From The Falls (The Falls Trilogy Book 2)

by Heather Renee

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  “Get up, you dirty twit!” a deep bellowing voice yelled. “I need you alive for now, but don’t test my patience much longer. If you’re worthless to me, I’ll dispose of you. Now show me what you can do!”

  I heard a thud and then a groan. That bastard was putting his hands on her. We needed to get in there now. I wasn’t going to listen to this for a moment longer.

  “Plan?” I ground out.

  “Still the same,” Lorelle said. “The three of us go after Cassius, while the rest get the Parias. Once all the Parias are gone, then a few of you need to take Jenna out of here immediately. Do not wait for us.”

  Jordan rolled her eyes. She wouldn’t leave me and I knew it already. The others would have to take care of Jenna. “Everyone ready?” I asked.

  Nobody objected. It was time to let this Dark Fae know that good always wins.

  We walked around the corner. The first thing I saw was Cassius with a fist full of Jenna’s hair. She had bruises along the side of her face and blood flowed from a gash on her forehead. I was going to enjoy killing this piece of trash.

  “Put her down,” I yelled as all of us made it around the corner. The Parias immediately swarmed us, but thankfully, there weren’t more than the others could handle.

  “What do you plan on doing about it, little girl?” Cassius smirked and raised his arm at Jenna.

  Not this time, asshat.

  We were pretty far underground at this point, which fortunately meant water was everywhere within the ground. I called on my Arelia abilities and froze Cassius’s arm in midair. No way was I going to let him lay another hand on her.

  He cocked his head to the side. “They sent an Arelia this time. Impressive.” He flexed his arms and the ice broke from his arm. “That won’t be enough, though. I’ve destroyed your kind before and I’m not afraid to do it again.”

  I took in our surroundings before attacking him. I had no desire to sit here and chat. I knew what needed to be done and I was going to make it happen. The Parias were dwindling, but more were coming in at a steady rate. So far, everyone was fine. I was glad not to have to worry about the others.

  There were two other entry points to this room. We needed to seal those to delay the Parias from getting in. The room we occupied was made entirely of the dirt within the mountain. If I hit right above the doorways with water hard enough, I could cause it to collapse. My only worry was that I’d cause too much structural damage and the whole room would cave in.

  “You’re not going to get what you need from that girl,” I mocked him. “Don’t you think you would have by now? Or maybe you’re not as good as everyone says you are.”

  That finally drew his attention from Jenna and he took a few steps toward us. He smiled at me, but there was no warmness to it. His smirk made my blood go cold.

  “For being an Arelia, you’re not very bright. I have no need for you, so I will kill you for being a nuisance. Then, I will break her. There is nothing you can do to stop me.”

  He flung his hands out and a forced slammed against Lucas, Lorelle and me. We flew back and hit the wall behind us. Hard. I sucked in a breath as best I could and Lucas placed his hand on my stomach. I shook my head no. Nothing in my stomach hurt. The baby was fine.

  We quickly got back up in time to see Cassius drag Jenna across the room toward one of the doors. I called on the water again and used it like a fire hose to weaken the space above the door. Cassius picked up his pace, but he was too late. He made it about three feet from the exit before the space collapsed just as I had intended it to. I immediately started working on the other door. He would have to go through us if he wanted to leave.

  I couldn’t pay close attention to Cassius as I worked on the other exit, but I knew Lucas and Lorelle had my back. I was surprised when Lucas jumped in front of me and hissed in pain.

  I turned my head and his arm was scorched. “What the hell was that?” I asked while calling on more water to hurry up and finish the job.

  “Not sure, but it was headed straight for your head and like hell I was going to let that bastard touch my wife.”

  Always my knight in shining armor. The other door finally collapsed and Cassius did not look happy. “Who else do you have with you?” he snapped.

  “Why?” Lucas asked sarcastically. “Was that supposed to hurt more than it did?”

  Cassius growled and I smirked. The pixie’s protection was doing its job.

