Chapter 33 #2
“Let’s find a place to sit down,” he said, urging her toward some of the seats at the edge of the clearing.
Beneath my shock, white-hot anger simmered. Raine rushed to Osta’s side, and Briar followed along shortly after.
“Raine, Briar, watch her. I’m going to find out who did that,” I growled, turning back toward the river to see a few figures wading through the water.
Baelor Soleil. And a new set of groupies.
“That was insane, Baelor. I can’t believe General Ashford demoted you,” one of them gushed.
Baelor shrugged, motioning for the man on his left to go procure a few drinks with a dismissive gesture. The man hurried off toward the tables.
I stormed toward him, finally able to make out his pale, blonde hair and crisp, white Guard’s uniform. The Scales emblem was stitched into the fabric.
Mud flew up around my boots as I closed the distance between us. Anger was roaring through my entire body, and I could already feel the tendrils lurching forward in anticipation.
His eyes locked onto me, something dangerous snapping into place as he took in my movements, a look of contained excitement playing across his typically stone-cold features.
“Two Riftborne here tonight. How unexpected.”
“You did that on purpose?” I seethed, planting my feet directly in front of him.
“Soleils never lose control of their flames.”
His words hit me like a dagger. I almost couldn’t form a response.
“What the fuck is your problem, Baelor?” Nazul yelled from behind me. I felt the heat of his presence as he approached.
Baelor looked him over with a blank expression.
“You saved the abomination?” Baelor asked.
“You’ve gone too far, Baelor. You sound insane,” Nazul growled, but there was a kind of pleading in his voice .
“My duty is to protect this realm. And it won’t be safe until every Riftborne is wiped from existence. You used to be of the same mind,” he said, righteousness lacing his words.
“I never wanted anyone dead, Baelor. You’ve spiraled into madness.”
Suddenly, the sky bloomed with storm clouds, thunder cracking through the clearing.
Raine stepped forward, wind tossing her braids to the side.
She reached up, as if she were grasping something in the heavens, before throwing her arm down, a blinding strike of lightning following. It landed right at Baelor’s feet.
He didn’t even flinch.
“I’ll light your ass up Baelor. I’d be doing this realm a fucking favor,” she spat.
“All of you protect the Riftborne? You should be treated as traitors,” he said, his voice steady.
“Raine, Nazul, go check on Osta. This is between me and Baelor,” I said, finally able to form words. Raine paused, her eyes shooting over to me. But it seemed something on my face reassured her.
“Fuck him up, Fia.” She smiled wickedly as she turned and pranced off. Nazul hung around for a few more seconds, eyes burning into Baelor, who looked between us, focused on nothing in particular.
“You’re an asset to the Guard, Nazul. Leave the Riftborne to me. I’d hate for you to get caught in the crossfire,” Baelor said.
Nazul stepped forward with a look of defiance, fists clenching at his sides. He was ready to fight if the veins in his neck were any indication. His eyes moved to me, and I nodded. He tore away, and trudged back to the group.
“It’s such a tragedy one of your kind has been able to infiltrate the Guard. Our leadership is weak. Tainted.” Baelor took a step to the side, foot falling on the scorched earth from Raine’s bolt.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” I said, calling forth the webbing.
Its strands pulsed with anticipation as they coiled around my vertebrae.
Each fiber seemed to hum with satisfaction, weaving itself upward, eager to fulfill its purpose.
But this time, I commanded it. I was in control.
I could feel its every movement as if it were an extension of my own being.
“You were able to worm your way into the ear of a Sídhe General. You manipulated him into demoting me. It’s blasphemous. I’m a Soleil—one of the chosen protectors of the land, graced with the most powerful focus of all. To turn enemies to ash.” Baelor looked to the sky and closed his eyes.
At this distance, he could incinerate me in a second.
“You got yourself demoted. I had nothing to do with it.” The web was thrumming through the bond as it wound around my mind, lying in wait for the right moment.
“If you care about this realm as much as you pretend to, just sacrifice yourself to the flames now. I’ll make your death quick.” He looked upon me, a smile creeping up his lips, but his eyes were still distant, hollow. He stepped backwards, putting a great distance between us.
