Chapter 10 #2
“Why would you?”
“Because I am now an outcast myself,” the Void Devil snarls.
“I have failed. I will suffer torments worse than you can imagine in your petty realm. So, when your soul flies from your body, I shall cling to it. We are bonded, whether you believe it or not. We are both running now. This is the only time you will have this offer. Your only chance to see your brother again. Do it.” He attempts to soften his expression.
“Don’t you want to be with the one person who didn’t fear you?
Cage you? Who loved you unconditionally? ”
My claws sink into my arm.
Suddenly, a soft hand is pressed against mine, before it wrenches my claws away from my wrist.
Then I am surrounded by the scent of roses.
“He is not the only one. Don’t you dare think about leaving me after everything we promised in our vows,” Freya growls. “After I followed you into this Void.”
“Dearheart, you found me.” I wrap my arms around Freya, shielding her from Void Devil.
A warmth floods me, which is different to the one that I felt when I thought I had finally found my twin again, but still drives away the cold.
It’s enough to help me to battle through the pain of broken ribs and bruises and sweep to my feet, spinning to push Freya behind me.
“You still think that you can protect her from me?” Void Devil’s face is split by his unnatural smile, and sudden terror shoots through me. “You are in my realm now, Little Blood. I will tear off your wings like you are no more than a fly.”
“Flies are my friends,” I reply. “I hate bullies who hurt animals. You have crooned falsehoods into my mind, promising a better future. Except, it was fake. You are the same as the most barbarous people in my own realm. Your new world is based on your view that we can be wiped out to make way for the true owners of the land…you.”
Void Devil cocks his head. “Before the shadows were born, it was our land. We simply wish to return and take it back. All you have done is delay the inevitable. Now, you shall both die for it. Then your spirits will be trapped here with us forever. And we have such games that we play with every Void Vampire.”
Freya grabs onto my shoulder. She is trembling.
“Be brave, my Queen,” I murmur. “We are together.”
I never believed that I would have someone to say that to. I thought that I would die alone.
But now, I have the Omega who grabs my hand and fiercely moves to stand by my shoulder.
The pinion feather that is tucked behind her ear begins to glow.
“I love you.” Freya tilts up her chin.
“I love you, my dear.” I adore the feel of her skin against my bare hand.
It is such a simple thing, but it means everything.
Void Devil opens his mouth, and his jaw unhinges. Then black tentacles burst out, reaching for Freya and me.
Unexpectedly, a portal forms in front of me. It is made of shadows, as black as night before the moon or the stars were born.
Daire tumbles through the portal in a ball of feathers with his ravens’ cawing around him.
I stare at the fae in shock.
He twirls to his feet between us and Void Devil like he hasn’t just fallen through a portal between worlds.
“I can’t leave you alone for two minutes without you getting into trouble.” Daire gives Freya a shaky smile, pointing at Freya’s hair. “I told you that I would always find you no matter where you are. You’re never alone when you have your fae soulmate’s most valuable wing feather.”
Void Devil’s lips curl wickedly. “Thank you for presenting me with your fated mates who are more important to you than life. It will be a better torture for me to take them apart in front of you, than to hurt you. After all, pain means little to you, does it?”
“Who is this charmer? Actually, don’t bother telling me. The Blood Moon has reached its scarlet height and…” Suddenly, the mask on Daire’s face starts to melt.
It drips down his cheeks like its molten silver. I stare in shock at his slowly unveiled face.
It’s like the sun coming out after an eclipse.
He’s beautiful.
My heart speeds up. My palms are sweating.
I pull away from Freya, holding out my hands to Daire because the reckless fool doesn’t appear to understand just how dangerous the enraged Void Devil is who is standing behind him.
“Come over here,” I command. “Take my hand.”
Daire ignores me. “Hold onto Sin tight and don’t let go, Spark.”
Freya wraps her arms around my waist.
The cursed silver from the mask forms something in Daire’s palms. The mask reshapes in seconds into a pair of shackles.
“What’s that, Raven?” My brow furrows.
Yet a small, painful part of me already knows.
I just can’t allow myself to believe it.
Daire’s gaze is anguished. “I keep my deals, Bat. Trust that I am shackling you only to serve you.”
Daire slams the cursed silver shackles around my outstretched wrists, before I can pull back.
I scream at the burn, as my magic and powers are agonizingly suppressed.
Instantly, a new portal forms around Freya, Daire, and me. Then we are being drawn through the portal to the furious howls of the Void Devil.