Chapter 19 - What Lived Below the King
The first shadow climbed out without a face.
It had arms like a man and a body made of smoke.
Lucan stabbed it.
His sword passed through.
The creature touched a soldier.
The man dropped dead without a mark.
“Run!” Mara shouted.
More shadows poured from the pit.
Varrik lifted his old head.
The Hollow Ones.
Soren looked at him. “How do we kill them?”
We do not.
“That answer is getting old,” Tessa snapped.
Varrik dragged himself forward.
They feed on living flame. Dragon fire calls them. Human souls feed them.
Mara looked at Elara floating above the chamber.
“Then why are they avoiding her?”
Varrik’s eyes widened.
White fire.
Brin understood.
“Creation flame.”
Mara frowned. “Meaning?”
“Ordinary dragon fire destroys. White fire changes.”
A Hollow One rushed them.
Elara screamed.
A wave of white flame struck it.
The shadow became solid.
For one second it was a terrified human man.
Then it collapsed into dust.
Mara stared.
“She can kill them.”
Brin shook his head. “Not all of them.”
Hundreds climbed below.
Elara was already weakening.
Rowan pressed a hand to his wound.
“Close the pit.”
Selene looked at the melted crown.
“We need Drakeborn blood from both lines.”
Mara understood.
“Mine and Rowan’s.”
“And the child,” Selene said.
“No.”
“Mara—”
“No blades touch my daughter.”
Elara suddenly bit her own thumb.
A tiny drop of blood appeared.
Everyone stared.
Mara almost laughed through her tears.
“Of course you did.”
Rowan cut his palm.
Mara did the same.
Their blood fell together on the broken crown.
Elara’s drop landed last.
The metal flashed white.
The pieces lifted from the floor.
But instead of becoming a crown, they formed a ring around the pit.
The Hollow Ones shrieked.
The opening began to close.
Then Soren cried out.
A shadow had wrapped around his leg.
Mara grabbed him.
So did Selene.
The creature pulled harder.
Soren slipped toward the pit.
“Mara!”
She held on with both hands.
The seal was closing.
If they did not let go, all three would be dragged beneath it.
Selene looked at Mara.
Then at her son.
“No more children,” she whispered.
Before Mara understood, Selene released Soren, stepped forward, and threw herself onto the shadow.
“Mother!”
May you like
Selene and the creature fell together.
The pit slammed shut.
