REALMWALKERS

13: Out Like a Light

~ Ferelith Rosewood ~

I stare at Bren. These people, whoever they are, they are after me and Talora. We aren't safe here, not even safe here in Hama Orna, which is not far from Syran Nalore. My home is not safe, and I am thinking that neither is any part of our home country.

Bren watches me, his cunning green eyes bright. "What's wrong, Fere?"

"Other than the fact that Talora and I are being hunted by gods-know-who, well .... I don't know what to think about this whole Lifespark thing. How do I even use it? How can I defend myself and Talora, and you guys? How can I do that, if I don't even know how to use my power?"

"You're right on that account, Ferelith. You may not know yet how to activate or control your Lifespark powers. But you do know how to use basic fae abilities, right?"

I shrug.  "Never really been good at it. I just ... I haven't been able to learn the ropes, so to speak."

He nods. "I understand, but —"

A scream outside startles both of us. Bren jumps up, drawing his sword.  "Ferelith, go. Find your sister, my sister, and Tehrani. They'll get you out of here, safely."

"No, I'm not leaving you, Bren," I snap.  "No matter what you say, Bren. I'm not leaving you."

He sighs. "I was born to protect you, Fere. Both you and Talora. But I have to help the others. You need to let me do my job. Protect you and Talora, and help my father."

I sigh. Another scream, followed by a loud explosion that rattles the house and windows. I yelp, jumping up. Bren steps between me and the door, just as it crumbles to dust.

A male fae stands in the doorway, his hazel eyes glowing bright red around the irises and pupils. He grins, then draws a pair of curved blades. He runs at us, and Bren yells for me to run.

Fear fills me like a bolt of adrenaline, and I run toward the bedroom that I saw Talora go into. The hall is narrow, and I hear Bren and the fae assassin fighting behind me.

"Tal!" I hiss.  "Ofelia, Tehrani? Where are you?"

Tehrani, her bat wings flapping hard as she carries an unconscious Talora in her arms, runs out, Ofelia behind her. The two guards run up to me, Ofelia grabs my hand.

"My brother?"

"Living room," I say.

"Ofelia," says Tehrani. "You must help guard the princesses. Come, we need to find help."

Another loud explosion, and the whole house quakes. I stumble, grabbing the wall to steady myself. I unfurl my leathery wings to keep myself steady, and I run with them to the kitchens, where the hidden cellar entrance is. There is a hidden tunnel in the cellar.

At least, Alberich said there was.

The smell of fire, ash, blood, and burned bodies fills the air as we reach the kitchen.

One of Alberich's guards lays in a puddle of blood on the tiled floors. Beside him, dying as a blade is sticking out of his chest, is the Captain of the Royal Guard himself, Alberich Alston.

Ofelia screams, running to his side. "Father!"

He looks at her. Blood drips from his mouth as he speaks. "Get ... the princesses.... out."

"I ...."

"Go!" Alberich cries.

Tehrani nudges me. "We need to go."

"No, my father...." says Ofelia.

"Ofelia, we have a job to do! We must go!"

"Yes, you really should go," says another voice.

Turning around, we see a handful of assassins, each fae holding various weapons. They all have the same glowing eyes as the one who attacked Bren did.

"Fuck," whispers Tehrani.

"You fucking bastards!" Ofelia screams. She runs past us, raising her two swords. "Go, I'll catch up!"

Tehrani, still holding Talora, ushers me toward the cellar. But the assassins are there, two of them blocking the wooden hatch. I feel a sudden hot rush of adrenaline, and I bring myself toward them, despite knowing it isn't safe. The assassin in the middle grins, her glowing eyes narrowing.

"You have a death wish, Princess?"

"Not even a little," I say. Then, a strange tingling feeling dances on the palms of my hands. It grows hot, and I feel like the adrenaline in my veins is also like lava. The pulsing of my heart brings all this to a head, and suddenly, a plume of bright, multicolored flames surges forth.

The flames engulf all of the assassins, and I hear their screams. I feel each of their hearts, thumping fast and hard. I feel the raw power within my body swirling forth, begging me to let it consume them. All of them.

And so, one by one, as the flames lick their flesh, destroying their clothes, I allow it to snap their life cords. And one by one, the fae assassins turns to ash.

But just as the flames fade, I collapse. And just like that, I'm out like the firelight I created.