Ink of Copper

67. In Which the Hatred of One Leads to the Destruction of All

Chapter 67

In Which the Hatred of One Leads to the Destruction of All

I t smelled the same, that familiar mixture of cavern and dry earth. The rocky walls gave way to a large room, a lyre on the floor in polished marble. The doors to his throne room were as they had been when Callassa destroyed them. One hung crumpled, half off the hinges, the other splintered in pieces. The cavern was eerily quiet, no DJ, no screeching or rumbling of half-deranged daemons. The smell of burning wood lingered in the air, pungent and heavy. She followed behind Evander as he had placed her between himself and Camulos. He was hell-bent on keeping her far away from any potential action, should any breakout. Stumbling into his back when he stopped abruptly behind Maximus, she grabbed onto his wing, the feathers silky, threading through her fingers. Instinctively, his arm came around and steadied her without so much a turn of his head. The edge of her lip spiked up at the idea of that ridiculous man being attuned to where she was. Ellie grabbed his hand before he could pull it back, lacing her fingers through his, and squeezed. Evander looked over his shoulder at her at the reassuring pressure.

The formerly grand throne room had lost its luster, its evil-lair-ness, if that were a thing. Columns lay broken on their sides; others had large chunks missing. Parts of the floor had cracks crisscrossing the marble, etchings of lightning shooting from a burned center. The chandelier that Callassa had been under, now a charred disaster, lay on its side. Valerius sat on his throne at the end of the demolished chamber. One leg slung over the arm, crooked in the seat. The golden cage, still as frightening as before, stood as a reminder of where Ellie would be if Callassa had not come for her.

“Come to finish me off?” Valerius swung one leg lazily as he waved a hand. He plucked an imaginary piece of fuzz off his leather pants.

The four approached the platform, Maximus in front and Evander and Camulos flanking Ellie, keeping her protected.

“Valerius,” Camulos began.

“Look around you, gentleman”—his gaze bounced over Max’s shoulder as he interrupted—“and the lovely Serathena. I don’t exactly have any fight left in me. You won. Congratulations. Please see the daemons for your gift bags.” He straightened himself on the throne.

“You kidnapped Ellie,” Maximus snapped.

Valerius waved a hand, mocking his tone. “You stole the skirt right out from under our noses using the little bird. How dare you?” Valerius flashed a hard look at the foursome. “Look, normally, I’d love to duke it out with you.” He caught Ellie’s gaze and smirked. “I’m certainly interested in finding out what the Serathena can do. She is exquisite, no? But today, I am not in the mood. Please, find your way back through my busted door and back to your little sanctuary. I’d be happy to fight you again. Schedule your next revenge takedown of the big evil villain with the receptionist on your way out.”

“We came for Liam and Callassa.” Ellie’s voice carried in the disheveled chamber.

She moved to give Valerius a pointed look, but Evander stepped forward, blocking her. The only thing she could glare at were gleaming white feathers. Pushing against them, she stepped sideways, and again, he blocked her path.

“Let the woman address me, Evan. Where are your manners?”

Jumping down from the platform, Valerius strode over to stand before them. He stood up on his tiptoes, peering over Evander’s shoulder. In retaliation, Evander straightened himself to his full height and unfurled his wings a little more. Ellie sighed loudly, moving to step around him again.

“The deal you struck with Callassa was for the Kalypso Orb.”

“What about it, darling ?”

A growl rumbled through her bodyguard. Ellie stepped back behind him, if for nothing else but to reassure herself that Evander wouldn’t throttle Valerius.

Valerius, with a plan, was diabolical.

Valerius, with nothing to lose, was downright terrifying.

“You double-crossed her before. She made the deal; uphold your end,” Ellie snapped, half-covered in feathers.

“The deal was a Kalypso Orb for the Serathena.” He waved a hand at her. “As it stands, I possess neither.”

“The orb isn’t here.” Her sultry voice sent a chill up Ellie’s spine.

From the shadows, Liam and Callassa stepped into the low light. The company tensed in unison, and Liam raised his chin, settling his shoulders squarely. Ellie held her breath, expecting the four friends to erupt at any minute.

“Liam?” Evander said, low and dark. He didn’t respond, only stared ahead.

“The orb is no longer in Tartarus,” Callassa answered.

“Why didn’t you come to us?” Camulos’ soft question felt like a bomb going off.

Liam flinched. “I couldn’t come to you, Camulos.”

No Cam. No mate . No term of endearment. The air sizzled, waiting for something to explode.

