Chapter 37

Chapter

Thirty-Seven

MINKA

A legion of demons loomed like thunderclouds in the dreary sky. Cries, barbaric and deafening, blended in a discord of terror.

A high-pitched screech had my ears ringing as one of the bat demons reached out its claw-tipped wings, scratching along Thea's side. My Pegasus companion reared back from the pain in her flank as my favored sword arced through the air, cutting the disgusting demon in half.

Black blood trailed through the sky as the two halves of its body plummeted towards the earth and I spat, "Vile vermin." Thea's wings faltered in her flight as she whinnied but I gripped the reins with both hands to hold my balance.

Looking down, I saw crimson crawling down her side from the gnarled wound. "Shit, shit, shit–shit–shit," I repeated in a panic as her oversized wings quivered again. She could feel my alarm through the lead around her head so I took a calming breath and lightened my strung-out grip.

"You're okay, Thea. Let's go down." Her wings flapped once, twice, three times slowly as we traveled lower to the ground. We were safer in the sky, able to maneuver quickly when being overwhelmed by those Infernal beasts. I hadn't gotten a scratch on me yet with Thea's almost unmatched speed, but now her flight was faltering.

"You're okay." Her breathing became heavier, more rugged than before. We had no choice but to return to the battle on land, leaving the protection of the skies to those with the ability to fly.

"It's okay," I kept reiterating as she maneuvered around the dragons, winged demons, and other Pegasi still fighting in the skies. "It's just a scratch, Thea." I clung to the reins and squeezed my thighs against her thick body, desperate to land safely.

Two gargantuan dragons fought restlessly overhead, casting a shadow as Thea's hooves met the dirt. Bodies, sludge, blood, and snow were all around us, the ashy air burning my eyes and making my lungs sputter.

My panic only increased when Thea's bleeding wound wouldn't stop flowing, creating a large puddle of crimson below us. Roars of enmity filtered through the air as a huge gust of wind swept through, flinging me from Thea's back.

For a heartbeat, I was weightless as I flew through the smoky air before landing on my back, stones and bones crunching, into her pool of blood. The fall rattled my skull and took the breath from my lungs. Ears ringing, I tried to push myself up, mud and bloody sludge causing me to tumble down again. My vision was a blurred mass of colors and shapes converging together with gasps and cries of agony.

Blinking through the haze, the world returned to focus and then all I could see were charred and dirty once white feathered wings. Despite her gushing injury, Thea held her ground and stood over my form, her body cocooning me while I finally picked myself up.

The ground shook again as I held onto my Pegasus, avoiding the gaping cut on her side. Heavy wind swept in again, forcing my bound hair from its tie and making Thea's wings rustle. She made a noise of distress, her long, snowy neck muscles coiling. Over the trembling of Menodore's ever-shifting terrain, I could barely keep my balance.

Next came the scent of ancient mildew roaring on the wind. The heavy rustling of armor became a symphony with the deafening thud of boots against earth. Like smoke on the wind, nebulous blue forms charged, swords and hammers upraised in their wispy hands. A creature of hell swept its gnarled claw out, swiping at a ghostly warrior but it went straight through, as if they were a mere illusion.

Twisted and cursed magic kept the Sleepless Dead from being cut down or harmed in any tangible way. That same contorted alchemy of the Warrior's Oath let them wield their own merciless weapons and touch.

The army raged through the reddened night, cutting down demon after demon, black blood spraying as Infernal dragons swept down from their positions in the sky. With claws and teeth, the damned dragons fought with a manic obsession against the wispy shadows of all manners of Fae that made the Blood Oath to Menodore. The translucent forms of the Sleepless Dead lashed out in return, pommeling the beasts into puddles of flesh and onyx blood.

There was no time to think, to register what was happening around me before razor-sharp talons dug into the dirt beside me. Dreary red scales rippled with movement, sulfuric smoke billowing as I came face to face with an Infernal dragon.

