Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
A cacophony of boots on marble shattered the eerie silence as a a second group of castle guards thundered past Fallon, Novi, Dillon, and Mauricio. Their faces were etched with so much darkness and foreboding that the hair rose on the back of Fallon’s neck.
His perceptive eyes locked with one of the passing redcloaks, recognition flashing across the man's features. The guard stumbled, nearly losing his footing on the steps as he blurted out, "Your Highness! There's been an incident in your chambers!”
Ice flooded Fallon's veins as he rushed up the stairs alongside the other guards. "What kind of incident?"
The man’s face paled. “All we know is there’s blood... so much blood..." He turned to Novi, his expression grim. “Don’t go up there, m’lady. You can’t unsee a thing like this.”
Fallon was already bolting up the sweeping staircase, shoving past the armored bodies crowding his path. His heart hammered against his ribs, each thump amplifying his dread. Dillon's footsteps echoed close behind, a grim reminder that whatever awaited them, they'd face it together.
As they rounded the final corner, the scene that greeted them defied comprehension. The hallway outside Fallon's chambers had become an abattoir of nightmares. The white stone walls had been painted red with arterial sprays, leaving every painting, every sculpture, and every side table slick with death.
The torches gleamed brighter as their light was reflected by the dripping wet walls, forcing Fallon to see every horrific detail.
“Dear gods…” he whispered, widening his eyes. He cast a sideways glance at the nearest redcloak. “Keep Novi away from here. I forbid anyone to let he see this.”
The guard nodded and left to follow his orders.
The bodies of the faithful redcloaks once stationed at his door now lay strewn about like broken dolls, their limbs bent at impossible angles. Some were barely recognizable—their faces had been torn off their skulls, leaving only pulpy masses of mutilated flesh, broken bone, and lifeless eyeballs that stared into oblivion.
The coppery stench of blood assaulted Fallon’s nostrils, so thick he could taste it on his tongue. His gaze swept over the various organs that glistened among the carnage. Entrails had been ripped out through some of the guards’ necks and strewn across fallen swords and armor like wet, red ribbons.
"I thought I’d seen everything, but this is new to me..." Dillon murmured, almost sounding intrigued.
Stepping over the corpses, he followed Fallon into the apartment. With every step they took, their boots crunched against broken bones and squished down on livers, lungs, and intestines.
Fallon pushed past another redcloak, letting his eyes dart around his chambers. He felt bile threaten to rise but he swallowed it down, rage simmering beneath his skin.
The room was a glimpse of the darkest corners of each of their seven hells. Tamira’s body lay in a twisted heap. Her delicate limbs were broken in so many places that they curved in grotesque arcs instead of angles. Half of her beautiful face had been ripped off, leaving a bloody void where her eyes and smiling mouth should have been.
Callie lay nearby, drenched in scarlet, looking like a porcelain doll in a war zone.
“Callista…” Fallon's heart seized with dread. He knelt beside her, checking for a pulse. Her heartbeat was faint but it was there, a small mercy in this ocean of blood.
"Still alive," he muttered, relief tinged with rage as he stood up and motioned for a redcloak to assist her. “Where the fuck is my daughter?”
“We’re searching for her as I speak, Your Highness,” another redcloak told him. “We’ve sealed off every exit.
“Do you smell that?” Dillon’s nostrils flared as he scented the air. “Mother’s perfume. I always thought it was so sickeningly sweet.”
Fallon growled, his black eyes burning with demonic yellow light. All his prior intentions to keep his dark secret hidden disappeared in an instant. In that moment, all he wanted was to get his daughter back. If he had to reveal his mother as a Kaos witch to do so, it was a price he was willing to pay.
His fists tightened, turning his knuckles white. He wanted to tear the world apart. He wanted to burn it all down. Fire flickered at his fingertips, barely restrained.
“Find Her Majesty. Find her accomplice…a woman named Alloria. She has brown hair and golden eyes.” Fallon snarled as he barked his orders to the stunned guards. “I want them both found immediately and brought to me— alive !"
