Chapter 32 #2
The water made my strides slower and more difficult. My legs burned with effort, and I focused on my breathing to refrain from panicking.
Otieno made quick work of the first Defender, stabbing him straight through the stomach with his sword, then leaving him to bleed out slowly, drifting limply in the water.
I gulped, looking frantically from side to side to spot Lili. She’d stormed forward, sword lifted high into the air. The Defender she’d charged at deflected her blow. Felix stepped in, thrusting his sword into the man’s body before he could use his whip of light on her.
Jax had two Defenders cornered. The illusionary magic looked fuzzy from where I stood, but I knew that they saw the giant, shadowy monster as if it were right in front of them. They looked like they could die of fear.
Knowing the streets of the city, I shouted for Lili to follow me. We had to get to the hill, where the water wouldn’t reach. I was sure more Defenders would join the fight soon, and they’d come from there if they came from the castle.
A loud boom sounded to my immediate right. My ears rang loudly as a house collapsed, sending bricks and wood flying through the air. Cannon’s crew had obeyed Verena, perhaps afraid that they’d meet the same fatal end as him if they refused.
Our leader had three Defenders backed into a wall. They looked up at the sky in pure terror, seemingly at nothing. She was more powerful than any mooncaster I’d ever known. I didn’t know what she was doing to them, and I hoped I’d never piss her off enough to find out.
With that thought in mind, my eyes searched for Dae in the crowd. He was already looking at me, his eyes glowing golden. He was panting slightly as he stepped over the Defender he’d just strangled with his whip of light.
I flicked my head towards the hill, and he nodded, making his way over to me. We had to get to the castle.
Without the extra power that I hoped we’d be granted once the spell was lifted, I wasn’t sure the rebels would win this fight.
Orbs of light lit up the night sky like deadly fireworks as we made our way up the streets. My ankles dragged through the last bit of water before we were finally free of it.
“Come on!” I shouted, taking Dae’s hand and sprinting for the castle. His skin felt feverish against my own cold hand.
My stomach clenched at the thought of leaving Lili, but I knew both Archie and Felix would protect her.
Hot pain shot straight past my head. Whoever had cast that whip of light was only a few feet away from us. I narrowly dodged it, tossing myself to the ground and bringing Dae down with me. Cobblestone dug into my hands and knees. I got up quickly, whipping around to spot the Defender. There.
As arrogant as ever, his hands nonchalantly hanging by his sides, he studied me with an amused expression. “Oh, how I’ve waited for this moment,” Kenric spoke softly, taking a threatening step toward me.
“You,” I breathed, refusing to back down even when he closed the distance between us.
Dae swept me protectively behind him, but I placed a hand on his bicep. His eyes became even brighter as he looked at me. My green eyes turned purple in turn as I instinctively pulled the shadows close. I didn’t want Kenric to witness this moment.
“Let me fight him alone. Go help the others. I got this,” I said, peeling his hands off me and giving them a squeeze. His wide eyes swept over me like he was trying to memorize every crease and detail of my face.
“Okay,” he said finally. Then he slid a silver ring from his pinky, taking my right hand in his and slipping it on my ring finger.
I watched the little jewel shining in the moonlight.
A hexagon encased an unfamiliar white crystal I didn’t recognize.
“But promise me you’ll survive. Promise me you’ll kick this sorry-excuse-of-a-man’s ass. ”
He leaned down for a kiss, his lips a burning caress. Then, with a last, determined nod, he ran off to join the others.
I returned my attention to the man who’d ruined my life. He was smirking like he’d allowed me to say goodbye to my lover before he killed me.
“I found out an interesting piece of information the other day, Caswell,” he drawled out my last name, circling me like a predator.
I kept my front facing him, turning when he did.
He wouldn’t get the chance to attack from behind.
“It was my father who killed yours twelve years ago. I think it’s time for you to join him. ”
My breathing became shallowed as I looked at his superior expression, those stupid blonde curls sitting perfectly atop his head. I tried to steady myself, breathing deeper to stop my limbs from trembling. But he’d done what he did best, which was anger me past the point of reason.
I lunged for him, raising my fist and creating an orb of light. I jammed it into his face, and he yelped, stepping out of my reach. Satisfaction flashed through me.
