Chapter 50 Riley
Riley
Icrept out of my room with Beau on my heels. I went up the stairs and towards where I heard the two men speaking.
“I can’t rush the moon, Oliver. The witches do it at a particular time and you will just have to stop throwing a fucking tantrum and wait. When this is over, I want nothing more to do with you. My daughter is in my hands, so your assistance will no longer be needed.”
Oliver scoffed. “When I get what I’m owed, I’m out of your hair.
You act as if I didn’t help with Thomas’s death, like I didn’t help clean up your mess with that silly girl who died here, or even with your own mother.
You forget that your daughter is intertwined with my sons, so I’m sure you’ll be seeing me. ”
Chancellor Fowler tsked. “That may be true, but I implore you to be on your best behavior because if I find that my daughter is unhappy because you’ve decided to take your weak little frustration out on those boys, then you won’t be a problem for anyone anymore.
Your mind control tricks don’t scare me, Oliver, now sit down and stop talking. I need to think.”
If Chancellor Fowler wasn’t an obsessed, murderous insane person, I would value his words about how my happiness was of the utmost importance.
My dad always wanted me to be happy, but he never monitored River to make sure I constantly had a smile on my face.
This man wasn’t my dad and he never would be. That ended tonight.
I softly walked backwards, checking my phone for the time.
I took the stairs down to the first floor and near where the back entrance was.
When I rounded the corner, two bodies were on the ground.
I bent down to see if they were breathing, a sigh of relief leaving my lungs when I felt their warm breath against the back of my hand.
I wanted to rid myself of the two men upstairs, not anyone else. At least not at the moment. I straightened back up seeing that the back gate was melted down. I narrowed my eyes then my body stiffened when I felt pointed metal at my back.
I swiftly turned around, using my powers to send whoever it was back. I heard a collective ‘oof’.
“Get off me,” I heard someone hiss.
“Corrin?” I whispered, the moon starting to let light into the dark hallway. Corrin and Ike blinked back at me, righting themselves from their collision.
“Who else would it be?” She rolled her eyes. “Did you think we were going to ditch you?”
I opened and closed my mouth, knowing that if I answered honestly, she would punch me in the arm. Beau jumped up on his hind legs and she caught him. He licked at her face, his tail whipping the dust around.
“Did you just throttle me into my own sister?” Ike stretched his neck, his voice getting louder.
I shushed him. “Sorry. Do you have a dagger?”
He smiled brightly. “Made it myself—”
“And yes, he is very proud.” Corrin tilted her chin towards the opening to the outside. “Mateo and Jade just need some kind of signal, like a very cool, very lowkey fireball?”
I gave her a small smile and nodded, noticing the moon getting higher. “Right on time it looks like.”
Ike pointed to himself. “Hey, that was me. I did the math, I looked at the weather and when the moon would set…”
Beau let out a heavy sigh. I felt a weird sensation along my skin. I ran my hand along my chest and it bothered me that I didn’t know where it was coming from.
“It’s the moon gathering. Whether you’re there or not, you feel it. You may not lovingly accept Celica, but it is a part of you,” Corrin explained. “It’s a perfect indicator that says it’s actually time.”
When we got to the top of the stairs I looked over at Beau. “Stay here.”
He cocked his head to the side, annoyed. But…
“No. Stay.” I knew if I needed him, truly needed him, he would follow. I would never forgive myself if something happened to him when we were so close. I bent down to look him straight in his big, caring eyes. You help the wolves if they need it and then you come find me.
Beau licked my face, dipping his head down quickly and then looked back up at me.
I focused on the next staircase, hearing their voices again. The sound of groaning filled my ears. I got closer to the door, slowly pushing it open to see Chancellor Fowler at the window and raking his nails down the glass.
Oliver sat on the couch with a drink in his hand, watching.
The moon’s light beamed inside the room and illuminated the chancellor as if he was absorbing it into himself. I didn’t know how this all worked, but the way his shoulders were high and his fingers were curled, it didn’t look like the ends justified the means.
I needed to focus on one thing. I zeroed in on the back of his head and felt my power rise to the top.
I pulled his head back with all the strength I had and slammed it against the window.
