Chapter Twenty

R etrieve the weapon.

A weapon that, if Ranville was to be believed, was the only thing that could kill a gods-blessed mage. Kill her.

"You mean to kill me," she accused.

Ranville laughed. "No. I mean to control you. Between the weapon and the Original's blood, you will be the Savior you were always meant to be. You will prevent our Triaedian from demise and put the mage back in power."

Liana scoffed. "I will never do such a thing."

"You may deny it all you wish, but once I have the weapon, you won't have a say in the matter. I will have that weapon, the Original's blood, and your sister. You'll be mine to control."

Although Liana doubted him, she couldn't be completely sure that it wouldn't happen. That he would control her. He did manage to break through her shields and knock her out with a potion she couldn't heal herself from.

"How did you get the Original's blood if he was killed thousands of years ago?" They crested another hill, endless forest reaching out before them with the start of fall colors blending into the green.

"The legend says that he was lured from his northern stronghold by a false threat of foreign invaders heading toward what is now Sapphire Cove. When he arrived, he was instead ambushed by his own people. It was there that he was killed, and his body entombed in the cliffs by his own detonation of power. It was a blast so powerful that it wiped out the entire population of Triaedian in a matter of minutes and created a tomb of crystal around his body."

A shiver ran down her spine. An entire population eradicated in minutes without any warning. Liana thought it was probably a mercy they had no warning.

If he had enough power to decimate an entire kingdom, she didn't want to think if she were capable of the same.

"It was as if time had stopped in that capsule. The moment we cracked into it, I could feel the immense amount of power pour out of it," Ranville continued, unaware of her unease. "Since the dawn of the new Triaedian, my father and ancestors alike scoured the cliffs around this entire kingdom, especially in Sapphire Cove but could never find anything. We'd given up the search in that area until rumors of a place the locals found reached me. A place of strange magic that just appeared one day. They call it Luna's Cave."

Liana gripped the saddle as the blood rushed from her face. That was her and Elias's cave. That was the place she had been drawn to expose. That power had been so familiar to her own because it was another god's blessed mage. This couldn't be real. She couldn't have orchestrated her own demise. None of this ludicrous story could be real.

"It was only too easy to find his body after that. Perfectly preserved, as if he'd just died seconds ago, not thousands of years," Ranville continued, oblivious to her turmoil. "We took his blood and imbibed it into weapons meant for you. Those cuffs as well which is why you'll never be free of them unless I release you."

Liana eyed the men surrounding her. Which one of them had such weapons? Did all of them have a poisoned blade or dart to bring her to heel? She couldn't focus on that now though. Even if none of them had such weapons, she still wasn't going anywhere until she could get free of the damned cuffs. She had to keep thinking, keep her mind sharp. She needed more information. Needed to know everything before she escaped so she and Damien could finally put these rebels to rest.

"If he was killed in Sapphire Cove, why are we in the middle of the northern forest? Wouldn't the gods-blessed mage killing weapon still be with the Original?"

Their horses stepped beyond a line of trees, a cliffside blocking their path. As one, the guards dismounted and began securing the horses. Liana searched for the reason they stopped but could see nothing. It was only midday and certainly not time to rest again.

Ranville handed the reins to one of the men and approached her. "It wasn't with him. With the entire population decimated, we can only assume that the gods moved the weapon." He reached up to grab her hips and pull her down. Liana barely contained her growl at his unwanted touch then took several steps away from him once her feet were on the ground. "We found the weapon just a month or so after we found his body. Centuries of searching, and I found both so quickly."

Liana tried to cross her arms, forgetting the cuffs for a moment. "Quite the coincidence," she spat sarcastically.

Ranville's lips pulled too thin as he smiled at her. "Or divine intervention. The gods want us to succeed. They know the Savior should have been born into our side."

"If that were true, why was I gifted the power?" she remarked, fully disagreeing with this mad man. The Savior was meant to save Triaedian from these radicals, not help them. At least, that's what she assumed. All of this was still unknown territory to her. The goddess certainly didn't clear things up, nor had she spoken to her again despite the many prayers Liana sent her way.

"We didn't understand it at first either." He walked toward the cliff, and she reluctantly followed. "When my father first discovered you, we thought you were meant to be tamed and controlled. But then you escaped. It became increasingly difficult to try to get to you again, especially since you sequestered yourself away most of the time. Even when you were older and ventured out on your own frequently, it was always too public to take the risk."

He stopped as one of the guards shoved aside a heavy curtain of vines revealing a cave in the cliff. He sent out a string of mage light revealing an endless tunnel.

"Then you caught the eye of the King. We tried to stop it at first, when that didn't work, we changed tactics. We'd lure you to our side. You'd retrieve the very thing that would be used against you after being crippled by your own power. Well, his power, but you're one in the same, aren't you?" Ranville started forward again. "Thoroughly under our control at that point, we'd then use you to kill the King, the entire Ashwood line if everything goes to plan."

