Page 26 of Fallen Angels

“Impressive,” Cambion says with his head cocked.

His words of encouragement only further aggravate me.

When we reach the double wooden doors leading to Variant’s quarters, Revenant instructs his zombies to enter the bedchamber and report back what they find. They’re gone for maybe two minutes before they return and announce there’s no one in residence.

Pity.

I would have loved the chance to peel Variant’s face from his skull and watch him flail helplessly.

Eilish is right. There are no wards in the room. We approach the terrace doors and Revenant unlocks them, throwing them open immediately. We feel the breeze on our faces and the feeling is blissful enough to be wholly indescribable.

It has been a long time since I’ve found myself in Variant’s Castle in the Sky and as I take in the grounds beyond the terrace doors, I’m overcome with memories I could do without. I shakethem off and instead, focus on the soldiers who patrol the stone walkways, weaving in and around the lush garden.

The word “garden” is inadequate when it comes to characterizing the oasis below us. Verdant grass leads to a forest of trees on one side, and on the other, it extends to a manicured paradise of roses, lilies, tulips, daffodils, and narcissus; the list goes on. The smell of flowers is pervasive and floats into Variant’s chamber, along with bees and dragonflies.

The manicured portion of the garden is sectioned off by a waterfall of crystal blue water that feeds into a large lake, housing various exotic fish as well as a few merpeople who live in the craggy rock outcroppings at the bottom of the lake.

Beyond the rock walls embracing the gardens and this castle, is nothing but the clouded sky. It’s fitting that Variant named his fortress the Castle in the Sky because that’s exactly what it is.

Cambion taps my shoulder and points to the strong wards that outline the lush green oasis on one side of the palace. They appear as a white, glowing fence of sigils. There are no sigils on the other side of the palace as the forest is dangerous enough to keep intruders out and prisoners in.

Years ago, Variant populated this forest with the worst creatures in the Fae and shadow realms as a protective measure. The nightmare creatures are bound within the perimeter of the forest by magic. It would be an absolute disaster were the creatures able to penetrate the magical walls of the palace grounds…

“Are those…” Cambion begins.

“Possession Runes,” I interrupt.

“What the fuck’s a Possession Rune?” Flumph asks.

“Powerful magic,’ I respond, with my stomach in a knot. Possession Runes will definitely make escaping more complicated.

“That ain’t answerin’ my question,” the sprite complains.

“Possession Runes reveal to trespassers their greatest fears,” Revenant explains, and I notice with envy that Eilish watches him with rapt attention.

“Or the things they most regret,” Cambion adds.

Revenant nods. “The runes are vicious enough to cause their victims to become insane, which usually leads to self-sacrifice.”

“Well, we gaves it a good effort,” Flumph says as he turns away from the terrace doors. “May as well give up now an’ get our asses back to that cold-as-fuck dungeon downstairs befores the Evil King realize we escaped.”

“We aren’t giving up now,” Eilish says with steel resolve.

I glance down at her and she looks up at me, nodding. I nod back at her, pleased to see the fight in her eyes.

“There’s a way to get through the runes,” Revenant says.

“How?” Eilish asks.

Revenant is quiet for a moment or two as he apparently formulates a plan in his head. “I’ll sound the alarm from somewhere in the palace and draw the attention of the guards away from the gardens. Walk the same beat as they’ve been walking, and you should make it out of the garden without any issues.”

“But,” Eilish starts as she shakes her head and her eyes fill with concern.

“I’ll find a way back to you,” Revenant responds, his attention solely on her.

His words cause me to grit my teeth.

“You had better find your way back,” I respond, with my eyes narrowed and angry. “You’re the only one with the rune that summons Pyre.” And then I remember Astral’s words—that Pyre can assist us in freeing Morrigan. Maybe now is as good a time as any to attempt to free the Midnight Queen? I say as much to Revenant, who immediately shakes his head.

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