I didn’t look behind me to see what happened next, maintaining my focus on the tug in my chest, feeling it grow in strength with each determined step I took, drawing me closer to Chrome. I ducked and dodged incoming magic attacks, swiftly batted them away with an air shield, and launched my other knife at a stray Kinetic before they spotted me.
Kinetic Warriors and Assassins were trained in rooftop warfare, so it was only a matter of time before they began their air assault while the Elementals were distracted with the ground forces. I called out to the Elementals locked in combat in the street, “Take the rooftops! They’ll pick us off one by one from there.”
A chill raced from my neck down my spine as I rounded the corner of a brick building, its perforated face a reminder of what this town must’ve suffered. The thrum in my heart from the unstable bond vibrated to a halt, and a wave of anger traveled down it. I summoned two more daggers.
Confused, I stopped, bracing for the unknown. I directed my senses down the alley, feeling for the energy I knew waited for me. Empty. The shadow was devoid of any trace of life.
Ever since Chrome destroyed the veil separating our world from Arcadia and merged the two realms, more creatures like the beastie-bear roamed free. We never knew what we might come across when venturing outside the safety of the Hollow.
Now it seemed that sections of Arcadia had plopped themselves into our world. It was broken up, like chunks of Arcadia placed sporadically throughout the landscape. Two worlds fought to exist on the same plane, and that plane happened to be ours: Terraguard, the earthly human realm.
Not only was it extremely confusing, but the bits of Arcadia I’d encountered felt as if they had become Endarkened, like an Elemental who had depleted too many times. Like Chrome, or at least how he was supposed to be.
An inky shadow sat around the back corner, swallowing all visible light and sound. It moved toward me, creeping forward, coating everything in its path.
The hilt of my dagger scrubbed against my palm. I squeezed it in anticipation.
“Princess Gray,” a male Cajun accent, drawling and deep like danger wrapped in silk, floated to my ears from within the large ink blot. “I’ve waitedyearsto meet you.”
Even with my heightened vision, I couldn’t see through the darkness seeping across the concrete, inching closer and closer to my feet. I dropped into a defensive stance, prepared to fight it off with a Kinetic dagger in one hand and an Elemental in the other. My Elemental and Kinetic magic waited in the wings to assist in whatever way they could.
I refused to retreat a step, unwilling to show any sign of weakness. It was unclear what species I faced, but I learned a long time ago that showing anything less than power and strength meant you were at the bottom of the power dynamic. As a queen, that wouldn’t be me.
Soon, the darkness embraced me, submerging me into its void of emptiness. Blinded, I sought the energy of the intruder. Kinetic.
His energetic source piqued my interest, reminding me a lot of Grim’s ability to absorb energy.
I shoved the Kinetic dagger in my weapons belt and summoned another Elemental one with air to take its place. Orange light frommy two blades glowed in the pitch darkness, providing an eeriness within the void.
“Nothing to say, Princess?” the man taunted.
What was there to say? Not like he’d answer any of my questions. I didn’t want to say anything that I’d later regret, so I remained silent.
“Very well, then.” Kinetic blades appeared within the shadow we inhabited, adding their cerulean light to the orange from my daggers.
The electric blue cast a glow onto the intruder’s face, making it difficult to discern what he looked like. I could see enough to know that he was broad and had sharp facial features.
“I’m going to go out on a limb and assume you’re looking for the same person I am,” he started. “Hybrid. Supposed to be dead. Twice.” My heart sank. “I’ve never known someone to escape death quite like Chrome.”
Escape death twice? When was the first?I squeezed my daggers tighter. Very few Kinetics knew of Chrome’s true identity outside of Amethyst, Forest, and Grim. So who was this guy?
Scoffing, I replied, “Well, if you find him, let me know, yeah?”
“If I find him, I’m going to kill him. For good this time.” The promise in his deep voice was smooth.
My darkness that craved violence and bloodshed bubbled to the surface. “That’ll be kind of hard to do when you’re dead yourself.”
The shadow that surrounded us began to dissipate, melting away to reveal a man looking down on me with feline-shaped eyes.
My breath snagged. “Who are you?” I whispered, my heart racing in my chest.
The Kinetic flashed a pearly grin that would melt any normal heart. “You see the resemblance, huh?” he asked with raised eyebrows and a beautiful smile swathed in ambiguity.
I remained silent, taken aback by what appeared to be ghosts from the present. His eyes bore an impossible resemblance to Chrome’s.
“Ah, I see Chrome has been withholding more secrets…” He chuckled, seeming to enjoy my shock.
“What secrets?” I asked, momentarily forgetting that I should be on alert with this man.
