As if the universe had decided to up the difficulty level, shadowy shapes dropped from the ceiling. They flipped midair, small wings coming out as they glided toward Kira and the circle beyond.
A whooshing sound came next, capturing their attention. Like sand sliding against sand.
“Oh shit.” Raider stepped back, fear on the face of a man who once charged a company of Tsavitee infantry all by himself.
Kira felt her heart sink as she looked beyond him to the massive creature rising from the center of the maze.
“The fierot,” Joule whispered as the pupils of his eyes narrowed to small pinpricks.
The fierot’s limbs were thin and long, reminding Kira of tree branches. They had the same texture and color too, but that was where the resemblance stopped. Shaggy strands of black hair straggled down its back. Its face was swollen and bulbous looking.
An unsettling feeling filled Kira. One that approached terror as the fierot’s tiny eyes focused on Kira and the others.
Or more accurately the circle behind them.
“Something about this circle must require a greater test,” Selene said, echoing Kira’s thoughts.
“What do we do?” Devon asked.
Kira’s expression turned grim. “You wanted a plan? Run.”
That was the plan. Pure and simple.
There was no time for anything else.
Sure, they could try another circle but there was no guarantee the fierot or the creepy bird drones would let them go.
Their only hope for safety lay in that circle.
Alexander nudged Selene in front of him as the two raced forward.
Joule and Devon remained locked in place, staring up at the fierot with terrified eyes.
Raider swore, grabbing the shoulder of Joule’s shirt and shoving him toward the circle. “Move!”
The action broke their paralysis.
Joule and Devon dashed after Selene and Alexander.
The appearance of the fierot had caused a disturbance in those waiting to ambush them. Panicked cries spilled out of the maze as the other initiate’s finally caught sight of the terror.
“Selene!” Kira screamed.
Selene raised her arms, her hands flying through several gestures Kira couldn’t have replicated even if her life depended on it.
A narrow corridor extended from Selene to the circle. The walls ten feet high and transparent.
Joule and Devon raced into the corridor as Selene formed a third wall over their heads.
Alexander charged to the front. He plunged one hand into the ground, snagging the person hiding there and tossing them outside the corridor.
Joule and Devon reached the circle.
Kira slowed then paused as Alexander plunged his hand into the sand a second time, locating his victim unerringly.
He yanked upward; a person’s foot clutched in his hand.
“Do you remember the old rules?” Alexander asked, blocking the woman’s swing before tossing her away like trash.