  “We’re going to have to go hand-to-hand with him,” Lorelle whispered. “The water won’t hold him. You’re going to have to fight him. Trust the dagger to help you finish this.”

  I was ready. Even more ready after watching his treatment of Jenna. He would never leave this room.

  I didn’t bother waiting. Lucas picked up on my thoughts. I charged at Cassius with my dagger in hand and ready for use. Cassius produced his own blade. Though it was quite a bit bigger, I made up for it by being faster and lighter on my feet.

  Lorelle was right behind us throwing some spells, but they didn’t seem to be doing anything until I realized they were a distraction. She was working her way behind Cassius to get Jenna out of the crossfire.

  I came face to chest with Cassius. He was massive, but that would not help him this time. His blade came down aimed straight for my head. I rolled to the ground and slashed my dagger toward his legs. I managed to slice his calf, but just barely.

  Cassius howled in pain and backed away with a limp. “How did you find that?”

  His face was red in pain and he actually looked shocked and slightly afraid. Good. “Doesn’t matter where,” I spat. “Only thing that matters is it will be the last thing you see before you die today.”

  He laughed now, trying to cover up his worry, but I could still see it in his eyes. “Good luck with that, little girl.”

  This time he came at us first and his blade lit up with subtle blue flames. He swung it at Lucas first, but missed him by only millimeters and continued with his downward swing toward my legs. I rolled out of the way before quickly jumping to my feet as he advanced on me again.

  Lucas gathered the most brilliant white orb I had ever seen. So much light magic permeated from it that it warmed my skin. He threw it at Cassius and hit him dead center in the chest. Cassius was stunned, and though it was for only a moment, I quickly took advantage of it. I ran in slashing the blade across his abdomen before retreating.

  Lorelle now had Jenna and walked with her to the opposite side of the room. I was amazed to see that Jenna appeared coherent. She should have been dead from the force Cassius used.

  Cassius was doubled over in pain for only a few seconds. He grimaced at me, “Is that all you got? Going to have to be better than that to stop me.”

  Lucas was gathering another light orb. That was going to be our best chance at beating Cassius, if Lucas stunned him while I stabbed him however many times it took.

  Strix flew in and began acting as another distraction. Cassius laughed. “What do you plan on doing with that thing? You’re a pathetic choice for an Arelia. You really should have just stayed at home and enjoyed what little time you had left in your world.”

  Lucas flung the next orb and aimed for the stomach area I had already sliced. This time Cassius’s head flung backwards and he cried out. Strix asked me to stay put. I trusted him, so I did as he asked.

  He flew straight for Cassius’s face and pecked one of his eyes out. It was the grossest thing I had seen him do yet, but it was also the coolest thing I had ever seen him do. Strix spit the eye out. I quickly ran to Cassius and cut him once more, another small one on his arm. Each cut was weakening him, so I couldn’t miss an opportunity to strike. Even if the cuts were small, they served a purpose.

  Strix flew back to me and I smiled as Cassius straightened once more. He had blood running down the left side of his face and a mess where his eye should have been.

  “You will not win!” he screeched. “That insignificant blimp failed me and
I will not let you ruin my plans again.”

  My curiosity was piqued now and I held Lucas off. “Again?”

  “You got lucky with Damien,” Cassius spat. “I should have known he would fail. He was good once and it left him weak. If I wanted the job done right, I had to do it myself.”

  Cheese and rice, Cassius has been plotting against us this whole time! I certainly didn’t expect that news, but it made sense that they’d try to work together.

  “You’re right,” I said. “You should have done it yourself, so we could have been rid of you a year ago instead.”

  I gave Lucas the go ahead and he flung another orb at Cassius. Cassius dodged it and flung Lucas back with a flick of his hand. “Just you and me.” He smiled. “Let’s see how you do.”

  Cassius swung his blade down surprisingly fast almost taking my arm off that held the dagger. Though I sidestepped fast enough to keep my arm, he managed to slice my skin. Damn! It burned like hell. Strix flew at Cassius. I could sense his mood, and Strix was not happy.

