I stabbed my sword into its gums, narrowly avoiding its teeth. Gripping the hilt tightly, I now found myself dangling hundreds of feet above the maze, engulfed in the hot breath of the groaning worm. In the distance I thought I spotted a flash of red amongst the green labyrinth, but I was heaved upward, tossed like a rag doll through the air. Beckett lost his grip and began to drop toward the distant hedges.
I forced my wings out of my back. I might not be able to fly over the maze, but I might be able to fly within its constraints. I flapped my wings, dive-bombing toward him. I caught him around the ankle. Just before his head smacked the ground.
He glanced up at me. “Nothing like waiting until the last second.”
“Now would be a good time to fire!”
Charybdis swung its thick, worm-like body around. Antennae of all shapes and sizes riddled its dark body. Rows of eyes followed each of my movements like a hawk. When it opened its mouth and lunged toward us I dodged its attempt to make us its snack.
“Sure, piss it off, he says, then we kill it, he says. Did you happen to mention it was a twenty-story monster who wanted to eat us!” Beckett gathered a ball of light into his hand and fired it at the side of the monster.
It wavered and roared even louder. I swooped down and dropped Beckett on the ground just next to the hedges surrounding the pool, far enough away from the monster to be able to see its incredible size. “Keep hitting it.”
“What are you gonna do?” He fired off another energy ball and a chunk of the beast exploded outward, deep red blood pouring from the wound.
I summoned my other sword and forced the flames to run down my arms and across the blades. “These should do well in his neck.”
I shot up into the air on my wings. When I reached to just under its gigantic open mouth I landed on it while holding one of the antennae for balance. I reared up and drove my blades straight down. Blood welled around my blades as I pierced its thick hide. When I pumped my wings they propelled me forward to run around the beast’s neck. All the while I dragged my burning swords. The flames shot out of them going well past the length of my swords so they would cut through like blow torches.
My feet slipped in the watery slime coating its reptilian skin, yet I didn’t give up. Instead I relied heavily on my wings to drive me forward. It thrashed wildly, nearly knocking me sideways. Violent waves sloshed up and its mouth opened in a deafening roar. Below, Beckett fought to keep his footing on the ledge next to the pool. The fierce tide swirled over it rising to his knees as he threw one burning blue energy ball after another.
When I reached my starting point connecting my cut straight around his neck I expected his head would slide right off. I pushed back from his thick hide and landed beside Beckett.
He shoved the soaking hair from his face. “Was that supposed to work?”
Rivets of crimson ran down from the incision. I canted my head to study the monster. A gapping hole appeared on the side of his neck. “As many energy balls as you can to the right side of his head, now!”
Beckett didn’t hesitate. He fired in rapid succession, one ball after another. I followed up with my own fireballs. Explosions of brightest fire-reds and deep magical blues fanned out like fireworks. Charybdis stilled and held its body straight up in the air to tower over us. Then its head shifted to the side, sliding free of its body. Blood and slime clung to the two pieces as they began to tumble toward the river.
I turned to Beckett with wide eyes. For the first time during the trials panic froze me in place. Charydbis’ head and body crashed down to the water and a tidal wave loomed over us. I had a second to suck in one last breath before it swept us up and carried us further into the ever-shifting maze.
Chapter 10
“Cut off its head, he says, hit it with fireballs, he says, hold on to its teeth, he says. Are you happy with yourself?” Beckett shrugged out of his sodden tailored leather jacket and threw it to the ground. “We almost died.”
I took one of my boots off and dumped the pond of water that was in it onto the ground. “What else would you like to have done? Become a small yet unfulfilling snack for Charybdis?”
“I don’t know what I would’ve rather we done, but that was not it.” He stood over me with his hands on his hips as I emptied my other boot.
“We lived, we didn’t drop out with these little charm necklaces—” I flicked the crimson crystal around my neck. “—and we killed a monster. Now all we have to do is find Niche. Are you coming with me or not?”
