Chapter 29
Twenty-Nine
A s the final fight approached, the human slaves lined up along the side of the crowd of demons with bowls of food.
From my perch in the tree, I searched for Mira and she seemed to be at their head.
She glanced toward me, and I gave her a supportive smile, even if I was unsure she’d be able to see it.
She turned away, and her gaze locked onto Throk. Good.
Maybe this would work after all.
“Time for the final fight,” Throk said. “Vaelor and Raxus, come forward.”
The two stepped into the ring of stones and stood across from each other on the field. Raxus—his body covered in bloody bone armor—and Vaelor, bare-chested due to losing his breastplate in the last fight. Raxus wielded a massive sword, longer even than Vaelor’s.
A chill ran over me. Raxus glared at Vaelor. “You appear a little worn out, my lord. ”
“I have energy enough to take you,” Vaelor growled, his own blade gripped in both hands. Despite his firm stance, sweat lingered on his brow.
Raxus sneered. “We shall see.”
The demon army gathered around, hungry to watch the violence. They rumbled and roared, bloodthirsty looks on their faces. The mist converged, swirling, making their glowing eyes even more eerie through the haze. The soldiers didn’t care who won. They simply wanted to see more bloodshed.
Eat the root, I thought to Vaelor.
He reached into his pocket and popped it into his mouth. I dipped my hand into my pocket as well, grasped the leaf and ate it. I made the signs and prayed to the gods, to the fates, to anyone that might be there to please let this work.
The horn blared.
Vaelor and Raxus circled each other like wolves, searching for a weakness.
Raxus moved first, lunging toward Vaelor.
Their swords clanged together. Raxus’s strength pushed Vaelor back, and Vaelor spread his good wing, catching air and allowing him to glide backward.
But Raxus was faster. He pressed his advantage, grabbing Vaelor’s foot and throwing him against the ground.
I flinched. Raxus roared and brought his weapon down. Vaelor rolled out of the way, coming to his feet. Raxus clomped forward, his sword glinting in the sunlight, engaging Vaelor in another round of blows that threw Vaelor further backward.
Vaelor began to glow, his form blurring for an instant.
“What’s this?” Raxus snarled. “What are you trying to do?”
I held my breath. Vaelor was attempting to access the power.
He danced away from Raxus’s swing. “Have you not heard of the stories where the Spiritu Malignos were able to split their form?”
Raxus’s gaze narrowed. “That’s a fairy tale.”
Vaelor gasped for breath, and the glow faded as his hold on the power slipped.
I frowned. He’d been so close. That was our last chance.
Raxus released a roar and stomped forward. Before Vaelor could move, Raxus drove his sword into Vaelor's stomach.
"No," I whispered, the word barely more than a breath. I couldn't move. I could only watch in horror. My body refused to obey me, locked in place while panic surged through every part of me. I wanted to scream, but no sound would come.
Vaelor let loose his own roar, hate and rage burning from his gaze. He snarled and wrapped his hands around the blade plunged into his gut so Raxus couldn’t retrieve his weapon. Black blood leaked from his wound onto the ground.
I clutched the tree branch, begging the gods for this not to be the end.
Vaelor’s eyes sparked brilliantly, and then his body glowed .
His form blurred.
Raxus released the sword, stumbling back.
Vaelor’s spirit rose out of his brother’s body. His familiar face came into view as he coalesced, his spirit body unharmed.
I held my breath.
Raxus let out a throaty laugh. “Looks like I have won. Now all I have to do is dispatch you.” He stepped forward and gripped the blade, ready to pull it out of Vaelor’s bonded body.
Vaelor blurred and then re-coalesced in spirit form. He grabbed the sword his brother’s body held and flapped his wings, rising. He wheeled around in the air and plunged the blade into his enemy’s neck.
Raxus’s mouth opened, searching for breath. He crashed onto his knees as the black substance ran out of him, coating the bones of his armor.
Vaelor’s lip curled as he watched Raxus fight for life. “You know who this victory belongs to, don’t you?” He leaned forward and whispered in Raxus’s ear.
This victory is yours, Denara, Vaelor’s thoughts murmured in my mind.
Fear and dread crossed Raxus’s face. Lanzin’s body drew the sword out of his own gut, black blood pouring out of him. The body moved slowly, awkwardly forward at Vaelor’s command.
My pulse leapt. Yes, as the book said, Vaelor could control both forms at once—both spirit and body. Lanzin’s body raised the enormous blade and swung, striking through the other side of Raxus’s neck.
