Chapter 4 Leila #2
“We haven’t time for this.” Delphi took Her hands. “Hylas has been my eyes and ears during Senate meetings. The entire Thessian army is searching for You.”
“Even his sellswords?”
“No mention of them. We’re hoping to learn more soon.” Delphi’s face dropped. “Brontes has put a reward out for Tobias. They’re calling him a traitor.”
“I know.”
“They’re spreading the message through the whole of the realm. No mercy.” Her expression didn’t change, but her grip on Leila’s hands tightened. “Soldiers are stationed in all cities and villages. They’re looking for You . . . and recruiting others to do the same.”
“He’s turning My people against Me?”
“I imagine they don’t see it that way. They’re rescuing You, after all.” Delphi frowned. “But it’s not just Thessen. Heralds were sent to the ally realms as well.”
“Even Kovahr?”
“Hylas was to prepare the message himself.”
Leila’s gaze drifted. There were far too many emotions to sort through, the lot of them winding together into a sort of numbness. Instead, She focused on the pinks and purples of the skyline.
“He wanted to slip in a note—tell them the truth—but with the armed escorts—”
“It was too risky,” Leila said. “I understand.”
Delphi tilted her head, reclaiming Leila’s line of sight. “Your father’s been using the tunnels a lot these past few days. One leads to the dungeon. Another to the vault. And I believe one leads straight beneath the fortress gate.”
Leila started. “A secret passage out of the fortress?”
“It explains how Phanes and the others were able to send his messages so discreetly.”
An exit. The answer to all Her troubles, a few days too late. She pulled Delphi close. “Leave. Take the tunnel and get out of here.”
“Leila—”
“We’ll arrange a meeting,” She said. “You can join us.”
“I’m needed here.”
“We’ll keep you safe.”
“You need someone on the inside.” Delphi spoke with intention. “Hylas can’t do this alone. Let me play my part.” Her voice lowered. “For Mother.”
Leila’s hands trembled, Her mind flooded with horrors She couldn’t unsee—Her sister dead at Her feet, same as Tobias, as Her mothers, as everyone She’d ever dared to love. Fiction overlapped with reality, Her thoughts far too muddy for Her to differentiate one from the other.
“You’ll tell Me when it becomes too much.” Leila’s voice cracked. “At the first sign of danger, you’ll let Me take you out of here.”
“I promise.”
Leila took in Her sister for a moment longer, her black braids and upturned eyes a beautiful reminder of home. Her tears returned, but She didn’t fight them.
“I miss you so much.”
Delphi smiled, smoothing down the flyaways of Leila’s hair. “Is Tobias taking care of You?”
“He is. His family is lovely.” Yucana appeared in Leila’s mind, and She shook her away. “Raphael has joined us as well.”
“Raphael?” Delphi spat.
“He found us.”
“Then You’re not hiding well enough.” Four knocks echoed up the stairwell, and Delphi sighed. “That’s Hylas. I have to go.”
“Hold on.” Leila planted a hand on Delphi’s chest. “If anyone tries to hurt you—”
“I know how Your blessing works.” Delphi waited impatiently, tapping her foot, then flicking her wrist, urging Leila to finish. Once the heat of Leila’s touch died, Delphi kissed Her cheek. “Hide better.”
“Love you too.”
Delphi burst into grey, leaving nothing but ink smearing the air.
Leila rarely bore witness to Her shadow walking in action, as She was usually the one wielding Her magic rather than watching it dissolve in front of Her.
Her gaze drifted to the fortress below—the massive wall that once held Her captive, peppered with shrubs, trees, and countless soldiers stationed like armored ants.
So much had changed in a few short days.
She closed Her eyes and channeled Her power.
The lake.
Light blared through Her, leaving Her blind and weightless. Soon enough, Her senses returned—the pebbles and twigs underfoot, the smell of water and soil.
The screams.
