Child of Beauty (Prophecy Series) Read online

  “What did he do?” Gwen fought beside her husband.

  “I’ve no idea.”

  One of the Soldats whipped his Wopler out and turned it into a sword. He smashed his weapon into Creedon’s sword. The Wopler curled around the blade, and the Soldat grinned as he pulled Creedon’s weapon from his hand.

  “Too bad we have Soldats working with us.” Creedon jabbed the heel of his palm into the underside of the upper curl of the Wopler.

  The Soldat cried in pain as Creedon’s sword, now free from the Wopler’s hold, went through his shoulder.

  Creedon grabbed his hilt and finished the blow, beheading the Soldat.

  “Seems like we learned something rather valuable from Sage Little after all.” Gwen noted.

  “My problem isn’t with Sage.”

  Gwen shook her head. “You should tell Viktor you forgive him before it’s too late.”

  “I told you, I’ll never speak those words.”

  Delisa spun as she brought her axes up and around. She moved with the grace and skill of any of these warriors.

  Something stung her back, and she gasped, taking a moment to pull the dart free. She blinked, wondering when the poison would affect her. She turned and faced the Soldata who lowered her Wopler.

  “See, it does not matter how many of you fight.” The Soldata stated, her green eyes flashed something Delisa couldn’t quite understand. “We will destroy all of you.”

  “Aren’t I supposed to feel something?” Delisa looked at her weapons. “Perhaps your magic doesn’t work.”

  “It always works.” The Soldata insisted.

  “Then I’ll take you down with me.” Delisa jumped forward, bringing her axes around to attack the Soldata.

  The warrior blocked with her Wopler, now a long staff. Delisa kicked the woman, bringing her elbow around to hit the woman’s face. The Soldata gasped as blood seeped from her nose.

  Delisa dropped, sweeping her right leg around to bring the Soldata on her back. Delisa kicked the Wopler from the Soldata’s hand. “Didn’t expect us to have so much fight, huh?” She smashed her axe’s handle into the Soldata’s temple, and the warrior slumped on the ground, knocked out cold.

  Delisa turned to see Barrett fighting back-to-back with Jerrika, and Rayna was staring at a dark haired Soldat fighting one of his own. Delisa smiled. It was good to see other Soldats joining their battle.

  “Duck.” A black-haired Soldat gently shoved Delisa away from another dart. The Soldat pulled it free from his arm. “You seem young to be a rebel.”

  “My father began the rebellion.” Delisa explained.

  The Soldat grabbed her arm and pulled her beside him, using a blunt edge of his Wopler to block a sword from a soldier. “I was shocked to see my father fighting with the rebels. Do you know Viktor Little?”

  “You’re Rayna’s adopted brother?”

  “Garrik.” He introduced as he blocked another blow.

  “I’m Delisa Quint.” She paused as she brought her axes up to defend against a sword from the soldier fighting her. “But I suppose you don’t understand the significance.”

  “Cannot say I do.” Garrik gripped her arm. “Trust me.” He used his weight to lift her, turning so she could kick both his opponent and hers. He set her down.

  “Surprisingly I do.” Delisa admitted. “Rayna is my older sister.”

  Peyton ducked from his position in one of the upper balconies overlooking the ballroom. He loaded another arrow to his bow and took aim. It was hard discerning which Soldats and Soldatas were aiding the rebels and which were fighting them. Some of the Soldats and Soldatas were fighting their own, Wopler against Wopler. Peyton kept an eye on his family, especially Rayna. She had her destiny to fulfill tonight.

  Peyton looked around the fight, trying to find the king. King Navion wasn’t anywhere to be seen. Perhaps he understood that tonight was the night the prophecy would come to pass.

  The dart hit his back, and Peyton cried out in pain. It felt like a tree had fallen on the back of his shoulder. Peyton spun, facing the Soldata glaring at him.

  “Stupid spells.” She whispered, rushing as she whipped her Wopler around, turning it into a sword.

  Peyton blocked her sword with his bow, spinning around, setting an arrow to the string.

  “Val.” A blonde young man called.

  Peyton grabbed her arm, twisted it around, and shoved her back into the wall. He stared into her dark green eyes as they narrowed. Peyton jabbed her right wrist into the wall, and with a cry, she dropped her Wopler.

