Chapter 38
CHAPTER 38
DEATH
The boat scrapes against the stone dock, and I steady myself as the small craft rocks gently to a stop. The cavern beneath Shadow’s End is vast, its high ceilings lost in darkness. What light exists comes from scattered veins of phosphorescent stone that streak the cavern walls like ancient scars and the tunnel at the opposite end that leads out to the wild sea, dimmed by a lowered portcullis.
I stand, and step onto the dock with Tuonen’s body cradled in my arms. The weight is nothing compared to the heaviness in my chest. Behind me, the others disembark in silence. Hanna, ever radiant and severe, moves with purpose, her golden aura a stark contrast to the gloom. But despite the glow about her that speaks to her divinity, her eyes are wet with tears, as if she’s sad and grieving, which gives me a pause. Could her humanity be seeping back after all? I don’t have time to even entertain the question.
Vellamo climbs out of the water and walks beside her, her spear in her one hand, her only hand, her steps tense and deliberate despite her missing limb.
Rauta pads silently at my side, his ears pricked, nose twitching. The dog senses it too; Shadow’s End is not as I left it. Already the air feels heavy, oppressive. This place, once my stronghold, the beating heart of Tuonela, has been twisted into something unnatural.
I glance at the others. Torben, clutching his staff and looking at the weeping stone walls with disdain. Tellervo lingers close to Torben, seeking him like a father now, her small antlers catching the faint glow of the cavern walls. The Magician follows silently, with General Suvari near the rear, his broad shoulders squared as he takes stock of the troops and trolls that climb out of the water.
With a sinking sense of dread, I realize there’s barely anyone left. Many of the troops died in the water with Iku-Turso’s attack. The lucky ones stayed behind in the caves. I’ll have to send for them later, when it’s safe.
After our victory.
Ahead, the entrance to Shadow’s End yawns like the mouth of a beast I had once tamed but may now turn against me.
We move cautiously, our steps echoing against the stone. The air grows colder the further we go in, the oppressive stillness pressing down like a suffocating hand. The walls, once adorned with intricate carvings of my reign, are now covered in dark, pulsing veins of shadow, as though the castle itself is decaying, rotting from the inside out.
The first chamber we enter has us pass by the crypt, the macabre theatre for the Sect of the Undead. Statues of saints stand outside of the chapel, their faces frozen in expressions that look like serene repose at first glance, but the light from our lanterns reveals their true state: their eyes have been hollowed out, bleeding trails of crimson wax down their faces. Dozens of candles are melted onto their bodies, pooling at their feet, and the wax glimmers like fresh blood.
I’ve always hated these fucking things.
“What the hell?” mutters General Suvari, as he and the rest of the troops stare at the statues in disbelief.
“Stay alert,” I say, my voice low but firm. “This is no sanctuary.”
We move deeper into the chamber, the shadows stretching and shifting unnaturally. I glance back at the statues, unease prickling at the back of my neck. Something isn’t right. I swear their empty eyes are watching me.
Tuonen said that Louhi was attempting to free the saints. But they don’t look like?—
A scream cuts through the silence.
Not a human scream, nor even that of a beast. It’s a twisted, otherworldly wail, like the tearing of metal mixed with the agony of lost souls. The sound makes the air vibrate, and every hair on my body stands on end.
The statues move.
One by one, they jerk to life, their wax-dripping limbs cracking and splintering as they lurch forward. Their eyeless faces turn toward us, mouths opening wide in screams that echo off the walls. From the hollowed sockets of their eyes, black snakes pour out, writhing and hissing as they hit the stone floor.
“Defensive positions!” General Suvari bellows, his sword flashing as he steps forward to meet the onslaught.
Chaos erupts. The statues swarm us, their waxen forms surprisingly fast and strong. One lunges at me, its stone fingers reaching for my throat. I pivot, still holding onto Tuonen as I drive my sword upward into its chest. The blade sinks deep, and with a shuddering scream, the statue crumbles to the ground in a heap of wax and stone.
Another comes at me, swinging a jagged arm that glints with embedded shards of marble. I block the blow with my gauntlet, the impact rattling my bones, and drive my sword through its face. The statue’s scream falters, then dies as its body disintegrates into a pile of ash and melted wax.
