Page 187 of The Order

Xavier's hands are pressed to the glass, his eyes wide with an expression I can't quite figure out.

“Fresh blood,”the creature hisses through my mind. Its words are cold like ice.

Fallan yells out as he continues to try to tear off his collar. My eyes are still fixed on Xavier.

“Help me,” I whisper faintly, the words leaving my mouth before I can process them. “Please,” I finish, the plea in my voice, something I never thought would be directed at him again.

Even from here, I know he understands what I’ve asked of him.

Still, he remains motionless, holding his throat. My whole body goes taut as I watch him struggle to release the yell stuck in his throat.

Why does he stay kneeling? Why does he look so pained?

“Forest!” Fallan yells, shoving me out of the way of a sharp claw that was aimed directly at my exposed back.

Finally forcing my attention back to the pit, I see Fallan ready himself to fend off the creature. His stance is tottering; he won’t be able to ignore the effects of his wound much longer.

“We need a weapon!” I yell, looking for anything that might be useful down here.

The creature moves closer, the scent of our blood like a beacon.

“There's nothing down here!” Kai yells, watching Hunter force Valerie against the dirty pit wall.

The creature's head cranes as it listens to our voices, smiling as if it is debating which one of us it will drain first. Fallan’s body leans back into me, his footing less coordinated with each passing second.

“I can distract it long enough for one of you to run,” he begins, ready to sacrifice himself for the rest of us.

The creature moves, deciding on Fallan.

Fuck.

Without thinking, I move forward, pulling the knife free from my side, crying out from the pain. The small trickle of blood contained by the blade is now spurting freely. I force Fallan back, keeping a close eye on the others around me. I lunge before the creature realizes what I'm doing, and the knife collides with its hand, slicing the skin. It roars, clutching the torn flesh. A shred of confidence eases the tightness in my chest, the distress in its recoiled body a reminder that this creature isn’t invincible, and maybe we could get out of this alive.

“You vile-”

I swipe out again, at the same time focusing energy on breaking away the collar that confines me. The knife meets its side this time, its whole body shrinking back from me. Taking several steps back, it watches me. The onlookers behind the glass are frozen as they wait with bated breath to see who the victor of this deathmatch will be.

Xavier stands solemnly, his shoulders back as he watches the creature move. He looks ill. As ill as Fallan.

“Had enough?” I question the creature, the energy inside of me resurging to life.

“Your blood will paint the earth,” it barks back, its teeth bared.

I feel it now. Not just my energy but Fallan’s faltering vigor alongside Xavier’s commanding force. Standing where I am now, the creature's energy also floods my veins. Its rampant thoughts of consuming my friends and myself are deafening.

What is this? How is this happening?

Feeling Xavier’s energy pulsing through the air, I’m struck by a realization. I know why he looks so ill.

He’s controlling this creature.

Kai moves toward Fallan to support his body as he continues to fight blacking out.

“Does he enjoy controlling you to make me suffer?” I question, staring down the beast, focusing my mind on its own. A way inside its mind presents itself.

“More than you know,” it hisses, lunging toward me.

Stepping inside the opening of its mind, I seize my opportunity, pushing past the pain from my wound and the collar around my neck. Watching the creature's body go still, I push harder, infiltrating every corner of its mind. I feel the pure, unbridled power course through my veins as I push abilities to their limits. The potential of my Marked gifts is limitless, and suddenly I understand why my kind has been hunted for all these years.

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