Awakening the Dark Flame (The Dark Throne #2)

28. Chapter 28

Chapter twenty-eight

T he next morning, I avoided anywhere she would be. I couldn’t erase the image of her in Feynar’s arms. I drew them together as I lay in bed alone. I thought if I could get it out of my head and onto paper, it would somehow ease my pain, but I was wrong. Two days until the tournament. Five days until she would be married. Five days until she would have another male’s imprint on her body for the rest of her life.

Doria came rushing into the sitting room I occupied without warning. “What is wrong?” I asked, seeing the distress on her face.

“The princess. She insisted on seeing them,” she said, out of breath.

“Seeing who?”

“The demons. She’s down there with them now.”

“And you just left her alone with them? What were you thinking?” I snapped, darting for the door.

I ran through the halls until I reached the chamber where they were still strapped to the silver sheets of metal. Gen was in a green velvet dress that revealed the length of her spine. On her lower back, the scars she had acquired as a young girl were gone. The rebirth must have healed her body of all scars, which meant she no longer had Lysanthier’s sigil branded into her skin.

She didn’t turn towards us as we entered. She just stood with her eyes locked onto the four of them. I signaled for Doria to leave as I slowly approached, not wanting to startle her. The demons caught sight of me and began shaking in their chains with excitement. I made my way to her side. She continued to stare at them.

“Their natural faces are uglier than I remember,” she said calmly.

“I guess they’re not as beautiful as their master Lucifer,” I said.

She gave a faint laugh of amusement. My breath snagged at the response.

“I once compared your physical appearance to the fallen angel,” she admitted.

“Well, I am striking,” I replied arrogantly.

She gave a small smile that faded too quickly. I felt another twinge of happiness and pain. Otar was right. Feynar was healing her. He was doing the thing I couldn’t.

“He looks nothing like the chosen one,” said one of the demons.

“But we’d be happy to introduce you, princess.”

“I am sure he’d be interested to hear how you came back to life.”

“Yes, just like Yahweh. Three days in the grave, then poof, a miracle resurrection.” They all began to laugh in amusement.

She cringed at the sound .

“They don’t know, do they?” I asked her.

“I don’t think so, but I can’t wait to surprise them,” she said. The note of revenge was heavy in her voice.

“A secret?” said a demon.

“Oh, oh, I love secrets. Do tell.”

“Maybe it will get them to give us more,” I suggested.

She tilted her head, considering the option. The leader of the group lifted his eyes to use.

“Have you two begun trying for a replacement child yet?” asked the leader.

I turned to look at Gen. At the mention of our child, her eyes went completely black. Not a trace of white or green in sight. Another side effect of the Dark Flame, I presumed.

“The combination of you two was delicious. You should consider it. We’re going to be quite famished once we get out of here.”

Both of Gen’s arms ignited with the Dark Flame as she lunged towards the demon. I grabbed for her waist, preventing her from ending its pathetic existence as her flames seared my skin. Their eyes widened in shock and fear at the sight of her flame.

“Let me go!” she yelled. “I will rip them to pieces. They deserve this! They all deserve to suffer in pain!”

I held on as she fought me. “I want nothing more than to watch as you enact your revenge, but we still need them. Their time will come. You will have your revenge. I promise you,” I said, holding her close to me .

She calmed, still looking at the creatures with hunger. Her eyes faded back to their natural state, her hands absorbing the new power. I slowly released her, stepping back to her side.

“You … you have it?” asked one of them.

“Impossible. Not since that fucker Maleki,” said another.

“She is of his blood.”

“That son of a bitch Azeer. We should have killed him when we had the chance.”

“I’m glad you didn’t,” said a voice from behind us. I turned to see Prince Rythlayn approaching us. “He has been a most gracious god. Wouldn’t you agree, niece?” He stopped at her side, putting a hand on her shoulder. The demons refocused as they snapped their mouths shut, refusing to look at Rythlayn.

I examined the prince. He smirked at the creatures, not afraid of them, not disgusted by what they had done to his beloved niece. He stood in front of them without worry, confident as if he knew they could never hurt him. My eyes trailed to the hand that held onto Gen’s shoulder. A silver cuff wrapped around his wrist. In the center was a small clear orb. A red substance, thick and bright, slid against its confinement. Blood.

