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Demos stepped through.
The forest air assailed him, whether from the cold or just to repel him, strong enough he had to fight to remain upright. He whispered a few more words and prayed to the Mother that he would appear invisible to any who happened to spy him.
The echo of screams grew as Demos pushed onward through the snow that both covered the ground and fell in rushes from the sky. As he got deeper into the snowy woods, he realized the screams were actually the sound of the wind.
“Servant, I am here.”
Demos turned around and saw Lady Lordes sitting at the foot of a tree, her arms around her pulled-up knees. She didn’t look distressed but didn’t appear happy either. In seconds, he dropped his cloaking spell and was before her, kneeling at her side.
“You need to wake up, Sister. You’re getting too weak,” he told her, taking her hand.
“And you need to find Sierra as soon as possible.” Her dark eyes bored into him. “Cae—
Demos straightened. “Stop. Do not say his name.” When she closed her mouth, he asked, “What about him?”
Lady Lordes shook her head slightly and pulled her hand away so she could wrap it around her cold frame. At least the branches above were keeping the snow off her. “Your kind needs to open up to us keepers of the old ways, Servant. Had I known what you were… I just hope it’s not too late. None of us were prepared! Titus is our home, too. We should all be working together.”
“What about that name you just uttered?” His voice was deadly. He agreed with her that everyone should be working together. But hundreds of years had passed since those on Titus needed to join forces.
“He is the cause of Boriel’s torment. He is breaking her, Servant. She will not listen to anyone, refuses to even hear us.”
Demos tensed his jaw so hard the muscles hurt. “Is she—she is here? In this… land?”
She nodded. “Covered in ice. Her tears will not stop, and they keep freezing her. All I can do is stay here to guide those who can come.”
Demos glanced around, hoping to see the elemental.
“Sierra was here, Servant. She saw Boriel. I had to stop the Omega from going to her.”
His head whipped back to the seer. “Here? How?”
“She went through the Delphos rite.”
Pride warred with fear as Demos took in that statement. “And him? Where is he?” He couldn’t believe Cael was involved with this. Why hadn’t the elementals told him this before? Did they truly not know?
She pointed to her left, and Demos surveyed the area. He saw nothing but… There. Black wings, but just a hint. Demos was too far away from the Seraph, which meant the Dark One couldn't see him and Lady Lordes, Mother be thanked.
Demos looked away and grabbed the Sister’s hand again. It was freezing. “I need to leave. You must wake soon, at least for a while so that you can eat properly. Your queen is very worried about you.”
Her face softened. “How long have I been here?”
“Almost three weeks.”
She sighed, closing her eyes. “Then I will return. But I will be coming back. I will not leave until this is done. More Sisters will come.”
“But you will leave now at least?”
She nodded, but already she was fading. Demos let out a relieved breath.
“I will see you on the other side, Servant of Secrets. You must get to Sierra. I think she’s the only one that can help her, or at least start things in motion.”
Once she was fully gone and no trace of her soul remained, Demos, his eyes now on the hint of those black wings, whispered the words that would return him to the world of the flesh.
The situation had grown so much bigger than he had ever dreamed. And now that he knew his father was involved with what was happening, Demos had even more to do.
After sending word that Lady Lordes was awake, Demos went in search of his brother, who had been keeping himself scarce, lest he was recognized by some of the older Ongarhi of House Trajan. It was doubtful—memory being tricky with most humans—but still, caution was always best. Demos found him up on the Mor’s battlements, his crow’s body a stain in the snowy landscape.
“Shift,” Demos demanded as soon as he spotted his corvine sibling.
