Chapter 8
Mina
I stepped from Jarrow’s stall, making my way towards the stable’s exit.
I’d visited him for hours on end since returning to the Citadel.
Mostly because I wasn’t permitted to leave and felt guilty that he was cooped up.
Fiona and I had met daily, trying to uncover additional information about the portal under the palace.
So far, we’d found nothing. Not in the remaining journals belonging to other head witches. Not in the library.
I’d been pleased to find Herrin waiting for me each morning before dawn, ready to resume my training as if I’d never left.
I cherished the time with him, knowing that for one reason or another, it would come to an end.
It felt good to push my body, to see how much I’d grown in the time away.
It felt even better to see him grin with pride every time I came close to besting him—
A figure detached from the shadows and I froze. Gianna crossed her arms, blocking me.
“What do you want?” I demanded, stopping several feet away. I’d seen little of her over the past week.
“Just making sure you aren’t trying to flee before tomorrow’s meeting.”
I snorted, looking down at myself, my lack of travel supplies. “I wouldn’t dare deprive you of the chance to vent your petty jealousy.”
“Oh, please. Soon enough, what will I have to be jealous of?”
“You are a disgrace to the council,” I hissed. “Putting your personal feelings above reason.”
“Right. And how far did Aleksander Kozma shove his cock down your throat before you submitted to his rule?” she asked, scoffing. I blinked, shock morphing into fury as she continued, “If I am a disgrace to the council, at least I am not a disgrace of a witch.”
Her carefully aimed words cleaved me open for an entirely different reason.
“How dare you?!” I spat, lunging. My body changed before I could stop it, my arm reaching for her throat, to crush her windpipe. My mind tunneled down to a single thought, a single desire—the need to kill a fellow witch.
“I knew it,” Gianna snarled, her triumph warring with sudden fear—
The door to the stable flew open and I froze. Cold swallowed up the heat of my emotions as I regained control of myself. For a brief flash, the thing inside me had almost done the unspeakable. What was worse, I would have let it.
“What’s going on here?” Elianna said, entering arm in arm with Anne. The torchlight framed them against the dark backdrop of night. Elianna’s eyes ping-ponged between the two of us, noting our rigid posture. I exhaled, relieved that she was here.
“Just wait until the council hears.” There was a measure of glee in Gianna’s voice, as if we hadn’t just been interrupted. She pulled her gaze from me and said, “Aramina is dangerous. Take it from me, you should both keep your distance. Anne, I would have expected better.”
Anne simply looked between us, uncertain. Coming to my defense, Elianna said, “Aramina is the best witch this Citadel has. Clearly, having a seat on the council means little when your ability to see reason is impaired.”
“Oh, I see things absolutely clearly, now.” Gianna let that sink in, then turned and strode away.
“What is she talking about?” Elianna looked confused more than suspicious.
“I… She riled me up, is all.” I scrubbed a hand over my face, trying not to panic.
“Was she harassing you about tomorrow?” Anne asked, appalled.
“A bit.” My legs felt weak, like I would collapse if I didn’t start moving. Perhaps it was time to speak with Fiona. I’d hoped—naively—that I could keep my condition hidden. I’d feared that telling her everything would jeopardize her support.
“I think... I think it’s best if I retire and get some sleep.”
“We’ll walk you back.”
“No, I—”
“It isn’t up for discussion,” said Elianna, sounding more firm than I’d ever heard her. “You don’t look well and I’m worried about you. We’ll take you back to your room.”
“All right.” I could speak with Fiona first thing in the morning. The council meeting wasn’t until late afternoon. That would give her time to make up her mind about me. I’d just have to stew all night with anxiety.
“Come along,” Anne said, reaching for my arm. They each took one, guiding me out of the stable. We reached my room, them ushering me inside. “Can we get you anything? Something to eat, perhaps—”
Anne’s question was cut short as a loud boom shook the walls. We froze, staring at each other. Another explosion sounded, and the walls shook again, tiny bits of dust breaking from the ceiling.
“What’s…?” Anne dropped my arm, looking up.
Distant shouts reached our ears, muffled.
“Could it be demons?” Anne asked, blinking at us. “Someone must have lost control of a summoning star or something.”
Another boom sounded, shaking the fortress again, and then again. We rushed for the door right as it flew open and Viktor rushed in, Ronan on his heels. “Thank fuck,” Viktor gasped, going straight to Elianna, taking hold of her shoulders to examine her.
“What’s going on?” Anne asked, gluing herself to Ronan’s side.
“We don’t know,” Viktor said. “We heard the commotion and came looking for—”
His words were cut off by an ear-splitting scream. Gods! It sounded like a war was breaking out. But maybe…
My blood ran cold. Gianna’s words came back to me, only, I had thought she was referring to the council meeting.
A figure filled the doorway. Herrin. He was panting, holding a travel sack in his hand.
“Herrin,” I cried, taking in his bloodied, rumpled clothes. There was a small gash on his forehead.
“We’re leaving, Mina. Now.” He sounded panicked. I’d never heard him like this. There was something else in his voice, too. Something I didn’t have time to question.
I surged forward to examine him. He was favoring his right foot. “What’s going on? What’s happening?! Is it the—?”
“Do you trust me?” he demanded, eyes desperately searching mine.
“I… Of course.”
“Then grab whatever you can carry in the next five seconds and follow me.”
“What’s happened, Head Wielder?” Viktor stepped forward, keeping his tone respectful.
“I’m not head wielder anymore.” I froze halfway across my room. “Damn it, girl,” Herrin snapped, noticing my lack of movement. “If you don’t get your things and leave with me right now, you’ll be dead. Worse than dead. I promised—I promised Fiona I’d get you out of here. Now come!”
“We’re coming too,” Elianna said, voice hitching.
