Obsidian's Reign ¹

∷ Chapter 49 ∷

AN UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT of time had passed before the fight in the hallway finally ebbed into silence. Rylan, with his eyes still closed, could just about make out the laborious breathing of those who remained; along with hurried footsteps rushing towards him.

"Are you okay?"

It was Jae, his expression laced with worry as he knelt by his subordinate's side.

Rylan nodded, unable to stop the grimace on his face when his slight movement seemed to irritate the laceration. Zephyr lifted Rylan's hand from where it lay clutching the wound, surveying the injury he had sustained from the angel blade.

"You shouldn't be bleeding this much," he said with a frown.

Though the area was covered entirely in blood, the wound itself wasn't as terrible as he'd assumed it would be—the resulting blood loss an immediate cause of concern.

"Don't worry about me. I'm fine," Rylan said, just as a sudden fit of coughs wrecked his lungs.

Zephyr, appalled at the amount of blood seeping through his fingers, proceeded to press his hands firmly over the gash in an attempt to do what little he could in such a situation.

"Idiot," Jae chided sternly beneath his breath, his glare fixed on Rylan's pale face.

Rylan grinned—eyes falling shut as his breathing mellowed out—fatigue having claimed him once more. Zephyr and Jae shared a worried look, equally aware that the longer he was forced to hold out, the weaker his powers. Once the barrier broke . . . they would no doubt be bombarded with another wave of angels. And this time, they weren't certain if they'd be capable of standing their ground as they had before.

"I could try to cauterise the wound," Zephyr mumbled a little hesitantly.

"No," Rylan said, having heard the suggestion.

"Why not? It's worth a try."

"No. You'll kill me."

"I won't—"

"You shouldn't take the risk unless you've done it before," Jae said. "A demon's powers used on a wound inflicted by an angel might have cause to accelerate its purpose."

Zephyr was silent for a few seconds before he said, "We need to do something. He's barely holding out."

"We need to get out of here. It's the only way to get Rylan the help he needs," Jae said.

"But the minute his powers dissipate, time will start flowing again and we'll be outnumbered . . . Jae, there's no way any of us will make it out of here alive."

"I know," he said.

His response timed perfectly with the sounds of their impending doom as herds of angels rushed through the hallway towards them. Rylan had slipped into unconsciousness and with it, restarted the hands of time.

Jae moved to retrieve a sword from the hardened grip of a fallen demon, adjusting his hold on the hilt as he turned it a few times to get a feel of its weight. The angels were upon them now, brandished blades at the ready; the silver of which gleamed against the lights.

"Stay with him," Jae ordered, keeping his gaze trained in front of him. "I'll create a distraction and when the opportunity presents itself, take it and leave."

"What? No," Zephyr said. "No. Are you crazy? I'm not leaving you. I–"

"Zephyr—you were right," he interrupted. "We can't all leave here alive."

"I'm not leaving y—"

"As the leader of the Elite, I am commanding you to do as I say. And for once, Zephyr, don't be stubborn."