Chapter 40
Nolan accepts the challenge with Calia’s blessing, stepping away from the ritual site.
For the first time, his eyes blaze with the same warrior rage as Barlowe once had.
He's prepared to fight Silas to the death if necessary. With a crunch, Nolan removes the axe from Bardot’s skull, sending black blood spraying over my body. The sight churns my stomach.
Calia ignores the chaos behind her, her focus narrowing as the ritual nears completion.
Silas swings his sword, hissing through bared teeth, "You are a traitor, Nolan!" The blade lands heavily against the head of the axe, sending sparks flying in the dim room and straining my eyes.
"You don’t know anything about me, Prince," Nolan counters, struggling to match the ferocity in Silas’s attacks.
They separate momentarily, their chests heaving rapidly.
Both men’s eyes are relentless, intent on fighting to the death.
Nolan lunges forward again, swinging wildly.
His lack of experience is evident—unlike Silas, who battles for survival daily, Nolan has never faced such peril.
Fear creeps across his face as Silas takes note.
Silas seizes every chance to attack Calia, but wards from the ritual deflect his sword from her vulnerable back. Still, he endures, a true warrior fighting not only Nolan but also an unseen obstacle.
I strain against the remaining chain, the rust biting into my skin as I scream through the pain intermittently. Glancing out the door into the dark hallway, I whisper desperately, "C'mon, Maines."
There's no sign of her, and anxiety twists in my gut. She has to be okay.
Rohhit is also struggling against his chains, twisting his wrists in unnatural directions to free himself and join the fight.
My thumb snaps as I wrench my hand free from the chains.
Clutching it against my body, I grit my teeth and inhale deeply, bracing myself as I snap my thumb back into place with a sickening crack.
I quickly wrap the bottom of my dress around my wrists to clean the blood, the stains turning black as they dry.
Silas momentarily breaks his focus from Nolan to glance at my now-free hands, a flicker of relief crossing his face. He then turns back to Nolan, his large frame moving with lethal precision. Nolan is visibly tiring, his inexperience becoming a clear disadvantage.
"Getting tired, Nolan?" Silas taunts, pressing his advantage.
Nolan's eyes flash with panic as he parries blow after blow from Silas’s sword, his back edging into a corner—a perfect trap set by Silas.
I sit up, pain coursing through my body, and begin working on the chains around my ankles.
Suddenly, a bloody hand braces against the doorframe. I hold my breath, anticipating what might appear from the shadows.
Maines rounds the corner, her clothes torn and blood-stained.
In her hand, she grips Graven’s severed head.
A wicked grin spreads across her face as she tosses the head near Calia’s feet, the haunting face hitting the stone floor with a thunderous slap.
Calia emits a strangled sob but remains focused on her ritual.
Maines rushes to my side. "Do you have a death wish? Because I’m going to kill you once we get out of here for leaving us!" she exclaims as she starts working on my ankle chains. “You owe me once we are out of here.”
"Maines, you need to help Rohhit," I insist.
"You're crazy if you think I’m not getting you out first!" she retorts.
I grab her hands. "No! Don’t help me. They want him right now. Get Rohhit out of here. Now!"
She shoves my hands away, ignoring my plea.
"Now, Maines!" I scream, my tone harsh and commanding. Reluctantly, she lets go of the chains around my ankles and rushes to Rohhit’s side.
Maines glances at her father's body, still unconscious against the far wall, before addressing Rohhit’s chains. After several attempts, she exclaims, "Dammit, without magic, I can’t break these."
Dropping the chains with a heavy thud, she cups Rohhit’s face, urgency etched across her features. "I think I can free your hands," she says, but hesitates, "though I’ll have to dislocate your thumbs."
Rohhit's face blanches but he quickly agrees. "We don’t have time. Do it."
With a sorrowful look, Maines nods and whispers a quiet incantation. A familiar crack echoes as Rohhit groans in pain, his hands slipping free. He quickly snaps his thumbs back into place.
