Chapter Ninety-One

Chapter Ninety-One
Xyla watched, appearing almost bored, as Avery and Elvin landed in front of her. She lounged lazily on one of the thrones, her legs dangling carelessly off one of the armrests, one of her arms draped across the high back.
“Well, well. You’ve finally decided to join the fun, have you?” Her voice was lower than usual, its sound similar to that of cat purring. “It doesn’t matter. You and your pathetic army won’t make it to the caves in time to stop the ceremony.” She grinned widely, baring her pointed teeth like a wild animal that had caught its prey.
Avery couldn’t care less about Xyla. She was nothing in the grand scheme of things – an irritating fly that buzzed around the room, inconsequential. But what she said shook him.
“What ceremony do you speak of, witch?” Elvin demanded. She laughed and finally rose from the throne.
“Why, the ceremony between the Master and his little pet, of course.” She giggled, the sound odd and pitchy, then placed her hand on her hip, her fingers dancing on the handle of a whip that rested there. “Once the ceremony is complete, there will be nothing you can do to change it.”
Avery’s blood boiled at the thought of that monster forcing himself on Ellie.
“Where are they?” he growled, his voice low and lethal. When Xyla only widened her grin, Avery yelled in frustration, his voice shaking the very ground that lay beneath them.
Xyla arched an eyebrow, impressed.
“It seems you are more than just a pretty face. I’ll have such fun with you, darling. As for your friend,” she studied Elvin with a frown and shook her head, “Well, Dorian has been dying to get his hands on him.”
“Dorian?” Avery blinked, stunned. “You can’t mean…” His voice trailed off, his brain refusing to process her words.
“Oh, come now. How else do you think the Master has been able to stay one step ahead of you? In fact, half of your army is employed by us.” As if on cue, half of the guards that had arrived turned their swords toward Avery and Elvin, while the other half turned their swords on their colleagues.
A white-hot rage coursed through Avery’s veins. All the color seeped out of the world and was replaced by a deep, angry crimson. He’d been a fool. He’d spent so long chasing women and putting off his duties that he’d failed to see the snakes that had made their way into his home. And now the Master Ellie, the only woman whom he’d ever loved…
“Leave her to me, Avery,” Elvin whispered. He pulled his shirt off and rolled his shoulders, preparing for a fight. “I spent months as an underling when I was undercover, and the things I had to do were...” His voice cracked at the thought of some unpleasant memory, and Avery, for the first time, realized how hard this had all been for Elvin. Before Avery could allow himself to feel bad for his friend, Elvin spoke, his voice hard and cold. “Let me have her.”  Avery smirked and nodded his head. Elvin turned to Xyla and cracked his neck intimidatingly. “You’re going to feel every ounce of pain you’ve ever caused, bitch.”
Xyla scowled and removed her whip, letting it unfurl as she turned to Elvin. All traces of superiority were gone, and Avery could see that she sensed the threatening aura that Elvin gave off.
“Please. You’re pathetic. I’ve never seen anyone as –” she gasped, shocked. Elvin moved before any of them could process what had happened. “My… my babies!” she wailed, dropping to her knees and crawling toward one of her cats.
Elvin laughed cruelly and carefully wiped the blood from his borrowed blade.
“There’s a reason why I’m the second in command. Avery is known for his torture skills. But among the ranks, I’m known for my swift work with a blade. I’m sure you’re just starting to feel the wound on your abdomen.
As if on cue, Xyla coughed, blood splattering into the hand that covered her mouth. She gasped, shocked, and pulled herself to one of her cats, its head rolling into the crowd of astounded guardsmen. She clutched the dead animal’s fur tightly and pulled herself up to her knees, her eyes seeping with venom as she glared at Elvin.
“It doesn’t –” she gasped, more blood dribbling down her chin. “It doesn’t matter.” She swallowed hard, staining her teeth with her own blood. “She is his now…You’ve… failed.” Xyla began laughing, a slow, pathetic sound. Avery tsked and Elvin frowned.
“Gods, learn when to shut up.” He strode to Xyla and promptly removed her head. “That bitch just never knew when to stop her yammering,” he grumbled, irritated. His eyes flashed to the now trembling guardsmen that had betrayed them. “You’d better get going, Avery,” he whispered. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of these miscreants.”
Panic ensued as the betrayers tried to flee. Elvin grinned sadistically and blended into the crowd of guards, silently disposing of those how had double-crossed them.
“And that is why you’re not only my second in command, but my best friend,” Avery chuckled.
Screams and shouts filled the air as Avery turned toward the caves, his way now clear. “Don’t worry, my love. I’m coming for you.” With that, Avery flew into the caves, leaving the chaos of battle behind him. Still, as he traveled deeper, he could hear the faint sounds of the clashing overhead.
“Well done, well done!” Elvin yelled. “Show no mercy! I want every single one of these interlopers killed!” Avery listened, his heart pounding, until only the sound of his wings could be heard.
The silence was deafening. Surely, he should hear something by now. If Ellie were here, wouldn’t he hear the sound of footsteps? The soft breaths that so entranced him? The tumble of her hair as she moved her head? He couldn’t hear anything. In fact, event he sound of his wings seemed to dampen. He must be losing his mind! Panic began to grip him, and he worried for a moment that he had been misled, that Ellie had never been down here to begin with. He was about to turn around when he heard it.
No, it’s magic, a small voice whispered in the back of his head. You’re close, Avery. Be cautious! Avery kept going, his panic slowly subsiding. Yes! She’s nearby! Can’t you feel her?
“Ellie,” Avery whispered. Now that he was calm, he could feel her presence nearby. A soft warmth was beginning to spread throughout his body, and Avery knew that he was close. His face hardened and he beat his wings harder, determined to find his love. “Don’t worry. I’m coming, Ellie.”

Author Note:
Hi, all. I'm so sorry I've been absent. My mom went on hospice in March and she left this world about a week later. It's been really hard to focus on much of anything, but I'm trying. I hope to have a new chapter soon. Take care lovelies <3