Chapter 38 #2
The beast was huge and clearly as crazed as the others. Even when attacked or wounded it wouldn’t back off. Usually these magical beasts were fierce and wild, but not like this. It's as if they lacked any sense or instinct, only wanting to cause carnage and attack whatever came its way.
But that could also work in my favour. A crazed beast was a mindless one. It wasn’t thinking about its next move or meal, or wanting to survive. This wasn’t a beast with intelligence trying to hunt me for fun. I could handle this creature.
Grey’s polar bear looks like it's struggling, he’s being pushed back by the creature's large limbs and overwhelming strength.
I move quickly, using the distraction Grey gives me by tackling the beast. Gripping the large heavy chain in my hand, I throw it over my shoulder, and leap onto Grey’s back. Using his shoulders as leverage I leap toward the beast and land on its back.
“Hold him!” I shout to Grey as I wrap the chains over the beast's neck and pull, gripping each end of the heavy metal chain with each hand.
The beast begins to thrash and throw its head back toward me. It tries to reach for me but Grey grabs its limbs, holding them in place as I wrap my legs around the creature's large torso and pull tighter on the chains.
It bucks its hind legs and stomps its front pair down, its movements more frantic as I jostle back and forth, pulling as tight as I can while Grey tries to stop its movements.
He grabs its arm-like limbs, holding them tightly with his sharp bear claws and allowing me to pull the chains with my full strength.
It begins to make what sounds like a low rasping sound as its movements begin to slow. I give the chain one final yank, hearing the metal creak and crack beneath my hands.
The beast's hooves give way, dropping toward the ground as Grey takes a step back. Its head falls back toward me, its eyes going still as its last breath falls from its mouth.
Greys polar bear gives me a slight nod before I let go of the chains, the clang of them hitting the ground rings out around us as I slide from the creatures back.
I’m making my way over to Grey when a voice shouts from the treeline.
“Morgan!” Creed runs toward a sobbing Morgan, who’s holding a now human Ash. His body is bloody with a large wound down his left side. Morgan’s holding her gown against it, trying to stop the bleeding. Grey shifts back and makes his way to Morgan, quickly wrapping an arm around her.
“It's okay Morgan, he's already healing, look…” He points to Ash's wound, the ends slowing knitting themselves back together as he kisses her forehead. “He’ll be back to annoying us in no time.”
“Morgan!” Creed comes up behind Morgan, pulling her into him as he calls her name again. He checks her over, a small sigh of relief leaving his lips as he notices the blood on her dress isn’t from her. Then he turns toward Ash and Grey.
“What the fuck happened?” He grits out, his eyes darkening quickly.
“The academy is under attack.” I step up beside Grey, the poor shifter shrinking back with Creed's dark glare. “There's more over by the main building. Ezra and Annex are helping out over there.” Shit . Ezra and Annex. They won’t be happy I left.
Creed stares at me, his brows furrowed and eyes narrowed as he looks me up and down, an unreadable look in his eyes. His gaze flickers behind me to the downed beast and back before glancing toward Morgan. He opens his mouth, just as Annex and Ezra call my name.
“Micai!” They shout, running through the courtyard and jumping over the creature's corpse. “What the fucks that–”
“I told you to stay there–”
“Red, you can’t just leave us like that–”
I’m about to open my mouth to answer their calls and to tell them I can take care of myself, until I meet their anguish-filled eyes.
“Were you hurt?” Asks Ezra, an uneasiness to his voice as he and Annex surround me, scanning every inch of me, checking for any kind of injury or wound. Annex walks around me as I tell them I’m okay. He slides a hand down my back and places it on my ass before giving it a slap.
I turn and glare at the asshole as he grins.
“You deserve more than that for not listening,” He trails his eyes up and down me, his grin turning wicked as he bites his lip, “But we’ll settle that later…when it's just us.”
He rubs his hand over the spot he just hit before giving it a light squeeze. I’m about to slap it away when Erza suddenly pulls me toward him, sliding his arms down mine as he pulls me closer.
“Micai…” His tone is tight, his brows drawn together as his gaze meets mine. He was clearly upset that I broke our promise to stay put.
But how could I? Morgan needed me, and I wasn’t some weak damsel.
I could fight…But any anger or annoyance I have fades the longer I stare at him.
Seeing the real worry and fear etched across his features.
It's in the slight tremor of his hands on my arms and the flickering of his eyes as they repeatedly search up and down me for reassurance that I was really okay.
