Chapter 12: A Crisis of Fire and Shadow

LYDIA

The tunnel of the secret passage was cold and dark. Every step echoed off the walls as they made their way through the surprisingly long passageway.

“It will take us right next to the throne room,” Aero assured.

“Are you sure this is what we need to do?” Lis asked. “I’ve seen Gabriel angry…but this—it was something else entirely.”

“If we’re going to take back the castle, we’ll need a plan of action,” Lydia replied.

“And not just any plan: a foolproof one,” Elise added.

The group slowly came to a stop as they contemplated what their plan of action should be. Despite the chilly atmosphere, sweat was already glistening on their foreheads. The passageway rose on an incline that looked as if it would never end.

“Any ideas?” Dorian asked hesitantly.

The group rested as they pondered what to do. Lydia remembered how hard it had been fighting Queen Adria. Against Gabriel’s shadow magic, the battle might be twice as difficult.

When his blast caught her from behind in Ulu, it hit her like a runaway boulder, nearly knocking her senseless. If they weren’t able to take Gabriel by surprise, it might be a fight to the death...

She cringed at the thought of Gabriel hurting her friends. But to stop his madness, they would have to throw everything they had at him. Especially now that he was under Evine’s control.

~Gabriel didn’t stop when the people of his kingdom were lying bloodied and broken on the ground.~

Taking down the king would hurt her like never before. But it was what they had to do to remove Evine and Uzier’s dark grip over this land.

“We could try to ambush him,” Elise said. “If we attack all at once, he would be overwhelmed.”

Aero shook his head sadly. “That’s not an option. He’d have an easier time with all of us together in one area.”

Lis nodded her head in agreement. Lydia reached out a hand and grabbed hold of Lis’s. They both wanted to stop Gabriel without hurting the king too severely. But they had seen his wrath and knew it was a long shot to challenge him without anyone getting hurt.

Lis smiled weakly at Lydia, but it felt like a win. The Queen Regent had been through so much in the last few months: first losing her powers, then her brother. The last thing she needed was war erupting around them.

“We could try to draw him out,” Dorian said. “Try to set a trap that would play right into our hands.”

“And trap ourselves while we’re at it,” Lucius grumbled.

He popped the lid to his flask and took a hefty swig. The pungent smell of alcohol filled the damp tunnel.

“You’ve got a special ability, kid,” Lucius continued, looking at Dorian. “But the King’s shadow magic is nothing to be trifled with.”

“What’s your suggestion then?” Dorian asked, annoyed. “Unless you don’t have any?”

Lucius chuckled at Dorian’s boldness and smacked him on the back.

“My suggestion would be to cut our losses and come back with reinforcements,” he said dourly.

The rest of the group groaned in annoyance. Lucius felt the air in the tunnel shift against his favor. He took one last swig from his flask before pocketing it.

“But since that would clearly be a mistake…” his voice trailed off. The old wizard’s gaze fell over each face that looked at him.

“Out with it,” Elise demanded. “We don’t have all day.”

“That’s Lydia’s mate up there. And she’s tussled with him once or twice before,” he said, nodding to his granddaughter. “If you turn into a pure ball of fire, it would be able to counteract his shadow magic.”

“Light overcomes shadow…” Lis nodded.

“I’ll give it my best shot,” Lydia replied.

“I know you will, darling,” Lucius smiled.

It took her aback seeing her cantankerous grandpa crack a genuine smile. The size of her heart seemed to double on the spot. She smiled back at him. Even in the dark tunnel, she could see a flush to his cheeks.

“That actually sounds like a plan,” Aero added. “Once she goes inside and takes his attention, we can charge in to flank him.”

“Then what?” Elise asked.

“Then we give him all we’ve got,” Aero said, grinning.

***

“They’re everywhere,” Lis gasped.

The group was huddled at the end of the secret passage, looking at the halls that led directly to the throne room.

They knew reaching Gabriel wouldn’t be easy, but this was throwing a wrench in their plans.

Giant shadow beasts patrolled the corridors, sniffing out any signs of intruders. It was hard to believe that Gabriel could manifest his powers in such a way. Evine’s magic seemed to put his abilities over the top.

Even Dorian looked on in stupefied awe. He could only hope his mastery of celestial energy would one day reach such jaw-dropping heights.

