The Phoinix: Age of Demigods (7 page)

Once Eoghan released Bre, he stepped
back to look at her and drew a slow, deep breath. He knew how
impatient Breanna could be, so he quickly tried to explain his
actions to avoid another slap. “I am so sorry if I hurt you, Bre.
It was for your own safety. I had to get you out. We came as quick
as we could to protect your family.”

“What are you talking about, Eoghan? I
demand you explain everything at once! If my family is in danger,
we should be helping. You know we can’t be defeated when we fight
together.” Breanna was furious with Eoghan.

Before Eoghan could
answer, Bre looked around the room as she noticed the torches lit
without either of them igniting the flames. There was a large round
table with strange markings carved into the stone. In addition,
words written in a language she
had never
seen circled the room. Carvings in the wall attempted to tell a
story, no doubt depicting what was written in the mysterious
language.

Eoghan quickly regained her attention
by whipping her around to face him.

“Breanna, listen to me. This is one
battle we cannot win. Romulus is about to wage war against your
father. Clan MacCathail, an enemy of my clan, has joined his forces
to ensure the destruction of your bloodline,” Eoghan quickly
explained.

Breanna stood silently with her mouth
open at the sudden news of war.

Impatient and annoyed, Eoghan sighed,
but it sounded more like a growl. He left Bre and moved around the
room pushing against the walls. “There is another secret passage
here. Help me find it. We need to get you out.”

Breanna found her words again and
yelled, “What in the gods’ names are you doing, Eoghan? Answer my
question! Why are we not helping? And what is all this about Uncle
Romulus?”

“There is no time, Breanna! I don’t
think Romulus is aware of these passages, but I cannot take that
chance. He and your father think too much alike.”

“Eoghan you are not making any sense!
You need to…” Bre began before Eoghan cut her off.

“What I need is to get you out! Why
can’t you ever focus on the task at hand? I see the God of Sanity
never blessed you,” Eoghan yelled as he frantically searched the
walls. “Oi! Crazy woman, help me.”

Breanna pointed a
threatening finger in Eoghan’s direction
as she said
, “Don’t make me slap you
twice, Eoghan MacBeatha.”

Eoghan smirked at her threat, but
quickly hardened his expression. “Propheteia De’ Breanna Regina,
you are an impossibly stubborn woman!” He tried to hide his anxiety
but his voice trembled as he spoke. Breanna knew him too well not
to pick it up. He hated, yet loved how well she knew
him.

Breanna, shocked by the fact he knew
her full name, tried to demand how he knew it.

Sensing the argument they were about
to have Eoghan cut her off again, “Enough, Breanna! Help us get
out! If not for us then do it for yourself. You have always loved
doing things for yourself.”

Breanna gave a light gasp and stared
at Eoghan, hurt by his sharp words.

Eoghan saw her trembling
lip and knew how his words cut into her. No one had ever spoken to
the princess that way, let alone someone she cared about
deeply.
He would have gutted anyone who
did that to her.

Eoghan spoke in a comforting tone in
attempt to regain his composure, “Bre, I’m sorry. You are not
selfish. You are the most gracious, selfless person I know. I will
explain everything later, but we must get out of the palace.
Please, Breanna, the world can’t lose you…” Eoghan looked away and
mumbled so only he could hear his desperate words, “I can’t lose
you.”

Still upset, Breanna turned to walk
back through the passageway they came out of but there was no door.
She was trapped.

“Grrrrr, how do I get
back?”

Eoghan rolled his eyes and continued
his search for the secret door. He sighed and said under his
breath, “Oh, this is going to be fun.”

Breanna pushed against the wall but
hung her head in defeat. Her attempts of escape were fruitless.
Anger and concern caused her to slam her fist against the stone,
pleading for it open.

Suddenly, an overwhelming sensation of
fear filled her chest. Breanna turned to Eoghan, her face drained
of color and full of desperate tears.

All strength vanished from
her body
,
as if
her life was being drained. She collapsed
as
white smoke swirling with
electric blue lights clouded her vision.
Breanna closed her eyes as
Eoghan
whipped his hand through the air
and
shouted
, “
Mac
tire
.
”

Before she passed out, Breanna felt a
warm cushion where her head should have collided with the cold
stone floor.

Chapter 6

End of an Era

B
am!

The throne room doors of the Etruscan
palace crashed open, causing a thunderous clamor due to the
cathedral ceiling. Brian o’Conaill strutted through the door at
6’3” with dashing blue eyes, smooth brown hair that stopped short
of touching his ears and swept away from his eyes. He was dressed
in pristine silver Celtic battle armor. Brian, a handsome man
appearing to be in his mid-thirties, did not bother glancing around
the room he disrupted. Instead, he headed straight for the King
with his hand gripping the handle of his sword.

King Remus stood in alarm from his
throne and ran to meet the intruders.

“
Brian, what is the
meaning of this? Why are you and Cailean in such a panic?” Remus
watched the Gaelic war party spread through his opulent throne
room.

The Etruscan throne room was a
glorious example of the prosperity of the kingdom and the elegance
of their civilization. Greek pillars lined the room against white
mosaic walls that gleamed in the morning sunlight from the stained
glass windows. Two silver thrones encrusted with emeralds sat erect
in the center of the room. Snow-white tapestries embroidered with
silver wolves hung on all four walls. Crossing silver swords
wrapped with an olive branch hung from each pillar, symbolizing
Remus’ promise for protection and peace.

Brian held out his arm to grasps
Remus’. “Remus, dear friend, your neighboring kingdoms have risen
up against you. Our rival, Brathadair, leader of Clan MacCathail,
joined in their efforts.”

