Earthborn [Rewritten]

25. Awakening

"Now why would I do that?"

I blinked at the guileless question. I wasn't really excpecting him to answer. My fingers tightened around the handle as reason returned to me.

"Let her go," I repeated. From the edge of my vision, I could see Elle struggling in his grasp. My earpiece was deathly silent. I could really use some backup right now...

The man in front of me shifted, his cloak catching shafts of moonlight. My eyes kept getting pulled by the iridescent colors dancing over the feathers.

A chuckle rumbled from the thin chest. "Live a little. You're too tense," he said.

My finers tightened even more around the shaft of my hammer. Elle was still struggling to get free, scratching at the immovable hand around her throat. I've thought about a thousand scenarios in the past few seconds, discarding each one as they always ended up with Elle getting seriously hurt.

I tried the diplomatic approach. "What do you want?"

"Now, that's a good question," Crow said. I got the feeling he was just doing this for his amusement.

"Answer me," I gritted out. "I'm not interested in beating around the bush."

Crow shrugged, still not letting go of Elle but thankfully shifting his hold so that he was holding her up by her arm.

"Always in a hurry. I just wanted to-"

A shot rang through the forest just as a bullet lodged itself on the tree, just a hair's breadth from tearing my nose off. I swivelled sharply in time to see my sister fly into view.

"Get away from him!"

I jumped out of the way as bullets started to rain down on the creature. To my horror, he weaved around the barrage of bullets as easily as dancing a waltz with the immobilized Elle in his arms. I couldn't make a move since he always made a point to dodge with just a hair's breadth between Elle and the bullet path. My blood turned cold at the thought of her getting hit by friendly fire. Not that I don't trust my sister's shooting prowess. It was just...that. Whoever the creature was, he was trusting my sister's skills as an unparalleled marksman.

Shadow landed on the branch above me. Her face was coldly angry. I had the feeling that they've met before. And that it didn't turn out too well.

"Ah, the elusive Shadow," the creature said. "How are you? It's been a long time since we last saw each other."

"I don't have time for your games, Crow," my sister snarled. She let loose another couple of insane shots that impossibly didn't hit their mark. Lunging, she unleashed her fury on Crow.

Out of nowhere, Crimson lunged forward and swung his katanas at empty air. Not done, my brother pulled daggers from his boots and threw them at Crow. All of them hit nothing.

"Good to see you too, Crimson," he greeted, tilting his head to one side.

My brother snarled and charged again. Crow easily deflected his attacks. "Still bloodthirsty, as ever."

Crimson slashed at him. Shadow kept shooting, supporting Crimson. I jumped in the fray, trying to cut off Crow as he leapt through the trees.

"Unhand me!" Elle screeched. She tried to make things difficult for her captor by kicking and swinging her arms around. It didn't seem to make much of a difference as Crow dodged everything we dished out.

"Who's playing games, my dear?" Crow cackled as Elle struggled vainly in his grasp. "I just wanted to properly introduce myself to your brother since I didn't get the chance the last time we met."