Curse Of The Dark Wind (Book 6) Read Free Page B

turning as red as his shirt. Embracing Trinity, he picks her up and flips her into his arms where she fights the urge to claw his eyes out. “We will weaken Luke Callindor enough to make his capture so easy that even a goblin could do it. Once I hold his life in my hands, Nyx will be mine and allow me to do whatever I want to her.”
    The chaos elf melts to slip from his grasp, reforming behind her grinning ally. “This is all about getting Nyx?”
    “Killing a few heroes in the process has its perks, but she’s my goal,” he says, licking his lips in anticipation. His eyes roll into the back of his head as he imagines the feel of the half-Elven caster in his hands. “With both of you under my command, I can conquer the world for my father and finish this tedious game. Then he will grant me a chance to dethrone him, which I will win with your power.”
    “Unless we refuse to fight because your death removes the threat to our loved ones.”
    “I don’t need you on the battlefield to reap the benefits of your magic,” Stephen calmly admits as he wrinkles his nose at the smell of sulfur. He looks at the ceiling to see it is covered in shifting mist and numerous orange eyes are watching him. “I feel that this is a conversation best left for another time. The demons have gathered and seem hungry. I don’t want to be forced to damage them.”
    Trinity cracks her knuckles and takes a deep breath of the stale air, her enhancer gems flickering to life. The howl of demons fills the cavern as she focuses on the vortex and moves her hands as if to crush it closed. As her aura churns around her hands, cracks ripple through the portal and it folds in upon itself. With an echoing pop, the opening to the Chaos Void is sealed and the smoke-like demons fly into a furious rage. They descend on Trinity, who puts up a barrier to deflect the attack, the black mist coating her protective bubble.
    “I believe it’s time for us to leave,” Stephen whispers in her ear. He snaps his fingers and they are suddenly outside the cavern, the crystalline opening struggling to glitter in the sunlight. “The Dark Wind is infecting the air and clinging to the trees already. By the time our enemies arrive, the curse will be embedded in the area. I’m going to send General Vile to keep an eye on them. I want to be sure the curse takes effect and they don’t find a way to purify the Callindor.”
    Trinity glances back at the Cave of Winds where demonic howls can be heard with every burst of putrid air. “Remember how you were wondering where the smoke and corruption go when the magic winds grab them?”
    “And how I could use such power to reach my goals. It might even be enough to give me the power to defeat Gabriel if I chose to challenge him.”
    “The pollution goes to Shayd, which is why there are eternal black clouds there,” she says with a wicked smirk. Turning to the confused man, she softly pats him on the cheek and stands on her toes to put her lips against his ear. “Your father absorbed the gathered corruption centuries ago and never told you. Even now, he increases his strength by making himself the reservoir. I’ll see you back at camp. I suddenly feel like celebrating, little warlord.”
    Stephen glowers at Trinity as she fades away, her body becoming a curtain of leaves that is whisked away by the sour wind. He watches her disappear over the trees, his mind drifting between ever darkening thoughts. A chuckle slips from his mouth and steadily rolls into echoing laughter, forcing him to clutch his aching sides. With a deep breath of the corrupted air, he calms his nerves and walks in the direction of their distant camp.
    *****
    “You seem tired, youngling,” Ram says as he approaches Gabriel. The ancient God of War whinnies at the sight of the raven-haired god slumped in a black and silver throne. “I believe this is the first time I have ever seen you look so . . . haggard. The luster of your platemail has faded and there