The Kindred's Curse Saga, #3
Heat of the Everflame
by Penn Cole
Contents
Chapter 52
Overview
Diem reunites with her tortured mother, Auralie, and secretly heals her while clashing with the King over his brutality. They establish a telepathic link, witness the King kill a resisting mortal, and are moved to an isolated cell. Overheard messages reveal an imminent execution vote and Remis’s betrayal, compelling Diem to escape now.
Summary
Diem discovers her mother, Auralie, alive but brutalized in Fortos’s prison. Rage flares as the King justifies torture for information. While Luther confronts the King, Diem covertly heals Auralie’s extensive injuries and warns her to conceal the recovery.
Mother and daughter grieve Andrei’s murder. Auralie urges appealing to the Guardians, but Diem rejects that hope, arguing her Descended identity eclipses her mortal ties. They argue about secrets: Auralie admits hiding Diem’s nature since childhood and claims Diem’s sire died at her birth; Diem counters he lives and knows of her.
The King moves them from the communal cells to an isolated black-doored cell after a mortal’s failed attack, which he punishes by killing her and agonizing the others. Diem shields Auralie and restrains retaliation. Inside, Diem and Auralie establish two-way Umbros telepathy and vow to escape together.
Eavesdropping at the door, Diem hears a lieutenant report two hawks: one from the Queen of Arboros with her vote on Auralie Bellator’s execution, and one urgent message from Remis, Regent of Lumnos. Diem interprets Remis’s note as betrayal that endangers her and Luther, and resolves that they must break out immediately.
Who Appears
- DiemProtagonist; reunites with Auralie, secretly heals her, establishes telepathy, confronts the King, and resolves to escape after learning of betrayal.
- Auralie BellatorDiem’s mother; tortured prisoner. Healed by Diem, shares grief over Andrei, reveals past deceptions, forms telepathic link, urges escape.
- LutherPrince and ally; defends prisoners, threatens the King, supports Diem, remains outside the sealed cell as tensions rise.
- The King of FortosRuler overseeing the prison; defends torture, kills a resisting mortal, isolates Diem and Auralie, receives messages on execution and betrayal.
- Lieutenant (Fortos)Messenger who delivers hawks from Arboros’s Queen and Regent Remis, triggering Diem’s urgent escape decision.
- Unnamed mortal prisonerAttempts to attack the King; is killed, prompting mass suffering among prisoners and restraining Diem’s response.