Chapter 31 THE HOLLOW KING'S MESSAGE
CHAPTER 31: THE HOLLOW KING'S MESSAGE
Three days pass without any signs of Kiera
I could barely sleep, barely eat and all I could do was just train and wait and try not to think about the empty space where his presence used to b
The others try to help but it's not the sam
Alaric brings me books on ancient bonds. Cassian tries to make me laugh. Zev offers to dream walk and search for Kieran but I tell him not t
"If he wants to be found he'll come back," I sa
"And if he doesn't?" Zev asks quietl
I didn't answer him, because I don't know what to sa
On the fourth morning I wake up, due to the screaming in the main hal
I throw my clothes on and run into the hallway. Students are rushing toward the windows pointing at something outsid
Sofia appears beside me. "You need to see this
We push through the crowd to the nearest windo
The courtyard is covered in black feather
Not scattered randomly but clearly arranged in patterns and symbols we don't recognize but somehow understan
"What is that?" someone whisper
"A message," Morgana says behind me. Her face looks pale. "From him
We rush downstairs. The courtyard is worse. There were hundreds of feathers or even maybe thousand
The scariest part is that they're not normal feathers. They shimmer with dark energ
"Don't touch them," Corvus shouts. He's already there with several faculty members. "They're cursed
"Cursed how?" I as
"We don't know yet but nothing the Hollow King sends is harmless
A student at the edge of the courtyard ignores the warning. He bends down and picks up a feathe
"Don't!" Corvus yells but it was too lat
The moment the student's fingers close around the feather his eyes go black. He opens his mouth and the Hollow King's voice pours ou
"Five days remain
Everyone freeze
"The bridge will open. The Phoenix will fall and this world will become mine
The student collapses. The feather dissolves into smok
Several people rush to help him. He's breathing but unconsciou
"Get him to the infirmary," Corvus orders. Then to the rest of us "Everyone inside. Now
We rushed back into the academy. The Great Hall is in chaos. Students talking over each other. Teachers trying to restore orde
Then someone scream
"Look at the floor
The center of the hall is burning. Not with fire but with dark energy that scorches the ston
Words form. One letter at a tim
F-I-V-E D-A-Y-S R-E-M-A-I
T-H-E B-R-I-D-G-E W-I-L-L O-P-E-
T-H-E P-H-O-E-N-I-X W-I-L-L F-A-L-
The same message from the courtyar
The hall erupts into chao
"He's going to invade
"We're all going to die
"This is her fault!" Someone points at me. "She brought this on us
More voices join in, they were angry, scared and looking for someone to put the blame o
Sofia moves in front of me. "Back off
But the crowd pushes close
"She's the reason he's coming
"We should hand her over
"Maybe then he'll leave us alone
Alaric appears at my left. Cassian at my right. Zev materializes behind m
"Anyone who touches her dies," Alaric says. His voice is dead and calm but his eyes are solid re
The crowd hesitate
Then Corvus's voice cuts through everything. "Silence
Magic amplifies with his command. Everyone stops talkin
"Return to your seats," he orders. "Now
They obey slowly and reluctantl
Corvus walks to the center of the hall and stands on the burned messag
"The Hollow King is preparing to make his move," he says. "We have five days to prepare for his invasion
"How do we fight him?" a student calls out. "He's been planning this for lifetimes. We can't win
"We can if we work together
"Together?" someone laughs bitterly. "We're students. He's a god
"He's not a god," I sa
Everyone turns to look at m
My legs shake but I force myself to walk to the center of the hall. To stand beside Corvus on the burned ston
"He's not a god," I repeat. "He's just old and powerful and he's been manipulating everyone for so long that you've forgotten that gods can bleed
"You sound very confident for someone who's died four times," a girl in the back say
"Five actually." I meet her eyes. "I died five times and each time I die I always came back stronger. You know why
No one answer
"Because he needs me alive. He needs me to be the bridge. Which means he's not invincible. He has a weakness
"And what's that?" someone ask
"Me." I press a hand to my chest. "I'm his weakness. His entire plan revolves around using me. So if I can figure out how to turn that against him then we have a chance
The crowd murmurs. Not convinced but listenin
"This is my fault," I continue. "I won't pretend it's not. He's coming here because of me. Because of what I am and I'm sorry for that
