From Shadow to Light - Book Ten

Ch. 19- The End of Times

"Queen of swords, mistress of grief, lady of tears."

***

My hands were behind my back when I circled Erebus like prey. The rest were standing around us as a sort of protection but none said a word. This was mine and they all knew it and didn't interfere. The god of darkness was still chained by my sunlight as Lyka spoke softly in my mind. Look at those surrounding you, Princess. They love you enough to risk their lives, to let you carry out this plan they know nothing about. I am sure they will feel angry once they find out.

I'd rather let them be angry at me than have to bury their bodies, Lyka. This is the only way to make Erebus pay. Not only for me but for you.

I searched Lyka's obsidian eyes for a hint of emotion, but there was nothing. She wouldn't share anything until the time was right. She stood between the gods of death, much larger than anyone here but she didn't notice that face. Not until Erebus found what I was staring at intently. His intense gray eyes widened as the shadow transformed into a wolf, one who was growling at him. What is it that you say? Fuck him up?

A smile curled my mouth as I sent a sunlight kiss to her cheek. Yes.

Fuck him up, Soari Breevort.

Always.

"It's amazing what a little Minotaur's blood will do," I spoke to Erebus now. He turned his focus on me now, anger boiling him from the inside out that made my powers wince beneath my veins. "She's beautiful, isn't she?"

"Is that how you snuck into my Kingdom? By creating these...abominations? I am sure they promised to protect you and your darling family but I was the one that made them into these vicious creatures first. Do you really think any of them will follow you?" Erebus questioned, raising an eyebrow as he glared at his brother, Moros. "Always weak for those lesser than you, brother. Are you here to watch me die?"

"I wouldn't call the woman that trapped you numerous times weak, little Erebus," Moros said coolly. When Erebus snarled, he continued, paying no attention to how the darkness within him grew and grew. My sunlight started to squirm but I ignored it, instead stealing a glance toward the man I love. Amias nodded once which gave me all the confidence I needed to end this once and for all. "Watching you die will be one of the highlights of my immortality as it will give me a reason to celebrate for centuries to come. I am sure you heard the revels all of us gods attended when Keres died."

Erebus tilted his head to the side. "I've always wondered why you sought out these lowly creatures instead of your family, why you protected their precious worlds. It is because you would rather see us dead, Moros."

"What's so wrong with wanting my family dead? They gave me no reason to let them live." My fists were clenched enough to make my fingernails make my palms bleed but I pressed on. Erebus's shadows started attacking my sunlight, a battle not by the body but by our power sources. He was stalling so he could get the upper hand on me, but I wouldn't let that happen. Not now, anyway.

One more second and you can let go, my sweet sunlight. This is part of our plan, remember? Let him capture your light for only a moment. I took a step back and it was all over. The control I had over Erebus—was gone. My legs stumbled to the ground as my powers began to deplete, his shadows taking over as he did months ago. My mind was hazy because I was not sure who was screaming my name. All I knew was that Erebus escaped his chains and was now heading toward Moros and Verena, even Lyssa, who looked absolutely terrified. He called upon a few of his shadows to fight off mine, many of them leading them outside to protect us from their wrath. We were dealt with the god alone. Amias picked me up and it was like my sunlight let out a slight breath from this touch. I did, too. "Baby, baby. You need to finish this,"

Erebus threw the god of deaths into a corner, his shadows choking the life out of them. He turned his attention to Lyssa de Blaire, pure rage and beauty. He slit her throat with one wave of his hand and did not care enough to see her collapse to the ground, her parents crying out in fear. With unnatural strength, the god slammed my Father down to the ground like it was so fucking easy to do, then moved on to breaking my mother's neck. Both lay on the ground, slowly healing. My friends and siblings were left, as I can see Helios left without another word. He was needed later. Kalama's fire was drained of power, and so was Aeson's ice. Luc was bleeding through his head while the two soldiers I called friends were holding their broken bones roughly, too injured to move. Emmeline and Rose were slowly dying as shadows curled around their throats, slowly killing them.

I whirled to Amias. "Go."

He kissed me quickly, not enough for me to savor his touch. I slowly stood up even if my body told me to give up, to rest. Erebus, the monster at the center of everything wrong with my life. He was the one that captured me, forced me to marry him, and almost got away with turning me into a goddess of his own making. He stole Amias away from me, made him hate me, and is now trying to destroy my world. Erebus has done enough. Now is my turn to make him pay for everything he did. Erebus was seconds away from plunging the double-edged sword into Amias's chest and my heart beat a mile a minute. Amias Guinevere, fiercely stared at Erebus like he was waiting for the final blow. "Go ahead, kill me. But she will never be yours."

Erebus snarled, the blade close to Amias's heart. The one that beats for me.

"Maybe not now. But she will be."

It took seconds, but I would fucking do it again. To save him from the wrath of the god. To save every goddamn person in that throne room, fighting for their lives. The tip of the blade protruded into his chest but Erebus did not have the chance to go further. I pushed Amias out of the way with my Vampire speed and felt Erebus plunge the blade right into my heart, pain following close behind.