The Zodiac Cycle

NO 3.27 Betrayal

I opened my eyes, shaking my head to hopefully get rid of the dull ache that was present throughout my whole body. 

Not that that worked.

I felt a hand help me sit up and saw Vel over me. "don't move too much."

"to hell with that, we have a battle to finish." I looked past her to see Olive and Sakura standing between us and Zach, who was glaring at Olive. 

"I had expected better from you, Olive. I could have swore you would have been one of my best." he crossed his arms. "Hecate, deal with the traitor," his gaze switched from Olive to the teenage fox fey at her side, "I have a previous engagement I must finish."

Hecate stood, looking at him with a hint of doubt before drawing her swords. 

"Sorry Amber," Olive looked back and locked eyes with me for a moment, smiling. "I'm afraid there's one more secret I've kept from you all."

"what?" I asked. was this really the right time?

"Sakura, plan B." Olive pulled something out of her pocket, a device similar to the one that unlocked the cuffs, but with a mini screen on it that lit up when she pressed the button. then she dropped it to the floor, and Sakura poised herself, almost like she was going to start running, her tail flicking in anticipation.

"we don't have a plan B." I looked at Vel, she looked concerned, but didn't respond, pressing her lips together nervously.

Olive and Hecate were looking at each other intently as Zach watched Sakura. the silence was deafening as the anticipation grew, and no one moved.

"Hecate." Zach spoke again, setting her into motion. 

Hecate ran at Olive, who also started charging toward her. it looked like they'd clash a yard or two in front of Zach. Sakura shifted into her fox form and darted to the side, and Zach watched her carefully.

as Iris passed him, she turned, and her two swords slashed across his chest. 

I blinked, unsure of what I had just seen, as Hecate rolled backwards and skidded to a stop, her back to me. Olive ran past her and also delt a blow to Zach, as he put his arms up to block her, throwing himself off balance. 

Now would be the best time to strike him! Narashima shouted.

I heard a loud crash and rumble from behind me, and a section of Earth shot up from in front of Zach, knocking him onto his back. 

I gasped.

the chunk of earth split apart, circling around and crashing into either side of Zach, then falling on top of him. 

I heard a loud footstep come up beside me. "Hey Amber,"

I turned my head quickly, hearing Narashima hiss something.

But my brain didn't process anything the spirit said as I locked my gaze onto the seven foot tall troll with half pink, half black hair and glowing hot pink eyes. 

"Miss me?" George smiled, then looked back at the Vampire king again, spreading his arms out then clapping them back together, assaulting Zach with more rocks.

I blinked again, looking at Vel. "I think I got hit a little harder than I thought. I'm seeing things."

"I don't know what you're seeing, Amber. I'm blind."

"oh yeah." I looked back at where George had been, but he was gone. "huh," I heard thumps and looked to see him charging at Zach the earth around him bending to his will.

I watched him, Hecate, and Olive fight for a second in silence before Vel spoke again. "are you going to explain what's happening?"

"I'm not even sure what's happening."