Entrapped (Cursed Magic Series

by Casey Odell

  “Oh no you don’t!” Claire shouted. She quickly formed a blue orb in each hand and launched them at the creature. They struck its crude metal armor, stunning it momentarily.

  The creature spun, turning its attention to her, and brought the club down, smashing it onto the ground. Claire could feel the tremors as the ground split. No, Farron definitely didn’t need to remind her to stay out of this beast’s way. She knew full well its destructive power. She stepped to the right a little. She didn’t want to stay in one place for too long.

  Farron used her distraction to sneak up behind the mulna. As quick as lightning, he drew his other dagger and sliced at the creature's legs. A deafening shriek erupted from its razor-filled mouth and it swung its fist down behind its back, just missing the elf.

  “No,” Claire shouted, “you pay attention to me!” She crouched and slammed her hands into the dirt, sending a line of spikes toward the beast. The creature tried to back away, but it wasn’t fast enough. Two spikes sliced at its foot and right leg. Unable to keep its balance, the creature fell to its knees, crying out in pain. The club fell from its grasp.

  A crack of lightning sounded from behind the creature and it reared up in pain, its arms flailing, trying to reach something on its back but failing. Claire pushed more of her magic into the ground, causing it to shake beneath the beast and making it lose its balance once again. It fell forward, leaning on its hands. The horde of centaurs started their shouting once again. A few launched spears at the creature and Farron. Claire couldn’t see him. She could only hope that he’d managed to avoid them at the moment.

  “Stop that!” she yelled, and sent a line of spikes down each side of the clearing, making the centaurs rear back. Sweat dripped down her forehead. She was using too much of her magic. But it couldn’t be helped. If she didn’t, they were done for.

  When Claire looked back at the creature, she was in disbelief. Somehow, Farron had managed to scale the creature’s back. He held onto the armor, just dodging the meaty fists as he drew back his arm and stabbed the blade hilt-deep into the base of the beast’s neck. The mulna flailed wildly, screaming, then shuddered and fell forward, crashing to the ground. It groaned as Farron twisted his dagger and then fell silent, motionless. With a jerk, Farron pulled his blade out of the creature and jumped down off its back, his shoulders heaving.

  “Fare!” Claire ran to him. “Are you alright?”

  “Better than him.” He nodded to the lifeless mulna. Besides a smattering of the beast’s purplish blood, he looked unscathed, if maybe a little shaken.

  Not that she could blame him. She would be too if she had to do what he just did.

  His eyes swept the surrounding centaurs who were becoming restless at the death of their pet. Another spear was launched and Farron pushed her away, barely dodging it himself. A slew of arrows drove him further away from her. They were trying to separate them. After all, it was her they wanted alive, not him. They were done playing with him. Claire had to think of something, and soon. As good as he was, not even he could dodge everything.

  Farron fell to his knees, dropping under a high flying arrow, his breathing labored. Claire dashed to his side and dropped down to the ground, laying both hands flat on the dirt. Rock walls shot up around them. They were thin, but they would buy them a little bit of time.

  Claire collapsed, leaning her back up against the side of their temporary fortification, and looked up at Farron. “You really are foolish, aren’t you? To follow me willingly into such a disaster…”

  He looked sideways at her and was about to say something when the first impact shook their barrier.

  “I won’t let them have you,” she told him. Even though she felt almost completely drained, she also felt a new surge of determination. She wasn’t going to let him die for her sake. She would give herself up again before she let that happen. But she had a feeling not even that would keep him safe this time.

  “I believe I’m the one that’s supposed to say that,” Farron said, a hint of a smile forming on his lips.

  Claire closed her eyes, fighting back her own smile. Foolish indeed. She gathered her magic up inside herself and thought of Razi. She wasn’t sure exactly how to call for him. Another crash on the rock startled her and she used the urgency and fear and all the pent up anger to call out his name, search for his presence, to call him to her. Pain flared white and hot in her head and she fell forward, panting, leaning on her hands. Farron reached for her, but she brushed his hands away.