He stooped down and grabbed a fallen redcloak's sword, its weight unfamiliar but at least he was armed. Fury propelled him through the wing of the castle until he arrived at his mother’s locked door.
His rage boiled over, igniting something primal within him. Suddenly, his whole body burst into flames. Demonic fire spilled down his shoulders and arms. He was too furious to be stunned by this manifestation of his new power. The door began to smolder, then char. He kicked at it once, then twice, before it split with a thunderous crack and disintegrated into ash.
Fallon climbed through the smoldering archway, his burning body casting eerie shadows around Laena's opulent bedroom.
It was empty.
Then, a familiar sound pierced the silence—a baby's muffled cry.
“Lucia!”
He whirled around and headed towards the bathroom, tearing the door from its hinges.
It was also empty.
But Lucia’s cries were louder now.
Two glowing demon eyes darted around the space, searching. He held his breath, listening to where the cries were coming from. A tall cabinet was centered against the back wall. He pressed his ear against it, then growled deep in anger.
Demon fire dripped off the side of his face and sped along the outer edges of the cabinet, searing away the wood to reveal a hidden passage to a secret room.
Through the flames, Fallon saw his mother and Alloria standing around a white stone altar. Lucia was lying in the center of it, helpless and sobbing, surrounded by arcane symbols written in blood. Laena and Alloria stood over her, chanting in a language older than time.
"Stop this at once!”
Fallon's voice boomed like thunder. His mother's eyes met his, completely devoid of warmth. They were filled with something far darker—ambition, betrayal.
Alloria's expression was pure evil as she turned to face him. With a flick of her wrist, a bolt of sickly green energy hurtled towards him. Fallon instinctively raised the borrowed sword, deflecting the spell with a shower of acid-green sparks.
"Foolish boy," she hissed, her voice dripping with contempt. "You think you can stand against true power?"
Fallon's mind raced, desperately trying to summon his untamed magic. He thrust out his hand, willing a blast of pure force to emanate from his palm. Miraculously, a surge of orange light shot out and knocked Alloria back a step, but she quickly regained her footing.
"Is that all?" She cackled and shook her head, then launched a barrage of spectral daggers that whistled through the air.
Fallon dove and rolled, feeling the sting as one of the blades cut into his shoulder. The smell of his own blood mixed with the incense-heavy air of the secret chamber. He could hear Lucia's frightened cries, spurring him to action.
"Give me my daughter!" he roared, channeling his rage into a wild swing of his sword.
Alloria easily sidestepped, countering with a spell that sent Fallon flying into the wall. Pain exploded down the length of his spine as he slammed into the stone.
She sent more spectral daggers his way. Somehow he managed to deflect all but one, which tore into the flesh of his upper thigh. The Kaos witch had decades of experience mastering her craft. Fallon had none. As he continued to deflect her incredible magic, the sword he clung to became dented and started to chip away.
His hope began to falter.
As they continued their deadly dance, Fallon caught glimpses of Laena inching towards the door, Lucia clutched tightly to her chest. His heart clenched with fear and fury.
"Mother!" He spat the word like a curse. "Don't you dare?—"
His words were cut short as Alloria's magic wrapped around his throat, choking off his air. Black spots danced at the edges of his vision as he clawed desperately at the invisible force.
Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out.
"Step away from my brother, you treasonous cunt!"
Dillon stood in the doorway, the legendary Trunsin Blade glowing with otherworldly light in his grasp. Laena's eyes widened in panic as she realized her escape route was blocked.
Fallon gasped as Alloria's chokehold dissipated, her attention now split between the two threats. He stumbled forward, his borrowed sword woefully inadequate compared to superiority of the Trunsin Blade.
But with Dillon at his side, they might actually have a chance.
That dream was short-lived.
With a snarl of frustration, Alloria unleashed a devastating blast of energy directly at Dillon's head. The ancient sword clattered to the ground as he collapsed in the doorway, blocking Laena from escaping with Lucia.
Fallon watched in horror as his brother writhed on the floor, clinging to his skull while his agonized screams filled the chamber. Alloria's magic continued to pulse into his brain, slowly draining his life away.
