Ink of Copper

58. In Which the Swirling Fire Screams as it Frees

Chapter 58

In Which the Swirling Fire Screams as it Frees

Inside the Evil Lair in the Shadow Realm, Tartarus

E llie spun her hands, trying to recall what Camulos said about grounding herself. She was exhausted and dirty. But for a few brief instances, she had been locked in the cage with only Valerius and his partying minions to keep her company. She wanted out, wanted a shower, wanted a bed. Achy and bruised, her overstimulated mind raced. She didn’t know how long she’d been here, hours, possibly days. The sleep deprivation was getting to her, causing her head to pound. The amount of sheer will it was taking to keep her panic at bay caused her to shake anytime she stilled her pacing. At least in this cage, she could see out. But she wondered how many times men were going to throw her in cages they made to keep her contained. Valerius had been watching her trying to create a portal for the last half an hour with something that looked like amusement on his face.

“You can try all night. It’s pointless,” he shouted over the partying demons.

Since the cage door closed, his henchmen had been screeching and flying around. Tables were brought out and food devoured; whatever food daemons ate when they weren’t eating souls. The incessant noise had frayed her nerves. Craving silence and a retreat, she was forced to endure her own personal torture. Flopping onto the throne once more, she smacked her hands on the broad arms, exasperated.

Holding her head in her hands, she rubbed her temples with her thumb. “A DJ, really? Aren’t you supposed to have some depressing organ music played by a caped man in a mask?”

Valerius shrugged. “I prefer dubstep to Phantom of the Opera .”

“It’s giving me a migraine,” she mumbled into her lap as she rubbed her temples.

The longer she was surrounded by this constant barrage of noise with no sleep, the more anxious she became. Ellie rose and paced; her body filled with nervous energy as her magic struggled to break free. She returned to recalling what Camulos had taught her. Trying to cling to calm long enough to free herself.

“It’s the bars,” he said with a flick of his wrist. His amusement at her attempts was like barbs. Her eyes followed the curve of the bars as they reached overhead towards the domed ceiling—a massive, impressive, gilded cage.

“So, where is the former occupant of this prison?” she said to the bars overhead. “Did y’all eat her?”

“No, she’s still alive, just in a different type of prison,” he said, as if he was bored, and threw one leg over the arm of his throne.

Ellie walked to one end of the cage, gripping the golden bars and shook the metal, seeing if it would give way. The bars were thick, almost more than she could hold. She looked up again and then down, following along the base. Opening her palm, lightning raced out, sparked, and died before it ever touched the bars.

“Why a cage?” she asked as she walked the perimeter, every so often sticking a foot between the barriers to see if she could slip past. The craftsmanship was unparalleled, as far as giant magical cages made to hold supernatural beings went.

Valerius didn’t answer, just watched her every movement.

“It’s constructed well, I’ll give you that,” she said as she came from behind the throne. She passed along the front and flopped in her seat again, before she popped back up and began pacing.

“Why don’t you sit, Serathena? You’re making me dizzy,” he complained.

“I can’t,” she mumbled as she paced. “I need to get out.”

“Not for a long, long time, darling. ”

Ellie glared. The noise, the stress, the fear and exhaustion collided into a firestorm of anger and annoyance. Valerius calling her that was the last straw.

“No wonder your mate ran from you.”

He whipped his head in her direction, sitting straighter on the throne. “What did you say?” It was a warning.

“Just making an observation. This cage is massive. It is obvious it was crafted to fit exactly around this throne. Add the magic dampening bars, and she was probably sick of being locked up. I’ve not been here long, and I’m sick of it. No wonder she went insane.”

Ellie didn’t know she had struck a nerve until her back slammed against the bars of the far side of the cage, knocking the wind out of her. Valerius was inside, grabbing her by her throat, knocking her head back into the bars.

“Watch what you say,” he ground out behind clenched teeth, his eyes flashing as he tightened his grip.

She clawed at his hand. No one had ever grabbed her by the throat. She could feel his palm as she swallowed against her heart that had leapt in the same throat, now fighting for oxygen. She shook under his piercing hatred.

“I-I’m sorry.” Her voice was raspy as he squeezed. “I didn’t mean it. Valerius, please, please let go. You’re hurting me.”

