Clash of Kingdoms (Dirty Blood Book 6), page 9
Vine kept his stare on Rancor. “Leave, and take these two with you. We’ll give you our instructions shortly.”
And then I felt it, a flickering candle, a light that had barely enough fuel to sustain it. It was merely a glimmer but still enough for me to absorb. Disgust and resentment…and vengeance.
I knew it would be unwise to overstay our welcome. “Huntley.”
Vine’s emotions intensified, turning from annoyance to full-blown anger. It was hard to understand what had provoked it, but now that little candle flame had turned into a forest fire.
Huntley remained in the chair for a moment, but then he stood up and approached Vine’s desk. “Listen to me—”
I grabbed him by the arm. “Huntley.”
He stilled and slowly looked at me.
All I had was a stare, but I hoped that would be enough for him to understand the danger we were in.
He seemed to get it because he took a step back.
“Thank you for your time,” I said diplomatically. “We’ll leave now.”
Vine’s expression remained the same, but his insides boiled like a hot pot on the stove.
The three of us turned away and walked down the long rug to the opposite door that felt like a league into the distance. Our backs were turned to him, and I’d never felt more exposed in my life.
When we were out of earshot, Huntley spoke. “What is it?”
“He’s angry,” I said. “Really angry.”
“We’re not getting out of here alive,” Rancor said.
I had the same fear. “Be prepared to fight.”
“There were so few of them on the way here,” Huntley said. “Child’s play.”
We pushed open the doors and stepped onto the bridge that led back the way we’d come.
But the path was blocked…by a dozen armed demons.
My sword was in my hand instantly, and Rancor and Huntley followed suit. The demon in the lead was the one who had escorted us down here—and he wore the biggest grin. And to make matters worse…there was something else.
An enormous serpent.
Enormous wasn’t even the right word. Fang was enormous. This thing was gargantuan, standing next to the bridge, its big body fading into the blackness of the chasm below. It had yellow eyes, and its mouth was already parted to show its exposed fangs.
“You should have taken my deal.”
I turned to see Vine behind us, relaxed as if he didn’t see us as a threat.
His eyes shifted to Rancor. “And you shouldn’t have crossed me.” He snapped his fingers. “Kill him.”
The gigantic snake prepared to strike. His fangs dripped with venom, and his powerful body tightened as it prepared to drive forward and bite us in half.
I locked eyes with the serpent and held up my hand. Stop.
The snake remained still, but it issued a hiss so high, it hurt everyone’s ears. The sound was so powerful, it seemed to make the earth shake around us.
Your venom runs in my veins.
Huntley looked at me, like he knew I was responsible for the snake’s behavior.
We are the same. I slowly dropped my hand, knowing the snake was intrigued by my ability to speak with him, the fact that we were connected in a way he didn’t understand.
Vine snapped his fingers again. “I told you to kill them.”
The snake continued to hesitate, my words enough for him to question his allegiance.
My hand moved to my chest, showing him the golden snake engraved in my armor. To them, you’re a slave. To me, you’re an equal. I kept my eyes locked on his yellow ones, feeling an undeniable warmth spread through his scales. The emotions of animals were different from humans, similar, but somehow more complex. And I could feel his hesitation once he realized we shared the same venom, that the power of the Golden Serpents was alive in my dead body.
He hissed, but this time, it was unclear who was the recipient of that threat.
“What the fuck is happening?” Vine unsheathed his own blade and moved to strike me down.
But I was too focused on the snake to keep up my guard. I moved for my sword, but I wasn’t quick enough.
But Huntley was. His blade met Vine’s, and he pushed him off me and spared my neck.
Please help us. I kept my eyes on the snake, our only way out of there. Free us.
The other demons rushed forward across the bridge to strike us down. Rancor prepared his blade, but he wouldn’t be enough to stop the onslaught. I wouldn’t be either, not even with my abilities.
I looked at the oncoming attack then back at the snake. Please.
His eyes remained on mine before a surge of anger rushed through him. Then he released a hiss greater than the previous one, a war cry. “Hiiiiisssssssssssssssssss!” He struck, not at me or Huntley, but for the middle of the bridge. His powerful body launched at the stone, breaking it into pieces so the middle caved in. The vibrations were strong enough to knock nearly everyone to the ground. Stones crumbled and fell into the chasm below.
Now the army of demons were stuck on the other side, and all they could do was stare us down with potent rage. Some screamed. One grabbed his sword and chucked it across the opening to strike one of us.
Huntley looked at me in amazement, like I had personally destroyed that bridge. “What the fuck just happened?”
I saw Vine come from behind him, swinging a sword made of gold.
I shoved Huntley to the side and caught his blade with mine, stopping it before it came down on me and the others. Vine’s rage was like wildfire, explosive and combative, uncontrollable. He came at me again with the strength of a mountain and the speed of a viper. I blocked his flurry of hits, but it took all my concentration.
He was different from the others.
