54. Everly
Everly
Chapter fifty-four
Ihit the stone ground with a force that makes my teeth smash together. Shit, that hurt. Every bone in my body aches, as I lie here stunned, blinking up at the sky. A loud hiss escapes from between my clenched teeth when I manage to push myself up from the ground. My breaths came out in ragged gasps, harsh and shallow. I think I may have fractured or broken some ribs. Holding an arm under my breasts, my heart pounding in my chest, I survey my surroundings. Where am I? How far have I been carried?
Pacing directly ahead of me is the gigantic black wolf with the crimson eyes that gleam in the black depths. I grip my dagger tighter in my hand, holding it in front of me. If I die, I die fighting. Even though the Shadoweaver wants me, no one specified if that was dead or alive. Either way, I am not about to make it easy.
An eerie chuckle rings through the empty street, but my attention remains fixed on the red eyes before me. The beast disperses, smoke twists and twirls, transforming into a solid form, leaving my mouth agape. With her pale white skin contrasting with the thick black bands wrapped around her throat, the wolf had shifted into a woman. The wind tousles her long black hair, creating a mesmerizing, billowing effect. Clad in a white silk kimono adorned with red flowers, her arms and chest smeared in blood, she grips tightly in her left hand a katana. My throat tightens as our eyes lock once more, and I swallow awkwardly. The intensity of her glowing red eyes captivates me, while her malicious smirk sends a chilling shiver down my spine.
“I can see you shaking like a leaf from here, princess,” the woman taunts, tilting her head in a predatory way.
“What are you doing here?” I’m proud that my voice doesn’t tremble.
The woman brings her arm to her mouth, a sly grin forming as she licks the blood from her arm and tastes it.
I scowl, narrowing my eyes on her. She’s taunting me.
“I’m here for you, of course.” Blood coats her teeth.
My scalp prickles, and tightens, as a sense of foreboding hits me. “I won’t go with you.”
With a wicked grin, she tips her head back and lets out a chillingly sinister laugh that has the hair rising on my arms.
“That’s so cute. You think you have a choice.”
“There is always a choice,” I snap. “If you are his soldiers, then why are you trying to kill me?”
The woman bites her lip to stop her smile from spreading. “We aren’t trying to kill you, silly. We just need to bring you back alive, though he never said how alive you needed to be.”
I feel my magic swell in my chest. It’s about time. I reach out with my mind and draw on the trees and vines. The sound of snapping branches and sticks fill the air, and in my mind’s eye, I picture maidens, four of them, made of sticks and vines. I watch as they form, the beauty of nature entwining to make four warriors beside me, each with their own bow and arrows pointed at the demon in front of me.
Her eyes flash in delight. “Oh, this will be interesting. I always did like a challenge.”
With her katana held firmly in front of her, she cracks her neck from side to side, sending me a playful wink. She oozes confidence, and her arrogance makes my skin crawl, but it’s a characteristic befitting a monster. With a forceful push against the ground, she propels herself into the air, closing in on me with astonishing speed. The thwack of arrows being released by the maidens fills the air, but she skillfully deflects each one with her katana. Despite the overwhelming torrent of arrows, she effortlessly evades every single one. Her movements are swift and graceful, like a dancer. One by one, she effortlessly slashes through my creations, causing the vines to crumble to the earth. My fingers flex and curl into fists, and I feel the weight of realization sinking in. I am not going to be able to fight her and win.
Her long black hair whips around her face when she faces me. “Impressive. But you’ll need to do better than that. Or you could just give up and come with me now, save all this drama.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
The woman bursts into black smoke and slithers around me. She’s proving to me that she is stronger, more skilled.
Reforming closer than before, she grins.
“What are you?” I whisper harshly.
“A demon.” She shrugs casually. “You can call me, Yumekui.”
‘Everly, where are you?’ Maxon’s voice reaches through the bond.
‘I think I’m near the eastern border.’
‘Raiden and I are on our way.’
‘I’m not alone. His pet is here.’
The bond between us trembles with Maxon's panic, sending a rush of anxiety surging through me.
‘I’m almost there.’
