by Willa Alders
Archer turned toward Carter releasing the arrow perfectly hitting Carter in his arm. I stood there wanting to stick around and watch Archer beat Carter but I couldn’t. I had my own battle to win. I made myself turn away from what was happening and head toward the doors. I stopped right in front of the doors staring at the brick building. It all came down to this as I knew it would. The fight of my life would happen tonight, and the outcome of how I handled it would change everyone’s lives that I cared about in one way or another. Especially one person’s life came to my mind in particular. It was Archer’s. His life would depend on me winning. If I failed and lost ……that wouldn’t be good for him. I shook my head getting those thoughts out of my head. I couldn’t think that way. Losing wasn’t an option not now ...not ...EVER!
Part of me wanted to turn and run away, especially now that the time had come and the other part of me was screaming furiously to stop Kilyn already. I broke my frozen form as I reached for the door handle. As the sky darkened and the thunder rampaged in the stormy night I opened the door to the factory. The elevator was right inside to the left. I thought about taking it because it would be quicker but I wasn’t sure if it worked so I decided to take the stairs. The old wooden stairs were creaky and some were missing chunks out of them. I had to be careful where I stepped. I took all 150 steps up to the third floor.
When I finally was right outside the main room of the third floor the doors burst open with a huge gust of wind. At the other end of the room farthest from me she was standing there already waiting for me. I expected her to be there. I walked into the room my gaze never leaving hers.
Her eyes were piercingly pitch dark and her aura was blackest I’d ever seen it. Kilyn now radiated pure evil. I stood there my eyes on her. I knew what would happen. I knew for certain that one of us would die here tonight, but I just didn’t know if it would be me or her yet. I shuddered at the thought it could be me even though I was going to do everything in power to make sure it wasn’t me. Before I had any more time to dwell she broke my trance when flames bursts up behind her. Standing there surrounded by orange flames Kilyn looked like a villain straight out of a movie. It felt like I was stuck in some movie scene except this wasn’t a movie with paid actors. This was a real villain movie scene and I was- not an actor. This was my life.
“Are you ready Aralynn?” Kilyn hissed in a wicked laugh.
“Yes let’s do it Kilyn. Hope you are prepared to die.” I swallowed with fake confidence as my eyes flashed black.
“I don’t need luck enough fooling around!” She screamed in a majestic hiss as she flew toward me hurting a chair at me.
I took my hand whisking the chair away from me. I thought silently to shield my mind and Archers’ and for the amulet to protect Archer. The amulet glowed purple the closer Kilyn got to me and I knew the amulet was working. She slammed me so fast against a wall I didn’t have a chance to react. I crashed into the wall so hard that some of the old plastered walls cracked crumbling into little pieces behind me. I shook my head as I focused my energy toward Kilyn.
I could fight as dirty as her. I blinked as a fireball appeared beside me and I released it hitting her in the arm. The fireball stunned her just enough to make her let go of me. When she did it was game on and I wasn’t going to make the mistake and let her get the upper hand at all. I launched myself forward slamming her to the ground as hard as I could. The floor shook when we landed which was all I needed. I sat up over top of her punching her once across the face for me and for everything she had to me. I was beginning to see black as I continued punching her. I hit her for what she had done to Vida, and I saved the best for last –revenge for Archer. I landed a hammer fist down on her nose hard for enslaving Archer, then another hammer first down on her head for all the times she had beaten him. Lastly I cracked her across her left temple with one of the mean elbows I had learned from my mixed martial arts training with Avery. That one was for putting Archer up to weaken me.
“How could you pretend to be my friend? How could you do that to your own brother?” I seethed on top of her.
“Simple, rather easy really, you see Aralynn I’m evil to the core and I can do what I want.” She spit blood from her mouth. “You and my brother made things quite easy. You both are so gullible.” She laughed as she blinked.
