REVENANT (Descendants Saga) Read online

  “Please, Oliver, if you could see to it,” Sophia said. “Redclaw, I would have a word, if you don’t mind.”

  I waited.

  “Yes, Your Highness,” he said, “how may I be of service.”

  I observed the oddness of their meeting. A nearly eight-foot-tall troll submitting his service to a young woman who barely stood as tall as his chest.

  “I have need of a Master at Arms,” she said. “I wondered if you might stand in, given the sudden absence of my army.”

  “I would be honored to help, Your Highness,” he said. “I’ll begin organizing the warriors of your people right away, just in case.”

  She nodded as Redclaw departed, glancing my way before he stepped out of the room.

  “Sophia,” I began, “I still think we should talk about things.”

  “Brody, now more than ever, my people need me to be their queen,” she said. “I don’t want to hurt you, and it’s killing me.”

  “Well, I’m sorry it’s killing you,” I said. “But it is your decision, not mine. I want us to be together. Without that, I’m not even sure why I should be here.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “I’ve no place in Tidus, no place anywhere without you,” I grumbled. “And if I have no place, no reason for living, then I might as well do what really needs doing in this situation.”

  “Brody, don’t say—” she protested.

  “I’ll go to the source of this conflict and stop it there!”

  I stormed out of the room. She followed after me. I wanted her to be in as much emotional pain as I was at that moment. But my threat did little good without action. As she caught sight of me again, I turned back to her, showing her all of the anguish of my soul in my final gaze.

  She threw up her hands with tears in her eyes as I conjured a portal envelope and disappeared from Tidus. I had set myself to a task, without really knowing what I was getting myself into. I had committed to a course, and my pride would not allow me turn back on my word.

  I appeared within a small house located in Albany, New York. The shutters had been closed, though a little light shone through. I waved a finger toward them, and all of the shutters opened themselves, allowing the bright white of a snowy Albany winter to flood through. Dust motes stirred as I walked through the house, laying my hands upon the mantle and upon our couch and other meager furnishings. They had been covered two years ago, as my father and I made our way from our home to our new life waiting in London, England.

  I could remember well the giddy boy that longed for adventure in a new country. This small cottage where my mother and father had brought me into the world and raised me had almost been forgotten by the time we set sail. Adventure had certainly been waiting of a kind I still wished had never come to pass. Now, I only longed for the simpler times when my mother was alive, when father had preached every Sunday at our local church, and when I knew nothing of magic, Descendants or the Fallen.

  Tears gathered in my eyes. I missed my parents very much now. But there was no going back. Looking around my old home, I realized that, even here, the world had already intruded. It was one of the Fallen who had beguiled my mother and made me. Even in my upbringing here, I could find no place of purity apart from my angelic heritage.

  I closed my eyes and opened my heart unto the Father. I prayed for wisdom and direction. I prayed for help with these uncontrolled emotions. I especially prayed that Sophia might realize our love for one another was too important to simply throw away over royal responsibility.

  When I opened my eyes again, snow was falling outside. The ground was already white, but more was coming. It was cold in the house, and I considered starting a fire in the hearth. But I realized I could not come home. This was not where I belonged and there was still work to do.

  Grayson Stone was out there somewhere, stirring up trouble. It suddenly occurred to me that, as Lucifer’s son, he was the same as the Man of Sin mentioned in the scriptures. In fact, he might be the very one mentioned. If that was the case, then his goal was to turn the world’s attention to himself, to gain their praise and worship, to become their savior.

  But how did the details we knew about his plan accomplish that end? The Fallen were stirring up chaos wherever they were working. How could all of this trouble be a good thing for Grayson Stone? How would it cause the world to turn to him as a savior?

  Then it hit me.

  Always there must be something to be saved from, if one is to ever desire a savior. For me, and other believers, it was our sin which separated us from the Creator. But the Bible talked about a coming lie that people would believe. It would cause them to turn to the Man of Sin, a man empowered by Lucifer himself.

  If Grayson had set the Fallen loose from Tartarus simply to stir up trouble in the world, then he must mean to put an end to it. Doing so, before the world, would make him a hero, a savior, perhaps even a god to be worshipped. That was what the scriptures foretold and that must be Grayson’s plan.

  My only problem now was how to find Grayson Stone. I had no way of tracking his movements. Then a familiar drawing came over me, sort of a tingling through my skin like gooseflesh. I remembered this feeling. This was how I had come to locate Oliver in Tartarus, and how I had found Tom in Greystone. The blood bond was itching with the nearness of one of my kindred.

  Had Oliver followed me? I supposed it could be possible. However, Sophia had been the only one present when I left. Oliver was out searching through Tidus, attempting to shut down any outside access that might be used by an invading army.

  No, this was something else. Then I remembered the only Fallen we had information on in America. This angel had a particular penchant for pyrotechnics. No wonder the blood bond was sending a shiver through me. I was within a state’s distance of Southresh, the mad god.

