Petra cleared his throat as he stepped forward.
“Tell me, Alistar.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “How can you be so sure that we will give in to the darkness? How can you be so sure that we will fail?”
He pursed his lips into a snide smile.
“Lucifer is already finding a place in every single one of your hearts.” With quick steps, he made his way to the kitchen. His hands trembled as he grabbed a cup and filled it with wine. I felt the frigid breeze blowing through the open door behind us.
“Do I lie?” he asked, taking a sip from his drink.
I could see apprehension taking over my companions. I looked at Devin, and his eyes shied away from mine. Demetre approached me, standing by my side.
“I assume your silence is a response in the affirmative,” he said, spreading out his arms. “Why would I risk temptation when my people and me are safely hidden inside this village?” He was about to drink from his cup when loud screams were heard.
I looked over my shoulder and caught sight of the fearful crowd making their way out of the streets. The screams loudened as I walked through the doorway.
“What is it?” Ballard asked, following me with sword in hand.
Through the white streets and houses came three dark, hooded figures. Their cloaks covered their feet, dragging on the snow. They marched in our direction, their faces hidden behind a shadow. The one on the far left had within its grasp a soldier’s head smeared with blood and dirt.
“Be ready to attack at any time,” I ordered, shuddering at the sight.
Petra’s hands trembled as they reached for his sword. Adara’s eyes glistened while she watched the mysterious figures approach us.
“Now is not the moment to be afraid,” I encouraged them.
I felt Xylia touch my shoulder. For a moment, it was as if we could read each other’s thoughts—we had both realized that blood was going to be spilled in this village today. Alistar pushed us from his way as he marched toward the mysterious beings.
“Papa, don’t go,” Sela begged with tears streaming down her face.
“Stay with me.” Adara wrapped her arms around the child. Sela kept her innocent eyes fixed on her father.
“Who are you?” Alistar yelled. “I will have your heads cut off—” His words turned into tortuous screams. I saw flashes of red light surrounding his body. Veins protruded from his neck as he fell to his knees. His teeth chattered as he curved his back. I had not forgotten the last time I had seen this attack.
Rapid footsteps reverberated around us. The sound of beating drums invaded my ears.
“Could it be?” Demetre whispered.
I feared that my thoughts were correct.
“Well, well, well,” a familiar voice said. “This is a surprise.” The hooded being in the middle removed the cloak from its face.
“Nephele,” I said from behind gritted teeth. From the corner of my eyes, I caught sight of Xylia. She cringed her head, looking at the one who had tortured her in Aloisio.
Ballard stepped forward, standing next to Demetre.
Her blue eyes trailed across our faces. “I see your friends have remained loyal…for now,” she said in a spiteful voice as her lips curved into a smirk.
“Let’s see how long this loyalty will last,” a male voice declared. I lost my breath as I recognized his voice. The man removed the cloak from his face.
“Erebos.” Great fury rushed into me.
“So we meet again.” He raised his eyebrows. “I must say, I liked you better when Mordred dwelled inside your body.”
“I hope your whip is stronger this time,” I mocked in an attempt to hide the fear that was inside of me. His attack had almost taken my life.
He bit his bottom lip, strolling his way to Alistar. With eyes fixed on me, he spread out his right hand. A red incandescent light in the likeness a whip appeared.
“Please,” Alistar managed to say in an agonized voice. “Make the pain stop…” He crawled on the ground, blood pouring from his nose and ears.
Erebos lowered his eyes, looking at Alistar. “I will make the pain go away.” His voice was cold.
“Papa!” Sela cried as she pushed Adara to the side, running to her father.
“Sela, come back,” Adara ordered, chasing the girl.
The man on the far left dropped the soldier’s head to the ground and raised his hand toward the child.
Adara came to an abrupt halt as Sela’s feet left the snow-covered ground.
“What is happening? Please, leave me alone.” Sela wiped the tears from her face as she hovered in mid-air.