In one second I went from sitting on top of her to flying up off of her. I slid across the floor hitting a wall again. It didn’t faze me one bit it just made me even angrier than what I already was. I was done messing around. I was ready to end this once and for all. I got up freezing Kilyn as she was darting towards me. She froze mid-sprint and with that I started blinking as fast as I could because I wasn’t sure how long I could keep her frozen for. I made dozens of fireballs appear in a straight line in front of me. With my palms stretched outright toward her I twisted my hands releasing the fireballs like bats out of hell. As soon as they were close enough to hit her I unfroze her and the fireballs crashed into her. I expected them to daze her but they did the opposite. Instead of being disoriented Kilyn just stood there laughing at me wickedly. I blinked trying not to show the shock on my face. I knew right then that there was ABSOLUTELY no way I could win this with my abilities alone.
“Ha, Aralynn you really are an amateur. Did you really think that you could defeat me with a few fire balls really?” She shrieked evilly. “Well think again.”
I conjured up another line of fireballs ready to release them on her without hesitation. I knew it wouldn’t stop her but I had to take a chance on stunning her. My eyes locked on hers trying to figure out what her next move was. I couldn’t concentrate because her eyes did something I had never ever seen before. They went from being an unreadable black hold to a sickening deep crimson red burning with evil flames flashing. I knew whatever she had planned next wouldn’t be good just because of what she had just done with her eyes.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you!” She hissed.
“Why is that?” I asked confidently ready to release them.
“Because of this……” She pointed toward the door. “Carter bring him in.” Her voice was full of pure joy as she said it.
Which I knew could only mean one thing…what I saw in the movie reel was about to happen now for real. The pit in my stomach started rising up into my throat. Carter came in there dragging Archer with him. Archer was fighting against Carter as hard as he could. It didn’t matter though because the force that Carter had was crushing Archer and I could see that. I knew that Archer wasn’t going to give in no matter what. The pit finally made its way to my lungs as I fought hard to stay calm. I needed to be calm and in control because I knew what was coming next. This was going to happen and it was going to be bad.
I stood there unable to move knowing that I should stop what was coming but I couldn’t. I was frozen stiff and made to watch in horror. Kilyn released a set of thick chains from her hands that would pull a car on the back of a truck. On command she smiled at me as Carter released one of Archers’ hands. When he did Archer threw a punch at Carter hitting him in his nose making him drop Archers’ other hand automatically. He was free which gave up the upper hand. Archer didn’t get to come toward me because while he had hit Carter, Kilyn looked as if she expected her brother to do something like that. She held up her freshly manicured finger towards Archer and I knew what she was doing. She was controlling him just like Carmina could do. I didn’t know she had that ability.
She took her finger pointed at Archer twitching it up and down. Archer levitated off the ground high in the air. His face was somber and empty. He was bracing himself for what I was sure was going to be painful. She was going to cause him pain. Kilyn twitched her finger from side to side now and like a puppet on a string Archer slammed back and forth into each wall. Each time he hit the wall it sounded like thunder.
Out of nowhere a set of strong arms wrapped around me confining me. I was unable to break free from the grip that held me still to watch the horror taking place. Ki
lyn had gotten what she wanted so far. She had wanted me distracted so that Carter could hold me still and make me watch her torture Archer. Carter’s grip tightened around me as he started walking towards where Kilyn was. Carter stopped right behind her. I tried to turn my head away so I wouldn’t have to watch was happening to him. He stopped me from doing so.
“Oh please do watch. My favorite part is coming up.” Carter whispered into my ear. His voice was deeper than normal.
“No!” I managed to say as it was hard to talk with his arms gripped so tight around me.
“Please……” He cooed in my ear.
“No I won’t watch Archer being tortured.” There was no use in fighting against the terror in my voice.
“Who said anything about torture?” Carter’s voice became a soft velvety purr in my ear.
“I’m not stupid Carter. I know Kilyn is going to torture Archer.” I said through gritted teeth.
