Page 210 of Between Despair and Hope

“So, you didn’t burn with your ogre friend,” I replied, looking around for something to use as a shield. I hadn’t had time to grab one, and those claws looked wicked.

“I died by a ssslave woman’sss ax,” it slurred as it staggered toward me, body hovering above me on spindly arms and legs. I got a good look at his claw as the beast lunged. Human in form, three curled talons jutted out of the second knuckle. “Declan made usss ssstronger.”

I lured him into lunging again and promptly cut off his hand. The beast scrambled backwards hissing, trying to reach the stump but failing because of how gods damn long his revolting limbs were. In my periphery, I noticed the shadow shield dissipating, and I moved to put myself between the beast and my child. A horrifying idea occurred to me, and I nearly lost my balance when the beast lunged.

“Elora, are you in there?” I shouted. I’d do what I could to protect Cyran, but if my daughter wasn’t even there, then—

“I’m here!”

Warm relief slid through my veins. “Good. Stay there!”

“I don’t know if—”

I didn’t hear what else she said as the beast staggered toward me, screeching and wailing. I cut off another chunk of its long arm, but instead of skittering away, he came at me with force, the other claw slicing deep into my shoulder. Staggering back, Cyran’s shadows whipped around my ankles, allowing me in. The creature realized it the moment I did, running forward on its three remaining limbs, but was stopped by the blast of fire Elora sent right at its chest, dismissing the shadows and knocking the creature away with enough force, it fell on its back. I rushed forward, dodging scrambling legs as it tried to right itself and failed. It twisted, attempting to bite my leg before I plunged my blade through its heart and twisted. Its limbs curled in upon it, not unlike a gods damn spider. It startled me, thinking it wasn’t dead as the heavy limb moved past me. When I pulled out my sword, a muddy substance poured forth, and a few wisps of shadow plumed out, floating up into the smoke.

Turning around, I looked Elora over to see she was unharmed. Fists clenched and jaw set, she was her mother’s daughter. The prince was on the ground at her feet, leaning over a body.

“It’s his sister,” Elora said, barely loud enough for me to hear over the fire. “Cy, we have to get out of here.”

“Heal her,” the boy demanded, voice a harsh croak as he finally looked up at me with watery eyes. The girl on the ground was long dead. There was no way my divinity could bring her back from that. And I had an entire city to defend with at least six more beasts nearby. A beam fell down behind us, blocking our path back to the street, and Elora tugged on Cyran, attempting to make him stand.

I turned to open a rift, ready to throw the two of them through it, but I couldn’t do it. “Fuck,” I sighed, closing my eyes and centering myself.

“I said heal her!” Cyran screamed up at me, tears streaming down his face. “Please!”

“I’m sorry, Cyran. She’s dead. I can’t—I don’t even know how Em did it with—she’s too far gone. Now, come on. Let me get you two somewhere safe.”

“Will you try?” Elora said, and I eyed her for a moment, knowing the outcome but weighing my daughter’s heart. She needed me to try. So I crouched in front of the prince and put my hand on the girl’s neck.

“There’s nothing there for my divinity to latch onto. I’m sorry.”

“Try harder,” he sobbed. When his hand wrapped around my wrist, I knew he’d remember this moment for the rest of his life. Though the remnants of the roof above us creaked, and I didn’t know how much longer I had before those creatures came crashing down upon us, I offered him what I’d have wanted.

“Cyran,” I began, waiting until his eyes met mine. “Your sister is dead, and my divinity will not work on her. But while I still have any left, I have to do what is right by my kingdom. Those screams outside? People I can help. And this girl you swore you would never hurt again? You have her to protect with me.”

The boy stared at me, tears trickling down from eyes full of guilt. I recognized it, having seen it in Em’s eyes.‘Why not me?’If Em’s lingering sorrow was any indication, he’d ask the question for years. But he nodded quickly, standing as Elora grabbed his hand. Water fell from above, my mother having finally figured out how to use my divinity, and the ensuing steam caused me to cough.

I dragged them both out the back door of the cafe into a small courtyard where we could breathe before I attempted to rift once more. Frowning, I rolled my shoulders and spread my hands wide. The spot where the villainous creature had gouged my arm ached, even though I’d used Em’s divinity to heal it already.

“It’s not going to work, Rainy.”

I whipped around, pushing both children behind me as I searched for the voice above us. A voice which had haunted my nightmares. Cyran cursed behind me, and I heard Elora’s sharp intake of breath. It only took me a moment before I pinpointed him, picking his way across the wood shingles, held afloat over the holes in the roof by his shadows attempting to bridge the gaps. Declan looked the same as he had during my time in Darkhold.

“Nice of you to visit,” I called as I desperately attempted to open a rift once more. Whatever he had done had worked. “Stay behind me,” I murmured as Elora peeked her head around me.

“Warded. Finished the circle while you lot were dealing with my itzki.” He used his shadows to move down from the roof into the courtyard. I backed up with Elora, spreading an arm out to force Cyran to step back too. The earth began to rumble a split second before I used my divinity to draw forth the rocks nearby to throw at him. His shadows squelched my efforts, spreading to the ground to work as a barricade.

“Aren’t they magnificent? It’s too bad you killed Vincent. Victor?” Declan shook his head, hands held behind his back as he took a few steps. His blond hair was tied back, and his teeth glinted in the sunlight. “The itzkim haven’t been seen since the gods walked. No drakes, but I couldn’t be outdone by your whore. So, I brought them back.”

Since the last thing I wanted was to hear him speak, I drew Em’s fire into my hands, worried about taking too much from her but not having much of a choice, and I sent a wall of flames toward him, cutting the courtyard in half. I wasn’t confident enough with her fire to get close to him.

“Itzkim were conduits who stood against the gods, punished for it. You are no god,” I barked, shoving Elora and Cyran back toward the building. I heard the loud beat of wings and knew we were fucked. “Get out to the street. Find Shivani,” I urged.

“I’m not leaving you,” Elora argued, twisting her body away from where I pushed her shoulder. “Gods, are all of you so stupid? I’m not going anywhere!”

“Do I not stand in defiance of the gods now?” Declan yelled out, his shadows attempting to muffle the fire as he spoke. “A symmetry I enjoyed. No, I suppose you are right. They may not be true itzkim, however, I think I did quite well. You should see the one hunting your wife right now. They keep their memories, you know. I’d be more worried about her other hunter though. He has a bone to pick.”

“Cyran? Use your shadows to get her out. Drag her if you have to,” I ordered, tossing the command over my shoulder.

---