remi declared. “If I could survive what I went through as child, I can survive everything.”

  “You’re so stupid,” Ember said. “The conditions of your childhood are nothing to what you’ll have to face now. Yes, your energy was always low. You felt depleted and few paid you any attention. But you were still fed. You were given a place to sleep and most of all, you had a best friend to provide for you when you couldn’t yourself. That is not here. You have no one but me and I am not your friend. Any food you need, you’ll scrounge for it on your own, and I can tell you that there isn’t much here. Sleeping is a luxury that will be provided only when I deem fit. Until you show me that you can even begin to stand your ground against a Sorcerer, you will be treated like a pebble of sand.”

  “Sand is hard to crush,” Remi replied and Ember punched her hard in the right shoulder. Her limb nearly unhinged from the force, and Remi yelped as she staggered back. Ember slapped her across the face and it felt like her jaw was about to fly off.

  Remi tried to punch her, but Ember grabbed her fist and began squeezing. Remi screamed and tried to kick her but Ember chopped at it with the side of her hand, slicing the artificial leg in half. Remi stumbled backwards onto the sand.

  Ember shook her head and let go of Remi’s hand.

  “You are a sad creature,” Ember said as she slammed the palm of her right hand against Remi’s forehead, rattling her brain and knocking her unconscious instantly.

  ***

  When Remi awoke, she knew that something was wrong immediately.

  She felt the rope around her waist, tight and snug, but it was what she didn’t feel that disturbed her most.

  Her limbs were gone.

  Both arms….and BOTH legs.

  “No,” she cried. She didn’t mean to start crying, but she knew that she had had only one real limb left and it was nice beginning able to feel the solid ground beneath her feet or wiggle her toes in the dirt. Even the way Kace placed his hand on her thigh when they were talking—she would never feel that again.

  “What did you do?” Remi shouted aloud, unsure if anyone would hear her. She was on her back in the sand, and she could only see the darkening sky above, a dark blue and black with no moon in sight. Ember’s face appeared in its stead.

  “I took that worthless leg of yours,” Ember replied.

  “Why?” Remi asked, trying to hold back more tears from coming. “There was no reason.”

  “It’s because you belong to me,” Ember said with a smile. “All of you. And I wanted that leg. Call it a souvenir.”

  “Give it back.”

  “That’s impossible. You’ve been out for a day. You can’t reattach it at this point.”

  “What are you doing?” Remi said, twisting her head around. “What are you doing?!”

  “Watch who you’re talking to. I control you, remember?” Ember walked over to where Remi’s feet used to be and grabbed the end of the rope. “Now, are you ready for a swim?”

  “Stop!” Remi shouted but Ember put a finger to her lips.

  “Save your breath,” she said, and then she yanked at the rope, pulling it behind her with such force that Remi immediately started screaming for help.

  She suddenly stopped.

  She hadn’t realized how scared she was until the bloodcurdling noise had escaped her esophagus. She had never been more scared in her life, for it was the first time that she truly felt helpless and alone. What was she thinking challenging one of the Sorcerers? She was a fool. Ember was a psycho, just using her for her own pleasure.

  She couldn’t be what Ember wanted her to be. Because she was terrified by what that would be. What would she be molded into? Would she even recognize herself? But how was she going to avoid it now? Who would save her?

  “STOP!” Remi yelled but it wasn’t at Ember. It was at herself for even thinking of asking for help. What was wrong with her? This wasn’t her. This wasn’t—

  A wave of water poured over her body and up her nose. She coughed and sputtered as it cover her face, attempting to smother her. She coughed one more time before another wave enveloped her even more than the last one. She shut her eyes and tried to squish her upper lip against her nostril holes but water still got inside. She held her breath as Ember took her further out, and she showed no signs of slowing her walk in the ocean.

  Thoughts of ending it all flashed through her mind but she quickly dismissed it. Didn’t Ember say that she would break her? Did Remi think she was lying?

  A bubble of air escaped Remi’s lips as she held on longer. She was limbless, but she wasn’t helpless. Not yet.

  She let out another bubble of air as she concentrated on releasing her eidolon through the center of her back. It was the first time she had attempted to do it from that location, but if she could summon it from her shoulder than her back shouldn’t be any different.

  The eidolon exploded from her spine and she was thrust out of the water. Knowing that the reprieve would only last a second, she took a big breath of fresh air as she glared back at Ember, staring back at her with a shocked expression on her face and a gaping open mouth.

  Remi hit the
water on her belly and the breath was knocked out of her. She began wriggling around like a fish caught on a line, but then she forced herself to think of survival tactics.

  Her eidolon came out of the center of her chest and she was thrown back out of the water. This time she righted herself so that she would fall on her back. Ember caught the collar of her shirt in mid-air and pulled her close to her face–their noses nearly touching.

  “Clever girl,” she said through her barely parted teeth. “But you do remember that using your eidolon wastes energy like that, right? All I have to do is wait and you’ll get tired.”

  “You don’t…” Remi gagged, spitting out some of the ocean water. “You don’t know how long that will take. We could be out here all night.”

  “Or I just shove your head under until your lungs can’t take it.”

  “You won’t do that,” Remi said, her lips trembling from the cold. She was pushing it by goading Ember like that, but she decided to go ahead and feign confidence. Yes, she could beg for her life and ask to be relieved, but where would that get her? Was it better to possibly die now by fighting for hope? Or to die slow and methodical back on Terra while she waited for the inevitable. She had to choose: discipline or regret? Pain now, or later?

  “You won’t break me,” Remi promised, but Ember was unconvinced.

  “We just got started,” Ember scoffed. “But we can end it whenever you want.”

  The offer was tempting. “No,” Remi said. “I can take whatever you throw at me.”

  “Let’s see,” Ember replied, punching her in the stomach and then thrusting her head under the water. Remi didn’t even have time to take a breath. She gasped and swallowed the water pouring into her lungs. She tried to claw at Ember’s arms but she had no limbs. It was strange. It was like she could still feel them there, swinging away.

  Remi’s eyes went wide as she felt something pop inside her brain. She could still see Ember looking back at her, but nothing was registering. Her body went limp as she completely forgot who the person holding her down was. She forgot her name. She forgot what she was doing there under the water. She only felt freedom.