Chapter 26
Villains
I sit on my knees in the bishop’s office with my head bent. I’m a visitor in my own body. I’m so furious with him for this.
I have been trapped in my body as only an observer. My actions come from the bishop’s commands. I sleep when he says, I eat when he commands, I do his every bidding. The worst of it all is what I’ve seen and heard since I’ve been like this.
This is not what I signed up for. This isn’t who I am. The bishop is so confident he will win this cause, but I’m sure he’s going to lead us all to slaughter.
For the millionth time, I try to push through the barrier I feel blocking me from control of my own body and magic. I’ve been trying every day to push through. I can’t allow this to happen.
“Why are you here and empty-handed at that?” the bishop says as the redhead appears.
I note right away that she’s cloaking her darkness. I furrow my brows and watch her more closely. There is something off with this woman.
“I am here with a gift. You know as well as I do that those brothers have built a fortress around themselves. No super can willingly reveal who or where they are. Broken loyalty is the only way in,” she purrs.
“Spit out your purpose, Azar. My patience is running short.”
“There is a fairy who has been placed in the dungeon and stripped of his patch. His ire calls to me. His loyalties lie with Seraphina. He has been rambling about the fire wielder and his mate. I want to bring him to you so he may be of use to you,” Azar says.
“Well then, where is he? Why are you wasting my time?”
Suddenly, I’m able to lift my head. However, it’s not of my doing and it’s not the bishop’s either. This caster wants me to be able to see what’s going on.
My interest is further piqued. I don’t like this woman, but for some reason, she has the bishop’s favor. I’ve rarely seen him treat others outside our race as equals.
Heck, those djinns almost didn’t make it away from here with their lives. If they weren’t providing the bishop with a distraction for this mission, he would have killed them. Especially the young one who was supposed to be engaged to the girl.
However, this woman seems to have his respect, if that’s what you can call it. She glances at me out of the corner of her eye. Seeing an opportunity, I try once again to break through the barrier.
“Don’t. He will kill us both,” her voice fills my head.
I pull back my energy, knowing she’s most likely right. I’ve been like this too long to know if I can call on my full strength to defeat him. The bishop is the oldest of our kind left. He was in existence before the curse.
I was no match for him before I was placed in this state. Like this, it would only take the snap of his fingers for me to perish. I can’t allow that to happen.
“What do you want from me?” I say back to the woman.
“ You have yet to figure out who or what I am. I can be of use to you.”
“For what in return?”
“You are the one who can hide your essence and enter forbidden places, aren’t you? It’s the reason why he’s keeping you around. I will strike a deal with you. When and if the time comes, I need you to ensure that you and the female fire fairy survive the battle. The male is of no consequence to me; he’s a means to an end, but I need her to be safe no matter what happens to me or the bishop. She walks away.”
“And how will the bishop feel about this?”
“You leave me to deal with that. I am taking precautions to cover someone important to the both of us. He will see reason when needed,” she replies.
“And how do you plan to help me?”
“You want your freedom, don’t you? I will free you before the battle begins. You will be able to fight of your own free will. Is this not all you desire?”
“What about the others? My brothers are being forced into a battle that will cost them their lives. You see this as well as I do. Otherwise, you wouldn't be asking me to do you this favor,” I say.
“You, my dear, need to learn when to be selfish. I can offer you help. There is nothing I can do for the others. He will take them as far into this as he needs them. If that requires their end, so be it. But you can walk away with your life.”
“Why should I betray him for you? What have you done to help me thus far? It is because of you I am in this state.
“And you are right, I don't know what you are. I could be agreeing to a deal with a trickster.”
“Or you could be signing up for your death if you remain this way. Take my help and at least see your way through this.”
“Maybe my existence has already been long enough.”
“Take the deal,” she snarls into my head. “You are not innocent in all of this. You have followed him for centuries. Blood creates a path that follows him, so your hands must be soaked in it. You cannot escape the past, but I’m giving you an option for the future. Take the deal.”
I don’t trust her, but I think it over. If my mind and body are free to enter the battle of my own accord, I may be able to help some of my brothers. I know I’m not the only one who feels like this isn’t what we signed up for. And if they had the information I have, they would all raise a coup.
“What the fuck are you waiting for?” the bishop snaps at her.
“I am waiting for him to call to me. Then I can weave my way into astral projecting him here to speak with us. You know this takes time, Your Grace. I only ask for a little more of your patience.”
“Hurry this up. This isn’t the only task I have to oversee. I want to be done with this and the incompetence around me,” he hisses back at her.
“Do we have a deal?”
“Yes,” I bite out for her thoughts only.
As soon as I agree to this arrangement, a young man appears in the room. However, he’s in his ethereal form. She has truly astral projected this young male fairy to kneel before us.
“Cole, is it?” she says to him.
“Y … yes. I am Cole. Who are you?”
“That doesn’t matter. My friends and I are here to help you.”
This Cole looks around as his brow knits. His gaze lands on me and then bounces back to the bishop. Recognition fills his eyes.
“No, I want no part of this. I’ve gotten myself into enough trouble. I only wished to help Seraphina.
“Not cross the kings. These two are not like us. Why would you bring me here?”
He shakes his head and begins to look more confused. His eyes begin to glow as he sniffs the air. I grin as I note he has picked up on what I had.
“You are of the dark. You and I are not the same either. What do you want from me?”
“I want to help you free Seraphina. You are to get her out of her cell and away from there, where I can locate her to bring her to me,” she says.
“How am I to get her from her cell?”
“With a little help from me. Take this necklace. When the opportunity arises, free her. The necklace will help then lead you to me.”
“But—”
The image of the male fades. The bishop growls and backhands her. He hits her so hard she spins before she falls to the floor.
I want to lunge at him, but I’m still unable to move. How dare he hit a woman? He has lost all principles.
I can’t believe this is the leader I once followed. Has this always been his true face? Or is this who he’s become after all this time of searching, waiting, and plotting?
“I asked you to find me the girl. What the fuck was that? If Seraphina is in their prison, why are you not using her to get me to them? What kind of games do you think you’re playing with me?”
“I’m not playing any games. This is the means to the end you desire. You once trusted me. I’m asking you to do so now.”
“Trust you? I am chasing four women I haven’t been able to capture when I only need one and you still haven’t explained to me why. Why am I on this wild-goose chase? Which one is she?” he seethes, spittle flying from his mouth.
“I told you. The charm was designed to find their mates. Not the child or the one with it.
“I do not know why you haven’t been able to find the one. All I know is that the charm is meant to lead you to the destined ones. Only their mates can carry their seeds. You know this and you were there when I spelled it.”
“If this is your emotions taking over, putting our cause in jeopardy because of matters of the heart, I will end you myself. Emotions have no place here. Especially not when I’m so close to getting this done.
“The time is now, Azar. I don’t have time for any games. Play with me if you don’t value your existence or that of Seraphina. Because I promise you, once I take your life, she will be next.”
“You can’t mean that,” she says as if in complete disbelief.
“Name once when I have said words I don’t mean. Now get out.”