Zodiac Academy 8.5: Beyond The Veil

I took in Lionel’s freshly made army of Bonded Men where they fought with the rebels in the amphitheatre. Merissa and I shared a look of horror then I lunged forward instinctively as fire bloomed our way from the jaws of an ugly brown brute of a Dragon passing overhead. The flames swept through us, the two of us untouchable of course, but I realised my hands had been raised in defence despite the fact my Elements were long lost to me.

I glanced back at Merissa but found her running away across the sand on Catalina’s heels, the two of them reaching Xavier Acrux just as Radcliff materialised beside him too.

Lionel’s son fought with a ferocity that spoke of the injustice and pain he had faced at the hands of these Dragons, his hatred spilling freely out of him as he took on one of the bonded men in their Fae form.

“That’s it,” Radcliff whooped at Xavier. “Back straighter, shoulders squared. Never let him get you on the back foot.”

In a blink, I joined them, pushing against The Veil to remain there while Catalina watched on in terror.

“You are a stain on your father’s name, you should be ashamed of yourself, you little runt,” Xavier’s opponent spat at him, fire blasting from his hands again, but Catalina’s son sent his own fire back at him that was twice as hot. “He should have drowned you at birth.”

“You bastard, Cyril, I always despised you,” Catalina snarled, diving forward and swinging her fist at him, even though it sailed straight through without touching him.

Hamish materialised beside Catalina as if he had sensed her anguish, bracing her and looking to Xavier in terror.

“Oh Kitty,” he breathed. “Never fear. Your boy has the heart of a walrus.”

My eye caught on Max Rigel standing on a pillar of air and firing flaming arrows at anyone who got in his way. His mother, Serenity, watched from below, her eyes brimming with pride as she cheered him on, though he couldn’t hear her any more than the rest of the living could hear us.

Xavier’s flames curled around Cyril’s head, blinding him for a moment and he quickly pressed his advantage, tugging his metal Pegasus horn free of his pocket. It seemed as though he were about to strike Cyrus, but he hesitated, his features pinched in turmoil.

“It’s okay, Xavier.” Catalina moved up behind him, resting a hand on his shoulder. “Death is justice for men like this.”

Before Cyril could escape Xavier’s flames, he made his decision, plunging the horn deep into Cyril’s chest, a shout of effort leaving him.

“Woohoo!” Radcliff cried, leaping forward and clapping Xavier on the arm. “Did you see that, Cat?” He elbowed Catalina. “Your boy’s a man now.”

“He was a man long before this moment,” Catalina said, raising her chin.

Cyril spluttered, blood splashing over Xavier from his parted lips as his fire died out, leaving them staring eye to eye with one another.

“I’m no runt,” Xavier snarled, twisting the horn.

Cyril tried to summon his magic, but death was moving forward on silent wings. I felt The Veil opening for him, his soul hovering at the edges of his body as he fought to live. But Xavier was showing no mercy, his teeth bared, his gaze full of so many years of abuse it didn’t bear thinking about.

Merissa smiled at Catalina, moving to her and together they watched Xavier secure his kill.

“This is for them,” Xavier hissed, love and loss tearing through his words and Catalina released a shuddering breath, knowing he meant her and Darius. “And you won’t be the last.”

He yanked the metal horn from Cyril’s chest, setting fire to his body as he fell.

Cyril came tearing through The Veil and Catalina pounced like an alley cat, kicking out the backs of his legs so he hit the ground beneath her. She gripped his hair in her fist, her foot slamming down on his spine to hold him there as she spoke in his ear, “Hello, Cyril.”

He turned his head, taking her in with wide eyes, lips quivering. “Wh-where am I?”

Hamish stepped forward, crouching low and glaring like a heathen. “This is the deep, dark yonder, you sandy flan of a fellow.”

“Crucia is calling you,” Catalina growled, rising to her feet and dragging Cyril along by the hair. “I’ll take you to the Harrowed Gate myself.”

Radcliff booted Cyril in the ass before The Veil could steal the three of them away. “Never liked him. Big ego, tiny Dragon.”

