“Okay, I know a safer way up. Follow me,” Thadeus said before he morphed into his rather large anaconda form.
Patrik shifted into a small viper, and the shifter followed suit. We rushed up a narrow service staircase, and I reached out to Serena and Field.
“Telluris Serena!”
“Jovi,” came her voice echoing in my head. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, where are you?”
“We’re in the castle, coming up through the pipe system.”
“Oh, ew!” I grimaced. “Update—Nova’s out of the castle! The power’s cut off!”
“Fantastic!” I heard her gasp. “I’ll tell the Dearghs… You’re amazing!”
“I know.” I smirked. “See you upstairs!”
I then gave Field the signal he’d been waiting for.
“Telluris Field!”
“Wolf boy,” he muttered in my skull.
“Light’em up, Hawk! It’s go time!” I shot back, then ran faster up the circular stairs after Patrik, Thadeus, and my shifter.
“You got it,” I heard Field say before the line went dead.
That was it. The signal we needed for the alliance to begin its offensive. For the Dearghs to sacrifice six of their own and dim the volcanoes until they were rendered useless to Azazel.
The battle was about to begin. I gripped the handle of my sword, bracing myself for what we were going to find up on the terrace of Luceria. The day had finally come for us to pay Azazel back in kind for everything he’d done to us and the people we loved, our friends and our allies.
The concept of my impending death snuck into the back of my head, but I pushed it away before it could drill too deeply into my heart. I’d sworn to myself that I would do everything possible to survive, but I was also ready to die, if it meant protecting Anjani, my sister, and everyone I held dear.
We’ll cross that bridge when we get there, I thought, taking two steps at a time.
Viola
My soul had been aching since my sisters had taken me away from Phoenix. I couldn’t do anything at the time because I knew, deep in my heart, that they were right. I did not have my powers under control—it may have started out with changing the physiognomy of shape-shifters, but it wasn’t going to stop there. I could feel the energy flowing through me, and if I didn’t get it under control, I was bound to do something that would cause irreparable damage.
At the same time, I missed Phoenix. Terribly. We’d been bound to one another since before I’d hatched. I could feel his heart beating in my chest, and he could feel mine. I knew he was in distress; I sensed his emotions even from many miles away.
For days, I listened to my sisters. They helped me harness the cosmic amounts of energy inside me. They taught me how to keep my instincts under control and manage my actions. Most importantly, they taught me to consider all the factors before making a decision—who would benefit, who would be hurt, and what would happen to Eritopia, the land we’d been sworn to protect.
I crouched by the pink waters on top of Mount Agrith, looking at my reflection. I recognized the pink hair and the violet eyes. I’d seen them mirrored in Phoenix’s own eyes. My skin tightened with the memory of his touch. My lower lip trembled in desperate need of his kiss. The days were getting longer in his absence, and it was now bordering on unbearable. He was everything I knew, from the moment I’d emerged from my egg.
My sisters had been talking about Azazel and Eritopia for days, without reaching a conclusion. It was always the same vicious circle: they were angry, they wanted to act, but they feared that he was too strong, even for them, and that he would hurt Nova. They’d sworn an oath to never interfere in the affairs of Eritopians, and, by all possible definitions, Azazel was one such affair. They took their oaths seriously. Their word was their bond, and it simply went against their nature to break it. It was as if they’d been hardwired like that.
I’d told them that I hadn’t sworn to anything.
“You’re a Daughter of Eritopia. It’s part of who you are, not a string of words we utter to ourselves,” one of my sisters had said.
I glanced over my shoulder, my heart heavy, my mind wandering off to Phoenix for the thousandth time that morning. The wind howled above, and the forests dressing the mountain were restless. The smell of change lingered in the air, and I wondered if any of them felt it. It tickled the back of my throat.
“As long as he has Nova, we cannot get involved,” Rubia said.
“We should do something, still,” Ruelle replied. “I don’t like how we left the Druid and his group to fend for themselves.”
“Perhaps we rushed when we took the shield down,” Safira chimed in.
You bet your bejeweled fingers you rushed, I thought to myself.
“We have no right to adjust the natural course of history,” Rubia, one of my sisters, shot back. “We’ve done enough as it is, and look where it got us. One sister in the hands of a mad Druid and one who nearly redesigned an entire species because she got mad. We need to stay out of this.”
“So, you think it’s fair to just sit on the sidelines and watch it all burn, right?” I stood up and turned to face them, fists balled at my sides. I’d grown tired of their constant chatter that never led anywhere.
My sisters all looked at me, their eyes glowing violet beneath their golden masks.
“You should wear your mask, Viola,” Rubia said. “No mortal or immortal of Eritopia should ever lay eyes on our true forms, not even us. It has been our custom since the beginning of time.”
“Oh, so, if you walk down a road and pass a succubus camp right now, do you think they’ll look at you with fear and adoration, or do you think they’ll spit in your faces for your cowardice? For letting this world burn under Azazel?” I shot back, getting angrier with each minute. I’d had enough.
“Mind your tongue, Viola,” came Effissa’s warning.
