30. KAINE
Remember who this is all for . Kaine repeated to himself.
Kaine watched as Queen Calliea savaged the entire throne room. She pulled down tapestries and launched chairs between a frenzy of shrieks and heavy breaths. He wanted to be anywhere but here. What a waste of his damned time.
“This is all your fault!” Queen Calliea shrieked and pointed a red, dagger-like finger at him. The sight of the queen like this would have sent enemies’ knees shaking, but not Kaine. He stood tall and unfazed at the bottom of the dais.
Queen Calliea stormed up to Kaine and even though she was shorter than him, she somehow looked down her nose at him. Her eyes widened with anger, and her chest rumbled with rage like a rattlesnake ready to attack.
An invisible hand grasped the blood in Kaine’s veins, weakening his knees, making him kneel. He hated how the strings of the blood-oath felt. Like a puppet, he succumbed to its ministrations.
Remember who this is all for.
Kaine stayed quiet. He knew this was coming.
Queen Calliea wrapped a spindly hand around his jaw, letting her claws sink into the skin of his cheeks. Any harder and she may as well have ripped his jaw out – but she didn’t. “Why didn’t you stop them?” her tone softened.
“I had no choice,” Kaine strained. Of course, he had a choice.
Her grip tightened and he felt the strings of the blood-oath pulling at his veins again. It squeezed the life from his blood cells. “You had no choice?” Queen Calliea scoffed.
Kaine tried to fight against the admission. “They beat me to it. I held back. I thought I could gain another strong soldier for us—”
“You weren’t thinking about us when you were holding back, Captain Aaryn. No, you were thinking about you. Because if you were thinking about the blood throne, you would have slaughtered them without hesitation,” Queen Calliea seethed.
“She is strong—”
A piercing slap landed across his face. It left Kaine speechless. Blood began to well on his face. He could feel a drop of blood slowly dripping as his cheek burned and the sting alone ebbed into his eyes.
“What did I say about talking back?”
Another slap landed across his face.
And then another.
The raging animal inside him simmered to the surface of his skin. He couldn’t hurt her. As much as he wanted to, the blood-oath restricted him. This was all Elowan’s fault. If only she stopped being so stubborn, he would have been able to help her see that the blood throne was the side to swear allegiance to. They had the power to take on any enemy. She called him insane. She was insane for not seeing clearly. And mother of Faery, the next time he saw her, he would have her head. His blood and this embarrassment lay on her hands alone.
“You wanted my trust? You want to share my power?” She paused. “Well consider your chances squandered.” Queen Calliea pushed his head back with a soul-crushing hand to his face. He fell to his ass, sprawled across the floor like a damned imbecile.
A growl started in Kaine’s chest. He’d done so much for this female. He’d taken the blood-oath, he’d won the allegiance of several courts and entered into a marriage for this female. Hell, he was only helping her out and making her look good. She was a measly detour for what his end goal was, and still, it wasn’t enough for her?
Queen Calliea stalked to her throne. Though she stilled as an electricity of sorts skittered through the room. The ground hummed and rumbled with power. Thunder boomed outside. A rip in the seams of reality appeared behind Queen Calliea. They both stopped to watch.
Ominous blue light seeped through the seams of the ragged portal, unlike anything Kaine had seen before. The smell of decay billowed through. Smoke, grey and opaque, spilled through the entrance. Kaine held his breath, his short spear already out and poised to attack.
“At last . . .” A deep booming voice echoed from the portal.
Shivers scurried down Kaine’s spine like tiny spiders. His throat dried and his hands grew cold.
Immediately, Queen Calliea was on her knees. The queen was on her knees.
What in Faery is going on? Kaine was obliged to do the same, but he was torn between attacking what was about to come through, protecting the queen and protecting himself.
From the portal, a figure, eight-foot tall, stood, its silhouette highlighted by the blue light. Muscles bulged in places Kaine thought no male of this world could ever possess. Horns protruded and curled from its forehead. The being stepped into full view. His skin was an unorthodox blue. Bright blue flames for hair spilled down to his shoulders. His eyes were entirely red. His teeth razor-sharp and his dark blue lips curled in a wicked grin. The only thing covering the god of the underworld was a dark blue loin cloth. And in his hand, a staff skewered with several skulls towered over him. It rattled with every step he took.
It was Terr, the Shadow Realm King, in all his might and glory.
Kaine gulped and moved swiftly to his knees, his breath growing colder as the king neared. The unfettered power that emanated from the underworld god was nothing like Kaine had ever experienced in all his life. The power shrunk his mana to a tiny marble. And if Terr so much as flinched or moved, Kaine was sure that his own mana would run away squeaking like a terrified mouse.
Gods be damned, this male is powerful . . . and I need it all.