He drove me back, sword striking me down, hitting my armor and leaving a mark. He pushed me to the edge of the bridge, his intention to push me over so I would fall into the abyss. Then Huntley stepped in, coming at him from the side with a blow to his neck.
He managed to duck it and turned his ire on Huntley.
It was two-on-one, but Vine could still handle us without a bead of sweat. His speed was unmatched. I blocked his hits because I knew when they would come, but even then, I struggled to keep up.
Huntley got hit a couple of times, but his armor was strong enough to protect him from serious injury.
“Rancor!” I spotted him off to the side, shrinking away because he didn’t want to help us if Vine ended up as the victor. “Get your ass over here.”
Rancor remained off to the side, leaving us to duel the demon that could handle both of our swords with a single one of his. Vine blocked Huntley’s hit then slammed his fist hard into his face, making him fly back. With Huntley down, Vine turned his full wrath on me, coming at me with such ferocity, it was obvious he wanted me dead.
I knew Huntley and I were no match for this being. He was superior to the demons trapped on the other side, gifted with supernatural power and ability. For the first time, someone was making me feel inadequate. Kill him.
My ally listened and issued another cry. “Hiiiiissssssssssss!” The snake struck.
Vine smacked the sword out of my hand then faced the snake, staring him down with fire in his eyes. The veins up his neck suddenly burned a deeper shade of red. “You wouldn’t dare.”
The snake hesitated then pulled back, like this demon somehow had enough power to make him cower in fear.
I reached down for my sword, and that brief instant was enough to lose sight of Huntley on the other side of Vine. Just as I grabbed the hilt and straightened, I heard him cry out in pain.
I turned frantically, seeing the demon shoving his blade straight through Huntley’s shoulder, breaking through the thick armor that was sword-proof and fire-proof. Huntley had turned at the right time, protecting his heart and lungs from the tip of the golden blade.
“Motherfucker.” I rushed to Vine and slammed my sword down.
He was turned the other way, but he met my blade like he knew it was coming. His immense strength drove me back because every hit had the force of a hurricane. “Submit.”
I continued to fight, matching his ire because I had the strength of ferocity. I was fucking furious.
“I said submit.”
“And I say fuck off.” I found an opening and kicked him hard in the chest, forcing him back to the ground.
The snake’s deep voice entered my mind for the first time, sounding different from Fang’s. Jump.
I rushed to Huntley, who had already pushed himself to his feet but staggered slightly. “Come on.”
He raised his sword to fight rather than flee.
“Jump,” I said, grabbing his shoulder and guiding him toward the edge.
Blood oozed down the front of his armor and onto his gloved hand. It even dripped onto the hilt of his sword, making the grip slippery. He stood tall and proud, like the open wound wouldn’t be enough to slow him down. “What?”
“Come on.” I tugged him to the edge and forced him over. We were both in free fall for a second before hard scales cushioned our fall. There were grooves in every mark, so we had something to hold on to so we wouldn’t slip away into the abyss below. Rancor landed on the snake a second later, on the other side of the bridge.
Thank you. I looked up to see Vine at the edge of the bridge, his sword gripped tightly in his fist, his face tinted red with the fire that burned inside him. His ire was reserved for the snake that had betrayed his loyalty. It looked like he might jump down and join us, stab his blade through the beautiful scales and pierce the flesh beneath. But he stayed, his anger so potent it gave my mind a headache.
The snake suddenly dove, and we were forced to grab on to whatever we could hold. He brought us deep into the darkness, away from the lit sconces along the bridge and the buildings. Deep down, we went…until we could no longer see anything.
SEVEN
AURELIAS
The snake moved through the dark chasm, taking us horizontal for a long time before he finally began to move up, making its way back to the surface.
“Wait.” Huntley continued to ooze blood, which made his gloved hand slippery on the scales. “He probably knows where the crystals are.”
“You’re bleeding out, Huntley.”
“Ask him.”
“Huntley.”
“Ask him.”
I touched the snake’s mind with mine. My friend is bleeding, and I must attend to the wound. Is there a safe place to stop?
There are many placesss in the underworld. He turned another direction, and then a moment later, he approached an isolated tower of stone, a sea of them in the distance, and propped himself high so we could move onto the ledge.
“Where are the crystals?” Huntley asked. Without the sconces, the world was dark. Distant clusters of crystals cast illumination along the ceiling and the sides of the stones.
“Take off your armor,” I said. “We have to stop the bleeding.”
Huntley groaned as he removed piece after piece, the armor heavy and locked together.
Rancor stood off to the side, staring into the endless abyss.
When we finally got his skin exposed, I saw the open wound, the blood that continued to pour out. “This is an unusual wound.”
A wound that doesss not heal.
What do you mean?
The gold in their blade isss pure. It’sss much harder for flesssh to heal. He’sss doing better than most.
How do you stop it?
It wearsss off naturally. But the victim isss usssually dead before that happensss.
I ripped apart the fabric of my own clothing and secured it around Huntley’s arm, applying as much pressure as I could to stop the bleeding. Harlow had told me their ancestors were powerful healers, and as a result, their afflictions healed quickly. I just hoped that would be enough in this case.
