by Alix Sharpe
“They’re going to get through at some point, you know it, I know it. The assholes in charge Earth-side don’t want to deal with it properly, don’t want to do something while they still can. They could have sent thousands more soldiers in here, eradicated the Elves for good. But they didn’t. Spent the goddamn budgets on some other bullshit. So you know what we have? A military full of kids and convicts, led by a dead woman, an incompetent blue hag, and some AWOL Salamander.”
“I’m a convict. You’re an AWOL Salamander. What’s your fucking point?”
“I thought I made that clear? Let’s leave.”
“No, Kallen,” she spat. “You should leave. You take Merlena. You be that second person. It should be you anyway. You’re right, this isn’t your fight. You ran away a long time ago. You should just keep running.”
“Angeline,” he growled, pinning her against the wall. “You got pulled in again. Just like with your Ex. This isn’t what you signed up for and now you’re scared to walk away. Well I’m going to get you out of here, even if I have to drag you.”
He lunged for her shirt collar.
Her hands shot up between them, her Mage magic ignited, incandescent blue, swirling, sparking like lightning. Her lip lifted in a snarl.
“Back the fuck off, Kallen. That’s an order.”
Kyle’s skin started to crackle under the current, her magic leaching towards him in painful, little snaps, ready to strike.
“Whoa, Angelface,” he said, backing away, hands raised. She didn’t relent, she was serious. “What happened to the woman from last night, huh? What happened to Angie? She wouldn’t want this.”
“Nothing’s changed,” she hissed. “I’m still a Captain and you’re still a coward. So go, run away.”
Kyle’s chest tightened. “Abandoning a worthless cause doesn’t make me a coward. And standing by it doesn’t make you brave. I know you want to walk away too, Ang, you’re just scared to lose control. But guess what? There’s no controlling this. That’s because you have no choice, this place never gave you any. You said it yourself: everything you do is wrong.”
Her fury only flared, and her magic with it. “Nothing was supposed to leave that room.”
“Well it did,” he spat, raising his paint covered arm to her face for emphasis, “you made your mark”.
Blood pounded in his head, heart racing. He swooped back towards her pressing her back against the wall, pinning his forearms on either side of her. Her magic snapped painfully against his chest, ready to launch. But he didn’t care. He needed her to know. “I’m falling for you, Angeline.”
The searing cobalt magic evaporated in her fist. She closed her eyes. When she opened them again, they were no longer shaded with rage, they were dead. “I feel nothing for you, Kallen.”
It felt like she’d taken that magic and socked him straight in the gut. His eyes dropped to his paint smeared arms. He closed his eyes and captured the memory of her beautiful laugh from the night before.
No. She was lying. That was real, the realest thing he’d ever heard. She was just trying to get him to leave.
“No, I know you felt something,” he said, closing his fists to stop the shaking.
She curled her upper lip again and flashed him a look of sheer disgust. “How could I? All you’re good for is that body. Why else would I let you fuck me?”
“That’s not true, you don’t mean that.”
“Oh, but I do. You were too stupid to hold back when you fought that kid all those years ago, and you’re too stupid now to hear what I’m saying. There’s a reason I didn’t let you kiss me. It’s because I. Don’t. Want. YOU.”
She slammed her shoulder between his pecs and knocked him off balance.
He was thrown off just enough for her to squeeze by and duck back into the main hall. Then he was left alone, like he was used to. Like he had always wanted. But why did he feel this hole in his gut? This black thing chewing and biting, twisting inside. He wanted to run after her, but the monster’s claws dug into his throat, slashing any words before he could think how to form them. Or he was just too stupid.
Fuck. No, this was stupid. He’d known the girl not even a week, and he was wasting his time trying to sweet talk her? And while an army of pissed off Elves closed in at that? Fuck this.
She knew what she was doing, she was a grown-ass woman. He’d just gotten all turned around because of a little paint… covered up what was really going on. She was just a good lay and a bad attitude. Just another notch for the K-man.
