An angel’s road to hell

24. Of schemes, guilt and a little bit of resolution

Cassandra Pendragon

Ahri, my brother, father and three soldiers headed straight for us. Ahri’s runes were spent and had lost their glow. Heir hair was singed on one side and she held her right arm close to her body but managed a small smile when our eyes met. My brother was mess, bruises and shallow cuts covered his arms and he favoured his left leg heavily. The tip of one of his tails was missing and his left eye was swollen shut. He leaned heavily on his sword but still supported one of the guards who had blood running from his hairline and a vacant expression on his face as he shuffled along. My father and the other two soldiers brought up the rear. They were in much better shape, a few superficial cuts were all I could see.

With a serious effort and a stab of pain I tucked my wings back in and rushed forwards to meet them as fast as my tired body would allow but was overtaken by my mom after a few steps. “Mordred, Albert!” Adam was left snoozing on the ground. She clung to her son like her life depended on it and curled her tails around her husband, which elicited and painful groan from the one and a happy smile from the other. I wanted to give them a moment and hugged Ahri tightly. I expected the guards to be a little uncomfortable with their royal family abandoning all decorum but a life and death threat reorganised one’s priorities rather quickly. They smiled at the reunion and the third one, Jules I think, was still staring off into the distance, contemplating the mysteries of the universe hidden behind his own name. Both eluded him for the time being. I breathed in Ahri’s scent and whispered: “Thanks for going after them. That was your spell at the end, wasn’t it?” Her ear twitched against my cheek and she nodded slightly. “Your father helped a lot. Cassy, we really need to talk. I feel like much of what is happening is my fault. I should have…” “Don’t,” I interrupted her, “its not. We really have much to talk about but let’s get out of the courtyard for now. There is more than enough blame to go around but none of it is yours. I already know a little about you, Mrs. Arete, and your past isn’t the reason this is happening.” She flinched and pulled back, a haunted look in her eyes but there was also a gleam of hope when she realised I meant it. She embraced me swiftly again and headed for Jules who had been left alone in his stupor when my mom had forced Mordred into a hug.

I turned towards my brother who was still being smothered in maternal love. “Good to see you again, but I must say you lost weight wince last we met.” My mom whacked me with one of her tails but Mordred only smiled wearily: “You should see the other guy. And I heard the more adventurous ladies like their men a little rough around the edges. Who knows, maybe I can find myself a daring bride now.” If he could still crack a lame joke, it wouldn’t be too bad. And admittedly the tail stump went rather well with his dark physique. I joined the group hug: “I’m glad you’re okay. Thanks for bringing him back, dad.” I kissed them both on their cheeks, which I could barely reach when I stood on my toes. My back protested but I managed. We enjoyed each other’s presence for a moment until my father finally said: “I didn’t see anymore shadows, I think the palace is clear. Has anyone any idea what’s going on outside? I heard drums…” hadn’t they heard the song? I thought it had been a dead giveaway. “The dwarven colony entered the garden a few minutes ago. I think they are fighting against the shadows down there. I don’t know about the other families but it stands to reason they are under attack as well. I think I recognised some of the shadows. They belonged to the second family, once.” I answered and my mom added thoughtfully: “so did I. I didn’t realise it until you just said so, but one of the figures who attacked us looked just like Mineve. Didn’t she, Albert? You know, the charming scholar who helped you with the trade agreement some years back.”

“You’re right, and the other one resembled one of their royal guards. I can’t remember the name, but I’ve seen him often enough to recognise his shape. By the great fox, everyone in the second palace must have been turned to get so many of these monstrosities. We have to go to the armoury, we need potions and weapons.” My father said. His eyes travelled over our small group and he continued: “We can be…” the drum from below cut him short as three beats, louder than before, drowned out everything else. I could feel a tremor travel through the branch we stood on with every mighty clap. Silence followed and we stared at each other. The drum started again, this time beating a rhythm I knew very well, it was “John Fox’s body, that’s our marching song.” One of the guards, Jonathan I thought, exclaimed. He turned red: “Begging their highnesses’s pardon.” “No, you’re right. But why would they use it?” My father looked thoughtful. “Are they trying to rally our people as well? We need to know what’s going on.” The other soldier, I didn’t  known his name, replied: “Your Majesty, the observation orbs were stowed in the barracks. I can’t imagine that they survived. But there should be spare ones in the armoury. Jonathan and I can go and collect them along with everything else that looks useful, like you mentioned before.”

