by Blue Saffire
I agree. Many humans will be too occupied with retreating from the rain to find cover to notice my men and I as we fly overhead.
“I’ll go ahead.” Taking in a deep breath, my lungs expand as I inhale the scent of stale water and cement and… “Xzith,” I hiss his name.
Without another word, I take off running faster than most human eyes are capable of following. The bloodlust rolling off me would frighten anyone near enough to feel it. My enemy is close.
I’m thrilled to have a victim for my anger. The only one who has or could stand before me with little fear is Decima. No one else. All who know of my reputation know it’s not one to be ignored. I will do my brother’s bidding with no hesitation.
As I stop before what appears to be a warehouse, I search the broken windows. I stare into the pits of darkness. I glance up in time to spot a flash of shadow.
Civic must have arrived. Feeling secure in this knowledge, I enter the building. My claws growing as tension grows in the air.
My boots crunch glass underfoot as I walk further inside, keeping alert to hear past the howling wind. Immediately, I’m hit with the chilling realization it’s much too quiet. Even the city in the distance is silent. It’s off, but I’m not a coward who would run away from the situation.
I reach up to pull the necklace from inside my vest. A charm shaped into a sword swings from it. As I explore deeper, I call out, “Xzith. Show yourself coward.”
Nothing but the steady sound of the wind. I move deeper, keeping my hand tight upon the charm in my hand. A masculine howl cuts through the silence.
I yank the necklace off my neck. Fiery flames burn and flash, surrounding the sword as it becomes life sized. Drawing it from its sheath, I follow the scream and pick up my pace.
“Xzith,” I shout, running into the room where I assume the screams came from. However, the sounds are brutally cut off. Anger fills me at the sight of Xzith. His hands in the air, his body pierced by what appears to be a thousand iron rods.
My blood boils. Xzith coughs and his body convulses as blood splatters onto the ground below him. As if in slow motion, I move my gaze from him to the caped figure who stands underneath him. Long arms stretch up as if in worship to the cruelty they have committed.
His eyes haven’t changed from their familiar golden hue. His wings matching their color, appear to be like metal as the light from above bounces off of them. Blonde, nearly white colored hair, cut short to the scalp is revealed as his hood falls back. His lips part in a cruel smile, his familiar face greets me with a surprising fondness.
“Hello, brother.”
“Kraken,” I roar as I attack, my sword held high and my flame pumping through my veins.
Our father’s killer stands before me. I will not leave this place without his head. My sword slams into his. The vibration causing my hands to shake as the pulse from our clash whips the air. Even the rods piercing Xzith vibrate, the sound ringing through the room in song.
My head fills with the roar of my Dragon. My anger so out of control, I only see my prey. He grins up at me. The insane gleam in his eyes provoking the murderous rage that’s already turning my vision red.
“And here I thought your brother would be the one to find me.” He chuckles. “I have to say, you were never the greatest at beating me at anything.”
He takes a step forward. His strength pressures me to move back, but I am Ratnik, I am marked. I will not lose. Using the momentum from our clash, I push off. Back flipping, I land lightly on the balls of my feet. Facing him, I jerk my chin up.
“Hmph, is that so?”
He shrugs, not once acknowledging the dead body that still hangs in the air behind him. “Power and who wields it matters, Radu.” He tilts his head to the side, as if I’m some schoolboy who can’t grasp the great teachers’ lessons. “Your brother and you, are just like father—”
“Don’t call him that,” I bellow. “Don’t you dare call him so, when you’re the reason he’s dead.”
His humor vanishes, his eyes becoming cold. “Father’s dead because like you, like Anaes, he failed to see the bigger picture.”
“Enough,” I shout, launching myself at him once more. Soon it becomes a dance of death. I will not drop my sword; not when I finally have the chance to draw his blood.
Deci
He’d told me to stay, but something tells me that Radu’s plan has gone very wrong. The sky has become even more ominous looking. Ghin has disappeared with Branem, while Civic appeared with an unknown man, before following their example and vanishing as well.