“. . . we meet.” Terr stood with his arms out in welcome, a mischievous grin plastered wide across his face.
Kaine bowed his head lower.
The queen shot up from where she knelt. “Darling, I wasn’t expecting yo—”
“Leave usss.” Terr’s voice boomed and hissed at the same time, sending shivers all over Kaine’s body.
The queen looked torn. She shot her eyes to Kaine’s, trying to decipher what was unfolding before her. Whatever this interaction was, it had caught her off guard. But Calliea was smart, she knew heeding Terr’s words was probably the better choice. She picked up the skirts of her blood-red gown and walked swiftly to and out the throne room doors. Was that fear that ran through her eyes?
Kaine maintained his bowed form, his eyes fixed upon the ground again. Kaine could feel the eyes of Terr upon him. Like a hot knife being held to the back of his neck.
The throne room door clicked shut.
“Ahhh, my pet has spoken highly of youu . . .” Terr’s voice hissed and purred as he surveyed Kaine. With each step he took, his skull-adorned staff clattered with the rattles of death. An invisible hand drew Kaine’s head back, craning his neck to look at Terr, right in the eyes. “Let me see, let me seeee . . .”
Kaine had to admit that Terr, the devil, was handsome. A strong jawline, clean-shaven, otherworldly cheekbones and those blood-red eyes that could haunt someone for days. His power and essence it felt . . . familiar.
“Eyes of green, eyes of greennn and your powerrr”—the Shadow Realm king, with preternatural speed, pulled Kaine’s hair back and took a deep breath in along Kaine’s throat. It was oddly intimate, but Kaine wasn’t about to deny the devil. Terr pulled back, a low maniacal laughter leaving his throat.
The invisible grip that held Kaine’s head back relented. He massaged his neck and with determination, he addressed the king, “Your Majesty. It’s an honour.”
Remember who this is all for.
“Oh where have they been hiding youuu?” A deep chuckle left Terr’s throat. “The honour is mine, Breaker of Realmssss . . .” A saccharine smile etched across Terr’s face.
Breaker of Realms?
On a whim of his mana, Terr manifested a throne of storm clouds to sit upon. The room turned dark, and the walls of the throne room turned black. It was like they had transported to another realm.
“Let me guess, you wish to commandeer my army of the dead, for what pray tellll . . . ?”
Was there even a point in speaking?
“To defeat the Tienthan of the Godlands. They have stolen what is truly and rightfully mine. For that they will pay.”
“Ahhh, your soulmate.” Terr leaned back into his cloud throne and laughed. “A favour like that has a steep price not many are willing to payyy.”
“Name your price. I’ll do what it takes.” Kaine squared his shoulders, embodying the confident captain of the Elite and Faery’s strongest warrior again. This was his chance, handed to him on a damned silver platter. Whatever it was, Kaine would do it. His Sophie was waiting in the Godlands. She was waiting for him, and time was wasting away.
In a blink, Terr’s cloud throne came closer. Kaine now knelt at Terr’s feet. It was an uncomfortable place to be. Terr leaned over and whispered something in Kaine’s ear.
At the words, Kaine’s eyes widened but only for a second. He schooled his face back into neutrality. He would do it. He needed to.
Remember who this is all for. He uttered these words until they became a holy hymn, the words marring his skin for lifetimes to come.
Terr sat back into his cloud throne. “You could have it allll. Your full strength has yet to unleassshh itself. Do this and I will allow you access to my armyyy”—he took in a sharp breath—“I will teach you all you need to knowww.” Terr paused and smirked. “My Breaker of Realmssss.”
The Fleeting Forest was quieter, darker and staler than the last time he’d been here several weeks ago. The blight running rampant through Faery had finally hit the western edges of Soxis and the results were devastating. The once full-of-life forest was now grey and dull. With a thunderous storm pounding down from above, it painted the perfect picture for the crime Kaine was about to willingly commit.
It wasn’t long after naming his price that Terr had portalled himself back to the Shadow Realm. In the mist and wake of his leaving, he left something. A flute. It was small, the size of Kaine’s palm, and carved from bone. It drew him in and smelled of blood and darkness. Its smooth, cool surface was bone-chillingly cold in his hands.
Kaine had found a large enough clearing in the Fleeting Forest. What he was about to do was a small sacrifice for the greater good but still, something ate away at his conscience. What would Sophie say? Would his soulmate agree to this?
Kaine shook his head. Of course Sophie would want this. She would want her soulmate to find her by whatever means necessary. Kaine knew deep in his tattered soul that she would do the same for him. He knew it. Just like how he knew that even after the darkest of nights, the sun would rise.
