Ancient Guardians: The Uninvited (40 page)

Reece hung tightly to Harrison’s neck. He said nothing more as he strode briskly through the dark halls of the dungeon.

She buried her face into Harrison’s neck when she noticed the lifeless bodies all around them. The scene was gruesome, and she was baffled that Harrison conquered these men by himself in order to retrieve her.

Anger coursed violently through Levi, and his blood boiled beneath the surface of his skin as he stared at the lifeless body of his beloved Reece. He grasped the sword that had fallen from his hands, and sprang to his feet. He charged at the soldiers who surrounded Reece’s body, and within moments, the men lay lifeless on the stone floor.

He walked over to Reece slowly, and ran his hand slowly across her cold cheek.
My love,
he thought with despair.

“Did your father suffer much as he lay there dying in your arms?” Michael grinned as he walked down the steps toward Levi, “I can say your darling Reece screamed your name only once before she closed her eyes indefinitely.”

Rage and fury ignited throughout Levi’s body again.

“Pretty strong little thing, she was; but in the end, she was begging me to end her life.”

In that instant, Levi swiftly kicked Michael’s sword out of his grip, and lunged at him. He grabbed his arm, and thrust his elbow across Michael’s jaw. As Michael stumbled backward, he grasped the dagger in Levi’s waistband, pulled it from its sheath, and as the men stumbled to the floor, he plunged it into Levi’s side.

Levi growled as Michael began to twist the blade into his flesh. He gritted his teeth as he rolled away from Michael, and pulled the knife from his side. Michael jumped to his feet quickly and stood over Levi.

“Get up, prince! I know you have more than that within you. Fight!” Michael growled.

Levi slumped over onto the ground, holding his wounded side, when he noticed that the sword he had kicked out of Michael’s hand was within arm’s reach. Levi seized the sword, and at the same time, swept his feet under Michael’s, knocking him to the ground. As Michael rolled over and brought himself onto his knees, Levi plunged the sword through his abdomen.

As Michael lay on the floor, writhing in pain, Levi plucked his dagger from the floor, held it by its blade, and hurled it at Lucas. The blade pierced through the base of man’s neck with such force that it pinned him to his chair. He wrenched the sword from Michael’s lifeless body, and stalked up the stairs toward Simone.

Simone stumbled backwards as Levi approached her slowly. His eyes were wild and fierce, and his voice was deadly.

“I have thought of the many ways I would deal with you once I learned that you had put Reece in grave danger for a second time,” he said as he retrieved his dagger from Lucas’ neck and shoved his lifeless body from his throne onto the ground. He glanced down at Reece’s body, “but it appears that you have already made the decision for me.”

Levi grinned threateningly as Simone panted with fear.

He stared intently into her bewildered eyes. “If you should faint, I will wake you. This will not be a simple death for you, Simone.”

Simone’s lips turned up into a wicked grin. “Levi, who are you trying to fool? You would not take the life of a woman. That is too dishonorable for a man like you.”

Levi pressed his forearm firmly against her throat while he brought the blade in his other hand to softly stroke the side of her cheek.

“Honor? I am grateful you have brought that word up. Would you like to talk about all of the honorable men whose lives have been lost because of your hatred and scheming?”

Simone sneered. “Still dealing with the death of your father, Levi?”

Levi’s eyes narrowed. “Tonight I will return to Pemdas to give my father his final farewell, and I will have to do so for yours as well.”

Tears filled Simone’s eyes.

“How does it feel to know your wickedness caused the death of your own father?” Levi snarled.

Simone shook her head, fighting away her tears.

Levi tilted his head to the side. “I’m surprised to see that you feel any emotion at all,” he snarled through his teeth.

Simone closed her eyes. Levi withdrew the knife, and prepared to thrust it into her flesh.

“Levi?” a soft voice called from behind him.

Levi gasped as he looked at the body lying on the table in confusion.

“Levi…don’t!” Reece called out louder.

With one arm restraining Simone, he turned and saw Reece and Harrison standing at the bottom of the stairs.
Reece?
It was her, wearing Harrison’s cloak over her ragged, torn dress. Her face was somber, and her eyes were focused on Simone as Reece ascended the steps toward them.

R
eece walked slowly and steadily toward Simone with deadly determination. Simone was visibly shaken as Reece approached her.

“Reece, I’m so glad you’re here,” Simone stammered nervously, “Please don’t let Levi harm me.”

“Why shouldn’t I?” Reece responded indifferently, “After everything you’ve done to me, you expect mercy?”

“Reece, please!” Simone begged as she fell to her knees and groveled before Reece. “There have been too many individuals slain today! You are too good of a person to allow the man you love to murder me.”

Reece shook her head in disbelief. “It’s remarkable how fast the tables have turned for you and me, isn’t it?” Reece said as she stared down into the woman’s frantic eyes, “You’re right about one thing, though; I will not allow Levi to have your blood on his hands.”

“Thank you, Reece! I knew you would have compassion for me!” Simone said as she slumped back against the wall.

Reece tilted her head to the side as she studied the woman. “Levi, is there a place where people can be taken to be banished forever and live in misery to pay for the horrific crimes they have committed?”

Simone cried out. “No! Reece! I beseech you, please don’t send me—”

“Indeed, there is; you need only ask.” Levi answered as he sheathed his dagger.