She stared after the heartless man hardly believing this was happening. She'd been watched her entire life and not by the regular gossips. The rebels spied on her since she was a child, plotting to use her one way or another. And now they thought to use her to kill Damien. She wouldn't let any of that happen.

She wouldn't let the rebels get away with any of this. They'd all pay, she vowed it to the gods.

A rebel shoved her forward. Keeping close behind, he kept her moving into the tunnel. The initial arch gave way to a squared off walkway. From the walls of the stone protruded partial columns which supported similar beams running along the ceiling. Detailed masonry decorated these columns which had her mind reeling.

"What is this place?" she wondered in awe despite hating that she was here.

"We assume it is an ancient walkway. It looks like it might have been a trellis around a courtyard. The earth mage specialists say it continues in a square down that way as well before leading into the main building," Ranville answered, pointing to a solid wall of rock at their side with the same columns.

Liana turned, inspecting the solid dirt and rock around them. It did look as though they stood at a corner of the walkway. "How did a mountain form on top of a building?" she asked, feeling foolish for even asking such a silly question.

"All of the old kingdom was wiped away after the death of the Original. Whether it was from his spell or the gods, we aren't sure."

This may have been a terrible situation, but she couldn't help her curiosity. Neither could Ranville apparently as he easily explained all that led them to this point. Shame filled her because in this moment, all she wanted was access to her magic so she could explore these ruins more thoroughly.

They turned a corner and walked down another long tunnel leading to a smooth stone wall with a small arched doorway. More mage lights lit the way. Liana gasped when she stepped through into a breathtaking building. A grand hallway greeted them with towering marble walls lining the way. It hadn't been perfectly preserved, some of the furniture and decor worse for the wear, but it was as if they stepped back in time. What used to be a rug was now mostly dust lining the marble floors, much of it already kicked about by whoever found this place first. Arched windows held only a view of dirt and stone making her ever more aware that they were walking into the depths of a mountain.

She doubted this was an ordinary estate they walked into. This had to be a palace with how grand the hall was.

They continued through a left turn and two arches before they finally came to the grand foyer. She'd been right. This had been a palace, one to rival Sancta Valles if she gauged correctly. Massive iron doors were bolted shut at the entrance, lined on both sides with decorative stained-glass windows. The ceiling towered at least three stories above the central marble staircase leading up to only the next level before ending abruptly. Only rubble lay beyond what she could see.

Shoved from behind, she followed Ranville up the stairs. Liana could barely breathe from the sight that greeted them. A massive cavern lay beyond, remains of the other half of the palace intact on the opposite side. Down below held only rubble. Heaps and heaps of ruined marble and stone. This place must have been just as impressive as Sancta Valles at one point.

"Look to the right." Ranville pointed as well. She spotted the faintest gleam of metal far down below and at the other end of the cavern. "That is the dagger, the gods-blessed weapon."

"How do you expect me to reach that without magic?" Between them and the dagger was a straight drop that would kill her.

"There is a different path through the castle. I thought you'd like to see what would become of us if you don't make the right choice," Ranville explained, the threat clear. There was no way she sided with him though. The right choice would be to unify the people.

Their group descended the stairs, continuing on through the palace. Walking through a similar hallway, Liana yearned for her magic again, not only to escape but to explore these ruins. To see what secrets lay hidden in these walls. To see if there was any proof that Ranville spoke even a bit of truth.

Passing countless rooms, she snuck a look in a few that lacked doors. With such little light though, she couldn't see a thing. A shiver ran down her spine when she thought she saw a flash of something move inside one of the dark rooms. It could have been a rat or something similar, but this place was ancient and clearly steeped in bad blood, so a vengeful spirit seemed just as likely to be lurking. She didn't pay much attention to hauntings like some mage did, and if she'd encountered anything of the like in the past, she immediately steered clear. If she had to face a spirit this would be the place to finally experience it.

They turned down the hall, the entire structure falling into rubble. At the edge of the destruction, Liana looked down into the cavern, more mage light providing her with a view.

"We've tried everything to get it. No one can even touch it," Ranville explained.

"What makes you think I will be able to do so, especially without my magic?" she spat back.

"You are the Savior. Your power is the same as the dagger. You have to be the one to get it," he said, his voice tinged with a bit of desperation.

"I certainly can't get down there without magic. Uncuff me."

He scoffed. "Not a chance." He sat on the edge, dangling his legs over the broken floor. "There is a ledge here that will take us around."

Two others went after him then Liana. The ledge was just the next level down of the castle, equally as broken and destroyed. She sat on the edge then rolled onto her stomach to lower herself as far as she could before dropping the rest of the way. Luckily the ledge supported her slight tumble and step back. Another step and she'd have gone over. She hoped someone would have saved her, but she wouldn't rely on that hope.

