Chapter Twenty-one

Volencia and her father made it to his study first. As they waited, she paced back and forth in front of the hearth contemplating Damion’s comment on the training field. He was very much a distraction and she already worried about fighting him.

Venron sat in his usual chair, his fingers drumming on the armrest. “You must be nervous?” Volencia smiled at him, trying to look more confident than she felt. His lips turned down into a slight frown. There were a few lamps lit, but the room glowed in the afternoon sun coming through the windows.

Sitting at his knee, she rested her head on his lap as she usually did when she needed his comfort. Volencia was out of sorts when Damion finally got to the room. She desperately wanted to have him tell her what he meant, but he only laughed and told her to pay attention to what they were doing now.

“Let’s focus right on now instead. I think a few days in Samanthia will help prepare you for this training.” He was dressed in a hunter green, simple tunic. Gregron had made him stand for hours getting fitted for a proper uniform, but so far, he’d refused to wear it. “Any way, your job is to make sure the King’s hands remain just so on the hilt of the sword. If he lets go, it could be dangerous. I want to keep the magic contained.” He tapped the mirrored ball on the hilt. “Also watch this. The moment it looks like it’s cracking, you need to let me know. Also, something in me changes when I use a lot of nihility magic. It’ll look like when Claven handed me that invitation. Depending on the curse, it could be worse. Please stay as calm as possible. I’ve never done this before, and emotions do a lot to drive my reactions while using this side of magic. If you get scared or start to panic, it’s better to leave than to let it affect me. Do you understand?”

“Yes.” She nodded, placing her hands on her father’s, “Is that why Gregron’s not here?”

“Correct. I was worried he would panic if something were to go wrong and get in the way. Repeat the instruction for me please?”

She did as he rolled up his sleeves. Her father still held the sword blade between his boots, his hands positioned just so. “How dangerous is this?”

“I don’t know. Dangerous enough.” Damion frowned.

“Are you sure I can do this? I don’t know much about magic.” Volencia’s stomach dropped and churned. She wanted to be the one he trusted, but feared she wasn’t the best choice.

“I have reason to believe it will be much safer if you stay in the room with me. I’d be less likely to try this without you here.” His eyes narrowed on her a little. “Are you having second thoughts?” He looked nervous himself.

“No. No. I trust your judgement. Let’s do this.”

He nodded, putting his hands on the King’s shoulders from behind. As in the battle with the Council, his eyes went from emerald to forest and soon bordered on black. Like before, he whispered under his breath, but she couldn’t hear what he was saying. He closed his mouth and eyes, reaching forward and covering her father’s as well. The mirrored ball in the claw twisted and turned, it’s shine dimming. Damion’s hand returned to Venron’s shoulder and he did this set numerous times. The more he touched her father’s mouth, the darker the skin around his eyes became, the veins in his face spiderwebbing out over his cheeks until his ears were as inky as his eyes.

The fourth time he placed his hand around her father’s throat. At this, Venron’s eyes flew open and she could see panic in them. Wanting to make sure to keep fear down as Damion had suggested she placed her hand on his knee and gently spoke. “It’s okay. He won’t hurt you.”

A moment later, Damion’s hand ran up Venron’s throat until it was under his jaw and his fingers pushed the joint there until his mouth opened wide. When Damion forced three fingers into her father’s mouth, her heart started to race. He slowly pulled something out that was grotesque. It looked like a long, smoky black snake. About halfway through Venron started to choke and sputter. His hands started shaking and one pulled away from the ball to make its way to his throat.

Volencia grabbed his hand and forced it back. “Damion, he can’t breathe.” Volencia said the words calmly, but her own panic was rising, and she had to force herself to swallow it. She only knew he heard her because his brow drew down in concern, but he didn’t stop. The hand that was on Venron’s shoulder moved up to the back of his head, forcing it back.

“Breath.” Damion growled his lips turning down as the snake grew longer. Venron’s entire body started to shake. Damion’s eyes shot open, and the mirror ball started to turn black as coal. “Breath, damn it!” Damion started to twine the black snake around his arm since he couldn’t pull it any further. “I can’t pull it fast enough.” A large crack resounded through the room and Damion cursed for the first time since she’d met him.

“That was the ball, it’s cracking.”

“I don’t know what to do…” Damion’s black eyes were wide as he stared down into her father’s face.