Chapter 78 The Shadow’s Price
The second wave hit harder. Demetrius sent his veterans. His elite soldiers. They moved with precision. With purpose. They targeted the southern wall exactly as Mara predicted.
But this time the defenders were ready. Traps sprung. Oil ignited. Arrows flew in coordinated volleys. Soldiers fell. But more kept coming. Always more.
"They are trying to overwhelm us!" Marcus shouted. "Trying to exhaust our arrows! Our oil! Our strength!"
"Then we switch tactics!" Mara commanded. "Warriors! Close combat! Hold the walls with steel! Archers! Conserve your arrows! Only shoot at officers! At leaders! Make every shot count!"
The battle became brutal. Hand to hand. Sword against sword. Claws against armor. Blood flowed. Bodies fell. The walls became slippery with gore.
Mara fought alongside her warriors. Not with her full power. She did not dare. Ash was still hungry. Still pushing. Still wanting freedom. If she let it out again, she might not get it back.
So she fought like a normal warrior. Sword. Shield. Claws. Teeth. It was harder. More exhausting. But safer. Controlled.
A massive soldier broke through the line. Headed straight for Mara. His armor was black. His sword glowed red. Sun God magic. Blessed by Demetrius himself.
"The Moon Wolf!" he roared. "I claim your head for my god!"
He swung. Fast. Powerful. Mara blocked. Barely. The impact sent her stumbling. Her arm went numb.
"Too strong," she gasped. "Cannot beat him normally."
"Then use me," Ash urged. "Just a little. Just enough. I promise I will behave."
"You never behave."
"This time I will. Because if you die, I die. Self-preservation. Trust me."
Mara had no choice. She opened a small channel. Let Ash's power flow. Just enough to match the soldier's strength. Just enough to survive.
Silver light covered her sword. She attacked. Faster. Stronger. The soldier blocked. Attacked back. They exchanged blows. Neither gaining advantage.
"You fight well," the soldier said. "But you hold back. I can feel it. You are afraid of your own power. That weakness will kill you."
"Better to die with control than live as a monster."
"Control is an illusion. Power is truth. And truth always wins."
He attacked again. This time aiming for Isla. She was nearby. Fighting her own battles. Unaware.
Mara moved. Blocked. Took the hit meant for her daughter. The sword cut deep. Through armor. Through flesh. Into bone.
She screamed. Fell. Blood poured from the wound.
"Mother!" Isla rushed over. Tried to help. The soldier raised his sword for the killing blow.
Kieran appeared. The shadow in full control. Black energy exploded. The soldier flew backward. Crashed through the wall. Fell three stories. Did not get up.
"You owe me again," the shadow said. "That is twice I saved you. Two more days added. Four total. After the battle."
"Fine! Whatever! Just help me! I am dying!"
"No you are not. Watch."
The shadow placed Kieran's hand on Mara's wound. Black energy flowed. Not destroying. Healing. The wound closed. The pain faded. The bone mended.
"How?" Mara gasped. "I thought darkness only destroyed."
"Darkness is not just destruction. It is also transformation. Change. I can unmake wounds just as easily as I make them. You simply never learned how. Too busy being afraid of me."
"Thank you. For saving us. For healing me."
"Thank my host. Kieran is the one who insisted. Who begged me to help. I would have let you suffer. Taught you a lesson. But he is soft. Sentimental. It is his weakness and his strength."
The shadow released control. Kieran returned. Exhausted. Pale.
"Are you okay?" he asked Mara.
"Thanks to you. And the shadow. I owe both of you."
"You owe us nothing. We are allies. Allies help each other. That is what we do."
Another horn sounded. This time from inside the city. The emergency signal.
"What now?" Zevran appeared. Covered in blood. Not his own.
"The eastern gate!" a messenger ran up. "They broke through! Soldiers inside the city! Hundreds of them!"
"That is impossible! The eastern gate was secure!"
"They had a traitor! Someone opened it from inside! Let them in!"
Mara felt cold. "Who? Who betrayed us?"
"Thaddeus! The council member you kicked out! He opened the gate! Let in Demetrius's soldiers! They are heading for the palace! For the civilians!"
"Isla! Luna! Everyone important is there! We need to go! Now!"
They ran. Through the city. Past fighting. Past death. Past chaos. Reached the palace just as soldiers broke through the main entrance.
Luna was there. Fighting. Defending. But she was one wolf against fifty soldiers. She could not hold.
"Luna!" Mara screamed. Power exploded from her body. Not controlled. Not measured. Pure fury. Silver light and darkness mixed. A wave of energy that consumed everything in its path.
The soldiers disintegrated. Turned to ash. Nothing left but dust and echoes.
Luna collapsed. Wounded. Exhausted. "Took you long enough."
