Sam’s healing did a number on me. At the halfway mark, still feeling energized, I ran a few blocks into Hoar Hollow with Rune following. The icy buildings glistened in the torchlight lining the cobbled road. Very few souls, either dead or blood-banded, strolled the streets or flew in the air. Only one sleigh with a Hellcat rested at the curb. The couple of souls we passed seemed pretty tame and unthreatening, if I ignored the scars marring their faces.
We turned at the end of the block and sprinted back, passing the same set of strangers. The winding road stretched ahead, flanked by darkening woods and looming trees. As our footsteps crunched in the snow, a quicker set ran behind us.
I shot a glance over my shoulder, noticing someone in a Hell Squadron uniform, their face too difficult to make out.
I picked up speed, determined to prove I could finish this ten-mile run without getting lapped. My breath came in shallow gasps as my legs ate up the distance. Four more miles to go, and the energy Sam gave me was giving way to my inadequate strength.
Another glance. And a curse slipped past my lips.
It was Ni, and she was gaining on me.
Putting on an extra burst of speed, I managed to keep distance between us, but at the cost of my burning lungs. I wanted so badly tofinish a warm-up run at the same speed as my squadmates. I was so close.
Come on!
The sound of her footsteps grew louder, the air shifting with her speed. She was closing in. I looked over my shoulder one more time—and she was gone.
What the hell?Did she lusceler?
Before I could process what had happened, a wall of fire erupted between me and Rune, and I was slammed into the icy ground, the world spinning. Pain radiated through my back as I hit the snow, and the last thing I saw was Ni’s fist, flying toward my face.
Then, darkness.
Searing pain sparked in my hand, and I jerked awake, crying out. Ni straddled my chest, pressing me into the rough ground while my head and the palm she carved into dangled over a cliff.
“What are you doing?” I yelled, straining to throw her off and pull my hand back.
She leaned onto my wrist, halting my movement. The cliff edge dug into my skin, straining my joints as Ni sliced another line into my palm.
“Ni, stop!” I smashed my fist into the side of her head, gasping when her knife dug deeper. I did it again, cringing. I didn’t want to hurt her. I liked Ichi—and by default, her twin—but I didn’t know what she was trying to do to me.
She ignored my punches and words, continuing her painful carving. I squirmed, arched my hips, tried to wrap my legs around her head, but nothing worked. My Glory prickled beneath the surface, gaining strength with each failed attempt.
I tried to close my hand, cringing from the sting and pool of blood dripping off my skin.
Ni twisted her head, baring razor-sharp teeth and revealing black veins crawling up her neck.
My stomach dropped.
The Doors of Moirai hadn’t show me her past. They’d shown me herfuture.
But how had she transitioned so fast? Yesterday, she had no markings or razor teeth. And what was she turning into?
“Get off!” I screamed, kneeing her in the back. Thousands of needles pricked my skin, my Glory climbing in its painful ascent.
Ni slammed the butt of her knife into my temple, twisting my head to the side with the force of the blow and stopping my fight. A black lake with flecks of white blinked in and out of my vision. It looked like the night sky on Earth—but in a bottomless pit, as if the bowels of Hell had swallowed the stars.
Another stab brought me out of my throbbing daze, sending a line of excruciating pain up my arm. I shrieked as my Glory shoved through my body.
Ni noticed the change in my eyes before I erupted and burned away my clothing—and reacted like the warrior she was.
My white flames collided with her red ones, sending her flying. She landed on her back with a loud thump, but quickly got to her feet. I mirrored her, standing on shaky legs.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Ni.”
Nor could I unless she came closer. I didn’t have control of my Glory. I had no idea how to make a fireball like Aspen. I was naked,standing on the edge of a cliff with blood dripping down my arm, pleading to Ni with my palms raised in surrender.
She tilted her head and smiled, sending goosebumps down my spine. Half her body was illuminated by a glowing blue forest on her left, while shadows from the evergreen forest on her right left her in darkness. Her empty eyes flared with red flame, taunting me.
