Page 51 of Frost and Fate
ChapterTwenty-Two
Nova’s stomach continued to twist in knots as Creedin and his men made preparations for the ritual. “It is almost time for you to open the Veil.”
Nova let out an exasperated sound. “You’ve got the wrong person! I am not even a Veil Walker. I don’t even know how to open the Veil!”
Creedin smiled again. “You bring up a good point. Lark, bring the Walker here.” After a silent moment, he turned to the Celestial wolf. Lark was staring at something across the cave. Nova turned her head around to look, but once again saw nothing. Creedin growled in anger. “Lark!” A rush of wind whipped across the room toward Nova and Creedin. A moment later Lark turned back to face them.
“Apologies, Master. I will retrieve the prisoner at once.”
Creedin breathed out another disgruntled sound and glared at Lark as he walked away. When the fair-haired man returned, he half walked, half dragged an older-looking gentleman. The man’s eyes were vacant and he stood there slack jawed and dazed.
“What did you do to him? Did you hurt him?”
The backside of Creedin’s hand hit hard across Nova’s cheek. “Shut your mouth, girl. He doesn’t know where he is or what’s happening to him. Trust me it’s better that he doesn’t. What’s coming for him is less than pleasant.” Creedin added a cryptic emphasis to those last three words. “Put him on the table.”
She watched as Lark gently laid the Walker on the stone slab. Creedin pulled a long silver dagger from beneath his robes.
Nova gasped. “What are you going to do?”
Creedin began to raise his voice, but was cut off by Lark. “The others are nearly here.”
Creedin straightened in his seat. “Good. Hood up, Lark. You are still a secret I wish to keep to myself.” With that command he lifted his hood up, once again obscuring his features. The air around them began to crackle with energy. Nova snapped her head around, as a group of lycans, along with Romani, and a red-bearded man she did not recognize, all appeared on the edge of the cave.
“Darren!” Nova cried out. She and Darren locked eyes. He took two quick steps forward and then howled in pain. The teleporter from the complex appeared behind him. The man wrapped both arms around Darren and pressed an unusual weapon to the front of his neck. It looked to be the sharpened head of an axe, with the handle removed. A long slit had been cut along the back which the dark figure used to wrap his fingers through. It was some kind of axe-wielding brass knuckle contraption. Lance took a step toward the assailant, but froze when the man began to push the blade deeper into the flesh of Darren’s neck. Blood ran down the front of his shirt.
Creedin gave a small applause. “We’re so glad you could make it. Your mate needed proper motivation to complete her task.” He turned to the remaining group members. “Move and he dies. You lycans may be able to regenerate, but nothing will save him once his head has been cleanly severed.”
The group radiated fury. Growls tore from several members but they obeyed the command. “It’s time.” Without warning, Creedin plunged the dagger deep into the dazed Walker’s heart.
“No!” Nova cried out. Creedin wrapped his right hand around the hilt as it remained in the man’s spasming body. He reached his left hand out and grabbed Nova’s own hand in a vise grip. She struggled to pull away, trying to call upon her powers, but nothing worked.
“It’s time to focus, Nova. Focus on opening the Veil or your mate dies.”
“No!” she yelled. Creedin nodded toward the teleporter, and the man began to press the blade deeper and deeper into Darren’s neck. “Stop!” Tears poured down Nova’s cheeks. “Please stop!”
Creedin gripped her more tightly. “You can stop this any time, Nova. Open the Veil!”
The blade was deep now. Darren was making gurgling sounds as blood poured from his open mouth. The rest of the group looked on helplessly. Leah’s hands covered her mouth in horror. Darren began to convulse.
“All right, I’ll do it!”
Creedin held up a hand and the man abruptly stopped. Nova closed her eyes and the tears continued. She had to save him. She would do anything for him. As soon as she opened herself up, the energy flowed through her. Creedin was pulling magic from the nearly lifeless Veil Walker. It passed through him and into Nova. She was a vessel, absorbing everything. Focusing on the stone archway in her mind’s eye, she envisioned it opening. The wind whipped ferociously around them. Grey light began to fill the archway then. It poured out of the opening, plunging the room in a monochrome of black and white. Through her physical connection with Creedin, she could feel him growing stronger.
Then a voice filled Nova’s mind.‘It’s within you. Find it before they do. That is how you’ll save yourself. It’s how you’ll save all of them.’It was Lark. Suddenly Nova was back in the icy cave of her dreams. Time moved in slow motion as she lifted the lid of the ornate golden box. Her fingertips burned and blistered, but she refused to stop. Blue flames enveloped Nova as she lifted the lid all the way open. She screamed in pain and fear. Nova assumed the worst as she felt herself burning to death. To her surprise, the pain subsided. She looked down at her body, no burnt flesh. Instead a small blue flame danced in the palm of her hand. She remembered the way Laurie had used meditation to help unlock her powers in the first place.
That’s it!All these nights dreaming of the cave. All the confusion and nightmares had led her here. Nova exhaled in relief and opened her eyes. She knew exactly what to do.
In one swift movement, she wrenched her hand free. The gateway collapsed on itself immediately. She shot Gideon a look. The Alpha stared back at her intently, waiting for a sign.
“What have you done!” Creedin squawked. “Why have you stopped?”
Nova stood from the chair and glared at Creedin’s wrinkled face. “You said your incantation protected you from ice.” She could feel the magic wrapping its way around her. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Gideon slowly making his way toward Darren. Simultaneously, she saw Lark blink out of existence.
Creedin sneered. “Yes, you foolish girl! Your ice is of no power here!”
Nova held up a finger to silence him. “Your incantation protects you and your men from ice…” She flipped her palm up, revealing a dancing blue flame. “…but does it protect you from fire?”
Creedin’s eyes doubled in size, horrified. Nova used her right hand to toss up the thickest wall of ice she could muster. It formed just in front of her lycan companions. Through the icy-blue wall she could just make out Gideon’s massive form on the move. She trusted the Alpha to take advantage of the moment and save Darren. Her right hand continued to reinforce the icy barrier, while she raised her left hand high in the air.