Kaine sat on the forest floor, the wet grass beneath him crunching and sliding. He was surrounded by large thick oak trees. And above, the Faery double-ringed moon sat, watching him, playing witness. Slowly, he pulled the flute to his lips. The touch of it was cold at first but slowly it warmed. He pulled his mana from the pit in his stomach and blew softly. It rattled to life with a few eerie dissonant notes.
He paused, then blew into the flute again. This time with a bit more gusto. His fingers flew across the instrument, taking on a life of their own. With that, the magic of the flute began. A menacing melody lifted into the air, bounding and jumping, dancing its way through the forest. From the corner of his eyes, Kaine could see where the melody danced. The trees of the forest flinched and bent out of its way to avoid the siren song. He hoped the melody reached its rightful listeners. Minutes had passed and the melody had turned into a harrowing, mournful song. His fingers slowed, stretched and bowed as they flew across the flute.
There, a rustle of a branch in the corner of his eye.
Then another.
Then another.
It was working. Slowly, the little figures made their way toward him. Their eyes glazed over like the walking dead. The rain poured but it did not matter. It did not faze them. The ominous melody had lulled and lured them here, to this very spot where Kaine sat in the rain. Right where he wanted them.
The children of Faery, from the courts of Wrenntia, Soxis and Fyllera, inched closer and closer to him. Into the clearing. Kaine had found out that Wrenntia and Fyllera had sought refuge in Soxis after the blight had rendered their land unliveable. It was the perfect puzzle piece to the jigsaw that was his plans. Kaine continued the melody for a few minutes more. Until there were enough.
Forty, rain-soaked children of all ages sat silently in front of him. Their legs crossed and their eyes unblinking. Lightning cracked and thunder boomed overhead. As the sound of the angry sky ebbed, the sound of rustling leaves and the heavy thudding of feet cut through the air. Kaine’s ears twitched toward the noise. He sniffed the air.
Checkmate.
With his Fae speed, Kaine fixed the flute away and whisked a giant dome of impenetrable air around the children. With the melody of the flute no longer infiltrating their minds, the children began to stir.
He turned to face his new guest. “It’s been a while.”
“Indeed,” Regin breathed.
The blond-haired blacksmith stood at the edge of the clearing. His white-blond hair clung to his face and his light-purple eyes shone with panic, darting back and forth between Kaine and the children trapped behind him. Regin pulled his arms up in front of him – an attempt to calm Kaine. But the funny thing was, Kaine was already calm. His heart was a steady beating drum and his breaths borderline still. The power he longed for was at the tips of his fingers. He just needed to reach out to have it all. He only had one thing to do.
“What are you planning to do with them?” Regin flicked his chin toward the children.
Kaine smirked. “Nothing.” An obvious lie.
Another voice sounded from the lip of the clearing. “Let them go,” said Lady Ollette, High Lady of Soxis. Her voice was delicate but strong. Powerful. Other Fae lined up beside her. Some weeping and others downright angry. The parents of the children then.
Kaine scoffed. His neck and jaw twitching just the slightest. “I’ll let them go, if he can break through my wind shield.” Kaine smiled and pointed at Regin. He knew Regin wouldn’t be able to. Anyone in Faery, barring the queen and Terr, wouldn’t be able to. Regin was just a lowly Fae, a blacksmith at that, and Kaine wanted to make sure he knew his place. Especially after what Elowan had done to embarrass Kaine. Payback was sweet.
A tick started in Regin’s jaw. He did not move. The children began to cry. Some even tried to claw their way out of the shield. Kaine wouldn’t have it. With a twist of his fist, he restricted the oxygen in his shield, making it thicker. The children stilled, sensing the change. The parents stilled too. An older male ran toward the children. With a push of his mana, Kaine threw him backward. The male landed with a harrumph, groaning in pain as he tried to right himself.
“Let them go,” Lady Ollette demanded again, stepping forward ahead of the crowd.
“As I said, not unless he”—Kaine pointed to Regin again—“breaks the shield.”
“You of all people know that I do not possess the mana to break your shield. You’re asking the impossible.” Regin simmered, but stood tall, fists bunched up beside him.
There was something about how the words left Regin’s lips that cracked the dam holding back Kaine’s anger. The way he stood, unwavering defiance despite his obvious shortcomings. FLASH. Kaine rushed to Regin. His incisors mere centimetres from ripping the blacksmith’s face off.
Regin did not budge.
“You’re not even going to try? Not even for the children?” Kaine egged him on.
Regin pushed Kaine out of his space with his muscled arms. The blacksmith had strength and gall, Kaine would give him that.
Lady Ollette powered ahead of the crowd and stood in front of Regin, shielding him from Kaine. “You are on Soxis soil. You must do as I say. Let the children go or else.” She braced her tanned hands in front of her, ready to strike Kaine with her earth mana.