"Do you trust me?" Maines asks, her voice soft yet urgent.
"Yes," Rohhit replies firmly, meeting her gaze.
Maines then dashes back into the hallway, her magic returning as she steps beyond the ritual’s influence. Silas and Nolan continue to clash, sparks flying with each strike, while Calia inches closer to completing the ritual.
Only Rohhit and I are visible from the doorway. Maines extends her hands, a shadow of magic flowing from her palms to the chains around our ankles. With a snap, the chains break, the sound echoing as the steel shatters.
I rise from the stone bed, grabbing my second axe from the floor. Silas, noticing my freedom, channels extra strength into his swing, his blade coming dangerously close to Nolan’s neck. Their weapons lock, faces inches apart.
"The king is dead, Nolan. Give it up," Silas growls, "You aren’t going to win this. You can still choose the right side."
Nolan resists, pushing back. "Lornx promised me something, Silas. Just like all of you competing. That promise will be fulfilled."
Silas pauses, a moment of hesitation showing.
Nolan capitalizes on the pause, driving his fist into Silas's face. Blood trickles from Silas’s nose as he stumbles backward.
"He promised me Daramveer," Nolan reveals, stepping forward.
Silas’s expression darkens, shadows swirling around him, no longer restrained by the wards. "You will die before that happens, Nolan. I swear that on my life."
They lunge at each other, tumbling to the ground, their weapons clanging.
I don’t hesitate. Taking advantage of their distraction, I rush toward Calia, intent on seizing the crystal in her hands.
She turns, her feet still within the ritual circle, her eyes now a blistered black. "I call upon the Great Wiitch, Carobon. You are free to enter your vessel," she intones.
A blast of light erupts, hurling us backward.
Calia is thrown from the ritual site, landing near Elrod, while Nolan and Silas are blasted to the farthest corner.
The impact slams the rest of us against the walls.
Dust fills the air, blurring my vision as I struggle to find Silas and Maines in the chaos.
"Gods," I cough, patting the stone floor, desperate to find them, to ensure they are safe.
When my vision clears, I see Silas rising, darkness emanating from him like black wings. Relief floods through me, despite the pain screaming for attention. Nolan lies motionless, blood seeping from his injuries, his breathing uncertain. I crawl toward Rohhit, his chest barely moving.
"Rohhit," I whisper, pressing my hand against his chest. His heart responds faintly. "You need to wake up. Now," I urge, my voice laden with desperation.
He stirs, his dark eyes looking into mine, clear and seemingly untouched by the ritual. Relief washes over me as I exhale deeply.
Calia quickly recovers, springing to her feet and lifting Rohhit with supernatural strength. "Great Wiitch, Carobon, you are free to come forward," she announces, holding him aloft.
Rohhit shoves her away. "Get away from me."
Calia steps back but watches him intently, like a hunter eyeing its prey. The room holds its breath, the wards lifting as magic flows freely once again.
Light encircles Rohhit. "I guess your little ritual failed," he declares, his body radiating anger.
Silas rushes to my side, wrapping his arm around my waist. "We need to leave. Now! Rohhit can handle himself," he whispers urgently, pulling me toward the exit.
I look back at Rohhit, his expression serene yet changing. Suddenly, his eyes glaze over, and a rush of dread fills me. We step back, ready to flee.
Calia observes from a distance, a twisted grin spreading across her face as she anticipates the unfolding events. Rohhit's body sags, his movements sluggish.
"Rohhit?" I call out, stepping forward.
"Do not go closer to him, Briar," Silas warns.
"Rohhit, can you hear me?" I continue, ignoring Silas's caution.
He rises slowly, his neck cracking unnaturally. A chill sweeps through the room, carrying a charge of electricity.
"Oh Gods," I whisper, gripping Silas’s hand tightly. "Rohhit?"