Her eyes shot open. Naomi was curled on her side, shrieking as Yucana, Tobias, and Raphael hovered over her.
Leila rushed toward them. “What’s happening?”
“Shocks.” Tobias’s voice came out sharp and frantic. “Can You help her?”
“We need lavender and ginger,” Yucana said. “I’ll grab my things.”
“Let Me see her.” Leila pushed Her way between Tobias and Raphael and took a seat. Naomi rocked back and forth, hair sticking to tear-streaked cheeks and body locked tight.
“Please, just . . .” Naomi spoke between pants. “Make it stop.”
She lurched straight and howled. Heartbeat hammering, Leila launched Her hands down the back of Naomi’s dress, and pain like lightning plowed into Her palms, blazing straight past the woman’s flesh.
“Dull the flame.” Power poured from Leila’s fingertips, hurtling into the storm. “Ease the suffering.”
Naomi jolted beneath Her touch, and Yucana shoved forward, a satchel in hand. “It’s not working.”
Raphael cleared his throat. “I hate to intrude—”
“Then don’t,” Tobias spat.
“I know this is a very serious situation—”
“Bloody fuck, Raphael—”
“But we’re in hiding, and her cries are very loud,” Raphael said.
“I have ginger.” Yucana dug through her bag, pulling out a palmful of the root. “There’s no time for tea. If she bites down—” Another cry ripped through the woods, and Yucana’s jaw tightened. “She’s getting worse.”
“It takes time,” Leila said.
“You’re hurting her.”
Leila spun toward Yucana. “You think I’m causing this?”
“Will everyone be quiet and let Leila work?” Tobias barked.
Sobs tore from Naomi’s throat, and she grabbed hold of Leila, digging in deep enough to bruise.
“Ease the pain.” Leila spoke through gritted teeth. “Heed My command.”
Raphael leaned close to Leila, a nagging fly beside Her ear. “I know this is taxing, but someone will hear us.”
Leila shot him a glare as Naomi spasmed beneath Her touch.
Dull the flame. The words repeated in Her thoughts, swimming amid Her fear and anxieties.
Another bolt struck Naomi, but it was the slightest bit calmer, a single blade rather than a shower of arrows.
Heed My command. The next strike sent Naomi crying out, but the sound was softer, and her body loosened within Leila’s hold. The light was working. It had to.
“What was that?” Tobias stood upright, looking into the thick of the woods.
Stillness.
Lightning sliced through Leila’s palm, pulling Her back to the task. “Ease the—”
“Shit.” Tobias abandoned the group, grabbing a leather sheath from his things and strapping it to his thigh. He turned to Leila. “Stay back.”
“What?”
The trees rustled. Tobias dug through his belongings, swiping up his sword, then looked to Leila. “Keep them safe.”
Her stomach lurched. “Tobias . . .”
She heard it then—a guttural battle cry. Feet pounded and silver shone through the trees—the tip of a spear, followed by a crested helmet, a breastplate. A soldier burst through the foliage, and Tobias charged his way, sword drawn.
“Tobias!” Leila cried out.
The soldier lunged, and Tobias ducked beneath his blow, plunging his sword into the pit of the man’s gut.
Naomi’s scream pierced the air, grating and horror-struck.
Tobias kicked the man free from his weapon, a fleeting victory.
More soldiers barreled through the woods, and bile rose in Leila’s throat. How long before they were surrounded?
The soldiers headed straight for Tobias, who swiped a blade from its sheath and launched it at one of the servicemen’s thighs.
Sharpened steel swung his way, but Tobias deflected, wielding his sword with poise and purpose.
He blasted the weapon from the soldier’s hands only for a fist to slam into his jaw, throwing him off center.
Leila flinched as the soldier kneed him in the gut, and his second punch sent Tobias’s sword flying as he fell to his knees, gasping for air.
