Page 9

EILISH

Mercenary Stronghold

We are all assembled around a table in the war room.

Myerdoth stands behind Dragan, dark eyes boring into Theren, but I know he won’t attack Theren out of respect for me.

The other gargoyle’s loyalty to Dragan is growing stronger each day.

It seems as though each of my companions has companions of their own.

Dragan and Myerdoth, Aima and Kolvar, Baron and Pyre, Flumph and Noni, and now Cambion and Theren.

I know each of them have worries of their own, so I open the floor for them to discuss their progress.

“Aima, how are you dealing with your side of the prophecy?”

She shoves her chair back and stands up.

“I’ve found nothing in regards to my portion of the prophecies.

I think the key to saving me is saving Pyre,” she answers.

“I know I’m supposed to be his reincarnated love, but.

.. I have known Pyre for many years and never felt those…

feelings surface inside me.” Aima gives Pyre a sympathetic look.

The necromancer’s eyes glow green with the light of the soul he uses to see. “If you recall, my long lost love did not belong to me. And, therefore, I expect nothing from you, Aima. You are free to live your life as you choose.”

A small bit of tension escapes the group and we take a deep breath as Aima nods and sits back down.

Even though the exchange is quick, it speaks volumes.

Pyre has set Aima free. Not that he could have forced her into any sort of relationship, but his words are well-received, all the same.

I turn to Dragan. “What about you? How close are you to finding the Stone Grimoire?”

The Stone Grimoire is the only way to ensure the return of the gargoyle population and, as is to be expected, Dragan is extremely eager to find it.

“I made a deal with Theren, one I hope he intends to uphold.”

Theren nods, maintaining a very cool demeanor with an impassive expression.

“Of course I will. If you intend to uphold your end. While you and I have our differences, I’m not ignorant to the value gargoyles hold in the realms. We will need fierce warriors to fight the dark entities that plot against us.

The continuation of all races is now more important than ever. Your stone guardians are no different.”

“Where was the last place you saw it?” I ask in Dragan’s stead.

Theren touches another place on the map and a location within the human realm appears. “A coven of witches were carrying the book through this region. The region was once known as France .”

“And who are these witches?” I ask.

He looks at me. “They were thought to be the coven of the witch who had first created gargoyles. If these witches possessed the Stone Grimoire at the extinction of the human race,” he continues as he turns to look at Dragan, “then it will be in your creator’s sarcophagus.”

Dragan and Myerdoth observe the map as though trying to commit it to memory.

They ignore the rest of us in the room and everything falls silent.

Underneath the table, Theren reaches for my hand and holds it in his, stroking the inside of my wrist with his thumb.

Cambion’s leg brushes mine and I swallow the urge to gasp.

The two of them so close fills me with a sense of peace I’ve never known. Light and dark surrounding me.

Baron stands up and deliciously dark energy swirls around him.

“Am I the only one who cares that Pyre and Aima’s lives hang in the balance?

!” he shouts. “All of our plans seek to do one thing and that is to destroy Morrigan. But we can only defeat her by interrupting the prophecy and yet none of you are even talking about that.”

Aima stands up and faces Baron, matching his anger as she throws her hands on her hips.

“Don’t you think I’d be better off using the time I have left wisely, instead of wasting it away looking for an impossible solution?

! I want to go out fighting, not stuck in dusty archives, searching through tattered old scrolls and tomes that no one has touched in centuries. ”

Baron shakes his head. “It’s not impossible.

Just complicated as all fuck.” Baron paces the floor, some of his anger fades, but I’m curious as to what he means.

He rests his forehead against the wall for a moment as anticipation builds.

When he finally faces us once more, his eyes are shut.

“Pyre told us that creatures like Eilish and I are vessels for energy, that we feed off it. When Pyre and I were inside Eilish at the same time, I felt the pull of her magic…. and the force of The Veil trying to pass into me.”

I can feel the heat of my blush growing stronger as he speaks. I try to force the intimacy of his words out of my mind. Now isn’t the time for fond remembrances. “What are you saying?”

Those unsettlingly dark eyes flicker over to me. “I think if we… enter you again, together, here in this realm, instead of The Veil, we may be able to bind Pyre to me. If you use your power to open a connection and channel the energy, we may be able to split The Veil’s power between us.”

Pyre stands, an expression of disbelief and.

.. hope crosses his features. “If you and I create a bond, Baron, if we share the power and the burden of Guardianship, Morrigan’s prophecy can’t come to pass.

She would not be able to tear open The Veil and use the power within the Echoing Spire if I am not the sole guardian.

And it would save Aima because Baron holds no connection to Aima outside of her being an ally and a friend. ”

“Won’t breaking that prophecy then change all of the prophecies?” I ask.

Pyre faces me. “Yes. It would change everything. The paths ahead would be… unknown.” Pyre doesn’t appear as if he’s fully on board with this idea.