He released her, and she gasped as her lungs filled with air. Rubbing her throat with one hand, she clutched the bars behind her with the other. He kept his imposing position, invading her space, his face inches from hers, eyes blazing with anger.

“Don’t you talk about my mate,” he spat out as he pounded a fist against the metal above her head.

Ellie flinched. She nodded vigorously.

“Okay, okay, I won’t.”

He stepped away, his breathing shallow. Rubbing her throat reflectively, she watched him as he gathered his composure. She clutched the bars, straightening herself but keeping her distance. Once Valerius collected himself, he turned. His features snapped back to the smirk that seemed permanently situated along his mouth. He stared at her, his eyes watching every move. Cocking his head, something dark ran across his face, a shadow of a thought. Ellie shivered at the look he now gave.

“Waiting for Evan to come sweeping in to save you?” His smile was bitter.

She shook her head. “I don’t need anyone to save me. I can get out of here on my own.”

“Sure you can, darling .”

“Don’t call me that,” she snapped, stepping forward, her fingers balling into fists. A small burst of lightning whizzed past him.

Valerius twisted his features and tilted his head. “Oh, is that what Evan calls you? I thought you enjoyed it much more when he said, good girl .”

Ellie paled. Bile rose in her throat. She didn’t know how he knew what he did.

She tried to sound angry, but it came out more breathless than she’d like. “Fuck off.”

“I’m sure he says lots of things to get into those panties of yours.”

Pressing her lips together, she crossed her arms, refusing to give him the satisfaction of knowing he was rattling her. She steeled her expression against any emotion; she refused to play his game.

“Let me ask you this, darling.” Leaning against the cage, he crossed one boot over the other. “Have you ever wondered why those four follow you around like lap dogs? Why they unanimously choose to protect you when they were risking their own lives? Why would four Athenian nymphs care about what happens to you?”

She clenched her jaw, biting back a retort. Wind blew through the cage, ruffling his wings. It spurred him on.

“Have they told you anything about our world? If I had your power, I’d want to know exactly what they wanted with me. Teaching you to control your powers seems sweet, but what are they truly controlling?”

“They’ve told me,” she said flatly, and then snapped her mouth shut.

Valerius scratched his chin. “I see. So, you don’t have any questions. Questions like how you tie into all this? What exactly you are to those four? Just a simple human with bizarre powers you are learning to control from three kind strangers and one you can’t seem to resist, got it.” He turned to leave through the bars. “Questions about your parents?”

“What do you mean?” Ellie asked before she could stop herself.

He glanced behind him and sneered. She had the distinct feeling she was a mouse in a trap.

“Have you asked Evan or any of your captors how they became warriors?”

Alarm bells clamored in her head. She shouldn’t be listening to anything this man said; she should try to figure out how to get out of this cage. Her eyes traveled up his leathery wings to the black talons arching overhead and then back down to his relaxed form, now leaning against the side of the cage. She shouldn’t listen to him, and yet . . .

“There are two kinds of nymphs here on Olympus. Those who are born, those lucky nymphs of the water, the forests, the trees. Such lovely creatures those females are. And then there are those made by Athena for a war she desperately wants. Those nymphs beg Athena to bring them into her fold. Seek her out. Humans must give up something precious, something they treasure above all else. Some trade their life, others trade their soul to become like us.” He motioned between them.

“And Athena gladly takes the ones willing to give up their soul to serve only her. Obey only her. Be her most trusted. And Evan, well, he was her favorite, until you.”

Nodding, she was relieved. She had heard this before. Liam had made it very clear the stakes were high for Evander. For both of them. Relaxing, she knew Valerius couldn’t tell her anything new.

“I’m surprised he chose you to break his long-standing vow.” He picked something off his forearm. “You’re not his type at all. Has he told you about Ann?”

She tried to swallow the lump that sprang up in her throat.

“He hasn’t?” He laughed bitterly. “Oh, you poor girl. Trying so hard to escape a husband who didn’t love you, you fell into bed with a man poised to destroy you. He only had to show the tiniest amount of affection, didn’t he? And he didn’t even have the decency to be honest.”

