Page 61 of Memory of Ashes

What the hell were they dealing with? Why weren’t they dying? It was impossible that they had all survived both bombs. She had seen them die in the battle before, lying still, unmoving. Dead. They were not immortal.

The smoke had barely begun to clear, exposing the crater that scarred the earth where the devastating blast should have reduced the creature and the fae to ash.

There were screams, and a guttural roar that shook the dust from the city walls. The silhouette of the creature charged towards them. The army of fae continued forward as the beast resumed its attack on the gates.

It hurtled its massive body forwards, fuelled by frenzy, shaking the city like a battering ram.

The city was silent.

They were powerless against their unnatural abilities.

Suddenly, the gates gave way, and the beast charged through the city streets, the enemy following in vast waves. They’d breached the city in less than a day.

Men bravely stood with weapons, waiting for the onslaught. Others shook, unable to move, and were consumed by the deadly wave of fae.

“Save yourselves!” The emperor fled the room with his advisers following.

There was no point in trying to run.

“Amelia? Amelia!” Emin screamed at her. He stood shaking her, jolting her out of her trance. “We need to get out of here.”

“Go,” she said, grabbing him by the shoulders. “Hide.” She pushed him away.

“No, I’m not leaving without you!”

“Emin, you have to!”

He paused and shook his head. He fled.

She was numb. She could not look away from the horrors that were visible from the balcony. The streets were filling with human bodies. Blood ran through the cobbled streets like rain, muddying an excavation trench. The fae slaughtered anyone in sight. There would soon be as many bodies on the streets as there were in the catacombs below.

Civilians ran through the streets, trying to escape, whilst screams and smoke filled the air.

She could see fires scattered, spreading throughout the city.

Danae.

The guild would be gone. Emin was probably dead.

Her lovely city, her life. It was about to be reduced to ashes.

Her legs carried her to the edge of the balcony. It was far enough to break her neck. She could just jump and be free of this; she wouldn’t have to see any more bloodshed or live in fear. It would just take one step.

She couldn’t do it.

A figure ran into the courtyard and looked up at her.

Casyl.

She backed away. He’d seen her. She ran back into the palace and tried to find somewhere to hide. But what was the point?

She waited for him to arrive.

He came alone. He strolled towards her, his silver armour covered in blood, his sword trailing along the floor. For a moment, pain broke through his composure. Then his expression turned cold.

He pointed his sword at her. “Come,” he said.

She followed him out of the palace towards the streets of the city. There was no point in resisting. Seeing the destruction up close was even worse.