35. Lea
35
LEA
M y body ached as pleasure and disgust stirred within me.
I quickly pulled my robes back on while Jax was still sleeping.
How ironic… The first time I gave myself to him was to gain his love, but this time I did it so I could destroy him.
I walked over to the living room window to get some fresh air, but as I placed my hands on the window sill to bring the window up, I noticed that the sky looked strange.
Black smoke billowed and swirled there, almost blocking out Solare completely.
“Something's wrong,” I said, but as I looked over my shoulder, Jax was still passed out cold on my couch.
I grabbed my potion pouch from the counter and left. The streets were strangely empty, even though it was the middle of the day.
I knew the curfews had gotten bad since Diesel’s attack on the city, but this was something else.
Screams of desperation reached me just as the smell of things burning did. My body jumped into action instinctively.
I was shifting before I even willed it.
Lunaira, help us, I sent up a quick prayer as I fell forward, my claws digging into the cobblestones as the rough wind blew through my wolf pelt.
Adrenaline rushed through my veins as I bolted toward the cries coming from not too far ahead of me. After bounding past numerous streets, I finally reached the source of all the smoke.
As soon as my eyes locked on the tower that was on fire, I stopped in my tracks, skidding to a halt.
Why is Jax’s building burning? There might still be workers inside!
Without giving it another thought, I ran in, ignoring the shards of glass strewn all over, cutting into my paws, or even the fire singeing my fur. I followed the sound of screams to a woman who was hiding under the reception desk.
When she saw me, her face went completely white as she backed away.
I lowered my head to let her know that I didn't mean her any harm. I lightly grabbed her garment with my teeth, and pulled her out from under the desk.
She began coughing wildly, holding her sleeve up to her mouth in the hopes of preventing more smoke from entering her lungs.
She isn't going to last much longer here.
I threw her onto my back, and barely waited for her to grab onto the soft fur at the back of my neck before I quickly made for the exit again. Once outside, and a safe distance away from the burning building, I lowered my head so she could get off my back.
“Thank you!” she said around a coughing fit racking her body, but I turned to go back. There might be more people in need of help in there.
But a broad-shouldered man was blocking my path. I bared my teeth, preparing to pounce.
“Lea.” Emory’s strong voice calmed me immediately.
Emory…?
There was something about the shock of seeing him that released me from my shifted form.
My bones cracked and my muscles stretched back into their proper places.
What the hell?
Emory was quick to reach for me, helping me up from the ground.
“What are you doing here?” I meant to sound as grateful as I felt, but instead, my words came out all guttural and aggressive.
“We go where we're needed.” He gave me a gentle smile as I looked behind him to see his people, the rebels, entering the building in droves.
It felt like a heavy weight had been lifted from my chest. Now more people could be saved. More than I would’ve been able to get out by myself.
“Do you have any idea what's going on?” As I recovered from my transformation, I moved away from the support of Emory’s arms, not wanting to appear weak.
“My sources tell me that it's Diesel, but I have no clue why he’d set fire to his own nephew’s company.”
“I think I know why,” I said forebodingly. “Omara left him. Then he threatened Kiyan. And now he’s getting back at Jax for defying him—and burning all evidence of his illegal activities here while he’s at it.”
“Where is Jax? Did he get out?” Emory asked as he looked around us to see if he could spot the man in question.
Why did a sense of guilt wash over me? I suddenly wished I hadn’t brought up his name.
My eyes dropped away from Emory. “He’s not even aware of this happening yet…”
“How can you know that?”
“Because…I left him asleep on my couch.”
The air between us became stale and vacant.
“I see,” was all he uttered, hurt and disappointment etched into his eyes.
“I don't think you do. Everything I do is for the mission. Nothing else matters,” I retorted in a desperate attempt to tuck away the feelings of shame overwhelming me.
Emory frowned and tilted his head at me. “That can't be true—why else would you be out here risking your life to save others? Which, I’m sure, isn’t part of your plan for revenge, but still you’re doing it.”
I jerked my head back, annoyed at him, but had no words to throw back at him this time.
“Lea,” Emory whispered my name in earnest. “You’re so set on denying your true?—”
Before he could finish, warm liquid splattered against my face.