“Ann,” he said, looking up at the bars overhead, wistful, as if remembering her. “She was beautiful. Tall, slender, elegant, submissive , everything a duke could want. She had dark hair and was nothing but legs. And her mouth was made for sin. And Evan loved her.”

The world around her dimmed, moving in slow motion. All that could be heard was the pounding of her blood in her ears. The urge to run swallowed her as her feet planted themselves.

“Should I tell you more?”

No response. Outside the cage, thunder clapped.

“Because I hate you are in the dark, I’ll tell you. But you can’t tell anyone; it’ll be our little secret. You obviously are a woman with her own mind. You deserve the truth. No more lies, right?” He jutted his chin at her. “Ann was his wife. Did he tell you that?”

Her vision blurred.

“His pregnant wife. It was rumored that he wasn’t the father, but I never believed that. As you know firsthand, Evan has a . . . silver tongue. A way of talking that drives some women wild. But money, a title, none of that satisfied him. He wanted this life.” Valerius swung his hands wide. “One of immortality, one of power. He has powerful magic he doesn’t talk about, keeps hidden. When Athena demanded a sacrifice, he willingly obliged.”

Motionless, she stared, rooted to the floor.

“What did he give up? Good question, Ellie. Her. He killed her. Because Athena told him to. Just like you.” Valerius looked at his fingernails as if he were bored and rubbed his thumb across one.

Every breath was agony as her lungs restricted. She started to speak, but the words wouldn’t form. He leveled his gaze, his eyes turning deep blue, almost black. “Gave her tea. A little rat poison with her sugar. Killed the baby too. Two birds, so they say. He couldn’t leave behind any stragglers if he were going to belong to Olympus. Power and this immortal life are a potent motivator.”

“No,” she mouthed soundlessly, tears brimming.

“Didn’t warnings go off when you first met him? Didn’t you find it odd how obsessed he became with you so fast? Following you around like a lovesick puppy, gentle, kind. A bit stalkerish for my taste, but I guess if that’s what you’re into.” He tilted his head from side to side. “Becoming part of the circle ensured he was favored by one of the highest-ranking goddesses in this realm. But that pesky business of giving up his soul. You see, no soul, no paradise. So, he started looking for one. One that holds power that can be manipulated.”

The world spun out of control. She shut her eyes against the sick feeling rising. She couldn’t believe Evander would do any of this and yet, he had told her precious little about himself.

Valerius stepped towards her. “He and that little band of wholesome do-gooders were shepherding you into what they wanted. The Circle is a packaged deal, no soul, no sex. Personally, that would be enough to turn me from the whole thing, but Evan is different. Athena isn’t inclined to just give it back, so he needs magic to steal it back. He needs a human. One so powerful, she is rumored to be the most fearsome creature Olympus has ever seen. One who can command the same element he can. A gaiamancer. Why did you think Athena wanted you dead? It’s your magic, dear.”

Ellie shook her head, tears silently streaming. He had lied. Evander had taken her to bed and lied. She was going to be sick. Her eyes remained fixed on the marble floor.

“What did you think? That he had somehow fallen for you? Is that what he said? Did he say those three little words you’ve longed to hear? Did you think you were something special to him? You stupid, stupid, little human. Were you that starved for affection? Your marriage that awful, your self-esteem that low, that you fell for his trap? He is using you for your power, darling, and nothing more.”

“Liar,” she choked out, barely audible.

He stalked towards her. Ellie was hardly breathing, shaking like a leaf in a hurricane.

“Maybe. Maybe not. Do you really want to take a chance that this might be me telling the truth? He needs your magic, dear. It’s why he protects you. Don’t you think he’ll kill you for the very thing that could save him?” Valerius laughed; the hollow sound ran through her, stabbing her in the heart. “You are an idiot if you don’t believe me. Why do you think he still has the dagger Athena gave him to kill you? Gods, he has you believing everything he says. A lesser man would have killed you outright and taken your magic, but not my Evan. No. He lured you in, pulled you under.” Valerius stalked closer, daring her to argue. She brought her watery eyes up. He sniffed the air and closed his eyes, as if she were the most delectable thing he had ever smelled. When he opened his eyes, evil mirrored back. “You smell like heaven. I might have done the same. Played with you until I had my fill. Taking you to bed until you couldn’t walk. He has control; I’ll give him that.”

