As he reached for his throat, she patted his shoulder. “Believe me. I’m doing you a favor. The Collectivity would do much worse.”
She stood and wiped her blade on his clothes before lifting the Griffin’s Key from his belt and tucking it into her own.
We made a dash for the door, but they easily caught us. Cabrina was too heavy for me to hold any longer, and they let me lay her on a bench nearby. I thanked the Creator that Spraggel wasn’t with us. At least he would be spared.
“Now it’s time to do the final sweeping up,” Lilith grinned as she pulled her sword. “I’m feeling generous today. I’ll make this quick.”
Zofie raised her head. “Risten. Do you remember our conversation two years ago on the riverbank? The one in the spring where we saw that deer and her fawn.”
Lilith looked puzzled. “Yes, it’s in her memories. Speculation on which one of you would have children first.”
Zofie smiled. “I won.”
Lilith stared at her a moment, contemplating the information. “If you’re expecting to get some kind of reaction from me, you’re mistaken. The Risten inside is gone. She couldn’t take it anymore and fled to the recesses of her mind. I’ll occasionally hear thoughts of weeping, but nothing more. She’s totally broken.”
Zofie’s expression turned grim. “That may be true, but I wanted Risten to know.” The princess frowned. Her eyes hardened, and behind them I could see an anger—a controlled rage—the like I had never seen from her before. You could almost see it burning behind her eyes. “One day, you will regret ever perfecting her.”
Lilith snorted. “I’ve enhanced hundreds of beings, both human and not. Rode them until they were a mere husk.” She leaned closer. “And I don’t regret a single one.”
“You won’t win,” I said. “Humans have beaten your kind before, and we’ll do it again.”
Lilith’s lips spread into a condescending smile. “Typical human. Believing you’re better than everyone. There is no way you can stop the invasion. Unlike your kind, we have learned from our mistakes. This time, we’ve prepared for the worst.”
“Then why haven’t you just taken over already. Seems we’re a little more of a problem than you thought.”
She shrugged. “Not for long. And I’m about to eliminate a few of those problems.” Lilith considered us with wicked amusement. “Now which one to start with?” She looked over to the still unconscious Cabrina. “That one I’ll take back with me. I see you’ve already sealed her, but that shouldn’t be a problem. She’ll make a fine addition to our army.” Then her gaze turned back to me. “And I’ll have to wait on you. The Collectivity is dying to get their hands on your curse.”
She looked at Fumiko. “I guess I’ll start with the eastern bitch.”
Fumiko struggled, but the men holding her were too strong for her weakened state. They forced her to kneel while Lilith drew her sword.
“Please don’t, Risten,” pleaded Zofie.
Lilith stepped over to Zofie and backhanded her. “Will you shut up. You’re getting on my nerves.”
Zofie glared at her.
Lilith nodded. “Better.”
She turned back to Fumiko.
Lilith shook her head. “I was so hoping I would get to fight you, but I can see you’re just not up to it.”
I raised my head, knowing what I had to do. “Then fight me,” I said.
Lilith looked up in surprise.
“No!” yelled Fumiko. “You’re not ready.”
Despite quaking in my boots, I turned my most confident smile on Lilith. “Unless you’re afraid.”
Her eyes drew down in anger. “No one says I’m afraid.” She turned to her men. “Release him,” she commanded. “And give him a sword. Don’t any of you dare to interfere.” She grinned. “I’ll tell the Collectivity that I had to kill you in self-defense. Hopefully, they’ll be happy with your corpse.”
The men holding my arms released me, and I staggered forward a 10:29 PM 3/13/2021step. A moment later, a sword was presented, hilt first.
“Take it,” Lilith commanded. “Fight me. And if you don’t, I’ll strike you down where you stand.”
She pulled her weapon lightning-fast and lunged at me. I grabbed the presented sword and swung it up just in time. The force of the blow made our blades ring.
