Loud explosions thundered beside me, shaking the platform and throwing me off into the dirt below. My heart leapt into my throat as screams and shouts surrounded me. My breathing turned sharp in my lungs, and I whirled, wildly searching for the rebellion. I left the door ajar as Kieran commanded me to, trusting they would somehow stop me before I could do something I’d regret.
The prisoners huddled together, fear shining on their faces, unsure whether to run or stay put. The guards along the walls all rushed toward us to keep the prisoners together as another explosion set off in the middle of the arena. I threw my arm up to protect my face from the debris, my eyes burning from the dust clouding the air, making it hard to see anything in front of me.
The sound of a blade sliding free rang out behind me, making my blood run cold. Spinning around, I brought my sword up just in time, clashing against the blade of my hidden attacker. A pale male bared his teeth at me, his nose curling and face pinched, sweeping his sword up to strike me. Darting out of the way, I let my sword hang loose in front of me.
“Why are you attacking me?” I yelled, blocking another of his assaults. My heart pounded hard in my chest from his relentlessattacks, confusion making my movements slow. “I’m on your side.”
The male ignored me, growling out a curse when Vivi transferred in front of him, blocking me from his view. “Kieran commanded you to leave the grand paladin alone. Go help the others.”
“Vivi,” I cried out, relief crashing through me at the sight of her.
I turned around to see who else had come, finding Kieran and Orin. I smiled broadly when Kieran’s gaze met mine. He was fighting Daelan, while Orin and two others in palace uniforms I didn’t recognize guided the prisoners out of danger. More rebels filled the arena, fighting the other guards and drawing their attention away from the prisoners fleeing.
I turned back to Vivi, my eyes bright. We were truly doing this; we were really freeing these innocent faeries. “Vivi, go! I’ll handle?—”
My heart clenched painfully, and I stumbled, my chest heaving as the shackles of the bargain wrapped tighter around my heart. My head snapped towards where Ambrose stood, his mouth moving with a command, though his voice was lost in the mayhem. But I heard it. Through the chains of our bargain, I heard his unmistakable command.Kill her. Kill the rebel and stop the others.
I sucked in a trembling breath and turned to face Vivi, fear etched across my face. Pressure burned from behind my eyes as I faltered back a step, my head shaking in horror. Vivi’s gaze widened as realization hit. An excruciating ache began to grow in my chest, feeling like shards of glass splintering down my veins. My body felt weak, and I dropped my sword, letting the magic fade away.
“Go,” I rasped, a slice of pain taking my breath away. “You need to get out of here now!”
The chain around my heart tightened as another command came through, ordering me to use my magic, to fight. I cried out, agony lacing down my body, making me fall to my knees. I panted, attempting to breathe in the dirt-filled air, though pain reverberated along my bones. Hot blood trickled down my nose, falling into the sand below me. I groaned as another spasm shot through me, my body convulsing.
“Sybil,” Vivi murmured, “it’s okay. Look at me.” My gaze slid to hers, and she nodded. “It’s okay. Form your sword, but as we practiced, find your magic and break the command.”
My body shook as I whimpered, wearily coming to my hands and knees. I coughed from the dust in the air, blood splattering onto the sand. Shock and panic seized me, locking me in place. I couldn’t break my stare from the crimson liquid, so bright against the beige. Vivi called my name again, pulling me out of my daze. Clearing my mind, I pulled my magic to me, my blade slowly reappearing, and I gripped the hilt tight.
“Good,” Vivi breathed. “Now, we are going to have to do this a little differently. To keep the bargain from killing you, you’re going to have to fight me while you try to break the command, okay?”
“No,” I moaned, my eyes burning with tears. Pain surged through my body, and I doubled over. I closed my eyes, trying to go to the place of my magic, but the agony splintered through my veins, as if I was being torn apart from the inside.
“Sybil, listen to me. You must do this. The pain you feel will keep you from breaking his commands. Stand up and fight. I promise we will be okay.” Groaning, I pushed myself to my feet and lifted my sword in front of me. Tears blurred my sight, and I whimpered Vivi’s name. “It’s okay, Sybil. Just like we practiced, okay? You can do this.”
Vivi lunged forward, her sword clashing against mine. I could feel the vibration of it shoot up my arms, but the pain lessened,my breathing coming in easier. We moved through the motions, just like I did with Ezra, Kieran, and Ivara in the forest, but this time, I focused on my magic, on finding that peaceful, still moment in the field.
I strained to return to that place, but the chaos around me made it impossible to find that peace again. Forcing myself to breathe, I followed Vivi’s gentle guidance until I finally found myself in that icy, black box of Ambrose’s command. Swallowing, I rushed to the onyx wall, ready to break it down when I heard Kieran shout my name, his voice full of panic. Coming back to the moment, the guard from earlier charged toward me, his sword slicing down. I jumped back, barely managing to slash upward and defend myself, when Vivi suddenly appeared before me. A shout crawled up my throat but became trapped. I tried to pull back, to stop my blade from its attack, but I was too late.
Hot blood sprayed onto my face. The metallic smell burned my nose, making my stomach churn. Everything seemed to stop around me as my eyes dipped to Vivi’s chest, blood blooming across the deep wound, pouring to the ground. My blade flickered from sight as Vivi’s fell from her hand, her head dropping to stare at the gash in shock. She took a shuddering breath and faltered, my mind and body still too stunned to move, to even breathe.
I heard someone curse, and Kieran ran up to her side, catching Vivi as she started falling to the ground. His pained gaze met mine before he vanished, taking the guard and Vivi along with him.
I took a small step backward, stumbling as my legs gave out from under me. I landed hard on the ground, my bones barking from the impact, but I brought my hands up, staring at the blood splattered across my skin. My breathing came in short, sharp pants as the ringing in my ears grew loud. I slowly looked upat the prisoners, though time seemed to drag on, as if everyone were moving in slow motion. More palace guards filed into the arena, cutting down the rebels and prisoners, killing everyone who couldn’t escape. An enormous shadow moved overhead, flying fast out of the city toward the mountains.
Someone called my name, and I sluggishly looked toward the sound, still too stunned to realize what was happening. Daelan stood beside me, his eyes moving along my body, searching for any wounds, but two guards jerked me up from the ground as that dreaded, deep voice spoke behind me.
“Take her to the dungeons,” Ambrose growled. “Take anyone you see alive.”
The guardshastily dragged me through the palace and dungeon, throwing me into a cell. I landed on my hands and knees, pain throbbing where I fell, but I barely noticed it. The moment Vivi appeared in front of me, and my failure to stop my blade in time, replayed in my thoughts again and again.
The door slammed shut behind me, and I flinched at the sound, my stomach churning. My eyes burned, my vision blurring with unshed tears, when I finally turned around and took in my surroundings.
I sucked in a breath when I saw Queen Cassia slowly make her way to the iron bars of her cell; her face twisted in a mix of worry and sorrow.
I surged to the bars, holding on to the iron to keep me from falling. “Vivi,” I whispered frantically, “please tell me she’s okay. Please, you have to know something. Tell me she’s okay, that she will be alright.”
Queen Cassia looked down, unable to meet my eyes, and shook her head.
“No,” I cried, my stomach twisting. “She has to be alive! Vivi has to be okay!”
