Chapter 55 #2
“She has nothing to do with this!” Sebastian added amidst a growl.
“Of course she does. You all do. This could have all been left for Maeve and I to unravel, but you all managed to butt into business that never should have been yours. And now, someone must pay for that—I must get my point across.”
“You can have me,” Sebastian pleaded. “I will do whatever you ask of me. You don’t need Maeve. I am one of the most powerful soldiers on this continent. I can do more than she ever could, even with her magic.”
A bluff—we all knew that. But that was Sebastian Hawthorne—offering his own life in the place of mine.
“Oh, I know that. But I don’t need someone who is efficient with a sword.
I need someone with the power of the gods, not just a sample of that power like you hold.
And while I have you all here and you're all still breathing, let me fill you in on what's going to happen. I’d hate to leave you wondering.” Beaumont's hollow eyes swallowed me whole. Still voiceless, I was forced to listen instead of interjecting. “In case you haven't yet figured out what those markings in your skin mean, they mean that Blythe’s soul now lives within your mortal shell. Her soul has not replaced yours, though it has amplified your powers. You have most—if not all—of the abilities she had. What that entails exactly, we don’t know, but you and I will work together to find out.”
Marcileena stepped towards me and tilted her wicked head as she smiled. “I am much more experienced in enchanting and dark magic than the one before me was. I am confident that with the aid of your power, I will be able to create even stronger children.”
I thought they wanted to turn me into a Hykah, not use me to make more. My face must have implied my confusion, because she furthered her explanation.
“The original plan was to remove your soul and force others’ magic into your vessel, thus turning you into a nearly unstoppable Hykah.
But now that we know Blythe’s entire soul resides inside of you, it would be a waste.
If I were to remove your soul, hers would be removed as well—the two are linked.
Sure, the Hykah built from you would have your mind powers, but not all of the other abilities you hold.
It’s simply not worth it.” She shook her head and giggled.
“We can do so much more with your mortal body.”
In response to the dumbfounded silence, Cyprian clapped his hands together. “Well, on that note. Let the fun begin.”
Beaumont glanced towards the Draemornian that held Pia. The soldier tightened his hold while another inched his blade into her skin, looking towards Beaumont for approval.
An invisible gut punch endangered my composure as I surveyed Pia’s terrified expression.
With a hollow, serpentine smile, Beaumont looked directly at me. “Kill her.”
“Do not!” Kohen hollered, blubbering waterworks streaming down his face.
“Why not?” Beaumont chirped. “I told you, someone must pay. You have all destroyed too many of my own to let the crime go free of charge.”
“Kill me instead! I’m begging you!” Kohen screamed.
“Take me!” Sebastian added in his own tone of terror, his offer making my fear escalate.
Had I been able to speak, I would have offered myself too.
Pia thrashed, trying everything in her tiny body to set herself free from the metal ready to pierce her skin.
“She’s pregnant!” Kohen screamed.
Beaumont froze for a fraction of a second, just to hiss, “Even better. Two lives with one knife.”
“Please!” The single word from Kohen was a mix between a growl and a scream. “I will give you my body. You can take my magic. Kill me. Turn me into one of your hybrids if you want. I don’t care. Just let her go, please! I will do anything you ask of me, just let her live.”
“Sweet offer, but no. Although that does give me an idea.” He turned to Marcileena, showcasing a horrific grin. “Before we kill her, harvest the amethyst in her hand. We don’t have many Hykahs with that ability yet, and I’ve seen her in action back in Caelestis. She’s a talented healer.”
Marcileena drew a blade from beyond her robe and stepped forward, only for Beaumont to halt her with his forearm.
“Actually, I’ll do it.” He pulled his own dagger free from a sheath against his bicep, pointing it at the soldiers who restrained Pia. “You two hold her still.”
He approached, and I tried everything inside of me to break free from the unnatural magic that bound my words and motion. Despite having the soul of a goddess within me, it couldn’t be done.
I tried utilizing only the power of my mind to summon the starlight into my fingertips, knowing that even if I couldn’t precisely aim the magic, I may be able to startle Marcileena enough for her shadows to break.
I shut out Pia’s screams as Beaumont dug into her flesh, forcing false silence to take up residence in my mind.
Come on Maeve. You can do this. You are stronger than her shadows. You can be stronger than all of them combined if you just break through this wall.
My body began to rumble as I put every ounce of energy and focus I had into drawing power into my bloodstream.
Pia's distressed sobbing cracked through my focus and my vision darted to her. Beaumont already had his dagger in her flesh, etching out a chunk of skin surrounding her jewel.
Not giving them any more energy, my focus returned to the stars.
Come. On. Maeve.
A single spark of my power shot up my markings before fizzling out.
Yes. Keep going.
Pia wailed.
Kohen roared.
Sebastian thrashed in the corner of my eye while Kade did the same below my feet until Marcileena knocked him out by blocking his airway with her shadows.
I shut them all out, praying to every god to give me this—to help me summon the power I so desperately needed.
Beaumont glanced up from his butchering, holding a sparkling piece of flesh while Pia sucked in a harsh wet breath.