Page 79 of Vicious Princess
She screams.
The blade slips from her hand and falls beneath out feet with aclang. Using the blunt side of my blade, I hit the back of her head and watch her unconscious body slump on the floor.
Some fae manage to flee. I ignore those who pass me. Instead, I scan the faces to find the reason we’re here.
Yal Absom.
His scar is even more vivid in person than in the illustration. Sneering, he slashes through the group of Ezkai and cadets trying to corner him farther down the large living room where the main celebration was taking place.
I pass gambling tables turned over, cards and dice scattered messily on the blood-soaked floor. The copper taste lodges in the back of my throat and nostrils, but I ignore it even though it makes my stomach twist.
Two Ezkai and two cadets from my group fall at the hands of Yal Absom. My steps halt. I’m not arrogant enough to think I can take him in an up-close fight by myself.
Quickly whirling on my heel, I crouch behind a sideways gambling table. I sheath my blades and remove my bow from my back. Then I find the right angle and draw the arrow. Before I shoot, though, the General comes into my view, advancing towards Yal Absom.
The General wields a powerful broadsword made from the strongest black bloodstone. Sparks fly when his blade meets Yal’s curved dual swords.
If I were to shoot the arrow and hit Yal, this would give the General an advantage in the fight. But if I were to miss and accidentally hit the General instead…it might be the thing that gives Yal an opportunity to slay the General.
Gods damn it, I curse in my mind and look down at my bow in my hand. It hasn’t betrayed me yet tonight. But it’s only a matter of time.
With a roar, Yal Absom charges at the General, blades swinging. Before they collide, the floor and the ceiling rumble, and the whole room gets lost in dust as an explosion goes off somewhere in the room.
The table does barely anything to shield me from the impact. I’m thrown back and my chest heaves. My skull rattles as I hit the wall behind me, and for a moment, I can’t inhale a breath.
The world around me tilts, and I squeeze my eyes shut to stop the spinning and the nausea that goes through me in waves. Finally, I manage to get air into my lungs. Everything aches with each breath.
Coughing, I bend forwards so I’m on all fours. Sounds are muffled, my ears ringing from the explosion. My leathers are covered in white dust.
Fuck me, this is bad.
I scramble to my feet. Swaying a little side to side, I take in the damage in the room. Even more bodies litter the floor. Some are Ezkai and cadets. Many are Caligos.
Where’s my bow?I force my feet to move forwards as I look around.
I find it a few feet away from where I landed, buried under some broken furniture. Wiping my face with the back of my hand, I rush to find any survivors.
A gasp escapes me.
In the corner of the room, under one of the larger gambling tables, lies the General. One side of his face is bloody, but he’s awake. A few feet away from him is Yal Absom. One of Yal’s legs is limp as he tries to crawl away.
I charge forwards without hesitation. Kata’s dusty face catches my attention, though. She lies unconscious in the rumble, her leathers ripped, her bow nowhere to be seen.
I pause.
This is my moment.
It would be so easy. I could stab her between the ribs and let her bleed out.
Nobody would see me.
There would be no questions.
I’d be off the hook.
A groan from the General pulls my attention away from Kata. He’s trying to get out from under the table, but he’s stuck.
My plans for Kata forgotten, I rush forwards to help.
