From Ashes and Dust (Book One)

Chapter 6.2

A throaty groan sounded from Hisato. "There's only one extra ship that you could possibly be talking about."

"Which is why you will owe me! Just wait a few minutes before giving us power back," Vatra called over her shoulder. "So much can go wrong with this," she added in a softer whisper, and placed her mask back over her face.

Her hand reached out and yanked the door open. Vatra descended the stairs back down to the hall with little care to how narrow each step was. There wasn't time to worry about taking cautious movements.

The second door approached fast and Vatra nearly fell through it. Her momentum carried her clumsily for a few steps into the darkness on the other side before she regained her balance.

"All right, maybe I should have slowed down a little," Vatra mumbled. She looked around in embarrassment, composing herself with a straightened back, and continued on down the hall.

Watching the numbers on the hangar doors, Vatra counted in her mind until the familiar number crossed her vision. The hangar was still dark beyond the door, but she knew Hisato would time it just right for her.

"What the hell is going on?" Enyalius' agitated voice questioned from the faint glow of his ship's lights.

She didn't have the spare time to entertain him.

"Go get our ship ready to fight. We're defending this place." Vatra directed her statement to Spyro, ignoring Enyalius altogether. "Take the crew with you. I can handle these guys."

The reality was, she didn't want the spirits pulling a disappearing act while crammed in the ship and giving away her identity. The spirits' time was limited, after all, and they were already on a countdown.

Spyro nodded without question and turned, the others following him. They disappeared to the halls and went to the Agkistrodon.

Turning her attention back to Enyalius, Vatra gestured with her chin to the ship behind them. "I'm going to need you to board your ship and strap in. We're going to be doing a little fighting."

"No, we're not," Enyalius said. "You should join your companion back on your ship. Our ship isn't going anywhere."

She didn't want Hisato to turn power back on until she was in control of the ship. The others could easily turn and beat her to the boarding ramp and keep her from going inside. Vatra needed to step it up another notch.

Crossing the distance between her and Enyalius, Vatra landed a hard and direct punch in the center of his nose. He didn't even have time to block the hit.

Revna looked on in shock beside him. Her arms were held up in a partial attempt to stop Vatra, but they were frozen half-way up.

Blood spouted from his nostrils. Enyalius grabbed his face and ducked down. A noise emitted from him that sounded like a half-cry and half-choke.

"I don't have time to negotiate," Vatra dead-panned. She ignored the tingle that shot up and down her right arm, throbbing more so at her knuckles.

Vatra squared her shoulders at Revna. The substantially shorter woman stepped away, clearly uninterested in being hit.

It was out of character that Enyalius didn't at least strike back. Vatra was expecting more of a fight from him, but she played on the gut-feeling that she had from earlier. He was different. The way he sulked away from being hit once only proved her suspicions.

"Okay," Enyalius said. Blood bubbled from his lips, spilling down over his mouth from his nose. "Take the ship, but let us stay here."

"No," Vatra shot. "Both of you are coming with me. I don't want you out of my sight."