Page 67 of Shadows Ascend (Remnant Archives #2)

C atching Remnant before she fell, I held her tightly to my chest, attempting to shield the heavy downpour of rain plummeting down upon her.

The rain shield the water fae had created to keep her dry had disappeared the moment she crashed into my soulmate's body, drowning her once again in the torrential water.

Lightning cracked like shattered glass in the sky, a rolling thunder soon rattling our bodies, followed by a suddenly fierce blustering wind, kicking up the water from the step and with it—a rotten decaying stench of death.

Jerking, I bared my fangs into the sparkling rain soaked night.

"It's the north wind Fi," Riella called out to me, the shadows still keeping her somewhat dry as she used her spear to stay steady on the step.

Lowering my gaze, I ran my hand through my hair questioningly, "What news does she bring, my cub?"

Riella tilted her head, the winds swirling around her, whispering its secrets. "She says…a dark one comes, eyes of black, and he brings stones of red. Death, death is coming."

"When has itever not come for us," I snarled, gently laying Remnant's body down on the step, already seeing the struggle start to claim her body.

Even my soulmate faced death in memories of another. It sunk its claws into her, shredding her to nothing but pain and grief, and I fucking hated it.

Hated every painful wrinkle on her face as she whimpered from the torture, hated every gasping breath she took as someone stole her life, hated every tear that fell down her cheek as she grieved for another soul she still believed she should have saved.

My hands fisted at my sides.

She owed them nothing and yet here she was again, giving everything. Down to the very final thud of her heart. I looked up at the waterfall of steps unable to even see past the rain where The Well speared the very clouds.

She had thousands to climb, thousands of deaths to suffer, lowering my gaze I felt my body swirl with darkness, felt the hunger consume me.

There would be no more death weighing upon her, no more than that she already had taken on.

Whatever came this way, it was mine to war with and it wasn't going to fucking win.

Both Riella and I tilted our heads when the winds began to howl with the thunder roaring above us, erratic screams calling out from the horizon.

"Faedere," Riella breathed, stepping closer to me with her spear. "They sound like the beings when we first entered Hell."

I growled low, placing a steady hand on her shoulder. "Demons," I glared in their direction, lightning illuminating the winged beings in the distance.

Riella sniffed and wrinkled her nose, "And blood wraiths."

I nodded, not taking my narrowed gaze off the hidden army heading for us. "Yes."

A faint steady beat of drums pulsed through the storm, streaks of fire bursting through the heavy downpour bringing with it the stench of decay mixing with the sharp bitterness of rage, resentment and a burning desire to destroy.

A burning desire I felt deep in my core as well, a fiery rampage that wanted to consume, the anger never being satisfied…the wrath always thirsting.

I crouched low, staring straight into my daughter's eyes, soaking up every golden swirl mixed with her mother's emerald green, imprinting the vision of her forever in my mind. "It seems the blood goddess has joined forces with the demons of Wrath, my cub."

Riella's lip trembled. "Is she coming for me again, will they take me away from you and maedere?"

Sweeping her up into my shadowy arms and feeling her small heart thundering fiercely against me, I soothed her with a rumbling purr, "I won't let that happen my cub, but I must go and meet them before they get closer to you or your mother."

Riella arms tightened. "I don't want you to go," she whimpered.

I squeezed her back. "I know my cub, I know."

Breathing in her sweet scent of sunlit meadow from her wet hair, I swallowed hard, peeling her fierce grip off my body like I was peeling off a piece of my soul.

Setting her on the step with eyes full of tears, I cupped her face, the storm raging around us, the drums growing louder, blue wraith fire lighting up the sky. "I will always find my way back to you and your mother, Riella Dark Strider."

Her breath rattled as she exhaled, nodding even with her lip still trembling, "I will protect mother while you go."

I gave her a soft kiss on the forehead, unable to meet the sadness in her eyes. "There's my brave warrior queen." Tapping her spear with a clawed finger, I growled, "This will kill any demon, wraith, or living creature with just a scratch. Do not hesitate to use it."

She bit at her bottom lip but nodded. "I will not hesitate. I am brave like mother…like you."

Just then Remnant's body bowed off the step as if she were possessed, the rain falling heavily on her supine form, her mouth open wide in a silent scream, the tension of her body echoing every ounce of pain of another fucking death I could not save her from.

I kissed Riella's forehead again, choking on a whisper, I had no more right words. "Yes you are." Pulling away at the sound of the drum beats and roars growing louder, I nodded towards Remnant. "If I am not back by the time your mother awakens…"

Riella placed her hand on my chest. "I will get mother to the next step faedere. We will do this together."

Picking up her hand from my chest I couldn't resist bowing over her tiny fingers and kissing it too. Anything to keep one more moment of her with me. "I love you, my cub."

"I love you too faedere."

Standing, I glanced over at the pookah watching me in the dark rain. "Zaki, protect my daughter."

The pookah's eyes glowed red and he hissed as if I had offended him by such a request.

I glared back. "Do it without the attitude spirit guide, or I will show you what it truly means to be feral." My fangs lengthened threateningly before turning towards the lingering shadows hovering above Riella.

"The umbras before you were loyal, self sacrificing, and loving towards my mate. She deserves nothing less and everything more. Do not disappoint me." Winking at them, I grinned, this one for my own kin. "Please don't fuck this up mother."

The shadows swirled around me agitatedly, whispering against my wraith skin and I grinned back. It was fucking good to have the umbras around again.

I missed their sass much like I missed the arrogant dry voice of the panther Ethereal.

Snarling against the tightening in my chest, I turned towards the faint outline of the winged beasts and heavy drums, and ran my hand through my hair—then gave way to the darkness.

Sharp painful hunger tore through my being, leaving me salivating at the destruction I could bring.All that I knew washed away as my first victim fell within my sight.

Spreading wide, I devoured the grotesque shrieks, absorbing souls and taking them within myself to burn in the shadows. Hissing with pleasure, I vibrated with more power, the beings' rage fueling more hunger—this was going to be a fucking feast.

I felt the fire and the sharp pokes of their weapons but none of it harmed me. I was aware of their talons and claws, horns and teeth, fire and death but none of it scratched me. And after each one, I wanted more.

Starved, insatiable.

More.

Needing, craving.

More.

I drank deep, falling into the darkness, spreading it out into the universe. Tendrils infinitely searching for all of life for me to consume.

I was the beginning and the end, there would be no need for anything else, no one else. Then I would wait with satisfied anticipation for when the fates decided to try again. Creating life in a universe of chaos to watch it struggle over and over only for me to end it once more.

The fates should fucking thank me for only I could end the pathetic turmoil life gave and bring them the peace of darkness they needed. An eternal sleep free of pain and sacrifice.

Echoed laughter and a mocking cry of a bird of prey drew me from my morbid reverie.

The sound was familiar and an immediate distaste rose deep from the bowels of darkness I had created.

Another ear piercing screech split my attention from the fire breathing demons and blood shrieking wraiths to lock on the agile winged creature floating on my immediate consciousness.

Recognition drew me back from the all consuming darkness as a bright flash landed on stone steps.

Something about those steps was important but I could not remember exactly what.

Then I saw him, manifesting like the darkness I carried, black beady eyes turned upwards and cut through the thick rain, a wide grin splitting across his face, rain splattering on the harsh whiteness of his teeth.

Friend.

Brother.

Betrayer.

Enemy.

Falcon.