  “Let her go.” The blonde young man held his own Wopler.

  Peyton spun her around, holding the point of one of his arrows to her neck. “Drop your weapon.”

  “You are just going to kill her anyway.” The blonde snarled.

  “Maybe.” Peyton admitted. He wouldn’t tell this Soldat that she smelled great, the scent of fresh flowers invaded his senses.

  “You are going to alright Val.” The Soldat promised.

  “I know Jayson.” She brought her cranium back to head-butt Peyton’s face.

  Peyton’s vision went black for a brief moment, and he was suddenly on his back. His vision cleared, and he spun to the side, avoiding Jayson’s Wopler. Peyton brought his legs around to sweep the Soldat’s feet from under him, brought his arrow around, and stabbed Jayson in the heart. The Soldat gasped; his bright blue eyes faded.

  Val attacked Peyton, and he grabbed her thick black hair, pulling some free. She screamed, taking hold of her fallen Wopler. Peyton shoved her, and her back smashed into the wall. She slowly fell to the ground as Peyton made his way to his feet, grabbing another arrow from his quiver. He picked up his bow and placed the arrow to the string.

  She blinked at him. “Do it.”

  “I’m not here to eradicate nobility.” Peyton stated. “But I can’t let you fight me.” He shot the arrow through her calf.

  ~ Chapter 45 ~

  Viveca, Mae, and Paige fought side-by-side, taunting the stinking common folk who had invaded the royal palace.

  “I cannot believe how many of our kind are fighting with them.” Mae gasped. “I am not surprised to see Hairika or Wilma. They always seemed like cusca lovers. But I am surprised Viktor is fighting with them.”

  “So are most of the Littles.” Paige added. “I never imagined that family would turn traitor.”

  “Is Fergus fighting with the rebels?” Viveca didn’t want him to betray her. He was her love.

  “I do not see him.” Mae shook her head. “Look at that Adlig.”

  “Kurtis Jarger.” Paige snarled. “I am not surprised to see him fighting with them either.”

  “Kurtis?” Viveca froze as she turned to watch her brother fight alongside the rebels. How was this possible? Her friends didn’t know Kurtis was truly her brother. She’d been happy to keep his identity secret in Krijar. He was always the favored sibling, the one people adored at home. How could he betray their father?

  Of course she’d known her brother was delusional since they were kids when he’d begged her to keep his true identity a secret. She’d even kept his secret from Fergus. And this was how he was repaying her? He was betraying all of them.

  The ballroom had begun the night as a room of elegance and splendor, but it had turned into a bloody battle against the rebellion. Her father had been planning an attack in a few weeks. How was this happening?

  A filthy rebel attacked Viveca, but she brought her Wopler up and sliced the rebel to pieces. The princess turned to see where the Hamilton twins had moved. Paige and Mae were protecting each other as they fought against the soiled streams of hundreds entering the ballroom. How were so many trained and here? Her father never imagined there were so many.

  Abruptly, someone grabbed Viveca from behind, a beefy arm around her neck. Viveca gasped as the bulk tightened. She tried to slam the body into the wall behind them, but he was too solid.

  The man grunted and suddenly released her. Viveca fell to the ground an
d gasped for breath as her airway was free again.

  “Viv.” Fergus knelt beside her. “Are you alright?”

  “Fergus?” She whispered.

  He nodded and hugged her. “I am so sorry my love.”

  “Why are you apologizing?” She pushed him away. “Are you helping these rebels?”

  “No.” He closed his eyes. “But the rest of my family is. I do not understand this. My father is fighting with the rebels. I used to be proud to call him ‘Father,’ but now I am ashamed.”

  “You have nothing to be ashamed about my love.” She touched his chin and gently moved his face toward hers. “We will win this battle.”

  He kissed her. “Or die trying.”

  Viveca joined him in battle, fighting together against the invading pests. So many of the cuscas were armed with a wide variety of weapons, and it seemed that all of them knew how to use their weapons to the best of their ability. How was it possible? It was illegal for cuscas to train. This betrayal must have been helped, encouraged, by Soldatas and Soldats. How many of their own had deceived them and assisted the cuscas?