Reece stared down at Simone. “Simone, you’re the embodiment of evil, and you cannot be trusted. You have proven that more than once. Wherever this place is that you are so frightened of, I won’t ask for you to be sent there.”

Simone smiled faintly in relief.

“I will
beg
for you to be sent there.” Reece finished.

With that, Harrison strode briskly up the steps to where Simone lay on the ground, weeping. He jerked her up by her arm and marched her out of the room.

Levi took off his bloodstained, leather gloves and brought his hands to Reece’s face in desperation. He cautiously ran his long fingers through her hair, and he softly exhaled. He tenderly braced her head in his hands as he stared into her eyes. “My love, you are alive.”

As Reece reached to put her arms around his waist, she saw the blood on his side. “Is this your blood?” Reece asked sorrowfully.

“Yes.” He answered absently, his eyes still gazing into hers. “Do not fear, I’ll be fine.” he said as he embraced her carefully, and buried his face in her neck. “I love you so much. I truly believed I had lost you forever. I am so unbearably happy to have you in my arms again.”

“How did they manage to create a clone of Reece,” Harrison called out as he returned to the room and approached the body on the table to examine it.

Reece shuddered at the lifeless image of herself.

“That is a good question,” Levi responded as he reached down and cradled Reece in his arms, “It is anyone’s guess as to how they could have found a way to create such a thing, but let’s not forget how insane they all were to begin with.”

“Very true,” Harrison agreed as they made their way out of the room.

“Harrison, see to it that the clone is burned along with the castle,” Levi commanded.

“I have already ordered the men to prepare for its destruction once we depart,” Harrison replied.

Reece held tightly onto Levi, resting her head against his chest as the men strode quickly through the halls. When they reached the exit, Reece was astounded by what she saw. The horizon was dark red, and smoke hung heavy in the air. Guardians filled the hillside, milling around an area where it appeared a large battle had taken place. Areion and Saracen were fully armored and stood at the bottom of the steps, waiting patiently for their masters’ return.

“Emperor!” a Guardian called out. “We have been successful, and the remaining Armedite soldiers have surrendered to your command.”

“Very well,” Levi responded. “Your commander will remain behind to ensure that these men are brought to our prison chambers until the Council of Worlds decides their fate.” Levi nodded to Harrison, and Harrison quickly fled down the steps with four other men.

Emperor?
She thought as she searched for Navarre. As they stepped down the steps to where Areion was, Reece looked up at Levi. “Levi, what’s going on? Where’s your father?” she said, as she studied his dark eyes. His expression was unreadable. “He didn’t…” She choked on her words as tears filled her eyes. No matter how hard she tried to repress her emotions, she began sobbing in Levi’s arms.

Levi gently placed her feet on the ground, and pulled her into an embrace. “My love, please do not shed tears for my father. He would not want that from any of us at this time.”

She looked up at him, and he gently wiped her tears away. He cupped her chin, bringing her eyes up to meet his. “Reece, you must know that my father gave his life for this moment, and we honor him now by bringing you, the Key, back home to safety.”

Reece tried with all her power to hold back her tears as she stared up at Levi. She knew that he needed her to be strong. There would be a time for them to grieve the death of the emperor, but now was not that time.

“Emperor,” another Guardian called out. Reece looked over to find Mark Prather shackled, being held by two tall Guardian warriors. A Guardian horse stood behind him, his reins gripped tightly under his chin by another Guardian. “We found this traitor trying to escape back into Pemdas.”

Reece instinctively shied away from the image of the fiery red-haired man. She buried her face in Levi’s chest seeking refuge in him, and trying to remove the memories of this man assaulting her.

She felt Levi’s body turn rigid when he noticed Reece’s reaction to Mark. “Harrison.” Levi said deeply as he released his hold on Reece. “Stay with Reece while I deal with Mr. Prather.”

Harrison walked over to Reece and braced his sturdy arm around her, lending her the support that her weak legs required.

As Levi walked towards the man, Mark dropped to his knees and looked up into Levi’s eyes, “Imperial highness, I beg—”

“Silence!” Levi ordered as he gazed down at him. “You are a revolting creature. A pathetic coward and a traitor.” Levi knelt down on one knee, grabbed his neck, and brought his eyes to meet his.

Reece could tell he was trying to conceal his hostility toward the man, but from the angle she had standing next to Harrison, and the proximity in which they stood, she could hear every word he said in his low, commanding voice. She pulled Harrison’s cloak she wore around her tightly as she leaned closer into him, unsure of what Levi would do to the man.

Levi pulled his dagger from his sheath and Mark Prather collapsed backward fearfully as Levi brought his blade to Mark’s neck. “Conspiring against your own people was an extremely unwise idea, Mr. Prather.”

“My lord, I beg of you…”

“I have not asked you to speak.” Levi growled. “You will be served the same justice as those traitors who remain alive.” Mark seemed to calm with a loud exhale, only to find the sharp end of Levi’s dagger at his throat. “You have no idea the restraint I am currently using not to end your life at this very moment. You deserve death, but there has been enough blood shed in front of Miss Bryant’s eyes.” Levi pressed the blade further into his throat, “You, Mark Prather, will suffer along with Simone. You will never again see the light of day for the rest of your useless life. Your bed will be that of a stone floor, and you will be left nothing but the thoughts of your greed and treachery against your world.”

Mark’s eyes widened in fear again, “I beg you for death. Please! I cannot be sent to the Isle of Dizlaught.”