In The Mist of Shadows

Chpt. 16

The dagger flew into his thigh, and the male fell as he shouted. The other two came after her but one of their swords clashed into Azriel's. Adela winnowed to behind the other and when he turned she met his sword with her daggers.

She easily threw it to the side before defending herself against another blow. After the third she kicked his ribs and grabbed his swords handle before ripping it out of his hand and swinging it down. His hand was almost severed all the way, the male screaming in agony. Another one screamed as Azriel broke his shoulder. Seeing him be so cruel, causing pain was of course unsettling. But something about it made her smile, he was willing to defend her with out question.

She swung the sword to meet the other male who got up, the dagger still in his leg. Azriel blinded him with his shadows before Adela sliced across his chest. The gash wasn't deep enough to make him bleed out, but enough to make him fall. She wasn't going to be a killer tonight. Not unless it was the only way to save the female in the corner, and Azriel felt it too.

She dumped the sword before walking to the female, she was wincing trying to move away. "It's okay." She spoke. "What's your name?"

"Alamea." She looked behind Adela and froze with fear as Azriel approached.

"What happened?" She ran her fingers down her leg until she winced.

"I owed them money that I couldn't pay."

All this for money? She could barely see what her face looked like under the blood and bruises and gashes. She looked to the males on the ground and snarled. "The next time you are so cruel over stupid reasons the High Lord won't be so kind... GO!" Her voice echoed through the alley, her authority choking them out.

Including Alamea. "D-do you work for him?"

"I do. Come-"

"Della." Azriel spoke. He's never used that name before, she hated it to be honest.

"Please." She pleaded.

"She got into this mess-"

"She didn't have a choice." Adela snarled at him as well. Azriel quickly shut his mouth, he wasn't going to argue with her, his mate. He trusted her words, knowing she was seeing something he wasn't. "Come with us." She spoke to Alamea. "We can help."

"You look just like him." She whispered.

"Just let me help-"

"No. Leave me!" Her demeanor changed quickly, she was scared of her.

"Alamea-"

"LEAVE ME!"

Azriel shadows boomed around him as his anger grew, like her words were somehow a threat to Adela's life. But also because Adela felt sad that she wasn't willing to see her, hear her. "Some don't want help." Azriel whispered as he helped Adela up. She took one last look at her before letting Azriel pull her towards where they came.

~

When they got home it only took Rhysand asking how it went before she began crying. She fell on her knees and cried, dropping her daggers that were soaked with the males' blood. Azriel knelt down and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I have to go back..."

"She doesn't want help."

"Who doesn't? What happened?" Rhysand asked as he too crouched down.

"There's a female in Hewn City, Adela fought off some males but this female's ankle was broken and she was-" Adela cried making him stop. "In pretty bad shape."

"I just wanted to help. Her mind..." She looked to Rhysand, hoping he would understand. "I didn't mean to, it was just so open and I wanted to know why they were attacking her. I was in her mind before I could second guess. All I remember hearing was screaming. And there was so much pain... Please, we have to do something."