A Trial of the Heart (Valdor #2)

Chapter Twenty-Five

W hen we rematerialized atop the Southern Cliff face, the chill of the ocean breeze against my skin was refreshing yet terrifying. We were finally here. The outcome of the second trial would be decided today.

Daxton stood beside me, his silver-lined black armor gleaming in the early rays of dawn, with three mountain peaks visible on his broad shoulder. His hair was pulled back as his gray eyes hardened, determination setting in for our task ahead. He looked just as formidable as the fables depicted him, and I was thankful, if not slightly infuriated, to have him at my side.

“Didn’t forget the key, did you?” His half-hearted attempt at a joke was oddly comforting.

“I’ve got it,” I said, pulling at the chain around my neck. The sun-moon key rested against my chest.

He nodded, magically summoning his sword, Valencia, to his back. I tucked the key safely under my armor, my own single mountain patch stitched into my clothing underneath. Again, I wore the armor of Aegis to help protect me in the trial. I only wished it could protect Daxton, too.

This trial could kill him just as easily as it could me. But if the roles were reversed, I knew I would be standing here with him if I could. I squared my shoulders, inhaling the familiar sea air as I readied myself.

“You lead, Spitfire. I’ll follow.” He looked at me with an unwavering swell of confidence embedded into each line of his face. “You’ve got this. Remember I’m simply along for the ride to witness history in the making.”

I nervously reached up to push my long braid over my shoulder and unstrapped my silver wooden bow, nocking an arrow along the tight string. The feel of the bow in my hands fed me a calming sense of strength and security, steadying my racing heart to an even rhythm that matched my breathing. This was it. Our months of training had led to this. I would come out alive and victorious or dead.

“You ready?” I asked.

“If you are.”

I nodded. “Let’s go.” I climbed steadily down the black volcanic rocks along the top of the cliff, with Daxton in step behind me.

According to Castor, the arched formation of lighter stone glowed brighter the closer the key was to its entrance. “Like calling to like,” he said. “The key to the first trial recognizes its counterpart.”

It made sense.

Traversing down the cliff face was simple enough—a mindless task after training on top of mountain ridgelines and preparing for the Gauntlet. The rock face cascaded in a simple pattern, creating steps that we easily scaled down.

Ocean waves crashed against the rocks below, the spray slowing our descent as the slickened stone held little to no grip. The colorful orange and yellow rays of the morning sunlight bounced against the smooth surface of the volcanic rocks, shielding the entrance of the trial in shadow.

“High tide must cover half if not the entire entrance,” I said.

“That’s what Castor’s intel suggested. I imagine that’s how the serpent king can devour his ocean prey. They venture unknowingly into the caves and are trapped.”

As we reached what we believed to be the final ledge, I pulled out a small handheld mirror from my pocket. Holding out the front of my bow, I moved it to the top wooden arch, waiting for Daxton to seal it in place with his ice magic.

“How does the balance feel?” he asked.

I straightened my left arm and lightly pulled back on my bow string, carefully bringing it back to rest. “Perfect. Just like we practiced.”

My archery skills were put to the test during our final bouts of training. We practiced with a mirror attached to the tip of my bow, allowing me to scan the area in the reflection behind me to find my target before spinning around with my eyes closed. The first few attempts were a joke, but I wasn’t allowed to quit—nor would I.

Eventually, I figured out how to execute my blind shot. Daxton ended up crafting a small shard of mirrored glass molded into the horizontal hilt of a dagger strapped to his hip.

The archway of rocks was striking, contrasting beautifully with the surrounding Southern Sea Cliffs and framing a fifteen-foot-wide opening hidden from the viewpoint atop the cliffs. As we approached the entrance, the key on my chest seemed to hum with power, and a dark veil lifted, allowing me to gaze inside the cavern .

“Can you see inside?” Daxton asked.

“Of course,” I countered. “You can’t?”

He laughed despite himself. “High Fae cannot see in the dark, my love.”

