“How do you put up with him?” I whisper back to Raef with a grin, knowing Daegan has been listening to all of our hushed whispers. “You’re both so… opposite.”
I thought I’d get another laugh out of Raef, but instead, his expression turns serious as he looks ahead past me. “It’s not always like this. We’ve been best friends since we were little firebreathers. It’s—” He shakes his head in dismay. “He’s not always like this.”
And that’s the end of that topic.
Something he said makes me wonder something though.
Firebreathers?
Is that just a term they use to describe each other, or is it more literal?
I’m about to question him further when a hissing noise pierces the silence. It sounds far too close. We all freeze, not uttering a word. Both males silently unsheathe their swords.
Another hiss comes from the same direction.
It’s closer this time.
My heart races as my eyes travel through the small clearing we’re in. It’s hard to see everything around us. The glowing plants light scattered areas in the distance, but there are patches of complete blackness still.
Another hiss sounds, and then another. Whatever it is, there’s more than one.
The three of us end up with our backs to one another as we scan the area. The only movement is my chest rising up and down.
Another hiss from right behind me, and Raef lets out a shout. I turn to see him fighting off something dark and small, almost the size of his chest. I don’t have time to focus on it because Daegan also begins to fight something off. I look at the ground, sensing motion, and several more of the things scurry toward us, hissing so loud it hurts my ears. They’re giant, fuzzy, spider-plant creatures with giant glowing eyes that look far too intelligent. And vicious.
I freeze. It all happens so fast I don’t know what to do. I see some of them snapping sharp pincers that extend out of their mouths where there should be teeth.
A pained shout from Raef whips me out of it at last, and I shoot a rush of water at him. He’s still trying to fight off the creature that clings to him. It hisses and pounces off Raef backwards. I shoot more water at the ones on the ground in front of him. They hate it. Most of them are retreating.
“Elle!” Daegan shouts, battling his own beast that’s clung on to him.
I spray water at it with as much pressure as I can muster. I feel a small sense of victory as it jumps away, but it doesn’t last. They haven’t given up. They’re just angry. I extend my hands and spray them again. And again. The hissing is a haunting sound I’ll never forget. I see their glowing, angry eyes through the water. They stop retreating, all of their eyes shifting to me, and I swear, they look even angrier. They suddenly scatter so fast, I don’t have time to track them all. And before I can suck in a breath, they’re surrounding us.
I don’t think. I just keep spraying, now spinning around, not caring if I hit Daegan and Raef. They begin to chop at the ones that get close, their cries ringing out through the clearing before they die.
Then an obvious idea hits me. One I should have already thought of. I should heat the water that I’m shooting. My hands begin to glow a very faint blue as I think about the amount of scorching water I want to conjure. This hasn’t happened too often in all the times I’ve used my magic, but I don’t have time to marvel at it.
The water I project at them is now scalding, and the creatures wail as their fur burns away, then their skin, before they die. I have to be more careful though. I don’t want to hit Daegan or Raef. I turn my back to them and do what I can while I hear them grunting and slicing away at more behind me.
I hear one loud growl that I know is from Daegan, and then I feel an intense heat behind me, and the whole clearing is illuminated by a brilliant orange light. I whip my head around and see Daegan crouched over, panting, all the creatures in front of him burnt in a pile of blackness. A couple of the bushes and plants are on fire, so I quickly douse them with cold water.
With the shock and confusion, I forget about what’s behind me. Daegan spins and looks over my shoulder, eyes wide, as he pushes me to the side and slices his sword. I feel something graze the back of my hair before I hit the ground, the side of my face hitting the black dirt.
I don’t get up right away because I feel that burning heat at my back again, and I see the orange light illuminate the clearing once more. I remain face down, my hands planted, as I wait out the blaze.
When I sense the worst of it is over and I hear Daegan’s hitched breaths, I push myself up to my feet and look back. Plants are on fire again. And a tree. Fatigued, I lift my arms and muster as much water as I can. It’s enough. The last of the flames go out with a sizzle. Somehow, I know they’re all gone, and relief washes over me as I fall to my knees. I sit back on my heels as I catch my breath and take in the scene around me.
Daegan does the opposite, rising from his knees to stand at his full intimidating height. His shadow-cloaked face has black soot on it, his hair isdripping with water, and he has a tired look to him, but he remains stoic as he takes in the scene around him, pushing his wet hair back with one hand.
It’s then I hear Raef fall to the ground with a groan.
Chapter 16
Raef’s breathing is jagged as he holds a hand over his chest.
His eyes are starting to roll back into his head.
“What’s wrong with him?” I ask in a panic.
