Bright One | Empire of Blood and Swords Series

47. Shadowed Rage

-47-
-Shadowed Rage-

The gate slammed open. Green wisps of power turned into dust as Saoirse put her palm down. Seth trailed after his sisters, eyes scanning the yard. Not only did these beasts came in to take Odette, they had the time to destroy each and every single one of the flowers.

Such beasts, Seth thought.

With a flick of Saoirse's hand, she brought the plants back to life. It is no mystery that she treasures the remaining flowers, once grew by Lucia. She stopped tending these plants after she fell ill. Small, yellow lights rose from the budding, filling the air with a soft clinking. At least the sachas were back.

Two lines of guards followed after them, sword in hand, powers ready to be summoned. But as the loud click-clack of their boots filled in the empty silence of the castle, Seth knew they were too late. The throne room was crystal clean, not even a speck of dirt on the throne.

It seems as though their enemy came only for one person. And then they were gone.

Suddenly, the a slight tremble of the ground hummed into the marrows of their bones. Not an earthquake, they knew, for their instincts didn't kick in.

Saoirse pointed to her right. "Patrol the grounds. Kill anything that moves."

The soldiers behind them bowed and left, walking in a neat line. These warriors were trained in that blood-spilled war-camp. Seth's only been there for two moons, and he hated every second of it. But he must admit, their discipline measures were top notch.

They warped, not even sparing a second to catch their breaths. If Odette is taken—If Crom has her, who knows what damage he could cause.

Seth's stomach dropped as they neared her room. Shattered glass were scattered all along the hallway. Reflecting the sunlight. Odette's door had been smashed into splinters, dust particles thick in the air.

"She's gone," Seth breathed, turning away with such heaviness in his heart.

He drove his palm onto the wall, cracks erupted from his force. It was only then did he realize a missing humming in his head. He searched for it, that thin thread which connected him with her. Again and again in that void. Still, nothing.

Severed. Crom severed their connection.

Then, Saoirse gasped.

"Mhamó," she whispered, sprinting away.

"Sister, wait!" Sapphire cried after her, hand raising forward. But she hesitated, torn between her littermate and brother. "Come, Seth, we'll get Odette back."

He doubted that they could. With that much power, Crom's lair could also be hidden in the human world. And the human world was so, so huge. He followed, running as he panted between breaths. Their paces quickened was blood was spilled on the ground, and smeared along the walls. None of them stopped until they saw Thompson outside the door, palms raised in the air as light snakes around his body. It was the bloodlust in his eyes which made Seth stop dead in his tracks.

He's never seen his grandfather full of shadowed rage before.

Dead bodies piled up on the ground, only one which was still alive. And that was the one their grandfather was torturing.

"Seanathair," Saoirse let out a relief breath.

Thompson motioned the room. "They left a few minutes ago." She took one glimpse at the room and dashed in.