Chapter 40
X
ol and Jayce stood beside Azahara as the crew deliberated after only briefly asking what had just happened.
It was abundantly clear that Xol had chosen her path no matter what Jayce was, or her, for that matter.
While she could assume that Alyse wouldn’t care that she had literally brought Death physically to this existence, she wasn’t too sure about the rest of the crew.
Even if Alyse liked her, now feeling death in its incarnate around her, that is something completely different.
While they couldn’t see Death, thanks to Jayce, they could feel it.
It would have brought fear and a sense of dread to them.
They could see her as a living embodiment of Death, capable of summoning her lover from the afterlife at any moment to ferry their souls to the underworld.
It might have been a tad dramatic, yet not entirely implausible.
Amidst this tension, the sound of approaching footsteps drew Azahara’s attention. Turning around, she saw Kaen and Akua walking towards them, each offering a closed-fist gesture to their chest accompanied by a subtle nod.
“Aza, could we have a word with you? Preferably in private,” Akua requested.
Xol and Jayce peered at one another, but Azahara nodded and stepped away with them.
The palpable tension in her protectors did not escape her notice.
It seemed odd that they desired a private conversation with her, almost as if they assumed she wouldn’t share the details later.
Moreover, the notion that Jayce couldn’t hear even the slightest sound from another realm added some amusement.
Kaen stepped behind her, blocking them from view—at least she tried. It wasn’t like Jayce couldn’t see over her, even from this distance.
“Akua, Kaen—what is it?”
“We want to come with you,” Akua got straight to the point. “We want to serve our Keeper, but beyond that, we want to keep you safe.”
His statement left Azahara taken aback. “Both… of you?” As Kaen crossed her arms over her elevated chest, she grinned toothily. “Yes—I can protect you better than Akua anyway. It only makes sense for me to come.”
A chill ran down Azahara’s right side. “I—I didn’t think you guys could leave Ilkiz. I can’t ask you to leave your family.”
Akua placed his hand on her shoulder, while Kaen mirrored the gesture on the other side.
The sensation wasn’t one of urgency to pull away; instead, she thought of Jayce and the unexpected progress he had helped her achieve.
A sharp burning sensation gripped her nose and eyes, and she fought to swallow back the surge of emotions welling within her.
“Let us be your family, and we will protect you with our lives,” Akua said, smiling.
Kaen added, “I’d kill lots of mainlanders without your word, but doing it in the name of someone or something, makes my tummy tingle.”
By the Mother she is so strange, she thought with a gentle, cracked, laugh.
“They will be strong allies, little one, and you will need them in the battles to come.” Ilkiz slipped through.
I don’t want anything to happen to them, Ilkiz.
“Be more confident in those around you. Look,” She felt a tug on her head, as if she was being forced to look over at Jayce and Xol.
“You have a Fae that holds enough Magic to destroy armies in an instant for even looking at you wrong, a creature that’s sole purpose is to keep you safe, Death itself, an ancient Dragon that is pretty strong—if I do say so myself.
” She couldn’t help but laugh, which got caught with a sob.
“You will have two Spirit Riders, and their people, behind you.” She was pulled once more, prompting her to turn her gaze back to Akua and Kaen, who stood side by side, patiently awaiting her response.
Beyond them, the descendants of Ilkiz observed with bright-eyed anticipation.
They must’ve known what they would ask of her, and anticipated the response as they were.
“Don’t worry about what may happen. The what-ifs are inevitable.
People will die, no matter how hard you try.
Allow them to make the choice how they go.
” Ilkiz echoed her own words back to her.
All she had ever wanted was the power to make choices in her life—deciding whether to embrace life or face death, but always on her own terms.
As a smile graced her lips, tears traced their path down her cheeks, “It would be an honor to have you both fight beside me.”
In a burst of enthusiasm, Kaen leaped into the air, throwing her fists up in triumph, while Akua simply beamed, acknowledging her with a nod. The people behind them erupted into cheers.
“Actually,” Akua hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck with a hint of nervousness. “There’s one last thing. Technically, we can’t leave, and neither can you.”
“Oh yeah…” Kaen halted her celebratory jumps, her shoulders aflame with contemplation.
