“Hello, daughter.” Apollyon’s voice growled from behind me, and I was spurred into action.
Engaging my strength marks, I reached down and scooped my mom up, lifting her fragile body with ease. She was so small and frail it was almost like carrying a child, but I pushed concern for her out of my mind. She was going to be fine. I wouldn’t allow any other outcome. Apollyon was my bigger worry now, I needed to get both of us out of here ASAP before—
Something wrapped around my ankle, and I yelped, nearly falling over with my mother’s weight in my arms.
No.
The guard from the Lumen Compound had reached me, and he was someone familiar. I couldn’t remember his name, but I recognized him as one of the sanctuary guards from the day of my Ascension. The pressure on my ankle cinched tightly, and my panicked look to the guard was the only warning I gave before I tossed my mother out of the portal and right at him.
“No!” Apollyon growled and yanked me so hard by the leg that I fell on my face and the portal snapped shut, but not before I saw the guard catch my mother in his arms.
I was dragged backward, but without taking a moment to catch my breath, I rolled over and pulled my sword out in front of me. This was now a fight for my life. I’d broken the bond that my mother had to Apollyon which kept him weak, giving him exactly what he wanted… a chance at freedom.
Apollyon grinned, and the mere sight gave me chills. I risked one glance at my ankle and the thick black smoky rope that was tightened there. I was pretty sure I wasn’t strong enough to fight him, so instead I was going to have to run. I needed to sever that rope and find some space to create a portal he wouldn’t be able to follow me through, but the only problem was that he was standing in front of the balcony, blocking my exit to this crappy tower.
“You’re welcome.” I tried to bait him into talking to buy me some time to think of a plan to move him away from the opening.
“Shut up,” he spat, not taking the bait. He flicked his wrist, and I was thrown into the wall. My shoulder crashed into the brick and pain shot down my arm as I slumped to the ground. The wind was knocked out of me, and before I could even breathe he yanked the rope and I slid across the stone floor toward him.
I could see where this was going. He was going to throw me around this room like a ping-pong ball and kill me slowly.
I pulled for my power, but immediately felt it sizzle to nothing as the cord around my ankle seared with heat. He’d capped my power!
Bastard.
As he pulled me near him, I tucked my knees into my chest, and when I was within kicking range, I kicked up, connecting right with his balls.
The ruler of the Netherworld was a powerful dude, but he still screamed like a little girl and crumpled forward.
Using the distraction, I pulled my sword in front of me and hacked at the black spelled rope holding me captive. The moment the blade sliced through the bond it fell away.
Apollyon stood to his full height. His wings snapped out, and black wafts of smoke began to fill the small space. His eyes glowed red.
Oh crap.
Good news: I’d maneuvered him away from the opening that led to the outside.
Bad news: He was totally going to kill me.
I quickly stood, praying that I now had access to my power, and inhaled deeply, pulling from the open well inside of me. A surge of raw magic filled my veins, and as Apollyon lunged for me, I unleashed it all.
Purple flames engulfed the room, but immediate fatigue pulled at my limbs. I’d just done this to save Gage. Now it felt like the well had run dry. My strength marks swirled on my arms, but the purple fire sputtered out and I surged forward, ready to flee.
The purple flames now gone, I ran for the window, but stopped when I spotted an untouched Apollyon. Not a hair was burned, not a feather ruffled.
I’m so screwed.
He cocked his head to the side and inhaled deeply, as if smelling me.
“Is that all you have?” he chuckled. “To think I was actually a little afraid of the power you might wield.”
I pulled for more power and the purple flames came, but unlike before my legs quivered with fatigue, and I wanted to cry as a helpless feeling settled into my bones.
Apollyon raised his hand and an unseen force gripped me. It was as if a giant vise had wrapped around my body and squeezed.
A scream of terror ripped from my lips as I pushed against the power that held me. Purple and black sparks shot off my body and ricocheted off the walls like bullets.
Apollyon growled, seemingly frustrated, and threw another hand out; the pressure around me intensified. I tried to fight it, I did, but it was too much. I had used up my power, and my will to live began waning as my bones felt like they were going to snap. The pressure in my head alone was enough to make me break out in a cold sweat. It was as if Apollyon was trying to crush me alive.