“Liar,” she repeated in a whisper so low she didn’t know if Valerius heard her. He cocked his head to the side.

“Am I? We have known each other a very long time. I was there when Evan became a warrior. I helped him summon Athena.”

They studied each other, caged in a prison built to house a mighty queen. She wanted to refute his claims, bark something back, but nothing would come. Evander had stalked her on the ship. They had joked about it, but she dismissed it. She was brought to Olympus under the guise of protection, and when she begged to go home, they refused. Instead, they helped her control her magic, but had they been grooming her to take it instead? Had he killed his wife as a human to become what he was? He was afraid she would see him as a monster; was that because he was one? The panic she had been keeping at bay crept over her, engulfing her in a shadow of disbelief.

The wooden doors to the throne room burst, slamming into the floor and bouncing twice before splintering into pieces. Several daemons ran out of the way, ducking and screeching as they did. Valerius whipped around, his leathery wings breezing past her, and she gasped when she saw his back. Skin and wings were in various states of healing, and fresh wounds lay on top of old, ragged marks. A field of pain carved into his back.

Syren, in all her glory, stood in the doorway, rubble before her. She donned tight-fitting, black armor, prepared for battle. Her enormous black wings filled the hole left by the destroyed door. She opened her mouth, and the scream that erupted was deafening. Some daemons covered their ears, and some returned her cry with one of their own. She looked around the throne room, swiveling her head back and forth until she found her target. When she saw him, she cocked her head sharply to the side like a raven. Lifting off the ground in one flap, the evidence of what she was in each graceful flap of her wings.

“Oh my god, Syren!” Ellie said, covering her mouth. Valerius moved to the outside of the cage before Ellie knew what happened. She ran to the bars.

“Let me out!” she yelled over the growing noise of daemons and a pissed-off siren.

“Fuck no,” he spat out. “You’re safer in there.”

Standing on the platform, his wings expanded to their full width, covering most of her view. Syren screamed again, soaring above them, fighting off daemons that had taken to the air to protect their leader. She folded her wings as she turned, sending some spinning off into the walls. Banking sharply, she glided along the domed ceiling as nimble as any bird Ellie had ever seen. A daemon came at her, knocking her off balance and causing her to spin. Syren slammed into one of the large chandeliers, sending it swinging wildly. Half the candles blew out immediately, the others blazed as the chandeliers swung back on a pendulum arc and right into a banner, catching it on fire. The blaze licked up the fabric as the candles swung away again. A daemon that had attacked flew out of control into one of the stone pillars. When he hit the marble, large, jagged cracks formed in all directions from around his lifeless body. She didn’t lose momentum.

Flapping her wings, she soared along one edge of the room. Two more daemons flew at her, scratching and clawing. She grabbed both of them and wrapped her wings around them as she soared. Her wings encircling them one moment, the next, she stopped her spin, unfurling her wings and sending the creatures hurling through space. One hit the opposite wall, and the other hit the marble ground and skidded to a stop. She flew up to the rafters, a trail of daemons and their ear-splitting screeching behind her. The noise of all the commotion added to the ridiculous dubstep music playing from the abandoned DJ stand. Ellie stuck her hand through the bars.

“Valerius, please. I can stop her.”

He glared and sniffed. “You can’t control your powers; I’ve seen what you can do. You’re no match for a pissed-off siren. You’ll get yourself killed.”

She reached her hand through the bars again, trying to grasp at anything. She caught the leathery edge of his wing and he turned to glare at her over his shoulder. Ellie rubbed her thumb across the soft scales. They rose and fell, ridges and valleys, under her touch. Valerius closed his eyes for a brief, fleeting moment and then jerked his wing from her grasp.

Syren swooped down and came to land on the step below. The little daemon perched on the top of his throne flew, hissing and yelling words in her native language. She stood before Valerius protectively, barely reaching his knees; her tiny wings stretched as far as they would go. The baby daemon shrieked a warning. Syren cocked her head to the side again and blinked.

“Syren!” Ellie pleaded, stretching her arm between the bars. “Get me out of here.”