Fallon knew he only had this one chance to act before it was too late.
With a burst of speed, Fallon lunged for the legendary weapon. His fingers closed around the hilt as a surge of power coursed through his arm. He focused all of his strength and skill and anger at Alloria, then sliced through the air.
A wet thud.
A spray of crimson.
Alloria's head separated cleanly from her body, her gold eyes wide with shock as it rolled across the altar. Blood fountained from her neck, splattering Fallon and Laena with hot, sticky droplets.
The chamber fell deathly silent except for Lucia’s wails and the sizzle of dissipating magic. Alloria’s body slammed against the altar with a dull thump, then hit the floor.
Fallon stood, panting heavily, his grip white-knuckled on the Trunsin Blade. He watched, transfixed, as Alloria's severed head began to shrivel before his eyes, the skin wrinkling and receding until it resembled that of a mummified corpse.
A piercing scream shattered the moment.
Laena, spattered with blood and clutching his crying daughter, raised her other hand, summoning her magic. Dark energy crackled between her fingers.
"You have no idea what you’ve done!" she shrieked, her eyes wild with fury and fear. "You will pay for?—"
The tip of the Trunsin Blade was pressed against her throat before she could finish her threat.
"Put. Lucia. Down.”
Fallon’s voice was low, dangerous.
" Now ."
Laena's eyes darted between Fallon's face and the blade at her throat. She clutched Lucia tighter, the baby's cries growing more frantic.
"I am your mother !" Laena hissed, her voice trembling. "I’m only doing whats best for you!"
Fallon's lip curled in disgust. "No…I've seen spiders take better care of their young than you ever did."
Laena panted, baring her teeth as Mauricio, Novi, and a contingent of guards spilled into the room behind Fallon. They froze at the nightmarish scene before them–Alloria's headless corpse, blood pooling across the floor, Dillon groaning as he sat up in the crimson puddle.
Laena's shoulders sagged. She was trapped. Surrounded. Her eyes darted to the witnesses, then back to Fallon's unwavering gaze.
"It's over," Fallon said, his voice like steel wrapped in velvet. He pressed the tip of the blade harder, drawing a drop of blood from her neck. “Put my daughter down ."
With trembling hands, Laena lowered Lucia onto the altar, not far from Alloria’s severed head. The infant's cries echoed off the stone walls, the only sound amidst the oppressive silence.
Fallon's heart raced as he maneuvered between his daughter and Laena, keeping the sword against her neck.
The baby’s cries were heartbreaking. They tugged at him so hard that he risked a glance at Lucia. His breath caught at the sight of her tiny naked body covered in blood.
In that split second of distraction, Laena chose her moment. She darted past Fallon, sprinting towards the large stained-glass window.
"No!" Fallon roared, lunging after her.
But it was too late. Laena crashed through the window in a shower of broken glass. The sound of shattering filled the air as she disappeared into the cold winter night.
Novi rushed forward, her heart pounding in her ears. She scooped Lucia from the altar, cradling the blood-spattered infant against her chest. The baby's cries pierced her soul as she desperately tried to soothe her.
"Shh, my love," Novi whispered, her voice trembling. "Mama's here."
She frantically examined Lucia, her fingers gentle as they probed for injuries. Relief washed over her as she realized the blood wasn't Lucia's. She grabbed a clean cloth from nearby, tenderly wiping the crimson smears from Lucia's face. "It's alright, little one," she murmured, rocking gently. "You're safe now."
At the window, Fallon and Dillon peered into the darkness, confusion etched on their faces.
“I don’t see a body,” Dillon muttered, rubbing his aching head. "Where is she?"
Fallon's eyes scanned the ground below, searching for any sign of Laena's broken body. Nothing. “She has to be somewhere," he growled. "No one could survive that fall."
Novi joined them, Lucia now quieter in her arms. Anger burned in her chest, hot and fierce. "She can't just get away with this," she hissed. "After everything she's done..."
Fallon turned to her, his expression grim. "We'll find her, Novi. I swear it."
