16 #3
I couldn’t be sure of his intentions. If Mithras was on the enemy’s side, he hadn’t just betrayed his closest friend; he’d betrayed an entire kingdom.
Generations of dreamers left to fester and die from the most merciless disease known to humankind.
Erebus could have used his magic five centuries ago to quell the demons, but instead he was forced to rot in a demon-infested castle.
Except Mithras hadn’t seemed steadfastly evil when I’d seen him last. Something about this just didn’t add up, but there was no time to sort through hypotheticals now.
I had to trust myself and my instincts, and they were currently screaming at me to push forward.
To defeat Raelion once and for all.
The Shadow Legion and I formed a steady ring around Citadel Evernight, an unbroken circle of shadow-wielding dreamers.
My chest swelled with pride at their bravery, strength, and trust. They might have been dead in Noctis, but in the Dream Realm, they were brilliantly alive.
One more battle, one final triumph, and they could finally enjoy the peace they so deserved.
We’d already conquered so much; we were nearly there.
The moment Raelion stepped free from the citadel, we’d rip him apart with our shadows, tearing the darkness from his filthy soul.
“Come out, Raelion!” I beckoned, thrumming with new power. My shadows were stronger than I could have ever imagined, more numerous than I could have ever dreamed. They were positioned around us like a raging sea of our own, poised to strike, to take, to devour. “Face us!”
The Dream Realm rumbled, echoing the seven battles taking place in the Nocturne’s channels, but Raelion did not appear.
The rest of the Weavers had risen above the Nocturne’s surface, bloody and exhausted but whole.
The last of the demons had been coaxed from Evernight’s walls; there was only Raelion left.
“On your order, Shadow Weaver!” Xander shouted.
I gritted my teeth. If Raelion wouldn’t be baited, perhaps destroying the last of his demons would do the trick. Swallowed by the Nocturne, the demons could be killed all at once. Even if it took the last of my power, it would be done.
“Do it!” I shouted.
The seven channels came crashing down, swallowing thousands of demons and apparition legionnaires. For a breath, all was quiet. The Nocturne rippled, dissatisfied, but it did not open again.
The demons were suppressed.
An unexpected blooming hope could be felt among the Weavers and Shadow Legion alike; I caught Fenrir grinning in victory, Nephthys laughing like a child, and Theia smiling at me with blatant approval. We’d done it. We’d almost done it.
Just one more demon to go.
I commanded the shadows, now stronger than they’d ever been, across the Nocturne, settling over its surface like a shroud.
Then I willed the shadows to rise. To pull.
At first, the Nocturne merely quivered, its water as dark and as poisoned as ever.
But then, almost miraculously, the ancient sea of dreams submitted to my call.
Shadows, darker than midnight, began to rise from the water, reinforcing my power like a coat of armor over a frail, mewling lamb.
Slowly, slowly, the Nocturne was transforming back to its original form.
As it revived, my power only grew, swirling around the Dream Realm as far as the eye could see. The Weavers and my Shadow Legion were even more jubilant now, some openly crying and shouting with relief. At this rate, Raelion wouldn’t be able to withstand us.
Not with this kind of force.
Citadel Evernight rumbled in time with the Nocturne, shivering as though it, too, relished being purified. It shook again, and this time part of its walls fell into the Nocturne with a violent crash. I hesitated, not wanting to destroy Evernight and not sure how much more it could take.
“It can be rebuilt,” Theia urged, her voice ringing clearly even over the din. “Keep pushing, Esmer!”
Shadows were raging across Evernight now, making it hard to see clearly. My limbs felt numb, my wings too heavy. It was growing harder to focus, but I couldn’t give up now. We were almost there.
I’m almost there.
I commanded another wave of darkness to rise from the Nocturne, crying out from the effort. Evernight shook violently at the impact; I couldn’t see clearly as more of it crashed into the waves.
“Back away!” I shouted, blanching in horror. “It’s going to fall!”
The Weavers and my legionnaires flew back at once, but some didn’t make it out fast enough.
I heard a few screams, a few shrieks for help.
Frantically, I drew more darkness away from the citadel, clearing the air.
If we couldn’t see it, we wouldn’t be able to dodge the rubble as it fell.
But no matter how hard I tried, Evernight’s stormy darkness only gathered together more violently, swirling around its highest peaks.
It seemed to grow in size, in shape, in stature, lifting above us and forcing us back.
With a final explosive shake, the citadel leaned forward, about to crash into the Nocturne.
But then it righted itself.
Began to shake itself off and rise.
Spires became horns, windows reddened and became eyes, and the island became a great armored body.
“Esmer,” Raelion greeted, his voice a terrible rumbling storm. His words echoed across the Dream Realm, forcing the Nocturne to tremble. “You have given me a gift. I will not soon forget this day.”
And then he opened his mouth.