12. Scarlet
Chapter 12
Scarlet
T he sudden reaction was deafening. The crack of the thrones hitting the floors, the bang of the door being blown from its hinges, and the cackle of the man who was the reason behind it. He grinned, watching the rising panic with a sick sort of glee. Black hair hung thick to his waist, horns piercing through and reaching up before curling back towards his cheekbones. It took her a moment to realise he was missing his left arm, his presence overwhelming.
This must be the infamous Gideon.
Scarlet at first flinched, but quickly recovered as she, Aeron and Kit surrounded Cassiel in a protective circle. Knowing she was too close to efficiently draw her bow, she grabbed her other knife.
“We need to get out of here,” she said above the screams and whoosh of arcane. There was a sound like static, making it hard to communicate, or even concentrate as a horde of men with faces painted like skulls rushed inside. It took her a moment to realise they weren’t allies.
“Sir?” Aeron pressed, drawing his own blade.
Cassiel continued to watch the scene, seeming unconcerned. “Not yet.”
One of the men painted like skulls approached, his expression stoic with such blank eyes it was like he was already dead. Walking as if he couldn’t feel the flames that were eating at his leg, he swung with what looked to be a sword. Crossing her daggers, she caught the blade before it could cut through her head, the tip stroking along her cheek before she kicked out and shoved him away. He returned, his movements precise as he swung for the second time. Scarlet braced, tightening her wings so she’d be able to move faster…
But the swing never came, the blade glistening as it approached, only for a tiger to clamp its jaws on the Skull’s arm. Bone shattered, piercing through flesh and forcing the hand to open with a spasm. The sword clattered to the floor, and yet the Skull didn’t react. Not a single muscle in his expression changed, he only directed his uncomfortable gaze towards the tiger instead. With his free hand, he grabbed its scruff, and pulled hard enough the fangs tore what remained of his arm.
Scarlet froze as the tiger snarled, one eye permanently closed, a ragged scar across the lid. Xavier.
Fur brushed across her leg, and without hesitation she went to slice at the new threat, only to pull back at the wolf who went for the Skull’s throat. Seemingly bored now his target was on the ground, Xavier strolled over, jowls dripping blood. His tail swished from side to side, and she wasn’t sure if it was a show of aggression, or curiosity as he stopped his great body only a foot away.
Scarlet stilled, her instincts telling her not to look away from the predator’s gaze. Everything in her peripheral was a blur of bright lights and flashes of steel and gold. She refused to blink, Xavier’s claws scratching at the floor before being retracted one by one.
It could have been seconds, or even minutes before Xavier finally broke eye contact, and with a roar turned and attacked another Skull. Scarlet released a breath, tightening the grip on her daggers before turning to find Aeron and Nahal fighting.
“Sir, you need to…” Cassiel was gone.
Aeron noticed, jerking his head to the sky before kicking the Skull in the stomach hard enough he flew across the room. “Let’s go!” he barked, his knees bending slightly before he pushed into the air. His wings caused a vicious wind in the space, whipping at the loose strands of her hair and all the fallen debris.
Scarlet brought her arm up to protect her eyes just as Kit hissed out a breath. A sword stuck out of his stomach.
“Kit!” she called as the Skull who’d attacked yanked the blade out, forcing Kit to his knees. Lifting the sword, he went to swing for the neck.
Scarlet threw, releasing her right dagger with as much precision as she could. It soared, slicing the back of the Skull’s neck. It turned, the blade doing very little damage, only to fall beneath a ball of arcane. Scarlet’s face stung, Ivy holding out her hands covered with green flames across the room.
Kit grimaced, trying to climb to his feet. Rushing to his side she lifted his arm over her shoulder, trying to get him up.
Pain along her own wing, sharp before burning into a dull ache. Gritting her teeth to stop from screaming, she helped Kit to his feet. He was too big for her to carry, and his wings would be in the way of her own if she were to fly them.
“Get yourself together!” she shouted in his face, sweat dripping from his temple. “Come on!” She didn’t have time to heal him.
With her palm flat to his stomach, she concentrated just enough for the internal wound to begin to close, and for his blood to clot before he bled out. He was lucky, the sword had missed almost everything major.