  “I’m fine,” she said, rising to her knees. “Get ready. I’m not sure how long these walls will hold.” She stood and put her hands on the wall opposite her where the impacts were sounding. The rock vibrated with each hit. She pushed what little power she had left into it, hoping to reinforce it enough to hold until Razi came. If he came. She had no idea if he’d received her distress signal.

  But it wasn’t enough. The first crack formed in front of her. Claire gritted her teeth and pushed even more magic into the rock. The sting flared along the length of the scar, and the first hint of the wild power stirred in the back of her mind. She wouldn’t be able to hold on for much longer.

  “Claire, look out!” Farron said, but his voice sounded far away.

  Another crash and the crack grew bigger, the surrounding walls shuddering.

  “Move!” Farron shouted as he pushed her out of the way moments before the crevice gave way and a spear shot through.

  Feeling drained, Claire crouched on the ground, panting. Sweat dripped down her body. She was at her limit.

  Farron grabbed the wooden shaft of the spear and held on tight. Another crash hit the wall and it came tumbling down, revealing the centaur. Farron pulled the spear, catching the beast off guard, and in the same breath, drew his right dagger and stabbed it into the centaur’s chest. The centaur reared and fell onto its side, convulsing. Without skipping a beat, Farron fell to a crouch, grabbed his bow, and drew an arrow, the tip engulfed in vibrant orange flame. He let it fly into the gathering horde and the screams and shouts of centaurs filled the air. They retreated slightly, but they wouldn’t be kept at bay forever. Farron had a finite amount of arrows, after all.

  An ear-splitting explosion erupted on the other side of their remaining walls, violently shaking the earth, and their last vestige of safety came crashing down around them. Claire ducked, covering her head with her arms. She felt his presence before she saw him. Finally, he’d come. They just might have a chance now. Wind swirled around her and Razi seemed to materialize out of the wispy black smoke.

  “Is this a part of your plan, me chaqana?” He looked down at her, eyebrow raised. He formed a magic sphere in each hand and launched it at two charging centaurs, stopping them in their tracks. “If so, I should have never left.” He offered a helping hand.

  Claire took it without an argument. She was just grateful he’d arrived. “Are they safe?” she asked, looking around for Farron. He knelt a few paces away as he drew another flaming arrow. She glanced around at the damage Razi had caused. A vast crater stood behind them where the road had been. Bodies of centaurs and a few elves littered the sloping ground, the nearest buildings collapsing in. She couldn’t keep her jaw from dropping. He’d done all that?

  “There were a few problems, but I took care of them,” he said, pulling her closer. “I can explain later. We should retreat for now.” Wind started to build again.

  Claire pushed away from him and pointed at Farron. “I will not leave him!” She placed a hand on top of his and gave him a pleading look. “Please,” she said. “With your power, we can end this. Here. Now.”

  Razi sighed and she could see his resistance start to erode.

  “I’m not leaving,” she said, raising her chin to him.

  He made an exasperated noise and let go of her arm, then turned and stalked toward the throng of centaurs. A wordless shout erupted from his mouth as he made a running leap and landed only paces away from the gathering beasts, and slammed both fists onto t
he ground. A deep fissure opened up under the centaurs, swallowing a large number of the monsters and scattering the rest.

  Claire steadied herself. She stared at Razi, transfixed, in awe at such power. Was she capable of the same thing? She glanced down at her hand, at the mark growing wild, the scar. Probably not in her condition.

  A noise drew her attention. Another dark-clad elf stumbled up over the edge of the crater. He must have escaped Razi’s attack. Lucky for him, but not for her. She didn’t have much left in her. It took her a moment to realize it was the same one that had attacked her earlier. He appeared unharmed considering the circumstances— if a little worn, but mostly, he just looked mad. She took a step back and drew her dagger. The tactic she’d used earlier probably wouldn’t work again.

