Page 36 of Of Realms and Chaos

This time, when the pencil reappeared, I caught it, ready for the way his words would ground me, secure me, protect me.

Henry and Wrath both watched with keen eyes as I unrolled the paper and read what Bellamy wrote. As always, he found a way to drag up the corners of my mouth, forcing me to smile through the pain.

I would sooner forget my own name than the way you looked in that dress. Be ready to catch.

Chapter Thirteen

Bellamy

Sweat stung my eyes as I swung, my sword slicing through the neck of a particularly talented Air. She was brilliant, which meant she was absolutely lethal.

Every gust of wind or vortex of air had sent our soldiers flying, some of them being ripped to shreds in the process. Even worse, she was capable of slicing through bone, the speed of the air making it as sharp as a blade. When she reached for her throat, desperately trying to staunch the blood, all I could think was one thing: what a waste.

Diving, I barely dodged a chunk of rock. The move cost me precious seconds, forcing me to remain on the ground and roll away from a bubble of water that threatened to trap me. Stopping as my back hit the ground, I caught the water, fighting against the Element who still held control of it. In the end, I won, shoving it back at the crowd of gold-clad soldiers and freezing it when it hit their bodies.

So painfully wasteful. This battle—this war—brought nothing but death and destruction, and for what? I would not pretend like the power in my bones and the magic in my veins did not hum at the scent of death around me. My mind and heart knew better though. The potential and life being lost were not worth it.

With that thought at the forefront of my mind, I decided it was time to end the battle before any more of my demons fell. I stretched my hands out, black fire shooting in both directions and effectively cutting off the bulk of the charging enemy. For now.

“Fall back!” I shouted, the order echoing across the open valley, calling onto every element and taking out the gold-clad soldiers who remained on our side of the fire.

Damon did not need to be told twice, his sky-blue armor a beacon as he lifted his sword to the air. His shadows shot skyward. They swirled, mixing with the soft white clouds to form three rings—the edges just barely intertwined. With the sigil above us, the demons began their steady push back towards the rolling hills of green grass and vibrant pink trees. Damon remained by my side for a moment longer, spearing his shadows through the final two fae, before I gave him a slight nod. I watched as he ran towards our army, the soldiers reflecting the light in their silver armor while he seemed to blend with the sky in his blue.

As the fae began to spray water at and attempt to manipulate the fire blocking them, I took slow and measured breaths. So long, it had been so long since I allowed myself this freedom to release the so-called blessings within me. Among other things, it was a fine line to walk. Losing myself now to the high of retribution and death would not make me any more fit to guide us through this war, despite what the war council thought.

First to break through was a Water, his golden armor melting in some areas. He charged me, the scream that left his mouth a throaty and broken sound. Like many of the others, he was desperate. For vengeance, for safety, for a life outside of such gore. They were not evil creatures that fought their way to me. No, they were as innocent as the ones that ran for their lives behind me.

The next to break through was another Fire, her anger palpable even through the golden helmet that covered her face. Dropping the wall of flames, I took one final moment to beg Eternity, the gods, anything that would listen to help us stop this war.

Silence met me like an old friend, the constant reminder that there was nothing and no one that would save us from this mess.

My black armor lit up, the charcoal flames licking at the air around me and tasting the sweet tang of fear. I leaned my head back, taking in a decisive breath of fresh air. When my head snapped forward, I welcomed the rage that burned inside of me. This would end now, with no help from any higher power.

As the fae closed in on me, I was the god.

With a guttural roar, I thrust my hands into the air, immediately bringing them down and smashing them into the grass below my feet.

A great shudder racked through the valley as the Water approached me. He stopped, eyes wide through the opening in his helmet. They were a watery brown, similar to the mud to which he would soon return.

“You might want to run,” I said, unable to stop the smirk that lifted my cheek. There was no denying how good it felt as the magic and power simultaneously left my body.

The grass split then, sucking in screaming fae as they unknowingly ran to their deaths—to me. Geysers of molten rock flew up into the air, raining the mighty wrath of the Underworld down upon the golden soldiers. With as much control as I could manage, I willed it to continue forward, a river of destruction rushing at the fae as they ran for their lives.

Conjuring a sword of black flames, I quickly jumped to my feet and severed the head of the Water, ending him before the lava could. Then I was running too, my flames finding their mark in the holes between the golden plates protecting the fae.

When they realized I was coming, the Shifters took on new forms, their bodies reshaping themselves into far more dangerous creatures. With a twist of my finger, I built up a cyclone of air around me, reminding the world that I was the eye of the storm. I sent it careening towards a larger group, watching as it tore them to bloody pieces that scattered across the open valley.

Screams rang through the air, a melody of pain that left me dancing across the grass, every parry or thrust in time with the beat.

I was no hero. I had always known that. Perhaps it was better because, while a hero might spare them—might attempt to save those that were innocent, I would kill them all to secure Asher’s safety. Her future.

A final roar of fury left my lips as I threw my hands forward, fire catching at the tips of my fingers and scorching every inch of the land before me. The screams came to a crescendo, the armor doing nothing to stop the flames from burning them all alive—especially with the lava still at their backs. I hummed in time to the piercing wails, relishing in the way it felt to end those responsible for the deaths of my soldiers and civilians, despite knowing it was wrong.

Even the Waters and Fires were not fast enough, their power failing them in their final moments. What a sad thing, to discover that what makes you special, what you had been told your entire life made you better than any other being in existence, did nothing to save you in the end.

Slowly, I lowered my hands, my breath heavy and heart pounding. I had expended more than I should, and I felt that hollowness inside of my chest. Oh yes, I would pay for this later.

It was at that moment that a sharp pain pinched my side. I looked down, finding a dagger shoved through a small gap in my sparkling black armor.

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