Page 4 of Taken By The Dark Three
The pair of elves steps closer, scanning the gloom. Ai’s nails dig into my arm. The flicker of an ember from their torch reveals their sleek obsidian skin, the high cheekbones that mark them as Orthani elites. For a heartbeat, their cruelty is almost tangible, a static charge in the air.
I duck behind a splintered barrel. Ai huddles beside me, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. We share a single, heart-pounding look.
Movement near the cross-street signals more elves converging. I catch glimpses of pointed ears, the gleam of polished leather armor, the swirl of arcane energy. They’re systematically tightening the net around us.
My pulse echoes in my ears. I have a choice: use my magic openly and risk them sensing it, or keep relying on subterfuge. If I don’t act, we’ll be captured. If I do act, we’ll have to run for our lives in a city that belongs to them. Either path is fraught with danger.
Ai trembles so hard I fear she’ll pass out. Something in me coils with raw anger at the predicament we’re forced into. This child isn’t meant to endure such terror. Yet here she is, dragged into Orthani’s darkest corners.
One of the elves glances toward the barrel, eyes narrowing. “I thought I heard something.”
That’s all the warning we get. He steps closer, raising his blade. Torchlight spills across the ground, illuminating the edge of Ai’s tattered skirt. She sucks in a ragged gasp.
His partner smirks. “Come on out, little humans. We won’t hurt you... much.” A mocking laugh echoes.
A swirl of energy ignites in my core. I grit my teeth, preparing to lash out with a controlled burst. Before I can unleash it, a triumphant shout erupts from the corner behind us. Another group of soldiers marches in, making escape in that direction impossible. We are surrounded from both sides.
For one breathless moment, the entire courtyard resonates with tension. Ai clings to me, her teeth chattering. The elves advance, a few steps away, confident grins etched on their faces.
I see no path left but to fight or create a distraction large enough to slip away with Ai. My illusions might not cut it thistime. I glance at the child, her face pale with dread. My muscles tense. If I have to reveal a fraction of my purna magic, so be it. At least we’ll stand a chance at escaping.
But something flickers in the distance—an orange glow from the main street, accompanied by harsh cries and the clang of weapons. Another dark elf raid is sweeping the entire district. This intensifies the chaos. Maybe, just maybe, that confusion can work in our favor.
I catch a glimpse of tall figures striding into the alley from the corner of my eye. More soldiers, well-armed. My stomach churns as I realize that with each passing second, the net tightens.
A single thought races through my mind: I have to act now.
I twist, pressing my lips to Ai’s ear. “Stay behind me,” I whisper. “When I say run, you go.”
She nods jerkily, her entire body trembling.
And then, with a surge of raw determination, I prepare to unleash the smallest, tightest sphere of transformative magic I can manage—enough to warp the air around us and obscure our forms from direct sight. It won’t hold long, but it might buy precious seconds.
Before I cast, I see a swirl of motion near the far alley. The silhouettes of soldiers become distinct. One stands taller than the others, posture proud, commanding. His presence alone radiates authority. Even from this distance, I can feel the tension that thrums from him, as if he’s used to leading men into battles or hunts. He shouts orders that echo across the courtyard.
Ai’s breath catches. She stares at him with terrified wonder, as though sensing his aura. I suspect he’s a high-ranking officer. Another fraction of me wonders if he’s the one the soldiers mentioned earlier.
I swallow hard, fear and fury churning into a heated knot in my chest. The Red Purna must have planned this. Why elsewould so many converge exactly where Ai and I are cornered? They want me to face Orthani’s best. Perhaps they imagine I’ll break or triumph, either outcome serving their twisted goals.
The tall elf gestures sharply, and his men spread out in a fan around him. They’re going to comb every possible hiding spot. My heart pulses in my throat.
I mouth a silent vow: They won’t take us without a fight. Then I set my attention on Ai, locking eyes with her. She nods, resolve flickering behind her fear. She’s ready to trust me.
Torchlight glitters off the soldiers’ blades as they move in. Footsteps echo on the cobblestones, drawing closer. My blood thrums with psionic force, the edges of my vision tinted with the anticipation of wielding magic. I gather it in my core, shaping it into a protective cloak that might mask us for a short while. It’s risky, but we have no other choice.
A single shout rings out from the side alley, alerting the others to our position. They’ve spotted movement. I curse internally, pressing Ai against the broken barrel for cover.
Moments from now, they’ll see me. I will reveal what I am. The mission is compromised, but Ai’s survival is what matters. I exhale, forcibly calming my pounding heart. The swirl of half-summoned illusions crackles along my arms, faint arcs of shimmering light that only I can feel in full detail.
Footsteps approach, slow and certain. In the dim glow of flickering torches, I glimpse the group of soldiers creeping closer. Ai sucks in a ragged breath.
I whisper, “Now.”
With a swift motion, I release a wave of distorted imagery. The air ripples, shimmering around us like a mirage. I grab Ai’s hand and sprint forward, weaving past the stunned soldiers. They shout curses, brandishing weapons at illusions of multiple figures running in different directions.
Ai and I dash toward the narrower gap between two half-crumpled walls, hearts hammering, illusions flickering behind us. My focus frays with each step, the magic unraveling. The soldiers realize the trick in seconds. By the time we burst into another alley, I hear them behind us, footsteps pounding on wet stones.
A swirl of menacing flames brightens the sky, signaling a larger raid enveloping Lowtown. My mind races, searching for a path we can take.
