Emma Holloway - A Study in Ashes

I do, but why would I do such a thing? Do not look for mercy from me .

“Why not show mercy? What about building alliances? Working with the rest of the Empire? What about governing your realm?” She heard the Wraiths stirring, but she couldn’t tell if that was good or bad.

My realm? This is the pit where all the outcasts are flung, away from the sun and the sight of Man. Once I ruled empires. Now I am the steward of the dung heap . There was no missing the sourness in his tone. I was tricked into this realm by your ancestors, little mouse. Do not mistake me for a friend .

“But you’re the conduit of all the magic here. You have immense power.”

I am but the lightning rod the power uses to enter this world. That is why I have lived so long. The power of the underground needs a king to be its avatar .

Evelina licked her lips. As long as the dragon was talking, Tobias lived. She seized on another question. “What would happen if you weren’t here?”

My power would shatter and the Black Kingdom would fall. Those who dwell beneath the streets would be free to roam in the world above .

Evelina quailed. The creatures would be loosed upon London? That wouldn’t end well. “But—”

Remove her! the Black King commanded. I will have peace while I eat .

Lord Fawkes was suddenly in her way, forcing her back at knifepoint. “The king demands silence.”

Ignoring Fawkes’s weapon, Nick stepped between them, putting a hand against the Wraith’s chest. “Would you care to think about where you’re pointing that blade?”

Taking advantage of the distraction, Evelina pushed past Fawkes and thrust herself nearer to the dragon, reaching for the creature’s aura of power. She had a half-formed notion that she might be able to steal its stronger magic and use it as her own. But then the dragon’s claws plunged home, and Tobias gave a final roar of agony. As she felt his life flutter, Evelina screamed her fury.

Sight, sound—all sensation from the physical plane left her. What remained was the shifting vision of power in her mind’s eye. The dark fog of the Black King’s magic consumed Tobias’s life, swallowing it down like mist blotting out a star. Stop it! she raged, thrusting her power at the beast. It bounced off like pebbles against a mountain.

You interfere , came the Black King’s voice. It was the booming of the ocean in sea caves, as old and worn as the rock itself.

I have the right. He is dear to me .

For the first time, she felt the tug of curiosity in the beast. Who are you?

While the Black King had taken her measure before, this time it was more than a cursory flick of the tongue. His mind drilled into hers with the force of one of the Gold King’s war machines. I am Evelina Cooper. I have put magic into machines. I destroyed Her Majesty’s Laboratories and the sorcerer Magnus. I have fought against the Steam Council .

And this gives you the right to raise your magic against me? The dragon sounded amused, but sleepy now, as if a full stomach took the edge off its concentration. You are just a beginner .

There was barely a spark remaining of Tobias’s life. Evelina grabbed that sliver of light and held on. The dragon was consuming not just his body, but also the essence that held the spice and sweetness of his death. She couldn’t let that happen. Nothing would remain of his soul, not even scraps enough to haunt her.

Tears burned Evelina’s face. Whatever had happened between them, she still loved Tobias—no longer as the man she would marry, but now as an old and comfortable tenderness. They’d come so far together, and Evelina yearned to see him happy. To lose him now would be a defeat her universe could not abide. But all that was left of him was a guttering flame.

Then Evelina was roughly hauled away as the Wraiths circled their master. Bound to Tobias, she felt the slice of flesh from bone as his mortal flesh was destroyed. The huge fangs of the Black King bit deep, then the sharp knives and needlelike teeth of the Wraiths. Bones broke with white-hot torment, and the flame of life sputtered, but Evelina would not surrender. Screams ripped from her as she thrashed against the Wraiths, agony blowing past whatever controlling magic they possessed.

Desperate, she wove her dark power into a binding, winding it protectively around the scrap of Tobias’s life, feeding magic to the embers of him like tiny bits of kindling. Weaker than the Black King’s, her own power was subtle enough to sustain life, but not enough to rebuild it. For that, she reached deep into the dragon, to the magic that filled the Black Kingdom like smoke, and fed it into her spell.

But the dragon wasn’t willing to share its power. It slammed back against her, buffeting against her with the force of a gale. Evelina braced herself, shielding Tobias as she pulled more and more from the beast to protect the flickering scrap of life. It was power such as she’d never seen—such as she was sure Magnus would have taken for himself—but she didn’t need it. Tobias did.

How did you find your way through my defenses? Snarling, the dragon stopped feeding and turned its attention to her. She didn’t know the exact answer, but before the creature could react, she lunged for the center of its magic, yanking free great chunks of it and packing it around Tobias’s life force.

Stop! the dragon thundered, smashing her down. It was a blow meant to pulverize, but she let the force take her, offering no resistance. Still, it crushed her consciousness to the point of agonizing pain.

No! Summoning what strength she still possessed, her power surged forward, ignoring the danger to seize upon the core of the dragon’s essence. You must help my friend!

But the beast was having none of it, and crashed into her again, twisting violently against her magic’s hold. Something tore, and for an instant she wasn’t sure which one of them it was, but a blinding flash exploded in her mind, leaving a sensation of searing heat.

She was snapped back to reality by a roar such as she had never heard. It filled the cavern, the sound kneading against the stone walls like something thick and elastic. She covered her ears, dropping to her knees and curling into a ball until her bones stopped vibrating. Blinking stupidly, she uncoiled one degree at a time. The memory of pain had left her rubber-limbed and weak, even if it was not her own.

She pushed herself up on an elbow and saw Nick facedown on the ground. Shocked back to herself, she scrambled over to him. “Nick?”

Keating’s voice slid out of the shadows. “Lord Fawkes knocked him down. Your pirate is a good fighter, but no match for a Wraith. Nonetheless I do not think he is badly hurt.”

Since Nick’s pulse and breathing were fine, she decided that Keating was telling the truth. “Weren’t you locked up?”

“The Wraiths never made it that far before they were tempted back to the spectacle out here. They left us to fend for ourselves against the inmates of this pit.”

“Where’s Edmond?”

“The fool prince is guarding my daughter, thinking I’m going to collect you and Captain Niccolo so that we can all escape together. I’ll bet you a shilling which one of us will survive to rule the Empire.”

“So why aren’t you running?”

“Your pirate has something of mine. We’re overdue for a chat about stolen property.”

“Athena!” Evelina sucked in her breath, trying to steady herself to face this new threat.

Keating gave a derisive snort. “Indeed. I suppose I should thank him for revealing what it can do.”

She rose slowly, glancing at the Black King’s bulk. The great serpent had fallen to its side, shudders running through it. Wraiths were scattered on the floor, still as death. Blood seeped in a pool near its head.