Page 12 of House of Demons and Bones (Shades of Ruin and Magic #5)

11

Barbie

S omething bothered me as the invisible bond between Killian and me pulled taut, flaring. It felt like an invasion was going on, a violation waiting to happen.

This feels fucking wrong, I told Sy, worrying my bottom lip. And I don’t know what it is.

Like ice in our chest, Sy agreed, biting her claws in worry. Go check on your man so he won’t fuck another. Guard what’s yours.

I’m not going to him, I said. He’ll think I’m desperate. Men don’t want what comes too easily.

You’re a dumbass, she snapped. You know Killian isn’t just any man. He’s almost as good as my sugar, and they’re cut from the same cloth.

Killian and Rowan don’t have much in common except their titles, I said. Killian never apologizes for being an asshole. Rowan just pretends he’s not one.

Sy huffed in disagreement. I paced the room, unease coiling in my gut.

Fuck it, I’m going to the House of Chaos. I caved in.

Sy’s face lit up.

Not to check on Killian, I said, and her smile vanished fast enough to crack her fangs. I’m making sure my treasure’s safe. Anyone who touches that shoebox will have to answer to me.

Check the treasure, then fuck Killian, she said, fingering the pink diamond necklace she got from Rowan. She’d nearly bitten my head off for offering to store it for her.

I just want you to understand that this visit won’t be about having sex with Killian, I said. I just want to say hello to the house magic.

Keep lying to yourself, she said. But better hurry then.

I was already running, urgency coursing in my veins. But when the violet steel-and-glass House of Chaos loomed into view, I slowed.

Killian had called me his mate, but what if he changed his mind again? I didn’t have Sy’s thick skin.

Get going, Sy urged, giddy at the thought of meeting him.

I paused instead and drew a ragged breath, still torn between need and doubt. Was wanting Killian this much a weakness? And what if he wasn’t there—or worse, what if he was with her? As far as the rumors went, their engagement still stood.

Sy groaned.

I won’t make a fool of myself again, I protested.

Even if Killian was my addiction, or poison, I was getting tired of fighting.

We can take any poison, Sy hissed.

Have you forgotten how the Seed of Heaven nearly did us in? I retorted.

Before I knew it, I’d started moving again. My feet carried me past the House of Chaos’s perimeter as another wave of urgency swept through my veins. None of the patrolling warriors stopped me, but a few stared as if they’d seen a ghost.

Whatever. If they tried to stop me, they’d have a taste of extreme rudeness.

The main door flew open before I reached the top step, house magic spilling out in a riot of wild colors, ready to drag me inside if I dared to retreat.

“Hello, hello,” I said. “Missed you too. Let’s go check on our treasure, shall we?”

I’d considered sneaking in—clambering up to the roof, then swinging down through a window to the penthouse hallway. The house magic would open any window for me, letting me spy on Killian without anyone knowing.

But no. I’d stroll through the front door like I belonged. I was no thief.

The house magic shot ahead in a phantom arrow of chaotic color as I followed. Everyone in the hall turned, wearing the same confused looks as the guards outside—like they were seeing a ghost again.

I pinched my cheek to prove I was real. As long as they didn’t block me, we were good. I wasn’t in the mood for interference while on a mission.

A sweet mission to fuck Killian. Sy beamed.

“Barbie?” Archer called tentatively as he strolled toward me from the depths of the hall. “Where did you come from?”

“Somewhere,” I answered evasively, as I didn’t like anyone to poke into my business.

“Weren’t you in the house just now?” he asked.

“Yeah? Double check with Rock. He’s shadowing me, but he should know that no one hides from me.” I swept two fingers southeast. “Your buddy’s heading that way, knowing I came here. This isn’t a social call, Archer. Just grabbing my favorite pillow from my old room for my new place in the House of Mages. I’m a respectable high mage now.”

“Are you?” He narrowed his eyes, his doubt as plain as daylight. “You sure you didn’t go up just now?”

