Page 64 of A Spark Of Revenge

“It’s rare to have such a strong Hunter, but it is possible. Look at Elaine. She has access to magic, which I haven't seen before,” Nox reminds him, and Valen nods but still doesn't look convinced.

“Hey guys?” Creed whispers, drawing our attention back to the army of Beastia just in time to see every one of them shift, their weight distributing further onto their front haunches as a deep growl rumbles through the air. Almost like Phantoms gliding over the snow, nine extremely tall figures step out from the trees, their skeletal hands hanging by their side with an odd-looking weapon in their hands, I can see broad handles collapsed between bony fingers and thick black chains that hang several links down with a large metal spiked ball attached at the end.

“What the fuck kind of weapon is that!?” I whisper in horror, looking up at Nox, who doesn't spare me a glance as he glares at what I’m assuming is the Wraiths they have been talking about.

“The Wraith’s Flail,” Creed mutters with a grimace, shaking his head as he takes a deep breath. “They’re not ready for this fight,” he whispers under his breath, casting a concerned eye over the Courtyard where the Hunters and Rangers have all gathered in formation, waiting for their next command.

“No, they're not. But we’ll help them all the same. Keep her here unless it's pivotal to move her,” Nox grinds out. Then he spins on his heel, moving to the stairs as the Wraiths slowly bring their arms up above their heads, bringing the clearing to a deadly calm.

“You said she was to fight,” Razar grinds out at my side as Creed follows Nox.

“I’ve changed my mind!” Nox bellows as he races down the stairs to the courtyard below. I huff in annoyance, but it’s cut off just as the Wraiths bring their hands down simultaneously, making the Beastia's heads snap up and growl before they charge the castle walls. A wave of bright red comes from the Wraiths, and Valen curses, bringing his hands up, his deep voice murmuring words I’ve never heard before and can’t understand. Instead of a soft spark of magic lighting at his fingertips, a bright green circle appears above his hand, with various symbols that spin, casting off a glow almost as bright as the fire nearby.

Razar snarls as he watches the Beastia and magic rush at us. But just as the red wave is about to strike, Valen shouts and brings his hands down with a strained gasp. Brilliant green magic erupts, spiraling out in front of us, forming a wall of bright light that wraps around the wall and castle, cloaking it in a protective shield.

I scream when the magic collides with an explosive force, making the earth quake around us, and my ears ring with the intensity of the sound. Valen curses, grabbing me and spinning us, tucking me protectively in his arms as his shield splinters’ the green surface is covered with spiderweb cracks as bright red infiltrates its bright glow, then shatters it completely.

“That is not Wraith magic!” Valen yells over my head at Razar, who is now on the ground by our feet, the force of the blow taking him down without me realizing it.

“I know! They are being controlled!” he growls back, shoving to his feet and glaring at his brother. “Why does no one listen to me?” he growls, tossing his hands in the air before his big hand grabs my arm and yanks me to him. “Go!” he orders, nodding down to where Nox is commanding the Seniors by Elaine’s side. “Remember that he is your first priority,” Razar growls, making Valen's jaw tense when he looks at me next to Razar. “I’ll keep the damn Pup safe, brother! Go!” he snarls, pointing a clawed finger to the stairs just as the wall shakes beneath our feet.

“Shit!” I gasp, stumbling back as something strikes the walls again. Razar wraps an arm around me and yanks me closer to him as he walks to the edge, looking down at the hoard of terrifying beasts below.

“How good is your aim?” Razar grinds out, and I look up at him in confusion.

“What?”

“Your aim? How far can you throw?” he asks, reaching down to grab several of the blades from the thigh holster he gave me in his room before whispering under his breath. Black magic whispers around the blades as the wall shakes yet again, making me rock back and throw my arms out at my side to keep my balance.

“You’re like a baby deer on new legs,” Razar complains, his hands darting back up to make sure I stay on my feet. “How good is your aim?” he shouts as I glare at him.

