Veil of Shadows

Chapter 18. Midnight

Another day into the journey, and Ranger was pretty sure she was going to either die of boredom or fall off the horse and break her neck.

Wolf was still flying, watching for any sign of danger from her bird's eye view of the path. Myst watched Wolf, as if contemplating joining her in the sky. Olivia seemed impatient, fidgeting often.

They rode in silence. There was nothing to be said.

Well, most of them rode in silence. A handful of the apprentices, on the other hand, were blabbing away about random things that even Patch didn't understand. And that was saying something.

"Hero Squad. I think I have some unfinished business with you."

Within mere moments, the Hero Squad had dismounted, turned, and faced Wraith, weapons ready. Their blood ran cold. Wraith held a dagger to Pro's throat, dangerously close to piercing her skin.

"Now listen closely. I have a quarrel only with Blaze. So if she would kindly step forward, I'd gladly release this pathetic excuse for a Hero." Wraith said, gesturing to Pro.

Uncertain, nobody made a move. Blaze looked like she was having an internal panick attack. Wraith grinned and shifted the knife slightly. A trickle of blood ran down the side of Pro's neck.

Blaze slowly stepped forward.

Still, nobody spoke. Wraith said "Drop your weapons, Blaze, and stand beside the tree." Reluctantly, Blaze complied, and Wraith's grin widened. Looking at Pro, it was easy to piece together that her blood was boiling.

But Pro couldn't risk any movement. If she tried to attack Wraith, she would die within seconds. Ranger had to physically restrain herself from swearing at Wraith. And Ranger didn't swear. Ever.

Wraith removed the dagger from Pro's neck and shoved her towards the Hero Squad. Poppy grabbed Pro's arm, already inspecting the shallow cut in her neck.

Blaze was giving Wraith the champion of all death glares.

"And now, since you all thought it was funny to delay my mission, I will allow you the pleasure of watching Blaze's execution." Wraith said, twirling the already-bloodstained dagger.

Wolf's eyes burned with unmasked hatred, and she lunged for Wraith, only to halt when Blaze held out a hand. The blaze hybrid looked completely calm, unaffected.

Blaze turned her gaze back on Wraith. No...not on Wraith, something past Wraith. Something beyond her that Wolf couldn't see from her position. Blaze only grinned.

Wraith seemed confused. Why would Blaze be smiling?

"I hate to cut the fun short, I really do, but I think you should put the dagger down before I blast you into oblivion." An unknown voice said.

Blaze was still grinning. "Right on time, as always, Midnight."