In an instant, Tish’s blood pours over me, and she releases a yell of unimaginable pain. I pull the daggers from my hair, slicingthrough her feet with so much force the curved blades pierce marble, keeping her motionless.
“You know–” Standing, I watch the nubs of her severed arms flail as screams follow the downpour of warm liquid. My sigil continued lingering and vanished with her arms inside it. A rather well placed and planned attack.Thanks, again Alex.“Killing me was fine until you and your group brought Angie into it.” Looking back at my escaping sigil then up at my beautiful floating babies, I continue, “And well, I’ve lost one best friend…” I return my attention to her. “I’m not losing another.”
“Fuck you!” she cries, and I back away, feeling my magic’s warmth from behind. She is formidable, I’ll give her that. Not as low in ranking as she once was during the start of classes.
“You’re not my type.”
Red takes me into a calming void and out beside the spectators who are guarded by two massive sigils of my creation. This was going to be a devastating attack, so precautions were taken not knowing if it would work. Keeping my back to everyone else, I feel my eighteen crescent blades detonate, swallowing what little screams remain.
Chapter 37
So, you say
KYRA
Fatigue and gravityact as one, pulling me to my knees. Bile races up my throat, burning along the way, and I splutter acidic fluids. My aura is well below the safety line, and I notice four pairs of hands. All mine.Shit, I’m seeing double. Not good.
Each scrape, burn, and unnoticed bruise springs to life. Muscles twitch as my palms heat and slick the floor in sweat. Vibrations from my attacks start thinning out as whispers break from behind. But I don’t have enough energy to care.
Shadows drown me from hovering bodies, and I gaze up, peering out onto the aftermath of our fight. Rebecca, with two Elders behind her, struts past Caspian, who is glowing. Unless my eyes are deceiving me.What…are they…doing?I am barely able to concentrate long enough for a complete thought.
Caspian summons a massive door, resembling our A.D.’s but made with gleaming shades of lavender, and works seamlessly with the two Elders. With their hands raised, they conjure winds from every direction, pulling smoke and debris into Caspian’s one-sided archway, revealing the destruction of my magic.
“Damn,” Marcel says, and I couldn’t have voiced it better.
There is no ground to stand on. Destroyed and turned into crumbling soil, I see a crater much larger than that from the mortal realm. Cracks run up the walls, disappearing from view with more marble chipping down, stained in purple, blue, gold, and black symbols, which hold them from collapsing.
I…I…I did this?
Two figures tread our way, and my vision returns at a steady pace. Niro, shrouded by deep reds and persian blues, holds Tish’s lifeless body. His skin is flaking and peeling like he too was caught in my explosion.
“Well, well, well. That was quite an attack,” he says, passing her body and both arms to Elizabeth before kneeling down. “You’re indeed strong if I’m usingthisability.” All smiles, he retains my focus as more skin slides into place–no–heals behind his damaged flesh. “May I?” Niro asks.
He reaches out with freshly restored hands, and fuck it, why not? Vitality surges through me, seeping into my aura and replenishing what was lost. Moaning from the sensation, I feel all my aches and bruises become afterthoughts, and once finished, he helps me stand.
“There, how do we feel?”
“Amazing, actually.” I smirk, swimming in the depths of his oceanic, midnight blue eyes. “What did you–” and my stomach growls once more, enticing a downwards stare and chuckle from him. I frown at the ‘hunger be gone’ incantation not lasting as Niro holds up a finger.
“It’s not much, but let’s see if this helps.” His breath is sweet caramel and strawberry as it layers over the soothing grit in his tone. He reaches inside a pocket and hands over a lollipop. A fucking lollipop.
“I’m sorry, but is this–”
“Food? Yes, it is. Unless you…” He pulls back. “Don’t want it.” He holds me hostage with temptation and a snarky expression.
My rude hand yanks it from his grasp, unwraps it, and shoves itin my mouth at a speed I’m not proud of, moaning again as though I’m orgasming nonstop.
“This is so damn good,” I groan, tilting back and relishing in the green apple flavor.
“Glad to meet another food connoisseur.” He chuckles. “I’m Niro, nice to officially meet you. Kyra, is it?” he questions, stepping back while taking every inch of my reduced frame into view. Another guy who outclasses me in height, but after what he witnessed, the phrase, ‘big things come in small packages,’ holds new meaning.
Or is it, ‘good things come in small’–”
“If you’re done flirting, can we discuss what happened?” Marcel makes an appearance. “And what’s in your mouth?”
Excited, I pull it out. “A lollipop. It’s candy,” I share, wearing one hell of a smile.
“Whatever trinkets help you recover.” He shrugs, and I have half a mind to refute, but fuck it, I’m in bliss right now. “You’ve been holding all this power, yet everyday she’s bested you.” Marcel shakes his head. “Regardless…” he exhales. “This is how you win a fucking ranking match!” He throws his arms around me, and I fight death from choking on saliva and the firm embrace of his hug. “Well done, Kyra. Consider yourself passing this semester. I doubt anyone in my lecture will challenge you again,” he whispers, pulling back, and I giggle.