“Maybe you should get your eyes checked, Archer,” I said. “Does Prince Killian cover vision? You better check. Prince Louis promised full insurance when I was his squire—turned out to be a sham.” I shook my head. “I got scammed.”

I charged past him and up the stairs like I still belonged.

“Scorpion, wait!” Archer called, but I was already three floors up, his footsteps echoing behind.

With Sy’s strength pumping through my legs, I barely touched the ground. Contrary to what I’d told Sy, I bypassed the sixth floor and my old room and raced to Killian’s penthouse.

Only at his corridor did I slow. My heart stuttered. How would he react? Would he welcome me or scold me? I needed an excuse ready. If he wasn’t all that happy to see me, I’d hit him with my worst attitude before storming out.

I squared my shoulders. Where was Pucker when I needed backup?

I’m your backup! Sy said.

Right, I sighed. I’d gotten used to his phantom form trailing me. But he was diligently guarding the Veil now, paranoid that I’d be dragged away by my enemy and he’d lose his drinking source. Still, he’d grown on me. After warning me about the Shriekers’ invasion in time, he deserved more than a few sips of my goddess energy.

The Queen’s Suite loomed ahead, its red door glaring. I steeled myself, hoping whatever waited inside wouldn’t sense me.

I crept forward, remembering Pucker’s words. They aren’t ghosts. They’re more like a kinetic energy force.

Whatever kinetic energy was—even Pucker couldn’t explain it. But something beyond that door terrified my familiar.

I quieted my steps as I padded along the long corridor, my pulse racing as I drew near the red door.

Come to us! You must come, little goddess! Ancient voices rasped from beyond—two distinct ones now, male and female, old as the earth itself.

I froze, instinct screaming for me to flee. But I stood my ground, as my need to see Killian burned stronger than fear.

Fuck off, I said.

As I moved to dash past, purple light spilled from under the red door, pooling at my feet.

We’re running out of time, girl. The female voice pierced my strengthened mental shield—these things were more powerful than I’d thought. Your father’s coming.

My heart sank into ice. At least they’d skipped the prophecy shit this time, naming my father directly instead of their usual Ruin is coming.

I stopped in my tracks. They had my attention.

The Queen’s Suite was meant for Killian’s true mate—everyone thought that meant the Queen of the Underworld. But the house magic had known I was his true mate all along, shocking everyone by offering me the suite, though I’d never taken it.

No one else can enter but you, the female voice said, icy wind brushing my mental shield. It could pierce my mind and read my thoughts. Not Hades’s heir. Not even the fallen star who once tried.

My heart rammed into my ribcage, and anxiety drenched me in icy dread. What force could outpower the demon queen and Killian?

Come and see, the male voice coaxed. We’ve waited an eon for you.

I’m not even twenty-two, I shot back.

We waited for you to be born and then come of age, the female said. We saw your coming before we fell.

I frowned, my mind whirling.

Don’t you want to defeat your father? asked the thundering male voice.

More than anything!

The dark flame in you has emerged, he continued. And you need allies. Only we can teach you to vanquish him.

Who are you? I demanded.

Come, the female invited.

They wouldn’t reveal more through the door, knowing too well that I was hooked—I’d do anything to kill my father. Even if it was a trap beyond the door, I’d jump in now.

Fortune favors the bold. Wish me luck.

I reached for the handle. The door creaked open before I pushed it. Taking a deep breath, I ducked inside. It clicked shut behind me, sealing me in.

I fought the urge to yank the door open and bolt. Not that it would budge until whoever lurked here was done with me. Better to get this over with. I kept my fear locked down tight—supernaturals could smell weakness like sharks scented blood, and the beings here were far worse than mere monsters.

Their presence saturated the air, their power crackling even through their restraints.

Chills slithered up my spine, reminding me of standing before my father. What had I gotten myself into? Then again, nothing could be worse than dear old dad.