  She was glad her friends and lover were true. They understood how things were and should be.

  Fergus pulled Viveca out of the way of an arrow.

  “Where did they all come from?” She cried.

  “Perhaps one of them thinks they are the person from the prophecy.” Fergus stated.

  “My father.” Viveca looked at Fergus.

  “He is safely away from the fight.” Fergus assured her. “None of the cuscas will be able to find or reach him.”

  “What about Soldats or Soldatas who betrayed him?” Viveca asked.

  “The prophecy says someone of common blood will kill your father.” Fergus shot a dart at a rebel. “No Soldata or Soldat is common.”

  ~ Chapter 46 ~

  Rayna didn’t want to fight Kurtis, but the moment he’d seen her fighting against the rebels, he’d brought his Wopler against hers. He didn’t know her Wopler could kill him.

  “I do not understand.” Kurtis stared at her.

  “What do you not understand?” There was so much she didn’t understand either. He was the prince, and yet here he was fighting with the rebels who wanted to kill his father.

  “You know how evil my father is.” Kurtis blocked one of her blows. “How can you fight against the rebels? I am the son of the king, and I will do everything in my power to protect the rebels and common folk. You are friendly with Jerrika’s beau and his family.”

  Rayna chuckled. Friendly, yes. She was friendly with her family.

  “This is not some kind of joke.” Kurtis brought his Wopler-sword around. She blocked his blow, but she lost her footing. Kurtis jabbed her side, and she fell. He grabbed her arm, pulling her against him. He held her right arm straight so she couldn’t use her weapon. “I love you.”

  “I know.” She glanced to her right, and his eyes moved that way too.

  Rayna kneed him in the gut, and she was free. Her mind couldn’t focus. More than anything, she wanted to tell him the truth, but she couldn’t risk the king or those protecting him seeing her allied to anyone fighting with the rebels.

  Someone grabbed Rayna from behind, and she squirmed. “Hello again.” Rayna let out a slow breath of relief. It was only Aileen.

  “We have met before?” Kurtis looked at her.

  “Aileen Quint.” She explained. “You saved my sisters and me from soldiers in the woods several months ago.”

  “I remember.” He nodded.

  “He is the prince.” Rayna stated. “Kurtis is not really a noble Soldat. He is truly the prince of Perso’s Creek, son of King Navion.”

  “But my father is evil.” Kurtis stated. “I do not agree with my father on anything. I have wanted to fight with you rebels for a long time.”

  “Ah.” Aileen spun and threw Rayna into a small room.

  Kurtis quickly went into the room after her, and Aileen slammed the door shut.

  Rayna chuckled.

  “Why did she do that?” Kurtis pondered.

  “I was there too.” Rayna explained. “The day we went to see the Jefferson Traveling Circus. The girl you told the soldier to release was Jerrika. She is not biologically our sister, but between loving Barrett and being my adopted sister, we count her as family.”

  “What?” Kurtis gasped.

  “I was trying to tell you the truth before the rebels attacked.”

  “I do not understand.” Kurtis touched her face. “Aileen is your sister?”

  “My older sister.” Rayna took a deep breath. “Viktor kidnapped me when I was four. My father is a common-born blacksmith.”

  “The prophecy.” Kurtis breathed the words.

  Rayna nodded. “My Wopler can only be used against those with noble blood.”

  “If you are the one destined to kill my father, why are you fighting against the rebels?”

  “My birth father, Creedon, believes it will be easier to get close to your father if he does not realize I am allied with the rebels.”

  “You are destined to kill my father…”

  “I love you Kurtis.” Rayna swallowed the lump in her throat. “I do not want to kill your father.” Small tears formed in her eyes, and she tried to blink them away.

  “My father is evil.” Kurtis pulled her close and looked straight in her eyes. “You feel guilt even now. My father has hurt and killed countless people. He has never once felt remorse.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I have asked him. Garrik, Hadrien, and I allied together against my father.”

  “Viktor, Sage, and Jerrika are also fighting against the king.” Rayna paused. “You are not upset that I am destined to kill your father?”

