The Shadow

Chapter 38

 They stood in silence for a long moment, processing what they had seen, who they had spoken to.

Lunar trotted to Kai's side, and he smiled. She must have fled during Adekin's onslaught of terror, but she had returned.

Saif scoffed. "For a second I thought this Adekin could be different. Not like the other Dark Ones. A potential ally, even. But no."

Kai frowned. The Deceiver would have been an invaluable asset, with power rivaling Skade's. Adekin had seemed willing to help them—if only for a moment. In the end, it was obvious where The Dark One's loyalty lay. In himself. He would not help Kai, and had only met with them in order to use Kai's power to achieve his own objective. Speaking of power...

Kai's frown deepened. The fear that had brought him to his knees mere minutes ago...Skade would wield the same paralyzing magic, no doubt. Kai had only survived Adekin's attack because the Dark One had willed it so. Adekin had lifted the terror that had seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, freeing him.

Skade would not do the same. Skade would not spare him, would not let him survive. So how would he win? He tried not to think about it as he swung onto Lunar's back, urging her forward.

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The castle came into view on the afternoon of the next day. They had camped beneath the stars after their meeting with The Deceiver—not that there was any other choice. Miles of terrain, devoid of any shelter save for the occasional tree. It still perplexed Kai. Something was wrong about it all. But then, there was little that wasn't wrong when it came to The Deceiver's lands.

The structure was massive—and familiar. As Kai had come to expect, The Deceiver's home looked just as it had in his dream—that was to say, terrifying. Dark spires and domes speared angrily toward the sky.

By the time they reached the black cobbled pathway, Kai began to feel The Deceiver's power—or perhaps it was Skade's. Both? Maybe the castle itself had been imbued with magic? He didn't know, and decided not to bother thinking about it.

Kai had left Lunar a ways away, grazing beside a stream. He had considered tying her up, but...no. Chances were that he would not leave this place. His horse did not deserve to suffer for Kai's decisions. For his mistakes.

Saif paused, taking in the castle. Massive pillars supported an overhang that reached over the structure's entrance.

Kai took a breath, turning to his friend. "Thank you," he said. "For helping me, for coming here...thank you."

The elf smiled. "Of course."

Kai pressed his hands against the smooth marble of the castle's double doors, fingers pricking against the magic that seemed to coat the stone. They swung open smoothly, revealing the darkness within.

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It was cold. Cold from a draftiness that was not unexpected in such a space, but also...something more. Something more sinister sent a chill throughout the castle's corridors, along the polished marble floor. He was close.

Kai shook away the cold, putting one foot in front of the other, slowly, carefully. He was close—so close—to Harper, but he wouldn't let his emotions take the better of him. Now was no time to be reckless.

Saif crept hesitantly forward beside him, casting glances along the massive hall in which they stood. Smaller corridors branched off of the main hall—just as Kai had seen in his dream.

There was no mistaking that The Deceiver had entered his dream, had shown him the castle, and yet...It seemed so impossible. So unreal. How much power did Adekin possess? It was painfully obvious that only a fraction of his magic had brought Kai to his knees. What of his full power? What chance did Kai stand?

None. He stood no chance at all.

They approached the hall's end. Bitter darkness surrounded Kai as he squinted his eyes, relying on what little candlelight the room offered.

Black stone, shimmering faintly. Obsidian—a material that was even darker than the rest of the castle. It was a throne, rising from the ground like a deformed plant, branches coiled into a rough seat. Simple, lacking gems or fine metals or even a cushion to nullify the hard stone. Perhaps Adekin did not care how it looked and felt. Kai would not be surprised if The Deceiver simply used the stone seat to intimidate his enemies...and his allies.

The throne was large, as Kai had expected. Its seat was nearly two meters high, the headrest four meters. Fit for a giant.

Everything was just as it had been in his dream; the castle's domes and spires and overhangs, the marbled path, the double doors, the main hall with corridors branching from it, the throne room—

Everything was the same, except...except that the throne was empty.

"This way."

Kai jumped, twisting to face the voice. It had come from the right side of the hall, beside a pillar. He recognized the voice. The Deceiver.

But the bearer of the words...One of Adekin's minions. A man, standing six feet tall, wearing simple gray robes, face clean-shaven, blond hair neatly combed. He curled a finger, gesturing for them to follow him.

They entered a corridor, tailing the man as he led them through winding passageways, past black marble doors that seemed to go on forever. Eventually they reached a staircase, and began ascending what must have been more than a dozen flights of stairs.

"Be ready," Saif hissed. Kai nodded. His heart thumped in his chest, perspiration sliding down his forehead. They were following The Deceiver into a trap, into death, but also...Harper. He would see Harper again. It seemed as though ages had passed since he had last been with her.

Whatever happened within the dark castle, Kai would be content if he saw Harper one last time—and guaranteed her safety. Was that even possible? Probably not. Why should Skade keep her alive? Kai was here, caught within the Dark One's web. Skade could kill both of them, and there was nothing he could do—

Kai shoved the thoughts aside. Skade would keep her alive. He had to. If he didn't, Kai might run away...somehow. Skade would not risk it. Kai swallowed, attempting to believe his self-reassurances.

The stairs ended, giving way to a short hallway ending in elaborate double doors. Candles sat in tiny alcoves carved within the stone walls, flames gleaming faintly against the marble.

A tower, Kai guessed. They had climbed up a tower—there was nothing else that could be this high up. Which meant that beyond those double doors...

"He awaits you inside," the minion said. The man cast his gaze toward Kai with those piercing gray eyes. "I will not intervene." Something like pity darkened his expression. "Goodluck, Little Shadow."

Adekin's minion took a step forward, pulling the tower's marble double doors open wide. A wall of darkness blocked vision to whatever lay behind them.

Kai swung his sword from its scabbard, knuckles turning white as he clenched the grip.