SAGE (under edit)

Chapter Eleven

Sage jerked her arm out of Blain's grip, slashing again a heartbeat later with the glass. But Blain threw up his arm, letting the shard lodge into his armguard. He wrenched it out of Sage's hand, a gasp of pain filling her chest as the glass sliced open her palm, and then her vision flashed white as Blain slammed his fist into her jaw.

Water splashed over her as she crashed back into the shallow bank of the river, but she scrambled to her feet as Blain rushed toward her, uncaring of the water. Sage ducked around him, slowed by the water rushing around her calves, and snapped out her foot to slam it into Blain's back. He stumbled forward just as she stumbled back, her head spinning, and then Sage made it back out of the river.

Blain didn't charge after her though. He righted himself and turned to face her, his mouth curled.

'I take it my fellow Shadow Soldiers didn't simply let you out for a stroll,' he said, lazily stalking back out of the stream.

Sage backed away further, her jaw throbbing from Blain's hit. 'Actually they thought I could use the fresh air.' She kept her eyes on Blain, but her mind scrambled for an escape. Her hope that she would meet with the Crest Soldier squad was slowly dwindling, so was it worth buying time? Or did she just try to—

'I see your thoughts,' said Blain, his smirk widening. 'You know, I think those Crest Soldiers aren't too far away. In fact I came all this way just to kill them, but instead I get an even greater gift in finding you.'

'You're acting so tough now that Raidan isn't here,' Sage quipped. 'Is little Blain afraid of his own comrades?'

Rage flashed across Blain's face and he launched himself forward, and Sage twisted out of his reach with a surge of Kyra to propel her movement. But as she turned back around to face Blain her head span once more, the exertion of what little Kyra she had left finally affecting her.

And then Blain was in front of her, as if for just a heartbeat she had lost focus. Blain grabbed her throat in both hands and slammed her into the ground, the breath knocked from her lungs.

'Blain!'

It was Karus. Sage hadn't even known he was there. He appeared on the edge's of Sage's vision with both hands out, as if trying to urge Blain back.

Blain's gaze burned into Sage. 'They told us not to kill her. They didn't say anything about causing some harm. Besides, this girl barely seems worth the effort they're going to.'

They? Sage thought, her mind turning fuzzy. Does he mean the other Shadow Soldiers?

Blain's grip did loosen though, enough for Sage to draw in a gasping breath. 'I've heard people insult those who they're intimidated by,' Sage wheezed out. 'I guess I should be flattered.'

'Watch your tongue,' Blain hissed.

Sage sneered. 'Make me.'

Blain released one hand from her throat, raising it high and curling it into a fist.

'Blain!' Karus insisted. 'RedEarth want her alive and coherent.'

RedEarth?

'Shut up, Karus.'

'But—'

But Blain lowered his fist, keeping one hand firmly around her throat as he knelt over her. 'If you managed to get away from Suragi, then clearly he isn't as skilled as I thought.'

'Is that jealousy I hear?' Sage asked mockingly.

'You think I'm jealous of Suragi?' Blain snarled. 'Of any of them?'