35. Tassarion
Tassarion
Surrounded by my Gargorètti, I floated to the edge of Everthorn Manor, landing between the front gates.
Once I settled close to the bridge that bled out into the Alabaster Wood on the other side, I bent to my knees, placing a hand on the ground.
I drew on an extensive amount of ethèr. After saying a quiet prayer, I unleashed a flood of souls into the ground, chanting the words of the protection oath over and over.
A veil of blue lightning formed a wall as high as it was thick in circumference around the entire manor.
A few moments later, the Anshantmant was intact, barricading the manor from any other attacks.
Then I clapped my wings and summoned a large star gate, enough to fit myself and the small contingent of Gargorètti.
With one look at the gargoyles, I stepped through the star gate.
After a moment of feeling like I was flying across galactic space, I crossed through to the other side on foot, landing a booted step onto thorny ground.
When I entered the Beauradèl wood, I inhaled deeply.
The scent of old, rotted wood with a hint of must clang to the air, curling my nose hairs.
Adrenaline pounded through my veins, a delicious hum of vengeance singing in my blood.
I drew on my Soul Bending. What I saw made my blood run cold.
When I pulled the power, there was no monstrous reaction. No song from the curse. No rebuttal from the beast within. There actually hadn’t been a peep from the monster within for a while now. My curse was gone.
But when? How...?
I thought back to when Nahomie first told me she loved me.
How the bond had come to life in a way that nearly brought me to my knees.
I thought back to the Sanctum. To the pure light that exploded in the Temple sanctuary, and then through me, as I felt the hand of the Infinite touch me.
Stars. It was broken. Zemshaza Beliah’s rotting curse was gone.
No more uncontrollable rage.
No more blackouts.
No more bloodlust.
Zemshaza had lied. It didn’t require blood. It required love.
Because of the Infinite, because of Nahomie, I was free.
My throat swelled as I drew on even more ethèr, letting my swarm of souls grow.
I looked at the ephemeral beings and started laughing.
Their once luminescent eyes were no longer bright white.
They were lavender. And each soul had a trail of obsidian flame encircling their bodies with lavender starlight glittering in the flame.
“By the Infinite!” Obsidian exclaimed from somewhere behind me. “Your soul bending has been fused with Roièssa’s blackfire.” A pause. Then. “This is what the Farasee Order fears. The fusion of power from a Seraphim of Nebulae blood and a Mortent of Namenthyen descent.”
Obsidian leaned close and whispered, only for me to hear.
“Wings of Namenthys. If she is one of the seven, then so are you.”
I looked at Obsidian and placed a shushing finger over my lips.
“I know, Obsidianathèru, the Valiant and True. Breathe not a word of this to anyone, not even Nahomie. Not yet, Gargorètti Roi.”
The Gargorètti nodded once, gaping at the swarm encircling me. I was both overwhelmed and humbled by the sight. I never imagined this would happen. Especially since Nahomie and I hadn’t yet...
My cheeks flushed, and I cleared my throat. I didn’t know how it happened, but I would process it later with Nahomie. For now, I had a job to finish.
“Gargorètti. Wings high!”
The gargoyles snapped to attention, standing to their full height. I tossed my head back to look up at nearly all of them. Only three of the younger females were just about my height. The rest were giants, even to me.
“Marcèllian Beauradèl has long lived without suffering the consequences for his crimes against my crown, my throne, and my home. This twinight, it all comes to an end. We go in. Snuff out every breathing Beauradèl. We get out. Clean. Quiet. Marcèllian will not be given the privilege of righteous judgment. Tonight, they all die.” Obsidian and Coralai grinned.
Really, it was a terrifying sight, but the viciousness only made me more excited to give Marcèllian the piece of work he deserved.
I turned away, walking down the center of the woods, choosing to mark this land one last time with my boots and wings.
“And another thing,” I snarled, stomping along the trail towards the estate, “Everything gets burned to the ground.”
“Define everything, mi Roi,” one of the younger Gargorètti inquired.
“The estate. The garden. The cattle. Goats. Every tree, branch, and root. Everything. Purge this entire strip of land until there isn’t a trace left to identify it.”
“Awoui, mi Roi.”
I crossed through the Beauradèl Wood. The Gargorètti trailed me like stone shadows.
I secured my crown on my head and brought up the sweet image of Nahomie resting in our bedcloud one more time.
I imagined her hair sprawled over her pillows and mine.
Imagined her balled up on my side of the bed, fisting the sheets around her like a cocoon.
I imagined her snoring while her blackfire trailed down the length of her body as she healed in her sleep.
I couldn’t wait to get home and put her hair in her bonnet.
To throw on slacks and wrap my body around hers.
I itched to rid the entire island of this pest named Marcèllian so Nahomie could travel freely without me worrying.
I stalked across the last stretch of woods, my cape and wings dragging across the earth while I glared out at Marcèllian’s estate through the final copse of trees.
The swarm of souls had announced our arrival.
As I reached the edge of the wood behind the garden and courtyard, I found Marcèllian glaring at me beneath the pressing dark.
The stars had hidden themselves this twinight leaving us in a cloaking darkness to hide the bloodbath that would ensue.
As a youngling, I remember being in this garden for a sumyrin party, enjoying the fun summertime block party, when Zemshaza and his horde descended on us.
This courtyard had been covered in golden blood, shredded feathers, and scattered bones.
All belonging to Everthorns and our loyalist angels.
My brother had been attacked and beaten nearly to death here.
Manmi, Papi, and Vitani had lost their lives here.
Manmi and Papi were able to buried, but Vitani...
we’d never been able to find her body to honor her in death.
Mortevain Island had been changed forever here.
This twinight, I would right all of those wrongs.
Marcèllian floated over his back porch, gloating as if he’d won.
He had miraculously recovered from all his wounds.
There was a malignant air about him, even from where I stood in the cloak of the woods, distant from him.
He looked evil. Personified. Incarnate. His eyes met mine, no longer hazel, but something darker, shifting strangely in the black.
Then they looked past me, and his smile withered.
“What in the Hèls is all this, swine?”
“You didn’t think I’d come to this party alone?” I tilted my head like a spiderwraith in the dark. “Did you?”
Marcèllian’s wing pairs twitched as he took in the swarm of souls engulfing my body, filling every stretch of space lining the back of the garden. He stumbled back a step, his shoulders caving slightly in terror. Then the foolish lord looked me in the eye, fear coloring his face.
I chuckled darkly, knowing I looked wild and deranged.
“Now,” I said, grinning from ear to ear, blending into the night. “Run.“