Page 28 of Vengeance and Fire

Soldiers lay against the walls, blood-soaked cloaks, soot-stained faces, some are dead or dying. Our once pristine manor is left in ruins. Debris and glass litter the floors. The place is falling to pieces around us with every attack we face. Medics run up and down the halls, weaving healing magic where they can. Unfortunately for some people there is no hope.

Glazed over dead eyes stare back at me as I come to a halt in front of a soldier slumped against a pillar. One half of his body is burned and charred. The smell of his burnt flesh makes bile rise in my throat. Scooping up my apron I cover my nose and mouth as I pass him, closing my eyes against the sight of him. Everyone is running for cover. The sound of screams can be heard from every direction as people fell prey to sneak attacks from the Fae who manage to get past Miss Twyla and her mates.

Anyone who wasn’t needed was sent to the mountains to join people from the neighboring villages who sought refuge behind the palace. For two days we’ve been under siege, our King barely clings to life outside, the Fae queen constantly taunting Miss Twyla, who works tirelessly with her mates to hold back the tidal wave of Fae, Mages, and Dragons. It’s been nothing but chaos all around us. Fear is thick and heavy in the air. Everyone is trying not to say what we are all thinking, that the Druid’s need to surrender. If anyone can save us, it’s Miss Twyla, but she can only go on for so long. I don’t think she’s slept at all. Eventually, something’s got to give.

BOOM!

Another wall crumples, bricks and mortar rain down all around me as I hold on to the fresh bandages in my arms. The noise is so loud my ears are ringing. If it wasn’t for the healing medic in front of me, I wouldn’t have known someone is calling my name.

“Silva!” The medic takes the bandages from me and immediately starts passing them out before she turns to me to speak.

“The queen summons you. It’s time!” she shouts, and I almost correct her. I want to tell her that King Maddox is still alive, but if he’s not rescued soon, he won’t survive. What I struggle to understand is why he hasn’t used his magic? Miss Twyla thinks maybe he’s too weak from blood loss but I’m not sure. When she first called me up to the parapets, I set my eyes on our poor King, he looked resigned. But it is not my place to say so. I’m a maid, nothing more.

“Silva! Why are you still standing here? We are running out of time. Go!” The medic shouts at me again over the sudden roar we hear above us.

“Dragon!” Someone screams from down the corridor. The roof caves in, followed by a massive hind leg of a black Dragon. The Dragon roars as another leg comes crashing down on top of the soldier who was trying cut and stab at the beast. Thaddeus’ Black Barons have no magic, but their bodies can do just as much damage. Blood sprays the walls, and I stand there staring in shock at the squashed bodies.

Miss Twyla’s mate, Lorian, comes into view. He’s levitating down the hall toward us, eyes black, and arms outstretched. His once immaculate suit is in tatters, and his face the vision of pure rage.

“Brace yourselves!” he yells before he claps his hands together, causing a shockwave that lifts the offending Dragon off its feet. The force tosses it up in the air and sends it flying. He swiftly lifts the debris that had fallen around us. Swirling it around with his hands working fast, sweat drips from his brow as he weaves his magic, he lifts the now repaired wall, and cuts off the roars.

BOOM!

Another explosion from somewhere close by. The sound of cries and screams follow, and I begin to panic. Maybe I should have left with the others to hide in the mountains. I can’t—

“Silva. You’re with me. The bracelet is ready. Do you have what you need?” Lorian drops down next to me, and all I want to do is cower, to cover my ears, and hide.

“Silva! Look at me!” Lorian shouts over the noise. “Look at me.” He reaches out and grabs my chin.

“There is no one else she trusts. You need to get to Cordelia. You need to serve both of your mistresses. Twyla is running on empty, but she will fight to the end. Do you hear me? I am not losing her again!” His emotion is so raw. He’s exhausted, and he’s looking at me like I’m a beacon of hope. In that moment I think of Miss Cordelia. She will come running, and I know that she and her mates are our only chance to survive. I don’t know if it was his words, or the sheer determination in his gaze, or it could be the thought of Cordelia, but a flicker of courage unfurls in my chest, and I answer its call. I pick myself up off the floor and take his hand. He nods his approval and offers me a tight smile.

“I just need to get my pack. I will meet you outside,” I tell him. I take off running up a set of stairs toward Miss Cordelia’s room where she stayed while she was here. Once I make my way into the hall I notice this floor is still untouched from the chaos outside. It's eerily quiet as I look around, and I quickly hide between pillars just in case. I stay hidden for a few minutes, knowing that I need to get in and get out as fast as possible.Move, Silva.I put one foot in front to the other, swiftly crossing the hall and opening the door to her old quarters.

