I watch her mind spin at a thousand miles per hour. Despite her exhaustion she cocks her chin up at him.
“They were destroyed once too,” she argues back at him, implying that can be done too. Her voice is strong and clear.
The king ignores her statement and speaks towards the shadows.
It isn’t a question, but a demand they can’t argue with.
Within a split second the manes shoot into different directions. They fly past me and Eliane, but aim towards the people running away.
A scream fills my ears as I watch one shadow suck on an elderly woman who is throwing out one last fireball. She falls onto the ground, drained.
Instead of looking for another victim it rushes back.
The king reaches his arm forward, shoving his blouse upwards, revealing his arm.
The shadow jumps on it.
The mane jumps on it.
The king throws his head back, and I realize what he is doing.
What this is all about.
Power.
Getting stronger.
Getting stronger than her.
Just like our brother’s telepathic snap in place, I jump up the same time Zephron breaks free.
Eliane is on the ground.
“Run.” It is the only thing I say before I break our eye contact and bolt forward, feeling no mercy.
The king doesn’t look at us as we go for him.
“You’re a monster,” I scream at him, taking my sword.
A mane flies towards Zephron.
“Behind you!” I scream.
He dunks, coming up again behind the king. I give him a nod and push the king forward. Leaving him stumbling over the, falling and standing on the ground. He releases his sword, agreeing to my fight.
“I hate you,” I bite at him.
He slices towards my neck. I dunk, slicing his ribs. He reaches forwards, holding his stomach. I watch the magic rush through him. The new magic.
Fire appears out of his hands.
A fire ball comes my way.
I duck.
“I hate you too. You’re a disappointment.”
And even when I already knew it, those words rolling off his lips hurt and sting like a stab in the back. Lost in thoughts, his fire pushes me back. I am on time to duck for another attack, but the ball of fire burns into the grass.
