Blood Ties

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

        The first thing Star noticed as she began to awaken was the deafening silence –the silence that soon gave way to screams. Panic and drowsiness clogged her senses so that she couldn’t see what was going on outside the window besides rolling orange flames and people flying in every direction.

        Lurching upright, she glanced over at Marco, who was also awake and stood just beyond the threshold of the bedroom door. His fists were glowing with fire as he sank into a ready position.

        “What’s happening?” Star shouted, her voice hoarse and brimming with terror. She leapt to her feet, nearly tripping, and screamed again, “What’s happening?”

        “We’re under attack,” Marco replied with unbelievable calmness as he turned his head slightly so that their eyes could meet, “Stay.”

        He held her gaze so that she could see the gravity of the situation, and that he meant what he said. Because of this, he didn’t notice the two men emerging from the smoke in front of him.

        “Look out!” Star shrieked, erratically throwing a ball of fire towards the attackers. They were of Aquan blood, clearly shown by their fairer skin and hair, and they were armed with swords and shields. Marco whipped his head around, narrowly escaping her fireball along with a fatal blow from the first man’s sword. Grasping the blade between both palms, he kicked the man in the gut, knocking him to the floor. He released the sword, healing the cuts it left, and sent a stream of fire towards the other Aquan. The Aquan deployed a wave of water at the stream, causing a heavy cloud of steam to envelope the room.

        In the confusion, Star managed to make it back to the window so that she could use the light of the fire outside to see. Her vision was still hazy from the steam and smoke, but she used the light in her favor as well as she could.

        The first Aquan hurried in her direction, pointing the sword at her throat and allowing it to draw a small bit of blood from her neck. Gulping, she attempted to calm herself enough to force a cascade of water from her mouth and into his face. Disoriented, he loosed his grip on the sword enough for her to gush another, larger cascade of water to encase him. She froze the water so that only his head was thawed, proud of the work she had done. Her fists warmed as she raised them, flames beginning to lick at her knuckles. “Don’t move,” she ordered, her voice breaking.

        Paying no attention to her request, the Aquan melted her ice with ease and threw a few, sharp shards of ice at her, pining her clothing to the wall. Gasping a strangled scream, she struggled against it, not knowing enough about her magic to know how to melt someone else’s ice.

        The Aquan grabbed her face roughly, bringing his own inches away from hers. He had a pleasant face, hardened by war, and his gray eyes glinted unmercifully. He shouted, “It’s her, by Syreni! It’s the princess! Do not kill the boy!”

        The sounds of struggle in the room ceased suddenly, and the steam cover vanished as quickly as it had arrived. The second Aquan dragged a limp Marco towards them, his eyes narrowed. “Really? How’d you know?”

        “Let him go,” Star panted, glaring at him. Tears streamed down her face, but her voice was steady and filled with authority.

        Ignoring her completely, the first one replied, “She used fire and water magic. Who else can besides her and our princess? And, her appearance, along with the boy’s, match the descriptions in the warrant.”

        The second Aquan soldier inclined his head in a sharp nod, agreeing. “I see. Give the orders to call off the attack. We have what we want.”