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The moment Izdahl entered the void and saw Rasmun, he launched an earth column that reached Rasmun’s chest. The column slammed Rasmun hard against a wall. Izdahl enforced the earthen structure with a layer of black flames.
Staring over the vicious blaze, he glared at Rasmun. “I’ll deal with you soon.”
Rasmun tried to reach through the flames. He cried out in pain as the fire seared his flesh. “You shouldn’t even be here.”
Ignoring Rasmun, Izdahl searched the room for Armando. There wasn’t any sign of him and Izdahl cursed fiercely. He was sure he had the right location. He looked back at Rasmun.
“I know Armando’s here. I feel it. You must have this place under a spell.”
“Maybe I do.”
Izdahl released a blast of water, freezing it into an ice spear that pressed against Rasmun’s throat. Unable to move, Rasmun cursed at him. Izdahl made the spear pressed into his skin and drew blood.
“Speak the words to break the spell,” Izdahl said.
“You’ll have to kill me. If you do, you’ll wreck Armando’s mind even more.”
Izdahl looked around the room again. Then he turned in slow circles, feeling for the strongest pull in his heart toward Armando.
“Armando can you hear me?” Izdahl asked.
There was no response and his heart sank. He called out again, his voice strained. A moment later, a glass cage slowly appeared. Armando stood with his hands against the glass wall and his eyes had no emotions. The Blood Replica was on Armando’s shoulder.
Izdahl stared in horror, unsure if Armando was now being controlled by the replica. He began imagining how to safely kill the small being and get Armando away.
The Blood Replica of Armando held its hands in front of him. “I want to help.”
“I don’t believe you,” Izdahl said. He glanced at Armando, whose eyes were still vacant. “Did you do that to him?”
“No. Rasmun put a spell on him and Armando’s fighting it. He knows you’re here, but he can’t say anything. He’s trapped in his mind.”
Looking back at Rasmun, Izdahl soul phased through the black flames, quickly eliminating the distance between himself and his target.
Rasmun’s eyes widened. “When did you learn how to do that?”
Izdahl grabbed Rasmun’s collar, shaking him hard. “What have you done?”
“His mind’s little jumbled,” Rasmun said. “Other than that, he’s fine.”
“There are so many ways I could wreck your soul. But Armando’s here and I don’t want him to see the worst of me.” Izdahl tapped hard on Rasmun’s forehead. “Maybe I’ll take him to safety and come back to handle you. Minutes out there can feel like hours in here. I’d take my time with you.”
When Rasmun still refused to say anything, Izdahl ignored him to focus again on Armando. He repeatedly called to Armando, but he still couldn’t get a response. Frustrated, he turned back to Rasmun. “Tell me what you did.”
Rasmun closed his eyes, smiling as Izdahl’s anger mounted. Furious about Rasmun’s belligerence, Izdahl shifted the column of earth high in the air. An earth encased Rasmun stared at Izdahl, with his eyes now filled with fear. Izdahl made the earth column crash down and Rasmun’s head hit the floor hard, making him cry out in pain.
Izdahl heard banging on the glass cage. Armando was out of his catatonic state and was pounding his fists on the glass. Izdahl wondered if making Rasmun bang his head had tampered with the hold on Armando’s mind. Whatever had happened, things were going in his and Armando’s favor.
Izdahl hurried to the cell and tried to find a way to unlock it. It didn’t have a key. Instead, there was a shimmering symbol in the center of the door. He looked closer, realizing what type of spell it was. He turned to glare at Rasmun, before stalking over to him. He gripped Rasmun by his shirt collar and dragged him to the door. Holding Rasmun by the neck, Izdahl banged Rasmun’s head against the shimmering symbol hard enough to make him bleed.
At Armando’s shocked expression, Izdahl shrugged. “His blood unlocks this. And I’m still pissed.”
Izdahl let go of a dazed and bleeding Rasmun and motioned for Armando to come out of the cell. “I’m sorry to reach for you with these violent hands.”
