Avatar Rose: Dusk

Chapter 67: Rose

I glance back and forth to this blood shower girl or whatever and Evan. It seems like we can't get a moment of peace without someone trying to kill us all in five seconds.

The woman's eyes wander throughout the group, then land on me. She bares her teeth, then I realize she's smiling. "There, the blondie in the back. Take her and Puppet Killer alive, kill the rest," she orders her little gang.

I really should have dyed my hair before I left. They spotted me in seconds after studying everyone else.

The leader, Crimson Shower, comes straight for me with that evil grin of hers. But I'm ready for her. Or thought I was, at least. I was expecting her to be a firebender, so when she metal bends my arm to the ground, I'm rather shocked.

She laughs, teasingly waving my hand up and down. "How convenient. Capturing you will be a whole lot easier."

I suck in an extremely deep breath, then use airbending when blowing out. It makes her fly backwards.

I go to fight with the rest of the group, which seems to be doing it in some circle formation. Just as I enter it, I somehow find myself in the middle.

I try to push my way out. "It's gonna be awfully hard to fight when I'm trapped in the middle of you guys!"

"That was on purpose, Rose. Our first priority is protecting you," Nathan says.

Doubt that. That's most likely his first priority, but everyone is too scared to argue with him. I don't bother arguing. I easily push myself above them with air, floating in front of Nathan with a mocking smirk. He grits his teeth.

"Watch this!" I chirp, getting into a stance I've been practicing for the last few months.

It only takes seconds until lightning forms in between my fingers. The energy is exhilarating. Instead of the normal shade of blue, the sparks light up red. I don't know if that's good or not, but who cares? It looks awesome.

I send it at Crimson Shower, but she shields herself with some liquid metal. I've never seen anything like it. I have to stare for a split second in wonder.

"It's a shame I can't kill you. But don't worry. Your little trip with us will make you wish you were dead," she sneers.

I grin. "Try me. You guys will want to get rid of me in minutes."

She advances. That liquid metal could kill me in seconds, but she's not here to kill me. She just wants to injure me enough to where I can't resist.

I slide out my metal dagger from my arm behind my back, patiently waiting for her to get close enough. She's going to grab me, but I'm ready.

I think she realizes that I am, and her gaze shoots to Nathan behind me. He's already preoccupied with another opponent, meaning he's also an easy target.

It takes her seconds to shoot the liquid into his left leg. His blue eyes widen into enormous globes before a yell of agony escapes his lips.

No, no, no...

She squeezes her right hand, laughing as he falls over and squirms in pain.

At first, I'm horribly scared. But then it turns to anger. I'm sick of people killing everyone I've ever cared about. Then they leave me alone, and I have to start all over again.

I slide my dagger out, which holds right above my wrist. I slice both her hands clean off with only two swipes. Now she's the one rolling on the floor in agony, but she's screaming hysterically too.

I want to kill her. I want to kill her as slow as possible for hurting Nathan, and I'm about to. I want her to squawk and beg for mercy, to only have me continue. My eyes flare with hatred.

Someone grabs my shoulder and pulls me into their chest as a net whizzes past my head.

"She can't fight anymore. Let's take care of the others and shield Nathan," Rowan murmurs into my ear. He squeezes my arm reassuringly.

"Yeah, okay," I reply.

As we fight, the bounty hunters' confidence shrinks lower by the minute. They end up terribly injured, dragging their screeching leader with them into the dark of the night.

"Why did you guys let them live!?" I snap furiously.

"Rose, why would we kill them if we don't have to?" Xander says.

"Because they deserve it! They hurt Nathan! They were going to kill you all!"

I shove Rowan away and kneel over Nathan, who seems to be hiding his torment.

"Get inside. There could be more," he croaks.

I ignore him and roll up his pant leg in which the metal had went through and into his skin. I can sense where the metal is. It shouldn't be too hard to get it out.

"This might hurt a little," I say, moving the poison throughout his body, then to his mouth. He spits it out, gasping and trembling at the same time.

Almost done...

I remove the remaining droplets from the pores of his skin, which makes him hold in a scream. It takes a few minutes for me to confirm that was all of it.

Everyone huddles inside the tipi. No one has serious injuries, just some bloody scratches and such.

Nathan seems kind of out of it, dazed and a bit loopy. I sit beside him for a while, but suddenly become restless.

"I'll take the first watch," I say, attempting to walk outside.

Nathan has an iron grip on my wrist. "No. Too dangerous."

I shake him off angrily and walk outside. Evan comes out shortly after.

"Get inside before Nathan flips," he orders.

"No! I'm so sick of you guys!" I growl.

"Fine."

He bloodbends me back into the tipi, forcing me to stiffly walk and sit beside Nathan.

"Princess Peach has arrived," he laughs, making me bow before plopping me down.

Did he just use a Mario reference for me?

He walks outside to take watch. I sit beside Nathan, enduring his hand clenched on to mine.