"I've rested plenty, I can heal you both just fine!" Keshiema shouted.
"You need to reserve your strength," Ayperos argued. Ipos was too weak to say it, but agreed with Ayperos. "We aren't going with you."
"Then what?" She cried, turning black and silver, "You expect me to leave you here for Adramelech?"
"We're returning to Celera." Ipos rested his head against the wall. "As soon as the moon rises we'll cross the veil." He had dark circles under his eyes and his normally ashen skin appeared downright ghostly.
"You're leaving Vitera? For how long?" She knew they needed to heal, and going to Celera would help with that, but she felt like she was losing them.
"We can't say for certain, it could be as little as a few weeks for me," Ayperos wanted to comfort her, but did not know how, "and possibly several years for Ipos."
Checking Ipos's temperature, Snow Lily frowned. "Since that's decided, I think it's best if we move the meeting elsewhere so the boys can rest." It was less a suggestion than it was an order. With hitched breath, Keshiema watched Snow Lily pat Ipos's hand lovingly as she asked him if he needed anything.
Nauseous, she left the room, too quickly to be followed, fists clenched tightly, her heart aching with longing. Rounding the corner into the store room she let loose, punching a dry rotted crate as her hair and eyes turned green and smoky embers formed around her. Her soulfire sparked from the outburst and she accidently set the crate on fire.
"Shit, shit, Shit!" She panicked, scrambling for anything to put out the flames. Holding up her hands, she tried to call them back to her. Responding defiantly, the fire spread, consuming the shelves and nearby crates. "No, no, no, no, no!"
Turning to run for help, Keshiema bumped into Pyro. "Hey, now, didn't anyone ever teach you not to play with fire?" With a snap of his fingers, the fire obeyed, jumping back to her, dancing around her body as it reintegrated.
"Thanks," she mumbled, going coral.
"Hmm," pyro mused, "you're goin' to have to help me out here. Peach is for?"
Groaning, she hid her flushing face with her brightening hair, trying to shove past him.
"Ah, got it." He moved out of her way, but tapped her arm as she passed him. "Hey now, relax. Your powers are fresh, hiccups are bound to happen."
Taking a deep, steadying breath, she took Pyro's words to heart. As her colors returned, he laughed and patted her shoulder. "The stories I could tell you from when my powers developed!"
"Really?" Her eyes sparkled, craving connection. After everything she had gone through recently, she needed to find a new balance. Her stomach grumbled loudly.
"Come on, I'll share over a meal. You got your magic spice?"
Patting her pocket, she smiled, "Yeah, I'm good."
"So," he shoved his hands in his pockets as he walked, "what was that about?" As a Fire-Daemon, Pyro had been drawn to Keshiema immediately, desiring to worship and protect her. Once it came out that she was descended from Fotiá, he understood. The same essence that put Reaper-Daemons into frenzies, told Elemental-Daemons to serve and protect their elemental guardian.
"I was just too panicked to control it." Keshiema stared at the ground.
"You know that's not what I'm talking about." The prince persisted, his eyes glowing subtly, seeing straight through her attempted deception.
She looked away, further refusing eye contact. "I don't know, I just," she thought of Snow Lily and her colors drained to an onyx black. Remembering how motherly she acted towards Ipos littered that abyss-like darkness with emerald hues. "I don't think I'm hungry, Pyro, how about a rain check?"
Looking her over, he tried to read between her words and colors. He understood that black meant despair, but the green was throwing him. Humans had theories about colors and emotions, but they had changed constantly, depending on era and culture. "Sure, Kesh. Did you want to go back to the meeting, then?"
Fidgeting with her hands, she thought about her answer. "Not really," she huffed. Lying to the Prince of Falsehoods would prove useless. "But I should probably be there, right?"
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Rocking on his heels, hands still in his pockets, Pyro smirked, "Eh, you know Phorest'll give you a summary. They probably haven't even made it past the bickering yet."
Rolling her eyes, Keshiema shot back, "If I wait for that to end, I'd probably miss the whole meeting. They'll never stop arguing."
"Not without you there," he pointed out. " Come on, let's go get them back on track."
Snow Lily commanded attention in such a way that almost no one realized Keshiema had left. Dásos reached out for Keshiema as she sprinted off, but she was already gone. Pyro was the only other person to see her leave. The Fire-Daemon stared for a moment at the open doorway and the glowing embers that no doubt followed the young woman.
The helpless look in Dásos's eyes told Pyro everything he needed to know; The Primordial needed to stay to conduct his meeting. Seeking permission to go after her, Pyro met his gaze and nodded towards the corridor. With Dásos's shallow nod, Pyro quietly snuck away as everyone left the crowded med room.
Going to the main hall with everyone else instead of following Keshiema had Dásos on edge, but he had to share his plan. When the demons finished trickling in, he cleared his throat. "I know of a place where we can hide outside of the king's reach, but there are a few conditions you need to be aware of. Mainly that there will be no hunting within the sanctuary," he glared at the two Reaper-Daemons, "and opportunities to leave and do so will be few and far between."
Samael frowned, obviously concerned. "It is inadvisable for a Reaper to be in such close proximity to two awakened Primordials when feeding may be difficult."