The Veil shivered around us and I lost sight of the battle, my hand finding Merissa’s as we pushed back against the barrier, seeking out our children and leaving Radcliff behind.

We found Gabriel first, bound in chains while Vard dragged him through the palace, our son unable to use magic.

“Let go of him,” Merissa snarled, pressing forcefully against The Veil to try and claw at Vard’s face. But he passed right through her, tugging Gabriel after him, his head hung low in defeat. It was so unlike him, and I feared this misfortune would be the thing to finally break him.

“It wasn’t Gabriel’s fault,” I snarled. “How was he to tell his loved ones that fate had changed when he is trapped here?”

“He will not forgive himself so easily,” Merissa said in despair, reaching for our son.

Time rippled again and I found us deeper within the palace where Vard still shoved Gabriel along.

“Quiet now, aren’t you?” Vard chuckled. “By the end of this war, you will likely have no one left. No wife, no kid. All your disgusting rebel family good and dead where they belong.”

Gabriel roared in defiance, lunging at Vard but the Cyclops blasted flames at him, sending him stumbling backwards with fire scorching his arms.

“Get away from him!” Merissa screamed.

Vard closed in on Gabriel and the palace rumbled right down to its core as the magic of old called to us. The useless Seer didn’t seem to notice as his fire sizzled out and he closed in on Gabriel with a sneer, but our boy glanced up at the ceiling like he could sense the power brewing in the stone.

“Maybe I’ll melt your lips shut and your eyes too. I can get into your mind anyway, that’s all we need of you,” Vard threatened, and my Hydra bellowed from deeper beyond The Veil, flying this way as rage scored a line through my chest. This rage in me was murderous, the kind that would have seen a hundred dead had I still possessed my crown in the living realm.

I stalked up behind Vard, but Merissa got there first, throwing her power into the door to his right and making it fly open so violently that it nearly came off the hinges. It slammed right into the Cyclops, sending him tumbling backwards down the corridor like a ragdoll.

Gabriel’s eyebrows rose in surprise, and he looked right at Merissa where she stood by the door, squinting as if trying to see her.

Vard sat upright with blood streaming from his shattered nose and he quickly healed it, swiping at the blood and releasing a small murmur of fear. He glanced left and right, hunting for who had opened that door, and I prowled towards him, the walls trembling and the lights flickering overhead.

“Wh-who’s there?” he stammered. “Show yourself!”

“I think you would piss yourself if you could see me now, worm,” I hissed, my boots striking the tiles with such power that he could hear the pound of them in the living realm.

“Wh-who is that?” Vard raised his hands, fire flashing in them.

“I think my mother and father are close,” Gabriel whispered, his eyes roaming, still seeking us out.

“I’m here, my love,” Merissa called to him, but he didn’t hear her.

“Nonsense,” Vard spat, trying to get to his feet, but I stamped down hard on the tiles and crack shot along them, making him scream in fright. The shockwave rocked through the hall and sent him falling back onto his ass.

I couldn’t do any more than that, but the terror in his good eye was enough. He knew what would find him in death, and so help him when he walked through The Veil. For Merissa and I would be waiting.

The power in the palace ebbed away and I felt suddenly drained, the strength it had taken to do so much leaving me exhausted. Not in any physical way, but like a tap had been left running on the energy of my soul. Merissa came to me, looking as weary as I, but her presence gave me some strength to hold onto.

Gabriel had renewed hope in his eyes, and I was sure our efforts had not been for nothing. The Veil swept us back, but Max’s mother Serenity burst into view between a haze of golden mist and the vague view of The Palace of Souls hovered beyond her.

“Hail, Merissa, I need you. My son and Xavier Acrux are cornered. I cannot wield the palace as you can. Please. You must help them escape.” Serenity gripped Merissa’s arm and we moved with her in an instant.

Before we reached them, a piercing song blasted through the air, making me wince from the power of it. I clapped my hands over my ears and the others did the same, the song so terrible it cut through into The Veil, forcing us back.

I dug my heels in while Serenity pulled us nearer, and the tune of death and destruction roared ever louder.

“What is that?” I yelled.

“My son’s Dread Song,” Serenity said, looking to me with a fierce smile.