Armando held him. “I’m sorry I was captured. I thought I really saw Caia and—” His voice broke. “I don’t understand everything that happened.”
Izdahl gripped Armando tightly to him. “You’re safe again. That’s all that matters. Let’s get out of here.”
Armando pointed at the Blood Replica. “We should take him too.”
Izdahl stared at the figure, who casually leaned against a cell wall, watching them. “I don’t know if we can trust that. Him. Whatever you want to call it.”
The replica walked out of the cell. “Take me with you. I can help.”
Izdahl narrowed his eyes. “Stop speaking. You shouldn’t be alive.”
“Izdahl.” Armando frowned deeply at him. “He exists because I do.”
“He’s here because of a Forbidden Spell. Why can’t you see he could be a danger?”
The replica went to stand by Armando. “But I’m not.”
“Even if you don’t trust him, we need to take him with us,” Armando said. “It’s too dangerous not to do that.”
Izdahl looked at the replica and then back at Armando. “I’m not going to win this one, am I?”
Armando gave him a small smile. “No, you’re not.”
Izdahl sighed and nodded. “Let’s go.”
“What about Rasmun?”
Izdahl went to Rasmun’s body. Touching Rasmun’s forehead, Izdahl activated his soul crystallizing power. He felt Rasmun’s soul flinch, as a horrific process began. “He’ll be staying here a while.” He stood and looked at Armando. “I just started crystallizing his soul. If I move him out of the void now, his soul will shatter. I don’t want that. He still has his uses.”
“What are you planning to do?”
“I’ll get information against Dagmar and anyone else working with that Velzo.” Izdahl looked down at Rasmun. “I think Rasmun hired a shapeshifter to pretend to be our niece.” He glanced back at Armando. “Then, he abducted you. And he hid you using the power of the Kasykelan youngsters. All those actions are illegal. He’s gone way too far. Dagmar won’t have the power to protect him.”
Izdahl focused on Rasmun, whose eyes slowly moved and widened with terror.
“I will never forgive you for what you’ve done,” Izdahl said. “Stay away from Armando. If you go near him again, I’ll break you and leave your shattered body on your family’s doorstep.”
He knelt over Rasmun’s frozen form and Rasmun could only stare at him in terror. Izdahl smiled, knowing Rasmun’s soul continued to crystallize. When the process was complete, he’d be in a mental void, where his soul was confused and floating just outside his body.
Izdahl continued staring at Rasmun, trying his best not to hurt him more. He spied a chain around Rasmun’s neck. He remembered that Rasmun had a pendant with an image of Armando.
“Before I forget...” Izdahl grabbed the chain, pulled it out from under Rasmun’s shirt, and yanked it off his neck. “I’ve been meaning to take this fucking thing.”
Shoving the pendant in his pocket, Izdahl turned away to focus on Armando and the Blood Replica.
“My family’s waiting outside this room,” Izdahl said. “I’ll take you to them.” He glanced back at Rasmun. “Ziyad Enforcers are coming for you.”
Armando held the replica, while Izdahl helped him walk from the room. When Hadil and the others came into sight, Izdahl smiled, feeling the last bit of his fear and anger drain away and be replaced by relief.
***
Izdahl had left Armando in the care of Hadil at his parents’ home. Armando would rest, allowing Hadil’s healing spell to counteract anything Rasmun had cast. With Armando safe, Hadil had also taken custody of the Blood Replica. She’d consult with a team of high-level spellcasters to examine the small being. Until that team was certain the Blood Replica was not a threat, the small being would be kept separate from Armando.
With a plan for Armando’s care and the Blood Replica being secured, Izdahl could then focus on interrogating Rasmun. Rasmun had been taken to a cell in the Ziyad Citadel’s prison. Instead of using a portal to arrive at the cell much faster, Izdahl tried to take his time to get in a better mindset. As he walked down the hallway to Rasmun’s cell, he couldn’t help replaying in his mind how haggard Armando had looked. His anger returned and continued to rise, until it was burning energy under his skin. By the time he reached Rasmun’s cell, black flames had ignited on his fists.