"I’d love to see you try.” The words slipped out before I knew what I was saying. But they felt good.
His eyes blazed, lighting from within. Fire enveloped his hands, and his smile widened.
I goaded the tendrils, preparing them to strike. They flittered out of me so effortlessly now. I could almost feel their rage meshing with my own. They wanted to attack just as much as I did.
“Your death will fortify the land,” he said, and the clearing went silent.
Fire erupted from Baelor, shooting towards me, bright orange specks flying in all directions.
With my eyes locked fiercely on him, the webbing orbiting his mind came to life. I couldn’t help the smile that crept from the corners of my lips as the wind whipped around me, raising my hair in a wild frenzy, like a tempest swirling above my head.
Time seemed to move in slow motion.
In an instant, I was weightless. My feet lifted from the ground. Energy crackled and surged, radiating from the very core of my being until my eyes burned, turning my vision white.
I let the power go.
It struck into him, making contact with Baelor’s mind, but it didn’t attack. It didn’t squeeze... The fibers caressed it gently and began spreading like an insidious vine, seeking, probing. It was intoxicating. A rush of euphoria flooded through me.
The webbing purred as it found its mark, and a whisper surged through the fibers connecting us, illuminating something I couldn’t quite understand.
But I wanted to.
My vision snapped back to see the flames, just a mere breath from my face, retreat.They thrashed as they were pulled back into Baelor’s hands.
His body stood rigid, like there was no one behind the glowing eyes. Slowly, the last spark died out, and Baelor trembled in response.
A hush moved through the crowd as Baelor lowered himself, kneeling before me.
And then it clicked.
I was in control.
Leave this clearing. I sent the words through the bond.
I could feel his mind fighting in resistance, but it was no use. He was going to do what I told him. I don’t know how I knew. I just did.
Baelor rose to his feet. His movements were rigid and unnatural as he walked toward the tree line. Every eye was fixed upon him as he brushed against the bristles of an evergreen and disappeared from sight.
I released the webbing's hold on Baelor's mind, the shimmering strands sinking back into my being as I felt the solid ground beneath my feet once more.
Reality hit me like a jolt of electricity as I saw the shocked faces of my friends. I felt everyone’s eyes on me. A distant part of me wanted to disappear. I shifted my weight nervously as Raine shook her head in amazement and began clapping.
Briar followed suit, along with Osta and Nazul, and it spread through the crowd slowly from one side to the other until the entire clearing was echoing the sound.
“The Riftborne’s a fucking legend!” Someone shouted, and they all erupted in cheers. Before I knew it, they were rushing me and hoisting me up on their shoulders, carrying me around the clearing and chanting.
My mind was still reeling from the shock of it all, but I forced myself to smile. Sibyl herself couldn’t have foreseen this turn of events.
I laughed, and laughed, letting the tension escape my body. Holy shit. I had just taken over his mind.
For the first time, I felt a pang of relief flood through me. I had always considered myself the weaker of two species, the mouse in a sea full of serpents.
Perhaps I was a predator too.
I couldn’t even process the thought as I felt myself being lowered to the ground in front of my friends. They were all still staring at me in amazement.
“What. The. Fuck. Fia!” Briar said, enunciating every word. His mouth returned to its ajar state.
“You’ve been holding out on us, Mind Shredder!” Raine shouted, running up to throw her arm around me.
“Fia, I can’t believe you just did that!” Osta said, shaking her head. “What exactly did you do?”
“I’m not sure.” I shrugged.
“You’ll have to explain everything to us,” Raine said. “But first, we need a celebratory drink.” She turned toward the tables just as a fierce wind tore through the clearing, blowing leaves into vortexes across the field.
Everyone paused. Something was off. The energy shift hung heavy in the air.
The breath in my lungs turned to ice.
I rushed over to Osta, pulling her behind me as I squinted into the darkness.
A voice boomed through the clearing.
“This party is over. Get back to the Compound. Now!” Lieutenant Mercer shouted as the wind picked up, whipping through the crowd and nearly knocking us over.
We looked at each other in panic before rushing for the tree line and fleeing in the direction of Luminaria.
We were caught.