“How many are in the castle?” I asked, leaning against the nearby wall, trying to get my bearings.
“Too many.” Olivia flew by my face, her wings beating rapidly.
The flames in the sconces on the walls flickered as a loud crash sounded below us.
“It's good to have you back,” I said, panting. “Where’s Ella?”
“I'm here!” Ella flew over, the tiny pixie strapped to her chest.
“This is no place for the little one. Go let the raptors out. We'll need everyone to fight.”
Ella nodded and flew off.
“Where’s the queen?” Anna asked.
“The queen is gone.”
“Has she been taken?”
“She left.”
Olivia and Anna exchanged a glance, both of them hovering over me like mother hens.
“Now is not the time to discuss this. I need to get to the control room and raise the castle. How many are inside?”
I took off down the corridor, my pixies following me.
Fatigue strained my muscles. Running felt like wading through mud.
“We're not sure,” Anna said. “Acaden is down there with the blade dancers. There are tons throughout the castle. They were searching for the queen. If you activate the defense system, they'll be trapped in here with us.”
“That's a risk we will have to take.”
We turned the corner, heading toward the back western staircase. A throng of undead trampled up the stairs. These were much different from the skeleton knights I had fought back in the human settlement. These festering zombies emitted a plague with every step they took. Green gas wafted off theirdecrepit skin, and maggots and other insects crawled across their bodies.
Milky eyes gazed at us with hunger, their unnatural groans a reminder of what the Lich King thought of life. His twisted minions were a tainted affliction on our lands, and now they were here, in my home.
Taking a step forward, I called the shadows to my hands and my vision blinked out. I wobbled and fell against the wall to steady myself and missed, stumbling forward.
“What’s the matter with you?” Olivia flew to my side, hovering around my face.
“Poison.”
Olivia’s eyes darkened. “Don't you worry. I'll handle this.”
She flew forward and gripped the gray pouch on her belt, facing the horde. Taking a handful of gray dust out of her pouch, she zoomed at the zombies, blowing the magical flakes over them.
Each zombie froze where they stood, their flesh turning to stone. Others reached and scrambled, trying to attack her, but they were no match for my feisty pixie, who moved so quickly that all you could see were swirls of dust.
As she reached the end of the small hoard, she clapped her hands. “That's it. That is all the bone dust I have.”
Another zombie turned the corner, appearing right behind Olivia.
“Olivia!” I screamed, dashing forward and swaying.
The creature grabbed her faster than it should have been able to move. Anna screamed next to me, and I roared, my vision blinking out.
Groans and more howls followed. Gripping the calcified zombie next to me, I shoved forward, my muscles straining with every movement, sweat sliding down my face.
