Crowned (Beholder #4)(51)

“Doesn’t every child learn how to sneak out of the house? And yet, they had you raised on earth to become more compliant. That didn’t work now, did it? You’re rather bullheaded. But their schemes did succeed in one respect. It was good for you that I didn’t know you existed, otherwise I’d have drained your powers as an infant. No offense meant. I simply like to drain things of magick.”

My body felt numb. “This doesn’t seem real. The Sire and Lady are my parents.” There were so many times I’d yearned to know them.

“You have my pity, sister mine. I can’t imagine the cruel heart that would plant their own child with a human guardian. Plus, they took no interest in you until you came into your powers. And only then, they wished you to train In Necromancy so you could one day power their precious gateways.”

His words cut into my soul. Indeed, I had spent many years trying to squeeze my life into that of a farm girl merely because I thought that was what my parents would have wanted. All the while, they only wanted to fatten up my powers so they could destroy me. “So, we share loathsome parents. Not sure how that matters now.”

“On the contrary, I think it’s quite important. Our parents are horrid beings. Hybrid magick always goes sour with them. However, with you and that little Creation Caster king—”

“Leave Rowan out of it.”

A malicious gleam lit up Viktor’s eyes. “Again, she proves herself to be the blundering fool. Aren’t you even going to pretend that dolt isn’t your weak spot? Do you know nothing of how other Eleas have been manipulated into giving up their lives?”

I kept my features perfectly calm, which was a bit of an achievement. “Why don’t you just tell me what you want from me?”

“It’s a good thing you got more natural hybrid magick ability, dear sister, because you’re a bit dim in the brains department. I figured out how to manipulate hybrid power in a mere ten years. It took our parents twenty millennia.”

“As I recall, you were raised in the Eternal Lands. I’m sure that helped a little. Doesn’t the Sire of Souls—I mean, our father—have quite the extensive library?”

Viktor cleared his throat. “That doesn’t matter.” Even so, I could tell by the angry gleam in his eyes that it mattered quite a lot.

“So you say.”

Viktor lifted his chin. “It comes down to this. I plan to kill our parents and take their place. I want your help.”

“I’d rather you took my place in the gateways, honestly.”

“But you know that’s not an option. Setting me loose…Getting the Sword…And then, I’d have to deliver the right provocation at the previse moment for you to be justified in killing me. You’re too noble for your own good. That’s why I need you. I’ll protect you from yourself. Give up on this dream of using hybrid magick to heal the gateways.”

I rubbed my neck, thinking. “I don’t see how I’m necessary to your plans. You have an army. You control hybrid magick. You could kill the Sire and Lady and then heal the gateways yourself.”

“Consider it my brotherly love for you. I wish you and your Caster boy to take part in my ultimate success.”

I slowly eyed my brother. Every line of his body concealed tightly-held rage. He was furious with the very concept of demeaning himself to speak to me. There was no brotherly love here. If Viktor wanted my help, there could be only one reason why he sought it. Not love. Power.

“In other words,” I said slowly. “You aren’t strong enough to heal the gateways on your own. You need Rowan and me.”

“I need no one!” bellowed Viktor. “I’m offering you the chance of many lifetimes! If you don’t team with me, then our parents will sacrifice you and heal the gateways. I’ll still get the Sword and kill them.”

“But you won’t be able to rule everywhere, will you? If our parents heal the gateways with me, then they rule those worlds. But if you get me to be your sacrifice, then the empire falls to you, doesn’t it? Or am I too thick to understand what you want here?”

“I try to be a good brother, and this is what happens.”

“Oh, did my doltish mind figure out something on its own? How horrible of me. You don’t just want our parents dead. You want to rule all the known worlds.” I sniffed. “You’d think patricide and matricide would be satisfying enough.”

Viktor stepped closer, his body positively vibrating with fury. “Make no mistake. You need me. I know the spells our parents cast particular in order to stabilize the Meadow of Many Gateways. You won’t be able to succeed without me.”

“You know the spells? Prove it. Name one.”

Viktor looked away for the barest second. It was a quick glance, but it had liar written all over it. “I don’t have to prove myself to you.”

“Do you don’t know how to wield hybrid magick and heal the gateways. How disappointing.”

Viktor waved his arm dismissively. “You’re wrong about my requiring you and Rowan for power. I drained thousands of Necromancers and Casters, pulling their energy into my own body. I have plenty of magick to heal the gateways.”

“This sounds familiar. Great claims and no proof. Go on. Show me.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”