Destined

23. A Thorn Claw

The monster I met on the mountain eyed me. That monster smirked. The enormous aura grew around him. "You know, when we last fought, I underestimated you. I may not be my lord's favorite, but I don't care for praise." He rushed me, and I blocked his quick push. His grin grew wider. "I like playing with you. Battling you is more fun than fighting humans."

I grimaced. The raw strength was difficult to counter as I struggled to keep from breaking stance. It made this man a tricky match-up for me. "Your lord will reprimand you for touching me." I breathed, but my body felt worn.

"Oh, I don't plan on hurting you." He pushed, and I lost my footing. I stumbled when another attack came at me twice as strong as the last. I hit the ground and got up. "This is more amusing. Where is that intimidating glare I was hoping for?"

I swayed on my feet. I thought about what was happening. Exhaustion in the middle of a fight, but this attack could not increase without an ability. I smirked. "You sap other people's magic, no wonder he had you watch me." I cringed. I knew that if I tried to transform, I would lose. "So, you must love being a parasite."

"You have it half right, but you are wrong if you believe my talent is magic extraction. I am surprised it was so easy to take it from you."

My eyes narrowed when he held my amulet in his hands.

He fiddled with it. "Strange how your mood changed when I mention I snagged this without you realizing it."

I growled. "You would be wiser if you left it alone." I lunged at him. I punched his diaphragm. It caused him to hunch just enough over that I grappled his head and smashed it into the ground. I tore my amulet free and placed it back around my neck. "Only a Thorn Claw has the right to this amulet, not a lowly monster such as you."

He pulled his head out of the ground, but he smiled bigger and laughed. "What's a little thing like that to you? You hold out on me when I don't do something to upset you. I want to play, your majesty, so please allow me to see you for all that you are." His grin unsettled me.

I stepped back.

"Kid, what's wrong?" Zelme's concern filtered through my head.

"Aw, scared of a beast like me, your majesty?"

Aiden, when will you learn that getting close to humans will only endanger us all?

A tremble filled me, and I remembered the warning. It was also the one I ignored but should have heeded. The ground around me shook, and my eyes met the beast. "Fear you? You asked me such a question like a fool on the slopes. I beat you in age and magic little monster." The elements swirled about me. Each one of the four appeared beside me: A ball of black flame, another of ice and water, a jade shard, and lastly, a miniature whirlwind. Each one is at my fingertips. "It is dangerous to insult my clan and its symbol." I rushed him and tore off his arm as I sliced it off with a sharp blade.

His eyes glanced at me with surprise and excitement. He saw his torn arm in my hand, and I burned it to cinders with black flames.

"You touch anything of importance to me. I will destroy a part of you."

"That will not stop me from regenerating it."

I scoffed.

He tried to reassemble his limb, but it would not reform. His eyes swirled with fear. "Alva may have given you those abilities, but I can suppress and extinguish them in an instant."

My allies stared at me more than the monster. I will slaughter this monster if he tries to take anything precious.

"Humans took from me, but a beast like you stands no chance at taking from me. This game is death for a monster like you. I am a Thorn Claw, and I will destroy you if you threaten the life of this world."