But one thought arose, and refused to leave her. Things hadnt had to end this way. Demons had poisoned her sister, yes, but then, Laila hadnt fought back.
How many families had been affected by a similar situation, but just hadnt known it? How many had accepted what they thought was natural and inevitable, never knowing there was another way?
Too many.
She had to change that. She couldnt let another sister end up where she was, on all fours wetting the ground with a stream of fat tears. Or a mother. A father. A friend. Koldo had taught her how to fight, and she would teach others.
Out of her pain would come her purpose.
Yes. This was war.
The first stirring of hope hit her, and she straightened. The brightness of the light had her blinking. And then...then her heart began to pound in a wild, warped rhythm, as if the organ had just been strained beyond repair. Pain radiated down her left arm, as though she were having another heart attack.
Dying? she thought.
This is it. The end. Your sister is gone and you cant survive without her.
No. No, that couldnt be right.
But fear gobbled up every ounce of her hope, and the pain increased.
All alone. No one to help you.
No! Those thoughts couldnt be springing from her mind. They contradicted everything shed just realized. So where could
Demons, she realized. She couldnt see them, but demons must have sensed her despair and come running, hoping to poison her and feed. Well, she wasnt going to let them.
I know youre lying to me. I know Im well. As she spoke, her heart returned to its normal beat. Ill never cave to your kind again.
Two scowling demons appeared in front of her and tucked their gnarled wings into their backs. She had seen them beforeone had showed up at her office and then again with Koldos father. One had a horn rising from his scalp and fur all over his body. The other had a horn in the center of his forehead and scales rather than skin. Their eyes were black, bottomless and pure evil, a match to their pungent scents.
She stood, saying, You dont scare me.
We should. Weve been waiting for this day. For this moment.
Where are your friends, huh? the other asked. They seem to have abandoned you.
Then this moment isnt as it seems. She lifted her chin. I always have help. And besides that, with or without them, you cant hurt me.
They grinned in unison, revealing sharpened fangs.
Weve been with you a very long time, Nicola. We know your weak spots.
You need us. Uttered in a husky, seductive whisper. If for no other reason than to keep other demons away.
One step, two, they approached her. She held her ground. At any other time she might have experienced horror. But not now. Theyd been waiting for this moment, theyd said. Waiting for her sister to die, when Nicolas emotions would be wrecked. Theyd planned this attack. Had probably strategized for days, weeks, laughing about what an easy target she would be. Well, they would get no satisfaction from her.
What do I do now? she wondered.
Now, I fight.
The thought rose from deep inside her, where instinct swirled. Yes. Shed decided to fight, and so she would.
They liked fear and despairand so she would give them joy and hope.
She closed her eyes and thought about Koldo. Her husband. Her beautiful husband. He loved her, and she loved him. No matter what. She would hunt him down, and they would be together again. If hed been asked to give her up, so what? She hadnt agreed to those terms. She hadnt promised to give him up.
They would fight this war together.
Her hand began to burn.
She glanced downand watched as a sword of fire appeared in her grip. She yelped and almost dropped the weapon, so great was her surprise. But she somehow maintained her grip. The hilt was warm and light as she danced the crackling flames through the air.
Now the demons backed away from her, their big bodies trembling.
Where did you get that? one gasped.
This cant be happening, the other cried.
They flared their wings, intending to fly away.
If Im going to act, I have to act now.
You picked the wrong target, she said. With a single swing of her arm, Nicola decapitated both of the creatures. Their heads rolled, and their bodies fell. Black blood pooled at her feetand satisfaction pooled in her heart.
The battle had begun.
Magnus and Malcolm flew around the corner, both clutching their own swords of fire.
Hers was bigger.
They stopped when they spotted her.
You...you...
How...
Youre as shocked as I am, so lets discuss it later, all right? Do you know where Koldo is? she demanded.