It took me by surprise that Xzith had chosen such a place to hide. Most people stay away from the Brick city. It’s named that because all the buildings are made from brick and the amount of people who live here could never outnumber the bricks in the area.
Pushing a hand against the glass, I lean forward. I frown when I spot something fly past abruptly. I squint as something flickers in the distance.
My mouth falls open at the sight of what appears to be a door, opening in the middle of the street. Before I can council myself against it, I grab the latch to the door and open it. I get out of the car and move away from it, using the tall building as my shade. Pressing my back against the wall, I keep my eyes on the black rectangular opening.
The first thing I can make out is a leg. It doesn’t take long for the rest of the person to be revealed. Soon three figures have stepped out. From their height and mannerisms, I assume they are all males. Their sudden appearance gives me the feeling they are up to no good.
I enter the building behind me. Getting low, I crawl over to the window that’s closer to the figures. Keeping myself out of sight, I listen to them talk.
“Kraken is dealing with their Ratnik Vadija. While he does this, we will keep the others busy,” the one with crimson embroidery along the border of his cloak says. “Go.”
I stifle a gasp as the two suddenly disappear. I keep my eyes on the one left in front of me. I have to warn the guys. I take a step back and mentally curse when my foot hits a glass bottle. I look down at the bottle in horror. When I turn my gaze back to the guy outside, he’s gone.
Alarm rushes through me. I turn to leave, but come to a staggering stop when I find myself face to face with the very one I’d been observing. Expression cruel, he obviously holds little interest in my well-being.
With a sneer he speaks. “A cursed human.” A tinge of disgust coats his words. “Death is the best option for your kind.”
I take a step back and search for a way out of my current jam. “Yeah, well, I’d rather live a bit longer before I give up.”
Meeting his glare once more, I barely have time to dodge the blast of light he launches at me. His right-hand glows with a sickly green light. “Don’t worry, the next one will hit.”
“No, it won’t,” the hard words are spoken as Civic appears out of the shadows of the building. He’s holding two onyx colored blades that are shaped like crescents. Pressing the blade in his right hand to my attacker’s neck, his dark eyes hold only murderous intent. “But I assure you, my strike won’t miss. Tell me why you’re here, Magik User?”
My knees nearly buckle with the relief, but that quickly evaporates when the Magik User’s expression changes from panic to a smirk. White smoke suddenly erupts. I lift my hands to block my sight. When the smoke clears and I bring them down, he has disappeared.
Seeming unbothered by the enemy’s sudden disappearance, Civic comes to my side. His gaze swipes the room. He sniffs the air, before meeting my worried stare.
“He’s still here.” He turns, giving me his back as he rolls his wrist, bracing himself for the enemy’s attack. “Stay close to me.”
I plan on it.
“You erred in choosing me as your enemy, Drakin. I’ll take your skin and eat your heart with glee. Your kind thought yourselves so clever, but you will only ever be worthy to be used by your superiors.”
He punctuates this with an insane bit of laughter. His voi
ce fills the room. A chill runs down my back.
Hearing this changes something in Civic. He straightens and tosses his two blades up. They are instantly consumed by a pale blue fire. He reaches behind his back and pulls two more blades that make a scrapping sound as they’re removed from their scabbards. His skin almost appears to darken, but I can’t be sure with the growing darkness outside.
“I will send you to Radu. He must be warned of this development.”
Before I can ask how I am supposed to do this, a black portal opens up behind me. I release a yelp as I fall backwards into it, helplessly watching as Civic’s back becomes distant. Closing my eyes as I fall, I swing my arms uselessly in the air, before I hit the ground hard.
My back hits what feels like concrete. I groan and roll onto my side. The man could’ve at least tried to toss me onto something a bit softer. I push myself up slowly and huff when I see the tear in my jeans.
The sound of metal singing along metal draws my attention as I come to my feet. The darkness around me is hard to see through, but I attempt to walk anyway. Someone has to warn Radu, especially with the possibility of more guys coming.