I almost forgot he couldn’t. After having the ability to see in the dark since I was a child, it was practically second nature.

“Well, that means you can keep your eyes closed. That increases your odds of getting out of here alive.”

During our training, Daxton had been working on relying on his other senses while fighting, often sparring with Castor and Gunnar with a blindfold covering his face.

“Our odds,” he corrected. “Remember, where you go, I go.”

“I remember.” I smiled, reaching for the small rope at my hip and tying it around our waists. “Don’t wander.”

“Never,” he answered, but the look in his eyes was not as convincing.

As we stepped inside the entrance, Daxton paused. “What is it?” I whispered.

“The entrance is warded with ancient, powerful magic. I can’t teleport us out, only within.”

“Good to know,” I replied, understanding we had no immediate escape route. “Let’s keep moving. Castor said he only lingered in the entrance and down the first turn. Through my research on snakes, I know they have a den in the middle of their tunnel system, which should be larger than the passageways.”

“Ever the clever student, Spitfire,” he said with pride. “Keep your shield up and guard your scent. We might have the element of surprise if we can enter the den undetected. ”

I nodded as we crept through the tunnel, the hairs on my neck standing straight as we lost the final rays of sunlight from the mouth of the arched entrance. My animal was on high alert, and instinct drove me to utilize all my senses to try and safely navigate us through. I couldn’t quite place the looming threat that felt like a shadow following us, but I knew it was there. Lurking and waiting for the perfect time to strike.

Silently, we walked through the underground maze. Daxton’s footsteps were soft, following in perfect sync with mine only a few paces behind. The echoes of dripping water from the various crevasses and overhangs combined with the ocean’s crashing waves were the only sounds in the cave. It created a disturbing melody, paired with the growing stench of decay and death the further we crept into the caves. Everything about this place screamed to turn around and run away, but still, we continued.

Rocks to our left buckled and broke away from the surrounding wall, causing us to halt and draw our weapons toward the invisible threat. Silence . Nothing.

“The saltwater must weaken the structure of the cave,” I whispered. “I don’t think anything is there. I don’t smell or see anything.”

Daxton remained utterly still. Not even his chest rose and fell with his silent breathing. His eyes were useless this far into the creature’s lair, relying solely on my touch and his keen hearing.

“Or something was there and is no longer.”

“That area isn’t large enough to house the basilisk,” I countered.

“You sure?”

No, I wasn’t, but that didn’t mean I had to say it aloud. “The air seems warmer than before. Doesn’t it? ”

“It does,” Daxton said, feeling his hand along the basalt rock wall before leaning his back against it. “Does that help us navigate this tunnel of death?”

“In a sense,” I answered, reaching for my canteen before handing it to him. “The basilisk is a serpent king. So, I imagine he has similar physical needs or traits as any other normal reptile.”

“Meaning?” he asked, taking a sip.

“They are cold-blooded creatures.”

“Don’t let him hear you say that. We don’t know if he will take that as an insult or compliment.” I rolled my eyes at Daxton, giving him a stern look. “I can’t see you, but I know exactly what face you’re making right now.”

“This isn’t the time for a joke,” I said.

“If you stop to think about how insane we must be to be in here… it’s appropriate.”

“I should’ve brought Castor with me,” I said.

I watched his expression drop as he handed me back the canteen. “All right, continue.”

“Cold-blooded animals can’t generate their own body heat needed to survive,” I said.

“So we’re following the warming draft of hot air to find its nesting area.”

“Yes, exactly.”

He paused for a moment, and I could see his mind feverishly working through different scenarios. “The Inner Kingdom once had an active volcano erupting in this area, but that was thousands of years ago.”

I smiled widely. “Is there still an active volcano here on the landmass?” He nodded. “Then there may be an ancient magma lake or chamber buried underground helping keep the basilisk alive. ”

“So literally,” Dax sighed, “this creature’s den is likely dangling over a fiery pit of molten rock.”

“Yep.”

