“Sava?” I repeated.
“Yes. Sava. The same king who spent years in The Pit, in hell. He’ll help you with the demons. My sons can help Tanselm withstand a major assault, but it’s going to be up to you and Arim to see an end to this once and for all.”
Ravyn glared over her shoulder at him. “I cannot believe you did that! You’re going to get us both —”
“What? Killed?” Faustus snorted. “This needs to end. Sin Garu has been playing with fire by meddling with the demon world. That’s strictly forbidden, and if he keeps tampering with what he has no business knowing, he’s going to ruin the Balance.”
“Balance?” I had a vague impression of oppressive silence all around and realized Faustus and Ravyn were no longer focused on me.
“It’s time.” Ravyn nodded. “Blessings and good fortune, Lexa. The Light grant you strength.”
“And the Dark grant you love,” Faustus finished. “Help us save the future.” He gazed at my midsection, and his eyes narrowed with worry. “And yours as well.”
In the blink of an eye, they vanished. It was then I recognized a subtle odor permeating the small chamber that grew stronger as I neared the door.
Swearing under my breath, I threw it open and raced into the hallway. “Damn.”
The smell of death and demon and madness filled the passageway. To my dismay, Sin Garu and a corridor full of Netharat waited with unnatural stillness. They occupied the entire eastern portion of the hall, leaving my only avenue of escape back toward the commons.
Back toward Arim in his weakened state.
“Ah, sister mine, there you are. Ready to finally play out the hand fate dealt us?” My cursed brother licked his bloodless lips, and I cringed.
Though it had been a while since I’d last seen him, I’d left Sin Garu a weakened Dark Lord, but a Dark Lord, nonetheless. In the time since, any humanity he might have had left had clearly been consumed by demons.
His limbs had lengthened to an off-proportioned length. Red and black streaks now married his previously white flesh. His eyes blazed with the inhuman lusts of the demons, their green haze malevolent as they stared at me.
Sensing those onerous beasts inside my hated sibling, I allowed my true Darkness free, all that tasty rage no longer caged in my soul.
“Then let’s play the hand we’ve been dealt.” I arched my left eyebrow the way Arim did, a move that always annoyed me with its presumed arrogance.
It had the same effect on Sin Garu, I noted with a smirk, pleased to wipe the unholy smile off his monstrous face. “Ante up, asshole. Get ready to fold. Hard.”
Chapter 30
Jonas
A Charming Djinn with Concerns
Something disturbed the surrounding air, and I looked around to see if anyone else had noticed.
I stood behind Cadmus and Ellie in the northern kingdom. Cadmus, the Earth Lord, addressed the masses in the expansive grounds outside the keep. Djinn, Light Bringer warriors, and sorcerers surrounded the civilians gathered, not chancing anyone’s safety.
I’d already argued against holding such an open forum, but Cadmus wanted it done, and the sooner the better. So here we stood while I kept feeling danger growing ever closer.
As Cadmus finished his pretty speech about everyone getting along, my fellow warrior, Alor, and I continued to telepathically exchange ideas about the best way to provide instant cover for the royal couple. I kept easy mental contact with my Djinn brothers as well, just waiting for some moronic Churchman to say or do anything out of the ordinary.
Far be it from the Church to let anything good come of unification. I was honest enough to admit I wanted to annihilate them for what they’d done to Ravyn and for their part in allying with Sin Garu. Remir’s face continued to haunt me, and I couldn’t help feeling my own guilt.
Had I been a better friend, less involved with myself and my needs, perhaps I would have noticed his problems. Maybe then I could have severed the ties binding my best friend to Sin Garu. As if that hadn’t been bad enough, to then have to watch as the demons literally ripped him to shreds…
The Darkness within me demanded freedom, that I burn in truth among those who might still be an enemy. But I forced myself to remain in human form, surprised at how hard I found it.
Jonas, something’s not right.
Alor’s warning shocked me to full attention.
He continued, The enemy. I can almost feel them on top of us.
