Chapter 27

27

LECTURE NOTES FROM GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTIONS:

There are sea caves in the south-western tip of Andera. Some are quite large, and others too small to explore. Typical creatures that reside in those waters are serpents, slugs, crustaceans and several fish species, well tolerant of dark conditions.

T hessa forgot all about Elemental soldiers when death flashed before eyes.

The moment she’d mounted Hades, the horse reared. Gripping the part of the saddle that reminded her of a hilt, she held on with desperation. “W-woah, woah.”

“I tried telling you.” The amusement was alive in Soren’s tone. Thessa didn’t have to look to see him grinning, she could feel it.

When Hades stomped her hooves back down, she exclaimed, “You never mentioned she was unrideable. ”

His smirk lingered. “Oh, she’s fully trained, just dramatic. I suggest you hold on tight.”

Before Thessa could scold him, Soren took the back of his hand to Hades’ rear and smacked. The horse bucked, sending her forward, before launching out the barn door.

Screaming would require her to breathe and that she could not do. Hades was all might. Thessa couldn’t do anything other than hold on tight.

Seconds later, Soren rode past her. Despite the striking pace, he remained tall in his saddle. Thessa tried to mirror his posture, but hunched in fear was how she remained. His all-white quarter horse, Ares, was one of the larger ones on his property. Despite his enormous size, the stallion was docile and had nuzzled Soren during harnessing.

The leather reins in her hands felt as unfamiliar to her as her first day swinging a hammer. Soren had taught her how to hold them; use a relaxed grip and give the horse enough lead, but not too much.

She pulled in her first breath as they rode into the seemingly infinite flower fields behind his home. The ground was a heaping mess of pink, purple and blue. The smell of freshly bloomed wildflowers was as pungent as the salty sea to her left.

He looked over his shoulder, shouting, “Press into your feet, you need to sit up.”

Sending her weight down and into her stirrups, she found herself seated taller.

“Good,” he relayed, and faced forward.

Gaining confidence in her seat, she shouted, “What kind of lesson is this?”

Soren glanced over his shoulder. “The one where you learn to squeeze with your legs, or you fall off. ”

Thessa hadn’t realized the grip of her inner thighs until he’d said that.

“Next, lean forward a little.”

“What?”

There was no reply, only a whistle and kick to Ares as his horse flew into a full gallop. Thessa swore under her breath, Hades was about to?—

The speed took her breath away. Hades was as fast as lightning. Her horse caught up with Ares, dashing alongside him.

Soren’s eyes flashed with approval before he looked ahead and roared.Thessa joined in his song. This feeling of freedom was unmatched, and something she’d never felt before.

Soon they veered left, galloping toward the sea.

When they approached the giant cliffs, Soren drew back on his reins, easing Ares into a walk. Thessa didn't have to do anything, Hades copied Ares.

Soren looked her way. “You’re a decent rider for someone who’s never ridden.”

“No thanks to you.” She spoke, trying to catch her breath. “What will I do when Hades doesn’t have a leader?”

He tilted his head.“Are you reconsidering your selection?”

Thessa glanced sidelong at Ares. “Well, if you’re offering the stallion?—”

He cut her off. “Ares is mine.”

Looks as though she found the demon’s soft spot. She weaved fingers through her horse’s black mane and vowed, “I quite like Hades, I’m just inexperienced.”

“If you managed to hold on through her rearing, bucking, and galloping, it’s fair to say you can handle her.”

“Is this how you teach all your riding lessons?”

“Depends on what type of riding lesson.” His tone matched his wicked grin .

Thessa’s skin flushed.

Soren halted Ares, dismounting in one swift swoop. “Get off.”

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.” His expression gave nothing away as he removed ropes from his saddlebag and tied both their horses to a boulder.

He led her down the rocky ledge and toward the sea.

The afternoon sun was blistering hot, but the breeze was refreshing as they paced the shoreline.

