The God & The Shadow

Chapter 71

VERONICA

As soon as I began my descent down the long spiraling cement stairs, I cursed myself for my idiocy.

I made a mistake.

I never should've given Cassian the book, if only to prevent me from doing the very thing it is that I'm doing now. I've thought about it long before I even planned on retrieving it, but at the time I thought I had a chance with Demitricus.

I couldn't let myself be their Queen if it meant destruction and death to all of the Twelve Realms.

"Lady Veronica," Edmund, the knight we met that day we first entered the Fifth Realm, stood alongside another soldier from his station by the large metal door.

I gave him a nod of acknowledgment. "Edmund. You look well."

"Thank you, my lady. How am I to serve you today?"

"Don't take it personally," He didn't have the time to protect himself when I knocked him unconscious. His companion stared in shock, dropping next to Edmund when I did the same. Crouching to check their pulses, I stood with satisfaction when I felt the steady thrumming beneath my finger pads.

I grabbed the key attached to Edmund's belt and inserted it through the lock. It fit perfectly and turned, but the door didn't budge despite the embarrassing amount of times I pulled, pushed, and kicked it.

"Shit." I cursed under my breath. Expelling a deep breath, I closed my eyes and willed for it to wake. My powers that I spent all that useless time resting to recuperate. I smiled when I felt it pervade my entire body.

I opened my eyes and took a step forward. I placed a single finger on the metal door and immediately, it flew back and hit the concrete wall on the other side of the wall, a single dent at the center of it. Satisfied, I took a tentative step inside.

It was a dome of some sorts, entirely made out of concrete and lit by a single torch at the center of the room where the Book of Virulence laid peacefully on a lectern. I had no doubts about Cassian making good on his promise to listen to my instructions on making the book irretrievable, but I had to try.

I knew I could ask him to simply give it to me, but the risk was too high. His loyalties were with Lore, not me. And if he found out? The plan would be instantly gone the moment he does.

My hand struck out and a withered rose immediately bloomed from my palm. I threw it to the center of the room. When nothing happened, I fought hard to stay patient and wait, and I was thankful I did. A few seconds later the room started flooding with water which I could not find where it came from.

I moved quickly, my knees already deep in the water. An invisible barrier kept the water from pouring out of the entrance just as it had when we visited the Blacksmith, but I didn't have time to wonder what kept it there. The water was quicker than me.

Taking a deep breath, I swam towards the book and latched on to it. My jaw hardened when it wouldn't budge, as if the book itself was glued unto the lectern. The single torch that lit the room now full of water remained unbothered, illuminating my dark surroundings.

I quickly swam up and gasped with the little space left of air. What the hell did Cassian do? What did I need to do to unlock it? What do I do?