“Or else what?” Kaine twisted his hands, making the shield around the children shrink. The children screamed as they crushed against one another.
Regin pushed forward ready to attack but Lady Ollette caught him by the back of his shirt. Regin let out a furious growl.
Kaine laughed. Elowan chose to be with him? Despicable. “If you will not even attempt to break the shield to free the children of these hard-working, fair Fae folk here,”—Kaine pointed to group of parents who pierced him with glares—“then perhaps . . .”
“Out with it, you bastard,” Regin sneered.
“Then perhaps you can kneel”—Kaine crossed his arms—“to me.” The rain poured down as the words left his mouth. In this very moment, Kaine felt indestructible. A group of Fae and a high lady of the courts stood before him with fear struck in their bones.
Regin screwed his face and spat on the ground at Kaine’s feet.
Kaine tightened his grip around the children again, stealing their air. He could hear some of them fainting. The parents screamed.
“I’ll never fucking kneel to you,” Regin spat at Kaine’s feet again.
“Is that so?” From behind Kaine, the children sounded.
“Help! He’s taking our air, Mama!” a little boy screamed.
“Papa, please help us!” a little girl shouted from the group.
Regin shook his head. Closed his eyes. What was that? Resolve? Determination? He opened his eyes again and it was unmistakable. His eyes wished death upon Kaine – an all-too-familiar look that Kaine often used on his enemies. The torment on Regin’s face only made Kaine happier.
Regin stepped a foot forward, the rain battering him, whipping him . . . and he began his descent. The movement was slow. Every inch of his being fighting against it.
Just as his knee was to kiss the ground, Lady Ollette dragged Regin up by the scruff of his neck and pushed him back behind a wall of earth she had pulled from the ground. The high lady of Soxis stepped closer to Kaine. “We will not kneel to a tyrant. If you do this, you will have defied the essence of what it means to be Fae. You will have destroyed lives, andyou will never reach the Elysian Fields. Your soul will wander the Resting Ruins and gods be damned, you will deserve every single hell it serves you,” Lady Ollette spat, her teeth bared.
The words twisted in all the wrong ways and unleashed the beast that prowled underneath Kaine’s skin. Darkness clouded his vision. With a good measure of mana, he sent Lady Ollette flying back into the crowd of angered Fae with a gust of his air. She screamed. Regin charged at him. Kaine let him close enough to slam him with a wall of air, then sauntered over to the male who now lay flat on the grass. And with ease, as if he were a feather, Kaine picked Regin up with one hand wrapped around his thick neck.
Regin struggled against Kaine’s grip, spitting in his face. The dollop of spit felt warm against his rain-slicked skin.
Kaine let it slide down his face. As it blended into the cold rain, he smiled a wide, toothy grin. “Send Elowan my regards, will you?” With a twist of his hand, Kaine closed the air shield he had around the children and misted them into meagre droplets of blood. Once living and breathing, now gone.
Just. Like. That.
Kaine watched with unbridled satisfaction as Regin’s eyes widened, registering what had transpired within a fraction of second.
“You son of a—” Regin started but Kaine threw him on a gust of wind before he could finish, slamming him into the parents that wailed and pined for their lost children.
Kaine turned back to where the children were. So much blood painted the grass. A beautiful nightmare.
Kaine tilted his head. His hands glowed as he used his mana to collect all the drops of blood. He suspended the large mass into the air and held it there for just a moment. Soaking in the moment for what it was. So much power and potential lived inside this blood. This blood meant more than just power; it represented freedom. It represented winning.
Remember who this is all for.
Kaine released his mana. The mass of blood dropped ceremoniously to the ground into a roaring sea of red, forming an ancient-Fae symbol. The symbol glowed and glittered despite the rain.
Then it burned.
Kaine breathed in the scent, hot and acidy.
The trees near the clearing shook with violence. The ground rumbled and cracked. Kaine lifted himself upon a gust of wind and watched as the ground in the clearing fell away. He could no longer hear the screams and shouts of the Fae behind him. It was just Kaine and his very own creation.
Bright red lava-like matter rushed up to the surface and began to swirl in a giant whirlpool. The heat alone almost burned Kaine, but he did not quake in fear. He did not baulk or run. Kaine simply watched as the gateway to the Shadow Realm ripped into the very soil of Faery. The shrieks and cries of Shadow Realm demons spilled through the gateway. The sounds were a melody that quelled the anger in his veins and invigorated him.
He did it. A permanent gateway to the Shadow Realm. And Kaine was the only Fae strong enough to make it. A smile bright and wild stretched across his face.
Love was a powerful thing. A name in which kings and queens started bloody wars. It was a fire that burned, strong and deadly and, gods be damned, Kaine was burning in it.
“This is all for you,” he finally whispered.