Soren stopped at a cave’s mouth.

She asked, “Have you been in there?”

“Emiel and I grew up playing in this one. Come on.” Soren didn’t wait for her answer before he ducked inside.

“Why would I follow you in there?” He was a demon, and the sheer size of him made her bones sweat.

No answer.

She rolled her eyes, grumbling, “Fine,” before dipping inside. The entrance was small, but the cavern was vast. “Why are we here?”

He spun to face her. “I understand you’re on a mission of solitude, but you’ve no idea where you’re going, correct?” He’d gathered that much on their journey south and she couldn’t say he was wrong.

“Does it matter?” she rebutted, taking in the moss-coated walls, dripping with sea water. The scent in here smelled familiar.

“This place is safe, if you need it, just don’t wander too far back.” He pointed to a tight corridor in the distance.

“What’s back there?”

“Nothing. When the tide rolls in, you won’t be able to get out,” he warned.

“And how long before the tide rolls in? ”

“Depends. You’ll have about twelve hours each day.”

Thessa scrunched her brows. “Why are you doing all this for me?”

“Why’d you untether me in that cell?”

Her gaze steadied on his. His gleaming black eyes reflected the sea beyond the cave’s mouth to perfection. “Because it was the right thing to do.”

“Likewise.”

“And what about my magic?” she asked.

“What of it?”

“Will you teach me about it? It does nothing.”

He scoffed. “What do you mean, nothing ?”

“Well I asked , and it’s yet to show me.”

He laughed so loud it echoed through the chamber. “Oh yes, because a quick conversation is the best way to get your magic to cooperate.”

“Well, it worked before,” she snapped.

He crossed his arms. “Explain.”

“I prayed for its help in the dungeon, and it managed to block the guard’s fireball.”

“Blocked a fireball? That’s impossible. Shadows yield to flame like kindling to fire. How do you think we lost the war?”

We.

Thessa was still coming to terms with herself , let alone befriending a demon—if that’s what this was called . “Then enlighten me, what does demon magic do?”

“Stop calling it that. You’re a shadow-wielder, Thessa.”

He took her name and attached it to an unfamiliar title. She swallowed, digesting the words he’d strung together. “Just tell me what it does. I was taught it’s like a blanket of death, not much else. ”

“Not entirely inaccurate. Shadow-magic can drain the life from someone, yes, but that’s not always a bad thing.”

“What do you mean?”

“Offering the end to those who suffer has always been a neglected fact of our kind. Death can be peaceful.”

Our kind.

“Explain the multiplying serpents then.” She began tapping her foot.

“Explain how you blocked a fireball, and maybe I will.” He mirrored her tone.

Her nostrils flared at the mockery. “I don’t know! That’s what I’m trying to find out.”

“Fine. I’ll go first.” He started pacing the width of the cavern. “My magic is different for a reason. There was an experiment performed on my mother … one that was successful. It’s not a story I wish to share.” He shook his shoulders as if bugs were crawling on him before continuing, “But what resulted were my shadows shifting into serpents.”

“An experiment?” What in the world was he talking about?

“My father was adamant about restrengthening our line, it’s a long story.”

She leaned against the damp wall while memories of that voice coursed through her like a furious storm.

I conjured enough strength to plant a new seed, a kernel of my darkest energy, to restrengthen our line of magic. A power to end the culling, once and for all.

Thoughts reeling, she asked, “I thought demons were wiped out after the war.”

“Shadow-wielders.” His tone was sharp, slicing through her.

She never heard the term used so casually, as if it weren’t just another way of saying demon. “How many shadow-wielders remained after the UnResting?”

“After the war, groups of us scattered north and south. As far from Gravenport as possible.”

It sounded familiar. She had the urge to escape Gravenport her entire life, and an undeniable disdain toward Elementals—as if her blood had known. A pit started forming in her stomach.

“Are you alright?” Soren asked over the silence.