“You tell me? I managed to stab you, didn't I,” I shout back, reminding him of the first night at my cabin when I was trying to save Creed. Razar’s black eyes flare in anger, but instead of lashing out like I think he might, he hands me the blades and points down to the mass of Beastia, throwing themselves against the walls. “Kill them,” he snarls as he strides away from me toward the southern part of the wall, peering down and nodding as he goes.

“Freaking hell!” I mutter as I palm the now glowing blade in my hands, Razar’s magic makes my hands tingle as darkness inches up my wrists. One glance down at the Beastia that are throwing their black, needle-covered bodies against the wall is enough for my stomach to flip and bile to rise in my throat. A black, soulless pair of eyes locks on mine, big monstrous paws digging into the snow below as it snarls, its razor-sharp teeth gnashing together as it starts to run at the wall fast. It jumps, using the back of another Beastia to propel itself up. I flip a blade from my left hand to my right, drawing it back over my shoulder as I take a deep breath in, letting the fear ground me as the Beastia flies through the air toward the top of the wall. Once its face is fully visible, I release my blade, watching with bated breath as it spirals through the air and then sinks into the left eye of the Beastia. The monster roars and twists in the air, its entire body seizing as black magic wraps around it like a snake, twisting and turning so fast I have a hard time watching it.

“Ha!” I shout in victory, then gasp when its body hits the top of the wall only feet below where I stand, making me tumble back as the wall shakes, an ominous cracking sounding through the air. “Shit! Not good!” I jump back to my feet, grab another blade, and throw it at the next Beastia I see. It sinks into the top of its head, making it scream in agony as its body shakes and convulses. The sight is sickening, and I eye the dark blades Razar had given me. Better make sure I don't cut myself with these.

I’m able to throw three more blades, but even with the Beastia dying as soon as my blades land, it's not enough to stop the hoard. “Razar!” I scream as the wall shakes again, this time taking some gray stone with it. On the north side of the wall, I see that two Beastia have jumped high enough to get to the top of the wall. Several units of Hunters rush to fight the monsters; I watch in horror as one of the Beastia darts around, striking a Hunter in the chest with its pronged tail and sending him over the wall into the wild group of Beastia below.

Something shifts at my side, and I scream in surprise when Razar is suddenly next to me. “Come on!” he growls, grabbing me and taking off down the length of the wall.

“They are going to break through!” I shout at Razar, who nods in agreement.

“We need to draw them away. If they break through with that many of them at one point, the loss of life will be extraordinary.” Razar skids to a stop at the end of the wall where it's carved into the mountainsides and looks down, grunting before turning toward me. “Fight or hide?” he asks, and I blink at him in surprise. “Come with me and fight, or stay here and stay safe until my brothers come to get you?” he asks in irritation, obviously annoyed that he has to babysit me.

“You would let me fight?” I ask, narrowing my eyes on him. Razar grunts again and nods.

“You’re stupid, but you can throw a blade. I need you to cover me so I can draw them away from the walls,” he growls, and I nod.

“Fight,” I answer. Razar nods in approval before grabbing my arm and throwing me over the side of the wall.

THIRTY-ONE

Meyer

Before I can even think about screaming in fear, my butt lands in a soft pile of freshly fallen snow. I huff out a breath, shoving my hair out of my face as I stare wide eyed up at the man who is peering over the side at me and nods, then jumps, landing on his feet gracefully next to me. “Di-did you just toss me off the wall!?” I hiss at him as Razar reaches down and yanks me from my soft snow pillow.

“Yell at me later,” he growls, eyes landing on a Beastia whose head has turned in our direction. Razar curses and grabs my hand, turning us away from the castle and dragging me as he runs as fast as my short legs will allow us. We head away from the open area of the castle and toward the steep side of the mountain as a Beastia howls, the sound like razor blades running down my back. Another one answers… and then another that makes the hair on my arms stand on end as we sprint away from the castle wall. Razar turns to look over his shoulder and grins in excitement as heavy paws thunder after us.

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