I skidded to a stop with Scarlett, then shook my head while Valik shouted his protests from several yards behind the unicorn. “No! Don’t kill it, Scarlett!”
Scarlett ignored him, ejecting a stream of her nuclear-based energy at the Endarkened creature from her palms, striking it in the chest. It stumbled, but quickly shook off the attack with a snort before closing the distance between us. It released another roar, this one shaking the ground.
Ten yards away.
Scarlett’s magic spilled from her fingers, and within seconds, purple volts enveloped the unicorn’s body completely.
I stood frozen, completely thrown for what to do. I couldn’t use my sword, and my thermal ability was basically useless in this fight, especially if Scarlett’s powerful electrocution did nothing to slow it down.
Five yards.
My heart thrashed wildly in my chest as the beast closed the final feet separating us. It reared onto its hind legs, and just as it was about to stomp down onto Scarlett’s head, I dove for her, knocking her to the ground and out of its reach. Thankfully, Scarlett had released her control on her magic just before I made contact with her, sparing me her electrocution.
Valik appeared in Scarlett’s place, holding his hands above his head as he faced the Endarkened unicorn. White light radiated from his palms, creating a force field of power that shot out and slammed into the creature, knocking it to the ground.
Valik looked at the pair of us crumpled on the ground. “I said to fucking run. Not stop and fight it off. To let me handle it.”
Before Scarlett could answer, the unicorn had regained its footing,shaking off the magical blow dealt by Valik. “You need to fucking run! Unicorns can kill you without even?—”
Scarlett inhaled a sharp and ragged gasp, clutching her arm around her stomach, before she began to cough violently. I rolled away, looking at the unicorn and then back to Scarlett, not knowing what to do.
“They’re empaths and healers!” Valik yelled, struggling against the unicorn with his magic, which now pulsed blue sheets of power, instead of white, over the Endarkened unicorn’s body. “Now that they’re Endarkened, they do the opposite!”
That was all the explanation I got from Valik as the unicorn kept rearing up, roaring a gurgling and rasping sound while stomping its hooves into the bluish green grass, its blackened blood staining the earth.
I rose to my feet, then hovered over Scarlett, leaning down to pick her up to carry her away. I didn’t have the ability to fight off the beast, and I trusted Valik when he said not to kill them. But if they were like the Endarkened people back home, then they would absorb power, which would amplify their own. If that were the case, then maybe it had just absorbed Scarlett’s, strengthening its own. And now it retaliated against her.
I was by no means an animal whisperer, but I understood them to an extent. Scarlett hacked harsher and harsher coughs, and my heart paused when her face began to turn a deep red. She coughed deeply from her chest again, hacking up a thick, black liquid from her mouth.
“Get her away!” Valik shouted, sweat beading on his temples. His blue veil of magic still blanketed the unicorn. It began to slow, snorting and whimpering as it shook its head from side to side, until finally, it settled. Black moisture painted the skin around Scarlett’s mouth, her complexion turning pallid as she grew limp in my arms.
“I’m purifying it, but it’s a very temporary fix,” Valik explained, his arms shaking. “It’ll give us enough time to get back to the castle without being chased.”
The unicorn nestled its nose against Valik’s palm. He slid his hand upward, resting on the center of the unicorn’s forehead just below the horn. It dipped its head, huffing, but docile.
I stared in wonder. A fucking unicorn.
Scarlett coughed in my arms again, weak, falling into unconsciousness. I adjusted her higher, situating her against my chest. I looked down, breath catching at the black liquid seeping from her nose and closed eyes.
No. No. No. No.
I gently set her down on the ground, pushing her vibrant hair from her sweaty forehead with shaky hands. I looked at Valik, helpless and in panic. I waved my arm above my head to get his attention. When he looked at me, my eyes widened as I emphatically shook my hands in Scarlett’s direction for him to do something.
“My magic is drained now…” Valik responded a few feet from Scarlett and me, eyes drooping.
The unicorn huffed, shaking its head before bowing it, then slowly approached us. Once it reached Scarlett’s side, it lowered onto its front legs until it barely touched her forehead with its nose.
My hands trembled as I glanced back and forth between the unicorn, Scarlett, and Valik.
Valik observed Scarlett, then settled his gaze on me. “It’s okay. But once she’s healed, we need to run.”
I nodded anxiously. Fine. I’d do anything as long as Scarlett was okay.
Up close, I could see decaying skin beneath the horse’s once-white hair, which was matted with dried gray blood. A single clear tear seeped from the inner corner of its closed eye. I watched, fascinated and hopeful, as the once majestic animal positioned its head inches above Scarlett’s until the tear fell free, landing on her forehead. The moisture seeped into her skin, disappearing beneath the surface.
The unicorn lightly nudged her neck with its nose before rising to all fours once again.
Valik trudged over to us, his steps slow and stiff.I wondered how much magic he’d needed to use to purify the unicorn as he had. “Let’s go,” he said to me before placing a hand on the creature’s peeling shoulder. “Thank you, my friend. I’m so sorry I couldn’t do more.”
