Chapter 31 #3
My fingers twitch with a need to draw my own weapons. I had been told to stay put the last time. Even though the enemy came to me, we didn’t actually fight. That was little more than an altercation between magic.
I glance at Nana who’s just as calm though not drawing any weapons.
Ms. Elaycia watches the warriors turn from polite partygoers and councilmen into war-ready.
Including Rosemary, who has somehow changed from her oversized sweater and skinny jeans to leather looking pants and a breastplate.
Weapons strapped to her and a dark silver colored metal mask that fits the top half of her face.
She holds it in her hand as she walks up to me and observes the scene.
Her muscles properly displayed and rippling as she rolls out her shoulders and stretches out her neck.
Never straying her gaze from them. The rebels marching over the field on their way here.
Their numbers looking a lot more than just a couple hundred.
She smiles down at me and her glamour flickers in and out giving me a glance of her real form.
Warrior goddess.
“Will you be joining us?” she challenges.
“Absolutely not,” a voice answers for me. I slowly draw my gaze up to golden eyes. “You’ve barely recovered from the last time.”
“Last time?” Rosemary echoes. I roll my eyes.
“The rebels attacked two days ago with Kolasi faced against me.”
Out of the corner of my eye I see both Nana and Ms. Elaycia pale. And Mr. Kyros raises his brows high as all the rest of them finish readying themselves and approach.
“You went up against the Death Devil?” Mr. Kyros asks, almost sounding like he approves. I decide right now that I like him. Even though I’m sure I will be having nightmares for the rest of the week because of his face.
“I think you mean,” I correct, “he went up against me.”
He chuckles and there is no condescension or hesitation or disbelief. His eyes light and like his son, his expression morphs into acute curiosity. Despite what is happening right now with rebels attacking.
“I mean no offense, Ms. Tsukkenai, but may I ask how you who I feel no aura from challenged a devil who is one with his true form?”
I smirk as three more bodies approach us. Professors Asier and D’etre are both already ready with the Dean behind them also strapped with twin long swords across his back.
“They have more numbers,” he says by way of greeting. His signature scowl hesitating when he sees me but nodding to the councilmen and Mr. Kyros. “I see you’re all ready. Let’s hope this will be as short as the one before was.”
They all nod and then most of the men disappear leaving only a wisp of shadows and distinct scents. I turn and spot those that shadow twisted already on the field. Darian, the demigod, Thorne, Mr. Arcturus, Mr. Armani, and the Dean spread out around and all of them pulling up shields.
Rosemary folds to behind their defensive stance with multiple people, including Caleb, standing watch at the wall. Their magics coiling around them and most of them feel like mages with offensive magics. A defense in case the rebels make it past the celestials.
Callahan places a hand on my back and when I look up at him his eyes are narrowed at me.
“I am serious, Mavyn. You are still recovering, so just rest.”
I know he means well, so I don’t snap at him for that, but I do step out of his touch. Another wave ripples and makes me grin. Callahan’s face slightly falls.
I give him an almost pitied look. “You don’t get it.” I place my hand over his chest. Over his heart. “My blood is singing.”
I step back and let him leave. Not moving to change my clothes or grab for weapons. Then he disappears. All that are left are Mr. Kyros and Professor Asier. The former still watches me with intrigue while the latter doesn’t make eye contact.
I turn to Mr. Kyros and wink. “Just signal if you need my help.”
He grins, and then he disappears too. Professor Asier follows him and I watch them appear on the field. Ms. Elaycia and Nana come up behind me to watch. Both of them curling their magic around themselves.
“Are you going to listen?”
I playfully side-eye Ms. Elaycia but she doesn’t chuckle.
“You haven’t properly trained in months,” Nana adds. “I can see it in your muscle definition.”
I continue watching the rebels approach. Select ones in the front lines moving further ahead. They feel. . . different.
Thunder rumbles above and in my peripheral I catch Asher standing close to Caleb with his earthy element ready. Jullia is standing tall with frost covering her clothes and skin behind him.
I focus on those beings coming first. There’s something familiar about them.
Within, I turn the fourth key in its lock but keep the door shut. It still flushes my aura out and both Ms. Elaycia and Nana jerk at it. I can feel other bodies jerking to, their heads swiveling to me. But they’re not the bodies full of blood I am seeking.
I open my eyes that I hadn’t realized I closed. I can feel my aura flooding my eyes, deepening them to a rich red as I expand the reach of my magic. Roving over the bodies full of blood on the field and past them. To those bodies that had been drawing closer to us faster than the rest.
My blood hums with a powerful vibration and I can almost taste the cloying scent of earth.
I rip my nails into my palms which overloads my sweet scent in preparation as the largest wave of all damning magic rips through the shields below. It caresses over me like a soft breeze but that doesn’t last long as balls of fire rain down.
Our battle begins.