“What are we going to do?” Aero asked, uncertain. “We definitely weren’t prepared for this.”

“It’s time to improvise,” Elise responded.

She swirled her finger in a circle, and a gentle roar grew in the tunnel. After a few moments of this, she flicked her wrist away from the throne room.

The wind whistled as it raced down the halls. Each beastly conjuration raised its ears at the sound. One by one, they took off down the corridor, leaving the path to the throne room wide open.

“Great work!” Lydia said proudly.

“Let’s not waste any more time,” Lucius urged.

Aero popped open the small hatch to the tunnel, and they dropped quietly to the floor. As they made their way down the hallway, it became apparent how much damage Gabriel had inflicted, even within his own castle.

Bodies were strewn about the hall. Blood streaked the floors, while claw marks etched into the stone walls.

A few bodies were piled on top of one another. No doubt guards trying to protect their comrades from the horrific end they all inevitably met.

Lis turned to Aero, who wrapped her in his arms, trying to shield her from the horrors at their feet. Elise and Dorian were visibly shaken, but couldn’t take their eyes away.

This is what Adria had likely done to her kingdom. What Calix would soon do, too, if they didn’t stop him.

Lydia’s breath caught. She wanted to scream. To weep until the visions had washed from her mind. This mission was turning to madness right before their very eyes.

Some of the dead were not much older than her. They had hopes and dreams that had been ripped away in the blink of an eye.

What justice was there in the world if the Gods could let such horrible things happen to innocent people?

She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Lucius staring at her. His face was solemn. This was a lot for anyone to see, even a nine-hundred-year-old wizard. His gentle touch was a silent reminder of all they had to fight for.

“No matter what you see,” he said, “this is the work of Evine. Plain and simple.”

His words ignited a charge in Lydia that pushed her uncertain legs forward. Each step grew her strength and solidified her resolve.

~We won’t fail! For the people of Imarnia, this horror will stop!~

Lydia came to a halt outside the throne room. She looked back at the others and nodded. This was it. The end of the line. No matter what happened, they would give everything they had.

With gritted teeth, Lydia’s body erupted into a scorching ball of flame and fury. She focused intently on her powers, making herself the brightest she had ever burned. The others stepped back as the heat from her fire washed over their bodies.

Lydia rushed into the throne room. With a pulse of magic, she sent out a shockwave of fire in all directions. She lowered herself to a defensive position and awaited the first volley of shadow magic…

Nothing happened.

Her smoldering eyes swept the room, leaving no corner unchecked.

What was going on? She could feel Gabriel’s presence. Their connection as mates made it nearly impossible not to sense him when they were in close proximity.

The others charged in from behind, ready for an all-out assault.

“What the hell?” Lucius said, confused.

“He’s not here,” Dorian said.

The fire continued to consume Lydia’s body, but it slowly faded as she lost hope that they would be able to subdue Gabriel.

“Then where is he?” Elise asked. A gust of wind rotated around her, a small tornado that she would have used to sweep the king right off his feet.

“Right here,” Gabriel’s voice called out.

The group turned in unison. The King of Imarnia’s figure materialized from the shadows in the far recesses of the room. As the shadows combined, their opponent was revealed.

It was Gabriel all right. The jade-green gem sat in the center of his forehead. Its glow emanated throughout the room, casting dread on the group as they gawked at his arrival.

“Give up, Gabriel!” Lydia screamed. “We’ve got you surrounded.”

The king’s laughter filled the throne room. He looked at the assembly with wicked glee.

“I think you’re mistaken,” he replied. “You’re the ones who are surrounded.”

Shadow beasts filled the opening to the throne room. Their teeth were bared and hackles raised, ready to attack.

“I’m glad you could finally join me,” he said, staring at Lydia. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a while.”

Lydia swallowed hard. This was what she had feared all along: a fight between mates that would finally determine the fate destined by the Gods.

But how could she attack the man she loved? He’d done the same to her only a few days prior, but it wasn’t his own doing…was it?

Lydia thought back to when they first met. How mean and ungrateful he’d been. The way his shadow tendrils held her in place while he had his way with her…

The flames on her body shot up, lapping at the ceiling. She smiled at her mate and watched as his face grew taut with anger.

She was ready. She had always been ready…