Chapter 73 Seventy-three.

Chapter 73 Seventy-three.
I waded through the corridor to the stairs with a yawn. Despite the tense situation, I was still tired and worn out from the fight with the Ammit. I wanted to relax a bit before night reached.

I walked towards my bedroom, smiling at the arched windows that let light streak through, warming me up. I let my gaze slip to the terrace where I could hear talking. Looking in curiosity, I saw Rhydian sat on the railing as per usual, but he was joined with Negus this time, who stood on the far right, speaking to him about something that was too quiet to hear. It seemed to be both a tense and private discussion.

I moved out of sight as Negus walked back and past me as he traveled towards the stairs. I watched his retreating form before looking to the terrace and tepidly walking out towards Rhydian, who was facing the sky.

"Do you make it a habit to listen in on conversations?" Rhydian's voice rang out, despite the fact that he wasn't looking at me. I stilled slightly in my steps before shrugging sheepishly and walking to the railing.

"I didn't hear anything," I muttered honestly, leaning against the railing, and Rhydian scoffed.

"And that suddenly excuses you?" he asked poignantly, and I shook my head with a sigh.

"No, sorry," I muttered again, sounding apologetic, to which Rhydian turned his moonlit gaze to me, an eyebrow raised.

"I wonder how much it tormented you to apologize to me," he mused, and I let out a laugh, brushing my hair back.

"You have no idea. I half contemplated jumping off the terrace as an alternative," I joked, to which he turned back to the sky.

"Go ahead, but I won't catch you this time," he murmured, and I rolled my eyes before looking to his gaze on the moon, making me recall his words from months back.

"Sometimes, I can still feel it. If I'm in my room at night in darkness, I can sense the urge."

"Does the darkness feel more consuming with the thin moon?" I asked carefully, aware that it could be a stupid or insensitive question.

Rhydian's gaze snapped to mine, but I kept my gaze on the view in front of me as his eyes assessed me.

"Why did you think of that?" he asked, evading my question, and I shrugged heavily.

"I don't know, I remember you telling me about the darkness and now, the moonlight is barely here, so I was just thinking," I rambled weakly before turning to Rhydian after the admission. His gaze was scrutinizing for a moment before he raised an eyebrow.

"Careful, Aeryn, too much thinking might damage your meagre brain," he remarked mockingly, and I pressed my lips sadly, noting how he had evaded the question yet again.

"Closing off is equally as damaging, trust me," I commented quietly. Rhydian's expression dimmed at this and he shrugged.

"I think you should get rest before tonight," he ended our conversation abruptly, his jaw clenched in annoyance.

I shook my head in protest, opening my mouth to speak, but he looked to me then with a gaze that told me to keep quiet and so I did, watching carefully as he got off the railing and walked away, his form nudging me.

It was a few moments after he left that I processed what happened and let out a sigh. I shouldn't have pushed, but I couldn't help it. I made my way back into the hallway and towards my bedroom numbly.

"Aeryn!"

I smiled genuinely, turning at Arun's voice as he walked towards me. I opened the bedroom door before looking at him.

"Hi, Arun," I said sweetly, before turning my gaze to the bedroom I had grown to miss. The sleeping arrangement at Bomani's residence was nice to have with the others, but it lacked the comfort and softness of my own bed.

"I've thought about you a great deal over the weeks. I even drew a sketch of you and Ayla," he exclaimed, tucking his hair behind his ear, and I raised an eyebrow at this teasingly.

"Oh, well, I'd love to see that! For you are quite the talented artist," I praised, to which he blushed, and I giggled before lying back down on the bed with a sigh.

"I missed this also," I muttered, relishing in the feel of the soft mattress, and Arun laughed softly before lying down next to me.

"Are you scared?" he asked me suddenly, and I turned to look at his green, shining gaze on me.

"Not with all of you with me," I murmured out, to which he smiled, making his feline eyes squint slightly.

"You're very brave then," he commented, and I shook my head at him, to which he frowned.

