Page 109 of Artemis' Bow
The razor-sharp pincer grazes my arm, cutting it open, and blood gushes from the wound. I yelp at the pain but all it does is piss me off more. This motherfucker is going down. It’s not making it out of the water alive.
I toss my sword to my opposite hand, the one not mangled by that damn pincer, and I twirl my blade in an arc as I advanceon the scorpion. I slam the blade in the side of the pincer, but it clanks off like there’s metal armor on that part of the creature.
“Shit,” Dax cries.
I glance at the creature’s back and gasp in horror as Dax falls off the back of the scorpion, his left arm hanging limply at his side. There’s a large hole in his shoulder.
“Dax,” Kira screams and rushes into the water with a large metal object in her hand that I have no idea what it is.
“Kira, get back. This thing is fucking feral right now,” I scream.
“No, Dax is hurt. I think he’s been poisoned.” Kira lands on her knees in the shallow water.
The distraction costs me and the pincer slams into my side, throwing me ten feet back. That’s it. I need to end this right fucking now.
“Everyone get out of the fucking water. I’m ending this now,” I scream.
Standing, I dust myself off and prepare to use my magic instead of playing fair. I was worried about all the sea life in this water, but I’m done caring.
“If you can get a message to any sea creatures nearby, Thad, I would do it now. This thing is about to get barbecued,” I snarl.
“I’m not sure that’s the best idea, baby,” Jayden says as he drags Dax’s unconscious form from the sea.
“I’m not shooting electricity at it. I’m going to throw it.” I shrug and dodge that damn pincer again.
This battle needs to be over already. Dax needs medical attention, and I need to clean the cut on my arm that’s throbbing with pain.
“Fill this with your power and then launch it at that fucker,” Kira says, handing me the large metal object.
“What does it do?” I ask.
“Just trust me, it will get the job done.” Her grin is feral.
I’m glad we’re friends because her wrath is terrifying. Once everyone is on the shore, I do as Kira suggested and imbue the metal object with so much power it’s crackling and glowing white. I glance over my shoulder to make sure everyone is far enough back and then launch the object at the scorpion.
The scorpion screams as a white-hot crackling net secures itself over the top of it and encases the scorpion in a cage of lightning.
“You might want to protect your head,” Kira calls. “It’s going to explode.”
A deafening boom follows directly after her words. I curl in on myself with my arms over the back of my head to protect it.
“You could have warned a girl,” I shout. “What the fuck, Kira?”
“There wasn’t time,” she says, and I barely hear her through the ringing in my ears.
“It did the trick, though.” Raven chuckles.
“It did.” I stick a finger in my ear in an attempt to stop the ringing.
“You need healing,” Jayden says. “How did you get that huge gash on your arm?”
“Half a pincer got me,” I pant.
Fatigue is hitting fast and hard. My stomach rumbles and I scowl down at it. Is that the way it’s going to be all the time now? Every time I use a lot of magic it’s going to complain that it needs food? This is bullshit.
“You just ate like two hours ago.” Raven laughs.
“Yeah, well, I used a lot of magic.” I shrug and wince. “How’s Dax?”