The Viking hag appeared in the doorway. Shit, what the hell was he so mad at her for? Not his army she fucked up. He didn’t blame her for bailing. At least she wasn’t willing to die for a useless cause.
“Let’s go blondie,” she said, snapping her fingers. “Pallas said we have about 10 minutes to get down to the kitchen door.”
She whirled and trotted out into the hallway, not even checking to see if he followed.
Kyle slammed his fist against the wall one more time and trailed after her. As he turned to exit the main hall, he caught one last glimpse of the Captain, sloshing canteen water on her arms, scrubbing furiously. A puddle of red poured down her arms, crimson pooling at her feet.
Kyle tore his eyes away.
CHAPTER 17 – ANGELINE
She bit back the trembling in her lip and steadied her hands. She needed to focus, needed to cast more illusions to help hide these kids. But she couldn’t.
Why had she said those awful things to him? None of it was true, but it was the only way she could get him to leave. Someone had to take Merlena. This was never his fight. So why did she feel so sunken? She’d gotten what she wanted, or at least she thought she had.
Kyle Kallen was gone.
“Yo, what was all that squabblin’ about? He hit you?” Lance appeared at her elbow, his skinny arms folded.
“That would be an unwise tactic,” Krystal squeaked popping up behind him. “All traits considered, the Captain would beat Mr. Kallen’s butt, 8-to-1.”
A wet ball of heartache bubbled up in the back of Angeline’s throat, for Kallen, and for the young Diviner and Mage. These kids, probably not even old enough to legally drink back Earth-side… they were going to die, and they were so naïve they didn’t even understand what was happening.
A tear beaded on her lower lashes. “Have either of you ever even seen an Elf?” God why was she getting so emotional? She’d marched hundreds of soldiers their age into battle. It was necessary; she just did what had to be done.
“Well, I seen an illusion of one,” Lance said, bobbing his head.
Angeline felt a clawing in her gut at his words. That’s what all this was, really. An illusion. These kids weren’t meant to fight, none of them were. They didn’t train them right, just threw them across The Veil with medieval weapons and crumbling infrastructure, handed them to leaders who couldn’t strategize or swing a blade. Leaders who just stomped around a Castle, never having sunk their massive high heels into the bloody mud of the battle field. This wasn’t a war that was ever meant to be won, it was just something to keep contained.
Kyle was right, he was the only one who’d spoken the truth. She couldn’t protect Earth, she couldn’t protect all these kids. Maybe they just needed to surrender…
That was it. The only option that made sense. They’d have to surrender. They couldn’t call reinforcements, they’d die. They couldn’t fight, they’d die. And hiding? That might put it off for another hour or so, but guess what? They’d die. Whatever wicked game of chess those monsters had crafted, they’d already won. They’d backed them into a corner.
“When you see one, don’t be scared,” Angeline said.
“I ain’t never scared,” Lance said.
“That is false, Bravery: 2,” Krystal said, jabbing him in the chest.
“Check it, your radar’s broke, Krystal, I—"
Angeline blinked and let a tear roll down her cheek with a sad, helpless smile. Whatever happened to these kid
s, it was out of her control. The bickering faded away behind her, as she turned and approached Master Pallas.
“I knew you’d agree,” Pallas said, before she could even open her mouth. “That is the only path I See. Surrender. I only needed you to realize it too.”
“How does it end?”
“That I do not know. All I know is all else ends in a sea of blood.”
Angeline cringed slightly and looked back to make sure they didn’t have an audience of any sort.
“Do the Elves get through to Earth?” Angeline said, sinking down on the chair next to the fragile Diviner.
“Yes. But I do not know when or how.”
“He was right you know,” Angeline said, dropping her gaze to her folded hands. “He told me we couldn’t change this.”
“I know,” Pallas smiled gently. “Why do you think I insisted he come to the Castle? I knew you needed him, I just wasn’t sure how.” Her lip ticked up mischievously. “Well, and the chemistry was stifling.”
Angeline flushed.
“Oh don’t be shy,” Pallas teased, “I was young once. Centuries ago.”