In a daze, I looked up to see if it had started to rain, but the sky was clear except for the black smoke. When I lowered my gaze back to Emory, I gasped in horror. There was blood, far too much of it, pouring from his chest!
Emory’s lips parted, as if he was trying to say something to me, but fell forward onto his knees instead.
I caught him before his face hit the floor. “No! No!” I sobbed.
“You,” a deep voice accused from where Emory had just stood, and a cold shiver skittered down my spine.
Time slowed to a crawl as I looked up from Emory’s worried gaze to find Diesel towering over me.
“Uremma Mirth… Would you care to explain to me why you were consulting with a known rebel?” He took another step forward, grabbing Emory by his shoulder to pull him to the side. “You always seem to be in the most inconvenient of places.”
Diesel dropped Emory into a pool of his own blood. He was weak and barely holding onto consciousness, but he managed to lift his face to look at me with pleading eyes. “You have to get out of here!”
I backed away slowly, but refused to leave him, much less turn my back on Diesel.
“You've tried to fight me once, and failed miserably. Are you really going to try again?” He let out a maniacal laugh at the mere thought of someone like me facing him.
My scowl deepened as I stopped backing away. I stood firm, deciding then and there what I was going to do.
“Why are you looking at me like that? You don't know a thing about me.” Diesel gritted his teeth, growing more aggressive the more I stared at him.
I was terrified. I felt the fear right down into my bones. But I was tired of running from him.
He’d been the ominous figure haunting my dreams ever since I could remember.
No more!
If I must meet with death here today, I’m going to face it with everything I’ve got.
“I know a lot more than you think.” I willfully antagonized him.
Sharp teeth began to elongate from his gums as he bared them at me.
His permanent werewolf eyes stared me down, the yellow in them as poisonous as his soul. “I'm going to gut you right here in the middle of the street, and then I'm going to go after everything you've ever loved.”
“You've already done all that to me. You can’t threaten someone who’s got nothing left to live for anymore.” As the words flowed out of me, so did a sense of courage.
I knew this wasn't a fight I could win, but that wasn't the point. Someone had to stand up to him, and that someone just happened to be me.
“What are you talking about? I don't even know who you are,” he snarled, his anger mixed with confusion now.
I turned my shoulder away from him, discreetly reaching my hand into the pouch strapped to my side. I wasn't sure what potion I grabbed, but I didn't have time to check. I pulled it out and hid it behind me.
“You might not remember me…but I certainly remember you.”
Enough talking. It's time to end this.
As Diesel opened his mouth to speak again, I brought my arm around at full force, chucking the vial straight at him.
It shattered against his chest, and the purple liquid quickly seeped into his shirt. It was only then that I realized what potion I’d thrown.
I watched as it ate away at his clothing, then moved on to his skin.
Diesel hardly seemed to notice as he produced a potion of his own. I was already familiar with this potion from the last time we fought.
He effortlessly crushed the vial in his hand, and held it above his head as both glass and liquid dripped into his open mouth.
He truly had become completely unhinged!
Diesel began to grow the same way he had last time. I could almost hear his muscles stretching and ripping as they expanded far beyond what was normal.
I have to act now. Once that potion takes full effect, I'm as good as dead.
I reached for another vial and threw it at his face. This time, it didn't matter what kind of potion it was, I just needed his eyes closed for a moment. I grabbed a handful of the Port Powder, and dropped it at my feet.
Here goes nothing ? —
I vanished into mist right before his eyes, but as the remnants of the powder quickly wore off, I went from defying gravity to falling out of the sky.
I focused on Diesel, who looked like a small dot from where I was plunging back down to earth.
I only have one shot at this!
I shifted quicker than I ever had before, extending my claws out toward him.
Still obliviously searching his surroundings on the ground, Diesel didn’t think to look up, which cost him. My paws punched into his head and shoulder, my claws digging into his flesh with the extreme momentum of my fall.
Then I thrusted my muzzle forward, almost unhinging my jaw to clamp down on his neck.
He throttled himself trying to get me off of him, but I only bit down harder.
“Enough of this!” He took out another potion and threw it on himself.
Without warning, sudden bolts of electricity began running through me.
The pain was unbearable, but not as unbearable as losing complete control of my body.
My claws and teeth detached from his flesh, and I fell over.
No way! Did he just use an electrocution potion on himself just to get me to release him?