I snapped my attention back to the demons. They didn’t laugh. Their taunting had stopped. They were silent. Afraid of the control he had over them. It all made sense. He had been the one with the knowledge needed to create the rift. He knew the hostility between the fairies and nymphs. He used their hatred and distrust against one another to capture and use their people for the sacrifice that was required, knowing they would blame each other for their missing subjects.

He knew the inner workings of our operation. He knew where Gen would be and where to kill her. The rift provided the perfect cover. He had the power and authority to remove the books from the library that could lead back to him. When Gen had her vision of him, she couldn’t see him because his power blocked hers. His shielding ability prevented her from seeing his face.

But how did he know where to find us that day in the woods? Click . It all fell into place.

Winnow Fellwood. She and Rythlayn had been working together. Tracking Gen’s every move. Fellwood revered Gen’s power as a seer and her ability to control what she saw, making Fellwood’s gift seem inferior. It was no secret since Gen’s arrival to court, Fellwood had been tossed to the side by the king.

This was their plan all along. Rythlayn wasn’t happy for his brother. He didn’t care about Gen. He was enraged about the crown being just out of reach. He wanted to put himself and then his heirs on the throne. He had waited for so many centuries and just when it was in reach, she popped up and took it from him. He supported the law that called for the death of all half-breeds. Only when he discovered his brother’s daughter was one did he change his vote.

Fellwood would have been happy to assist a future king if it meant regaining her status within the court and removing her competition in the process. The two of them had been rumored to be intimate from time-to-time, adding another layer to this plot. Not only was Fellwood reaching for her station, but also for the throne.

They both had the resources, motive, and the knowledge to pull this off. But they didn’t expect the demons to ever be caught. Fellwood must not be able to see Narella. I had made sure not to tell a soul about her. And now, Rythlayn’s niece possessed the one thing that could kill them. He came down here in fear that the demons would make a deal with her to save themselves from eternal death. He was doing damage control.

“Yes, uncle,” replied Gen. She looked up at him and smiled as he took her into his side. I wanted to pull her away from his grasp, but I couldn’t, not yet. I had to trap him in front of everyone, so the court and his brother would see him for what he was.

“Why are you down here, sweetheart? I assumed you wouldn’t want to be near these beasts,” he said.

“I needed to see them … to face them,” she whispered.

He turned to me. “And you, Erendrial. Have you come to dismember them again?” he asked.

Her eyes turned to me with questions.

“Though I would like nothing more, I am just here as back up,” I said with a smile.

“You’ve turned out to be quite the protector, Lyklor. My brother and I are grateful for your loyalty,” he said.

“I don’t deserve your admiration. Even though his majesty has looked past my shortcomings, it doesn’t change the fact that I failed her majesty,” I said, looking at Gen. Her eyes met mine only for a moment, but it was enough. Enough for me to hold onto to a sliver of hope.

“You fought valiantly and in time, I am sure we all can move past this,” he said, looking down at Gen with a smile, his hand still wrapped around her shoulder. “Your father has requested your presence, my dear. He wasn’t thrilled to hear you were down here. Best go ease his worry.”

She nodded before leaving the room.

His eyes turned back to me. “I heard the negotiations with the ambassadors went well yesterday.”

“Would you expect anything less?” I said, smiling at him.

He laughed, putting his arm around me as we left. “Your brilliant mind and sharp tongue never cease to amaze me.”

“I’m glad I can be of some amusement to you, Your Grace.” We ascended into the palace … together.

I went to my rooms and began to come up with a plan. I couldn’t tell a single soul about what I had discovered.

Rythlayn and his children had spies everywhere, and Winnow might have a vision exposing my discovery before I had time to bring them before the king. Even my own team I had to question. I didn’t know how far their reach stretched. Tonight, I would expose them. Tonight, this ended.

Thirty minutes before dinner, I made my way to the king’s chambers. I needed him on board if this was going to stand a chance of working. If Rythlayn or Winnow were tipped off at any point, this would turn on us for the worse. I knocked, feeling more nervous than I had ever felt. The servant came to the door and announced me to the king.

