Devdan Manor by Auden D. Johnson

around his arms—only it was wider. It snaked up his arms like the Antun family mark.
    This clearly wasn’t Lady.
    A soft, soothing, sensation came over him. The only time he felt this at ease was when he was alone with Ryse, Uryl or Nuall.
    “See, you can take it down now,” he said. His voice was both commanding and comforting.
    The female sighed as though she had been holding her breath for years.
    The male stood and turned to them. He had the most unsettling eyes.
    The statue closet to them lifted its sword. It brought it down on them. The blade bounced off a barrier.
    “We don’t have much time,” a female voice said.
    This was too much. He had been able to handle things so far. This, he couldn’t. He had enough. He was not looking at Valent Devdan. Demons aged slowly. This female hadn’t aged in five centuries. Her portrait hadn’t been on the wall. Cyl didn’t remember seeing the male’s painting either.
    She turned to Ozais. “You will have your blood soon.”
    Ozais lips rolled back over his now sharp teeth.
    Nuall’s eyes widened as she dropped her mouth open. She turned to the male. “That would mean you’re Tahir Devdan.”
    The male’s expression became ugly in his disgust.
    “How do you know my name?”
    “The Devdan family’s disappearance is famous. We still talk about Valent.” Nuall jabbed her finger in the female’s direction. “Her picture is in our textbooks.”
    Tahir eyes went wild. He was going to attack Nuall. Cyl jumped into front of her. He was not going to make it easy for that monster.
    This must be Lady. She was too young to have lived during the Royal Era. She still held herself like a queen.
    Valent reached them.
    “That’s enough. We will discuss this later.” She turned to Uryl.
    He was about as dazed at the rest of them. He didn’t wear confusion well.
    Valent snapped her fingers. “Boy, this is not the time to lose your senses. You have been examining the situation. I will not ask your brother to free Tahir. I would like his skin to remain on his body. You can do it without harming him too much.”
    Uryl tightened his mouth.
    “I am not asking you. As an older brother, you should know what I will do to save Tahir and Kephas. Do not make me kill your family. I know what it feels like to watch siblings die. I’d rather not force anyone to go through that pain.”
    All the statues closed in on them. They threw their weapons and bodies into the shield. The walls, floor ceiling trembled. Angry voices roared.
    Uryl nodded. He turned to Ryse. “I need your help.”
    Uryl hands were shaking as he lifted them. His eyes showed pure terror.
    What had happened to make Uryl scared of his power?
    “If I hurt them again, I will kill you.” Uryl glared at Valent.
    She nodded.
    Again. What was he talking about? Uryl never injured them badly when they were sparring. Getting hurt was a part of the training. Their injuring had never been bad enough to scare Uryl.
    Ryse bowed her head. Her mouth moved. No sound came out. Her lips were a blur. Cyl couldn’t read them.
    The statues beat the shield with passion. The floor knocked Cyl off his feet.
    The enraged voices drowned out everything.
    Tahir jumped back—well away from everyone. Outside the shield.
    The markings on his arms glowed.
    Valent bared her teeth. “Hurry.”
    Uryl winced.
    Tahir raised his arms. The shield dropped.
    Cyl commanded his power to create a box around them. It wasn’t elegant. It didn’t leave him feeling comfortable. He couldn’t break the connection with power. He felt every blow from the statues. He felt the floor shake inside and outside of his body. His power funneled the roaring voices into his head.
    He had to concentrate. It had never been like this before. Concentrate. Too much. Uryl, Ryse and Nuall needed him.
    We can keep them safe.
    All the noise stopped. All the pain stopped. Nothing existed expect that wonderful voice. He knew that voice.
    If you drop your power, we promise to keep them