Bleeding Ink

Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Adeena all but flew through the streets of Krahzara, not caring who saw her in her white attire without her hood up, not caring when the gasps and screams echoed at their realization of just who she was.

Both Lady in White and Lady Addie Merlo of Krahzara.

There were others yelling at her, their boots pounding the cobblestone streets a few dozen feet behind her. Malik and Kav. They were going to stop her, even though they couldn't stand the fact that their mother was the one who ordered Cleo killed or that she'd been controlling Adeena for practically all her life.

But she didn't care.

Didn't care that the stone Sophea wore around her neck would stop her before she plunged her dagger into her heart.

Didn't care that she would be attacked by the palace guard as soon as they realized where she was heading.

If anyone got in her way...well, they didn't have magic protecting their minds and bodies against hers.

The palace gates couldn't hold her back, even though they were being rushed closed as the guardsmen saw her approach. One twitch of her fingers and they all dropped to their knees, screaming in pain as fire laced through their minds. The gates were still trying to close with magic, but Adeena was able to slip through them just as they locked in place.

Malik was the first to slam against the bars, reaching his hand through to try and grab her. "Adeena, stop! You can't..."

She whirled around to face him just as Kav appeared beside him. "I can. I don't care what happens to me, Malik. She will pay for what she's done to me and Cleo. I don't care."

More guardsmen poured around from around the palace.

They were on their knees as soon as Adeena made eye contact with them.

"Get these gates open now," Malik demanded as soon as she was up the front steps, passing through the flung open doors. The guardsmen couldn't obey, though, not when they were still suffering from the echoes of her magic.

Every guardsmen throughout the palace tried to stop her. They couldn't. She didn't touch the staff, who coward against the walls as she stalked past, eyes brightening with realization of who and what she was.

She didn't stop until she reached the doors of Sophea's office, which were closed and locked.

One burst of Adeena's magic and they were open, the four guardsmen behind it knocked out instantly.

There Sophea stood, the fire blazing in the hearth behind her, making her glow.

Adeena lunged, her dagger instantly in her hand.

And came to a halt as soon as the blade was inches away from Sophea's heart, the stone necklace around her neck pulsing darkly.

Sophea's smile was one of nightmares, her hazel eyes growing even darker with another source of magic than the one she held in her palm. "You really thought you could kill me, my darling Adeena?"

Adeena bared her teeth. "I can and I will."

The empress laughed. "I would love to see you try. Oh, wait, you can't."

She might not have been able to move, to pierce Sophea's heart with her dagger just as she wanted, but Adeena's magic lashed out.

Only to slam into a wall that seemingly surrounded not only Sophea's body, but her mind as well. A wall made of darkness and shadows, one she so obviously hadn't put up on her own. She knew Sophea's magic and this...this wasn't made from it.