“Stop,” I said. “Don’t kill him.”
The bloodthorn’s inhuman eyes met mine. “You swear to give me your life?”
“Let him go first, then I will do what I must.”
My magic throbbed so intensely it hurt to keep it in. If I could only get Officer Gardener away from the bloodthorn, then maybe I would have a chance to attack the monster.
The bloodthorn pulled the fairies’ starstone from his cloak, its radiant red facets refracting the light from the portal, making glimmering beams dance around the room. He placed the stone on the floor beside his feet and then pulled a chain from his cloak.
Bile rose in my throat as I stared at the shimmering metal links.
“If I let him go, you will be under my power. Your life will be mine. Do you understand?”
I flexed my fingers. Sweat beaded on the back of my neck. How could this be happening again? Hadn’t I sworn never again to be imprisoned? But as I looked at Officer Gardener’s pleading eyes, I knew the choice had been taken from me.
“I understand.”
The bloodthorn pushed the man away.
Officer Gardener got to his feet, stumbled, and then stood. He gave me a fleeting glance, a silent thank you, before running from the room.
The bloodthorn lunged for me, so fast I barely had time to react. The magical chains loomed closer, clanking, ready to bind my wrists and take my powers, when magic formed in my fists. Its warmth enveloped me, then ignited in a blinding white fire that engulfed me, the monster, and the entire room. I fell back, my vision awash in wisps of amber and blue, like fire—a beautiful fire that burned with such intensity it couldn’t be controlled.
My magic is fire.
The bloodthorn’s hoarse, inhuman scream came as if from miles away.
My body floated weightless, supported by my magic. As the magical field touched the portal, reality seemed to bend and twist, turning inside out. The bloodthorn was there, too, wrapped in my magic. I felt his presence, though I knew he could not touch me. The fairies’ starstone was also there with us. Could I get to it?
I tried to move but found I had no control over my body. Together, the bloodthorn, the starstone, and I floated through the portal into a void, where something waited for us.
No. Someone.
I’d felt her presence before. Oxygen escaped my lungs. I gasped, but found no air to breathe. Every ounce of magic I’d held inside disappeared, and soon, the void disappeared with it. I hit the ground.
The cavern came back into view as my head throbbed where it hit the floor. Sitting up, I searched the room and found what remained of the bloodthorn. He lay in a burned, bloody heap smeared across the floor nearby, and the stench of burnt flesh filled the cave. Bits of the horse skull face remained intact, and if it weren’t for that, I was certain I wouldn’t have been able to identify him.
My hand flew to my mouth. Had my magic done that to him? If it was capable of such horrible mutilation, what else was my magic capable of? What else was I capable of?
A light flickered over the monster. The blurry image of a woman took shape, although it was difficult to make out the details of her face. Her form wavered, as if she were a ghost, and her eyes reflected a reddish glow—the look of a predator.
My spine tingled with an uncontrollable fear. “Theht?” I whispered.
Yes, her answer came—not out loud, but spoken in my head, I am one who has traveled many worlds, walked the seas of discord and harmony, found peace, but brought death. I am the one who will return—the one sought after by many.
“I don’t understand. What—what happened?”
This creature attempted to summon me, but he could not complete his task, for you defeated him before the spell was complete. The fae creatures’ stone no longer has any value to me now, for once it is used as a conduit, it can no longer be used for that purpose again. You may take the stone as your reward for destroying a mighty foe.”
“Me? Take it?” Glancing at the smoldering remains, I saw the gemstone lying in a pool of blood. I stood slowly, feeling dizzy, but managed to walk to the stone and pick it up carefully, surprised to discover it pristine and perfectly intact.
You have come far, Deathbringer. I suspect that soon it will be time for you to fulfill the prophecy that will ensure my return to your world.
The prophecy. I’d tried so hard to forget about it, but it never seemed to go away. I decided to feign ignorance.
“I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about.”
Her laugh made a shiver run down my spine.
Marked by death from the beginning—she will come in flame and ash, wielding the fire gifted to her of her fathers. She will cross worlds and mend the rift. She will bring death to the unbelievers, life to those marked by the ancient one. Her life will bring death, for she is the Deathbringer.
Do you not believe it speaks of you?
“No. I’ve never believed the prophecy speaks of me. I would never do those things—I would never willingly bring death.”
But you will. It is only a matter of time. Prophecies never go unfulfilled, for then they would cease to be prophecies. Have you never been told of such things?
Fan’twar had told me that in almost the exact same words, but I didn’t want to admit it to her. Placing the stone in my bag, I felt the remains of my magic filling me, knowing it would never be close to enough to defeat an ancient goddess. What power did I have against Theht?
I backed away slowly, but when I looked up,