The darkness here went beyond the absence of light—it was a living thing, deeper than the blackest night. My eyes adjusted, seeing through the writhing mist that twined with shadows, danger lurking within. Sy rose closer to the surface, ready to strike if the presence made a wrong move. For now, she waited, deceptively quiet but vibrating with contained violence.

“You have me here,” I drawled with a swagger I didn’t feel. Everyone preached fake-it-till-you-make-it, so why not join the circus? “And you’ve got five minutes to make it count.”

Cassius and Rock had tried drilling into me the power of keeping my mouth shut. I got their point—silence could be a weapon. But I already packed enough power, and throwing the first punch, even blind, was way more fun.

If you had thoughts, you wanted them heard.

“The mainstream ain’t owning the microphone no more,” I said, knowing it made no sense to the beings here, but I didn’t care. When I was nervous, I just needed to vent. “Yeah, they’re desperate to snatch it back.”

My mouth snapped shut as the eerie fog slithered toward me. Whatever was in the fog wasn’t some kinetic energy Pucker had babbled about. No, this was something else. Something close to my father’s essence. And it nearly freaked me out as I watched the fog stretch into infinity, deeper than an abyss and bottomless like the Void, a cosmic drain that could devour gods.

A shudder ripped through me.

“Quit the games and show yourself,” I said more aggressively. “Everyone who’s played with me ended up being the mouse. So, save yourself the humiliation, please.”

Probably not my smartest move, goading them. They might not even give a shit about embarrassment, especially without an audience.

I’m your audience, Sy chimed in supportively.

Silence stretched in the room, which I now noticed had no walls and no dimension; even time seemed frozen in this space.

“You were chatty enough in my head outside that red door. Don’t get shy on me now,” I broadcast into the void.

Nothing. Just the weight of their scrutiny pressed against my mind, probing. I slammed my mental shield up, and it held this time.

“Who are you anyway? Are you even people?” I clicked my tongue. “If you’re trapped souls, heads up—I’m not scared of ghosts. Got one as a familiar, and he’s a poltergeist. And if you want help crossing over to the light?—”

Purple lightning pierced through the dark fog, nearly blinding me. In a blink, I was yanked—backward? Forward? I had no clue. I just knew I was thrashing, cursing, and hurling power at whatever was manhandling me.

One second, I was poking the bear. The next? I was dumped into a battlefield—and not just any war zone. The sky bled red.

My bare feet hit scorching sand.

Superheated air whipped my golden curls against my face, my academy uniform twisting and reforming around me. I clutched the hem to keep it from being blown off. Reddish sandstorms spiraled past, meeting a green ocean at the horizon. Through the crimson sky, galaxies wheeled overhead.

For a hot second, I couldn’t place where the hell I was. Then it hit me—this wasn’t some memory playback or hologram show.

Shit, shit! I’d been dragged across time, and now I was standing on the ancient Earth as three cosmic heavyweights duked it out.

One female and one giant male dashed around a shadow-wreathed figure, their blades splitting air, power lifting their hair like live wires.

My genetic knowledge kicked in like a shot straight to my heart, and instantly, I knew who was in front of me. These weren’t just any beings—they were the original trio of gods. The dark one channeling shadows was Ruin, my father, originally known as Ra. The pale god facing him was Nephthys, the God of Sky. And the radiant dark-skinned goddess was Isis, Goddess of Earth.

All three beings radiated raw power. Nephthys’s eyes glowed golden, Isis’s blazed blue, and Ruin’s emitted pure darkness.

This was my father’s true form—glorious and pitch-black, not the half-shadow wreck stitched to scarred flesh with dark veins snaking across pale skin. A far cry from the starving shade who’d tried to reclaim his power by feeding on his own daughter.

The sky god and earth goddess circled Ruin, caging him in. Crimson sand whirled around them as they clashed faster than light, yet somehow my eyes could track their every movement.

Shadow-forged twin blades danced in Ruin’s long fingers, trails of smoke hissing from their edges. Unlike his opponents’ Earth-forged weapons, the twin blades reeked of something alien—materials from beyond our world.

