A Shade of Vampire 40: A Throne of Fire(56)

I followed her up, walking with difficulty, having to hold on to the walls and then the foliage on either side of the track. I didn’t want my master to see me on my knees, helpless and weak.

As soon as I emerged from the track and faced the open cove, a strange sensation crept over me. A weight settled over my being—heavy, forceful, as if it was trying to suck the life out of my body. I froze, waves of sickness welling up inside of me while grotesque, unnatural thoughts ran through my mind.

“Can you feel it?” the apothecary whispered. “It’s his power.”

She fell forward onto her knees, her upper body lying prostrate on the ground in worship.

I looked around, trying to focus away from the hell erupting in my brain and see. My eyes lighted on the large object in front of me—a strange dome, filled with erupting lightning bolts, emerging from a circle of dead bodies which were easily recognizable as the Acolytes with their black robes and, even in death, their faces were concealed by their hoods. I saw the navy blue of Queen Trina’s robe, her body squashed pitifully beneath the others.

I turned my eyes away, terrified and not wishing to dwell on the sight.

Further ahead lay the frozen sea I’d glimpsed from my chains when Tejus and his armies had annihilated the Acolytes. Behind it, emerging from over the horizon, was a dark shadow—impenetrable and dense, like thunderclouds had rolled in from the ocean.

You have come to me.

My master’s voice whispered to me in the breeze.

“I have, master. Do with me what you will. Bring me to glory that I might be better able to serve you!” I cried, falling down on the ground in the manner of the apothecary.

Son of Hellswan, rise up!

Elevated, proud and renewed with a sense of energy and purpose, I rose. My master wanted me. He knew I belonged on a throne, that I was better than the wretched peasant woman beside me.

“What would you have me do, master?” I asked, opening my arms up toward the sky, feeling his awe-inspiring benevolence and love bearing down on me.

You, son of Hellswan, will be an anchor to the world of the living. A powerful half-human, gifted with the magic of my people, you will serve as my body.

“A half-human?” I asked, momentarily taken aback by my master’s insult.

You know yourself not, Jenus of Hellswan. But you shall. You shall see all, as I do.

“Yes, master! Gift me with your power, so I might share in your glory!”

You will become my power. Over time, we will merge as one. One being to reign over the dimensions of the humans and the fae.

I stopped, feeling a chill run down my spine. I had thought that I would rule Nevertide—had he not promised me that all along? That I would become all-powerful?

“M-my master, I do not understand—will you not gift me with emperorship? The power to rule my kin?”

You will have power, my power—till the end of days. Child—his whispers became soothing, caressing—have you not sworn to love me? To dedicate yourself to my rise and our rule?

“Yes, master! Yes!” I trembled, looking down at the sand with blurred vision as my eyes grew wet with tears.

“If he will not, I shall!” the apothecary cried out.

“NO!” I screamed, kicking the prostrate woman. “I am who my master wants. I will serve him faithfully!”

Very well, son of Hellswan. Step into the dome, let me meet you. Let us be joined as one.

With a sinking sensation in the pit of my stomach, I trod slowly across the sand. Flies buzzed around the dead bodies, and the reek of their death overpowered my senses as I moved closer. I hoped that the obvious power in the dome—the strong pillar of blinding light in its center—would call to me, reassure me. But it left me cold. Petrified and alone, I reached out to grasp the nearest body. It was cold and still like stone.

“Master! Help me!” I wept.

There was no reply.

My hands trembling, I pushed myself over the bodies and stepped into the dome. The moment I did so, my energy was restored—tenfold, a thousandfold. The feeling grew and grew, power and strength filling me to bursting point.

Elated, I moved toward the pillar of light, drawn forward by the power of my master.

The moment I stepped into it, the feeling changed.

“NO!” I screamed, the cry erupting from my body, so pained and awful, it sounded like the cry of a beast, not a man.

My body felt as if it was being ripped and torn from the inside, the pain unbearable, more than I could stand. The shaft of light filled my open mouth, its power consuming me, sucking out my very soul till it felt like I was no more.





Rose





We had decided on a course of action. The armies of Nevertide and GASP would march down to the cove in full force. Hopefully we would be taking the entity by surprise—armed with weapons infused with the waters of immortalitatem, which we believed would give us enough power to take down the shadows and the entity itself.