Chapter Thirty-five

L iana waited under the tent while the General readied the army. For moving a large number of soldiers, the area remained relatively quiet. Not that she expected them to announce their journey through the forest to alert the enemy. It was impressive is all. Or perhaps she was finding anything to distract herself from what was about to happen. They were going to face down the powerful son of a god that none of them had ever seen with the intent to kill.

She had a terrible feeling about it all yet couldn't bring herself to stop what had already been put into motion. There were no other options she could see. The gods assigned this task, an impossible one with very little guidance.

The vampires in her group took last drinks of blood from a pitcher while the shifters scarfed down plates of food. Liana nibbled on some cheese and drank water when she saw Luciano slide a tiny scrap of paper into one the mage's hand and whisper in his ear.

Liana looked away quickly, guilt making her think it was some type of goodbye letter. On second thought, she looked back and narrowed her eyes. Luciano wasn't the sentimental type to write such an emotional letter. It had her questioning what else Luciano was planning. He was already taking her place as the sacrifice. What more could he be doing?

It dawned on her then how Luciano knew about her decision, her goodbye letter. Phillipa probably read it and brought it to him. Everyone knew how much he wanted to leave this life to join his wife and daughter in death. Phillipa must have suggested he take her place. That woman would always protect her, no matter the costs.

She threw the cheese down, her stomach turning with guilt. She couldn't say she wasn't thankful. This could possibly be the way to keep her promise to Damien. She never would have asked anyone to take her place either. Phillipa probably saved her life yet again. Now they just had to succeed.

"The front lines have engaged," Luciano announced. "We move now. Liana and I will cause a diversion at the front lines, let the rebels see her, then meet you all near the barn."

Liana didn't know anything about a diversion but followed his orders without question considering he had centuries more experience than her. They raced to the front lines, Liana keeping a shield around both of them at all times. He set her down a few steps behind the bulk of the action.

Unprepared for the chaos, Liana froze. Vampires zipped back and forth, nearly impossible to track. Mage threw spells haphazardly among both armies while shifter animals growled, hissed and clawed their way through anything in their way. Screams and shouts ricocheted in her mind. The scent of blood and magic singed her nose. This was nothing of what she was used to. Her training didn't prepare her for this.

Luciano shook her arm to get her attention while people and spells bounced off her shield. "Make a show of power. Let him know this is where you are. Then we will sneak around the back."

Liana nodded and inspected what would be her best option. The front lines became more of a tangled pit of soldiers with each passing breath. Their men wore the standard black uniform with metal chest plates while the rebels wore random clothing. Only some had armor. Her only option was to create a specific spell. One that hadn't been created before. It would be vague and hopefully work.

Targeting everyone not in the royal uniform, she unleashed a knockout spell within her immediate radius. Half the people went down.

"Good. Can you do it one more time without expending too much energy?"

Liana didn't answer, just spun the spell again and let it expand farther out. It would help their army as well as lure Zatar to a false location. Luciano picked her up and ran without warning, only to set her down seconds later where they met back up with their team. Even on this side of the vineyard there were soldiers fighting. Although, not nearly as many which would thankfully be easier on her team.

Around the barn a small contingent of rebels guarded the entrance, fighting against royal soldiers. The biggest surprise of all though was the power signature leaking from the barn. Powerful and intimidating, even the vampires and shifters could feel it from so far away. The power sensed as familiar to her own and she knew Zatar was in there.

"He's certainly not hiding himself very well," Luciano grumbled.

Owen nodded. "He didn't take the bait. No one has come out of the barn."

Liana's hands shook with nerves while her magic vibrated beneath her skin, eager to be used. Of all the training she had, she didn't think any of it prepared her for this moment. Training in the safety of the castle was nothing like now in the threat of real danger. This was not the time to freeze though. Triaedian's future rested in their hands. They couldn't fail. She couldn't fail.

Luciano took charge of the group as always. "We attack head on. He likely knows we are coming anyway. We help our men over there then we go in. Liana, stay back for this part."

He and the others bolted away before she could say anything. Not anywhere near as fast as them, Liana sprinted toward the fight which was a mass of people engaged in various combat. Fists were flying, swords clanged, vampires streaked past, and the shifters transformed into their various animals. Liana couldn't keep anyone straight aside from the uniforms. Even those started to blur. Summoning her dagger from her forearm, Liana forged into the battle with a spell ready in her other hand.

