“Bannick is dead.” Alex stepped away from the warriors. “Or at least, he’s suffering and wishing he was. He was taken to the abyss.” He shrugged. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
Mason’s father sputtered, “Impossible!”
“Your fear has controlled you for too long.” Mason shook his head, “Release it before I send your soul away.”
“Nae!” He shook his head left and right. Blood caked his lips. “You canna do that! You dinna know how!”
Danu reached for my hand and squeezed. Then she turned to Mason and gave a single nod as she and the others stepped out of the way.
Mason outstretched his hands as dirt began circling his wrists, and then all at once, he spoke in a booming voice. “Those who watch! The king demands your presence by order of The Creator. You are summoned!”
The halls shook.
I gripped Danu’s hand tighter as the sound of thunder filled the room so loudly I had to cover my ears.
And then… pitch-black.
No lights.
Until… a flicker of light.
And another.
With each flicker, one more being appeared.
Until every single one of the Watchers faced us, with their black and red hair and menacing faces.
And when I looked down at their feet…
I saw pieces of black feathers that soon turned to ash.
Danu sucked in a breath. “It has been… eons. And yet their beauty strikes me again, just as it did before. Marked by the Creator, they are both holy and fallen, trapped in a purgatory of their own making. May the Creator have mercy.”
It was Armaros who stepped forward first, his expression stern. He stood chest to chest with Mason, their height matched, their strength equal.
Very slowly, he bent a knee and hung his head.
Every single Watcher followed.
Until they were all kneeling before the rightful ruler.
“King of the Earth. protector of humans, we ask for your blessing.”
“And you will fight with us, not against us.” Mason said it as a statement.
Armaros looked up and whispered, “Only if the Creator will restore our song to the Heavens.”
Danu sucked in a breath next to me. “He has no right to ask that.”
“And yet…” Armaros turned his attention to Danu. “…I am, goddess.” He shook his head as a haunted expression filled his face, and then he looked to me. “For what it is worth, Serenity, I am sorry for our part in this. I am sorry that our desperation took us far enough to look the other way when our own used his power to seduce your mother, when one of our own used his own blood to create a bond between you. But our power is limitless. His is divine.” He pointed up, “And we have been separated from it for too long to not go mad. A voice, a simple voice, a song… it is all I demand. The songs of old, so we can communicate with the Heavens again, while serving our time here.”
Mason held out his hand over Armaros’ head as pieces of dirt fell from his hands and touched Armaros’ face. A silver tear ran down Armaros’ cheek before a loud ripping sound was heard.
When Armaros stood, red, black, and white wings spread wide across his back. His stunned expression said it all. And then more silver tears joined the first as he turned to see his brothers all had the same wings.
“What have you done!” Mason’s father roared, throwing all his energy into getting the stake out of his body. After he removed it, he staggered to his feet to see every set of eyes on him.
“Take his soul.” Mason eyed one of the Watchers who, with one nod, walked forward.