“We truly are in hell.” Daxton shook his head slightly, laughing to himself. “Only for you, Spitfire, would I willingly drag myself through the fires of death.”

“Good thing we’re in this together then,” I added with a smile he couldn’t see, but I knew he could hear. I grasped his hand tightly. “Let’s just make sure we don’t stay here.”

“Agreed,” he answered, squeezing my hand in return.

Deeper into the passageways, the evidence of a basilisk dwelling in this place became more and more evident. There were sheds of molted skin, piles of bones from devoured prey, and deep claw marks along the stone. He was here all right. It just worried me that we didn’t know where. Daxton and I had been walking for hours and still hadn’t heard or seen anything.

There you are , a slithering snake-like voice echoed in my ears.

My heart froze as my hands immediately had my bow at the ready. My eyes locked onto the small mirror secured at the front.

“Did you hear that?” I asked.

“I heard a low hissing sound. What did you hear?”

The other is not a ssshhifter. He cannot hear my wordsss asss you can. But he doesss sssmell delightful. He even carriesss a twist of your ssscent assss well.

“It found us.” I decided not to relay the exact words. Daxton was immediately at my back, Valencia drawn and ready to strike with his dagger in his other hand.

“You can understand it, can’t you? ”

“Sadly, yes …”

It isss a gift to hear my radiant voice.

“It’s not shy,” I whispered, “nor lacking in vanity.”

I’ve been watching you both sssince you entered my lair. The sssecond trial hassss officially commenced.

“Why not show yourself?” I yelled into the abyss of the cave.

I wassss never taught table mannersss, having devoured my siblings and then my mother when I wassss large enough to do so. Besssidesss, I enjoy playing with my food.

“Fan-fucking-tastic,” I murmured.

“Do I even want to know what it’s saying?” Daxton asked.

“No. Let’s keep moving.”

We stepped forward, following the increasing temperature in the air and the feel of the rock walls as our guide. Every few feet, something slithered with the all too familiar tapping sound of talons on rocks. The memory from Nyssa made me shudder, along with the all too recent encounter with the beasts from the labyrinth. A feeling of helplessness washed over me, and I couldn’t help the sting of panic that crept up my spine despite my animal’s power surging through me.

Daxton’s hand gripped my shoulder. “You all right?”

His touch helped bring me back. “Yeah, I’m good.”

I was angry at myself for allowing a memory to have such a hold on me like that. I was never going to stop fighting. Too many people relied on me. Not only was my mate’s fate now tied to my victory today, but the fate of his home. All the people I had grown to care for in Silver Meadows treated me like I was one of their own, just like my family in Solace. I couldn’t allow another one hundred years of fear and tyranny to rule over their lives. That wasn’t living.

“I’m fine,” I repeated, a little sharper than I intended. “Let’s keep going.”

Dax nodded in understanding, following my lead until I stopped, hearing the serpent king speak again.

You… You ssssmell ssssstrangely familiar.

There was a loud crack, followed by the ceiling above our heads buckling and crumbling.

“Run!” Daxton shouted, pushing me forward.

The tunnel began collapsing all around us. The faint sound of laughter echoed in my ears while the blackened stone crumbled, the ceiling disappearing before our eyes. My feet couldn’t move fast enough, so Daxton grabbed my arm and readied his magic to teleport us out of the collapsing passageway.

Fuck. This is dangerous.

Daxton couldn’t see. He had no idea where he was sending us, needing a destination for his teleporting powers. We could end up inside a gods-damned wall! But it was either die under the falling rocks or try to escape.

When we reappeared in a different tunnel, my entire body trembled, but I still managed to remain standing.

“Lucky break?” I wheezed.

“It was either die under the falling stones or…”

“I know.” I sighed, leaning against him. I could feel his heart beating just as fast as mine. “I would’ve done the same.”

His arms wrapped around me, and I inhaled the fresh scent of cold mountain pine combined with my burning fire. His hold on me was brief but desperately needed .

