Running now, I shoved into the official’s side, sending him flying to the ground, his head smacking into the stone path. “Run!” I shouted to the eadi, his tan skin beginning to bubble and blister. He nodded, taking off, and I rounded on the official.
When the official moved to stand, I shoved my boot into his face, forcing him back to the ground. With Priya’s words in my mind, I took my foot and slammed it down into the man’s head. Once. Twice. Thrice. Four times total, until he was a gory mess, his blonde hair soaked red and his pale skin coated in brain matter.
Lose the performative conscience.
Performative indeed.
Turning, I found another official, their gaze locked on me and their mouth twisted in a sneer. “Awe, was that a friend of yours?” I asked, winking his way.
He wasted no time, charging me before I got the final word out. I laughed, ducking under him and using the momentum to push his body upwards, forcing him to twist and hit the ground sideways. A groan slipped out of his mouth as he rolled, blood leaking from his mouth. I didn’t bother to give him time to adjust or think; instead, I grabbed a knife from my tactical harness and shoved it deep into his ear. Perhaps it was the poisonous magic within me that made me revel in the sound. Or maybe it was my sister’s spirit guiding me forward. Regardless, Itook the blade out and shoved it into the side of his throat, dark red blood squirting all across my body and face.
Gagging, I stood, trying to wipe my face with the inner part of my cloak. That was when someone leapt onto my back, bringing us both to the ground. I nearly landed on my knife, only barely shoving out my arm in time before I hit the cobblestone with a teeth chattering smack. Whoever had tackled me wrapped their arm around my neck and lifted, cutting off my airway. I wheezed, clawing at them, but they didn’t let up. If anything, they squeezed tighter. Every second without oxygen left me more dizzy, black spots beginning to appear as I brought my elbow down into their side. Then I tried to roll, the movement pointless, as it only had them shoving me back into the ground, their body landing on mine and pinning me chest-down.
Was this really the end? I’d die now, while fighting, when I’d tried to go willingly more than once? How pathetic.
Ego boosting me, I pushed up, snapping my head back and catching the person in what felt like the nose. They yelped, but otherwise didn’t let go. I was losing nearly all sight now, the world going dark, but all I could do was thrash and scratch, hoping that something would work.
In the end, all I needed was a hand.
Well, a specific hand.
Azazel’s voice came just before his help.
“Get the fuck off my girl,” he boomed, his voice so loud and deep that I felt it in my nearly numb bones. Then I could suddenly breathe again, the pressure gone from my back and throat all at once. Gasping, I gently grabbed my neck, my chest rapidly rising and falling as I flipped onto my back. Just in time to watch the show, it seemed. Az lifted the official by his collar, the slightly smaller man sliding his boots across the ground to gain purchase. “So, you like breath play, huh? Let’s play then.”
Grinning like a feral, murderous animal, Az pressed his fingers into the official’s throat and squeezed. Everything happened quickly. One moment the man’s skin hid away his bones, blood, and tissue, the next Azazel was ripping a chunk of the official’s throat out, revealing what lay inside.
A second of screams from the official faded into desperate gargles as Az dropped him to the ground, smile still sharp and long. “Thanks,” I wheezed, my throat burning.
Azazel offered me a bloody hand, helping me up. A quick peck to the lips, and then he was off, running at a set of officials who were dragging a woman with a sign down an alleyway. I followed, hoping to make the fight an easier one. As I reached the mouth of the dark alley, I realized how stupid I’d been.
Or perhaps howlucky.
Mere feet from Az stood the officials, their hands still tugging the woman, and another cloaked man. He wore a mask, his dark hair falling over his cloak and down to his chest. I’d recognize him anywhere, and he sure as the stars above recognized me.
“Nova?” he asked, taking a small step forward. He ripped off his mask, his auburn eyes wide and thick brows stitched. Rage colored my vision red, and I couldn’t help the gut-deep growl that vibrated up my throat.
“Talon,” I answered, sliding a knife out of the straps along my chest.
Chapter Forty-Four
Nova
“Celeste got into another fight at school today. Mama says fighting is for people too stupid to use their words. I told Celeste that I think she’s the coolest person in the whole world.”
-From the journal of Nova Tershetta, 9245 AS
Before I could charge forward, Az stepped in front of me, his arms spreading as if he was a shield.
“Az,” Talon spit, taking another step closer.
Huffing, I leaned to the side and lifted my hand, willing a burst of magic out of my palm. Talon easily dodged it, side stepping out of the way, letting the beam soar into the back of one of the officials dragging the unconscious woman.
Now furious, I took my knife and threw it as hard as I could, watching with triumph as it sailed into the back of the remaining official’s skull. When I turned my face to Talon again, he was staring at me already, his mouth popped open. Letting out a noise similar to Death’s screech that one time I stepped on her tail, I jumped forward, Az’s arm lifting just in time to catch me midair, my hands swiping viciously towards Talon.
“What are you, her guard dog?” Talon growled, daring to take another step, this one larger than the last.That’s right, come to me. I’m going to rip your fucking head off.
Az’s voice was calm, a smile noticeable in the sound of it as it lifted at the end. “I’ll be whatever she wants me to be, Tal.”