"You know, bravery isn't the absence of fear. It's those who truly feel scared, but face it, that are brave," I spoke the words that Sue spoke to me once when I had divulged about my home issues. She had told me to face them head-on, and I had told her I was too scared to. This was her very response, and I didn't get it then, but now, when relaying it to Arun, I understood it completely.

He smiled slightly at my words before looking to the ceiling.

"We're facing something different tonight," he said simply, bringing up what I was thinking, and I turned my fiery gaze to him, a look of determination on my face.

"Whatever it is, different or not, we will fight it together. Only if we trust in each other can we succeed," I ground out, and Arun placed his slender hand in mine.

I relaxed at this, turning to the ceiling, and Arun let out a deep sigh before speaking.

"If only that were the case."

The air warped around us, and I took in the fading sound of the fountain water and Ayla's hand in mine before opening my eyes and looking to the dark night sky.

"We're here," Ayla muttered softly, pulling her bow off her back, and I looked around as we stood on the outskirts of Penta province.

"Everyone, stay close," Kael ordered, looking to us, and I followed suit, looking around. The air was charged with tension and nerves, but the look of determination on everyone's face couldn't be mistaken. We were in this together.

No one has faced a Bakenanouke and lived to tell the tale.

I shook the thought out of my head as Maya pressed a hand to my shoulder with a firm smile. I smiled back before we began walking towards the village.

As soon as I could see the houses, my mind went back to the thought of Faridha and Babu, making my tears well up. That was the last time I was here.

I let the memories of them stay in my head as we walked through the alleys and I eyed the empty streets. In fact, they were too empty.

"Where are the villagers?" I whispered, to which Abrax leaned down to answer.

"Negus had them hide in a secret shelter that runs below the village," he explained, and I recalled Ayla telling me about the safe place. I nodded in thanks before gazing at the streets where I had once danced with Kael for the festival. Back then, I had felt such euphoria amongst the crowd, and now, my stomach was in knots as I thought of what was to come. How was it possible that one place could invoke such separate emotions?

We halted in the center and looked around with bated breath, but nothing came and my eyebrows furrowed in confusion. As did Ayla's as she looked to me.

"Why is it so qu…"

Her question was cut off by the sound of a Chigaru who moved in with a sword and battle cry. Just as quick, Maya sent a dagger deep into his chest with a quick flick of her hand, sending him flying to the ground. And then there were lots of them, jumping down from the rooftops above with ropes. They cascaded in on us, and I realized that they had planned this, like using cheese to trap a mouse.

I raised my double sword and moved forward into the area they were converging in, my stomach tightening as two soldiers looked to me, their faces pulled into sneers. From behind them, I could see Maya facing against three soldiers herself.

One raised his sword, and I clashed mine against it, letting out a gasp as the other swung his sword to my unprotected side. Instinctively, I pushed the first one away with my sword before clashing my blade against the oncoming attack. I noticed their strength and skill were less potent than Kael's and pushed hard before letting go suddenly and slashing upwards with my sword, making the soldier scream as he toppled to the ground.

I turned my attention to the second one, who brought his sword up and began giving blow after blow. My arms ached under his touch, but the red liquid flowed through and revitalized me, making him clench his teeth in annoyance. He was hoping for me to tire, but I wouldn't relent. Instead, I gave it to him just as harsh, clashing his sword with my own. My teeth were clenched in anger and he was noticeably tiring, making me spur on. His arms relaxed for a moment, and I took the opportunity to attack, slashing at his arm.

He shrieked at this, looking briefly to his wound, and I took the opportunity to raise my shoe.

"Maya!" I screamed, kicking him back to where she was standing, and he stumbled back into her, to which she swiftly placed her hands on either side of his head, twisting it. I heard a crack before he collapsed, and I smiled at her before turning around and focusing on the fight.

I ran, stabbing mercilessly through a soldier that was wailing as he looked to the arrow in his thigh, no doubt Ayla's handiwork. That was reinforced when I saw her form, disappearing and reappearing everywhere, shooting arrows at our opponents.

