Danijel: Ascension, #18

By Hayden West

I am a Power.

Betrayer. Traitor. Murderer. Also names that have been bestowed upon me.

Prisoner, however, is what I am.

I have been accused of killing my kind for fun and their blood. I am their worst nightmare. They fear me. Rightfully so, for I am the fiercest warrior we have, yet, I am not fighting them. They will judge me.

My sanity is maintained by a connection with one I have never laid eyes on before in my life. If things were different, I would go to him.

When new information comes to light, I am released and banished from all that I have known. Now I am without a home and I head to the one who never judged me and knows me almost as I know myself.

It's never that easy.

He's threatened. And they will pay. Their cries for mercy fall on deaf ears. They will finally learn the true might of this Power. For this man, I will burn the world to the ground.

I am…

Danijel

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hayden West
• Release date: Mar 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9781386022916

Book preview

Chapter One

The chain bit into his flesh but he didn’t move. They’d not just secured him by wrists and ankles, but his wings had also been clasped in irons. He knew he could break free of the wrist and ankle confinements but the wings, he wasn’t able to reach that spot to release them.

Grounded.

He blinked and swallowed once. He was thirsty, not having had anything since they’d brought him here and locked him up. Eyes remained closed as he listened. The four guards they’d posted were nervous. Scared of him.

They should be.

He was the best. Unmatched and four of his kind were not enough to keep him subdued if he wanted to fight.

It didn’t matter if he did overthrow them. With where they’d brought him the only way off this prison was flight. And he still couldn’t get his wings free. So, the battle would have been worthless except if he wished to plummet to his death.

He was a Power and could handle a lot, but a fall from this height without his wings to assist, it was a death sentence. They hadn’t had to chain him like this, the lock on his wings would have been enough. But they wanted to punish him. Humiliate him.

He didn’t care.

His actions he would stand by. And do again if the situation presented it to him once more. The stretch of his limbs designed to make him extremely uncomfortable were doing their job, but he refused to struggle. To give them a show.

The anger he’d had within him since his birth swirled and grew within him. The beast he’d always worked to control, being fed with every deep breath he ingested. Growing, swelling in its ugliness. Lending strength to him in ways it shouldn’t, in ways that his kind weren’t supposed to embrace.

Yet some had. There were those among his kind who had embraced the dark, invited it in and didn’t try to fight it off. Those few had even begun to drink the blood of the others, adding to their own strength.

He shook his head.

Their whispering grew louder, those outside his cell. They spoke about how he should have been killed outright and not imprisoned.

His prison was mostly dark aside from the beam of light that shone down from the top onto him, bathing him in natural light. There was a shift in the air and he nearly opened his eyes but decided against it. Seeing wasn’t necessary when he wasn’t going to be fighting.

Can you tell me why?

His brother’s voice split the darkness, doing its best to coax his eyes open. A silent plea he ignored.

We both know you can hear me and could see me if you opened your eyes. Will you not do me the courtesy of looking me in the eyes?

The tiniest of begging on that question prompted him to respond. With a deep breath, he commanded his eyes to open. Peering through the light surrounding him and into the darkness cloaking his visitor, he located him.

The Power walked forward, his leather attire familiar and yet different. Like he was someone completely different. In a way, he was. Although the circle of light around him was small, it didn’t stop the Power from stepping into it.

Light gleamed off his red hair, adding a glint to the gold eyes that until a few days ago had sparked with life. Now they were blank. Emotionless.

Why did you kill him?

A slow blink.

It doesn’t matter how many times you ask the question. My answer will not change. I did not kill him.

"I stood up for you. I defended you when others said you had turned and were doing this. I refused to believe it. But the proof was there. You were there."

He leaned forward, his body straining the restraints.

Then why didn’t you let them kill me?

Why would you ask me that? We all know it would have to be me, killing you. I’m the only one you wouldn’t strike back against.

Then do it. Or send someone else in now. I cannot fight anyone like this. He held the piercing golden gaze, refusing to drop it. If you are so positive, I am lying, that I lied, and I did kill Elexus, then come brother, summon your spear and push it through my chest. Directly into my heart. Kill me. Save all the others.

I can’t kill you.

"Why not? If your conviction is so sound. Your belief in my wrongdoing, so unflappable, do your job. What you were created to do. Protect. Eliminate danger and threats. He lowered his voice. We both know I am the threat they make me out to be. You are right, out of any then send to kill me, only you will I not fight against. I will stand here and let you penetrate my heart. Take my life. And yet, you hesitate. Why?"

He shook his head. No, you need to tell me why you did this.

The prisoner licked his lips. I didn’t.

The eyes filled with sorrow. You need to tell the truth. Stop lying to both of us.

It broke his heart that the one he loved most had lost faith in him. that the brother he’d been raised besides, fought beside didn’t believe in his own innocence. Still, he didn’t allow the pain to show. He never did. There were rumors about him, lots of them. That he was a cold hearted bastard. While true, there were worse ones and those were also true. But he’d loved this one.

Either kill me or leave.

Don’t do this. Please brother. Tell the truth.

I did.

A heavy sigh, he