“I--I don’t know but… but Raziel and Caden went to face the Behemoth…” Valerius’ lips went numb saying those words.
The last time that Raziel had faced the Behemoth, it had not been alone, but with all of the Dragons. As powerful as Raziel was, the Behemoth was more so. He hated to admit this. He didn’t want to admit this. But the weakness he felt. The sense of loss was so intense that he felt scraped down to bone and gristle.
Raziel… Raziel… can you hear me?
Nothing.
But that didn’t mean anything. Valerius looked into Raziel’s lair. Landry was pacing. Her brothers were sitting on the floor, heads in hands. Jasper just stared at the “mirror” back at him.
“What’s wrong with you?” Jasper asked.
Valerius grimaced. He didn’t answer Jasper, but focused on Landry, Can you see where they are fighting from the lair?
Landry stopped her pacing. “Yes! Yes, hold on! I think I can see the crater from the outside!”
Landry ran from the lair.
“We heard roaring. But it stopped.” Jasper hugged himself tightly. “Did Raziel fail just like you did?”
You better hope Raziel did not or you will never leave there, Jasper, Valerius growled, even though it was a weak growl. Though, really, if Jasper did return he would be going to prison.
“Why can’t you Shifters do something for us?!” Jasper cried and threw up his hands.
It seemed to last forever while they waited for Landry. But she came back, white-faced and breathing hard. She put her hands on her thighs and looked annoyed at herself.
“I know I don’t actually have my body here so it shouldn’t matter that I never work out! So why am I breathless?” Landry gasped.
What did you see, Landry? Valerius felt such dread asking this question.
“Nothing,” she said, but her expression did not look relieved. “I--I should have seen Raziel flying from here. But there’s no one there! No Raziel. No Behemoth. Nothing.”
Valerius stared upwards at the tunnel’s ceiling, but he did not see it. He saw nothing but a black void. If Raziel was not flying there were two possibilities as to what happened to his Spirit. The first was that Raziel was fighting the Behemoth on the ground. Unlikely, as that would eliminate Raziel’s greater maneuverability. The second was that Raziel had been knocked out of the sky. And considering how Valerius felt, he thought the second was more likely.
Raziel on the ground.
Raziel bleeding, burned, broken…
I am not there with Raziel. My Spirit is in pain. And I am not there. My Spirit is alone...
Illarion’s expression was becoming more and more alarmed. He shook Valerius. “What is going on with you? You cannot do this now! We’re so close! Caden needs you!”
Valerius blinked. Raziel was not alone. Caden was with him.
Caden…
Valerius rocketed upwards. He gasped as his whole body cried out in pain. He clutched Illarion’s shoulder and gritted his teeth.
“We have to get Caden’s body. Now,” Valerius gasped.
“Do you have a plan this time? Because I think we need one,” Illarion said as he craned his head around the end of the tunnel.
“What are they doing?” Valerius demanded, feeling dread fill him even more.
“Still playing ring-around-a-rosie,” Illarion reported.
Valerius’ eyebrows rose. “I didn’t think you would know such a game.”
“I was in London during the last Black Death,” Illarion answered with a shrug.
