Life's Pursuit {Book 2}

Chapter 20: Near Betrayal

"Run." Loki wasted no time and had helped Oveaus to his feet before he could get the word out. Nebula was ready with her aim but there was no chance of them going down without attempting an escape. They couldn't lose this easily.

Creating a duplicate of them with his illusions, Oveaus was able to hold off Nebula's fire just enough for them to get a running start. The heavy snow made it difficult to run and he could feel the effects of his drained magic weighing on his body. Loki, on the other hand, was invigorated from the snow and adrenaline that he was held back by Oveaus' weakness. He shoved the elf out of the way of a stun bullet while ducking to avoid it himself.

Catching up, Nebula charged the gun once more to fire. Loki could hear the gun recharging and knew there would be no way to avoid it without a fight. He spun around and tried to twist the gun out of her hands, ducking when she attempted to smash his head with it. It came around too fast for him to avoid a collision with his spine, knocking him to the ground. A stun bullet fired by mistake, narrowly missing Oveaus again.

As Nebula furiously tried to recharge the gun, Oveaus helped Loki to his feet and they both tackled the cyborg. Head butting the elf, she threw him off of her but Loki was still working to remove the gun from her grasp.

Screaming, she kicked Loki over and stood again. "Out of my way!"

Loki wasn't having it. He was nauseous from the gut kick and weakened in his mortality but his ambition was hotter than ever. As soon as he stood and saw that she was distracted by Oveaus standing up, he kicked her feet out from under her and the elf took the opportunity to hold her in place with the rest of the magic he had left.

"Cheater," Loki sneered, throwing the gun to the side as he watched Nebula struggle to move. It was a rewarding sight.

Nebula growled and fought. She spat in their direction, her dark eyes burning with rage. "You don't deserve this prize! I will kill my father and you!"

"My dear, you are not the one trapped in magic." Loki took away her batons and also threw them aside in the snow. He wasn't taking any chances. "I wouldn't meddle in things you hardly understand."

Nebula screamed again, her anger boiling over as she struggled to free herself from the invisible hands around her. The sight of the fractal just mere feet away burned awake a ferocious beast that writhed and fought to break free, but to no avail, although she was strong.

"Loki," Oveaus grimaced. "We need to go, I can't hold this much longer."

"Alright," Loki stood, keeping his eye contact with the cyborg. "But keep her stuck here as long as you can."

They turned away from her, leaving her trapped in the cold and to watch as they held the fractal that would return them to Alfheim. Nebula's fury burned within her and she shouted, "You're the one who doesn't understand!"

As Loki watched the fractals shimmer in Oveaus' hands, he couldn't help but focus on her words. They echoed in his ears. Her desperation was shocking to him, along with the desire to use the fractals for the murder of her father. It was a maddening rage, and as she disappeared with the rush of the fractals energy that whisked them away from the planet, he was left with a strange pit in his stomach.

Even as they left Contraxia, he repeated her words to himself, deciding there was a bit of truth to what she had said. The one who doesn't understand... They had learned so much and yet the unknown was vast. At least they were returning with some good news.

***

As soon as the grass of Alfheim touched their feet, Oveaus gave up the last of his strength and fell on his knees. The fractal dropped to the grass beside him, sizzling as the magic pouring from it became dormant once more.