Deux lunges for Leaf, but I cut him off, again and again. When Leaf tries to interfere, I cut him off, too, sending him back through a tear in the world that I open. He lands back in the town where we were with a heavy thump. I can hear the humans shrieking, and the Sirens' song blares into stereo sound.
He’s safe.
The hole in the world snaps shut, leaving me alone with the Nightmare, and he truly is my nightmare. I shift shape, growing taller, thinner, my horns punching out of my skull.
“That’s more like it,” Deux says. “Now, you are so perfectly ugly no one will even miss you when you are gone.”
I can move faster in this form, I know the body better.
We whirl around and around, clashing again and again. Talon to talon, violence to violence, blow for blow.
I can’t keep this up.
I rack my brain for an idea because I know I can’t beat him. I’m using everything I have, but he’s barely touched his potential.
I need to lead him away.
Away from Diablos, from Hartley. From my mates.
I leap forward and take off, racing through the trees, but there’s a huge disadvantage running through the forest here and that’s I can’t quite be certain where everything is. Even so, I have to try.
I’ve barely begun when I hear pursuit that’s not coming from Deux. They have returned. Too soon. Far too soon.
“Damn them,” I hiss.
I’m so startled I barely manage to stay on my feet. I leap up into the trees and jump, flying from one to the other, knowing Deux will have trouble tracking me up here. He’s never liked the canopy; I’ve often speculated that he’s afraid of heights.
I land heavily on the ground and throw myself forward as Deux slashes at me with claws that could open me up completely.
“Close, Rowanee.”
I fling myself away again but come to a massive cliff wall. I won’t be able to climb it. There’s nowhere else to go.
I’ve finally done it. Walked myself into a trap. This is it.
With my chest heavy from pure terror, I wait for the signal that he’s attacking. Something, just give me some sign. One tiny crack, and I will be gone. But it’s completely silent, and then I hear rushing water.
No!
I strain, trying to hear, but I can’t, the water gets louder and louder and turns to a song.
Deux laughs, throws his head back and laughs.
“What’s this? Water? What, are you going to drown me?”
I step back and bump into the cold rock. Water pools off it and gathers in front of me like a shield.
It’s not mine. I didn’t do it.
I smell him before I hear him. Coconut slams into the air, and there’s a sudden swish of a sword. The water gets thicker, solid, and Canto is there, fighting to keep my monster from me with that terrifying black blade of his.
Then they’re all there. Dancing around him, driving him back. Leaf arrives and growls, letting out a sonorous roar that makes my ears ache.
Deux backs away, and then he just vanishes. I always know when he’s gone because the scent of decay disappears from the air.
Lirin walks right up to me and grips the back of my neck. He’s never touched me like this. My stomach flutters wildly, and I don’t know if it’s adrenaline or him.
“Mei, are you okay?”