A shifter wolf launched at her, jaws wide and sharp teeth already dripping with blood. She threw the spell at him, knocking the shifter out. A mage fell into her from the left, a bear shifter following after him. Liana saw the red painted ears marking it as a royal shifter soldier and knocked out the mage instead of the shifter. The bear gave her a nod before turning to another opponent.

Liana let out a strangled cry when she was shoved to the ground. Someone ran into her from behind, likely a vampire with the force with which she was pushed. Luckily, her shield took the brunt of the damage, but her dagger slipped from her hand. It wasn't a necessary weapon, her magic was far more useful to her, but its presence was a comfort. It also held sentimental value and was the first dagger she ever trained with.

Reaching for it, she suddenly found herself looking up at the sky with confusion. A burst of pain followed quickly after, her lungs gasping for air but frozen from the impact of the vampire's foot that now stood over her. Even with her shield, that kick had been powerful; likely deadly if not for her magic.

"Looks like I'm the lucky one that gets to deliver you to him," the vampire sneered. As he reached for her, he paused, his eyes widening. Liana watched the fear flash there before realization dawned. When he looked down, Liana's eyes followed. A hand stuck out of his chest, his heart spasming uselessly outside of his body.

The vampire collapsed, Luciano shoving the body and the heart aside.

"Look out!" she screamed, already launching a spell at the blur of a vampire sneaking up from behind. Luciano turned just as the enemy ran into her magic. His body burst into ash, hardly anything left of him.

Luciano raised an impressed brow. "Haven't seen that before. You should use it more often."

Liana didn't feel the same. She much preferred knocking them out but that spell came out of nowhere. She hadn't even really known what power she threw at the vampire, just let her magic react. It saved her as usual.

There weren't many left standing and of those that were, two ran away into the forest, another two fighting until they were killed as well. Liana wanted to breathe a sigh of relief, but that was only just the beginning. The real fight was about to begin.

Approaching the barn doors, Luciano instructed the mage to go first to test for magic and hidden traps. Liana checked with her own magic, shoving it out far quicker than them. If Zatar laid traps, only she would be strong enough to protect against it. Her magic spread rapidly, searching and poking into the floor to sense for any spell triggers. There were none oddly enough. Liana expected there to be some kind of defense. Unless Zatar thought he was strong enough to defend without such tricks. It wouldn't be completely unthinkable considering he wiped out an entire civilization in one blow.

Luciano pulled everyone to the sides of the wooden doors then mimed to Owen and another vampire to open the doors. They pulled them open, and the team waited a beat before Luciano nodded. He led them into the barn, his body tensed for a fight. Liana stayed behind him, the others encircling her as they entered.

The interior had been emptied of any normal barn stock. Instead of stores of barrels and sacks, there were now makeshift beds scattered along the edges going all the way to the back.

"Where is he?" Owen growled into the empty barn.

Liana sent her magic out again to search for his presence. "I don't feel him specifically, just his power." She was about to ask why when Luciano grabbed her arm.

"It's a trap," Luciano growled. "Out, now!" He grabbed her to run just as the doors were slammed shut, blinding them with darkness. Liana lit up the barn with mage light just as a fog billowed into the space. She erected a shield around everyone as they backed into a tighter circle, but the fog went right through it.

With one inhale, Liana felt her body go weak. Her magic flickered beneath her skin, slipping away from her grasp.

"Send a message to Damien," Luciano gritted out through his teeth.

Stumbling into him, they all leaned onto each other as the fog brought them to their knees. There was no pain, just a loss of control.

"Can't," she forced out, even her thoughts and mouth moved too slowly.

With her next breath, her mage light flickered out, leaving them in darkness. No one could speak. No one could move. All she could hear was their rapid, panicked breaths.

The fog left faster than it came, a new light appearing above their heads as the clunking of boots on the wood approached. Liana strained her eyes as much as she could to see but her head wouldn't move an inch. The person stepped over Luciano and into her line of sight.

Bending down, the imposing figure bent over, resting his hands on his knees. Bright hazel eyes that appeared more golden under the mage light roved over her body, appraising. Judging.

"So, you are the human my mother chose to kill me," Zatar stated. The demi-god stood tall with broad shoulders. His presence was all-consuming as the power radiated from him. If she weren't already on the ground, or paralyzed, she would have felt an incredible urge to kneel. She hadn't felt this way with Juno or Jupiter, so she wondered why it was so strong now.

