n

n

nBrantley continued to stare at her as she held Ileus on his broom, until she disappeared in the night sky beyond. She looked like a meteor, against the dazzling stars of the black night. She outshone the moon. An emotion choked in his throat and he stayed there for a long time before heading back in the palace. After their marriage this was the first time she had separated from him and he already felt a hole in his heart, a longing gnawing him at present. While walking to his room, through the open doors, he noticed Dawn standing in the meeting chamber. She looked forlorn and was turning her wedding band around her fingers. Both of them were in the same situation and yet he knew that none of them would speak about how they felt with their mates gone on such an important mission. They would endure it…

nIleus flew over the forests with Mozias following him. He kept flying at a slow pace for Bianca to get used to this kind of transportation. Moreover he wanted her to scan the ground and see the destruction Shadows left in their path. He didn't directly start towards the wizard kingdom. Instead he first turned towards Zor'gan from where the Shadows were released. From there he traced their path. He kept the broom high up in the sky just enough for all of them to see the carnage and just enough to stay away from any threat of the Shadows. They lurked in the forest mindlessly, sniffing their next prey.

n

"It is so dark down there,

" said Bianca.

"How am I going to see a Shadow?

"

n

"Keep your eyes down on the ground. You will come to know.

"

nShe focused on the ground as they flew over the trees, over the vast meadows of Derize. Warm air hit her. And with it, heavy stench. She felt like puking. Victims of the Shadows littered the ground or what was left of them. Half-eaten bodies, limbs strewed around and vultures feeding off them even though it was so dark in the night. She pressed her hand over her mouth with disgust. It was so horrifying that she couldn't imagine what a black heart must have initiated this.

nIleus followed the trail and directed his broom towards Ixoviya, now avoiding Zor'gan completely. The kingdom of Ixoviya was eerily quiet. It was as if people were sleeping.

n

"Don't cross over the boundary,

" Caleb said loudly.

"The Ixoviyans have cast heavy spells and anyone entering the borders would get fried.

" This was a protection against the Shadows. The problem was that they came in large numbers and Sedora knew where the spell would be least effective. Some Shadows had breached the border. The last he knew was that it was taken care of, but panic set in his heart.

nOnce again Bianca saw numerous bodies in the trail.

"By Skadi!

" he muttered, as anger grew up in her stomach. So much butchery.

"Sedora has a convoluted mind! Who else can think of this kind of mass murder?

"

nIleus didn't say anything. He turned towards the forests to the werewolf realm.

n

"I haven't seen a single Shadow,

" she said as they flew over the forests. Had they gone far ahead towards the human realm? What was Sedora up to?

n

"Look out!

" Suddenly a Mozia yelled from behind. Something hit the broom of another Mozia and he was toppled from his broom. He started falling to the ground.

nBianca was shocked.

"We need to save him!

" she shouted.

nBut Ileus only increased his speed in the opposite direction.

"I asked them to maintain a certain level, but these Mozias—

" he gritted his teeth.

nMozia's broom sped at a greater rate than him. It went right below him, settled him on it like a horse would and he grabbed it hard before it flew with him towards Ileus.

nBianca gasped. This was the most beautiful rescue she had ever seen.

n

"It seems Shadows have picked our smell,

" he reported to Ileus.

n

"But where are they?

" Bianca asked with irritation. However, as soon as the words left her, she heard hissing sound from below. She looked down and her eyes became wide. Her body froze. There was a herd of Shadows right below them, devouring a horse who was now wedged between two boulders. Half of its body was already eaten. A few meters away laid the body of its rider—its head and limbs missing. Their faces turned up and their yellow flinty eyes glowed all the more. Their gaze followed the group as they sped across the air.

nIleus muttered a curse. Mentally he communicated his Mozias to increase their speed. A blast of wind hit her face and Bianca realized that they had sped up. She held him tightly. She wondered if the Shadows could fly. But as she was thinking it, she saw a few of them coming behind the group.

n

"Take her away!

" shouted Daryn.

"I will take care of these!

" He turned behind to throw beams of death towards them when Ileus said,

"Don't!

" Daryn stopped himself just in time.

n

"It is dark, and we will attract more attention!

"

n

"Then what do we do?

"

n

"Let my Mozias handle them,

" he said.

"You just follow me!

"

nDaryn grated, not happy with the decision, but Ileus was right. If he used his sorcery, they would attract attention.

"Don't let your Mozias go,

" he said.

"I have a better solution!

" He looked at Caleb and the two waved their hands towards the Shadows who were flying as fast as them and were merely a few meters away. All of a sudden the sky behind them got covered with black smoke, as if ink had spread and it was growing. Screeches were heard as Shadows banged into each other due to lack of vision.

nTaking advantage of the situation, the team hastened from there.

n

"That was a good one!

" Lazarus growled.

"Though my hands were itching to gut them!

"

nThey flew in silence for the next twenty minutes. This time Ileus went higher up in the sky. However, a few miles before the werewolf realm, they came to a screeching stop. A herd of Shadows was up in the air, waiting for them.

nThe entire group came to a halt. Stench filled the air.

n

"How is this possible?

" Ileus said in a low voice.

"It looks as if they are waiting for us.

" There was apprehension in his voice.

n

"Look at their eyes,

" Bianca whispered. She mentally communicated to her father and Uncles.

nThey were glowing orange and yellow like fire, as if trying to take in information.

nShe could feel an irresistible urge to go towards them. She felt as if someone was calling her from far.

"Come to me child…

" a voice hissed in her mind.

"I am so lonely…

" It was a soft voice of a woman. It was soft, but… disembodied… emotionless… scary… Goose bumps lined her skin. She had to resist the urge to communicate with it. She had to shove her out of her mind.

"Join me… This is your destiny…

" The darkness in her churned. It was so enticing to give in to it. 'Brantley…' she chanted his name like worship.

n'I am always with you Bia…' his soothing voice floated in her mind, and the darkness dispelled.

nShe heard them hissing. Caleb and Daryn were waving their hands while Lazarus was growling.

nHer reverie broke. She shouted,

"We need to become invisible now!

"

nThe Shadows attacked them immediately.

n