As my eyes grow better adjusted to the darkness, I realize I’m inside a room of sorts. I spot a light from the cracked open door ahead. Running toward it, I push it open revealing a stairwell right as Radu’s body comes falling down. My breath catches as his wings flap uselessly.
Recovering, I run to the now broken bannister. “Radu.”
Spotting his body a floor below on the opposite side of the stairwell, I run down the steps toward him. I come up short when I hear a gleeful voice demand from above. “Ratnik, don’t tell me you’ve given up now.”
Looking up, I meet gold eyes that shine with an edge of madness. He tilts his head at the sight of me as a slow smile comes to his lips. A chill runs down my spine, and I fight the urge to run in the opposite direction. I know I have to get to Radu.
Turning away, I continue down the stairs. Reaching the floor below, I’m astonished by the damage the force of Radu’s fall created. It took out the door and pieces of the wall. Making my way over some of the debris, I find him using the sword in his hand to attempt to stand. His left wing isn’t flapping normally, almost as if someone has twisted it.
“Radu,” I call out.
He snaps his head up and his eyes find me with an eerie accuracy. He pushes himself up only to fall once more, which doesn’t alter the anger in his eyes. “Decima, you were to stay in the car.”
I ignore his anger and rush to his side. “Right, let’s cover that later.” I look him over and frown when I spot the wound on his side. “Who is that guy? And what about Xzith?”
“Radu, come out, come out and fight me.”
Both of us tense, Radu’s angry expression shifts to something more complicated as he answers my question. “He’s Kraken, the man who manipulated Xzith to poison my father.”
Hearing this causes me to pause, but I quickly shake it off in favor of pressing my hands to the wound on Radu’s side. He winces, but the blood has to be stemmed or he’ll weaken. “Okay, so he’s the bad guy. Gotcha, and Xzith?”
My breathing comes faster. Think, think Deci, what can you do to stop the bleeding? His expression darkens, his eyes turning almost black with emotion.
“When I found him, Kraken had already gotten to him.”
For a moment, I’m distracted by his words. Craig or Xzith, whatever he was called, had been a snot nosed kid I’d met in high school. The fact that his life has been taken feels wrong somehow. Releasing the breath I’m holding, I bob my head in understanding.
“So, what do we need to do to deal with this Kraken guy?”
Radu looks at me with confusion. “We? You will do nothing. I will finish him.”
I roll my eyes at him, there’s the arrogant Drakin I’m accustomed to. I remove my hands from his side and hastily grab the edge of my shirt to pull it over my head. This isn’t the time to be concerned about modesty. I cast a worried glance upward, before I turn my attention back to him.
“Look sweets, it’s a bit late for that. I’ve been seen by his minions,” I say quickly.
I tear my large T-shirt easily. Ripping it twice more, I create a makeshift bandage. Leaning forward, I rush to wrap it around his waist. It isn’t the greatest, but it’s the best I can do for now.
“Minions.” His brow creases, his body tensing as I tighten the bandage as tight as I can get it. “There are others?”
“They came through some type of portal. Civic sent me to warn you.”
He takes this in. His expression becomes blacker, if possible. Before he can respond to what I’ve revealed, he lifts his head up abruptly. With astonishing speed he grabs me, pulling me into his arms. My heart slams in my chest as he jumps up and back, smashing through a window.
The sound of glass shattering fills my ears. I squeeze my eyes shut as we fall. My stomach rolls at the distance to the ground. Luckily, we don’t hit the pavement. Radu uses his wings and strength to ensure we land, despite his obvious weakened state.
“Ha. Have the Drakin come so low they now protect humans?”
Radu’s hold loosens as he staggers sideways. I quickly tighten my hold on his waist. He places his hand on my shoulder and gives a squeeze before he forces himself to stand. I pull away from him and half-turn to find what I feared. There are more cloaked figures who stand below the mad man flying above.
“I would say the same to you,” Radu growls. “Kraken have you sunk so far that you would work with the very ones who hunted your people down.”