Angeline let out a little laugh. “Oh come on, you have what, five, ten years on me tops?”
Pallas gave a coy smile. “A bit more than that child, but that’s not important. We don’t have much time. The amulet, the green one you brought to us…”
“You said it was cursed?”
“So that the Elves can use it.”
“What? But Elves can’t use the amulets, the magic doesn’t work for them.”
“It’s been… reflected. Inverted. The force of the magic turned inside out. I know you tested it, you could feel it, the way it felt under your skin.”
Angeline shuddered at the memory. “Kallen said my eyes turned red.”
“I suspect that’s because humans shouldn’t try to use that type of magic, no more than the Elves can use ours.”
“How do you know that it was even one of our amulets to begin with?” Angeline said, grazing her fingers over the borrowed blue amulet around her neck.
“Because I felt a trace hint of the power there. It used to be a Salamander’s amulet. The magic of fire, turned into water.”
Angeline swallowed. That girl in the field, the one she and Kallen had found. The Elf took her amulet, maybe even used it against her somehow.
“Yes,” Pallas said, nodding along with Angeline’s thoughts. “I don’t know how they twist our powers, but we cannot allow them to get ahold of the children’s amulets…”
Angeline knew where Pallas was headed. “You want us to destroy our amulets before the Elves can take them.”
“Yes,” Pallas said, letting out a long sigh. “And you must be the one to do it. You’re the only Mage strong enough to break them by magic, apart from Merlena. Even then, I doubt she could hold so many threads of magic at once.”
Angeline felt her mouth go dry. “I don’t know if I can do that. Shouldn’t I just break the Elven amulets, leave our people their powers?”
“The cursed amulets cannot be broken by magic, only by force.” Pallas reached into her robe and flashed the green amulet, now cracked down the center.
“Dammit. So our only option is to break our own.”
“Yes. I did not wish to speak this truth in front of the others, we cannot cause a panic. Let them think they are safe in hiding for now. I need you to use your magic, to break their amulets the moment the Elves arrive. We have a matter of minutes.”
“Why didn’t you ask me to do this sooner?” Angeline said, voice trembling at the thought of what she must do. “What about the Mages? Diviners I get, they can’t use their powers to fight, but the Mages, I can’t break their illusions…”
“Leave the Mages for now. Break them once the Elves have agreed to our surrender… or once the Elves express intentions to rid the Mages of their amulets.”
Angeline felt the blood leaving her face. This did not feel right. “What if the Elves retaliate when they find out we’ve destroyed all our amulets? What if that’s the reason they are coming here?”
“We’ll say the destruction was in display of our laying down of arms.”
“Can’t you read their thoughts? I could wait until—”
“I cannot read Elvish minds,” Pallas said softly, “We cannot risk it. I know this feels like blasphemy, but it must be done.”
Angeline’s gut turned to lead. Pallas wouldn’t budge. She’d never been wrong before. But what if she was now? If she broke their amulets, the children would be defenseless. No, the Diviners couldn’t fight the Elves, but they could read the warnings, have life-saving premonitions if they were lucky enough.
Angeline swallowed a dry lump in her throat.
Pallas sat patiently, waiting.
Kyle would have just told Pallas ‘hell no’, straight up… maybe that was the best answer. Shit, no, she shouldn’t be having these thoughts. She respected Pallas. Pallas would never lead them astray. But, at the same time, wasn’t everything they’d done so far just another step toward the unavoidable end? Wasn’t every move they made for naught?
The Elves would get through The Veil. Pallas Saw it. Every move they made, it had been right for the situation, but wrong for the stretch. Right for the battle, wrong for the war.
Angeline’s throat swelled shut, her breath coming short. Suddenly she knew how Kyle Kallen must have felt in that ring, when he’d been ordered to take down the kid. He needed that win, but in the end he lost.
And they all would lose here too.
She raised her head to face the Master. “I can’t—”
A bone-rattling shriek sliced through her words. Then came the sound of shrapnel and splinters as the Elves shattered the door.
CHAPTER 18 – KYLE
A demonic howl echoed between the trees.