Gritting his sharp teeth, his arm aching fiercely, Dásos tried to keep his words in check. "I'm well aware. So if you can't control your urges, find an alternative."
"Of course. It would be extremely devastating if any harm came to Keshiema. Eurynome and I-"
"Speak for yourself!" Eurynome snarled. "I can more than handle my hunger. I'd never hurt her."
The room stood silent as Dásos pondered his next words. From the subtle hint of forest green aura emanating from his eyes, to his feigned relaxed posture, to the low, almost imperceptible growl rumbling in his throat, no one dared speak a word before him. "I'll leave it for Keshiema to decide if you can stay." He finally said, though he was sure she would pretend to be fine with it.
"For now, we need to figure out a way to get everyone there. It's a couple hundred miles along the mountain roads. The Taveran horses should make decent time."
Samael tapped his claws thoughtfully, "Most of our guard were sent away during the initial evacuation." He reminded them, "I will take the remainder with me,"
"With our bikes we can cut the journey from days to hours." Merihim glanced out the window to the outbuilding the motorcycles were parked in. "We would just need to figure out logistics."
"And how exactly will you manage to fit so many people on three motorcycles? We still have thirteen to transport." Dásos shook his head, beyond frustrated with the demons.
"I can fly there." Gaap spoke up. "And bring a passenger as well."
"The sky guard towers were still active last I checked" Stolas reminded him.
"You'd have to maintain a low altitude," Asmoday closed his eyes, understanding Dásos's irritation. "That would affect how quick you are."
"Then the bikes slow to a speed Gaap can match." Pyro said as he entered the room with Keshiema trailing behind him. 'Damn it,' he thought as he took in the room. Two empty chairs remained, one between Lilith and Merihim, the other tucked in the corner next to Eurynome.
A month ago, Pyro would have sat wherever, with little care. Now, however, he had to put some thought into it. Keshiema hated Lilith, and Merihim still made her a bit uneasy. And as for Eurynome, everyone could see his growing hunger, right from the beginning. Well, everyone except for Keshiema. But now that her Primordial blood had awakened, it was more than hunger in his pale green eyes.
It only took Pyro a second to decide where to sit, but the moment felt like eons, stretching into infinity while the entire world stared in judgement. Eurynome glared, ready to kill Pyro as he took the seat next to the hungry Reaper. 'Annoyed and unsettled is better than terrified, or worse, dead.'
"That still leaves five people. We can only fit two per bike." Dásos continued.
"Hiro can take on his fox form and ride in a pack." By the subtle growl, followed by Cresil's stifled laughter coming from the doorway, Hiro seemed to dislike Merihim's idea.
"What about Beelzebub's bike? It's here too, yes?" Stolas's question cast a depressing gloom over the room. "I know it's not something we want to think about, but it solves the problem."
"That still leaves two people without transport." Dásos huffed.
"Actually," Snow Lily looked at her hands, "Alex and I don't plan on joining you. "I need to return to Tavera and look into some things. And I'm going to need Alex's help with it."
Keshiema felt like the whole room turned to stare at her. Her heart raced, thumping against her chest, lungs refusing to work, leg shaking rapidly, vision narrowing. Chewing her cheek, drawing blood, gave her something to focus on besides the building anxiety.
"I guess that's everyone taken care of then. We'll get it settled later who will ride with who. For now, let's get our things packed and eat something. If we hurry, we can be out of the city by sunrise."
Eurynome stayed seated as everyone else shuffled out, his eyes lingering watchfully on Keshiema as Dásos tried to comfort her, so entranced that he failed to see Lilith hovering over him. "Suffer will he, any who harms a descendant of Adam's."
Skin crawling from the threat, tense from getting caught off guard, Eurynome slowly turned his head to meet Lilith's gaze, her vibrant amber eyes sparkling with menace. He tried to stay his hand, but his anger got the best of him. He reached for her throat, catching only a shimmering cloud of blue aura.
Dark steampunk fantasy webnovel
The world of Rohana exists beneath a barrier of luminous crosses. Here, the Rohana Federation bends to Rohai, whose staff bears seven crystals of immense power. His Church of Harmony has divided civilization: city dwellers harness crystal technology while villagers cling to simpler traditions beyond the Church's reach.
In Haugstad, a forgotten village, Haran Baratti and his son Heron knew fragile peace. Then, unknown assailants burn it to ash. Haran draws the attackers away, giving Heron a chance to survive. His final words: We will meet again in Tiwaz.
Star-cycles later, Heron must earn an adventurer's passport to cross borders closed to villagers. To reach his father, he'll navigate crystalline cities and brutal hierarchies where allies carry secrets as dangerous as the enemies.
What to expect:
- Dark steampunk-inspired power fantasy with extensive world-building
- Magic systems where power comes at a psychological cost
- Visceral, well-choreographed combat sequences
- Mysteries that unfold across multiple volumes
- Steampunk aesthetics merged with elemental magic
- Stories where the actors are often found in morally grey areas
This work will appeal to readers who enjoyed:Works of Dan Simmons (Hyperion, Drood, The Terror), The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, A Song of Ice and Fire, Fullmetal Alchemist, HunterxHunter.
More influences and details can be found on the novel's page.
Chapters (1200 - 1500 words) are released daily at 20:00 (8 PM) GMT+1