Kraken’s amusement falls away. His eyes turn cold. “You know nothing.”
The ground shifts under our feet. The cloaked guys across from us start a disturbing chant. The light of their magic fills the air overhead. I know that whatever they’re planning isn’t good for me or Radu.
“Decima, you must get behind me,” Radu says quietly. With a wince he moves to stand before me. “When I say so, run toward the car.”
“What? No way,” I harshly whisper. If he thinks for one second I’ll abandon him, he’s dead wrong.
“Decima,” he snaps. “This war isn’t yours to fight. Go when I say to.”
I shake my head, glaring at his back. “Fuck that. From where I’m standing this is as much my fight as it is yours.”
I glance down at his wound. The cloth there has already turned a deep red. I’m faced with two choices. I can let Radu fight alone and wait to see the outcome—and something tells me I wouldn’t like it—which means there’s only one other choice.
I’ll have to expose my heritage. I sigh. Once done, La Mortas everywhere will feel it. It’s been so long since the last time I used it. I can’t be sure it’ll work all that well.
“Radu.” I reach out and place a hand on his arm. He looks back at me impatiently. “Do you trust me?”
He blinks as if surprised by my question. His eyes search my face, before he replies. “I do, with my life.”
I become tongue-tied. I’m both pleased and shocked by his answer. He trusts me with his life. Well, if that isn’t the weightiest thing someone has ever said to me. Damn, now I truly have to do something.
Rising to my toes, I give into an urge that has been riding me hard since the beginning. I press my lips to his. He stiffens and I draw back.
“Well, let’s get this over with,” I mutter, moving to stride forward.
In only a bra and ripped jeans, I’m going to use another of the perks of being a cursed one. I stretch. Barely flinching when the flying Kraken lowers himself to stand a few feet away. His eyes narrow on me.
“What does a human think to do?” He bares his teeth. “Are you the sacrificial lamb for my little brother?”
I laugh at that. “Ha, I’m nowhere near as tasty as a lamb.”
“I doubt that,” he says with a lecherous grin. He draws his gaze along my skin.
Lowering my arms, I say cockily. “Have you ever read about sleeping beauty?�
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His eyes fill with confusion and become black as he lifts a hand to press his palm to his forehead. He begins to push his fingers against his temple. “Y…yes, but…”
His reaction throws me off, especially since he’d just been hysterically laughing and mocking Radu.
“Kraken.” His name is snapped by one of the men in a white cloak. He pulls back the hood, revealing pale features and almost elflike ears. He glares at me. “Don’t be confused by this cursed being.”
“Yes, yes, you’re right, Burns.” His confused gaze sharpens on me. Slowly, he lowers his hand. “I will not be distracted from my mission.”
Something isn’t right here, but I don’t have the luxury of exploring it. Taking a deep breath, I decide to warn them. “Maybe you guys should take a step back.”
The Burns guy laughs. “And why would we do that? We don’t fear you as we don’t fear your Drakin.”
And I thought Radu was arrogant. “Okay, it’s up to you.”
I shrug and reach up to press my thumb against my canine tooth. With barely a flinch I cut it. The blood comes from the wound and I immediately feel the dark nature of it.
“Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you.” I place my thumb against my other hand and write my last name. I drop to one knee and slam my blood-covered palm into the ground.
Silence permeates as I stand brushing my blood-covered hand against my jeans. Kraken is the first to laugh, causing a ripple effect as the others follow his example. “And what exactly was that supposed to achieve?”
I quirk a brow as the ground begins to shake. “Guess?”
“Decima.”
My arm is grabbed, pulling me back as the ground opens up right before me. I fall into Radu as a long thick tendril of thorny vine explodes from the ground. Turning, I face Radu.
“We gotta go, now!”
He takes my hand and tugs me with him. I know what’s happening, the briar patch that circled the castle to keep sleeping beauty both trapped and protected is growing and attacking everything that stands in its way. Normally, I might’ve continued to stand there with a bloodthirsty grin on my face, but we need to beat a quick retreat while we can.