Icarus Has Fallen Novels & Stories

Elric felt his thoughts began to drift as more of his blood streamed from his many wounds. He opened his wings to slow his descent and arrows ripped through the thin membrane. He cried out in pain and fell to the ground heavily. He raised his head and saw a large red stone beating as if a heart. He watched the beating slow and then stop as a soldier's axe cleaved it in two. Blood ran thickly down his face and with one last heave, his eyes closed; his last thoughts were of Saffron.

It was the sound of a patriarch’s collapse. Elias Carter entered first, his stature diminished, his expensive suit damp from the humidity of the lobby where the press had already begun to devour his reputation. Behind him, Lucas hovered like a parasite that had lost its host, his eyes darting toward the silver serpent on Evelyn’s collar with a mixture of terror and revulsion. But it was the third figure—Iris—who brought the true stench of defeat into the room.

she said, her voice ringing out over the siren song, over the squeals of The Shackled One, “Look again.” They did and they saw the moon dust falling in sheets over the broken bodies, covering them and dissolving the cruel spikes that held them. The Princess, Zlo, the Mogul, Astrapi and Madame Skia, fell to the earth, their falls cushioned by the mountains of moon dust gathered there. “No,” howled The Shackled One, “No I won’t go back!” “No,” said Ilyria, “You won’t.” And around them all the light changed as it warmed and softened and the shoots that had grown in Ilyria’s footsteps bloomed with a kaleidoscope of flowers, “Because you are no longer.”

Ilsa is in the center with her band of Uncut souls, showing them how to rewrite the stories they never were told. And Kaelen… Was alone. On his knees. Staring at a grave. With my name on the stone. But then the visions reversed. Faster. Vira ascending. Uncut souls burning. The altar was buried in ash. The mountain is crumbling from within. The Academy throne was vacant—and filled by another shadow. Neither Kaelen. Nor me. Nor anyone I recognized. And Elara, screaming. I yanked my hand away. The mirror pulsed once and exploded into mist. The world vanished. And I was falling again.