Yucana called out her son’s name, and Leila grabbed hold of her, lending the woman Her strength. Tobias dodged the next blow, pounding the soldier in the groin and collapsing him. As his opponent faltered, Tobias lunged, wrestling him from the ground and wrapping his arms around his throat.
“Forward!”
Another slew of soldiers appeared, enveloping their campsite in chaos.
Tobias struggled with his adversary, turning the man’s face red while Raphael pivoted in front of the three women, a shield of little use.
Yucana clung to Naomi, who clung to Leila, their screams muted by the echo of Tobias’s words in Leila’s mind.
Keep them safe. Except a soldier was grabbing Raphael and dragging him to the ground, and two more headed for Tobias, swords in hand.
Stay back. But Tobias’s voice faded, leaving Her with Her heartbeat pounding in Her ears.
Like hell.
Leila tore from Naomi’s grasp, power simmering in Her blood.
Behind him.
She burst into light, reappearing with Her arms wrapped around a soldier’s neck, Her eyes staring straight into Raphael’s stunned gaze.
She whipped Her blade from its sheath and slit the soldier’s gullet, drenching Her hands in blood.
The man tumbled to the ground as Leila shadow walked away, standing firm and scanning the madness.
Two men were on top of Tobias, one with his fist wound in Tobias’s hair, the other with a sword pointed at his throat.
Leila’s vision flashed white, and when Her sight cleared, She stood behind the armed soldier, Tobias writhing in front of him.
She jabbed Her blade deep into the man’s lower back, finding the sweet spot beneath the edge of his armor and hacking away.
Howling, he grasped at the river pouring from his opened kidneys while Leila shadow walked behind the second soldier, lit and fuming.
She ripped the helmet from his head and smacked it against his skull, freeing Tobias from his clutches as She beat the soldier with his armor.
A fist plowed into Her cheek, toppling Her.
She fanned Her fingers through the dirt—She’d dropped Her blade—but the soldier flipped Her onto Her back, pinning Her against the ground.
Blood leaked down his leg, and his face was drained of color, but that didn’t stop him from grabbing Her shoulders and thrusting Her into the dirt.
“There’s no use resisting,” he spat. “Stay still.”
Leila headbutted him, pain bursting through Her skull as he flailed.
She rolled out from under his weight only to lurch backward as he seized Her ankle.
She kicked him hard, first in his chest plate, then again in his pelvis, pounding incessantly.
Once he recoiled, Leila clawed across the ground, searching for something pointed, sharp.
Her blade lay in a puddle of blood, and She snatched it up, skewering it into the root of his neck.
He let out a gurgling roar, wrenching the weapon free.
Blood rained down on Her, but the soldier didn’t relent, reaching for Her wrists or Her hair, desperate for something to latch onto.
She combatted in kind, thrashing until Her hands met the rigid lines of his face.
Gritting Her teeth, She burrowed Her fingers into his eyes, and he screamed in agony, tumbling backward.
Leila scrambled to Her feet and kicked him in the gut, again in the side, then stomped at his opened throat over and over as blood geysered beneath Her heel.
Restraint was a stranger; Leila surrendered to instinct, smashing the soldier’s throat into a crimson soup, the squelch of flesh screaming in Her ears.
Gasping for breath, Leila yanked Her ankle free from the corpse.
Nothing—no war cries, no clanking of swords.
Dead bodies littered the dirt, mangled by either Leila’s or Tobias’s hand.
He stood opposite Her, chest heaving, gashes tearing through his flesh.
His eyes were large and set on Her—as were the eyes of Raphael, Yucana, and Naomi, their slack-jawed expressions palpable.
Leila swallowed. Blood caked Her foot, Her dress. She stood tall, but Her red hands were already trembling. They’d seen it all—every cut and blow, the dark truth behind Her savage capabilities.
Exhaling, Tobias ran toward Leila, and She went rigid as his arms looped around Her.
“Leila, darling.” He pulled Her into his embrace, and Her body went loose as he cooed into Her ear. “You did so well.”