  Oliver and I had seen that realization in each other’s eyes back at our meeting with Sophia in Tidus. The mad god was loose in Pennsylvania somewhere, and I suddenly knew how to find him. Even if I couldn’t locate Grayson Stone, I might learn something of his whereabouts from Southresh.

  It was at least worth a try. Southresh was tremendously powerful and undeniably dangerous to be around. But something had to be done. While the others were busy protecting Tidus from attack, I felt that I was now in a position where an offensive blow could be struck.

  Truth be told, Southresh terrified me. He was undeniably insane. Only the knowledge that my death would deliver me into Heavenly glory with my Lord provided any comfort in this situation. Still, I would rather be used to bring about the defeat of these plans, if possible.

  I whispered a final thanks to the Heavenly Father and set my mind to the drawing of the blood bond hundreds of miles away. Finding Southresh would not be the problem. How to get the information I required out of him and not die in the process was the problem.

  Another wave of my hand closed the shutters on the house. As darkness once again spread throughout my old home, I realized that this was no longer where I belonged. I might not know, yet, where that place was, but I had confidence it would be revealed to me in time.

  I opened my mind to the blood bond, allowing it to guide my destination. My thoughts created the portal that took my mortal form and transported it across the spiritual plane towards my new destination. Southresh would be waiting. I could only hope that I was ready.

  Prelude

  A home had been leased in Philadelphia so that Grayson would not be required to stay in a hotel like some commoner. He sat at his meal, enjoying the finest foods prepared by a private chef that had been employed for the duration of his stay. He sat at the end of a long dining table, sipping on his soup course when Lux arrived.

  For the sake of the human staff, she actually walked through the front door when it was opened, making her way into the dining room where Grayson was sitting. A large stone hearth held a roaring fire within, keeping the chill of winter at bay. When Grayson saw her, he did not defer his eyes—he had not since jo
ining with Lucifer. Rather, he smiled at her, indicating a chair to his right as he swallowed his soup.

  “Lux, my dear,” he said. “Good of you to come. I’ll have Barclay bring out another service for you. The chef my staff hired is really quite good. I may even offer him a full time position.”

  Lux came around the far end of the table toward Grayson. Before she could do so herself, he had moved her chair out with his mind. She sat down gently allowing the chair to scoot her forward to the table.

  The little bell sitting on the table raised itself and chimed then sat back down. The butler, a middle-aged man with thinning hair, walked into the dining room, bringing with him another set of dishes on a cart which he placed before Lux. Barclay ladled out some soup for the sprite and then went on his way again, disappearing beyond the door that led to the kitchens.

  Lux left the soup where it was, steaming on the table in front of her. She might have eaten, but she didn’t trust others easily, especially not Grayson Stone or his father. He looked up from his own food, glancing at her. He laughed when she didn’t eat.

  “Did you already have something before arriving?” he asked.

  “I’m not hungry,” she said and left it at that. “I have brought you the report you asked for.”

  He sighed, setting down his spoon in the bowl. “Very well, I can see you’re not in a sociable mood.”

  She let his comment slide by. “As you must already be aware, half of Philadelphia has been burned by Southresh and his minions. I’m surprised you’ve had any peace at all, living within the city.”

  “This estate is far enough from a main road to keep refugees away. But if anyone comes calling, I’m sure I can handle the diversion.”

  “I assisted Gladstone in unseating Disraeli from the Prime Minister’s post, as you instructed,” she continued. “Gladstone has made preparations to occupy London once the Lycans have departed. So far, they have not.”

  “Anubis will wait until all of his children are able to answer his call,” Grayson said. “However, if he takes too long with it, I’ll move him along. His host is already anxious to take control of Tidus anyway. That should be enough incentive for now. What of Hageddon?”

  “The vampires are running amok throughout Russia and have begun to spread into Eastern Europe,” Lux reported. “Your spies also mentioned that Tiberius was executed upon his arrival in Saint Petersburg.”

  Grayson roared with laughter, nearly spitting his soup in the process. “The old fool! Did he really think he could placate Hageddon with his flatteries?”

  Lux waited patiently while Grayson composed himself. She had noticed changes in his normally reserved demeanor and his voice. Behind his normal baritone, she could hear the shadow of another voice that varied between slightly higher and lower pitches. The effect, for those who could hear it, was disturbing.

  “How is the state of mind among the humans?” he asked.

  “Terrified, in general,” she said. “Their leaders are seeking help from anyone who might be able to stop what’s happening. Your name is already circulating among the world leaders I’ve had my influence over.”

  “The time is fast approaching for me to face Southresh openly and dismiss him,” Grayson said.

  “Pardon my query,” Lux said, “but I’m curious what Southresh’s reaction to being dismissed will be, or the others for that matter.”

  Grayson grinned at her. She sensed that the entity looking at her through those eyes was Lucifer and not Grayson now. “They will all do as I command them,” he said. “What else could they possibly do? Challenge me? If I cut them off from the mortal world, then Tartarus will draw them back immediately. I put them in their hosts. They have no other means of maintaining in this world.”

  Lux averted her eyes toward the table. She could not look into Lucifer’s gaze any longer. To do so may have even enraged him to the point of taking her life.

