Chapter 25 #2
As if it could not hear me, the wasted body leaped forward, and I struck the side of its head one more time.
The blow landed, and I would have sworn that the skull inside of that distorted head, cracked.
But the figure still remained conscious and made another attempt to close the distance between us.
“Die!” I swung again.
I screamed, until my lungs had no more air, but the monster would not stop. My arms were burning, but I still could not harm the creature. It was as if it could not understand that it was getting hurt.
As if it could not feel pain!
With the last ounce of my energy, I rotated the board and aimed it at the head of the beast, making sure to hit it with the side that still had nails attached to it.
The first blow missed its head. I quickly recovered, and swung the board the other way. The second finally connected with its temple and it stopped. The decaying corpse stilled, upright, just for a moment, before slumping back and falling to the floor.
My chest was rising and falling, fast; my arms lowered, still holding my weapon, and a loud whimper escaped my lips. It was over.
I killed it!
I pulled back a portion of the curtain and inspected the creature sprawled on the floor. With its arms at odd angles, I could clearly see the red clan’s insignia on its finger.
Who was this person? Why did they keep her here?
Carefully, I poked the lifeless body with the chunk of wood. Examining the parchment paper thin skin that remained on the body, I noticed the tattoo of a red dragon on her forearm.
Could it be the actual Red Queen?
It seemed impossible. I had seen her just days ago during the parade. In a brief flash, my mind returned to the time when I was in the queen's presence. Corliss had excused herself right before the appearance of the veiled figure.
A muffled sound came from the door, I got to my feet, still eyeing the figure on the floor.
Sally!
I sprang toward her, dropping the board half way. She was still alive, she needed help. I could use the fabric from the curtains to stop her bleeding.
“Sally! I’m here. I’m going to help you!” I crouched beside her. “It’s going to be fine. We’re getting out of here.” My eyes turned back to the window, when suddenly Sally’s hand wrapped around my wrist.
“I’m here. The monster’s gone.” Carefully, I moved her hair off her face, but I could not quite see her eyes.
Sally’s fingers tightened around my arm, bruising my muscles.
“You’re hurting me. Let go.” I made an attempt to get free, but her head moved up and her second hand grabbed the fabric of my dress. “Sally, it’s me. You’re safe. What are you . . .? Let me go!” I raised my voice, noticing the odd way her head turned to the side.
My eyes landed on the torn gash on her neck, the flesh was clearly visible, but no blood seeped from the wound. Her heart had already stopped. She was dead.
With every ounce of strength I had, I shoved her away, but she did not even flinch.
Finally, she turned her head, and in the blinding strip of light, I could see the full face of my former maid.
The black veins around her glassy, colorless eyes, the neck that was impossibly bent.
With a low, guttural growl, she bared her teeth.
“It’s not you. You’re not a monster!” I shouted.
Panicked, I started kicking, and somehow struck her face. For a moment, her grip weakened and I fell backwards, and instinctively pushed her away with both my feet. Her hands immediately grabbed onto my skirt. I inched backwards, desperately trying to find the wooden plank on the floor.
Only one thought kept circling through my mind.
I’m going to die here! I’m going to die right now, without him ever knowing what happened to me. I’m going to die and become a monster.
Sally, or whatever was left of her, straightened to her full height.
Her arms outstretched and her head tilted to the side.
She stared down at me, baring her teeth, saliva dripping from her mouth.
Her eyes had become unfocused and animal-like.
I crawled back, unable to keep from screaming.
The monster leaped toward me, but my hand finally latched onto the wooden board on the floor.
With all my strength, I swung the piece of wood, but missed.
With incredible speed and agility, the creature stopped mid-air, landed in a crouch and lowered her head to the ground, just like a wild animal. With a growl, she crawled toward me.
A sudden sound came from the door. Someone must be on the other side and then, moments later, Ty’s voice, urgent and laced with fear, called out.
“Alina!”
“Help! I’m here!” I shouted.
The door shook and a loud bang bounced off the walls.
I swung the chunk of wood one more time, but the monster lunged again, this time it managed to catch my foot.
I could not even react when its teeth plunged into my ankle, piercing my skin.
Pain traversed my body, followed by a burst of hot energy burning through my veins.
I screamed again, and swung the wooden plank.
The end with the nails connected with the side of her head.
The figure tumbled to the side and stilled.
I tried to catch my breath when the door burst open. The room was suddenly flooded with bright morning light.
“Ty!” I cried.
He froze in the doorway as his eyes took in the room, landing on the remains of the two monsters. His head turned to the bones scattered on the floor, and then my outstretched leg. When he finally looked at me, all the color had drained from his face.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
In a blink, he was crouched beside me.
“You’re safe now,” he whispered, cradling my face in his hands.
“I’m not feeling so well. She bit me and I think that’s the reason.” I soiled his uniform with my tears.
“Don’t worry about it.” He pulled me up to my feet and moved to the window.
It only took him a minute, but he removed the boards and shattered the glass with one of the planks.
Without waiting any longer, he started to shift. Ripples of onyx black distorted his handsome features and a moment later, the most breathtaking creature straightened beside me.
“You are so beautiful!” I whispered, eyeing the lines of his strong neck and the wide span of his wings, so perfect that they could be carved out of precious stone.
“Get on my back,” he said.
My head started to spin, but I was able to shut down the nauseating feeling, and pushed myself to climb to his neck.
“Where are we going?”
“I’m going to get you out of here. I promise.”
He came for me. He’s here.
That was enough. I closed my eyes, too tired to keep fighting my body, and slowly, darkness came for me.