Immortal Dynasty (29 page)
She could almost hear the ripping of his emotional flesh. In his fury, his body shifted into a mirror image of her own, except without the blood and torn clothing.
He turned to face the demons, and in a voice identical to hers, he addressed the restless horde. “Hail your Great Dragon Queen. Show loyalty to your leader. Kill the intruders.”
Then, the supple skin faded and shriveled to grey. Red blazed from eyes set deep. He cackled gleefully. Turning, he licked a tongue across his lipless mouth, as if ready to taste her blood again.
Lilith stared at the four black fangs that had speared into her neck yesterday. Her own fury rose to new levels. Her golden hair flipped and twisted as pure energy swirled around her in a gale. The golden goddess stood fearless against the malevolent Death Beast.
The demon horde finally launched into a bloody battle.
Shaila was still unconscious, but Darius could not remain a spectator to the fight. He kissed her cold trembling lips and placed her head gently on the floor. He stood in time to see Therion’s bony finger toss a violent blast at Lilith.
Instead of a short pulse, the energy streamed continuously at the weakened goddess. Impressively, she held her ground, her hair flying wildly and her eyes blazing with anger. He knew enough about Lilith to know that she would battle to the end. Lilith would never submit.
Leaping across the dais, he tackled Therion. No matter how frightening the asshole looked, he was still Therion on the inside. The sudden interruption of the energy stream caused an implosion, sending Lilith flying into the wall again. She lay immobile, blood dripping from her nose.
Therion didn’t escape the blast unscathed, but the wound on his head from hitting the corner of the throne healed rapidly. Waiting for the infamous Death Beast to rise and face him, Darius crouched low and smiled, revealing his sharp new fangs.
The grotesque beast sneered at him. “You’re a mewling little animal compared to me, Darius. You dare to think you can challenge me by flashing a couple of new baby teeth?”
In that moment, Darius realized that he’d been waiting for this opportunity for over twenty years. His skin glittered with a surge of energy like he’d never known before. He felt like he could do anything…beat anybody. Papa Shadi’s warning rang in his ear. No, he wouldn’t underestimate Therion, but he had to try…for Shaila.
Let’s kick some ass.
“Are you afraid to fight me like a man?” Darius taunted.
Shaila opened her eyes when the pain from her wrists suddenly stopped. Above her, the demon mother had returned. She cradled Shaila’s head gently.
Rubbing her burned, aching wrists, she noticed the golden cuffs lying on the floor, the key sticking out of the lock. She had saved the woman’s child, and the woman had returned the favor. Not in all of her life had she known a demon to show any of the light energies. Their soulless bodies were incapable of compassion or any of the good emotions.
Shaila smiled at the unique woman before her. “Thank you.”
“Isn’t she adorable?” The demon pointed to the little bundle wriggling in the basket.
The question was softly spoken, without any of the usual demon curses or venom. It was as if she sought a connection from her human past. Destiny was changing the rules in this new age. Life always found a way to adapt on its own.
“Yes, she is.”
“Thank you.” The woman picked up the basket with her child, but she hesitated to leave. “I’m sorry.”
“It is not your fault.” Shaila stood and touched the woman’s face, ignoring the cold scaly sensation. “I hope you find a way.”
The woman nodded and disappeared behind the tapestry.
Her strength returned with aching slowness. Shaila stepped backward into the shadows, where she could survey the room and gather her strength. A bolt from a crossbow flew wildly in her direction, exploding a section of the hieroglyphs beside her head.
The young demons were no match for the well-armed group that came with Darius. Shaila smirked as she watched her sister smash a fist into the skull of one sorry beast. Marcus stayed right behind Bessie, protecting her back. Bakari had no trouble clearing his part of the room with his wicked-looking weapon.
On the dais, Darius battled admirably against Therion. They exchanged many blows and kicks, but Therion was tiring. She could see it in the short breaths he took and in the sag of his bony grey shoulders. His aura gathered dark energies. She was certain he prepared to blast pure energy at Darius, whom she knew had not yet learned how to build a defense.
