Knox (Monsters of Veridia #1)

Chapter 9

Chapter

Nine

The metal carriage rattled along the uneven road, a jarring symphony of noise and motion that set Knox’s teeth on edge. He pressed his hand against the cool glass of the window, watching the buildings they passed, the other metal carriages rush by.

Everything felt off-kilter—too fast, too loud, too bright. Even the air tasted wrong, a metallic tang mingling with the scents of exhaust fumes and something he couldn’t quite place but instinctively recoiled from.

He shifted restlessly on the seat, missing the weight of his armor, the reassuring feel of his sword against his thigh. He felt exposed without them, vulnerable, and that only added to his sense of feeling out of place.

But at least he knew what he had to do now. He had a goal, a mission.

And a companion who called to the darker side of him.

Knox turned to look at the human seated beside him. Adrian was hunched over his illuminated rectangle, his fingers flying across its surface, his brow furrowed in concentration.

Adrian had tried to explain the thing to him—using words like "internet" and "algorithms" and "social media"—but it all seemed like a tangled web of nonsense.

It was all incomprehensible, so Knox chose to focus on the one thing that was clear to him.

"We need to get to Caelen as fast as we can."

"I know, I know," Adrian muttered, his gaze still fixed on his illuminated rectangle. "But we need to be smart about this. Rushing in blindly won’t help. We need a plan, a strategy."

"My strategy is simple," Knox said. "Find him. Confront him. Stop him."

Adrian shook his head, a flicker of concern on his face. His worry didn’t surprise Knox. This human seemed to worry a lot, about everything—even the most natural things, like sex.

Someone had hurt him.

Knox didn’t know who, but he had a mind to find out and teach that person a lesson.

Except that this wasn’t the time for it.

First, he had to deal with Caelen.

"Look," Adrian said, his voice softer now, "I get it. You want to fight him. I just don’t want you to get hurt because this isn’t… It’s not a story. This is the real world."

"Are you implying that my world is not real?"

Adrian continued to look at his phone. "Honestly, I’m not sure. But regardless, I don’t want you to get hurt."

"I won’t," Knox promised.

Adrian glanced at him, almost shyly. "Did you get enough magic from me?"

Knox wasn’t sure how to respond to that without making the human worry again. His magic, while partially restored, was still a mere trickle compared to the torrent of power he’d once commanded. He’d been able to draw energy from Adrian, but not as much as he might have if Adrian hadn’t closed himself off so. "I got what I needed," he said.

It would have to be enough.

Adrian nodded and tapped on his phone again.

A moment later, the metal carriage slowed, finally coming to a halt amidst a snarled mass of other vehicles.

A look out the window told Knox that they were nearing the bridge—the one that had been featured on the flickering picture box in the hotel room, the one Caelen had so dramatically "saved."

It was swarming with vehicles, men and women in suits directing traffic, and crowds of onlookers gathered at a safe distance. It was a scene of chaos, of fear, of the very energy Caelen thrived on.

"We’re stuck," Adrian said, his voice tight. "There’s no way through."

Knox didn’t respond. If there wasn’t a path through, he would forge one.

Without a word, he threw open the car door, ignoring the startled cry from the human in the driver’s seat.

"What the— Hey!" the driver protested, but Knox was already out of the car, slamming the door shut behind him. He stepped into the street, a surge of power coursing through him as he focused his will.

Shadows gathered around him, weaving a veil of darkness that obscured his form from the eyes of the bewildered humans. He could feel their confusion, their fear, their sudden, inexplicable belief that the space where he stood was empty, devoid of any threat.

A police officer, directing traffic with frantic gestures, looked directly at Knox and saw… nothing. He blinked, shook his head, and continued waving his arms, his attention drawn to the more obvious chaos of the damaged bridge and the throngs of onlookers.

Knox moved through the crowd, a phantom slipping between bodies, the press of humanity a strange, unsettling sensation against his skin. This world was a cacophony of noise, of light, of a thousand clashing desires that assaulted his senses.

He caught snippets of conversations, snatches of fear, whispers of awe, and, in the emotions of the crowd, a growing undercurrent of something more intense, something that twisted in his gut like a cold, familiar hunger. It was the energy of belief, of blind faith, of a desperate yearning for a hero.

Was that what Caelen wanted?

Knox pushed through the chaos onto the bridge. The air crackled with a strange energy, a mixture of residual magic and the raw fear emanating from the gathered crowd.

And then he saw him.

Caelen stood on the edge of the broken bridge. His white hair flowed in the wind, his green eyes glowed with an unsettling intensity, and shadows danced around him like obedient serpents. He was speaking, his voice amplified by magic, reaching the ears of everyone present.

"I have come here to save you. You have nothing to fear."

"Stop your lies, Shadow King!" Knox bellowed, drawing his enemy’s attention.

