A Shade of Vampire 37: An Empire of Stones(6)

Our journey took a while, though it might have seemed longer because of the lack of landmarks and the oppressive, unrelenting silence of this strange in-between world. I heaved a sigh of relief when we eventually entered the atmosphere of the fire kingdom. We were all cast in a warm, red glow that blinded us for a few moments as we passed through, and looking down I could see a bustling city, with a large palace rising up to meet us.

We landed lightly in the palace gardens.

“That was something,” my father muttered, and I nodded in agreement.

Sherus didn’t stop, but moved forward in the direction of the palace, expecting us to follow. I glanced around at a vast lawn with multiple pathways, winding their way through red-leaved trees and small, decorative rockeries of ruby, carnelian and dark ochre topaz. As we moved closer to the impressively large doors, the pathway widened and six fountains marked the final trajectory—three on either side of us. Their heat was immense, and I realized that instead of water emerging from the fountains, huge bursts of brilliant white flame leapt up into the air. I must have stopped and gaped, because Sherus glanced back at me and then turned toward the fountains.

“It was a trick my father learned from the jinn. They can actually create ice fires—this is merely a replica, a trick of the eye.”

I nodded, impressed. I’d never seen a jinni create an ice fire, and I wondered how Sherus’s father had ever found that out. The jinn and fae weren’t exactly close—even after Cyrus Drizan’s death so many years ago, the jinn of The Dunes were nobody’s allies.

Sherus continued leading us forward. The vast doors opened, their gleaming steel exterior reflecting the fires back to us so it looked as if we were entering some huge white inferno. Inside, the palace was just as impressive. The structure was created from the same polished steel as the doors, but every piece of furnishing, ornament and tile seemed to be created from the same semi-precious stones I’d seen in the garden. It was beautiful indeed, but overwhelming—and I couldn’t imagine living in a place where everything was constantly tainted with a soft, red-golden glow. It brought a whole new meaning to ‘rose-tinted glasses.’

We were escorted through the palace, and, after ascending a grand staircase, we stopped in front of another large set of doors.

“This is the council chamber,” Sherus announced. “I have called the rulers of the three other kingdoms to meet here today, to discuss my…premonition.” He frowned, clearly deliberating about what he was about to say next. “The other rulers don’t take too kindly to outsiders.” He looked at me and grimaced. “Even if one is in the form of a fae. Be warned—things may get a little unpleasant.”

My father and I exchanged a glance, our brows raised. We knew well enough already that the fae tended to keep to themselves, but Sherus’s warning didn’t exactly make us feel welcome.

Sherus nodded to the guards, and they opened the doors. Sherus led the way through, and we entered a large, airy chamber. In the middle of the floor was a huge pit of fire, and around it stood three other fae kings, each dressed in robes that matched the colors of their element kingdoms.

Sherus went to stand at the head of the fire pit, with my father and I following.

“Brothers.” Sherus bowed to the waiting men. “May I present Derek and Benjamin Novak of The Shade.”

The rulers nodded politely in our direction, but their expressions were stern and just as unwelcoming as Sherus had warned they might be.

“What is the meaning of this meeting, Sherus?” one of them asked in a clipped tone. “You spoke of danger, but I see none—and I hear of less. My council suspects a fools’ meeting, but I am giving you the benefit of the doubt.”

I expected Sherus to reply in anger, but his expression remained calm and he addressed the king in a measured tone.

“Patience, Sahaero. I bring you here to tell you what is writ in the stars. Lately I see bad omens everywhere I look, and I can’t shake the feeling that something is coming—something that will tear kingdoms apart.”

The kings were silent for a few moments, some looking down into the pit of fire, and some gazing at Sherus with barely concealed irritation.

“You are not the only star-gazer here, Sherus,” another king remarked. “My people have seen nothing, and neither have I.”

Sherus slowly shook his head.

“I have seen it—there is something erupting in another dimension. Something that needs to be stopped before it is too late.”

The fae might not have believed Sherus, but his words sent icy shivers down my spine. I didn’t know if there was any truth behind his words, but I did know that he believed it, and that kind of conviction was hard to ignore.