Its crimson gaze ignored the shuddering Pegasus sheltering me and watched me steadily like I was its newest prey. My heart beat faster the more it stared past the feathered wings and into my soul. Thea's wings shifted again, trying to cover my form from the possessed dragon's threatening scrutiny, but I held my head high and slowly lifted my sword from the sludge.

Its vast mouth opened, revealing row after row of needle-pointed teeth that were almost as big as I was. With just one bite, it could eat both Thea and me with room for more. The dragon huffed a breath as its gaze shifted to behind me, zeroing in on a different target that I couldn't see.

Sparks begin to erupt along the dragon's tongue, an inferno glowing in their throat. No pain, only the feeling of heat lit up my body as I closed my eyes against the brightness of its flames.

Thea huffed out in irritation as her right wing fluttered against me, the white feathers now charred at the tips from the dragon's fire. Black blood sputtered in front of us, covering us head to toe as Selene ripped out the dragon's throat before dropping its carcass to the ground and charring it.

Holy Gods.

Gloomy firelight reflected off of Selene's scales and horns as she stood to her full height in dragon form. Her opalescent scales shined like a beacon of hope in Ladon's darkest time.

She was our Queen of the Broken, the Viridis Mors, our savior—and here she stood, ready to go toe to toe with the Ruler of Infernum as hell was unleashed in our realm.

Her eyes burned a bright, molten gold. Both longing and joy mixed with pain and sorrow swirled in her gigantic irises. The look only lasted for a second before she went tumbling to the bloody mud, a swift blaze of red flashing by. The ground continued to tremble as the Sleepless Dead raged against Infernum but I was screaming, "Selene!"

Selene roared and pushed her opalescent claws into the ground, muck giving way as she stood on all fours. That flash of crimson returned and then steadied, a lithe form standing before the last Choryrth. My gaze was immediately redirected, fear clawing up my throat as I looked at my shaking hands.

With all my might, I lifted my head again and braced myself. The breath stuttered from my lungs as the Ruler of Infernum stood before Selene, Crown of Daemonium upon their crimson head. Hungry, dark power emanated off of the creature, making my legs quake. They wore rusted battle armor, similar to the demons they commanded, but no weapon lay in their hands.

My breathing became unsteady, black creeping into my vision as that obsidian circlet attempted to bring forward my deepest fears. Nevertheless, the Demon King's focus wasn't on me—the crown's might was directed at my snarling friend.

Through the flapping of feathered wings and deafening sounds of battle, I couldn't hear the words leaving Selene's razor-sharp maw as she bent her front legs into a crouch. The being from the underworld remained before her with the circlet of Infernum's power upon their horned skull, the moonstone in the center of it flickering.

A blast of light exploded from the opalescent gem, hitting Selene in the chest with a resounding clash. She didn't scream out, didn't make a single sound as that light fractured, revealing her High Fae form, blood and bruises marring her tan skin as she lay unmoving.

"Sel," my voice broke as I tried to take a step closer to her but Thea caged me in.

Red eyes surveyed me as the Demon King's gaze locked with mine, their cracked and broken face looking like something out of my worst nightmare. That darkness began creeping again, my vision tunneling until Haco growled behind them, his deep timbre shaking the earth.

Asmodeus' gaze was locked onto the King of Gods, that cruel smile still painted on their crimson skin. Emrys was beside Selene, her head in his lap as her emerald eyes fluttered open. Another flare of light from the crown hit Haco, only his form didn't shift, didn't change at all.

It only pissed off the God of Death, blackened scales alight with a semblance of that blast. But the Demon King either wanted that reaction or didn't care. Emrys went flying through the air, coils of onyx shadows flinging his form away from Selene's.

Splinters and splices ran across the realm and opened up in the earth's core, shooting steam into the air around us. Haco fell through a crevice of the earth, his claws grasping for purchase.

