Ink of Copper

70. In Which the Blood of the Serathena Falls

Chapter 70

In Which the Blood of the Serathena Falls

E llie wrinkled her nose; the smell of the cavern was musty and forgotten. Camulos led the pack, Callassa behind him, then Ellie, with Evander bringing up the rear. She clasped her bow as they snuck along the shadows, fear trying to grip her. Looking over her shoulder, then swinging her head around to face the front, something in the way they were all trying to walk along the slime-covered stone made their little company look like cartoon characters. Their bodies hunched over, creeping along the wall, staying in the shadows, struck Ellie as funny. The more she tried not to think about it, the funnier it became. It was no use biting the insides of her cheek to hold in the giggle welling up. She quickly covered her mouth, but not before she let out a wheezing laugh between her fingers. Camulos and Callassa turned to give her a look, and Ellie let another giggle escape. She cleared her throat and tried her very best not to sing the Scooby Doo theme song in her head.

Camulos held up a fist and stopped dead. Ellie bumped into Callassa, who knocked into Cam, and the chain reaction of clumsiness caused a stern look over his shoulder. They were almost at the end of the long, cramped tunnel. The warriors had to duck several times to keep from bumping their heads on random stalactites hanging from the ceiling. Even Callassa had to duck. Ellie was thrilled to be the shortest in the group for the first time. Continuing toward the end of the tunnel, the sounds of shuffling greeted them. A guard leaned against the far wall in the low light, closest to a wooden door. Camulos had stopped them again, trying to decide what to do next, when the cavern was filled with a forlorn male scream. Callassa collapsed to the ground, gasping, covering her mouth as she folded into a ball. She held her side, taking shallow breaths.

“Hold on,” Ellie whispered, rubbing Callassa’s arm. Their eyes met in the low light, as tears glittered down her cheeks. Liam’s screams, Callassa’s half-beaten form, it was all too much. Something inside Ellie snapped, and whatever power she had converged simultaneously. She felt it surge, sending tingles down her spine, the hair on her arms standing on end. The gaia coursed through her, merging with the same dark magic she experienced in Valerius’ throne room. She would need both to defeat this monster. Ellie rose to her feet, her bow tightly grasped, ready for war. She stepped forward, but a tight grasp on her elbow stopped her. His long, graceful fingers wrapped around her arm. Glancing at them, she snapped her eyes up to his face. He was shaking his head, his eyes wild and fearful.

Leaning in close, he whispered, “We need to wait until Cam gives us the go-ahead. There is a guard, and who knows what is inside. We can’t just go in headlong.”

Ellie nodded in understanding, fully willing to wait until Camulos said move, had not Callassa let out a moan the same moment Liam yelled from behind the closed door. She didn’t remember wiggling out of Evander’s grasp, nor stepping forward out of the shadows and into the torchlight that ringed the door.

The startled guard’s squeak of surprise came seconds too late; it fell silent on his lips. As Ellie stepped into the light, she jerked her hand forward, and he burst into dust on the spot. The door splintered into thousands of pieces with another flick of her wrist. Ellie stepped over the rubble and dashed inside.

A startled Aerelia stood at one end with a raised whip in her hand, poised to strike. The chamber was small, just two big rooms. At the far end was a platform and a grotesque throne, smaller than the version sitting on the platform next to Valerius. In front of them, suspended from beams overhead, hung a limp and bloodied Liam.

The Dark Oracle screamed as Ellie stalked toward her, her hands to the side, her power sparking, coming to life as her anger surged. This time, she heard Camulos’ voice clearly in her head. Ground yourself. Fear and anger are okay, but you can’t let it consume you. She would not let it consume her this time. No, this time, she had an object to unleash on.

“Let him go.”

Any semblance of fear that would have held her frozen to the ground dissipated and, in its place, flowed vengeance. When she saw Liam’s destroyed body hanging by his wrists, she embraced the surge of anger, letting it cover her like a shield. Dark tendrils slithered from the corners of the room as she summoned the unstable magic of this place to kill the evil bitch. Even if it meant her life.

“You think you can just come in here and make demands, little one?” Aerelia snapped as Ellie stopped in the middle of her torture chamber.

“Homey place you have here.” She looked around the room. “A bit murder-y.” Leveling her gaze, she locked eyes with Aerelia. “Let him go.”

Feeling Callassa’s power beside her, knowing Camulos and Evander were behind, kept her calm. Too calm. Powerfully calm.

