Page 23 of Veil of Monsters

Posy softens her voice. “I’m sorry for how much you have lost, but you still have family. Paxton, you have me, and I swear on my life that you are safe at my side, as I’m vowing to protect you. You must know you’re different, as you are not a stupid boy. You look like a forest, can control the earth, because you’re the son of the trapped earth god of old legends. The gods are real, and we are the only two demigods walking the world.” Paxton pales. “I’m the daughter of the air goddess, and that makes us cousins.”

“The gods are real. Sometimes I hear a male speaking to me in my mind, guiding me. He said he was my father and the god of earth. I thought I was maddening by the day—” He pauses.

Posy steps closer. “Yes, that is your father. We can all connect to each other’s minds; that’s how you felt me come into the city. It’s how you knew I was coming for you. Your mother was the mate of the earth god, but she ran away from him. He’s unable to follow, as he would have come and got you himself. My mother sent me. She wants you to come live with her where it would be safe for you. She can train you in your powers and care for you. I’ll be around too, and you won’t have to worry about hurting anyone with your powers when they grow.”

He immediately protests. “I’m not leaving without Emily.”

Posy pauses, looking back at me, and I shrug. If he wants to take the child with him, we will have to do just that. “Okay, we—”

I hear a massive explosion, and we both rush towards the window that gives a pretty brief view of the city. I can’t see anything here, but smoke rises in the distance, and my chest hurts as I get the sinking feeling Louie is attacking the city. “Stay with the children, and I will get higher to see.”

Posy nods before I rush out the door, knowing that this place must have a rooftop or an attic room. I run out the door and around the staircase, passing several children sitting on the stairs. I get up three more staircases before coming to a door that is markedroofwith a small sign.

Pushing the door open, I get outside, my eyes widening as I look over the coast, which is full of black-bannered ships. There are so, so many ships, but what is worse is the sea around the ships is a floating army of monsters. There are thousands of them, and they look like a dark wave that is getting closer. There are already monsters running out of the coast straight towards the city, and two buildings have collapsed, fire spreading out from them. My heart pounds in fear as I watch in horror as the monsters slaughter helpless fae on the beaches, blood marking the sand and the screams never-ending. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”

“That’s a bad word.”

I swiftly turn to see a little dark-haired girl sitting next to me. She must be about five. I clear my throat. We can’t leave any of these children here to die. “Yeah, it definitely is. Come with me.”

She takes my hand and follows me down the staircase, where two older girls are sitting. “Listen to me, the city is under attack. Gather everyone you can and come to Paxton’s room. It’s important.” The girls look between each other. “Tell Madam Esis we have a way out. That the war is here. Go now!” The girls are smart, and they immediately start shouting for everyone to get to Paxton’s room.

Just as I get to Paxton’s door, Madam Esis runs over, gathering her dress in her hands. “What are you doing? We must leave and get to the forests. Apparently, there is transport there to Goldway.”

“We can get you all out of here with a portal to a Wyern city, where it is safe,” I tell her, but the look she gives me is nothing short of distrusting. “Hear those screams? I’ve fought the monsters coming here, and trust me, you want a Wyern army between you and them. The war is here and I’m taking the children, with or without your help. I won’t let them be slaughtered because of fae hate for Wyerns.”

The screams seem to get louder, driving my point home, and she gives a quick nod. “I’m not leaving without every single one of them,” she says. “It’s lunch, so they are all here. Some luck from the goddess. I will make sure everyone’s accounted for.” I’m surprised a little by the protectiveness in her voice for the kids. She turns and starts barking orders. Along with the girl still holding my hand, I rush back into the room.

“We need a portal, I’m guessing?” Posy deadpans, looking at the children flooding the room. I only nod. Posy turns to the boy. “You’ll have to go with the others to the Wyerns, but I will be back soon.”

“You’re not coming with us?” Paxton questions. “Are you going to fight them? Just you two girls?”

Posy doesn’t bother to answer him because the room is slowly becoming packed with children, most of them crying. She comes to my side. “Please say you’ve changed your mind about going to the temple.”

“No. Remember what your mother said about my blood being the same as the goddess? Well, I saw her, in my mind when I was sick.” I don’t have any time to catch my breath. “I don’t want to stay here, but something tells me it’s important I do. I need to go to that temple.”

Posy rubs her face. “Fine. I knew you’d get me killed. I’ve always said it.”

She is likely right. This is dangerous, but I won’t ignore the dream, the signs that have told me over and over again that I need answers. I feel like the answers I’ve wanted for so long are close. Breathtakingly close. “You can go, Posy. This is my choice, not yours. The city is being attacked.” Part of me wonders if I’d have any chance of saving Nerelyth, of getting to the ship she is on. I’ve seen it in my dreams, but the truth is, a whole army of monsters is between us. No, I need a way to fight Louie. I need the truth of the past and my blood. I need Emerson back because, together, I’ve always felt like we can do anything.

She blows out a breath. “If I leave, we both know Louie will kill you. He is attacking the city because he knows you’re here. The dreams, the connection between you. There must be a reason for it. I’m staying at your side.”

It doesn’t take long for all the children to gather in the room, and Madam Esis quickly does a headcount while holding two babies in blankets. When she declares they are all here, Posy opens a portal of air. Many of the children gasp, their small eyes widening at the magic. Paxton doesn’t even blink. Madam Esis insists she go through first, but I catch her arm. “Find someone in charge and tell them Calliophe Sprite told you that Junepit City is under attack and they need help. Tell them I need the king.”

“I will,” she answers before carrying the babies through. Lorenzo is on the other side in the far distance, and he begins running towards us as the children flood through the portal. He won’t get there in time, but it is interesting Posy made the portal appear near him, almost like she wanted to see him. “POSY!”

Posy’s eyes tighten, the only response she will give. Paxton nods at her before going through to the other side. The second the last child is through, when Lorenzo is so close, she slams the portal closed. Letting him through would mean answering his never-ending questions, and he would demand we go back to get Emerson. But we can’t afford any delays; we need to get to the temple. “We should run.”

We leave the house quickly, making our way to the temple through the chaotic streets. People are running in every direction in a panic, but this part of the city isn’t under attack just yet. We keep running, not stopping as we go through the busy streets. “The monsters are coming closer. The screams are closer.”

I can only nod at her, panic pushing at my chest. I hope Emerson gets my message. This city needs help, the people need help. The bottom of the temple comes into view as we battle through people to get there. I don’t know where they’re running to, but towards the beach is a terrible idea. Some look like they are running to the thick forests at the back of the city, and I really hope there is transport like Madam Esis said. The temple is nestled on a lake, only a thin wooden bridge leading the way to the thick pillared entrance where fae lights hover brightly. It looks busy, fae still waiting around even as warning bells ring across the city to mark war.

Posy stops when we get to the lake. “Go. I will not let anything pass here to get to you, my friend.”

She looks as scared as I feel, and I quickly hug her before leaving her at the end of the bridge. “You were always more than a friend to me. You’re my family,” I tell Posy.

Posy eyes are bright and so full of hope. Hope for herself, for being good, as she put it. I think she was forced to make terrible decisions and she isn’t bad. She has nothing to prove to anyone. “I’m protecting you and sworn to protect you, but we both know I love you. You’re my family too. Go!”

Running down the bridge, I halt when a male fae stops in my path. “Have you come to protect the goddess’s sacred temple? We are all staying, knowing our blood will be spilled, but we are going to try to save this place of worship.”

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