Waking from my trance, I slowly become aware of my surroundings. My slack-jawed uncle still stands at my side. The crowd watches me in silence, as the competition looms on. This is a powerful moment, one for the history books.
Uncle Radix bows on one knee before me, igniting the same desire in everyone in attendance. The competition looms on while every eye is focused in my direction. I am humbled by their attention and support. I just couldn’t bear witnessing another death today. But little did I know, Death had already entered the building.
Chapter 28
Ambush
Someone let them in, we have a traitor in our midst.?
-Arabella
With the sound of the final buzzer and a shout from the stage, all our attention snaps back to the Prince and Princess of the Lux. Amelia zooms in front of Sebastian, almost causing him to wreck. Thankfully, much to my heart's jubilation, he stays upright.
Excitement radiates through the crowd, as cheers ring out through the arena. Princess Amelia beat her brother by only two seconds. However, a win is a win! By the look on my Dark Prince’s face, he wasn't expecting her to beat him which makes me laugh.
The crowd is going wild, chants of Amelia's name are on the lips of everyone including mine. No Princess has ever passed the test to become a Guardian. Princess Amelia has set a new standard for future princesses.
A mirror appears from behind the stage, and a flash of lightning sounds right before a loud popping noise.Fuck.The track disappears and the flare stage reemerges, all without somuch as one finger lifted. The sinister gray smoke, like the one from the lunchroom, seeps from the stage, and the icy coldness returns making me shiver. Dark magic in all its evil glory.
Uncle Radix looks toward me with a horrified expression in place. No words pass between us, none are needed. He grabs my arm, but I take it away from him. His mission is to keep me safe and mine is to fight. I won't leave.
Turmoil is everywhere. Bile looms in the pit of my stomach. Uncle Radix tries to grab my arm one more time, yet again I move out of the way. He screams my name, but I am already gone.
Running down the staircase all my thoughts are of Uncle Jo. Something is about to happen to him, deep down in my gut a weariness sets inside. I don’t understand this feeling; however, my intuition is telling me to find him. After he left me with Merrie-Beth he could have gone anywhere. Family above all else.
As the black smoke starts to clear, I look for a sign of my would-be captors. Yet none of the villains in my story make an appearance just yet. I know they are looming somewhere, waiting to bring chaos to us all. My bones ache as the shock and cold finally settles in. They've come for me again, but this time I've got Billie and she's got a score to settle with the Cohen twins.
The screams have subsided, as I take in the scene unfolding before me. It is eerily quiet as the truth of what’s about to happen settles over the crowd. All Guardians in attendance are standing with their swords held upright. The Healers are on the outskirts with their weapons drawn on as well. They will only fight if it is an absolute necessity. Merrie-Beth is nowhere to be seen; I spot her parents looking for her. After I make sure everything is okay with Uncle Jo, I'll find her myself.
All we can do for now is wait for our enemy to make itself known. Slowly, I push myself toward the front lines, because that's where he'll be, he's the bravest man that I'll ever know. Sebastian’s warning about Ethan taking out my entire line in order to secure my power resounds in my mind. He can’t be allowed access to any of my loved ones.
Another loud popping noise sounds, then hordes of masked figures come out of the huge ass mirror. The intruders start charging toward the Guardians, and they are more than ready. A million emotions run through me as I watch, searching for any sign of Uncle Jo or Merrie-Beth. The battle begins as shouts and the clanking of the metal fills the arena. Soldiers, my soldiers fall to the ground and their Healers rush to their side. Looking away, nor running away is not an option. This is my new reality, a part of my birthright. What a sobering thought, yet it’s one I’m honored to have.
Taking Billie, we fight our way to the opposite side of the arena, maybe I can get a better visual of them from this angle. I slam my favorite weapon into my enemy's inch by inch. Blood pours down my face but it isn’t my own. The sulfurous smell of death is in the air, making me almost dry heave. I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to it.
With Uncle Jo's height and stature, it doesn't take me very long to find him. Enthralled, I watch the way he fights in between my opponents. I see why they call him a master swordsman. He is magnificent, his moves are calculated and strategic.
