Fallen Ambitions
Page 45
The vampires did not answer. One of them—the dark-haired man—glared at the lich, his expression hardening. That same vampire suddenly blurred and re-appeared right in front of the lich, his hands driving forward between the bars to rip a hole into it’s black-robed body.
But he never reached the lich.
The shadowy creature which had once been Mehrazeen was faster, its scythe-like claws ripping the vampire cleanly in half, entrails spilling on the frozen ground. It didn’t stop there—the creature proceeded to rip the vampire apart, leaving nothing larger than a fistful of his flesh intact. Emily gagged and looked away, one hand to her mouth. She knew vampires had a great ability to heal, but nothing could regenerate from that.
The lich calmly shifted his gaze to the female vampire, the last one standing. She took a step back. “I don’t know where the Empress is,” she said, her voice cracking.
Several spectral skulls hovered around the cage, slowly closing in. “Do not lie, Isla Jander, daughter of High Lord Bramwell Jander. You were one of the Princess’s personal guards. You were one of those chosen few who came with her to the Facility,” the lich said as it touched the lock of the cage. The lock frosted with ice, then shattered. The vampire Isla backed away as the lich pulled open the door and stepped in. “Where you involved, I wonder? Did you initiate the alarm?” he continued as he advanced closer, the two shadow creatures behind him and the green eye atop his staff staring at the vampire.
Isla took another step backward, then tripped, her red eyes wide as she watched the approaching lich. “I don’t know what you’re talking about! I only escorted Nevani there once!” she cried, frantically.
“Why were the researchers ordered dead?” the lich asked, cold anger dripping from his words. “Why did the Emperor and Nevani not move into the imperial wing after killing us all?”
Isla crawled backward until she reached the rear bars of the cage. “I… I don’t know! Sukan told us the Facility had been compromised, and the tunnels blocked… Most of us were in the Capital… I don’t know what happened, I swear in Vala’s name… I swear!” The vampire began to weep as she repeated herself.
Emily was having trouble keeping herself in check, everything inside her was urging her to run. A deep, unyielding fear had anchored herself within her heart. If not for Ness and his desperate situation, she might have tried to flee.
The lich paused, his anger now vanished. “Where is Nevani?” he asked again.
“She’s not here!” the vampire cried. “There was talk of going home!”
“Vilonia…” the lich said thoughtfully, then turned and walked out of the cage.
“Please, I told you—” One of the shadow creatures sliced the vampire’s head off, before they both began to chop her into pieces.
The lich stood at the center of the clearing as if lost in thought. Emily had begun to lose any sensation in her toes and fingertips, and frost was now coating the inside of the cloak which draped over them, but she clenched her jaw to avoid her teeth chattering and giving them away. Groans and the sound of hundreds of footsteps came from all around her as a crowd of undead zombies shuffled in.
They were a mix of former Gold Serpents, who looked recently killed, and more decayed and skeletal figures in village and city garb… and there were two Emily could not pull her gaze away from. A pair in off-duty guard attire—an attire she was familiar with.
Arna guard attire. These people had been raised from the dead of Arna.
Emily wanted to feel outraged by this desecration—hadn’t these people been through enough already? But she simply couldn’t rouse the anger. Her was body numb, her mind exhausted. Her eye lid was heavy as she began to drift, even as she knew that to let go now would be to die of cold.
Once, twice, her eye closed… then a sound broke her out of her fall into unconsciousness, and she looked up, her vision still blurred.
The lich was staring down at her, his night-black eyes flashing as he reached out to pull the cloak away. Emily yelped and jumped back, forgetting that she was holding on to Ness, causing his head to fall and strike the ground. He groaned, but otherwise didn’t move.
The lich reached down, his greyish hand gripping Ness.
“No!” Emily cried as she struggled to her feet. “Stop!”
The lich didn’t stop. Instead, he looked directly at her, and a shiver ran across Emily’s skin. An Inspection, she realized.
He shook his head as the two shadowy figures re-formed behind him. Then he learned in, his skeletal face only inches from Ness’s half-burned one. Like a newborn child, Ness was barely able to hold his head up.
“Do not fear, accept the enviable,” the lich said, its words causing Emily’s whole body to come alive, forgetting the cold it was experiencing. “Accept this gift, and serve a higher purpose.”
“No!” Emily shouted as she lunged forward desperately and tried to grab the lich’s hand.
One of the shadow creatures shifted, its long arms rising to slice through her, but stopped when the green eye focused on her.
“Please,” Emily gasped as she fell to the ground, the wound across her stomach now split open further. “I’ll do anything—just please, don’t hurt him. He’s the only one I have left,” she begged, her tears freezing on her cheeks. What could she offer? What might this lich want in return for sparing Ness’s life?
Then suddenly, she knew.
“You need to go to Vilonia, don’t you?” she asked quickly. “That’s in the Geskian Theocracy. I can get you a ship—it’s the fastest way there.”
The lich stared at her for a long moment before letting go. Ness, released, crumpled to the ground. Emily made to go to him when the lich gripped her and pushed her down again with shocking strength.
