Chapter 91 #2
“Does this bring back memories?” She twisted the golden spear in her hand, pressing into my flesh.
“Do you remember how my steel feels, Samkiel? I have thought of it plenty. That battlefield. How, if I could have just been a second quicker, your blood would have soaked the dirt? I would have loved to have seen Unir’s face when he realized his most precious thing in the world was dead.
The thought brings me pure joy.” She pressed the spear’s tip harder against my neck, and I gritted my teeth.
“I hope he is watching from the heavens above and weeps when I reclaim my crown, my throne.”
I knew what was coming and had no strength to even stand, much less fight to stop it.
Nismera’s grin turned vicious. Time slowed, and I looked at the three wide-open portals behind her.
The same ones The Hand, my family, had gone through.
I’d never see them again. My power was gone, and I could feel my life draining away.
Even if Nismera’s blade missed, I was still done.
“I have not killed a god in ages. Let’s see if I still got it.” Nismera pulled her arm back, ready to thrust that spear through my neck and finish what she had started long ago.
My last dying thought as that blade came closer was not the cruel grins of my enemies or the traitorous family that stood around me. No, it was of her.
Dianna.
Her laugh. Her warmth. The way she tasted, the way she felt.
How she had held me, healing wounds that hadn’t mended in centuries.
The way she spoke to me. How she had taken me across Onuna.
The multicolored lights of a festival that was too loud but with her was fun.
How she showed me the sweetest food. Cared for me.
A small gift given on a balcony I had made by hand in a castle just for her.
The short brief time we spent truly together and how maybe she could have loved me if time had allowed it.
I remembered her smile and the way her nose scrunched when she was annoyed with the things I said.
Her playfulness when she swatted at me for the comments she secretly loved.
Paradise, that’s what she was to me and what I’d so desperately miss. I knew that even in death, I’d find no peace in the afterlife, for there was no peace without her. My only regret was not telling her sooner how deeply she’d burrowed into my heart, becoming a piece of my soul.
A sharp roar blasted through the air, followed by a snap and a crunch. Nismera paused, and we all looked toward the doorway. The reptilian general’s large, sharp-toothed head rolled by. It came to a stop, its tongue lolling and the whites of its eyes showing.
“Gross, I will never get this out from under my nails.”
A jolt went through me, my battered and bruised heart struggling to pound in my chest.
Dianna.
I almost wept. But no, she couldn’t be here. Not with them.
Nismera’s lip curled in a snarl as she looked at her dead general and back.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Was that yours?”
Dianna’s shoes squeaked across the floor, soaked in the blood of all that had stood in her way. Her crimson eyes met mine, and my heart clenched at the sight of her. Her powers were back with a vengeance.
Isaiah seemed dumbfounded, and all of them took a step back. Whoever the general was, it was enough to make Nismera’s seconds pause. Nismera glared at Kaden, menace rolling off of her in waves. Kaden lowered his head in submission.
“Gods, you all really do talk a lot. I guess it’s all the egos,” Dianna said, shaking blood and gore from her hands.
Her lip curled in disgust, and she brushed a piece of flesh off her shoulder.
“But, I will admit, it did save me some time. Especially since I had to eat and disembowel so many monsters to get here.” She strolled into the room, and everyone went silent.
Nismera gripped her spear so tight her knuckles turned white.
“Di—” I tried to warn her not to fight, not them, not Nismera, but my words died when Nismera kicked me in the side of the head so hard my vision blurred. I didn’t need to see to know that Dianna was closer now. I could sense her and all her power, waiting, coiled, and ready to strike.
“You come for your wounded amata. How cute,” Nismera hissed.
I tried and failed to raise my head. The best I could manage was to turn my head so I could see Dianna. She glanced at me, signaling with one hand for me to stay down and be still.
“What can I say? I am protective of what’s mine. Everyone in this room has made a mistake in touching him. I’m sure Kaden can enlighten you on the consequences.”
Nismera’s laugh echoed off the council walls. “Oh, what a na?ve half-wit you are. Do you really think you frighten me, child?”
Dianna didn’t flinch. She smiled and took a step to the side.
Nismera and the others followed her every move, taking a step away from me.
“That’s it? That’s your line? You know, I have seen you in his nightmares and heard stories about the powerful Nismera.
Come on. I’ll give you another try. Tell me you’re going to rip my skin from my bones or something. ”
If I could have laughed, I would have. Of course, Dianna would insult and taunt one of the most terrifying goddesses known in our realm.
Nismera’s back stiffened. She took another step toward Dianna, the generals at her side. Isaiah summoned his helmet back, all of them ready to take her on Nismera’s command. I saw then what Dianna was doing. She was baiting a trap and moving them away from me.
My smart, beautiful girl.
“You are arrogant, just like him,” Nismera all but spit.
“I’ve been told I have a mouth.”
Nismera’s small chuckle was riddled with annoyance. She spun her golden spear, keeping pace with Dianna. “I am glad you are here. Now I get to kill Samkiel’s mate in front of him. That will bring me joy.”
“You know, I gave you another try, but if that is your evil, intimidating speech, it’s lackluster, to say the least.” Dianna’s eyes burned a shade darker.
“I can do better. I see a room full of overgrown children pretending to be rulers. You all stand around here, whining about your daddy issues. For fuck’s sake, you all had to bind Samkiel to beat him.
You think that’s power? Please. You’re all pathetic. ”
That was all it took. Nismera handled insults like she handled everything else—with extreme violence.
She lifted her spear and pointed at Dianna.
The others charged. Fear for her shivered through me.
I grimaced, trying to push myself to my feet.
I would not let her die alone. She had come for me, come back for me. If we died, we died together.
It turned out that my efforts were not needed. The room exploded in a milky white burst, stars and dust scattering in every direction, shielding Dianna and me.
Roccurem.
A thunderous roar ripped through the room, Nismera voicing her rage. Roccurem cried out in pain, and the flare of white light was nearly blinding. The room came rushing back, blinded generals bumping into each other.
Nismera’s eyes burned, glowing silver veins running through the burning white.
She snarled, looking for Dianna and the fate that had just betrayed her.
Unable to locate her targets, her head whipped toward me.
She shoved her own generals out of the way.
Hate twisted her features as she stomped toward me, but it was too late.
Dianna was quicker. Dianna slid across the floor.
Her arms wrapped around me, and Nismera’s blood-curdling scream shattered the remaining windows as the floor beneath us opened, swallowing us whole.