"Are you okay?"
"I will live. Unlike them." She gestured at the ash piles.
"Where is Isla?"
"Safe room. Third floor. I sealed it before they arrived. She is protected."
"Good. Stay here. Rest. We will handle the rest."
More soldiers poured in. Endless. Overwhelming. Mara fought with everything she had. Ash helped willingly now. Working together instead of fighting for control.
They moved as one. Light and darkness. Creation and destruction. Every enemy fell. Every threat ended. But more kept coming.
"This is a distraction," Kieran said. "Demetrius is not here. His elite are not here. This is a feint. The real attack is elsewhere."
"Where?"
"The throne room. He wants the seat of power. Wants to claim the city symbolically. We need to go there. Now."
They ran. Up stairs. Through corridors. Reached the throne room. Found Demetrius waiting. Alone. Confident. Smiling.
"Finally," he said. "The Moon Wolf arrives. I was beginning to think you would hide. Disappoint me."
"Where are your soldiers? Your army?"
"Outside. Fighting your warriors. Keeping them busy. This moment is just for us. Just for you and me. The champion of the Moon versus the champion of the Sun. As it should be."
"I am not the Moon Goddess's champion. Not anymore."
"No? Then what are you?"
"I am a mother. A queen. A survivor. And I am done with gods and their games."
"Brave words. Let us see if your actions match."
Demetrius attacked. Faster than Mara expected. His sword blazed with sunlight. Pure. Hot. Deadly. She blocked. Barely. The heat singed her hair.
"You are weak!" Demetrius laughed. "The blessing limits you! You cannot win!"
"I do not need to win! I just need to survive!"
"Then you will fail! Because I will not stop! Will not rest! Will not leave until you are dead!"
He attacked again and again. Each strike powerful. Each strike precise. Mara defended. Dodged. Countered when possible. But she was losing ground. Losing strength.
"Ash! I need more power!"
"You have more power! You are just afraid to use it! Afraid of losing control! But control is overrated! Let go! Let me out! Let us destroy him together!"
"I cannot! If I let you out fully, I might not come back!"
"Then do not come back! Let me be you! Let us merge completely! Become one! That is the only way to win!"
"No! I will not give up who I am! Will not become you!"
"Then you die! And so does everyone you love! Choose!"
Demetrius's sword came down. Aimed at her heart. Mara could not block. Could not dodge. This was it. The end.
A black blade intercepted. Stopped the sword. Held it.
The Shadow King stood between them. Not Kieran. The shadow in its true form. Massive. Terrifying. Ancient.
"Enough," it said. Power shaking the room. "This fight is over. You will not kill her today."
"Shadow King?" Demetrius stumbled backward. "You should be sealed! Imprisoned! How are you free?"
"I made a deal. With the Moon Wolf. With Ash. We work together now. And you are in our way."
"You cannot kill me! The Sun God protects me! Blesses me!"
"The Sun God is not here. And protection means nothing against absolute darkness."
The shadow moved. Faster than light. Grabbed Demetrius. Lifted him off the ground.
"I could kill you now," it said. "Consume you. End you. But that would be wasteful. So I offer you a choice. Leave. Take your army. Return to your kingdom. Never threaten this city again. Or die here. Forgotten. Unmourned. Your choice."
"I will never surrender! Never retreat! The Sun God demands victory or death!"
"Then death it is."
The shadow squeezed. Mara heard bones cracking. Saw Demetrius's eyes widen. Saw fear replace arrogance.
"Wait!" she shouted. "Do not kill him! Please!"
"Why not? He would kill you. Kill your daughter. Kill everyone."
"Because killing him makes us monsters! Makes us what everyone fears! We are better than that!"
"Are you? Or are you just weak?"
"I am strong enough to show mercy! Strong enough to choose! Now release him!"
The shadow hesitated. Then dropped Demetrius. "Your mercy will cost you. He will return. With more soldiers. More weapons. More hate. And next time I might not be here to save you."
"I will deal with that when it comes."
Demetrius coughed. Gasped. Struggled to stand. "You... you let me live?"
"I let you leave. There is a difference. Take your army. Go home. Tell the Sun God his champion failed. Tell him the Moon Wolf shows mercy even to enemies. Maybe he will learn something."
Demetrius looked at her. Really looked. For the first time seeing her as something other than an enemy. "You are strange. Foolish. But... honorable. I respect that. I will leave. Today. But this is not over. The Sun God still demands this kingdom. Still demands your submission."
"Then the Sun God will be disappointed. Now go. Before I change my mind."
Demetrius limped away. Out of the throne room. Out of the palace. His army followed. Confused. Uncertain. But obedient.
The battle was over. The city survived. Barely. Bloodied. But alive.