Page 148 of Journey to the Elderoak
“Something’s not right,” said Raine.
“Yeah, everyone’s dead,” Ava said through her tears.
He shook his head. “I sense something else. I have a bad feeling.”
“Bad feeling about what?” she whispered, fear taking root.
He whipped his head to her, eyes wide. “We need to leave.Now,” he said, as dark figures emerged from the remains of the buildings surrounding them.
It was a trap.
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Daemon soldiers emerged from their cover in the shadows of the ruined buildings, their ebony armor absorbing the light around them. As if it was a living, breathing entity, determined to squash all hope, all goodness in the world.
Mouths pulled into grins of triumph, they charged. Fae archers released a round of arrows, taking several down, but there were too many.
A stone dropped in Ava’s stomach. They were surrounded.
Shouts in the distance from the other groups echoed, finding themselves in the same situation. Ava placed herself back-to-back with Raine, their group of soldiers circling them, as they prepared to fight their way out.
She had barely drawn her bow when the daemons were upon them. Roots and vines twisted together, building a blockade around the team, buying the archers enough time to release another round of arrows. Ava released her own into a daemon’s eye, killing him instantly. She retrieved another arrow from her quiver, nocked and released it, only this time theblack-armored soldier dodged her effort as it was deflected by his spiked armor.
They tried to keep the roots steady, keeping the daemons at a distance, but they were cutting through them faster than Raine and the others could grow new ones.
It wasn’t long before their formation was split and Ava switched to using her magic to pull soldiers down so Raine’s wolf, Sabriel, could finish them off. As quickly as she ensnared them, more came. Wave after wave. Several fae soldiers were killed in the chaos as they continued to fight their way out.
She took a moment to search for Raine, but he’d disappeared, lost in the melee.
Shit,she thought, as she unsheathed her sword and pushed through, her months of training and faster fae body paying off.
A daemon soldier lunged for her. She met his attempt, swords clashing, as she blocked the blow and whirled around, severing his head. Another threw a dagger she avoided at the last second, its blade nicking the leather armor on her shoulder cap as it sailed by. Her magic warmed inside her, aching to be released. Raising her hand, emerald vines erupted from the soil, snaking around the daemon’s body, holding him in place as one of her own soldiers slit his throat.
From her left, an enemy charged. Ava turned to meet him, but didn’t have to. Sabriel leaped into the air, canines clamping on his throat and ripping, painting her silver fur with black blood. The wolf growled in triumph, bounding away to maim another soldier.
Dodging and parrying, Ava made it with the help of her remaining crew, killing enough of the daemons they were no longer surrounded. Where was Raine? Was he okay?
Pax arrived with more soldiers to assist. His green skin was covered in daemon blood, a snarl leaving his throat as he helped finish off the remaining enemies.
Yells, shouts and the clang of weapons resonated in the distance, the rest of their forces still locked in their own battles.
“Go help the others,” she instructed.
“Yes, Your Highness,” said Pax as he barked orders at the group and led them through town.
Ava wandered through the rubble, alone in an isolated part of town, but she wasn’t leaving without finding Raine and ensuring his safety.
“Raine!” she shouted. Nothing.
With cautious steps, she wove through the debris and scanned the wreckage around her. Hollow dread filled her gut. He was nowhere to be found.
“Luna, can you find Raine?”
He’s safe. You need to get out of there. Something bad is coming, I can feel it.
Tension left her body at Luna’s words.Safe. He’s safe.Heeding her companion’s warning, she jogged to the sounds of fighting to help the others who were still in battle. She rounded a corner when a rush of power nearby made the hair on the back of her neck stand up. Something dark. Familiar.
A deep sultry voice sounded behind her. “Hello, Ava dear.”