“Where’d you take us?” I asked, assessing our surroundings. The new tunnel we teleported to was much wider and taller than the first.

“Up,” he answered. “The sound of the basilisk seemed to be coming from above our heads, and since we scaled down the cliffside as far as we did, I assessed that it was the safest place to take us.”

“Again, lucky break?”

“I wouldn’t say that just yet,” Dax replied.

Looking around, I could see why. This was an enclosed chamber, possibly an old magma pimple or bubble with slits in the rocks just large enough to slip through, leading to other tunnels that seemed to have no end in sight.

“At least it’s brighter in here,” Daxton said. “Or my eyes are somehow adjusting?”

“We must be approaching the magma chamber. The intense heat can create a glowing effect.” I ran my hand along the curve of the opening, the ceiling of it just out of my reach. “What do you think this place is?” I asked.

“You want my honest opinion?”

“Maybe.” I cringed.

“A cage.”

Shit. He was right.

“These rocks over here are warmer to the touch, Spitfire. This opening may lead to the den we have been looking for.”

“Good place to start,” I said, hearing the distinct sound of a very large body moving behind us.

I readied my bow, placing an arrow along the string and angling the mirror over my shoulder, meticulously watching the opposing side of the opening through slits in the outer walls. My stomach leaped into my throat as the black rocks behind us moved. The basilisk was on the other side of the very thin, slitted rock wall.

“He’s here,” I whispered.

“I can hear him,” Daxton said, cautiously moving a few paces from me so I had enough room to turn and fire an arrow—just like we’d practiced.

A massive jaw with elongated sharp teeth gleamed through one of the openings in the mirror’s reflection. Saliva dripped from the rows of ivory fangs, and the putrid smell of death flooded the small space between us.

Clever trick , its tongue hissed.

After cutting the rope, I remained still, watching and waiting for an opening.

The basilisk’s body slithered as a large yellow eye filled the opening, directly aimed at me.

“Ahhhhh !” I screamed. Not out of fear but sheer blinding agony.

Every inch of my skin exploded with fire. I could have sworn a thousand blades were cutting through my flesh. My bones ached, and my blood felt like it was boiling. I tried to look away, but I was paralyzed. The golden-yellow eye with the black eight-pointed starred pupil stared at me in the reflection of the mirror. Its magical gaze didn’t kill me but made me wish for death if it meant this pain would stop.

“Skylar!” Daxton roared with panic and fury swirling in his voice.

“The mirror…” I could barely hear myself speak. The internal torment of my body swallowed my voice. My vision blurred, but I couldn’t move my arms nor look away from the basilisk’s stare.

Thank the Gods above, Daxton heard my whimper. He lunged forward, feeling his way through the dark, and smashed the mirror on the end of my bow .

My animal roared inside my head, splitting it in two with a rush of power exploding through me. If I didn’t have the champion’s mark, I guarantee I would have shifted right then and there.

“Skylar!” Daxton gripped my shoulders, cradling my limp body in his arms. “We need to move. Now.” My body was in shock. I was disoriented, my vision a blur of white stars. “I guess it’s my turn to lead the way, then.”

He looped one of my arms over his shoulder, grabbing my waist with the other and leading us forward, trying to encourage me to move my legs and regain feeling in my limbs.

Niccceee idea. But poor exxecccution. Luckily, your sssnack was able to dessssstroy that mirror. The reflection of my sssstare may not be powerful enough to kill you, but it will make you wisssh for death.

“No shit.” I gritted my teeth, trying to push through each agonizing step.

“Is the basilisk speaking to you again?” Daxton asked. I nodded. “I can’t hear anything besides a low hissing sound.”

“Trust me. I wish I could too. How are you managing to navigate this place, Dax?”

“My eyes are slowly adjusting, and there seems to be a light from up ahead. I followed the opening with the warmer rocks as a guide.”

I managed to crack open my eyes, and my vision slowly returned. “The magma chamber.”

“Seems we’ve found its den.”

