Seeds of Sorrow (Immortal Realms Book 1)

“We have to move faster,” Draven shouted over the roar of flames, grasping Eden’s hand tightly.

He could feel the heat of the fire on his cheeks, and his skin threatened to sizzle along with it. Draven feared what this could mean for Eden and pulled her more closely to him, hoping to shield her from the heat.

“Where has Zryan gone?” Travion shouted from beside them, his words stunted from the exertion of running.

Draven stopped, a new sense of fear gripping him. Where had Zryan gone? He’d been right behind them. Draven had promised he would get them out of this, that he would not fail them. But where had they lost Zryan in their mad dash away from the castle?

A thunderous sound shook the very earth they stood on, and only his tight arm around her waist kept Eden from falling. Looking back the way they’d come, Draven found to his horror the gigantic form of his father cresting the hill. The furious face was much like his own, only more rigid and worn. In his large fist, he held Zryan, his body already slack and lifeless.

There was a roar of fury, one which Draven thought for a moment had come from himself, only to realize that it was coming from Travion. Putting out his hand to stop him, Draven could do nothing but watch as his brother drew his sword and charged at the giant form of their father.

He wasn’t sure how he knew, but Draven was sure if he allowed him to do this, Travion was going to die too. Turning back to Eden, he clasped her arms firmly. “You have to stay here. Do you hear me?”

“But I can help!”

“No! Stay here, please.” He wanted to kiss her, but there was no time.

Leaving Eden behind, Draven raced over the rocky ground, avoiding the flames that were only growing more intense. He chased after Travion, who was hell-bent on facing Ludari. He didn’t make it in time. Instead, Zryan’s lifeless body collided with his own, sending them both careening into the flames.

Fire licked at him, lighting his clothes with hungry orange fingers. Scrambling away from the flames, Draven dragged Zryan’s form along with him and watched in horror as Travion was swept up by the hand of Ludari. Before his brother could react, the fierce tyrant brought him to his mouth and bit him clean in half.

Draven could feel the raw edge of the scream tearing from his throat as he was helpless to do anything to stop it. Forced to abandon Zryan’s lifeless form, Draven staggered to his feet and only then realized that Eden had disappeared.

Spinning on his heels, he called out for her, ignoring the thunderous steps of his father approaching.

“Eden!” he shouted. “Eden, where are you?!”

She was gone. No matter where he turned, he could not find her amongst the flames lapping away his kingdom.

“Eden?” Was that her voice he had just heard, calling over the roar? A scream, piercing the darkness illuminated by the flames. “Eden!”

As the flames drew nearer, and Ludari approached from behind, Draven’s eyes locked on the horizon before him just as the sun began to dawn in Andhera for the very first time.

“H-how . . . ” Draven found himself rooted to the spot as the sun’s rays washed over the land, and he was captured in a world of pain and torture as the sunshine began to eat away at the flesh of his face and hands. Behind him, the fire licked at his ankles.

There was no point. He could go no farther. His end would be met here in the light of the sun or at the hungry maw of the flame.

Draven sank to his knees, letting himself drown in the pain as it consumed him. This was how he ought to go. This was the fate he deserved. Turning his face up into the sunlight, Draven grit his teeth and gave into the approaching death.

But Eden’s voice was there again, sounding out over everything else. Calling to him. Begging for him to find her.

Draven began to crawl his way over the earth, forcing himself through the flames, breathing in the heat that singed his insides and burnt them away just as the sunshine overhead tore at the flesh now bare from the fire. Fingers clawed at the earth, bending nails back in his fight to keep crawling, keep moving in the direction of that sweet voice beckoning to him.

If she were still alive . . . ”If he had not yet lost her, there was a reason to keep going.

When Draven finally staggered out of the mouth of Sollicitus Cave, his clothing was muddied and torn, but intact. He felt as if his flesh had been peeled from his bones and hastily stitched back on, leaving him exposed and raw. But he also felt unburdened. In the rawness of the pain, there was now room for fresh growth.

Eden was there, anxiously waiting, and as he cleared the stone and stepped out into the bright moonlight, she ran to him. Draven wrapped his aching arms around her and buried his face in her neck.

“Are you okay?” he heard her whisper. “The screams coming from the cave . . . ”By the sun, Draven. I thought you would never come out.”

Draven pulled back enough that he was able to lift his hands to cup her face, looking down into the concerned eyes that greeted his. “I promise that I am okay,” he rasped wearily. His body, mind, and soul had been scoured by the powers of the Sollictus Cave, but he would be okay. His debt had been paid. “I’m sorry that I gave you cause to worry.”

They shared a kiss, one filled with great relief and promise. With Eden ever there to brighten his path, he could find relief from anything.

Slipping his arm around her waist, Draven turned to the others that stood there, waiting for him. Lord Esuriit stood alongside Capala’s widow, the two, while not smiling, looked vindicated at least. Draven nodded to them and received a bow of their heads in return.

As a group, they took the stone steps that led back up to the castle grounds from where Sollictus sat, nestled at the mouth of the great black pit.

It was not rest nor a warm goblet of blood that awaited Draven at the entrance to his castle but Travion. Seeing him standing there was like a sudden punch to his abdomen, the image of his brother being bitten in two still fresh in his mind.

“Travion, what brings you here?” Draven asked, his arm tight about Eden, keeping her tucked into his side.

“I wish I came bearing good news, but I am afraid that is not the case.” Travion looked him over, frowning as he took in Draven’s haggard appearance. “But perhaps now is not the time.”

“No, go on,” Draven prodded as they stepped into the candlelit hallways of Aasha Castle.

“Reports have been coming to me of large sea creatures attacking and sinking ships all along the eastern coast and into Tribonik. I believe this to be the work of whoever stole The Creaturae.”

Draven halted in his steps, eyes locking with Travion’s. “Do you plan to go looking for it?”

Travion offered a grim smile. “If things continue this way, I fear I might have to.”