  “Of course, my lord, you are right,” she said.

  Inwardly, she wondered if it was really so.

  “Your Highness, the matter of a suitor was mentioned to you before,” Brakken, the leading elder was saying.

  “I’ve told you that I have not made a decision,” she said. “We have more important matters to deal with, wouldn’t you say?”

  “Yes, Your Highness,” he replied. “However, we thought that a king might help the situation, to reassure the people, during this time of crisis.”

  Sophia knew what was happening, the reasons behind their insistence upon a husband. They wanted to supplant her with a king, one they could in turn control. She hated the politics of it. Her father had hated it in the same way. But what else could she do? This was her responsibility and all that came with it. She had no choice.

  It had been several hours since Brody had left the city—at least, she thought he had left the city. She hoped that he had only teleported to where Oliver was working on their defenses, but she hadn’t had time to confirm it. She didn’t want to think that he might have actually gone to seek out Grayson Stone.

  At the heart of it all, she knew that she had wounded him by her decision. Why had she taken such a liking to him in the first place? She should have seen this coming. But it had been so far off—the day when she would be called upon to assume the throne. How could she have known this would happen?

  “Your Highness?” Brakken was questioning her. Evidently, he had spoken several times and she had ignored him.

  “Yes?”

  Brakken seemed perturbed as he continued. “We have serious reservations about the troll you have appointed to organize our defense,” he said.

  The others nodded in agreement with his statement.

  “Our army has deserted us,” she said. “We cannot sit by and do nothing. And doing something to defend our people requires leadership. If you had volunteered to lead our people into battle, Brakken, then I would have deferred my decision to ask Redclaw. But since that hasn’t happened, I chose a warrior who was both formidable and willing to help us. I stand by that decision.”

  Brakken relented. He clearly wasn’t about to volunteer for war. None of the elders were warriors. They were politicians. And, from Sophia’s experience, politicians stayed far away from the fighting during times of war.

  She looked each of the twelve in the eye, letting them know that she did not fear them. She was Queen of Tidus in her father’s stead and she intended to rule as such. “If there are no further concerns, I require each of you to organize the civilians in your districts. Have the able men report to Redclaw in the palace gardens. We must be ready for whatever may come.”

  Sophia stood from the table. The men honored her by doing the same. She bowed to them and they dismissed themselves. Two guards waited by the doorway to keep her safe. After all, these were dangerous times.

  She walked from the council chamber her father had prepared, down the hall with the guards following a short distance behind. Sophia came to one of the meditation chambers where pools of water gently ushered over rocks in fountains.

  Reclining on one of the fountain ledges, Sophia peered into the waters. Soothing musical tones emanated from nowhere in particular. These chambers had been gifted to her father by Donatus long ago. They were spelled for the purpose of allowing a weary king the opportunity to relax. Or, in this case, a weary queen.

  She wasn’t sure how long she sat there staring into the waters. The guards remained outside, allowing her a small measure of privacy. The waters churned in the pool and she thought of her problems, of the exodus of so many of her people and of Brody.

  A vision assembled itself among the waters, and Sophia became transfixed by it. She saw the meadow beyond the wall, a place where she and her father had gone to play when she was a child. But this was no memory of her childhood.

  She saw Brody running there, looking over his shoulder every few seconds at someone, or something that was following him. A wolf appeared, running at full speed, charging after him. Sophia saw that it was not a large
creature, but its intent seemed clearly to attack him.

  Sophia became concerned for him. He was in danger and there was nothing she could do. The wolf leaped toward him. Brody turned in time to catch the creature fully in the chest.

  He was knocked to the ground, and the wolf was on top of him. Brody was laughing. What? Yes, he was laughing, and the wolf was no longer a wolf. It had become a child, a young girl with hair of gold.

  The vision drew near to them and she saw the child’s face. Those eyes. They were the same as her own. Sophia knew in that moment that she was staring into the face of her own daughter—Brody’s daughter.

  Sophia was amazed, but her premonition was not yet complete. Another vision of a different and darker nature came through the waters, trying to overcome the first. She wanted to preserve the first, but something was happening.

  The second vision involved Sophia only. She was sitting upon a throne in her palace. She wore the finery of a queen, but there was no joy in her expression. She felt the weight of loneliness that this woman carried. She knew the heartache multiplied by many weary years.

  This vision began to overtake the first, to supplant it. Brody and the girl were fading. The joy in her heart and the love she had known with him were fading, becoming this other monstrosity. She had done this—to him and to herself.

  The child disappeared completely, and Brody called out to her, realizing she was missing. “Sadie, where are you?” he called. Sophia began to weep very sore, sitting there upon the fountain as now only the bitter queen, with her heavy heart and yearning for what could have been, remained.

  Assistance

  Anubis, now indwelling Kron, stood statuesque within Westminster Abbey, the only building that had not suffered irreparably in the explosion caused by Tiberius and his vampires during their battle in London. The portal located near the Clock Tower would provide them entrance into Tidus when the time came to leave. For now, the abbey made for a suitable staging ground.