How could I be angry at him? Even if he might be with me, I couldn’t be with him. Not when his anger came from a place of genuine concern and care.
A small ache begins to spread in my chest the longer I look at him.
I reach up toward his face, cupping his cheek in my hand as my fingertips brush the strands of hair falling onto his face.
I couldn’t apologise for leaving. Morgan, Ash and Grey needed me, and I knew I could handle myself. But I guess they didn’t know that.
They thought I was still the weak-magicless Micai.
I was stronger now, but how would I even begin to explain it? On how I came to be like this or what I was now? When I myself didn't know or understand it all.
He leans into my hand, pulling me from my thoughts as a gentle smile stretches his lips.
And a small prickling sensation spreads in my chest with his expression, one filled with so much affection and warmth. Maybe he was different.
I glance towards Annex. Maybe they were different.
Maybe one day…when I have the answers I need, I can tell them the truth. But for now, my words will have to do.
“I’m stronger than you think Ezra. You’ll have to learn to trust me on this.”
“But–”
“She's fine.” Calls Creed, glancing toward me. “She handled that with Grey.”
He nods toward the dead creature as Ezra's eyes widen.
“How?” He asks, his brows drawn down in confusion.
“Fuck babe, I knew you were made for us.” Murmurs Annex as he wraps his arms around me from behind, leaning his head on my shoulder. “Pity I missed it though.”
“We’ve got bigger problems,” Sighs Creed, turning his gaze toward Annex and Ezra. “Mallyn’s missing.”
A shiver runs up my arm with his words. Mallyn was gone? Where?
Had he come into contact with one of those creatures?
Had something gotten to him–I shake the darkening thoughts from my mind.
I didn't even know Mallyn that well. But from the little time we did spend together, he seemed quiet and reserved, only ever close when needed and keeping a firm distance from everyone else as much as he could.
But there was something about him; something familiar about those grey-blue eyes that seemed to draw me in and wanting to close some of the distance between us.
“What?” Shouts Ezra, pulling me from my thoughts as he turns to stare wide-eyed at Creed. “How?!”
“How the fuck did anyone even get close to that asshole?” Annex shakes his head before grinning. “Well, whoever it is will soon be dead…the problem will be the clean-up.”
“No jokes Annex. He’s been missing since this morning. I tracked his phone and found it by a dried up brook in the forest…” He narrows his gaze at them, “With his clothes torn apart.”
“During the day?” Ezra asks as Creed gives him a curt nod.
“ Fuck. ” Ezra drags a weary hand down his face as Annex whistles.
What was I missing here? What had happened to Mallyn? And why were all their expressions like that ? They didn’t seem worried or fearful for Mallyn, it seemed like there was something else going on here.
“Is Mallyn–”
I’m cut off by a loud roar, followed by another and then another. Then I feel a pair of hands pull me behind them.
Annex positions me beside a wide-eyed Morgan. Her eyes jump from the two beasts now in front of us, and the one making its way near to us from the other side.
The two creatures in front of us are similar to the yellow-eyed beasts I’d fought during my little kidnapping incident. Whereas the magical beast to our other side was new.
It was pure black, its body as sleek and shiny as a snake but without any scales of its own. It crawls on all fours with small limbs like a crocodile but its head is shorter and round with jagged teeth that are already bloodied.
A chunk of flesh falls from its mouth and I almost retch.
Morgan turns to Creed, her shaky hands clutching an unconscious Ash as she calms her breathing and closes her eyes. When they open again her eyes are iridescent and a shield begins to form around us.
“I don't know if I can hold it against multiple magic beasts if they attack together.” She pulls Ash closer, cradling him against her as he heals slowly. Creed gives her a nod before turning toward me and opening his mouth.
Suddenly a high pitched screech bellows from the courtyard. Another beast, the strange looking ostrich from earlier appears. Four beasts in total now all surround us. Two to our front and another to each side.
“You take the bird Ez,” Calls Annex as he palms his blade, “Make sure you don’t damage the skin too much though…I promised Red a present.” He gives me a wink before he points his blade toward the two creatures in front of us. “I bagsy these freaks.”
“Annex.” Creed calls, and it's enough to make him halt his next step. “Let Grey help.”
Annex sighs as Grey makes his way over.
“No!” Shouts Morgan as he leaves her side.
“He’ll be fine.” Creed pats Morgan's shoulder before he turns toward the black croc-beast. “This will only take a few minutes.”