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Esme stumbled and hissed in pain. Her flesh still burned, and some of it looked like it had been melted away. She needed blood fast, but so far hadn’t found any potential food sources while tracking the avatar from her mother’s house. If they thought they could harm her and get away with it, they were dead wrong. She’d make them pay, especially the girl who burned her.
Night still darkened the sky as she stalked over to a small cottage with a tiled roof and weathered old stone walls.
What an odd little place.
Didn’t most humans prefer big cities like Celestus that she’d seen in Griffin’s memories?
She crouched down by a small open window voices drifted out of.
Esme caught the sound of six heartbeats inside, though one was fainter than the others. No doubt it came from that furball who followed Ella around. She quickly spared a glance through the window. The four of them crowded around a tiny kitchen table and the rat creature settled on Ella’s shoulder, his teeth chattering nervously.
“The Esrac has been a plague to all the realms for over a thousand years. What makes you think I can help?” An old woman Esme had never seen before moved over to the stove and filled a teapot with water as she spoke.
“You’re still an avatar and one of the few surviving people left who can help,” Luc said. “You have a duty—”
Esme’s fangs gleamed. Another avatar? So Ella wasn’t alone. No doubt they had come here to seek this other avatar’s help in destroying her people. Esme bit back a laugh. Whether it was one or two avatars, they didn’t matter. Both would die at her hand.
“Don’t talk to me about duty, boy. I gave my life to working with the Valan knights, and it cost me everything. My husband, my son...” She shook her head and set the teapot down to boil. “If Esme is free, you should warn the Senate and get them to help you.”
“We already tried. The Chancellor wouldn’t believe us,” Ella said, and crossed her arms. “Is it true they killed my dad?”
Adria’s eyes flashed. “Of course they did. The Senate doesn’t tolerate anyone who goes against them.”
“The Chancellor believes the ban on magic will protect the people,” Luc said. “Even after Griffin’s death she refused to accept the Esrac could have returned.”
Adria fixed her gaze on Ella. “How could you let that bitch through? Your father always said he’d raise you as a human. How did you even access a gate? There are only two left in this realm.”
“He taught me to control my magic about a year before he disappeared. I guess my powers were too strong for him to ignore,” Ella said. “I read some of his journals too, but I had no idea about avatars or the Valan knights until I moved to Celestus and met Luc.”
“You know about the curse then?” Adria asked. “On the two of you?”
They both nodded.
“And you’re still together?”
“We created this mess. We’ll try to fix it together.” Luc reached across the table and squeezed Ella’s hand.
“You honestly think the Esrac can be stopped? As long as their Queen lives, they can breed and produce dozens of drones.”
“Then we have to stop Esme. Will you help or not?” Ella demanded. “I’ve never asked you for anything else. Just teach us what you know. That’s all we want.”
Adria glanced over at Eric and Sara. “Why are the humans here? They have no business in this mess.”
“I kind of fell into it,” Eric said.
“I can burn an Esrac with my bare hands,” Sara added.
Esme’s ears perked up at that last comment. She wanted to kill that strange blonde girl more than anything, perhaps even more than Lucan or Aurelia. How dare she burn her!
Adria’s eyes narrowed, and she touched Sara’s forehead briefly. “You’re ungifted.”
“Excuse me? I happen to be the youngest ever archivist in Celestus’ history!” Sara said.
“An ungifted is someone who magic cannot harm. You possess a kind of anti-magic. Your touch will be harmful to anyone who possesses magic. Your gift I triggered by your emotions, especially fear or anger.” Adria shook her head. “Esme won’t like that.” She poured the tea. “You’re all barely more than children. What makes you think any of you can fight someone as strong as Esme?”
“We’ve managed so far, despite a few mishaps,” Ella said. “Will you help us not?”
Adria blew out a breath. “I can’t do everything. I’m too old. Our best bet would be to travel to the Valan compound at Arkadia.”
Luc’s eyes widened. “It still exists?”
“Of course. The Senate haven’t destroyed the old ways yet,” Adria said. “But you should know Esme won’t stop hunting you. She’ll want to bring her brethren through the gate.”
She looked at Eric. “You shouldn’t be part of this. You’re just a powerless human.”
“We’re friends,” he insisted and folded his arms. “Anyway, if the bookworm goes, I’m going too.”
“Arkadia is a thousand miles from here. I’ll have to arrange some type of transport,” Adria said.
“Didn’t I see an old airship outside?” Eric asked. “Looks like an old Pegasus model.”
“Oh, that thing hasn’t run in years.” Adria waved a hand dismissively. “No, give me a few days and I’ll find a transpo, but we’ll have to be discreet about it. They’re already circulating your pictures around.”
“You get screen service out here?” Eric asked in surprise.
“No, I have a link.”
Adria held up a square shaped link that looked like a brick.
Esme stayed outside as they continued to chat, listening to everything she could. The one called Eric had wandered off to work on the ship, and Luc went with him. Esme crept closer to them. If she took down Luc first, the avatars and the strange ungifted girl would be left unprotected.
“You think you can get it going?” Luc asked Eric.
“Maybe. It’s not in bad condition, just doesn’t have any power,” Eric replied.
Luc frowned as Esme made a move to lunge at him. She smiled as she sensed one of her drones nearby.
“Esrac.”
Luc’s sword flared with power.
A drone lunged at him, making a grab for him. Luc lashed out with his sword, the glowing blade slicing off the Esrac’s hand at the wrist.
Eric looked up, grabbed a laser knife, and flung it at the other drone as it advanced toward him. It hit the creature in the eye, making it howl with pain.
Luc swung his sword, but missed, and leapt into the air, slicing the drone’s head off before his feet hit the ground. Seconds later, the other drone grabbed Eric by the throat.
Luc grabbed the drone’s shirt, yanking the beast backward and slicing off its head.
Eric let out a breath, looking at the blood and bodies that surrounded him. “Well, that was easy.”
“Too easy, they’re newborn drones. Esme is the still real threat.”
Luc hurried back inside, dragging Eric with him. The wall behind him exploded as blasts from a stunner hurtled toward him.
Adria appeared, also holding a glowing sword, and swung it at Esme.
“You’re not welcome here, demon.”
Esme laughed. “Fool, I’m not here for you. Get out of my way!”
Ella raised her hand, sending Esme stumbling backward with a burst of starfire.
Sara grabbed Esme’s arm, making the queen howl in agony as her flesh started to burn.
“Hurry, Ella, open the gate!” Luc yelled.
Ella raised her hands again, and light shimmered as a glowing doorway appeared on the wall behind them.
“No, I won’t go back!” Esme screamed as the glowing gate tried to suck her backwards and pull her through.
Sara shoved Esme toward the gate, but Esme’s claws dug into the side of the gate. The portal started dragging her through, its light enveloping her body.
Ella moved forward, touching the runes on the gate.
Esme grabbed her arm. “If I go back, I’m not going alone.”
Luc dropped his sword in panic, grabbing Ella’s other arm as the portal tried sucking them all into it.
Adria raised her hand, throwing a fireball at Esme. As she did, Luc and Ella collapsed to the floor in a tangle of limbs.
When they scrambled up, Esme had vanished from sight.
She screamed as darkness enveloped her. When she opened her eyes again, she found herself outside. She didn’t know where she was, but one thing was for certain.
This world would soon be hers. One way or another.
Continued in Fallen Avatar.
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