12
Kora
Rice stuck to the roof of Kora’s mouth as she shovelled in spoonful after spoonful. The spices of the chicken barely graced her taste buds before she choked it down. Each piece of food caused Barron’s grin to stretch wider, his teeth near damn dazzling her.
“Before I make my choice . . .” Kora swished her water, using it to clear her mouth as her stomach uncomfortably filled. Every bite was a sharp cold stone, scraping her organs, filling where her essence once resided. “I have conditions.”
Rashi barked a sharp laugh. “Conditions? Are we really entertaining this?”
Barron waved his hand once, his gaze never leaving Kora’s as Rashi quietened, shrinking in her seat. “We are not entertaining anything.” He leaned forward, sliding his fingers together to rest his chin upon. “I would love to hear your conditions, Kora.”
Theron wheezed again, his head rolling forward and smacking the table as he faded from consciousness.
Bile squelched beneath his forehead as his breathing shallowed.
Ivar’s quick intake of breath brushed Kora’s ears.
Agatha blanched at the sound, her cheeks paling.
Tugging on the band of magic pinning her, those white eyes continued to rake her surroundings.
“No, don’t do this,” Erick begged. “Don’t give him what he wants!”
Kora swallowed, her chest aflame with acid, and refused to meet Erick’s gaze. Whereas Barron’s eyes swirled, brightening with each passing second. The atmosphere in the room thickened, a pressure building in her ears, her skin prickling with dread.
Barron had her just as he wanted.
“Firstly, let Agatha go free. She cannot work. She cannot be a slave. Let her live the remainder of her days in Aldara.” Kora’s spine straightened.
“I’m not leaving you to the likes of him,” Agatha spat at Barron. “I can smell you.”
Barron stilled, his stare sliding to her briefly. “Hush, deisa.”
Agatha’s mouth shut at the Devanian language. Kora froze, her brows furrowing as she tried to place the word. She couldn’t recall it, but it sounded similar to shift or change, like the seasonal weather.
“What does that mean?” Kora slipped into Devanian. Barron’s jaw ticked as Rashi scoffed at the language, complaining to Otto about its foulness.
“Stay with me, and I can teach you the entire language.” Barron’s persuasion was as enticing as being roasted on a spit.
Despair smothered Kora, her appetite fading as Barron preyed on her passion for history and discovery.
He gestured for a servant to refill her plate.
Her stomach no longer growled, and she grew queasy as Ivar slopped food onto her plate, the spoon screeching against the porcelain, setting her teeth on edge.
His disdain dripped from him as he remained hidden by the mask, those black eyes pinned to the faintest rise of Theron’s back.
Somewhere deep inside, a flutter emerged. A purr entwining with the vibration. Kora squirmed in her chair, worried her body was about to implode in the worst possible way after the feast she’d just consumed.
“Secondly,” she continued, pushing past the nausea, and Bree spluttered outrageously.
“You’re killing Theron. Look at him! The First Prince of Azaria is on Thanos’ door.
King Staghart will attack the islands with full force in retaliation.
The islands will die for your ignorance of his health. Let him return home.”
A single finger unfurled from Barron’s grasp, tapping his cheek in contemplation as he continued to regard Kora.
“I’m afraid I cannot meet this demand, pet. Theron must remain here.”
“Then stop whatever you’re doing to him!”
“You will not interfere with Your Grace’s plan,” Otto rumbled from the other end of the magnificent white and golden table. “Trust that we have the traitor’s best interests at heart.”
“What interests?” Kora’s voice rose, as that ringing filled her ears, a familiar haze blanketing her mind, tinging the edges of her vision red, whispering to her with violence. The vibration incensed, as her heart quickened. Was her water beast returning?
“That’s not of your concern,” Barron soothed. “I have a vision for our future, and Theron will play a pivotal role. We’re just getting him ready before shipping him off.”
Ivar slapped the plate of food down and Kora winced, mostly in fear his identity would be revealed if Blake paid close enough attention. Erick did a double-take, recognition flaring before schooling his features.
“Where?” Kora’s mouth dried as her heart threatened to pound out of her chest, the flutters visible through the swaths of the ghastly gown. “Where are you sending him?”
“This castle represents the old world, of the times we no longer speak of. You reminded me of this, of the statues still residing here.” Barron’s lips curled in disgust and coldness leaked into the air, frosting Kora’s skin.
She shrank back as the thunderstorms in his eyes bled into the whites of his eyes, like mini coils of ink reaching out from his irises.
“I have created a new haven for our future, and that’s where we’ll be travelling tomorrow. ”
“If I agree?”
Barron nodded once. “I do hope you say yes. I told your friend you’d be coming to see him. He’s been most looking forward to it.”
Kora’s stomach plummeted, her bowels truly threatening to explode. “Sam? He’s there?”
