Chapter 68 The Alicorn Claiming pt1
I hit the ground hard, feet barely missing the bonfire, air knocked out of my lungs. I stare up at the hole hundreds of feet above and register the other end of my rope falling toward me. Quickly, I roll to my feet, coughing violently as I avoid the rope’s descent.
Bewildered, heart pumping, I stare around the pit.
The magic-made crater is dark and hot, the fury of the volcano beneath our feet merging with the flames of the bonfire. The orange, eerie glow from the fire barely reaches the wall of the cave, leaving the edges mostly in shadow. Except for the alicorns themselves. They line the edges of the deep shaft like a force prepared to ambush the unsuspecting. They rear and scream, hooves scraping the air and stomping as they snort and roar. Their bodies are bloodied and beaten. Their horns drip blood and their eyes are crazed.
“These are not alicorns from Hellbane,” I whisper in horror.
The beasts I saw on the cliffs above Hellbane were docile, practically tame, even in their wildness. These…
Old scars mark their bodies, scars from battles amongst themselves and some against predators much more dangerous than them. Their eyes roll with fear and anger.
“Anara!” Alric screams, coming up beside me and grasping my arm protectively. “These are not Amaranthine alicorns! Look at their coats, their hooves! Silas has captured beasts from afar! We’re in grave danger!”
Somewhere in the darkness, Sylvain lets out a shriek drenched in pain. I try to jerk away from Alric, to find her, but he holds me tightly.
“There’s no time! I have to get you out of here!”
“Sylvain!” I cry, struggling against him.
“She can defend herself, she has her powers!” Alric shouts, trying to pull me away. “Steel will try and hold these chains as long as he can, I’m sure, but the alicorns will pull them from the wall long before his powers wane!”
“Alric, we can’t just leave her—”
“Well, well, if it isn’t the favored bitch…”
I freeze. By the look on Alric’s face, as he looks over my shoulder, I know my worst fears have come to light. Slowly, I peer back.
Malachi stands before us, his fists dripping lava as he slowly stalks forward.
“You won't live this time, you fucking whore!” he roars as he pulls back his arm and throws a ball of fire toward us.
Before I can react, Alric shoves me away and takes the brunt of the attack in full force.
I stare up at him in disbelief as his skin blisters and burns, the smell of scorched hair and flesh stinging my nostrils, but the man waves his hands, and cooling wind and rain douse the flames immediately.
“You’ll have to do better than that, child!” Alric hisses. He raises his own hands, lightning crackling between his fingers.
Furious red and blazing white blind me as both men cast their powers at one another. Cursing and spewing hate, they circle each other in a fight to the death.
Scrambling to my feet, I slink into the darkness as much as I can, pulling shadows around myself like a blanket. Sylvain is still screaming, her pain clear in her voice.
The alicorns are roaring in fear and fury, tugging on their chains in desperation.
It’s mayhem, trainee fighting against trainee instead of working together to face the threat all around us.
Keeping low, I slink around the shadowy outskirts and look for Sylvain. I know our time is limited, the alicorns will break loose and we’ll all die if we can’t work together. As I round the fire I see the other fight—Oberon and Zaries throwing fists instead of powers. They grapple, their hatred almost as volatile as Malachi’s and Alric’s.
There’s nothing you can do for them. At least they have enough sense not to use their powers. They’re being honorable.
“Oh, how nice of you to show up,” I say, my voice hushed to not reveal my position. I could have used a forewarning. Even foreshadowing would have been nice
I’ve been fighting greater battles, but my attention is with you now. Pity the wyvern did not come with you, she would be useful right about now.
“As if she wouldn’t have been slayed on sight,” I repeat Oberon’s words, hating myself for it. Who knows if she’ll be safe out there, even as big as she is?
I will help you choose the right mount. I can feel their emotions just as I can feel yours. Most are terrified, Anara, but they can be calmed. They have never seen a human before Silas captured them, but they can be reasoned with.
“Not before I find Sylvain!” I hiss.
She is as good as dead, screaming like that. Let her go, focus on your own survival!
“You’ve been in my head this long and yet you don’t know me at all.”
The powerful battle between Malachi and Alric is now on the other side of the fire from me. Oberon and Zaries’ fistfight is getting dangerously close to the powerful show, yet there’s still no sign of Sylvain.
Her screams echo, never stopping, but they seem to come from all directions at once.
If you must save the girl, use your brain. Her power, remember her power!