“Then you’d better get your asses moving.”
“What of our things?!” Anne cried, looking conflicted.
“We didn’t bring anything we can’t leave behind,” Elianna said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
I reappeared beside Herrin, my travel pack in hand, glad I’d never bothered unpacking. He gave a nod and led us cautiously out into the corridor. Silence had fallen in the thirty seconds it had taken us to gather ourselves.
“Let’s go.” Herrin took off at a sprint. We followed.
“There she is!” A cry sounded far behind us down the corridor. It was accompanied by running feet. Gianna was here for me. “Hurry! They’re getting away.”
I cursed under my breath. That bitch! What had she done?!
“A distraction would be good right about now, Mina,” Herrin growled.
I winced, then thought of the explosions I heard.
Offering up a silent prayer of forgiveness to the Citadel, I used my abilities with air, diving deep into myself.
I slammed a powerful wave of magic against the corridor behind us.
A boom resounded, shaking me to my bones.
The walls began to collapse, cutting off our pursuers.
I did it again, and then again, hoping to thwart them.
I bought us as much time as I could, destroying the Citadel walls in our wake.
I had a thousand questions.
I had a nagging fear in the pit of my stomach.
I had a desperate sense of self preservation.
All of these things drove me as we reached the stables.
I thanked the gods that Henrick was still on duty. He met us with wide eyes. “What’s going on out there—?”
“No time for questions,” Herrin snapped. “Get Mina’s horse saddled, now! Mina, help with the others.”
“Of—of course, Head Wielder,” Henrick stammered. “At once!” He jumped into action.
We were a flurry of activity, getting the horses prepared. I used as much magic as I could, gritting my teeth against the growing pain of it.
“They’re coming,” Anne cried from her lookout at the stable’s door.
“Out the back, now!” Herrin shouted, appearing behind me. He lifted me into Jarrow’s saddle without apologizing. He thrust my travel pack into my hands and slapped Jarrow’s flank. My horse took off.
The back exit loomed before me. I blasted it open, sparing a glance for the others. They were quickly mounting. I had just enough time to see them take off at a gallop as a group of witches and wielders skid into the stable, all led by Skye.
We shot out into the night, racing through the courtyard.
The fortress gates hadn’t yet closed for the night.
I flinched as we shot beneath the wall, as the presence of Nebrine assaulted the thing inside me.
creating a path. The sound of pounding hooves on cobbles filled my ears, muted only by my own racing heartbeat.
The city was quiet at this hour. We surged down the main thoroughfare. For several minutes, it seemed we were in the clear. Then I caught distant shouts as our pursuers came after us on horseback. We raced through the streets.
In front of me, a building exploded and I screamed. Another followed. Using magic was instinctive, so I worked to clear a path and protect us.
“Go right!” Herrin shouted from behind me.
I followed his orders without question. The rest of my companions were falling behind. I urged Jarrow to slow down. I would never forgive myself if anyone got caught helping me. I needed to be close enough to protect them with my magic, if necessary.
After seeing the way Gianna felt towards me, I had no doubt in my mind what would happen if they caught me. They wouldn’t merely strip me of my bond with Rixon. They would try to kill me, too. While I didn’t doubt my power was greater than theirs, I was done underestimating my enemies.
King Maddox Kozma had shackled me with Nebrine. I wasn’t sure how much Gianna had put together. I wouldn’t take that risk.
The city gates loomed before us. Guards shouted in surprise at our approach.
“Open! Open the gates!” Herrin commanded from behind me. They wouldn’t dare question the head wielder. We shot through the portcullis, right out into the wilderness and the darkness of night.
Farther behind, I could still hear the sounds of Skye’s voice urging her group on.
She was relentless, which told me this had become personal.
I wasn’t sure if it was because of Herrin, me, or both of us.
The ground shook ahead of me and I was certain one of the witches was attempting to disturb the earth, to hamper our progress.
I dodged a massive crack just as it appeared, doing my best to stitch it back together. The action cost me, slowing us down.
“They’re catching up!” Elianna cried. “We need to outrun them.”
If we didn’t do something, they would continue to pursue us all the way to the capital. There would be no sleep, no rest. I couldn’t risk our lives.
I dipped deeper into my magical reserves, using my affinity with other elements to throw obstacles into their path and push them back. Each time they tried something to stop us, I returned the favor.
The sound of our horses' hooves and heavy breathing made talking impossible. I wanted to ask Herrin what had happened. Wanted to ask him about Fiona. But part of me was too afraid to learn the truth.
Part of me already knew.
Distance melted away beneath Jarrow’s hooves. Minutes stretched into hours. Still we kept up our relentless pace.
I had plenty of magic left, but this game of cat and mouse wasn’t getting us anywhere. I needed—
I felt them before I saw them. Demons. A relieved cry fell from my lips.
Part of me balked at the idea forming in my mind, but it was the only way. My companions would forgive me for it, hopefully. But I would rather have their contempt than their deaths on my hands.
“This way,” I cried, pulling us off course. Somehow, we’d instinctively set out on a path that would take us to the capital.
I led us closer to the pulsing lifeforms I felt, identifying the presence of each one. Xastors. It got easier the longer I lived with a part of them inside me.
“Tell me you have a plan, Lady Witch,” Viktor called from behind.
“Something like that,” I shouted back. “You might hate me afterward, but it’s the only way.”
“What do you have in mind, Mina?” I’d slowed Jarrow so that Herrin rode beside me.
“Something that will require a lot of explaining,” I said. “But I promise I’ll give you an explanation when there’s time. For now, I just need you to trust me.” Even in the darkness, I saw the question in his gaze.
Still, he nodded and said, “If it will keep us alive, do whatever you need.”
“Good, because there is a pack of demons coming straight for us. I need you to leave every one of them alive.”