“You wish to form a bargain with me, Emilia Fermont?” he asked.
For a moment, Emily’s mind went blank. How did he know her true name? His Inspection had broken through her Hidden Identity skill, she realized.
“Ye—yes,” she said, barely able to avoid biting her own tongue as she shivered.
The lich’s eyes flashed once more. “A bargain with me is binding. Fail to uphold your end, and a fate far worse than death awaits you.”
“I understand,” Emily said fiercely. “I will get you that ship.”
After a few terrifyingly silent moments, the lich turned to Ness. Black mist flowed out of its hand and began to form symbols.
“What are you doing?” Emily asked, watching. She counted seven symbols—he was weaving a level six spell as if it was nothing!
“Preservation,” the lich replied, as the complex symbol tilted and moved above Ness’s still form, before slowly dropping down and disappearing into him.
Preservation… wasn’t that the spell used to preserve food stores? Emily crawled to Ness, concerned. “Ness?” she said quietly, placing a hand against his cheeks. He was so cold. “Ness?” she called again, her heart sinking. She couldn’t feel his chest rise—he wasn’t breathing! “No, no! You killed him!” she cried, dropping her head to his chest, her own chest aching.
But then she heard it. A heartbeat. It was faint, but there.
“He is not dead,” the lich said calmly as the two shadow figures dissolved into a liquid substance before being absorbed into the green eye. “His life was teetering at the edge… My spell will keep him alive for a period, in which time you must find a way to heal his wounds.”
The lich turned away, his back to her now. The wind howled around them once more. Emily looked around in amazement as the ethereal skull began to disappear… and row by row, all the reanimated crumpled to the ground, as if the strings holding them up had been cut.
The once-crowded camp was now eerily silent. Only three people remained in it: herself, Ness, and this undead creature.
The lich’s shoulders sank slightly, and in an instant, the cold winds were gone, the temperature returning to normal. “There is a port city east of here,” the lich said. “Do you know of it?”
“You will prepare a ship for me in Arna. Don’t make me wait too long,” it warned as it turned back to her.
Emily stared at the face she now saw: the wide creepy gin, the black eyes now an ethereal and chilling blue.
“Allow me to introduce myself,” the lich said. “I am Vhal’nuel Novaul. I hope you are a lady of your word, Miss Emilia, for I despise betrayers.” And then it vanished.
Chapter 27
Celia crossed her legs as she watched Princess Lucienne lay slumped in the corner of the room, one ankle chained to the wall. “The last people to stay here didn’t last long,” she commented, remembering Kim and Alexander, both once members of Melody’s adventurer’s party. Kim had been the Beastkin’s slave master. Her Master had used them in order to learn how to use earth and fire mana. Neither had died pleasant deaths.
“How long will it take for Adara to get here?” Celia asked.
“I told you, I don’t know,” Lucienne replied weakly. “Adara never was one to explain her plans in detail.”
“Then tell me again what she did explain to you.”
The princess coughed, then got unsteadily to her feet and leaned against the wall behind her. “I don’t know how many times you want me to tell you this.”
“As many times as I ask you to,” Celia said calmly as she glanced at the only other person in the room, apart from the Grauda guards. “Or do you wish for me to let Duren take over?”
Duren chuckled at that. “I’ve had a lot of experience with this sort of thing in the Geskian Theocracy, Princess. I assure you, I will unburden you of all you keep tucked away in your heart. Though his Lordship Aziel has refused my services for now.” Here, the former priest shrugged.
Lucienne’s pale face lost even more of its color at Duren’s words. Celia snapped her fingers a few times. “Focus. You said the war was going badly, and Adara sent you here with her Calling Feather. Why?”
“I was told to come here and ask for the Fallen’s aid,” the princess replied quietly. “I didn’t even speak to Adara. This was all relayed through the Head Priest of her temple. He said it was the only way to save Maiv, to salvage something and avoid the massacres the Jannatin were going to unleash once Bastion fell. That sacrifices should be made for the greater good. I am just a messenger.”
“A Viceroy acting as a messenger?”
“There are not many others left,” the princess snapped, some of her former sharpness returning. “They were killed by assassins and bombs from the sky. My father is missing, and the only faction officers left alive are in charge of the draft or are in Bastion, and they have their hands a little full at present.”
Celia’s eyebrows arched. “You think such a tone will help you?”
Lucienne let out a long and strained breath before laying down on the floor again, her eyes closed. Although Celia had seen the princess be brought low before in Whiteridge, this was different. She seemed utterly broken.
Celia shook her head. “Come, Duren. Let us give her time to rest.”
“Rest? You should let me—”
“No,” Celia said, nodding in the door’s direction.
“As you wish,” the former priest said. Before leaving, he added, “If you should require my services, I will be in my room.”
Somehow, Celia reflected, learning that Duren was skilled in integration and torture had not come as a surprise, but it still was not something she thought the princess needed to be exposed to. “Keep two guards inside watching her and another two by the door,” Celia told the Grauda female. “Make sure she doesn’t escape or try to harm herself.”
She needed to speak to her Master about this.
* * *
“Master?” Celia called softly as she knocked on their bedroom door. There was no answer.