Lilith smiled. “You know you can’t win. Risten taught you the few moves that you know, and I know a few hundred more. I have been fighting in both men and women’s bodies long before your grandfather was even dreamt of.”
She shifted her movement and came at me from another angle, which I barely parried. But she didn’t stop, and the blows kept coming. She nicked me on the shoulder. Then on the leg. She would laugh at each one. All I could do was defend.
And grow more frustrated.
I couldn’t access the skills Fumiko had given me. I didn’t know what was wrong.
It had seemed so easy during my practices. But now, I couldn’t find them. It was like the skills were lost. It was likely from the stress of the situation. Too many things to think about. Too much at risk. My brain went immediately to the old patterns while ignoring the new.
Lilith was going to win.
“Coren,” I heard Fumiko behind me. Her voice was cool and calm. “Jiaying’s lesson.”
I parried another blow. Why was Fumiko calling that out to me? The skills wouldn’t come. All I could think about was Risten kicking my butt every time I practiced with her. She was going to do it again.
Jiaying.
She had been the one that taught Fumiko the forms she had missed. My eyes went wide. Those forms were exactly what I needed.
Lilith paused, and I stepped back. I knew from my numerous practice sessions with Risten, this was what she did before launching her final attack. I only had one chance left to beat her.
I focused on the memory. I could see young Jiaying standing before me, her expression determined, her form excellent, and her stick held high.
It was like looking in a mirror.
A mirror.
Suddenly my body moved into the right form. My head tilted up a bit more, my feet slid apart ever so slightly, and my sword slowly came up into a vertical position. It felt so right.
I smiled.
Lilith gave me a puzzled look.
But this time, it was my turn.
I attacked.
Lilith was taken off guard. She danced back, but I followed, forcing her to counter and putting her on the defensive. I flowed flawlessly from one form to another. I paused, and she stepped back.
Lilith glanced down at her arm, where a single slice, a scratch really, was just starting to turn red. Lilith turned to me in shock. “How?”
I couldn’t help but grin. “A very good friend taught me.”
Lilith roared and charged. I parried but immediately returned to the offensive. The shock was evident on her face.
We continued to fight, but as we traded blows, I realized I was tiring. While I may have had the skills, my body was nowhere near as well trained. It was a war of attrition, which I was going to lose.
I needed another solution.
Lilith pulled back, and we circled each other.
“Abe,” I barely whispered. “Can Zofie transform?”
Definitely not. Her pregnancy nullifies her curse. It’s completely inactive.
“What about your ability to change luck?”
I dare not access it. The princess made me use it liberally to save your butt. She has unfortunately built up a deficit. If I’m not careful, something really bad will happen.
Lilith and I continued to circle, each looking for an opening. There had to be something else. “What about Lilith? Can I steal that curse?”
I heard a surprised gasp from Fumiko as I passed in front of her. She must have overheard me.
You’re not asking for much. He paused for a moment before finally saying. I’m not sure.
Abe was obnoxious most of the time, but I’d never heard him be
unsure.
I could see Zofie off to the side where the men still held her. Her eyes widened as she listened in on our conversation. She slowly shook her head.
Abe continued. I wasn’t made for taking a curse as complex as a Dark Avenyts. There could be unintended consequences.
It might even break me.
Lilith lunged, and we traded a few more blows before separating once again. She was testing me. Looking for a weakness.
“Got any better ideas?” I asked Abe.
Ideas? I’ve got lots of ideas. Like how I should have never gotten involved with you. Or maybe I should have found a way to have the princess as my host instead. Even Fumiko would have been better. All you are is a monkey-brained trouble magnet. He gave a big sigh. Creator no, you stupid piece of meat, I don’t have a better idea. That’s what I hate about this.
“Can you do it?”
Lilith and I traded another quick set of blows before once more stepping back. I could tell she was about to do something.
He gave an almost human sigh. I can try. But it will take longer than a normal curse. You’ll need to touch her and hold on for at least ten seconds.