He turned and had me in a vice-grip by the throat in one smooth, terrible movement, all before I’d even hit the ground.
How is he still moving after my fangs practically went right through his neck?!
My eyes shifted to the wound, and I watched in horror as he healed even faster than before.
Whatever potion he had made, it made him into a god!
“Most of the time I hardly remember the people I kill. When you've murdered as much as I have, you tend to forget. But you… I hope you feel very flattered that I’m going to relish killing you. I'm going to think about your death for a long time after this.” He bared his teeth at me in a malicious smile as his fingers tightened around my throat.
My claws ripped his chest open in an attempt to free myself, but by how quickly it closed and healed up again, it was all in vain.
My movements were becoming more sluggish and weak the longer I was denied any air. All I could do was watch as Diesel’s menacing smile only grew wider and wider…
Then a blade pierced out of his chest, almost tearing through me as well.
Diesel's hand relaxed, my body hitting the floor as he turned around to see who dared oppose him.
I gasped for air, desperately trying to get my strength back.
My vision was wavering, but I could clearly see my rescuer.
“Emory!” I howled his name as best I could in my wolf form.
He stood hunched over with both hands at the end of a sword. The blood still poured from his chest, his face pale from all the blood loss.
“It's alright, Lea. I'm just glad to have met you in this life again.” He gave me a weak smile, and my eyes filled with tears, my heart bursting into a million pieces.
No, not him, I begged the Goddess. Don’t take him from me, too…
The sound of Diesel’s claws scratching against the metal of the sword rang in my ears.
This wasn't a fight Emory could win in his condition.
We both knew that.
I slowly and painfully dragged myself up onto all fours, breathing in deeply as I tried to ignore the intense burning it incited from how Diesel had just been choking me.
He told me that I give him hope . Not Emma, Lea…
But Lea is no more.
I dug my claws into the cobblestones beneath me, preparing myself to charge at Diesel, but I faltered when I couldn’t get my eyes to lock onto him. He was moving too quickly. I could hardly keep up with where he was at any given moment.
I was surprised that Emory could, though.
Then the fighting suddenly stopped.
Diesel was thrown ten feet back, his body making a cracking sound when he hit the street.
What?
I looked back over to see Jax standing there in his wolf form.
He glanced over at me, his eyes widening in recognition before he returned his glare to his uncle, who was already getting back up to his feet after a hit that should have been fatal.
I should have been worried about concealing myself from him, but all I could think of was how grateful I was he’d shown up to help.
“Don't think that you've won. I can slaughter all of you at once. You're no match for me!” Diesel was back on his feet again, marching toward us with a menacing curl to his cruel mouth.
Jax, Emory, and I gathered next to each other, preparing for the fight of our lives.
I looked over to each of them standing on either side of me, then returned my focus to Diesel.
I’m not going to go out like this…like a candle in the wind. That is what Diesel wants, but I’m not a candle anymore.
I forced myself to shift back into my human form, keeping my eyes on Diesel as I did. Then I reached into my pouch and removed a sharp-edged potion bottle. It was one I had never used before.
It was meant as a last resort—a sort of suicide potion. Shortly after consumption, this potion wasn’t made to only kill the one who took it, but any others standing close enough would also be caught in the blazing combustion to follow. Not even Emory or anyone around here might entirely escape injury…
But if it meant getting rid of this monster for good, I was willing to make the sacrifice. I just needed to make sure to latch onto Diesel before anyone could think to follow me and get too close. I flicked the cork from the vial and raised it to my lips.
“Emma!” Emory grabbed my hand, stopping me from tipping the liquid into my mouth. He leaned down smelling the contents of it. Then his face fell into a deep scowl. “Lillantra Root and Simonel Bone. These are forbidden for a reason!”
“Let go of me, Emory! I’m going to finish this once and for all,” I growled at him.
He shook my wrist with such force that the potion slipped from my grasp. The vial was about to crash right at our feet, but the moment Emory realized what that meant, his other hand went around my waist and pulled me along as he jumped back.
I watched in horror as one of the deadliest potions I’d ever mixed—and my last hope at ensuring Diesel’s final moments were filled with pathetic screaming and excruciating agony—shattered to the uneven surface of the cobblestone street.