“Rommier holds much promise. He’s proven to be a valuable warrior, and he works personally for me now.” Everyone fell silent as Barron’s black eyes glowed in the subtle light. Kora was lost for words as a creature stared back at her. Neither human, nor mage.
Samuel was trapped in Barron’s new kingdom—wherever that may be. He didn’t have the soul for war, or for combat. Anger pierced Kora’s chest, hot and suffocating, closely followed by desperation. She needed to save him. Samuel had sacrificed so much for her, and she had to return the favour.
“If you let Erick and Agatha go, I’ll come with you.”
“No!” Erick bellowed, followed by Agatha’s usual chiding.
Bree stood, slamming her hands on the table. “She’s supposed to power the velesma! I want my power back!”
Blake paled next to her. Followed by a furrow lining his brow, whipping his head in the direction of the doors. The ringing increased as voices heightened across the table.
“Brisella!” Bree’s parents also stood, yelling at her disrespect.
Barron simply beamed, his face transforming at Kora’s promise. His threads of power evaporated around Erick and Agatha, releasing them. Instead, they slithered, winding around Kora’s limbs, securing her to the chair.
His prize.
Bile rose within as Barron pocketed the talisman, but not before Kora noticed a subtle small glow sparkling from its core. Hope choked her as the familiar bolt of energy raced in her veins, pooling in her centre, followed by a continuous beastly purr, growing louder with each passing second.
Except that vibration still lingered. Coiling in the dense air that flamed the heated arguments spilling from the individuals stood at this table.
Rashi and Otto continued to berate Bree, as she screamed for the talisman’s return.
Erick pleaded with Kora, begging her to reconsider her decision, as Agatha reproached him on the wills that will be.
“Father!” Blake yelled, withdrawing his sword as the doors blasted open, flying into the corners of the room. Stone cracked, moonlight faded, dust filled the air. Everyone silenced as guards by the door collapsed, writhing on the ground choking, spittle foaming in their mouths.
Quick as a flash of lightning, Ivar sped to the fireplace, tearing the chained mask from his face, his braid falling down his back. Blake gasped as Ivar rolled, reaching up the dowsed chimney, revealing his black recurve bow and quiver.
Rashi screeched as Ivar nocked an arrow, and Otto grabbed her and Bree, racing for the rear doors. Arrows followed in their wake, soaring after their backs. One plunged into Otto’s shoulder, and Rashi howled as blood spurted over her sparkling gown.
“Traitor!” Rashi glowered at Ivar. “If my brother doesn’t have your head, then I will!”
Bree sobbed, glaring across the room at Kora as her father’s blood coated her hands.
“You will always be my enemy!” Bree’s shriek was war-worthy, tears smearing her golden makeup. Rashi and Bree dragged a groaning Otto through the servant’s door, crying for help, screaming at the top of their lungs. Those poor servants.
Barron bolted upright, his chair flying back with frightening force, splintering against the stone wall.
Kraken-like tendrils leaked around him, filling the air as his black eyes alighted.
His midnight hair fell across his shoulders, blending in with his magic, the shadowed crown atop his head dissipating.
Kora wrenched within the chair as his cold magic permeated her skin, fusing to her own.
Kora cried out, flexing her hand as the water within her glass turned black. Her scar burned, from her temple to her neck, the metal collar searing her skin with frostbite. She immediately called upon her power, senseless panic propelling her actions.
But tar leaked from her fingertips, dripping down her legs. Her water beast was shrouded within, a blanketed haze smothering it, followed by a faint cackle wrapping around her spine.
Her magic was tainted.
Chaos erupted in the far end of the room.
Pirates poured in, dressed in tattered clothing hanging from their strong frames.
Kora had never been more grateful to see them.
Ivar faded into the background, picking a clear path to Theron.
Swords glinted in the candlelight, and Erick sprang to his feet, grabbing a fallen guard’s weapon, before guiding Agatha to the far doors.
“I’m not leaving!” Agatha yelled. “This is where I’m meant to be!”
“You need to leave! This is your only chance!” Erick shouted back; his brown eyes igniting with that familiar fire of survival.
“What are you doing to me!” Kora bawled, as all the water across the table turned black, and the tendrils wrapped around her seeped into her skin.
No, no, no!
Dread consumed her as her veins mimicked Blake’s, turning black across the back of her hands and looping around her wrists like shackles. It burned. It burned so bad. Acidic yet icy. Boiling and freezing every fibre.
“You were always meant to be with me,” Barron whispered against her ear.
“That’s where you’re wrong,” a voice snarled from the entrance. Light seared the back of Kora’s eyelids as an explosion of power shot through her body, connecting her mind to her endless, dark void.
“Hello, Kordelia.”
And deep in the fathomless black, was a burning white lifeline.
“Raiden,” Kora breathed.