“Ambassador Lyklor, I wasn’t expecting you,” he said, continuing to dress for dinner. I looked at the servant and then back at him. He was observant enough to get my meaning. “Thank you, Tessa, that will be all.” She bowed and left. “What is the meaning of your visit?” he asked.

There could be no holding back. If this was going to work, I had to take off my mask. Only for a moment. I took a breath, readying myself. “You have always been kind to me, Your Majesty. You gave me a chance when others thought you foolish to do so. Even though I have failed you in the worst way, I hope I have served you in every other way to your liking,” I said.

“You have.”

“Do you trust me, my king?” I asked.

He stopped, looking me dead in the eye a with question. He nodded.

“Please sit.”

He did and I began to tell him everything I had discovered. I told him about Narella, the blood, the nymphs, and fairies. I told him my theory of how Rythlayn’s mind operated, and what was in it for Winnow. Rythlayn and I weren’t much different in that manner, so it was easy for me to understand him. The only difference was, I truly cared for Gen, whereas he only pretended.

When I had finished, the king sat in disbelief as I watched a part of him shatter. His own brother and trusted seer had ordered the torture and death of his only daughter: a daughter he had come to love more than he may have thought possible. He sat up straight, regaining his composure.

“What do you need from me?” he asked.

“They need to be exposed before the entire court. The court needs to witness the control Rythlayn has on the demons. I propose you make a grand gesture, thanking him and his children for all their hard work with the upcoming arrangements. Elevate them and play to their need for affirmation, so he will be caught off guard. During this time, restrain your nieces and nephew, and I will have Doria bring up the demons. Then I will take it from there,” I said.

The king paused, still seeming to be in disbelief. “If you are right, he will die tonight, along with his children and a trusted member of our court, if they had any involvement. If you are wrong, your head will be on the chopping block. Are you prepared to risk your life on this, Erendrial? Are you that certain?”

I paused, already having weighed the question myself. “I am, Your Grace,” I said with confidence.

He nodded, standing to his feet. “I will see you at dinner, Ambassador Lyklor.”

I got up and left, preparing myself for the theatrical show that I would direct.

We all ate dinner together as we did every night. Genevieve looked exquisite. She wore a bright red dress made of satin that left her chest visible. I noted that the Lysanthier sigil was indeed gone, and she no longer wore the star-shaped pendant Atros had given her as a sign of his affections. She sat between her father and uncle as they talked and laughed as if nothing was out of the norm. Her heart would break tonight. She adored her uncle and two of her three cousins. I didn’t know if they were involved with the coup, but I was prepared regardless of which way this went .

Winnow Fellwood soon entered the dining hall, taking her seat among the normal houses she chose to associate with. My mind spun with the possibility of other houses being involved in the attempt on Gen’s life. If they were, I would discover them; but for tonight, I needed to focus on those who I knew had a hand in the death of the princess … and our child.

After dinner, the king, queen, and Gen sat upon their thrones as the king called for the room to quiet. The dancing stopped as the music faded into the background. Everyone sat up, eager to hear the king’s announcement. It was showtime.

“Thank you, lords and ladies,” said the king. “As we approach the tournament, now just a day away, I would like to take this time to thank a few members of our court that have gone above and beyond during these challenging past few months. These members have shown loyalty, commitment, and dedication every step of the way in order to elevate our kingdom. They have helped build Doonak into a strong and feared powerhouse that I am proud to call my home. I am not only honored to call these four my friends, but also my family. Please help me show our respect and gratification to my brother, Prince Rythlayn, and his beautiful children, Lady Icici, Lord Toreon, and Lady Vena.”

The crowd erupted with cheers as the four of them made their way to the front of the platform. They looked shocked but honored by the recognition. Their arrogance would be their downfall. Gen clapped, looking down at the people she thought loved her. Azeer, I pray that she forgives me for this. As the crowd calmed, Rythlayn bowed and then stood with a smile on his face. I sat, waiting for my chance to attack.

“My king and beloved brother. We are honored by the recognition, but it is not needed. We are honored to serve our kingdom and our house. We are strong as a family and look forward to assisting you and the princess in any way that we can,” said Rythlayn.

The king’s smile fell at the mention of his daughter. “You have welcomed my daughter with open arms into our family. She cares greatly for you and your children. She speaks of you all with the highest regard,” said the king.

Gen gave a small smile at the four of them.

