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Blue light flashed by Zori, and Vladik swore as the spell clipped his wing. They began to fall, and he pulled Zori tighter to him as they crashed through the trees. Vladik twisted at the last second, flicked out his good wing, and they slowed enough to land.
"Are you okay?" she asked, untangling herself and checking over his wing.
"It will be fine. I was clipped, that's all. Let's go. We are almost at the meeting place." Vladik grabbed her hand, and they hurried through the dark forest. Zori had no idea where they were, but she trusted Vladik and his night vision. He knew where the pit traps were and the magical bindings. Zori just had to keep up.
A man in black gear crashed through the trees in front of them and fired. Vladik shoved Zori aside before moving faster than she'd ever seen. He seemed to almost teleport as he dodged the mercenary’s gunfire.
With a roar, Vladik yanked the rifle out of the man's hand, crushing the barrel before slicing his claws over the man's throat. He collapsed into the snow, his hands clutching his neck as he bled out. Zori didn't look away. She couldn't afford to be soft, not tonight.
"They are coming!" Vladik picked her up and ran. Over his shoulder, Zori spotted Maxim and his remainingvolhvfollowing the track leading up to the Womb.
At the entrance of the cave, Vladik put Zori back on her feet and gave her a quick kiss. "I'll be inside in position. However it may look, you aren't alone."
Zori nodded. "Go before he sees you."
Mages and gargoyles poured out of the trees, heading for the caves in retreat. Zori stayed out of their way and tried not to feel responsible for the wounds they were nursing. Bright headlights appeared, and an armored truck pulled into the clearing.
"Zoria!" Maxim shouted. He appeared from behind the truck with twovolhvflanking him. "Stop this, and no one else will have to get hurt."
Zori backed up towards the cave. "No one but me, right? What did you think? I would just come back willingly to be locked in a tower or harvested like you did to my mother?"
Maxim was getting closer, and she could see the coldness in his eyes. He wasn't trying to hide it like he always had. "Stop acting like a child! There is much that you have taken out of context, Zoria. Come with me, and I will explain everything to you. You were my daughter—"
"I was yourpet! I won't go back. You'll have to kill me first!" she shouted and ran into the caves.
31
The winding rock path into the Womb was lined with torches, and Zori hurried as fast as her feet could carry her. It opened out suddenly into a cavern, and her breath stuttered. All around the walls were stone gargoyles. They stared down at the two statues of Morana and Yelena turning into a swan that had been placed at the center of the polished stone floor. Flowers, candles, and other offerings were place at their feet.
Zori couldn't spot where any of the mages had disappeared to, but it was too late to wait for anyone. Footsteps sounded on the stone behind her, and Maxim and his twovolhvcame towards her. Behind him, mercenaries filled the cavern like ants, and she could senseupióramongst them.
"You are trapped, daughter. Stop this nonsense now, and come back to your family," Maxim said, his voice no longer stern. It was just her Uncle Maxim.
"My family is here. It has always been. You stole my mother. You stoleme," Zori replied, her voice catching. There was no need to fake her tears or her heartache. They were tearing free from her. "You killed her."
"She killed herself, Zori. You saw it with your own eyes. All I did was clean up the mess," Maxim said. The twovolhvwere moving away from him, trying to flank her. "I raised you as I would my own family."
Zori's eyes burned. "Really. You would feed them drugs and tell them they were dying? You lied to me! You suppressed every part of me. You stole my blood for your magic."
"I was under Chernobog's orders. You met him for yourself. What chance does anyone have against that power?" Maxim shook his head. "If he knew what level your magic really was, he would have harmed you himself. He knows now and is willing to make a deal with you. Come home, Zori. It will be different this time. I promise."
Zori's heart was breaking to hear the genuine plea in his voice, but she shook her head. Before she could speak again, Morana forced her way through. Dark power filled Zori's veins, and the goddess took charge of her tongue.
"Enough. You come onto my sacred ground and demand what belongs to me. Leave now, or you will regret it,"Morana said, her voice echoing from Zori's mouth.
Maxim's eyes widened, shock splashing across his features. "What is this…" Red light filled him, and he cried out before Chernobog pushed his way through. He bowed deeply.
"Goddess of magic, it is a joy to meet you on this auspicious night,"Chernobog greeted. He gestured to the gargoyles."Do you remember the last time we tangled here?"
"Yes, and my answer is still the same. I will not join my power with you and let you use it to destroys the humans. I do not wish war with you, dark one,"Morana replied.
Maxim's face pulled into a twisted caricature of a smile."Too bad. You will have one, my dearest."
Chernobog's power blasted out of him, and the cavern of stone gargoyles shifted into vicious life. The mercenaries opened fire at them, their cries of alarm echoing off the stone. Zori couldn't control her body as Morana moved her about like a puppet. Magic surged through her, and she tossed it back at the other god. Vladik fought his way to her side, tossing aside mercenaries to reach her.
Chernobog saw her gaze and laughed, "So that is what is keeping you here, little vessel. I can remedy that."
Magic shot out of Maxim's hand, streaking through the crowd to get to Vladik. Zori fought the goddess inside of her, and she launched herself in front of the bolt of power. It smashed into her, rattling her bones.
