Chapter 67
Sixty-seven
Jada
Irush up the bridge, settling into a steady rhythm foot over foot. Each step feels like an eternity; each breath spent hoping Zellie is unharmed. Based on the continuous sounds coming from the peak, I have to imagine that the two of them are still battling.
“What’s your plan?” Torin yells, running much less effortlessly by my side.
“Zellie’s here. I won’t leave her alone.” I pause, taking in air. “I’m going to help her.”
Brave or foolish, I can’t decide, but I’m brave enough to believe things can change.
“What should we do?”
“Stay back while I assess—he’s dangerous. Stay close but out of sight.”
I forge onward, leaving my friends behind with a curt nod.
Nothing could prepare me for the scene before me, though.
Pluto and Zellie’s magic angrily attack each other.
Zellie’s takes on the form of a viper—her air magic, perhaps?
It strikes Pluto incessantly, pushing him towards the edge of the bridge.
He looks to have suffered several wounds from Zellie, and I silently cheer her on for landing strikes against him.
Pluto retaliates, a cloak of water rushing up from the river below, covering her like a hood and trapping her within.
Zellie thrashes, dropping to her knees, before her hands glow, twisting up into the cloak, penetrating and bursting the water bubble.
In turn, she raises water droplets, using air magic to alter the temperature, until the droplets replicate hundreds of tiny frozen icicles.
She shoots them toward Pluto while charging him, picking up speed as she leaps through the air, dagger poised perfectly in her arched form to land a devastating blow.
The moment never comes, though. Instead, Pluto orchestrates the air around Zellie to his bidding, freezing her in place.
Wide-eyed, Zellie bellows as she thrashes in place.
Pluto smirks as he stalks towards her, his lips moving, but the sound does not carry to my position.
I move to take a step forward as the bridge shakes with Zellie’s efforts.
The bridge will fall, I’m certain of it. I won’t risk their lives.
Turning back, I observe the rebel legion standing with weapons and shields.
A surge of pride flows throw me in knowing Brinn likely got these weapons to them, just as she convinced them to join our efforts.
How lucky am I to be surrounded by such bravery?
From those without a lick of magic in their veins, willing to risk it all? But I will not.
I instruct Faye and Torin. “Stay off the belly of the bridge. We will call for you if we need it, but I can’t risk all these lives. Wait for my signal. If you see it, get off as soon as you can.”
“What’s your signal?”
I smirk. “You’ll see.”
Someone gasps as they observe the fight behind me, and I turn in time to witness Pluto twisting and squeezing his hand into a fist as he breaks off crystal from the bridge, morphing the material into a spearheaded arrow.
Zellie’s power ignites in a blazing white glow as she breaks out of his hold, disappearing and reappearing in a new position.
Stars, I didn’t know she could do that. Her movements aren’t fast enough to miss the swift shard that flies through the air, impaling her shoulder.
She drops to her knees the instant she becomes visible again, and the world goes quiet as I observe my best friend in pain.
I hear nothing else. I see nothing else.
Enough.
I’ve had enough.
Zellie has given enough.
Enough.
The word echoes through my brain like an endless prayer.
The word vibrates through me, my magic humming in time, as I take steady steps toward the man set on ruining us all.
I call to my power, the magic feeling as natural as breathing, urging it to be ready.
The skies have darkened, reflecting the endless inky blackness of his soul.
But dawn always follows the darkest night.
Enough.