On the edge of the bed is the armor and weapons that Miss Twyla had commissioned for Cordelia for her coronation as a present. The sword and knife are a gift from King Maddox. He was looking forward to giving it to her. That thought alone has me spring into action. Grabbing the bundle in my arms, I throw my pack over my shoulders and head to door. Panic blooms in my chest as I can hear heavy footsteps outside the door. It causes me to pause, my hand just shy from grabbing the doorknob. I back up slowly, heart pounding, unsure if hiding would do me any good. If it’s a stray Fae soldier, then I won’t stand a chance. The door suddenly flies open, causing me to scream as I stumble back and fall to the floor. My breathing is fast, I am trying not to panic, but all is quiet. When nothing happens, I open my eyes to find Miss Twyla’s mate, Gray, the massive Mage, walk in and tower over me looking for threats. He is clearly wondering why I screamed and was on the floor. When he sees it’s only me in the room, he reaches out his hand.

“Come.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the delicate bracelet and places it in my hand.

“Will I see Miss Twyla before I leave?” I ask, knowing that the first thing Cordelia will ask is if her mother is safe.

“No time. Too dangerous at this point. That is why I am here. I need to send you on your way.” He opens his hands, pulling at the energy around him, until a bright bluish ball begins to form between hands. His hands move in a circular motion, as if stretching and pulling at the magic around him as the ball grows larger. The power in the room has my hair standing on end. The air becomes static and charged with energy. I can tell the toll it is taking on him to do what he is doing, but the Mage continues to shape and form the ball. Pulling the ball into his chest, his arms shake as if it is taking a lot out of him to hold the expanding ball. Then he shoves the ball forward with a grunt, sending it towards the wall where it forms a door, a portal.

He looks over to me, wiping the sweat from his brow as another explosion rocks the manor. He reaches out to catch me before I lose my footing.

“Go. Tell Cordelia her mother needs her. Tell her Twyla won’t last much longer. Maurelle will break through soon. We have maybe a day.” He walks me over to the portal and gestures for me to go.

“So this will take me straight to her in Arcadia?” I ask. I have never left Celestia. I don’t know what to expect. I’ve never used a portal before.

“It will take you to wherever she is. Go. Find her.” I almost hesitate, but I don’t get a chance to ask another question as he gives me a little push, and I am falling through the portal and out into darkness.

I hit the ground hard. One hand protecting the bundle close to my chest, the other lands on a twig, snapping it underneath my hand. It is so quiet the snap echos into the night. My eyes adjust quickly, and I realize I’m surrounded by tall trees climbing high into the sky. The air is crisp and cold, causing me to shiver at the sudden change in temperature. Then nausea hits me out of nowhere. My head spins, my stomach roils from the sensation of going through the portal for the first time. What little I did have to eat earlier decides that now is the right time to resurface. I immediately turn away from the clothes in my arms and empty out my stomach until there’s nothing left. I feel embarrassed, thankful that no one has witnessed me retching and gagging all over the snow. Taking a deep breath, I wipe my mouth with my apron and take a moment for my eyes to adjust. I climb to my feet, turning around in a circle until I spot smoke in the distance and decide to move in that direction.

My steps are shaky, I’m so nervous and unsure of where I am or where I am going to begin to look for Miss Cordelia. The noises of the forest are sharp in my ears: the crunching of my feet in the snow, branches swaying, a hoot of an owl somewhere in the distance. I am not used to being outside like this. I feel on edge, my head is turning constantly from side to side as I try to stamp down my growing unease that maybe I am not alone out here. Something moves in the darkness to my right. I stop, wondering if I am seeing things when I see another shadow move around me, and then another. The sound of vicious snarls greets me first as the dark shadows take shape around me. Red glowing eyes peek out of the trees and slowly stalk towards me.

This is not Arcadia,is my only thought before my instincts tell me to run, but something stops me. Something inside me stills, stirring, as if waking up from a deep sleep. Recognition. My chest begins to burn at my sudden realization, and I gasp from the pain. I try to stay upright as whatever lurks in the shadows makes itself known.

My eyes widen, I have never seen a Shifter up close. There are Skinwalkers in Celestia, but they look nothing like this. The gigantic white Wolf watches me closely as it bares its teeth at me, its ears are flat against its head, and a bloodcurdling growl follows. I’m encroaching on their territory. Somehow, I am a threat.How do I know that? What the heck is happening to me?I think to myself as I try not to panic.They can smell my fear, oh God.My words fail me, if the portal brought me here, then Miss Cordelia has to be here. The pain in my chest goes from a slow burn to an agonizing inferno as another Wolf steps out of the shadows, leaping in front of me and knocking me off my feet.

I scream as the blinding pain sends me spiraling. The last thing I hear before I pass out is one word.

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