“And leave the number one player? I think not.” He crossed his arms over his chest.
I tugged my boot back on and laced them up as tight as I could. When I stood straight, meeting Beckett’s ice blue eyes, my boots squished beneath me. There was no way I was going to walk around soaking wet. I let my inner body temperature rise just enough dry up the water soaking my clothing. Steam rose off of my body and I couldn’t help but give Beckett a half-smile as I dried myself right before him.
He narrowed his eyes at me. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
I called a flame to the palm of my hand. “Your turn?”
He shook his head. “I prefer to stay away from third degree burns.” He waved his hands over his body and little droplets of water seeped from his clothing and evaporated.
“Suit yourself.” I shrugged. In the distance the cannon boomed once more. We stood silent. I gazed off into the unending maze knowing somewhere another competitor had fallen. Would that be me soon? I refused to believe it would. “How many is that?”
“I don’t know, but one less that we have to worry about.” Beckett started forward between the narrow hedgerows.
“Where are you going?” I fell into step beside him.
“We need to find Niche and standing still isn’t going to get us any closer to her.” He turned at the first opening and kept on walking.
“But you have no idea where you’re going.” I followed him around the next bend.
He threw his hands up. “Like you do.”
“When I was on that thing’s neck I thought I spotted her red hair in the center of the maze. Kind of looked like she was surrounded by something.” I glanced to the ground trying to remember what it was that I saw exactly, but it was hazy at best.
Beckett stopped in his tracks. “Then how do you suggest we get to the middle of the maze if you can’t fly over it and I can’t portal through it? The way I see it, our feet are what’s going to take us forward.”
Before I could open my mouth, a deafening scream carried over the hedges. I burst into a sprint, heading toward the sound. Beckett was hot on my heels. With each turn we took the maze shifted, the rustling bushes winding together. The wooden limbs cracked and reconnected as they came apart and back together. The sky began to shift from the lightest blue to the darkest gray and then black as night. The wind blustered against my chest, my muscles straight to fight against the wind. Yet I didn’t stop. I gritted my teeth and pushed harder, the way I did when I ran against my brothers all those years ago.
I took a hard right turn and collided with a solid mass, knocking it back. When I looked down one of my competitors was sprawled out on his back fifteen feet away.
His long, pitch-black hair fanned out behind his head as he sat up slowly. “Damn, phoenix, you pack a punch.”
Though he was taller than me by about two inches and weighed at least fifty pounds more, I’d steamrolled him. His chubby cheeks jiggled as he rose. Behind him the wolf looked on with narrowed eyes. I bent down to help him to his feet and noted the big bear Guardian mark on his neck. When his hand enveloped mine, I knew he had the power to shift into a full-on black bear. He would have made short work of a long journey through the maze in that form, but in his regular humanoid shape he was slower and loping through this maze.
I hoisted him up to his feet. “My bad.”
“Why don’t you watch where you’re going,” the wolf growled.
“Listen, pup, it was an accident. I wasn’t t
rying to plow him over.” I clapped the bear on the shoulder. “What’s your name?”
“It’s Bradley.” He ran his hand over his thick hair.
“And I’m Matt. We done with the introductions? Because I’m done waiting for this slow-poke,” the wolf sneered. He turned away from us and headed down the narrow path between the moving shrubbery. I held my hands in fists at my sides doing my best not to hit him.
Beckett rolled his eyes. “I really hope that guy doesn’t make it to be a Knight, because I’d hate to work with him.”
“And you’re going to make it?” I snickered and patted him on the shoulder before taking off after Matt, the obnoxious wolf.
Beckett’s footsteps followed closely behind me, and even further back I heard Bradley’s heavy footfalls. Up ahead, bursts of light and the sound of a battle began to fill my ears. I readied my swords, about to leap into the fray, when I heard the distinct sound of a large body hitting the ground behind me.
