Chapter Twenty-Eight

The world fell from beneath my feet as darkness enveloped me.

This beast had killed Philippa. And my mother.

Tendrils of hatred wrapped my heart in a cold embrace. The burning agony of wrath coursed through my veins.

I gripped Mother’s pendant in my hand and faced the serpent. The voice that came from my mouth felt detached and otherworldly—as if it were another person speaking: “Spirit, awaken.”

Shadows spewed from all around me, causing me to drop the pendant. I backed against the wall as the world was completely engulfed in darkness. The Orandine’s jeweled, serpentine form disappeared as the room dissolved into black. The only light came from an unassuming hovering figure that was immersed in a soft, blue glow.

The words I said before came back to me. Was this the creature linked to me? Was it inside the pendant?

The being hung motionless in the center of the black dome that surrounded me. I stepped forward, my dress sliding on the floor. “Are you the spirit?” That was the only logical explanation for this creature: it was a spirit. If I could harness its power, I would be able to destroy the monster that murdered my mother.

“You…” The spirit’s voice was soft and feminine, like a feather—a breath of wind. “…are a fool.”

I stepped back in surprise, only to be met with a bitterly cold wall. The dome of darkness was shrinking, enclosing upon us. I turned to the spirit. “What do you mean?”

Two brilliant ivory eyes shone through the light. They narrowed at me disdainfully. “To summon a pure entity with those feelings is blasphemy,” the spirit said. “I refuse to help you.”

I didn’t understand. What feelings? I only wanted to save Titus and the others! “But—”

“You are engulfed in the very hatred that destroyed our worlds,” it said. “I will not assist a creature with such impurities.”

And with that, the spirit disappeared, leaving me alone in the infinite darkness.

                                                ————————

My eyes opened only to rest upon long, sharp fangs. The Orandine towered above me, his mouth bared in preparation to strike.

I cried out in fear, sinking to the ground and scooting away. But he didn’t move. The jeweled Orandine was frozen. I recognized the familiar tension in the air—the same feeling of Natz’s barrier. But it was different from his barrier. I couldn’t explain it, but there was a feeling of in the room.

Kasib’s violet iris pulsed, swiveling to me. I jolted to my feet and looked around for a form of escape. The only plan I had was ruined—the spirit had rejected me. But why? It said I was impure—that my feelings were impure. But I only wanted…

Revenge.

The anger that overwhelmed me before turned into a stagnant drumming in my veins. I put my palm to my forehead and closed my eyes. . The Rift Wars were fueled by the hatred of vengeful beings. Those feelings had destroyed the bond between our two worlds—the worlds of humans and magical creatures. And didn’t I just summon the spirit that wanted to the world from those feelings?

The body of the Orandine vibrated, as if struggling against a powerful force. He was going to break through the spirit’s barrier and Natz wouldn’t come in time to save me. I had to get away. Or at least unchain Clarice and Titus. I hurled myself at the dais and tried desperately to break Titus free of the shackles binding his hands.

But it was of no use. I did not have superhuman strength or courage. I only had a spirit that rejected me.

I whirled at the sound of the Orandine’s jeweled scales clinking against the marble flooring. Kasib’s serpentine body moved with precision, a murderous intent in his eyes. “What did you do, Harbinger?”

Despite my lack of strength and courage, I knew that there was thing I had. “I froze you,” I said, with a silent prayer that this bluff would work. “And I can do many more things like that. There’s a powerful spirit who is eager to destroy you, Kasib.” I indicated to the pendant pinned to my—

I realized with horror that my pendant was missing. My gaze traveled to the place where Kasib had cornered me. The pendant lay on the ground, emitting a soft blue light.

I swallowed as the Orandine stuck his face in front of me. A slow smile revealed his sharp fangs. “Is that so?”

I ducked as his long tail whipped out to catch me. He missed by an inch, but now his body completely surrounded me. “I’m not lying!” I squeaked. “There’s a spirit in that pendant!” Part of me wanted to kill myself for sacrificing the only thing Mother left for me. The other part only wished to live—to do anything to preserve my wellbeing.

The Orandine’s eyes drew together as his head swiveled to where the pendant lay. I took the opportunity to take Natz’s dagger from my bodice and slash—hard—against the jeweled scales of the Orandine and vault over his tail.

Sparks flew, forcing me to let the dagger fly. With an infuriated hiss, Kasib recoiled. My heart dropped when I saw the pristine condition of his scales. The dagger didn’t even scratch him. And now I was weaponless.

The Orandine screeched at me and wrapped his tail around me. “How you? You call yourself the Harbinger, yet you can barely lift a finger against me. Die.”

A strangled scream escaped my mouth as the Orandine squeezed me. The vaulted ceiling of the throne room swam before my eyes.

I was going to die.

“Kasib,” I gasped. “Stop. You don’t know what you’re doing. You’re chained to a master that thinks you are useless!” I didn’t know where the words came from, but the Orandine hesitated for a brief moment, allowing me to breathe. “Cicero—whoever he is—is using you. He threatened to kill you, so why serve him? Why are you doing this?”

Kasib’s slitted gaze pierced my own. “‘’” he seethed. “Why ? These people—these as they call themselves—murdered my entire race. My entire . All because of one rogue Orandine who assassinated the Arian king.” He bared his fangs at me. “I was left alone, banished to the realms of that cursed desert. This world is in far too much turmoil for humans to be ruling Etheia. I am doing us all a favor by disposing of these unfit rulers.”

“Do you think that will change anything?” I cried in desperation. “These Royals, as they are now, are .”

“They are murderers!” Kasib’s gaze flared, and it was at that point when I sensed the deep hatred concealed within his heart. There was betrayal in his eyes. Pain. Anger. He was a broken spirit looking for peace.

“And you think this will put you at peace?” I asked. “You are acting upon the revenge that tore our world apart. That revenge—that anger—is exactly what is preventing the reign of peace in Etheia.” I found myself repeating the words the spirit had said to me. “That anger is what destroyed your brethren when one of them went rogue and assassinated the king!” I threw my hands in the air as I revealed my deepest thoughts to a creature who I only hoped would heed my cry. “I don’t know who I am. You call me a Harbinger, someone who is supposed to bring peace to this world. But all I am is a scared human girl. I am powerless, cowardly, and I can’t defend those whom I love most.” The tears streaming down my face blurred my vision and dripped onto his glistening scales. “But I’ve made the resolve to take my destiny into my own hands and become a Harbinger—to be what my mother dreaded most. Because that is the only way that I can save this ravaged world,” I said. “I don’t want to be scared anymore. I don’t want to hate anymore.” Emotion overcame me, causing my lip to tremble. I forced myself to go on, “Kasib, I know that humans have betrayed you in the worst way possible. And I am sorry. On the behalf of my kind, I apologize in every way.”