The Host of Hyperion

Chapter 12 - Kennedy

I spoke first.

"No way in hell."

The young man stared, evidently taken aback. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," I shot back, "no way in the bloody hell."

Elisabeth still gripped her knives, her face white as the moon. She opened her mouth and then closed it again, giving me a signal to keep talking.

I raised my daggers, ignoring how sore my body was, how heavy it was.

"Back off, Cornelius," I growled, "before I skewer you like beef on a kabob."

Cornelius blinked. "I just saved your life. And you don't trust me?"

"Ha! Surprised? That demon you just shot? She was our old dorm mate. Forgive me if I have doubts." I gripped them even tighter.

"The night is already upon us," he said urgently. "There are creatures far more dangerous than she on the prowl."

"Why should we believe you?" Elisabeth finally spoke, her face tight with fear but determination.

He shook his head. "I'm equipped to fight. You two--" he raked his eyes over our tired bodies-- "more or less look like you're going to fall over."

"Wrong! I have just enough energy to tear you apart! So back off!" I threatened.

"My turn to laugh," he sneered unpleasantly. "You're a terrible liar."

Anger was coursing through me. "Like hell. Just get out of our way."

"No. You have to come with me."

"Wrong again," I hissed.

He closed his eyes, his lip tightening.
"It's for your own safety--"

"No way," Elisabeth stood next to me, her eyes deadly despite her wavering legs.

Cornelius sighed. "Don't make me take you by force."

"Sorry pretty-boy." I snarled. "We aren't going anywhere."

Cornelius growled, too. He looked seriously pissed, his teeth gritting and his eyebrows scrunching together. He muttered something under his breath and pulled a long golden arrow from his full quiver.

My back stiffened. The pain and exhaustion melted away, replaced with raw adrenaline. Elisabeth seemed to undergo the same feelings, her back straightening and her lip locking.

"I'd be careful," I blurted out.

He paused in the action of stringing his arrow. "Careful? Of what?"

"Of falling rocks."

He looked up. "Huh?"

I snatched the biggest rock I could find off of the ground and threw it with all my might at his face. It smashed against his nose, sending him reeling back with an, "Agh!"

"Go!" I shouted to Elisabeth.

We sprinted further into the rock quarry, weaving through sphires and piles of large rocks. We were faster than before, our legs but blurs as we sped deeper into the cave formed at the end of quarry.