Angeline.
“They’ve reached the Castle,” Merlena said, voice uncharacteristically grave.
Kyle couldn’t move, the impulse to run both towards and away from the sound rippled under his flesh, a conflicting cyclone ripping away all coherent thought. He felt like he’d split in two: Kyle the fighter, Kyle the free. Both of them wanted to live, but he knew if he turned back the chance of that was next to none.
Same chances Angeline, Pallas, and all those kids had.
He blinked, snapping out of his trance. Every single person in that Castle had chosen to cross The Veil. They knew full well what would happen to them on this side. It’s not like The Realm’s Army had a retirement fund. No need. No one made it that far.
“Come on,” Kyle said, trudging past the blue cow, away from the direction they’d come, “we gotta move our asses.”
“Wait,” she huffed. The squishing suction of mud approached as the blue Viking waddled after him in her heels.
Kyle gritted his teeth. Couldn’t the idiot have grabbed some practical shoes? If he got killed because of this bimbo…
She sidled up next to him, hands on her hips, rouged lips a thin frown. “How are you supposed to watch my back if you’re in front of me?”
Kyle opened his mouth, about to snap, ‘with an ass like that, no one wants to watch your back’, but the words froze on his tongue. Despite his disgust, he couldn’t bring himself to say it. He may have been a lot of things, but he wasn’t the type of man to say that kind of thing to a lady… even if that lady was a selfish hag. Plus, after everything that had happened in the past hour, another fight was the last thing he was looking for. He’d just put up with the Master until he found the nearest place he could drop her off.
“You should take off those shoes,” he said. The nearest outpost was hours away, longer if he had to wait for her.
“Oh you want to see these feet bare?” she said, her voice doing a weird little fluctuation.
“Yes?” he said, his gaze darting back the way they’d come. “We need to put some room between us.”
“Ahem,” she cleared her throat dramatically.
Kyle glanced ba
ck.
Merlena had one leg stuck out towards Kallen.
His brow crinkled.
She rolled her eyes and nodded towards her foot, eyelashes batting coyly. “Oh, come on, don’t be scared,” she said, “Mama don’t bite.”
What? She couldn’t be fucking serious. She wanted him to remove her shoes? His lips formed a flat line, his confusion deepening.
“I’m waiting,” she said, pretending to yawn.
Loathing boiled in his gut. “We don’t have time for this.”
She tapped her foot impatiently on the dirt.
Did she really think this was a fucking game? Every single person in that Castle back there could well be dead, and if they waited around, they would join them shortly—
Angeline.
The Captain’s face flashed in his mind. Mere hours ago, they’d had time for everything… to talk, to touch, to trace each other’s forms in the dark… and in paint. A place where anything was possible, where nothing was mandatory.
And now he had no choice but to run, to protect the useless Master. To protect himself. That was all he was living for now. Some life.
“I see,” the blue shrew sneered, stepping her foot back beneath her, “all tired out then from your romp with the arsonist whore?”
A bolt of rage shot down his spine. “DON’T you dare call her that.”
Merlena narrowed her eyes. “Excuse me?” she popped one hand in the air, a cloud of blue magic flickering into being.
Kyle gritted his teeth and mirrored her stance, a ball of flame flickering in his hand. “You ever been in a fight, ma’am?”
She glared at him for a few tense seconds, then closed her fist, extinguishing the whirl of blue magic. “You’re right, we don’t have time for this.” She flipped her ponytail over her shoulder and stomped past Kyle.
He stared down at the tiny fire dancing across his palm.
Merlena called over her shoulder. “She’s not worth fighting over anyway.”
A ball of molten lead socked him in the gut. Fighting over. Fight with. Fighting for. However he spun it, he hadn’t fought hard enough.
Even if what the Captain said was true, even if she didn’t want him, that shouldn’t have mattered. He wanted her, needed her. Needed to protect her. And all he’d done was look for a way out. She pushed him, and he didn’t push back. His fighter spirit was gone. She was right. He hadn’t been a fighter for a long time. Just a coward.