I kept my immense satisfaction at Azazel’s frustration to myself, raising my eyebrows instead.
“What does that have to do with me? All I did was tell him what I saw.”
“True, but that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. On the contrary, he will soon demand another set of visions from you, as he wants to find out how he will die, in full detail. He’s asked me to tell you this so you can work and summon visions yourself. He dislikes having to do half of the work for you with the herb treatment.”
“Oh, poor Azazel, doesn’t like putting in the work.” I pouted.
Damion sneered at me. I thought it would be best to keep Azazel out of my room for as long as possible, as I didn’t want to risk foiling my imminent escape. Since I’d already told Azazel one half-truth, I decided to try a lie. This time I was serving it to Damion, whose people-reading skills were significantly inferior.
“I’ve already seen how Azazel dies,” I said, playing a wild card. It got me Damion’s full attention. “The Daughters will kill him.”
“That’s impossible,” he scoffed. “He’s got their little sister in here. They wouldn’t lift a finger against him.”
He stilled, realizing what he’d just said. I kept my face straight, unwilling to show any signs of surprise. I didn’t need him alarmed by his slip of the tongue; it could have repercussions for me, in the end. I shrugged in response.
“Whatever you say,” I replied. “Maybe he crosses a line and the Daughters decide to sacrifice one of their own to stop him. He should certainly take that into consideration and not rely on the Daughter he has for leverage. It’s how the mighty often fall.”
Damion frowned, then put his hands behind his back.
“Is there anything else?” he asked.
Enlightened by his confirmation of the little Daughter’s approximate whereabouts, I made it my next mission to find out exactly where she was being kept. In the meantime, while I still had him there, I decided to drill him about his former friends on Marton.
“What can you tell me about the young Druids you were with, before you were captured on the western shore of Marton?”
Damion’s expression went blank. His eyes flickered black, his mouth drawn into a thin line.
“What are you talking about?” he asked, his voice barely audible.
“The Druids you escaped from the Grand Temple with, when the Destroyers first came for you,” I explained further, carefully analyzing his reaction.
He blinked several times before his shoulders dropped and he exhaled sharply.
“Please, tell no one about them,” he whispered, then winced. I had a feeling he was saying something Azazel’s control spell had conditioned him not to say. “I’ve gone to great lengths to conceal their existence. No one knows they’re there. How do you know?”
“I’m an Oracle, remember?”
He clicked his tongue in response, then went to the window. The pained look on his face told me he was fighting Azazel’s hold on him as well, but he hadn’t made it as far as Patrik. I wondered what motivated him. It couldn’t be an easy task without a powerful trigger.
“Tell me about them, then. I know about them and Jasmine. I know how they escaped, and I know they’re still alive, but nothing more,” I added.
“There were ten of us in the beginning. Thadeus was taken first. He’s here as well, on an upper level,” Damion said. “One of us died. Destroyers kept raiding the shoreline whenever we went looking for Jasmine. I figured it’s why Jasmine stopped coming to see us in the first place, but I didn’t lose hope. The last time I went, I was taken as well. I was given a choice: serve Azazel or die. I said yes to servitude, because I held out hope that one day I would break free and see Cayron again.”
“Cayron?”
“My brother, one of our group on Marton. We grew up together, and…”
His voice trailed off, his eyes flickering black. I assumed he was struggling with intense emotions.
“I love him. He’s the only family I have. And I’m not leaving this world until I make sure he’s alive, well, and happy.”
Aida had given me the names of the six young Druids who were left, but none of them were called Cayron. A pang in my heart brought me to the only possible conclusion— Cayron had been the second to get killed, after Damion was taken. I kept the knowledge to myself, not sure what effect it would have on him. Perhaps I’d be able to help him break Azazel’s spell by dangling the notion of seeing Cayron again in front of his nose.
