Reaching Retribution(80)

Even the Gadramicks stop fighting when the thunder echoes through the field. Ryanne slowly stands and faces Dravin. The Ryanne standing there is not one I recognize. I’ve seen her mad. I’ve seen her upset, but I’ve never seen this much emotion on her before. A look of fear crosses Dravin’s face as he starts walking backward.

I reach out to my left and punch the Gadramick in the jaw that was trying to walk toward Natalie. No one knows that I’m invisible until it’s too late.

“He did everything you asked of him,” Ryanne yells. “You killed him!”

“He slowly stopped listening every time you came here.”

“You brought me here!” Ryanne screams as more thunder rolls through the sky. The little bit of sunlight that was visible earlier is no more. Dark clouds dictate the sky, creating a more suitable atmosphere for what is happening.

“Oh, he better start running,” Larkin says. We all know that Ryanne’s power only affects the weather when she’s very upset. She has more control of that now.

Liam picks up Adam’s body and drags him out of the clearing. Ryanne stops in front of Dravin and pokes him in the chest. It’s strange how we can all hear her right now.

“Did you really think you would get away with all of this? Did you think you’d be able to experiment on humans? That you could just capture mages and try to take their magic? That you could just kill those who didn’t give you the right results and go about your happy life like you didn’t do anything wrong? Huh? Every action has a consequence, Dravin.”

Dravin laughs and takes a step toward Ryanne. “Put away your magic. I’m not going to fight you.”

“No, you’re just going to throw daggers infused with dark magic at me. Dark magic that Zahtri told you about. Is that what you call not fighting?”

Dravin takes another step forward. He’s literally standing inches away from her. Ryanne has to arch her head up to see him clearly. “You don’t know what you’re doing, Ryanne. Call off this attack and you and all your little friends will get out of here alive.”

“I’m not afraid of death, Dravin. How many times do I have to tell you that? I’m not keeping any of them here against their will. They’re here because they want to be, not because anyone is forcing them.” Instead of letting Dravin say anything else, Ryanne brings her knee up and hits him in the crotch.

I bite my tongue to keep from laughing. I know all too well how that feels. Ryanne wastes no time. When Dravin grunts and bends over, she grabs the back of his head and slams it into her knee. Even from where I’m standing I can hear the crunch of his nose breaking. Taking a step back, she spins around and kicks her leg out, connecting with the side of his head. When Dravin spins to the ground, Ryanne pushes magic out and sends him flying into the tree line.

“Oh, shit,” A Gadramick beside me exclaims as he starts backing up. “I’m outta here. I didn’t sign up for this.”

Ryanne stands there for a few seconds before turning around. She briefly glances at the crowd watching her, but doesn’t react. Her eyes go straight to Zahtri again.

He pushes away from the tree he was leaning against and slowly starts clapping as he walks toward the center of the field. A steady rain is now falling from the sky—the only signs of Ryanne’s conflicting emotions. She now has a blank expression on her face as she watches Zahtri move forward.

“That was an interesting little show you just put on,” Zahtri says he as walks to Ryanne. I notice a few more Gadramicks leave the field. Ryanne just stares at him, but doesn’t say anything. “You don’t understand what you’re getting yourself into, little one.”

“Only my family gets to call me that, Zahtri,” Ryanne says as she takes a step toward him. Zahtri looks slightly surprised at Ryanne’s boldness. He doesn’t know her like the rest of us. When she’s angry, she pushes aside her insecurities and becomes the confident Ryanne she needs to be. She doesn’t know that she does it. She still thinks she’s not strong enough, but she has it in her and it comes out when she needs it most.

The wind intensifies around us as Ryanne calls magic to her. “I can read your mind, darling, your magic is going to be useless.”

“Really?” Ryanne says as she pushes pure magic toward him. Zahtri flies back into the tree line and slams into the base of a tree. “Because I’m projecting false thoughts, Zahtri,” she mumbles as she slowly walks toward him.

Zahtri grunts and sits up, glaring at Ryanne. She stops when she sees the smile he gives her right before he disappears.