Page 91 of The Sacred and the Tormented

Rion moved, his magic rising to block the Dark Fae as they dove after them, talons extended. She joined the others with magic of her own, until the world around them was nothing more than a frenzy of water, ice, wind, earth, and flames.

It was over in minutes. Blood permeated the air, the acrid tang stinging her nostrils as they all watched the darkness in silence.

Her breaths were too loud in the large space. “Why were they here?” Arianna tried not to pay attention to the way the claws seemed to extend from fingers, nor the way these creatures resembled the Fae more than the ones she’d encountered at the village.

Judging from the experiments in the other room and the creatures lying dead before her, it was clear Vairik had been tinkering with more than just bonds over the years.

He was … creating things. Creatures. Fae. He was playing with their lives. But for what? Revenge? Boredom? Had he gone mad after all the years he’d spent plotting his vengeance?

Conall sniffed the blood at the end of his blade and recoiled. “A good way to keep those below from moving to higher levels if they were to escape, no?”

Guards. Free labor. The things they’d just killed were nothing more than slaves. Slaves to Vairik’s will and slaves within their own mangled bodies.

More growls sent chills down her spine and Arianna glanced toward the staircase to her left before looking back into the shadows. Her heart ached, knowing there was nothing shecould do for the Fae that’d had their bodies twisted against their will. She knew giving them a quick death was likely a mercy. Even so, she didn’t want to be the one to do it. Not until they made sure there was no other alternative. If they’d been changed, then maybe, just maybe, they could be changed back.

“We can make it,” she said. They all followed her gaze toward the set of stone steps that wound up the wall toward another door.

Conall stepped closer to the shadows. “You first.”

She didn’t hesitate. Arianna broke into a sprint right as the first set of mangled faces stepped into the light. Gavin followed on her heels.

Rion’s magic ripped free and shoved the creatures back, causing them to roar in anger before his feet were hitting the steps too. She focused on her footfalls, ensuring she didn’t trip as she bounded for the door.

Someone below yelped and Arianna turned to find the male that had wanted to return for his comrades being drug down the stairs, one claw straight through his calf. The creature that had him sank its teeth into the flesh of his thigh before Conall launched a series of spears to impale the creature.

Another grabbed the male’s arm, then yet another clamped their jaws around the male’s neck, ripping the tender flesh.

Her stomach twisted in knots at the sight. Seconds. Mere seconds and one of their comrades was dead.

Her magic pulsed beneath her skin. She stared up at the door just a few feet away, knowing full well it was likely locked. The creatures would be upon them before they made it.

She stopped short and Gavin screeched as he passed her. “What are you doing?”

She shoved him forward. “Use a rune and unlock it.”

He moved at her command and steady voice. The last of Conall’s warriors ran by her, Conall too, his eyes wide as he stared at his queen.

Rion paused at her side, right as she let her magic burst forth. It raced down the stairs, enveloping everything in its path. The clawed hands paused mid-movement, the growling faces went utterly still with their mouths wide and gaping. Their wings were spread wide, as if ready to use them to propel the creatures toward their next meal.

The world fell silent.

A lock clicked, then the door behind her opened.

Their breaths all hung in the frigid air as Arianna stared at the Fae before her, wondering what their lives might have been like before coming to this wretched place.

Vairik was angry that so much had been taken from him, yet he’d taken so much more. How could he not see that? How could he not care?

Arianna turned without a word and Rion let her pass before following.

Once again, they found themselves in another long hall, doors upon doors lining either side of the space.

Lights flickered overhead, likely powered by Fae stripped of their freedom. She’d have to find them too.

There were so many that needed saving and just like with Ruadhán there wouldn’t be enough time to get them out. Conall had already known this. Accepted it.

Her stomach soured, but the plans were already in motion. She couldn’t stop it even if she wanted to. Unless she and Rion said to hell with the plans and hunted down Vairik right now.

Arianna glanced at Conall again, wondering if someone he knew had faced Vairik before. Conall seemed confident they wouldn’t stand a chance. But hadn’t the gods gifted them powersto conquer the evil of the world? Would those gods stand with them against someone like Vairik or would they remain silent as they’d done these past ten thousand years?

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