“You’re kidding me? That’s an eternity.”
I don’t make this stuff up. Not only is she a massive curse, but she has locked herself tightly into her body. It will take time to get her out. Assuming I can do it at all.
Zofie looked over at the guard holding her, sizing him up. I hoped she wasn’t going to try something.
I glanced over Lilith’s shoulder, and for an instant, locked eyes with Fumiko. She gave a slight nod.
Lilith paused, and we glared at each other. The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Now or never.
I took a deep breath. This will be the longest ten seconds of my life.
“Let’s end this!” I shouted and raised my sword.
I charged.
I prayed to the Creator that I could do it.
While I tried to make an opening, we continued to circle and trade blows. Over Lilith’s shoulder, Fumiko came into view. I could see her looking at me. Her body was tensing, subtly shifting her position. I got the feeling she was getting ready to move.
Zofie lunged forward and suddenly broke free, running right toward us. Simultaneously, the men holding Fumiko yelled. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see that Fumiko was no longer there.
Lilith didn’t even pause. She ignored the approaching Zofie and instead stabbed at empty air. But the blade seemed to find flesh.
The image of Zofie vanished, and I saw that she had never freed herself. It had been an illusion. While beside me, a bit of shadow solidified into Fumiko. She had done it. Created the distraction I needed to get in close.
But the cost. I grimaced at the sight.
Lilith’s blade had pierced Fumiko’s chest and stuck out of my friend’s back.
She grabbed Lilith around the waist and pulled her closer, causing the blade to slide deeper. Blood came from her mouth. “Hurry,” she whispered.
A surprised Lilith tried to extract herself, but I grabbed her arm. “Your curse, to my curse,” I shouted.
A blue glow enveloped my hand and gradually spread up her arm, reaching for her heart.
It’s working! I thought.
Lilith’s eyes narrowed in anger. “How dare you.”
The blue glow creeping up her body slowed and then stopped.
Lilith’s mouth curled up into a confident smirk. “You’re not skilled enough to unseat me. I’ve had many years to perfect this.” With a shrug of her shoulder, the glow began to reverse itself.
Inside my head, Abe howled in pain. I can’t hold her! he shouted. She’s so strong!
Lilith started to shove me away. But I fought to keep contact, refusing to let go.
Suddenly, I found myself in a world of all gray—the world of curses. To my left, I saw Risten in some kind of cage. She was lying on her side—naked and curled up into a tight ball. I could see dark bruises all over her body. I somehow knew these were not physical, but more a reflection of the mental abuse she had taken at Lilith’s hand.
In front of me, two of the line figures were locked in a struggle. I recognized one of them as Abe. But the other was new to me. In its large round head was a cluster of lines emanating from a central point. Each of the lines was capped with an arrow pointing outwards. I instantly recognized the symbol.
It was for insanity.
It was Lilith’s symbol.
The curse reached forward and grabbed Abe’s arm. With a quick snap of her wrist, she broke it off and quickly stuffed it inside her head. It flowed into one of the existing lines.
Abe cried out in pain, and my mouth fell open in horror. She was slowly eating him.
Help me, he cried.
But I didn’t know how. I ran toward them, but I couldn’t get any closer no matter how much I ran. All I could hear was the sound of Lilith’s laughing.
A new voice spoke to me. Use the key, it said.
I turned to see yet another stick figure kneeling on the ground. Inside its head was a symbol I had just seen. It was the rising sun.
On the ground in front of the curse was a sleeping Cabrina, her head resting on the curse’s bent knees.
“Hope?” I asked.
She nodded. Use the Griffin’s Key. It’s the only way.
Instantly I was back in my body, struggling with Lilith. I felt along my attacker’s side, and tucked inside her belt, my fingers brushed the Griffin’s Key. I had time to wonder if I could do it.
Please, oh, please work.
I grasped it and said the word. “Unlock.”