Azahara’s eye twitched, “Explain, please.” There was no anger in her tone, but deep inside, she was boiling.
Every second that ticked by, the closer those fifteen days got.
While they could arrive early with Jayce’s portal, if Jaakobai was watching, he’d feel or see that Magic.
She didn’t want to expose him, not yet at least. Them being ignorant to who he was would play into her favor.
“Ligrok.” Akua responded.
Was that name supposed to mean something to me? She immediately went to Ilkiz.
“It is the Kraken that the gods cursed the people on Ilkiz with. They are unable to leave this place because of it. You will need to destroy him.”
Azahara grinned, “You mean I get to release some of this anger right now?”
“I love you, by the Skies, let’s kill the beast that has trapped my people for thousands of years.”
Kaen lit herself ablaze, her entire body, including her hair, engulfed in flames. “Yes.”
For the first time, Azahara felt a deep connection with Kaen. Her eyes mirrored scorching flames, a shared intensity signaling their readiness to charge into battle.
“Jayce,” the moment his name slipped from her lips, he was beside her.
He was accompanied quickly thereafter by Xol.
“I need to go,” his eyebrows pulled together, “Ligrok, some Kraken thing. We need to kill it, and honestly, if we do get back on Alyse’s ship after this, I need to blow off some steam.
If I don’t, I fear what I may do accidentally. ”
With a low laugh, he nodded, “Do you want me with you?”
She smiled, “Always, but I need you here. Let me know their decision,” she peeked over his shoulder by means of jumping, “If they choose to allow us to stay—”
Jayce cut her off, his hand on her cheek, “They will always choose you. They are deliberating something else.”
Shaking her head, she placed her hand on his elbow, “If they won’t allow you on, that is not choosing me either.” His near-bashful smile prompted him to pull her towards him. “I’m serious, Jayce. I’ll throw Xol onto Ilkiz with us, and we will fly to Itotaki for all I care.”
“I know, Sunshine, but that isn’t what I was implying. They are trying to find out how they can help you, and not be a burden.” The surprise on her face led him to place a kiss on her forehead and laugh. “Get going, I’ll let you know when we are at sea.”
Lifting herself up, she brushed her lips against his, and turned to Xol, who gave her a nod.
“Let’s go,” she said to the twins.
“Wait—us?” Akua rushed after her as she started off to a clearing. “Having three riders on Ilkiz would only slow you down.”
“I don’t expect you to ride Ilkiz,” she heard Kaen sprinting up behind her, “I intend to summon Vemi, and—uh, Kaen, what is your Spirit’s name?”
“Fury.” Simple, and fitting, she thought as they came to a stop.
“Azahara, I am not sure you can do that.”
I did it before, she rolled her head around her shoulders, feeling her neck pop in several places.
“When? I do not recall this.”
Before we bonded.
There was a moment of silence, and she glanced between the twins. “Akua, summon Vemi as you did before when we first arrived here in Ilkiz. Kaen, do the same.” She observed as both twins exchanged a look, with Akua showing hesitance and Kaen emanating readiness to burn the world down.
A smile adorned her face. Before her, flame and water spiraled, and the sea serpent appeared alongside a pure red Knucker Dragon—it had no legs but large wings spanning at least a dozen feet across.
They were a sight to behold, and as her hands raised, both spirits placed their elongated heads into them.
Their bodies swirled, and just like Vemi had done before, they both solidified.
When their frames hit the floor, the ground shook.
Fury, with its shimmering brilliance, captivated her in that moment.
The light cast a fiery glow in every direction, reflecting off its vibrant crimson hue akin to that of molten lava.
Its serpentine neck coiled with elegance and grace as it shifted towards her, adorned with several horns that swept back like fiery flames themselves.
When Fury spread its wings wide, their span shadowed her, whistling air in her direction—just as powerful and slightly out of control as its owner.
Vemi, equally brilliant, leaned towards her as though they were old friends. His bluish tint held magnificence and intelligence, impressing her with the impeccable alignment between rider and spirit.
With a clap of her hands slamming into the ground, the world below her parted.
Gathering the hate and anger for Jaakobai, she held it in her chest. Ready to destroy, nothing was going to keep her from unleashing her wrath.
He would suffer, and unfortunately for this Kraken, it was about to feel her fury.