“Or what? You’ll kill me? Sew my lips together? What will that resolve?” I scoffed. “No one adores you anymore. The people no longer pray to you. No one understands why you’re still here, if you don’t intend to help.”
“What part of ‘we can’t interrupt the natural history of Eritopia’ did you not understand?” Chana replied.
“What part of Azazel’s reign is natural?! He’s gained tremendous power right under your noses, and he’s holding our sister hostage.” I raised my voice. “Are you not hearing yourselves?!”
“Viola.” Rubia sighed. “You must understand, he isn’t just holding Nova hostage. He’s feeding off her. There is pure Daughter energy flowing through his spells. He’s become too strong, even for us, I’m afraid. Millions would die if we launched a full-scale attack against him. Entire planets would crumble. This issue has taken on cosmic proportions.”
A moment passed as I processed what sounded like the first truth they’d dared to utter in my presence—their admission that Azazel had, indeed, grown stronger than they’d first anticipated. Unfortunately, their faces were covered, so I couldn’t bask in the expressions of guilt they were probably wearing.
“So, what, he just won? That’s it?” I muttered.
“We will not go against him. It’s not the fact that he can kill Nova that scares us. It’s his ability to use her power and cause even more damage.”
“At least you admit you’re afraid.” I rolled my eyes and turned my back on them.
I was angry and disappointed. I’d read the most impressive tales about them. The Druid had told me about their ancient magic, their strength, and their nearly godlike skills. But I was not standing in front of the real Daughters of Eritopia. These were insecure creatures that had allowed a crazed Druid to disrupt the natural world and wreak havoc throughout the galaxy.
A pulse shot through me. I felt it hard and deep in my stomach, like a knot untying from around my heart. I could breathe again, in a way. A pressure I’d felt since I’d hatched was released, relief flowing through my veins.
At first, I thought it had something
to do with Phoenix, but when I glanced over my shoulder, I knew it didn’t involve him. My sisters had felt it, too. I could see through their sculpted golden masks that their eyes were wide open. Their bodies were still, the mountain wind brushing against the rich silks of their dresses and their flowing reddish pink hair.
“You felt that, too.” Chana looked at me.
“What was that?” I asked, my voice barely audible.
“Close your eyes and think of Nova.” Rubia cocked her head to one side.
I did as she asked, letting my mind swim through the darkness. A silhouette formed in front of me, made of incandescent pink ribbons. Nova’s face emerged from the pink light, and I could see her in full detail—her long hair, the same color as mine, her pale face, and her vibrant violet eyes.
“I can see her!” I gasped.
“We all can see her now,” Amassa said, while Nibel nodded.
I felt my lips pull back into a smile as I reached out to touch her. She was too far away, and yet so close, so clear, so beautiful and fragile. She could see me too. She smiled at me.
“We couldn’t before,” Rubia added, prompting me to open my eyes and frown. “She was always shrouded. Always silent. Always deaf. We tried reaching out to her, over and over, but consistently failed. It’s why we could never attack Azazel, because we didn’t know where he was holding her…”
“Whatever Azazel did, it kept her out of our range,” Ruelle said. “But now, it’s over. We can see her. We can hear her. Her heartbeat echoes in our chests.”
“She’s left Luceria.” Effissa sighed. “She is free.”
My heart skipped a beat as I realized what that meant. With Nova out of his reach, Azazel had lost a significant source of power. Most importantly, he no longer had any leverage over the Daughters of Eritopia.
“We need to stop Azazel,” I said. “He no longer holds Nova’s life over our heads.”
“We cannot intervene, Viola. It’s not natural!”
I groaned and ran my fingers through my hair, pressing into my scalp for minor tension release. They were excruciatingly frustrating. How had they come upon such positions of power if they were so backwards and stubborn?
“You know what? Until not too long ago, you were all expecting me to sacrifice myself for the greater good,” I snapped. “You moaned about our sister being held captive. You moaned about the rules, the regulations, the ancient traditions, and any other excuses you pulled out of your behinds to not get involved and save this world that made you in the first place! Well, you know what? I’m done!”
They didn’t say anything. They just stared, blinking rapidly as they tried to process my outburst. I figured they weren’t used to anyone speaking to them like this. I’d spent the first days of my life surrounded by outspoken and rebellious creatures—I’d learned a thing or two about expressing oneself without an ounce of regret. And those creatures needed my help now more than ever.
“I am done with your pandering and lack of initiative,” I added, my voice booming against the white walls of the mountain peak. “You lost our sister to a greedy megalomaniac. You abandoned me six feet under a tree and asked a complete Druid stranger to look after me. You then asked me to give my own life to save this world, and then you flipped and left my friends to fend for themselves. You took me away from the only creature I love, and you’ve allowed the greedy megalomaniac to amass such power that he’s nearly impossible to destroy. And you’re the freaking Daughters of Eritopia! Your name means something!”
Once more, not a single word came out of them. But I was on a roll and nowhere near done with them. Fury burned inside me, pouring through my veins, and the need to see Phoenix again grew stronger with each second.
“You seven can stand here and talk about this all day, if you wish,” I said. “If I’m not mistaken, Nova’s on her way here. I can feel her getting closer. She’ll need looking after. You’ve spent so much time moaning about our little sister, now you can cower here on top of Mount Agrith and look after her. I’m going to do what you all should’ve done centuries ago!”
