Wings of Fate

23. Familiar Pain

    There was nothing but smoke and fire and blood and screams. He stared at the carnage, frozen in shock and horror. It couldn't be real. This couldn't be happening. Timber cracked and a hut collapsed into a pile of burning rubble. Kalian blinked the last of his shock away. He had to find Calandra and Yara. They had to escape before it was too late.

    He spun on his heel, already running towards his home. Asar practically burned in his palm, warmed by the magic it was imbued with. Kalian sliced through the neck of an approaching Ironblade with one clean stroke. He didn't break his pace. Up ahead, he spied another man running in the same direction as him. The man looked like a ghost, with his pale, blood spattered skin and messy hair the color of corn silk.

    The Human reached the house and kicked the door down. Kalian's eyes widened. He gave a quick flap of his wings, but something slammed into him, knocking him to the ground before he could take off. An Ironblade's metal clad hands wrapped around his throat. His magic shied away from the iron, delving deep within him, where it couldn't be reached.

    Kalian clawed at the hands scalding his skin. The Ironblade was screaming something. He didn't know what, and he didn't care. Calandra and Yara needed him. Kalian drove his knee into the Ironblade's back and thrust up with his hips. He flipped the Human over his head and rolled onto his feet, already reclaiming Asar. Before the Ironblade could recover, Kalian drove the blade through his throat. He was running again before the Human's blood misted in the air.

    A frightened shriek rang out and Kalian ran faster. Yara. That had been Yara screaming. He burst into the house just as Calandra hit the floor, clutching at her throat. Blood pooled at her feet. Her bright blue eyes, now darkened with fear, met his. Kalian's scream overlapped Yara's. He rounded on the Human and lunged.

    The man wasted no time. His iron sword pierced Yara's stomach. Yara wailed, falling to the floor. The Human smashed through a window and vanished from sight. Kalian started towards him. "Daddy!" Yara sobbed. Her little hands covered the bleeding hole in her stomach.

    Kalian sheathed Asar and fell to his knees. Yara's gaze searched his as he gathered her into his arms. Tears flooded his vision. Kalian blinked them back. "It's okay, Butterfly," he whispered. "It's okay. You'll be all right." He pressed his palm to her wound, but his magic wouldn't respond. Kalian clenched his jaw, fighting back a sob.

    Yara's breaths came in shallow pants. She covered his hands with her own bloody ones. Tears streamed down her cheeks. "My tummy hurts." The purple swirls in her wings, the color of her magic, were already fading.

    "The pain will be gone soon, Butterfly." His voice broke. "You'll be all right."

    Yara's breath quickened as she raised her blood soaked hands. "I'm bleeding. Daddy, I'm bleeding! Why...why am I... Where's Mommy? I want Mommy!" Her terrified sobs shredded his heart into ribbons.

    Kalian glanced over his shoulder, tears slipping down his cheeks. Calandra's glassy eyes were fixed on them, but they were empty. Unseeing. Dead. The silver swirls in her wings were gone. She was gone. Kalian tore his gaze away and pressed his forehead against Yara's.

    "Don't be scared. Mommy will...Mommy will be here soon."

    "I want Mommy," Yara whimpered.

    "I know, Butterfly." His shoulders shook, though he managed to hold back a sob. "I know, my Love. Mommy will be back, and I'll be..."

    Kalian broke off as the faint sound of powder being poured reached his ears. There was only one thing it could be. Spark powder. Kalian tightened his arms around Yara and lifted his wings, ready to shield them both. He wouldn't leave. He wouldn't let his little girl die alone.