A Kingdom of Bloodshed (A Crimson Court Series)

*¬*Chapter Forty Two*¬*

     Violent waves rip through the air around us and knocks many off their feet. It tears from my skin and core, screaming through the very center of the universe. We hit the ground with a horrible crash, my body slamming into the mud and rocks as Sauron slams into my stomach.

The air snaps from my lungs, the life circling around my heart eventually goes quiets. Until in a singular moment, everything stops and all there is; is silence.

⤗

    Althea and Sauron hit the earth in a horrible display of power. I watched as she hit the earth first, their fall from Mount Voiceless was long. I could do nothing to stop it, to prevent them from diving headfirst towards the earth. I could only watch.

Together they plummet towards the ground and just as they're about to hit, Althea unleashes herself. That crown upon her head erupted into light. I've never seen anything like it. I've never felt such power.

I watch as violet waves crash through us. Ripping the air from our lungs and pressing us into the ground. I'm on my knees, holding my throat when I hear the roaring boom of their bodies shattering the earth.

My heart races in my chest as I glance up, trying to push against the suppressing force of Thea's power but I can't. Even my magic is no match for it.

By the gods...

Violet domes encircle us, keeping some of us safe while others are screaming in agony. Shields. She's shielding us from the worst of her power.

Arrow, Raven, Ryder and Fin are crouched next to me, staring at the purple dome above their heads.

"By the gods... what is that?"

"That is Thea unleashing her full power."

No one says a word. No one speaks as we turn towards the thick cloud of dust that encircles their crash site. I try to see through it, towards my mate. I try to listen for her. There is nothing.

"How can we stop it?" Arrow whispers.

"I don't think we can. Not unless we use the power of all four kingdoms." Now they're all looking at me. "You mean, someone becomes a conduit to battle against Thea?" Ryder rasps. I blink, "Only if it comes to it. If needed, I'd like to be the one to give the killing blow, should the perversion of the Crown swallow her alive."

No one speaks after that. As one we turn towards the cloud of dust and wait.

⤗

       Hello beautiful queen. It's so nice to finally meet you.

Darkness purrs to me, sliding caressing fingers along my cheeks and through my hair. The Crown laughs softly as it reaches deeply within my being and plucks at the kernel of demon blood that's been silently waiting for decades.

It's time we use this. Combine that with your Blood Bending magic and the power of your ancestor, you will become a creature of history. Unstoppable. When you awaken from this slumber, you will be changed. Unrecognizable.

Something shifts within my being. I watch as my body starts to change, as the roaring Blood Demon tries to pry our hands apart but fails. Something clicks into place.

It begins to eat at my being. The darkness spreads through my veins, it tears at my tendons. It devours every good thing about me. Screaming.

I am screaming. I am wailing, sobbing, bursting from the inside. It presses against my ribs, tearing at my skin. Everything is different. My hair is no longer auburn, but a deep maroon. My skin is now a dark tan instead of a light bronze. My cheekbones and jaw have sharpened. But the rest of me stays the same, just thinning out in certain areas. But it's my eyes... they frighten me the most. They're no longer a blue-green tint, now they're completely violet with a ring of gold.