Animi Motus

19: Mirandum

Quattuor would've killed Gus. No question about it. I just couldn't reach him in time. But as he stood over my fellow primus, preparing to deal the killing blow, his body froze, and he crashed to the ground on top of him.

I rush over to the two of them, praying that Gus is okay. As I approach, I see the atrocitas's body begin to shrink, until he is no longer in his monstrous form at all. He just looks like a regular kid. I grunt as I roll Quattuor's body off of Gus. I find a pulse on both of them, but neither are moving. That's when I notice the quiet. I don't hear the sounds of battle. I look around me, and see hundreds of malefica crumbling to ash. Legatus stand about in confusion. I spot Asher, and frantically wave him over. He sees Gus and breaks into a sprint.

"He's alive," I tell him. "But he doesn't look so good." ASher kneels down next to Gus, and places his hand on his chest.

"His ribs are crushed," He informs me. He takes a deep breath and begins to mend Gus's broken body. A few agonizing minutes later, and he sputters to life.

"Ah!" He winces as the last few bones pop into place. "What happened?" I'm not entirely sure how to respond.

"I think it's over," I say. There's no sign of new malefica.

"Where are the others?" He asks.

"Right here." I turn to see Rosalie and a secundum approaching, dragging another figure along with them. Scarlett walks close behind them. They shove their captive to the ground in front of us. It must be an atrocitas.

"Unum?" I ask. The newcomer makes no move except to spit at my feet.

"Tribus, actually," The secundum speaks up. "I'm Carter by the way."

"Then where's Unum?" I wonder.

"Forget Unum, where's Riley?" Asher says. He has a point. Other than the malefica's leader, they're the only missing faces. Suddenly, Quattuor wakes up, coughing and spluttering.

"Tribus, brother," He murmurs. Tribus doesn't reply.

"Your friend is trying to talk to you, Tribus," Scarlett sneers.

"He's not my friend," Tribus growls. Scarlett's eyes narrow.

"Really? Then I guess you won't mind if I do this," She takes a step towards Quattuor, pointing the tip of her spear at his head.

"Scarlett," Asher warns. "Don't make any rash decisions." She looks at him sharply.

"Like he doesn't deserve it," She snarls. "Like he didn't kill masses of people. Like he's innocent." She turns to look Quattuor in the eye. "I, Primus Legatus Timere, find you guilty of murder." She glances at Asher, who seems complacent. Then she thrusts one end of her spear through the atrocitas's heart. Tribus flinches. Quattuor gasps for air, then goes still. At least it was quick. Scarlett turns to Tribus.

"Hey, look!" Rosalie points to the top of the valley. Riley is making his way down the steep slope. How did he get all the way over there. We wait for him to reach our little group in the valley. He nods to Carter, then walks straight to Gus, who's on his feet.

"Altissimum... she said she had Nessa. She told me she would... " His gaze is pleading.

"You did what you had to do," Gus says cooly. Riley gives him a curt nod.

"Altissimum and Unum are dead," He announces. The words make me feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. "All that's left, is... " He gestures at Tribus, who is staring intently at him.

"Well, get it over with then. Kill me," He says.

"We're not going to kill you, Tribus," I reply.