The key exploded with light and enveloped us both in a blinding white glow. I heard a voice inside my head. What do you want to unlock?
I didn’t hesitate.
“Lilith.”
The Dark Avenyts looked at me in horror. “No!”
The white light went out. I felt more than heard a vibration, which ran through both of us, becoming more and more intense. Abe’s blue glow continued to recede, and I feared it hadn’t worked.
Then the blue glow’s movement gradually slowed and finally stopped. I heard Abe groan in the effort. The vibration turned into shaking, and I began to feel power grow, like a thunderstorm in the distance. It was coming, and it was powerful.
The blue glow on her arm began to advance upwards. Slowly at first, but gradually moving faster.
“No!” Lilith screamed. She struggled to get free.
The shaking turned into a low rumble, and I felt the ground moving. I began to fear that the building might fall on our heads. Abe groaned again, and then his glow accelerated, racing toward her heart.
“No!” Lilith cried, frantically trying to break free. “You can’t!”
The blue light became brighter, and the power continued to grow. I could feel a myst working like none I had felt before—so much power. The floor began to heave, and I felt lightning in the air. Our hair came alive and stood up on its own—tiny sparks began to fly from us to the ground.
Finally, the blue glow reached her chest, and Lilith gave a death scream.
The pent-up power suddenly released. A giant bolt of lightning, from Creator knew where, struck all three of us, and we were flung apart. I sailed off the ground and landed hard on my back, hitting my head on the stone floor.
I lost consciousness.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Last
Wish
I gradually became aware of the world around me. Fleeting thoughts ran through my head, but I couldn’t seem to grasp them. I heard weeping, which seemed close and yet very far away. For a moment, I thought it was my mother. It sounded just like her crying when she first saw my father’s body. I was only twelve at the time. I remembered watching this woman who was the model of a strong heart, the center of our home, the rock upon which we all stood, brought to her knees in racking sobs.
I forced my eyes open. My head was turned to the side, and not too far away
, I could see someone’s back. Between us, a sword lay discarded, its blade painted with blood.
Where was Lilith? Did we stop her?
I knew I should be feeling panic, but I couldn’t seem to get my brain to connect with my body. I smelled something burnt, and I tasted soot in my mouth.
I heard voices. Feet stomping. And that awful sound of crying continued. I knew I had to move. I sat up, and the world spun. I felt every hurt I’d ever received across my body. I put a trembling hand to my head and tried to steady myself. I saw Lilith—or was it Risten now—laying sprawled out across from me, still unconscious. Her men were trapped inside a barrier, and I saw Cabrina standing beside it. Her expression was grim.
Who was crying?
“Abe?” I asked.
I did not receive an answer.
“Abe?” I asked more forcefully.
Still no response. Could curses be knocked unconscious?
Someone’s crying.
I finally turned toward the sound. It came from the person with their back to me. I knew them. Who were they?
I noticed men and women standing around us. Guards. But they were in a different uniform. They looked sad.
Why wouldn’t the crying stop?
Mother had cried for hours. I remember telling her I was sorry. That I didn’t mean to fall in the river. That I didn’t mean for him to come after me.
But she ignored me and continued to wail.
I managed to roll myself onto all fours and then crawled over to the person with their back to me. As I crawled, my bruised brain gradually noticed other details. The person was kneeling—leaning over someone lying on the floor before them. As I got closer, I could make out the face of the person on the floor.
“What do you mean there’s no healers close by?” yelled someone in anger. I didn’t recognize the voice. It was a man’s voice and not someone I knew. I saw the kneeling person press their hands on the chest of the woman lying down. Her hands were covered in blood.
Through her tears, the person kneeling yelled. “Why won’t the bleeding stop!”
I looked up at the person kneeling and realized who it was. I was both thankful and sorrowful at the same time. Zofie was unharmed.
The princess was kneeling, pressing down hard on the person’s wound.
Assassin of Curses: (The Coren Hart Chronicles Book 3) Page 36