As we reached the end of the tunnel, a large open area the basilisk undoubtedly called home came into view. The nest housed bubbling pools of molten magma along the edges, heating the space to an almost intolerable temperature. The light from the free-flowing molten rock illuminated the underground fortress, with jagged spikes along the floor and ceiling, stalagmites and stalactites meeting at the corners.

Molted black and green skin lay on the far side, along with a worn, smooth patch of heated stones in a circle formation. This was the nest—the den of the serpent king.

“Well, at least you can see now. But I’m not so sure that’s a good thing.”

“Are you hurt?” Daxton set me down on a nearby boulder, meticulously looking me over for any sign of injury.

“No, I’m just recovering.” I grimaced. “By the way, don’t use your mirror.”

“Clearly,” he replied, taking my face in his hands. His gray stare was unbreakable and full of concern. “You’re not allowed to die on me, Spitfire. Besides … Castor will be a terrible ruler just to spite our deaths.”

I huffed a half-laugh. “No pressure, then.”

A rumbling sound echoed along another opening leading to the den.

“I don’t think you have much time left to recover.” My mate reached into his pocket and withdrew two black handkerchiefs, wrapping one around my head before securing his own.

“Stay alive,” he whispered, kissing my brow before turning around to combat the approaching threat.

“Dax! Don’t!” I couldn’t get the words out fast enough as silver flashed from the bottom of my blindfold, followed by hissing sounds from the basilisk and the clang of Daxton’s sword. The handkerchief he tied allowed me to see only portions of shadow along the ground but nothing higher than our ankles.

“That fucking stubborn male!” I cursed, hearing him engaging with the basilisk without me. I slung my bow over my shoulder and withdrew my long twin daggers in both hands. The commotion of their fight was only a few lengths ahead of me. I swallowed the aches in my bones and pushed myself to stand, racing into the fight.

Gods. I didn’t know where one part of the basilisk’s form ended and where the other began. From the vision Nyssa shared with me, I knew the main body resembled a ground-bound dragon, but it held a longer whip-like tail and a stretched neck that could turn around on itself and devour you in one savage gulp. I used my keen sense of smell and reached out through the mate bond to try and search for Daxton’s magic, feeling the chill of his ice to my left.

“Daxton!”I called out to him.

Immediately, his back was flush against mine as we readied ourselves to fight as one.

How sswweeet. I will have two tasssty treatssss.

We refused to answer as the serpent king slowly coiled around us, a predator stalking its prey. This prey, however, would not go down without a fight. The sound of its body slithering across the rocks gave me a good sense of this creature’s size and where best to strike.

“You hear the clicks?” Daxton whispered.

“Yes.” I knew those were the sounds of its talons clanking against the volcanic stone.

“Strike there first.”

I nodded, tilting my head back so he could feel my response. I sheathed one of my daggers in my belt and withdrew a slender short sword. Perfect for slicing flesh and bone.

“When it starts speaking again,” I told Daxton under my breath, “that’s when we attack.”

“How do you know it will? ”

I smiled. “It’s a king all alone with no one to boast to about its greatness. He’ll start talking again before he strikes.”

Can you feel death looming? Can you hear the echo of riverssss from the great crosssssing where the Mother and Father are waiting? I’ll gladly help you reach them.

I moved first, with Daxton following my lead. We leaped away from the sound of its voice, attacking the beast’s hind legs, intending to slice them from the serpent king’s body.

Daxton teleported over the torso, and I could hear his sword, Valencia, slice through flesh and bone. The basilisk’s roar of pain shook the ground. I stumbled forward, managing to keep my balance with my sword drawn and ready to do my part. Black talons as long as my arm crunched into the jagged stone, and its body shifted, its attention drawn to Daxton’s side. I raised my sword and brought it down with as much force as I could muster, but my blade was not magical like Daxton’s.

Shit.

I managed to sever the tendons and muscles of the creature, black blood spraying all around me, but I couldn’t detach the limb completely.

