Of Silver and Beasts (38 page)

No—

I pick up a discarded battle ax next to Dash’s fallen body. A putrid, murky-green blood drips from its end. I wipe it against the ground, using the mercury to wash the blade before raising it above my head, and charge into the fray.

I take up Lena’s side. “The dark priest is gone,” I shout.

She grunts and lunges, throwing her spear into the side of the monster. “Then I’m out of here, protector.” She bows her head to me, and says, “It was an honor to know you.” Then she breaks for the open chamber door.

I manage to evade the tail as it lashes the ground and meet the other contenders forming an arc before the beast. “Leave!” I shout to Whip and Kaide. “Bax is taking a convoy out of the Otherworld.”

Whip gives me a sidelong glance, but takes her chance at escape. Kaide hesitates.

“I’ll not abandon you,” he tells me. “For my brother, I’ll end this with honor.”

“Kaide . . .” I just dodge the monster’s leg as it comes down between us. I stumble back, and Kaide puts more distance between him and the Grimmal.

“Look after my friends,” I yell out to him. “That would be an honor to both your brother and me.”

He hesitates a moment longer, then bows his head to me before he follows Whip’s path past the Grimmal. I swipe my ax at the monster’s head and it retreats back. I glance once more at the contenders leaving the Cage and the Grimmal screeches. It opens its mouth and goes to strike Kaide.

I fling my battle ax at the Grimmal’s leg, calling its attention, and Kaide passes through the chamber door.

“Caben, get the hell out of here!” I fan the ax before me as I take measured steps backward. The beast advances, its spindly legs stomping the ground as its body slithers.

Caben attacks its belly, drawing green blood. He’s doing minimal damage. This is an Otherworld mutation. Something created with Bale’s power—only severing the head controlled by the dark goddess will kill it. Caben’s trying to give me time to leave. But I’m not going before he does.

Caben rushes to my side. “We go together,” he says, his breaths coming hard.

“All right,” I say, a smile forming on my face for the first time. “Together.”

He matches my smile, and we attack the beast full on, beating it back toward the hole in the Cage as we inch our way to the chamber.

The open door is right there—a few feet from Caben. “Go! I’m right behind you.”

He nods and launches his sword at the Grimmal. Then he turns to escape through the door. My heart hammers against my chest as he gets closer. I can feel the freedom—

The Grimmal lashes its tail out, knocking Caben to the ground.

“No!” I barrel toward him, my ax pressed to my body.

It lowers its head, tongue flicking at Caben, and sinks one of its fangs into his thigh.

Goddess
.

Anger coils in my stomach. The mercury races through my body. A deep laugh sounds in my mind, spreading through my being as the heated tendrils snap and lash inside me. I scream as I draw my battle ax above my head.

Caben’s eyes meet mine as the Grimmal releases its bite and turns its snake head toward me. I hold his gaze a moment longer before jumping onto the beast’s back.

“Kal—No!”

Caben’s warning is muted as the rage seethes through my soul. With every bit I strength I possess, I bring the ax down and drive the blade into the Grimmal’s scaly neck. It hisses, a high-pitched rattle that thrums through my limbs.

I hack at the Grimmal’s neck again, and it slices open. A seam tears across its scales, ripping the beast’s neck in two as the head lops off. I’m flung off as its body thrashes. Green blood pools around me, and I kick backward, away from the gore floating atop the mercury.

Caben groans, and I look over as he tries to pick himself up. His eyes snap to the cuff on my wrist.

Panic flares in my chest. I look down at the three moonstones as they blink on. One for Cannon. The second for Primal. And last for the Grimmal. The stones glow a strong, shimmery blue. The ground rumbles.

“Caben,” I say, my words lost as I try to gather courage. “You have to get out of here. Find Bax—you promised to get the relic to Empress Iana.”

“You promised
me!
” he shouts.

“That doesn’t matter now. I swore my oath first. I kept my first vow and made sure my charge is safe.” I hold his stare, his blue eyes gleaming as the Cage dims and a blood-red hue overtakes the realm. I want his beautiful eyes to be the last thing I see before Bale possesses me. “Please,” I beg him. “Please, go now. You have to get far away from Bale.”

He drops his head in his hand and drives his fingers through his hair. Then he meets my eyes again, determination intensifying his glare.

The ground thunders. My cuff illumes brighter, the stones searing into my skin. I scream and wrap my hand around the cursed stones. “Go!” I fall back, my body craving the cold mercury covering the ground. I allow it to soothe my burning skin.

My vision swims, and the eclipsed moon wavers against the rock sky. I close my eyes as Bale speaks to me.

Thank you, my servant
.

Bale is taking over, and I have to reserve my energy to battle her. Once she fills me, I’ll use the mercury that Alyah touched to help me wage this war. Alyah spoke to me. She blessed me with power to be her hand on this plain. Bale may even be destroyed by the goddess’s divine blood coursing through me.

I pray this.

I pray this so hard.

