Tale of the Prophet Bearer: The Dark Queen's Reign

Chapter 31: The Ugly Truth Comes Out

Reil lets out a battle cry and runs at me. My eyes dart to her daggers and I push the boys from her path. I bend back as the dagger swipes at my head and kick Reil's chest, but my attack doesn't faze her.

Reil grabs my ankle and raises her fist, swinging it down. The blade bites my leg and she grinds it in. I scream as the pain spreads up my calf, blood soaking onto my jeans the moment she rips away.

The Queen pushes me to the ground and I collapse with a gasp. My thoughts rush at a million miles an hour, but I can't think of anything other than the pain shooting down my leg, burning, twisting.

A pain in my throat drags my attention to Reil's heel digging into my neck. Her eyes bore into mine, glaring with a rekindled hatred. The irises that were brown are different. They still have the same rich color, but are mixed with a green fire that shifts through her eyes like it can't sit still. "Die, prophetess," She growls, raising the dagger above her head.

"No!"

Something hits Reil, making her stumble forward. I hear Cody's strained grunts as I sit up and gasp in air. She screams in annoyance and throws Cody off her back, sending him packing against the wall.

I hold my sore throat, scrambling up before Reil can come back at me. The moment I make it to my feet, I fall back down, the pulsing wound in my leg crippling me. I hold my ankle, biting back a scream of pain.

With Reil distracted by Cody, I rip off a strip of my jeans and tie it around my leg to slow the bleeding. It isn't going to solve my problem, but it will be enough until I can get professional help.

Cameron rushes to my side, grabbing my arm to help me stand. I lean against him, holding my foot up to keep pressure off it. My stomach jumps with nausea and I swallow hard, trying to keep myself from throwing up. "Go get help," I manage to wheeze out and push Cameron towards the door. I press my good foot firmly to the ground to keep from falling, but the stinging from my wound was crippling enough as it is. "We can't take her on our own. Go get the police, or somebody—anybody."

"But—" he starts to protest.

"Go!" I shout, giving him another push which almost sends me to the floor.

I watch Cameron run away then turn my attention back to the queen beating on Cody, who tries to avoid her attacks, but fails badly. I shoot a beam of fire at her and I'm not sure if my attack hurt her, but the force is enough to send her crashing into the pillar, causing it to crumble. The room slips out from under me and I fall on my back, realizing that I shot too hard for myself.

Cody runs over and helps me up. "Are you okay?" He asks quickly, his gaze moving to my leg. His expression twists with disgust.

I try to answer, but my breath can't catch up with my adrenaline spiked body. My chest hurts and my entire body shakes, unable to calm down. I can't decide if I need to cry or throw up, but Mr. Whisper's quiet voice cuts in. I can't hear what he said, but I know something is wrong. I shove Cody back, whirling around with my hand raised.

A dagger slides between my two fingers, stopping the blade from reaching my face by a few inches. Another dagger cuts through the darkness and my hand shoots up to stop it. Reil rushes out from the shadows and towards me. With her sword unsheathed, she leaps up and swings it at my head.

I hop behind her to avoid the attack, jumping so I wouldn't have to stand on my bad leg. With inspiration hitting me, I reach forward, grab her hair and wrap it around her neck. I prop my good foot on her upper back and lift myself up, wrapping her hair around her neck in a choke-hold and pulling as hard as I can.