And not a second too late, because the tree flew across the road towards us, hitting Ignara from behind and taking out most of the Heralds that surrounded us. I jumped up, pulling my mother towards me and started running.
“We need to get to the Pathways. Now,” Caelan shouted.
But luck wasn’t on our side because while we were running, I could already hear a very angry Ignara scream out in pain.
“You won’t escape, you filthy mortal. I am the Goddess of Fire and I will make sure you burn for your insolence.”
A ball of fire whizzed past us, but we kept running, Caelan carrying my mother in his arms. I looked back, only for a moment. Ignara had stepped onto the field and had kneeled down in the grass. Fire erupted from her hands and as she touched her palms to the ground, the grass immediately caught fire. The flames were spreading like wildfire, racing towards us at an unnatural speed.
“We won’t make it!” I shouted at Caelan and he nodded.
“I can buy us some time,” he called out, panting. “Grab inside my jacket. There is a bottle. You have to throw it to the ground as hard as you can to shatter it. Quickly!”
My hand reached inside his jacket, feeling the cool glass bottle. We had almost reached the temple when I grabbed the bottle. I felt something else glide out of his pocket, but had no time to check what it was.
“Throw the bottle, now!” he screamed.
I did as he said and watched in horror as Ignara was almost upon us.
The bottle smashed to the ground and a gray mist escaped,forming a protective barrier around us.
“Where is the key, Maelis?” Cae was screaming next to me. “Did you take the key?”
I shook my head, the magical high rushing through my veins, coaxing a ridiculous laugh out of me.
“I think it fell out of your pocket. Can’t you open the Pathways without the key?” I asked, panic and ecstasy mixing in a dangerous cocktail inside my head.
Caelan blanched, raking his hands through his hair.
“Fuck fuck fuck. I have to go back out and find the key. The shield will last longer with only the two of you in here anyway.” He smiled at me.
I grabbed Caelan’s arm. “You can’t go out there. She will barbecue you the second you step outside the shield.”
He shrugged. “We don’t have any other choice, the protective spell won’t last long and then we will all be dead. I am a sentinel and I promised to protect you with my life, so that’s what I am going to do.”
I stepped toward him and hugged him. He pulled away and put a hand on my shoulder. “Whatever you do, don’t go with her. I will find the key, you will take it and go back to safety, do you understand? Are you in control?”
I nodded, but I could hardly see anything with my tears being in the way. Caelan squared his shoulders, and just as he was about to step out of the shield, my mother caught his arm. “Look up there!” she said and pointed to the sky.
Lightning erupted over us and Auretheos appeared, dressed in nothing but a pair of white trousers and a tunic. The thin fabric hid very little, his tattoos being visible through the thin material. He looked like the God of Revenge with anger and hatred written all over his face.He moved with unbelievable speed, rushing towards the ground and making the earth shake when he landed.
“How nice of you to join us.” I heard Ignara shout, though I couldn’t see her well through the shield. A key appeared in Caelan’s hand, and he quickly took my mother’s arm.
“Go,” I said, “I will stay with Theo.”
Caelan looked as if he was about to argue with me, but the shield was already beginning to crack.
“Please make sure she is safe. I will follow you as soon as I can,” I added.
Caelan nodded and before stepping onto the Pathway with my mother in his arms, he said “I’ll bring reinforcements. Try not to die.” And with that, he was gone.
The shield disappeared with him, and I spotted Theo standing a few stretches away from me, shooting waves of energy towards Ignara. She actually laughed, looking like she was enjoying herself.
“It’s just like in the good old days, isn’t it, Theo?” she purred, releasing nearly white flames towards Theo, which he blocked with one quick movement. “The only difference is, now you truly have something to lose.” And with that, she turned her head towards me and released a single flame flying towards me.
Theo whirled around as if he hadn’t noticed that I had stayed behind and his eyes grew frantic. I saw the flash of fire coming my way and did as Lydia had taught me. I took in my surroundings and everything stilled in my mind. I saw the path of the flame, took a deep breath and ducked right, towards Theo. The flame missed me by a stretch and Ignara growled angrily.
Theo came to a stop beside me. “You should have gonewith Caelan,” he ground out, his eyes never leaving Ignara.