Hanna steps forward, her light blazing as she sends arcs of golden energy at the writhing snakes. They hiss and sizzle, curling in on themselves as the light burns them away. Vellamo fights beside her, her spear a blur as she hacks through the serpentine forms and strikes down another statue.
Despite our efforts, the statues keep coming. They claw and bite, their movements erratic and horrifying, and they don’t seem to fucking stay dead. Soldiers fall, their screams mingling with the unearthly wails of the statues, but we can’t afford to lose any more of them. The snakes slither underfoot, striking at exposed flesh, their venom causing agonizing seizures.
“Focus on the statues!” I shout, slashing through another attacker. “Destroy them, and the snakes will follow!”
The battle is brutal but brief. One by one, the statues are reduced to rubble, their screeches fading into silence. The last snake hisses as Vellamo spears it cleanly in two.
The chamber falls still.
We stand amidst the wreckage, breathing hard, our weapons dripping with wax. The faint light of our lanterns flickers, casting uneasy shadows across the walls. The crypt is silent once more, but the damage is done. Several soldiers lie dead, their faces twisted in pain, their bodies coiled from snake bites.
Fuck. We couldn’t get more than a few feet in my damn home before losing more comrades. You’d think their deaths would be easier at this point, after all that I’ve lost, but it isn’t.
We press on, leaving the desecrated crypt behind. The air grows colder as we ascend the winding stairs. I can feel the castle’s lifeblood, the very essence of Tuonela, drained and twisted. Every step is a reminder of what Louhi has stolen from me.
At the top of the stairs, we enter the grand hall, its vaulted ceiling stretching high above. The air here is colder still, biting at my skin even through my armor. Louhi’s corruption is everywhere—the walls are lined with skeletal remains, and shadowy tendrils pulse through the stone like veins.
The sound of clattering bones draws our attention. Skeletons step out from the shadows, their hollow eyes glowing faintly. At their forefront are my former servants, the Deadmaidens—tall, veiled figures with gloved hands. Once, they were the silent guardians of my castle, loyal to me and my family alone. Now, their veils are torn, showing monstrous faces underneath, their movements jerky and unnatural, and their gloves are gone, showcasing various claws. They lurch forward with a hungry growl and the sound of snapping jaws.
“How could you?” I murmur, my chest tightening. “You were mine.”
Hanna steps to my side, her expression unreadable. “They’re hers now.”
There’s no time for hesitation. The skeletons and Deadmaidens charge, their movements unnervingly synchronized. The clash is immediate and ferocious. Blades spark against bone as our group meets the attack head-on.
Vellamo’s single-handed spear flashes as she carves through the skeletons with precision. Tellervo uses a sword to parry them off as Torben steps in and uses his staff as a baseball bat, knocking a few heads down the hallway.
I focus on the Deadmaidens. Their speed and unpredictability make them formidable, but they’re no match for me. Without letting go of my son, I drive my sword through one’s ribcage. The Deadmaiden lets out a piercing shriek before crumpling to the ground.
Another leaps at me, its movements impossibly fast. I pivot, catching its claws with my gauntlet, and slam my sword into its neck. The blow decapitates it cleanly, and its body collapses into a heap of bones and tattered fabric.
The battle ends as quickly as it began. The last Deadmaiden falls under General Suvari’s blade, its veil shredded, its face caved-in. The hall falls silent once more, but the echoes of the fight linger in the air.
I survey the scene. The floor is littered with broken bones and tattered cloth, the remnants of my former servants and the skeletal army. The soldiers regroup, their faces pale but determined. We didn’t lose anyone this time.
“This is only the beginning,” I say, my rage festering. “She’s turned my home into a graveyard.”
We push through the rest of Shadow’s End, the walls closing in around us as the castle twists and tightens like a predator’s maw. The cold air seems alive, carrying whispers of despair that curl around my ears. Hanna leads the way, her golden glow illuminating the dark stairwell as we climb, the others following close behind. My thoughts are singular—find Sarvi, find Lovia, and end this nightmare.
Then I see her.
The nightmare herself.
Louhi.