I pivoted on my heels in time to see Bradley flailing as he was dragged toward the swirling hedges. Beckett turned with me, he matched my pace stride for stride. More vines whipped out like snake tales, coiling around Bradley’s ankles and legs then dragged him back. He reached out toward me, his fingers straining to grasp onto something. I ran back and dove for him. Panic marred his features as the color leeched from his face. The hedges moved closer as the vines dragged him back.
“Tucker!” he pleaded while straining for my hand.
Before I could reach him, the hedges began to roll over him, swallowing him whole. He screamed, the veins bulging in his neck while the vines constricted around him. Beckett and I got to him as the vines crawled up his neck.
“Touch the crystal, Bradley.” I yelled. “Just touch it!”
But his hands were bound to his sides by the thick cords constricting him. His eyes rolled back in their sockets. Whether he fainted or was choked I didn’t know. I reached into the vines.
Beckett yanked my arm back. “What are you doing?”
“He’s going to die, Beck.” Again I reached forward.
Beckett shoved me to the side. “You’ll be next.”
“All I have to do it touch the crystal at his neck.” The red crystal called out to me like a beacon, just to touch it. I shoved forward and grabbed Bradley’s crystal. Bradley wants out! The cannon boomed and Bradley disappeared in front of me moments before his face was enveloped by the rampant foliage. A seeking vine wrapped around my wrist and yanked me forward into the shadows of the hedges. I swung out with my sword, hacking at the snaking vines, but with each slice a new one grew back.
“I’m going to regret this later,” Beckett said through gritted teeth. He collected an energy ball in the palm of his hand and threw it forward, exploding the bush. The tangle around my wrist fell away just as Beckett grabbed my shoulder and hauled me back out of the way of another lashing vine. “Let’s go.”
I sucked in a breath and nodded. “Thanks.”
“Just go.” He took off toward the flashing lights and blasts. I turned to follow him getting ready for whatever I might face next. I skidded into the clearing and stopped dead, unable to comprehend the scene before me. I’m not ready for this.
Chapter 11
At the center of the square enclosure, Niche floated above an altar placed between flaming torches. Her hair had that rippling water effect, and her arms drifted as though she were underwater. She was encased in a block of glowing air, a protective cube of magic.
Chimeras circled around the steps of the raised altar. Several of the other competitors were held off by their monstrous bodies. Thick fur covered the lion from to top of his head down to the middle of his back. Muscles bulged from it’s body in all directions. With each step it took it’s claws clicked on the stone steps. They snarled and growled at any who dared come closer. I spotted Brax try to slip around them from behind, but the moment he did the chimera’s snake-tail struck out. Brax jumped back, the tail’s venomous fangs barely missed his midsection. The body of a lion and the tail of a cobra. It was going to be a hard fight. Heads you die, tails you die.
Lightning forked out over the star-riddled sky. In the distance thunder rumbled. The turbulent weather reflected my inner turmoil. How was I going to get past the pack of chimeras and rescue Niche? Would the others survive if I did? Would I survive this unscathed?
One competitor sprinted forward. With his speed he might have a chance. As he jetted by, I caught spots on his tan skin. Jaguar shifter? The light of the torches reflected off his black crew cut and olive-colored skin. He was small and agile like a ninja. Just when I thought I saw an opening in their ranks, the jaguar sprang forward between two of the four Chimera.
An inch before he reached Niche a cobra-headed tail snapped out and latched into his thigh. He tilted his head back and screamed in agony. The lion roared and whipped its tail about. The jaguar flailed. Blood pouring from his leg. Then the chimera tossed him away like a house cat flinging a dead mouse aside. I swallowed and steeling my nerves against these beasts.
They rubbed against each other the way a pack would in the wild, roaring and licking. All the while pacing around Niche. I shifted my weight back and stared at the sight before me. No amount of training could prepare me for this. My heart thundered in my ears, and sweat trickled down my lower back. I barely stopped my hands from shaking.
Beckett glanced over his shoulder at me, then filled his hand with a glowing blue energy ball. “You ready for this?”
The flames going down my swords flared higher. “Bring it on.”