He was about to tap in the code for the cell, when someone gripped his shoulder. More agitated than he realized, Izdahl turned and swung his fist, barely missing Rayner’s face.
“Your mother instructed me to follow you,” Rayner said. “I can see she was wise to do that. She doesn’t want you losing control and going too far.”
Izdahl took a deep breath and nodded. “She’s right. That’s for the best. I keep imagining what Armando went through and I’m just so angry. I felt relief when I found him, but now the anger’s back.”
Rayner put a hand on his shoulder. “Focus on getting answers. Velzo Amasi could have chosen someone else to do the interrogation, but that would never sit right with you. That doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want. So get your head right.”
Izdahl closed his eyes for a few moments, willing the anger to go away and having it replaced by intense focus. When he opened his eyes, the black flames had retreated.
“Are you steady?” Rayner asked.
“Yes. Let’s talk to Rasmun.”
Izdahl entered the cell where Rasmun was being held. Rasmun’s soul had been unfrozen and a spell had been cast on him to shut down his elemental powers. He’d also been allowed to wash and enjoy a meal. Sitting on the bed, his expression was wary.
Izdahl pulled up a chair across from Rasmun and Rayner did the same.
“I have questions,” Izdahl said. “I hope you’ll be reasonable and answer them.”
Rasmun raised an eyebrow. “What if I don’t give you what you want?”
A moment later, Rayner was at Rasmun’s side with a blade against his throat.
“Meet Rayner, a Ziyad Enforcer,” Izdahl said. “He’ll collect your soul. I’d tell you to nod if you understand me, but Rayner’s blade is sharp and you’ll regret it. So blink twice if you plan on listening.”
A few moments later, Rasmun rapidly blinked twice. Rayner returned to his seat but he kept the blade out.
“Let’s begin,” Izdahl said to Rasmun. “You had Armando for five hours. Yet, he looks haggard enough to have been with you for several weeks. Mentally, much time has passed for him. Now, I know your spellcasting skills are limited. So, who did the time spell for you?” Izdahl raised his hand. “Keep in mind we’ll check everything you tell us. You don’t want to lie to me.” He tipped his head toward Rayner. “And you definitely don’t want to waste his time.”
“I have a contact. His name’s Suhdro.”
“Suhdro of which house?”
Izdahl hid his feelings, but he was glad to have a name he recognized. His great-grandmother had already identified Suhdro as one of her agents.
“I don’t know.” Rasmun shrugged. “Certain spellcasters are reluctant to identify their real houses. His skill was more important than his background. I know the Amasis and Ziyads are petty and care more about someone’s lineage, but—”
Izdahl slashed a hand through the air. “We don’t have time for insults. Just answer the questions.”
Rasmun released a long breath out his nose. “Very well. What’s your next question?”
“Who gathered the materials for the Blood Replica?”
“Also Suhdro.”
“And where is this Suhdro?”
Rasmun gritted his teeth. “He has been unresponsive lately. Not that it really matters to me. I’ve basically gotten what I wanted from him. By the way, how’s our Armando doing?”
The derisive gleam in Rasmun’s eyes ignited Izdahl’s anger again. Before Izdahl realized it, he was at Rasmun’s side. He’d grabbed Rasmun by the hair, yanked his head back, and was about to press a black flame against his face.
“If you do this...” Rasmun flinched as the flame cast a shadow on his skin. “If you maim me, the Terada Family will hunt you.”
“I am Ziyad-Amasi. The moment you took Armando, the Teradas became dead to me.” Izdahl enlarged the flame. “You are all dead.”
Rasmun’s eyes widened. “Izdahl, wait. There are other things I know. I’ll tell you more that could help Armando. He must have questions about the Blood Replica or Dagmar. Don’t you care about any of that?”
Izdahl glanced at Rayner, who nodded. Izdahl looked back at Rasmun, gripping his hair harder and shaking him. “Speak. Everything you say better be true.”
