Soulbound: Embers of Defiance

Chapter 42: A Crimson Sacrifice

Finn, his face pale despite the anger flashing in his eyes, slammed his fist on the table. "Those damned rats! How did they find us so quickly?"

Erin stepped forward, her gaze sharp. "We can't be sure they know exactly where we are yet. Orion only spotted them combing the general area."

My mind raced, desperately searching for some tactic, some trick I'd read about in dusty tomes on warfare. But the strategies felt hollow in the face of such immediate danger. We were all exhausted from the brutal battle in the dungeons, our bodies screaming for rest. We had nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. 

Maybe, just maybe, there was still time to evade capture. My gaze darted towards Caleb, seeking his silent leadership. He met my eyes, his expression unreadable, but a steely glint flickered within their depths.

"Alright, stay calm. We need a plan," he announced, his voice cutting through the rising panic. "We can't just sit here and wait for them to arrive."

A tense silence descended upon the room. We were trapped, cornered like startled rabbits. But even with fear gnawing at my resolve, I knew one thing for certain – we wouldn't go down without a fight. 

Suddenly, Elyse moved with unexpected urgency. Without a word, she crossed the room, her gaze fixed on my dagger. Confusion knotted my stomach, but before I could voice a question, her hand shot out.

Instinct made me flinch, my hand instinctively going to the hilt of the weapon strapped to my belt.

Caleb stepped forward, concern etched on his face. "Elyse, no. There has to be another way." He strode across the room, and placed a hand gently on her arm, his touch a silent plea.

Elyse didn't react. Her form remained rigid, her gaze fixed on Fang.

"This is an order," Caleb said, his voice hardening. It was a desperate attempt, a leader trying to assert control in a situation spiraling out of control.

A flicker of something crossed Elyse's spectral features – perhaps mockery, perhaps defiance. She turned her hand towards him, her eyes never leaving me, palm open, a wordless challenge. She signed in the air. "Watch me."

Then, with a swift movement, Elyse thrust her hand forward. An invisible wave rippled outwards, crashing into Caleb. He gasped, his eyes widening in shock. His body stiffened, his muscles locked in place.

My heart hammered against my ribs as I watched Caleb crumble to the floor, his face a mask of shock. One moment he was standing before Elyse, the next he was a statue, frozen in place. Panic surged through me, momentarily eclipsing the weight of the situation. 

The others flinched back, a mixture of terror and confusion etched on their faces, as they witnessed the raw power Elyse wielded.

"Caleb?" I shrieked, scrambling to his side. I knelt beside him, my hand flying to his chest, searching for a sign of life. Thankfully, his breath came in shallow gasps, a reassuring rhythm against the frantic beat of my own heart. 

But Elyse wouldn't be deterred. Her silence was heavy with purpose. With a flick of her wrist, a surge of magic pulsed from her fingertips, a silent command that bypassed words. Fang flew from its sheath, propelled by an unseen force, landing neatly in her open palm. A gasp escaped my lips, a mixture of shock and concern.

Ignoring the murmurs of protest, Elyse strode purposefully to the center of the room. With practiced ease, she pushed aside chairs and furniture, creating a large, empty circle. Then, with a deep breath, she drew the blade across her palm. A gasp rippled through the room, loudest of all from Kass, William, and myself. The others, however, watched with a mixture of apprehension and grudging respect.

Blood welled from the wound, staining the gleaming metal. Elyse didn't flinch. With her injured hand, she began to draw on the dusty wooden floor. A crimson circle materialized, intricate symbols swirling around its perimeter. Each stroke seemed imbued with power, a silent language known only to those like her. The air crackled with a strange energy, sending shivers down my spine.