Behind Brian stood Cailean, matching
his height but even more handsome. Cailean had grey-blue eyes and
short brown hair. He looked in his mid-twenties, but carried
himself as a seasoned warrior, wearing the same Celtic battle armor
as his brother.

“Brian, we have to leave. Brathadair
would have arrived at the lower gates by now. They have not
breached the walls yet because of the spells around the palace. The
MacCathails will eventually break them and the walls will fall.
Your Etrusci soldiers will have no chance against them, Remus,”
warned Cailean.

“Impossible!” bellowed Remus. “My
walls are impenetrable, protected by Druid magic. Furthermore, my
Etrusci soldiers have never been beaten. We are in the gods favor.
My kingdom of Etruria will always prevail.”

Brian shook his
head
.
“The
MacCathails are a charmed Gàidheal clan, as we are. Brathadair
studied with me and he is a strong Druid. I am not sure how long we
have until they break the shield charms. Cailean is right;
eventually the Druid spells will fall.”

Brian cocked his head to the side as
if someone called out to him. He closed his eyes and pressed his
fingers to his temples, lowering his head so his chin almost rested
on his chest.

Brian swayed unsteadily until Remus
took hold of his friend. “What do you see?” he said,
panicked.

“The palace will be broken. Someone
has betrayed you from inside the walls. As I feared, the Druid
shields are failing because of that treason,” answered Brian,
wincing as he spoke.

“Who would create such a treacherous
act? The people have favored me and my family for
centuries.”

Brian looked at Remus, who stared back
with pleading eyes. “I fear for what I saw. You will lose those
closest to you, Remus.”

Remus, although taken aback by Brian’s
prediction, stood tall with his shoulders pushed back. He must
appear brash and steady for his soldiers. “You have said yourself
in the past that visions of the future are not always fulfilled as
they are presented.”

Even though Remus appeared calm, fear
consumed his mind. He placed a hand on his silver throne and
gripped the armrest as if the ground were slipping away from him.
Despite the sinking fear in his stomach, Remus said definitively,
“Fear not, friends. We are old and filled with the wisdom of
history.” Remus slightly chuckled, “The only person who stands a
chance at challenging me is my brother Romulus.”

From behind Brian, Cailean warned,
“Tell him, Brian. It won’t be long until he finds out.”

Remus’ eyes flickered between Cailean
and Brian curiously. “My dear friends, we have been close for years
now, since before I jumped the castle wall at Palatine Hill. Two
centuries ago, you helped me found this kingdom. Do not be afraid
to bear bad news.”

“It’s not you I fear, Remus; it is
losing you and the peace of our world. A destiny long forgotten is
befalling us, and it does not bode well for some,” Brian avoided
Remus’ eyes but washed over the soldiers in the room.

“We demigods are immortal. We will
always survive,” Remus smiled cunningly, only to appear confident
for his men.

“Cailean and I are a thousand years
old, Remus. And you being eight-hundred should know better than to
believe something can last forever,” Brian said with no hint of
amusement.

Remus felt his confidence wavering
with every flutter of his heartbeat. He had faced war hundreds of
times, but this time felt wrong. He was nervous, an accustomed
sensation. “What are you not telling me?”

Brian sighed and revealed the
devastating truth to his friend, “With the help of Clan MacCathail,
your brother Romulus has expanded his kingdom of Rome and is now
attacking Etruria. They have already burned the lower lands on
their march here. The time has come where your countries will be
united under one ruler: the victor of this battle.”

Heartbroken, Remus collapsed into his
throne with his elbows on his knees and head in his hands. “My own
twin would destroy the peace between our lands?”

“It is Rome,” replied Cailean with
disdain.

“Romulus
is
Rome,” corrected
Brian. He raised an eyebrow at Cailean, silently warning him to
watch his tone regarding Remus’ brother.

Cailean rolled his eyes and exhaled
forcefully. However, he remained quiet at Brian’s subtle
warning.

The throne room doors flew open once
more, but this time Queen Alina walked steely to her husband’s
side. Alina’s strawberry-blonde hair framed her snow-white face.
She had changed out of her emerald dress and into a silver tunic
that she tucked into black pants. A Kelly green skirt stemmed from
her waist and covered the back of her pants. Knee-high, black
leather boots with three silver buckles sheathing a dagger
completed the outfit for the warrior queen.

Alina exemplified the pure and perfect
shape of a woman as if she had been dipped into the River Styx. An
ornate sword hung from her hips that she brought with her from
Cymru. Emeralds and diamonds adorned its delicate filigree
design.

Remus was the antithesis of this
beautiful goddess. He appeared young and handsome, seemingly in his
late thirties. However, his salt and pepper hair hinted at his true
age. His eyes were brown with a golden hue that glowed at night. He
had visible battle scars on his limbs with hidden scars on his back
and chest.

Forgetting all formalities, Alina
threw her arms around Remus’ neck and whispered in his ear, “Remus,
please. We need to arm ourselves and prepare the army. I’ve seen
Romulus enter the castle grounds.”

Brian overheard the queen’s plea. “She
is right, Remus. The prophecies have been presented.”

Remus looked at his beautiful wife and
nodded. “Take the queen!” Remus ordered, pained by his own words
but desperate to protect her. Guards marched up to seize her. “I
will see you again.” Remus said to Alina as he walked across the
throne room with Brian.

Alina fought every guard that came
near. She moved with such grace as if dancing a waltz with her
opponents.

“Remus, please! Don’t do this! We are
stronger together. Romulus will not stand a chance against us all,
but we must stay together! You need my power,” she pleaded to her
husband as she knocked out several guards with her elbows, fist,
and sword hilt.

Alina froze in her attack when pain
seared through her abdomen.

The queen
fell to floor after a cool, smooth object slid
out from her stomach. She heard her husband shout her name in a
mixture of fury and panic as he sprinted towards her.