Her shadowy form darts up a staircase toward the private wing. Her dark dress billows like smoke, her wings raised behind her as she moves with inhuman speed. My grip on my sword hilt instinctively tightens with rage.
“There!” I snap, halting the group. “She’s heading to Sarvi’s room.”
Hanna turns, her golden eyes narrowing. “Let’s go! We’ll?—”
“No,” I interrupt, shaking my head. “This is my fight.”
Her jaw tightens, a flicker of hesitation crossing her face. “No, please.”
“I have to,” I say firmly, already stepping toward the staircase. “Once she was mine to wed, now she’s mine to kill. You find Sarvi and Lovia. Save them. I’ll deal with my ex-wife.”
She doesn’t argue further. Instead, she nods, a spark of trust in her gaze. “Don’t die.”
I don’t respond. Words are wasted here but I give her a look that tells her not to die either.
I bolt up the stairs, my heart hammering like a war drum.
Sarvi’s chambers are at the highest point of the castle, a place of seclusion and solace. But now, as I storm in, they are steeped in darkness and malice. Chains hang from the walls, remnants of Louhi’s cruelty, and the air reeks of something old and rotting.
Louhi stands in the center of the room, her back to me as she gazes out the window, giving me a clear view of her terrible wings. She turns slowly when she senses my presence, a cruel smile curling her lips. Her dark gown flows like ink, her green-grey skin pale in the dim light. The rams horns that curl back from her head shine with oil. Or maybe it’s blood.
“You’re persistent, I’ll give you that,” she says, her voice low and venomous. “But persistence doesn’t change fate, Tuoni. You can’t change what’s already been done. But, Gods, you have such a hard time taking no for an answer.”
Every single word has me ready to explode.
“It ends here, Louhi,” I grind out, stepping forward, my blade gleaming in the faint light. “No more schemes. No more death. Except your own.”
Her laughter is sharp, cutting through the air like glass. “You always were a fool. Do you think you can stop me? Your realm is crumbling, your son is dead, and soon, very soon, you will join him.”
“Don’t you dare fucking speak of Tuonen like that,” I growl, anger tearing through my throat. “He was your son too. Your son and you killed him. You. Killed. Him.”
Without warning, she moves. Shadows burst forth from her hands, coiling like snakes as they lash toward me. I dive to the side, rolling to avoid their strike. My sword comes up instinctively, slicing through one tendril as it snaps too close. The severed shadow dissipates with a hiss, but more take its place. This magic is new to her and powerful and it makes me sick to know it was probably conjured with Tuonen’s horns.
And so I will show her no mercy.
I charge, swinging my sword in a wide arc. She blocks with a conjured weapon of her own, a jagged black blade that seems to absorb the light. Sparks fly as our swords clash, the force of the impact reverberating through my arms. She grins wickedly, pushing me back.
“You’re weak,” she taunts, lunging at me with inhuman speed. “You’re not a god, you’re nothing but a man.”
I parry, narrowly avoiding her strike. Her blade grazes my shoulder, slicing through fabric and grazing flesh. Pain flares, but I grit my teeth and retaliate, forcing her back with a series of rapid strikes.
“If I’m a mere man, then it will be really embarrassing for you when I win.”
She moves like a serpent, her movements fluid and unpredictable. I have to focus on every step, every angle. She has black magic on her side that’s more powerful than I could have imagined.
We crash through the doors, metal and wood splintering, and onto the stone platform outside, the place that Sarvi would use as a landing pad. The wind howls, biting at my skin as the open air engulfs us. The platform stretches high above the castle grounds, with sheer drops on all sides. Louhi’s grin widens as her shadowy wings unfurl behind her, dark and menacing.
“This is where you fall, Tuoni,” she sneers.
Her wings beat once, lifting her off the ground. She hovers just out of reach, her eyes gleaming with malice. She swoops down, her blade slashing at me. I dodge and counter, my sword cutting through the air, but she is faster. She circles me like a predator, striking and retreating before I can land a blow.
The wind roars as she dives again. This time, I brace myself, my blade meeting hers mid-swing. The impact sends a jolt through my arms, but I hold my ground. I shove her back, forcing her to land a few feet away.