A dark thought clicked into place—my father wasn’t Earth’s original god. He was alien.

Isis and Nephthys shouted in an ancient tongue, swords slashing at Ruin. He twisted away like a flowing shadow, their strikes hitting empty air. They lunged again. Ruin caught the sky god’s flaming sword with his left blade and the earth goddess’s ice spike with his right. Divine weapons clashed, spitting sparks.

Isis snarled, summoning a dozen ice spikes that screamed through the air. My heart soared—until shadow poured from Ruin, melting them to mist. He ducked the final spike instead of blocking it. The ice buried itself deep in Nephthys’s shoulder, the god too slow to dodge.

Cursing, Nephthys ripped out the spike. Lightning crackled from the wound—power bleeding into the ancient air.

“Watch it, Isis,” Nephthys snapped.

The earth goddess shot Ruin a death glare while muttering an apology to her ally. Ruin laughed.

The sky god didn’t waste time, his flaming blade already carving a path toward Ruin’s neck. I silently prayed it would bite deep. Best to behead that motherfucker. Ruin caught the strike with his shadow-steel, then kicked Isis’s legs as she hurled her newly made ice spike at his ribs.

They blurred into a cyclone of motion, blades flashing white, black, and gold. When they broke apart, all three were bleeding.

Lightning crackled again from Nephthys’s fresh cut. Shadow wove through Ruin’s back wound, sealing it instantly. While his opponents weakened with each drop of fallen blood, his shadows knitted him whole.

Shit, this wasn’t going well for Isis and Nephthys.

Isis stumbled back, clutching the shadow blade buried in her gut. She ripped it out with a snarl, stabbing it into the sand to let the earth swallow it.

“I’m not healing, Nephthys,” she gasped, pain glazing her electric blue eyes. “His blade’s poisoned! Ra fights dirty!”

No shit, lady. Evil was his brand. But at the mention of that blade—I peeked closer.

Holy hell, that was Deathsong, the same one I’d lifted from him. Only mine had shrunk from a longsword to a dagger over the years, getting mouthy in the process. And it only occasionally smoked in my hands.

Blood streamed from Isis’s wound, sizzling on the sand.

“We end this!” Nephthys charged, his blade glowing red-hot, slicing wild arcs.

Still bleeding, Isis attacked from Ruin’s other side. Her wrists snapped, and power rushed to her. The earth rumbled as sand twisted into cyclones. The desert split, jaws gaping, ready to swallow the shadow god.

Ruin levitated, but thorned vines shot up from the ground, spearing his ankles and dragging him down to earth.

Kill that motherfucker! I screamed inside, even knowing history said otherwise.

Kill the motherfucker! Sy echoed, then blinked as if she was hit by a truth. Technically, he fucked our mother, and we were the result.

Nephthys took advantage of Ruin’s momentary surprise and plunged his flaming sword into Ruin’s chest. My father hissed, banging his head into the sky god’s face as the blade drove home, fire sizzling against his flesh.

Quick as dark lightning, Ruin grabbed the hilt and yanked out the burning steel. His eyes screamed escape.

Shit. He was about to bolt. I wouldn’t fucking allow it.

Since landing in this time-slice, I’d been itching to blast him past Hell. Maybe this was why I’d been dragged here—to end him.

I dropped into a fighting stance, waiting for my shot. My shoulders tensed like whips, an adrenaline rush riding through my veins.

My hand stretched out to call Deathsong.

Wait! Sy shouted. Stop!

I jerked back my hand as if burned. Our thoughts clicked. We didn’t know if Deathsong would even come across time, and my father already wielded the longsword in this timeline. It was his creation, after all. What if it turned on me?

One moment of hesitation, and I’d missed the chance.

Shadows wove around Ruin, sealing his wounds. A dark truth hit me—Earth-forged blades couldn’t kill him. My father’s warnings about celestial beings rang true as I remembered how the Seed of Heaven had nearly ended me. I’d need weapons forged in both Heaven and Hell to take him down. But could my darkest flame burn him to ash?