I have to try, or else the fear will tear my mind apart. It’s splitting now. I can feel Bale’s presence invading, and my body flames. Her vileness scorches—my mind splintering.

The tug comes stronger, and I crack my eyes open. Caben kneels beside me, a metal pin in his hand. He works my cuff.

The cuff snaps open.

He rips the cuff off and latches it around his wrist. His eyes find mine. “You’re to do great things, Protector Kaliope.” Removing his ring, he slips it on my thumb. Then he kisses my palm. “And I love you more than any other.” He cries out as the fire that was consuming me now rushes his body. “Tell the empress of my wishes for my kingdom.” A sad smile mars his face. My heart breaks. “Keep your promise to me.”

“Caben,” I choke out.

He reaches out and caresses my face, his hand trembling. I rise up and cling to him. “It’s not too late. Give me the cuff—” I try to pry it from his wrist, but it’s now seared to his flesh. “You can’t fight her!”

“I know,” he says. His eyes are deep blue, resolute. “That’s why you’re going to end her before she can find the shard.” He cups one arm around my waist and leans forward, dragging something beside us. He takes my hand and rests my palm on the hilt of a sword.

“Damn you.” I glare at him through tears. “How can you ask me to do this?”

“You have to, Kal. It’s the only way. It’s been the only way from the start.” His eyes bore through me. “Did you think I was going to let you sacrifice yourself?”

I scream. “Damn your pride, Caben! There’s still time—” But there’s not. A blue light illuminates the whites of his eyes and his head flies back. His body snaps with currents, his skin sizzling with the dark goddess’s power.

Rubbing my hands together, I try to call forth whatever power saved the priest, my lips trembling as I plead to Alyah. Then I shakily place my hands on his temples. No fire. No searing. I feel nothing of the darkness, and my hands reveal no light. “Come on!”

Why isn’t working? Please!

Caben’s hand flies up and knocks my arms aside, breaking my hold.

“She’s—” He jerks his head sideways, fighting her control. “Here.” The blue in his eyes changes to a fierce white-hot glow.

I scramble back. “Caben?”

A slow smile curves his lips. “You have something of mine, Kal,” he says. It’s his voice, his baritone with a touch of his lilt, but the words are not his. He’s still in there somewhere. I know this, but the glint of evilness in his eyes chills my blood.

Gripping the hilt of the sword, I rise to my feet. I arc the blade before me. “Release him.”

He laughs, a low, hollow boom. “I think you value this body”—he looks over himself as he stands—“too much to harm it.”

I lift my chin. “Release him and go back into your confines or else I will cut you down. The goddesses will not allow you to exist in this realm.”

“I’m tired of hearing about them.” He raises his hand and sends a blast of power into my chest.

My body whips backward, and I land on my back hard. The mercury seeps through my tunic, its soothing chill dousing the fire spreading over me. Caben walks slowly through the silver covering the ground. It boils where his booted feet touch.

He extends his hand to deliver another blow, blue crackling from his fingertips, and I kick back just as the blast hits the ground. Rolling to the side, I escape another attack, and jump to my feet.

He’s still human. I swing my sword and slice his arm. He shouts and turns his glowing eyes on me. His chest rises and falls as he chants something, and the mercury around me bubbles into a frenzied boil.

It reaches silver tentacles toward me and latches on to my calves. Fire scorches my skin where it touches and I cry out. It burns through my pants, slithering its sterling feelers up my legs. I struggle to free myself as Caben steps closer.

“Tell me where the shard is, and I’ll make you one of mine. I’ll spare you a painful death, Kal.”

Groaning, I slash my blade at the silver coils and free myself. Then I meet Caben’s blazing eyes. “I won’t be your minion, Bale.”

He laughs. “Bale is here . . . within me—I feel her. But it’s Caben who speaks to you, Kal.” My heart pangs as his eyes flick over me. “I’ve just been released of the binds that imprisoned me. This is the truth of my nature, of all human nature. Freed, and without the oppressive control of the deities.” He sneers.

“You’re lying.” And he—
she
is. I tilt my head, trying to search out Bale behind Caben’s features. These are her words, not his. I continue to tell myself this as I raise my sword higher.

“Am I?” he asks. “Seek the truth, and then kill me if you must. It makes no difference. Bale has been summoned. She will find another willing vessel.”

Another lie
. The ritual is over. The pale gleam of the moon shines down on the mercury-covered ring, its light reflecting against the shiny surface.

Goddesses, give me discernment.

I draw the sword back and thrust it toward Caben’s chest—

And stop.

My blade an inch from his pulsing jugular.

He doesn’t try to stop me. Doesn’t defend himself. His eyes stay steady on my face. “You know the truth.”

I scream and twist around, nailing Caben over the head with the hilt of my sword. He falls to the ground, the mercury splashes over his body. I kneel next to him and run my fingers over his smooth face, his lips.

“I’ll find a way to save you,” I whisper. Then I run.