Page 9 of Kiss of Death
LILY
Lily, they’ve reached the castle.
I cut down the Barbarian then sliced my blade through the armor of the next one, dropping them to the ground and giving me a moment of respite.
I can’t hold them back.
I took a step back and turned over my shoulder, as if I would somehow be able to see the castle from here. How had they made it to the top? They would have had to dock their ships and fight through lines of soldiers and the village to reach the castle.
They’ve shot some of our dragons. And they’ve turned them into…whatever they are.
My sight disappeared for a moment, broken by what he’d just told me.
The leader is here with his men. Our soldiers fight back, but it’s an inevitable defeat.
A Barbarian rushed me, and I almost didn’t see it, so lost in my despair. But then Hawk emerged from behind me and parriedthe blade with his before he defeated him with a flurry of blows. “Lily, what the fuck are you?—”
“They’re at the castle. Turned some of our dragons into…vampire dragons.”
His face froze in a look of horror before he took a few steps back.
“Mom…Dad…I have to go.”
He nodded and gave no argument.
“Have the dragons take my place. It’ll continue the funnel, and you can kill the ones who make it past.” I didn’t have time to say much else to my brother. I had to get to the castle before they broke down the double doors and found my parents barricaded in their chambers.Zehemoth, take me to the castle now.
He flew out of the darkness and came into my sight before he landed with a thud.My father has informed me. Hurry.
I climbed up the straps of the harness quicker than I ever had, and Zehemoth was off the ground before I had a grip on the horn. I nearly fell off before he launched himself into the sky like a cannonball.
He beat his wings hard, and we covered ground quickly, rising farther up to the top height of the cliffs.
When we drew closer, I could see the horror. See Khazmuda fight several dragons in the sky at once, dodging their fire and their sharp tails. Golden spikes jutted out of the dragons that had been turned into evil creatures, neither alive nor dead.
It was a disturbing sight. “Help your father, Zehemoth.”
What about you? You don’t have anyone else?—
“I don’t need anyone else.”
When Zehemoth reached the courtyard, he landed so hard his front legs buckled and he almost threw me off.
I slid down his back leg then rolled when I reached the stone ground of the courtyard. I pulled out my blade and marched forward as I heard Zehemoth’s wings beating when he returned to the sky. He roared as he announced his arrival. “Roooaaaaarrrrr!”
There were a dozen Barbarians fighting the soldiers who continued to protect the keep, not outnumbered but clearly outmatched by the demonic beings who walked this earth.
I recognized the leader I’d encountered in the forest and King Ithaca’s throne room. His armor and uniform were different from the others, and of course, his face was concealed by the gold mask.
Rage pounded so hard in my chest I thought my heart might explode. I spun the blade around my wrist as I banged my fist against my chest and emitted a war cry I’d never uttered before, releasing the ferocity that had built up in my body all this time.
He cut down the soldier who had his attention then turned to me, unafraid to turn his back to the battle that continued to play out. Only his eyes were visible, and at this distance, it was hard to make them out. He cocked his head slightly sideways, regarding me like a bug rather than a serious opponent.
The dragons continued to fight overhead, jets of fire coming from the sky, roars releasing into the darkness.
For a brief moment, I had an out-of-body experience, picturing a similar night decades into the past, my father standing inthe light of the fires with his blade gripped tightly in his angry knuckles. He stood alone against his assailants, against the people who had taken away everyone he loved most.
I gripped my sword as I felt a surge of strength that came from somewhere else, not the god who continued to grant me his strength, not the dragon who shared my soul, but from a whole other place.