The demon spins, coming at me faster than I can track. Her katana slices through the air, and searing hot pain spreads across my chest, leaving me gasping for breath. The ground buckles under me, sending me flying backward. My arms shoot out to my sides for balance as I skid backward along the ground. I can't help but glare at the long, crimson line that extends from my left shoulder to the top of my right breast.
The demon smirks, a wicked glimmer entering her eyes as she lifts her blade to her mouth, licking off my blood.
Her crimson eyes glaze over, turning completely black. “Hmm, very nice. Maybe once he is done with you, there will be enough left for me. Though, probably not. He doesn’t share. What a shame.”
Overwhelmed by anger and disgust, instinct takes over and my arm raises, the air propelling her forcefully into a nearby building. The wall gives way upon impact, collapsing around her with a deafening crash. Completely exhausted, I stumble forward, my legs feeling like jelly. The ability to call upon my magic is slipping away, growing more elusive by the second. I’m not sure I have another attack left in me.
Emerging from the debris, the demon gracefully brushes off the dirt from her kimono. “You are stronger than they were.”
When I don’t answer her, she grins. It only makes me want to send her flying into another wall. “It was so easy getting into the heads of the unseelie king and the seelie queen.”
I jerk forward a step, my pulse spiking. “What?”
“The original plan was to have everyone kill each other after they kill your entire family. Then I’d swoop in and rescue you and bring you to him. But that mother of yours.,” she spits, anger flashing in her eyes. “She went and ruined everything.”
“You were the reason my family was killed? That Maxon’s parents died?”
“Of course. Even though my original plan failed, all is well. I felt you the moment you stepped through the gate. I’ve been hunting you ever since. You see, we need your blood to unlock the chains holding him prisoner. Then he will tear this world apart, molding it into his. Mold you into his.”
I freeze in horror, unable to move or even think. The sound of her laughter pulses around me, turning my blood to ice. I blink at her and watch as she bursts into a dark mass of shadows and comes barreling my way. There is no way to avoid it.
My vision is momentarily filled with a burst of vibrant color as a ball of fire crashes into the demon, sending them both hurtling into the side of a building.
The sound of fighting reverberates, making the very air tremble with violence. I catch a glimpse of Maxon amidst the scattered rubble. My heart lurches in my chest as he fights with the demon.
With lightning speed, his obsidian sword slashes through the air, almost too quick for my eyes to follow. Flames flicker in his eyes, igniting a fury in his movements. He is channeling his dragon fire, and he’s not holding back.
A noise draws my attention away from them, and I turn to see an army of dark figures approaching. The sound of their approaching footfalls echoes all around, the sound bouncing off the empty streets.
I hear my name, and I spin around in terror as Rayna comes sprinting toward me from between two buildings.
“Everly!” she screams, her big brown eyes locked on mine.
Dread. That is all I can feel as I put my hands up to block her path to me. But my magic is depleted. I hear a shrill whistle and feel the hair around my face move as the arrow narrowly misses my face, hitting Rayna in the chest. Her body jolts and her steps falter, the light fading from her eyes before she even hits the ground. A scream erupts from my throat, and I feel like my heart is being torn from my chest. I take a step toward her, but my movement halts abruptly as Yumekui’s sinister laugh rings through the air. I whip my attention toward the building where Maxon is fighting her. The moment I lay eyes on him, my stomach drops, and cold dread slips through my veins.
Maxon's knees buckle beneath him as he struggles to stay upright. Dirt and blood coat every inch of his clothes and skin. But it’s the dense tendrils of swirling shadows enveloping him that cause my heart to freeze in fear. They are suffocating the flames that danced over him, smothering his fire. Maxon strains against the restraints, attempting to break free, his attention shifting from the oncoming army to meet my gaze.
“Everly, run!”he bellows, the command clear.
Tears stream down my face, as panic overtakes all thought. “MAXON!!”
Shadows snake around his throat and pour into his mouth, stalling anymore words.My heart stalls in my chest, squeezing painfully as I watch his eyes grow wide in alarm.
“Maxon!” I scream.
The moment I start running for him, an icy cold hand grabs hold of my arm, making my heart race even faster.I spin on my attacker, and I fight.I fight hard, because Maxon needs me.
“Everly, stop.” Alivar's furious gaze meets mine.
“Let me go!” I snarl, trying to pry my arm free from his grip.
“There is nothing we can do. We need to regroup!”
