Page 79 of A Rising Hope

“Yes, listen to your friend’s warning, Lost Destroyer. A reasonable person would walk away . . . ” The Queen paused, her eyes assessing, piercing me to my soul. The corner of her mouth turned down as she added, “But broken hearts don’t listen to reason, do they? Lost and wounded, they drive us to madness, insanity.” Insanaria stated, aware of Priya’s fierce eyes on her, of her silent warnings to me, but the Queen watched me, and I observed her. “Love is an ugly feeling. A wolf in sheep’s clothing. Can’t you see it for what it truly is? Like a siren, it lulls you away from safety under the guise of something grand. It charms you to lower your weapons, to take down your shields, only to drop the mask when it’s too late, showing the true poisonous nature of it. Do you truly think it’s worth dying for?”

“Perhaps not dying, but definitely worth killing for.” I smirked at her, letting the flames spark in my eyes against the darkness. “But I have not come here to save him. Gideon and I are bound for eternity. Whether we have this life or another, that is of no difference to me. You, on the other hand, are limited only one precious little life to live. And where love might falter, justice never does.”

“That we do agree on.” The Queen returned a dangerous smile, and with a blink of an eye, she let the shadows lunge for us.

I let the fire explode within me. But not before I shot a thought, a silent command to Priya.

Find him.

Wild infernos erupted from me, as if I was hell itself. Red flames like beams of the strongest sun poured from my eyes, my mouth, my nose. I let myself burn, the depth of my powers having no restraint. The shadows swirled and hissed, but they stood no chance.

I closed my eyes, gathering one large blast as I burned the peaks of the cliff, bringing the mountain down. The castle crumbled, stones and rocks falling into the water below. A distraction big enough for Priya to sneak pass through all the shadows. She ran, jumping and climbing over the falling rocks like the most graceful panther. I burned brightly, calling on all the darkness upon me. Letting it devour me.

My eyes quickly darted to the crumbling castle. Priya’s copper eyes flashed. Blood rushed in my ears, and I forced myself to focus, letting myself fall into a trance, calling, searching, wielding my powers, until I felt Insanaria’s presence. I didn’t see her, but my Seer powers could find her, could feel her magic.

I closed my eyes, taking a measured breath.

Breath in.

Breath out.

I calmed my roaring mind. The wild thundering of the storm of shadows quieted as I focused. My thoughts slipped into the dark abyss, letting my powers take over.

For a better life, Finnleah.I whispered to myself.

A split-second move.

I reached for the dagger hidden on my back, sending Heart Piercer straight through the burning flames mixing with the wild shadows. The sharp Basalt Glass was lost between the shadows for only a moment.

I walked, burning a path forward, letting magic of the Basalt Glass guide me.

The dagger had found its mark, wedged deep into the Queen’s shoulder. She staggered a few steps back and snarled as her hand twisted the dagger free.

“I believe that’s your dagger,” I said loudly against the storming shadows. “I prefer Heart Piercer for the name though, but God Killer will do.”

The Queen snapped her fingers at the shadows, and I let my fire settle down.

“It’s rather a shame you missed.” She wiped the seeping blood from her light canvas shirt off her shoulder right above her heart. Her eyes paused on the dark red glistening on her fingers.

“I’ll work on my aim next time.” I counted the seconds, waiting, hoping, praying.

The Queen had shadow-walked in space, just as I hoped, and I didn’t shield.

I needed time. I needed time for Priya to find Gideon, to help him.

Perhaps one of us couldn’t defeat her. But the three most powerful beings in Esnox could.

I felt Heart Piercer pointed at my back.

“Aren’t you quite the hero? . . . Always courageous, always looking for a way to save the world. Ah, how poetic?” The Basalt Glass blade dug into my skin, breaking it just deep enough to where its magic blocked my fire, but I didn’t move. “You think the world is worth saving?” The Queen gripped my hair, tightening her clasp on the dagger. “I was once like you. I thought the world could be a better place too. I believed that good was always stronger than evil with every cell of my body.” She tilted her head, mouth stretched in a deep scowl. “People often forget that nobody is born a villain. No child is born hoping to bring destruction and absolution. No, none of us dream to be a villain. But day by day, year by year, life strips away any ounce of goodness that we were given, until we see good for what it truly is—an illusion. You think the world is worth fighting for? You think that people deserve to be saved? I shall kill you, but you will not die a hero’s death to carry hope beyond the grave. No.” She shook her head. “No, before you die, I want you to see the truth. To suffocate on hopelessness as it fills your heart. To suffer as I have suffered. So let me show you the truth.” She snapped her fingers, and the shadows swallowed us whole.

52

FINNLEAH

Black-and-white shadows shaped around me, and it was as if I moved in time. Stale air filling my nose. Insanaria jerked my head, still holding tight to the dagger wedged in between my shoulder blades.

“Watch!” she hissed into my ear. And I did.

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