He sauntered around the group, his hands folded behind his back, and out of her line of sight. "They told me you were just a girl. I thought you'd be a bit more impressive though. Perhaps put up a bit of a fight, yet you went down with a mere snap of my fingers." His hand appeared in front of her face and snapped. She blinked, the rest of her body refusing to even flinch.

A grunt left her when the man knelt and straddled her hips, his hands on either side of her head. It gave her a full view of the murderous bastard. His skin was impossibly smooth and unblemished with a closely trimmed beard. His features all dark and equally as styled. The jacket he wore looked as fine if not more opulent than anything she'd seen Damien wear. A deep violet with black and gold accents was all she could see.

"You are weak compared to me, but you are very pretty. Perhaps you'll rethink your purpose to kill me," he taunted with a smirk. "Just imagine what our combined powers could do." He lifted a finger to trail down the side of her face to her lips. Liana managed a grunt as she tried to thrash him off, but nothing moved. His smirk widened. "I'd make you my queen and you'd give me powerful children."

The urge to vomit was tamed by whatever fog immobilized them. It didn't quell her rage at this pompous ass lording over her.

A dark chuckle vibrated into her from where his thighs touched her waist. "I see the fire in your eyes. Perhaps I should allow you to speak those vicious words brewing in that pretty little head." He leaped to his feet, as lithe as a shifter and quickly walked out of sight. "Bring the girl. Kill the rest. We must move quickly."

Liana searched for Luciano or Owen nearby, her eyes not able to see far without turning her head. She knew they'd been near though and would hear her panicking, hear her heart pounding out of her chest. They couldn't kill her family. They couldn't kill any of her soldiers. They weren't meant to die. Only Luciano or her when that dagger plunged into Zatar's chest.

She couldn't let anyone die. She had to save them all. There was no way out of this though. Whatever spell Zatar used on them was impervious to her magic. She couldn't even feel her magic.

Heart racing, Liana searched deep within herself for her magic. Searched for even the tiniest of spark that never flickered. Tears ran into her hair, desperation clawing at her throat. She prayed to Juno for help. Pleaded with any of the gods to listen to her. They were the ones to place this burden upon her shoulders. It was their fault she was in this mess.

She screamed out in her mind for help. That was when she finally felt something. The barest hint of power but it wasn't in her chest like usual. This came from her thigh, from the place where she hid the god-killing blade, and from the silver band around her arm.

Liana didn't pause to think, she latched onto the power and pulled on it with all her strength. With a scream, the spell finally broke from her. As she sat up, another scream ripped from her as she saw vampires already stabbing into her soldiers. Liana's body glowed a blinding gold then erupted with a foreign power she had no control over.

The explosive cracking of wood had her ducking down into a ball. It was only when she heard a rasping cough that she looked up. All around her was meadow and trees, the barn blasted to bits. She gaped at the destruction she caused yet again.

"Liana," a voice croaked. She scrambled on her knees over to Luciano.

She saw the blood soaking his shirt. She saw the blade sticking out of his shirt, yet she couldn't comprehend that it was Luciano lying there, dying.

"Luciano, no," she breathed, already shoving her magic into him to heal. Tears fell onto his chest when she found the blade had been poisoned by Zatar. She pulled on the power from the blade and cuff once more, except nothing happened. She pulled and pulled, screaming into the universe with despair. There would be no saving him. Eyes closing, she shook her head, a sob escaping her. "I'm sorry, Luciano. I can't."

This was all so unfair. Why couldn't she use Jupiter's power now? Why could she save herself and not him? The gods were truly ruthless bastards.

His hands gripped her bloodied ones. "Listen to me, Liana. Wait for your father." He coughed, blood spraying her face.

Owen appeared on his other side. "Luciano!" His shirt was bloodied but otherwise fine. "Heal him!" he demanded of Liana.

"Zatar's magic poisoned him. I can't." She cut off her sob, letting the tears fall instead. Owen's usually stoic demeanor broke, his face scrunching with grief.

He laid his forehead to Luciano's. "You were my greatest mentor. I will protect our family."

"Protect, Liana," he demanded of the younger vampire.

"With my life," he vowed.

Luciano looked back at her. "Wait for your father," he rasped once more before he went still, his eyes going distant. Liana felt her own heart stop as she waited for him to come back. He was going to wake up, pull out that dagger and tell her to stop crying over him like a fool.

None of that happened though.

His eyes remained unblinking and lifeless.

Luciano was truly gone.