Before the basilisk could turn its attention to me, it roared with pain once more, and I knew Daxton was on the attack, intentionally drawing its focus. Its body pivoted, and being blindfolded, I didn’t see the strike coming, but I sure as hell felt it.

Whack . The tail of the serpent king slammed into me, sending me flying across the den and colliding with the far wall on the other side. My armor took the brunt of the hit.

“Skylar!” Daxton yelled .

I lost one of my daggers along with the short sword, rolling down the jagged wall and collapsing onto my front. I tried pushing myself up and even contemplated crawling on my hands and knees to rejoin Daxton in our fight. Thankfully, one dagger was still strapped to me with my bow and quiver remaining in one piece.

I was disorientated. Having the wind knocked out of me after flying fifty feet across a cavern would easily do that to a person. Fuck, that hurt. The all too familiar taste of blood trickled from my mouth. I cringed as I moved my right leg, realizing I had a large gash slicing through my thigh. Thankfully, the wound was not from the basilisk. It was a gash from the jagged volcanic rock it threw me against.

The clang of Daxton’s sword echoed from across the way, and my heart dropped when I heard him scream. “ Gahhh! ”

Without thinking, I jumped to my feet and raced across the distance between us. The pain in my leg fell to a distant memory at my mate’s bellow of distress.

“Daxton!” I roared, charging ahead. I could make out the shadows of Daxton facing off against the head of the basilisk. “Watch out for its—” I tried to warn him, but I was too late.

Like me, the basilisk’s tail struck him on his side, flinging him across the nest. Turning and lifting the corner of my blindfold, I gaped in horror.

“Dax!” He was soaring over an open hole in the den leading to the magma chamber below.“No!” I screamed, unable to do anything from this side of the den.

Before tumbling into the opening, he called upon his ice magic and slid safely over, only to violently crash into the wall. His head collided with the rocks, and his body fell limp.

Thank the Gods he didn’t fall in. I sighed in a moment of relief, only to have it turn into dread. He didn’t have the armor of Aegis protecting him like I did.

The basilisk didn’t hesitate and turned on him again. I unslung my bow and aimed, angling my head upward and peeking out further than I knew I should.

Gods be damned, I still couldn’t see enough.

Cursing, I reached up and peeled off my blindfold. This very well might be the last thing I ever saw in my mortal life, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was saving my mate from becoming a basilisk’s meal. If I died here today saving Daxton, I would accept that fate. To die while saving those you love, would be a worthy end.

I watched the serpent king coil around Daxton’s fallen body, its mouth opened wide, seconds away from devouring him whole. I released my arrow, watching it fly straight and true with a steady, unmovable mountain of confidence.

It found its target … The glowing left eye staring directly at my mate.

The creature roared, the cave walls trembling against its cries of agony.

Silver flashed, and Daxton appeared beside me, pulling me into his arms and tucking us around the corner of a boulder.

“Now… it only has one.” I breathed heavily.

He clutched onto me with everything he had. “Thanks for that,” he said.

We didn’t have time to say anything else. The basilisk came crashing into our hideaway, forcing us to jump in two different directions to face off against its wrath .

Daxton grunted as a loud slam boomed in the den.

With my blindfold discarded, I was forced to shut my eyes, no longer having a window below our ankles to see what was happening. A powerful weight struck me, knocking me down and pinning me against the ground. I roared, the breath in my chest involuntarily pressed from my lungs, making it impossible to breathe.

You ssstolle my eye! the basilisk hissed.

Its hot breath burned against my skin as its saliva dripped from the sharp fangs that were only inches from my face. Shit, not good. I was pinned under one of its remaining forelimbs with only one dagger sheathed along my thigh remaining to defend myself.My bow and quiver were gone—dropped when the basilisk ambushed us.

The pressure on my chest intensified with a pinpointed sensation narrowing on my breastbone. “ Ahhh! ” I screamed.

Daxton , I pleaded through the threads of our bond . Desperately searching for him.

