Page 2 of Rising Out of the Darkness
Lenora clutched the amethyst stone that dangled from the golden chain around her neck, a necklace her sons had given her over a century ago. She caught the solemn gaze of Keir knowinghe knew where her mind had wandered. The queen couldn’t help but worry about her youngest son, Declan.
“I hope he will understand why I want him to try …” Lenora’s lip trembled. “Maybe he’ll be able to break through to Alaric where I could not.”
“Declan is the strongest man I know. If this is the end for us…” he paused, exhaling a deep breath, “Then I can think of no one better to help our people rise once more.”
A hiss sizzled its way into the room, and their heads snapped to the opening.
Time had run out.
The massive wooden doors that guarded the suite shattered into thousands of pieces. Keir unsheathed his sword from his waist as the queen pulled her own dagger into her hand.
With a flick of his wrist, Keir let his shadows spill out from his free hand. Darkness filled the room, trailing towards the now gaping hole. A deep, sinister laugh could be heard before the man it resonated from set foot inside.
Hair rose on the back of Lenora’s neck, sending shivers down her spine. Steady footsteps now replaced the laugh as the new advisor to the king, Alastor Grimshaw, presented himself in the doorway. His black cloak swirled around him as amusement danced across his face.
“Did you really think I was naive enough to not discover what you two were up to?” Alastor purred. “You’ve both beenverybusy.”
A flash of light illuminated the room as he projected his lightning dynamis towards Keir before the prince’s shadows could wrap around him.
Keir staggered back, but not before he pulled Lenora behind him. He launched another wave of shadows from his fingertips. They thrust the king’s advisor backwards into the stone wall.Keir’s shadows tightened around Alastor, whose face reddened. Lenora could feel Alastor’s fury ripple off him like steam.
One of Alastor’s arms broke free, and he launched a bolt of lightning across the room. The flash seared Lenora’s eyes, and she missed its impact as it made contact with her son.
Keir’s body shot through the air. Lenora’s breath stopped as she extended her arms towards him to catch him. Nothing but air flew through her fingertips as Keir, crashed against the far wall. His body slumped to the floor as blood trickled from his nose.
An eerie feeling crawled over Lenora’s skin. Realization struck her just as forcefully as his dynamis. They had severely underestimated their opponent.
Lenora’s knees buckled and she fell back into the coffee table, sending her beloved peonies crashing to the floor. The glass vase shattered. Shards of glass and petals tumbled in waves, covering the floor.
A deadly grin illuminated Alastor’s face. At first glance, you would never be aware of the evil that lurked below. His fair complexion was a contrast to not only his closely cut locks of thick onyx hair, but his nearly silver-blue eyes. He had used his charm and looks to work his way into the castle, and as of late, he was the only one to whom her husband listened.
Over time, Alastor had let his darker side slip out, but Lenora always sensed a deep sorrow within him. It hovered over him like a haze, and she couldn’t help but feel a tinge remorseful for whatever had made this man be so consumed by sadness daily.
Holding her dagger tightly, she prepared her stance, remembering how her younger son Declan had trained her.
“This isn’t the end, Alastor. You may try to break it, but hope always finds a way,” she declared boldly, launching her dagger into the air.
A blast of his dynamis launched the dagger back towards Lenora. She dodged with just enough time for the dagger to miss her forehead, but not enough to avoid it slicing her cheek. Blood leaked from the wound as malevolent laughter crowded the room.
“Such a shame to have to cut down such a delicate flower, but you’ve given me no choice.” Alastor unleashed his lightning again with a lazy movement of his wrist.
Lenora shrieked as she crumpled to the ground. Ringing echoed inside her head, her dagger far from her reach. Shards of glass clawed into her knees as Alastor continued to hold her with his power. As blood began to pool beneath her, the queen’s vision darkened.
Throwing her shoulders back, fighting against the grip of the lightning, she pushed her dynamis towards him.
“Don’t think that I’m not aware of how you’re trying to turn my emotions against me, Lenora.” He stepped towards her. Towering over her, he leaned down close enough to invade the air she gasped desperately to breathe. “I know your secret. Emotions are truly powerful little things, aren’t they?”
Lenora’s eyes widened as she found the terror within his words. His dynamis became more intense, radiating pain throughout her entire body. How could they have misjudged Alastor so disastrously? So much planning, preparing, coordinating, and he could be the undoing of it all. Tears streamed as she began to realize what evil stood before her.
“Goodbye, dear Lenora. It’s truly such a shame to waste such beauty. To think your king never took advantage of your full potential.” He ticked the roof of his mouth once more, silencing her with a malicious grin.
Raising his hands in front of him like a viper ready to strike, he prepared for Lenora’s demise.
Out of the corner, Keir leaped in the air, his sword extended, aiming for a fatal blow.
Alastor wasn’t fast enough to block the attack, and Keir’s sword slid deep inside his side. Keir grinned wildly as the advisor groaned in agony. As he released the bloody sword, Alastor vanished before their eyes.
For a split-second Lenora caught her son’s shocked expression, the same one that she mirrored. No one had ever had multiple abilities except her younger son, Declan. The kingdom believed it to be a blessing from the gods and the Light Phoenix to the Stallard line, but the secret ran far deeper than they really knew. If Alastor had zephyred, that meant he knew the truth and must have for some time.