“Still standing,” I say, my voice steady.
She hisses, her wings flaring. “Not for long.”
Shadows surge around her, forming jagged spears that shoot toward me. I roll to the side, narrowly avoiding them. One grazes my leg, cutting through the armor and drawing blood. I stagger but keep moving, lunging toward her with a fierce strike. My blade catches her side, slicing through fabric and skin. She screams, more in anger than pain, and retaliates with a flurry of blows.
We trade strikes, the platform trembling beneath us. She has the advantage with her wings, using the air to maneuver around me. But I hold my ground, each swing of my sword pushing her back inch by inch.
Then she moves faster than I can track. Her foot sweeps my legs out from under me, and I hit the stone hard. Before I can rise, she kicks me toward the edge of the platform. I scramble for purchase, my fingers scraping against the rough stone as I teeter on the brink.
She looms over me, her blade poised to strike. “Goodbye, Tuoni,” she says, her voice cold and final. “Your reign is officially over.”
She thrusts, but I roll at the last second, her blade slamming into the stone where my chest was a heartbeat ago. I rise, spinning to face her, but she is already airborne again. Her wings beat hard, sending gusts of wind that nearly knock me over the edge.
I leap forward, grabbing her ankle as she tries to ascend. She lets out a startled cry as I drag her back down, both of us tumbling onto the platform. We grapple, her claws tearing at my armor as I fight to keep her grounded.
With a powerful shove, she throws me off. I skid across the platform, coming to a stop just before the edge. She rises, her wings flaring again. I scramble to my feet, readying my blade for one final attack.
But she is too fast. She swoops in, her clawed hand catching me by the throat. With a mighty heave, she lifts me off the ground and hurls me over the edge.
The wind rushes past me as I fall, the castle walls a blur of stone and shadow.
My mind races, a single thought burning through the chaos.
This is the end.
But then, just as suddenly as I fell, I stop.
Something catches me with a thump that knocks the wind out of me, and I quickly wrap my arms around a warm, thick neck, hanging on tight, a mane blowing in my face.
Large wings beat steadily as Sarvi’s voice cuts through the wind. Hold on!
“Sarvi!” I cry out. “You’re alive.”
Why wouldn’t I be ? Sarvi says. But I’ll have to make this quick because my strength isn’t what it used to be.
Relief floods through me as the unicorn quickly rises through the sky, lifting me back toward the platform. Louhi’s expression shifts from triumph to fury as she sees us ascend. She dives toward us, her blade gleaming.
Sarvi twists, avoiding her strike, but Louhi quickly flaps her wings, propelling her up so that she lands on the unicorn’s back right behind me, her claws digging into the hide. Sarvi lets out a cry of pain, wings faltering as we fall through the sky until we’re aloft again. I reach back and grab hold of Louhi’s arm, pulling with all my strength, but she slams me backward, pinning me against Sarvi’s flank.
I reach for my sword, but it’s gone—lost in the chaos. Louhi’s blade rises, aimed for my heart.
“Should have known the God of Death wouldn’t die easily,” she snarls, her eyes blazing with victory. “Luckily I’m not a quitter.”
I grin at her. “Neither am I.”
With a final, desperate act, I tear off my glove with my teeth and reach for her. My bare hand meets her throat, and she freezes as I start to squeeze her neck. Her wings stiffen, her eyes widening in shock.
My touch is death itself, the end of all things.
And, oh, have I longed to use it on her.
Louhi’s body braces as I strangle her, her shadows unraveling. She lets out a piercing scream as her form begins to disintegrate, her essence fading into the wind. She tries to claw at me, to fight back, but it’s too late. She crumbles into ash, the sinister mire of her soul snuffed out and floating away into nothing.
She’s finally gone.
Good fucking riddance.
I collapse against Sarvi’s back, my chest heaving. All is silent except for the sound of the wind and Sarvi’s beating wings as we fly back to the castle.
“It’s over,” I whisper.
For now , Sarvi replies, their voice low and pricked with fear. Hanna freed me and Lovia from the library, made me leave to help you, but I fear she’s fighting Salainen now.
“Hurry,” I command. “We don’t have a second to waste.”