From the Ashes

Chapter 55 ~ Hidden in the Open

    Obsidian talons clashed with Orilight's gleaming white blade in an ear-splitting shriek. Morana stumbled backwards as Astaroth forced her aside. Gaelen and Rehema attacked from opposite sides, but he caught both of their blows.

    A wall of shadows slammed in Rehema, knocking her down the slope. The Elder's leopard form faltered as she slammed into the base of the hill. She staggered to her feet, visibly gasping for breath. Gaelen managed to dodge the sweep of Tarion's taloned fingers but another blast of shadows dragged him to the ground.

    Astaroth planted a boot in the center of his chest and kicked him to the side. Morana bared her teeth as the dark Lord faced her once more. The light emanating from her chest flared brighter as she raised a flaming fist. Astaroth merely smirked.

    He disintegrated into shadows, letting her wave of power pass right through him. Morana didn't balk and cleaved Orilight through his nearest shrouded limb. Astaroth let out a hiss and Morana yelped as talons emerged from the darkness and raked towards her face. She threw herself to the ground and rolled, barely escaping the strike.

    "I expected a more evenly matched fight, Phoenix," Astaroth taunted. "I thought you'd been training. Perhaps I was mistaken."

    "Maybe I've been going easy on you," Morana snapped in return, her gaze darting to Gaelen. The male had recovered himself and was hurrying towards Rehema, who had managed to hobble part of the way up the slope.

    "Maybe, but I think not." Astaroth's gaze swept over her as he shrank back into Tarion's form. His eyes fixed on Orilight. "I'm surprised you kept this blade and gave the one capable of harming me to your father."

    "I can destroy you with this sword alone, though I'm sorry if it insults your ego." She pointed the blade at him as he took a step towards her.

    He paused and reached out instead. Morana stiffened as he dragged a cruel talon down the length of the blade. "I'm not insulted at all," he crooned. "It will please me to watch Oriana's sword fail to kill me again. It nearly broke her last time. Perhaps this time we'll be lucky."

    Magic blasted into his chest and Astaroth staggered back with a grunt. Morana didn't give him a chance to recover. Orilight swung for his neck but he managed to duck past the blow. He didn't escape Rehema's claws though. They shredded across Tarion's cheek, leaving a gaping wound dripping blood and darkness.

    Gaelen's sword grazed his other side, though it didn't inflict much visible damage. Astaroth straightened and flung his arms outright. Gaelen and Rehema's screams overlapped as shadows speared through them and wind sent them hurtling down the hillside.

    Morana couldn't hold back her cry of horror, but there was no time to go after them. Astaroth was already on top of her. She brought Orilight up in time to catch his blow and shields blazed around her to ward off the obsidian shards he'd flung at her.

    "I tire of these games," he seethed, pressing harder against Orilight. Morana's knees threatened to buckle beneath the weight.

    "Look around you, Phoenix. Your army is dying. Your father and your friends will never find the Prince, and even if they do, he'll be dead before they find a way to free him. The Elder and my traitorous Commander are of no use to you now."

    Morana gritted her teeth, but dropped to one knee. She lifted her gaze to Astaroth's, glaring at him defiantly. "You are a child," he sneered. "And I am an immortal spawn of a god. What hope can you possibly have of defeating me?"