Gods, they were filthy, mud in every nook and crevice of their leather armor, their weapons. I pulled them both into a hug. Thalia melted against me, her body fitting so perfectly against mine, and Micah caged her between us, squeezing tightly as I took what felt like the first breath of relief after stepping into the hell we’d faced.
“It’s coming!” Zephyr shouted, and I released Thalia and Micah as I twisted around to see the waters explode from the ravine north of the city, devouring the valley like a ravenous beast.
“Hold!” Lucia shouted, her closed eyes tightening, her teeth grounding together as her focus on maintaining control of the countless humans wavered the moment the shouts of agony and sorrow cut through the air, as warriors watched their homes fall to destruction.
“Everyone remain quiet!” Damien shouted, and my stomach twisted as distant screams pierced the air amidst the crashing waves and rushing water.
“No,” Lucia whimpered under her breath.
“You saved enough,” Damien said, holding her tightly. “You did enough.”
“Gods,” Micah breathed from the other side of Thalia, watching as the wave rushed over the houses, the buildings, what few humans had awoken after Lucia had completed the evacuation barely visible as they ran for higher ground, only to be swept up into the wave of water as it came for all that remained.
And within minutes, everything was gone, swallowed whole by the water, debris and remnants of homes floating on the waves, fires still clutching whatever wood they could before the water snuffed their lives out as well.
Thalia’s hand clasped over her mouth as a cry broke from her lips, tears welling in her eyes as we watched our home fall once again. Micah and I leaned into her, our arms coming around one another as we held her, offering her any comfort we could.
Because we were all that was left.
35
BARRETT
Three months had passed since that dreadful night, every day a new horror as we faced the task of searching through the destruction for any survivors, for those who were still missing, their bodies likely washed away or buried under the silt, never to be found. Some had been found miles away along the riverside once the flood waters had receded, our search going on far longer for fear their bodies might be found by humans.
None of them had survived, though, and thousands remained missing.
The loss of life had taken a heavy toll on our people and the humans in the city, who believed everything they’d called home had been wiped out by a failed dam. We had lost every healer of House Latros, which greatly impacted our recovery efforts, and the remaining houses of power had lost so many of their bloodline that some now hovered on the brink of extinction.
“Figured you could use some coffee,” Zephyr said, entering the makeshift study in one of the buildings left still standing after the flood withtwo mugs. The damp scent of the muddy waters still clung to the brick, and it had taken a long while to ignore the musty smell.
“We’ll see if it’s enough to give me a second wind,” I groaned as he offered me one.
Zephyr took a seat at the opposite end of the table, looking over the paperwork strewn about. We’d taken up shifts, helping Damien with his work and recovery efforts, rotating out periodically to keep Lucia company.
What she had done in manipulating thousands of human minds the night of the battle was nothing short of amazing, but it had cost her dearly. Thank The Fates their babe was well, but Lucia had been bedridden ever since, her body weak and drained under the stress of the magic and the pregnancy. We all worried for her and what long-term effects the battle might have left her with.
My eyes drifted over the paperwork before me, the final tallies of survivors in each house finally collected after months of identifying bodies and performing funeral rites in Selene’s temple. Thalia, Micah, Zephyr, and I had worked together on updating the census of every immortal, both civilian and warrior, recording the deaths each house of power had endured. We had lost so many of our own...too many. House Leukós, the wielders of light, were dwindling when they had already been as small in number as House Latros. The blood wielders of House Aíma had fared even worse.
We had gone into battle with four hundred and thirty-two warriors.
Only two hundred and twelve had made it to the other side.
Countless civilians had been killed in the attack on the city, and the loss of human life was just as severe. Over two thousand human lives had been snuffed out, and over four hundred immortal souls had returned to Elysium’s embrace.
And that was just what we knew. There were still hundreds of our own unaccounted for; hundreds I feared would never receive the rites to deliver their souls across The River Styx to Elysium.
The Fall of Kingdoms. That was what they were calling it, what Salwa had labeled it as when she recorded it into the historical texts.
I took a drink before grimacing. “Fuck, this is nasty. Did you even add any sugar?”
He glanced at me sidelong as he took a sip of his. “Go make it yourself next time if you want sugar.”
“Only you would like your coffee so bitter,” I said as I set the mug down on the table.
“Damien and Lucia wanted you to stop by,” Zephyr said without looking up from the piece of parchment laid out before him. “You’ve been up all night working, though. You think you’ll have the energy?”
I blinked and looked at the clock. “Shit, I didn’t realize what time it was. I can swing by on my way home.”
