Raider fired his pulse rifle from the opposite side of the platform, taking the Osiri in the back. "Nope. It’s not."
Kira was up and across the platform, barreling toward Elena and Thea.
There was delight in Thea’s face at Kira's approach.
The briar's lashes sprang from beneath the walkway. Kira didn't have time to dodge as they wrapped around her leg, the thorns in them biting deep.
Blood ran in rivulets, splashing the water below.
A roar came from the depths of the pool.
The Osiri stopped. "Impossible."
Thea, sensing danger, tried to recall the briar. Kira grabbed one whip, keeping it in place. Its thorns bit into her hand, drawing more blood.
"Let go!" Thea yelled.
Kira bared her teeth at the other. "I don't think so."
Elena took advantage of the distraction, lashing out with one hand to bury a dagger that looked disturbingly like a piece of bone in Thea's shoulder.
Thea shoved Elena away from her. "Brat."
Elena toppled over the edge of the walkway and into the water. It closed over her head, swallowing her niece.
"Enough of this," the Osiri murmured.
He shoved Finn back. The oshota collided with the platform's central device.
Raider pounded toward the two, firing his weapon as the air around the Osiri's hand warped and condensed into a spear. The feeling it gave off so wrong and evil that Kira found it hard to breathe.
The Osiri’s spear took Finn through the chest, piercing his armor easily.
"I think you'll be a nice replacement for the toy I just lost," the Osiri informed him.
Finn coughed, blood spurting from his mouth as his lips stretched into a tired smile. "Think again."
Pallas rose from the gloom like an avenging reaper, his face merciless as he swung his sword. It removed the Osiri's head from his shoulders.
They all stood there, staring.
"That's it?" Pallas asked, looking confused. "It's over? I thought killing one of them would be harder."
Finn lowered himself to sitting, his face pale. The flow of blood had stopped as his armor clamped down on his wound, staunching it.
Raider bypassed the others, heading for the place where Elena had fallen.
Kira shifted, keeping an eye on Thea.
Raider knelt at the edge, searching the water for his daughter. "Where is she? I don't see her."
Thea's shoulders started to shake. A giggle left her. The sound growing until it bounced off the walls of the rotunda.
Pallas threw her a look. "Silence, traitor. Your reckoning will come soon enough."
"You don't get it. Gods can't be killed." There was a look of worship on Thea’s face as she stared beyond their shoulders.
Pallas and Kira's eyes met in realization. They turned too late as a being made of madness and light unfolded from the body of the Osiri.