It was time to begin her hunt.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
KOLDO WAS CARTED to his fathers underground nestwhich had been moved to Koldos home in West India Quay. The walls were comprised of dark, jagged rock, the once-pure pool of water now dark in color. There were around thirty Nefas soldiers dressed in loincloths, standing around flesh-colored tents, waiting to praise Nox for Koldos capture.
Strip him, Nox commanded coldly, never one to delay the business of torture.
Eight females rushed to obey. Koldo was already shirtless, so only the bottom half of his robe had to be torn from him. Sharp nails sliced at his wounds, and humiliation burned deep in his soul.
Once again, he was reduced to a puppet, under his fathers control, helpless.
Tie him to the boulder and whip the rest of him.
Another command the females were happy to obey.
But you better not like it, Sirena snapped, her possessive streak showing.
He couldnt go down like this. He couldnt. His life couldnt end in defeat.
But Koldo was too weak to fight as he was dragged to a large silver boulder and strapped down. A second later, each of the females seemed to unfold a whip and strike at him, over and over again. His arms, his legs, and yes, even his decimated back. He gritted his teeth and bore it without a word, without a gasp, even when his skin was nothing more than tattered ribbons. He knew the rules of the Nefas.
A moment of frailty would be forever exploited.
He tried to flash, and failed. But even if hed been at his strongest, he knew he wouldnt have been capable of the deed. During the journey, Sirena had dug her claws into many of his wounds and poisoned him, stealing his ability. Ill have you yet, shed whispered. Hed tried to project his voice into Zacharels mind, but he wasnt sure hed gotten through. Thered been no response.
At last the females finished with him. More of his strength waned, but he was determined to live. He had to live. He had to obtain more Water. Had to help save Laila. Had to see Nicola again. Had to be with her, hold her.
Hed often sensed when she was in danger, but just then, he thought he sensed...determination from her. And if that were the case, Laila had to be alive. Nicola had to be wondering where he was. Nothing else would elicit that much resolve from her.
How do you feel, boy? Nox asked with a laugh. Well, I hope. But if not, no matter. Tonight, Sirena will claim you as her very own.
Cheers erupted.
Take him to the cage.
Koldo was untied and carried to the very cage hed locked his mother in. Only, now it was covered by a tarp. He was flashed inside and dropped. He remained on the floor and rolled to his stomach, every inch of him aching. He looked around, but his vision was too hazed to make out more than a dark blob in the corner. A human?
His father approached, saying, Have you learned yet, boy? You cannot vanquish me.
Koldo pressed his lips together. He could rage, but what good would that do him? He could threatenand amuse his father. He would rather wallow in the humiliation.
I hear you let your mother go, Nox said. Did I ever tell you the story of your conception? No, probably not. I liked that you thought she loved me and still wanted me. But you see, your mother was helping defend an impoverished tribe of humans I wanted as my slaves. I captured her, too. Oh, how she fought me.
Sickness suddenly churned in his stomach.
I soon put her in her place, of course. Underneath me.
Rape, Koldo thought, his stomach now heaving.
His mother had been raped. Koldo had been the result. He should have guessed, even when shed claimed to want the man, probably too ashamed to admit the truth. Instead, hed been so blinded by his hatred and his need to make her suffer, hed taunted her about obsessing over Nox. No wonder she had spat at him.
Guilt and shame joined Koldos humiliation, the same toxic mix hed dealt with most of his life. He wasnt excusing his mothers behavior. But she had hurt, and so she had lashed out. Koldo had hurt, and so he had lashed out. He should have broken the cycle.
I enjoyed her over and over again, and decided to keep her, Nox continued. The day she gave birth I made the mistake of freeing her bonds. She escaped, taking you with her. I looked for her, but she hid very well.
And that was probably one of the reasons she had never wanted her friends to see him, Koldo thought, not because she was ashamed of his ugliness. She hadnt wanted word to travel and reach Nox.