As we made it closer, The Veil thinned and souls came spilling through, each still kicking, screaming and thrashing against the monstrous song that had caused their end. They remained unaware of their death for a few seconds more before The Veil snatched them away, many no doubt being sent straight to the river and the Harrowed Gate.

We reached the room where Max was holding off the Dragons with his song, while Xavier hunted for a way out from the dead end, carefully holding a set of Pegasus wings in his arms. I couldn’t believe he had found them, and prayed to the stars they were still salvageable.

Catalina and Hamish had returned, and Radcliff was grappling with an iron candle stick on the wall which he seemed convinced was the answer to their problems.

“Surely this ugly thing must have a purpose!” Radcliff cried. “An entrance to a secret tunnel or a panic room perhaps. Why else would someone have such a hideous thing hung on their wall?”

“That was my grandmother’s,” I snapped, shoving him away from it and Radcliff wrinkled his nose.

“You mean to say someone bought that because they were fond of it?” he balked.

“This is not the time!” Serenity shouted over the piercing song that was still puncturing the air.

“There must be a bunny run, or a wibble wander way, perhaps a jolly man’s jiffy hole?” Hamish looked to me in desperation. “Where is the jiffy hole, my king?”

“If you mean the passage, it is over here.” I marched past him.

“There’s nothing here,” Xavier mouthed to Max from within his silencing bubble, and Max nodded in understanding, thinking there was no way out. But there was, I just wasn’t sure I had the strength to open it.

I hurried to the wall where the door was hidden and Merissa joined me, the two of us throwing all we had into opening that door.

“Come on, old palace friend. Remember me?” I said through my teeth.

“Good palace. Daddy Hail is here,” Radcliff said, placing a hand on my shoulder and lending me his strength. “Now open your door nice and wide for him.”

“Stop that,” Merissa clipped, and Radcliff laughed, clearly loving the chaos of all this.

“Please hurry,” Serenity begged, placing her hand on Merissa’s arm to give her strength while Hamish and Catalina did the same.

“I shall give you my deepest seed of power, oh great Vegas,” Hamish called over the wailing song and Max blasted the doors apart, clearly intending to leave. “I will summon it from my banded balls.”

“Stop talking,” I gritted out, trying to focus and Radcliff laughed harder.

The clash of magic and roar of that song was so loud it began to drown out everything and my vision flickered a little at the power channelling through me and fresh souls tearing away into The Veil around us.

Max and Xavier left the room and I cursed, changing tact, and launching us all into the secret passage I was trying to access, dragging the souls of my friends and wife with me. We spun along through the darkness, becoming formless and swirling together into one single ball of power. All of them were yelling a battle cry in my ears, except Radcliff who was still laughing like a madman, and then I drove us into the hidden door further along the corridor where Max and Xavier must have been.

It flew open with so much force that it banged against the wall and all of us went tumbling across the ice-covered floor, splitting apart as our souls reformed. My hand found Merissa’s and I pulled her close, lifting my head to find Xavier and Max racing down the path we’d offered them.

Fae were strewn across the floor, either still trapped by the Dread Song or long dead, laying in a pool of cooling blood.

Merissa drew me to my feet, and we chased after Serenity, Catalina, Hamish and Radcliff as they followed the boys into the dark.

The roar of more Dragons drew closer, and we forced the door to slam shut as we made it into the corridor, locking it tight.

Max’s Dread Song finally faltered, and I let out a breath of relief, realising my power had been affected by it too, all of us weakened by the immensity of the magic.

Max grabbed one of Xavier’s wings from him, casting away his silencing bubble.

“We need to get out of here!” Xavier cried.

“Which way?” Catalina looked back at us, and Merissa hurried to keep pace with Max and Xavier, ready to try and guide their path.

“I will mount your heads on spikes at my gates when I finish ripping you apart, traitors!” Lionel’s voice boomed through the air, a spell making it resound across the entire palace.

“Get fucked, Lame Lionel!” Radcliff cried.

Max and Xavier made it to the far side of the ballroom, and I raced to catch Merissa, throwing our strength into the huge set of double doors there. They flew open and silvery footprints appeared beneath Merissa’s feet as she moved ahead of them, summoning them after her down a small, concealed passage ahead.

