He released a cry to the skylight, the space now void of anyone who could hear him. Never had he felt so powerless. Never had he felt such despair. His hands trembled, his heart cracking in two.
“You’re fucking dead!” He spat. “You’re fucking dead! All of you!”
Chapter 39
A soul of Mind brings forth The Storm.
Is when the Dawn of a new age shalt be born.
— The book of Tevye
Airess
Airess thrashed as the guards held her up by her arms, her feet dangling just above the ground. They removed her blindfold and threw her on the floor, securing her chains and binding her upright on a wooden stake. They gagged her with a cloth rag.
She breathed heavily as she took in her surroundings. They were outside on a stage in the city courtyard. Fifty or so Lucien guards stationed themselves in front of her, Runean guards stood at her sides. Beyond the guards were hundreds of Runean civilians gathered to watch whatever was about to unfold.
The Queen Dowager leaned over a desk with Arzhel as they signedthe treaty that would forfeit Airess’ life. She instantly broke into a hotsweat as she stared at Arzhel, a face she thought she would forever be safe from. Airess looked to the sky, the morning sun now visible. She felt so small, so powerless against him.
Gods be with me.It can’t end this way.
Finally, the treaty was finished. With one sign of a quill, her life would forever change–a slow descent into darkness. She closed her eyes and tried–willedthat Godspirit into her body like it had done back in the caravan. Nothing came. Not a single spark. She felt an empty void where her power should have been.
Airess opened her eyes to the sky, her expression contorted in anger at the heavens above.How dare you choose me and neglect to come to my aid?
She gritted her teeth against the cloth gag, her breaths shallow.
Why Airess? Was it all for nothing? Did the prophecymeannothing?
Where was the king? Where was Ismene?
Arzhel turned slowly after shaking the Queen Dowager's hand. They walked up to the stage where Airess was staked.
The crowd quieted as the Queen Dowager began to speak. “Today marks a day in history where the world will be ruled by Godlings once again! May we forever have peace in our humble sacrifice. We declare the war between Rune and Lucienaover!”
The masses cheered at the declaration. For the first time since this nightmare began, Arzhel turned to face Airess. Her heart hammered against her ribs at the sight of him, but her expression remained still, defiant. The familiar hatred in his glowing red eyes struck deep. His mouth twisted into a cold smile as he stepped toward her, their faces close enough so no one could hear.
“Did you really think you could elude me? ” He spoke in a low whisper. “I must say it truly isimpressiveyou made it all this way. Your little stunt cost me much embarrassment. At first I was so – soangryyou had left me. You were to be my wife. You were supposed to give meheirs.” Arzhel softly dragged his fingers along her jaw, taunting her. Bile threatened to rise in her throat at his touch, and she tried her best to angle her body as far away from him as she could.
“But after we came into communication with Rune in recent months,” he continued, voice laced with malice, “we learned of something far more valuable than your womb. Your travels were not all in vain, you see. Because of you, I am now about to become the Godling I was always meant to be.” Arzhel jerked her face upwards.
“I am going to kill you and take the power that is rightfully mine. This is the end of your miserable, weak existence.” he taunted with a smile, trailing his fingers down her neck and back to her mouth, removing the gag. She flinched at his touch.
“Do you have any last words?”
Airess let out a crazed laugh, tears welling in her eyes, sliding down the sides of her grinning cheeks. She laughed and laughed–an unexpected reaction even she couldn’t comprehend. Perhaps it was all she could do to take control, to comfort herself in such a fucking crazy moment of her life. It was a laugh of panic.
Of desperation
Sorrow.
Anger.
She looked at Arzhel. It was such a shame that in her last moments, she would be seeing his dreadful face as she took her last breath and not her Mates.
“Mark my words, Arzhel Lucien,” She heaved out, her voice clear, “I will haunt you for the rest of your days. Not even Death will save you from me. And when you finally die, I will gladly meet you in hell.” Airess spat in his face with a wild grin, unleashing a more sinister part of herself she had always felt stirring deep in her mind. The floodgates of her darkness burst open in her last moments, forever unleashed. She averted her eyes to the sun, what she wanted to be her last image as she left the world.
What a miserably wonderful existence.