Why do my talonsss not ssskewer—

The clang of Daxton’s sword silenced the basilisk’s hiss. I couldn’t tell what was happening. I had to keep my eyes closed to avoid the death stare from the creature still looming over me. Even with one eye, I knew it could still kill me. I’d only seen one eye in the reflection of my mirror.

I remained trapped under the weight of the creature’s talon, but thankfully, I was still alive. The armor of Aegis had saved my life for the second time today.

There was a sharp hiss, and drops of blood splattered across my skin. The grip of the basilisk loosened, and I made a move to reach for my blade. I wrapped my hand around the hilt, but before I could bring it up, the pressure shifted back, taking away my freedom to move.

“Ahh, dammit!” Daxton cursed as the serpent king released a very low, sinister chuckle. “ Skylar …” Daxton’s pained voice made my heart stop. He was wounded.

I know who he issss now. The taste of his flessshh unlocked a guarded memory long thought repressed. The prince who was promised , the serpent king taunted. The one born to unite and rule usss all. How graciousss of you to join ussss, Your Majesssty.

“Spitfire, I can’t reach you. I’ve been… Skylar…” The fear in his voice was not for his safety. It was for me.

“Daxton!” I tried to yell out for him, but the weight on my chest made my cry nothing more than a whisper.

My venom worksss quickly.

“No!” I roared. My animal’s power rose to the surface of my skin, fueling me with liquid fire rushing through my veins.

And you… The basilisk now turned his attention back to me. You ssseem so familiar. Isss that you in there? Has it truly been five hundred yearsss?

I wasn’t listening to a fucking thing this snake was saying to me. I no longer cared if I lived through this or died. All I cared about was getting to Daxton and saving him. The trials would ultimately choose another, but the Inner Kingdom … Silver Meadows would not survive Daxton’s death. Valdor would find a way to continue combating the wilt. They could last another hundred years , I told myself, but they wouldn’t survive losing him.

I knew my magic could heal Daxton’s wound. All I needed to do was reach him; the power swirling inside me would be enough. My mate would not die today.

Open your eyes , my instincts roared at me, an unknown voice echoing inside my mind. Release your power!

Maybe one eye of death wouldn’t be enough to kill me after all?

The well of power inside me burst open, overflowing like water spilling across a river dam. It was wild and beautiful. Terrifying yet comforting.

This was a creature of Valdor. And in my bones, I knew my alpha command would grant me control over the serpent king.

I opened my eyes that I knew were blazing like wildfire. One large golden yellow eye with a black eight-pointed star pupil in the center stared back at me.

No! the serpent hissed, its one eye widening as its pupil contracted wildly. I could feel the kiss of death’s magic brushing against my skin, but it did not affect me.

“You’ll be the one who dies today,” I said in a low tone laced with power and untapped fury. “Release me,” I commanded, my magic intertwined with each word I spoke.

It hissed wildly, fighting my alpha command with every ounce of magic it could muster. I watched it cringe and coil within its pained expression as it released its grip on me. The head of the serpent king bent down, its jaws unhinging to try and swallow me whole.

I remained calm. This was the opening I was waiting for.

As it lowered its jaws around me, I thrust my dagger up and inside its skull. The basilisk screamed and roared with the sound of death’s gasp. The creature’s flailing body squirmed around me as I drove my dagger in again. And again. Drenched in its blackened blood, I still didn’t stop. With one final thrust, I pushed my blade up into its brain.

“Die,” I commanded.

The pressure of its talons slackened, unshackling me from its hold. I scrambled outside the gaping mouth of ivory fangs, standing next to the head of the fallen serpent king. The yellow eye was open, fixated on me, but I didn’t flinch or turn away. I met its stare, my power wildly flowing through me, combating its lingering death magic until it dissipated into nothing.

The basilisk hissed one final time . You have dethroned me, but know thissss, Champion. In the end … the Heart of Valdor will assssk you for what wassss given before. When your kind firssst ssssealed it away. Be ready… Be willing.

With those last words, the basilisk released its final breath.