Strategies and scenarios ran wild in my mind as Ruin untangled himself from the thorny vines, Earth’s poison sliding off him.

Thunder cracked the desert horizon.

The sky god’s eyes blazed orange-gold as galaxy fire danced in his palms. He hurled the inferno at Ruin’s head, lightning striking for my father’s chest.

Isis’s light followed and pierced Ruin’s back, trying to tear him apart from within.

Ruin shifted, turning incorporeal, dark tendrils latching onto his opponents’ elemental magic. I watched his shadow grow fangs, devouring flame, lightning, and light. Chills raced through me. He’d been an eater since the beginning.

“I warned you he’s a thief,” Isis cried out in dismay. “All he does is cheat and steal!”

“Leech!” Nephthys snarled.

I snarled too.

Ruin’s head snapped to me. Confusion flickered across his face before surprise and recognition sparked in his raven-black eyes.

Shit. Even across time, he knew his own blood.

“Hello, daughter.” His dark, musical voice slithered down my spine like a cold flame, chilling me to the bone marrow.

My palms turned slick with icy sweat. Same old song and dance—his presence always triggered this primal cocktail of terror, then fury, until it saturated my every cell. This monster had put me and Sy through hell, and here he was, still hunting us like we were his all-you-can-eat buffet.

I matched Ruin’s stare, pure hate ablaze in my eyes, refusing to cower.

Let’s kill him right here! Sy pulled her lips back and snarled.

Love to, Sy. I wavered. But ? —

I could unleash my darkest flame, right here, right now. Maybe that was why these two beings had brought me back—to end my father. But offing him back in time meant erasing myself. Killian would never know me, and he’d wind up with that demon queen instead. My heart twisted in pain at the alternate future for him.

And I wouldn’t be the only one getting wiped out. Sy would vanish too.

I couldn’t do that to her.

No buts, she cut in.

Then you’ll lose Rowan.

It’s okay, she said. I’ve had the best fucking time with him. No regrets. Let’s do this. Let’s end this motherfucker once and for all.

Tears tracked down my face as a desperate decision clicked into place.

If I could spare you, I would, I told Sy. You’re not my sidekick. You’re a force of nature and a lot more important than me. Remember what the oracle said about our separation? I think you’re the last pure drop of old magic, hiding in me since birth. Right under our worst enemy’s nose.

She inhaled sharply, her beautiful golden eyes misty. All this time, I thought I was protecting you. But you’ve been shielding me, and that shadow god never caught on.

If he had, he’d have absorbed Sy, and with her power, he’d have been back to his full power in no time, wreaking havoc.

Sy, one last favor, I said.

Anything.

I want you to leave me here in the past before I face him. This is our shot. Break away and get back to the present. You’re magic in its purest form. I want you to live, Sy. They don’t need another eater like me, but they need you. The world needs that spark to come alive again. Do it now—I know you can!

Fuck the world, and fuck the greater good, she spat. I’m not playing the fucking savior for anyone. I’ll gladly doom the whole world for you. So don’t ever ask me again to abandon you. And newsflash—I’m a bigger eater. Or did you forget how much you hate my taste for sentient snacks?

Warmth bloomed in my chest as profound love for Sy flooded through me.

But— I tried one last time.

You’re stuck with me, she said. We’re two peas in a pod.

I shook my head as the oracle’s words rang through me. “Where you go, no one can follow. Not even your soul sister.”

I won’t leave you, B. No man, no gods, and no mates come between us. That’s how it’s been and how it’ll always be. We’re soul-bound. You live, I live. You die, I die. Even death won’t tear us apart.

My eyes grew misty.

What are you waiting for? Sy asked impatiently.

After this, we won’t exist.

Then let’s go down with a bang! Sy said.

A war song thundered in our hearts, beating as one. Pride and love for my warrior soul sister filled me to bursting.

I stretched out my hand, calling forth my darkest flame.