Page 93 of Wicked Thieves
Henry and Gabriel stepped back, overcome by its power as streams of light began to whirl from the pages of the Loom. The light suddenly reduced itself to wisps that swirled around the book, between its pages that fluttered and flipped over and over. A gust of wind filled the chamber, brushing over Anelize and around, stealing the air from her lungs.
Anelize stared at the wisps of light around her, reminding her of falling stars. Listening to the whispers of men and women, children, that all called her name.
Anelize…Anelize…Anelize…
As if those voices were trapped within the wisps of light, they intertwined and joined together, becoming one. They slowly swirled over to her as if they were rolling waves of pure fire. They hovered over her face, like curling vines coming to greet the sun to be granted its warmth.
Then silence fell over the chamber, the voices growing quiet.
Before they surged.
The pain was unlike anything she had ever felt.
Unending and unyielding, threads of power tore through her eyes, her mind, her blood, and heart. She was made and unmade all at once as she felt a burning fire surge through her only for a wave of ice to freeze her veins. She died and was reborn, over and over again in an endless cycle of destruction.Words and memories and faces blurred across her vision in dizzying patterns. Until she knew not where she began anditended.
And then…there was nothing at all, save for the whispers that said her name one last time. Settling somewhere deep within her chest. A voice she knew well, the very one that has been waiting for her all this time.
Anelize. Let. Me. In.
32
Aeric Maren thought he knew death and knew it well.
He would have crawled his way toward it if it meant ensuring the book was destroyed and Anelize was safe. And if not, well, he would have crawled to her if only to hold her once more before taking his final breath.
Screams filled the throne room as the first rebels began to pour into the castle. Unleashing fire and ice and death onto any they crossed paths with.
“Protect the king!” Aeric bellowed at the Watchmen as they all gathered around King Amaranth, drawing their swords as they prepared to lay down their lives for Elvir’s monarch.
He unsheathed his sword, finding himself flanked by two masked rebels glaring at him as though they did not know him at all. As if he were truly the enemy. They didn’t give him a chance to hesitate as they launched themselves toward him, their blades raised to strike. He moved faster than they could anticipate as he parried the first sword that came his way, forcing it over his head as he ducked and sliced through the rebel’s abdomen. He disarmed the next rebel as he blocked his attack by trapping his arm beneath his and applying pressure to the bone, snapping it in two. The rebel cried out, only to be silenced as Aeric took his own sword and ran him through.
Idris and Adan were near the entrance of the throne room, battling with an ox of a man who could hardly keep up with theirquick feet and jabs as they sliced at his legs and arms until he toppled to the ground. Adan dealing the finishing blow as he sank his blade into the back of his neck.
When they saw him, they held the same expressions of rage as he felt inside himself. They pushed their way past the nobles all running out of the Great Hall, seeking to flee from the rebels who had invaded Castle Rime and were now bringing nothing but destruction wherever their swords met flesh.
This had not been part of the plan.
Far from it.
Rebels filled the courtyard and bailey as they cut down Watchmen and nobles. With their blades and their powers, they appeared to relish in the bloodshed as they claimed the lives of men and women alike. Most of who were unarmed and begging for their lives. Horses ran out of their stalls as fires blazed upon the tables, nearly running him down as he entered in another fight with more rebels. Ending in more bloodshed as Aeric walked away without a scratch upon him.
“To the tunnels. Now,” Aeric ordered the twins as they nodded and ran ahead toward the courtyard on the eastern side. They were about to pass through the archway when a wall of blazing fire surged before them, nearly burning them all.
Adan and Idris dodged the next attack that came as a woman with short blonde hair who sauntered toward them, swirling red flames in her hands as she smirked.
“Going somewhere, Watchmen?”
“What do you think you’re doing?” Adan sneered as she came to stand before her flames, effectively blocking their path.
If he could conjure without risking all of their lives, he would have had those flames obey him and roll over her like a great big wave. But there were too many Watchmen fighting along the bailey to risk it. No matter how desperate he was to get to Anelize.
“Get out of my way,” Aeric said darkly. “Or you will find no mercy from me.”
The woman laughed, the sound seeming to spur the flames on. “Mercy? You think I want mercy from the king’s mutts? I do not want your mercy. I want you all to die.”
As she sent a surge of flames toward him, Aeric rolled out of the way as the twins rushed her. She parried their attacks before unleashing more flames upon them. Aeric rose and stalked toward her as she released a cackling laugh of enjoyment. “You will never rule this city. It is ours for the taking. Once we have that book, we willownyou.”
“I’m tired of your yammering,” Adan snapped as he unsheathed another blade behind his back, crouching low before he shot forward. His barrage of attacks had her dancing on her feet, her short sword clashing with his blades which sent sparks through the air. When Idris and Aeric moved in on her, she sent a swirl of fire around them, spinning it around like a whirlwind that burned Aeric’s skin until it encased him in their fiery depths.
