Chapter 3
Ava crept on silent feet into the damp cavern, pressing herself against the wall and listening.
A low voice echoed in the chamber beyond. “It seems your princess and her friends are causing chaos in the camp. But they have been unable to find you.”
Ava halted.
Who was that? It was a man’s voice, vaguely familiar. But it wasn’t Andras. It didn’t have his smooth, ancient timbre. It was lower, gruffer. Whoever it was didn’t know she was in the cave, assuming she was out fighting with the rest of them.
Good.
Ava, said Luna. You must hurry. The rendezvous is in ten minutes and the battle is going to end soon.
“I’m getting Cas and then we’ll join you.”
Do you want me to help?
“It’s too dangerous. Stay where you are.”
A moan echoed and Ava’s heart almost burst from her chest at the pain in Casimir’s voice. Her magic stirred again, not finished with its vengeance.
“Deidamia and Andras should return soon with your love,” the voice said. “But I’m bored, so maybe I’ll play a little more while I wait.”
Another groan, then the rattle of chains. Refusing to wait any longer, Ava snuck deeper into the tunnel, coming upon an open room lit by torches along the wall. The smell of sweat and urine assaulted her, mixed with pain and fear and something else.
Cedar and sage.
She stepped into the room and froze at the sight.
There was Casimir, arms pulled taut in chains attached to the ceiling.
His head lolled forward, limp strands of hair hanging in his battered and swollen face.
A rasping breath escaped his lips, his chest rising and falling in short bursts.
Old and new wounds peppered his sun-kissed skin. Cuts and burns and bruises.
A fresh laceration on Casimir’s stomach leaked blood, mixing with the dirt on his body and dripping onto the floor.
Ava’s magic nearly detonated at the sight, wanting out, out, out.
She had to shove down the urge to run to him, to hold him and kiss him. Because that man was still in here, standing with his back to her, blood dripping from an ebony dagger in his hand. A massive, wide back. Greasy black hair. The exact same man who had tortured her months ago.
Vazgeth. The Scourge.
The warmth of Ava’s magic thrashed within her, flowers bloomed by her feet. Mushrooms sprouted on the wall beside her. Vines hung from the ceiling above. Almost overpowering, she could hardly contain it.
She took a step forward. “Hello, Vazgeth.”
The Scourge whipped around, eyes wide with surprise. But when he saw who had called his name, his surprise morphed into sick pleasure, his lips curving into a perverse grin, revealing his broken yellowed teeth. “I assumed Andras would be bringing you in. But it looks like you brought yourself.”
Casimir raised his head with effort. The moment he saw Ava, his golden eyes flared with fear, the chains shaking above him as he used what little strength he had left to fight against them.
“No,” he rasped.
She could feel Casimir’s anguish as it tugged on their bond. His pain and terror and panic at her arrival. She met his stare, trying to reassure him, before focusing her attention back to Vazgeth.
Ava sauntered forward and didn’t take her eyes off the daemon torturer.
“I’m going to kill you.” Her voice was calm. Deadly.
He chuckled as he strode closer to her. “I’d like to see you try.”
Bright green vines grew from the ground, covered in a rainbow of blooms, and wound around Vazgeth’s legs. “You think you can hurt me with your pathetic plants?”
The vines crept their way up his legs but he cut them off with his dagger. Her magic squirmed, preparing to unleash itself, but Vazgeth lunged and pinned her against the stone wall, his hand on her throat.
“Have you come to let me play with you again, princess?” he asked.
“I will never forget the way you screamed when I pressed the hot poker into your flesh. The way you sobbed as I pulled out your finger nails. How you cried for mercy. How you begged for death.” He leaned in, hardly an inch from her face. “I can smell your fear even now.”
And then she was back there. Back on that table in the tent, screaming as The Scourge stabbed her in the side while Andras and Deidamia watched.
Clawing at his arm, she tried to free herself, so frantic she’d forgotten to use her magic, as if his words threw her into helplessness.
The edges of her vision blurred as his calloused fingers tightened, leaving her gasping for air.
“I have enjoyed the last few weeks of torturing your soulbond. The screams that tore out of him as I sliced his flesh just like I sliced yours were pure joy to my ears. And now that we have both of you, Deidamia and Andras are going to make him watch as we drain your blood to open the portals.”
The mention of Casimir’s torture brought her back. He was right there. Hurt, and terrified, and trapped, yanking on the chains as he watched with terror while Vazgeth had her pinned.