Like an oil lamp tumbling from a nightstand, the instant the potion was released from its vessel on impact, flames leaped to life, dancing erratically as it hungrily devoured every last drop spilled. The heat intensified and scorched the very hairs on our faces just before it went out.
The potion would have done so much worse if I’d been able to drink it. It was meant to be digested, not thrown, quickly turning every cell in my body into billions of little bombs. It would have been over for me in a second, but the same couldn’t be said for the one I could’ve had trapped in my grip.
If the explosion hadn’t been enough to take him out, the all-consuming fire that followed certainly would have. But the chance to make that happen had been denied me.
As if the fire that had just burned out before us had been transferred into my chest instead, I boiled furiously from within.
I heaved a heavy rage-filled breath as I turned to Emory. “You bastard !”
“ Asuma !” The word was shouted so loudly that it echoed off the streets. Lucky for Emory, it distracted me enough from biting his head off right then and there.
I looked around me, but couldn’t make out where the call had come from.
Shockingly, people then began jumping from different levels of Jax’s burning building. As they hurtled toward the ground, I winced slightly, not wanting to watch them splatter, but instead, they landed safely.
They must have taken a potion before jumping!
“‘Asuma,’ The rebels’ warcry,” Emory informed us with a devilish smile on his face.
Most of them who came down were holding onto people they had rescued from the fire. The rebels quickly urged those they’d just saved to run and get to safety, before joining the steadily growing force surrounding Diesel.
“How about all of us?” Emory shouted across the street to him.
Diesel snarled as he looked at everyone gathered around him. His eyes shifted back to our group, staring down Emory first, then Jax, and finally me.
His sinister glare lingered on me the longest, trying to figure out who I was and how I knew him in the past no doubt.
Not so confident now, are you?
“This isn't the end,” Diesel growled as he reached into his cloak and pulled out a strange maroon-colored powder that I'd never seen before.
It reeked strongly of something rancid. So much so that I even held my breath.
He threw the powder up into the air, and a black portal appeared before him.
“No!” Emory shouted as he rushed forward.
I jolted forward as well, along with the entire team of rebels. We all moved in on Diesel, but before anyone could reach him, he jumped through the portal and disappeared into thin air.
“Damn it!” Emory raged, kicking up debris from the street in frustration.
I stared in disbelieving rage at the place where Diesel had just disappeared. He’s gone… If Emory hadn’t stopped me…
I was about to direct all of my fury at him when I sensed another pair of eyes watching me intently. I looked over at Jax and found it was his.
“That pelt of yours looked so familiar…” He seemed to say it more to himself than to me. He searched my face for my reaction, but I gave him nothing.
“Emma, look.” Emory hummed in an attempt to distract me. He’d likely felt the aura of murder directed at him a moment ago.
The moment we were alone again, though, I knew I’d be getting an earful from him about what I had been about to do with that potion.
I glanced past Jax to where he was pointing, and saw many people of the city slowly coming out of hiding.
They looked frightened, and some appeared to be wounded.
A few of the rebels walked behind them.
Everything was quiet, the air filled with confusion.
That was until someone shouted, “Who’s responsible for this?”
The others began to murmur among themselves.
The same name echoed throughout the crowd. Diesel.
I have a feeling this isn't going to end well. Their blame will start with Diesel, but they’ll likely decide to come after Jax right after. He’s a Ransom and Diesel’s nephew, after all. Fame and prestige aren't going to stop a frightened and raging mob looking for someone to pay for everything that’s happened.
I wanted Jax to suffer, but I didn't want to watch him be torn to pieces in front of me.
Then someone began shouting. “We were fine until Diesel brought crime and destruction to the city!”
Fear and accusations spread through the crowd like wildfire.
My eyes gravitated over to Jax again, who remained still through all the shouting. He was probably in shock.
What are you doing, you idiot?
“Jax.” He turned to me with weakness in his eyes. “You need to go. Right now .”
His brows furrowed. Even as his entire world came crashing down around him, he was reluctant to abandon it. But there was understanding in his eyes; he knew the crowd would soon turn their righteous anger on him.
I didn’t want to see him get eaten alive out here, so I urged him to leave once more. I was willing to keep him alive. That was it. After this, the authorities would likely start hunting him, and that wasn’t my problem.
“Come with me.” He reached out for my hand, but I pulled away from him.
