Chapter 79 The Last Struggle Starts
Amara’s POV
When I opened my eyes, it was still dark in the sky. I felt as though I had swallowed stones because my chest felt heavy. There was an odd quiet about the camp. They were all waiting, alert. No one was brave enough to talk too loudly. Everybody knew what was about to happen.
Then it started.
In the distance, a long, chilly, sharp trumpet blew. My blood turned to ice.
Rowan said next to me, "They're here." He held his sword in his hand. His eyes heated, yet his face was pallid.
The earth shuddered. I sprang to my feet, holding tight to my cloak. Shapes, hundreds of them, moved from the horizon. Red-eyed creatures formed of smoke and shadows. Black-clad witches marched behind them, their cries resonating through the atmosphere.
"No." My throat was constricted as I said quietly. "It's worse than I thought."
Kian took a step forward, his jaw clenched. "Everything is with them." He gripped his spear tightly. "Shadow animals." Warlocks, as well as her.
Lilith.
Her presence pressed across my skin like a sword. She was there, waiting, smiling, and hungry, yet she hadn't even revealed herself.
"Places!" Rowan's Alpha voice echoed through the field as he bellowed. The warriors formed up. There were traps beneath the silver dust that gave the ditches we had excavated last night a faint glow. Bows were raised by archers with trembling hands.
I took hold of Rowan's sleeve. "Rowan, what if"
He turned abruptly to face me. Don't. What-ifs are beyond our capabilities. We quarrel. We make it through. Or we both perish together.
I felt both reassured and stung by his remarks.
Kian approached with a quiet voice. "Amara. Remain behind enemy lines until—"
I interrupted him and shook my head, saying, "No." I'm not going to hide. I must use this power if I possess it.
He nodded after studying me with an enigmatic expression. "All right. But remain near me. If something occurs—
I confidently said, "I'll fight."
The initial wave struck.
The earth was shaken by the cries of the monsters as they charged. They screamed as silver burnt them as they slammed into the trenches, but they continued to advance, clambering over one another like insatiable monsters.
"Archers!" Rowan yelled.
Shadows were pierced by the rain of arrows. While some sank, others climbed. As claws swiped and tore through shields, my gut wrenched. The air was filled with screams.
Rowan and Kian moved, spearheading the attack with their massive, strong wolves. With ruthless strength, Rowan's dark wolf charged into the battle and tore through animals. Kian's spear flashed as his white wolf moved like lightning.
I held up my hands. Bright, searing fire ignited at my fingertips. My heart pounded. I said the words I had learned from Mira.
"Burn."
Golden and ferocious, celestial fire erupted from my hands. It pierced through the darkness and swept across the battlefield. As their corpses turned to ash, beasts melted and shrieked. Hope flooded me for a moment.
Even though my chest was still hurting, I said, "We can do this." "We are capable of winning."
But I sensed her deep within.
Lilith.
Her harsh, piercing words swept against my mind. Child, do you believe fire can stop me? Death is me. I will always be.
I gasped. Despite my stumble, I made myself stay upright. I couldn't show my fear to the pack.
"Amara!" Through the confusion, Rowan's voice shouted. "Remain resilient! You are needed!
Despite my body trembling, I raised my hands once again and forced more flames. The field was illuminated, containing the unending tide. The creatures hesitated for a second. We had the upper hand for a while.
The ground then broke apart.
From below came a deep, unearthly scream. The ground splintered as if lightning had struck it. It flowed dense, black smoke. The shouts of triumph turned to screams of fear as the warriors stumbled backwards.
With wide eyes, Rowan transformed back into a person. "No. Not right now.
Kian snarled as his wolf paced defensively close to me. "She's on her way."
Shadows gathered in one spot, and the battlefield stopped.
Lilith was getting up.
A person emerged from the gaps as the ground began to tremble more violently. Slowly, she stood up, her body encased in black mist. More brilliant than any fire I had ever seen, her eyes were blazing crimson. Her lips formed a ruthless smile, and her hair cascaded like smoke.
Lilith. Completely changed.
My knees nearly buckled. She was no longer merely a witch. She was something far worse. Something that isn't living, wolf-like, or human.
"Oh, goddess," I said.
Rowan said, "Steady," and moved ahead of me. He pulled out his silver-glinting blade. "This is it."
On my opposite side, Kian stood with his spear gleaming dimly with runes. He cautioned me not to allow her to touch me. "If she—"
Even though my voice was shaking, I responded, "She won't."
Lilith chuckled. Like poison, her voice reverberated throughout the battlefield. "My little kid, who was stolen." Would you dare to put your hand up against mine? My chest burned as if there were fire inside of me as her eyes met mine. "I had you." I shall always have you.
The mark on my skin glowed, the lingering effects of her curse seeking to reclaim me, and I screamed. Rowan took hold of my arm.
"Assault her!" he yelled. "Keep her out!"
"I—I can't—" My entire body trembled.
"You can, indeed!" Kian's voice was sharp as he shouted. "Look at me, Amara. Look!
I made myself look into his eyes. Fire and pain filled his steady stare. He declared, "You're stronger than her." "More powerful than any curse."
Rowan took a step forward. "You belong to us. Not hers. Never hers."
Something broke inside of me. I lifted my hands, my hands blazing with light. Now the flames came brighter, faster, as if they were responding to me rather than being coerced. I shoved it in Lilith's direction.
The fire broke apart like dust as she raised her hand.
"Child, you can't burn me," she growled.
"I'll burn everything else after that!" Instead, I let out the power on her monsters while I sobbed. She and I were separated by a wall of golden flames that spread across the field. It worked for a while.
"Combat!" With a roar, Rowan rallied the troops to advance once more. His wolf leapt and tore as his blade struck the black witches.
Kian constantly circled close to me, protecting my back while he whirled his spear, slicing through animals.
I threw forth wave after wave of fire, my arms hurting as I concentrated. The battlefield glowed like a second sun as the brightness turned the sky yellow. Even though my heart was racing, I persisted.
"You're going to shatter," Lilith said to me.
"No," I growled. "I'm going to fight."
Her body glowed with black flames as her eyes narrowed and she climbed higher, floating above the battlefield. Wings of shadow swirled around her.
She opened her arms. "Then see how I destroy everything you hold dear."
Her strength soared. The sky itself appeared to split, and the ground shook. Half the field was engulfed in darkness as warriors yelled.
I stumbled and gasped. My fire smoldered.
"Amara!" Rowan ran toward me and yelled.
Kian spoke in a panicked tone. "Remain with us! Keep her from winning!"
But as Lilith's influence grew, I realised the reality.
This was just the start.
The actual conflict had not yet begun.
And we may not make it through it.