The toothy portal snapped shut like a hungry jaw. Within the obsidian walls of the mountain stronghold, the air grew heavy. It smelled of ozone and burnt iron.
Every soul in the fortress noticed when Kova and Koma returned. They felt the brothers appear like the tail end of a dying storm.
Kova stepped into the hall. His face was a mask of bored indifference despite the carnage.
He used his left arm to support the sagging, punctured body of Koma. A thick, black tentacle slithered from his shadow to drag Jaeren's corpse along the stone floor.
"Lokee! Hykee! Kana! Get to me now! Right now!"
Kova's roar echoed through the stone corridors. It bounced off the damp walls.
Lokee was the first to appear. Her face was pale as she felt Koma's presence fading like a doused torch. Hykee appeared right beside her. As her twin, he went wherever she went.
Kana appeared a second later. Her hands were already glowing with a faint, preparatory light.
Kaola reached the end of the hall. Her eyes glowed violet.
Behind her, the newly captured siblings Jester, Joker, and Jala watched in horrific silence. Kaola looked at the hole in Koma's chest. Her mental link with him was flickering.
"Kova, he is dying," Kaola whispered. Her voice was trembling.
"He is entering the Slumber," Kova spat.
He kicked open the heavy iron bound doors of a stone room.
"His body is shutting down to mend the damage. Kaola, guard the recruits. If any of them move toward their father's body, kill them."
The girl with the pink flames stood in the shadows. Her heart hammered against her ribs.
Recruits? she thought to herself. The word tasted like poison. What does he mean by recruits?
Kova placed Jaeren's body on a slab.
For a brief moment, the room was cleared. It left the brothers in a pocket of heavy silence.
Koma gripped Kova's shoulder. His fingers dug into the leather of his armor. He looked as though he were forcing his soul to stay within his skin just long enough to speak.
"Kova," Koma rasped. His voice was barely a tremor.
"We are done. Killing Jaeren was the last act. No more royal knights. No more royal guard. Our duty to the crown ended in that crater."
Kova looked down at his brother. His expression was unreadable.
"It is about time we shed those chains."
"Go to the capital," Koma commanded. His breath hitched as his systems began to fail. "Collect our gold aelons from the King. Every last coin he owes our bloodline."
"I'll go," Kova replied simply.
Deep within his mind, Kova's thoughts spiraled into a darker hunger.
Gold is such a common currency, he thought. A slow, predatory grin formed in his mind. I think I'll ask for diamond aelons instead. And if the King denies my request, perhaps I will simply erase him.
Koma let out a dark, disturbing giggle that rattled in his throat. He looked toward the shadows where the girl stood.
"Kova. Bring the pink flamed girl to me," Koma whispered. His eyes locked onto her.
As Kova hauled him toward the bed, Koma's head lolled back. He laughed hysterically. The sound struck pure fear into the recruits.
"Tell your siblings, girl. You hid the fact that you have three different flames. You inherited your father's White Flame, and you possess the Primordial Black Flame as well."
Her breath hitched. Her eyes were wide with shock and a sudden, sharp terror.
"How do you know this much about me?" she asked. Her voice was trembling.
Deep inside, her mind raced with a terrifying realization. How does he know I have the Black Flames? Not even my father knows I have them.
Koma didn't answer. He simply smiled.
"I have plans for you, child."
Koma's eyes slid shut. His body went rigid as the Slumber took hold. His heartbeat slowed to a deep thrum that shook the stone beneath them once every ten seconds.
Kova turned his cold gaze toward her.
"You. Pick up your father. Take him to Lokee. If you're a second late, I'll start taking Jester's fingers. Welcome to the family, Juno."