His shoulders fell as he read the rejection in my eyes.
His lips pressed into a hard line as he gave me a stern nod, seeming to come to a decision without consulting anyone else.
He stepped forward, closer to the crowd, and held out his hands. “Good people of Theskin, this treason will not go unanswered. I want you to know that you are correct in assuming that all of this is my uncle's doing.”
He paused, analyzing the crowd's reaction.
I didn't know if he was more cocky or stupid, but as I looked around, I began to see their expressions change.
I guess I woefully underestimated his popularity. He can bullshit his way out of anything.
“I, like you, have been a victim of his treachery and lies. No more! We will hunt him down and bring him to justice! For the city of Theskin!” Jax raised his arms and the people slowly began to chant his name.
Lunaira, save me. This must be a nightmare. How is Jax the hero here?
I balled my fists up tightly as my heart began to palpitate in my chest.
I bit my tongue to keep the bile and rage from welling up past my throat.
How can they not see what you truly are? A coward. A fraud.
Jax walked up to the crowd as they began shaking his hand and thanking him.
I turned my attention away from Jax for fear that I would shift into my wolf form and rip his head off right in front of everyone.
Instead, I focused on Emory. I grumbled begrudgingly, “What happens now?”
“We rebuild…and prepare, because he'll be back.” He let out a heavy sigh.
My eyes shifted around me, finding endless destruction and billows of black smoke darkening the sky.
“Emma.” Emory could barely utter my name before he fell forward.
I reached out for him, only catching his head in time to soften his fall as I collapsed to my knees. “Emory!”
Shit! I was so distracted I forgot about his wound!
His body went frightfully limp in my lap, even as his eyes remained focused on me.
“Emory! Can you hear me?” I smacked his face but there was no reaction.
My stomach churned upside down.
I wrestled with the fact that I still wanted to rip his throat out for stopping me from doing what I needed to do to take down Diesel, but, on the other hand, if anyone could help me find and destroy him now, it was Emory and his rebels. I still needed him…
Even if my heart ached with something deeper, I refused to give it another thought.
I yanked my potion pouch free from my side, and spilled out the contents in front of me. I quickly grabbed a coagulating potion and poured it over his chest.
I watched as the wound sealed itself, but he had already lost so much blood. It wasn’t going to be enough.
I had nothing here with me that would be helpful to him…not for blood loss.
“ Emory ,” I whispered, leaning down and kissing his forehead.
“Allow me?” a familiar voice said from behind me.
I looked over my shoulder to see Kiyan standing there. I was taken aback by the sight of him. I thought for sure he and Ravana would have fled the city by now. I didn't have time to argue. I gently set him down on the floor and moved away so Kiyan could kneel next to him.
Kiyan shut his eyes and held out his hands over Emory’s body. He began to hum something from the depths of his chest.
What's he doing?
Suddenly, his fingers spread out and a blinding golden light emitted from his hands.
That light fell like rain into Emory’s chest, spreading just beneath his skin.
Then Kiyan snatched his hands back into his chest, and the light disappeared.
“Kiyan… What was that?” I asked, but he turned away, ignoring me.
The ache I felt in my chest was indescribable.
I couldn't stand the thought of him hating me.
“Lea…” My name passed weakly through Emory’s lips.
I immediately went back to his side, gripping his hand in both of mine—holding onto him as if he were my lifeline.
Emory slowly moved his head as his eyes fluttered open. “What happened to me?”
That is the question, isn't it?
Kiyan had just performed a miracle, and I’d never seen anything like it in my life. Was it some new sort of magical ability he possessed, or had been born with?
Kiyan’s eyes flashed to me. “You've done a lot to help me. I hope this makes us even now.”
He started to get up, but I reached out instinctively, grabbing his wrist.
“Wait!”
Please, hear me out. Please, listen to me…
The thought of him leaving was agonizing. It felt like I was about to lose a vital part of myself. “I'll tell you… I'll tell you everything. Just stay.”
His face twisted with indecision.
“Kiyan, please.”
He looked away from me, but huffed a sigh of defeat.
He then plopped himself back down next to me, directing a half-serious grimace at me. “It better be a damn good story.”
I was finally able to let out the stale air in my lungs as relief washed over me.
Oh, where do I even begin?