From the corner of my eye, the Scotsman, Blaine Ramsay, heads toward him. My uncle is oblivious to this forthcoming onslaught. I stand, horrified, as realization of what is about to happen shocks me. Uncle Jo is fighting another man, and he hasno idea that the coward is coming to slaughter him from behind. Bullshit. This is why I was meant to find him, to stop this slaying.
Warning him is my only thought, I move my weapon with precision because I see a better path to block Ramsey. A masked man comes for me, his eyes light up in recognition. Yeah, I'm that bitch, now bye! When I try to push him out of the way, he grabs my arm instead. I take Billie and rearrange his face; he falls to the ground with a thud. Should have just let me go, asshole. I move on, void of any emotion about what I've just done.
My feet carry me several more feet before I'm accosted again, I let out a screech, but he can't hear me. "Uncle Jo! Uncle Jo! God, please, NO! He's behind you. Blaine’s coming!"
I bludgeon the woman who stopped me, her beautiful blonde hair becoming a bloody mess of crimson and brain matter. I'm only fifty feet or so away from Uncle Jo now. He is fighting and winning against a different opponent than before. Blaine has killed the courageous Guardian, then quickly returned to his mission. The Scotsman has a smile on his face, he enjoys all this death and destruction. Disgusted beyond belief, I'm going to enjoy taking him down.
As close as I am, the Scotsman is closer. Someone comes up and grabs me from behind. This person is tall and powerful, I try to break free with no luck. Clearing my thoughts, Aunt Georgia’s teachings come flooding back to me.
She taught me when being held against your will, you should make a drastic move to confuse them. So, they won’t suspect what you’re about to do. Then while they're still confused, quickly elbow them in the crotch! The jackass yelps, allowing me to break free. The high-pitched squeal could have come from me not using my elbow and using Billie instead.
Another person has engaged the Scotsman in a fight. I hope the person lives, but I'm glad he hasn't reached Uncle Josiah yet.
My uncle’s new opponent is as big around as he is tall. I make it about ten feet before another attacker stops me. Just my luck, it's my favorite Cohen twin! He looks every bit as nefarious as he did last time. A smile grows when I notice the bruises on his face. His frown turns into a snarl when he realizes the reason for my smile. He is more intelligent than he looks.
Before I can react, he takes mixed black and silver powder out of his pocket then throws it in my face. A radiating light flashes once, taking my vision as it leaves. Gone with it is the noise of my surroundings, like I’ve been transported further away. Panic rises in me, but I take a deep breath allowing my calmness to return. Relying on my training, I close my eyes, and concentrate on my other senses. The smell of leather from the black vest he is wearing hits me first. Playing it cool, I wait until the sound of one of his fists comes towards me, then moves out of the way. Ducking, I land a jab to his unprotected ribs. Not wanting to waste any time, I sweep his legs out from under him using Billie. He falls to the ground and screams out in pain the deep incisions my weapon caused.
My vision is slowly returning, finally able to make out certain shapes and colors. I only get to take a few steps before being ambushed again. The man whispers something in a different language. It’s the other Cohen turn, his voice is hoarser than his brothers. He backhands me, making me drop Billie in the process. That was unexpected, because I allowed him to distract me with his words. My anger boils to the surface as the copper taste of my blood fills my mouth.
However, he makes a mistake when he lets his breath touch my left ear. I throw a punch to his stomach, which heblocks. Good boy, my fist fakes another stomach punch. My vision is almost clear now, it's only slightly hazy. He has his hands close to his abdomen, and I take full advantage. When I lift my fists this time, his stance becomes tense. He is anticipating for me to go for the stomach again. So, when he makes a move to block me, I change the direction of my fists. With a quickness, I’ve never had the ability to wield before, I grab Billie off the ground. Then with one swing I slice his throat open. Surprise etches his angel-like face before he falls dead to the ground. I feel no remorse when his brother screams and crawls to his side.