  “He has never been a father to me.” Kurtis looked at her. “My nurse was the only parent I ever knew. She loved and raised me. When I was seven, I returned home from Krijar to find my father had raped her. She was scarred from the experience. I asked her what happened, but she would not tell me. My father is the one who gloated the truth to me. When I was ten, I came home from Krijar to find my beloved nurse blind, courtesy of my father.”

  Rayna closed her eyes. She didn’t want to hear more.

  “When I was fourteen, I came home from Krijar just in time to see her hung. She seemed to look right at me as she died. I demanded to know why she had been killed, and my father said it was because I loved her more than I loved him. It was my fault.”

  “I am so sorry Kurtis.” Rayna put a hand on his arm.

  Kurtis looked up at her. “My father is a monster. I promise you Rayna, I will never be a king like him. I am going to end the class system. Jerrika and Barrett will be allowed to marry without breaking any law. Anyone who wants to learn to fight will be allowed, and there will be a new age of peace. I will never become as my father is. But you must fulfill your destiny to bring this new age to pass. You are the common blood of prophecy.”

  Rayna grabbed his neck and kissed him. Kurtis folded his arms around her as he kissed her back.

  “Find my father and fulfill your destiny.” Kurtis took her hands in his. “I will find you after the battle.”

  “I love you.” Rayna kissed him again.

  “I love you too.” Kurtis brushed her blonde hair. “No matter what happens, know I will always love you.”

  ~ Chapter 47~

  Mae approached the azure-robbed man who had appeared with others in the room. She brought her Wopler around, turning it from a whip to a sword. To her surprise, his dagger shined midnight blue and grew into a sword.

  “How did you do that?” Mae gasped.

  “My torracep is similar to your Wopler.”

  “Who are you?” Mae looked around to the other warriors he’d shown up with.

  “Drew of Ruccis.” He bowed. She felt mocked. “My friends and I help prophecies come to pass. The magic was passed through my mother’s bloodline to me.” He nodded to a woman fighting alongside Viktor Little.

&nbs
p; “Well Drew of Ruccis, you have come at a ridiculous time. No prophecy will come to pass tonight.” Mae continued on the offense, attacking the warrior.

  He turned, bringing up his weapon, but it was an axe now. He used the curved edge to grip her Wopler and pull it from her grasp. She reacted quickly, sliding beside him as her weapon flew in the air. Mae jumped and grabbed it, turning to block a jab from Garrik Little. She spun her weapon around, changing the sword into a lance with pointed tip. She jabbed the point into Garrik’s chest. He gasped as her Wopler pierced him. Garrik stared at her with sad eyes as his arms dropped, and she released him from her weapon. He fell to the ground, blood pooling around his wound.

  The tip of the midnight blue sword seemed odd to her as Mae saw it sprout from her stomach. She coughed, and her hands felt numb. Unsure what was happening, Mae turned in time to see Drew pull his weapon from her back.

  An inhuman sound rang in her ears, and Mae slumped to the ground. Her gaze turned hazy, and she tried to blink.

  Paige didn’t know what she was yelling, but she raced to her sister as Mae dropped to the ground. Paige grabbed her sister’s shoulders and shook her. “Mae! Mae!” She looked up at the young man in azure robes as tears flowed from her eyes. “What did you do?” But the robed man had already turned to his next victim.

  “Paige.” Orman Wagner ran to her. He’d been courting Viveca when he was at Krijar, but he’d been sleeping with Paige.

  Paige didn’t reply. She couldn’t come up with a coherent thought or response. All she could do was hold her dead sister, vowing revenge against the man in azure robes. She would find out exactly who he was and make him pay.

  Orman grabbed Paige’s waist and hoisted her up. “We cannot avenge your sister if we are dead too.”

  “I will not leave her.”

  “We have to.” Orman held her as he ran off.

  “Let me go.” Paige didn’t care that her words were garbled, or that she was drooling, perhaps crying, as she spoke.

  “Paige, listen to me.” Orman threw her back against the ballroom wall. “It is too late for Mae. She is dead. Unless you want to die too, we have to leave. There are too many rebels and too many nobles fighting with them. That man did something to our Woplers, and our darts are not killing those of common blood. Do you want revenge for your sister’s death?”