I flipped forward and twisting my body to hurdle over them. Beckett flung his energy balls one after another turning them into disks. He leapt from one to the other creating a staircase up and over the chimeras.
I swung out with my sword and sliced the head of a cobra from its tail. The lion spun toward me and bared its teeth. It lunged forward about to strike. An arrow suddenly jutted from its eye. Ashryn! Yes! The lion’s tooth had caught my shirt, but now it ducked away, batting at its eye. My feet hit the ground and I spun toward Niche and sprinted up the stairs toward the altar. Beckett landed beside me.
With his Vampire speed Grayson appeared from out of nowhere and sped to my other side. His hair was windblown and his cheeks colored from exertion. “Ready for this?”
“Yeah.” I tightened my grip on my swords and waited for the chimeras to turn and follow us up to the altar.
I darted forward, taking the stairs two at a time. When I reached the top, I dove into the magical field that protected Niche. I reached in and pulled her from her frozen suspended state and into my arms. On the other side of the altar, Brax wrestled with two chimeras, holding them apart by the throats. Cuts marred his torso and legs, yet he didn’t let go.
“This way, Tuck!” Behind him, Adrienne looked like she was going to leap over the chimera. A the last second she tucked her shoulder and inexplicably rolled between the two chimera Brax held at bay. When she shot to her feet she peered around looking for me. “Come on, Tuck!” She waved me forward.
Behind us the other two chimeras charged against Grayson and Beckett. I jumped down from the altar and ran toward Adrienne. The moment my feet hit the first step I felt the magic shift around me, the walls that had been holding us in before had dropped. One chimera swung its head and dug its teeth into Brax’s arm. His teeth elongated into tiger fangs as he screamed in agony. His hand dropped from the Chimera’s neck a second before I reached him.
The chimera pivoted and shoved its tail towards Niche’s neck. I turned and shielded her with my body. The cobra-tail bit into my skin, I could feel the two deep punctures in the small of my back. I clenched my teeth as the venom seep into my blood and lit it on fire in ways I’d never felt. My knees buckled and hit the ground. I threw my hand over Niche’s head to protect her from the other chimera. Its breath tickled my neck and its teeth were an inch away from my skin when suddenly Grayson charged at it with his vampire speed while throwing his sho
ulder into its side. “Bad kitty!”
The chimera went flying. The others took a step back and hesitated to charge at me. Beckett knelt down beside me. “Can you make it?”
Sweat poured from my body, dripping off my chin and onto the gray stone steps. My hands shook around Niche. Her body was heavy in my arms. I sat back on my heels and handed her over to Beckett. “Get her out of here.” I pressed my hand to my back. My lungs seized up, making it hard for me to breath. “Portal now.”
The moment her weight was lifted from my arms I fell over. The coolness of the stones seep into my skin. As a phoenix I couldn’t burn from any sort of fire. But the chimera’s venom felt like acid melting my veins. As I gazed up at the star-studded sky I couldn’t help but wonder, Is this what death feels like? Black dots swarmed my vision and the last thing I saw was Grayson’s pale face lingering over me and then…darkness.
Chapter 12
“Wake up.” Pain exploded in my cheek, a second before the slapping sound vibrated around the room. “That ought to do it.” Grayson brushed his hands together.
A dark snicker followed. “Wish I could’ve done that to him.”
“You wish, pup.” I pried my eyes open and my head lolled to the side. Every muscle in my body screamed as I hunched over in the plastic chair to rest my arms on my thighs. The fluorescent lights reflecting off the sterile white tile floor stung my eyes. Other chairs lined the rectangular beige walls of the room. A mirror covered most of one wall and at the other end a metal door sat at the center of the opposite wall. “Where am I?”
“Challenge number three, I believe.” Ashryn, the noble elf, sat stiff as a board across from me. Her sandy-blond hair was tousled like she’d been to hell and back. Dirt marred her delicate face and hands. Dark smudges hung under her forest green eyes.
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