Page 64 of Shadows Ascend (Remnant Archives #2)
S kyler hung in irons and I with her, in mind and spirit. One body with two consciousnesses, she peered out of the sunlit window in front of her, the pain of the metal burning her wrists only for it to heal and then burn again.
Emon's mother’s voice echoed within my mind. "I will do my best to spare you the pain," she whispered.
Some of the sting of the iron burns eased.
"Thank you," I croaked. "I often wondered…how were you even captured?"
I could feel her bristle and then she sighed.
"I was foolish and I trusted the wrong shifter.
I had missed my homelands and Asher was so busy rebuilding our community that I needed time away.
As much as I loved my people, I adored solitude.
The quiet beach and soft lull of the waves against the shore of Inquus Islands where I grew up. "
"Who accompanied you?" I asked, peering around us, noting that we were in one of the tower prisons. Despite its smooth white marble even smoother bones hung on the walls like trophies. Deirdre's enemies whose carcasses had long ago been picked clean from hanging on the city gates.
"Falcon," she whispered and I could feel the bitter regret.
"Penina had warned me but I was convinced he could never betray us.
He was always so eager to help, so loyal and charming.
Asher and I raised him after the wars, both Penina and Falcon were like siblings to Daemon growing up.
When Daemon found Tyr in those caves and their friendship bloomed, Falcon and Daemon's relationship grew apart.
Little did we know, it was the beginning of a festering resentment and they quickly went from brothers to toxic enemies.
It also did not help that Penina looked up to Daemon no matter how accomplished Falcon became. "
I snorted and rolled my eyes. "Let me guess, he felt abandoned."
Skyler hummed, "Prepare yourself, she comes."
When the far wall shimmered to reveal Deirdre standing in a deep violet satin dress, Skyler remained stoic. Her reaction to the queen of Faerie's presence was only that of mere annoyance.
"Skyler…" Deirdre purred, her hips swaying with her long silver hair.
"I don't think your king is coming to save you.
I suppose I cannot fault him too much for failing my mother if he cannot even rescue his own soulmate.
A shame really…all that raw power just to end up being worthless to the courts and also the love of his life. "
Skyler’s head rose, meeting the queen of faerie's feverish glare with a quiet acceptance. "Speaking of yourself, are you Deirdre Seelie?"
Raising a finger, I felt the air leave her body, choking and gasping as Deirdre stole it from her lungs.
"That’s the look," Deirdre cooed, approaching closer and smiling viciously. "The look your face will have as your head is placed on a pike outside my city gates."
Skyler’s body sagged, the smell of her flesh burning sickening, and I could feel my own panic rise. This was too close to what I had already suffered and I wished to fight, to claw my way back, but all I felt from Skyler was a gentle acceptance of the fate that would unfold.
"You gave up," I whispered in her mind.
"I knew I was not leaving the City of Light alive. She had requested my life in retribution long before this time, when her mother and son were found dead on Asher's watch."
Her body started to violently twitch, fighting for sweet air that would not come. The panic was almost unbearable—and then Deirdre's powers eased.
I sighed internally.
Coughing and sputtering fiercely, Skyler sucked in as much of the precious air as she could, tears falling with each wretched gasp.
Cold fingers with purple painted nails encircled our chin, their sharp tips cutting into our flesh as she jerked our head up. "You are pathetic. Not fit to be anyone’s queen, unwilling to fight for your life and your court. I do hope your son has more fight in him."
I felt Skyler roar to life. "You will regret this day and every day after, especially if you come anywhere close to my son! I will make sure of it, even in my death you will not be free of my wrath if your eyes even turn his way."
The queen of Faerie snickered, her nails digging harder into Skyler’s chin. I grimaced. "I hear he is quite handsome, your little Golden Prince—not so little anymore fortunately for me."
This time both Skyler and I's rage consumed us and she roared, her shifter side manifesting past the irons restricting her power just like my soulmate’s—Emon must have inherited this unique gift from his mother.
It was enough for her to sink her sharp piercing teeth straight into the flesh of Deirde's hand, the queen of Faerie's royal blood filling her mouth and trailing over her chin while she shrieked loudly with pain.
I savored the taste, as did the queen of shifters.
A sharp sting of Deirdre’s fire power seared the side of Skyler’s exposed face and sent her head snapping sideways, but it was enough to rip a chunk of Deirdre’s flesh with it.
Skyler turned her head slowly back to the queen with a feral smile. I watched with satisfaction through her eyes when Deirdre stumbled backwards, clutching her wounded hand to her chest—the dark stain of her blood blemishing the perfect silk dress she wore.
"You fucking rabid bitch," Deirdre, hissed.
Spitting out the chunk of the queen's flesh forcefully, it splattered against her flawless face, leaving behind bits of blood before it plopped sickeningly to the floor, marring its smooth white surface.
I could not stop my inner dark laughter. Oh I liked Emon’s mother very much.
Skyler grinned, "I may be a rabid bitch but even I am not mad enough to ingest any piece of you. You are rancid to your very core, Deirdre Tatianna Maeve Seelie."
Deirdre reached up to wipe her face, staring at the blood smeared on her fingertips.
The room fell silent, the very air poised for her next move before a deranged giggle escaped her red lips.
Weaving water she cleaned her face, hand, and dress, wiping away all evidence of violence, her hand already healing quickly from the queen of shifter’s attack.
"This will be even more enjoyable than I had already thought it would be.
" Her laughter simmered into a coo, before waving at the stone that anchored us.
"Come shifter queen, your audience is waiting, and you are the headlining show.