Caelen turned to him with a slow, unconcerned smile. "Lies?" he asked as if they were having a casual conversation. "But I’m not lying, old friend. I’m making use of the opportunities this new world offers me. I’m reshaping myself, helping these people."

Knox turned to the crowd. "Don’t believe him! He’s a true monster!"

"He saved my baby’s life!" a woman yelled back at Knox. "What have you done to help?"

Knox hesitated, caught off guard by the raw emotion in her voice. His gaze flicked to the child in her arms, its small face nestled against her shoulder. The sight tugged at something deep within him.

Was he the bad guy here?

No, Gods no. He needed to get a grip on himself.

Taking a step forward, he raised his hands to placate the crowd. "You don’t understand. Caelen is not here to help you. He’s manipulating you for his own gain."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, a mix of confusion and skepticism. Knox pressed on. He had to make them see. "He’s a master of deceit. In my world, he has destroyed entire realms, left families shattered, lives ruined. I don’t know what kind of act he’s putting on, but he’s not your savior."

A man near the front scoffed. "And we’re supposed to believe you? Some cosplayer spouting nonsense?"

Knox clenched his jaw, feeling his grip on the situation slipping. "Look at him! Look at the shadows that cling to him! Does that seem like someone who means well?"

But his words were swallowed by a growing cacophony of disbelief and anger. The crowd’s mood shifted from wary curiosity to outright hostility. Shouts and jeers rose around him, drowning out his voice.

Caelen’s eyes glowed brighter. He stepped forward with a mournful expression painted across his features. "It pains me," he began, his voice carrying effortlessly over the noise, "that even here, in this new world where I’ve come to seek redemption and a chance to do good, there are those who cannot see past their hatred."

Knox’s stomach twisted. Was he supposed to believe this?

"I only want to make this world a better place," Caelen continued with a beatific smile. "Now that I have been given the chance, I want to use my powers to bring peace where there was chaos, to heal where there was hurt. But some cannot let go of old grudges and seek only to push me back into the role of a villain."

The crowd’s hostility toward Knox intensified as they absorbed Caelen’s words. He could feel their collective emotion shifting like a tide turning against him.

Desperation clawed at Knox’s insides.

They were going to attack. He knew it before the first rock sailed past his head, narrowly missing him.

His heart pounded in his chest, the primal urge to fight back nearly overwhelming. But he couldn’t. These people were innocent, manipulated by the Shadow King. His insidious influence had turned these innocent bystanders into unwitting soldiers.

Knox felt the first blow land on his back, a sharp pain radiating through his spine. He spun around to see an older man wielding a metal rod, eyes wild with anger.

"Stop!" Knox shouted, but his voice was lost in the din of the crowd’s fury. A bottle shattered near his feet, glass shards scattering across the pavement.

He had no choice. Drawing upon the energy he’d siphoned from Adrian, he wove patterns in the air with his fingers. His magic responded sluggishly, still weakened but present enough to obey his will.

Illusions began to take shape around him. Shadows peeled away from the edges of reality, forming vague, menacing shapes that prowled through the crowd.

A woman screamed as one of the shadowy figures lunged at her. She swung her purse wildly, connecting with nothing but air. Another man fell to the ground, grappling with an invisible enemy that only he could see.

Knox moved swiftly, weaving more illusions as he went. The air buzzed with the energy of his magic, shimmering with dark tendrils that danced and twisted around the enraged mob.

Confusion spread like wildfire. The crowd turned on itself, people swinging at phantoms and shouting at specters that weren’t there. Fists met nothing but empty space; feet stumbled over non-existent obstacles.

He saw a young boy crying out for his mother, his tiny hands clutching at her skirt as she swatted frantically at an imaginary foe.

Knox’s heart pounded as he maintained the illusion, each moment draining more of his limited reserves. His vision blurred at the edges; exhaustion gnawing at him.

And when the Shadow King approached him, Knox had no magic to fling at his enemy.

Caelen was still wearing that damn infuriating smile, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Look at you," he murmured, his voice a velvet caress that Knox despised. "So desperate to protect these humans."

Knox gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand tall despite the weariness pulling at his limbs. "I won’t let you harm them."

"Harm them?" Caelen chuckled softly. "Why would I harm my new subjects? They adore me."

A flicker of rage sparked in Knox’s chest. He lunged at Caelen, his fists swinging with raw determination. But Caelen was faster, sidestepping the blow with an almost lazy grace.

"You’re out of your depth here," Caelen taunted. "This world is mine now."

Knox’s breath came in ragged gasps, his vision swimming from the effort of maintaining the illusions. "I won’t let you manipulate them," he managed to grit out.

Caelen chuckled softly, a sound that resonated with dark amusement. "Oh, but you already have. Look at them—thrashing about like frightened animals. You’ve done my work for me."

