Page 53 of Ironheart

"Citizens of Kitezh, please do not panic! This matter is being looked into, and we will inform the city of what we find. Please go home and allow us to find who is responsible," Irina called, her voice magnifying as if she'd spoken through a megaphone. Some people gave Zori suspicious looks, and she tried not to take it personally. She looked at her hands and at the mess that her magic had caused. She made it to a nearby garbage bin before she threw up her wine.

"Here, drink this," one of the priestesses said and passed her a bottle of water. "Come and sit." Zori allowed herself to be led to a wooden bench. "Are you hurt?"

She shook her head. "No. I feel a little weak. The magic came out of me so fast."

"It's a good thing it did. If theupiórhad started attacking civilians, it would have done a lot of damage," Irina said, joining them. "Come, Zoria, I will take you home."

"We will inform you of our findings, High Priestess," the Mokosh priestess said and gestured to where the remains were being bagged up. "This magic feels very strange."

Zori opened her mouth to tell them about Chernobog, but Irina squeezed her arm. "Thank you for the water," she said instead and allowed Irina to lead her away.

"We'll talk about it in the house. Now, shift," Irina said and turned into her swan. Zori reached for the power, relieved when it responded, and her black wings stretched out. She launched into the sky, following Irina through the narrow buildings and back home.

Zori felt the pull of the golden magic that led to Vladik, but she fought following it. He had to help Aleksandr and find out if there were any other monsters finding their way into the city.

Zori landed next to Irina on the roof and shifted back into her human form. Her shoulders and back were aching, her breastbone sore from the force of the magic that had bounced off her pendent.

"Tell me everything that happened," Irina said, ushering her inside. "If I had let you talk in front of people, the whole city would be in a panic."

Zori took off her coat and hung it up inside the door before she followed Irina downstairs to the kitchen. She sat at the table and put her head in her hands. Irina moved about, making tea.

"It happened so quickly," Zori said and tried to remember everything about the thing that Chernobog had spoken through. "This is all my fault."

"No. It's Chernobog's fault," Irina replied, placing the tea in front of Zori. "Sip on that. It will calm your stomach and your nerves."

Zori drank her tea and tried not to have a panic attack. "What are we going to do? I can't stay here if thevolhvare coming for me."

"Don't be silly. You can't run. They had wanted to attack us for years, Zori. This is not on you to fix all by yourself."

Zori thought about the suspicious looks people had given her. "People will blame me if anyone else gets hurts."

"They wouldn't dare. Those who saw you in action tonight cannot doubt that the goddess is with you. I've never seen a spell that would do that to a body, even a dead one."

"What do you mean dead?" Zori asked.

"That's whatupiórare. They are the cursed dead, pulled from their graves by magic. There are different types, but this one seemed to be the vampiric kind, going by its fangs. The Mokosh priestesses will be able to tell us more. Chernobog is bold to send one of those foul things into this place," Irina said, folding her arms. Seeing Zori's confused expression, she added, "He can summon and raise the dead. The creatures like theupiórheed his call and will do as he commands."

Not only did he have devoted blood mages, he also could summon an undead army of monsters. Perfect. Zori put her head in her hands again and desperately wished Vladik would turn up.

There was a knock on the front door, and a tall gargoyle entered. "Apologies for the interruption, High Priestess. The general has requested your presence at the northern ward stone."

Irina nodded. "I'll come with you. Zoria, stay here. I'll be home soon."

"I'll be fine," she assured her grandmother. She didn't feel fine, but Irina was too important to stay away from the investigation. Irina kissed Zori on the forehead and followed the gargoyle out into the night.

Zori drank her tea and got up to pace. Chernobog's words and power crawled over her like spiders.Morana will use you up just like she did with her last vessel. She breaks her toys like a petulant child.

Zori knew he was trying to fuck with her, and she was fighting hard not to listen to the doubt he had placed in her. Just because Morana was their goddess didn't mean she didn't have her own agenda. She said she wanted Zori to find the other swan wives who were lost, but the magic that had killed theupiórwas so dark and angry.

Zori hugged herself and did another lap of the carpet. She wanted Vladik to tell her everything was going to be all right. It didn't matter if it was a lie.

Claim your mate, child. I told you that you will need his strength and protection for all that is coming,Morana said, her presence filling Zori's mind.

"Really? After all that has happened tonight, that's all you have to say?" she replied out loud, too tired to concentrate on telepathy.

Chernobog lies, Zoria. I do not break what is precious to me. I protect it. It's why the swan wives and gargoyles exist at all. You might not like to kill, but sometimes it is needed to protect those we love from monsters.Morana's presence bore down on her.And make no mistake, Chernobog is the worst monster of all.

The goddess left, and Zori keeled over, trying to catch her breath. First magic, and now monsters. True evil monsters that wanted to take her to Chernobog.

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