  Strix flew for Cassius’s other eye, but Cassius swung his long blade and managed to block Strix. Luckily, Strix’s distraction allowed me to come at Cassius from behind. I jumped up, plunging the dagger into his back. The weight of my descent left a nasty looking gash in its wake.

  Cassius roared as I quickly retreated to safety. Strix flew to me and Lucas was back at my side. We were ready. Our next move needed to be big. There was no way I was going to let this go on any longer. Lorelle touched her hand to my back and I knew it was time. The four of us were going to do this together.

  Cassius straightened once more leveling his fiery glare at each of us before settling on me. “I’m done playing your little games,” he sneered. His hand flashed up and black ooze shot out of it straight toward my chest. I saw it coming in slow motion. I wasn’t going to be quick enough to move out of the way. This was it. I love you, Lucas.

  Lucas roared and reached for me, but at the same time, I was yanked backwards. I rolled and looked behind me. Whatever Cassius had meant for me, I watched go straight into Lorelle’s chest.

  “NO!” I screamed, jumping back up. I didn’t hesitate. I didn’t think. I just knew Cassius had to die. I called on every ounce of power I had. I was beyond furious. I didn’t know if Lorelle was dead, but I couldn’t take a second longer to think about that.

  I drew on my raw emotions and used them to my advantage. Cassius would die, now! Water made a cyclone around Cassius, but he broke free from it. I didn’t let up. I froze him solid and sliced through the ice with my dagger across his chest. The injury made it take him longer to come out of the ice, but he did finally.

  I kept at it until he tired. I froze him five more times in under a minute until he finally slowed. One more time and this would be over. Cassius glanced up at me and smiled. “Had enough yet?”

  “Actually, I have.”

  I launched myself at Cassius, and his face fell. He was too drained from all my smaller wounds to move quickly enough once he realized what I was doing. I arched my arm and came down with the dagger in hand. The dagger went straight through his chest before finding purchase in his heart, or at least where his heart should have been. I doubted he had one.

  The dagger heated up and began humming. I let go and backed away. My gut told me I didn’t want to be in close proximity to whatever was about to happen.

  Cassius’s mouth opened wide in shock, but no sound came out. Black blood oozed from his missing eye and all the other cuts I had made. Lucas stood beside me, but I blocked out his thoughts until I knew for sure Cassius was dead. I couldn’t afford to break down yet.

  I watched the dagger dig itself deeper into Cassius’s chest while his hand made a feeble attempt to pull it out. He groaned a few more times before toppling over face first into the dirt at our feet.

  I walked closer with Lucas at my heels waiting for any signs of life, but nothing happened. I was numb. I had no desire to turn around and face what I needed to.

  “She doesn’t have much longer,” Lucas whispered. “You need to say goodbye.”

  My breath caught. I had been certain she was already gone. I turned and ran to Lorelle falling to my knees beside her as I fumbled for her hand. Jordan held her other hand, while the others kneeled around her.

  “Kaliah,” Lorelle croaked. “Speak with Miah when you get home. She will have answers to the rest of your questions.”

  Tears trailed down my cheeks. “No, we’re going to take you to the pixies and they’re going to fix this. If not them, then someone else.”

  “It’s my time to go.” She smiled. “I’ve been alive a long time and I’m ready. I wouldn’t have wanted it to be any other way. If I hadn’t done what I did, we’d all be dead. You have a bright future ahead of you. You’re going to change the future for those who come after you. You will need to be strong.”

  I let out a hiccup as the tears came faster. Her voice sounded so frail and her grip was loosening on my hand. I squeezed tighter, not ready to let her go yet.

  “Miah saw this happening and you knew, didn’t you?” I asked softly. Lorelle had told us her most precious secret about being half mage, because she knew she wouldn’t be here much longer.