Max and Xavier chased after her, thankfully trusting the guidance which led them to a narrow staircase that circled down out of sight.

The sound of shattering glass reached us from the ballroom and a Dragon’s roar split the air apart.

“Nobble goblins,” Hamish cursed.

“They need to move faster,” Catalina said in fear.

“Follow my lead,” Xavier commanded, elbowing Max aside and throwing one of his glittering wings down onto the steps before leaping onto it and pushing himself off.

He began to slide, and the iridescent sheen which sparkled across the rainbow feathers seemed to light the stairwell. He picked up pace quickly and disappeared with a whinny that made Radcliff smile.

“That’s my boy,” Radcliff said.

“He’s my boy,” Catalina growled, and Radcliff raised his hands in innocence, backing off.

As Max set up the other wing for his own descent, Merissa rushed off ahead of him and we all took chase once more. The Veil drew in around us, depositing us at the base of the stairs just as Xavier skidded to a halt there and jumped up, tucking his wing under his arm once more.

Merissa set more footprints out for them, and Serenity hurried towards Max as he shot out the bottom of the stairwell. She reached for his arm as if helping him up, and I swear he moved a little faster than he might have done alone.

Max scooped up the other Pegasus wing, and the two of them sprinted after Merissa as she left another trail of silver prints in her wake.

I ran ahead of her with Catalina on my heels, and together we commanded a hidden doorway to open, holding it wide for them.

“Thank you,” she exhaled, and I nodded to her.

“Your hearts are pure and bound in steel. You’ll find safe passage here,” Merissa called to them as they passed into the tunnel and her voice carried beyond this realm into the next, echoing out and making Max snap his head around to hunt for the source.

“He heard you,” Serenity gasped. “Wait, you must him tell him something!”

“I cannot do it again, it was not by choice,” Merissa said sadly.

I sealed the door shut with Catalina’s help, securing them safe passage out of here.

“Please, you must try.” Serenity tugged her towards the hidden door. “He needs to know about-”

The Veil parted us, dragging us away and I reached for Merissa in the dark, our fingers intertwining and locking tight.

We arrived in The Room of Knowledge, but our feet barely touched the ground before we reached for our daughters, hunting them out in the land of the living.

I fought the fear daggering through my chest at what I might find, and as we reached Gwendalina, it seemed my fears were well founded.

She stood in the form of the Shadow Beast in a huge hall in front of over thirty Dragon Shifters. They surrounded the beastly form of Lionel Acrux in his luxurious blue robes, and hatred spewed into my gut at the sight of him.

Lance stood with Gwendalina, his hand against her shoulder, his fingers knotting in her fur. She seemed to have hold of her mind, her eyes full of clarity instead of violence, and I had to be glad of that.

“I don’t like this,” Merissa said thickly, glancing around like she could sense some dark fate drawing close.

“You did not consult me about this!” Lavinia screeched at Lionel, and I was satisfied at least to witness the severing of their alliance. Lionel had done the unthinkable to protect himself from the Shadow Princess, and with any luck it would start a bloody fight that would end in one of their deaths.

The shadows danced in Lavinia’s hands threateningly and the Dragons grouped closer to Lionel with protective growls.

My fear for my daughter deepened as I realised Lavinia might wield her in an attack against these Dragons, and I did not know if the shadows could win against so many at once.

“I am the king,” Lionel said calmly. “I do not need to consult anyone on my plans, nor do I see why you would have any reason to object to them.”

Lavinia gnashed her teeth together near one of Lionel’s Dragon guards and he raised his chin, a flicker of fear in his eyes, but he didn’t back down.

“I have ensured that I am safe from all enemies,” Lionel said smugly. “I cannot be touched.”

Lavinia flicked her finger and Lionel’s shadow hand lifted, latching tight around his own throat and making my eyebrows lift. At once, several Dragons ran to his aid, their combined strength dragging the shadow hand back from his neck and freeing him from Lavinia’s control.

“Damn,” I exhaled.

“That would be too easy,” Merissa said, stepping closer to Gwendalina.