“Don’t worry, girl,” said a peaceful yet malevolent voice. “You and Daddy will remain together.”
“Leave…her…alone…” Alistar’s trembling hands touched Nephele’s foot. “Please…” Creases appeared on Nephele’s forehead as her lips parted. She shook her foot free from his grasp.
The male hooded figure released Sela, dropping her to the ground. She was about to rise to her feet when she was taken by Nephele’s power. Her sudden screams were like a blade piercing my ears. She crawled like a headless insect.
“You would attack an innocent child?” Adara unsheathed her sword. “Release her!”
The mysterious hooded figure chuckled.
“Am I to take orders from a human?” He removed his hood, revealing a pale face; his eyes were as gray as the clouds that hovered above us.
Demetre rushed to her side, keeping his sword pointed toward our enemies.
“It is a shame that we cannot kill any of you.” His eyelids rose toward his brow as he gazed at Alistar. “But I can kill him.”
With a slight move of his hand, a crimson light wrapped itself around Alistar. Like a snake, it constricted his body. In a matter of seconds, I heard the sounds of breaking bones merge with his grunts and screams.
I wanted to let him die. I watched as he struggled to break free from Erebos’s attack, and a part of me did not want this man to live. I stood back.
Xylia stooped her body forward, casting her sword in Erebos’s direction.
Erebos ceased his attack, grasping the sword seconds before it could have wounded his body. “I cannot kill you, but my Capios can certainly harm you.”
Xylia grunted as she crouched, falling on her knees. Bruises appeared on her skin as she groaned in pain. She squinted her eyes, squirming on the ground. Her groans turned to screams as the Capios tortured her.
The skin on my back ripped, allowing my wings to spread to their full length.
The man on the left raised his right hand, looking at Nephele and Erebos. “Enough, you two,” he said.
Nephele released Sela from her devious attack. Her fragile body lay on the snow, immobile. Erebos’s whip disappeared, leaving Alistar on the ground. Blood gushed out of his wounds.
“What about Xylia?” I felt sweat descending my brow. “Release her from their grasps.” Blood dripped out of her nose. I wished I had the ability to control the new powers that had awakened within me. I much desired to enter Erebos’s mind and sink my blade beneath his skin.
Erebos crossed his arms, looking at me with a thin smile. My feet were about to abandon the ground when I heard his orders.
“Let her go.” I heard the Capios retreating with quick steps. They probably ran to stand behind their master.
Demetre and I knelt alongside Xylia while Petra and Ballard aided Alistar. Devin and Adara stood next to Sela.
“Why are you all here?” Devin lifted his eyes to them. “I am sure it was not the pleasure of our company that brought you this way.”
“Vengeance,” said the man with ashen eyes as he took a step forward.
“Who might you be?” I asked. “I do not believe we have met before.”
“Xavier, a Fallen Ruler and a servant of Lucifer.” He bent his head. “A pleasure.”
We were all silent.
“I must say it is indeed gratifying to find you all here in this village, even if you were not the main reason we came.” Nephele’s voice set my teeth on edge. “We were hunting blood-drinkers when we found your parents trying to protect Ohmen, Folletti, and Valleree from the attack of three Lessers.” She took a short step in my direction. “Your parents destroyed two of those creatures, but one Lesser escaped.” I struggled to breathe, fearing what she was about to say. “While your loving parents tended to their wounds, Erebos gave them a very special gift.”
I gritted my teeth as her words filled my ears like a disease.
“What gift did you give them?” The anger and desire for vengeance that stirred within me grew harder to contain.
“Tell me, Isaac.” Erebos raised his finger. “How are Mom and Dad?” He clicked his tongue twice as his lips turned into a cynical smile. “Alive?”
I raised my sword, pointing it to his face. “Bastard, you will be the first one to die.”
