Chapter 173 The Dragon, the Beast and the Puppet King

Chapter 173 The Dragon, the Beast and the Puppet King
Azerath

The night air struck my face like a wave.

With desperate beats of my wings, I climbed above the Penitentiary, leaving shattered stone and furious shouts far below. Every stroke carried me farther from Vaelric's reach.

I hated to admit it, but the Emperor was formidable.

He possessed immortality, command over shadows, and the Black Crown itself.

Even so... This was not the time to face him.

I needed to find Moriath.

I shook my head, trying to ease the dull ache left by the Veilbreaker. My memories were still piecing themselves back together, each fragment finding its place. I had been a fool. Convinced Serafina was dead, I had abandoned all caution and allowed an ordinary lieutenant to breach my mind.

When she appeared atop the cliff, I dismissed her as another illusion born of grief. I was wrong.

She had spoken a name I had not heard in over a thousand years.

Moriath.

Though the Veilbreaker had shattered most of my memories, that name returned with startling clarity. I remembered the Dark Elf King... and the breathtaking phoenixes that hung like living ornaments above the dining hall of his palace.

Then Serafina caught my wrist. Our embers touched.

For one glorious moment, the broken pieces of my mind became whole.

Serafina...

She was alive... And she was in danger.

Vaelric would not kill her. He still intended to make her his bride and bear him an heir.

But Moriath, he would show no such restraint.

If he truly had become the blood-drinking beast Blink described, Serafina would be nothing more than another victim—or worse, vengeance for the vampire bloodline I had destroyed.

As I lay motionless beside Bram's bed, pretending death, I listened silently as Serafina and Blink spoke through their minds.

"He's not dead, Serafina," Blink said. "Azerath is only waiting for the right moment."

"That's a relief," Serafina replied.

I almost smiled.

"Moriath has returned," Blink continued. "He's become a blood-drinking beast. He's slaughtering everyone in Aetheria, and he won't stop."

"If we want any chance of stopping him, these collars have to come off first," Serafina said.

"I've already asked my tiny animal friends to help."

"Then I'll provide the distraction," I answered.

"Azerath!" Serafina gasped. "You can hear us?"

"Our embers merged," I replied. "I suspect this is one of the consequences. Now... keep pretending I'm dead."

Then a roar split the night, shattering my thoughts. I turned toward the sound and saw the beast Moriath had become. He clung to the highest spire in Aetheria, his eyes fixed upon the Penitentiary below.

Watching Serafina.

For one terrible moment, I thought she had become his next meal.

Then his crimson eyes lifted to me. I recognized that look instantly.

Not hatred. Hunger.

He wasn't hunting Serafina. He intended to use her as bait.

As Moriath launched from the tower, I folded my wings and dived after him.

"No one," I growled, "uses my wife as bait."

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Serafina

I looked up just in time to see Moriath launch himself from the tower, hurtling straight toward the Penitentiary.

"Out!" I shouted. "Now!"

The others raced after Elyndra, Vaelric, and his men toward the cell door. Just as we reached it, Lieutenant Dread slammed the iron door shut between us with a resounding clang.

"That should keep the beast occupied while we retreat," he said, grinning.

Vaelric paused only long enough to glance at the surrounding cells.

"Dread," he ordered, "release these prisoners from your curse. They will make suitable appetizers while we escape."

Dread inclined his head. "As you command, Your Majesty."

He murmured a few words beneath his breath. Dull green light rippled from his body and spread through the prison.

The growling that had echoed from the surrounding cells stopped instantly. It was replaced by terrified screams.

"No! Please!"

"Help us!"

"What have you done to us?"

Without another glance, Dread turned and ran.
"Gotta go!" he called over his shoulder. "See you all in hell!"

"Any ideas?" Helga squeaked.

"Jehan!" Ryven shouted. "The key!"

Jehan reached into his pocket and tossed it. Ryven lunged to catch it. He missed. The key slipped through the gap between the iron bars and clattered onto the corridor outside.

Helga groaned. "Thanks, Jehan. Because of you, we're going to die."

Not just yet, Blink said.

The black wolf darted forward, snatched the key from the floor with her teeth, and dropped it into Ryven's waiting hand.

"Good girl, Blink," Ryven breathed.

He thrust the key into the lock. Click. The cell door swung open.

We rushed into the corridor and slammed it shut behind us just as Moriath crashed into the prison floor hard enough to shake the entire Penitentiary. Dust billowed around him. He rose slowly.

"You may all leave," he growled, his elongated fangs gleaming in the torchlight as he stalked toward us. "Except for the pretty Celestial."

Violet orbs formed in my palm. I hurled them at him. They struck his chest in rapid succession. The blasts scorched his pale skin, leaving patches of blackened flesh, but they did not slow him.

He glanced down at the burns and smiled. "Ouch," he said mockingly. "That almost hurt." His crimson eyes settled on me. "If you're wondering why..." He spread his arms. "You have Celestial blood to thank for what I've become."

