“Thank the gods,” Onyx murmured. “But the training room is packed with guards and Warriors preparing for an attack.”
“Let them come,” I said as I shoved into the training room. A Warrior stood on the other side, his back facing us. As the door opened, I swung Onyx’s sword into an arc, slicing the back of the man’s neck on the other side.
The figure collapsed in my periphery. Other Kinetic Warriors rushing around the room froze at my entrance. I’m sure my bloody appearance did me no favors, but anyone who stood in my way would die. No more holding back. It was time to feed the beast inside of me with a deep-seated rage.
Every Kinetic paled, fear shining bright in their eyes. Apprehensively, some reached for their blades at their waists.
I chuckled, the air chilling from the haunting sound. There was no beating around the bush. Formalities always annoyed me. Since I held their undivided attention… “The king needs to die,” I announced. “If you fight for that tyrant today, you are branding yourself as his mental slaves. And forgive me, but I don’t have time to deprogram you.”
“Chrome, what are you doing?” Onyx said into my ear from behind.
“Feel free to sit this one out.” I meant it. I didn’t want him to get blood on his hands when this was personal for me.
The Warriors armed themselves with blades, various currents igniting on the sliver of skin exposed at their necks beneath their gear.
I shrugged. “So be it. Your choice, then.”
My magic reserves would need to be saved as much as possible for my escape, so I’d take them on hand to hand. I just needed to get to the Elemental blades that Forest kept hidden in the weapons room.
Someone stole my sight, my vision blacking out, and I smiled.
For once, I was actually grateful for the sensory deprivation that Grim and Forest made me endure—this was nothing new. At least this time, I kept my other senses.
Kinetic energies charged me. Without my sight, I could single out the direction their shouts came from, but the movements of the weapons that swung at me told me what I needed to know.
Sensing a sword swinging at my neck, I dodged swiftly and swept at their ankles in a kick they didn’t anticipate. A small blade darted toward me, probably a knife, judging by the small whiffs of air that brushed against my face.
My fist clenched around the hilt of my sword, waiting for the right moment to wield it. But I focused on the knife lancing my way. With my free hand, I snatched it from the air with my element once it was inches from my face. It hovered before my nose, and I rotated it to point toward a Warrior on the opposite side of the room.
The room fell silent. No one expected me to catch an airborne knife blinded. Then again, no one knew I could control metal. “One last chance.”
A fearful stillness quieted the Warriors.
With my element’s help, I hurled the blade at the targeted Kinetic. The thump of a body hit the floor, and I chuckled.
Chaos exploded.
A second later, I found myself in a blinded melee of battle against my fellow brethren, shoving my Kinetic sword into their throats, chests, stomachs, and spines. I was able to behead some as I gave into the allure of violence and vengeance, promising to deliver eternal wrath.
I let my rage and skill carry me through the fight, trusting my instincts and senses. For the first time in my life, I felt free. The Warriors wouldn’t die with this blade, but at least I incapacitated them long enough to get to the Elemental weapons.
Peri’s honey-colored eyes emerged as if she appeared before me. The next second, my sword drove into a Warrior’s skull to my right.
The memory of Gray’s ice-blonde hair whipped me in the face, taunting me with the fantasy that would never come to reality. In the following breath, I saw her kissing Slate, holding him close to her. The shards from my broken heart severed what remained of my soul. The beast filled the void, guiding me to slide my blade across someone’s neck, taking their head with it.
Each drop of blood fueled me. I sensed their energies clearer than usual while caught up in the bloodlust. The urge to feed from them was strong, but I pushed it aside to focus on the violence instead. That seemed to appease the beast for now.
My sword drove into a Warrior’s chest, and the warmth from the blood splattered across my face. Moments later, my vision returned. I recognized the man. Oakland Harper. I’d trained him, even, but I shoved the guilt down before it had the chance to take hold. I couldn’t afford to give my conscience a voice. Forest didn’t deserve it.
Oakland crumbled to the floor, and I retrieved my sword. I navigated my way to the back of the weapons room, seeking my locker that contained the Elemental blades within. Using my element, I twisted the knob to the tune of the lock’s combination. Once the lock clicked its undoing, I opened the door, exposing the sword, dagger, and knife nestled within.
I took the blades, slipping the knife up my sleeve and the dagger down into my boot. The curved sigils engraved into the Elemental blade ignited into orange swirls at my touch.
“What are you about to do?” Onyx’s voice reached me from the doorway.
“Eliminate the threats,” I answered as I rushed past him.
“Chrome…”