The massive head fell to the dirt.
The spirit of a troll ascended from the body. Vaelor’s physical body wielded Raxus’s now-glowing sword, and Raxus gave one last pain-filled roar before he dissipated.
Vaelor’s spirit returned into his body, re-bonding with it. He grasped his stomach, trying to staunch the bleeding that surely would make him pass out.
You did it. I breathed. It had been torture not to talk to him during his fight, but I hadn’t wanted to throw off his concentration.
We did it, he thought back.
Are you all right?
He ran me through, Denara, his voice was amused in my head. But such a blow won’t kill me.
You need something to stop the bleeding, I thought desperately.
“Someone get him a bandage before he bleeds out,” Throk ordered.
A cloth bandage was thrown at Vaelor’s feet. He grasped it and pressed it to his wound.
Do not fear, he thought. Spiritu Malignos does not bleed as much or as long as other creatures. Chances are I will remain conscious, for better or worse.
Vaelor staggered up to Throk and bowed.
Creedan, who watched, only snorted, fury in his eyes. Clearly, he’d wanted a different outcome.
Throk clapped, his glowing gaze amused. The black cracks in his flesh were like a thousand tiny snakes twisting across his skin, giving him an ominous appearance.
“Well done, Lord Vaelor. It appears we have our winner. Now, the real test begins. But first, let us start the feast!” He motioned to the humans.
They came forward and distributed food among the army.
In response, I gripped my branch, lowering myself from my hiding spot.
I would need to move once the demons started showing symptoms.
They wouldn’t be dead. Just weakened and distracted.
Something isn’t right, Vaelor’s warning sounded in my mind.
I glanced toward the camp to see Vaelor straightening, a wariness in his gaze.
“Real test?” he asked.
A cruel smile came to Throk’s lips. “You two.” He motioned to a pair of winged demon guards to his right. “Go get that human hiding in the trees yonder.”
He turned and pointed at me as I dropped to the ground. Shit.
Denara, run , Vaelor thought frantically.
I tore into the forest, my heart hammering against my ribs.
Trees flashed past in a dizzying blur as I sprinted, every breath ragged and desperate.
Part of me recognized it was useless, but I couldn’t stop.
The mist slithered between the trunks behind me, spreading faster with each second.
Panic surged through me, and I pushed harder, legs burning as I fought to stay ahead of it.
I knew what would happen if it caught me.
The sound of flapping wings sounded above. I gasped, my desperation spiking. The mist enveloped me.
Something struck me from behind, and I tumbled into the leaves and twigs, the rocks scraping off the flesh on my hands and knees as I tried to catch myself.
A foot slammed into my ribs, forcing me onto my back.
Two winged Spiritu Malignos demons glared down at me.
Their cracked skin and wicked smiles made my stomach roll with sickness.
They each took me by an arm and carried me to the demon army.
The sea of monstrous forms parted for me as we passed, nothing but raging death in hundreds of angry glowing eyes.
Oh gods, they recognized me.
I was dumped in front of Throk. I winced as my torn hands contacted the splintered wooden dais.
Creedan observed, now with interest in his expression.
Mira stood behind the demons with a bowl of stew, along with several servants.
They hadn’t delivered the food to them. Why hadn’t they brought them their meal?
Vaelor watched with agony visible on his features as he clutched his cloth to his wounded abdomen. Denara ? —
Whatever happens, don’t intervene, I thought. He was still under Throk’s powers. One misstep and his existence could be ended for good.
Vaelor’s entire body was tense and corded. Like he was physically holding himself back.
Throk took the bowl of stew from Mira and walked up to me, his expression as hard as stone. “Eat.”
He thrust the bowl toward my face, and I instinctively turned my head away. Throk growled and tossed it aside. “I want everyone to note that there are some loyal servants in this army.”
He glanced at Mira, who refused to meet my eyes.
My heart sank. Mira had outed me. I knew that my fears that day when I had escaped had been justified. She had been the one who outed the woman who had tried to flee. I saw the fear and despair on her face.
But the betrayal burned bitter on my tongue. I was pretty sure I was about to die.
“This is your slave, is it not? Trying to poison us all,” Throk asked Vaelor.
“So, before we grant you your rightfully earned place, I have one more order.” His hungry eyes glinted with malice, a sneering smile curling around his massive tusks that jutted up from his jaw.
“Give your precious Denara to us as an offering.”