  Claire glanced back at her companions, both of whom were busy fighting. No. She couldn’t rely on them for help all the time. Besides, what was one elf compared to the mass of beasts they were currently facing? She could deal with him again.

  The elf said something in his pretty language, his dark brown eyes narrowing at her. Dirt marred his ethereal good looks— though curiously, not a single strand of his nearly black hair was out of place. Claire frowned, knowing her own tresses must look just awful.

  The elf drew a short sword that hung from his waist and slowly stepped toward her. He circled to her left, then charged at her. Claire wasn’t prepared for his sudden movement. She jerked back, stumbling on some rubble. It took her a moment to find her footing again, but when she did, the elf was already on her. He slashed out with his blade and Claire was barely able to block it at the last second. Her arms shook with the effort.

  “Triall se non ahgis,” the elf said, sneering, looming over her. “Yaederrí.”

  Claire froze momentarily at the last word he spoke. That one she did recognize. It was a word she had heard uttered over and over again when she’d been a captive in the forest. It meant ‘little hope.’ So the forest king did have something to do with these elves teaming up with the centaurs. Her stomach sunk even lower. Did Aeron have any involvement in this? Even though she didn’t know him that well, she still liked to believe he wasn’t evil, that he hadn’t sunk as low as his brethren.

  The elf took advantage of her stunned state and knocked her dagger aside, bringing his blade up to her neck. With a gasp, Claire jumped back. That was too close. She formed a magic orb in her hand and launched it at him. He parried it away with his sword, dropping it before the shocks of magic could reach his hand. They were learning. Too fast, much to her dismay. He produced a dagger from somewhere and charged at her again. He slashed down at her, but it was too wide to hit. Had he missed on purpose? Claire backed away, dodging his attacks a little too easily. Just what was he up to? It was like he was pushing her back, leading her away from the others. She couldn’t let that happen.

  But by the time it occurred to her, it was already too late. He’d pushed her back toward the entrance to an alleyway, and with a sharp whistle, two more elves sprung from the shadows. Before she could act, a heavy rope net slammed down on top of her, bringing her to her knees. Claire flailed, slashing at the ropes with her dagger. One of the elves kicked her, impeding her progress, and sent her rolling onto her side.

  “Let me out!” she shouted uselessly. Of course, they wouldn’t listen to her, even if they could understand her. The elves started to drag her along the ground in the most undignified manner. She was almost too embarrassed to call out to Farron or Razi. To be caught in a net, of all things. What was she, a fish?

  Two centaurs galloped down the alley and relieved the elves of their load. Claire shouted wordlessly as they took off, dragging her behind, dirt and dust clogging her throat and stinging her eyes. The ground scraped at her exposed skin. Lumps and rocks jabbed into her, certain to produce a plethora of lovely bruises. What she could see of the world around her through the ropes came in dizzying flashes.

  It felt like she’d been dragged several blocks when one of the centaurs shouted out in distress, shortly followed by the other, and she slid to a stop. Claire slowly got her hands under her and pushed up from the ground. Everything hurt. If she’d been at her limit before, she was definitely past it now. With some careful maneuvering, she managed to climb her way out of the net. The two centaurs were down, their massive forms lying lifelessly in front of her. Wind swirled behind her and she breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Razi, thank goodness,” she said, her shoulders slumping with exhaustion.

  “My flower,” came a deep voice that definitely didn’t belong to her comrade.

  Claire froze, her heart jumping up to her throat. No. It couldn’t be. She knew that voice. It still echoed in her nightmares. And it certainly wasn’t any more welcome now. She spun, her hand going to her side, but finding the sheath empty. Her dagger still lay tangled in the net.

  “You are so close to blooming,” he said, tipping his head to the side, his unnerving, dark eyes looking her over before settling on her right arm. “I can feel it. You just need that final…” His intense gaze slowly traveled up to her face and he took a step toward her. “…push.”

  Claire took a step back, fear reigniting inside of her. What did he mean by that? Just what was he planning to do? “Stay away from me!”