“I’m surprised you would come for this one at all, whore.” The Dark Oracle slipped a sinister grin across her lips as she focused on Callassa. “He begged to take your place. He is much better at succumbing to my will than you were. I rather enjoyed my plaything. Tell me, have you felt my handiwork, Your Majesty ?” She gripped Liam by his hair, pulling his head up and twisting it side to side.

Callassa let out a strangled scream, her wings unfurling. Shock and disgust and pure terror slid across her face before she buried them behind a wall of determination. Liam’s face was bruised in several places, almost beyond recognition. A gash darkened under one eye, and the other was cut and swollen shut. Camulos and Evander snarled, stepping to the side, flanking the women.

“Let him go.”

Aerelia sniffed at her. “Or what?”

Ellie felt the surge before she knew she had lifted her hand. It sailed across the floor, flashes of light against the smooth black marble. It was almost to Aerelia when the magic cracked like thunder, shattering into pieces.

Aerelia laughed, the sound like a rusty gate.

“That’s it?” Raising her hand, she snapped her wrist. A whip flashed a burst of dark magic. Ellie didn’t have time to create a shield; she flew backward and crashed into the stone wall behind her. She fell to the floor in a heap, several arrows scattering. The fall knocked the wind out of her, and she tried to rise, but her arm throbbed where she hit. Testing her arm to see if it was broken, she looked up at Aerelia, who was wiggling the whip back and forth.

“You are just a child; you have no idea what you’re doing.” Shooting a look at Camulos, she tsked at him. “You were supposed to teach her.”

“Let him go, Aerelia,” Camulos ground out. He stepped forward, covering Ellie as she rose to her feet.

“Let him go, Aerelia. Let him go ,” she mocked them in a singsong voice that grated on Ellie’s nerves and set her teeth on edge; the Dark Oracle danced the whip in front of her. “You’ve gotten boring, Camulos. Being with this company, among half-humans, has made you soft. Consorting with those self-important gods all to call yourself good. But you are like me, Camulos. A god of war and death, who rivals Zeus, able to wield the elements to your will. Tell me, how did it feel when you gave up your place for the Olympians? No matter how many good deeds you do, you’ll never make up for your past. But go ahead, Camulos, try yet another good deed.” She lowered her chin at him. “Try.”

Ellie rose, and eyed Camulos, but his face was unreadable as usual.

“Let my mate go.” Callassa’s voice changed to the odd lilt it had been when she stole Ellie back from Valerius. “This is your only warning.”

Ellie stumbled forward, unsteady still from her short flight. Evander clutched at her arm, but it only made her more determined.

“You’re outnumbered,” Ellie said as Callassa held out a hand, magic forming in her palm, weak and unstable.

Cocking her head to the side, Aerelia stood in front of Liam. “Am I?”

Throwing her head back, she made a horrific sound, and suddenly, the room filled with the echoes of screams and screeches. Behind them and from one side, from what Ellie thought were alcoves, flew daemons. They screamed and flapped their wings, but these weren’t like the ones in Valerius’ lair. These were different, more animal, less refined—if daemons could be refined. They flew in a thousand different directions, complete chaos as they spewed into the room. True creatures from hell.

She heard Evander’s swords leave their sheaths and then the screams of daemons bursting into black dust. Ellie caught Callassa’s eye, and, without speaking a word, they both nodded, knowing precisely what they needed to do.

Taking off on one end, Callassa sprinted towards the other. Several daemons followed them, screeching and clawing. Ellie turned at one point, her bow in her hand, and smoothly shot an arrow. It went through two at once, and they blasted into dust.

Another came at her from above, and Ellie skidded to a stop, aimed, and turned that one to dust, her arrow ricocheting off the stone ceiling and coming back down to land in the wing of another. He skittered off balance mid-flight and slammed into the floor. Ellie turned quickly; seeing Callassa had made it further into the room than she had, she took off again. Callassa sent off a gentle burst of magic that did nothing more than piss off the daemon in front of her.

Ellie threw her hand out, creating a shield in front of her friend. Four daemons slammed into it, sliding down the sides. Ellie turned towards the center as Callassa skirted the shield and headed towards the further wall. As they neared Liam, they both turned and crossed the room, running beside each other as they did. Aerelia had been watching the pair, but she bided her time until they crossed in front of her.

