Page 101 of What Lies Beyond the Realms

“No, no, no, no, no . . .” I repeat over and over again, cradling Chepi’s head.

His body is limp, and there’s no life in his eyes.

“No. It’s okay. You’re going to be okay. It’s not that bad.” My voice comes out strangled, and the tears running down my face are drowning me. I shake Chepi gently, trying to wake him.

“No! Stay with me. Come back to me.” I scream, shaking him, cradling him to my chest.

Samael gets to his feet. “That little rat is dead, you stupid bitch.”

I let out a belligerent scream, my body convulsing. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. Chepi’s body goes up in a burst of violet flames, leaving only a pile of ash. I’m rocking back and forth panting, in shock. He can’t be gone. This can’t be it. I hear Samael start laughing in the back of the room. I bury my sorrow for a moment, quickly building a barricade up around my heart. The pain threatens to consume me entirely. I take a breath, letting my chest fill with rage, with vengeance.

I stand, turning toward Samael. I see him standing in the back of the room. A circle of flames keeps him in place. The moment my eyes lock onto his, I feel it. I feel my magic, and for once I’m in control. I walk toward him, not taking my eyes off his as I slowly move through the flames. The fire spreads for me at my will.

“Well, this is certainly a surprising change of events,” Samael says, choking on smoke. “You think you’re going to fight me little sister?”

“No, I’m going to kill you,” I force out between clenched teeth.

Samael throws his head back, and a deep chuckle echoes in his chest. But he’s fast, and before I can attack him he steps to the side and lands a blow to my cheekbone. I call fire to my palms and send liquid flames at him, forcing him to the ground. Once he’s down, I kick him in the side, hard. I kick him again and again as I scream at the top of my lungs. I pause for a moment, and he sits up, wiping the blood from his face.

“Do you know how your father died, Lyra? You were so young, so your mother told you it was a riding accident. Your father who was so powerful, the king of Cloudrum, you really think he died falling off a horse?” Samael spits blood onto the ground.

“What are you saying? Why are you talking?” Why am I even listening to this? I raise my hand ready to send a killing blow of flames down his throat.

“Onyx killed your father, little bird, and I’m sure that’s not the only secret he’s keeping from you.” Samael smiles, blood and ash coating his teeth.

My hands drop as I turn my head to look toward Nyx, who is still strapped to the table and unable to speak.

“No. You’re a liar. I don’t believe anything that comes out of your mouth.” I start to turn back to Samael, but he’s up, and the distraction cost me. He grabs me by the hair, pressing his other hand to my chest. He whispers a spell under his breath that sends me flying across the room. My back slams into the bookshelf, and I cough up blood on impact, slumping to the ground. I look up as Samael starts walking toward me, his eyes narrowed and zeroed in on his prey. I meet Nyx’s eyes one last time then turn, pushing through the door hidden behind the bookshelf. I don’t want to leave Nyx, but I know Samael is after me anyway. Maybe if I lure Samael away, someone will help Nyx. It’s a long shot, but if Lili is still around…

I stumble into darkness, frantically running down the stairs trying to remember where this passage leads. Once I reach the bottom of the staircase, a long, dark hallway branches out in front of me. This must be adjacent to the hallways passing by the kitchens and dining hall. I try to run down it as quietly as I can. I push on the stone wall along the way, hoping for a hidden door to open.

“Come out, come out, wherever you are.” Samael’s voice stretches across the cold stone hall, and panic seizes in my chest. I hit the end of the hallway, and I know I must’ve missed a door somewhere, but it’s so dark down here. I can barely make out my hands in front of my face. I grab the bloodstone at my neck, running my fingers across it. Calm. Breathe. I’m not afraid of him. I have Fae magic, and I am the daughter of Euric Lewis. I am a powerful woman, and I will not cower away from this evil monster. I stalk silently back down the hall in the direction Samael is coming from. I listen for his footsteps, keeping my body crouched tight against the wall. Once I hear him approaching, I jump up and call my magic to my palms. I feel it pulse under my skin as liquid fire pools in my hands. I throw my arms up, directing my fire at him. He dodges my blow, rolling on the ground and popping up right in front of me, he grabs the top of my hair, pulling my back to his chest and wrapping his other arm around my waist.

“I told you already, Lyra, you belong to me. Now let’s go finish things with your boyfriend. I’m growing bored of these games already.”

I struggle against him as he hauls me back up the stairs. My scalp is on fire. Once back in the throne room, Samael releases me and throws me down on the ground hard. I bite my cheek and absorb the impact, flipping around fast and calling fire to my palms. Samael’s there already with his hand on my forehead. I can’t move, and debilitating pain shoots through my head.

“I’m really getting quite tired of this, my sweet. I don’t want to keep hurting you, but you give me no choice. Where is the artifact being kept?” His eyes sear into mine, and I feel my nose start to bleed as pain explodes inside me. My body starts to combust, and I know it’s my magic reacting to his invasion. My magic will help me. I just need to trust it like Nyx says. My head feels like it’s going to burst as heat pulses under my skin. Samael pulls his hand away, his eyes widening as my forehead burns his fingers. Magic seeps out of me like an inferno ready to annihilate everything in its path.

“What the—” Samael looks down at his hand, and I jump.

I throw all my weight into him like a boulder crashing down a mountainside. I crash into his body, grabbing onto him wherever I can, singing his skin on contact.

He falls back on the ground, and I go down with him. I press my hand to his face. His skin bubbles up under the press of my fiery fingers. I grab Samael around the neck, leaning in close to his face. I feel his skin sizzle under my touch, and I lock eyes with him. It’s the first time I see a look of fear cross his face, and my lips curl.

I have him right where I want him.

He starts convulsing, and his eyes roll back in his head. His mouth starts frothing, and all I can see are the whites of his eyes, which are glazed over and milky. Did I kill him? Did he have some kind of a seizure from my magic? I release his neck and sit back for a moment.

“Pixie.”

I suck in a breath, my hand flying to my chest as my father’s voice comes out of Samael. How is this possible? What the fuck kind of magic is this?

“Open the bridge, honey. I’m here for you. Chepi is here waiting for you too. You know what you need to do. Unlock the bridge to Zomea, and all will be well. I promise. We are here for you.” Samael’s eyes close and his body slumps over, hitting the ground, lifeless.

Chepi is in Zomea with my father. I can bring him back. If I unlock the bridge, I can bring Chepi back. My heart starts to pound wildly in my chest, and I get to my feet. I turn toward Nyx, touching a hand to the spelled chains restraining him. I feel my magic pulse under my skin, and I call it forward, melting the chains and the whole goddamn table. Nyx pulls his gag off and reaches for me. I move out of his embrace.

“Tell me it isn’t true, Nyx.” I say while he stares at me. His eyes are soft and full of sympathy. “You killed my father?”