" The marble stone above Skyler, from where she hung in chains, dislodged, and dragged her across the room, searing her flesh anew and sweeping her feet against the smooth white floor.
Blinking against the sun, a sudden roar rose up, cries of excitement and boos of despair drowning out the winds that forced Skyler’s body to suddenly sway like a pendulum upon the balcony of the City of Light's tower.
Finally able to adjust her vision, she peered out to see thousands of fae with their faces upturned towards us, like a swarm of pixies searching for their next fix.
Deirdre waved at the mob below, her voice low as she leaned into her.
"Smile, Skyler, look how they adore us." Grinning with sickening sweetness, the queen of Faerie blew kisses, small blossoms of fire sparked from her lips and floated on the wind, sparkling all the way down towards the cheering crowd.
Disgusted, Skyler’s eyes drifted beyond the nauseating display, towards the bay, towards the waves of the sea, towards the west, and a fierce ache tightened her chest. Even in facing her death, she was seeking the solace of her West Isle home, where her soulmate and son were safe…
away from this tyranny and manipulation.
"My court, the City of Light, who shall you choose this day?" The queen of Faerie's voice was amplified by her air power and the crowd fell silent. "Executioners, step forward!"
The mob cheered wildly.
"Verdugo The Butcher!" Deirdre roared.
A tall fae, with veining muscle and pale skin, stepped up, his chest covered in blood with a cleaver in his hand. Long pink hair falling to his waist also stained with blood flew around him. Fire, water, air and earth shot into the sky around us while the court voted.
"Shahin The Slicer!"
Another fae, this time thin and lean, stepped forward. Covered in black flowing fabric with only their glowing yellow eyes showing, they raised up two long thin blades. More elemental power rose, possibly higher than the rest.
"Or Dragoon, Your Beloved General's Shadow Captain!"
"Riley," I breathed inside Skyler’s mind, not surprised.
I knew this story.
He had confessed it all to me the moment I returned a few days later with the news the shifter queen had been murdered and we were going to war with The West Isles.
Searching, Skyler’s gaze fell on the head full of green curly hair and calm hazel eyes, Riley’s features too beautiful standing next to the others, his face a flawless mask of indifference in the rigid black leather he wore.
A swirling silver pin, attached to his high collar.
He did not bother to step forward to appease the crowd, he did not showboat, he did not even spare the queen a glance.
Deirdre turned the stone slab that Skyler hung from towards her. "It is clear who the people choose Skyler, but I like to consider myself a merciful ruler, so I shall leave the choice to you. Pick your executioner, queen of shifters."
Skyler’s chin rose, defiance raging in her heart and in mine. "Use whatever hand you may, but my death is still by yours. Are you not Queen enough to claim your own work? I would have thought you'd want this claim for yourself."
Deirdre grinned, trailing her hand over Skyler’s face, the touch cold and nauseating.
"I was so hoping you would say that. And you are right, I do want this for myself.
It is what I am owed after all and I am going to enjoy watching every suffering moment of your death, Skyler.
" Stepping outward upon the balcony, she raised her arms and immediately the court fell silent.
Their fear palpable even this high up. "My fair dear court, the traitorous shifter queen has requested none of my favored executioners! "
A select few were brave enough to boo and Deirdre allowed it, nodding sadly. "Indeed she has asked for my merciful execution instead. I have accepted her request! Is not your queen generous?"
The fae below cheered and a small whisper of wind, grazed against her ear, a tender and sympathetic voice carried with it. "I am sorry I have failed you, Queen Skyler."
I did not need to look to know my former shadow captain's voice, and apparently neither did Emon's mother.
Skyler’s response was barely a breath of air. "My son will be vulnerable, she will come for him one day."
There was a slight pause while Deirdre basked in the delighted cries of the fae below. "I vow I will do what I can to protect him."
Skyler hummed as her lips mouthed two words. "Thank you."
Deirdre turned with a wide manic grin on her face. "It is time now, dear shifter queen. Be at peace. I will make sure your family, especially your son gets everything he deserves in this life."
Skyler did not bother to look at her, instead she watched the waves, their white caps cresting in the bay, the water stirring angrily as if it rebelled against the treasonous acts being performed.
"Ignire!" Deirde roared.
White hot flames burst around her, crawling up Skyler and instantly blistering skin. I was no stranger to being burned by Deirdre’s fire but even I could not hold back my scream until it died out in silent agony.
The fire seared slowly and hot, melting her clothes, her hair, the lashes from her eyes. Her sight went next, the smell nauseating, and she jerked in the chains she hung from, the need to vomit strong.
I whimpered, the taste of it filling my mouth.
"I am sorry, my daughter, I cannot hold back this pain from you." Skyler's voice echoed in my mind while I curled inwardly, attempting to block out the worst of what she felt.
"Hold tight Queen Skyler. I am not powerful enough to stop her but I can ease you into this death." Riley's whispered voice was full of sadness when it reached Skyler beyond the flames.
"To this day, I shall never forget the peace your shadow captain gave me andhow he upheld his vow." Skyler whispered when not even tears of relief from Riley's words could fall. They simply evaporated just as quickly as they escaped before darkness took her.
With his merciful air, Riley had rendered her unconscious, sparing Skyler, and myself, the pain that was to come and the mocking laughter of Deirdre who claimed the shifter queen was so weak she fell before her torture even started.
Those were the exact words she told me in her chambers, days later when I confronted her about Skyler's death.
I wept with uncontrollable sobs for the queen of shifters who could not have the horizon to look out upon. A horizon where her adoring soulmate and little golden prince would be waiting, watching for her return home—a return home that would never come.