“Who cares?” Baron snaps, throwing his arms into the air. “Aima and Pyre will live if we do this. And that should be reason enough to follow through with it. Don’t the lives of our friends and allies hold more value than some damn prophecy?”

“Baron, no one is arguing that,” I reply, standing to walk over to him. Baron’s gaze softens and he welcomes me into his arms. “We’re merely being cautious.”

Aima and Kolvar whisper for a moment. She nods a few times before facing me. “I think we should do it. If Eilish agrees, I think we should take the risk.”

“We’re stronger together,” I reply. I look from Baron to Pyre.

“I vote we change this prophecy and ensure the lives of our friends.” The others wear smiles as I continue.

“Dragan and Myerdoth can begin their search for the Grimoire with help from Theren. Cambion can work with Zir on the communication devices. Noni and Flumph, I want you to look after the fae we rescued. Kolvar and Aima, I think you should handle the clan politics. Baron and Pyre should come up with a plan before we take that final step.” I pause as everyone nods and seems pleased with their roles and responsibilities.

“Let’s move slowly, please? No mistakes. We have to do this… right.”

***

BARON

Eilish leaves with the Cambion and Theren on her heels.

Kolvar returns to the streets of the Mercenary Stronghold as the others go about their duties, leaving me alone with Pyre.

I can’t hold back the stupid grin on my face as Pyre approaches.

He rears his arm back and pounds his fist into the muscle of my arm. Not too hard but hard enough.

“Where the hell did you come up with that?!” he chuckles. “You could have told me if you were planning this.”

“I hope you approve?”

He nods. “It’s brilliant, Baron. I’m only envious I wasn’t the one who thought of it first.”

“Hey, I’m used to being the brains behind this operation.”

Pyre’s eyes become sightless once more and he leans against the wall beside me. “In all seriousness, my friend, how did you come up with such an idea?”

I nod and take in a big breath. “I was thinking about it for a while, but I didn’t know for certain if it would work.

It’s dangerous and Eilish may not be able to conduct that much energy at once,” I explain with a shrug, wondering if I should have brought up my concerns at the meeting. “I was afraid she could get hurt.”

“I won’t let the power of The Veil harm her.” Pyre crosses his arms and sighs. “I would rather tear my soul to shreds for a second time before I put her in that type of danger. I promise to break the connection the second I feel something going wrong.”

“How would it feel? I mean, how would you know when you need to break the connection?”

“The bond or hosting The Veil’s power?” he asks.

“Both, I guess.”

“I’ve already taught you how to draw on the energies and how to use the souls, but that was just a taste.

The feeling that fills you when you step inside the Echoing Spire is amplified tenfold.

It’s the sweetest drug and, yet, it instills a real fear within you,” Pyre says.

“I trust you with this, Baron, but this must be handled delicately. If you allow the power to consume you, it will be far worse than anything you could ever imagine. An unmatched darkness with unspeakable power at your fingertips. There’s no greater power in this world than the power The Veil holds.

And half the Guardianship will fall to you.

As for our bond, not much should change. ”

Pyre’s words hit me like a ton of bricks.

I have to believe I’m strong enough to stand beside Pyre and Eilish, as their equals. “I’m not Abedon or a god with power. I’ve been given the opportunity for ultimate power before and I turned my back on it. Everything has a price but I’m willing to pay this one if it means you live, Pyre.”

“Never have I known greater friendship.”

I can hear the sincerity in his voice and it takes me a moment to work up the courage to ask, “Not even with the woman you loved?”

Pyre shakes his head. “In the end, I was the one who made the sacrifices, not her. You and Eilish are the only ones who have ever given something so that I may live. For so long, my death has been something I’ve just accepted. But you’ve shown me I should have faith.”

“You should always believe in yourself.”

“I meant you, Baron,” he snorts. “I should have had faith in you . You vowed to rescue me from this prophecy and now I think we may have a way. You showed resilience when I was ready to bow to the will of the prophecy.”

“You would do it for me.”

“I would,” he admits. “But what about Eilish?”

“What about her?”

“Do you think she will truly accept me after knowing the soul within Aima is that of the woman I once loved?” He pauses for a moment. “If we go through with this, it will bond me to her and she to me. It will bond us as lovers.”

I shrug. “She accepts Theren. I don’t see why she wouldn’t accept you.” I grow concerned as Pyre shuffles uncomfortably. The necromancer is usually more confident in himself and this anxiety surprises me. “What is it?”

“The situation,” he answers. “I have not been with Eilish for as long as all of you have. I don’t wish to come between anything…”

“Listen,” I cut in. “We all love her. In our own fucked up ways, yeah, but we all love her. Eilish depends on you, Pyre. You aren’t getting in the way of anything. You’d be adding to it.”