Kit frowned, the blood that had been violently pumping from the wound along his stomach lessening before he lifted off. Scar left seconds later, feeling the strain along her muscles as she pushed her wings harder than she should. Following carefully behind Kit, she landed beside him on the edge of the roof. He already stood straighter, the hole in his stomach no longer spitting out blood, even if his skin had paled.
She needed to pack the wound with gauze, the treatment plan running through her head the more she looked at him. The thought of infections was a racing thought as she ripped at the bottom of her shirt, grateful she’d worn a long tunic. Creating fabric strips she tied them around his waist, asking for Nahal and Zaph’s leather straps once they’d landed beside her to keep it in place. Her palms itched to touch him again, skin-to-skin contact best for when she needed to repair damage. But they didn’t have time.
“You’re a healer,” Kit said, his smile strained. “What’s a healer doing playing warrior?”
Scarlet didn’t bother him with an answer, tightening the leather straps until he grunted with pain. Aeron and Cassiel stood beside them, precariously close to where the roof had been ripped away. Aeron was trying to get Cassiel to leave, but the Archangel was too busy watching the carnage below.
A rumble beneath their feet, making what remained of the roof even more unsteady. “Take Kit back, don’t let him fly on his own,” she said, waiting until Nahal and Zaph each took a shoulder. Together they were able to lift off, just as another rumble vibrated beneath their feet, followed by a sound like metal screeching against metal. Her wing ached, the tendons pushed beyond what they were capable of. Quickly stretching them out she checked for any damage, and almost sagged with relief when she saw it entirely whole apart from a few missing feathers.
“Sir, we have to go,” Aeron begged, his voice tense.
Cassiel raised his hand, shaking his head gently. “Look how much arcane Gideon’s able to control.”
Gently opening her wings to catch her if she was to fall through the roof, Scarlet moved closer to the edge. She forced her face to calm, not to reveal her despair at all the bodies burning below. Gideon stood in the centre, the exact same place where he’d landed. It was as if he had an invisible barrier surrounding him, a circle of peace before there was nothing but death.
He laughed manically, his voice a great bellow as he began to rise with a powerful sweep of his wings. “It’s time I ascend as a God.” He stretched out his single arm, his head resting back and his eyes closed. Black flames licked with a vibrant red crackled in his palm, growing until it began to fall like rain. Each spark hit the floor, igniting and growing with strength as the flames began to crawl across the space until almost the entire room was engulfed. There was no screaming, which Scarlet was thankful for, but so many Skulls simply stood, seeming to accept their fate as their flesh blackened, cracking open against the intense heat. One by one their legs would give out, the arcane swallowing them whole.
“He shouldn’t be able to hold that much magic,” Cassiel continued above the cacophony of noise. Sirens could be heard in the background, and smoke had started to darken the sky above. “He’s gluttoning himself, and there’s only so much his physical form can take.”
She dragged her gaze away to face Gideon, who hovered slightly above. He turned to them with a grin, a mass ball of arcane growing in his hand.
She didn’t think, pulling her bow and taking aim.
“Don’t,” Cassiel said, reaching out to grip her arrow. “When he arrives, I need you to stick with Lucifer, and make sure he doesn’t do anything to get himself killed.”
Scar whipped her head around before a burst of heat prickled her cheek. “Lucifer? What –”
“It’s time for you all to bow to me!” Gideon roared, releasing the ball in their direction.
With her wings screaming she shoved at Cassiel, who took to the sky. Her foot slipped, the roof breaking beneath her weight. Scarlet braced herself, her wing screaming as she tried to catch her fall.
Something solid hit her, knocking the wind from her lungs. She pushed back, only to find arms around her waist, twisting her away from the scorching flames. A grunt, and Scar looked up to find Lucifer had taken the arcane against his back. The red and black flames crackled over his shoulder, the heat intense.
“Get out of here!” Placing her back on a stable piece of roof he turned, and Scarlet swallowed her gasp.
Gideon’s arcane had already eaten away at several layers of flesh, his spine and inner wings raw. Strange blobs were attached to his skin, like dark green leeches. Reaching back, Lucifer pulled at the flames, his own hand covered in a deep red arcane. He crushed Gideon’s back between his hands.
Gideon laughed, throwing his head back. “Ah, Xahen. Was wondering how long it would take for you to join me.”