Soldiers.
Dark green plumes bobbed from their helmets—sharp bursts of color against the gray of their armor, their horses, and their stony faces.
The shansen’s men.
“Demon’s breath,” I muttered.
The call for another attack came from behind me, just enough warning for me to run.
Another volley of arrows flew high above the trees, then showered down in my direction. This time, their shafts were tipped with fire.
A shock of heat flew past me, and the moist dirt sizzled with steam inches from my heels. I barreled through the forest, twisting around the densely packed trees. I wouldn’t be able to outrun their horses or their arrows.
But my carpet would.
“Fly!” I cried, retrieving it out of my pouch. “Fly!”
The carpet remained limp. In desperation, I angrily grabbed its edges and yanked on one of the tassels. My amulet grew hot over my chest.
“Fly,” I commanded the carpet again. My voice came out low and guttural this time. A voice I barely recognized.
I jumped on the carpet, and it shot forward.
I didn’t get very high before a net tumbled over me. Thick, sturdy ropes dug into my skin, and my carpet plummeted. As soon as it hit the ground, I burst up, trying to cut my way out.
A boot shoved me back down.
“Got you!” one of the men shouted. His sword slid out, the flat of the blade heavy against my back. “Don’t move.”
Two men held me down while the others lifted the net.
I lay on my stomach, heart pounding, knees chafing against my carpet. My mouth tasted of mud, of grime clinging to my lips. Rage swelled within me. The veins in my neck pulsed, and my cheeks burned, a rush of heat bringing my blood to a boil.
How dare they!the voice inside me screamed.
I agreed. With a flick of my wrist or a flash of my eyes, I could have them all writhing on the ground. The shansen’s men would be no more.
Do it,the monster purred.Let them come closer. Let them touch me. I will burn them all.
Show them your power, Sentur’na.
I bolted up onto my knees, so fast I barely felt the blade scraping my skin. Blood trickled down my arm, staining the edges of the ripped cloth. Anger burned in my eyes.
They gasped. “D-d-demon!”
The soldiers came at me with more force and desperation than before.I’m not a demon yet,I reminded myself. I was still flesh and bone. I leapt away from their swords, astounded by my own swiftness.
A rippling cold crept over me, hardening my skin like a thick armor. With each strike against me, the armor thickened.
I picked up a fallen sword and stabbed the next man who grabbed me. I spun, swinging for another man sneaking up behind me. But he went rigid and fell forward, an arrow lodged in his neck. Same with the other two soldiers—arrows stuck out of their chests and backs like they were pincushions.
I was so preoccupied looking for who had helped me that I didn’t notice the two soldiers rounding on me from my sides. One hooked his arm around my neck, trying to choke me into unconsciousness, and the other grabbed my arms, twisting until I let go of my sword.
My amulet slid out of the folds of my robe, warm against my skin.
I focused my mind, trying to access the power tingling inside me. But the dresses wouldn’t answer to me, not while a demon’s rage rattled within, swelling in my chest. My lungs squeezed, breath growing tight. I clawed at the man’s arm. Fire bubbled in my blood, ready to boil over if I would let it.
I let it.
