Cursed by Darkness (Once Upon A Curse)

41. The Ombrete

FORTY-ONE

The Ombrete

T he screams and shouts of men only fueled my need for blood. With each death, I felt more alive.

When the king fell in pain surrounded by chaos, I’d seen my opening and knew he wouldn’t be able to fight me any longer. For years, he’d kept me trapped in his mind, and that brief moment of vulnerability was my chance to seize control.

Tossing my head back, I let out a growl before tucking my wings in to swoop down low again. Heat coiled in my throat, and I opened my mouth to let the fire burn anyone who stood in my path. Their pain and agony spurred me on. I soared across the field, watching the mayhem. It didn’t matter which side of this never-ending war they were on; I would destroy everyone and seize this world once and for all.

I dove at a group of soldiers and clamped my jaw around one. Bones crunched between my fangs, and the copper tang of blood coated my tongue. Another man attempted to use his blade on me, but I shifted into shadows. Using the swirling black smoke, I grabbed the attacker and tore him apart, limb by limb.

Others tried to run, but they weren’t quick enough. I pounced from one to another, killing each before they could get away. When the last one closest to me at the center of the valley went silent, I swiveled my head and found the king’s men fleeing back to their puny camp.

No , the king’s soft voice said in my head.

His protest was weak, pathetic. I’d lingered in the back of his mind for so long, watching and waiting for my freedom. Now, I would make him pay.

I’d make them all pay.

Please . It was barely more than a whisper.

I laughed at his desperation. Not a chance, King.

I was going to kill every last one of them. Every human who’d written me off as the villain or forgotten about me entirely. They wanted to make me the bad guy, so that was what I would be.

Launching back into the sky, I sprayed fire down on the retreating forms. They wouldn’t escape me. I would destroy every soul here. Then, I would fly to the precious king’s home and finish what I had started years ago.

The king’s pain grew within me, but I pushed it away. It was easy enough to ignore, and after enough time, he would disappear altogether. I would not let him trap me again. The last time, I’d been too weak after attacking his people. It had been too long since I’d had a corporeal form, and when I took over the king’s body, leaching into his mind, I hadn’t anticipated the exhaustion.

But I was stronger now. He hadn’t been able to fully push me out, and so I grew accustomed to his strength and energy. And I knew how to keep control indefinitely this time.

A faint glowing caught my attention, and I swiveled around to get a better look. There among the scared running men was a single person moving toward me.

Was someone really foolish enough to try to take me on after what they’d seen me do so far?

Idiotic, delusional, puny humans.

I landed a short distance away, making the ground tremble beneath me. Growling, I stalked closer.

As I recognized the girl, the king’s consciousness stirred to life. Then, it hit me. This was his girl. The new woman he loved. I’d destroyed the last one, though his feelings for her didn’t compare to this. Nothing in his memories or what I’d experienced through him felt like what he felt for this girl.

His strength seemed to grow as I approached the young queen. Her glowing hands only made me angrier. She was a princess from the lands in the west. That magic did not belong to her.

I knew she couldn’t truly use it, however. Not enough to stop me. I’d seen her through the king’s eyes, had seen her trying to learn about the magic.

I slowly neared her, head low to the ground, fire burning in the back of my throat.

No, the king said louder than before.

I kept moving, stalking toward the only person brave enough to face me. An admirable courage. Even I could admit that. It was almost a shame that I had to end her life.

The king pushed against our mental bond. Don’t touch her!

Oh, you really care about this one, don’t you? I chuckled and came to a stop a short distance away from the glowing queen. You know, I don’t have to touch her to kill her. I could incinerate her from here without so much as lifting a claw.

Please. I’m begging you to leave her alone.

I let out a huff of steam, and he shouted at me more. A few other men appeared behind her, but my focus was only on her. The light wielder.

It would actually be merciful if I did touch her , I said. It would be over much quicker that way. Burning to death is painful and drawn out. Snapping her in half though…

No! You will not kill her. I demand you give me control.

You demand it? I laughed at his feeble attempts. You think you can command a god ?

You are not a god anymore. You haven’t been for thousands of years. The king pushed and pulled against that bond, fighting for power. People do not worship you. You. Are. Nothing.

I stumbled slightly, and it was enough to realize he wouldn’t give up. His love for this woman was giving him the strength to fight back.

Killing her would break him.

Don’t!

It would destroy any remaining hope he had, any fight left in him.

Please!

And then, it would all be mine. I would take full control and destroy these lands that divided my family. No one would be able to stop me here in the kingdom of shadows.

Are you so far gone that you’d kill one of your own just for vengeance? another soft voice whispered to me, but I shoved it away. Just as I’d done for millennia.

Never again would I let that sweet voice into my head.

The last time I did, she cursed me as this creature and banished me from the stars. It took centuries to find a host strong enough to hold me. The others had died too quickly when I tried.

This king, however, had the strength of many. Even without a physical body, I’d wandered through the kingdom and watched it evolve. I’d known upon his birth that Bodin would be different. I could sense that he had a great destiny. I knew he would be the one.

For decades, I waited, watching him age. Then, when he was at his lowest, I made my move. I possessed him, but it had been too soon. So again, I waited for the perfect time to attack.

That time was now.

I would raze my brother’s and sister’s precious kingdoms to the ground.

Starting with the queen who didn’t deserve my magic.