Knox’s heart sank as he glanced around. The crowd was in chaos, their fear and confusion palpable. His illusions had protected him, but they’d also played right into Caelen’s hands.

"Enough games," Knox growled, summoning the last of his strength. "This ends now."

He tried to swing at Caelen again. But his body betrayed him; fatigue and pain slowed his movements. Caelen caught Knox by the wrist and twisted it behind his back.

"You’re weak," Caelen hissed in his ear. "Pathetic."

Knox struggled against the iron grip, pain flaring through his arm. He could feel Caelen’s power seeping into him, a cold, invasive presence that sapped what little energy he had left.

Caelen was right; Knox was weak in this world.

"You can’t win," Caelen continued. "Not here. Not without your precious magic."

Knox gritted his teeth, refusing to give in to despair. He couldn’t let Caelen win—not ever.

But he didn’t know how he could stop himself from losing either.

Caelen’s shadows tightened around Knox, their cold tendrils trying to leech his energy. Each breath felt like a battle, each heartbeat a war drum in his ears.

And then, a strange sensation pricked at the edge of his awareness.

A shift.

The energy of the crowd was changing, subtly at first but growing more pronounced with each passing moment. Confusion morphed into something gentler, almost soothing.

Amidst the cacophony of shouts and jeers, a melody began to thread its way through the air. Quickly, it grew stronger, more distinct, wrapping around Knox like a warm embrace.

Singing.

His heart leapt with a sudden burst of hope. Could it be?

The melody wove its way through the chaos, hauntingly beautiful notes cutting through fear and anger like a blade through flesh.

Knox’s mind raced as he recognized the voice—smooth as silk, with an undercurrent of strength that belied its gentle tone.

Lyrian.

Caelen’s grip on him faltered as the siren’s song washed over them. The shadows hesitated, their hold loosening ever so slightly. Knox could feel Caelen’s irritation pulsing through their connection; this wasn’t part of his plan.

The crowd’s aggression ebbed away, replaced by awe and wonder. People turned toward the source of the music, their expressions softening as they were drawn into Lyrian’s spell. Fear melted from their faces, replaced by serene smiles and quiet murmurs.

Knox took advantage of Caelen’s momentary distraction. With a surge of willpower, he broke free from the shadowy tendrils and stumbled forward. He searched for Lyrian amidst the throng of people now swaying gently to the melody.

And there he was—a figure standing atop a nearby car, beautiful as the ocean under the light of the morning sun, his long aquamarine hair falling in waves over his shoulders.

He wasn’t alone either. Zev was with him. Knox spotted the night fae warrior easily due to the delicate horns that made him stand out from the crowd, and soon, his friend’s violet eyes landed on Knox. "C’mon," he called out. "Get over here."

Knox nodded, his body moving on instinct as he pushed through the crowd. The people parted like waves, their attention wholly captured by Lyrian’s song.

Lyrian jumped down from the car, landing gracefully beside them. His eyes met Knox’s with a brief nod before he turned to lead the way. "Stay close, both of you."

They moved swiftly, weaving through the maze of vehicles and onlookers. Knox’s senses remained on high alert, every nerve in his body thrumming with tension.

He’d come so close to losing to the Shadow King just now.

How was that possible?

Why did they have to run away instead of fighting?

As they neared the edge of the bridge, a familiar figure came into view—Adrian, standing by the taxi with wide eyes and a look of sheer relief washing over his features.

"Adrian!" Knox called out, breaking into a run despite his fatigue.

Adrian rushed forward to meet them, his gaze flicking between Knox and his companions. "Are you okay?"

Knox nodded. "Thanks to them," he said, gesturing toward Lyrian and Zev. "Adrian, these are my allies."

Zev offered a quick nod while Lyrian gave Adrian a reassuring smile. "Pleasure to meet you," Lyrian said smoothly. "We should move before Caelen catches up with us."

They piled into the taxi, while the driver shot them bewildered looks. Knox slid into the seat beside Adrian, feeling a strange sense of relief despite the chaos they’d just escaped.

"Where to now?" the driver asked, glancing nervously at his rearview mirror.

Adrian gave him an address.

"So uh…" Adrian turned to Knox, then he looked at Lyrian and Zev. "My grandma wants to know if anyone’s got food incompatibilities." He shook his head with an expression of disbelief. "I don’t think I should tell her that you like to feed on sex and souls."

"Ordinary food will be just fine," Zev said with a spark of amusement. "Are you inviting us to lunch?"

"I guess so." Even though this was his world, Adrian seemed lost.

Knox resisted the urge to reach out and draw him close and tell him that things would be fine.

He’d just had to run away from the Shadow King with his tail between his legs. How could he tell anyone that anything would be fine?