Oliver jumped up, surprise taking over his face as he looked around.
There was a splatter of blood on the window, but Chancellor Fowler whirled around and used his magic to rip the door off its hinges.
I stumbled inside, the twins behind me.
“You.” Oliver snarled at me.
“What is the meaning of this?!” Chancellor Fowler pressed a hand to his head, more blood coming from the wound.
He started to walk towards me, but I swatted my hand forward, sending him flying backwards and hitting the mantle at the fireplace.
The back of his head connected with the brick and the sound it made had my shoulders tensing up.
Corrin grabbed the dagger from Ike’s hands and rushed over to Chancellor Fowler.
“You will not take this away from me, you little bitch.” Oliver started to run over to me, but I stopped him, creating a blow to his knees which sent him toppling over.
Ike took the metal from the doorknob and manipulated it into throwing knives.
He held his ground as I kept Oliver distracted.
I peeked over his shoulder and Chancellor Fowler was still out, his head slumped over.
Corrin hovered over him, prepared for if he spontaneously did anything.
River’s dad lifted his head up, but his eyes were on Ike. Ike’s eyes widened and his body turned so that instead of facing Oliver, he was looking at me.
“Riley, I don’t know what’s happening.” He sounded scared and he lifted his arm, his new weapons aimed at me.
“Ike, you don’t want to do that.” I looked over at Oliver who had a sinister smile on his face. “Stop it right now!”
“You won’t let me have what I want, Erik Fowler doesn’t get what he wants!” Oliver shouted, right as Corrin tucked the dagger under her arm and tackled her brother. Ike released the knives seconds before he hit the ground.
I turned my head the minute I willed them to move away from me and towards Oliver, feeling the sting of a small cut on my cheek.
Oliver had dived out of the way and Chancellor Fowler was starting to stir.
I did my best to create a quick fire in my hand and threw it out the broken window, hoping that would alert the others.
“Riley, people are coming,” Corrin warned, but her face left my vision when I was grabbed and thrown down to the ground.
The girl I’d recognized from before, the one who basically dehydrated Grayson, barged into the room but before she could make any moves, Corrin turned around and kicked her in the stomach, sending her flying into the door at the other end of the room.
The girl shook her head and pushed away from the door, staring right at Corrin, who started to wobble on her feet and cough.
She was doing the same thing to her as she did with Grayson.
“Cor!” Ike gripped the metal dagger he’d made and slashed at the girl. He struck her shoulder and she hissed. He started to bring the edge of the dagger over to her neck, then he started coughing as well, but he kept trying to strike her even if the blows weren’t as harsh or lethal.
I tried to get up but Oliver climbed on top of me, putting his hands around my throat. He brought my head up and then slammed it back onto the ground. I let my fire out, burning his forearms and anywhere else I could reach but he didn’t seem to care.
He squeezed his hands tighter and I couldn’t get my mind to give me the strength to push him off me. Multiple loud howls sounded throughout the room and I knew my fire had hit.
Black spots were encapsulating my vision as I thrashed and burned Oliver’s flesh. Oxygen hadn’t completely left my head so that I could do one thing. I found the mind I needed and gave him the go ahead.
The house shook and the sound of wood breaking and menacing growls was closer than I thought.
“That is my daughter, you insufferable shit.” Chancellor Fowler had blood pouring down the front of his head and he stepped up behind Oliver. All at once, Oliver released my neck when he bent backwards at an unhealthy angle. I heard a crack and then some more, and those cracks were sharp and quick.
I coughed violently, watching as Oliver slumped over and a shadow was in my vision. A shadow that swirled in place, eventually dissipating and revealing Asher and Grayson. Grayson saw me, but then looked over at Corrin and Ike, swiftly moving over to the girl harming them.
“This is for the last time.” Grayson moved his shadows over her body and covered her eyes.
He pulled her away from them and flung her out the open door.
The sound of her body thumping down the stairs echoing.
He started to send shadows all around this room, likely planning to cover it in darkness and get me out.
He was knocked off his feet by an invisible force and catapulted into Asher, who reached out to steady them both before they fell over. Chancellor Fowler let out a harsh, annoyed groan as he focused his gaze on them.