Page 96 of Sticks and Stones and Broken Bones

Apollo

Icame to with a jolt, a searing pain pulling at my arms, but it wasn’t mine.

“Raevyn!”

I jumped to my feet, my wings fanning out behind me as I lost my balance. I was a little unsteady, my head swimming. I shook off the remnants of Raevyn’s power and found my footing.

“Corvus!”

“Yes, Master. I’m here,” he said as he flapped down from the tree.

“Where is she?”

“The lake. The others have arrived.”

“Where?”

Corvus pointed a wing off to the right and I saw a group of hulking figures approaching the lake through the trees on the opposite side.

“Let’s go join in the fun.” I disappeared into shadow form, pulling Corvus along with me. We materialised slap bang in front of the others, and I wished I’d had something to capture the images of there faces.

“Fuck me!” the green haired one said.

“Holy shitballs,” came from the dark haired one and the others flinched and jerked.

“Sorry,” I said with a dry chuckle. “I see you got my note.”

“Your note?” the giant asked. “I thought it was from Raevyn.”

I shook my head. “She wanted to face this alone, but I couldn’t let her, and I knew you’d be following. No doubt wanting to put me back in my little cell.”

Korbin threw me a knowing smile. “I’ve a feeling that Raevyn will get her way and you probably won’t see that cell again.”

The silver eyed one laughed, a dark chortle that felt familiar. “Deimos?”

“Hello old friend,” he replied, a wicked smile on his lips. “Joining in the bloodshed?”

I grinned back at him. “I’ve been cooped up too long. I’m definitely ready to save our girl.”

“Well then, let’s fuck this shit and start a riot.” Deimos turned towards the lake and his shadows burst from him, crawling along the ground and out towards the lake like a thick black fog.

Nox howled at the moon and followed Deimos, Hawk pulled his axe from his back and the others followed with equal bloodlust.

“Come on, Corvus. Let’s start a riot indeed.”

Raevyn

The pain intensified, knives peeling my skin, fire searing my vines. This was it. I was going to die. Was it even dying if I’d already been sacrificed? Would I just cease to exist?

“Yes, more!” my grandmother screamed as she drained me. The other witches were still chanting, their voices singing in unison. I used to love watching them, jealous that I couldn’t join them, but now I pitied them. That this was the only coven life they knew. They could have been more. They could have been a force for good, instead of running this tragic, pathetic race for more power.

Blackness swarmed the edges of my vision and the sound of the world faded.

Wait…

The coven was stuttering, their voices dimming, but it wasn’t my senses failing. Which meant it wasn’t unconsciousness trying to claim me.

No. No, no, no.

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