“Put out the flame first.”
“No. It stays in case I need to burn out your lying tongue.”
“Izdahl, I know how tempting it is to hurt him,” Rayner said dryly. “But perhaps giving him some breathing room would be helpful. Remember, we had a discussion outside the cell.”
Huffing in annoyance, Izdahl put out the black flame and returned to his seat. He motioned to Rasmun. “Talk. You’d better hold my interest.”
“Find Dagmar’s Soul Accountant,” Rasmun said. “She knows much more than I do.”
“What’s her name?”
“I don’t know her true name, but she has Dagmar’s Soul Ledger. You can learn the truth behind the Dara Rysalva.” Rasmun swallowed. “The Soul Accountant knows why Armando’s so critical and how Dagmar will use the Blood Replica. She could also tell you why Dagmar had Ramon and Olivia Medina killed.”
Izdahl leaned forward in his seat. “Tell me more about the accountant.”
“I need assurance you won’t kill me.”
Izdahl narrowed his eyes. “The Amasis and Ziyads are resourceful. I’ll get answers one way or another. I can kill you, interrogate your soul, and have it bottled forever. No reincarnation for you.”
Rasmun spat on the floor in front of Izdahl. “My family would make you pay.”
“They’d try.” Izdahl laughed with macabre pleasure. “And I’d bottle them too.”
Rasmun began to speak in a ragged tone, like he didn’t want to share the information. “Dagmar’s Soul Accountant keeps the ledger of his darkest deeds, the prices he pays, and the results of his actions. His deeds are tattooed on her skin in an ancient Nitelvosa dialect from the Havads. There are also spells incorporated with his actions.”
“Why would Dagmar have a Soul Accountant?” Izdahl asked Rayner. “It seems like a massive risk to have his deeds written down.”
“The most aggressive spells have incredible spiritual backlash,” Rayner said. “Dagmar’s using someone to avoid the full effects. I actually pity the Soul Accountant. They’re usually forced into that position.”
Izdahl turned his attention back to Rasmun. “Tell me more about the spells.”
“I’m not sure of everything about the ones Dagmar’s used,” Rasmun said. “I just know that these unique spells can only work, when they’re activated by a Core Guardian’s blood.”
“Which Core Guardian would be foolish enough to give him their blood?” Izdahl narrowed his eyes. “Wait. Isn’t your younger brother a Core Guardian?”
Rasmun grinned. “Of course you’d assume Khalaf would help Dagmar. All Teradas are the same, right?” He rolled his eyes. “You’re such a fool. Dagmar doesn’t have to get the CG blood willingly.”
“How’s he planning to use these spells?” Izdahl asked.
Rasmun shook his head. “I don’t know. I swear. He didn’t share everything with me. Most of what I just told you, I found out on my own. And at great risk.”
“What were your actions all about?” Izdahl asked. “Why did you even abduct Armando? What were you hoping to accomplish?”
“I tried to keep the most important beings from Dagmar.” Rasmun’s shoulders slumped. “If he gets Armando and the Blood Replica in the Dara Rysalva, he can succeed with his horrible plans.” Rasmun let out a shuddering breath. “I know the Velzos will be furious about what I’ve done. I hope what I’ve shared will get me leniency.”
Izdahl glanced at Rayner. “I think we have enough for now.”
“We do. I’ll report to Velzos Amasi and Ziyad. I’m sure you want to check on Armando.”
“Yes,” Izdahl said softly, as he and Rayner rose to go.
“What about me?” Rasmun asked.
“You’re lucky you’re alive, considering you’re responsible for killing me.” When Rasmun’s eyes widened, Izdahl rubbed the scar on his chest and gritted his teeth. “Yes, I know you paid a spellcaster to make that enchanted stake. I’ll deal with that when I’m ready.” Izdahl turned away and waved a hand as he walked out of the cell. “Clan Liaisons are coming to collect you. Good luck.”