Reaching Retribution(91)

I ignore him and focus on the magic in front of me. My magic is shimmering within the shield. I spread my hands out a little further, letting the orb grow. Zahtri’s eyes zero in on the magic, but he doesn’t comment on it.

“Are you going to be able to wake up every morning knowing someone doesn’t get that privilege because of you?” He’s just taunting me. I can’t listen to him. “Will you be able to go about your daily routine and pretend like you don’t have blood of your hands?”

I block him out and focus on the magic in front of me. I can see his lips still moving, so I know that he’s still trying to get me to react before I’m ready. It’s not going to work. I can’t afford to be callous right now. There’s so much at stake. After a few seconds, my eyes hone in on Zahtri. He’s still talking, but he’s not looking at me. He’s still staring at the ball in my hands. The energy cracks in my hands telling me that it’s ready to be released.

I grin at him as I drop the shield and thrust the magic toward him. Before the magic even hits him, I turn around and run in the opposite direction. I visualize the magic exploding around him, and I know that I’ll get hit if I stay here. A blast rings out behind me and my magic ricochets back. I push more out and attempt to create a shield around me, but the force is too strong. I’m hit with my own magic and am lifted into the air. I tuck my body in and roll when I hit the ground.

When I stop rolling, I push myself up and immediately look across to the area where Zahtri just was. Only he’s not there. Throwing a shield up, my eyes move past the platform. He’s not here at all.

“Looking for me, darling?” I whip around and face Zahtri again. Dang, I didn’t obliterate him.

“How do you do it?” I ask him.

“I still have a few powers on you. Like the power of transport. Though, I did get hit a little bit.” He rolls his shoulder, slightly wincing with the movement. I see the burnt holes in the fabric and the charred skin underneath. “Not a problem though. You’ll find out that I heal very quickly. Can you say that?” Zahtri moves until he’s standing along the edge of my shield. “Why the shield? Are you scared of me?”

“Not scared. Cautious. Weary. Suspicious. Yes, but not scared.”

“Then drop the shield and fight me. This is what you wanted isn’t it?”

Magic? This is it. I feel my magic move around me, caressing my skin with its energy. This is the moment the prophecy has been talking about. Taking one last deep breath, I step back a few steps and narrow my eyes at him.

“Let’s do this,” I whisper as I throw my hands up, siphoning my magic through me and drop my shield.

This is it.





Colton


I turn around and face Dravin. Everyone moves out of the way, giving us room. All the mages we brought know that Liam and I are supposed to be the ones that stop Dravin. Her two warriors are destined to put an end to the war. It has to be us. I know David, Logan, Larkin, and Bragden are really angry that they can’t help. We’ve all seen Ryanne after she’s been with Dravin. We all know what he’s done to her and Ryanne has inspired us to act. I can see Liam moving toward me, but I don’t look at him. I don’t want to alert Dravin to his presence. Not yet.

“This could all be easily stopped.”

“Yeah, would you like to casually walk in front of my sword? Or better yet, you can just take it and stab yourself. That way your blood wouldn’t be on my hands.”

“Tell Ryanne to stop the attack unless you want to be lowering her casket six feet under.”

I feel my invisibility skimming the surface, wanting me to release it. It doesn’t like the image of Ryanne lying in a casket being buried and neither do I. Somehow, I push it back. I need to remain visible.

I hope I have a good handle on it, because what I’m about to say could bring it out fully. “At least people would show up to her funeral. She’s touched so many lives here. Can you say the same thing? Will anyone miss you when you’re gone? These people are just followers. They don’t care about you, Dravin.”

Liam steps up behind Dravin and raises his sword, but Dravin turns around and faces him. “I wouldn’t try that if I were you.”

Liam lowers his weapon, but I move forward and kick him in the back of the knees. Dravin falls to the ground, but rolls to the side, out of the way. Getting back up, he glares at Liam and me. “This is really what you want to do? Fight to the death?” he sneers. “Are you really prepared for that?”

“You afraid to do the same thing that girl is doing right over there?” Liam points in Ryanne’s direction. I briefly glance at her and watch her form a ball of magic between her hands like she did during one of the training sessions. Zahtri is talking to her, probably trying to instigate her. What I wouldn’t give to be fighting alongside her right now.