Chapter Forty One

Aerilyn

The hounds all stood, some even taking off with their large wings spreading behind them. When Aerilyn turned to run, she froze as a glimmering light appeared before them. The hounds didn’t move then. It was like they were frozen for a moment. Her entire body screamed for her to turn and get the hell away from whatever was about to happen, but she couldn’t as she watched a figure step out of the light.

The woman who stood before them had jet-black hair that hung around her waist and curled at the end. It contrasted heavily with her pale skin and pink lips. She was beautiful in every aspect. She looked like a painting that had been perfected with hours of brush strokes. Nothing about her seemed real. From her looks to her flowing red gown that pooled around her feet. The only thing that bothered Aerilyn was the expression that consumed the woman’s face. She looked out of place in the darkness of the cave, but she also seemed to suck the life out of everything around her.

No one in the group moved. The woman’s lips curled into a smirk at their sudden silence. Aerilyn felt an odd coolness run down her spine, leading to her skin breaking out in small bumps. It felt as if death had passed through her if that were even possible. She noticed Azazel in her peripheral vision, his entire body frozen. He was just as surprised as the rest of them. She could hear the howls from the hounds that weren’t too far behind them, but the woman was blocking their only escape.

“Well well… What do we have here? I haven’t seen so many faces here in far too long,” the woman’s icy voice filled the space. Her tone was laced with an emotion that Aerilyn couldn’t quite explain. Her voice was like a melody that could command a room full of people. “I didn’t expect to ever see either of you” she lifted one of her thin fingers, gesturing to both Azazel and Everett. “The prince and the king of enemy kingdoms both together. How strange,” she licked at her lips. The two men stood on either side of Aerilyn, but she could feel them both tense at the words.

“Who the hell are you?” Azazel’s cold voice cut through the group.

“I’m sure you’re questioning how I know you, but you have no clue who I am,” she examined her nails as if she were already growing bored of the conversation. Aerilyn wanted to step in, but she was unsure of what to say. This stranger radiated a form of evil that she could feel deep within her bones. It was the same feeling that had overcome her when they’d arrived at the cave. The universe seemed to scream to her that something was wrong.

“Then why don’t we cut to the introductions and not play games,” Azazel tilted his head, his gaze moving up and down the length of the woman. She was unphased by the primal glare, hardly bothered by any of their presence. Even with all of their weapons. She didn’t seem to portray any fear. “Oh, but games are so fun. I truly do enjoy the company,” she pouted her lips before taking a step closer to them.

“Mortianna, Queen of Escadia,” she gestured to herself, letting out a beautiful laugh as the confusion flashed across all of their features. “Escadia isn’t on your maps, it isn’t even within this realm,” she provided little explanation. At her closeness, Azazel’s hand moved to his sword that rested on his hip. She seemed to notice the movement and almost looked offended. “I tell you that I’m a queen and you decide to go for your weapon? How unfortunate. I was hoping we could be friends,” she directed her statement to Azazel, tempting to take a step closer to him.

The cave only seemed to grow darker as she held her palms out at her sides, wiggling her fingertips. The black fog began to roll from her palms, slowly filling the space around them. Everett took a step closer to Aerilyn, his shoulder directly in front of her as if to put himself between her and the queen. Azazel drew his sword then, holding it before him. This caused the queen to finally take a step back, her eyes flaring with an anger that hadn’t been there previously.

“How dare you!” She snapped, and the fog rolled out of her hands much faster. “Just get out of our way. I don’t want to harm you, but I will to protect my people,” Azazel’s voice matched her anger, his eyes narrowing at the woman. “You were all dead the moment you entered this cave. There’s no coming back from what you’ve done. You’ve awoken all of them. You summoned me and that is quite a problem,” she looked directly at Aerilyn with a smirk on her face. “You brought her here. That is what sealed all of your fates,” she made eye contact with Aerilyn. Her stomach began to do flips, suddenly feeling weak under the queen’s gaze.

“What does she have to do with anything?” Everett spoke up, drawing his own weapon as he attempted to protect Aerilyn. “She is the key to everything. A key that I cannot let wander this realm and ruin everything,” the queen replied. Aerilyn wanted to understand what any of this meant, but her mind was drawing blanks. There was no explanation for any of this. She’d never seen the queen before, nor did she have a single idea what the woman was referring to.

“You look so confused my dear… They never told you. How ironic. I’m glad they kept you so sheltered,” Mortianna laughed, the sound much more cruel than before. “Who are you referring to?” Aerilyn pushed past Everett, keeping her chin lifted as she approached the woman. It seemed that she wasn’t going to simply let them go, but Aerilyn had an idea running through her mind that might be enough to get her companions out of the cave.

“The thieves who raised you,” the queen lowered her voice, the conversation becoming more directed towards Aerilyn instead of being announced to the entire group. “They stole you away from where you belonged, making my life much more difficult. I didn’t realize you were still alive. I can sense the power that courses through your veins. I know exactly who you are, child. I can provide you with every detail, but you must return with me to Escadia. I will let all of your friends go if you just come willingly,” she put the offer on the table and Aerilyn truly did debate it. She only cared about getting everyone else out safely.

The black fog now filled the entire cave, obstructing most of her view. She turned to look at Azazel over her shoulder, giving him a look she hoped he’d understand. “You promise to let them go?” Aerilyn whispered, finally meeting the queen’s eyes once more. “You have my word” she nodded her head once.

With those words, Aerilyn finally let the power that she had been building release into the cave. The bright light was blinding, but the heat that she allowed to scorch the women before her was much more terrifying. Her mind went back to the night when she’d killed her attackers with the power. That time had been an accident that she hadn’t had control over. This time, there was full intent behind the fiery heat that blasted the queen.

“Run!” Aerilyn screamed as she felt her vision spotting from the sheer amount of power she was releasing. The woman’s cries of pain rang out around her, filling her ears with the horrific sound.

“You just started a war, Chosen One,” her cold voice rang out through Aerilyn’s ears before the figure of the queen disappeared. Where the queen had once stood was now an empty space. Her legs collapsed under her as she stopped the power that was flowing out of her. The hard ground below her knocked the wind right from her.

The bitch had escaped.

Aerilyn wanted to scream in frustration, but she found herself grateful as she noticed most of the people who’d been in the cave were gone. Azazel and Everett were the only ones who remained. Everett helped Aerilyn to her feet, grasping her waist tightly to keep her steady. “What just happened?” She questioned in a soft voice. “We can discuss all of this later, we need to get the hell out of here,” Azazel replied, pulling their attention back to him. Everett squeezed her hip once before a howl echoed through the cavern. The sound reminded her of the room that had been full of hounds that were now coming for them.

“Fuck” she muttered before several hounds came into sight.