Fire Weaver (Fall of the Fey #1)

Chapter 36

Mel fell out of the fire. For the first time since she was a child she did not land on her feet. She had fallen face first out of the fire. Lucius landed beside her, coughing, his hand still clutching hers tightly.

'Any guesses where we are?' Mel asked while opening her eyes. they were in a small house and for a moment Mel thought they had somehow been taken back to the Husband and Wife's house. But there were subtle differences. This house was not creaky and the table and room was much larger. There was more than two doors, which indicated more rooms than just the one they had landed in.

Mel dragged herself up and groaned as she did so, Lucius did the same. She was so heavy and tired, she knew that she wouldn't be able to do much more today. No magic and no fighting, she wasn't even sure she could walk considering how much effort it took to stand.

She walked to the front door because she couldn't think of anything else to do and was blown away. The house they were in was on a hill that rolled slowly to the coast. The sun was just beginning to rise and it  kissed the sea in the horizon. The water looked like liquid gold. Lucius appreciated the view from behind her for a few moments before he spoke.

'We are at Ghaulfo.' Lucius stated. The small island off the coast of the south, that is all she knew about it. Not many Fey had ever needed, or wanted, to come here. 'There is only place where boats can safely dock and one port in Obikwa that ships here.'

'Tobi must be somewhere on this island.' Mel murmured still watching the sun, soaking up the warmth.

'No.' The voice echoed around the small island.

'Was that.?' Mel asked. Lucius raised his brows at her. 'Do you know where that would have come from?'

'The top of the hill,' Lucius said. They didn't need to discuss what they were going to do next. They run up the hill. Mel fought the urge to crawl, she panted, her muscles strained. She was glad that the house wasn't far from the top.

When they reached the top they came upon a large clearing with a shallow concret pool filled with something red. Mel saw people lying like dolls beside the pool. Lucius withdrew his sword, it whined softly.

'Carmel?' A voice called incredulous and loud. Faux sat shackled to a tree, blood dripping from multiple cuts.

Mel's eyes were attracted by movement and saw the man, covered in tattoos, staring intently at the pool of blood. At his feet laid Tobi with two other children. Mel wondered why they didn't run.

The pool rippled and began to shiver. She watched in horrified fascination as a head pulled itself out of the congealing blood, because that it what the red liquid was, Mel recognised. A man slowly took form and there was nothing Mel could do but watch.

When he was fully formed he walked with slow, steady steps, out of the pool. He grabbed the labels of the coat he was wearing and adjusted it with one quick, sure, movement. The blood sprayed off his entire body to the ground around him.

Lucius made a harsh sound.

'I've brought you a gift.' The Necromancer gestured to Faux. 'I did what you asked, you will save my sister now. Like you promised.'

The Necromancer had done all this to save his sister?

The man reached out and touched the Necromancers face in a loving caress, which slowly turned forceful. Mel could see the veins in the Necromancer's face turn black from where she stood across the field.

'Jacoby.' Lucius whispered, it sounded like a prayer. The Necromancer dropped to the ground, a husk. Lucius yelled: 'Jacoby.'

The man turned slowly and smiled. Lucius roared, his face contorted in primal rage as he ran at the other man.

Jacoby, the Demon King, disappeared.

END