Page 19 of Fallen Angels

Light parts its way through the darkness. The entities leave just as quickly as they arrived, and the air is still again. I shake off the strange sensation of death that lingers in the air as the shadows dwindle. The last words of the entities continue to replay in my mind.

Shadows cannot be imprisoned.

The words are a riddle, yes, but they’re also the answer to my predicament. Toourpredicament. I just don’t know how or why yet.

Cambion and the others say nothing. They barely spare me a glance, not having heard the eerie conversation.

“Pyre sent us a message,” I announce, to no one in particular.

“Pyre?” Cambion repeats, surprise in his tone.

“His spirits just visited me,” I explain. “They said Variant holds the Midnight Queen captive here, within the palace.”

“The Midnight Queen hostage? How in the bloody hell did Variant manage that?” Cambion asks as he shakes his head in obvious surprise and doubt. I have no response for him.

“Such would explain the powerful magic within this place,” Revenant says.

“Did Pyre’s spirits say where she’s being held?” Cambion continues. “Or why?”

“No,” I answer.

“Can we get to her?” Eilish stands up and approaches the cell bars, wrapping her hands around the cold iron. I notice the bars don’t zap her, such that they do to the rest of us.

“I don’t know,” I answer and find it nearly impossible to pull my eyes away from her. She’s so fucking beautiful and the backdrop of the dark cell behind her appears wholly out of place. Her beauty is the type that demands she be surrounded by opulence, not ice-cold degradation and filth.

“If Morrigan’s been a prisoner of Variant’s since the war, that explains why no one has seen or heard from her for so long,” Revenant barks out.

“This could certainly strengthen our claim against Variant,” Cambion says in that tone of voice that reveals he’s deep in thought. He begins pacing as the sprite buzzes around his head. Cambion swats at the annoying thing thoughtlessly, his focus elsewhere. “The people need to know Morrigan’s still alive because that information alone will give them hope of restoring the balance.” He’s quiet for a moment or two as he turns to face me. “Perhaps she could speak on our behalf.”

“You make it sound as though Morrigan is Variant’s roommate and not his ward,” I nearly spit the words. Sometimes Cambion’s just so fucking stupid. “If Variant’s trapped her and she’shisprisoner as much as we are, she’ll be in no position to help us or our cause.”

“But how do you trap the Midnight Queen?” Revenant asks, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

I shrug. “I don’t know.”

“Morrigan is the answer,” Cambion continues, nodding. “Free her and the three of us have a chance to defeat Variant.”

“Four of us,” Eilish corrects. Cambion offers her a glare but doesn’t comment.

“Five of us,” the sprite corrects them both. Bloody irritating thing.

“And how do you suggest we free Morrigan?” I continue, frowning at the stupid elf. “Has it occurred to you that we’re stuck in this shithole, a shithole that’s warded by magic?”

“Shadows cannot be imprisoned,” Revenant says as I turn to look at him quickly. He holds my gaze but neither of us says anything. His expression is a knowing one. I, of course, wonder if Pyre’s spirits visited Revenant as well and I assume they have. As Revenant and I are creatures of shadow; it follows that Pyre’s shadows would seek us both.

***

EILISH

“Eat,” Variant says and I swallow hard.

There’s a cornucopia of food spread out on the table before us and even though my stomach growls, I don’t want to give Variant the satisfaction of relishing the food in front of me. Instead, I force my gaze away from the breads, cheeses, meats and puddings.

“I know you are hungry,” he says.

“I’m not,” I lie.

“You are a difficult guest to please,” he responds as he reaches forward and refills his goblet with wine. Then he leans back in his overly large chair at the head of a table which is far too long for just the two of us. I sit in the chair just to the left of him.

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