A bone-chilling screech suddenly split the night air, causing Lucia to whimper and burrow deeper into Novi's embrace. The group froze, their eyes drawn to the inky sky beyond the shattered window.
"There!" Dillon's voice was taut as he pointed to a massive, undulating shadow flying through the darkness.
Fallon squinted, his brow furrowing. "That's not a bat. That's?—"
Novi gasped.
“It’s Kai!”
The chimera's enormous shape materialized fully as he flew closer. The full span of his wings stretched wide as he descended carefully onto Laena's balcony. His massive claws scraped against the stone, yet there was a newfound grace to his movements—a far cry from his previous clumsy attempts.
Without hesitation, she rushed out onto the balcony, Lucia still clutched protectively to her chest. Fallon was close behind, his hand instinctively flexing around the handle of his sword.
Kai's yellow eyes fixed upon them, intelligence gleaming within their depths. With deliberate care, he lowered his head, revealing the prize clamped firmly in his jaws—a battered and bloodied Laena, still very much alive.
Fallon's face hardened, his voice cold as he addressed the nearby guards. "Take her to the dungeons at once!"
As the nervous guards approached, eyeing Kai warily, Fallon leaned in close to Laena. His words dripped with venom. "Tell me, mother. Do you still favor executions without a fair trial?"
Laena's eyes blazed with hatred. She jerked her head forward, spitting directly into Fallon's face.
Fallon didn't flinch. His expression was a mask of disgust as he wiped the saliva from his cheek. The guards finally gathered the courage to seize Laena from the huge chimera and dragged her away.
As the echoes of Laena's curses faded, Kai turned his massive head towards Novi. His eyes, once filled with primal hunger, now held a glimmer of recognition.
" Two legs…not food ," Kai rumbled in all of their minds. Then he made a low growl that vibrated through the air.
Novi’s sudden laughter cut through the tension. "Oh, Kai! You clever, clever boy!" She reached out, stroking his beaky nose with one hand while she held Lucia in the other. "You remembered my advice!”
Fallon watched, transfixed. This wasn’t a beast that terrorized his city. This was a creature who’d never learned to live among the demonborn. He handed the Trunsin Blade back to Dillon, watching as Kai nuzzled Novi with surprising gentleness.
Novi's eyes sparkled with excitement and pride. "Look, Kai. I had my baby! This is Lucia.” She tilted the infant in her arms, revealing a small set of curious black eyes.
Kai's gaze flicked from Novi's face to her noticeably smaller belly, then to the tiny being in her arms. His massive head tilted in what could only be described as confusion.
A deep, resonant purr emanated from his chest as made the connection. He pressed his snout gently against Novi's hip. " Kai loves Lucia ," he rumbled, his words slow but unmistakable.
Fallon was caught off guard by a surge of emotion, both unexpected and powerful. He stepped forward, giving the chimera a firm caress on the neck.
"Thank you, Kai," Fallon said, his voice thick. "You protected my family tonight."
Kai's golden eyes blinked at him. " Family ?"
Fallon nodded, then motioned to Novi, Lucia, and Dillon
“This is my family. Even Mauricio is like an uncle to me. A family is a group of people that you love more than anyone else.”
Kai’s tail swished slowly from side to side as he studied each member of the group. Then he shook his head and snorted.
“ Kai loves Novi. Kai loves Lucia. Kai is family .”
Fallon laughed, unsure of the last time he’d felt so light. So free.
“Yes, Kai. You are part of our family.”
“He deserves a reward,” said Dillon, reaching out to scratch around the base of one of Kai’s horns. The chimera purred in satisfaction. “Mauricio, can you have a goat brought to the back gardens?”
Mauricio’s smile faded as he looked at Dillon with a dubious expression.
“Forgive me, sire…you want to sacrifice a goat? In the gardens? At this hour?”
“I’m a Sacred Son of Sinaryos,” Dillon reminded him. “If I want to sacrifice a goat in the back gardens of my own castle, I am well within my right to do so.”
Instead of groveling, Mauricio’s face split into a wide grin of approval.
“Indeed, you are, sire. Oh, it’s so good to have you back.”