Huntley gave a grimace but didn’t complain otherwise. “Did you ask him about the crystals?”
“I care more about you right now, Huntley.” I ripped off another piece of my uniform and secured it around his shoulder.
“I will heal,” he snapped. “Now, ask him.”
I didn’t want to tell him the truth, to worry him if there was nothing he could do. There are crystals that grant the demons their immortality. Do you know where they are? I looked up to see the golden eyes of the large serpent, its golden scales still brilliant in the darkness. When they fall in battle, they return exactly as they were before. I need to destroy the source of their power.
I know of which you speak. They are not called crystalsss…but Veinsss of Velkum.
I need to find them.
You can’t go there.
But I need to go there.
You do not understand.
Destroying these crystals is the only way I can destroy them.
I underssstand. But you can’t go there.
I grew frustrated by the snake, but I swallowed my annoyance because he’d saved our lives and was our ticket out of his dark grave. I can go there if you take me.
Not all crystalsss contain the sssame powersss. He lifted his head and looked up, seeing a blue one lodged in the crust of the ceiling. Sssome emit light in dark places. Sssome are pretty to behold. The onesss that possess power are sacred…and guarded by the Demon Lordsss.
“What is he saying?” Huntley asked, impatient.
I held up my hand to silence him. How many Demon Lords are there?
Three.
Are they like Vine?
No. They’re beings that have always been…and will always be.
What does that mean?
“Does he know where they are or not?” Huntley snapped.
“Yes,” I said. “But it’s complicated.”
“Complicated how?”
“I would know if you stopped interrupting me.”
Huntley’s eyes narrowed in anger, but he held his tongue.
I turned back to the snake. What does that mean? They’ve always been…always will be?
They’re like time. No beginning—and no end.
Bumps suddenly formed on my arms, and I wasn’t sure why. What are their abilities?
I don’t know…but all demonsss fear them.
Does that include Vine?
Vine isss one of the few who ssspeaksss to them directly. The only one they allow near the crystals.
So the Demon Lords are the ones in charge…and Vine is their first general. Everyone else was simply foot soldiers.
That isss incorrect.
My eyes focused on the snake once more. What do you mean?
The Demon Lords are not in charge.
Then who is?
They call him Velkum.
And who is Velkum?
I don’t know…no one hasss ever ssseen him.
How can someone maintain order and never show their face? I’d thought destroying the crystals was a straightforward plan, but now I realized this underworld was far more complicated than I’d realized. Can you still take us there? Just so we can see?
The snake stared at me for a while. Only from a dissstance.
What is your name?
Beassst.
It suits you.
I know.
I’m Aurelias. I turned back to Huntley.
Huntley moved to me, the impatience written across his face. “What’s the plan?”
“Beast says the crystals are guarded—”
“Who’s Beast?”
Beast gave a quiet hiss that echoed all around.
Huntley gave a nod in understanding. “Nice to meet you.” He looked at me again. “How many guard the crystals?”
“Three—”
“Three? Then let’s go now.”
“It’s not guarded by three demons, but the three Demon Lords. From what Beast described, we should fear them.”
“I fear no one.”
“Well, they’re unlike anything living or dead. He described them as beings that have always existed…like time. No one is allowed to approach the crystals, except for Vine. Beast refused to take us there.”
Huntley looked at the snake, pissed off. “It needs to be done.”
“He also said their leader is Velkum, someone no one has ever seen.”
Huntley’s eyes narrowed.
“I want to destroy these crystals as much as you do, but I also want to live to tell the tale. I want to return to my—” I halted, catching myself before I said something I shouldn’t. “We need a plan.”
“We can’t make a plan if we don’t know what we’re dealing with.”
“Beast agreed to take us close enough to see, but not close enough to enter. Then he’ll take us to the surface, and we’ll return home to figure out a plan. I understand you want this done as quickly as possible, but we need to be smart about this.”
Huntley continued to breathe hard, like it took all his strength not to scream.
“Let’s go.”
Beast lowered his head so we could jump onto the back of his neck. Rancor was the last one to join us, silent the whole time as if he was still in shock. Beast began his progression through the darkness, slithering through chasms left and right, even downward as his strong body gripped the jagged rocks to keep himself suspended.
After an hour of traveling, he stopped.
In the far distance was a crystal unlike all the others, brilliant blue, so bright it lit up the surrounding rock like sunshine. It protruded directly from the surface of the cavern, a tall prism that pointed downward directly on top of a fortress. A massive iron gate blocked entry to the estate.
We all stared at it in silence.
There were no guards at the gate. No one on the premises. It was silent.
They’ve expired their crystalsss…and that’sss the last one that remainsss.
That’s why Vine refused to go elsewhere.
Yesss.
After minutes of silence, Huntley spoke. “It would take a thousand men to destroy that with pickaxes.”
“We need explosives.”
Huntley looked at me. “Explosives?”
“They’re packed with powder and lit with fire. My brothers use them all the time.”
Huntley continued to look confused.