They circled back behind the Dark Oracle, intent on one being in front and one behind. Ellie got there first and sent a shock of electricity towards her target, getting as close as she dared. Aerelia easily deflected it and turned quickly as Callassa came from behind sending a dagger she took from the armory towards the queen. Aerelia laughed and sent it flying back to Callassa, who caught it.

Ellie slowed down some, not knowing if she could run and shoot accurately. She let an arrow fly; it clinked off one of the chains holding Liam suspended and sparked. The pair circled closer, creating a barrier around Aerelia and Liam. Callassa nodded at Ellie and sent the dagger sailing through the air again. By a miracle, Ellie flicked her wrist, and the dagger collided with the chain, sparks flying as metal struck metal.

Several yards from them, two warriors were flanking the women, sending countless daemons to dust. Keeping the circle tight, intent on the queen.

Aerelia looked up at the chains and swung her head around as Ellie came for her. She pushed her arms out, and the blast sent Ellie flying back into the ground. Callassa came up behind as she whirled, stepping on her heel, avoiding Aerelia’s grasp. She danced on her other foot, like the graceful assassin she was, and sent a small blast toward the oracle. This time, it struck, and Aerelia grunted.

Ellie had scrambled to her feet, her head ringing. She aimed and sent an arrow arcing toward the chain. When it collided, it sparked, opening a link. She sent another one flying straight at Aerelia. Feeling the Dark Oracle gathering her strength, Ellie struck first, using the mixture of light and dark. She shot her arms out, aiming the electrical pulse now gathering in her palms, focusing on the chain above the queen. Her magic exploded, sparking as it slithered in a black ball of storm and death. Aerelia released her own, which slammed into Ellie, knocking her off her feet again.

As she flew to the side, Ellie watched the electrical storm hit its mark. The chain sizzled and exploded in two. Liam fell to the floor with a grunt, unconscious. Ellie bounced on the stone ground, her shoulder striking first. She rolled, smacking her head as she stopped in a pile on the side of the room. Her ears were ringing, and her head throbbed. She didn’t move at first.

Evander called to her, his voice frantic in the growing noise as she returned to her senses. He was at her side as she rose to all fours, trying to gather her bearings to stand.

Meeting his gaze, she yelled over the daemon screams. “Get Liam! Get Liam!”

Camulos came out of nowhere and shoved Evander toward the limp body of their friend. Ellie knew that together, she and Callassa could take down the queen. Wiping her face as she rose, her fingers came back red-streaked. Placing her hand under her nose, she wiped the blood from where she hit the ground onto her dress. Shaky and uncertain, Ellie stood on unstable feet to face Aerelia.

Evander and Camulos ran full speed at the queen, slicing through the air, leaving mangled daemons and dust piles in their wake. Callassa had come to stand directly before the queen, magic gathering in her palm, her wings snapping open. Aerelia raised her hand, snapping her wrist, and the whip thundered into the room. Raising it in the air, she snapped it again and the siren lifted off the ground. Ellie tried to send a shield, but it was too late. One of the multiple ends caught Callassa’s arm and tore through her flesh. She screamed in pain, the sound echoing off the walls. She dropped to her knees, her hand over the gash.

Ellie found the strength, she didn’t know how, to force herself forward and create a shield around Callassa. Aerelia turned to see Evander and Camulos picking up Liam’s body. She raised her hand to snap the whip, but Ellie struck first. A tendril of dark magic snaked across the floor and grabbed the queen’s wrist, stopping her. Aerelia screamed and tried to wrench her arm free. Ellie held her tight, keeping her hand in position to keep the tendril from dissipating. Aerelia turned toward her and let loose the most terrible sound she had ever heard.

“You are nothing. Nobody!” she yelled and jerked her arm, pulling free from Ellie’s shadows.

Callassa was still on the ground, and Ellie took off towards her, intent on getting behind the shield. Aerelia was wild and primal, screaming as black clouds erupted from under her.

“Holy fuck,” Ellie breathed as Callassa rose to stand beside her.

Something made her look down, and on the stone lay Callassa’s perfect bloody handprint. She caught her gaze, her eyes just as wide as Ellie’s. Camulos had Liam’s body swung over his shoulder. Evander was swinging his swords, making his way back to them.

Ellie felt Callassa breathe in, and the ground around them rumbled. In slow motion, she watched Callassa open her mouth wide. The scream that tore from her shook the cavern’s walls, rubble and stones falling to the ground. Aerelia covered her ears, crumpling to the floor. Her daemons fell from the sky like stones, smashing into the ground, screaming in pain.

