Page 3 of The Prophecy
Chapter One
Kael Hunter stared down from his perch high above the cavernous hall.
Beneath him, through a pall of ochre smoke, he could make out a score of fire-demons. Their leader, Sorien, sprawled on a huge chair and, standing next to him— so still that at first Kael thought she was a statue—was Raven Cole.
At the sight of her, something stirred deep inside him. The sensation took him by surprise. He’d expected to feel guilt, probably pity, but not this burning sense of recognition and longing.
She was tall, her hair a coal-black cloak around her shoulders, dark against the stark whiteness of her skin. She wore a black tank top and faded jeans, and she was slender to the point of gauntness. Her arms were fastened tautly behind her, chained to the stone pillar at her back. Her head was bowed, her eyes closed.
Sorien stumbled drunkenly to his feet, and she raised her head, her eyes flashing open. She had witch’s eyes, huge, haunting, the irises the palest of silver rimmed with charcoal.
And staring down into that hauntingly beautiful face, Kael realized he was in trouble.
He had come here hoping to save her but prepared to kill her if that was needed to prevent the prophecy from being fulfilled. People had been known to lose their minds in the dungeons of the fire-demons. If that was the case, and she wouldn’t—or couldn’t—cooperate, then he would consider her death a release.
Now, with only one short glance, he knew that her death at his hands was no longer an option.
Shit.
Directly in front of Raven, the body of a young man hung lifeless. Sorien stopped beside it, grabbed a handful of blond hair and tugged back the head. He swore viciously and dropped it in disgust.
“Dead,” he muttered. He swung round to face Raven. “What are you staring at, witch?” He took a step toward her and she stood up straighter, bracing herself for the blow she obviously knew was coming.
Sorien lifted one huge fist and slammed it into her stomach. The force drove her backward into the stone pillar, but she was held upright by her chains. She hunched over against the pain, then slowly straightened. She stared up into Sorien’s face, and this time her eyes were not expressionless. They were filled with hate.
“I’m glad he’s dead.”
Sorien had turned away. At the woman’s soft voice, he swung round. “What did you say?”
“I said, I’m glad he’s dead. He’s free of you.”
“Unlike you, my pretty.” He stroked a hand down the flawless line of her cheek, over her throat. His fingers tightened on her, the claws digging into the soft flesh, and he twisted viciously.
This time she couldn’t hold back her sob of pain, and Sorien smiled, his hand dropping to his side.
“What?” he asked. “Were you not pleased with your present?” He glanced again at the dead man. “We brought him here for you. He died because of you.”
Her eyes closed briefly; when she opened them, they were blank once more. “You murdered him.”
“Don’t worry,” he said, “it will be your turn soon. Another month and I’ll see you dead and the prophecy fulfilled.”
“Are you so sure of that?” She smiled, showing sharp white teeth. “Do you want to know what I’ve seen inyourfuture, Sorien, king of the fire-demons?”
“Be silent, witch.”
“Or what?” she asked, the scorn clear in her voice. “You’ll kill me? I don’t think so. Not yet anyway. No, I think you’ll listen to what I’ve seen in your future. It won’t take long, because you know what? You’re going to die real soon. And you’re going to die screaming.”
“Shut up!”
She laughed softly. “Do you want to know how you die? I’ve seen it, and I can tell you…if you like.”
Up on his perch, a shiver of awe ruffled Kael’s feathers. It had been rumored she’d inherited the sight from her mother. But she was only fourteen when the fire-demons had captured her, too young to have it confirmed.
“It’s going to be messy, Sorien. Very, very messy.”
Sorien raised a clenched fist and backhanded her across the mouth. Blood spurted from her lips, dripping crimson against her white skin. Her small, pointed tongue flicked out and licked at the blood while her eyes remained fixed on the fire-demon. She smiled again.
“Soon, Sorien,” she crooned. “Your end draws near. Did I mention the screaming bit? Really loud. Like ear-splitting loud.”
The fire-demon backed away from her then. “Get her out of my sight,” he roared.
Kael’s muscles tensed with the need to swoop down, to free her from this place. But if he wanted to save her, he had to bide his time.
He glanced out of the window. The sky to the east was showing faint traces of light; dawn was approaching. They would have to remove her from the hall before the sun rose, but he had her scent now and would find her. With one final lingering glance, he launched himself from the beam and swooped out through the open window.