“And we speak highly of her. She is truly a blessing sent from Azeer,” said Rythlayn.

“There is another member of our court I would like to thank for his loyalty and dedication to this family,” said the King. Rythlayn’s face scrunched, perhaps wondering who he had to share his glory with. “Ambassador Erendrial Lyklor.”

I stood from my chair as the court clapped respectfully. I turned on my mask and readied myself for battle. Gen’s face fell, as did Rythlayn’s and his three children’s.

I smiled, making my way to the platform. I bowed before the royals, raising my head to the king. He nodded. I turned with authority as I looked down at Rythlayn’s three children from the step. I raised my hands and my team surrounded Rythlayn and his heirs. They restrained Icici, Toreon, and Vena with ulyrium cuffs. Rythlayn spun around in shock, turning back to his brother.

“What is the meaning of this? Brother, what are you doing?” he asked in a panic. The king ignored him, waiting for me to present the evidence. Rythlayn’s eyes snapped to me as I stood before him, smiling. “What have you done?” he snared.

I laughed. “The real question is, what have you done, Prince Rythlayn?” I said. I held his eyes as his face tensed. “Doria, darling. Bring them in.” Doria and a set of six guards walked into the room with the four demons leashed and on display. The court gasped at the sight of them. Gen went to stand from her chair, but her father stopped her. Rythlayn looked at the four demons and then back to me as he quickly realized he had been caught.

“What are you doing?” asked Gen from behind me. It took everything I had not to turn to her, but I remained in my mask. I walked past Rythlayn and addressed the court.

“My fellow members of Doonak,” I said with my normal amount of arrogance. “Three thousand years ago, King Maleki Drezmore eradicated the demon threat that plagued our lands. He made a deal with our revered god to save our lives and our world. Since then, demons have not set foot into this world, until a little over a week ago, when they brutalized our princess, taking her life in the process.

“With the constant opening of the rifts, at first, we assumed the demons had just come through on their own, but after interrogation and further investigations, we found that the demons were not working alone, nor of their own accord. Someone went through a great deal of trouble to allow these things access to our world. Thanks to Prince Rythlayn, I discovered that you need six creatures of both dark and light magic to trigger a rift. Recently, six fairies and six nymphs have gone missing. Their bodies have not been found.

“I believe the person who controls the demons and the person creating the rifts is indeed the same individual. Now, this alone is cause for death, but this alfar didn’t stop there. He ordered the demons to attack and kill the sole heir of King Drezmore, to elevate himself and his children to the throne.”

The crowd gasped as they looked upon Rythlayn and his children.

Rythlayn turned to his brother, playing ignorance. “Brother please,” he said in a desperate voice, “Lyklor has gone too far. How dare he accuse me or my children of such a heinous act? He is out of line and should be dealt with accordingly.”

The king looked at his brother with nothing but hatred. “Please continue, Ambassador Lyklor,” said the king.

“Thank you, Your Highness. Where was I? Oh, yes, onto his accomplice.” I paused, turning my attention to Winnow Fellwood. Her face fell in terror. “Zerrial, would you do the honors?”

Zerrial appeared behind her, restraining her with force. “No,” she whimpered. “You are mistaken. I would never act against the princess nor my king.” Zerrial forced her to her knees next to Rythlayn.

“Beautifully orchestrated, my dear,” I said tauntingly. “You should have considered a career in theater instead of pursuing one at court. It might have just saved your head. Prince Rythlayn had knowledge of Princess Genevieve’s whereabouts the day of the hunt, thanks to Lady Fellwood’s gifts.

“Since Princess Genevieve’s arrival, Lady Fellwood has felt replaced … unappreciated, especially since she is the one to thank for reuniting the king with his beloved daughter. As it is known to many of us, Prince Rythlayn and Lady Fellwood have been involved in an intimate relationship with one another for centuries.

“By removing the princess, not only does Lady Fellwood regain her position at court, but also a chance to sit on the throne. Prince Rythlayn had the motive to remove her from the line of succession. He knew how a rift operates, which was confirmed by our king. He is also in possession of the only weapon that can control demons,” I said, turning to face Rythlayn.

His eyes widened as his face turned to rage.

“The blood of the one and only Jesus Christ. Guards, hold him,” I ordered.

