Page 65 of A Spark Of Revenge

“This was a stupid idea!” I gasp, my lungs burning as I try to run through the deep snow.

“Probably,” Razar agrees, not helping me feel any better about our situation. I can hear the Beastia growing closer and start to panic as Razar curses, picks me up, and runs faster. I wind my arms and legs around him, trying to keep myself from being bounced around as I peer over his shoulders at the Beastia in pursuit of us. It looks like we successfully pulled ten or more of them away from the wall. Hopefully, it will be enough for the Hunters and the guys to handle. “How many are following us?” he asks as he runs.

“Uhhh, ten? No eleven!” I shout back as I count the monsters on our heels, then grunt as Razar skids to a stop and drops me to my feet.

“Climb up there and hide, try to take as many of them as you can out with your blades!” he commands, pointing at the small ledge twenty or so feet above our heads where there are a few trees. I nod and turn to dig my fingers into the frozen rock as Razar grabs my waist and tosses me up high, making me squeak as my fingers barely grab the edge of the ledge. “Do not get hurt. Nox’s ire will make the Beastia’s look tame if he finds out about this!” he adds as I desperately claw at the frozen stone, trying to find a better grip.

“Jesus Christ!” I shout as I haul myself up and over the ledge, rolling to my knees and grabbing a few more blades from my sheath as Razar turns to face the Beastia. “Please shift,” I whisper in fear as he stares at them. My heart rate picks up as Razar shrugs out of his cloak, his shoulders trembling before he growls. His body crumples as he falls to his hands and knees, sharp black needles break through dark gold skin, soaking the snow with bright red blood.

I’m not sure what I was expecting to see as Razar shifted into the nightmare monster, but it isn't this; it looks so painful. Seconds later, Razar’s Beastia stands on strong legs, easily a head taller than the monsters barreling toward him. I stand, holding a blade in each hand as I take aim at my first victim and let the blade fly as Razar leaps at the first Beastia, tearing its throat out so fast I don’t notice until its black body crumples to the ground.

I throw my other blade, striking a Beastia in the neck, making its dark blood spill over the snow, but it doesn't go down like the last ones. “Shit!” I grumble, my eyes widening as movement beyond the fighting Beastia gains my attention. Four of the black hooded Wraiths are gliding over the snow, their void eyes on Razar as they close in on all sides. “Shit, shit, shit!” I rasp, grabbing blade after blade, launching them at the Beastia and Wraiths, my heart racing as I slowly start to pick off a few of them. Razar has taken out five of the Beastia by himself, but he's panting heavily, and dark blood oozes from his neck as two of the Wraiths move forward. Their bone fingers wrapped tightly around their deadly looking weapons, hauling them back to strike and no doubt deliver a killing blow.

Reaching down, I move to grab more blades, then curse when I realize both my thigh holsters are out, including my personal one I had strapped to my leg before this all happened. All I have left are the six blades Razar strapped to my waist.

“Dammit. We’re both going to die, then Nox is really going to be pissed,” I mutter, grabbing two of my six remaining blades, aiming, then throwing them at the same time. The first one slams into the right shoulder of a Wraith as he heaves back his weapons, and the bone-chilling scream the Wraith produces is bad enough to haunt my dreams. My second blade isn't as good, sinking into the right arm of the other Wraith as he swings his flail at Razar.

Thankfully, Razar moves just in the nick of time to avoid the deadly spike-covered ball before he jumps on another Beastia circling behind him. I watch as they slowly back Razar further away from the ledge toward the large cliff behind him and shake my head. Frantically, I look around, trying to figure out what to do next. But my eyes fall on the two remaining Wraiths as their dark hooded faces turn to look up at me, and my blood runs cold as they turn and head my way.

“Oh fuck! Of course. Let’s just add to the problem,” I snarl, looking behind me to find a way around fighting those things. There are four large pine trees and some snow-covered shrubs on the small thirty-foot ledge Razar threw me on. I shake my head as I realize there is nowhere to run and no room to fight. If those two Wraiths corner me up here, I’m as good as dead. “Don't look down,” I mutter as the first Wraith gets to the ledge, then jumps, leaping up and hooking its bony fingers onto the edge. I wait for the second to follow before I close my eyes and run for the opposite side of the ledge and jump.

The Beastia below have followed Razar, leaving the area clear as I fall and roll over the snow, the air whooshing from my lungs when I crash to the ground.

“Ow!” I hiss, gasping for breath as I shove to my feet and look for Razar. He's even further away, still fighting the Beastia and the two injured Wraiths. He is covered in blood, but it looks like he’s killed another three beasts. The Wraiths closest to me hiss in annoyance as they drop back to their feet and turn toward me, moving impossibly quick in my direction. Magic sparks at their fingers, and I grab two more blades, throwing them at the Wraiths, then cursing when they move, jumping out of the way just before my knives can land.

I quickly back up, trying desperately to keep some space between us as I fumble for the last two blades at my waist. I shout in surprise when one of the Wraiths leaps, jumping the twenty-foot distance between us while swinging its flail at my head. Instinctually, I drop and roll back, gasping when the spike ball crashes to the ground, not two feet from my face. Its spikes crater the snow and dirt before it's yanked back, and the Wraith lurches forward to attack again. I roll to my feet and jump out of the way just in time to avoid another blow. Falling to my back, I throw a blade, then sigh in relief when it strikes the Wraith in the thigh, making it scream. I push myself back, my butt sliding across the snow, then gasp when I feel myself slide back further than I’m expecting. Looking behind me, I realize I’ve pushed myself toward the steep incline of the mountain. It's not the dangerous cliff that Razar is currently up against, but it would be hard to get back up by myself if I were to fall down.

