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Blood flows like an ocean of red, seeping into glowing runes on the floor.

The screams of a thousand souls weave between the ethers like a tapestry.

Ripples of forbidden magic simmer from sliced throats, wafting through the air until they stretch the very fabric of this world.

The blood of ancient lineages smears the gilded door and darkness spills from the cracks of realms long forgotten.

.. and from that darkness, a great evil rises.

He is darkness.

He is power.

And now he is free.

Sweat trickles down my chest and I shoot up from the pillows.

My lungs burn from the force of my screams. I throw my legs over the bed and rush from my chambers.

The sound of my bare feet slapping against the concrete brings me back from the fading images of my dream.

I summon my robes as well as my mirror as I search for Cambion.

The scent of lemongrass and red weed drifts from beneath my brother’s door. I knock on the wood until my knuckles tear open. Cambion blinks his tired eyes at me. “What on earth could you want at this hour, Theren? It isn’t even sunrise and you…”

“Enough,” I hasten to say. “Do you feel it, brother? The darkness is coming. Abedon is free and we don’t have much time. We need to warn everyone.”

“Abedon is coming? How did you know?”

“Blood magic. It’s dark and I’ve never sensed it on a scale quite like this. Fourteen perhaps fifteen lives sacrificed at the door to Abedon’s prison. It broke open the lock and he’s free,” I explain.

“But how? Who?” Cambion starts.

“It has to be Elioth. No other sorcerer can command that much blood magic without it consuming them. The Chasm is within Abedon and I’m quickly losing hope…”

I don’t wait to hear Cambion’s response before I set off down the corridor.

I round the corner and pound on every door I pass, alerting everyone.

When I reach the courtyard, I sound the alarm.

Designated leaders show our people to the safest places within the buildings, but the soldiers are still beyond the walls.

“Cambion! Help the others, I have to warn our men!”

“No!” he shouts back. “Imatriat and the others are getting the people to safety. We aren’t separating again, Theren.

We warn them together.” Cambion grabs me and races towards the gate.

We see the army. Tents litter the ground where rubble has been cleared away.

Soldiers stroll, unaware of the coming danger.

Dragan and Myerdoth see Cambion and me coming.

“Abedon is free from his prison!” I yell.

“How?” Dragan asks.

“Elioth used blood magic to sacrifice his followers and break through the spells Silvanus and Morrigan used to trap Abedon. Everyone must move quickly and take cover until the swarm passes. We need to hide the soldiers,” I suggest. “With any luck, we can conceal the army from Abedon’s spies and maintain an element of surprise.

If they so much as sense someone here, then our position is compromised. ”

“How do we hide everyone?” Myerdoth asks.

“The others are taking cover as we speak. While the Obiqui have very keen hearing and sense of smell, their vision isn’t very good. If you use your natural stone to shield the army, it should fool them.”

I can see Dragan’s doubts, but he commands the gargoyles to spread their wings and use their natural stone exterior to camouflage the soldiers.

Belroth overhears Dragan’s orders to his men and joins.

Golems and gargoyles work together to create a stone barrier.

Dragan uses his shadows to reinforce their efforts as a cloud of black smoke rolls across the sky.

The thunder follows, drowning out the sounds of footsteps as our people flee from the power getting closer.

“I thought we would have more time,” I say with a wince. “The Obiqui are here. They’ll swarm and attack anything in sight. We have to find shelter.”

“Have you seen the others?” Dragan asks.

I shake my head, eyes searching through the crowd for my companions.

“Where is Eilish?!” I dart towards the wall and climb up to the top.

Even with my enhanced vision, I can’t see her among the others.

Cambion aids a few of the elderly while I continue my search.

We meet at the edge of the kingdom’s border but, still, we can’t find Eilish.

“Lately she’s been training in the city with Aima and Pyre before sunrise. She wants to stay sharp for battle.” My brother worries his lip between his teeth—a habit he picked up from Eilish. It’s a clear indication he’s nervous.

“Where do they train? If they’re close, I may be able to warn them in time.”

Cambion points to a building in the distance that appears to have toppled onto its side over time. It’s far away. Way too far to risk mirror gating without knowing exactly where I’ll land. And the swarm is coming. “We can’t make it to her in time,” I say with a sigh.

Use your magic, Theren, I tell myself.

I focus my power into my eyes, enhancing my vision until I see three blurred figures fighting. My eyes adjust to their movements until Eilish is as clear as if she were standing right in front of me.

The swarm is close to her.

I tap into my communication ring and reach out to Pyre.

He answers after a moment. “Look to the sky,” I say.

“Obiqui are headed your way. Make sure Eilish and Aima are safe. We don’t know what lies on the other side of the swarm.

Abedon has risen and if he finds out where we are, the battle may come sooner than we thought. ”

I jump down from the wall and see Baron helping people underground. The vampire looks mildly irritated, but not afraid as Cambion and I are. “Have you seen Silvanus or Variant?” I ask him.

“Variant is staying out of sight so as to not cause further panic. Silvanus is helping as many as he can to the Delendren Glade until this blows over. He says the swarm should pass in a few hours, but I’m worried about what might follow. We’re not prepared at all for this shit.”

“Better prepared now than we were at the stronghold,” I reply. “But you’re right. We underestimated our enemy again and it could cost us greatly.”

Baron and Cambion seal up the underground tunnels and move to take cover. I race to the top of the tower and cast a shield around myself. My head tells me to take cover, but my heart is shouting for me to go after Eilish, to make sure she made it to safety.