Page 17 of Celestial Shadows

Cambion points to a building in the distance that appears to have toppled onto its side over time. It’s far away. Way too far to risk mirror gating without knowing exactly where I’ll land. And the swarm is coming. “We can’t make it to her in time,” I say with a sigh.

Use your magic, Theren,I tell myself.

I focus my power into my eyes, enhancing my vision until I see three blurred figures fighting. My eyes adjust to their movements until Eilish is as clear as if she were standing right in front of me.

The swarm is close to her.

I tap into my communication ring and reach out to Pyre. He answers after a moment. “Look to the sky,” I say. “Obiqui are headed your way. Make sure Eilish and Aima are safe. We don’t know what lies on the other side of the swarm. Abedon has risen and if he finds out where we are, the battle may come sooner than we thought.”

I jump down from the wall and see Baron helping people underground. The vampire looks mildly irritated, but not afraid as Cambion and I are. “Have you seen Silvanus or Variant?” I ask him.

“Variant is staying out of sight so as to not cause further panic. Silvanus is helping as many as he can to the Delendren Glade until this blows over. He says the swarm should pass in a few hours, but I’m worried about what might follow. We’re not prepared at all for this shit.”

“Better prepared now than we were at the stronghold,” I reply. “But you’re right. We underestimated our enemy again and it could cost us greatly.”

Baron and Cambion seal up the underground tunnels and move to take cover. I race to the top of the tower and cast a shield around myself. My head tells me to take cover, but my heart isshouting for me to go after Eilish, to make sure she made it to safety.

CHAPTER EIGHT

EILISH

Mortal Ruins

“What’s going on, Pyre?!” I insist.

The people are in a panic. Everyone hurries to take cover as the sirens blare.

“We aren’t safe,” he answers. “Theren said the Obiqui are coming.”

Pyre casts a spell to summon a spirit’s vision. He gestures towards the sky and I stand in shock. What appears to be millions of birds fly directly towards us. “If they see us or sense us in any way, Elioth and Abedon will know where we are. We can’t chance them finding our people before we can better defend the keep.”

“Abedon is free?!” Aima says, her mouth dropping open in shock.

“Yes,” Pyre answers.

“How?” I ask.

“Elioth found a way to free him,” Pyre answers. He freezes for a moment and shouts, “Everyone needs to run! Now! Take cover as quickly as you can.”

Then he turns to face me. “Eilish, The Veil is in trouble.”

“Go!” I answer him. “I can keep us safe,” I continue, looking at Aima. I turn back to Pyre, who appears to be hesitant. “If The Veil needs you, Pyre, you have to go. We will be fine.”

He nods and closes his eyes, disappearing from view as Aima and I start running for the cover of a dilapidated building just in the distance.

She reaches the building before I do.

“Eilish! Hurry!” Aima calls out to me as I turn to look up at the sky to see how far off the Obiqui are. They’re right over myhead. And, as I stare up at them, the ravenous cloud of flapping wings covers me entirely.

I drop to my knees as something overcomes me—a vision. Images I don’t recognize take over my mind and force me to bear witness to them…

Sickening sounds echo towards the sky as bones pop and snap, breaking down to reform into a monstrous beast of shadow. Abedon leaps into the air as great wings appear—bone appendages strung together by thin, translucent flesh. Horns protrude from his skull. Shadow and fire embrace him in a cocoon of magic so vile, it scars the realms.

He closes his eyes blissfully, breathing in the darkness of the Chasm. A booming roar shakes the realms as he soars across the sky. The walls between worlds tremble beneath his power. Abedon’s wings slice through the barriers, forcing the Shadow Realm to bleed into the fae kingdoms. Darkness spreads across the lands, leaving only agony and death behind. Shadows morph into shapeless demons, possessing the weak and draining them of their souls.

The Knights of Umbria ride beside their master on winged serpents…

When the vision breaks, I struggle to catch my breath but I’m surrounded.

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