Evander dropped next to Ellie and tried to cover her with his body and wings. Ice covered the ground where he lay, coming out from his body in all directions. His hands were freezing when he touched her. Ellie could feel the ringing of the scream in her head, through her bones, her molecules fairly rattled with it.

Looking up when the scream stopped, she saw Callassa stalking toward the crumpled Aerelia, looking every bit the queen she was. She stood there, regal, imposing, pure strength. As Ellie tried to stand up, someone forcefully pulled her down, causing her to lose her breath. Evander tried to keep her protected, wiping the blood from the side of her head, clutching at her as she tried once more to stand.

“No,” he said, shaking his head and grabbing her.

Ellie looked down and gave him a weak little smile. “I have to.”

They shared a look, and she knew in that instant that Evander would protect her at all costs, even if it meant his life. He nodded as she squeezed his arm. They rose together, Evander in front, running in unison, heading for the Dark Oracle, straight into the fray. He swung his swords, creating a dust path of daemons to enable her to do what she was created to do. Destroy.

If Callassa could render her immobile with her scream, Ellie could strangle her with the dark magic now coursing in her veins. Using her last ounce of strength, Ellie bolted towards the center of the room to flank Callassa. As if sensing her, Callassa looked over her shoulder and nodded. They knew exactly what they must do and how to work together to kill the Dark Oracle.

Callassa took in a breath, waiting a few seconds, waiting for Ellie to be near enough to work her magic. She was just steps away, running as fast as she could. Dropping to the ground wouldn’t be an option this time. She would need to run through the siren scream if she were to reach Aerelia. Evander gave her one last look over his shoulder, as he pivoted and banked right, giving Ellie all the room she needed. When Callassa let loose, the sound took up a higher pitch, rumbling the ground where they stood and sending the Dark Oracle to the ground. Parts of the stone burst into shards, raining down on Ellie as she ran.

Her head rang, the noise bouncing off her skull and shaking her teeth. She had to ignore it to get close enough. Her legs ached, and her sides screamed. Every strike of her foot sent pain shooting up her leg. She was almost there, ten more steps. She drew her bow back, ready for when she came to mark.

Aerelia stood so quickly that she didn’t have time to react. One second, she was a pile of half-feathered, half-leathered wings and robes, and the next, she was fully erect, right in front of Ellie. Raising the whip, she snapped her wrist as Callassa’s scream washed over them. The sound moved in waves, reverberating off the walls, and skating around the chamber. The ends of the whip, pieces of bone, and wings flew towards Ellie as she tried to skid to a stop. Raising her bow to her chin, she breathed and shot an arrow at Aerelia. The arrow slid through the air, barely missing one of the long ropes and sliding under the curve of another.

Thundering, the whip arched, and its tendrils descended, adding to the siren’s scream. Ellie watched as her arrow hit its mark. The arrow lodged itself in Aerelia’s third eye on her chest, blinding her. She reared back from the force of the hit, knocking her off balance, screaming at a hellish pitch.

Ellie was too focused her target; she didn’t dodge the tendril of the whip. It came down, slicing into her shoulder and her arm, cutting through her dress with ease and ripping chunks of skin as it sliced. She fell to her knees as pain shot through her.

Grabbing her shoulder, Ellie shook as waves of pain rippled. Callassa was beside her, holding her hand to stop the blood from flowing, but it was no use. Blood seeped from between their fingers, running over her knuckles, shimmering in the light.

A drop fell.

It splashed, leaving a shimmering droplet on the stone floor. Another drip fell, landing on top of the first.

The ground beneath them began to shake violently. Aerelia whirled, pulling the arrow from her eye, and faced the two wounded women huddled together. The chamber shook around them; thunder clapped violently. Aerelia pulled herself up to full height, snapping her mangled wings open. Her lips twisted into a sinister sneer.

“It is done!” she shrieked as the walls shook, pebbles and large rocks falling to the ground around them. “I am free. The Serathena has set me free!” She disappeared into a thin puff of black smoke.

Ellie crumpled, leaning into Callassa, who still had her shoulder in her hands. She watched as a drop of Callassa’s blood mingled with hers, shimmering, glistening in the candlelight as the world around them crumbled. It fell to the ground, landing on top of hers. Evander was to her, Camulos one the other side, Liam unconscious on his shoulder.

“The sun and the moon,” Camulos said, breathless. “She will be a warrior. She will be a queen.”

Blackness.