She snapped her head in Ellie’s direction.

“The warriors aren’t coming for you, little lamb, but I am. You.” Syren’s gaze snapped back to Valerius. Her voice had a strange lilt, as if she spoke through a device. It was higher pitched and rough like sandpaper, not at all the velvet softness Ellie had grown fond of. “You broke the deal, Valerius, and made a grave mistake leaving me alive. You should have killed me when you had the chance. I’ll be taking what’s mine.”

She was after him like a shot, revenge dripping from her like poison. Valerius lifted off the ground, the tiny daemon beside him. He narrowly missed her grasp, taking off down the center of the room. Daemons circled him, forming a flying wall of protection.

Ellie stepped back into the cage, frantically moving along the squared edge, looking for a way out she might have missed. She tried her magic, placing her hands apart, attempting to make a portal again. It splintered off into a puff of smoke over and over. She walked the area of the suffocating cage as she whirled her hands, growing increasingly frustrated with each second that ticked by. Feeling a rush of wind overhead, she looked up to see Syren soaring after Valerius. She bumped into another chandelier, causing it to swing the other way. It caught two more banners on fire, adding to the smoke and noise. Valerius’ tiny daemon came careening out of control between the bars. She bounced as she hit the floor and crashed into the opposite side. Ellie rushed to her. The thing hissed and screamed as she reached for her. It tried to stand several times but fell over.

“Let me help you,” she said, her tone soothing against the backdrop of chaos and flames.

The little creature let her pick her up, holding her close to her chest. With the daemon now nestled in the crook of her arm, Ellie returned to trying to escape. Closing her eyes, she tried to recall what Camulos had said. His words came to her and danced away like vapors. Closing her eyes again, she focused on the rise and fall of his words. She could see the golden sunlight through the tree cover dancing on the moss-covered ground below. The brook sang its song to her, beckoning to join in. Cam’s mahogany wings rose above his head, his white hair braided on one side. He was watching her, saying something, his mouth moving, but the words couldn’t be heard over the chaos surrounding her.

Focusing on him in her memory, she startled when the air moved inside her cage. Something crashed into the gilded prison with a thudded bump, breaking her concentration. She opened her eyes just in time to see Valerius shoved against the bars, Syren’s hand around his throat. She jerked his body forward and then back, his head connecting with the metal hard enough to reverberate around Ellie like an echo.

Valerius pulled his hands back. Powerful magic tingled through Ellie as he pushed it towards Syren’s attack. She was thrown back, rolling down the steps of the platform. She picked herself up and took off for him. He was in the air once more, weaving out of her way. A scream erupted and shook the room’s walls, sending shattered glass flying into the air. The hurt daemon, now in Ellie’s care, screamed back and flapped her leather wings. She climbed up and perched herself on Ellie’s shoulder like a parrot.

Closing her eyes again, she heard Camulos’ voice. “ Think of a memory or person. Ground yourself. You need to ground yourself before you can bend the gaia magic. ”

Taking a breath, Ellie steadied herself, releasing the fear and confusion. She quieted her mind, blocking out the whirlpool of chaos. Putting her hands in front, she thought of Evander this morning. His hair ruffled from sleep, the smell of his skin, the feel of his hand in hers. His memory grounded her. Magic gathered, whirling around inside her. She thought of her mother dancing in her kitchen. Her eyes bright, and cheeks pink from laughing at her father. She clung to the days of happy moments in the house with the other warriors. The trust she had felt for Evander before Valerius shattered it to pieces. The hair on her arms stood on end, and the air around her sprung to life, crackling.

Concentrating, her magic surged, moving in her like waves. She let memories, happiness, and light wash over her, flow through her, grounding her. The gaia magic ran the length of her spine, flowing through her feet, calling to the darkness in this realm. Tendrils crept from the marble floor, snaking their way through the throne room from every corner, gliding across the marble. It slithered up the steps, joining the dark tendrils already waiting, sliding under the edge of the cage, grasping onto Ellie’s feet, and anchoring her to the floor.

