Page 19 of Diamond Queen
Dimitra watched in horror as a man approached unbeknownst to the others. He was shielded by his men as he stood at the edge of the trees. As if in slow motion, Dimitra watched as he raised his hand, a small vial glinting off the sun’s rays. He tossed the glass tube into the air, aiming for the center where the Queens stood.
Dimitra raised her hand in a wave as she screamed out, “NO… STOP!”
It was as though all life stopped. Everyone paused, frozen in time. Dimitra glanced at her hand, then to Jason, still beside her. She glanced at the others, who were staring back at her with wide eyes, frozen in confusion. Dimitra pushed between them, grabbing the vial from the air, she ran back to the edge of the trees and hurled it as far as she could. Turning back to the scene, she took a deep breath...
Her magic slowly eased, freeing the people from the stillness she’d created. Shouts and screams filled the air for a moment until they realized she stood in the grass in front of them.
“Dimitra?” Rory gasped, “Is it really you?”
“What the fuck just happened?” Onika glanced around at the men trying to gather their wits.
“I…” Dimitra paused, “I don’t really know.”
“It doesn’t matter.” the man stood, withdrawing his sword. “I’ll kill you myself.” He ran towards Rory, the metal of his blade shining.
Rory drew her arms up, calling forth her fire. A blaze of red burst from the ground, stopping him in his tracks. Dimitra tried to get closer, still unsure if the man was Helix as she still hadn’t seen his face.
Emersyn wrapped his legs in vines, bringing him to his knees. The battle continued around him, as his men tried to get close enough to free him. Onika called her magic, casting the men in darkness, disorienting them. Sarifena worked to put out the fires around them as Amalee continued to wield the lightning, pushing back his army.
Dimitra watched as Rory clutched her belly and dropped to her knees, causing her magic to waver. Dimitra tried to stop time, but she still didn’t have full control over her new power. The man got his legs free and crawled toward her, his sword extended before him. Her feet couldn’t carry her fast enough, and she watched in horror as he drove the blade into the Ruby Queen. Rory cried out as she fell to the earth, her fire engulfing him as she did. Dimitra threw her hands out, blinding the men around them with light as she reached her cousin.
“Rory…” she pulled her into her arms, dragging her away from the battle. Dimitra could see the sword had entered her left side, just above her swollen belly. “Fuck…” pressing her hands to the wound, she tried to slow the bleeding.
“Shit,” Jason dropped to his knees beside her.
“I need you to find Anthony,” Rory panted, “He needs to know I love him…”
“Stop it, you’re not going to die.” Dimitra looked to Jason, “Find him and Heath, Sarifena’s husband. He’s a doctor. Hurry.”
“Dimitra,” Rory pressed her hand against hers, “Help the others. End this…”
“I’m not leaving you, Rory.”
“They need you,” Rory gasped, nodding to the field where the others continued to fight.
Dimitra noticed Helix crumble to the ground, his body trapped by the burning magic of her cousin. Grabbing Jason’s discarded weapon, she stood, “Fight for your babies, Rory. Please.”
“Go,” she whispered.
Dimitra closed her eyes, calling her magic once again. This time it listened, and she paused time, allowing her to end this battle. Looming over Helix’s frozen state, his body jerked beneath the orange glow covering what was left of his skin. She drew the sword up and brought it down in one hard swoop. The metal resisted at first before landing with a thud in the ground. Dropping the handle, she closed her eyes and fell to her knees.
Chapter 26
“Dimitra!” Emersyn called out, rushing to the Diamond Queen’s side. Tugging her from the ground into her arms, Emersyn hugged her close. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. All these people are dead.”
“Emersyn…” Sarifena screamed, “Rory needs you.”
“Rory?” Emersyn glance behind Dimitra, seeing Rory on the ground for the first time, “Fuck… what happened?”
“Helix stabbed her before I could get to her.”
“RORY!” Anthony roared as he pushed through the men gathered around her. Dropping to the ground, he pulled her into his lap. “Rory… no… baby, please. This is why she shouldn’t have come.” He kissed her head, his tears falling against her face. Drake placed his hand on Anthony’s shoulder.
“Anthony.” He squeezed, “You need to give Emersyn room… let her see Rory.”
Anthony kissed her head and backed up, laying her flat on the ground. Her lifeless eyes stared at him, as the red tinted her blonde hair.