Ava’s rage was a living, breathing thing inside of her. Coiled and primed to attack. She screamed, the warmth of her magic soaring in her soul. Hot and outraged and fierce. It burned, aching to be released again, longing to be freed.
And yearning for vengeance.
She allowed it. Opened that gate wide and let the monster out as she unleashed everything she had.
Vines as large as her thigh burst from the ground with such force the entire cave trembled, dust and debris raining down from above.
They wrapped around Vazgeth, yanking him off her and holding him in the air.
He yelled and struggled, trying to cut them off but they were too thick and covered in razor-sharp thorns.
Black blood dripped down his body as they pierced his skin.
His dagger fell to the stone floor with a clatter.
Fury passed over his face as he growled at Ava. She stepped forward with barely contained rage at her former abuser. The one who had burned her and cut her at Deidamia’s instructions. Who had poured acid into her wounds and laughed when she screamed as he sliced her flesh.
The one who had done similar things to her love. Her soulbond.
And now he would pay.
The vines twisted around Vazgeth’s legs and torso, tightening their grip, and pulled.
He screamed and begged but with the jerk of Ava’s head he was ripped in two, the loud crunch of his spine reverberating in the cave.
The vines retracted and The Scourge’s severed body fell to the dirt floor with a sickening smack.
Ava swayed on her feet, the use of her magic taking its toll, but she pushed away her fatigue and stumbled to Casimir, gripping his face. The sight of him nearly tore her to pieces.
There was no smirk, no twinkle in his eye as he teased her, no grumpy murmurs when she teased him back. He was hardly there. A shell of himself.
“Princess,” he whispered, barely hanging on to consciousness.
“I’m here. It’s okay, I’m here.” She kissed his lips tenderly, afraid of hurting him.
“You…came…”
Ava blinked back tears. “I will always come for you. Always.” She pecked his lips again. “Hold tight. I need to get you out of these chains.”
She willed vines to snake through the space between his wrists and the metal of the cuffs, snapping them with ease. He cried out as she barely caught him before he fell to the ground.
“Luna, I need help. He’s heavy. I don’t know if I can move him by himself.”
They’re caught up in fighting. You need to hurry. It’s time to leave. The daemons are getting organized now.
Though Ava was much stronger in her fae body, she still couldn’t carry Casimir alone. “You must try to walk. Lean on me. We’re almost out of here.”
He groaned and took one step after another, his arm around her shoulders while she braced him against her, an arm around his waist. Ava couldn’t help but stare at the mess her magic had left behind.
Black blood sprayed the floor, a painting of Vazgeth’s demise.
Vines, flowers and mushrooms sprouted everywhere: on the ceiling, the walls, in between every nook and cranny.
As if a garden had exploded in the rocky prison, a reminder of the princess’ retribution.
They reached the entrance of the cave and a familiar voice whispered in the forest.
“Miss Ava. Princess! Over here!”
Two figures approached from the trees. Tension left her at the sight of the giant orc. Pax would be able to help carry Casimir with ease. The other figure scurried forward, a hobgoblin about the height of a child.
Remy.
“What are you doing here?” Ava whispered harshly. “It’s not safe, Remy. You shouldn’t be here.”
“I came to help. Yes yes yes. I heard the general was captured. I want to help the one who saved my life.” He looked at her with conviction in his wide eyes.
“It’s time to meet the others,” Pax said as he came around the other side of Casimir, holding him up.
“Did you find Isolde?”
“Yes. We barely escaped. We don’t have much time. Let’s go.”
“What about the book?” Ava asked.
“I’m not sure,” he said.
“Luna? Do they have the book?”
No.
“Luna said they don’t have it.”
“It’s too late,” said Pax. “We must leave.”
Pax led them deeper into the woods, Remy trotting in front of them. A lump formed in Ava’s throat as she realized what she had to do. They needed the book. It contained the only known instructions on how to use portal magic. Without it, they would be lost…they would never win the war.
And the whole realm of Eorhan would fall.
Ava halted. “Pax. Take Cas with you.”
Her heart broke as she let go and stood before her love, cupping his face. “I’ll be back.”
Casimir moaned. “No…Don’t…go…back…”
“Your Highness,” said Pax. “You can’t. They’re looking for you.”
“It’s the only way we can send Deidamia back to her realm. We have to have it. It’s the reason Casimir came here in the first place.”
Pax let out a long sigh, running a hand over his face. “Stay alert and return as quickly as you can.”