“You could have said something to us,” Evander said.

Ellie watched from the corner of her eye as confusion and hurt scrawled across his face. Sure, the two had come to blows, and sure, they weren’t exactly speaking, but Liam had to know that in the end, Evander would come to Valerius with him. He didn’t have to go alone.

Valerius clapped his hands together. “Oh, fun. A brother brawl.” He let loose a wicked laugh, and Ellie stepped closer to Evander.

Dramatically, Valerius marched down the steps, stopping to sit on the last riser. His long, leather-clad legs stretched before him as he lounged back on one elbow.

“You abandoned your post, Liam. You sided with the siren over your company,” Maximus spat at him.

Ellie leaned forward and peaked at Max, his jaw set, his eyes flashing with hatred and anger. Liam didn’t flinch; he simply clasped his hands behind his back and shrugged.

“I have my reasons.”

Callassa took a half-step closer to him, support should he need it.

“Oh!” Valerius clapped his hands together again. “I know the reasons. They certainly are juicy.”

“You’re making this worse, Valerius,” Ellie heard herself say. Fiery eyes snapped in her direction and narrowed as his lips twisted sinisterly.

“Evan,” his glowing eyes blazed, “control your fucktoy before her pretty mouth gets her in trouble.”

That time, the growls emanating from Evander and Camulos were warranted.

“Enough, Valerius,” Callassa snapped and jerked her head in his direction. “The orb isn’t here, and we will be going.”

Of all the raw muscle, power, and characters in the room currently, Ellie put her money on Callassa if a fight broke out.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Except, you won’t be leaving, will you? I still don’t have my end of the deal.”

“Liam?” Evander ground out. “What does he mean?”

Valerius pointed at Callassa; the look she shot him could have blasted him on the spot if she had the ability.

“The deal. The transaction isn’t complete.” Valerius lowered his chin and looked directly at Ellie. “I’ll be taking what is mine.”

“Liam?” Camulos questioned.

“Get on with it, you lot. Gods, have your fight. Punch each other, be men, grunt, and sweat, and all that. But I ask nicely that you only trash this room.” Valerius pushed himself up from the step and stood. “Tell them why you can’t leave, Liam. Tell them why you’ve come to me. I’m certain Maximus is just dying to know.”

Ellie’s stomach dropped. She didn’t like this. If Liam couldn’t leave, it meant Valerius was holding him somehow. She glanced up at Evander, who, by the look of his set jaw, was coming to the same conclusion. Liam ground his teeth, and Ellie watched him turn into the man from outside Callassa’s door. The one she was frightened of.

“Ask him why he is stuck here with me for the foreseeable future.” Valerius swung his hand in a sweeping gesture. “Why I’ll be talking over the term deartháir. ”

No one blinked or breathed. Ellie could feel the waves of restrained power coming from all parties. Movement caught her eye, and she watched as Evander slowly clenched his fists. The room grew deadly quiet, like they were in a vacuum, devoid of sound.

“Ask yourselves,” Valerius punctured the noiseless glaring, “why has Liam been acting so different?” He tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Our wee Irishman is a bit of a skirt chaser. A flirt in the purest sense.” He turned and slowly clapped in Liam’s direction. “Kudos, Liam. Bedding half the female human population takes persistence.”

Turning back around, Valerius walked up the stairs sideways, like a villain in a child’s cartoon. “But lately, he has been acting peculiar. Insisting you protect the one he is infatuated with. So strange. So out of character. So moon-eyed, like a thirteen-year-old girl and the latest boy band heartthrob.”

Valerius had reached the top of the stairs at this point. Coming around the pair, he threw his arms around their shoulders.

“Poor Liam and Callassa. Star-crossed lovers. It’s been about protecting the curvy, red-headed world destroyer and keeping her from the clutches of the questionable, albeit handsome, one in tight leather pants. But no one noticed enough to ask why. Why would a womanizer suddenly change his tune? Why would he suddenly stop shagging every woman that came along?”

Reaching for Liam’s tunic, Valerius gripped the collar. Turning, Liam tried to free himself, but Valerius was too quick. The tunic ripped in two from the neck, exposing his chest to his stomach. He yanked one side over and revealed Liam’s tattoo. Ellie’s eyes widened at the markings covering most of his torso. She heard Evander gasp beside her. Had his tattoo looked like that this whole time? The oxygen seemed to be sucked out of the room as the three remaining in the company collectively held their breath. The tension was palpable, and Valerius seemed to feed off their confusion. He moved over to Callassa and lifted the edge of her chiton. Ellie watched as Liam’s eyes flashed gold, and he growled at Valerius as he caressed down her calf to her ankle. Lifting her leg enough for everyone to see her matching tattoo.