I couldn’t chastise myself for such cruelty. We were at war, and I needed to play my part, making sure Azazel suffered massive damage from the inside. Most of his physical strength and confidence came from the inner circle, from the presence of Destroyers. If I could help turn as many of them back into Druids as possible, Azazel would lose another crucial advantage.
“Listen, Damion,” I said cautiously. “I can see you’re struggling with this spell Azazel has on you.”
“Seriously, is there anything you don’t know?” He pinched the bridge of his nose, visibly exasperated.
“Not really.” I gave him a half-smile. “What I’m trying to say is that you can break free from his hold on you. You can break the spell.”
“How? I’ve been fighting against it for years! In the end, I always succumb. He’s powerful, Vita. You have no idea!”
“Think about it this way,” I suggested. “You’ve yet to tell Azazel about the other Druids, despite your forced loyalty to him. Don’t you wonder how that’s possible?”
He stilled, then looked at me, the realization finally sinking in.
“You think?”
“I’m sure of it.” I kept going. “You haven’t betrayed your friends. That strength comes from somewhere, and it means Azazel’s spell has yet to really bring you to your knees. You’ve been fighting it from day one. If you try hard enough, there’s nothing to stop you from breaking free altogether. I mean, clearly the control spell isn’t perfect, otherwise your friends would be dead or slithering around here too, bringing me breakfast and tea.”
He thought about it for a second, before he hissed and clutched his head with both hands. He was in a lot of pain. Azazel’s spell was probably hitting back, forcing him into absolute submission again. He growled and looked at me, fury blazing in his eyes, which flickered green.
“Look what you’ve done! I never should’ve listened to you! You only bring me pain and misery!” He cursed between his teeth and left the room.
I felt sorry for him. Genuinely sorry.
But at the same time, I was pleased. His painful episode was proof that Patrik wasn’t the only one who could fight the control spell. It got me thinking about all the other Destroyers in the castle. Couldn’t they be persuaded to do the same? And if they could, how many of them were strong enough to break free?
One less Destroyer meant one more Druid, tipping the scales against Azazel. I’d persuaded Damion to think about betrayal. What stopped me from finding a way to address the others and push them over the edge?
I narrowed in on my next task—getting Patrik to complete his liberation process. If we made it work, it might give the others the hope and motivation they needed to break free as well.
Serena
Night had settled over the region in deep shades of dark blue, with strips of clouds partially obscuring the moon. The air was crisp and cool, sending shivers down my spine. It was close to midnight, and we all waited on the steps of Stonewall for the other members of the alliance to arrive.
Phoenix, Jovi, and Aida carefully scanned the area, while I stayed behind, next to Draven. Jax, Hansa, Anjani, and the others waited as well, occasionally exchanging words and weary glances. With every hour that passed, we hoped more fervently that we’d see everyone arrive, safe and sound.
Antara was a dangerous place, riddled with Destroyers and green fireflies, as well as incubus scouts sent by Azazel to search for us. We’d managed to keep a low profile here on the east coast, but it was onl
y a matter of time before they found us. Getting the alliance together and drawing a plan of action needed to happen as soon as possible, so we could get our armies organized for an assault on Luceria.
“I’ve been thinking,” Draven said slowly. We’d barely spoken over the past few hours, as he’d joined the training sessions, sparring with Jax and Hansa. “About this issue with Asherak’s curse and how to end it all.”
I looked at him as he gazed out into the distance. There was something in his gray eyes that I hadn’t seen before, a dim sadness flickering in his irises. My chest tightened at the sight of him still suffering over Vita’s visions.
“If we let the Daughter sacrifice herself, Azazel will be vanquished, but we will all die,” he continued. “But if I take on Asherak’s curse and kill him, you can take the pendant away from me and kill me. Its power only works on a Druid. All you have to do is go through with it.”
My stomach churned at the thought. Fury lit me up, my heart shifting into a rapid rhythm as I struggled to keep my breathing steady. I looked away, unable to handle the flurry of emotions coming from Draven—a mixture of pain, resignation, and heartbreaking sadness. He’d come to terms with his potential demise, instead of looking for a way out. It made me so angry.
