A Kingdom of Bloodshed (A Crimson Court Series)

*¬*Chapter Twenty Seven*¬*

       A sea of black ripples under my backside as I float along the surface. The silence of this place is endless. Soft, gentle, quiet.

So very quiet. My hair spills along the inky surface and my fingers are like pale beams of light splitting the dark. I could float here forever in this realm of silence. I could sleep peacefully without worry that I may lose my life at any second. Not having to worry about finding some ancient Crown that will save my world.

Thea. A tender voice spills over my chest, her soft tones seeming to warm the water in which I float upon. Leaning further into the water, I let the warmth soothe my aching bones. I could stay here forever.

Althea, hear me. Again that feminine voice calling to me, whispering through this place of quiet. Something is familiar about her voice. "Myra?" I call out, my words echoing through the midnight air above me. Listen to me, warrior blood. You are in great danger. The crown is in great danger. A terrible, ancient, evil is coming.

"Wasn't Xavier the evil we had to worry about? I have the Crown. We've won." I try to look for her, but I cannot see her anywhere. It is just me, floating on the water as it pushes me along. The gentle current tugging at my arms, my fingers, my hair. Listen, Thea. Someone worse is coming. Something that should remain buried in the darkest depths of Hell, where it's been for the last several centuries. I begin to worry, what evil is she talking about? "Myra, what is coming?"

I spin now, letting my feet sink beneath the surface as I splash about to keep myself afloat. Looking.

I'm looking for her but there is no one else here. "Where are you?" Something grabs my ankle and yanks. My yelp is swallowed by the impenetrable dark of the water.

I can do nothing but fight against the tugging, the pulling. Something is dragging me deeper. Down, down, down. My lungs begin to scream, to plead for air. I'm going to die. Again.

The thing holding me lets go and I kick upwards, swimming for the surface. But the surface never seems to come. It just seems to get further and further away.

We called him Sauron, meaning the terrible Dread in the language of Black tongues. He's a Blood Demon that rules over Hell. He once roamed this world, devouring everything in his sight. Sauron needs to remain in Hell. If Augustus summons him, and then uses the crown to call upon Xavier we are all doomed.

What is she talking about? I can't breathe, I can't think. I'm drowning. Drowning, drowning, drowning.

I stop swimming, my arms and legs giving out. The cool water caresses me, pulling me deeper into its depths. My sight begins to blur when I feel arms come around me and rush upwards.

Now I'm soaring. Flying through the water as if it were second nature. Breathe. Gasping at the stillness I inhale sharply, oxygen once more entering my lungs. Those arms are around me still, holding tight. When I've recovered, I glance over my shoulder and blink, "Myra?"

You still need me, dear child. Please heed this warning. Augustus will awaken both Sauron and Xavier. Do not let that happen. Protect the Crown at all costs. One evil is enough, but two... we will not survive that war. Sauron will make the ground run with blood and everyone you love will die. Not even Augustus knows the power of this Blood Demon. He will be hungry and full of rage. You need to stop him.

Both of you.

"Myra, I'm dead. How can I stop a Blood demon from rising if I'm not alive?"

She shakes her head and brushes wet strings of hair from my face. You will not remain like this for long. You are not dead, Althea. Close to it but not quite.