Blood

Chapter Thirty four: Alistair's secrets II

The dim light flickered in the cave as Ethan, Lira, Galen, and Riona huddled together, their voices echoing softly against the rock walls. They’d argued for what felt like hours, each one tossing out ideas on how to escape. But frustration was mounting; every path they tried had led them in a loop.

“We can’t keep running in circles!” Riona’s voice cut through the silence, her frustration clear. “It’s like this place doesn’t want us to leave.”

“I know we’re close,” Lira insisted, pressing her palms against the damp rock. “But there has to be another way out.”

Ethan cleared his throat, breaking through the tension. “Most caves do have two openings, right?” He glanced around the dim, jagged walls. “If we’re lucky, this might be one of them. We should split up and look.”

A beat of silence passed as the group weighed his suggestion. Then, one by one, they nodded. Lira took a shaky breath. “Alright, let’s try it.”

They moved deeper into the cave, their steps careful and hushed as the darkness grew thicker. Shadows seemed to stretch toward them, swallowing every inch of light from their path. The farther they ventured, the colder it became, until even their breaths came out in visible puffs.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Galen spotted a faint glimmer of light peeking through a narrow crevice. “There!” he whispered, pointing ahead.

They navigated the twisting passage, hope sparking as the light grew brighter. Eventually, the narrow path opened into a wide clearing, and they stumbled out, blinking against the sudden daylight. Relief washed over them, but it was short-lived—they knew they couldn’t rest yet.

Lira raised her hand, murmuring a spell under her breath, and a faint shimmer glowed on her palm as the location spell took form. “Let’s see where the others are. I doubt they’d spend their day off at the Academy… well, except maybe Isolde, she's weird, it's hard to predict what goes on in that crazy mind of hers.” she added with a smirk.

The spell pulsed in her hand, showing her Aiden and Isolde’s whereabouts. Just as they prepared to head toward the city.

“Let’s hurry,” Ethan muttered, leading the group down the winding path back toward the bustling city streets.

They reached the edge of the marketplace just as Aiden and Isolde appeared, rounding the corner. Both groups froze for a heartbeat before hurrying toward each other, relief evident on their faces.

Aiden’s expression turned serious. “You won’t believe what Alistair’s planning. He’s—”

“Taking over the multiverse. We know,” Lira interrupted, her voice urgent. “He’s more dangerous than we ever realized.”

"Yeah I noticed." Aiden said. "How did you find out?"

"We heard his conversation and saw a prophecy with his face on it. Even idiots should be able to connect the dots." Ethan said. "What about you?"

"He attacked Kaelin and me because he thought we figured out who he was."

“Wait, so Alistair attacked you, Aiden?” Ethan’s voice was tense.

Aiden nodded grimly. “It’s worse than we thought. He’s manipulating everything… and Kaelin, she was hurt badly trying to save my butt.”

"Must be pretty ironic getting your ass saved by someone else." Riona chuckled.

"It's a new experience. I don't plan to get used to it."

“Where is Kaelin?” Ethan asked, his voice low.

---

Kaelin steadied her breath, her back pressed against the cold stone wall. Alistair’s footsteps echoed down the hallway, growing fainter as he stalked the room. He's found her, whether he used their scent or used a spell, she didn't know. She didn't even know what creature he was. Hiding wasn’t the answer—if Alistair found her now, she’d be cornered. Her hand flexed, curling into a fist as a new surge of resolve welled up in her.

With a deep breath, she pushed herself away from the wall, stepping out of her hiding spot. She clenched her fists, her stance steady as she faced him. Alistair turned, a sinister smile stretching across his face.

“Atta girl,” he murmured, his tone laced with mock approval. “I didn’t teach you to hide from your fears, Kaelin. I taught you to face them.”

She held her ground, her gaze narrowed and fierce. Without a word, she lunged, letting out a sharp, primal scream. Her fists flew toward him, each punch powered by a mix of anger and adrenaline. But Alistair barely moved, his gaze calm as he blocked every strike with one hand, as if toying with her.

“Come on, Kaelin,” he taunted, easily parrying her attacks. “Is that all you’ve got?”

Her teeth clenched, her frustration mounting. She threw her fist toward his jaw, only for him to sidestep effortlessly and land a sharp jab to her stomach. The force sent her stumbling back, the breath knocked from her lungs.

He chuckled darkly, motioning her forward with a lazy flick of his hand. “Again.”

Her jaw tightened, the throbbing pain in her ribs a reminder of just how outmatched she was. But she ignored it, channeling her remaining energy as she charged forward again, fists raised. She struck, dodged, twisted—yet each time, his movements remained fluid, his strikes seemingly effortless.

A final punch landed against her shoulder, sending her sprawling backward. Kaelin’s vision swam, her body aching from the relentless assault. She was no match for him, and she knew it.

Desperation clawed at her mind as she staggered to her feet, her eyes darting around the room. Her gaze fell on a large, heavy cupboard to her left. She took a chance, grabbing it and, with a grunt, heaving it toward him.

For a split second, Alistair’s eyes flickered in surprise. He smashed the cupboard with a single punch, splintering it into pieces—but those few seconds were all she needed. As he shattered the wood, she turned, running toward the wall and using her strength to punch through the plaster, creating a hole just wide enough to slip through.

The chilly night air hit her like a slap as she bolted through the opening, her feet pounding against the cobbled streets. She barely registered the bustling market around her, her mind focused on one thing: escape. Her breaths came quick and shallow as she ducked behind a stall, her heart racing as she tried to make sense of what had just happened.

From her hiding place, she peeked out, watching as Alistair’s shadow loomed over the broken wall. She pressed herself against the stall, clutching her side as she struggled to catch her breath. What could she do now? She was in no state to fight him, yet she knew he wouldn’t stop hunting her.