"Bastian was here?" I press, hope breathing into my lungs. "Is he still here?"
Garren shakes his head. "He was here weeks ago. Told us about Ilaria and then he…" the king swallows hard.
What the hell happened here? They're terrified. I exchange a look with Sylvane. When I thought about coming face-to-face with the Kitarnis, I expected haughtiness, maybe even resistance, but this is something I never could have prepared for. They're hollow shells, tormented and afraid.
"Then he what?" Sylvane asks when the silence stretches too long for comfort.
A tear slips down Garren's cheek and disappears into his beard. "He transformed into a monster right before our very eyes. He killed his father."
My eyes widen. "Your High General is dead?"
"Bastian assumed his title," Garren explains. "We've been held captive in our own home. Up until he left, everyone has been terrified. Bastian kept saying he would bring Ilaria home. Said she was brainwashed and he would make her see the light."
"But he wasn't the one to truly fear," Keres chimes in, hoarsely. "It was the woman with red eyes."
"Vesper," I say and she nods, flinching when she hears the name.
"She is pure evil. She whispers in Bastian's ear constantly." Keres drags her hands down her cheeks. "Why can he not see she is using him? He thinks he's in control," she shakes her head, cloudiness overtaking her eyes, "but he's a pawn in her game. By the time he realizes it, it will be far too late."
"Do you know where he is now?" Sylvane interrogates further, surprising me with how calm and collected she is under this immense pressure. It can't be easy listening to this report and not be worried. "Where he might have taken Aurelia?"
"Aurelia," Keres says with reverence. "Right, that's her real name, isn't it? You picked a beautiful name for her, Sylvane. I'm so sorry we…" her lip trembles. "I'm so sorry we robbed you of motherhood."
Sylvane finally softens and makes her way to Keres. She places her hands on the queen's face. "The one responsible for Aurelia's kidnapping has met justice. You were also a victim in this. There is no blame laid at your feet in my book. But right now, Aurelia needs our help."
"Help?" Keres' eyes widen. "What's happened to her?"
"Bastian and Vesper attacked Tronovia and took her," I skip right to the part that matters. "She is Enver Sol's daughter and heir. They need her blood to open the portal to Malvolio."
Garren pales. "The portals were destroyed."
"Bastian's Soul Eaters have rebuilt theirs," I say simply and watch as he turns ashen white. Fear grips him, I can see it plain as day.
"But if what you say is true, and all they need is her blood to open it – "
"We need to find her," I interrupt him. "It might already be too late. They had a head start when they captured her."
"The portal to Malvolio was somewhere in the desert," he recounts, rubbing his temples. "I am so sorry, I do not remember where it was located exactly."
Screams once again erupt from the citizens of Midori. I rush to the balcony. There's chaos in the streets as an enormous shadow zips overhead.
I catch a glimpse of another dragon spearing through the clouds. I squint as Sylvane joins me. "Those aren't our dragons."
She shakes her head, holding her hand above her eyes for a better look. "That's a sand dragon."
I whip to look at her, "Sand dragons are alive?"
"It would appear so," she says as if it's the most normal thing in the world. "Meaning Alem Naziri did survive. The only reason he'd send a messenger is because something earth-shattering happened."
"Like a portal in the desert being opened?"
We exchange a look and march back inside. Within minutes, a man with brown skin and golden riding armor is escorted into the room. He eyes everyone one by one before taking a heavy step toward Garren. "I bring a message from General Naziri of Vashbehtan."
"Alem is alive?" Garren looks as if he might go into cardiac arrest if more ghosts of his past suddenly reappear.
The courier ignores the king's open-mouth shock and delivers the message. "The portal to Malvolio has been reforged and is now open. Creatures and demons are preparing to launch their assault on our realm once again."
My head drops to my chest. The war we've all been dreading is coming.