“That’s what Folletti said as we set his body aflame.” Xavier tilted his head, looking at Nephele and Erebos. They exchanged mocking smiles.
I soared into the air, aiming to sink my blade into his skull. Xavier’s rage and vengeful desire could be seen in his eyes. His feet left the ground as his dark wings came into view. He lifted his sword in my direction, clashing it against mine with a loud clang as I blocked his strike.
His arms trembled as he arched his back in an attempt to push my body downward.
I felt something grasp my ankle. I shot a quick look down, unable to see what had ahold of me.
“Capios are indeed wonderful creatures.” Xavier grimaced as I was pushed to the ground with great strength and speed.
The Capios screeched and bellowed as I collided against the snow with a loud thud. Pain spread from my spine to my head. My surroundings seemed to be moving in a circular motion as I attempted to look around.
“Isaac!” I heard Demetre’s muffled voice calling my name.
A few seconds later, my vision returned to normal. I attempted to stand to my feet, but the Capios had me pinned to the ground. Devin and Demetre ran to my aid.
I heard the clattering of hoofs drawing near; the neighing of horses followed. Five horsemen approached us.
“The protectors of the Village of Tears have come.” Nephele joined her hands together, intertwining her fingers.
These were the men that I had seen on the Road of Ahnor, riding alongside Alistar. They shot a quick look at the man they served, bleeding on the ground. His daughter lay unconscious at his side. They drew their swords.
“How dare you enter our lands and wound others without any remorse or reason?” asked one of the men. He had shoulder-length chestnut hair. Dark, long lashes surrounded the green of his eyes. His narrow face was covered with a scruffy beard.
Erebos cleared his throat. “How dare you presume that we do not have a reason to wound these people?” All five men flinched in fear as Erebos’s eyes met theirs.
“Isaac, if we tell the Capios to release you, will you be a good boy and listen to us?” Xavier raised his right eyebrow.
“Why would I want to listen to a word you three have to say?” I moaned, trying to break away from the creatures’ strong grasp. But my attempts failed.
“Have it your way, then,” Nephele said.
It would be a foolish thing to deny that they were powerful beings. The one with the gray eyes, Xavier, appeared to be one of Lucifer’s deadliest and most skilled servants.
“There is one thing that I would like to know,” Xavier said. “Where is the Lesser that was here in this village?”
Low grunts and painful moans came from Alistar. His knees trembled as he tried to stand on his feet.
“How do you…know…that one of the Lessers was here?” His legs were too weak to hold the weight of his body. He fell on his chest, striking his head against the ground.
“We are not deaf.” Erebos lifted his chin, narrowing his eyes. “We heard the creature’s screeches. That is how we found this village.”
Xavier’s foot encountered Alistar’s head, pressing it against the ground. “Tell me where the creature is,” he demanded. Alistar moaned as he moved his body around, trying to break free from his torment.
“The creature was killed before your arrival!” Demetre shouted, pointing to the guards. “These men carried its body away.”
“Another one lost,” Nephele whispered, looking at Xavier. “These blood-drinkers are destroying our army.”
“Please, let me go…” Alistar said in a weak voice.
Using the back of his foot, Xavier pressed down on Alistar’s skull, crushing it open. I flinched at the sound of his breaking bones. Sela screamed as she watched her father’s blood spill on the snow.
“Coward!” I shouted in anger as I tried to break free from the Capios’ hold. “All of you!”
“You all deserve death,” Devin said behind gritted teeth. He stared at Nephele with a contemptuous stare.
Nephele let out an ominous laugh. “And you don’t?” Her dark cloak dragged on the ground as she marched her way to him.
“Dad!” Sela continued to scream, laying her small hands on her father’s back. “Answer me.”
Nephele raised her hand in attempt to strike Devin on his face, but Devin grasped her wrist and twisted her arm behind her back. He followed his defensive move with a kick, which brought her to the ground.
Nephele’s face contorted in fury as she wiped the snow from her garments.