Mid-flight, Syren caught sight of the dark magic coming from all corners, slithering to Ellie in a rush of icy shadows. She pulled up short, stopping her chase of Valerius, and spun. Electricity mixed with dark magic Ellie pulled from this realm, twisted around the gilded prison. Lightning sparked as the two types of magic converged and climbed the sides to the ceiling, engulfing the occupant. Valerius turned in the air, intent on going a different direction, when he, too, saw the umbramortis flowing like a river through his throne room and straight to the Serathena.

“Shit!”

They both flew to her, intent on stopping the magic forces she was mixing. Syren and Valerius hit the cage simultaneously, one on either side. The gilded bars rang from the impact, but the magic continued its climb up the sides. Tiny tornadoes spun off the dark magic, floating into the air, creating whirlwinds. They spun off into the throne room, destroying everything in their path. Ellie had a growing storm behind her hands, the shadowed tendrils covered most of her legs, crawling up her body slowly.

“ Ellie !”

The daemon on her shoulder waved at the two helpless spectators as if it did not care about the destructive dark magic making its way up her perch. Ellie’s eyes stormed, lightning flashing across her irises as the magic increased.

With her focus on her hands, she knew she could escape this prison. The power built, surging, convening with something else, something in this realm that she had never felt. She concentrated on her memories. Somewhere deep in her mind, she heard a voice. It called to her over the memories, over her fear, through the power cascading through her.

“ Ellie! Ellie !” Ellie watched the storm between her hands. Dark eyes met hers. Black, void of emotion and light, but familiar and kind. Syren.

“ Syren? ” The sound of her voice rattled around in her head.

“ Callassa ,” came the soft reply. “ My name is Callassa, Ellie .”

It was enough to snap her out of it. Callassa’s concerned face met her gaze as she grasped Ellie’s arm through the bars. A calm came over her, looking at her friend, peace running through her. The tendrils began retreating, flowing back like a river reversing its current.

“ Ellie .”

Images began flashing through her mind. A cabin in a small clearing, sunlight dancing in the tall grass as a woman with dark hair twirled a little girl in the air, her feet flying as she giggled with delight. Both had black wings, half-opened in the sun. A village lay just beyond four tall, silver-tipped towers. Winged people walked the village streets. Another image flashed, and she saw a table with dozens of people sitting in a line. They pounded fists on wood, making cups of ale jump and splash. A large room, deep green with light bouncing off crystals. The last image was of her friend smiling, saying something just beyond the noise. Valerius slammed into Callassa, breaking the exchange. He barged into the cage, taking Ellie by the arm as the last tendrils of dark shadows retreated down the stairs into vapors of smoke. Retreating from his grip, she was outside the cage, standing on the platform, surveying the carnage of the throne room.

“Run!” Valerius said, his eyes cold, his face hard. He released her with a push, upsetting the daemon that had remained perched on her shoulder. The creature flapped its wings in the air. Ellie stood frozen for a second, confused at being thrown from the world in her mind to the present.

“Run, damn it!”

Hearing the instruction that time, she pushed off, heading towards the back of the throne room as fast as she could. Skidding to a stop when she met a wall, she turned. Running the room’s width, Ellie jumped over daemons huddled on the ground, skirting around others. Flying above her were untold scores of daemons, screaming, following her every move. Callassa was after her in a shot.

Valerius came out of nowhere and ran his shoulder into the siren, effectively throwing Callassa off balance and sending her toppling to the ground. She hit the marble floor with a sickening crack, splintering it. The chandeliers ablaze above her all swung wildly as daemons flowed around the rafters like rivers of bats. Ellie ran to Callassa, intent on getting them out of here. She might have betrayed her, but the siren was still a safer bet than the demigod with a legion of daemons. She saw Valerius raise his hands from the edge of her vision. Callassa was scrambling to her feet, unsteady from the crash. Ellie reacted, jutting her hands out as she ran, sending magic flying just as Valerius sent a bolt towards her friend. The magic smacked into a shield, sending it splintering in a thousand different directions.