I walked over to him, still smiling as I unclasped the bracelet from his wrists. Gen was in a panic as she watched the truth come to light. The court yelled in anger as they cursed and threw things at Winnow, Rythlayn and his children. Rythlayn jerked towards me as the guards restrained him.

“I will kill you for this, Lyklor,” he spat.

I smiled and laughed. “You won’t have the chance,” I replied, walking towards the demons. I held out the bracelet in front of them. Their eyes widened as their bodies trembled. “Who allowed you into this world?” I demanded.

“The prince. He sent for us,” one said.

“And who gave you the order to kill Princess Genevieve?” I asked.

“The prince. He told us where and how to kill her,” said another.

“Lies,” yelled Rythlayn. “They are lying. This is all an act. That cuff doesn’t control a thing. It is just a piece of useless jewelry.”

“A demonstration perhaps is in order, it would appear,” I said, looking to the crowd for confirmation. “Doria, release this one,” I said, gesturing to the one I believe to be the leader.

She hesitated but did as I instructed. The court sat back, ready to attack if things went wrong. The demon shook as the chains fell from his arms and legs. It walked forward, looking around the room. I held up the bracelet and smiled.

“Eat your arm,” I demanded.

It looked at me with shock. “Excuse me?” It said in a deep and whining voice.

“Eat. Your. Arm,” I said again.

Its sharp long teeth descended from its gums as it began to tear into its own flesh. The crowd watched as it obeyed my command .

I turned to Rythlayn with an evil smile. “Need more proof?” He didn’t answer. “Okay, more it is.” I threw a bottle of holy water to its feet. “Drink it, then recite the Christian Lord’s prayer.”

Its eyes widened as it shook its head in fear. “Please, no,” it begged.

“Now,” I said. It picked up the bottle and drank the liquid. Steam and the smell of burning flesh filled the air as it screamed in pain. When the bottle was empty it began to resight the prayer.

“Our father …” it started. Its body contorted and snapped in unsettling ways. “Who art in … heaven.” It fell to the floor in pain. “Hallowed be thy … name.” It continued the prayer as its body snapped and broke apart. “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” Its body erupted into white flames as its head spun around and around, faster and faster until the flames consumed its body, leaving only a pile of ash. A declaration of the Christian faith. I turned back to Rythlayn.

“Satisfied?” I asked.

The king rose from his throne as rage blazed across his face. “How dare you betray me in this manner! How dare you stand in front of me and profess your love for me and my daughter, when you were the one to cause her suffering and death. You were the one who unleashed those things upon her! You saw what they did to her. You saw the pain you caused me and said nothing. How could you do this to me? After everything we’ve been through together. I trusted you. I loved you,” yelled the king with more hatred than I had ever seen him display.

“You foolish, blind imbecile,” spat Rythlayn. “You were so desperate for an heir that you appoint a filthy half-breed to our throne. You gave our throne to that thing, instead of allowing myself and my heirs to take our rightful place once you were gone. The court deserves better than her. She is not one of us and never will be.”

The king looked upon his court. “My subjects. If this is what you believe, then speak now, knowing you will not be punished nor harmed in any way. If you’d rather have the line of succession transferred to my brother and his heirs instead of my daughter, now is the time to speak. I am not only your king, but your servant. I not only serve our kingdom. I serve each of you.”

A few moments passed before a member of House Seldomer stood to his feet. “I recognize Princess Genevieve to be the rightful heir to the throne of Doonak and the next ruler in the line of succession,” he said, bowing to them.

One after another, the houses rose and did the same. Rythlayn looked around him with his mouth open in disbelief. He had lost and we had won. Winnow dropped her head, tears of fear saturating her face.

“You were saying, brother ?” said the king.

Gen rose to her feet, walking down the steps towards him as she looked into his eyes. “You hate me so much that you turned those things loose on me? Not only to kill but torture me?” she whispered.

I approached her side in case he tried anything.

He smiled and leaned into her ear. “You should have been put down the moment you were born. You should have never been allowed a single breath. Just like your bastard child,” he said. He pulled his head away as her face went into complete shock and rage. Her body shook as darkness engulfed her eyes. She screamed louder than a banshee and the room began to shake with the power seeping out from under her skin.

