Sacrifice of Darkness: A Guardians of Eternity Novella

They’re eager to watch the epic return of Javad the Vanquisher.”
Javad pulled back his lips to reveal his fangs. “Don’t call me that.”
“And even more eager to bet shitloads of treasure on the outcome.”
Javad narrowed his eyes. “They can bet all they want. I’m not fighting.”
Vynom looked smug, but Javad didn’t miss the male’s quick glance over his shoulder. Was he expecting someone? Frack? Elvis?
“I think you will,” Vynom muttered.
“Do the threats of torture come now?” Javad asked. “Hot pokers? Silver chains? Listening to you reminisce about the good old days?”
“Actually…” The male’s words trailed off as the sudden scent of fresh aloe vera swirled through the cell. Then, without warning, a female seemed to appear out of thin air and dropped to the floor. “Ah. Just in time,” Vynom drawled.
Javad ignored his former master, his gaze locked on the female he hadn’t seen in centuries.
“Terra.”
With a fluid motion, Javad crouched down and reached out to lightly touch her throat. Relief jolted through him at the steady beat of her pulse.
Once assured that she was alive, he allowed his gaze to sweep over her delicate face. Oddly, it was as familiar as if they’d parted ways yesterday. Perhaps because he’d allowed himself to recall every sweep and curve of her elegant features on a regular basis. Too regularly.
He knew the precise shade of honey in the long curls that tumbled over her shoulders. The shocking beauty of her lavender eyes that were currently hidden behind a thick fringe of dark lashes. The plush pink of her lips. The only obvious change was the flowing white gown that pooled around her like melting snow.
Javad shook off his strange sense of…what? Destiny? No, that couldn’t be right.
It has to be anger, he sternly told himself. He’d spent centuries reminding himself of all the reasons he would never see this female again. Now, she’d somehow been sucked into this hellhole. It was only natural for him to be furious.
Of course, that didn’t explain the tingles of excitement that buzzed and sizzled through his body.
Jerking up his head, he glared at his former master. “What have you done to her?”
“Nothing.” Vynom held up his hand. “It’s a side effect of coming through the magical barrier, nothing more. You see?” He pointed toward Terra as her lashes fluttered open. “I’ll leave the two of you to get reacquainted for an hour or so. Then you’ll need to prepare to fight. I’m sure after all this time, you’ll want the opportunity to practice and work out the kinks. I can’t have you giving my customers a subpar performance.”
Javad jutted his chin. “I’m not fighting.”
Vynom smiled with cruel anticipation. “You fight. Or the female dies. Your choice.”
* * * *
Levet had watched helplessly as Javad dropped like a stone to the bottom of the cavern. He, on the other hand, had managed to avoid being sucked down as if he were in a massive toilet. Hey, it was not his fault that vampires didn’t have the good sense to possess wings.
Unfortunately, he was still entangled in the spell and unable to escape. Desperately releasing a burst of magic, he sent himself sailing through a narrow crack in the nearest wall.
For a breathless second, he thought he’d managed to avoid any unpleasant repercussions from the cleverly concealed trap. He zoomed through the darkness at an exhilarating speed, expecting to shoot out of the caves and into the desert. Instead, he smacked painfully against a stalactite and plunged to the ground.
Or was it a stalagmite?
Not that it mattered. Who cared what they called the pointy rocks that filled the dark, musty cave?
Feeling decidedly ruffled to have been tossed around like a piece of radish—no, wait…rubbish, Levet struggled to get to his feet. Then, grabbing his tail, he polished the tip to a smooth gloss. It soothed his nerves, and of course the females adored a shiny tail, did they not?
Once his delicate nerves were settled, he cast a quick glance around. He was obviously in a remote part of the cavern complex. The hard, dusty floor was devoid of footprints, and silence lay thick in the darkness. There wasn’t even the rancid scent of fighters that usually contaminated the fighting pits.
He stilled. That was not entirely true. There was a smell. It wasn’t rancid, but instead a dry, crisp scent. Levet tilted back his head and took a deep sniff. Oui. There it was. Very faint, but unmistakable.
“Bonsoir,” he called out. “Who is there?” He waited. Nothing. “I can smell you.”
There was a soft beat of wings, then a small female stepped from behind a pointy rock.
“Don’t hurt me,” she pleaded in a voice as soft as snowflakes.
Levet blinked, studying the tiny creature. She was shorter than him with a slender body barely hidden beneath a gown made of gossamer lace. Her hair was long and so pale it almost looked white, while her features were astonishingly delicate with big, gray eyes.
Not long ago, Levet would have been enchanted by the pretty creature. He was a male who appreciated females of all sorts. Tall or short. Young or old. Slender or curvaceous. Now, however, he had developed a taste for a large ogress with mermaid blood, gaudy muumuus, and a bad temper. It was rather annoying, but what could a poor gargoyle do?
“Why would I hurt you?” he asked in confusion.
“Everyone hurts me.”
“Not moi.”
The female inched forward, studying Levet with a suspicious gaze. “You promise?”
Levet placed his hand in the center of his chest. “Cross my knees and hope to die,” he promised. “Well, I do not truly hope to die.”
She continued forward, halting directly in front of him. “What are you?”
Levet scowled. “What a silly question. I am a gargoyle, of course. Do you not see my horns and my lovely wings?”
“Um…right. A gargoyle.” She cleared her throat. “Forgive me. I meant to ask, who are you?”
Levet clicked his tongue. That was an even sillier question. How was it possible she did not recognize him? He was famous.
“I