I take a breath. "But I'm not going to run. I'm not going to hide and I'm not going to let him destroy this place without a fight
Then someone stands. A boy I don't recogniz
"I'll fight with you
Another person stands. Then another. Then ten. Then fift
Soon the entire hall is on their fee
My throat tightens. "You don't have to do this. This isn't your fight
"Yes it is," the first boy says. "The Hollow King doesn't just want you. He wants our world. Our families. Everything we care about. That makes it our fight
The hall erupts in agreemen
Corvus places a hand on my shoulder. "It seems you've inspired them
"I just told the truth
"Sometimes that's all it takes
The rest of the day is spent preparing. Corvus organizes students into groups based on their abilities. Combat training intensifies. Wards are reinforce
I work with Morgana trying to figure out how the Hollow King plans to open his bridge. She's the only other person who's been in his head. Who knows how he think
"He needs massive amounts of power," she says. We're in the library surrounded by old texts. "Power he can only get from you
"So we don't give it to him
"It's not that simple." She flips through a book. "You're a Phoenix Soul. You don't control when you release power. It happens when you die
My stomach drops. "He's going to try to kill me
"Not kill. Not permanently." Her finger stops on a passage. "Here. It says Phoenix Souls release the most energy at the moment of death. Right before rebirth. That's the window he needs
"So I just don't die for five days
"Easier said than done." She looks up. "He's going to throw everything at you. Seraphine. Other servants. Maybe even possess someone close to you
"Like he did to you
She flinches but nods. "Like he did to me
I close the book I'm holding. "Then we need to make sure no one else can be possessed
"How
"I don't know yet but we'll figure it out
The library door opens. Alaric walks i
"You've been here for six hours," he says. "You need to eat
"I'm fine
"You're not fine. You're exhausted." He crosses his arms. "I'm not asking
Morgana smirks. "I like bossy Alaric
"Shut up," I mutte
But I let him pull me to my feet and lead me to the dining hal
The room is quieter than usual. Students huddle in small groups speaking in low voices. The burned message is visible through the doorway to the Great Hal
We sit with Sofia and the remaining boys. Cassian slides a plate of food in front of m
"Eat
"I'm not hungry
"I don't care but eat anyway
I pick at the food. Force down a few bites. It tastes like as
"Any sign of him?" I ask Zev quietl
He knows I mean Kieran. "No. I've been searching every night. Nothing
My chest aches. "He's really gone
"Maybe not permanently," Cassian offers. "He might just need time
"We don't have time
"Then we fight without him." Alaric's voice is hard. "We've done it before
"Not like this. Not against the Hollow King." I push my plate away. "Kieran was the strongest fighter we had. Without him
"Without him we adapt." Zev leans forward. "Stop acting like we're helpless without the wolf. We're still here. We're still bonded to you. That has to count for something
He's right but it doesn't stop the hollow feeling in my ches
That night, in my room, in my sleep I dream that I'm standing in darkness. Not the void place where I usually meet the Hollow King
"Thalira
I spin around. Kieran is standing a few feet awa
"Is this real?" I ask. "Or is Zev messing with my head
"It's real." He looks tired. "I'm dream projecting
"Where are you
"Somewhere safe
"That's not an answer
"It's the only one I can give right now." He takes a step closer. "I heard about the message. About the five days
"Are you coming back
He's quiet for a long moment. "I don't know
The words hurt more than I expected. "We need you. I need you
"You freed me Thalira. You can't ask me to come back just because it's convenient
"That's not what I'm doing
"Isn't it?" His voice hardens. "You broke the bond. Cut me loose. Now you want me back because there's a fight coming? That's not fair
"I know it's not fair but I didn't have a choice. The bond was killing you
"No it wasn't." He moves closer. "It was the only thing keeping me alive. And you took it away without asking if that's what I wanted
Tears burn my eyes. "What did you want
"I wanted you to trust me enough to let me make my own choices." His expression softens slightly. "For fifty years every decision was made for me. Stay with Thalira. Protect Thalira. Wait for Thalira. I never got to choose
"And now you can