I walked over to the edge, my toes touching the cool pink water.
“Viola, wait. Where are you going?” Rubia asked, her hand reaching out with trembling fingers.
“I’m going to help my friends. My family. My Phoenix. I’m going to finish this once and for all, and if my sacrifice is required, then so be it. Perhaps then you’ll be better sisters to Nova than you ever were to me!”
I didn’t wait for their response.
I allowed my body to disintegrate, my consciousness expanding as my flesh turned to wisps of pink dust, carried off to Luceria by the wind.
I’d meant it all. Phoenix needed me. Aida, Serena, Vita, Draven, Hansa… They all needed me now more than ever. I had acquired enough control over my powers to hold my own against Azazel.
Besides, my sisters had only spoken about his power based on assumptions and deductions. We knew I could sacrifice myself and destroy him, because a Daughter’s single touch might not do it. It was time to put all those theories to the test and find out exactly how strong the self-proclaimed Prince of Destroyers was.
Serena
Draven used a little bit of Druid magic to knock some holes into the smooth stone surface of the pipe leading up to the top. We climbed after him until we reached the first opening onto the fourth floor. It was a large round iron door, locked from the other side.
He placed his hand on its only hinge and whispered a spell, causing the rusty screw to come loose. He pushed the door forward, giving us enough space to crawl through it. One by one, we emerged from the pipe.
I looked around the narrow corridor stretching ahead, while Draven pulled out the castle plan from his satchel. I used my True Sight to watch out for hostiles—there were plenty on this floor, but none close enough to pose an immediate threat.
“Someone needs to go down into the dungeons and start freeing the prisoners,” Draven whispered. “The more chaos we can cause, the better.”
“Two of my wards can do that,” Jax replied, snapping his fingers.
Two Maras came forward, their deep-set jade eyes focused on Draven. Anjani moved to their side and patted the hilt of the sword resting on her wide leather belt.
“I’ll go with them,” she said. “I know plenty of the creatures held captive below. They’ll need a familiar face.”
“Okay, just be careful,” I said, my chest tightening.
I was already having a hard time with Jovi and Field out on their own with so many Destroyers around. I didn’t want anything to happen to her. She gave me a warm and reassuring smile.
“I’m a succubus, Serena.” She winked. “I eat snakes like these for breakfast.”
“That’s my girl.” Hansa grinned from my side.
I watched Anjani and the wards as they moved up the corridor. They reached the end, where a service staircase awaited, dark and narrow. I looked at Draven.
“Where are we going now?” I asked.
“Follow me,” he said after he checked the castle plan, then rolled it up and shoved it into the back of his trousers.
He went ahead, then took a sharp turn to the right, where the walls were farther apart. They led us to another staircase leading to both top and bottom levels. I was right behind him, followed closely by Hansa, Jax, Jasmine, and the remaining wards.
Rebel and the Bajangs were last in line, prowling in the dark parts of the hallway while Draven put out all the green fire torches we encountered.
The sound of a distant horn rattled me. We all stilled around the staircase, glancing at one another.
“The horns of war,” Hansa muttered.
Swords clanging and footsteps thudding got louder with each second, getting closer to our location.
“The Dearghs must’ve stopped the volcanoes,” Draven replied. “Azazel’s getting agitated. It’s starting…”
I looked around, using my True Sight. On all levels above and below, dozens of incubi and D
estroyers were coming out, most of them heading toward key defensive positions on the walls, up in the towers, and down on the ground level, where most of the grunts were.
A garrison of twenty incubi and four Destroyers reached the stairs above us.
I held my breath, pulling my sword out and taking several steps back. Jax and the wards widened the circle around us, their eyes flickering gold. The Destroyers were the first to come down.
I heard the screech of more swords being drawn from their scabbards.
I saw the Destroyers’ piercing yellow eyes widening as they slithered down the stairs and recognized us as intruders, hissing and pulling their blades out.
It happened so fast. The Maras went hard on the mind-bending tricks, making the Destroyers squirm and look nervously around, as if we’d been replaced by something far scarier to these monsters. It was the opening we needed.
I brought my sword down, cutting off one Destroyer’s head. Hansa, Jax, and Draven took care of the other three with swift and decisive moves, just as the incubi rushed down, nearly tripping down the stairs at the sight of the carnage we’d delivered.
The soldiers looked at us, blinking rapidly with a mixture of fear and confusion on their faces, their hands reaching for their swords.
“Don’t be stupid,” Draven told them. “This is your chance to redeem yourselves. We’re reclaiming Eritopia, and it starts here. The castle is about to be under siege. Which side of history do you wish to be on?”
The incubi looked at each other for a couple of seconds. Most of them moved toward the corridor, their hands abandoning the swords for a moment as they nodded.
“We’ll make our way down, gather more of our soldiers,” one of them said.
“Plenty of us want that slithering bastard and his followers dead,” another replied.
“By all means,” Draven smirked. “The more of you, the better.”
“And you?” I shifted my focus to the six incubi still standing at the bottom of the staircase.