“Not even touching that,” I managed to say. “Don’t even think about it, Draven.”
“Think about the world you’d be saving if you ended this with me. Your brother will live, your friends will live, all those who fight beside us today will see another day, in a free Eritopia. I’ve dedicated my whole life to this. I can’t let it be me who destroys it and—”
“I love you, Draven,” I said, no longer afraid to speak those words. “And the reason I fell in love with you is because you’re a fighter, and, despite what you may think of yourself, you always see the better path. I am not letting you die—let’s get that straight. We will find another way. You’re the only reason I’m still here and not six feet under a magnolia tree in your garden, Draven. You came through for me when I didn’t even deserve it. I was so petulant and stubborn, I didn’t even understand why you were doing all this. I’m a better person because of you, but I am even more stubborn now, and I am not letting you die.”
I placed a heavy emphasis on the last four words, hoping to sear them directly into his brain. I meant it all. I loved him. The thought came to me so easily, I couldn’t deny it or mistake it for a temporary infatuation. What I felt for him was deep and beautiful, splendid and painful at the same time. It was intense and consuming, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Most importantly, I’d stopped imagining a life without Draven in it—that had become the stuff of nightmares for me. My body ached at the thought of losing him. My soul trembled. It was a solid no from me.
When he said nothing in return, I glanced at him. He’d been staring at me, eyes wide and flickering black, a muscle twitching in his jaw. I’d never said those three words out loud. And I never thought I would say them for the first time in such dreadful circumstances, but I couldn’t keep it in anymore. Not with him thinking about offing himself for the greater good.
I felt his heady, golden energy expand from his very core, as his gaze softened for a split second. His eyes burned into my soul, and my heart stopped. He parted his lips, but no words came out.
“Someone’s coming!” I heard Phoenix say.
It brought our moment to a grinding halt, as he blinked several times and I finally breathed in.
“This conversation is far from over,” I muttered and went to stand by my brother’s side.
Draven didn’t respond, nor did he move from his position. I put everything away for the time being, focusing solely on the meadow and forests blanketing the mainland before Stonewall. I heard several thuds in the distance, but it was too dark to see anything.
“Over there, northwest,” Phoenix added.
I used my True Sight to get a better look, as everyone else around us held a collective breath. I saw them, emerging from a tall patch of giant purple trees. Three Dearghs, massive and slow in their movements as they crossed the wide field to reach us. I recognized Inon, Zur and a third Deargh, whom I’d not met before.
“The Dearghs are here,” I said.
Aura and Almandine came rushing from the other side of the citadel. They’d been assigned to keep an eye on the waters. I could hear the waves crashing against the eastern wall.
“The Tritones!” Aura beamed at us. “They’ve made it!”
“Wonderful,” Zeriel quipped. “I’ll go fetch my generals, then!”
He went back with the young succubi, leaving us to watch the mainland again.
“Movement in the southwestern woods,” Aida said. “I can hear them. Females. Hissing.”
“Lamias,” Eva said, the corner of her mouth turning.
Indeed, I focused my True Sight on that part of the forest and saw Tamara emerging from beneath the heavy, dark green tree crowns, accompanied by two others. They looked around with caution as they came toward us.
“I can’t believe it,” I heard Anjani gasp, looking somewhere to the west. “They’ve made it, Hansa!”
Hansa came closer to her side, to look in the same direction, and grinned. I shifted my attention to the western forest border and watched the succubi from the Red Tribe come out, their crossbows loaded and ready as they cautiously ran through the tall grass. Several short creatures I’d never seen before had come with them, wobbling as they struggled to keep up with the succubi. They had small bodies, with long, arched legs and arms, their hands a few inches off the ground. Their heads were quite large, with pointy ears and tufts of hair scarcely combed over the sides. Curled horns emerged from behind their ears, growing in a curve toward the front. Their skin was pale and wrinkly, and their teeth were crooked, with sharp tips that made it look like they were constantly sneering. Their beady eyes were black, and their noses were long and angular.