Will...destroy...you. The words left him, unstoppable.
He would. Whatever he had to do.
He would strengthen. He would come out of this.
Nox snorted, and even that was smug. You cant even protect yourself, and you think youll take me down? No, Koldo, that isnt how this is going to work. Youre going to heal, and youre going to marry Sirena. You will get her with child if I have to steal your seed myself. Once she has a son, Ill have no more use for you.
And he would be killed.
Until then, meet your cell mate. Nox gestured to the shadow Koldo had seen in the corner of the cage. I believe you know him. His name is Axel. Hes a Sent One, just like you, and youre going to kill him if you want your Nicola to survive what I have planned for her.
Footsteps pounded...became fainter....
Liar, Koldo tried to shout, but only managed to whisper. Nicola was safe. Axel was safe. He wouldnt believe otherwise.
Not this time, hes not, he heard Axel say calmly.
What? Koldo tried to sit up. No...no! Have to get Axel to safety. Cant allow him to suffer. You must escape. Now.
No, none of that now. Warm hands stroked over his scalp. Im exactly where I want to be.
Koldo relaxed, but only slightly. How were...you caught?
You know, the uze. I was strolling down an abandoned alley, pretending to be helpless, and boom, someone grabbed me.
So...he was here on purpose?
The Nefas had been following me for days. I just let them catch me.
Koldo was astonished. Why?
Like I really want to break in a new partner.
No. No, that wasnt it. Axel cared about him. Axel had placed Koldos well-being above his own. And now, Koldo was supposed to harm him to save Nicola? Shouldnt...be here. I want you gone.
No way. I told you. Im exactly where I want to be.
Too bad. Youre not allowed to help me. The Water...youll suffer.
Who said anything about helping you?
Then what? What was the plan? What was the purpose of this?
Just sit back and enjoy the show, bro, Axel said, and Koldo heard the amusement in his tone. I have a feeling youre going to like this one. Your day is about to be saved, and by the most unlikely person.
Who? How?
No way Ill ruin the surprise.
Koldo couldnt help himself. He pulled himself into a sitting position and draped his arm around Axel. Thank you.
Not afraid of a man hug, I see, the warrior said, clearly uncomfortable.
Koldo gripped him tighter.
Really? This is happening?
I love you, male.
Axel cleared his throat and wrapped an arm around him, too. I love you, too. But Im going to pretend thats the pain talkingfor both of us. And if you ever tell anyone you heard any kind of trembling in my voice, Ill kill you.
A few hours earlier
NICOLA STOOD in the center of the spacious room located in a palace high in the heavens. A lifetime seemed to have passed since shed been brought here, but in reality, only a half hour had. Malcolm and Magnus had summoned Zacharel, told him what theyd witnessed, and the dark-haired warrior had gathered her close and flown her here.
He had yet to speak a word.
She was still raw over her sisters death, still wondering where Koldo wasand growing more determined to find him by the second. She needed to be out there, right now, searching for him.
He was hurt. She sensed it deep, deep inside, a knowledge her concern for Laila had shadowed. But it wasnt hidden anymore, and urgency was riding her hard. Whether hed been hurt from the whipping or something more, she didnt know. But she would. Soon.
I have to leave, she said.
Zacharel shook his head.
Frustrating man! Just as soon as I figure out how to land on the earth without going splat, you wont be able to stop me.
She gazed around the room, looking for a window without a thirty-thousand-footor morefall. She saw alabaster columns, with ivy twined from base to ceiling. The floor was ebony, the walls ivory, with gorgeous tapestries hanging throughout. But no windows. The only exit was the door, now guarded by two winged warriors with metal swords.
She breathed deeply. The air smelled clean and fresh, and pure. As if it had never been tainted by evil. She looked up. The ceiling was domed, with Sent Ones painted throughoutno, not painted, she realized. Not painted at all. The dome was made of crystal and peered into a higher realm of the heavens.