“No, I don’t want to split up again. There could still be more of these things around. We’ll go together.” “Greta is still unconscious on the second floor, I need to get her.” I added, “Until my back is somewhat restored I’m not much help anyways. I’d have to go with Ahri, she hid Greta under an enchantment she has to undo. We could meet back here in 10 minutes.” My dad was on the verge of arguing and I understood. I wasn’t keen on splitting up either, but I needed some time  to clear my mind and I wanted to talk to Ahri alone. We would also be wasting less time and I felt like time would be of the essence if we wanted to somehow save our home. His thoughts were going in the same direction and he nodded begrudgingly. “Stay safe, we’ll meet back here in 10 minutes. Take your mother and Adam with you. Jules will be alright on his own for a few minutes. He can’t move fast anyway. No, that’s not up for discussion. Don’t be late.” So much for a private chat.

My farther took off with his guards, Mordred striding along. The short break had done wonders for his leg and he barely limped anymore. I picked up Adam, if anyone had to carry him it should be me, seeing as I couldn’t fight at the moment, and winced from the stab of pain. I wished I was able to heal my body. If I ever had the chance I’d become the greatest healer there was. Pain sucked. Seriously, how could you use magic destructively when you could also learn to mend, repair or grow. I wasn’t naive, if the last days had taught me anything it was that I would have to learn how to fight, the sooner the better. If you couldn’t protect your hide it would be worthless with or without healing powers. But whenever I had the opportunity I’d learn as much about healing as I possible could. If I had listened to some of Greta’s more boring lectures, I might have already known a thing or two. By all the gods, I hoped she was okay.

As I was thinking about her, the mutilated shadow she had nearly killed came to mind. Where had it gone? I hoped it had replenished its energies and had joined the hunt for my parents. Than it would be among the slain in the courtyard but I couldn’t be sure. One more thing to worry about. As if the mess we were in wasn’t big enough. A veritable army of enslaved souls had attacked our family and the garden, presumably the other palaces as well. But why? I had always thought the emperor wanted to capture me. I had expected some form of kidnapping attempt sooner or later but sacrificing all of his minions to form an army and attack us? An army made of incorporeal shadows that suffered from a single touch of my wings, mind you. It made no sense, unless… what? Why would he put all of his eggs in one basket while he still had the trial going and the second family under his control? All fake confidence aside, I had been pretty sure that he’d easily get the kings to exile me. He could have even started branding members of the other families while the trial was ongoing, slowly taking over every palace… Huh, could that be it? Had he gained enough influence that he could take over completely if my family was gone? It made sense, in a way. He would sacrifice the second family to gain his army, staging a coupe d’etat separately within every palace, killing everyone who wasn’t bound to him. He’d kill off our house completely and the attack on the garden would give him the opportunity to swoop in with his newly gained subordinates and save the day. He would be in complete control, all he needed was scapegoat to pin the attack on. He could even be sufficiently sure that I would survive, considering the nature of his shadows. Why had I been poisoned back in the training grounds, than? Had it been a non lethal poison, or something else? Damn, I hadn’t asked Mephisto when I had had the chance. Unless… I was the scapegoat! He wanted me alive and officially sentenced. Then he would do as he pleased. By the great fox, if I was right, the last free members of the other royal families would be killed right about now.

The emperor had to make sure we weren’t in any shape to challenge his claims. As soon as their job was done, every shadow employed within the other palaces would hunt us down. If I was right, we would have to run. We had to get down to the garden and tell the dwarfs and remaining kitsune what was happening. Together we might be able to stem the tide. The question was, how much time did we have? Should we already be on the way? When last I had waited, we had payed dearly. But we had to collect Greta anyway and regroup with the others. We also needed medicine and weapons. There was nothing to do but hurry up. My musings were interrupted when my mom pulled me into a sideways hug and said:

“Your walking much better already. I think you ruptured a few ligaments in your back, but you’ll be fine with a potion. Now, after what you told us over dinner and what has happened, I’m wondering if you know more than you already shared. Is there something else you would like to tell me?” Her voice was steady but her tone was slightly higher than usual.