And it wasn’t just the remaining Red Tribe coming—there were more succubi, with different paint colors adorning their shoulders and faces.
“Look at that, Anjani,” Hansa said. “Not only did they gather sisters from other tribes, but they even brought some imps into the fold. I’m impressed!”
“There’s Grezzi,” Jovi said, pointing to a spot slightly farther north.
I watched with a swelling heart as Grezzi emerged, accompanied by a few other incubi. One by one, our allies had made it safely to Stonewall and were crossing the meadow to reach us. The alliance was ready to have its first and most important meeting.
“The meeting hall has been prepared.” Thorn came to my side.
“So far so good, right?” Rebel chimed in with a half-smile and a raised eyebrow.
“Yeah,” I replied, impressed by the view before me, all these creatures coming together to help us destroy the deadliest threat to have come out of Eritopia since Asherak. “So far, so good…”
I swallowed back a few tears, overwhelmed by the milestone we’d managed to reach, despite the adversity and shifting circumstances. It was time to take all this to the next level.
Serena
I raced down the stairs to greet our allies. The Dearghs were the first to reach the citadel, despite their slow movements—they covered more ground with their large size and wide steps. I looked up at Inon and Zur and gave them the brightest smile I could muster as they introduced me to Hanos, their Deargh companion from the far south.
“I cannot tell you just how happy I am to see you,” I said to them.
“Likewise, Serena.” Inon bowed respectfully. “I am pleased to see you’re still here.”
“Oh, you should know by now I’m not that easy to kill!” I grinned.
“No, they probably didn’t think you’d stand the Druid for much longer!” Grezzi came up from behind, chuckling.
He went for a hug, but I took his forearm in a firm shake to establish some boundaries, as I could feel his temptation to unleash his incubus nature on me. There was no time for lightheadednes
s and racing pulses. Draven reached my side, giving the incubi and Dearghs a polite nod.
“Welcome, all,” he said. “I’m honored by your presence here.”
“You say that now, but wait until we start eating all the food,” Zeriel called out from the top of the stairs, flanked by two of his generals. Jax came by his side and nudged him a little too hard in the ribs, making him squirm, while he kept a straight face.
Once Tamara and the succubi reached the stairs, we moved inside, beyond the cloaking spell, into the grand hall the Bajangs had arranged for us. I heard the Red Tribe laughing behind us as they were reunited with Hansa, Anjani, Aura, and Almandine. Wren joined us, bringing two of her lieutenants with her. The mutated shifters followed us quietly, as Field urged Grezzi and the others not to hurt the creatures, briefly explaining that they were with us. It got him an eyeroll from the incubus but they all agreed and continued walking behind us.
The meeting hall was truly immense, with archways big enough for the Dearghs to come through. The ground shook with each step the stone giants took, dust falling from the ceiling cracks above. It made me frown slightly, as I wasn’t eager to see chunks of Stonewall crashing down on us, mid-meeting.
“Don’t worry,” Rebel whispered in my ear. “It’s a sturdy place. We’ve done worse with it!”
She went ahead to a huge round table made of white marble, set in the middle of the grand hall. Candles had been mounted and lit on the overhead wrought iron chandeliers, and food and water pitchers were served on a row of rectangular tables by the western wall.
We all found our spots around the white marble table, on which a map of Calliope had been spread, with wooden figurines placed strategically on different regions outlined in black ink. Draven and I stood at the north side of the map. We all introduced ourselves, before Draven could proceed with chairing the meeting.
“First of all, I want to thank you all for coming here tonight,” Draven started. “I’m sure it hasn’t been easy, given all the hostile forces currently occupying our land. We’ve come a long way over the past few weeks, mainly thanks to the discovery of the three Oracles, whom we were able to protect for as long as we could—”