I felt a harsh tug and let out a scream as someone grabbed my hair, and looked up to see a Chigaru looking down at me. I scowled at this and, instead of resisting his pull and trying to get away, I brought my head towards him, smashing his nose with my skull. If he wanted me close, I would give him what he wished for.

He growled at this, and I gave him no opportunity to recover before I turned around and hit him in the chest with my hilt again and again.

"Why always my hair?" I ground out after every hit, and by the time I had finished my sentence, his eyes had rolled to the back of his head and I got up swiftly.

I could feel the gush of wind, either from Kael's speed as he ran around, slashing through the enemies, or from where Rhydian was standing, making the sand move in wild patterns as it dragged his enemies to him to kill.

"Aeryn!"

I turned at my name to see Abrax strangling two soldiers on the ground as he straddled them. He gestured to his back where a soldier was trying to choke him also, and I obliged, nearing and stabbing the man, making him drop. He smiled tightly at this before getting up, and I looked to the two dead soldiers as he ran away.

They're murderers, Aeryn. Rapists.

I heard the sound of Kael's voice in my head as I moved away back to the fight. He was right, and I had to suppress the anxiety in me that told me otherwise.

I moved in, my sword at the ready. I jumped over the corpses, halting when I saw the sight. Rhydian was crouched, his hands against the sand as he submerged five soldiers, their screams filling the air. His eyes glowed as they sank deeper, but my gaze was on the soldier behind him that swung his sword high.

On instinct, I ran in, and before the soldier's sword could make contact with Rhydian, I clashed mine against it. The soldier gritted his teeth in annoyance at this before pushing at me, and I stumbled back slightly, taken aback by his strength. He moved to get to me then, and I held my sword at the ready, but he stopped short, and I looked to see that one of his legs was submerged in the sand.

Looking right behind me, I saw Rhydian give me a side-glance as he continued his attack on those in front of him. I turned back to the struggling soldier as he tried his best to come to me and attack.

I smirked at this before raising my sword and impaling him. Withdrawing my sword, I watched as he fell back, his foot that was in the sand making him fall at an awkward angle.

Then, suddenly, a dagger came flailing towards my form and I gasped, but Rhydian was notably faster, and he pulled me down, his form on top of mine and my hair fanned out on the ground. The dagger embedded itself into another soldier, who dropped to the ground, and I turned back to Rhydian, who looked at me with his grey gaze and blood streaked on his face in a way that strangely complimented him.

"Aurelion suits you so much," he murmured randomly, his eyes tracing my face, and I stilled in his gaze, letting out a startled noise when he pulled me up with him swiftly.

The sudden feeling of something heavy in my chest made me stumble back as I took a deep breath, and Rhydian frowned, his hand tightening on his glaive.

"You feel it too?" I asked, to which he turned to me, but before he could answer, a high-pitched shriek emanated across the village center, making vases at a nearby stall burst into pieces. I held at my ears to block the horrific sound, turning around to see the entry of the creature whose arrival I had been fearing.

There, standing by the well, was the fire Bakenanouke.

It towered over all the soldiers around it greatly, its deathly white body shrouded by a large robe. We all stilled as it looked around at the bloodied bodies of the Chigaru, to which it smiled, making my blood curdle. Its teeth protruded out like large shards of glass; much too large to fit in its mouth.

"How impressive," it drawled in a voice that was both female and male in one, making me tense.

I looked to see Ayla cowering behind Abrax and Kael's hardened expression as he looked to it. In turn, the creature turned its gaze to us, landing finally on Rhydian and me, to which its smile lit up.

Rhydian moved in front of me slightly at this, and I let out a slight breath as it turned to look at the others again with its white pupils, its eyes protruding from its skull.

"How impressive, indeed," it rang out again in a humorous tone, as though the situation was funny; as though it was all just mere child's play.

The groan of a wounded Chigaru soldier emanated from the ground, and I looked to him, as did the creature. The Baken moved towards him with leisurely steps, and I watched tepidly as it neared, its long red hair grazing against the soldier's face. It looked to him for a while with a chilly expression before smiling.

"Here, let me help," it said in a tone that sounded more frightening than reassuring. It all happened within a fraction of a second, it dipped its clawed hand towards the soldier and pulled his head straight off, making blood spurt out like a fountain.

