“That bitch knows what she did.”
“Well, your domestic disputes are one thing. But really, Treycore? I never figured a higherling of your status would feel compelled to rise up against the Almighty.”
“We’re not lying to you,” Kinzer said. “There’s an army of Morarkes out there somewhere. And Janka’s going to use them against all creation. And who knows what that Christ is going to fucking do.”
Neeva looked at Kinzer, a fierce gaze in her eyes. “The Morarkes and the Christ? You’re saying Veylo has been conspiring to create this massive resistance and no one from the Council has become aware of this?”
“We don’t have time for this.”
“Kinzer, get out of here,” Treycore said. “I can handle Neeva.”
Kinzer didn’t want to abandon Treycore, but he had to make sure Maggie, Hayde, and Kid got out of there safely.
He dashed off.
“Kayvan,” Neeva said. “Stop him.”
As Treycore approached Kayvan, she withdrew a chain from a bag around her waist. She dropped one end, allowing it to unravel to the floor, before rearing her hand back and striking it forward.
The chain flew at his sword, which he knew she was trying to catch with her weapon, so he shifted his weapon from its path.
Dartavore crouched to the floor and sprinted across the room like a beast.
Treycore swung at his oncoming attacker, but she dodged the blow, slipping beneath the blade and running behind him. Treycore pulled it back to strike at her again when he heard a CLANG.
His sword halted, and upon inspection, he realized Kayvan’s chain was now wrapped around it. Dartavore’s distraction had given her the opportunity she’d needed to siege his weapon. She yanked at her chain, a clear attempt at forcing the sword from his grip, but not only did he hold on with all his strength, he charged at his new target, aiming his sword at her.
A glance over his shoulder, and he knew if he could keep up his pace, Dartavore would remain just over a foot behind him. But he’d have to deal with her once he reached Kayvan.
Neeva stood back, her arms folded. She didn’t seem concerned about his attack on her comrade, and he knew why. Her power was strong enough to take him down in a moment. He was certain he wasn’t going to win this battle, but he didn’t have to. He just had to stay on his feet long enough to give Kinzer and the others a chance to get away.
As he drew near Kayvan, out of his periphery, he saw Neeva’s hands rising, and when he saw a flash of light, he released his sword, dropped to the floor, and shielded himself behind a pile of corpses as yellow streaks, bound together like a web, rushed across the room.
Dartavore jumped on top of him, raising her claw, when the web hit her and threw her back to the stairwell. She broke through the rail and lay limp on the stairs.
Kayvan’s head smashed against the wall below the rail, equally immobilizing her.
Treycore eyed Neeva, beaming with satisfaction. He was pleased to see her power working against her.
But even though he’d temporarily taken out Kayvan and Dartavore, he knew he wasn’t in the clear yet.
He looked around for a weapon, anything he could use against them. He rose to his feet, darted across the room, and picked up a shard of fractured glass that had come from the window he’d seen the flying monster exit through.
He had ventured through the darkest parts of Hell. He could, at the very least, give Neeva a run for her money.
Neeva smiled and approached him, stepping over deceased higherlings and fallens, seemingly not noticing their presence. A confident gleam in her eyes appeared amused by Treycore’s ambitious nature.
“You ballsy moron,” she said, raising both hands and flicking her middle fingers with her thumbs.
Sparks soared through the air and hit Treycore. Each blow burned at his chest as they shoved him back until his ankle caught on a body, and he tripped backward.
“Oh,” he groaned, but he had to keep on going… he had to make sure the others had time to escape.
His fingers shook against the bodies he pressed against as he struggled to stand.
Neeva stood just a few feet away, gazing down at him.
Kayvan and Dartavore recovered by the stairs and hurried to assist their mistress.