I waiting for him to respond as I watched Kilyn throw her left hand up as the chain wrapped around Archer’s wrist. She did the same thing with Archers’ right arm. I had no idea what sick thought was going through her mind right now. I knew it wasn’t the part where I saw Archer lying lifeless in the movie reel because it seemed too early for that. So I waited as I watched Archers’ eyes grow wide like he had an idea of what was coming and it made him sick.
Focused as much as I was on Archers’ face I didn’t notice at first that Carter’s hand was delicately touching my cheek. I was still unable to move my body so I couldn’t do anything as Carters’ fingers traced my cheek bone gently. I wanted so badly to cast a silent chant so I could enter his mind to see what his next moves were. I knew even as much as I wanted to do that I couldn’t because Kilyn could enter minds too. So she would know what I was doing and she would do anything she could to stop me. So I did the only thing that I could do stood there stuck unable to move as every hair on my body stood up as his fingers continued tracing my cheek and touching the corners of my lips.
“You see Aralynn no torture. I kept my word.” He murmured into my ear. When I didn’t respond he continued. “Would you believe me if I were to tell you that I like you?”
“Doubtful…..you don’t like anyone except Kilyn.” I spit out with as much disgust as I could.
“Oh Aralynn, you’re dead wrong.” He said as he shifted his weight so that he was on the side of me now. “I do like you and I like you a lot more than Kilyn. In fact I was hoping that you would realize that and come to your senses.”
Right when he said that I knew what his game was. Carter had just given himself away and he didn’t even realize it. Whether he knew it or not, I knew that he was a hybrid. I knew he was part human and part immortal. I knew that hybrids weren’t very intelligent on their own and they couldn’t think for themselves. There was always someone else pulling the strings somewhere. Usually it was their mates pulling the strings and the hybrids would obey without thought because they wanted to please their mates. That was their only purpose. Carter was no exception he lived to please Kilyn. Which meant everything his velvety purr of a voice was saying was just a distraction. As much as I hated what I was about to do, I knew it was the only way to get Carter to release me from his grip. It was the only way I would be able to help Archer. So I decided to play along.
“Why the secrecy? Why didn’t you just tell me how you felt about me?” I asked trying to sound flattered.
“Because it was always so hard to get you alone. You are always surrounded by your family and by him. Then there’s Kilyn she’s always around me.” Carter hummed in my ear.
“You could have tried to get me alone Sam’s.” I tried to make my voice as light as I could be.
“I should have but I couldn’t. You understand right?” His voice was dripping like honey as he moved himself so he was standing right in front of me now blocking my view of Archer.
“Well you have me now.” I said being as flirty as possible. “So show me now how you feel unless you’re afraid.”
“I’m not afraid but I don’t want to if you don’t dig me back.” His green eyes were staring dead at me.
“Truthfully I do like you Carter. I settled because you were with my best friend and I wouldn’t break that up. I only went with Archer because I couldn’t have you.” I whispered.
“Really?” He asked puzzled.
He was playing into this game too perfectly. He forgot one little thing that two could do this and as much as he thought I was falling into his trap I wasn’t. I was quite aware of what I was doing and what my plan was. He was falling into the trap I was setting up exactly how I wanted. I just had to do a few more things to do to get him right where I wanted him.
“Yeah really; like I said you have me now so show me. Forget about Kilyn and him.” I said emphasizing the hate in my voice when I referred to Archer.
I could read Carter’s eyes. What I had just said had worked perfectly. Carter pulled make in closer with the arm he had wrapped around me. His other hand that he had on my cheek pulled my face closer to his. I had to make what was going to happen believable enough for Carter to let his guard down and loosen his grip on me. The only thing I hoped was that Archer didn’t see and if he did I hoped he understood what I was doing.
“Are you sure?” He said his face was just inches from mine.
I nodded. “Yes I want you.”