She trudged along, having to scramble or shuffle across narrow or crumbled bits. When they finally made it to the dagger, it looked as if someone had plunged it into the pile of rubble on purpose.

"You can't expect me to climb to the top of that with my hands bound," she declared.

Ranville nodded to the closest guard. He grabbed the cuffs and murmured a spell. One of the middle chain links sprung open, her wrists falling apart but the cuffs still in place. Magic remained unavailable to her, the spell still effective despite the separation.

"There. Now, go get it," Ranville demanded.

Huffing, Liana surveyed her task. The last thing she wanted to do right now was leap onto this pile of rubble and climb to the top. She didn't want to retrieve a weapon that could end her life, one that her enemies could use to control her. There were no other options right now. She couldn't escape. Even if she managed to create a distraction, the vampires would get her.

Unless… unless she got the dagger then attempted to escape. If the blade was as powerful as Ranville claimed, there had to be magic in it that could protect her. Just like with her own power, which seemed to act with a mind of its own often enough, the dagger might also be capable of such things. At the very least, it was a deadly weapon. Anyone, even a vampire would be susceptible to its blade.

With a deep breath, Liana took one step and jumped onto the pile of rubble. Landing on a marble slab, she waited a moment to steady herself. It took only seconds before she scrambled up to the top, not letting herself think long enough to get scared. At the top, she stood, feet on either side of the dagger and stared down at the gold handle.

Even without access to her magic, she felt the power radiating from it. Felt it vibrate with the same energy as her own and she guessed that Juno also created this dagger. Liana wondered briefly if she should bother telling Ranville that his entire story was not based on gods but a single goddess. Juno.

With a heavy sigh, she bent, her hand hovering over the deadly weapon. No ill-intended magic came from it. That didn't mean it wasn't rigged to harm whoever tried to take it. She'd have to be smart about this too. When she grabbed the dagger, if she could pull it out, she'd have to time her attempt at escape perfectly. If she got back to the ledge and Ranville took the dagger, she'd be down a key part of her plan.

She couldn't think of many other viable options that didn't ensure her death.

Surrounding her was a pit of rubble. If she were to try to run through it, she might make it to another point where she could climb into the intact part of the palace again. A quick survey told her that would be unlikely to happen with the rest of the cave floor angling downward, the palace much higher and unreachable. There were open halls on the other side of the palace, but she didn't have any magic to light the way. Without the other mage, she'd be stumbling in the dark which sounded worse than returning to Ranville.

"Take it," Ranville urged.

She had to do something. No matter what she did, it started with the dagger. Gripping the handle, the cold bite of the metal met her skin. Magic vibrated through her body, caressing and testing. Her own magic surged to meet it, abruptly blocked and locked down by the cuffs. Something sliced into her palm, her cry of surprise echoing around the cave. When she pulled her hand away, she found herself stuck to it. Pulling as hard as she could, her hand wouldn't release the dagger. Or the dagger wouldn't release her.

In the next second, the blade slid free of the marble. Stumbling, she tumbled down the rubble pile on the opposite side. With a scream, she scrambled for purchase, finding only jagged edges of stone. It wasn't far before she landed with another pained grunt.

Breathing heavily, Liana gripped the dagger and squeezed her eyes shut against the throbbing pain throughout her body. The worst of it came from the burning of a slice on her forearm. Bright red blood stained her blouse, spreading quickly.

"Is she alive?" Ranville questioned.

"Alive and conscious," one of the vampires told him. "Injured and bleeding as well."

"Go get her," he ordered.

Ignoring her pain for now, she gripped the dagger, her mind focusing on using whatever power it held. Nothing came from it though. With access to her own magic blocked, it was impossible to manipulate any other magic as well.

"I could really use some help right now, Juno," she grumbled through clenched teeth already knowing the goddess wouldn't answer. She never did.

Liana searched for another path. An alternative path to escape. Not many options alighted themselves and with the sound of footsteps rapidly approaching, she made a break for it.

Leaping to her feet, she scrambled over debris. Barely one step more and the vampire was upon her. Before she could think, she brought the dagger up just as he turned her around. He gaped at her, shock mixing with fear when he realized what she'd done. The man only grunted. Yanking the dagger out, she kept moving, ignoring the sound of his body slumping to the floor.

"What are you doing?" Ranville screamed at her when she crested over another pile, putting her in their view again. She didn't dare look back.

Crouching down as spells started flying, her foot slipped which sent her tumbling down the pile. Thankfully it hadn't been a far drop, yet it still took her a moment to gather her bearings because the materials beneath her felt as if they were shaking. Shouts sounded behind her as dust and rocks started falling from the walls.

It wasn't just her pile that shook, it was the entire mountain.

Whatever they'd done, they'd started a chain reaction throughout the mountain. And it looked as though she might never make it out of this place when larger chunks of the castle began falling off. Her only hope was that Ranville perished under here too.