His claws scraped across the iron bars. Steel shrieked. Then split apart as though it were paper.

"So be a good little girl..." He carved through the last of the bars. "...and stay where you are."

"Run!" I shouted. "You too, Blink!"

We fled through the corridor as Moriath stepped through the opening.

Behind us, I heard him inhale deeply. "There is nowhere you can hide, Celestial." His voice carried through the darkness. "Your blood smells like honey."

I risked a glance over my shoulder as I ran. He was already gaining on us.

Then the ceiling above him exploded. Stone rained down as an enormous obsidian tail crashed into Moriath, hurling him across the prison.

A familiar roar shook the walls.

"Moriath," Azerath growled, golden light blazing within his eyes, "if death itself could not keep you..."

The dragon lowered his head, smoke curling from his nostrils.

"...then I shall kill you twice."

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Vaelric

As we hurried from the Penitentiary toward the palace, corpses littered the streets.

The living remained among them, kneeling beside husbands, wives, children, and friends, mourning those they had failed to save.

Then one man saw us. He wiped the tears from his face and pointed directly at me.

"You!" he shouted. "You brought this curse upon us!"

Heads turned. Faces hardened.

"You are an animal!"

"You are a monster!"

"We will never bow to you!"

I ignored every word.

Let them curse me. By sunrise, they would all wear collars.

At last, we entered the sanctum of the throne room. The great doors slammed shut behind us as General Sallow and Dread took their places at either side.

"Brother," Elyndra said, breaking the silence, "you need to fix this."

"I will," I replied, settling onto the throne. "Sallow and Dread will hunt down this beast. Once it is dead, order will return."

"They will never accept you again," she argued.

I raised an eyebrow.

"The people no longer see you as their Emperor," she continued. "They see you as the curse that brought this upon them."

For a moment, the room fell silent.

"And what," I asked calmly, "do you propose?"

"Place a puppet upon the throne."

Several of my guards exchanged uneasy glances.

"You would rule from Arcanis," Elyndra continued. "When the people have forgotten this night, you can reclaim Aetheria as your own."

"Tell me, sister," I said. "Who do you propose should serve as my puppet?"

"Magnus Ironside. A descendant of the ancient kings of Aetherion." She met my gaze without hesitation. "He would rule in name only. The people would have someone to follow while you continue to hold the chains."

Florian handed me a goblet of wine. I took a slow sip, allowing the silence to linger.

"Very well."

Hope brightened my sister's face.

"Dread," I said, "send someone to retrieve Magnus Ironside from the Penitentiary."

"That won't be necessary," Elyndra replied. "I moved him somewhere safe."

One eyebrow rose. "You hid him?" I asked. "Why?"

"As a contingency," she said. "In case something like this happened."

I studied her in silence. My sister had never done anything for my benefit.

No...

She hadn't hidden Magnus to protect me. She had hidden him to protect her own plans.

"Then fetch him."

She nodded and disappeared through the servants' passage with Florian. Several minutes later they returned.

Magnus entered first, followed by Dust Warden Voss. Relief softened the Warden's features, while Magnus wore the confident smile of a man who believed the worst was finally over.

Elyndra stepped forward. "The people have spoken," she declared. "They no longer wish to be ruled by fear. Let Aetherion be ruled by one of its own."

Magnus lowered himself to one knee. "I never sought a crown," he said. "But if accepting it ends this bloodshed... then I will bear that burden."

My sister exchanged a hopeful smile with the Dust Warden.

I smiled with them. "Very well."

Magnus looked up.

I rested two fingers upon the Black Crown. Shadows rippled across the floor.

Without warning, a black tendril erupted behind Magnus, driving straight through his chest.

His eyes widened. Blood spilled from his lips as he stared down at the shadow protruding from his heart before collapsing onto the marble floor.

Gasps echoed throughout the chamber.

Before anyone could move, a second tendril shot forward and pierced Dust Warden Voss through the throat. She collapsed beside Magnus without a sound.

I looked down at Magnus's lifeless body. "There," I said. "Your king ruled for nearly three seconds."

My gaze shifted to Elyndra.

"If you ever suggest replacing me again..." I leaned forward on the throne. "...I will chain you to the gates of Aetheria and leave you there until even the crows grow tired of feeding on you."

No one spoke. No one dared.

Suddenly, something slammed into the palace, sending a violent tremor through the throne room. The walls shuddered. Dust drifted from the ceiling as growls and terrified screams erupted outside.

I turned toward the windows.

Two colossal figures clashed above Aetheria.

Azerath... And the blood-sucking beast.

"Sallow," I ordered without taking my eyes off the battle, "prepare the ballistae. Kill the beast first. Once it is dead..." A faint smile touched my lips. "...turn every ballista on the dragon."

I finished my wine and held out the goblet for Florian to refill.

"And bring my bride to me."