I noted Lance’s magic blocking cuffs had been removed and wondered how much power he was privy to right now. My skin prickled protectively as I moved to place myself between Lionel Acrux and my daughter, pressing my power into the palace and hoping it might play a part in defending her and her mate if it came to a fight.

Lavinia shrieked, raising up on a plinth of shadow and wailing furiously at Lionel.

“You dare do this on the night when I have worked so tirelessly to birth you a worthy heir!?” she demanded.

“What?” Merissa hissed, our eyes meeting and revulsion stirring my gut at Lionel laying with this creature of shadow.

“Then where is this heir?” Lionel demanded. “Bring him to me at once, my Queen, if you have fulfilled the promise you made.”

Lavinia released a high-pitched noise that made Gwendalina flatten her ears and growl in discomfort. A thump sounded in the room above us, the ceiling trembling from the weight of whatever had just landed on it.

Lionel frowned, peering up at the ceiling as heavy footfalls travelled overhead.

“That does not sound good,” I muttered.

“He has likely found some bodies to devour in the wake of your little party,” Lavinia said bitterly.

“Party?” Lionel spat. “An entire wing of the palace has nearly been obliterated, I have lost around thirty Dragons, and the amphitheatre lays in ruins. I may have emerged victorious this night, but the rebels will pay for their insolence in trying to assassinate the King of Solaria.”

“You will be the one to pay,” Merissa said icily. “And that payment is long overdue.”

“I do love when you get bloodthirsty, Daddy,” Lavinia crooned, her voice becoming honey sweet and sickening.

The thumping carried down the stairway beyond the room and the door swung slowly open, revealing no one beyond it, but the darkness of whatever was out there seeped toward us.

A grotesque creature arrived, scuttling across the ceiling, its features sharp among the shadow it was made of. Its hulking form fell from the ceiling and landed with a thump at Lavinia’s side. The shadows sank into the thing’s skin, a man slowly appearing from the darkness, his face handsome yet wicked. A sinister smile curved his lips and his eyes were hollow, depthless things. He was naked, his powerful body marked with scars of shadow which pulsed against his skin. Worst of all, was what lay beneath his exterior in the living realm. Where we stood beyond The Veil, four screaming souls could be seen, bound within this creature’s flesh, writhing and thrashing with a desperation to get free. But the darkness of this monster was devouring the good in them bite by bite, latching onto the sins of their essence and leaving the rest to rot.

“By the stars,” Merissa gasped, backing up towards me. “What is that?”

“Hello, Father,” the monster purred at Lionel.

The Dragons all shifted protectively in front of their Dragon king, closing ranks, their eyes taking in this new, terrifying arrival.

Gwendalina growled, assuring me she still held her own mind and Lance’s fingers knotted tighter in her fur. If it came to a fight, I knew they would be ready, but their odds in such a battle terrified me.

“I named him Tharix,” Lavinia cooed, reaching up to brush her fingertips along her new son’s jaw. “It means prince in the language of old. Isn’t he perfect? Come closer, Daddy, say hello to your son.”

Lionel lifted his head, eyeing the monster with caution, but with a hint of intrigue too. “He does appear to be a powerful specimen,” he observed, his eyes roaming over every inch of Tharix’s body with approval, and I noted some similarities between them too, this impossible union of their DNA, all packaged up and ready to fight for them.

“But is he Dragon born?” Lionel added sceptically.

“He is of his father’s seed,” Lavinia replied proudly. “He is just as pure-blooded as you, my King, and he is gifted with all four Elements. Though I will admit, he is blessed with the gift of the shadows too.”

“This will change fate,” Merissa said in terror. “And this thing cannot be seen by Gabriel or any Seer alive. It will be utterly unpredictable to the rebels.”

“Perhaps it is not so strong,” I said hopefully. “Our daughters are more than a match for a monster.”

“Show me,” Lionel demanded, and Lavinia gave Tharix a curt nod, ushering Lance and Gwendalina back to make room for him.

Tharix remained entirely still, and the Dragon Guardians all tensed as they stayed in place surrounding Lionel, ready for an attack. But none came.