I stepped away just in time to see her hands and arms ignite in dark flames. She threw the fire onto Rythlayn as she continued to scream, unleashing the pain and suffering he had brought upon her. Rythlayn yelled in agony as the members of the court shielded their eyes. The powerful force billowed from her until, finally, she took another breath. Rythlayn was gone. There wasn’t a single piece of him left. No ash, no clothing, nothing.

The court sat in awe of the magnificent power that was tethered to their future queen. None of them would ever lift a hand against her again. Not after this. She marched over to the three remaining demons, her eyes still black as night. She slammed her hand against one of their mouths as the fire tore through his insides, melting his organs until the flames reached the surface and devoured him completely. She took a step back, looking at the last two. She raised her arms as two pillars of black swirling flames ate through them in seconds.

She took a deep breath, holding her head high. She marched back over to stand before her three cousins and Winnow, who knelt before the thrones. Vena and Icici were crying and shaking in fear. Toreon refused to bring his head up.

“Look at me,” she said with a bite. They shook their heads, still in shock. “I said look at me!” she yelled.

The room shook again. They snapped their heads up to her, looking into her black eyes.

“Genevieve, please, we didn’t know of our father’s plans,” said Vena.

“I promise, I had no knowledge of any of this,” said Toreon.

“Lies, sweet princess,” cried Winnow. “We are one in the same … connected by our gift. I would never raise a hand against you.”

Icici sat quietly.

Gen tilted her head towards her. “And you, Icici?” Gen asked.

“I would never subject another female to that type of torture. No matter how much I may dislike them,” she responded honestly.

“And how can I believe any of you? How can I be sure you aren’t lying just to save yourselves?” Gen asked.

“Ah, I’ve thought of that,” I said, going back to the table and collecting the documents I had prepared ahead of time. I handed them to Gen. “Blood contracts. They will guarantee that neither your cousins nor their line of heirs ever lifts a hand against you or your descendants. If they attempt to move against you or your bloodline, they will drop dead. They will pledge their complete loyalty to you. The contracts will also reveal a black pentagram on their foreheads if they indeed did assist their father in the attack against you,” I explained.

She looked down at them as her eyes faded back to green. “Would anyone like to change their minds?” she asked.

They all shook their heads. Gen took the quill from my hand and slashed her palm to sign the contracts. Fellwood was first. Gen took her shaking hand, slicing effortless through the skin before latching her grip onto the seer’s. For the first few seconds nothing, Fellwood took deep breaths, squeezing her eyes together just before a black pentagram appeared upon her forehead.

Gen pulled her hand from Winnow’s. The seer sobbed, falling to floor, crying for mercy just before Gen blasted her with the Flame, leaving nothing of the traitorous bitch behind.

Vena was next. She slashed her hand and signed the contract before sharing her blood with Gen. We waited, but a pentagram never appeared. Toreon’s turn had come. He slit his hand and signed his name before sharing his blood with Gen. We sat back and waited.

A black engraving began to weave into the form of a pentagram on his forehead. The design burned as Toreon cringed in pain. If I was being honest, I had not seen this coming. Gen took a step back, looking down at the cousin who had taught her how to defend herself—who she had spent the first five hours of each day with since she arrived. I watched as another part of her heart broke.

“Why?” asked Icici.

He turned to face her with an evil glare. “Don’t act so surprised. You were next. After we had killed the half-breed bitch, we were going to dispose of your intolerable ass. Like Father would ever allow you to ascend to the throne. You’re a stain and embarrassment on this family’s name, just like the half-breed,” Toreon spat.

Gen latched her grip around Toreon’s neck. She moved him to the middle of the throne room and threw him down in front of the court. Once he was away from his sisters, she set him on fire and watched as his body dissolved into thin air under the Dark Flame. She marched back over to Icici and waited for her to sign the contract.

Icici was shaking as tears fell from her face. With a hesitant hand, she signed her name and then took Gen’s hand. Their blood merged as we waited. The pentagram never came. I gathered the contracts as Gen made her way back up to her father without another word. The room went silent.

“Let this be a reminder to anyone who would think to go against us,” said the king as he stood, taking Gen’s hand into his. They passed by Icici and Vena without a single glance. I followed behind as the court silently stood and returned to their quarters.