Silas meets my gaze, his expression grave. "Briar, that’s not Rohhit anymore."
Maines grips our shoulders from the hallway, her voice urgent. "We need to be ready to get out of here. I don’t think Carobon will be thrilled to see his long-lost rival, Briar."
Magic pulses within me, responding to the presence before us. I step forward, despite every instinct urging me to flee. "Rohhit, are you alright?"
He looks up slowly, his eyes glowing an unnatural white.
"Rohhit, you can fight this. I've managed it for years. You can lock him deep down," I plead.
A dark laugh echoes through the stone chamber. "Kalix, you fool," his voice booms, rich with malice.
"I'm not Kalix. I'm Briar! Your friend, Rohhit! Fight this," I shout, desperation coloring my voice.
For a moment, his gaze softens, his eyes flickering back to their normal dark brown. A heavy sigh of relief escapes me, but it's short-lived.
Rohhit's expression shifts suddenly, his posture stiffening as if an invisible force grips him.
His hand lashes out, snatching my throat with terrifying strength.
His eyes, now shimmering with a silvery glow, pierce through me.
"Lies!" the voice that isn't Rohhit's hisses.
"Kalix, I smell you. You are a liar, a sinner, and this time, I won’t let you escape. "
Panic courses through me as I claw at his iron grip, gasping for air. Behind Rohhit, Silas growls, his sword drawn and pointed at Rohhit's face. "Let her go, or I will make you," Silas warns, his voice a low rumble.
Rohhit’s smirk grows as he sniffs the air around Silas. "You can try, Prince of Darkness, but it will end badly for you."
"What did you call me?" Silas's confusion is clear, but he doesn't let it distract him for long.
Ignoring Silas's question, Rohhit tightens his grip on my throat, cutting off my breath. "This ends now, Kalix," he declares.
Calia steps forward, laying a hand on Rohhit's shoulder. "Carobon, remember your purpose. We brought you here to reign, not to settle old scores," she says, her tone reverent but firm.
Rohhit releases me abruptly, and I collapse to the ground, coughing and clutching my throat. Silas is immediately at my side, helping me to my feet.
Calia continues, her eyes fixed on Rohhit. "We are at your command, Great Wiitch. Lead us to purge the shadows."
Rohhit, or rather Carobon within him, nods slowly, his gaze sweeping the room. "Very well, but first, we deal with the betrayers."
He turns to Elrod, who has been watching the scene unfold with a mixture of awe and horror. "You brought back your nemesis, thinking it would serve you. Foolish. There is no place for you in my new order."
With a swift movement, Carobon's hands shoot out, grasping Elrod's shoulders. A terrifying strength emanates from him as he leans in close, his teeth bared.
Elrod's eyes widen with fear as Carobon whispers, "Your blood will seal my return."
Without another word, Carobon bites deeply into Elrod's neck. Blood sprays as Elrod screams, his body convulsing under the force of Carobon's attack. The room falls silent, save for the gruesome sounds of Carobon feeding.
Once he finishes, Carobon steps back, wiping his mouth. His eyes then fix on me, a dark amusement twinkling within. "Now, for the shadows lurking in this room. It's time they were extinguished."
Silas tightens his grip on his sword, stepping protectively in front of me. "I won't let you harm her," he declares, his voice steely.
Carobon chuckles, his gaze shifting from Silas to me. "You think you can protect her? From me? I am the darkness they all fear, the nightmare they cannot escape."
I step forward, my resolve hardening. "We'll see about that," I say, meeting his gaze directly. "We're not afraid of you."
Carobon’s laugh is cold, hollow, and ancient. "Brave words for someone so outmatched. But let's see how you fare against the darkness unleashed."
With a wave of his hand, light swirls around him, growing denser and brighter. Silas and I brace ourselves, aware that the true battle is just beginning. The fate of our world hangs in the balance, and we are the only ones who can tip the scales.