The Curse of the Blessed

Chapter Forty

*Trigger warnings for a panic attack, some blood, and a minimal wound description*

We all ran at Clara at once, and for a moment, it seemed like she actually might win. But Jaret flicked his wrist, sending shadows to flick between her feet and trip her, and Cass tackled her to the floor. There metal flashed as Clara tried to stab Cass in the back with a knife. Before the weapon could make contact, Ista stepped forward and whisked it out of Clara's hands.

Clara laughed. "You're running out of time. The guards are almost here. Can't you hear their footsteps?"

There were footsteps, stomping down the stairs above us.

"What did you do to Lir?" Cass asked.

With a shrug, Clara said, "It's just a little poison on the blade. Enough to knock her out."

Quickly, Jaret pulled the stiletto out of Lir's side. He tore the sleeve off of his shirt and used it to staunch the thin flow of blood that came from the wound.

Cass checked Clara for weapons, discarding two daggers and another stiletto before stepping back and motioning for Brinely and Bran to guard her.

"Do you want me to tell Dren to get us out of here?" Ista asked.

Cass nodded. "Tell him to take Lark first, then the rest of us. She's in the most danger."

Ista closed their eyes.

Cass turned to the rest of us. "We're going to have to fight, but not for long. Dren will get us out of here as soon as he can. He'll need a short rest in between each transport. Whichever one of us is transported first will be responsible for telling Dren that he needs to transport Lir back, and helping him to do so. Got it?"

We all nodded.

"I don't have a weapon," I said. "And there's no way I'm going to be able to get my birds down here in time."

"Here," said Brinley, kicking one of Clara's discarded daggers to me. "This'll do."

I picked it up nervously. "I don't know how to use it."

"No worries. Hopefully we won't have to fight for long."

I turned and met Bran's eyes. He gave me a half-smile, but it turned to a frown as he began to fade at the edges.

"What's happening?" he asked.

"Dren's taking you," Cass told him. "Don't let him forget Lir."

"I won't."

The last bits of Bran's body faded into nothingness, and he disappeared.

Clara stared at where he had been, and she slowly reached up and wafted her hand through the now-empty air. "What in the-"

Cass cut her off. "And here they are."

I turned, and saw that the guards had finally arrived. They formed a line in front of us.

Clara laughed. "Surrender now, Blesseds, or be taken."

"Are you all right?" the guard in front asked her.

"I've been better. Are you going to stand there all day?"

He shook his head firmly, pulling the visor of his helmet down as he did. "No. Sorry."

Nearby, Lir rolled over and groaned.

"Watch her," Cass told me. "Keep her safe, and out of the fighting. Make sure she doesn't get trampled."