Chomp

Chapter 29

CHAPTER 29: 

   

Have you ever felt something so surreal, it's almost as though you're having an out of body experience? Like you're watching yourself move in slow motion from an omniscient stand point. That's what it was that I was experiencing, but rather than remain in slow motion, events zoomed forward faster than my mind could keep up. Adira, being a Seer, must have known exactly what I was about to do when I myself had no idea I'd charge at the devil. She and one of the harpies were too late in trying to grab me before I took off. 

"Rayna!" I cried out when I saw that her eyes had dimmed. Just like that, she was gone- dead. Why was this happening? What exactly had I done to deserve this? What had my friends done to deserve this? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. 

My arm was forgotten along with my leg and other injuries. I was dizzy from losing so much blood but it didn't matter. None of it mattered anymore. Celtic and my mother were nowhere to be found and my brother was hurt. If the intimidating gray mass of evil could easily murder someone like Ray, then what chance did we have? Even the wizard had appeared surprised and wary of him. 

Rushing forward, I leapt at him attempting to stab the bastard as many times as I could. He dodged every attempt easily without ever moving from his spot which only served to frustrate me further. As big a target as he was, I never even managed to knick him and all the while he laughed. One minute I was swinging my pitiful little weapon and the next, he had me by the throat dangling over Ray's body. 

"Set the boy free," Adira voiced in distress. 

I clawed at the firm grip he had placed on me. My vision was splotchy and fading like my hopes of making it out of this particular ordeal alive. The sad part was that all the other times I'd made it out or gotten away was pure chance and good luck. Not now. 

"Quiet, fortune teller," the gray devil-like creature commanded in her direction. Adira was suddenly lifted from the carpet and shoved back and onto a sofa. The creature holding us hostage didn't even have to move to do it. 

The wizard rose his golden staff and shot a bolt of energy in our direction. "Enough of this foolishness! We end this now!" 

The demonic monster stepped out of the way and the bolt of blue light struck behind us. The wall crackled and the paint began to peel. I didn't even want to know what it was meant to do to someone. While they were quarreling with one another, a harpy pounced at my assailant. He dropped me only to snatch the harpy who was soaring mid-air. Although larger than her human form, she was no match for him. He gripped her wings between the shoulder blades and pulled as though he were picking flowers from the grass. It was that easy. She let out a blood curdling scream as she was kicked across the room a microsecond after the removal of her wings. 

I was watching everything happen yet I could not see it. I'd been dropped beside Ray who stared back at me with a haunted expression. I didn't see fear in those eyes, only surprise. She hadn't been afraid to die or fight so from that I drew strength. My body felt tingly, almost electric when I focused on how much I wanted to hurt the one who'd hurt her. Like Rayna Belvoir, I'd go down fighting. Maybe there was no magic within me at all, or a handy set of combat skills but I was strong. I was smart. I was no longer afraid. 

With a roaring battle cry, I got up with the last of my will power. My hands were crackling and my fingertips sparked like tiny fireworks going off wildly. The sudden turn of events must have surprised both wizard and demon as they'd just thrown more assaults at each other. Even Adira's ears twitched with the change in atmosphere as I thrust my palms forward not knowing what I was doing nor the outcome. It didn't matter so long as I struck him. Just once. This was for Ray. This was for my brother. For Lizzie and Cole. Most importantly, this was for me and I let it be known.