🐲 Dragon and Phoenix (Path of Light and Fire Book #2) (Completed) 🐲

Chapter 40

Alaina covered her ears as the sickening crack of bones filled the air. She closed her eyes and folded her body as small as she could make it, but it did not help. Images of the woman bending backwards in a way the human body should not bend assaulted her inner eye. Soon the woman would tumble across the earth, slamming into every rock and crevice, breaking her once beautiful form beyond repair.

Tears poured from her eyes. She didn't want to kill another human being. She regretted her decision, wishing she had found another way to resolve things.

I am a coward. I should confirm she is dead.

Yet, she couldn't. She couldn't pry her hands from her ears, nor open her eyes. Not until she felt the rush of wind rippling nearby.

Lan!

Yulan was running after Fatima and if he caught her, he would make her whole again. Like he fixed the little girl.

Like he fixed Alaina in Ciudad Naranja.

Alaina couldn't let that happen. There was too much at stake.

She flew after him, her white dress rippling in the wind. It ballooned in a way that pushed back against the air. She felt it slowing her process. It was something she had analyzed little until now.

She found the two of them, Yulan's hands under Fatima like a scene out of a picture book, a prince holding his dying princess. Yulan had to be healing something broken in her.

Alaina slammed the wind towards Yulan. She didn't expect to make contact, only to draw him away from Fatima. Yet he took the blast flush in the chest, and launched away, sending Fatima crumpling to the ground.

Before she could form a thought on what to do with Fatima, there was distortion of the air below. Yulan was there again, his hands under Fatima like he had never left.

She blasted Yulan again, this time knocking him beyond the edges of her eyesight.

I should kill her.

She pointed towards Fatima's face.

One blast would be all it takes. Why can't I do it?

Yulan reemerged next to Fatima. However, now he looked different.

Thinner.

Alaina floated down just in front of him on the other side of Fatima. He didn't attack or even acknowledge her presence. He was completely focused on Fatima.

Yulan's eyes were sunken into his face and the thick arms slimmed. He was still muscular, but was the difference was sizeable.

And it was getting worse before her eyes.

She recalled her interaction with First Blood Ira and how the woman looked after she saved her sister's life. Ira had been a shell of her former self. The same was happening here with Yulan. Unlike Ira, he did not seem conscious of what he was doing.

There was no turning back: she had to kill Fatima or Yulan would die, right here and now.

Fatima's eyes were closed and she looked so peaceful and serene. Alaina couldn't attribute what she planned to do to the heat of battle like before. This was cold, premeditated murder.

"Lan," she whispered. "I need you to stop."

Yulan kept his eyes on Fatima, so Alaina grabbed his face and turned it towards her. "Please, I can't do this. I need you to hear me and I need you to stop."

Even though his eyes were on her, it felt like he was looking through her.

"Lan, if you make me kill this woman, I will never forgive you!"

Yulan shuddered and exhaled deeply. Then he blinked and dropped Fatima.

He grabbed Alaina's hands. "The smell of fileri and peace is gone? How?"

"It doesn't matter," she said. She wrapped her arms around him, tears streaking down her face. "Thank Rianna you heard me. I couldn't kill her. I'm sorry."

Yulan removed her arms, still strong despite the change in his body. She realized now why Sabin had eaten so much. The Path of Fire took something from the body that needed to be replaced.

She glanced at Fatima's body. Her chest rose and fell, showing the effects of Yulan's work. She lived. Fatima would still be a threat as long as she was alive.

"Go check on Disa and Terrick," Yulan said. The surprise and wonder from Alaina breaking Fatima's magic had left his tone, replaced with something cold and hard. Something she could never be, but something needed right now.

"You're going to kill her." Alaina said, more a statement than a question.

Yulan turned back to Fatima. "Taking a life is something a dove should not have on her conscience. I walk in the darkness so that others such as you can walk in the light." He sighed and looked Alaina. "You were wrong, Wind Witch. I am a monster. You do not have to be. Go."

Alaina touched him on the shoulder, then turned away, rising slowly into the air. She didn't know what disgusted her more, that she couldn't do what was necessary, or that she was relieved he would do it for her.

She flew back toward the market square where Disa and Terrick had been fighting. With Yulan dispatching Fatima, she no longer worried for their safety.

Until she heard Disa's scream.

There was so much blood staining the grass under Terrick's body, turning its green to a deep crimson. Disa kneeled next to him, trying to push it back inside.

Terrick, the one who had taken them in despite Disa's protest was dead, because she'd hesitated to kill Fatima. Her refusal to cross that line cost someone their life.

Alaina landed on the other side of Terrick and tried to use the healing skills she had, as minor as they were.

It was no use.

This is my fault. If I'd only just killed Fatima.

Disa looked up at Alaina, her brown eyes so widened, they threatened to take up her entire face. "Where is Yulan?" she asked.

Alaina shook her head. She was sure Yulan wouldn't be able to fix it, even if he weren't on the edge of death himself.

Disa snatched her dagger from the ground and jabbed it at Alaina. "This is your fault! I knew helping you would be the doom of us. But Terrick wouldn't listen. He believed in you. He believed in everyone." Disa looked down at Terrick, tears falling from her eyes. "If you hadn't brought your Serien troubles here, he'd still be alive."

Alaina nodded her head.

She's right.

"Get out of Affil. Now!" Disa said. "If I see you – if I see any of you Seriens again - I will kill you. I don't care if it takes me a thousand lifetimes."

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A/N: #RIPTerrick

Well, that's just happened. I can think of a certain belligerent thief that won't be happy with this turn of events.  :(

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