"Now I can." He reaches out like he's going to touch my face then drops his hand. "But I don't know what to do with that freedom yet
"So you're not coming back
"I didn't say that." He steps back. "I said I don't know. I need time to figure out who I am without the bond. Who I am when staying with you is a choice instead of a curse
The dream starts to fad
"Kieran wait
"Five days," he says. "I'll have an answer by then
Then I opened my eyes, staring at my ceilin
I press a hand to my chest. The space where his bond used to be is still empt
A knock on my door. Sofia pokes her head i
"You okay
"No
She comes in and sits on my bed. "Want to talk about it
"He's not coming back
"He told you that
"Not in so many words but yeah." I sit up. "He needs time to figure himself out. Which I understand. I do. But we're running out of time and I need him here and I hate that I need him because that makes me exactly like the bond. Forcing him to stay because I can't handle things without him
Sofia takes my hand. "You're not forcing him to do anything. You're just scared. That's allowed
"Is it? Because it feels pretty selfish right now
Before she can answer an explosion shakes the academ
We're thrown from the bed. The windows shatter. Screaming fills the hallwa
"What was that?" Sofia gasp
We run to the window. The courtyard is on fire and standing in the center of the flames is Seraphin
She's not alone. Dozens of shadow beast surround her. Things with too many teeth and one eye
"The five days were a lie," I whispe
Sofia grabs my arm. "He's attacking now
Another explosion. This one closer. The north tower collapse
My door bursts open. Alaric is there covered in dust and bloo
"We're under attack," he says. "The Hollow King sent his entire army
"But he said five days
"He lied." Cassian appears behind Alaric. "He wanted us relaxed and unprepared
Zev materializes beside them. "The wards are failing. We have maybe an hour before they breach the main building
I run to my closet and grab weapons. A blade Sofia enchanted for me. A few defensive charm
"Where's Morgana?" I as
"Fighting with the faculty in the east wing," Zev say
"And Corvus
"Trying to hold the wards together but he's failing
Another explosion shakes the buildin
"We need to evacuate the younger students," I sa
"Already in progress," Alaric replies. "But they're targeting the escape routes. Trying to trap us inside
A massive crash from downstairs. The sound of fighting and screamin
"They're inside," Cassian say
The hallways are in chaos. Students are fighting shadow beasts and teachers are throwing up defensive barrier
We make it to the Great Hall. Half the ceiling has collapsed. The burned message is still visible on the floo
Seraphine stands in the center if the hall and smir
"Hello little Phoenix," she says. "Ready to die again
Behind her the air rips ope
A porta
And through it steps the Hollow King walks ou
"Hello daughter," he says. "Did you miss me
I raise my blade. "Stay back
"Or what?" He laughs. "You'll free me like you freed the wolf? That worked so well the first time
The portal widens and more shadow beast pour through making us surrounded and outnumbere
Then a howl cuts through the chao
Everyone freeze
A massive golden wolf storm in through the north wal
Kiera
He shifts mid leap. Lands in human form and naked beside m
"Sorry I'm late," he say
I stare at him. "You came back
"Of course I came back." He pulls out a blade. "Did you really think I'd miss this fight
A coat was offered to him and he quickly put it o
"But you said
"I said I needed to figure out who I am without the bond." He looks at me. "Turns out I'm the guy who shows up when you need him. Bond or no bond. That's just who I am
Something in my chest cracks ope
"Now," he says turning to face the Hollow King. "Let's finish this
d."n.."—"n.?"."s.e.n.l.s.s.d.."."?"t.l.n.?"k.r.s.s.g.."y.g.."?"s.k.s.."."—"."d.s.."r.s.e.s.y.y.."."."?"."?"."?"n.y.g.."—"e.."."."."."?"."."."."."."."?"."."."?"."?"y..".t.."—"."."."."."y.h.."."."e.l.l.r.."."."."n.."?"."."."."."."."."."."s.d.."."."t.."."t.y.."e.."."g.."s.."s.?"s.."e.e.y.."."."."e.y.."g.!"s.d.e.!"!"!"r.."n.!"!"!"s.d.LN-Ne.e.!"s.r.."s.e.."s.."t.e.r.."k.."y.s.."s.d.s.w.."e.l.y.y.y.o.e.e.n.. "Did you really think I'd miss this fight?"
A coat was offered to him and he quickly put it on.
"But you said—"
"I said I needed to figure out who I am without the bond." He looks at me. "Turns out I'm the guy who shows up when you need him. Bond or no bond. That's just who I am."
Something in my chest cracks open.
"Now," he says turning to face the Hollow King. "Let's finish this."