“Show them, a chuisle . They match.” Valerius was delighting in painfully ripping apart whatever shred of family this company once shared. “He’s mated.” A singsong mocking tone floated from the platform. “Mated. But ahh, how is Liam mated? Warriors can’t mate; they are created, not creatures from Olympus. You know who does mate?”

He descended the steps once more and came to stand directly in front of Maximus. “Sirens. Sirens mate.” Valerius gasped dramatically and covered his mouth. “The horror! Maximus has had a siren amongst his little band of saints all this time. A siren. And we all know just how deeply Max’s hatred runs.”

Valerius’ eyes sparked, jumping to life as he egged Maximus on. Max stared at Liam over Valerius’ shoulder—a gaze consumed in hatred.

“Enough, Valerius. I will rip your fecking throat out.” The shout that left Liam was otherworldly. Ellie had only heard him raise his voice once when defending Callassa. It raised goosebumps on her arms. The light in the throne room dimmed the darker Liam’s glare grew.

Valerius shrugged, unfazed. “They can’t leave.” He looked at Ellie. “The deal is not complete. It was two parts, and our selfish, eager queen didn’t read the fine print. The Serathena unharmed for the Kalypso Orb. Her mate for her freedom. She agreed to give me both. Now, since the orb is no longer in Tartarus, I am willing to make a second deal. I’m a reasonable man. So, what will it be, boys? Leave Liam here? Or hand over the Serathena to my careful, tender hands?”

“You will not get your hands on Ellie,” Evander ground out low.

“Then your brother gets to stay and be my plaything.”

Valerius snapped his wrist out towards Liam. He grasped his throat, gasping for air, his eyes bugging out, his face turning red. Liam clawed at his throat and slammed to his knees, trying desperately to breathe. Beside him, Callassa gasped, grasping for Liam, falling to her knees. Valerius tucked his hand back to his side. Liam collapsed, gasping and sputtering, as Callassa knelt over him.

“Did I mention what I do to one the other can feel?” Valerius smirked. Tossing his head at the gilded cage, his fiery blue eyes danced in Ellie’s direction. “Remember that, darling . At least in there, you’re protected from me. Be a good girl and climb on in.”

Evander had stepped forward when Liam fell to his knees, but he seemed at war with himself. Ellie glanced up at him, then to Camulos, and finally to Max. Callassa was rubbing Liam’s back as he sat up, still coughing. If she refused, if they walked out of here leaving Liam behind, Valerius would torture him and, because of some mate thing, Callassa. She couldn’t let that happen, and he was right. Inside the cage, her powers were dampened, which meant his were as well. She could protect her friends with her only bargaining chip, and she would be safe in there until they could figure something out. Valerius was watching, his fiery gaze boring into her as if he could read her mind. He nodded.

“Okay,” she heard herself say.

Evander stepped in front of her and hissed just as Liam growled.

“Like hell you will,” both said in unison.

“Either she comes willingly, or I take her. She’s more valuable to me than you at the moment. What’s it going to be, gentleman?” As he said gentleman, movement in the shadows and recesses of the room caught Ellie’s attention. Daemons. Hundreds of them hobbling towards them slowly, like flying, black rats. She looked behind. They were coming from all directions. That’s when she realized the ruse. Valerius had kept their attention on him while his little pets surrounded them.

“I’ll be taking my prize now.”

At that, the room exploded.

The thunderous sound of hundreds of daemons rushing all at once, leather wings flapping, screeching, tearing through the air like knives. Maximus, Camulos, and Evander encircled her, placing Ellie at the center, protecting her on all sides. Liam rushed from the platform at Valerius, knocking him to the ground. Valerius retaliated by throwing shadows at him, leaving him blind as daemons descended. Evander snapped his eyes back at her and then to Liam as Callassa rushed to help. Growling, he gave Ellie one more look and took off toward Valerius, who was descending on Callassa. Her wings had unfurled, and she was stalking towards him, magic forming in her hands, soft and light as if dampened, just like hers had been inside the cage. Camulos moved closer to Ellie, his sword drawn. Maximus was shooting arrow after arrow at the advancing daemons. Everything around her was happening so fast that Ellie didn’t have time to think, just react. She turned on her heel and formed a fireball in her hand. Several daemons were struck as Ellie shot forward a bolt of magic. They burst into flames, screaming as they fell to the ground in piles of black dust. As more daemons rushed towards the three in the center of the rubble, Liam, Callassa, and Evander tried their best to keep Valerius busy. Frightened but not frozen, Ellie stepped back, putting her on the circle’s edge. She felt a bump as she did and a soft hand on her shoulder.

