I wanted Alnembra because it was my home before I joined the Bloodbane. But I know that if Maaz gets her way, there will be nothing left. What Sadal would want with an ashen landscape devoid of life, I can never imagine. What’s the point of power if there’s no one left to rule? I turn, looking towards the door that leads down into the keep, but it’s closed tightly.
“It’s an impressive sight, isn’t it?” Sadal asks from behind me.
I pivot, eyes narrowed. He’s standing against the stone railing of the keep, staring out over the horde. Sadal is dressed in black, as usual. His pale skin is perfect in the murky sunlight. He rakes a hand through his black hair. I curl my lip at him, not bothering to hide my disdain. “That isn’t the word I would choose,” I say coldly.
He cocks his head at me, a smile playing over his lips. “You continue to surprise me, Cleo. Your distaste for me is refreshing.”
“My Lord.” I bow my head in a show of apology.
“Don’t,” he snaps. “Don’t lie to me.”
I purse my lips, anger flashing through me at his sharp tone. “As you wish.”
“Very good,” he sighs. “Now, why did you call me here?”
I pull back, confused. “I didn’t.”
“Come now, I can sense your intentions. If not now, you would have.” Sadal cocks his head at me, waiting. “Speak freely.”
I hesitate. I have ideas; ideas that Maaz has disregarded. She insists that Sadal gave her this horde of demons because it’s the only way to defeat Altair. But I suspect differently. I hadn’t planned on speaking to Sadal without Maaz, but I know Maaz would never let me question her in front of Sadal. He sought me out, I tell myself.
“I have an alternative solution that may interest you.” I finally say.
Sadal splays his hands. “Go on.”
“If you take this horde through Alnembra, they will destroy everything. The villages, cities, field, and forests will be burned. The Fae murdered. You will rule nothing but ash and darkness. What if I could conquer Alnembra for you without bloodshed?” The words spill from my open lips as my excitement grows.
If I can save my sisters and the Fae, then perhaps we can live in peace without the tampering of the Fae in a land of bounty. We wouldn’t have to scrape to survive in these mountains or steal from border farms.
“And how would you propose to do this?” Sadal asks, raising a brow. “I have my hooks in Verity already.”
“I want to go further,” I say fiercely. “I want to destroy Altair’s kingdom from the inside out.”
“Subtle.” Sadal smiles.
I grin viciously. “Perhaps you won’t need to conquer an entire kingdom if I give it to you.”
“What do you mean?” He asks, his lips twisted into a strange smile.
“Wouldn’t it be simpler if the ruler of Alnembra simply gave in to your wishes?” I ask, moving to his side.
“Altair would never surrender without a fight,” Sadal says dismissively.
“I’m not talking about Altair. I’m talking about the mortal Bloodbane.” I peer up at him. “What if the ruler of Alnembra was groomed by you?”
Sadal stares appraisingly at me before leaning back against the railing. A chill wind blows over the keep’s tower, rustling my cloak. “What did you have in mind?”
“Moving in the shadows, in the dark, like the Bloodbane witches were always meant to do,” I whisper fiercely.
“You always were the clever one,” he murmurs, grinning at me. “It’s why you’re my favorite wife.”
My stomach turns at his praise and I twist away from him. “Does this mean you’ll send the horde back to the ether?”
“I’ll consider it,” Sadal says as he pushes away from the railing and strides towards the door. He glances over his shoulder and I study his handsome profile. “Show me what you can do first.”
My heart beats wildly as he disappears into the keep. I rush to my deadwood broom and swing my leg over it. Excitement sweeps through me and I smile to myself. My hood conceals my grin, casting a long shadow over my face. I launch myself into the sky, soaring high over the writhing black mass of demons below. I imagine I see Maaz’s red cloak below. I leer at her, realizing that if I am successful, Sadal’s conquest will be due to my efforts alone. I will be the most powerful Bloodbane in history.
My grin broadens as I imagine usurping Maaz. I was content to work in the shadows and play her games. But when she gave in so quickly to Sadal’s demands, I realized I couldn’t anymore. It’s time for a new age for the Bloodbane. An age of power and prosperity under new rule. If I work my spell properly, no Bloodbane will be harmed in Sadal’s conquest of Alnembra. The demons will disappear, and with them, my guilt and shame about what I did to the young coven.
My stomach turns as I remember their terrified faces as the creatures ripped into them. Their screams have echoed through my mind for these last nights, like ghosts haunting my memory. I used to be fierce and willful like Maaz. I used to be the kind of witch that joined in the bloodletting because it made me feel powerful. But I learned slowly that the real power is in the shadows; it’s in the background where rulers twitch our strings like marionettes. I let Maaz believe she was pulling my strings all
