Chapter 10
Heath followed the fire dragon deeper into the pit. He was wondering how far down it went when they finally encountered the bottom. Phelan shifted, whispering, “They were planning this the whole time. The army was a distraction, this was the plan. This way.”
Heath didn’t bother to shift as he jumped over Phelan. Charging into the opening, he was furious that someone had taken Kerensa from him. His steps were surprisingly light and he resisted the urge to roar. When he plowed into a large cavern, all heads turned. Immediately his eyes fell on a small group at the front of the cavern around an altar. Without hesitation, he released a large breath, freezing everyone on the main floor.
The priest at the altar watched for a moment, then returned to the ritual he had started. There was now a much faster pace to his words.
Heath felt something run between his front legs and his eyes met a fire dragon flying forward. “Be careful! They are up there.” His voice rang clearly around the cavern. Phelan shook his head for a second, then his eyes trained on the priest holding his baby at the altar, a knife held high. Planning to slam into him, Phelan pulled in his wings and shot through the air like a bullet.
His eyes widened as Taja appeared at the priest’s elbow. She was trying to grab the baby from his hands. To his horror, Phelan watched as the priest began to plunge the knife downwards. Realizing she wouldn't succeed in getting the baby, Taja threw her body in front of the dagger. Phelan felt his stomach plummet as the knife moved in what he saw as slow motion. Kerensa was struggling behind them, her mouth bound, and she was clearly trying to scream. Taja’s arms wrapped around the baby as the dagger plunged into her back.
Phelan let out a roar and slammed into the priest as Taja and the baby fell to the ground. She turned her body just enough to cushion the blow, but already other priests were beginning to swarm around her and the child. Jumping over her, Phelan’s jaws snapped around several priests. Now that the women and the child were clear, he released a blast of fire that scorched the wall on the far side of the altar.
Heath dashed up to the front of the altar and ripped off the ropes binding Kerensa. When she was freed, he turned and lifted Taja and the baby from the floor. The infant was wailing. Kerensa gently pulled it out of Taja’s hands. “It’s okay. He’s okay now.”
Taja looked up and smiled at the couple. Phelan appeared in front of her. “Give her to me.” He took Taja from Heath. Without waiting for a response, he shifted and tore out of the cave with Taja on his back. Heath shifted and offered his back to Kerensa. Gingerly, she climbed up on his back with the child. He gently lifted off of the floor and followed Phelan. Once they were gone, the only sounds left in the caverns were the sound of crackling as ice and fire fought for domination of the wreckage.
Hisa braced himself for the blast, but it still wasn’t enough. As the god sent shock waves from his hands, they pounded into Hisa relentlessly. Hisa roared, his voice cracking under the strain.
When the god finally stopped, there was a smug look on his face. “That’s just the beginning. And as I break you, I will remind you that you sent off your Summer to die by the hands of your friends. So what are you fighting for? A world that rejects you for your darkness? Friends who turn on you because you don’t want them to kill your love? When the cards are down, I am the last place you have to turn.” He held his arms out as if to say that the choice was obvious.
“It isn’t nearly that easy, as you would have realized had you more thoroughly reviewed your plans.”
The god spat at the insult, “At least I had plans. All you did was run.”
The dragon shrugged his shoulders, then suddenly he began to shift. The transition was much faster. Within seconds, Hisa stood in front of the lesser god.
Chesed laughed, “So now you give up. I forgive you. Now change back because you are no good to me in this form.”
Hisa stretched his arms up. “Oh gods, but I love this form. I mean, the dragon shape is nice, but you just need so much space. Now like this, I can do all kinds of things.” His hand struck out and yanked the lesser god off of his feet. Hisa slammed him into the ground. Placing his knee on Chesed’s face, he leaned down. “You also seem to have forgotten that you have given me 500 years to plan. Summer was an unexpected surprise, but now that she is gone, I have so many plans for you.”
The god tried to throw him off, but found that he could not move under the pressure. Trying to generate his magic, Chesed found that even that failed him in the current pose. His mind travelled over the last few hundred years. In that time Hisa had joined the military of more than 50 countries, often without any of his friends knowing. Chesed had been pleased to see the shifter learning to fight, building his strength. Now, that appeared to be a mistake.
“As soon as I get out of this, I'm going to make you pay. All of those you care about will die, slowly, painfully. You won’t even–”
“Really, Hisa, you could have told me yourself earlier and saved us all the fighting. Annora is still out.”
Chesed moved his head just enough to see Cyprian walking toward them. Seeing his opportunity, the lesser god said, “This doesn’t change the fact that Summer must die to restore the balance.”
A red-haired woman burst in front of his vision. A fist flashed out and blue blood spurted all over his face. “And that is where your argument falls apart. Do you have any idea what you did to my friend?”
A serious-looking man stepped forward and pulled her back. “Bree, you have to get in line. There are people who have a much greater cause to lash out. Annora will be fine. Anani will be fine once Ash finishes drawing out the darkness.”
Bree relaxed and took a deep breath. Her eyes flashed as she looked at Hisa. “Don't think that I will forget your role in this either.”
Hisa flashed a smile at her. “I would expect nothing less from a sorceress.”
Bree moved forward. Calixto grabbed her again. “Get a hold of yourself. He is the only thing standing between us and an angry god.”
Cyprian stepped forward and looked down on the god, his expression fiercer than anything Chesed had seen on a god. “You have done enough damage to those I care about. We may not be able to kill you, but some people learn to regret longevity.” He brought his boot down on the lesser god’s head.
Chesed recoiled as much as possible from the blow. “Just you wait! I am about to gain more strength than you can imagine.”
Hisa leaned over him, “Are you referring to the infant that was safely relocated to a castle just as you were closing in on it? At what point did you think that was a coincidence?”
Ready to start cursing the growing crowd around him, the lesser god felt something connect with the back of his head and he blacked out.
Hisa turned to his left. Anani looked down at him. “Hey Hisa.” Without any further warning, Anani punched him in the face.