Reaching Retribution(103)

“Liam!” I shout as Valdus pushes past a Gadramick and jumps toward Liam. He turns around and looks in my direction, but because of my invisibility he can’t see me. His attention quickly leaves my area and lands on Valdus. His eyes widen, but he doesn’t have enough time to move.

Valdus barrels into Liam right as Phillip’s sword slices through the area where Liam just was. James grabs onto Natalie and pulls her back out of range. Valdus rolls off of Liam, but remains on the ground. Liam looks up at Phillip, but doesn’t move to fight him. His attention is on Valdus.

James releases Natalie and moves toward his brother. I make it over to Liam and crouch down beside him. I can see the blood soaking the ground beneath Valdus where Phillip’s sword sliced him.

“Valdus?” Liam says as he leans over him.

“I’m so s-s-orry, Liam,” Valdus says as his body starts convulsing. “F-f-for ever-r-rything.” Valdus turns his head and looks straight up at Liam. “Your m-mother would be proud of you,” he whispers. Unshed tears glisten in Liam’s eyes as he looks down at his tribe leader.

I stand up and move away from Liam giving him some privacy. I look behind me at Natalie, but see her looking to her left. I follow her line of sight and see her looking at Natasha. She’s fighting against a mage, but she doesn’t seem to be doing as much damage as I know she’s capable of.

“I don’t know what to do about her,” she whispers to me. I don’t know how she knew I was beside her. I grab onto her hand and squeeze. I don’t know if it’ll come to it, but if Natasha attempts to attack someone either one of us love, we’ll have to fight her. I don’t want to hurt her, but she made this decision. She chose to help Dravin. She chose the Gadramicks over us, and she has to face that decision.

Liam walks up behind her and places a hand across her shoulder. “I hope this ends soon,” he says without looking at either of us. He’s looking at James who is now fighting against his brother. Neither one is taking it easy on the other.

I look away and glance back at the platform. Vincent and Ryanne are still gone. Where could they have gone, and what is taking them so long?

Hearing a pained grunt behind me, I turn back around and find James pulling his sword out of Phillip’s chest. Phillip is staring up at his brother in shock. I can see the sadness in James’ eyes as his brother falls to his knees. “I’m so sorry, brother,” he says. “You gave me no choice.”

I look up at James, shocked that he was able to do that. If I was in his situation and had to fight against David, I wouldn’t be able to. James takes a step back and apologizes one last time before turning away. Phillip falls onto his chest where he remains unmoving. James turns his back to us and reaches up to wipe the tears from his eyes. He doesn’t want us to see his sadness, and I don’t blame him.

Hearing another scream to the right, I see David gasping for breath on the ground. Emma is fighting someone, so she can’t help him. I look around him looking for the Gadramick responsible and see a tall man standing in the shadows.

There’s no way I can get to him soon enough. I open my mouth to call for Larkin when Natasha runs across the clearing and knocks the unknown man to the ground. Natalie squeaks beside me, staring wide eyed at the scene in front of her. Larkin transports in behind the Gadramick fighting Emma and knocks him out. Thanking him, Emma turns around and falls to the ground beside David who is gasping for breath. Did Natasha just saved him?

Even David seems a little shocked. Without saying anything to Emma, he looks over at Natasha who’s fighting against the large Gadramick. He punches her in the jaw and she spins around and lands on her back. Scooting back, she attempts to asphyxiate him.

The Gadramick stumbles a little, but doesn’t stop his forward momentum. Natasha lets out an earsplitting scream as her skin turns a blistering shade of red. He’s a fire affinity. That’s why David couldn’t breathe. His lungs were literally on fire.

Seeing movement to my right, I watch Logan trying to push his way through. It looks like he healed himself enough to start fighting again. Natalie gasps beside me and starts running toward her sister. I see Connor stop fighting against a Gadramick and move toward her as well.

“Natalie!” Liam yells after her. At the same time, we both take off in their direction. Natalie doesn’t attempt to fight anyone and no one tries to stop her. Natasha’s screams start to die down the closer we get to her. Her skin is covered in third degree burns, and she tries to roll over, but can’t move her body. Larkin appears behind the man and grabs onto his shoulder and disappears, taking the man with him. Natalie and Conner reach Natasha at the same time and both crouch to the ground beside her.