The sound of a bellowing roar makes me grit my teeth in fear, worried Razar may be hurt. But I have no time to look his way as the second Wraith springs at me, shoving the first one out of his way. Instead of swinging his weapon, his long, bony fingers swipe at my face. I turn, then gasp when I feel its sharp fingertips connect with my cheek, whipping my face to the side as I move to my feet and try to get away from the steep hill the Wraiths have cornered me on. Warm, wet liquid slowly drips from my stinging cheek as I hold my last knife in my hand, eyeing the two Wraiths as they start to converge on me from either side.

I glance over their heads, squinting through the heavy snow, wanting to make sure the castle is okay. That if I die here, my friends and the guys will make it out of this battle. But the snow is too thick, and all I can see is the dim glow of the fires on top of the wall.

Holding my breath, I try to find Razar, but he’s no longer in view, and my worry for him increases.

“Stultus paulo, Princeps,” the Wraith I stabbed in the thigh hisses at me as he grows closer, dropping his flail to the snow at his feet. I hold onto my blade as the monster strides forward, its enormous shoulders twice the size of mine. His hands flex, making the exposed bones crack in the hushed air around us. I wait, knowing that he’s about to strike, and hold my breath just as the Wraith launches forward, his sharp fingers clamping around my throat as I bring my blade up to stab it in the chest. It roars in agony, its body twisting away from my blade as I yank it out and then stab it again and again.

If I’m going to die, I’m going to make damn sure this thing is coming with me.

I gasp in surprise when the Wraith's fingers release my throat, grabbing my wrist to stop my assault. Fury burns inside of me as its eyes glow red from deep inside its hood, and I snarl at it in response, warmth flooding me as my heart races. Bringing my other hand up, I shove at the Wraith's face, my hand connecting with cold bone as I harness the dark, angry warmth inside me, welcoming it as it demolishes the cold stench of fear.

A loud noise wrenches through the air, making my head throb as the Wraith releases me, its bone hands clawing at its face in desperation as it stumbles back, falling to the ground at my feet. I gape at it in surprise, then shriek when the other Wraith's bony fingers whirl toward my exposed throat, its fingers curled into a deadly claw. A mighty roar bellows behind me as something big and black slams into my side, shoving me out of harm's way. The force with which I’m thrown back makes me tumble, then roll down the steep hill below us.

Cursing, I throw my hands out to catch myself as my body slams into the frozen ground at the base of the hill, and I stare up at the gray-colored sky in shock. Pushing up to my elbows, I try to regain my bearings as I rub at my throat with trembling fingers, the feeling of the smooth, cold bone still lingering there. That was too close. My throat would have been ripped out if Razar hadn’t…. I jump up, heart lodging into my throat as I search for Razar. I spot him up the hill, ferociously attacking the Wraiths that had cornered me. The shadows of five Beastia move in and now have him surrounded.

“No! Razar!” There are too many of them!

My heart freezes, and something in my chest aches as I watch a Beastia jump on his back, sinking its razor-sharp teeth into the side of Razar's neck. “No!” I scream in horror, the realization that Razar isn’t going to make it is like a physical blow to my body! I fumble about for my last blade, but it got knocked out of my hands when Razar shoved me.

“Dammit!” With a growl, I grab a large branch and start to charge up the hill toward Razar when I notice something barreling toward me. A small Beastia snuck around and flanked me. The rush that always takes over me while in battle rises, and I let out a roar of defiance, raising the pathetic little branch in my hands. I bare my teeth as I see my reflection in the soulless eyes that careen my way, but suddenly the Beastia hurdles to the right with a screech. My head whips to follow, finding the monster pinned to the tree next to us as the tree breaks with an ear-splitting crack, making the Beastia go limp, curled around the ornate spear that is holding it there.

“Umm,” I rasp in confusion, looking at the long spear, then turn in the direction it came from. I step back when I see the outline of a man striding through the thick snowstorm in my direction.

Big, heavy black boots strike the ground with purpose as what I can only describe as the Greek god Apollo emerges in front of me, still leaning forward from the strength of his throw. The man's fiery gaze catches mine, and his sculpted face breaks into a radiant grin while he straightens to an impressive height, the very air around him commanding my attention. Broad shoulders give way to powerful arms, while his posture exudes confidence and a sense of self-assuredness. A clean-shaven face reveals a chiseled jawline, accentuating his finely crafted facial features.

“Are you alright, my lady?” the god asks with a voice as smooth and rich as good bourbon, quirking his strong brow. Before I can answer, his gaze surges to where Razar is still fighting the Wraiths and narrows, his hand reaching out toward the battle. As I watch, red light swirls around the Wraiths, who look around, confused. With a look of determination, the man makes a fist, and I wince as the Wraiths collapse in on themselves—the sound of bones snapping, unmistakable.

“Meyer?!” someone shouts from the direction of the castle. “Razar?!” The voice echoes around us as the new man steps toward me, a newfound interest in his eyes.

“Wh-who are you?” I stammer out, the branch still held tight in my hand like it would do something against this behemoth of a man.

---