Defeat (Book Attack Series: Book 9 - Alex Rider)

Chapter XXII

Chapter XXII

Phil

I couldn't move. I could barely breathe. All I could do was stare. At the letter. At her face. At her scar.

I could hear Lucas's duel, so I heard when it stopped; when all I could hear was silence and running footsteps. Soon Lucas knelt next to me, panting like a dog, "I've got a shield up. It'll keep her at bay, but not for long." He looked at Maddie, "Dammit, why the hell would she do that?"

I stuttered, "It was her. The traitor. It was her."

Lucas looked at me, bewildered, then back at her, "Bullshit."

"Horcrux." I sighed, "She was a horcrux. They were getting their info through her."

Lucas shook his head, "I can't believe it."

I didn't look up, "Neither can I."

It was silent for a moment, then Lucas spoke again, "We need to-"

He never finished his sentence. At that moment, there was a flash of light that threw him on his back. When opening my eyes once again became bearable, I saw him passed out next to Maddie, but alive.

Bellatrix walked up to us, smirk widening considerably on her face. She looked down at Lucas's unconscious body and frowned, "Now I hope I didn't cause any permanent damage. It'd be a shame to destroy that precious eidetic memory of his." She laughed, "He'll be dead in a moment anyways, I suppose."

I stared up at her, trying my best to keep a straight, neutral glare and not let emotions get the better of me. Then, I spoke in the most cliché manner imaginable, "You'll never win. This realm is too powerful. You can't control it. You'll never get what you want."

She looked at me and smiled crookedly, the way a psychopath would, "It's too bad I already have." She raised her wand at me and gave a pitiful frown, "Say hello to Ms. Jack for me, will you?"

I closed my eyes and all but stopped my breathing. I'm coming, Maddie.

Then, I felt movement on the grass next to me, heard a cough, and then a voice, "Phil."

I looked down, startled and bewildered. She looked up at me, her startling blue eyes full of light; full of life. She coughed out another word, "Duck."

When I didn't respond, Maddie grabbed my shoulders and pulled me to the ground. I felt something soar above my head, and I looked up just in time to see a dagger plunge into the center of Bellatrix's stomach.

Ali smirked, "The ginger wins, you bitch."

Bellatrix's wand fell from her hand and she hit the grass next to it. Her eyes were still open, but the life was gone. Maddie groaned, "Crap, that hurt a lot more than the first time."

I turned back to her, "What the hell were you thinking! Don't you ever do something like that again! What if you didn't wake up?!"

She smirked a little, "You're lucky I left you a note."

Then, I did the unthinkable and lifted her up, pressing my lips against hers, afraid that she might slip away again. She seemed to hesitate at first, as if unsure what to do, but then she wrapped her arms around my neck, running her fingers through my hair as she returned the kiss.

"Ahem." Maddie broke away first when Ali spoke, "Hate to ruin your moment and all, but there's an unconscious guy next to you."

Maddie looked over towards Lucas, then slapped him across the face. He reacted immediately, letting out a very loud, "Oww!"

She rolled her eyes, "He's fine."

Lucas sat up wearily, then his eyes shot open, "Oh my god."

Ali frowned, "What?"

"I know how to kill Opal."

·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·Author's Note!!!·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·•·

Again, sorry about the wait. I just got thrown back into golfing everyday and it's been kinda chaotic.

So yeah, I'M ALIVE!!!!

Please let me know what you think about my sketch of Madison on the side... I may do more for my other characters! :)

הצבעה, תגובה, ומאוורר! אתם הטובים ביותר!

~ Maddie