Instead, Tharix leapt forward with a feline pounce that became a shift so abruptly that even I expected an attack.

A Dragon burst from his body, its scales a matte obsidian which seemed to suck all of the light from the room, making it near impossible to define any details beyond his immense size and poised wings. Within that Dragon, the four damned souls screamed louder, wailing into an abyss that none could come back from.

The Guardians closed ranks around Lionel, magic glimmering in the air as they threw shields into place.

“Oh my,” Mildred Canopus gasped, the awful woman fanning herself as if she was flustered by the display.

Tharix reared back, roaring so loud it made the palace shudder, and screams broke out as servants and guards were terrorised by the horrible noise which spilled from him. But that was nothing compared to the shadows pouring from those deadly jaws, spewing from his mouth in vicious strikes.

“That will do, sweet pea,” Lavinia purred, shooting closer to the enormous beast and trailing a hand along his flank.

Tharix quieted, shifting back into his Fae form – if that was what you could call it. Because from where I was standing, I could see the souls trapped within, though Tharix did not possess his own.

“Magnificent,” Lionel breathed, stepping forward, causing his Guardians to scatter and make room for him. “Will he do as I say?”

“He is entirely obedient to your whims, my King,” Lavinia promised. “Try it out.”

“Break three of the Vampire’s ribs,” Lionel commanded, and Gwendalina roared as Tharix closed in on Lance.

“Don’t fight when he breaks your ribs, pet,” Lavinia commanded lightly and Lance tensed in preparation of attack the monster closing in on him. “This will count as part of my torture.”

Lance snarled the same moment I did, and Gwendalina swung around to protect him, placing her body between him and Tharix.

The terrible creature lowered to the floor in a crouch, scuttling beneath her and leaping to his feet again. Lavinia cast a leash around Gwendalina’s throat before she could catch him, yanking her back.

“Get your filthy shadows away from her,” Merissa cried at the Shadow Princess.

I tried to throw my power into the palace again, to force it to help, to do something to protect my daughter’s mate. But it did not answer my call. Perhaps I had used too much of my strength already, or perhaps it knew there was no fight here that could be won.

Tharix casually prowled into Lance’s personal space then reached out and gripped his sides, his dark eyes alight with glee. He broke his ribs one at a time and I launched myself at Tharix, trying to tear him away from this man who had stood firm beside my daughter for so long, who had suffered too much in the hands of these bastards already.

“Get away from him,” I barked.

The Veil tugged at me, a firm command for Merissa and I to leave. We had spent far too long here already, and the stars were turning their attention our way.

“No,” Merissa growled, holding onto me, the two of us fighting to remain with our daughter.

Lance cast a blade of ice in his hand and slammed it into the monster’s temple with a roar of defiance and I gasped in shock, looking to Tharix who hit the floor with a loud bang, blackish blood spilling from the wound.

“Ha,” Merissa said in delight, and we shared a relieved smile.

I looked to the dead beast, wondering if the souls trapped inside it might break free and cross the barrier of The Veil, or if any sorry piece of its existence might make it here too. But all was still, perhaps no soul intact enough to make the journey beyond The Veil.

“Who released you from your cuffs?!” Lavinia screamed. “Come here this instant and do not cast a single spell more or I will cut off your pretty little Vega’s fingers and toes tonight.”

Lance stalked over to her, darkness in his eyes while glaring defiantly at Lavinia, and The Veil tugged on us harder.

“Just a little longer,” Merissa demanded, gazing at Gwendalina with a longing I felt right through to my core.

Horror filled me as Tharix twitched then began to move, death somehow having spared him as he slowly recovered, pulling the ice blade from his temple with a jolt before tossing it to the floor and returning to his feet.

“He is no Fae. He is death itself,” I said, throat thick.

The Veil wrapped around us tighter, and this time we had no choice but to let it take us, the barrier tearing us away into the beyond where we could no longer see our beloved daughter. Though we would rush to The Room of Knowledge to watch over her and Roxanya as soon as we could.

The horror of Tharix’s presence still thumped through me, and I knew without a doubt that the creature was set on a path of devastation. Because it was a weapon forged of shadow and death itself.