Page 110 of Creatures of Chaos

Is it a dud or something? Hopefully its powers will show themselves sooner rather than later.

Shouts sound from outside the crumbling walls of the ruin. I’m trying to decide if I should join the fray or hunker down for as long as I can, when a body comes crashing through the entrance and smashes into the tree trunk in the middle of the room.

Titus scrambles to his feet and looks wildly at me. “Oh good, it’s you. Stay out of Chase’s path if you can. He has super strong wind magic.”

“He just blasted you in here?” I ask with wide eyes, and Titus nods. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine, but we’d better get out of here before someone comes looking for us.”

With Titus going first to shield me, we leave the ruin. The rest of the competitors are battling it out in the middle of the street. Talon’s back is to us as he holds off both Damon and Chase. With his arms moving rapidly, it looks like he’s pulling shadows from around him and then flinging them at the pair. It’s not a power I’ve ever seen before, and I’m awestruck for a moment.

“Stay down and out of the fray the best you can,” Titus says, and then runs for Vivian, who’s sneaking up on Talon while he’s distracted with the other two.

She looks like she’s getting ready to throw some sort of faelight ball of energy at Talon, but Titus swipes his leg out, taking her down before she can. They grapple on the ground,rolling a few times, until Titus comes out on top. Covering her eyes with his hands, he blasts her with white faelight, temporarily blinding her. She screams in outrage, trying to buck him off, but it’s no use. Titus knows how to use his body and his magic in a fight, and I’m suddenly relieved I don’t have to go up against him.

Titus jumps off Vivian, but even blinded she tries to get to her feet.

“You’re out,” he yells at her, “stay down.”

“Never,” she screams, and rushes him, but he easily sidesteps and then slams his fist against her temple, knocking her out. He peers down at her with a look of regret, but then shakes his head and takes off.

A roar of cheers fills the air. I look in the direction of the crowd, but the blackness is still doming the ruins, making it impossible to see the world beyond. The game master must have cameras hidden around here like he did before.

“Watch out!” someone screams, and I look up just in time to see a ball of fire whiz toward my face.

It’s coming too fast. I throw up my arms in a feeble attempt to protect myself. Just before the fire reaches me it hits an invisible barrier and explodes, leaving me unscathed.

I look down at the cuff in shock, realizing it very well might have just saved my life.

When I glance up, Talon is sprinting toward me with a look of relief on his face. I see Chase behind him, running for cover. I guess wind magic isn’t the only creature power Chase has.

Titus is farther down the road battling Damon, giving Talon and me a temporary reprieve.

“That blast was meant for me. Are you all right?” he asks, skidding to a halt in front of me. His eyes run from my head down to my toes and back up again in a quick sweep for injuries.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks to this,” I say, holding up the cuff.

“You found one of the magical objects?”

I nod. “It was in the ruin.”

“That’s convenient,” he says with a hint of suspicion.

“It is. But it just saved me from being barbecued, so I don’t think I care.”

“Good point.” He checks over his shoulder and then says, “I’m going after that shifter. Stay behind me.” I nod and we take off, rounding the back of one of the ruins. “He’s over there,” Talon says, pointing ahead.

I don’t see anyone or any movement though. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah. I can see his magical aura.”

“You can see that?” He nods, and I’m so confused. That’s a fae trait, not a vampire one.

“Come on,” he says and takes off.

I do what I can to keep up with him as he sprints ahead. He rounds a corner and I quickly follow, almost running into Talon’s back because he’s stopped short.

Sure enough, Chase is there. Sweat dampens his brow and his eyes are wild. “Stay back!” he warns, holding something up in front of him.

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