The Altar of Ash
617 Words
Chapter 19: The Altar of Ash
Silver light flooded the cathedral.
Ancient pillars glowed. Dust rose from the stone floor. Broken stained glass threw fractured colors across Lena’s face as she stood before the altar like something carved from fire.
Cassian seemed delighted.
“At last,” he said, stepping down the center aisle. “No rooftops. No crowds. No interruptions.”
Elias lifted the iron candlestick.
“I am standing right here.”
“You are furniture with opinions,” Cassian replied.
“Rude men really love that word.”
The Iron Circle spread through the pews, blades drawn.
Selene moved to Lena’s side, retrieving a hidden dagger from inside her coat.
“You and I still dislike each other,” she said quietly.
“Deeply,” Lena answered.
“Good. Cooperation should never become friendship.”
Adrian tried to rise from the altar steps.
Pain dropped him back down.
The black wound at his side pulsed like embers.
“Stay down,” Lena said without turning.
“I dislike being decorative.”
“You’re succeeding beautifully.”
Cassian’s sword lifted.
The fighters charged.
The cathedral erupted.
Lena sent a wave of silver force through the front pews, splintering wood and hurling masked soldiers backward. Selene vanished into motion, blade flashing between ribs, throats, wrists.
Elias swung the candlestick with desperate enthusiasm.
He hit a masked fighter square in the mask.
The man collapsed instantly.
Elias blinked.
“I continue to discover talents.”
Another attacker rushed him.
Adrian, still kneeling, snatched a fallen dagger and threw it cleanly across the room.
It buried itself in the attacker’s shoulder.
Elias looked over. “Show-off.”
“Am dying elegantly,” Adrian muttered.
Cassian reached Lena.
Their powers collided in a blast that cracked the altar.
Black sword against silver light.
He pressed harder.
“You could remake the gates,” he said. “Why bleed for people who fear you?”
“Because I’m not you.”
“Not yet.”
He broke through her shield and struck her shoulder with the sword’s flat side. She flew into a column hard enough to chip stone.
Adrian roared and staggered to his feet.
“No.”
He crossed the hall despite the wound, tackling Cassian down the altar steps.
They crashed through candles and shattered marble.
Selene saw an opening.
She drove her dagger toward Cassian’s throat.
He caught her wrist without looking and threw her into the pews.
Wood exploded.
Elias ran to Lena.
“You okay?”
“I’ve had better cathedrals.”
He helped her up.
Cassian kicked Adrian away and rose smoothly.
Blood now ran from a cut above his brow.
He touched it, annoyed.
“You force me to work.”
“Charge extra,” Elias muttered.
Cassian pointed the black sword toward Adrian.
“Watch carefully, bridge.”
He lunged.
Lena screamed and thrust both hands forward.
A beam of silver light struck the blade midair.
The sword shattered.
Silence slammed through the cathedral.
Every Iron Circle fighter froze.
Cassian looked at the broken hilt in his hand.
Then at Lena.
Something dangerous and joyful entered his eyes.
“There you are,” he whispered.
The ground beneath the cathedral shook.
Ancient symbols carved into the floor began to glow red.
Selene’s face drained.
“No…”
Lena looked down. “What is this?”
Cassian spread his arms.
“The first gate.”
The altar split open.
Heat roared upward from the darkness below.
Chains rattled somewhere deep underground.
Adrian grabbed Lena’s arm.
“We run. Now.”
From the pit beneath the church, something huge began climbing toward them.
End of Chapter 19
Say Chapter 20 when you're ready.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD