Page 81 of Drawn into Oblivion

She didn’t bother opening the nearby servant’s door and kicked it hard enough to break it off its hinges. It landed with a loud crack, and it wouldn’t be the only cracking sound she heard as she raced through the opening and sprinted down the corridor. The whole fortress snapped and rumbled. A wall in one of the side passages crumbled as she ran past. The ceiling bulged downward. Clouds of dust irritated her eyes.

Her body wasn’t faring much better than the fortress. She grunted through waves of pain as the weight of two bodies and the demands of her strength spell took their toll. She tried not to think about the pops and snaps she felt rather than heard. Gasping for air despite the smoke and dust slowly filling the hallways, she dodged fresh piles of demon bones and ash, for the Damned One’s creations were perishing along with him.

She felt little relief as she emerged into the grand hall lined with statues, for the bodies of the demons they’d slain earlier had already disintegrated, and long cracks had sheared through the stone floor. The fortress was collapsing fast. However, she could do nothing about her dwindling chance of escape besides run.

Halfway down the hall of statues, an enormous rumble shook the building. Several statues tipped over. She lunged forward, barely avoiding one. Then a chunk of broken stone rolled into her ankle, tripping her, and she landed hard on her knees. Her shriek of agony rent the smoky air as the weight of two people sent sharp pain lancing up from her kneecaps to her hips.

Her magic rushed to numb the area, but she struggled to regain her feet. The floor shook and she could hardly feel her legs anymore.

“Mai, h-hurry,” Shumei slurred. “You can…make it.”

Tears in her eyes, Mai put her foot under her and pushed up with a harsh cry of effort. She took a few steps forward, skirting a pile of debris. Another quake rocked the fortress, but she stayed standing and sped up as she neared the end of the hall. Trying not to hit anyone’s head, she twisted as she passed through the doorway into a narrow corridor, and winced as heat sliced through her lower back. She leapt over the charred ruins of the first two dog soldiers Shumei had killed, and gasped as her bruised ankle nearly gave out.

Thankfully, the door into the kitchen was still open, but nearly all the pots and pans stacked about now littered the floor. Mai called upon her agility spell again, hissing as her tendons stretched in response, but it allowed her to quickly pick her way across the room.

She was sobbing when she reached the exit to the small courtyard where the officers waited, but after carrying two people at a run for several minutes, she couldn’t summon the strength to push through the heavy portal. Her body was an inch from falling apart, and staying on her feet was all she could manage.

“Rosuke,” she yelled through the door. “Rosuke, I’m here!” She didn’t want to pour even more magic into her strength spell—she was certain she’d never fully recover from whatever it did to her—but she would if she had to. “Open the door, please!” Divine One, could they even hear her? Were they unable to even touch the door because of the spell carved into the frame?

Another quake tore through the building. Yelping in fear, Mai braced herself as a massive section of the kitchen ceiling crashed down, flipping one table onto its side and breaking another in half.

Then, a slice of red light. The door was opening.

“Jun, help me,” Kiyoshi grunted. The gap widened swiftly, and Mai cried out with relief.

“Quickly! We’re out of time,” Vallen shouted.

Mai stumbled outside. Her legs crumpled, and Akiji slipped from her shoulder.

“Gods, Mai,” Kiyoshi said, eyes wide as he stared at her.

“Whoever that is, take him through,” Rosuke commanded, running up to her. “Vallen, the empress!”

“She’s hurt,” Mai gasped out, still trying to catch her breath. Though her vision was blurry, she spotted the open gate swirling on the ground behind everyone and knew she couldn’t get there by herself. Everything was going dark.

The weight of the empress’s body left. Strong familiar arms wrapped around her, lifting her when she would have slumped to the ground. Her magic let go, drawing back into itself and leaving her cold and numb. The arms that held her were warm, but their heat didn’t penetrate.

“Go now,” the man above her shouted. “We’ll follow.”

“The gate!” another deep voice yelled. “It’s—”

“Don’t hesitate, go!”

The voices faded, and she felt a sudden rush of air. Then she felt nothing.

Chapter Twenty-Five

The first thing Mai felt when she woke was someone’s lax hand resting in her palm. Then a cool breeze that countered the warmth of sunshine overhead. She lay upon a bed of soft grass that tickled her arms and legs. She was nude, relaxed, and at peace.

She opened her eyes. The blue sky was smeared with thin, wispy clouds. She turned her head. Shumei lay next to her, still asleep. A steady stream of sparkling, golden mist flowed from her mouth. Mai sat up and cast her gaze across the surrounding hills. Lush trees were heavy with fruit. Flowers of every color danced in the breeze. She had been here before.

“Mai,” a gentle voice called. She looked up at the Divine One standing beside her, having appeared as silently as smoke. Wearing a sad smile, she gently released Shumei’s hand and stood. The Divine One stepped closer.

“I’m dead, aren’t I?” she guessed, heart aching even though she stood before her god in his Garden. This place was paradise.

“Is that how I would reward you, sweet Mai?”

Hope burst inside her, pushing a wide grin onto her face. “I’m not?” She sighed with relief. “Oh, Divine One have mercy.” She realized what she’d just said and slapped her hands over her mouth. The Divine One’s deep chuckle swept over her like warm bubbles, and she smiled again behind her hands.