“We fight together,” Callassa said as she turned, protecting Ellie from behind.

Her heart swelled, knowing Callassa was standing at her back, knowing that even if her magic wasn’t as strong as Ellie’s, they both could do some damage to the creatures flying towards them. Magic surged from Callassa through Ellie. She felt the two binding, playing off one another, working together. Closing her eyes, she placed her hands before her and calmed her breathing. Like a river of energy, Ellie’s gaia mixed with Callassa’s magic. Simultaneously, both pushed their hands out, and a bolt, like a bomb, shot out in two directions. Daemons scattered out of the way, and those that couldn’t were turned to dust.

Moving as one entity, the two women stepped together, leaving the comfort of the circle and taking care of the daemons that now flooded the room. Grunting and screeches bounced off the stone walls like popcorn in a microwave. Crashing into one another, causing friction and heat, and then flying off towards another wall to continue the reaction. Relying on Callassa to direct her, Ellie moved when she felt the pull of energy to the side. Another bolt shot out from them. This time, it sliced through the air, hitting a column and several daemons before fracturing into pieces.

Ellie felt the pull and then the bond they created was ripped apart, sending Ellie flying. Valerius had rushed them, grabbing her and wrapping his leathery wings around her as he threw them both to the ground. She bounced in his arms once, and Valerius lost his grip, sending Ellie flying toward a wall. He was scrambling to his feet just as she stood. Without a plan, she rushed the far wall, putting herself in a position with no escape. Valerius took to the air, his bat-like wings stretched wide on either side of him.

Panicked, Ellie looked around her and found nothing to duck under. She knew if Valerius wanted to, he could pluck her from the ground and slam her into that cage. She’d be damned if she let that happen. Two daemons charged her at once, and she twisted, banking to the left to avoid colliding with them. Every second was precious until she could find a place to hide. Umbramortis magic from the realm seeped from the walls, the floors, and all corners of the room as Valerius called to it from his position mid-flight. A tendril of the shadows crawled over Ellie’s foot and snaked up her leg. She turned on her heel, summoning her power, refusing to be rooted to the floor. She felt a familiar pull like she had felt when locked in the cage. Like a calling, a dream she was trying to remember. Standing in the center of a wide tendril, Ellie watched as lightning mixed with shadows in her hands. She shot magic out, slamming into three daemons coming at her, and they all fell backward like bowling pins. Valerius landed and stalked toward her. Ellie shot Valerius another mix of shadows and light, but he caught it in his palm and twisted his lips into a grin.

“Brilliant, little human, mixing gaia with shadows. Almost as if you were the destroyer, after all.”

Energy tingled up Ellie’s arms, her palms itching as she restrained most of her power. She wanted Valerius close, so she could escape when she sent a bolt in his direction. What she didn’t plan on was Valerius striking first. He shot out a puff of shadows towards her. They raced along the floor, slithering and sliding past daemons and mounds of dust. Protecting herself, she created a shield. His magic collided with hers, and Ellie let herself absorb it before she threw it back at him, just like she had Camulos. It zipped along twice as fast. Valerius had no time to react when it hit him, throwing him backward. He landed with a sickening crack of skull against marble and lay motionless for a moment, stunned.

Ellie took in the room for a second, now given a chance to breathe. Camulos and Maximus had separated, fighting through waves of daemons. Evander and Liam, back-to-back, were fighting their way toward the far wall. Out of the corner of her eye, a flash of a tall, menacing creature stalked toward where Callassa was fighting daemons. Ellie didn’t know what it was, and as she swung her head back, two daemons came rushing toward her. Without time to think, she pushed off toward the throne, knowing that the middle of the room led to her protectors.

Daemons screeched after her, angered that she had changed positions. A shadow crossed Ellie, causing her to look up just in time to see Callassa swoop after Valerius. She opened her mouth, and Ellie covered her ears. The scream that the queen of sirens let loose rattled the room and sent everyone to their knees. Valerius dropped out of the sky, landing on his side. Ellie fell to her knees, covering her head. The sound pierced her skull.

