— Elaeya —

We grabbed the fuel. I opened the door and splashed it in the direction the men went. I knew there was no other way out. Tamarak came in after me and splashed another can. His hands were nearly back to their normal size now.

He put his hand on my shoulder, moving me aside gently, and I complied.

A few of them heard us and came rushing out.

I saw two go for their gun, but Tamarak blew out air from his month that turned into a long steam of fire, igniting the fuel automatically.

He rushed aside and back inside the room as they fired their weapons.

I took a few inspirations and concentrated, then rushed out with my left hand forward, conjuring a shield.

“Get them out,” I told them.

They did and I walked slowly backwards as bullets occasionally hit my shield, the fire still raging, until we were out of sight.

More people came from the other side, and Tamarak blew another jet of fire in their direction.

I didn’t like that. I was not fireproof and burning so much air in a tight corridor will make it hard to breathe soon. There was a small spiral staircase nearby. I went down first, then Tamarak who grabbed the lower part of the wheelchair, and Pavarti the upper back part, raising it above the ground. We went down as fast as he could, and I felt the fatigue grow as I went down.

The drugs, the collar, I had barely rested from the battle at Blakemore, and I was using too much magic too quickly. I would not be able to fight for very long.

We came down in a small corridor that led to a large room.

We could hear the men coming after us from above the stairs so we ran to the room and blocked the door. Others were coming. There were a lot more of them than I expected.

Pavarti placed the chair back against a solid stone wall, and dragged a heavy wooden desk in front of them as if it was nothing. Giving the man and child what little protection she could. Then she rushed out, her feet light on the stone floor, her long jet-black hair flowing behind and her beauty striking, even despite the grime and mistreatment she had received.

Tamarak, realising was she was doing, rushing in behind her.

As the first man ran in. Pavarti jumped gracefully and stroke him with the sword in one easy stroke. Tamarak had less grace but far more power behind his swing despite his weakened state. Both of them attacking swiftly as the men came in. The injuries on Tamarak’s stomach clearly hindering his movement.

I didn’t move. I wasn’t sure I could.

There was a deafening ‘BOOM’ that shook the entire building. It blew a hole somewhere in the carapace of the fort and we heard the sound of battles further away. Gunshots now resounded through the hall.

Another group came it from another door and I focused everything that I could on them.

I released small burst spells aiming at critical points. Heads exploded, some guts too, two hearts burst out of their chests in eruptions of gore. The explosions violent enough to reach the ceiling twelves feet above.

I had to alternate between shield and attacks.

I moved forward so that I would stand between them and my allies. Stopping the bullets dead.

I attacked on both sides, giving release to Pavarti and Tamarak as they got swarmed.

My vision was getting blurry. I had over exerted myself already, and was digging deep to gather any energy I could muster.

There were series of earthquakes triggered by the artillery evidently being used against the fort.

I felt a shift in the air. I was sure that one of those attacks had taken a crystal out, and though I still felt their pressure on my senses, there was a release as if I could breathe better.

Behind be, heavy booms came at regular intervals as more people tried to get in from the same door we did, the barricade not sustainable for long.

I closed my eyes for a second.

‘Kade?’ I asked through the link.

‘Ela,’ he replied in shock. It had worked, it was enough for me to call out. ‘Where—.’

I did not let him finish.

‘Quick, I am nearly out of time,’ I said then cut the communication and focused on the attacks as I moved swiftly, so that a bullet missed me. It had been a hair away from my skin.

I felt Kaden try to communicate again, but I could not allow myself the distraction any further.

“DOWN!” I screamed.

I hoped with all my heart that Pavarti and Tamarak would get out of the way in time as I put my hands on either side and let out a massive burst of energy. Digging into the ground and air. Any lingering energy that I could tap into as I was not so restrained anymore.

I felt the warm droplet hit my skin from both sides. There was so much blood on the ceiling that it was dripping down. There were bodies parts everyone falling in fleshy ‘plops’ around me.

I look around, dizzy, I wasn’t sure I could move my body without falling down. My arm loose on either side of me.

Gore splattered Pavarti rose from under a body. Tamarak, got up, in equal style.

A few men had had the same instinct and had gone down. I did not have the strength to fight them.

Tamarak moved slowly and beheaded one. Pavarti rushed around in a deadly dance and finished the others.

There was a loud bang on the metal door in front of us.

“Open it,” I said.

They both looked at me like I was mad.

It sounded bad, but I knew it was our only chance.

“Do it,” I said.

Pavarti complied with the sword in hand. Tamarak just dropped on the floor with his back against the wall, unable to fight any longer, but he still held the sword.

Light burst out of the doors, and an army rushed to us.

I heard Pavarti squeal as she was overpowered.

But I also smelt wolves, a lot of wolves.

“STOP!” I screamed, and they did.

“Ela,” said the most beautiful voice in the world.

“Take her, heal her, save her,” I told him.

He did not have to order the other, I knew it was already done.

“And him,” I said jutting my chin at Tamarak. “And the two behind the desk.”

Men rushed forwards and grabbed Tamarak off the floor.

At this very moment, the men that I rushed after us from the staircase burst through the door, and an army of wolves fell on them.

They ripped them to pieces.

I saw a large silhouette walk towards me, and it smelt wonderful under all the blood. When his shadow covered me, I finally saw his face.

He was about to take me in his arms, but I shook my head.

He understood, I knew he would. I walked slowly, carefully towards the exit, he walked beside me, close enough to catch me if I fell, but he let me walk out on my own two feet.

It would not be a victim who couldn’t walk out on my own, it would not be a weak woman. I would walk out of here as the warrior who repainted the stones in blood.

And everyone would know it.

I barely registered where we were going, too exhausted. I just followed him. My vision was failing me, but his presence, I could sense. I followed it. The brisk air sharp on my skin, but I was too tired to shiver.

I know people parted for us. We passed more bodies than I would have expected. They had swarmed the place, but it had not been enough to face the hounds of Hell.

A massive military Hummer was parked next to the door. The moment I slipped in, I felt myself go, and hands grabbed me and held me gently.