There's no sign of her, and anxiety twists in my gut. She has to be okay.
Rohhit is also struggling against his chains, twisting his wrists in unnatural directions to free himself and join the fight.
My thumb snaps as I wrench my hand free from the chains. Clutching it against my body, I grit my teeth and inhale deeply, bracing myself as I snap my thumb back into place with a sickening crack. I quickly wrap the bottom of my dress around my wrists to clean the blood, the stains turning black as they dry.
Silas momentarily breaks his focus from Nolan to glance at my now-free hands, a flicker of relief crossing his face. He then turns back to Nolan, his large frame moving with lethal precision. Nolan is visibly tiring, his inexperience becoming a clear disadvantage.
"Getting tired, Nolan?" Silas taunts, pressing his advantage.
Nolan's eyes flash with panic as he parries blow after blow from Silas’s sword, his back edging into a corner—a perfect trap set by Silas.
I sit up, pain coursing through my body, and begin working on the chains around my ankles.
Suddenly, a bloody hand braces against the doorframe. I hold my breath, anticipating what might appear from the shadows.
Maines rounds the corner, her clothes torn and blood-stained. In her hand, she grips Graven’s severed head. A wickedgrin spreads across her face as she tosses the head near Calia’s feet, the haunting face hitting the stone floor with a thunderous slap. Calia emits a strangled sob but remains focused on her ritual.
Maines rushes to my side. "Do you have a death wish? Because I’m going to kill you once we get out of here for leaving us!" she exclaims as she starts working on my ankle chains. “You owe me once we are out of here.”
"Maines, you need to help Rohhit," I insist.
"You're crazy if you think I’m not getting you out first!" she retorts.
I grab her hands. "No! Don’t help me. They want him right now. Get Rohhit out of here. Now!"
She shoves my hands away, ignoring my plea.
"Now, Maines!" I scream, my tone harsh and commanding. Reluctantly, she lets go of the chains around my ankles and rushes to Rohhit’s side.
Maines glances at her father's body, still unconscious against the far wall, before addressing Rohhit’s chains. After several attempts, she exclaims, "Dammit, without magic, I can’t break these."
Dropping the chains with a heavy thud, she cups Rohhit’s face, urgency etched across her features. "I think I can free your hands," she says, but hesitates, "though I’ll have to dislocate your thumbs."
Rohhit's face blanches but he quickly agrees. "We don’t have time. Do it."
With a sorrowful look, Maines nods and whispers a quiet incantation. A familiar crack echoes as Rohhit groans in pain, his hands slipping free. He quickly snaps his thumbs back into place.
"Do you trust me?" Maines asks, her voice soft yet urgent.
"Yes," Rohhit replies firmly, meeting her gaze.
Maines then dashes back into the hallway, her magic returning as she steps beyond the ritual’s influence. Silas and Nolan continue to clash, sparks flying with each strike, while Calia inches closer to completing the ritual.
Only Rohhit and I are visible from the doorway. Maines extends her hands, a shadow of magic flowing from her palms to the chains around our ankles. With a snap, the chains break, the sound echoing as the steel shatters.
I rise from the stone bed, grabbing my second axe from the floor. Silas, noticing my freedom, channels extra strength into his swing, his blade coming dangerously close to Nolan’s neck. Their weapons lock, faces inches apart.
"The king is dead, Nolan. Give it up," Silas growls, "You aren’t going to win this. You can still choose the right side."
Nolan resists, pushing back. "Lornx promised me something, Silas. Just like all of you competing. That promise will be fulfilled."
Silas pauses, a moment of hesitation showing.
Nolan capitalizes on the pause, driving his fist into Silas's face. Blood trickles from Silas’s nose as he stumbles backward.
"He promised me Daramveer," Nolan reveals, stepping forward.
Silas’s expression darkens, shadows swirling around him, no longer restrained by the wards. "You will die before that happens, Nolan. I swear that on my life."