“Fuck you!” I yell, swing my fist at his face.
Alivar dodges all my attempts, and I growl in frustration. This is a waste of time. With a burst of energy, I spin, slipping from his grasp. I run toward Maxon, my heart pounding in desperation.
The demon emerges, obstructing my way and preventing me from reaching Maxon. Alivar grabs my arm again, but I’m to focused on the demon in front of me to care this time.
‘We only need you,’ she whispers in my head. ‘You can save him.’
“Alivar. Take her!!!” Maxon roars, the sound shaking the buildings, as he struggles against the blinds.
Nooooooo . . .
My elbow connects with his chin, and I push his arm away, lunging forward. But somehow, he manages to snag the back of my dress, pulling me back. I stumble backward into Alivar as Nymeria and Anika bolt past me toward Maxon.
‘We will go with him, mother.’
‘We will protect him for you.’
Twin voices echo in my mind. Nymeria and Anika.
Their voices give me enough pause that Alivar gains the upper hand, swinging meover his shoulder and creating a portal. As he steps through, I hear Raiden bellow, the sound slicing through my chest, and piercing my heart.
I can hear the sound of thundering footsteps in the distance, but they are too late. The last thing I hear before the portal closes is the familiar pounding of hooves. Storm.
Alivar continues forward, and I stop struggling, all my fight leaving me. A blistering cold wind cuts through us, and I am met with an unsettling silence and a blinding white that overwhelms my senses. Alivar places me on my feet in the snow, an icy wind whipping my hair across my face. Anger, guilt, and anguish tear at me, making it hard to breathe. I double over, a scream ripping from my throat.
Oh my god. The pain is unbearable. It’s searing through my veins like lighting.
What’s going to happen to him? To everyone? What about Rayna? Lavina?
This is all my fault!
Hands land on my shoulders, and I abruptly stand and start shoving Alivar in the chest.
“Don’t touch me! Don’t fucking touch me!” I scream over and over, my voice cracking as emotions rip apart my chest.
Alivar doesn’t react, he just takes it. Takes every push, every hit as I wear myself out. Falling to the ground on my knees in the snow, I sob. I hear Alivar sigh, and I turn my eyes up to him as he squats in front of me, his hands clasped between his knees. He studies me for a moment before speaking.
“Not all is lost. We will get him back.”
The feeling of shock courses through my body, and I find myself unable to look away from Alivar's icy stare.
“What?” My voice is hoarse and scratchy.
“A woman can be broken down, piece by piece. But will you remain broken, or fight?” His head cocks to the side. “A real woman will pick up the pieces, rebuild herself, and come back stronger than ever. The same can be said for a kingdom.”
I blink at him, trying to decipher what he is saying.
“Are you a real woman, Everly? Are you going to pick up the pieces? Fight for Maxon? Fight for your people? Fight for this realm?”
His words worm their way into my heart. I will fight until my last breath for every one of my friends. Maxon? He needs me to be strong, so I will be strong. Wiping the tears from my cheeks, I slowly stand up, and stare at Alivar as he stands with me, my resolve growing like a seed inside of me.
“I’m going to fight.” I clench my fists at my sides.
Alivar crosses his arms, a smirk appearing on his face. “Good.”
“And you're going to help me? Or kidnap me?” Caution bleeds into my tone.
Alivar shrugs, his blonde hair whipping across his face. “You’re his. I won’t take you from him. I won’t lie and say I wasn’t disappointed, though. Once Skora is secure, I will take you back to your friends, and together we will work this out.”
A frigid breeze wraps around me, causing me to cross my arms over my chest, seeking warmth.
“How will you know when it is secure?”
“Once my inside man tells me.” He smirks.
My eyes widen, and I abruptly take a step forward. “Who is your spy?”
My anger simmers within me, radiating heat throughout my body, and warming me up.
“You will find out soon enough. Now, come.” Alivar turns and walks toward a small cabin I only just noticed.
Pivoting, I look out over the white, snow-covered hills, wondering where exactly that demon has taken Maxon.
“I’m coming for you, Maxon. I will find you. I will not stop until we are together again.”
The cold stings my cheeks, and my breath forms clouds in front of my face. I hope my words will carry on the wind and reach Maxon.
To be continued…..