Coming to land in front of Valerius, Callassa took a breath, her entire body rearing back as she drew in air. She was off her feet, tumbling head over wing and flinging into a broken table. Grunting as she hit, she landed in a heap. Callassa stumbled to stand as her heel slipped on the wooden pieces. Still crouched and holding her head, Ellie watched a creature run at Callassa, his approach swift and forceful. He slammed into her again, this time grabbing her around the waist and knocking her off her feet. Callassa went flying once more and crashed into the stone wall. She was trying her best to get to her feet. Ellie rose, her gaze transfixed, frozen to her spot. The creature stalked Callassa like prey. Yelling out, she pointed just as the thing grabbed Callassa once more.

“Your queen summons you, Callassa,” he snarled, reaching down for the scrambling siren, desperate to gain her feet.

He tossed Callassa in the air, and she landed on his shoulder, her head smacking into his spine. That’s when Ellie noticed he was half-man and half-horse. Callassa was struggling, clawing and kicking, trying to free herself. Liam roared and went streaking toward the pair. Callassa let out a heart-wrenching scream as the centaur waved a hand, and they both disappeared. Her scream still echoed in the room, but she was gone. Liam smacked into a wall milliseconds too late. Running his hand along the stone, he pushed, grunting, trying to open a portal that was no longer there. The animalistic bellow that tore from him sent several daemons running into hiding in the four corners of the room.

Liam’s spear appeared as he bolted towards Valerius, who stood just as stunned as the rest at the disappearance of Callassa. The room darkened, and shadows lengthened as Liam roared. Valerius backed up several feet and created a wall of impenetrable shadows before him.

“Open it!” he demanded. “You said we couldn’t leave. Open it. I can’t, you know I can’t. Open it.”

Valerius stumbled back even though the wall of shadows protected him. “I can’t. I can’t open a portal created by Pegones the Centaur. No one can.”

“Where is he taking her?” Liam was wild. Turning in a circle, he stopped in front of Camulos. “Help me! Cam, please, please help me!” Spittle flew from his mouth as he begged. He opened his wings, stretching them to their full length, and filling his lungs, let out a scream that rivaled Callassa in its intensity. Every occupant was sent to the polished floor in pain, as rocks and beams fell from the rafters.

“I can’t open the centaur’s portal. If we knew where she’s going—” Cam was yelling from the floor.

When he stopped, the absence of sound rang louder than his scream. Everyone rose to their feet, attention now on the frantic warrior.

Liam turned to Max, pleading. “Please, you can open a portal anywhere. I cannot. Maximus, please. Please. I have to get her back.”

His bow in his hand, his back straight, he made no move to aid him. Liam rushed Evander, shoving him and rocking him back on his heels.

“Make him open it.”

“Max, open a portal. We have to go get—”

“No.”

Liam flew toward Maximus, fists and feathers raining down on the commander. The two fought for several breathless seconds before Liam stepped back. He pivoted and came at Max again but met with his shoulder. The force knocked him off balance, and he stumbled backward.

“If it were Ellie. What if it were Ellie? Gods, I can’t open portals. Help me. Maximus. Help me,” he roared as? his desperation grew. He flapped his wings and let loose another scream that seemed to come from the most primal place inside him. It raised the hair on Ellie’s arms.

“Help him!” she begged, her gaze meeting Evander’s.

Liam was like a wild animal, pacing and snorting. His wings remained open, their breadth and width impressive and intimidating. Shadows emanating from under him plunged them into darkness. He roared again and took off after Valerius, throwing his spear into the void of shadows. It disappeared.

“Help him, Maximus,” Evander advanced on his sullen commander.

Liam went after Max again. He collided with his shoulder. Liam spun wildly, crashing to the ground. He skidded to a stop and lay on his side for a breath. Evander came at Maximus, who drew an arrow.

“He made his choice,” Max snarled, his arrow pointed at Evander’s heart. Liam pushed himself to stand, snorting, breathing hard, his hands in fists.

“This is how you treat your brother?” Liam’s accusation deafening in the growing collective shock, tears sliding down his cheeks. He fell to his knees as the shadows in the throne room circled him, engulfing the warrior.

“This is how I treat a siren. I accepted you into my company, trained you, invested in you.”

“Fuck you, Max.” Camulos spat out, taking off after the commander.

Evander moved to his friend, but Maximus waved his hand, spitting out one last insult.

“Siren.”

And then they were gone.