We had passed through the courtyard and had crossed the throne room to reach the stairs. The ground floor was a nightmare of a battlefield. Limbs, bodies and weapons were scattered all around. I couldn’t even tell to how many soldiers they had belonged to. Some remains were rotten beyond recognition and a sea of blood, clearly showing the footsteps we had just made, slowly spread over the floor. I had had to cover my face, the smell of decay, excrements and blood was just too much.

With the scent still present and the images burned into my mind her question hit me like a hammer. Was it my fault? Should I have shared everything, including my speculations and what Mephisto had told me? Could I have prevented this if I hadn’t been to proud to ask for help? Or to moronic to even realise I had needed it fast? I pressed my eyes shut for a moment but still a single tear slid down my cheek. No, I had been unconscious for the better part of the last days and a few hours would hardly have made a difference. Maybe. I would wallow in self pity later.

I brushed over my moist fave and shoved down the lump of guilt hanging in my throat. “Yes, but let’s wait for the others. They all have to hear it and we shouldn’t linger. I think it’s even worse than it appears but I’m only guessing.” Mom brushed through my hair and answered: “oh honey, I didn’t imply that any of this is your fault. We’ll get through this, we’ll find a way.” The last part was directed more towards herself than me, but I still shared the sentiment. Her arm still around my shoulders we climbed the last steps to the second floor.

Everything seemed unchanged and quiet and we hurried to Ahri’s room. The door was open but the sight behind charged my body with adrenaline once again. The room was dimly lit, Ahri had left a glow stone on the bed besides Greta. The bed was surrounded by a circle of runes, each glowing in a faint golden light. A sphere rose up from them, encapsulating the bed in a shimmering cage of magic. A shadow with a missing tail and a deep gash along its right side flitted across the chaos of our last fight. It searched madly for a weak spot in the runes, slamming its fists into them or turning into smoke to slither through between them. It was repelled every time with a hiss of magic and the smell of ozone. A large part of its substance had already been burned but the runes were gradually turning dimmer, even as we watched.

I wanted to unfurl my wings to at least have a weapon but my back felt like it was about to burst into flames as I tried to bring them forth. With a yelp I tumbled backwards, Adam tightly pressed to my side, and my mother and Ahri rushed past me and into the room.

“I’ll hold it,” my mother cried and a yellow light interspersed with pink streaks formed in her hands. With a clap it shot towards the shadow and dispersed all over its figure. Wherever her light met its darkness a violent hissing noise erupted and the light began to flicker and vanish. But the shadow was occupied for the time being, time Ahri used really well.

She practically flew into the room and plucked a plain steel rapier from the wall. Whirling around she thrust the rapier through the runic barrier with a commanding shout: “Transformate!” The cage disappeared instantly and the runes lit up brightly on the floor before they, too, disappeared. The next instant golden light erupted from Ahri’s rapier and the runes reappeared along the edge and on the guard. The weapon looked light crystallised lightning and illuminated the whole room for a second as Ahri charged forwards. Like Zeus on the Titans she descended on the shadow and pierced its form where the heart should have been. With a shout she jumped back, her rapier still stuck in the shadow.

From the hole in its chest cracks started to form all over its figure. Golden light crawled from the rapier and shone through the cracks. It slowly crept over the shadow. The rapier dimmed as more and more light penetrated the dark figure. I could smell ozone and its edges started to blur, eroded by the bright light. It shuddered and twitched once before, with an explosion of golden sparks, it vanished for good. The rapier dropped to the ground, the blade melted at the edges and the hilt charred and deformed.

My mom whistled through her teeth: “You have to teach me that trick sometime. Well done!”

Ahri nodded gratefully: “it would never have worked without your binding spell. Thanks a lot!”

I had to laugh quietly when I heard their exchange. At least these two weren’t as useless as me at the moment. I needed a healing potion as fast as possible. Without my wings I was clearly a burden. Something I would have to rectify as soon as possible. Fighting and healing, the next few years would be tightly packed. At least I couldn’t learn spells yet.

“You’re both brilliant. But could we check on Greta?”

Ahri turned around towards Greta’s bed and said: “This makes us even, old hag.” A gnarly voice, like old trees creaking in the wind replied: “not even close, youngster.”