Page 144 of Haunted

I feel the intruding presence of her would-be protector. As Aneirin approaches on a borrowed teal dragon, he launches a succession of energy orbs. I’m too quick for him and block the volleys. I comb my dark power across the expanse and throw the dragon to the side with one swipe. Too graceful for his own good, Aneirin lands in a crouch, leaving the dragon to crash and roll over in the grass.

“Oh wonderful, the valiant protector is here,” I hiss. “I don’t approve of your feelings for my daughter.”

I sense Ahnalyn crawling to her knees, full of remorse.

Aneirin flinches when he sees the blood pouring from Ahnalyn’s nose and the mud plastered to her. Her eyes are savage. Her darkness has grown strong from her hate.

“Ahnalyn, don’t,” Aneirin says with pleading in his voice. “Walk away… Don’t face Caedryn like this.”

He turns to me.

I welcome him with a look of contempt.

Our powers clash over the outcrop as we confront each other. Aneirin pushes and gains ground, but I counter and push back. Our two forces, light and darkness, clash as loud as the thunder.

Aneirin’s strength wanes, and he slips in the sloshy mud, with little time to wipe the grime off his brow before the rain drips it in his eyes. “Get out of here, Ahnalyn!”

I am yet to be winded. “Aneirin, you’ll never win. The dragons are falling. General Gethen is pushing through the gap as we speak. Your hopes have been in vain.”

“You’re wrong to think you can win. The emrys will prevail.”

He reaches into his heart-center and pulls up determination. His light flares inside him, shattering the dismal atmosphere across the battlefield. He shoves his power, punching me square in the chest. The hard hit knocks me against a rock.

Pain rears in my chest.

I am not finished!

I claw to my feet, wild with rage. “You fool! There’s far worse than I! You think that if you defeat me that will end the darkness. A greater power than mine will follow in my stead!”

Wait until the empress decides to invade the three realms!

With a murderous glare at Aneirin, I turn toward my daughter, who’s lying uselessly on the ground. I will teach her. Never give up in the middle of battle. With undaunted energy, I shoot an undulating mass that heads directly for her.

Dumbstruck, I watch as Aneirin launches himself into the path of my wrath. The energy rams into his body with a shattering impact.

His bones break. I hear their crack as he lands facedown in the mud. Aneirin moans and coughs.

I win.

He’ll die just as Niawen did, crushed and bleeding.

I gloat as Ahnalyn crawls to Aneirin and rolls him over, causing him to contort in pain.

“What did you do? Why’d you do that?” She blindly pats his chest as the rain sheets down on them. Aneirin coughs up blood, and she lifts his head.

I’m curious what she plans on doing. I study the shift of her energies. Her darkness is teeming in her heart-center.

She couldn’t save him even if she knew how.

She has just a small ember of light left.

Aneirin’s eyelids flutter. I wait with anticipation.

“No, don’t die. Aneirin, look at me!” She shakes his chest, grabbing at his tunic. Aneirin’s light force isn’t enough to repair his injuries.

He will die.

Save him, I say. She can’t hear me, but I urge her on as if she can, waiting to let her make the choice. Make the choice. Give away your light, and become darkness.

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