My best friend, my sister , sobbed into the ground as the Ruler of Infernum tugged on her brown hair, baring her throat further. Thea's head nudged my elbow impatiently as I stared in horror at Selene's shaking form, the Blood of the Divine trickling from her.

I didn't know if a being from another realm could actually kill her or not, but the fear permeating off of her was a palpable thing. Tears filled my vision as I raised my sword once more, looking into her green eyes that had once promised me freedom and hope and love and everything she had given me in our short time of knowing one another.

As if she could see what I was about to do, she shouted into my mind once more, Minka, no !

But I ignored her useless words as I slapped Thea's side, sending her running into the chaotic mist. The ground kept trembling as more steam shot up randomly from the holes in Menodore's terrain. My sister was sobbing and shaking in the sludge-filled terrain of our country, fighting tooth and claw to defend our home.

She fought for me, for Wesley and Emrys. For Jude and Ric and Keva. Selene had fought for not only Menodore and Jindera but all of Ladon and Atrium. She sacrificed her body and soul, her life, time and time again. She fought for this world— for all of us— and it was time someone fought for her .

"You will not die today," I swore out loud for all to hear before I charged straight towards the King of Infernum.

Talons and scales and fire surrounded me as I bounded towards my sister, sweat dripping down my neck from the steam in the air. Strong arms wrapped around my middle and I jammed out an elbow into the person's ribs, but it was no use. They only tightened their grip as I flailed around, kicking my feet back and forth to gain some leverage as a deep voice repeated my words, "You will not die today, Minka!"

Looking up into Ric's hazel eyes, I saw that he was panting and covered in dirt, sweat, and blood. I pushed against him once more, "And neither will she!"

Shadows lashed out, their misty tendrils wrapping around the demons in our perimeter before shredding them with phantom hands as Emrys appeared by our side. His golden gaze was filled with pure hatred and malice as he stared down at the Demon King holding his Mate at their mercy. "You don't want her!" he shouted out, but the Ruler of Infernum kept grinning and tilted their horned head to the side.

"It is us you want." All nine of our Gods of the Divine created a circle around us, their talons digging into the dirt as Haco spoke out, "Not the girl."

The Demon King hissed as they threw Selene's head into a broken boulder, knocking her unconscious for a moment. Emrys roared as his shadows grew in size, reaching out to his Mate, but a shimmering veil surrounded the Demon King and her, the crown protecting them both.

An ancient voice rose above the rest, "You are correct. I do not want her." Flames encompassed us in a perfect circle, leaving no escape as Asmodeus said, "I want all of you ."

Selene's head lifted from the dirt as more golden blood leaked from her broken nose. Ric still held onto my body and lifted me backwards, further away from the smiling demon before us. I could feel his heart beating out of his chest as he squeezed me tighter, trying to stay as close to me as possible. My nails dug into the flesh of his tattooed arm as the Ruler of Infernum left Selene on the ground and stepped towards Haco.

The King of Gods snarled down at the being of Infernum, his long teeth still dripping with black blood from the possessed dragon he had killed moments ago. "Go back to your realm. This is not your place."

The Demon King just gave that macabre grin again, sending shivers down my spine. Blackened fire lit up in their palms as they cackled, "You first," and sent a cosmic ball of fire careening towards Haco's chest. The God of Death only stood taller and broadened his shoulders as a golden shield made of pure Divine magic surrounded him and disintegrated the fireball.

Emrys was kneeling on the ground, helping Selene to her feet as the scent of brimstone and sulfur clogged my nose. Smoke rose from the ground as the Demon King's magic grew stronger, wilder than before as they called upon the forces of the Infernal Realm.

"I bow to none , answer to none . I created this precious realm you fight so recklessly to protect. " Claw-tipped fingers clutched onto the dirt, as if it were their lifeline, between the cracks of earth as more beasts crawled in from Hell. " This is my realm." The moonstone in the center of the diadem lit up brighter than before as if the crown understood what they were saying. "And Caelum is next."