Before she could move toward the battle, Therion threw a large pulse at Darius. Horrified, she expected to see him go flying in the tapestry. Instead, he flipped over Therion and the deadly vibrations. The force of the blast ripped the tapestry from the wall. As the heavy fabric fell forward, the edge of it draped across the beast. Darius took the opportunity to kick Therion in the head, sending the big man into the bloody altar.
“Relax, did you think he wouldn’t know how to fight a bully?”
“Shadiki.” She twirled around and hugged her priest. “You are awake!” She turned back to keep her focus on Darius.
“I have a gift for you,
nefer
.” She felt the power surge from it even before he unwrapped the hilt.
“My sword.” Reverently, she ran her fingertips along the flat side of the blade. Though it had dulled with age, she felt the strength inside it. The ancient power of the ruby strained for release. Oh, how she knew that very feeling. One of the most powerful stones in the universe, it enhanced her vitality as a Protector and represented her royal bloodline. She gripped the hilt and reacquainted herself with its weight and feel.
“Maybe it is time to show Therion just how powerful you really are.” His eyes held a strange twinkle of pride.
“Thank you, Shadiki.”
“It is Lilith to whom you owe your thanks. She told me where it was, and she distracted Therion long enough for me to get it to you.”
“Lilith?” She searched the room until she spied the witch across the room. Bakari carried her limp body away from the battle on the stage.
“Yes. She knows you are the only hope we have of stopping her son, and not just because of the prophecy.”
A war cry shrieked across the room. Therion’s body transformed again. His grey skeletal body filled out, muscles rippling across his arms and chest. His legs turned as red as blood, and his toes lengthened to black talons.
Cold darkness seeped into the room. The few remaining demons cowered and scattered to the shadows. Amid the distraction of the new arrivals, Darius roared with pain. Therion had impaled him to the wall with Shaila’s dagger.
“The
shadow walkers
are here. It is time to take your place in the prophecy. Fulfill destiny. Protect the deliverer…your mate…your lover.”
* * *
Being underground, Shaila could not tell where the full moon was positioned, so she let her sword guide her instincts. As she aimed it skyward, she halted when the blade of the sword vibrated with energy. She flashed away the leather outfit and stood clothed in the pristine white robes of her people.
Holding the sword aloft, she raised her voice above the din. “I am Shaila a’k’Hemet, Lady of Flame. I am the daughter of Inanna a’k’Suen, Lady of Life. I am the granddaughter of Tia’Mat, the Great Dragon Queen. My soul is most powerful and it is given in service to slaughter the dark ones who threaten our world. My power is also blessed by the sword…my sword…
al’ak su far’vadin
. None shall hinder me. None shall slow my cause. Black souls, beware.”
Shaila expected the rush of power. She had prepared her body for the sudden onslaught of pure blue energy the sword would awaken. Destiny surprised her once again. An immense pulse of clear white light, the light of divinity, blasted through the room and beyond…across the astral plane.
Lightning flashed across her sword, and it shone with renewed life. Sheer determination kept her upright. The white hot pain that knifed through her body momentarily blinded her. The sword grew heavy. She held it aloft as long as she could until it sagged toward the ground. But the ground seemed far away. She felt weightless, floating above the faces that all stared at her in amazement.
Her skin glowed until it illuminated the dark room. The wicked
shadow walkers
shrank back into any shadow they could find. She laughed at their feeble attempts as their cloaks of fog sizzled away.
Warmth spread through her body, and she clung to it, grateful for the respite from the pain. But the reprieve was brief. Her robes tightened against her skin. She heard and felt the flesh on her back tearing along the scars she had been born with. The warmth in her chest turned into intense pressure. She howled and stretched, trying to push the pressure out of her body. Finally, she felt the crushing tension burst free.
Her body tingled from the release of adrenaline. Nerve endings fired up with static as she felt her body transforming, but she had not willed it to change. She felt skin tensing along her back, and tried to look behind her to see the cause.
Huge white wings stretched and flexed, testing the weight they would carry. Slowly, they brought her back down to the ground. She knew what this meant, but the knowledge was bittersweet.
“Holy hell, sister.” Bessie stood off the side, fear and awe mingled in her eyes. “You’re the new Dragon Queen.”
