22. Aries
Aries
B lood slicks my skin as I use my partially shifted hands to tear apart my enemies. The twisted keepers Constantine brought forth just won’t fucking stop coming, though. They’re completely unfazed by anything we throw at them.
Mag has shifted into his gargoyle form, using his body to shield Blossom as she wields her sword. The more we cut down, the more come. Like they’re literally growing from the fallen.
Bingo’s gnashing jaws are covered in blood and torn flesh while the gnomes throw spears and blades from where they perch above the shelves.
We’re barely holding our own. And soon, there will be no holding it.
I keep my attention focused on the fight, though my mind is on Paige and the horrors she’s undoubtedly facing on her own. I use that fear, that rage, to fuel my fight. Letting loose a roar, I drive my claws into the chest of a harpy and tear, sending her in all directions at once.
“We can’t hold them off much longer!” Mag roars.
“We have to! We can’t leave until we get Paige back!”
“She doesn’t have a tattoo!” he yells back to me. “Which means—”
“I know what that fucking means!” I bellow back, spinning to drive my claws into the werewolf trying to sneak up behind me.
A bright portal appears, and hope gives me a fresh wave of strength. That is until Constantine rushes through. His face pale, he stumbles into the library, and I beeline for him. But not before I see Paige come through, the portal winking out behind her.
“You will pay!” she screams.
“Not before they do!” he yells back then waves his hand, and another portal appears. More creatures wait on the other side, their bloodthirsty expressions visible even before they come through.
Paige falters. She whirls, and we lock gazes.
Her power emanates from her more strongly than I’ve ever felt before.
Whatever happened while she was gone, something has changed in her.
She’s accessed her magic—finally. And one look at her tells me she wants to use it to end Constantine, consequences be damned.
As I look back at her, everything freezes for the breath of a second.
Her eyes are full of tears, her face twisted in rage.
But there’s a choice playing out, and I know it’s whether she should seek vengeance…
Or save us.