Behind us, a rough voice came into my mind, one I didn't recognize. Ric's head snapped up at the same moment mine did, searching for the source of the voice as well. All of the Gods were focused on the Ruler of Infernum before us except one with red scales and endless horns.

The God that had ruled over Umbra, the dark place that all of this stemmed from, stared directly at Ric and me. Behind us, Bomris repeated his words with an agitated flick of his crimson tail. This is our battle to fight.

Ric followed the God's directions slowly without any argument until we were at the edge of the ring of fire, and I was still in his arms.

We couldn't move any further at the risk of being burned alive by Infernum's hellfire, so Ric just squeezed me tighter and whispered, "We're going to be okay." But the shaky, scared edge in his voice still came out with his reassuring words.

Nodding my head in response, I kept my eyes on Selene as she held onto Emrys for support, her wounds still not healing.

Taloned hands stretched out in front of us, interlinking with one another as the Gods connected as one. Emrys picked Selene up in his arms as he shook his head at her, and her eyebrows dropped in indignation. His shoulders dropped in defeat as he gently set her back down on the cracked earth but he didn't let go of her for a second. Selene's hands reached out towards Reombarth and she rested it onto the Goddess' purple scale-covered thigh.

The Goddess of Sound didn't look down at Selene, as if she were expecting the touch to come. Selene's eyes shined like constellations as she glanced back at us, bright and enduring in the darkness. Her tanned skin started glowing too, along with Emrys' scarred flesh. The Blood Oath they had made on the night of the Winter Solstice began to shine through, her powers simmering within him. Those usual honey eyes turned brighter yet deeper, more metallic and golden like our Gods as he gave one final look at his brother, Elric.

The ground stopped trembling as the realm went quiet. The only sound was mine and Ric's breath but we held it in, too scared of what was happening around us.

On a phantom wind, both Emrys and Selene's dark hair rose. The Heir of Menodore started burning so brightly that I had to turn my gaze away from her. It was a different kind of brightness than the sun, not a burning ball of flames that seared when making contact. It was brighter, more pure and radiant than that. As if she had absorbed all the light in the realm and reflected it off of her, just like the moon would.

Only it was the brightness of two of our moons as Emrys shimmered next, his scarred skin twinkling in reflection of hers. Together, two destined Mates glowed and interlinked, their brightness blasting out in a cascade of pure power.

Just like the Moons of the Divine.

Looking around, Ric and I could see that none of the Gods' scaly bodies were glowing. The King of Infernum stood completely still in the middle of the circle along with their demons, like they were all frozen in time, but the battle still reigned on beyond the circle of fire.

What in th ? —

A gigantic flash of light followed by the low, deep sound of an explosion hollowed out my ears and seared my face. Throwing my hands up as Ric tucked me closer into him, we hit the ground as rocks, sludge, mud, and blood covered us head to toe. Ashes rained down upon us and we peeked through the madness to be met with nothingness.

Where thousands of demons had roamed our earth, nothing but ashes remained.

Not the Gods, nor the King of Infernum and their lackeys.

Not the Sleepless Dead, nor any other creatures of darkness.

Just a cold and desolate battlefield with only our people remaining.

Emrys was cocooned around Selene, his hulking form completely blocking her from sight. The Shadow of Death's hand twitched for a moment before it clenched and his shoulders uncurled.

His body was wrapped around Sel's, his shadows stroking and petting her battered flesh as he kissed the top of her head and inhaled her scent. Selene's chest rose as she took a shallow breath and I let out the one I didn't know I was holding.

"Fuck," Ric took the word right out of my mouth but I didn't deign him a response. He wouldn't have been listening anyway as he hauled me up from the ground.

Both of us broke off into a sprint as relief flooded through my bones. I could barely see through the tears in my eyes and I didn't know who grabbed me, but all I felt were arms around me, trembling. Broken sobs came out as the four of us clutched one another on the empty battlefield.