Bakari’s voice held such sadness. “That would mean that Queen Tia is dead, and Inanna must also be…” He choked, unable to finish the sentence. He must have held out hope for all of these ages of time that her mother was out there, somewhere.
Shaila would have shared that hope if she had lived all of those thousands of sun cycles too. Even now, she felt the bitter taste of despair in her mouth. Inanna had helped her start this journey to meet her destiny.
I love you, Mother.
Evil laughter rang out strong and fierce. “Family trees can be so confusing. Such drama.”
Shaila stepped up to the platform to face the Death Beast. “How do you talk to your father, Therion?”
He smirked at her and moved between her and Darius who was still impaled to the wall. He nodded his head toward the
shadow walkers
, who hovered as far from the light as they could get. “They are my link to Apophis. They were a gift to me, in exchange for an Anunnaki soul. And I don’t want to disappoint my father.”
“Indeed, it seems he has some power that reaches beyond his prison. I would not want to fail him either. I am so sorry I will be the cause of your failure. You will not enjoy his torture once your soul goes to the Underworld.”
Before he could stammer a response to her needling, Shaila launched at him, tackling his midsection and throwing him into the altar. Her eyes blazed with hot energy, which she glared at his head in two beams of pure light. He fell to the ground, covering his eyes to block it out.
The
shadow walkers
moved to attack her, but Shadiki stood in front of the platform and raised his walking stick toward them. The light that emanated from it held the beasts at bay for the moment.
Darius realized that he was still holding his breath. He was stuck to a wall, but he wasn’t unconscious. Thankfully, because he would have hated to miss the transformation he’d just witnessed. Memories surfaced of the day he had watched Shaila meditate in her white robes. He’d thought her an angel then. That vision held nothing compared to one he beheld now.
Her robes had transformed to emulate the black leather outfit she’d been wearing. The white leather looked pure next to her tanned skin, which shimmered with power. Her dark brown hair spread about her in wild abandon, contrasting starkly with the clean whiteness of her wings. This goddess was indeed an angel from the heavens. He silently prayed that he could keep her in his life.
As he watched her battle with Therion, he could see that the dark beast was gaining in strength, drawing from all the negative energy in the room, from fear to anger. He was absorbing it all. He wondered if Shaila was weak from the transformation.
Seeking to buy her some time, he used his free arm to toss the throwing knives into Therion’s body whenever the opportunity presented itself. The last one sunk deep into his ribs, lodging between two of the protruding bones. Twisting and thrusting his body, Darius tried to dislodge the dagger from the wall.
Savagely, Therion retaliated by sending a powerful blast at Darius. Weakened from blood loss, he was unable to withstand the wave of dark energy. Nearly on fire, Darius felt his skin burning. He screamed from the madness.
Seeing Darius tortured by pain, Shaila flew into the air and lunged for Therion. Her nails turned to talons as she ripped his skin and tore at his flesh. Throwing her arm tight around the beast’s neck, she willed her wings to carry the extra weight into the air.
In her glorious fury, the walls of the room disappeared as she dragged him into the astral plane. There was only herself and Therion in the ebony darkness. Here she would dominate the beast.
They battled for what seemed an eternity, neither submitting to the other. Both grew weary, their chests heaving from the effort of maintaining their full powers.
She realized her error too late. Sensing weakness, she had crawled onto his back, ready to pierce his body with her sword. She had no defenses up at the time, being so close to him.
He sent a pulse of energy backwards, aimed directly at her chin. As she spun away, he flew to her, wrapping large grey arms around her neck. He brought them both back to the underground temple. She felt his blood rushing with the taste of victory in his grasp.
Her skin sizzled as his fangs sank deep into her neck, his poisonous venom spreading quickly through her blood. Immobilized, she could only whimper as he ripped out a handful of feathers from her new wing.
She felt no pain as he tossed her limp body across the altar. He held her feathers in the air for all to see.
“Destiny is mine, and none shall challenge my power. I have defeated your so-called queen.” He tossed the feathers into the air, and fingered the belt around his waist. “Now you can all witness the dawn of a new age, where kingship begins with me.”