Page 49 of Crimson Shadows
23
IGNATIUS
As I soarthrough the night air, my form a blazing firebird, I feel a thrill of excitement. The Order of the Crimson Shadow has finally arrived, and it’s time to do what we do best - maintain balance in the supernatural world.
I spot my fellow Order members on the ground, already engaged with the Strix. Keira, her silver hair glinting in the moonlight, is wielding a staff crackling with electric energy. Beside her, Roran summons thorny vines that whip through the air, ensnaring Strix left and right. Vex uses tendrils of darkness to whip around him, lashing out at Strix with deadly precision.
Then there’s me. Fire personified.
I dive towards them, my fiery form illuminating the night sky. As I approach, I let out a screech that’s part battle cry, part greeting.
“About bloody time!” I shout, after shifting back to my human form in a burst of flames.
“Sorry for the delay,” Keira grins. “We had some trouble getting here.”
Roran grunts as he sends another vine lashing out at a swooping Strix. I launch a fireball at a Strix that’s diving towards Vex. It explodes in mid-air, showering us with ash and feathers.
“Questions later,” Vex calls out, his voice calm despite the chaos around us. “But this is need to know.”
He’s right. It is. We need to know who fucking sent these arseholes. But right now, I concentrate on the battle, letting the familiar rush of adrenaline take over. Fire dances at my fingertips, responding to my will as easily as breathing.
The Strix are formidable opponents. Their razor-sharp talons and beaks are a constant threat, and their ability to move through shadows makes them slippery targets. But we’re not exactly pushovers ourselves.
I send a wave of fire sweeping across the courtyard, herding a group of Strix towards Keira. She grins fiercely, her staff spinning in a blur of motion. Lightning arcs from its tip, striking the Strix with pinpoint accuracy.
Roran has created a veritable forest of thorny vines, trapping several Strix. I send jets of flame through the vines. The Strix explode, alive no more.
“Vex, your three o’clock!” I call out, spotting a Strix diving towards his blind spot.
He reacts instantly, a wall of shadow rising to meet the creature. The Strix slams into it, disoriented, and Vex’s tendrils of darkness wrap around it, crushing it into nothingness.
“Appreciated,” he nods, already moving to engage his next opponent.
A particularly large Strix suddenly breaks away from the main group, heading straight for Adelaide’s tower. I curse under my breath. “Cover me!” I shout to the others, already shifting back into my firebird form.
I streak towards the tower, pushing myself to fly faster than I ever have before. I can see the Strix approaching the window, its talons extended, ready to shatter the glass or die trying.
I collide with the Strix in mid-air, my fiery form engulfing it. We tumble through the air, a ball of flame and shadow. I can hear its shrieks of pain and fury in my soul, feel its talons raking against my flaming skin.
The ground is rushing up to meet us. At the last second, I disengage from the Strix, spreading my wings to catch an updraft. The Strix, disoriented and badly burned, isn’t so lucky. It slams into the ground with a sickening crunch.
I land nearby, shifting back to human form. The Strix twitches weakly, then dissolves into shadow, leaving nothing but a scorch mark on the grass.
“Ignatius!” Vex calls out, jogging over to me. “Status report?”
I nod, panting slightly. “Operational. Slightly singed around the edges.” I joke ruefully. “Current situation?”
He glances around, his dark eyes taking in the battlefield. “I believe that was the last of them. Keira and Roran are conducting a final sweep to confirm.”
As we walk back to Keira and Roran, I wonder who sent them. The appearance of the Strix is troubling, to say the least. Someone powerful wants Adelaide dead or captured, and they’re not afraid to make a bold move.
But at the same time, I can’t deny the thrill of it all. This is why I joined the Order in the first place - to be on the front lines, protecting the balance of our world.
Vex’s expression is serious. “This level of aggression is unprecedented. Someone’s making a statement. Do we even know who the target is?”
“Adelaide Black,” I murmur, looking up at the tower.
That catches everyone’s attention. “Randall’s daughter?”
