Faron stalks out of the room, and the other lamia fall in line to follow.
The door clangs shut, and a sob tries to escape me when my eyes fall on Talon’s battered body in the corner. I call on my runes and a throwing knife forms in my palm. I make quick work of the ropes binding my hands, and I lean over gingerly to release my feet.
“What the hell?” someone whispers.
My head snaps up to findJared Letolook-alike staring at me in shock. I grimace as pain punishes me for moving too fast. My index finger shoots over my lips, and I narrow my eyes at him as the throbbing in my head dulls again.
I cut Parker free next and then move to Enoch, who runs his eyes over me as I cut his ropes away. I’m not sure when Nash and the other kid woke up but at least now they won’t need to be carried anywhere. I slash everyone from their chairs and immediately move to help Talon.
Enoch and Nash both reach out to stop me.
“Vinna don’t. He’s lamia. He’s dangerous.”
I stare at Enoch, hesitating for a second more before I decide I don’t care. I pull from Enoch and Nash’s grasp.
“Vinna!” Enoch warns again in a harsh whisper.
“I am only alive today because of him.” I point to Talon’s gaunt body. “If he wanted to hurt me, he had years to do it.”
My voice breaks and I push the unhelpful emotions down. Enoch stares at me completely confused by my admission, but he doesn’t stop me as I start to circle Talon’s unconscious body, assessing the best way to get him down. I figure out a plan, but I’m not sure if it will work.
I’ll need to tap into my Elemental magic, but I’ve only read about how to do it. I’ve never actually done it. I call on one of my short swords. It forms in my hand, and the other guys start whispering back and forth. I wave my hand silencing them. I’m not sure how good a lamia’s hearing is, but if we’re going to get out of this, we need the element of surprise which means they need to shut the fuck up.
I stick the point of the dagger between the links of the chain that’s digging into Talon’s wrists. I apply some pressure and picture the blade of the dagger getting hot until it melts the metal of the chain. I hold my breath, coxing my magic into the blade of my dagger, but nothing happens. I clench my eyes shut tightly and focus my magic on the image of what I need it to do.
Still, nothing happens.Oh, so you want to be a fickle bitch nowI screech at my magic. I open my eyes abandoning that plan, and instead I pull my arm back and swipe at the chains with the short sword. The magical blade cuts through the links and Talon abruptly crumbles to the ground with a thud before I can catch him.
I freeze and run my fingers over the runes to increase my hearing. I stand silently searching for any indication that any lamia are coming to investigate the noise.
All I hear is someone making what sounds like travel arrangements, and I tune it out to focus on Talon. I roll him onto his back and cup his face in my hands.
“Talon! Talon…wake up. It’s me Vinna… Talon," I quietly plead, as I try to wake him up but his eyes stay shut.
I call on a throwing knife and quickly run the sharp blade across my wrist. Someone hisses behind me, but I ignore it as I bring my bleeding wrist up to Talon’s mouth. I pry open his lips and let blood flood his mouth and throat, but he stays completely unresponsive. I close my eyes and let out a frustrated breath.
Nash walks over to me. “Let me heal you. You’re still bleeding from a gash on your head, and you probably have a concussion. I’m sure you can’t afford to be losing any more blood.”
My initial reaction to Nash’s request is to blow it off, but I’m most likely going to have to fight our way out of here, and it would be stupid to do that injured. I give him a nod, and he places his hands on each side of my face. I feel them warm, and my body begins to relax as his magic starts to heal me eliminating the cacophony of pain I’ve been working in spite of.
When my head is pain-free, he grips my wrist. Nash’s hands cool and he pulls them away from my slash-free arm. I take a deep, relieved breath, my body feeling energized and ready.
“Thank you," I whisper to him.
Nash nods and then moves to the others silently healing their injuries.
I run my hand lightly against Talon’s cheek. “Hang in there; I’ve got you now," I vow, and I send out a silent plea to the universe that I can get all of us out of here alive.
Talons face scrunches up slightly, but he still doesn’t wake up. I leave him on the floor and walk to where the others are standing.
“Nash, can you heal yourself?” I ask him noticing his hand gripping his side. He has bruises all over the side of his face, too.
“I’ve never been able to, no.”
“Can you walk me through how to do it?” I ask him.
“You have Healing magic?” he asks me, a little shocked.
“I have all of them except Spell magic," I tell him offhandedly.
