{Near 6,000 BCE}

I stared at the flames and barely registered the screams.

Two months passed. I dedicated every waking hour to razing any city and settlement that aided Celindria in pushing us from Earth. We were all but evicted.

But the fire comforted me. Crazed in my vengeance as I was.

Korac stood beside me, directing our men to execute escapees. He became my moral compass after I lost mine. I trusted him to tell me when we went too far. However, I believed the loss of my brother compromised him.

Two loose cannons drowning in fury.

Colita monitored the return to Cinder with her newly bred garrison on watch. Every so often, I caught her staring at me with "I told you so" written on her face.

Korac turned to me in full Icarean regalia. He ditched the human clothes after they betrayed us. "Your majesty, we need to return for shelter. The sun rises in a few hours."

I nodded my head without taking my eyes from the burning mud brick homes. I don't think I cared if we turned to ash in the sun. Only... I learned in those moments I wanted to die on Cinder.

"Yes. We return."

Electricity trickled across the sky. Korac drew his whip as we both gazed up.

Celindria's face blotted the stars. "Icari, you return now. On your own or involuntarily, I care not. Leave."

The General glared at her image. "How is she doing that?"

Father mentioned this ability in his ravings about the nacre chamber. That those descended from Elden could communicate as he did. But I'm sure the Primary granted her Tritan technology.

After Celindria's image disappeared, I ordered, "Get our people to safety, General. I will obstruct the conduit."

Korac turned to me. "Sire, I highly recommend--"

I flew off before he finished. The conduit wasn't far, and he needed to evacuate our people. I planned for this moment for months. I wouldn't miss it for our worlds.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

I alighted roughly, stirring the sand. Shadow spread from me as I stepped into the energy. I tried to keep it open.

Celindria stepped out of my shadow like an apparition. As predicted.

"Is this enough for you?" I referred to the ugliness. The pain, the hatred, the madness in her wake.

"If this is a gift for me, know it did not surprise me, King of Cinder." The siren smirked.

I implored her, "Celindria, surrender." Softening my voice, I added, "Please," for good measure.

The conduit shifted and shimmered around me, open to Cinder.

She practically laughed, "Do you beg for me or for your people?"

I snarled, "Begging cannot move people without hearts."

"You are no King to me, and we waste time here." She tightened her fist around the device until it cracked.

The conduit drank Celindria's blood as if it thirsted for nothing else. A breeze lifted my hair. A whistle reached my ears as if from a great distance. The night sky beckoned for me to commit its majesty to memory.

I grinned. "The Pretiosum Cruor."

She recoiled.

I embraced the pull to Cinder. "As you rip us from your world and thrust us back home, you provided my people with the greatest means of our salvation. For that, you will be exalted. Your name, the Pretiosum Cruor, will be lauded as great as my own."

"Who told you?"

I threw my head back and laughed. "The woman who dawned the heavens on Icarean kind wants to know who betrayed her." As the gusts transformed into a whirlwind, the air bit at my skin with static shock. "No, I think I will keep that to myself. One more cunning secret you will die without knowing. Worry not. We will protect them from your evil."

Her face transformed into an ugly snarl.

The conduit hungered for me. I unfurled my wings and nodded to her. "Whenever I look back on this moment, I will recall the misery you inflicted. One day, I shall return to claim Cinder's salvation and wrench my vengeance from your body. If not you, then your descendants."

It's hard to describe the Vacating. You feel inanimate and torn. Then something rips you apart. A few garrisons' worth of Icari poured out onto Cinder at my castle's foundation.

Korac swiped his clothes clean of dirt. Ignoring his tears, I turned and despaired. I wondered if he saw Xelan before the Vacating tore him away.

The conduit was truly gone.

Here we were. Trapped on Cinder. My brother trapped on Earth. Because of a fucking woman.

Eyes closed tight, I flexed my gloved fist and growled.

Korac cried out, "Your majesty!"

When I opened my eyes, sparkling lights surrounded us. Floated up and away. Our men disappeared.

Warning: Thirty days until maximum destabilization.

I'd killed them all and maxed out the "leash."

My shoulders shook once with a throaty sound. Then another. They coalesced into laughter. Raw, maniacal laughter. I laughed to Li. Loud enough for her to share in it. Our mutual secret.

None of us would ever know peace. Or happiness. Not for long.

Korac. My best friend. The best soldier. He waited until I finished. Then he escorted me home.

When I returned to my castle, Imminent was carved into every window frame. Everyone inside, sparing Korac, died. I couldn't control it anymore. The Weapon leaked onto the outside, and I no longer cared to shield the world from the monster within.