Chapter 132 Chapter 132
Chapter 132 Chapter 132
Ariel barely crossed the broken gate before three warlocks rushed towards her.
She knocked the first one aside with her blade.
The second came from her left.
Mark intercepted him.
“Go!” he shouted.
Ariel didn't argue.
She ran deeper into the fortress.
The noise of the battle followed her through the corridors, shouts, weapons striking stone, spells bursting somewhere behind her.
She reached a staircase.
Two guards appeared at the top.
Ariel lifted her hand.
The first guard was thrown against the wall.
The second ducked the attack and charged.
She blocked his blade, twisted his wrist and kicked him down the stairs.
She kept moving.
“Hayley!”
Her voice echoed through the fortress.
No answer.
Ariel reached a long corridor.
A door slammed open ahead of her and Ares stepped out.
He had a cut across his cheek, but he seemed more annoyed than injured.
“You always did know how to make an entrance, dear aunty.”
Ariel raised her sword.
“Where is my daughter?”
Ares glanced behind her.
“Your soldiers are tearing apart my fortress.”
“They're looking for my family.”
“Your family is alive.”
“Then take me to them.”
Ares smiled.
“You're not in a position to give orders.”
Ariel lunged.
Their blades collided.
Ares pushed her back.
She attacked again.
He blocked.
Again.
This time Ariel changed direction and swept his legs but Ares jumped over the attack.
“You're slower.”
“And you're talking too much.”
She struck his shoulder and Ares stumbled back.
His expression hardened then he raised his hand.
A blast sent Ariel crashing into the wall.
She dropped her sword.
Before Ares could move towards her, Mark appeared behind him.
“Leave her alone.”
Ares turned.
Mark swung and Ares ducked but the blade sliced through a strand of his hair.
Ares looked at it.
“You're getting bold.”
Mark smirked.
“You're getting careless.”
Ares attacked.
The two exchanged blows quickly.
Ariel grabbed her sword and stood.
She looked past them.
A narrow passage was visible behind Ares.
She knew where it led.
The cells.
Ariel ran.
Ares noticed too late.
“Ariel!”
She didn't stop.
> > > > > >
Damon heard footsteps approaching.
He lifted his head.
Leo was sitting against the wall, rubbing his wrists while Kai was crouched beside him.
Zyran stood near the bars.
“Someone's coming,” Kai said.
Damon listened.
Then he heard it.
“Ariel!”
He rushed to the bars.
“Mother!”
Hayley's voice came from the other side of the corridor.
Damon gripped the bars.
“Hayley!”
Ariel appeared around the corner.
For half a second, nobody moved.
Then Hayley ran to her.
Ariel grabbed her through the bars.
“You're hurt.”
“I'm fine.”
“Don't lie to me.”
Hayley looked down at the scrape on her arm.
“It's nothing.”
Ariel pulled her closer anyway.
Damon stepped forward.
“Get us out.”
“I will.”
Ariel looked at the lock.
“Where's the key?”
Kai pointed towards a guard lying unconscious several feet away.
“There.”
Ariel crossed the corridor, took the keys and returned.
She unlocked the cell.
Leo stepped out first.
“About time.”
Ariel looked at him.
“You could say thank you.”
Leo grinned.
“Thank you grams.”
Zyran walked out next.
Damon immediately turned towards Hayley.
“Are you really okay?”
“Yes.”
He touched the side of her face.
“Then we're leaving.”
A loud crash shook the corridor and everyone looked towards the entrance.
Ares appeared.
Mark was behind him, holding his bleeding arm.
Ares' gaze moved across the group.
His eyes settled on Ariel.
“You should have stayed outside.”
Ariel stepped forward.
“It's over.”
Ares laughed.
“No. It isn't.”
He raised his hand.
The corridor doors slammed shut.
The walls began to tremble.
Kai looked around.
“What's happening?”
Ares smiled.
“Your mother came all this way to rescue you.”
He looked at Hayley.
“So I thought I'd make sure she understands what she's walking into.”
The floor cracked and magic surged beneath their feet.
Damon grabbed Hayley's hand.
“Stay close.”
Leo drew his sword.
Kai reached for his bow.
Zyran moved beside Damon.
Ariel tightened her grip on her blade and Ares stepped backwards.
“Let's see which family survives the night.”
Then the stone floor collapsed beneath them.
> > > > >
Ariel's POV
The floor gave way before anyone could react.
Hayley screamed as the stone beneath her feet disappeared
Damon caught her around the waist, pulling her towards him while Zyran grabbed Kai and Leo.
Ariel reached for the wall, her fingers scraping against the stone as she fought to keep her balance.
“Hold on!”
The corridor split apart.
Stone crashed into the darkness below.
Ares jumped backwards and landed safely on the other side of the broken floor.
He looked down at them.
“Still think it's over?”
Damon glared at him.
“You planned this.”
Ares smiled.
“I planned for possibilities.”
“Coward.”
“Maybe.”
Another section of the floor cracked.
Zyran looked around quickly.
“We can't stay here.”
Ariel spotted a narrow ledge along the wall.
“There!”
She pointed.
“Move!”
Damon helped Hayley across first.
Leo followed, sword still in his hand.
Kai moved carefully behind him and Zyran came last.
The stone beneath his foot broke away.
Hayley reached back.
“Zyran!”
He caught her hand.
Damon grabbed his arm and together, they pulled him onto the ledge.
Ares watched without helping.
“You really are determined to make this difficult.”
Damon looked up.
“Come down here and say that.”
Ares laughed.
“I don't think so.”
He snapped his fingers.
Several iron doors opened along the corridor.
Warlocks emerged.
Ariel's expression changed.
“Damon, get them out.”
“What about you?”
“I'll slow them down.”
“No.”
Ariel looked at him sharply.
“You have Hayley and the boys. That's enough responsibility.”
Hayley shook her head.
“I'm not leaving you.”
“You're not leaving me. You're getting them somewhere safe.”
Ariel turned towards the approaching warlocks.
“I'll follow.”
Damon hesitated.
Ariel gave him a look that left little room for discussion.
“Go.”
Damon nodded.
“Come back.”
“I intend to.”
The group hurried along the ledge.
Behind them, Ariel met the first warlock.
Their blades collided.
She ducked beneath his strike and drove her elbow into his ribs.
Another attacked from behind.
Mark appeared between them.
“I thought I told you not to start a fight without me.”
Ariel glanced at him.
“You were taking too long.”
“I was busy being thrown through a wall.”
“Excuses.”
Mark laughed.
“You haven't changed.”
They fought side by side.