  “No,” Lorelle coughed. “Miah was going to come with us. She was going to be the one to save you and die. I spoke with the Fates and we decided she would live and I would pass my knowledge on to her instead. She’ll have complete access to everything in my home.” Lorelle coughed again and blood trickled from her mouth and nose. “I explained this all to her before we left. That’s why she appeared upset when they showed up late for dinner.”

  I leaned down and wrapped my arms around her. “Thank you,” I whispered into her neck. She started coughing more violently, so I pulled up.

  She turned her head to the side, coughing up more blood. “I’ll be watching over you and your little one. You’re going to have a beautiful family.”

  My vision was blurry with tears, so I could barely see. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye, so I didn’t. I sat there with Lorelle and watched as she took her last breath moments later.

  “Kaliah, I held off as long as I could to give you a moment, but we have a problem,” Strix said mentally. “There are Parias swarming the mountain. We need to get out of here now.”

  I looked back to Lorelle before acknowledging Strix. I just needed another second. I gave her one last squeeze and asked Lucas to carry her.

  I told the others what Strix had said and we packed up. I had completely forgotten about Jenna, but thankfully Jordan and Kane were helping her. I didn’t have time to worry about anyone else right now. My head and heart were a mess. I never had any family besides my parents and Jordan. I had never felt loss. It was more than I could process at the moment.

  Lucas brushed his shoulder against mine as he held Lorelle, but didn’t say a word. His silent support was exactly what I needed right then. I would cry with him later, but we needed to get the rest of us out of here. I doubted I’d survive if something happened to anyone else.

  We all ran in silence with only one break for Jenna. Kane eventually carried her so we could get out of the mountain faster. The walls were shaking and dirt particles began to float down around us. Whatever the Parias were doing was not good.

  I could finally see the flicker of fire at the entrance, but everything outside was even darker than it had been before. I wouldn’t have thought it was possible. We slowed down as we got closer and I called out to Strix asking him what to do. I felt a twinge of guilt for not sensing he had left earlier, but Lorelle’s death had consumed my thoughts.

  “We need a distraction,” Strix said. “The pixies are ready to open the walk-through, but they can’t with the Parias so close. Too many of them would get through along with you and the others. There would be chaos.”

  I had an idea. I’d never done something of this size before, but hopefully it would work.

  “I need you guys to wait here.” Lucas tried to cut me
off, but I held up my hand. “I need to clear the area of Parias so we can use the walk-through. I can’t do that with you out there with me. I won’t risk you getting hurt in the process. Please trust me.”

  Lucas nodded curtly and Jordan hugged me. “We believe in you. Go do what you need to do,” she said.

  “Here, take this in case you need it.” Oliver had part of his shirt wrapped around something. I hadn’t even noticed he had torn it. I grabbed it from him, surprised to find my dagger inside.

  “How did you get this?” I asked.

  “It came out of his back after he fell. I grabbed it while you were with Lorelle.”

  I reached out and touched his arm. “Thank you.” I went back to Lucas. He laid Lorelle gently down on the ground and pulled me to him.

  “I will be waiting right by the door. If you need me, I will go out there whether you want me to or not.”

  “I know you will and that’s why I love you so much.” The walls around us shook again. I leaned up and gave him a quick kiss before turning toward the exit.

  “Be safe,” his voice was filled with worry.

  I nodded and headed to the door. It was time to find out how big of a cyclone I could create.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  I walked outside of the mountain to find the sky pitch black. Parias were everywhere. They weren’t very happy that we had killed the one person who had offered them a chance at freedom. Well, too bad. I needed them out of my way immediately.

  I attempted to clear my head of all other thoughts. It was hard with everything that had just happened, but I did the best I could. I reached out to the water around me. Thankfully, I could sense a stream behind this mountain somewhere. I was about to suck it dry.

  I called on the water closest to me and started a smaller cyclone. That began to catch the Parias attention and they backed away some, unsure of what exactly it was. One of the not so smart ones got closer to see what was going on and was sucked up into the tornado. Just as I had hoped, it couldn’t get out.