His hair had darkened where the heat had burned it, and half of his right eyebrow was missing. Angry, red splotches had already claimed some of the perfect skin on his face.
“Or perhaps it’s time for you to finally get what you deserve,” I snarled.
His eyes flicked to mine, glowing golden. Deep down, I knew I was no match for him. He’d been training to fight all of his life. But rage could do stupid things to a person’s mind. Or it could be the fuel one needed to win a hopeless fight.
I drew the shadows close, dodging his whip of light and sneaking up behind him. He whirled around in search of me, but I had the darkness on my side.
Silently, I slipped a dagger from the harness at my thigh. The cold steel that met my palm indicated that it was the one Dae had given me.
I lifted it high, preparing myself to bury the blade deep in his back, when he whipped around, blocking my strike. The blade nicked his arm instead, flying out of my hand. He yelled in pain. I stepped back, avoiding his flailing arms.
Anger clouded his smug expression. He lunged, an orb hovering above his fist as he swung for my head. I managed to create a shield, but it shattered instantly as Kenric’s magic slashed into it.
I’d barely escaped his attack when my foot caught on a loose cobblestone. I shrieked, breaking my fall with my hands.
He threw himself on top of me, grabbing my neck. His touch burned hot. Memories of Boaz’s scolding grasp as he tortured me filled my mind, making me thrash beneath the younger Defender, who was equally capable of making me hurt.
His face broke into a sinister smile as he watched me struggle beneath him. He looked terrifying, half his face covered in blisters and blood dribbling from his chin. “Any last words?” He asked, stroking a finger down my cheek. “My pretty little darksome.”
A tear fell from my lashes as I stared up at him, refusing to look away. Even moments from death, my hatred for this man overpowered my fear.
“Fuck you,” I sneered, wrenching my arm free from beneath his leg. Before he had time to realize it, I punched him as hard as I could in the side of the head. His face snapped to the side, and blood spilled from his nose. It trickled down his face and landed on my cheek.
I felt the bones in my hand crunch, but that didn’t stop me from hitting him again, this time conjuring an orb of light to accompany my blow. The element of surprise was the only reason I was still alive. I’d soon lose that advantage.
He grabbed my free hand and forced it to the ground before tightening the grip he had on my throat. “I’m going to make this slow and painful,” he promised, spitting the blood pooling in his mouth onto the ground next to my face.
My mind flooded with impossible escape plans.
Then I remembered that one time in the desert.
He’d leaned over me in my sleep, then flew several feet away as my shield had exploded from within me.
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to channel that same energy now.
It didn’t work. His smug face still hovered above me when I opened my eyes.
The lack of air made my head spin, dark spots swimming in my vision.
“Stay with me, Prudence,” he purred, easing his hold on my neck. “I want you to be awake for this.”
My eyes widened as the whip of light fell from his hand. He sat up, straddling me and pinning my arms to the side under his weight. The light dangled in front of my face.
I waited for the hot, consuming pain to come. He lifted his hand to strike, the sinister smile displaying each of his crimson-stained teeth.
But the blow never came. A loud swishing came from behind, followed by the sickening sound of metal breaking through flesh.
Kenric froze mid-blow, his eyes widening in shock. The point of a sword stuck through his stomach, and it twisted, sending a new gush of hot blood from his mouth. It hit me in the face. I blinked frantically to rid my eyes of the sticky liquid.
“That’s for my sister, you dick!” screamed a high-pitched voice. The sword was tugged from his body. He fell to the side, freeing me. I scooted back on my hands, then wiped my face with a shirtsleeve.
Lili fell to her knees in front of me. “Are you okay?” she panted, grabbing me by the shoulders.
I blinked, looking up at her. She was the fierce warrior I’d hoped she’d never have to be. Hair tied back, armor, and face painted in strokes of red. A sword hanging loosely from her hand. Eyes wide with adrenaline.
I nodded, getting to my feet and dragging her up with me. “Thank you,” I breathed. “You saved my life.”
I looked down at the bloody body crumpled on the ground beside us. In death, he looked peaceful, almost normal, despite the blood covering his face and the terror and shock displayed in his unblinking eyes.
My sister had slain the monster that I’d failed to defeat. Still, every part of me screamed to get her to safety. To drag her to our little shed and lock her in there until this fight was over.