“A life for a life,” the demons around me echoed through gurgling laughter, choking on the essence of corrupted souls as they taunted me. They’d said the same thing to me repeatedly, eating away at my spirit until I looked forward to the bliss of true death.
“Your Killer of Shadow is safe. But at what cost, Dark Mistress?”
They spoke of the one man in all creation I didn’t understand and apparently never had.
Arim.
Just the mention of his name was enough to stir my anger enough to fight, and I gladly embraced his memory, needing it to survive.
Here in the heart of Mount Malinta, my form was all energy. I thrashed against the demonic bonds holding me tight, still not finding that opportunity to escape. For what seemed like an eternity, I’d been fighting to be free, to rejoin my body before I dwindled away into nothing.
I knew my body remained alive, though I couldn’t see it. And I’d felt, oddly enough, a forceful presence by my side. As if someone who cared about me wanted me to battle and live on. It was that strength that had given me the power to continue the struggle.
But my energy was fading. And all because of the Malinta demons that bloodsucking bastard, Sin Garu, had unleashed upon me.
Sin Garu, the last living member of my blood family, and the person I refused to acknowledge as brother. We shared a mother — the extent of our hate-filled relationship. Through no fault of my own, I’d been born of the same blood.
He had made a bargain with these demons. I’d be damned — literally — if I’d allow Sin Garu to escape the deal he’d made with the Malinta demons. I had a life to return to and quite a few scores to settle, the least of which was with Tanselm’s great sorcerer, too stubborn for his own good. After all that I’d sacrificed for Tanselm, I had no intention of succumbing to death to fulfill Sin Garu’s pledge.
My thoughts strayed to Arim again, to the thought of finally putting matters between us to rights. I called on the power deep within me. Like before, the green flames of the demons burned brighter, feeding on my Darkness.
But I pushed through the agonizing pain and sought the small source of Light still beating inside my heart. Arim’s face shone bright and steady within my memories. A small shard of love for the man stunning me even as I knew to embrace it.
Shrieking with dismay, the demons loosened their hold in shock, giving me the opportunity I needed. With a burst of energy, I pushed past the hatred binding me and shot through the demons’ plane toward my own.
But as I left, I felt a tug and an agonizing pain as they ripped away part of my soul. Glancing back as I floated toward the boundary of the demons’ world, I saw them cage and contain that bright blue piece of me.
“A life for a life,” the masses ranted as they surrounded the cage. Confined in flame, the bit of my soul flickered but remained strong. The contract was not met, my life not yet forfeit.
“You’ll get your life, that I promise.” But it won’t be mine. I stared grimly at the monsters and fires of damnation as I merged into the Between…
“Holy Mother of Shadow and Dark.” Sava stared at me in shock. “They’ve got a part of you. I can’t believe you’re awake and breathing.” Admiration battled the worry in his eyes. “Lexa, you have to tell Arim about this.”
I shook my head, trying to focus on what really mattered. That I’d let my guard down with one of the few people I trusted. Damn it. Friend or no friend, Sava’s going to pay for that.
“He’s the only person I know of who can help you retrieve your soul,” Sava insisted. “You need Light more than Dark and Shadow, I’m afraid. Despite the problems Tanselm is having, she’ll give everything she has to repair the damage you’ve been dealt. Tanselm needs Dark magic. The land needs you, Lexa.”
“No, she doesn’t.”
Sava continued as if I hadn’t spoken, his eyes hard and knowing. “Almost as much as you need Arim.”
Chapter 3
Arim
I stared at the familiar faces around the large marble table and wondered if I might have been better off letting Jonas pass the word about the situation in Philadelphia while I chased after Lexa.
My nephews sat around the table arguing while Ravyn and I did our best not to intervene. Except for their eye color and personality, each brother looked and sounded exactly alike.
“Cadmus, first of all, not all the Djinn are sympathetic to the Light Bringers, just the Sarqua rebels like Jonas.” Marcus, the icy, blue-eyed River Prince, nodded in Jonas’s direction. “Most of the Dark ones are still working with Sin Garu to kill the last remaining Storm Lords — which would be us, in case you’ve forgotten. Second, we can’t just invite all the Sarqua Djinn into Tanselm without stirring our people into a panic. Half of our Light Bringers have never seen a Djinn before. Integration takes time.” Marcus spoke with a bite, yet without raising his voice, intentionally aggravating his sibling.
The angry flush on Cadmus’ face warned me of the coming argument. The Earth Lord had quite a temper when provoked, for all his mischievousness.
“Screw panic,” Cadmus answered. “It’s time we stopped our prejudices from blinding us to the truth. Since I’ve been back, Tanselm has been reaching out, touching the Earth Lord within me. The land wants more Dark to seek better balance. So many Light Bringers are wearing her thin.”
“Cadmus is right,” Aerolus agreed, glowing with magic, ever the peacemaker. The Wind Mage, a great sorcerer in his own right. “Balance is needed. Tanselm’s power scatters.” He glanced at me, holding my gaze for a moment before turning back to those at the table. The arrogant whelp subtly let me know my weakening magic had been noticed. I needed to have another talk with my nephew.
Too big for his own britches. Aerolus’ deceased father, Faustus, would have agreed. I ignored my melancholy at the memory of my good friend, now dead thanks to Sin Garu and his minions.