She wasn’t. Crumpling to her knees, she lost her wit and wept.

Why, why, why.

Soren knelt by her. “How long have you had your magic?”

She couldn’t answer. The room was spinning, and her mind was about to burst. Curling on the floor, Thessa trembled atop the damp sediment in desperate search for air.

She couldn’t seem to find any.

Soren hovered over her as she fumbled for her necklace. “Answer me,” he said.

She ignored him. Every inhale was as short and sharp as her exhales, and the lavender wasn’t helping.

“Thessa,” he barked.

“I just got it,” she managed to say.

His sigh rumbled through the cave. He tapped the bony center of her chest. “Put your hand here.”

Without the energy to protest, she dropped the vial fixed to her nose and placed her hand atop her heart.

“Good. Now tell me, what do you feel?” His voice was softer than usual; nicer.

There was bounding beneath her palm. “My heart … it’s beating too fast.”

“Can you shut your eyes? ”

She swallowed, fluttering her eyelids closed.

“What do you see?” he asked.

“Darkness,” she whispered.

“And are you afraid of it?”

She felt the warmth of her tears now. “Yes. I-I don’t want this.”

“If you want the truth, neither did I. But I’ve spent too many years consumed by fear. I promise it’s not all bad. There are good things in dark places, if you care to look for them.”

Her chest heaved at his truth. Cool air swirled inside her lungs. Why was he helping her out of this spiral?

“Slower on the exhale,” he noted.

As she blew the air through her parted lips, slowly, she felt her heartbeats ease beneath her palm. Opening her eyes revealed Soren still hunched over her.

“Now breathe properly or I’ll toss you in the sea,” he said in jest, which was exactly what she needed right now. He stood, offering her his hand. “Just remember, we’re only as demonic as we let them make us.”

Thessa accepted the offer and got to her feet. “How can you be so sure?”

Soren sniffed, diverting his attention toward the cave’s mouth.

“What is it?” she asked, rubbing her eyes dry.

He didn’t answer, he ran.

“Where are you going?” she called, chasing after him.

Then, the smell of smoke hit her. Soren was already halfway up the cliff by the time she made it out. As she neared the top of the rocks, she watched him dart for Ares, mounting the stallion in one swift swing.

Impressive .

Climbing over the edge of rocks, Thessa shouted uselessly, “ Soren!” but he was already galloping toward the thick plumes of smoke—in the direction they’d come from.

She had to figure out how to mount Hades without him.

Thessa led Hades closer to the boulder, climbed up, and hopped on the saddle.

“That wasn’t so bad.”

Hades stomped her hooves down, grunting.

Thessa took her heel to the horse’s side and kicked. A quick buck in retaliation and they were off. Hades thundered through the field of flowers to catch up. Ares was in the distance, moving like the wind with his fearless rider.

“Faster,” she shouted.

As she reached the top of the hill, where Soren had halted, her mouth fell open.

Soren’s entire property was engulfed in flames. His home, the barn, the pasture. All of it. Just like the library greens.Her fingertips darkened at the sight.

When she reached him, the unmistakable expression of horror filled his features.They were too late. This was the work of Elemental soldiers, and they both knew it. They are the epitome of destruction, leaving nothing but fire and ash in their wake.

Thessa’s focus shifted to the horses that remained in his paddocks, whinnying with despair—-being eaten by flames.

This was her fault. Had she not broken down, Soren would’ve been back there, he could’ve helped. She could’ve helped. Instead, she’d been a distraction.

Thessa couldn’t allow anymore suffering at the hands of those fire-brewing monsters.She wouldn’t. With no warning to Soren, she dismounted, sprinting toward the fire-struck land with her black fingers spread wide.

You’ve protected me, now help me protect them .

Willing the magic away from her fingertips, it danced around her.

More , she demanded with a fierce breath, and magic poured from her fingertips, encircling her body like a capsule.

And without another thought, Thessa ran directly into the flames.