  Bahkar took a few more steps toward her, but then ducked to the side suddenly as an arrow flew inches past his head.

  “Fare…” Claire uttered, but her relief was short-lived when she looked past the man to see the two elves from before that had captured her in their net. The third elf was curiously missing. Had something happened to him or was he in hiding, biding his time, waiting for his moment to strike?

  Bahkar spun, rage twisting his face into something monstrous, and dispersed into a dark whirlwind. The two elves turned about, searching, their weapons at the ready. But neither of them were quick enough. The madman struck fast, bringing both to their knees within seconds. The man’s eerie laugh filled the air, sending chills down Claire’s arms.

  Both enemies distracted, Claire took the opportunity to sneak away, dipping down a side street. She ran full speed, her fatigue and aches forgotten. They were trivial compared to what that man, or the elves, had in store for her. She weaved her way down alleys and streets, only pausing when a random centaur crossed her path. It seemed most of their force was still fighting Razi and Farron. She hoped they were alright. With Razi’s power, they should be. But that didn’t mean Razi would keep Farron safe.

  “You can run all you like, my flower,” came the madman’s voice, from nowhere and everywhere at once. “But there is no hiding from me.”

  Claire skidded to a stop, turning, searching. He was right. He had the power to sense her. No matter how far or fast she ran, he would always be able to find her. Perhaps the chains the Syndicate had strapped onto her weren’t such a bad thing. She would have to hunt the device down afterward. If she made it out in one piece, that is.

  “What do you want from me?” she shouted, turning, readying herself for his attack.

  “I just want to see your true potential.” His voice crawled along her skin.

  Shivers raced through her body. “Why?”

  Bahkar emerged from the shadows, a lopsided grin below crazed eyes. “Do I need a reason?”

  Claire’s eyebrows scrunched together, she didn’t know whether to be angry or confused. There had to be a reason he haunted her. He may have been mad, but he wasn’t just doing it for fun, was he?

  “Now, no more running.” Bahkar rushed her.

  Claire tried to move, but he was too fast. His hands gripped her shoulders and slammed her up against the side of a building, the impact knocking the breath out of her. She coughed as air returned to her lungs, but she almost wished it hadn’t. The man smelled like he hadn’t bathed in weeks. His breath wasn’t any better.

  “We want the same thing, you and me,” he said, his eyes boring into hers. “I saw it in that pretty little head of yours.”

  “And what is
that exactly?” Claire squirmed, trying to wriggle out of his grip, but he slammed her back against the wall again. Her head struck the solid wood and she saw stars. She blinked a few times to clear her vision.

  “Power,” he breathed, the word taking on a life of its own, tingling across her skin and down her body. “And with that power comes freedom.”

  “Not from you, it seems,” she spat at him.

  A deep laugh bubbled up from his throat. “They try to control us,” he said, sobering in a blink of an eye. “To use us for their own machinations. To keep us locked away. We are the superior ones. Earnehard tried to use me when he found out what I was.”

  Claire racked her brain to try and remember where she had heard that name before.

  “But I wouldn’t let him!” Ire flashed across his face. “Not even a king could control me! I made sure of that!”

  Her eyes widened. Of course. King Earnehard. Farron’s and the current king’s father. “You…”

  “You have the power to set us all free. I can feel it…. emanating off you. Crawling through you. Don’t hold back, my flower.” He clasped the base of her neck, his fingers squeezing tight, nails digging into her skin. The sharp pain in her head came faster than before.

  “No!” Claire shouted. Her voice sounded far away, muffled, like she was hearing herself from underwater. Memories flashed across her vision, one after the other, so quick she couldn’t grasp onto any of them. Fire started in the tips of her fingers and slowly climbed up her arms, engulfing her inch by agonizing inch. She felt like she was screaming. Could feel the air rip down her throat. But there was no sound. The wild, unrestrained power deep inside of her reared its ugly head.