Page 14 of Celestial Shadows

“My Lord?”

“I am taking Eilish as my bride.”

Elioth appears both confused and frustrated by this information. “I thought the plan was to use her magic and turn her into a weapon?”

“It was.”

He nods. “You arranged everything, my lord. You instructed me to send Prince Yanhir after her sister, knowing Eilish would protect her sister at any cost.”

“Yes, I am well aware, Elioth. And you did the right thing using yourinfluenceon Morrigan to send the Cockatrice. Eilish’s family was supposed to die. Eilish was supposed to blame Cambion and Theren for not protecting her family. Everything went as was planned until Cambion took away her memories.”

“So, why take her as a bride at all? Would she have you once she learns you orchestrated everything? That you and I have tugged the strings of fate all this time?”

“Eilish will never know,” I say and wave away Elioth’s concerns. “She is weak and naive. Far too trusting. Look at the way she accepts the males around her,” I chuckle. “It would be too easy to spin a tale of my own to earn her sympathy. And when the war comes and Eilish sees the glory of my might, she will leave them—all of them. Her hunger alone will demand she feed from my power.”

“But whyher, My Lord?”

“Morrigan is gone. I require a new mate to ensure my lineage will endure the times to come. Eilish will be strong enough to bear my spawn.”

“Are you worried she will grow too powerful?” Elioth questions. “She could become a problem for us. This could be… too risky.”

“Eilish is a conduit of light and dark. With her, we will be able to destroy all light from this world and bring the darkness of the Chasm to the realms.” I lose my voice as I picture it. Then I turn to face Elioth. “It will be far greater than the Singularityever was. And Eilish will be willing to do as I command if I own her heart.”

Elioth bows his head respectfully. “As you wish, my lord.”

“Good. Now, gather my followers and prepare for the ritual. We require much blood magic to break through these spells.”

“And the Knights of Umbra?”

“Send them into the realms. Tell them to feed off as many fae as they can. We need them at full strength for the battle.” I return to my throne and watch as Elioth leaves me. Once again, I am alone within these walls that haunt me with visions of a time long past.

CHAPTER SEVEN

ELIOTH

Cogost Mountains

My hands drip with inky black sludge as I pull them from the grave mound. Wisps float out of the holes I dug, forming the spectral faces of undead warriors. Unlike the Knights of Umbria, these beings are wraiths—ghosts of their former selves that are unable to pass into the spirit realm. Patches of skin hang off brittle bones and a stench belches from their snaggle grins. The smell is so foul, it causes tears to well in my eyes. The groans and gurgling snarls grate against my patience. Their tongues were severed by Abedon himself to keep them from speaking against him. “The ritual will begin soon,” I advise them. “We must go to the place where the injustices against Abedon began so we can free him from his prison and unleash the Chasm unto this world.”

Another wave of groans reverberates through the mountains as I approach the path that will lead us to Abedon. My cloak brushes along the ash-covered ground. Fire roils in the clouds above my head. Thunder bellows like a vicious beast hiding beyond the sky. Red lightning strikes the mountain, breaking off chunks of stone deeply veined with diamond.

The Cogost Mountain was once a peaceful place, but the gods who dwelled on its peak were corrupt. They valued the alliance between the humans and fae more than an alliance with those who fought in the ancient battles. Abedon was the only general who stood up to them. His magic surpassed the gods and they felt threatened. Allowing Silvanus to ascend before my master was a mistake and a clear sign of their ignorance. Now the gods are all but forgotten and Abedon will rise to rule the realms and the worlds beyond.

I lead the ghoulish wraiths to the golden doors of the temple. The cockatrice and his disciples are already inside. I can smell their stench through the colossal doors. My power opens the temple and I see the opening to Abedon’s prison ahead. I lift a hand to touch the spells, but they repel me. The cockatrice stands at my side, as though we are equals, as though he’s worthy to be near such greatness. A feral smile slowly slithers across my face and I grip his shoulder until he crumples to his knees. “Are you ready to fulfill your true purpose?”

“I have turned the Unseelie against your heir. Morrigan has no power in Oronrel nor in the Shadow Realm. You are free to take your throne back whenever you please. I... believe such dedication to our mission deserves a reward?”

I squeeze harder to watch him writhe in pain. “A reward? Yes, I do believe you deserve a reward. One fitting of your actions.”

The cockatrice nods smugly.

I lean forward to whisper, “Esahani forethalo ini amattria atak…”

“Wait! You said I would…” The words trail off into a gut-wrenching scream as a wraith possesses the cockatrice’s body. One by one, the fae creatures that pledged themselves to Abedon fall to the ground as the tainted spirits assume control of their flesh and bones. They twitch and tremble, letting out deafening screams until all is silent. After a few more moments, I help them stand and position them in their proper place atop the sigils that control the spell that holds Abedon captive.

“This is your moment. Show your loyalty to your master. Give the ultimate sacrifice.”

Blades rise to the throats of each servant of darkness. A streak of red appears. Blood gushes on the floor as they fall. The pool of crimson spreads towards the door as I breathe the incantation. Magic flows through me and into the temple,reaching deep into the foundation and along the walls. I hear the shattering of each enchantment as I thrust every drop of energy into the door. It bulges out, stretching unnaturally as though it wishes to be rid of the darkness of Abedon as much as the Dark Lord, himself, wishes to be free…

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