Page 80 of A Blightress of Wrath
Philiusrose with a long gash spilling dark blood down his face. “Talon!Getup!”Hefumbled, hittingTalon’scheek with his wrists.Talon’seyes shot open, and he blinked rapidly, findingIlyennaresisting my pull toward the portal, reaching for him instead.Boltingfrom the ground, he coughed, spitting blood and rushing toIlyenna’sside.
“Takethem out!”Iscreamed, clutching my chest with one hand, pointing to the glowing knives jabbed in the heart with the other.
TalonandIlyennapulled back on their power.Bloodoozed from the clean cuts, pouring in a steadydrip, drip, driponto the stones below.
“Sh-she’s here,”Istuttered at the same time a cackle of laughter ricocheted off the cavern walls.
Revichhad me in his arms instantly, hauling me over his shoulder in an agonized grunt.
Hervoice lifted through the iron-tinged air for all to hear. “Howfoolish you have been,DaughterofFelgren.Didyou not wonder at how easily theBlightfell?Didyou really thinkIwould not guess at your next thoughts?Doyou still not see how wellIknow you, regardless of how defiantly you shut me out of your mind?I’mbeginning to enjoy my dark corner there,LittleSprout.”
Revichraced over the stone floor, waving his arm in the shape that would produce a portal.Itformed instantly, a bright spot in the dim of the cave. “Philius!Go!”
“Ican help!”Philiuscalled just as a low growl swept through the cavern and twoBlightbeasts prowled down the stairs behind theBlightress.
“Ican’t get her out quickly while worrying about you!”Revichboomed.Helowered me to the ground, grabbedPhilius’sarm, and shoved him toward the portal.Angerovertook the fear onPhilius’sface as he fell, disappearing in an instant.Theportal dissipated along with him andRevichmade another, calling toLiawho stood at the base of the heart, watching her sister descend the stairs.
“It’sbeen too long, little sister,” theBlightresscooed, finding the last step.
“No…”Iwhispered, getting a closer look at the beasts prowling low behind her.Onewas not fully black, its legs short and ears still covered in a gray furIknew well. “Parvus?”Itrembled.Thebeast swept its head in my direction.Theeyes of the monster theBlightresshad created flashed red toward me, andIknew whereParvusandRaucahad gone.
“No,”Iwhimpered.Revich, unwilling to hesitate, picked me up over his shoulder once more. “No!”Iscreamed this time, reaching for my loyal friend, my lumen for over seven years, turned dark and distorted by theBlightress’smagic.
“Youwill not leave,Karus.”Witha wave of her hand, theBlightresscut off our exit, sending a tremble through the cave.Anavalanche of rock fell over our path back to the portal.
“Go!”Icried toRevich, scrambling down from his shoulder. “Yougo!TakeLiaandTalonwith you!”
Heignored me, pushing me behind him and backing up, facing theBlightressasTalonandIlyennadid the same.
Liaspoke to her sister for the first time in centuries. “Letthem leave,Visalia.Youcan have me instead.”
TheBlightresscrept forward with our lumens turnedBlightbeasts growling low behind her. “WhywouldIwant you,Thalia?” she sneered, drawing out her sister’s name in mockery.
“Becauseyou seek to reclaim the power you’ve given.”Liawiped at the blood on her face. “Hereit is, in me.”
TheBlightresstilted her head back to laugh in a flush of long white hair, her fingers ending in pointed black nails lightly touching her throat.
Ididn’t miss the quick shift ofLia’sgaze toRevichwhich he returned with a subtle nod.
Iwas weak, barely able to stand, my heart heavy as if it was pooling blood inside my chest.Icoughed again, spitting up a mouthful.Myhead swam in a haunting pulse that mirrored the one still echoing in the cave.
Revichmurmured, just loud enough forTalon,Ilyenna, andIto hear. “Beready to run back to the portal.”
Iturned my head, confirming in my dizzy state that it was still blocked by impenetrable black stone.
Revcalled, “Eachone of us felt those wounds through your heart, why not you?”
Ittook me a moment to realize he was speaking to theBlightress, andIblinked rapidly, doing whatIcould to stay conscious.
Shedisplayed no sign of weakness from our destruction of theBlightinFelgren.Therewas no gripping of her chest as her heart bled profusely above us.Wehad slipped right into her trap.Sheflashed him an amused smile with her crimson lips. “Iripped my heart from my chest precisely soIwould no longer be weakened by such a useless thing.”
“Butit’s not useless,” he countered, unfazed by her answer and taking the time to continue backing us up towards the fallen rock.
Revichwas stalling.
“Yourheart is the pinnacle of power on this isle.Felgrenis just a tool.It’syour heart that feeds it.Youare a part of everything—the mountains, the sea, the grasslands, the forest.”Hegripped me tighter, pushing me back further. “It’snot that magic and its wielders do not exist withoutFelgren.Theydo not exist without you.”
“Whata cleverBaronyou’ve ensnared,LittleSprout.”Heriridescent eyes swept to me whileIstruggled to keep mine open. “Idid wonder what had you so enamored.Ishould have taken you when you dallied with that soldier inHyrithia.Hewould have been no obstacle.”Shelaughed in unrestrained cruelty. “Nowhand her over,Revichof theHallowMarshes.YouknowIwill do her no harm.Ionly seek to return what is mine.”