Slowly pushing the handle down, Celia put her head through the crack. Her Master was seated on the edge of the bed, his eyes closed.
“Master?” she said again as she slid inside and closed the door behind her.
“Give me a few moments, Celia,” he replied, and true to his word, a few moments later, he opened his eyes and greeted her with a smile.
“My apologies, I had spent ten skill points on some martial skills, and with the influx of information, my head needed a little meditation,” he said by way of explanation.
“Oh, finally decided on one?” Celia replied, relieved that her Master was taking this duel with the Ogre’i khan seriously enough to spend so many skill points on it.
“Five points on Power Strike and another five on Light-Footed.” Aziel shrugged. “I thought that both strengthening my attacks and increasing my chances of dodging hers will be of help.”
Celia chuckled. “The dodging part especially. Are you sure you don’t want to use more points on Light-Footed? You still have ten left.”
Aziel grinned, but only shook his head.
Celia shrugged, but then licked her lips. This was the first time she had been alone with her Master since her return, other than in his place of power. Her hand moved to her shoulder to slide down the strap of her dress, and it fell to pool by her feet. “With so much drama, perhaps it’s time for some personal time, Master,” she purred as she slid into his lap.
Aziel’s gaze shifted to her, the way his eyes drank her in caused a shiver to run up her spine. “I thought you had a new dress you wanted to surprise with me,” he said.
“I did. But it’s still in Melody’s bag. I’m surprised you remember that, after everything that happened.”
“A surprise from you, how could I forget?”
Celia laughed as she held his face between her hands and leaned in to kiss him. She pushed one knee between his legs to widen his stance before dragging one hand down to cup him. “Well, someone is excited to see me,” she murmured against his lips. She moaned as her Master’s mana-infused hand rested on her lower back before sliding to her waist, the tingling his touch inflicted causing her knees to grow weak. But then, just as suddenly as they had started, he pulled back.
“Would you sit with me?” he asked.
“Master,” Celia complained, taking a deep, shuddering breath, “it’s been too long for teasing.” She leaned back in again, hungry, but her Master shook his head firmly.
“I assure you, I am not one to skip spending time with you. But for now, there is something I wish to discuss,” he said. Hearing the concern in his voice, Celia’s playful mood evaporated.
“Master, what’s wrong?” she asked, taking a seat beside him. “Is this about Adara? I’m sure we can handle her. Her place of power is at the Three Flames—even with all of Maiv as her followers, she will still be weakened if she comes so far north as Soul’s Rest.”
Aziel reached out and took her hand in his, placing both in his lap. “I had my worries about another Ascended coming here. I confess I did not even consider the fact that she would be weakened.” He sighed. “But that is not what I want to talk to you about. I need to tell you of what I learned since you left on your quest.”
Her Master then began to explain about the white room, Neruul, and the ritual which had trapped him. He spoke of the realms and how he had been positioned to take on the role of Kadora’s Sovereign, before the World Seed had interfered. He told her about the things Neruul had told him: about the Seed’s manipulations, how it was responsible for why demons were as they were today. Why she couldn’t bear a child.
From the moment he began to speak, Celia could tell her Master wanted someone to unburden himself with, someone to listen to him. So she did. She remained quiet as he told her of all the incredible things he had learned—and the horrible experience of being trapped, burned.
She remained silent even after he was done. She had felt him squeeze her ha
nd a few times, especially when he spoke of things which affected her personally, but then he only waited.
“It’s a lot…” Celia said at last, still trying to absorb all that he had said.
“I know it is,” Aziel said before sighing again, more deeply.
“Do you… I mean,” Celia said, before swallowing the words she had never thought she would entertain, and the impossibility of it threatening to squeeze her heart out.
“Celia?” Aziel asked, suddenly concerned.
“I know you already said you didn’t want this, and I know it’s impossible. But… but if things were different, do you think we could have… a family?” she asked, her hand in his feeling suddenly hot, and her body too, as a real fear took shape within.
Aziel looked up at the ceiling, then down at their joined hands. “I think I would be blessed to have a child with you, Celia, and perhaps one day that will be possible,” he replied before lifting his head to give her a gentle smile.
Celia let out a nervous laugh, the pressure which had gripped her washing away in an instant. Then she realized what he had said. “Wait. Possible? But you said—”
“Your ability to have a child was taken from you, and what can be taken can also be retrieved,” he said, his expression suddenly severe. “I have had my reservations when it comes to procreation, but recent conversations and revelations have changed my perspective. I also know and remember your dream of having your own family before you became a Succubus. It is not right for that dream to no longer be possible due to whims of some overbearing presence watching from above.”
“Master, you don’t have to do this,” Celia mumbled. “Your words are enough—”
Aziel shook his head. “It is an injustice either way.”
The edges of Celia’s lips drew into a hesitant smile. “Thank you,” she said, her heart pumping wildly.
Aziel didn’t respond, only squeezed her hand tighter.
After a few more moments of silence, Celia cleared her throat. “So, when you were assigned the faction, you were… what? Inside the Seed? I don’t remember you disappearing at all,” she said.