Page 44 of Midnight Kingdom

“And kill him we must.”

“Any why is that? You know you’ve never told me.”

I exhale impatiently. I have told Variant but he doesn’t listen. “Silvanus and I were once two beings fighting for the same cause. Abedon was uncontrollable. He slaughtered the gods and bathed in their blood, taking their power for himself. We watched darkness steal across the realms and knew we had to do something about it,” I reply. “So we imprisoned Abedon to the Hall of The Gods. Silvanus saw a prophecy that spoke of four kings coming together to create a balance, to right the wrongs that Abedon had done and end the Singularity.”

“Then why throw the balance again? Why try to kill Silvanus?”

“Peace makes people weak, Variant. Silvanus wanted the realmsto thrive as they were, but I saw the truth. The realms were too comfortable. If Abedon ever escaped, he would destroy everything. The realms needed chaos, they needed to know real fear and how to fight against the darkness.” My steps quicken as I begin to pace once more.“Silvanus knew that I wanted to shift the balance. So he took my power, not Abedon, and trapped it inside that unholy mirror of his.”

“That’s why you told me to kill Baron then?” Variant demands, his tone of voice suddenly angry. “Baron was never after the power for himself, was he?” Variant reaches for me as if to stop my movements, but his hand passes through me again. Anger creases his brow as he scowls in my direction. “You had me betray my brothers just to spite Silvanus? To get me to do your dirty work and shift the balance for you?”

“You slayed Baron so we could prepare the realms for what is to come! Without the great battle, the orcs and demons would never have fought beside the angels. You wouldn’t have risen to power and had the courage to ask Theren to turn against his brother. You are stronger because of my actions, and so is everyone else.”

“But I could have fought beside Cambion and the others! We could have put our magic together and ended Abedon while he was still imprisoned. But you took matters into your own hands, and now...”

“What? Now what?” I ask. “This changes nothing, Variant. You aretheirenemy.”

“But, I didn’t need to be!”

“Don’t worry, you’ll be reunited with Cambion, Baron and Dragan soon. We need all three of them alive, if we are to be successful. You and I will rise as the new gods.”

“What’s the point, if there’s no one left to see it happen?”

“Variant, now is not the time for one of your tantrums. If Abedon becomes free and finds Eilish, everything we’ve set in motion will be for naught. It will be the others who take the throne and become the new gods, not us! Is that what you want?”

He runs a hand through his hair and snarls, “We get your powers back and take The Veil for ourselves. I take control of the spirit world and the Unseelie army. You kill Silvanus and trap his power into the talisman. Once we have Cambion, Dragan, and Baron, we can begin the Rapture and channel the combined force of our energy into Eilish once we reach the home of the gods—”

“She opens the Hall of The Gods and destroys Abedon. After the Rapture is over, the power will return to us and the throne will be ours for the taking. You and I will be the ultimate power, ruling over the worlds that rest at our feet.” I lift my hand, watching as it begins to fade once more. I’m running out of time. “Do your part and I shall do mine, Variant. Eilish is the vessel we need for this to work. So, next time you decide to use compulsion on someone, think again.”

“You promised I would have her,” he pouts.

I’m suddenly angrier than I was. “You will and then she will die.”

I feel myself return to my body and see that pesky little sprite watching from the windowsill. He flies over and brazenly points in my face. “I hear you sayin’ somethin’ ‘bout Pretty. If you thinks you can just—”

Though my power is not what it was, I’m not without magic. I toss the annoying creature across the room with a flick of my wrist. He stares at me in horror before scampering away. Soon, they will all learn of what I am truly capable.

***

EILISH

The Veil

The portal opens and I feel a rush of happiness when I see smoke coiling from the chimney of the cottage. I race toward the door and throw it open, searching for the others. “Dragan!” I call, but no one answers. “Noni! Cambion! Where is everyone?” My search takes me up to our sleeping quarters, where I find Flumph sniveling in the corner. “What is it? Where is everyone?”

“The elf got all pissy with me an’ then ran off into the woods agin. I ain’t goin’ after him neither! Not when he been a dick since you been gone,” the ornery sprite complains. “The others gone off to get Assface an’ Aima.”

“Assface… er Kolvar? And Aima?” I repeat.

“Yep.”

“Why?”

“Theren were gonna execute them an’ Baron an’ Dragan went to rescue the rest o’ the giants, but they ain’t been back yet. You took for fuckin’ ever, by the way. Thanks a lot!”

I kiss Flumph on the cheek and hurry down to find Pyre glancing around the sitting room.

“Baron and Dragan haven’t been here for some time. Did Flumph say where they went?” he asks.

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