My eyes welled up in fear at this, and I hid behind Rhydian's back hurriedly, holding a hand to my mouth.

I felt Rhydian tense at this: a sign he was affected, and I winced as the creature dropped the head with a soft thud, turning to us with a mock-sad look.

"Just putting him out of his misery; I'm sure you, of all people, would understand," it said playfully, its crazy gaze flitting around for a reaction, and it got what it had sought.

Kael moved forward at the creature's words, glaring with an intensity that would have made me melt.

"I don't understand killing for sport," he spoke clearly, his tone firm and his hand around the hilt of his bloody sword.

The creature brightened up notably at this, its teeth cinching into its bottom lip, drawing blood.

"Ah, the renowned leader. How interesting," the creature spoke, its eyes roaming his form, to which Kael glared harder.

The Baken frowned playfully at this, moving its gigantic form closer, and I watched how its hair dragged heavily on the ground behind it.

"You've taken over for the old man, it seems. Has he bit the dust already?" it joked coldly, a cruel smile lighting its face, and then I heard Maya's shout.

"Don't you dare speak of him!" she yelled angrily, throwing a dagger towards its form, and I flinched subconsciously as it slapped it away as though it were a fly.

"I presume you're the filth's daughter then," it sang, its eyes suddenly excited, and Maya let out another scream before running forward, ignoring Kael who called to her.

She raised her hands then, and the creature smiled brightly as she neared, holding a Chigaru's sword. She swung it towards the creature, but it caught the blade in its hand easily, and I watched how drool slipped from its corkscrew teeth and down its paper skin.

Instinctively, both Kael and Rhydian moved in to aid her as she struggled with her hold on the sword, but it had expected this. I gasped when its hair raised from the ground as it clashed against their weapons with a loud clang. With its hold on Maya's sword, it leaned over her until she was bent backwards, clenching her teeth with the exertion. Its drool fell against her torso and she screamed, seemingly in pain.

Abrax moved in then, swinging his axe, but it raised a hand to him in response, shooting a surge of magma towards his direction. He rolled over swiftly, a good thing on his part, as it had burned through three rows of houses behind him.

I tried to move in, running towards the creature, but when I was within a few meters, a hard wave of its hair hit me to the ground. I let out a groan as my head hit the ground, struggling to get up, but it pinned me down. I looked to see both Rhydian and Kael as well as Abrax trying to get to Maya, but they couldn't evade its deadly locks that had pulled them into combat. Beside me, Ayla fell with a scream, the hair pinning her down also.

"Die!" Maya screamed, facing her hand towards the creature, to which her flames burst out and licked at its face. Rather than screaming as I had hoped, it let out a laugh, one that was cold and callous.

It seemingly decided that the games were over now, and it pulled the sword out of her hand, chucking it to the side with ease.

"Maya!" Kael called out, but to no heed. The creature smiled down at its prey, and I let out a shout as it wrapped its claws around Maya's neck, lifting her clean off the ground. Maya let out a gurgled choke, trying to reach at its face, but to no avail.

Its expression dimmed then, its smile disappearing, and I shuddered at the sudden change. It pulled her closer as she let out struggled breaths.

"I haven't come here to spar with the pathetic likes of you. I've come for someone else, but if you want my attention, then I'll gladly oblige," it spoke in a musical whisper, its teeth an inch away from her face.

I could hear the struggles of the boys as they tried to rush to her and the sounds of their helplessness, to which I let out a shout.

Maya gritted her teeth in response to its words.

"Go to hell," she spat out before touching her hands against its face and releasing her flames yet again. Smoke poured off its form, but it just sneered in a dangerously horrific way that made me tear up.

"You want fire?" it asked, and I pushed hard against its grip as it placed a large clawed hand against her face.

"I'll give you fire," it promised, and then it released its magma, to which Maya screamed hauntingly, a scream that rang through the whole village.

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A/N:Let me know all your thoughts in the comments! Like, subscribe and add to your library so you never miss an update!

See you in the next one!