A corner of my mouth curls into a smile. This kind of magic is definitely not something I thought I would see when I came to the underworld. But then again, my magic is just as strong. I know that Kane has asked me to stay here, but he knows just as well as I do that my place is in the fight. I glance around the room, taking one last second of peace before I hurry out the doors. I race down the hall, pulling my magic into my palms. My focus is solely on Drogaem, but there are soldiers everywhere, and it looks as if I'll have to battle my way to wherever he is.
I use my magic, tossing orbs of light like spears through the air, destroying whichever one of Drogaem's soldiers I find. As I reach the door of the throne room, battling through, Desona stops me. "Whatever needs to be done, it needs to be done quickly. My powers are not as strong in this realm, and the shield over the castle will surely fall and soon. Find Drogaem, kill him, and then we can free this kingdom."
I nod, and before I turn, she grabs my arm. "Briar, thank you for taking care of my son."
I give her a smile, but I know there's a bit of condescension in it regardless of how appreciative I am that she's here. "That's what humans do for the people they love."
Her eyes look sad for a moment, and she releases my arm, letting me go. I push through the troops, into the throne room. To my right, one of Drogaem's soldiers charges at me. I drop down as he swings his sword over my head. As I rise, my shoulders back, my eyes narrow, the soldier looks surprised. The light rolls from my fingers and down to the floor. I grip it as it turns into a sword. I swing back and heave forward, shoving the light straight through his body. His face clenches and his eyes bulge as the light disintegrates. I glance down at his wounds, a sizzling burning hole straight through the middle of him. He falls to the ground in a clamor.
Drogaem's voice finds me and quickly. I whip around to see him standing at the throne, his body tense, his teeth grinding, and his brow furled. He's irate, angrier than I've ever seen him, but I knew his response would be that way. He had missed one of the most important things going on right beneath his nose, and now it's backfiring on him.
I begin to walk toward him with slow and steady steps. My eyes stay locked on him, and my hand hovers over the handle of my dagger. For every soldier that comes toward me, I blast them with my energy, never letting my eyes leave Drogaem. He is my target. He is the cause of all of this.
Suddenly, a hand swings out, hitting me in the side of the head. I fall, bouncing across the floor, my vision crossing. As I turn over and look up at who has just attacked, I find Gregore, standing there with his hand on the hilt of his sword, the jowls of his helm open, and a smile on his face. "What's wrong little human? You were hoping to have a conversation with Drogaem? I'm sorry, but he's a bit busy right now. What I can do is show you to chains so that you can await the much-anticipated torture he has in store for you."
Gregore reaches down and grabs me by the throat, immediately lifting me into the air. My eyes stay centered on his, and I feel the warmth trickling down my arm and out my palm. He chuckles. "I'm really looking forward to watching you bleed."
I force a smile across my strangled face. "Sorry to disappoint."
My hand grips my magic, and I ram it straight into his stomach. His hand releases my neck, and I fall to the ground, scrambling to my feet. When I look up, though, I don't just find my magic, I find a second blade as well coming from the other side of him. The blade retracts, and Gregore wheezes as blood gushes from him, splattering onto the floor. His body falls like a tree, taking down two other guards that are standing close. My eyes shift up, and I find Willem on the other side, a grin on his face.
"I can see you've been practicing," he says.
I shrug. "Someone told me I had it in me. This asshole that I know."
Willem chuckles and immediately turns, fighting a guard that has raced toward him. My eyes go back to Drogaem, and I realize he's staring at me too. His attention is entirely on me, and that's fine because I came here to find him anyway. I take a step forward, my hand quivering over my dagger, ready for this fight. I've been ready for this fight. Physically, power-wise, maybe not, but now I am.
I can feel Drogaem trying to use his powers on me, the pull in my chest strong, but not as strong as I am. I chuckle, thinking that's all he has, but I'm wrong. The look on his face hardens, and he steps down from his throne, thrusting his arms out. He curls his fingers toward me, and my chest flies forward like he has a hook pulling me in. I fight it, but he just pulls harder.
My feet drag across the floor as I struggle, growling at him. He lifts his arms in the air, and I go up on my toes before he throws me down on to my knees. I try to grab my dagger, but his powers push my arms back behind me.
"I knew I would get you to kneel before me. Now, little human, let me show you what my powers can