Callassa was on her feet, turning to retaliate. Ellie picked up her speed, her eyes meeting Callassa’s across a sea of daemons, an unspoken exchange between them. They were going to escape together. Then Ellie was flying, spinning sideways, out of control. She skidded to a stop with a grunt. A daemon came at her from above, flapping its wings and screaming in her face. Its warm breath reeked like putrid death, and she held hers to keep from retching. One chandelier broke free from its chain as Ellie rolled away from the daemon. As it fell, it turned over and was engulfed in flames. Callassa looked up as Ellie screamed, turning away as it hit the marble. A burst of flames shot forth, singeing Callassa’s wing and causing her to shriek in pain. Callassa lay motionless.

Ellie stopped in her tracks at the sight of her friend burning. Valerius stalked towards the unconscious siren, magic gathering in his palm.

“No!” shrieked Ellie, and she shoved her hands out. His magic hit the side of a dome she created around Callassa’s lifeless body. It snaked around the top and bottom, crawling along, looking for a way in. Daemons flew at the protection, crashing into it with hollow bumps. Ellie ran to the heap of wings and fire and candles.

“Don’t hurt her!” she screamed as she ran.

Valerius took off, grabbing Ellie. He knocked her against a column so hard her teeth rattled. He blocked her escape with his body, his wings spread around her, pressing her into the marble.

“Let go of me!” Ellie howled, pushing against the wall of demigod in front of her.

Valerius didn’t budge.

“No,” he said, his face inches from hers.

“She’s hurt. She’s burning. Syren! Syren! Let go of me!” She shoved, twisting against him. Her shouts caused the candles, which hadn’t been blown out in the commotion, to flare high into the air. A crack of thunder sounded, lightning sparked and sizzled, streaking towards several columns, sending splinters of marble exploding into the air. The last chandelier blazed high as Ellie’s screams reached a fevered pitch. It swung in the gathering wind whipping about the throne room. Daemons screamed in fear as a ring of fire sprang up, surrounding the fallen siren. Valerius stayed pressed against her, unmoving.

“Get your hands off her.”

Relief flooded as his familiar voice rattled off the walls. Valerius’s eyes flared, and lips twisted into a sneer. He released Ellie. She pushed against him, shoving him aside, running towards Callassa’s still body. Hitting her knees, she slid through the flames of protection, scrambling towards her friend. Something in the exchange in her mind on the platform called her. She was clueless about what it was, what had transpired, but she knew she would protect the siren who lay unconscious on the floor. Looking up, she caught sight of the four of them standing amidst the destroyed throne room. Daemons flew around them, hissing and screeching, but none attacked. Evander, Camulos, Maximus, and Liam stood together, their faces cold, their weapons drawn.

“Help me!” Ellie shrieked, taking part of her damaged chiton and slapping tiny fires on Callassa’s clothing, putting them out. “Help me!”

Liam was to her first, jumping over the fire ring, putting out the last blaze as he hit his knees.

Valerius moved, but Evander was faster, his swords drawn, his stance deadly.

“Do it. I dare you,” he growled.

“Leave him, Evander,” Ellie shouted. “Help me pick her up.”

Valerius raised an eyebrow. “You heard her.”

The fire disappeared around Callassa, allowing Liam to rise with her limp body in his arms, Camulos beside him. Maximus flanked Evander, his bow knocked and drawn. All around them, lightning and fire swirled in the wind of the storm Ellie created. Broken tables lie in pieces, scattered to every corner. Some daemons were hiding behind overturned chairs, others huddled together. More were flying around the room in a flurry of utter chaos. The chamber looked like a bomb had gone off, destruction everywhere. Ashes from the banners that had caught fire floated soundlessly to the ground, covering part of the room in a thin layer.

Standing with Liam, she turned and glared at Valerius over Evander’s shoulder. He tipped his chin in her direction.

“Looks like she didn’t need you to save her after all.”

Evander stepped as a primal, guttural growl tore from him.

“She’s quite impressive, no?” Valerius gestured to the room.

“Leave him,” Ellie mumbled. Evander looked over his shoulder at her before he turned back to glower. The lightning in the room died down, and the wind stopped. She touched his wing. “The damage is done, Evander. Let him go.”

“She’s more powerful than any of us realize.” Valerius leveled his gaze at Evander, the smirk gone from his face and a look of seriousness in its place. “Protect her, Evander. Don’t let Athena get her hands on her, or we will all pay the price.”