With that he put his lips to mine hostilely forceful at first. I moved my lips with his just as rough as I could, hoping that he would relax and loosen his grip on me. The violent roughness of the kiss was replaced by a softer, more needing craving kiss. One that was gentle yet completely consumed. Within minutes I had control of my arms. I threw my arms around his neck pulling him closer making the kiss as aggressively as I could again. It was driving him crazy I could tell because he matched me with a more vigorous roughness than before. Except this time he had lost complete control of me. His arms weren’t violently holding me anymore. I continued making out with him just to make sure he was completely consumed. When I was sure I picked up my knee making sure I was quick. I didn’t want him to see this coming. With one final brush with my lips to his I brought my knee up as hard and as fast as I could kneeing him straight in the groin.
Carter dropped instantly to his knees. He was laying there trying to catch his breath. I walked over to him leaning over him smiling. I stepped over him walking toward Kilyn. She was my sole focus now. I had to stop her and get Archer free. I didn’t get very far again because this time Carter had me by the arm stopping me. He had recovered from that knee quicker than I expected.
“You tricked me!” He yelled violently. “Now you will pay.” He said slamming me into a wall so hard that I saw white spots.
I couldn’t move again. My body was throbbing in pain. Carter made sure I was down before he took off to join Kilyns’ side. I couldn’t do anything as Kilyn yanked the chains downward causing Archer to crash hard on the floor. Archer winced as Kilyn yanked the chains again bringing him to his knees in a begging position. Carter kissed Kilyn once then he flashed a malevolent smile at me. Carter leaned down and slugged Archer across the face over and over for what felt like an eternity. Archer’s face was dripping with blood coming from above his eye and his lip now. His right eye was already completely shut and Kilyn laughed. Then the worst thing happened from the nightmarish part of the movie reel. I already knew what her next move was and I clinched trying to stand up.
Kilyn blinked just like I do and a cat of nine’s whip appeared in her hand. I watched as she blinked again as I went flying across the room back against the wall again. She had paralyzed me completely. I wasn’t physically in pain and I knew I would be because she wanted to cause me another type of pain. A pain that I would be forced to watch. I looked down to my neck hoping that the amulet would do what it was supposed to. I hoped it was glowing but it wasn’t there. I scanned the room as quickly as I could. It was on the floor under a table. It must have come off when she slammed me into the wa
ll. Now I knew Archer had no chance of surviving this. Every part of me was ready to die as I was made to watch her torture him.
She brought the whip down harshly on Archers’ legs. Carter ripped off Archers’ shirt exposing his back. Kilyn threw her head back laughing as viciously as she could. Her crimson eyes flashed towards me once as she brought eh cat of nine’s down over and over again on Archer’s back and chest. With each hit the individual strands of the leather wrapped around different parts of Archers’ body. I felt the hot stinging tears coming down my face as I was forced to continue watching her beating him to death. With each hit a new spot of blood started streaming down his body. One hit caught his cheek bone gashing it wide open. Blood was flowing violent now, and I didn’t know how much more he could handle. I tried to scream at her to stop but I couldn’t.
Kilyn glanced once more at me taunting me. She twisted around and flew into the air so fast with the whip circling like tornado around her. She locked her gaze on Archer as she flew toward him. With one hard yank on the whip it came down cracking Archer right across the back of his neck. He had been silent the whole beating until now. When the whip hit him this last time he let out a howl of agonizing pain. This pleased Kilyn’s sadistic mind because when he screamed she laughed kneeing him and then continued hitting him even harder with the whip. Archer collapsed to the floor. His whole body was covered in blood and he wasn’t moving. My mind was swarming with all the bad thoughts that I was trying to ignore. We were losing I knew it. I knew he was going to die because the amulet wasn’t on my neck to protect him. I couldn’t believe this was the last image I’d have of him.
I shook my head forcing the thoughts of doom out of my head. Instead I only allowed myself to think positively. This wasn’t the way it was going to end, I told myself. I promise Archer that he would be free from his sister. I promised him so by hell was I going to break that promise. Archer had to stay alive and I knew I was going to do everything I could to make sure he lived even if had to die in return. That was a risk I was prepared to make.